Disc golf tournament doubles in size after pandemic popularity
Winnipeg's best frisbee players, along with a host of newbies, filled Kilcona Park Sunday morning to take part in an annual disc golf tournament.
Taking place every year at the end of September, the 2021 Fall Classic offers a chance for disc golf players to test their skills towards the end of the season.
This year, however, the annual tournament has nearly doubled in size.
"There's an increase in the number of golfers coming to the sport. With the pandemic and everyone needing to get outside and safely distanced, disc golf is the perfect game for that," said Will Belford, the tournament's organizer.
Belford said the Fall Classic usually gets around 100 players, but this year there are 170.
"This year is the first year we've been able to introduce a novice division. So, we still have the advanced, intermediate and beginner, and then we've added novice,"
The tournament also has a professional division where pro disc golfers play for cash.
"It is competition and tournament, but I always pride myself on trying to make it as welcoming as possible for new players," added Belford.
Belford said disc golf is a great sport for people to pick up.
"If you've ever thrown a normal frisbee in ultimate frisbee or at the beach, then you can play disc golf," he said. "It's very fast to learn, but takes a very long time to perfect."
Belford also recommends the sport because of the low cost and need for little equipment.
"Being able to use some of the beautiful parks in Winnipeg is a huge benefit of being able to get out and play disc golf. It helps that there are no green fees. You can go out and play anytime for free."
With many new players on the course, veteran disc golfers are quick to lend some tips.
"A lot of the folks out here have been playing for many years, and so I think on the one hand they're just really happy to see the sport grow, see lots of new players come out," said Bedford.
The influx of new players also comes with an added bonus.
"As the tournament grows, so does its payout, so it's kind of a reward for their years of dedication," noted Belford.
Belford said the best way for people to learn more about the sport is to head to Disc Golf Manitoba's Facebook page.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
Harvey Weinstein's 2020 rape conviction overturned by N.Y. appeals court
New York's highest court on Thursday overturned Harvey Weinstein's 2020 rape conviction, reversing a landmark ruling of the #MeToo era in determining the trial judge improperly allowed women to testify about allegations against the ex-movie mogul that weren't part of the case.
BREAKING Honda to get up to $5B in govt help for EV battery, assembly plants
Honda is set to build an electric vehicle battery plant next to its Alliston, Ont., assembly plant, which it is retooling to produce fully electric vehicles, all part of a $15-billion project that is expected to include up to $5 billion in public money.
MPP Sarah Jama asked to leave Ontario legislature for wearing keffiyeh
MPP Sarah Jama was asked to leave the Legislative Assembly of Ontario by House Speaker Ted Arnott on Thursday for wearing a keffiyeh, a garment that is banned at Queen’s Park.
CTE: Researchers believe widespread brain injury may contribute to veteran suicide rate
Researchers are working to better understand if some Canadian military veterans may be suffering from Chronic Traumatic Encephalopathy, also known as CTE -- a disorder previously found in the brains of professional football and hockey players after their death.
1 arrested in northern Alberta during public shelter order
Residents of John D'Or Prairie, a community on the Little Red River Cree Nation in northern Alberta, were told to take shelter Thursday morning during a police operation.
Secret $70M Lotto Max winners break their silence
During a special winner celebration near their hometown, Doug and Enid shared the story of how they discovered they were holding a Lotto Max ticket worth $70 million and how they kept this huge secret for so long.
Remains from a mother-daughter cold case were found nearly 24 years later, after a deathbed confession from the suspect
A West Virginia father is getting some sense of closure after authorities found the remains of his young daughter and her mother following a deathbed confession from the man believed to have fatally shot them nearly two decades ago.
New deep-water channel allows first ship to pass Key bridge wreckage in Baltimore
The first cargo ship passed through a newly opened deep-water channel in Baltimore on Thursday after being stuck in the harbor since the Francis Scott Key Bridge collapsed four weeks ago, halting most maritime traffic through the city's port.
First in Canada procedure performed at London, Ont. hospital
A London man has become the first person in Canada to receive a robotic assisted surgery on his spine. Dave Myeh suffered from debilitating, chronic back pain that led to sciatica in his right now and extreme pain in his lower back.