Second annual disc golf tournament set for Mississippi College
Disc golf is a fast-growing sport for men and women of all ages that’s taking root in dozens of countries around the globe.
One of the world’s best lifetime fitness activities, disc golf will be spotlighted at the second annual Clock Tower Classic at Mississippi College. Set for April 20, the tournament will attract players from around the state at the nine-hole course near the University Place parking lot.
The event begins with a 3:30 p.m. clinic and demonstration run by disc golf professionals. The tournament kicks off an hour later that Friday. MC Wellness for Life programs and the Blue Cross & Blue Shield Foundation of Mississippi are teaming up as the sponsors.
Disc golf is played much like traditional golf. Instead of a ball and clubs, players use a disc or Frisbee. The sport originated in the 1970s.
Players throw a golf disc from a tee into an elevated metal basket. Trees, shrubs and terrain changes can pose interesting obstacles to golfers. The way to win is to complete each hole with the fewest strokes.
Fans seeking to discover more should check out the handy guide online from the Professional Disc Golf Association. The group’s membership of nearly 100,000 spans nearly fifty nations. The PDGA is the governing board for the sport and sanctions competitive events. Skill levels for players range from novice to professional.
On a windy spring afternoon, the inaugural MC Clock Tower Classic attracted twenty-one, two-man teams. “Hopefully we can double the number of teams this year,” says Piper Walters, coordinator of MC Wellness for Life initiatives. “This is more of an event to increase the awareness of the MC disc golf course and its use for a fun way for physical activity.”
The focus of MC Wellness for Life “is to help people become more physically active,” says Walters, a kinesiology instructor. Disc golf is a good fit along with other sports and healthy eating habits.
Around the U.S., a nine-hole disc golf course can be built on as little as five acres of land. A championship-caliber eighteen-hole course can exist on thirty to forty acres.
The key attraction for players on MC’s nine-hole course is to have fun, get some exercise and enjoy the fellowship time. There’s no need to rent a golf cart or spend a fortune on equipment.
Last year, disc golfers came to the first tournament came from schools like Mississippi State University, Hinds Community College as well as MC.
Disc golf professionals Steven Hillerman and Peter Hindman will be leading the clinic. A Madison resident, Hillerman is sponsored by One Time Disc Golf. He ranked seventh at the 2017 Pro Worlds Distance Contest and was the 2016 National Collegiate Distance Champion. He’s served as president of the Mississippi State Disc Golf Team and is the state’s sixth highest rated player. His PDGA rating is 977.
A Brandon resident, Hindman was a two-time champ at the PDGA B Tier C-9 Blowout. He’s the owner and operator of One Time Disc Golf. His PDGA rating is 945. Peter is a designer of disc golf courses. Hindman finished third at the 2017 Weapons of Grass Finale Tour.
To register for the disc golf tournament, email mcwellnessforlife@mc.edu or contact Piper Walters at 601-925-7752.
