The ‘St. Andrews’ of disc golf plays host to annual tournament
Hahamongna Watershed Park was a hotbed of athleticism last weekend, as 105 disc golf enthusiasts descended on the nation’s first course to compete in the Professional Disc Golf Assn.’s 38th Annual Wintertime Open, a two-day tournament open to all levels.
Mark Horn — an Altadena resident and disc golf enthusiast who’s organized the event since its first appearance at Hahamongna’s Oak Grove Disc Golf Course in 1979 — said the 7,000-foot tournament course is a draw for many golfers, given the historic status of the location.
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“It’s kind of like what St. Andrews is for ball golf,” Horn said. “I get people every year who feel they have to come here and play the first course.”
Horn got his start playing in 1974 when, instead of baskets, the disc holes consisted of poles driven into the ground. Today, he and wife Susie travel the nation with a bag of discs in tow, should the opportunity to play arise unexpectedly. They’re in good company — the PDGA currently comprises more than 80,000 active members.
Among the weekend competitors, Huntington Beach resident Paul McBeth placed first with a score of 37 under par, followed by Sylmar’s Steven Rico, who finished 30 under, and Tujunga resident Philo Braithwaite, who scored 28 under par.
“It’s an easy game to play,” Horn said. “It’s a lot of fun and it gets you outside. It’s very entertaining.”
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Sara Cardine, sara.cardine@latimes.com
Twitter: @SaraCardine
