Texas Set to Host PDGA National Tour After Five-Year Absence
Date Published
The Lone Star State has long been known for its abundance of wide open spaces and sprawling landscapes. However, when it comes to disc golf, Texas is anything but flat. After a five-year absence from the PDGA National Tour Elite Series, the state is set to welcome back the competition with a bang. The 2011 Texas States Disc Golf Championships will be held at Jack Brooks Park in Hitchcock, marking a new chapter for the sport in the region.
According to Jake Walsdorf, Tournament Director of the Texas States Disc Golf Championships, the growth of disc golf in Texas has been nothing short of remarkable. "We've seen a huge increase in participation over the years," he explained. "Where we used to have 25 players on the course, now we're seeing three times that number." Walsdorf attributes this surge in popularity to the efforts of local organizers and enthusiasts who have worked tirelessly to promote the sport.
The new host course at Jack Brooks Park offers a unique combination of old and new challenges for competitors. The park's layout features a mix of open holes, wooded areas, hyzers, anhyzers, and even three island green courses that will test players' skills in creative ways. One of the most notable features of the course is its 50-foot hill, which boasts two teeing areas with vastly different challenges. Players will need to bring their A-game if they hope to succeed.
Walsdorf's passion for disc golf has been evident throughout his career as a landscape architect and advocate for the sport. In 1989, he helped secure funding for Galveston County parks by writing a grant that included disc golf as one of its innovative recreational opportunities. Today, he is working alongside Co-Tournament Director Neil Dambra and event Registrar Billy Gilbert to bring the PDGA National Tour back to Texas.
The return of the PDGA National Tour to Texas is seen as a major boost for the sport in the state. With 16 years of history behind it, the Texas States Disc Golf Championships has proven itself to be one of the premier events on the circuit. As Walsdorf noted, "If this event's history is any indication, then disc golf in Houston and throughout the state will continue to have a bright future indeed."
For more information about the 2011 Texas States Disc Golf Championships, visit www.texasstates.org/Texas_States/Home.html. For details on the PDGA National Tour Elite Series, head to www.pdga.com/national-tour.
This article was compiled from disc golf coverage with AI assistance. Source: pdga.com — https://www.pdga.com/2011-texas-states-preview