MANVEL, N.D. — A change in identity has opened up new opportunities to Riverside Club in Manvel.
What was once Whispering Oaks Golf Course is now Manvel Disc Golf Course and it’s hosting its first North Dakota State Championship this weekend.
The 20-hole, 3.2-mile disc golf course has attracted a growing player base from all over the region, so much so that when tournament director Zach Cooley got word he was going to be at the helm for the championship this year, it was the “first and only” course on his mind.
“I was like ‘I’d love to, I already know exactly where I’m going to do it,’” he said. “It just had to with the amenities and the beauty of the park.”
Disc golf, or frisbee golf, is another trend that caught on through COVID and has seen an uptick in an already passionate community. This year, there are expected to be around 50 registered participants. It’s a professional tournament and, in order to play, one must be a member of the Professional Disc Golf Association.
Cooley, who started playing in 1999, has been amazed to see the growth in the sport.
“From where it was then to where it is now is astonishing,” Cooley said. “It blows my mind at how big it has gotten. It’s open to all ages, all sexes, all races and everyone that I have encountered in my time playing this game always has open arms.”
This will be the first state tournament for which Cooley has been the director and he’s grateful for the work the staff has done at Riverside Club.
Manager Lucas Bina, as well as owners Gary Dub and Kaye Carlson, have taken private property and opened it up to the public.
The former “ball golf” course has transformed. Trees have been planted and sand traps are now out of bounds hazards. There are pickleball courts and this year at the tournament they will be trying out camping for players and visitors on the grounds.
“I feel very fortunate to be a part of it,” Bina said. “It has been growing and it is an honor to host the state tournament this coming weekend. It wouldn’t be possible without the generosity of Gary Dub.”
Dub, 73, purchased the course in June of 2021 and has been offering disc golf for the last three years. He did so in order to give back.
He has always been one to appreciate nature and the beauty in it. This time, he was able to share that appreciation with everyone.
“We bought it because we love trees and the golf course is beautiful,” Carlson said. “The rest of it just happened because we enjoyed being there so much. We’re not the kind to go have a retirement place somewhere in Arizona. We want to stick around home, so we thought this would be fun.”
Bina, a nephew to Carlson, got back into the game during COVID after a hiatus after high school. Now, he has been able to help build a vision while working with his family in the process.
“We were happy to work with him on it and it has just really turned into something great,” Carlson said.
As for the tournament, the event spans Friday to Sunday. Each round will be all 20 holes and the course has been arranged to increase the difficulty for the pro players coming in from in and out of state.
There are players expected from Minneapolis, South Dakota, Montana and even Canada.
Dickinson’s Justin Janke will be playing in his 18th consecutive state championship in Manvel and is on a mission to take the streak from Guy Lawhead, who played in 21 straight.
“He can throw about a 400 to 500-foot tomahawk overhand throw,” Cooley said. “It’s probably one of the furthest I have ever seen.”
More information on the tournament can be found on
or via Zach Cooley on Facebook. Registration is at
.
Digital Content Producer and Sports Reporter at the Grand Forks Herald since December of 2020. Maxwell can be contacted at mmarko@gfherald.com.