A section of Rabbit Island will be used to stage the South Island Disc Golf Championships over Labour Weekend.
While the Moturoa Open attracted almost 60 entries last year, the coming event, which doubles as the SIDGC, has twice as many lining up this time.
The Nelson Tasman Disc Golf Club installed the premier course two years ago and it is now seen as up to national standard.
The Mixed Pro Open is headlined by Levi Stout.
While the name screams singer, the Southlander is the poster boy for disc or frisbee golf, which is surging in popularity in New Zealand.
“Levi is the only Kiwi with a 1000+ rating and plays on the professional tour,” says Moturoa Open MC Todd Niccol.
In August, Levi finished 20th equal from more the 200 competitors at the world champs in Milford, Michigan.
Todd reckons Levi will enjoy the challenge the Rabbit Island layout poses.
“With all the trees, it is the toughest disc golf course in the country,” he declares.
Despite almost being a links course, ending up in the water shouldn’t be a factor.
There are three layouts catering for players’ abilities with the pros tackling an 18-hole, par 64 course.
The holes vary in length from 76m to 164m, finishing with a monster 236m on the 18th.
The elite course covers 2800 metres and is expected to take up to three hours to complete.
The equipment is comparable to golf clubs with distance and fairway drivers, mid-range discs and putters.
But rather than the golf ball dropping into the hole, discs are sent flying into elevated steel baskets.
Moturoa Open tournament director Connor Dove wishes he could compete on the Rabbit Island course this weekend, especially after all the work that went into getting it officially signed off.
The former Waikato mountainbiker knows all too well that you have to keep your wits about you with discs flying everywhere.
“Two days out from the Moturoa Open last year, I was hit in the head from about 60 metres away and suffered a major concussion,” reveals Connor, who was sidelined for nine months.
But it didn’t drain his passion for the game.
Local players to look out for are Pat Ludlow, Rhys Jones and Ashton Clark, who are all rated in the 900’s.
After two days’ practice, the three-day event will begin on Saturday 24 October with 20 divisions.
Connor has a tip for newcomers to the Rabbit Island venue, watch out for the Wekas.
“They are cheeky so make sure they don’t steal the discs out of your golf bags.”
