Taking a Look at the 2022 Frisbee Season: Union Disc (Trevor Wilkerson)

As we head into March, many of us are excited for the season to be in full swing again. Some players will find their joy in a morning round at Tierra, and for others, it is the tournament grind on the weekends. No matter who you are, we are all itching to get back on the course and showcase our new and improved putting game from the Winter.

Many companies around the state are doing amazing work to support Nebraska disc golf in their own way, and one company that has found its  place in hosting tournaments is Union Disc. It was founded two years ago and is owned by Trevor Wilkerson and Zach Nickolite. Trevor has been running tournaments over the last 3 years and partnered with Zach in 2020. Together, over the last two years, they have worked to make Union Disc a staple in the Nebraska community for many players, but specifically for those seeking a competitive outlet. Union Disc exists to provide an enjoyable tournament experience for all while simultaneously raising the level of professional disc golf in Nebraska.

Throughout the 2022 season, Union Disc will be running 5 events, 4 B tiers and 1 C tier, throughout the state. They hope that by focusing on competitive course layouts and running events at the B tier status, they will be able to attract a competitive demographic and contribute to raising ratings in Nebraska. 2021 proved to be a successful year for the company and they will continue to work on finding a balance between competition and community engagement that will please all divisions. Aside from tournaments being vital to the growth of competitive disc golf, they also provide an opportunity to support local courses and help make a push for course improvements.

On March 19th, Union Disc will be heading to Columbus, NE to run the 2022 Pawnee Park Classic. This B tier will be hosted at Pawnee Park and will include a combination of temporary and permanent basket locations. With over $1,000 added between Professional and Amateur divisions, this event would surely be a great way to kick off your 2022 season. At this time, Union Disc is hoping to have all baskets set up by the evening of March 18 to allow for competitors to practice before the event.

Registration is currently open for:

• Pawnee Park Classic (B tier) – Columbus, NE – March 19 (https://www.discgolfscene.com/tournaments/2202_Pawnee_Park_Classic_presented_by_Union_Disc_Sports_2022)
• Plum Creek Classic (B tier) – Seward, NE – April 10 (https://www.discgolfscene.com/tournaments/2022_Plum_Creek_Classic_Pesented_by_Dynamic_Discs_2022)

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Joe Hyberger 3x Am State Champion

In 2001 ex-Lincolnite Joe Hyberger won the Advanced division of disc golf in the Cornhusker State Games and another time in 2003. A decade later Suitcase Joe, now living in Hastings, is again playing disc golf regularly. These days it’s with the CSG runner up Brandon Oatman, also of Hastings, and Sr Grandmaster gold medalist Steve Stump of Grand Island along with the many other dedicated disc golfers in the Tri-City area.

In the second round of the CSG Joe scored the round record with a 47. This put him just one back of the leader, his relative Jay Thompson. Jay led with a combined score of 100 at the end of day one. There were twenty-three players in the advanced division and a total of eighty-six competitors for the weekend.

To begin the final nine the top card of Advanced Ams was selected. It includes Brandon Oatman and Joe Hyberger with a 157, Jacob Barber with a 159 and the amazing Sr Grandmaster playing in the advanced group for a second year in a row, Brad Ramsay at 160.

All four scored three on hole one, a good warmup hole for what was to come. On hole two Jacob got a bogey, this put him and Brad three back of Brandon and Joe with seven holes to go. Hole three Jacob and Joe scored birdies. On hole five, the long 2,100 foot South Side Monster shooting tee six to the practice basket, there was score seperaton. Brandon with 8, Joe 9, Jacob 10, Brad 12. By this time Brad had hit the wall on the hot and humid day and was not able to work through it in the remaining four holes.

Onto hole 8, the reverse snowman starting at the white tee 1 and passed a mando of two trees then across the creek and on to basket 27. To begin Brandon gets snagged in a tree and has a beautiful second shot landing in the center of the sidewalk to cross the bridge. Joe makes the mando on the drive and lands left, no chance of clearing the bridge on the next shot. Jacob and Brad are both lined up well for their second shot to clear the bridge. With three of the players across the creek it’s Joe’s turn. He sees a very small gap and pushes one through, gets a slight deflection but ends up pin high in two. His next shot was memorable too, a slight air-bounce run that skips across the rim of the basket for a drop in four. Hole eight ends with Brandon at 191, Joe 191 and Jacob 191. Brad is sitting at 199 and ready for that ice cold beer.

On hole 9, a longer version of 2 white, Brandon, Joe and Jacob all score 3. Time for a sudden death playoff. Chris Oien, an assistant tournament director who had a hand in designing the final 9, announces the playoff will be from the playground to the practice basket. If scores are the same after that the next hole is a repeat of hole 8, the reverse snowman. Repeat those two until places are decided. From the tee Jacob takes a risky shot right towards the basket which must clear the brush along Lynn Creek. His drive hits an iron leaf and lands in the water. The others clear the bridge gap and have an upshot to the basket. Brandon has a low ceiling and barely clips it forcing the disc down, Jacob is throwing out of the creek. Joe lands his upshot inside the 10 meter circle of bricks around the practice basket then at his turn calmly makes the putt for the win!

2013 Cornhusker State Games Final Nine Course Layout

View 2013 CSG Final Nine Course in a larger map

Disc Golf Expo in Omaha

Click the picture to view the discussion forum on nebdisc.com.

