GOING FOR A SPIN
Local players fair well in association’s disc golf tournament
“All of the disc golf at Spring Lake Park is possible because of the Texarkana Parks and Recreation Department. They have been working with the TDGA over these past several years to make several upgrades to the course.” —Jim Enns
What is a growing sport that very few people have heard about?
That would be disc golf, which is being played at Spring Lake Park.
Disc golf (which some still call frisbee golf) has been around for many years and is played world-wide. A World Championship is held each year that last five days.
Terry Holt, 55, is the longest active player having started in 1991. “I believe it started here in 1987-88 with nine holes, and later expanded to 18 holes in 1992-93,” Holt said.
“Tim Walker, Tom Eddy and a few others were the ones that got disc golf started here,” Holt added.
Disc golf is scored like regular golf, with players trying to put a disc in a basket in the fewest amount of shots.
Holes range from around 260 feet to about 500 feet. Almost all holes are Par 3, and the best players usually go several shots under par.
Recently, the Texarkana Disc Golf Association hosted a special fundraiser for the Southern Arkansas University disc golf team.
Several local players fared well in the two-round doubles competition.
Texarkana's Cody Engstrom and Shreveport's Kevin Pelton placed second with a 36-hole total of 95.
Texarkana's Chase Steed and Camden, Ark.'s Jerry Ray came in third with a 97.
Engstrom played baseball at LibertyEylau and is now a baseball coach there. He holds the East Course record with a 45.
Steed, 27, who played tennis at Texas High for three years, started disc golf three years ago. He holds the record at the West Course with a 45.
Another top player is Steve Gerg, who started five years ago. The 28-year-old was the winner of the Open Division last Saturday at the Cherry Creek Classic in Canton, Texas. Steed placed second in the Advanced Division.
There are very few women players in the TDGA with Lauré Kennedy, 31, one of the best.
There are approximately 60 TDGA members, ranging in age from 14-74 according to president Jim Enns.
“The TDGA along with Eagle Scout Matthew Bias have been raising funds to replace 20 of the older baskets,” said Enns, who has been president for four years. “Several local businesses have donated money to aid in his endeavor. This will improve the appearance of the park and the fast growing sport of disc golf.
“All of the disc golf at Spring Lake Park is possible because of the Texarkana Parks and Recreation Department,” Enns added. “They have been working with the TDGA over these past several years to make several upgrades to the course.”
Eddie Aulds, recreation specialist with the Department of Parks and Recreation, has been very helpful and instrumental in gaining approval for the many improvements that have been done at Spring Lake Park.
The three 18-hole courses began as one 18-hole course in a wooded area of the park.
Spring Lake Park, however, is not the only place locally to play.
There is currently a 9-hole course at the Spillway Park at Wright Patman Lake that is looking to expand to 18 holes.
A 9-hole course will be going in at Bobby Ferguson Park on the Arkansas side, and the City of Wake Village has applied for a grant to put in a 9-hole course in King Park.
Disc golf is relatively inexpensive. A beginner can purchase a starter set that would include a long-range driver, a mid-range approach disc, and a putter for around $40. There is no cost to play at Spring Lake Park and at almost all disc golf courses.
If one chooses, membership in the TDGA is $25 a year that includes a T-shirt and bag tag.
Current events and all things concerning disc golf can be found on the Texarkana Disc Golf Association Facebook page.
Disc golf may have been slow in getting recognized at first in Texarkana, but it is gaining popularity in this fast growing sport.