COLFAX — Throwing a disc — from tossing one to a friend or chucking it as hard as you can to see how far it will fly, many will attest this simple activity is a fun way to spend a nice, sunny day during the summer.
This weekend, people young and old will be putting their disc skills to the ultimate test at Lewis Park when the Colfax Park and Auxiliary Board kicks off its first disc golf tournament.
“(Playing disc golf) is something fun to do with the entire family,” Colfax Park and Auxiliary Board President Kim Seebeck said. “We want to show off the quality of our parks.”
According to auxiliary board members, the idea for the tournament began as part of a way to transform the group’s ever-popular Rock The Quarry concert into a full weekend of activities to attract people to the parks around town.
Dubbed “Relax in Colfax,” the event originally planned to hold a music concert at Quarry Springs, a softball tournament at the diamond baseball field and a disc golf tournament at Lewis Park the weekend of June 29.
Board members said, with Lewis Park known around the state to be one of the most fun and challenging courses in Iowa, it was only a matter of time for a disc golf tournament to be organized in Colfax.
“The Des Moines club goes around and play. They do feel the course at Lewis Park is one of the better ones in the state. It would make sense to show it off the best we could,” Doug Garrett, Colfax Park and Auxiliary Board vice-president said. “Our course is fairly challenging. We do have a creek running through it ... We want to get people out here and get them aware of it. Colfax is blessed with six different city parks.”
As plans began to take shape, event coordinators said the auxiliary board was informed other major disc golf tournaments were scheduled that weekend and they did not have enough volunteers to carry out the softball tournament.
In response, the board decided to cancel the softball tournament, keep the concert on June 30 and move the disc golf tournament to this Saturday. Registration for the disc golf event begins at 8 a.m., the meeting at 9 a.m. and shotgun starting at 9:20 a.m.
The tournament will feature three levels of competition – pro, female amateur and male amateur. According to event organizers, first place of each division will receive a cash prize and a trophy.
With registration at $35 for pros and $25 for amateurs, $10 from every pro entry will go toward the level’s cash prize – $5 for the amateur divisions.
Whether you have been playing disc golf for your entire life or just started that day, the event organizers said by participating in the tournament, players will have the perfect opportunity to have fun while supporting the local community.
“Those who want to play can just show up that day,” Garrett said. “Some tournaments are $40 or more ... it will give us the ability to share the utilization in improvements (at Lewis Park and Quarry Springs Park.)”
According to Garrett, tournament organizers have been working closely with members of the Des Moines Disc Golf Club. They said they expect to see players from all over the state come and participate Saturday.
To help showcase Colfax’s hospitality, admission for the tournament will include bottled water and a delicious taco bar lunch provided by the popular Mexican restaurant, Cocina Hernandez.
“It is July in Iowa. So you know it is going to be a hot day,” Garrett said. “There are some really talented people. I remember when we redid the course, we had the mayor and some council members come out. We were down at the shelter near (catcher) No. 12. The tee for that is right next to the parking lot of the high school. It is a long distance, but you are up 60 feet in the air over the valley. The second guy who threw it hit it beyond and cleared the creek in flight. It is amazing to see high far they can throw and how accurate they are.”
The auxiliary board recently finished installing 18 new disc golf catchers at the park. Back in January, the board received a $4,607 community betterment grant from Prairie Meadows to purchase new targets after two catchers were reportedly stolen.
Organizers said the tournament will serve as a perfect opportunity to christen the new targets.
“It will be nice to see a lot of people come out to try out the new catchers and have a good time,” Seebeck said. “These events are only successful when people come out and take part in the community. The more we do that, we can continue to do for our community.”
Colfax Park and Auxiliary Board is in need of volunteers to aid in their projects. Anyone who wishes to volunteer can attend its monthly meeting at 6:30 p.m. in the basement of the Colfax United Methodist Church on the second Wednesday of every month.
For more information on the tournament, visit quarryspringspark.com, call 515-478-6272 or find Quarry Springs Park on Facebook.
Contact Anthony Victor Reyes at areyes@jaspercountytribune.com
