This weekend, the tiny community of Wayne is expecting to see its population swell as disc golfers descend on the area to play in the 12th annual Lost Egg Disc Golf Tournament.
The Badlands has become a regular destination for disc golfers and the Lost Egg Classic is a premier event. What started as a small group of enthusiasts has become a Professional Disc Golf Association (PDGA) sanctioned pro/am tournament.
While the tournament was played for a couple seasons at the Morrin Bridge Recreational area, it is back at Wayne.
Craig Burrows-Johnson, Alberta coordinator for PDGA said they are looking at having to cap this year’s event at 95 participants.
“I suspect this is going to be the biggest turnout we have had,” said Burrow-Johnson. “We are going to have players coming in from Montana, British Columbia and Saskatchewan to Wayne to play in the tournament,” adding there are a few players from Drumheller who may be taking part.
He said already they are approaching 90 registrations. The crowd will also include family and friends of players coming out to cheer them on.
“Everybody loves coming out to the valley and the weather forecast so far looks good,” said Burrows-Johnson.
The sanctioned event is a ”tour” stop and will see competitive professional players making their rounds. There are also novice divisions for amateur players.
“We are building this year by year and we definitely have longer range plans for the valley,” said Burrows-Johnson.
The tournament will be played out on an existing course at Wayne. Burrows –Johnson said currently there are steel posts for targets, and they will be bringing out a few baskets. He said there is hope to build a complete course in the future which would include permanent target baskets.
Currently there are 16 disc golf courses in Alberta, the nearest being in Three Hills.
“We are hoping is get the town to help us with a grant application and buy some baskets for the course. We could do professional baskets and signs for about $20,000…we could put a world-class facility there,” he said, adding in talking to owners of the Last Chance Saloon the existing course is seeing more traffic coming out from larger centers to play.
The Lost Egg tournament goes August 4 and 5. Registrations will be taken until 9 a.m. Saturday. Spectators are welcome.
