Brooks Foxworth
palmettoreport@gmail.com

(Rock Hill, S.C.) — The top competitors in one of the fastest growing sports in America returned to Rock Hill last month, as Winthrop University has become the home of U.S. Disc Golf Championship (USDGC), which is considered to be the most prestigious event in the sport.

“You go to a restaurant in 2003, nobody knew what disc golf was. I mean, now everybody knows what disc golf is, so that’s a big difference,” said Matt Orum, the fifth ranked disc golf player in the nation.

“It gets you out to do stuff, like certain cities there ain’t much to do except for going to the park and playing disc golf. So, that helps a lot too you know.”

Organizations and businesses from all over the country made their way to the 24th annual event at the Winthrop Gold Course, Oct. 6-9, including the founders of the Disc Golf Hall of Fame.

“Those who have planted all the seeds of the sport. (The hall of fame) started in 1993 and we now have about 99 members and it’s growing, honoring contributors each year,” Andi Young, administrator of the Disc Golf Hall of Fame, said.

Young, who traveled from Texas, is raising money in hopes of building a permanent home, somewhere in the country, for the hall of fame.

Another organization present at the event was Throw Pink, a charity that promotes the game and raises money for women’s issues.

“Throw Pink was founded to get more women playing disc golf and living a healthy lifestyle,” said Sara Nicholson, founder of Throw Pink. “We’ve gotten hundreds of players into disc golf.”

York County businesses also made the most of the event, hoping to attract tourists in town for the championship.

“We’re helping promote things going on in the area; restaurants, breweries, things to do. Our goal is to get in front of the visitor in any way or capacity,” said Jordan McCraw, from Visit York County.