Disc Golf Association offering casual and competitive play options this summer

Gordon Edgar - Moose Jaw Express/MooseJawToday.com

The Moose Jaw Disc Golf Association (MJDGA) is an organization still in its infancy, but it’s being helped along by a global surge in popularity for the sport — Moose Javians looking for a group to play with now have both casual and competitive options.

“We started this group about two months ago now, we had our first meeting back in March, and it’s basically about eight of us who are regular players on the disc golf course down in Wakamow Valley, here,” explained Tripp Sevs, co-founder and enthusiastic player.

“It was Zach Renwick and myself that initially got together a few months ago over coffee, and we talked about getting other players that he plays with regularly and people I know and regularly with, getting them together as the MJDGA.”

Moose Jaw received its first 9-hole disc golf course in 2019 in Wakamow Valley, expanded to 16 holes shortly after. A group of enthusiasts calling themselves the ‘Moose Jaw Huckers’, in which Sevs is also involved, have been playing ever since.

The Huckers are so devoted to the sport that they play straight through winter, regardless of weather or temperature.

Renwick is the local expert who initiated and designed the Wakamow Valley course, and the consultant behind what will soon be Moose Jaw’s second disc golf course — 18 holes in the Sunningdale Nature Park, sponsored by the Sunningdale VLA Community Association.

“We’re hoping to make the city a top disc golf destination in the province,” Sevs said. “There are at least three ways to do this. One is to organize tournaments and leagues, another is to promote the building of new courses, along with making improvements to existing courses. And lastly, encouraging and helping anyone who wants to get into the sport, including kids and the elderly, because it’s a great low-impact form of exercise.”

The MJDGA has two player’s leagues this summer:

Casual meet-ups on Mondays at 6:30 p.m., starting May 29 and running until August 28, and the Bag Tag League, a more competitive group meeting on Tuesdays at 6:30 p.m., starting May 30 and running until sometime in September. The competitive league has weekly challenges and prizes, and a $40 registration fee.

The bag tag league works with small, numbered tags that players keep with them during the season. The top-ranked player gets the number one tag, and so on. Players can challenge each other during any mutually agreed-on round of gold, and if the lower-ranked player wins, the tags are exchanged. As players continue challenging each other and exchanging tags, the rankings morph throughout the season.

Disc golf follows most of the same rules as golf in a more easily accessible format. In fact, those wanting to try the sport can borrow a basic three-disc set from the Wakamow Valley Authority for free. The discs are ‘flying discs’ or ‘disc golf discs,’ by the way — anything else is a brand name.

“It gets me out of the house, gets me moving and enjoying the surroundings on a nice day when it’s perfect to be outside,” Sevs said. “It’s also fun to see your skills improve, get out with friends, and try to get around the course with less throws each time.

“I’d also like to mention the Wakamow Valley Authority for their commitment to work with us in making sure the course is maintained and letting us use it for our events, so we’re grateful for that.”

Sevs said that cities like Regina and Saskatoon already have huge disc golf communities with events and tournaments happening all the time — Moose Jaw needs to catch up.

More information on the MJDGA is available by emailing mjdgleague@gmail.com and on Facebook through the Moose Jaw Disc Golf Association group.

The UDisc app has all the tools players need, including maps, local events and tournaments, rules, and round tracking.

Saskatchewan’s 18th Annual Open Provincial Championships take place on Peepeekisis

Players looking for more of a challenge can join the MJDGA Bag Tag League (MJDGA/Facebook)

First Nation on August 19 and 20 — officially sanctioned by the Professional Disc Golf Association, the sport’s global governing body.

Moose Jaw teams pick up medals at Volleyball Canada nationals

Moose Jaw volleyball teams just keep finding ways to bring home medals, and this time they’ve done it on a national level.

The Golden Ticket Volleyball Club picked up a gold medal in Tier 11 at Volleyball Canada nationals, while the Thunder Creek Volleyball club landed silver in Tier 12 at the Canadian championships in Calgary.

The Thunder Creek medal was especially impressive given the size of the tournament -- with a total of 208 teams from all over Canada taking part in the event, they were able to finish in the top half of the field at 90th overall.

“It’s pretty amazing,” said TCVC coach Lorne Polupski. “We never set our goals too high and just want to play the best we can play and whatever happens happens. And now it’s last year gold, this year silver, we’re pretty happy with that.”

Thunder Creek got things started with a 2-1 record in Pool B of Tier 13-16, and if not for a loss in their opening game could have found themselves playing at a much higher level as the tournament progressed.

“Even in one-day tournaments, we seemed to play our worst matches in the morning and seemed to warm up by the end of the day,” Polupski said. “We’ve had four golds and four silvers at tournaments this year, and all our afternoons have been great. So I don’t know what it is, but we sure warm up and play better as the day goes on.”

The TCVC then moved into the Tier 13-16 Power Pool for their second round robin and finished tied for first, vaulting them into the Tier 12 playoffs.

There, they took a 25-19, 12-25, 1511 win over Predators 16U from Manitoba before advancing to the final with a twoset win over Bedford Black from Nova Scotia. That sent Thunder Creek into the

Tier 12 gold medal game, where they’d lose a heartbreaker in three sets.

