Andrea’s rain did not deter disc golfers in participating in this years’ Disc Golf – Learn & Play. They came from as far as Bear and some were returning participants from last year.
The Friends of Cape Henlopen State Park extend our heartfelt thanks and appreciation to these participants, professionals, sponsors and volunteers who made this year’s event a success June 8.
The participants each received a free disc at registration from INNOVA Disc Golf and were then treated to some quality time from the professionals. Mark Mahaffey (Cape Henlopen State Park Disc Golf and DE Disc Golf) and Bob Marley (DE Disc Golf) provided a demonstration of long drives, mid-range, approach and putts showing the flight characteristics of various disc’s as well as grips and throwing techniques for normal to difficult lies. Check them out at DEDiscGolf.com
Each of the participants then used the practice period testing these different techniques while throwing at temporary baskets set up by the professionals. During this time the professionals aided and assisted each participant providing one-on-one tips and guidance.
After practice we held a challenging Closest-To-the-Pin contest with the winner only 29-and-one-half inches away and several others getting within four feet of the pin - practically everyone was within 12 feet of the pin. This was then followed by a nine-hole round played from the red tees. Each group was paired with a professional and they were given additional instruction and assistance throughout the round. A tie for second place in the round of golf was decided by a CTP throw that had to be measured to assess the winner. This year we were able to include a Youth division and a women’s division.
Thanks to our sponsors we were again able this year to give some incredible prizes from Lewes Cycle Sports, Delaware Paddlesports, Mr. P’s Pizzeria, World Cup Sports, and CHSP.
Thanks to our volunteers for helping organize and keeping the event rolling: Dan Cuozzo, Carl Hunt, Carl Lofgren and Chuck Moore.
The Friends are looking forward to this event again next year and in the meantime – remember, as a free service of the park, you can borrow loaner discs at the Seaside Nature Center for your own outing.
Educators and youth organization leaders check out Educational Disc Golf Experience – EDGE – developed by a group of World Champion disc golfers and subject matter experts to give you the tools for teaching a fun, easy-to-learn lifetime sport to young people. http://www.edgediscgolf.org/
Jim Gaskill
chairman, Disc Golf – Learn & Play
Cape Henlopen State Park