Robbie Wilson watches his shot during the Wabash Ice Bowl disc golf tournament Saturday at Murdock Park in Lafayette. All proceeds of the tournament benefit Food Finders Food Bank. (By Michael Heinz/Journal & Courier)
The sun was shining brightly, temperatures hung in the midteens and a shallow layer of snow topped the frozen grass blades Saturday morning in Lafayette's Murdock Park...It was a good day for disc golf -- at least for these hardy souls.
About a dozen disc golfers, with a few stragglers coming in a bit later, played the course in Murdock Park Saturday morning for the inaugural Ice Bowl, sponsored by the Wabash Disc Golf Club.
"The Ice Bowl is a national series of charity events to raise money for food banks across the country," said club treasurer Steve Chino of Lafayette. By day's end, through entry fees and sales of merchandise, organizers had raised more than $400 for Food Finders Food Bank.
Participants also had to bring three cans of food as part of their entry fee, Chino said.
Played almost exactly the same way as traditional golf, disc golf replaces the ball and club with a flying disc that players hurl toward a raised basket in lieu of a cup.
Disc golfers at Saturday's charity event were serious about their sport. Most carried specialized disc golf bags, containing various types of flying discs to use on various shots.
"I'd say I'm somewhat serious," said Craig Merkel of Lafayette. "We try to play year-round if we can."
Merkel and his group were planning on playing in another Ice Bowl up north in several days. "We're knocking some rust off today," he said. "Plus, it's a good way to help Food Finders and contribute a little bit."
"I'd consider myself an avid disc golfer all year long no matter what the weather is," said Robbie Wilson of Lafayette.
Wilson said Saturday's weather was cold, but OK for disc golf because the tee boxes were frozen enough to prevent slipping. "I've actually played in a 36-hole tournament in freezing rain and sleet all day long," he said.
Chino said he hoped more people would show up for next winter's planned event, and that more people in general would become interested in disc golf. No date is yet available for next year's event.
"The advantage is we don't have greens fees," Chino said.
"And it only costs about $10 to buy a disc and get into the sport. It's something anybody can do."
Read more: disc golf - Bing News
