By JASON TIDD

Staff writer

A new disc golf club has goals for the county: a tournament at the lake and disc golf baskets around Marion.

But first, Ruptured Disc Golf will start smaller with a meet and greet next week.

Ruptured Disc Golf, started by Diane Stubblefield, is seeking to grow its membership and community interest at a meeting and free lesson at noon Nov. 18 at WarBird Pizza, 626 E. Main St., Marion. Attendees will play at the Marion County Lake disc golf course after the meeting.

“We have the golf course out at the lake that’s totally underutilized,” Stubblefield said. “I think that a lot of people don’t even know that it’s out there. Part of the mission is to get people excited about it, get the news out there.”

The club wants to hold a tournament at the lake course in April.

“For that, we need to really share the message so we have enough interest to even run a tournament,” Stubblefield said.

She and the club also are working to bring disc golf into Marion.

“We would like to be able to put three disc golf baskets at Anne’s Park so that it’s in walking distance for the audience that can’t drive,” she said. “The city did say that they would work with us.”

Stubblefield envisions disc golf as a draw outside Marion and an activity to build community. “It’s something to do for the community and for high school kids and draw some interest maybe from Tabor College,” Stubblefield said. “It’s for the Marion and Hillsboro community to get together and have some fun and support disc golf. It’s just something else for the kids to do here in town.”

Discs are available for sale at WarBird Pizza, where Stubblefield is co-owner.

“We’re trying to get some excitement, something else for the people to do here in the community, and take advantage of the amazing course we have out at the lake, build some friendships, make some connections, and have some fun,” Stubblefield said.