On a grass course beaded with dew drops and playing on a 37-degree morning, 92 individuals competed in the Soroptimist Loomis Basin and Placer Food Bank sixth annual Rocklin Ice Bowl Jan. 5.

“We were hoping that it was going to be colder,” said Alan Lay of Citrus Heights while playing the second hole during his third Rocklin Ice Bowl.

Professional Disc Golf Association’s NorCal representative Jenny Knisley said only one of the participants was a woman as the date of the Ice Bowl conflicted with a Lady Monarchs tournament in Placerville.

Fifty of the attendants registered the morning of the tournament. Some came from as far away as Vacaville to play in the tournament.

“It was a really friendly bunch of people. People seemed happy to be helping,”
 said Loomis Basin Soroptimist President Kaera Anzalone.

Sean Currier, who was competing in his second Ice Bowl, said he would do anything to help Soroptimist and Final 9 Sports.

“I came out just because I love playing disc golf,” he added after completing his first hole.

In disc golf, the discs range from 150-175 grams in weight with comparable golf-club names like “driver” (thinnest) all the way to” putter” (thickest). Just as in golf, the type of disc selected depends on how far the disc golfer is from the basket (goal). Each throw is counted as a stroke and the competitor with the fewest throws during a round wins.

All of the Rocklin course’s 18 holes vary in length measuring between 200-400 feet from “tee” to basket.

“This course has progressively gotten better and better,” said Lay, who has been playing the course since he started disc golfing with Knisley 20 years ago. 

The course will also host the Central Valley Series finals in April.

Total funds raised Saturday exceeded $1,100. The weight of all the food collected won’t be known until next week when the Soroptimist Club delivers it to Placer County Food Bank.

“It’s a once-a-year opportunity,” said Scott Duncan, an avid disc golfer. He said the Ice Bowl allows for an additional 18 holes on his home course.

Those interested in future Ice Bowls, a national event, or Soroptimist charity events can visit icebowl.com and facebook.com/soroptimist.loomisbasin, respectively.

Ice Bowl Disc Golf Tournament

Spring View Park, Rocklin

Results, Jan. 5

Name                          Rnd 1  Rnd 2  Total

Div: Advance

Justin Liddell              51        51        102

Div: Advance Grandmaster

Phil Montes                 55        55        110

Div: Grandmaster

Russell Allison            51        51        104

Doug Johnson             54        54        108

Div: Intermediate     

Jay Neels                     51        52        103

Div: Master

RJ Jerez                       44        47        91

Div: Open

Jim Oates                    43        47        90

Div: Open Women

Nancy Shillinger         59        63        122

Div: Recreational

Jonnie Sousa               55        51        106