On the Course: A Snowmassive debut

SNOWMASS ” Snowmass will host the inaugural Snowmassive Disc Golf Open this Friday through Sunday, June 20-22.

Sanctioned by the Professional Disc Golf Association, the three-day event will take place on the slopes of Snowmass for cash and prizes.

“Snowmass is one of only a handful of sanctioned disc golf mountain events in the state of Colorado,” said event manager Dave Elkan in a press release. The competition is the first step toward hosting a national event, he said.

The Snowmassive Disc Golf Open is a limited-entry PDGA tier B competition. It will offer 135 registered players two days of sanctioned play plus a Doubles Best tournament kickoff Friday. Participants will get to compete in 27 holes on both Saturday and Sunday.

Players will be treated to two days of lift tickets, a commemorative disc and a players’ party on Saturday night. Prizes will be awarded for the top 40 percent of each division (men and women, from novice to pro) with four or more participants. Cash prizes for the pro division are based on a percentage of total payouts for both men and women.

Registration fees are: $75 for open class, $50 for advanced, $40 for intermediate and recreational, and $25 for novice and junior. To register, go to http://www.milehighdiscgolf.org/2008/snowmassive.php.

Snowmass’ two 18-hole courses are free to the public, although a $10 day pass for the chairlift is recommended. While the 450 inches of snow last winter has slowed the opening of all 36 holes, Snowmass officials expect both courses to be open fully by July 1.

Snowmass’ disc golf courses change location every year and boast varied terrain including water hazards, dramatic elevation change with tee boxes facing uphill, downhill and sideways, and tee boxes with spectacular mountain views. The summer disc golf season concludes with the Autumn Open, a competition traditionally held the weekend after Labor Day with a cash and prize payout.

Much like its cousin, old-fashioned golf, the object of disc golf is to traverse a course from beginning to end in the fewest number of throws with specially designed Frisbee discs that are aimed into a basket or target.