Estacada, Oregon embodies the definition of small town, America. With an area of just 2.06 square miles, a population of 3,000, and an economy almost entirely dependent on lumber, it’s hard to believe that such a small place has such an enormous role in the sport of disc golf. The reason is short and simple – Milo.

Milo, otherwise known as Milo McIver State Park, houses one of the most cherished disc golf courses on the planet, Riverbend DGC, home to the one and only Beaver State Fling presented by KEEN Footwear. Milo is one of many gems in the Oregon State Park system. Surrounded by the picturesque beauty of the Clackamas River and the towering old-growth evergreen trees, the east and west courses of Milo are challenging, even to the game’s most talented athletes.

Both courses provide a unique challenge to the competitors by demanding all shot types and an intense mental game. Staying composed and focused is a priority, as the sheer natural beauty of the surroundings is enough to distract even the fiercest of competitors.

The Beaver State Fling is matched by very few when it comes to how often it is ranked as a favorite event by the pros and amateurs alike. Milo certainly plays a large role, but the event itself is run by two of the best Tournament Directors in the sport today, Jeff Mittl #25015 and Jeff Hagerty #24724. Mittl and Hagerty also co-directed one of the best and perhaps the most exciting PDGA Professional Disc Golf World Championships of all time in 2014, where Paul McBeth #27523 and Ricky Wysocki #38008 battled for the title in a multi-hole sudden death playoff in front of a crowd of 1000+ spectators.

Milo McIver, Hole #7 - East. Photo courtesy of Jonathan Baldwin #18114.

The uniqueness of Milo is complimented by a unique format for this year’s Beaver State Fling, the fifth of seven total events on the 2016 PDGA National Tour. The pros will take on both the east and west courses of Milo on Friday with shotgun starts, and then switch to one round a day tee times for Saturday and Sunday.

Saturday is typically considered “moving day” for a three-day event, but two bad rounds at Milo in a single day can mean a serious deficit to make up in the two rounds that follow. A good start will be crucial tomorrow in what we expect to be questionable weather, as rain and thunderstorms are already being called for in the forecast.

One major positive of having two rounds on the opening day; there will be established lead cards for the afternoon round. That being said, make sure to follow scores, updates, pictures, and videos on pdgalive.com for the second round, tentatively scheduled to begin at 2:30pm PDT/5:30pm EDT. The tee assignments for the Round 1 shotgun start are posted, and we expect to see some exciting action right out of the gates.

Good luck to all of the competitors in both the A-Tier (Ams) and PDGA National Tour (Pros) events! Milo awaits!