‘It Changed My Life’: Mount Simon Park Tournament Highlights Chippewa Valley’s Exploding, Low-Cost Disc Golf Scene

EAU CLAIRE, Wis. (WEAU) - Mount Simon Park hosted its third annual MVP Circuit Challenge Disc Golf Tournament on Sunday, drawing casual players and experienced competitors alike to the Chippewa Valley to test their skills with unreleased equipment.

The event, designed to emphasize community and accessibility, leveled the playing field by requiring all participants to play using the exact same set of unreleased, special-edition discs.

“Everybody here has come as a casual player,” said Tournament Director Brandon Noskoviak. “They pay an entry fee. They get a few Frisbees. They get to meet some new people and have a good time with friends and family.”

Because participants received identical, unreleased discs to play with, even seasoned players faced a fresh challenge.

“It kind of makes it great for everybody because it’s brand new to you,” said Jeanette Harley, a local competitor who recently traveled to Salt Lake City to compete in the United Women’s Disc Golf Championship, the sport’s premier all-women’s major. “It’s almost like feeling a little bit like a beginner again because you have this slight learning curve.”

Harley, a high-level amateur player, said the unique format brought together a diverse group of participants, including junior players, casual families, and experienced competitors.

Noskoviak, who hosts several disc golf events year-round, first discovered the sport at Mount Simon Park more than two decades ago. He noted that the sport has a very low barrier to entry, requiring only about $10 for a disc.

The sport continues to expand in the region. According to Noskoviak, the local area recently added two new nine-hole courses, bringing the total to approximately 24 courses within a 45-minute drive of Eau Claire’s city center.

To help more women get involved, Harley hosts a local women’s disc golf league that rotates through beginner-friendly courses in the area, such as Mount Simon and Casper Park. She encourages interested players of all skill levels to connect through the Chippewa Valley Disc Golf Organization Facebook group.

“Playing with women is less intimidating, and we typically have more fun when we play together,” Harley said. “I’d love to teach anyone how to play.”