Johnson City Parks and Recreation Special points of interest: ~ Winged Deer Hosts PDGA Championships ~ Administration Highlights ~ Athletic Division Highlights ~ Park Services Division Highlights ~ Golf Division Highlights ~ Recreation Services Division
A Walk in the Park Your Parks and Recreation Connection I s s u e : 8
A u g u s t
2 0 2 1
Winged Deer Hosts PDGA Championships The 2021 Pro Masters Disc Golf World Championships was held Aug. 3-Aug. 7, with the action being split between Johnson City’s Winged Deer Park, Harmon Hills in Fall Branch and Sugar Hollow Park in Bristol, Virginia. The woodsy 18-hole Winged Deer Park Disc Golf Course was established in 1994, and its unique topography, beautiful scenery and challenging and fun twists and turns helped it serve as “tournament central,” according to the PDGA. “On behalf of the PDGA, Visit Johnson City, our title sponsor Infinite Discs, Premier Design Disc Golf, the Warriors Lakefront Disc Golf Club, the City of Johnson City, the City of Bristol and the owners of Harmon Hills Disc Golf Club, we are pleased to welcome all athletes to Johnson City, Tennessee,” said Tournament Director Tim Barr. “We are extremely honored to have been chose to once again host a PDGA major.” The tournament was open to players at least 40 years old, and 266 players were registered from virtually every state, including 12 players over the age of 70 and two over 80. Players teed off from concrete pads and aimed for basket-type targets on the 5,755-foot Winged Deer Park course, which varies from short, medium and long distances to the baskets. Players obviously enjoyed the scenic venue and camaraderie. But make no mistake: they came to compete, and that aspect of the tournament was easy to detect. Evening socials and gatherings were held each night of the tournament, including locations such as the Mellow Mushroom, Tennessee Hills Brewery & Distillery, Centennial Park and King Commons Park. There also was a players’ banquet on Aug. 2 at the Millennium Centre ballroom. The event was originally scheduled to be held in the area last year, but the coronavirus pandemic caused a delay until 2021. Winged Deer Park also was home to the 2017 PDGA United States Women’s Disc Golf Championships.