For the Love of Flying Discs — TeeBoxx Brings Fly Gear to the Point-of-Play

What if you could buy a new disc, or set of new discs, near the first tee of your local course? Would you do it?

It’s no longer a rhetorical question. In March, Omaha-based TeeBoxx installed its first automated retail center, or “pro shop in a Boxx” at Kendall Indian Hammocks Park in southwest Miami. Stocked with new discs from leading manufacturers, players, and those interested in trying the sport, are now able to stock up on the company’s “fly gear,” before hitting one of the park’s two 18-hole courses.

TeeBoxx has received a warm reception on the ground in Miami, and word is spreading fast through the disc golf community. TeeBoxx founder and Chief Marketing Officer, Aaron Martin, says TeeBoxx is a mission-driven organization and that proceeds from every purchase made at a local park go to help support the park, at a time when parks desperately need funding.

Martin says the driving idea behind the company is to act as a strategic revitalization partner for parks and courses. He explains the importance of the company’s private-public partnerships. “There’s self-interest here, in that these parks are literally our fields of play, but it’s bigger than disc sports. It’s about getting people to move and have fun.”

Martin, and partners Ross Brandt and Justin Cherry, has been inundated with requests for information since launching in March. It is a good problem for entrepreneurs to have, and the team is working hard to place their new automated pro shops at high traffic courses, and respond to all the interest pouring in from disc golf clubs, course architects, Parks & Rec departments, corporate events staff and from players around the globe.

TeeBoxx is active on Twitter and Facebook, and Martin is encouraged by the reactions from the community that he’s seeing there. Tuscaloosa Classic (@TTownClassic), for one, proactively wrote, “We’re ready for a @TeeBoxx here in Tuscaloosa. Two courses on the ground and two more on the way!”

TeeBoxx partners with interested parties at local Parks & Rec departments first and foremost, entrepreneurs, and retail companies governed by one of two programs based on specific geographic criteria. High traffic courses (or Premier Locations) that have more fund raising potential – being the priority in the companies business model – can choose to receive a TeeBoxx with nearly no upfront costs and a split in profits. All other locations have three and five-year leasing options making it affordable and available to any qualified party with good credit. Lessees can stock the TeeBoxx with their own inventory or buy from TeeBoxx at a competitive wholesale price. In either case, TeeBoxx provides the payment processing software, customer data, plus the legal and technical support, insurance and maintenance to make it all work seamlessly.

“A lot of people ask about security,” says Martin. It makes sense when you see what’s inside the TeeBoxx – rows of flying objects that want out! There’s no perfect solution he says, but the glass is shatterproof and the company’s second generation pro shop will feature a breach sensor that automatically drops a protective casing to safeguard the contents. Also, it helps that no cash is used in the transactions. TeeBoxxes also come loaded with a security camera, and alerts can be delivered by email or text.

“I’m certain we haven’t thought of everything, but we’re willing to learn as we go and grow the company by improving our service and our product at every turn,” says Martin.

In case you’re wondering you may have heard of these guys before. Brandt is a sponsored player on Team Vibram. Martin, until recently, was a sponsored player with Discraft. TeeBoxx plans to sponsor pro players in the future.

“We’re doing this because we love disc sports. It’s really the only way to go about launching a new company. It’s an all-encompassing pursuit,” says Martin.

About TeeBoxx

TeeBoxx is a mission-driven company working to promote disc sports by providing the latest equipment at the point of play. TeeBoxx partners with Parks and Recreation Departments to help fund the parks where disc sports are played with a new and vital revenue stream. Customers can also purchase disc sports equipment and learn more about the disc golf, freestyle and ultimate at TeeBoxx.com.

Weekend of Disc Golf Competition in Norfolk

Expecting a break in the weather, Volo Disc Sports is hosting the Jekyll & Hyde Classic disc golf tournament on Saturday and Sunday, April 27 and 28, in Norfolk. The event is sanctioned by the Professional Disc Golf Association (PDGA) with a draw of players from several states. This is the third stop of the Volo Ocho disc golf tour across Nebraska this season. Two rounds of  will be played at the River Run Disc Golf Cours in TaHaZouka Park on Saturday followed by a players party Michael’s Cantina. Sunday morning competition will continue with two rounds at Skyview Park Disc Golf Course.

$1,000 bonus has been added to the prize pay out to the professional divisions. Registration is available in person at TaHaZouka Park beginning at 7:30am on Saturday or in advance at volodiscsports.com. Cost ranges from $20 for players under 16 years of age in the amateur division to $60 for the Professional Open division. As a course preview a team doubles tournament is scheduled at Skyview Park on Friday, April 26, beginning at 4:00pm.

Disc golf is played much like traditional golf. Instead of a ball and clubs, however, players use a flying disc, or Frisbee®. The sport was formalized in the 1970’s and the course at Skyview Park was installed in 2002 followed by the River Run disc golf course at Taha Zouka Park. There are over 70 courses in Nebraska hosting over 40 tournaments. Players range in age from school age to seniors making it one of the greatest lifetime fitness sports available. Because disc golf is so easy to learn no one is excluded. Beginners start with one or two discs costing as little as $12 each. Volo Disc Sports is an online disc sport retailer in Nebraska.

Contact Information:
Volo Disc Sports
Tony Odem, Tour Manager
Lincoln, NE
http://www.volodiscsports.com