Ron Evenhouse tosses a disc into the basket at the Shorfari Disc Golf Tournament on Saturday, Sept. 28, 2024, at Shore Acres Disc Golf Course, 6602 138th Ave. at Shore Acres Park in Laketown Township.
About three dozen disc golfers stood silently around the pavilion at Shore Acres Disc Golf Course in Laketown Township in the morning sun on Saturday, Sept. 28, 2024, as organizer Todd Tracy opened the Shorfari tournament with a remembrance of Jason Butch.
“I lot of you guys knew him,” Tracy said about Butch, 52, of Laketown Township, who passed away Sept. 6 after a long battle with cancer. “He did a ton for disc golf in West Michigan.”
Tracy paused.
“I gotta hold it together here,” he added, moved by the memory of his friend who helped organize tournaments at the course, 6602 138th Ave.
Organizers and supporters check registration for the Shorfari Disc Golf Tournament on Saturday, Sept. 28, 2024, at Shore Acres Disc Golf Course, 6602 138th Ave. at Shore Acres Park in Laketown Township. From left are, sitting, Ryan Gibbens, standing left Jacob Arvidson and right is Todd Tracy.
Tracy told the players all the funds raised from the tournament and raffle will be donated to Butch’s family. He reminded participants to mark their discs with the zebra stamp designed by Butch for the Shorfari tournament.
The “Shorfari” name is a combination of Shore Acres and a “safari.” A safari course is one that alters the existing course layout, such as teeing off from Hole 3 but playing to the basket at Hole 5, or playing the course backwards.
Butch played a role in designing the three Shorfari events held at Shore Acres, including the one played Sept. 28.
“It’s a fun, adventurous layout,” Tracy told the group.
Andy Whipple tees off at the start of the Shorfari Disc Golf Tournament on Saturday, Sept. 28, 2024, at Shore Acres Disc Golf Course, 6602 138th Ave. at Shore Acres Park in Laketown Township.
The Shore Acres course opened June 23, 2009. The course is inside the 40-acre park that includes the Felt Mansion, Carriage House, Chapel, pump bike track, bicycle course and hiking trails. The park does not touch Lake Michigan but is surrounded by Saugatuck Dunes State Park that has trails to the water.
Tony Clarkson throws at the opening of the Shorfari Disc Golf Tournament on Saturday, Sept. 28, 2024, at Shore Acres Disc Golf Course, 6602 138th Ave. at Shore Acres Park in Laketown Township.The solar panels for the Felt Estate give the background to a participant in the Shorfari Disc Golf Tournament on Saturday, Sept. 28, 2024, at Shore Acres Disc Golf Course, 6602 138th Ave. at Shore Acres Park in Laketown Township.The sun shines on the disc tossed by a participant in the Shorfari Disc Golf Tournament on Saturday, Sept. 28, 2024, at Shore Acres Disc Golf Course, 6602 138th Ave. at Shore Acres Park in Laketown Township.A participant readies for a throw at the Shorfari Disc Golf Tournament on Saturday, Sept. 28, 2024, at Shore Acres Disc Golf Course, 6602 138th Ave. at Shore Acres Park in Laketown Township. The park’s bike track is in the background.Andy Whipple throws from the tee at the Shorfari Disc Golf Tournament on Saturday, Sept. 28, 2024, at Shore Acres Disc Golf Course, 6602 138th Ave. at Shore Acres Park in Laketown Township.Participants follow the arrow to the next tee at the Shorfari Disc Golf Tournament on Saturday, Sept. 28, 2024, at Shore Acres Disc Golf Course, 6602 138th Ave. at Shore Acres Park in Laketown Township.A participant studies his next throw at the Shorfari Disc Golf Tournament on Saturday, Sept. 28, 2024, at Shore Acres Disc Golf Course, 6602 138th Ave. at Shore Acres Park in Laketown Township.Commemorative discs were available to players in the Shorfari Disc Golf Tournament on Saturday, Sept. 28, 2024, at Shore Acres Disc Golf Course, 6602 138th Ave. at Shore Acres Park in Laketown Township.Organizer Ryan Gibbens hands out markers at the start of the Shorfari Disc Golf Tournament on Saturday, Sept. 28, 2024, at Shore Acres Disc Golf Course, 6602 138th Ave. at Shore Acres Park in Laketown Township.Organizer Todd Tracy hands out course information at the start of the Shorfari Disc Golf Tournament on Saturday, Sept. 28, 2024, at Shore Acres Disc Golf Course, 6602 138th Ave. at Shore Acres Park in Laketown Township.
