Disc golf has been a fixture in Estevan for decades, but one local player is aiming to elevate the sport to new heights, both on the local course and in competitive play across Saskatchewan.
DeShawn “Patty Putts” Klassen recently returned to Estevan after years of playing in other communities, bringing with him a vision to grow the sport locally.
“I just want to point the city in the right direction and bring that outside community down to Estevan,” Klassen said.
Klassen has been hosting clinics to teach locals that disc golf is much more than tossing an old Frisbee in the park. As a member of the Saskatchewan Disc Golf Board, he’s also been involved in events outside of Estevan, including a successful beginner tournament in Oxbow this summer that drew 25 players from the community and a few from Estevan.
His passion for the sport isn’t just recreational, Klassen competes at the professional level. He recently took part in a Professional Disc Golf Association (PDGA)–sanctioned event in Regina, where he played in the Mixed Pro Open division. “It was my second MPO event of my career, and one of the bigger fields I’ve played against,” he said. “I finished sixth out of 16 pros and made the cash line.” Klassen shot rounds of +4, +3, and even par, earning $140 for his performance.
It was also a proud weekend for other Estevan players. “Colin Beaulieu won the MA2 division, and his wife Brittany came in second in FA2 Women’s Amateur 2,” Klassen said. “So there’s a few of us out there golfing for Estevan.”
Estevan currently boasts two courses — Torgeson Park and the Woodlawn course — but Klassen believes the community could one day host championship-level events similar to those he’s played in across the province.
“If enough people find the joy in the game or see the passion that I have, there’s no reason Estevan couldn’t have a big championship course,” he said.
For now, he’s focused on building awareness and participation. Klassen encourages anyone interested to check out the UDisc app to find local courses or visit the Estevan Disc Golf Facebook page for updates. Upcoming local and regional events include the Halloween Doubles Tournament in Arcola and potential late-season play in Oxbow.
This weekend, Klassen will compete in the 20th annual Sask Open event in Moose Jaw, one of Saskatchewan’s premier tournaments. “There’s still about 90 people signed up, so it’s going to be really exciting to go play and show off Moose Jaw’s newest course,” he said.
With players like Klassen leading the charge, disc golf in Estevan is poised to move beyond casual park play, and onto the competitive map.