Disc golf a hit at Craft Beverage Festival

AlleganyPlayground photo
This series of images shows Shelby Sanders, 21, of Frostburg, as she celebrates making two shots in three attempts.

8 free discs awarded to players from 6 to 50-ish
Libertone wins CTP

* Youth League begins Sept. 5 (free to play)
* Fall Doubles League begins Oct. 23 (open to all ages and abilities)
* Allegany County Disc Golf Club – website
* Allegany County Disc Golf Club on Facebook

For AlleganyPlayground.com

FROSTBURG — It might be nothing more than a blip on the radar of life for Shelby Sanders.

The 21-year-old Frostburg State University tried, and tried again — and again — to make two throws out of three. But time and again, the plastic disc simply would not go into the black metal basket no matter how much she tried. No matter how much she willed.

So she tried again.

AlleganyPlayground photo
Dan Bloch, 33, of LaVale, gets some extra motivation from a young fan. Bloch qualified for the entry for a free disc.

On what might have been her fourth try, or maybe fifth, Sanders was down to her third and final disc. Again. Her first one, from 8 feet, had gone in. Her first try from 12 feet went to the left. Sanders was determined to make her third, and final, throw count.

And it did. When it stayed in, she raised her arms in triumphant victory and looked to classmates and friends Hunter Wathen and Bay Evans for approval. For redemption. Or maybe for an, “I told ya so.”

Sanders, Wathen and Evans were three of more than two dozen people who visited the Allegany County Disc Golf Club demonstration area from noon to 6 p.m. Saturday at Hoffman Park during the Western Maryland Craft Beverage Festival at Hoffman Park in Frostburg. The event was hosted by the City of Frostburg. Taking up center and right field on the softball field, players ages 6 to 50-something tried their hand — most of them for the first time — at playing disc golf.

For Sanders, the moment could be nothing more than that; an image soon to be in the rearview mirror of life. Or it could lead to a new hobby. And just maybe it leads to a life-long passion. Who know? And that’s kind of the point for Sanders and the dozens of others who took their took turns from 8, 12 and 16 feet from the basket.

In the putting contest, players were required to make their first putt from 8 feet before moving to 12 feet and then 16 feet. If they missed their first attempt at 8 feet, they stayed at that distance. Most every player who didn’t make it on their first try wanted a second one. And often a third, fourth or fifth (or more). For those who were successful in making two putts in three throws, their name was put into a hat. A drawing for a free disc was held every hour from 1 p.m. to 6 p.m.

A total of eight discs were awarded, including to Sanders, along with Mason Barrett, 9, of Frostburg; Penny Bogart, 12, of Frostburg; Amber Barr, 27, of LaVale, Bryan Smyth, 25, of Frostburg; and young Miles and Madison (last name unknown), of Cumberland.

AlleganyPlayground photo
Madelyn, 10, of Cumberland, persevered and earned a free disc.

Bryce Libertone, 30, of Wiley Ford, W.Va., won a free disc by winning the closest-to-the-pin (CTP) contest. Libertone, an Arizona transplant who moved to the area for work, made the most of his first turn, comprised of three throws of a putter to a target flag some 63 feet away over a flat surface with no trees in the way. Libertone planted the flag and staked his claim as the closest at the time, but came back — more than once — to ensure victory. It was one of his throws on the final turn that sealed the win, as his disc landed a mere 50.25 inches away from the target flag.

All activities with the Allegany County Disc Golf Club were free of charge. In between throws, players discussed the benefits of having access to a public disc golf course in Allegany County, along with upcoming events — such as the Youth League starting Sept. 5 and Fall Doubles League, which begins Oct. 23.

The Western Maryland Craft Beverage Festival was the first public outreach event attended by the Allegany County Disc Golf Club. The club, founded in May 2022, recently wrapped up its inaugural Summer Flex League that played from June through August at three courses in two counties. In addition, the club facilitated two youth clinics at Glendening Park in Frostburg, along with a private birthday celebration doubling as a Par 2 Tournament.

The club finalized its Youth League schedule, which begins Sept. 5 and runs the following four consecutive Saturdays through Oct. 1. Then, starting Oct. 23, the club will host Fall Doubles League through Dec. 18 and Winter Doubles League beginning Jan. 1.