Press Release

Montgomery County Continues Sponsorship of "The Blues at Burbine" Disc Golf Tournament, County's Sponsorship Part of Larger Effort to Increase Disc Golf Related-Tourism

MONTGOMERY COUNTY CONTINUES SPONSORSHIP OF“THE BLUES AT BURBINE” DISC GOLF TOURNAMENT
County’s Sponsorship Part of Larger Effort to Increase Disc Golf-Related Tourism

(FONDA, NY) – As one of the fastest growing sports in the nation, disc golf has built an extensive and devoted following in just a few short years. Looking to capitalize on the unique nature of the game and its growing popularity, Visit Montgomery County, Montgomery County’s tourism program, will again sponsor the annual “Blues at Burbine” disc golf tournament set to be held on Saturday, October 28, 2023.

This is the county’s second year co-sponsoring the event alongside DiscCap, the local nonprofit organization that supports the sport’s growth in the Capital District. This year’s event will again feature 72 competitors of all skill levels competing on the entertaining and challenging Burbine Memorial Forest DGC in Charleston, New York.

“Disc golf has captured people of all ages across our community, the state and the nation and in just a few short years the Burbine Forest Disc Golf Course has become iconic. The course is absolutely an asset that’s attracting people from across the northeast and beyond to Montgomery County,” said County Executive Matthew Ossenfort.

“Last year’s ‘Blues at Burbine’ tournament was a tremendous success, and we are excited to again be playing a role in making this a marquee event for our county and disc golfers. As we look to continue building our brand in a competitor tourism market, having a signature event like ‘Blues at Burbine’ is paramount to our success. We’re working hard to ensure the tournament is even more attractive to competitors and continues to build interest in the course. When the new course is open in Amsterdam, these two resources will really help Montgomery County stand out from the crowd,” said Ossenfort.

“This tournament has become incredibly popular and is bringing in some of the best players not only in the region but also surrounding states. Burbine is a challenging course, where players need not only strong technical skills but an equally strong mental game in order to post a good score. I confident this year will be another successful event,” said Tournament Director Mark Hay.

Registration for all women’s divisions opens on Monday, September 4. Registration for all competitors opens on Friday, September 8. Participation is capped at 72 competitors and registration is first come, first serve. When all slots are filled a waitlist will be available. Those interested in learning more about the tournament and registering for the event can do so online at bit.ly/BluesAtBurbine2023.

Now in its third year, “The Blues at Burbine” tournament is held annually to coincide with the anniversary of the opening of the Burbine Forest Disc Golf Course, located in the Thomas H. Burbine Memorial Forest in the Town of Charleston. The tournament, which is a Professional Disc Golf Association (PDGA) certified C-Tier event, attracts amateur and professional disc golfers from the Capital District, Central New York, the Southern Tier, and beyond. Last year’s tournament attracted contestants from as far away as Syracuse, Binghamton, New Jersey, Massachusetts, and Connecticut.

Among the local businesses that will be participating in this year’s event are Bellinger’s Orchard, Eisenadler Brauhaus, and The Rustic Red House. Additional sponsorship opportunities are available for other local businesses looking to get involved.

The Burbine Forest Disc Golf Course is a unique two-mile long 18-hole course through the mature pines and hardwoods of the Thomas H. Burbine Memorial Forest. The course includes an open-carry water hole and other challenges. Since opening to competition in October 2020, the course has generated a strong following on social media, including Facebook and the popular disc golf app UDisc.

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