This past Saturday, the Athens Disc Golf Club hosted their first tournament since 2009, the 2013 Sandy Creek Sling presented by Terrapin Beer Co., at Sandy Creek Park. It was the fourth in the 2013 Georgia Super Six Series, and it wasn’t your usual disc golf tournament.
At most disc golf tournaments, sponsorship signs dot the course, raising money to finance the event or to add to the Pro payout. The sponsors are usually disc golf industry-related, such as disc manufacturers Innova and Discraft or the disc golfers themselves. And disc golfers tend to play different courses without spending much time in the host towns.
Athens set out to change that.
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When tournament director Ryan Adams told Flagpole magazine he’d decided to have a tournament “as a platform to showcase Sandy Creek Park to area players," the Athens Disc Golf Club decided to ask local businesses if they’d like to use the tournament as a platform for Athens travel and tourism. The goal is to infuse non-disc golf sponsorship into the sport, make Athens competitive with other cities in the Pro payout, and give players and their families a “Welcome to Athens” reason to enjoy the host town during the tournament weekend as well as during return visits.
The Athens business response was overwhelmingly positive.
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“Let’s do this,” Norman Scholz, general manager of The Globe bar, said with a smile to the Athens Disc Golf rep.
"Thank you for thinking of us!" said Allie Miller of Model Citizen Salon.
“Why ya so good to me?” asked Seth Hendershot, who, in the middle of moving his Hendershot’s (Coffee-Bar-Music) to Bottleworks on Prince Avenue this month, insisted on paying the sponsorship fee in cash “plus a sandwich!” – courtesy of his foodie partner Ivey Hughes of Ivey’s Eats, who’s busy revealing his true culinary skills by adding finer evening dining during the Hendershot’s sets.
Terrapin joined the tournament first, signing on as the title sponsor. Already a supporter of disc golf, they saw a perfect outdoors audience for their first canned beer, RecreationAle. They were followed by 27 local sponsors plus two traditional disc golf sponsors (Future World Champion Lorelei Johnson #13697, whose father Keith Johnson has posted her sponsorship since she was born, and Atlanta’s enthusiastic The Money Team disc golf club).
3 Porch Farm, a young couple who run their biodiesel fruit, vegetable and flower farm by themselves and are a favorite at the Athens Farmers Market, used the tournament as their business’ first sponsorship to the community. Small business owner Airee Hong of Athens’ cool vintage shop Agora has to deal with major AC repair expenses and still didn’t hesitate to reach for her checkbook.
“For players to buy plane tickets to come here to play Frisbee golf, or loading up the RV and driving across - I know how it works,” says Mike Bradshaw, owner of The Grill, Athens’ 24-hour diner that’s been serving classic burgers, malts and more since 1983. He has a family pass to Sandy Creek Park, enjoying the gorgeous lake and wooded recreational environment, and started playing disc golf in the mid-‘90s. “I definitely want to encourage them to come back.”
It seems the investment paid off.
“Athens has always treated me well, and the course in town is beautiful and fun to play which always makes for a good experience,” says four-time World Doubles Champion Kevin McCoy, who took first place in the Men’s Open division Saturday. “The prize money was fantastic this year and I'm sure other regional players will consider making the trip to Athens next year.”
"Many thanks to tournament director Ryan Adams and all of the Athens disc golf folks for an incredible event,” added fellow Pro Ryan McMaken. “We'll try to turn out more Savannah players next year."
Saturday, the welcome party literally gave all 72 local and regional players a taste of Athens throughout the tournament day. Jittery Joe’s served their locally brewed coffee in the morning at the players meeting (and some players got their refreshing caffeine kick in afternoon by adding ice). Then Donderos’ Kitchen treated everyone to a free lunch of their classic Sesame Noodles, Hummus Platter and veggies (plus sandwiches for extra). And after the tournament, Terrapin poured tastes of their local brew for a wrap-up party at the brewery.
Some players got to continue their free tastes of Athens by winning gift cards during the tournament for fast and spicy Barberitos, a favorite in Athens, and the Big Easy flavor of a NONA New Orleans ‘N Athens dinner. All the players and guests were encouraged to enjoy downtown delights, such as Mediterranean salad and wraps at Gyro Wrap, classic-gone-vegetarian fare at The Grit, homespun gourmet fresh vegetable (and non-veggie) dishes at Heirloom Café, and gourmet pizza and cheesecakes at Ted’s Most Best, and to relax in a cozy casual setting with the finest craft beers at Trappeze Pub, enjoy an assortment beers and entertainment at The Globe, be pampered at Model Citizen Salon, or cool off with some Ben & Jerry’s ice cream on College Avenue.
The Athens community also recognizes there’s more to a disc golfer’s day-to-day life than playing disc golf just like there’s more to Athens than bars, restaurants, music and college football. So a variety of businesses stepped up as well, asking both local and visiting players...
Need financial advising? Todd Emily of Morgan Stanley. Want software for your Georgia business tax needs? S-Tax Georgia. Want to train your dog? Wiggly Pups. Need any sort of food equipment? Manning Brothers. Want an electrician? House Electric. Have printing needs? Bel-Jean. Want to commune with nature and artists? Orange Twin Conservation Community. Want to watch cool disc golf videos by Athenian disc golfers? dontnicemebro.com
With over 57,000 worldwide Professional Disc Golf Association (PDGA) members, and so many more taking up the sport recreationally, local businesses recognize potential for a new audience.
“I think in general we've seen an increased popularity in the sport, as it appeals to a wide audience,” Michael Costello, regional marketing specialist of Academy Sports and Outdoors, which has sponsored every disc golf event at Sandy Creek this year, told Flagpole.
It seems everyone in town, on the course and off, can find a reason to enjoy both Athens and disc golf.
For more photos from the tournament, see the gallery on the Athens Disc Golf Facebook page.
Full disclosure: Marilyn Estes is a member of Athens Disc Golf and, after breaking her wrist and requiring emergency surgery two days before the tournament, found herself sponsored by Athens Regional Hospital and Dr. Chip Ogburn (who plays Ultimate Frisbee).
