The North Georgia area is home to a long list of baseball and softball tournaments, but Catoosa County's newest event will cater to an often overlooked group of athletes: disc golfers.
On Saturday, May 6, the Catoosa County Parks and Recreation Department is hosting its first Frisbee golf tournament at Jack Mattox Recreation Complex.
The tournament, open to all men and women age 14 and above, was conceived after department heads saw how heavily Jack Mattox's 9-hole disc golf course was used by locals. The course draws up to 50 golfers on nice days, said Travis Barbee, the county's director of Parks and Recreation, and he regularly sees families and retirees alike playing throughout the week.
"So we said, 'Hey, if this many people want to do it, let's organize it and see if we can have a good turnout,'" Barbee said.
Players toss a Frisbee at Jack Mattox Recreation Complex's disc golf course on April 25. Catoosa County is hosting its first Frisbee golf tournament there Saturday, May 6. (Contributed photo by Travis Barbee)
As of press time, 25 people had signed up for the tournament, but Barbee expects more will sign up for the 75 available slots as the word gets out before game day.
The tournament will work similarly to stroke play in golf. Groups of four competitors will tackle the 9-hole course together, passing through twice to make it a full 18-hole course. The aim is to throw discs into a series of metal baskets, with fewer throws resulting in a higher score.
Trophies will be awarded to first, second and third place winners, as well as discs, depending on the turnout, Barbee said.
Whether they are a disc golfing pro or not, Barbee encourages everyone to attend. The 9-hole course has been described as "beginner friendly," and the wide, open space makes it fun for players who like to toss discs as hard as they can, but has just enough trees to make it a challenge, he said.
"People are always spending several million dollars on ballfields and gymnasiums, but [for] people that like Frisbee golf, it's few and far between that they get something made just for them," Barbee said. "So I just want to show that I'm here to serve everyone."
To register for the tournament, call 706-891- 4199 or visit tinyurl.com/CatoosaDiscGolf2017. The fee to compete is $10.