My City July 2021

MYHOBBY

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ith help from FTF members and Kettering students, and designed by Grasso,Myles Nakamura and Mark Stephens,

my control. It’s great to be out in nature trying your hand at something different. It’s unbelievable how quickly it has grown in such a short time.” Currently, the FTF are working to install a new course at Sorensen Park in Holly to accommodate the influx of new players. “Holly Woods has just gotten so busy, we thought that Sorensen Park was a great place for a new course. If Holly Woods is full, players can head right down the road. It should be ready next spring,” adds Grasso. Another local organization is building a new course in Swartz Creek off Bristol Rd.The Otterburn Disc Golf Park should open in 2022. FTF also plans to bring back their kids’ day at Mott Park later this summer and host their annual Frozen Flyerz charity event in February. “In the past, Frozen Flyerz has benefitted the Food Bank of Eastern Michigan and Flintkids.org,” says Grasso. “In five years, we have raised over $13,000 for the organizations.” The thing that Grasso loves most about the FTF and disc golf is the community and friendships. “The disc golf community is fun and welcoming.The friendships I have made are priceless,” he says. “We are willing to help out any beginner. Since we started, our main goal was to grow the sport and it’s really coming around now.” If you would like to join the Flint Town Flyerz, are interested in participating in a league or volunteering in their endeavors, meet the group at a league night held on Mondays at Mott Park, Tuesdays at Holly Woods and Thursdays at Goldenrod. x

the Mott Park Disc Golf Course was established in 2017.The FTF began league play at Mott soon thereafter.Volunteers continue to maintain the course and Grasso now sits on the Mott Park Board.The group then ex panded their role to include hosting national amateur events and pro-ams. “Our annual events bring highly skilled players to the area and every year, we get more and more players,” informs Grasso. “We host the Michigan Amateur Open at Holly Woods ( June), the Vehicle City Open at Mott Park ( July), the Flint Town Flyerz Open at Mott Park (August) and the Goldenrod Championship in October.”The winner of three of the four events often qualifies for the Michigan State Amateur Championship held in September in Ludington. In the last year, disc golf has exploded. Stuck at home during the pandemic, people were looking for more things to do outside and disc golf was the thing. “It’s a socially-distanced hobby and very inexpensive,” says Grasso. “Most courses are free and discs are affordable. For me, disc golf is a sanctuary from everything that is happening outside of

Upcoming FTF Events R5 Vehicle City Open ( July 31-Aug. 1) at Mott Park R5 Flint Town Flyerz Open (Aug. 14) at Mott Park R5 Goldenrod Championship (Oct. 16) at Goldenrod R5 Frozen Flyerz (Feb. 2022) Location TBD

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