Flinging discs in memory of Evan Knoblauch

For the third consecutive year, friends, family and avid Frisbee golfers will gather to celebrate the life of a young man who died too soon.

During the weekend of  Aug. 7 and 8, the third Annual Evan Knoblauch Frisbee Golf Outing is scheduled to take place at Washington Park. All proceeds generated by the event will go to the Evan Knoblauch Memorial Fund for the Washington Park District Programs and Facilities.

“Our son Evan, before he died, had played Frisbee Golf since junior high and has been a fan of their course,” said Susi Knoblauch, Evan’s mother. “He would spend any free time out there, actually, ever since the course was first developed.”

Knoblauch was in his senior year at Washington Community High School when he lost his life in a tragic car accident in rural Woodford County on Jan. 5, 2008.

His parents wanted to remember their son with a memorial fund, which would not only show his appreciation for the sport but also benefited the community. Instead of using the funds for scholarships, they decided to team up with the Washington Park District.

“As a park district there is really not an opportunity to generate revenue to build a new swimming pool or other things,” said Susi Knoblauch. “So we thought it would be a good way to use the money to continue to upgrade the course and add some new things to it.”

One hundred fifty people attended the event during the first year and about $1,700 were raised. With that, new baskets for the course were bought. The second annual disc golf tournament added $500 to the budget.

“The money still goes to buying new baskets for the course,” said Kristy Howell, recreation manager at the Washington Park District. “We bought all of them on a down payment, if you will. But this year only a small portion of the proceeds will go toward the rest of the baskets. We would like to add a putting green to the course next. It would be a separate area where you can walk up and can practice without disturbing other players who are already out there playing.”

Frisbee, or disc golf, is a lot like traditional golf, but instead of balls, players use plastic flying discs, Frisbees, and throw them at baskets as their targets, which are above ground and on poles. The object of the game is to land a disc into a basket with as few throws as possible.

The sport has gained popularity in recent years and courses can be found around the Peoria area and in Washington.

“If you go by our course on any day, you might just think it is people just walking through the park, but it is golfers,” said Howell. “They come from all over to come here and also go to Bradley, to ICC and to Morton.

They travel all over to play.”

Howell expects between 80 to 100 people to participate in the upcoming event.

“You just never know until the morning how many people will come out,” said Howell. “The first year it was almost 100 percent supported by friends and family of Evan. The second year it was about 60/40, family and just golfers. This year I predict it to be 50/50. All the golfers in the area know about the tournaments, and they all come out to support the course, which in this case, the course is the cause.”

The weekend will consist of Saturday’s singles tournament with two rounds, one starting at 10 a.m. and another at 1 p.m., and the traditional doubles tournament with one round on Sunday, starting at 1p.m.

Registration on Saturday is $15 and ends at 9:30 a.m., on Sunday it is $20 and ends at 12:30 p.m.
Registration for both days is $30.

Cash prizes go to the top finishers and all participants on Sunday receive a free Evan Knoblauch Memorial Frisbee Golf Outing T-shirt. There will also be prizes for the shortest and the longest drive and closest to the pen, and everyone is invited to stay for a cook-out after the tournament.

“On Saturday it is a bit more serious, but on Sunday it is any skill level,” said Susi Knoblauch. “It’s really just about having a fun afternoon and about folks getting together who enjoyed Evan’s company and spend the time one day a year to come together.”