DIXON – Having fun and raising money for a good cause was the goal Saturday at the second annual Veterans For Vets disc golf tournament, sponsored by the Dixon Disc Golf Club.

With a field of 96, up from 30 a year ago at Sinnissippi Park in Sterling, the tournament was a smashing success. It was hoped to raise about $2,000 for the Lee County Honor Flight. Golfers from as far away as Peoria, Itaska, Milwaukee and various parts of Iowa made the trek to Dixon to participate on a sun-splashed Saturday.

“I’m super, super happy,” Dixon Disc Golf Club co-founder Nora Balayti said. “I just love being able to grow the sport and show the community that disc golf can benefit so many things – the community, charity organizations, it’s COVID-friendly, it’s family-friendly, it’s getting outside and doing an inexpensive activity that anybody can do. It’s all-inclusive.”

There were six divisions, based on skill level and gender. Included was a division just for veterans.

Spaced out in 15-minute intervals, golfers played a nine-hole course at Page Park, then made a short drive to play another nine-hole at a course set up in Lowell Park, near the Rock River. Brent Reuter, co-founder of the club and Balayti’s future husband, organized the event at that site.

The Lowell Park course was set up in 2018, while the Page Park course was completed this past October. It has four holes that are open, winding around basketball courts, while five holes are up in the trees, just east of those courts.

“It’s more popular just because of the location,” Balayti said of the new course at Page Park. “Kids can access this course a lot easier than they can get out to Lowell Park. The holes are shorter, but it’s challenging enough for the advanced player because of some of the shot shapes. It teaches you to have a versatile skill level.

“It’s a good variety of different shaped shots to train any player, whether they’re just starting out or they’ve been playing for a long time. It’s still challenging, but it’s gettable. It’s going to be fun for all levels.”