“We were right there, but unfortunately there were a couple of missed serves and we’re bringing home a silver medal,” Polupski said. “But the teams there were really good, the kind of competition you’d expect to see at nationals, and we’re still really happy to win silver.”

The Golden Ticket Volleyball Club was also in action at 16U nationals and went unbeaten in their Tier 21-24 round robin with a 3-0 record, moving up to the Tier 17-20 power pool as a result.

There, they’d post a 2-1 record and move into the Tier 20 playoffs, where they lost a two-set quarter-final war 28-26, 2927 to the Airdrie, Alta. Hawks.

Golden Ticket saw a much happier result in Winnipeg, though, as their 14U girls brought home the shiniest medal of all from the 88-team tournament.

It all started with the Tier 6 round robin, where Golden Ticket would win their opener before finishing with a 1-2 record. They moved into the Tier 6 Power Pool and went 2-1, sending themselves into the Tier 11 playoffs.

It was nothing but winning from there.

Golden Ticket defeated Manitoba’s Vision Elite 25-18, 25-22 in the quarter-final before sweeping Brandon Volleyball Club in the semifinal. That sent them to the Tier 11 gold medal game, where they’d take a three-set win over Manitoba’s WinMan Tide.

There’s no rest for either club, as they’ll both have teams competing at the Volleyball Canada 15U Championship in Regina. Be sure to check back for results from that event!

The Thunder Creek Volleyball Club won the silver medal in Tier 12 at the 16-and under Volleyball Canada national championship.

If you would like your notice or event added to this list, contact us at: jritchie@moosejawtoday. com

Moose Jaw Lawn Bowling Club on the Lawn Bowl Greens in Crescent Park (3rd Ave NE)

Regular Season play for May: Mon, Tues, Wed, Thur @6:30pm and Tues & Sat @10am Bowls Canada Day on June 3. Drop In 9:30am -2:30 pm

Everyone Welcome. For more info call 306 690 8739

Moose Jaw Superannuated Teachers’ Luncheon UPCOMING EVENTS:

June 7/23 - 50th ANNIVERSARY

Wine and Cheese Evening (no cost) from 7:00 PM - 10:00 PM at the Masonic Hall. For STS members & partners MJ Branch, plus Prairie South and Holy Trinity Teachers Superannuating this school year are invited to join the celebration. Register with Rosalie by Wednesday, May 31/23 306691-0696 or email: marcilr@sasktel.net. Back by popular demand - The HELL WITH THE BELL breakfast: Wednesday, September 6/23

The Moose Jaw Art Guild is having an art exhibition “A Collection of Creativity” at the Cultural Centre, May 24 to July 5. The opening reception is June 10, 2:00 to 4:00 pm. The public is invited. For information call 306-692-6667.

Souls Harbour RESCUE Mission 6th Annual Love Your Neighbour Fundraising Banquet takes place Wed, May 24th, 2023 at Grant Hall Hotel. Looking for sponsors to help underwrite the cost of the banquet. You can also join the banquet if you buy a ticket at $50 each or a table of 8 for $350. Please respond by May 23th to Taeryong No: tno@shrmsk. com or 306-543-2475. To mail: P. O. Box 3356 Stn. Main, Regina SK S4P 3H1 or visit facebook at http://www.facebook.com/SoulsHarbourRescuemission

Join for a FREE community screening and Q&A – A PASSAGE BEYOND FORTUNE will take place on Wednesday, May 24th at 7 pm at the Moose Jaw Cultural Centre. Registration link to RSVP: https://www.moosejawculture.ca/event-details-registration/a-passage-beyond-fortune . This is a 16-min short which follows members of the Chinese Canadian community of Moose Jaw, Saskatchewan. This will mark the film’s in-person world premiere! A Passage Beyond Fortune follows the Chow family as they reflect on the popular but untrue myth surrounding Moose Jaw’s underground tunnels. Filmmaker Weiye Su offers an homage to the culturally significant but buried history of Chinese-Canadian communities in Moose Jaw.

A Documentary film called “Unacceptable” capturing the events of the Convoy 2022 will be featured on May 25 @ 7 pm Peacock Collegiate Centennial Auditorium. Tickets at the door $13.

The Moose Jaw Community Choir “Second Annual Spring Sing” on May 26th at 7PM at St. Andrew’s United Church (60 Athabasca St. E). Everyone is welcome to attend for what’s bound to be a fun and entertaining evening. Tickets are $10 and are available in advance between now and May 22. They may be purchased from any choir member, or making arrangements to pick-up by calling/texting 306640-8098. They will also be available at the door. Children 12 and under are free with an accompanying adult and there will be a reception to follow with refreshments and treats for all!!

Minto United Church and Alliance Church 13-week Grief Recovery Support Groups in Moose Jaw – in person or online - using the GriefShare program which can be viewed at GriefShare.org. Leone Townend has been leading the Grief support ministry at Minto United for several years/ Ralph Magnus recently moved to Moose Jaw and brings to the Alliance Church his experience of leading a Griefshare ministry from the Edmonton area. Anyone is welcome from any faith back-