Disc golf tournament attracts upwards of 100 participants By LARRY SEE JR. In addition to the picnicers and those enjoying the weekend weather, nearly 100 disc golfers called Meade Olin Park home this weekend. The 16th annual Brandenburg Open, otherwise known as the Larry Mehal Memorial Tournament, offered four rounds for competitors at the park’s field. Mehal was a good friend of event co-coordinator Eddie Whelan, and used to cook for the club during the tournaments. Mehal passed away following injuries in a car accident, Whelan said. According to the Professional Disc Golf Association, disc golf is played much like traditional golf, but instead of a ball and clubs, players use a flying disc. The sport, formalized in the 1970s, shares with “ball golf” the object of completing each hole in the fewest number of strokes (or throws). A golf disc is thrown from a tee area to a target, or basket, which is the hole. As a player progresses, they must make each shot from the spot where their previous attempt landed. The trees, shrubs and terrain changes around the fairways to provide challenging obstacles for the golfer. Finally, the “putt” lands in the basket and the hole is completed. The event shares the same joys and frustrations of traditional golf, whether sinking a long putt or hitting a tree halfway down the fairway. On the plus side, disc golf rarely requires a greens fee, you probably won’t need to rent a cart and you never get stuck with a lousy tee time. This event, coordinated by the Louisville Disc Golf Club, is one of several events the club hosts locally. They are working closely with the Louisville Metroparks and host a tournament at Otter Creek and at the Muldraugh course. “There are over 100 people here,” Whelan said. “This turnout is also good for the businesses too. They’ll be here all day today and tomorrow.” Whelan should know. His business, Rivertown Spirits, also stood to gain from the event. Event co-coordinator and area resident Jeremy Watts said this tournament is a “B’ tier, with the next highest one being the “A” tier. “This just means that our pro purse is higher,” he said. “That means people can make more money if they play the events.” The purse was $1,560. “The first place position will pay $420, which is not bad for the weekend,” Watts said. Watts said 29 intermediate players registered for the event, which shows the event’s popularity is not waning. “The sport is really growing considering that we have that many in one division,” Watts said. Watts admitted he spends every waking moment at the park, especially when not working at the nearby Arch Chemical plant, but does not hold the course record. “We also have some pretty nice prize packets,” he said. “We also have prizes for those who get closest to the pin, or CTP. Some of those things are really cool.” One person even walked off with a $100 bounty after scoring a deuce on hole ten. ‘They got a $100 bounty for that hoke and someone hit it,” Watts said. Watts said Meade Olin was one of the nicest parks in the area. “We usually get more players when we have a tournament at Otter Creek, but that is listed as Louisville,” he said. “The Otter Creek tournament is held earlier in the year. The PDGA estimates there are over 16,000 members involved in the sport. The PDGA sanctions competitive events for both men and women of every skill level, from novice to professional. Click Here to Go Back
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A spectator watches two “golfers”debate if they can make the tee during the Brandenburg Open over the weekend.
Photos by Larry See Jr.
Mark Priddy, Louisville, gauges the distance before tossing his “ball” toward the tee. Participants came from throughout the area.
A wide array of prizes weregiven away at the event’s conclusion. In addition to prizes, monetary awards were offered in some divisions.