by Steffanie Lindgren ’10

The Bethel Student Association recently sponsored Bethel’s fourth disc golf tournament. According to Jim Beilby, tournament director and professor of Biblical and theological studies, the purpose of the tournament was “fun, competition, and increasing the visibility of disc golf on Bethel's campus.”

Thirty people participated in the tournament, which featured various divisions based on each player’s skill level. Players in the “pro” division played in the tournament but were not eligible for prizes.

Bethel senior Brendan Lorentz won the tournament, shooting par 67. The tournament course has a total of 20 holes, ranging in par from three to five. “Closest-to-the-pin” prizes were given on holes three and nine and a “long-drive” prize was given on hole seven.

Bethel’s disc golf course was installed during the summer of 2006. “Our goal is to try to have a tournament each fall and spring…There is a small, but growing group of avid disc golfers on campus, and we run the tournaments,” said Beilby.

“While I designed the course, I received a good bit of help in design and especially in installation from the now Manager of Grounds Josh Gerth,” said Beilby. 

Beilby started teaching a one-credit disc golf class in 2001; it fulfills a general education course requirement for College of Arts & Sciences (CAS) students. He first began disc golfing in 1997: “I’m an avid golfer, but while in my Ph.D. program I didn’t have a lot of money to spend on golf. So I played disc golf—which, other than buying the discs, is free. It is interesting in a lot of the same ways golf is. It is physically challenging, demands a high degree of precision, and requires a good bit of mental toughness. It is also a great opportunity to be outside in God’s creation.”