A few days before the annual provincial disc golf championship, the B.C. Open, began, Chris Hartmann and some volunteers were busy preparing the course at Raptors Knoll Disc Golf Park in Aldergrove's Jackman Wetlands Park.
"We had a little bit of a work party," Hartmann said.
"We've been busy at it for the last week and a half, getting the course all freshly mowed and weed-whacked and some new trees planted and stuff," Hartmann told the Langley Advance Times.
"You want to have a place that's memorable and a real fun weekend for everybody," Hartmann remarked.
Hartmann was, in fact, prepping his own playing field.
He will be competing in the B.C. Open pro event, which combined with the amateur competition, will bring hundreds of players from as far away as Mexico and Germany.
One of the directors of the society that operates the course, Hartmann is a top-ranked professional disc golfer with a ton of credits, including head coach of the disc golf team at Trinity Western University, Team Canada member, and appearances in more than 85 Professional Disc Golf Association (PDGA) sanctioned events across North America and Europe.
With about 360 professional and amateur players expected, this year's B.C. Open will be smaller than previous editions, and that is intentional, explained tournament director Craig Sheather.
"When the tournament was bigger, it was a little rushed, and not everyone was getting the optimum experience," said Sheather, who also chairs the World Flying Disc Federation (WFDF) disc golf committee.
Another factor reducing numbers has been the current state of U.S.-Canadian relations, which has resulted in a noticeable drop in the number of Americans registering to play, Sheather believes.
Ironically, the increasing popularity of the sport is another factor.
"There's a lot disc golf has grown, and so has the number of events on the calendar. People don't have to travel as much to get get big events anymore, and, I think that's all good," said Sheather.
This year B.C. Open play will be held at two locations 鈥� Raptors Knoll and, for the first time, at the Stillwood disc golf course at Lindell Beach near Chilliwack.
Stillwood, Sheatheer noted, just went through a major redesign that will offer a different experience for BC open competitors.
"It's very wooded, and it'll be a challenge for the for the players to go out there."
B.C. begins with amateurs playing the first weekend June 28-30 (Saturday, Sunday and Monday). Pros play the Friday, Saturday and Sunday (July 4-6) of the following weekend.
Hartmann said people are welcome to view the action.
"It doesn't cost anything to come out and watch, and doesn't even cost anything to come out and play at any time," Hartmann noted.
"The course [] is all free to play at any time."
Action starts at 7:30 a.m. and more information can be found online at .
