One of the disc golf baskets located in Urbanovsky Park on Texas Tech’s campus. Photo by Haley Goodman.
By Reece Nations
When out for a stroll at a local park, Lubbock residents might notice distinctive metal baskets adorned with layers of chains sitting atop pedestals in the ground scattered around. These contraptions are used for disc golf, one of the country’s fastest-growing recreational sports.
Often played on nine or 18-hole courses, the object of the game requires players to toss flying discs into the baskets in the fewest number of throws possible, according to the Professional Disc Golf Association website. Each contestant starts by throwing their discs from each hole’s corresponding tee box.
Justin Pena, Texas Tech University alumnus class of 2012, is a member of the Lubbock Windrider Disc Golf Club. He along with his father, Moses Pena, and brother-in-law, Ethan Aleman, are active members of the Lubbock disc golf community.
“Our big Lubbock tournament has about one-hundred and eighty people,” Pena said. “In the amateur division, Ethan actually won it. So he’s actually our champ.”
Founded in Aug. 2011, Pena said the club maintains a passionate base of disc golfers who play year-round. In addition to planning and promoting local tournaments, the group uses their Facebook group page to log and allocate chores that pertain the maintaining the courses around town.
Mowing, trimming and weed-whacking are just a few of the tasks that club members volunteer for on Facebook, he said. The disc golf community has had a healthy relationship with the Lubbock Parks & Recreation Department over the years.
This trend of cooperation with local government entities has resulted in substantial progress in adding courses over the years, Mike Bushell, Lubbock resident, and administrator of the Windrider Facebook group page said.
“Lubbock used to only have one disc golf course, which was put in by the city,” Bushell said. “But around seven years ago, some people in the community had the idea to put in another disc golf course.”
When it became evident that city council was unwilling to divert funding to this initiative, Bushell said councilmembers compromised and allowed residents to self-develop a new course. With the city’s consent, the course at Mae Simmons park was funded and constructed entirely by Lubbock disc golf enthusiasts.
The funding needed for ongoing maintenance, hosting events and building new courses around town comes from tournament fundraising, grants and donations, he said. Whether from buy-ins for a weekend tournament or directly out-of-pocket from a disc golfer, the overall upkeep of the facilities is heavily dependent on the generosity of local disc golf enthusiasts.
On Sunday, Dec. 8, the 7th annual Toys for Tots Tournament will be put on by members of the Windriders Disc Golf Club, Bushell said. Although the fee for entry into the tournament is $40 per team plus two new unwrapped gifts, Bushell said gloves and winter clothing can be donated as well.
The course will be set up all day at 5th Street and Avenue J with Pro, Amateur and Mixed divisions available for entry, he said. Tee time for the tournament is scheduled for 11 a.m.
“This year we’re holding it in downtown Lubbock, which is where it originated,” Bushell said. “It originated as an urban round.”
An “urban round” refers to a makeshift course temporarily set up on city streets for a unique experience, he said. Before the course in Urbanovsky Park was created, Bushell said he and his friends would set up urban rounds on campus at Texas Tech.
Originally, Mackenzie Park only had 17 baskets when Rob Lee, Lubbock resident and retired federal game warden, first started playing disc golf in 1988. Lee said the community was still saving money for the eighteenth basket at the time.
“When we need something done, we get on (Facebook) and we post,” Lee said. “And by golly, somebody’s going to show up with energy and enthusiasm.”
The greatest contribution by the City Council to the development of disc golf courses in Lubbock has been getting out of the private sector’s way, he said. All costs and physical effort associated with these initiatives are borne by local players and businesses who donate.
Like any activity that requires skill, a learning curve is involved with disc golf, Lee said. However, the sport’s simplistic and affordable nature makes it widely accessible to anyone interested in a new hobby.
“But the best thing about disc golf is that anyone can play,” Bushell said. “The second greatest thing about it is that you can go anywhere in the country and play ninety-percent of the courses for free.”
About Reece Nations, Managing Editor
