The Greater Cincinnati Disc Golf Association recently hosted a singles tournament at Devou Park in Covington, Kentucky to raise funds for the Devou Park Disc Golf Course, which was vandalized twice in three months. Despite the damage done to the course, the event brought together players of all skill levels, united in their passion for the sport and their desire to see the course restored to its former glory.
Ryan Friebert, the tournament director, expressed his gratitude for the disc golf community’s support and the success of the event. He said, “More official stuff to come regarding payouts, prizes, etc. but I just want to say thank you to our disc golf community for participating in an awesome event at Devou Golf and Event Center. Yesterday was the first time in multiple years that I’ve seen some of you and it was great to do so. To all of the new people I met and new players to the sport, yesterday was about as good as it gets and I hope you’ll continue to show up to our events through the rest of the year.”
Ryan went on to thank Jimmy Boyer, the General Manager at Devou, for giving the Greater Cincinnati Disc Golf Association the opportunity to showcase their sport and community. He also expressed his appreciation to the individuals who helped with setup and breakdown of the event, including Ian Mack, Andy Shenk, Joey Hood, Alex Lee, Trey Martin, Ozgur Mert, Sam Antoline, Tony Vincent, Tony Dornbusch, and Caleb.
The event not only attracted skilled players and disc golf enthusiasts but also generous individuals, including Grace Crenshaw from UnsolicitedDiscPix on Instagram, who showed up to capture the excitement of the event and help raise awareness for the Devou Park Disc Golf Course. Her stunning photographs highlighted the passion and dedication of the players and the community as a whole. In addition, on behalf of Tacky Saks, Grace generously donated 40 saks to help with the fundraising efforts, demonstrating the spirit of unity and generosity that defines the disc golf community. Her contribution was greatly appreciated by all involved, and her actions truly reflect the values that make this sport so special.
The Devou Golf Course was transformed into an exciting 18-hole course for the event, with players navigating through challenging terrain and obstacles to showcase their skills and support the Devou Park Disc Golf Course. The event also included exciting competitions, such as CTPs (closest to pin) and long drive challenges, which drew cheers and applause from the supportive crowd. In addition, players and attendees had the chance to enjoy delicious food and refreshing drinks throughout the day. The event truly had something for everyone, making it a great day outing for the entire community.
The temporary course presented an exciting challenge for the players who turned up to support the Devou Park Disc Golf Course, with a whopping 164 competitors taking part. It was Jackson Kemper, an amateur from Morning View, Kentucky, who emerged victorious with a total score of -11. Alex Lee, a professional from Fort Thomas, Kentucky, claimed second place with a total score of -8, followed closely by Ben Winks, a professional from Cincinnati, Ohio, also with a total score of -8. These skilled players put their best foot forward not only for their own personal achievements but also for the greater good of the community.
The closest to pin winners were Ben Winks on hole 2, Nick Shoemaker on hole 5, Matthew Lundberg on hole 7, Jordan Monnin on hole 10, Jon Floyd on hole 11, Justin Fairchild on hole 13, and Caleb Clifton on hole 15. Scottie Saylor won the long drive on hole 6, with the winner on hole 18, Harrison Young.
For players like Ozgur Mert, the tournament was not only about competition, but also about supporting the disc golf community. Mert expressed his appreciation for the event, saying, “One hundred and sixty-four players showed up and it was awesome!” He went on to say that he would love to find the person or people responsible for damaging the baskets at the Devou Park Disc Golf Course, calling them the “thief of joy.” Despite the damage, Ozgur emphasized that the community was strong, saying, “Our disc golf community is resilient. The leaders and larger community also stand with us against the vandalizers. We will continue to take pride in our courses and gain the joy that comes with frolfing in the park.”
Chuck Penick, a recreational player, also shared his experience at the event, stating, “The course was well put together with reasonable out of bounds and overall just super fun shots.” Penick also shared his excitement for the community support, saying, “When we finished on hole 18 on a super long uphill hole we had a huge crowd at the bar and grill of the park! It was super cool having them cheer and yell after our shots finishing up!”
Chuck shared his admiration for Ryan Freibert, the tournament director, saying that he did an amazing job organizing the event and putting together a fun and competitive layout. He also expressed his appreciation for the opportunity to play on a ball course, saying, “Been playing 2 years and I haven’t had the opportunity to play a ball course yet, so when I seen Ryan running this I had to jump on board and join up asap. It’s a total different type of disc golf and it was super fun!”
The GCDGA Presents A Day @ Devou Temporary fundraiser was a heartwarming display of community support for the sport and the course. It was a shining example of what can happen when a community comes together to support something they believe in. The future of the Devou Park Disc Golf Course looks bright, and with the continued dedication of individuals like Ryan and the support of the community, there’s no limit to what this sport can achieve.
In the end, the event was a celebration of the sport and the community that makes it possible. It showed that despite any setbacks or challenges, the disc golf community will always come together to support each other and the sport they love. Here’s to many more successful tournaments and events to come, and to the continued growth and success of disc golf!
