Ice Bowl Tournament Raises Over $900 For Ashe Partnership For Children Disc golfers braved the cold Saturday for a good cause and a good time at the new High Country Disc Golf course. Photos by Fawn Roark Around 35 people who competed in the first High Country Disc Golf Charity Ice Bowl Tournament held Saturday raised over $900 for the Ashe Partnership for Children. By Fawn Roark Nearly $1,000 was raised at the first Inaugural High Country Disc Golf Charity Ice Bowl Tournament held Saturday, Feb. 17th at the new High Country Disc Golf Course located at Ashe County Park. All proceeds from the Ice Bowl benefited the Ashe Partnership for Children. The High Country Disc Golf Course is the only disc golf course located in the area. Disc golf is played with the same fundamentals as golf, but is played with discs. According to information found online at www.pdga.com/information.php, players use a flying disc, or Frisbee. The sport was formalized in the 1970’s, and shares with “ball golf” the object of completing each hole in the fewest number of strokes (or, in the case of disc golf, fewest number of throws). A golf disc is thrown from a tee area to a target which is the “hole”. The hole can be one of a number of disc golf targets; the most common is called a Pole Hole, an elevated metal basket. As a player progresses down the fairway, he or she must make each consecutive shot from the spot where the previous throw has landed. The trees, shrubs, and terrain changes located in and around the fairways provide challenging obstacles for the golfer. Finally, the “putt” lands in the basket and the hole is completed. All proceeds raised by the Ice Bowl went to the Ashe County Partnership for Children, a non-profit organization led by local volunteers and designed to provide programs and services for families and children in need in Ashe County. Their mission is to nurture an active, supportive community by providing choices and opportunities for all children and families to become healthy, educated and self reliant. Their office is located at Family Central and they serve as an organizational umbrella for many agencies. “We raised $933.20, which was way above and beyond our expectations. I’m already looking forward to next year. We’re already thinking about possibly incorporating Ashe County’s first community Polar Plunge into the Park pond to coincide with next years Ice Bowl event. We had 36 players representing four divisions (Pro,Advanced,Intermediate, and Recreation), and several other folks there supporting the good cause by either helping out or just observing the tournament as a spectator. All in all, it was a great day,” Disc Golf Promoter and Ice Bowl Coordinator Todd Patoprsty explained. “Everyone had fun, spoke very complimentary of the new course, and was super generous and respectful throughout the event. Participants came from Wilmington, Asheville, Brevard, Kingsport, TN., Marion, Va., Yadkinville, Winston Salem, Hickory, Charlotte, Boone and the award for furthest traveled went to James Powell Jr. who drove 351 miles from Milledgeville, Ga. to be at the inaugural High Country Ice Bowl event.” The day was perfect for an Ice Bowl and the participants had a great time, according to Patoprsty. “Even though it was cold, at least we didn’t have the strong winds we usually have this time of year. At registration the temperature was 22 degrees. It was a beautiful day to have an Ice Bowl. Light snow showers throughout the day were quite a treat for some of the flatlanders in attendance. At the end of the day, the frozen pond looked more like a hockey rink with colored pucks all over the place. Those colored pucks were discs though. The pond is quite a challenge on holes 2, 3, 6, and 7, and is considered out of bounds during course play. Most of the discs were retrieved back to the edge with a roping device a few disc golfer had with them. Which then the pond looked more like a frozen trout derby. Everyone was casting lines trying to reel the discs in. It was one of the more humorous parts of the day. I only wish I had a camera.” “Ice Bowls” are a world-wide fundraiser event which have been held annually by the Disc Golf community since 1987. Last year 7,028 players participated at 183 events raising $128,036 and collecting 23,239 pounds of food. Rick Rothstein, editor of the Disc Golf World News out of Kansas City, Mo. started and continues to be the main organizer for the annual nationwide charity Ice Bowl. “He is also one of our course sponsors. His support for the course here in Ashe County stems back to his love for the old Laurel Springs course back in the late 80s, early 90’s, which closed due to the property being sold,” Patoprsty noted. Coordinators thank everyone involved including the park staff, Innova Disc Golf, course sponsors and supporters, the participants and helpers and Ashe Co. Partnership for Children. A very special thank you is extended to all of the Ice Bowl sponsors. “Without their support and contributions, our mission to help raise money and have fun wouldn’t of near amounted to what it would of without them. Their donations enticed people to come out and brave the conditions. It also allowed us to keep the entry fee low, which also helped to draw more people. The more people you have there, the more money you’re going to be able to raise,” Patoprsty noted. Ice Bowl sponsors were Ashe County Parks and Recreation, www.Icebowl2007.com, www.discgolfworld.com, www.Innovadiscgolf.com, Smokey Mountain Barbeque, Bohemia Coffee Shop, Hobby Barn, Nations Inn, Domino’s Pizza, Dr. Pepper Bottling Company, Jefferson Landing, Pizza Hut, Los Arcoiris Mexican Restaurant, Prime Sirloin Family Steakhouse, Coyote Kitchen, the Powell Family and Ski Beech Mountain. Current course sponsors include Innova Disc Golf, Mel and Cara Jone’s, www.discgolfworld.com, the Powell Family, www.wncdiscgolf.com, Tom Owens and The Gallery Woodworking company in Boone, Matt Dewhirst and Capricorn Construction in Boone, the Yadkinville DGC, the Hickory DGC, Dr. Pepper bottling Company, Sam and Edna Miller Tree Farm, Laurel Springs, NC., and the Coyote Kitchen in Boone. The course is still needing volunteers, sponsors, and/or donations to help support the completion of an 18 hole course and the back nine should getting under way soon. “Once the design job is finished and approved, attending scheduled group workdays is very important. The next scheduled group workdays are March 3, and March 31st. Although, willing and able volunteers are appreciated at anytime, all we ask is that you get in touch with either the park staff or myself regarding the list of projects that need addressing/attention,” Patoprsty said. Patoprsty hopes to have the time to organize/formalize the High Country Disc Golf Club this Spring as well as holding other fundraising events, host clinics, weekly and monthly events, work days, and also the up and coming big inaugural High Country sanctioned PDGA Tournament set for July 14 and 15th weekend. The name of that tournament is most likely going to be called the High Country Throwdown. The players field for that event will be limited to 90 participants, and promises to fill up very fast. Participants will be coming from all over the southeast to compete and Patoprsty noted that some of the top touring Pros say they are looking forward to it. Patoprsty says the best way to stay informed with all the course progress and upcoming events is either refer to the course kiosk board at the park, or goto www.pdga.com. For more information, early registration, directions, if you would like to help or make a donation, contact Todd Patoprsty at (336) 846-2337 home, (336) 649-0888 cell., or email him at BoxOfRain@skybest.com.