McMinnville Parks and Recreation Department is hitting the basket for the second year with a Disc Golf Tournament at Pepper Branch Park. 

The Barren Fork Dam Tournament will be held Saturday, May 18. Divisions for adults and youth, ages 16 and up, will be offered.

Competitors will be using an improved course that is being described as fun and challenging.

“The original course was graciously put in by Boy Scout Troop 313,” said Kyle Clyde, of the Eagle Scout project by troop member Steven Laxton. “It was great, but had only 6 holes and many of those holes simply went back and forth across the field at Pepper Branch Park. With the renovation we now have nine, par 3 holes and two putting practice baskets to play on and the course uses Pepper Branch’s unique features to create a fun and challenging course. We have also placed concrete tee pads to throw from at every hole.”

While the course is playable at this time, coming in the future will be a sign that shows the entire course and a hole sign at each tee pad detailing the recommended flight path and the distance from tee pad to basket. Each basket/ hole, in addition to the concrete tee pads, will have an alternative tee location marked with a post so the course will essentially have 18 holes. Benches and a bathroom are also in the park’s future plans. 

Disc golf is a sport most everyone can play. With the permanent course at the park that’s free to the public, it can be an inexpensive sport. 

“Disc golf is a great sport because people of almost all abilities and fitness levels can play it,” said Clyde. “Unlike ball golf, disc golf is very inexpensive. Almost all disc golf courses are free to play and all you need is a disc that you can buy for less than $15. Like most things, you can spend a lot more if you would like to. On fair weather weekends, it is great to see two to five groups of people at a time playing disc golf on our new course. I can really see the sport growing here as locals and players from out of town come to play.”

For those individuals, there’s a club. A McMinnville Disc Golf Club meets, if the weather is good, on the last Thursday of each month at 6 p.m. at the park. The group is free and meetings are open to anyone with an interest in disc golf.

“I’m excited to see the city take an interest in our course,” said Kelly Perry. “They, along with several of our local disc golf club members, put in a lot of work to get it done. It’s great to see more people coming down there to play now that all the baskets and tee pads are in. Thanks McMinnville for helping to grow the sport.”

The McMinnville Disc Golf Barren Fork Dam Tournament kicks off May 18 at 9 a.m. Pre-registration is accepted now through May 1. Cost is $20, and all pre-registrants receive a goodie bag. Day of registration is $25 and begins at 8:30 a.m. First 10 receive a goodie bag. 

Register today at the Three Star Mall at 1410 Sparta Street.