The Memorial Championship disc golf tournament has become one of my favorite annual events around Fountain Hills.

I’m pretty sure I’ve already shared the story about the first time I tried playing disc golf, so I won’t bore you with a repeat of the details. Let’s just say that my first throw went straight into the water at Fountain Park and, had it not been for a nice stranger and their disc-retrieving dog, that may have been the end of my involvement with the sport altogether.

After that first trip to the local course, I started to go more and more frequently. I eventually had a nice collection of discs that I liked to lug around the park weekly and, if I may be permitted to toot my own horn, I got pretty good at the game.

Sadly, I haven’t played regularly in years now, but every time the Memorial Championship rolls into town, I can’t help but get the itch to get back out on the course and shake off the cobwebs.

What’s great about this local event is that it is genuinely a world-wide draw. While I didn’t meet anyone from out of country myself, I think you’ll see from the photo captions on page 1B that I came across plenty of people who traveled from all over the country just to play on our beautiful course. Of all the people I spoke to, only a few were from Arizona, which is pretty fantastic when you think about it.

Each year, the Memorial event draws hundreds of players to our small town to enjoy the scenery and, oh yeah, play a bit of disc golf. No matter who I spoke to, they all agreed that Fountain Park was one of their favorite courses in the country. I would say it’s something of a hidden gem, but you can’t really “hide” a massive field of rolling hills with one of the world’s tallest fountains at its center.

As a resident who wants to see Fountain Hills grow and thrive, I consider it a nice bonus that all those extra bodies mean plenty of extra folks are renting rooms, eating at local restaurants and shopping at local stores.

Still, I think my favorite part of the Memorial Championship is the fact that it shows off how the sport serves as a sort of great equalizer for athletes. Disc golf requires a lot of skill to be truly proficient, but it can also be played by just about anyone who can throw a disc. In that regard, it draws people from all walks of lift.

On the course, I see plenty of “odd couples” walking around. In one group, you’re likely to see a disc golfer or two who would look perfectly at home on the PGA tour, complete with crisp slacks, a spiffy collared shirt and visor. Next to them, you might find a guy in shorts, a tanktop and a backwards baseball cap. But while they couldn’t look more different, they’ve both found a common love for the sport of disc golf.

Anyway, I hope plenty of our readers dropped by Fountain Park to see the amateurs and professionals in action. Even better, I hope some of you got bit by the bug to give the sport a try. It’s free to play once you buy a few discs and a great way to spend a spring afternoon in Fountain Hills. Just maybe avoid those water shots in the early goings.