The Jacksonville Open may be in its 11th year, but that doesn't mean you've heard of it.
In this golf tournament, which is Saturday and Sunday at Ed Austin Park, you'll not only throw your clubs — throwing your clubs is actually required.
That's because this isn't your father's golf — this is disc golf. And the Jacksonville Open, which began last weekend with an amateur event, will feature professional disc golfers from throughout the country, competing for a tournament purse of more than $7,000, with roughly $2,000 going to the winner, said Sean Lovejoy, tournament director.
"We've got six to 10 of the best players in the world," Lovejoy said, "and it's going to be a battle."
The tournament will be played adjacent to soccer and softball fields, as well as a dog park. All Lovejoy is hoping is that if you're there, simply watch and prepare to be amazed.
"They may have been to this park 100 times in their life and had no clue there was a disc golf course in it," he said. "Then the next thing they know, there's a guy like Will (Schusterick) throwing 600 feet and it looks like there's a motor or rocket on this disc and he sent it into orbit.
"So having players of this caliber here will hopefully bring more awareness to the game and make it more main stream."
Schusterick, a three-time U.S. Disc Golf winner, is the defending Jacksonville Open champion and is currently ranked No. 16 in the Professional Disc Golf Association standings. Also competing this weekend are No. 6 Ricky Wysocki, Garrett Gurthie of Gaiunsville, and No. 13 Jeremy Koling. Top local professions include Max Johnson and Eric Bates.
Watch three-time U.S. Disc Golf champion Will Schusterick demonstrate a throw at the New World Disc Golf Couse in Jacksonville.