Disc Golf Attracts Thousands to National Tournament at Winthrop (09/25/24)

HIGHLIGHTS

• There will be competitive play during the day around the Winthrop Coliseum and an evening concert series following each day's last round.
• More than 100 players are expected to compete, along with another 40 players in the Throw Pink Women's Disc Golf Championship.

ROCK HILL, SOUTH CAROLINA -Disc golfers from all over the country will flock to Winthrop University from Oct. 10-13 to participate in the 26th annual United States Disc Golf Championship (USDGC) on the campus.

There will be competitive play during the day around the Winthrop Coliseum and an evening concert series following each day's last round. More than 100 players are expected to compete, along with another 40 players in the Throw Pink Women's Disc Golf Championship. Add in more than 6,000 attendees and another 200,000+ watching the livestream on Disc Golf Network, and this event continues to show the popularity of the sport.

Here is the schedule for the week.

Fans will be watching to see who takes home the generous payout for winning the tournament. Prizes are given for those who place from first through 20th place.

Winthrop's Disc Golf Course has been the site of the USDGC since its inception in 1999. Although the course has seen minor changes each year, it always presents a combination of narrow fairways, lots of out-of-bounds area, elevated baskets and plenty of water. Known to be physically, emotionally and mentally challenging, the course allows for creativity in shot-making and a unique focus on shot placement, rather than on pure distance alone.

With Winthrop as a faithful partner, tournament officials have elevated the sport to new heights and made Rock Hill and York County a global destination for disc golf enthusiasts.

Organizers want to make sure the tournament stays fan friendly, said Jonathan Poole, USDGC co-founder and event director. "Last year we celebrated 25 years of showcasing the game we love, and it was a great success. This year should be no different."

Look for themes each day during the tournament:

Thursday is Fan Appreciation Day - day passes available at a discount
Friday is Throw Pink Women's Day - All ladies receive free admission plus there will be an all-female lineup at the Fresh and Now Festival and a Mimosa Party in the Championship Village at 2 p.m.
Saturday is Family Adventure Day which features a kid's fun zone with disc golf, mini golf, corn hole, skateboard demos and more.
Sunday is Championship Sunday where legends are made. The top players to follow are: Gannon Buhr, Ricky Wysocki, Calvin Heimburg, Kristin Tattar, Eveliina Salonen and Ohn Scoggins.
The Fresh & Now, an evening concert series at the Winthrop Lake, returns for a second year with start times each night around 6 p.m. Presented by the USDGC and Visit York County, here is the music schedule:

Thursday, Oct. 10 - Treehouse

Friday, Oct. 11 - Karina Rykman followed by DJ Rivka Ruth

Saturday, Oct. 12 - Perpetual Groove & Friends

Sunday, Oct. 13 - Clayton Q

The Championship Village features over 40 vendors (both local and disc golf related), more than 10 food trucks, beverages by Highland Brewing and a mini disc golf course.

There also will be a blood drive with The Blood Connection both Friday and Saturday from 11 a.m. to 7:30 p.m. Those who sign up in advance will receive a $40 e-gift card and a free pass to the championship.

How to Purchase Tickets

Tickets may be purchased online. Day passes are $25 and VIP passes are $100. Winthrop students, faculty and staff and active/retired military get in free with a Winthrop ID, including to The Fresh & Now concerts. Admission is free to locals daily after 5 p.m.

At least 350 Winthrop students attended last year's championship, organizers said.

For More Information

For information about the tournament, contact Genevieve Young at [email protected]. For information about Winthrop, contact Judy Longshaw, news and media services manager, at [email protected].