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About East Oregonian : E.O. (Pendleton, OR) 1888-current | View Entire Issue (April 23, 2016)
LIFESTYLES Upcoming concerts in the area/3C Easy baked chicken for weekdays/4C WEEKEND, APRIL 23-24, 2016 Gardens that help protect butterflies /9C Staff photo by Tammy Malgesini With the dam as a backdrop, Jordan Peterson of Kennewick tosses an approach shot on the third hole at the McNary Dam Disc Golf Course. 7+52:,1*3/$67,& 5$77/,1*&+$,16 Disc golfers flock to McNary Dam course land.” Located on U.S. Army Corps of Engineers property at McNary Lock After traveling 1,100 miles and Dam, a nine-hole course was from his home in Farmington, created several years ago. A recent 1HZ0H[LFRRQHRIWKH¿UVWWKLQJV expansion added nine more holes. The front nine features mani- Sean Duggins did when he stopped in Eastern Oregon was a Google cured grass with trees in a park-like setting. The dam and Columbia search for disc golf courses. Readily admitting he’s a disc golf River provides a picturesque back- addict, Duggins broke up the long drop. Most of the newer holes offer drive by rattling the chains at three additional challenges with scrub brush, elevation changes and some different courses along the way. “Disc golf is a passion for me,” wide-open fairways. A member of both the Tri-Cities he said. “I go all over the place with my job and I try to support the and Columbia River disc golf clubs, Matt Richmond helped establish leagues at the places I’m at.” 'XJJLQVZDVSOHDVHGWR¿QGWKH the Umatilla Disc Golf Club last McNary Dam Disc Golf Course not August. Serving as club president, too far away. The course, he said, the Umatilla man is excited about offers a challenge for experienced the course expansion and what players, but also is very user-friendly comes with it. “It’s more of an attractive course for beginners. “It’s a little gem out there,” and registered on popular phone Duggins said. “The course itself applications that people utilize to plays well and it’s on a nice piece of ¿QG FRXUVHV´ KH VDLG ³,W¶V VRUW RI By TAMMY MALGESINI East Oregonian Staff photo by Tammy Malgesini Jackson Bass, far right, prepares to take an approach shot on the 11th hole during a recent doubles tournament at the McNary Dam Disc Golf Course. like build it and they will come.” During a recent Umatilla Club Dubs Tournament — which is similar to a best-ball golf scramble — participants hailed from across Staff photo by Tammy Malgesini Matt Richmond, president of the Umatilla Disc Golf Club, discusses club business and rules for a recent doubles tournament at the McNary Dam Disc Golf Course. the region, including Hermiston, Umatilla, Boardman, Kennewick and Spokane. Former Richland resident Donny Ballew was playing the course IRU WKH ¿UVW WLPH VLQFH WKH QHZ holes were added. The expansion, the Spokane man said, turned a beginner’s course into a force to be reckoned with. “I’m really happy with what Umatilla is doing here,” he said. “I love the mix between short place- ment drives and the holes that allow you to really open your arm up and crank a 400-foot drive out there.” The club, Richmond said, also tries to establish a friendly relation- ship with other users of the dam area. During a recent club meeting, he encouraged fellow members to help educate course users on proper etiquette and sharing the space. “It’s a multi-purpose park,” Rich- mond said. “We yield to everyone on the course — people on the sidewalks, sitting at picnic tables or walking through.” Richmond said a big plus with disc golf is that it’s free to play at most courses. Other than investing in discs and accessories, he said it’s a fairly affordable activity to partici- pate in. In addition, he enjoys being outside in the scenery and the social Disc golf courses McNary Dam course Spillway Park Umatilla, OR 97882 Community Park course 1200 SW 44th St. Pendleton, OR 97801 Fort Walla Walla course 1898 Dalles Military Rd. Walla Walla, WA 99362 Jenda Jones Memorial course* 200 SW Academy Way College Place, WA 99324 * Private course for students of Rogers School and Walla Walla Valley Academy. Available on the weekends for public use. aspect of meeting new people. Ballew and Duggins agreed. Ballew has friends he throws with every day and then he catches up with others at tournaments. Duggins said the sport helps him connect with people when he’s working away from home for months at a time. And even though it’s a competitive game, Ballew said there’s camara- derie among players. “Win or lose, we all root for each other and share one bond — we love throwing plastic discs at metal chains,” he said.
