y Nick Brockman, Messenger Sports Reporter nbrockman@the-messenger.com
Popularity for disc golf has increased steadily in western Kentucky during the past few years and one local enthusiast will make Madisonville the sport's epicenter for at least one day this weekend.
HB Clark, who designed the course at Madisonville City Park, will host the 2nd Annual Ideal Market Madisonville Open on Saturday. Participants from around the region and at least four different states are expected.
"There's a lot of people in the Madisonville, Princeton, Hopkinsville area that have taken the game up in the last couple years and because of that we'll have a lot of recreational players," Clark said.
Saturday's competition will feature 12 divisions including pro, advanced, intermediate and recreational. The pros will compete for a cash purse while recreational players will battle for pro shop prizes.
The event is a part of the AT&T Disc Golf Series and a Professional Disc Golf Association sanctioned event.
Though the event will draw some of the area's best talent, one local golfer said he thinks he will be the champion.
"It's my home court and I'm not afraid of anybody that comes out there, whether they've traveled night and day for a period of months just to get here for this tournament," Matt Vaughn jokingly asserted. "They're walking onto my turf."
HB Clark, who designed the course at Madisonville City Park, will host the 2nd Annual Ideal Market Madisonville Open on Saturday. Participants from around the region and at least four different states are expected.
"There's a lot of people in the Madisonville, Princeton, Hopkinsville area that have taken the game up in the last couple years and because of that we'll have a lot of recreational players," Clark said.
Saturday's competition will feature 12 divisions including pro, advanced, intermediate and recreational. The pros will compete for a cash purse while recreational players will battle for pro shop prizes.
The event is a part of the AT&T Disc Golf Series and a Professional Disc Golf Association sanctioned event.
Though the event will draw some of the area's best talent, one local golfer said he thinks he will be the champion.
"It's my home court and I'm not afraid of anybody that comes out there, whether they've traveled night and day for a period of months just to get here for this tournament," Matt Vaughn jokingly asserted. "They're walking onto my turf."
Vaughn, who will compete in the advanced division, said his personal best is five strokes under par, but the course record is eight below.
Locals like Vaughn will undoubtedly have an advantage with familiarity of the course and plan to take advantage.
The toughest section of the course comes on holes seven and eight where players must navigate around the park's lake.
"The lake gives everybody trouble on that course," Clark said. "It comes into play on a couple holes where you don't think it would and you have to throw over it and alongside it quite a bit on seven and eight. The locals that can play seven and eight well will have a great advantage."
Vaughn also acknowledged the water's impact on players.
"A lot of times they intimidate," Vaughn said of the lake's presence. "A lot of people will lay up. I practice it and practice it. I can throw over the lake and I skip the lay up, which gives me a stroke on that hole."
Vaughn admitted he has lost upward of 25-30 discs in the lake before he perfected his toss.
As of Thursday afternoon, Clark said 25 individuals pre-registered, but expects many to sign up Saturday.
"Most disc golfers are procrastinators, so they'll just come in (Saturday)," he said.
Registration is $20 and includes two rounds of tournament play, lunch and a disc. Spectators are encouraged and professionals will tee off at 8:30 a.m. and approximately 1 p.m.
A glow disc golf tournament will conclude the day's events. The glow competition will be a nine-hole, two-person scramble to start at 9 p.m. Registration for that event is $10 and includes a glow in the dark disc.
For more information, visit www.BluegrassDiscGolf.org/Madisonville or call tournament director HB Clark, 792-0672.
Locals like Vaughn will undoubtedly have an advantage with familiarity of the course and plan to take advantage.
The toughest section of the course comes on holes seven and eight where players must navigate around the park's lake.
"The lake gives everybody trouble on that course," Clark said. "It comes into play on a couple holes where you don't think it would and you have to throw over it and alongside it quite a bit on seven and eight. The locals that can play seven and eight well will have a great advantage."
Vaughn also acknowledged the water's impact on players.
"A lot of times they intimidate," Vaughn said of the lake's presence. "A lot of people will lay up. I practice it and practice it. I can throw over the lake and I skip the lay up, which gives me a stroke on that hole."
Vaughn admitted he has lost upward of 25-30 discs in the lake before he perfected his toss.
As of Thursday afternoon, Clark said 25 individuals pre-registered, but expects many to sign up Saturday.
"Most disc golfers are procrastinators, so they'll just come in (Saturday)," he said.
Registration is $20 and includes two rounds of tournament play, lunch and a disc. Spectators are encouraged and professionals will tee off at 8:30 a.m. and approximately 1 p.m.
A glow disc golf tournament will conclude the day's events. The glow competition will be a nine-hole, two-person scramble to start at 9 p.m. Registration for that event is $10 and includes a glow in the dark disc.
For more information, visit www.BluegrassDiscGolf.org/Madisonville or call tournament director HB Clark, 792-0672.
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