Shelton Springs hosts Cascade Challenge

Matt Baide | May 18, 20230

The Shelton Springs Disc Golf Course is hosting the Cascade Challenge on Memorial Day Weekend.

This is the first Disc Golf Pro Tour event held in the state. The 150 pros will be playing from the hardest tees, which are called Misery Whip at Shelton Springs, which has a few defensive elements and more mandatory rules and additional out of bounds.

First round passes sold out quickly but there are additional tickets available and Mason County Disc Golf Club secretary Justin Holzgrove said they are expecting between 500 and 1,000 spectators throughout the tournament.

“We’re hoping the pro tour enjoys the amenities and the course and chooses to come back next year — we’ve heard the organizers have been very impressed with the local disc golf club’s support and preparations,” Holzgrove told the Journal in an email. “We’re doing all we can to make this a regular stop on the tour.”

The field of professionals will feature two-time world champion Ricky Wysocki and current U.S. champion Gannon Buhr, and both are favorites to win the Cascade Challenge, according to Holzgrove. Olympia’s Chandler Fry is the professional with the most rounds played at Shelton Springs and has a chance to place high. Puyallup’s Kyle Crabtree is a non-touring pro and he has a chance to finish high.

The highest rated local players are Jeremy Marsh, John Babb, Quinn Rodius and Michael Henson. Holzgrove said there will be competitors from 30 states, Czech Republic, Norway, Finland, United Kingdom and Canada.

Shelton Springs has a busy schedule outside of this event, including hosting the National Disc Golf Masters Tour’s Windfall Masters Cup this past weekend, with 98 competitors over the age of 40, part of the Washington State Senior Games. The course is hosting the Shelton Springs Open this weekend, with 193 competitors. The course will host the Washington State Amateur Championships from June 30 to July 2.

For more information, visit http://www.tinyurl.com/yncfvaxe. For tickets, visit http://www.tinyurl.com/bdhhtxat.