No One Welcomes Disc Golfers Like Athens GA

Last summer, The Athens Disc Golf Club (a.k.a. Frisbee golf) asked local businesses if they’d like to help Athens roll out the red carpet for players coming into town for the Sandy Creek Sling presented by Terrapin Beer Co. disc golf tournament. Their answer was “Yes!”

Tee signs from various businesses greeted the disc golfers, local food and drink was served, the tournament ran smoothly, and everyone had a great time. The event was so well received by the players (some driving in from Savannah and Macon), this year’s tournament sold out in 24 hours.

So Athens did it again.

Jittery Joe’s returned with coffee in the morning, while newcomer Ideal Bagel Co. threw in bagels to go with that coffee. Bel-Jean classed up the tournament presentation by transforming typical plain black-and-white programs into beautiful professional color programs. And Donderos’ Kitchen once again treated disc golfers and volunteers to their delicious sesame noodles and hummus (plus sandwiches) for lunch.

Some players (several from Athens and the north Georgia area) won a bonus Athens food prize, getting to enjoy Athens fare on their own time at NONA New Orleans ‘N Athens, Ted’s Most Best and Hendershot’s Coffee-Bar-Music. Trappeze Pub and Highwire Lounge doubled their support from last year, awarding twice as many disc golfers with their tasty ales and food.

And huge supporter of Athens disc golf – and all sorts of sports and recreation – Academy Sports & Outdoors sponsored the tournament with multiple prizes for the players, giving them a taste of their incredible selection.

Morgan Stanley also joined in the fun, sponsoring the coveted “Hole 14,” the only hole on the course where all the players throw from the same tee. While various divisions competed for a CTP (closest to the pin) prize throughout the tournament, Hole 14 hosted a CTP contest for each card on Round 1, giving prizes to one out of every four players.

Even though sleep-deprived from having new babies at home, both Model Citizen and Agora/Agora Vintage cheerfully renewed their sponsorships, while newcomer Treehouse kid & craft offered classes for some crafty kids.

Gyro Wrap owner David Carter was so happy with last year’s response, he not only signed up again this year, he’s asking about sponsorship for the return of Athens Disc Golf Club’s huge A Tier tournament, The 2014 Flying Eye Open at The Crucible, happening this November with U.S. and World Champions coming to Athens.

“I’d love to do more,” says Carter.

Several Athens Farmers Market vendors were at the Saturday tournament in spirit – and support signage – as well, with everyone’s favorite Honey Pop couple from 3 Porch Farm returning, plus new sponsors The Comerian artisan bakery, Booger Hill Bee Company local honey, and locally roasted 1000 Faces Coffee.

Viva! Argentine Cuisine, Independent Baking Co. and Juice Up: The Original Juice Café were also new to the scene, with Hungry Gnome Gardenscapes - disc golfers themselves - loving the opportunity to encourage Athenians to grow their own mouthwatering edibles.

"I've participated in a lot of tournaments, but there's no place like Athens," says Wes Campbell, director of The Georgia Super Series that the Sandy Creek tournament is a part of. "The support of the community really makes it a special event."

Heirloom Café was quick to return, along with the sustainable living Orange Twin Conservation Community, World Cup viewing party host The Globe, and S-Tax Georgia (speeding up your tax work so you have more time to play).

House Electric, a locally owned lighting showroom and full service wholesale electrical supply store (everything but the electrician, which last year’s article erroneously reversed), was also happy to support the tournament again and throw light on the sport.

And the Athens Yoe brothers of Don’t Nice Me Bro! disc golf videos returned as sponsors and players, placing first and third in their division, “brother against brother.” (That also highlighted the “shoot-out at the Sandy Creek Sling” family feud atmosphere, with three sets of competing brothers - two taking first place from their siblings, one set having to be separated by their divisions – and a father-son duel.).

There was also some fun with math with PDGA state representative Keith Johnson, who sponsors a specifically numbered hole in tournaments on behalf of his daughter “Future World Champion Lorelei Johnson #13697.” It’s always the sixth hole, which is usually Hole 6.

"We were both born on the 6th," says Johnson.

But with Sandy Creek Park’s 22-hole course layout cut to fit an 18-hole tournament, holes 4 and 5 were removed from the day’s play – and a challenging flight path ended hole 8’s existence years ago – so to follow his tradition of sponsoring the sixth hole, Johnson wound up sponsoring Hole 9.

As for the title sponsor, Terrapin Beer Co. and disc golf have a natural partnership, with mutual love and respect of the great outdoors and recreation. Several Terrapin employees play disc golf, while disc golfers are big fans of Terrapin's RecreationAle and the new Hi-5 California Style IPA, which are in travel-friendly cans and made for their favorite outdoor activities, like disc golfing, camping and fishing.

Terrapin and disc golf also share a spirit of generosity toward the community. Disc golfers often throw fundraising tournaments to help local clubs and schools, as well as fellow disc golfers in need, while Terrapin works to help the community in various ways, such as fundraising events, direct sponsorships, and partnerships.

“Two of our core company values are ‘Contribute to the Community’ and 'Do the Right Thing Always,'” says Terrapin president John Cochran. “Our fans are the reason we're where we are today, and our fans and employees are who make up our community. Anything we can do that supports those who've supported us is the right thing to do."

This year’s Sandy Creek tournament supported a fellow disc golfer in need, as well as EDGE (Educational Disc Golf Experience), a non-profit organization that provides tools for teachers to teach disc golf to schools, camps and youth programs. This year's winner of the Advanced Women's division, Athens native Jane Ellen Hanks, who also sponsored the tournament as a real estate agent with Keller Williams Realty Greater Athens, wrote a grant that got the EDGE program into Oglethorpe Avenue Elementary School where she teaches.

“Disc golf is great because it's an inexpensive sport that anybody can play,” says Hanks. “It's awesome to see how much it’s growing among women and kids.”

Since most of this year’s players live in north Georgia, with several living in the Athens area, the day was also a celebration of the local businesses supporting local disc golfers and their families and friends. During the morning players’ meeting, tournament director Ryan Adams praised the outpouring of support from Terrapin and the Athens community, and was met with cheers and applause.  

"I had a wonderful time in Athens for the Sandy Creek Sling,” says tournament Open winner Aaron Thomas of Savannah. “The course and the people from Athens were great. Ryan Adams does an outstanding job as tournament director. I definitely will be back next year!"

And Athens will welcome them all.

Photo galleries:

Highlights from the tournament

Sling sponsors in their natural habitat