The Crested Butte News Serving the Gunnison Valley since 1999
First tourney April 19 at WSC
Chris Brown continues his quest to make the Gunnison Valley a home for disc golf enthusiasts. Currently, disc golf is the fastest growing recreational sport in the country and Brown is carrying the torch up and down the valley. “It’s my passion. People have fun doing it,” says Brown.
This past year, Brown worked diligently to make improvements on two local courses. Brown turned the nine-hole course on Crested Butte Mountain into an 18-hole course that was ranked one of the top 25 adventure disc golf courses worldwide by the Professional Disc Golf Association.
In addition, Brown redesigned the course behind the Gunnison Elementary School, and new baskets are on the way.
Brown also hopes to continue working with Western State College this summer to build a new 18-hole course there.
Brown is kicking off the 2009 disc golf tournament season on Sunday, April 19 with the High Mountain Invitational on the existing Western State College course.
Brown has 75 sponsors lined up offering up numerous prizes and Clark’s Market is sponsoring the post tournament barbeque.
“Despite the economic times, sponsors are still hanging in there,” says Brown. “Everyone’s pitching in—it’s nice to see.”
Brown’s efforts at spreading the word and putting together tournaments started to show results last year, with as many as 70 players showing up for his tournaments.
While Brown realizes that several people are leaving for warmer climates right now, he still expects to see more than 30 players for the High Mountain Invitational and will take as many as possible.
“If I get 30-plus I’ll be happy,” says Brown. “A lot of people are talking about it.”
Registration for the High Mountain Invitational is $10. Players can register early by emailing Brown at [email protected] or the day of the event at 9 a.m. at the first tee of the Western State College course. The tournament starts at 10 a.m.
The High Mountain Invitational is the first of four tournaments Brown hopes to put together this summer. The second tournament, the Battle at Big Mine III, will be held at the town of Crested Butte course on Sunday, June 7. Brown is still working on a possible two-day tournament on the Crested Butte Mountain course in July and then will close the 2009 tournament season on Sunday, September 13, with the location to be determined.
“I’m looking forward to it,” says Brown. “It’s going to be a great season.”
