Lenny Friedman and Mark Cohen won gold medals.
Lenny Friedman
The 2026 Tucson Senior Olympics Disc Golf Tournament was held at Santa Cruz River Park Disc Golf Course on Jan. 3. The 41st Annual Tucson Senior Olympics was the third year that included a disc golf event. There were 50 senior (50+) participants, as compared to 20 and 40 the first and second year, which demonstrates significant growth of seniors participating in the sport.
The Quail Creek Disc Golf Club was represented by three Quail Creek residents: Lenny Friedman (80+), Mark Cohen (75+), and John Worley (65+). Lenny and Mark took home gold medals in their age group.
Disc golf is a sport where players throw flying discs (like frisbees) at metal basket targets on a course, aiming to get the disc in the basket in the fewest throws, similar to ball golf but with unique obstacles and terrain. It offers a low-cost, healthy activity for all ages and skill levels. Disc golf was invented by “Steady” Ed Headrick who also patented the frisbee in 1975.
There are currently 10 disc golf courses in Tucson, a six-hole course at Veterans Municipal Park, a nine-hole beginner Labyrinth Disc Golf Course and soon-to-be-completed 18-hole advanced Man in the Maze Disc Golf Course in Sahuarita, and an 18-hole course in Rio Rico in the planning stage. Courses and participants have been growing steadily since the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020.
All Quail Creek residents are invited to join the Quail Creek Disc Golf Club by using TeamReach app and entering code QCDGC2024, or email lenny.discgolf@gmail.com. Weekly group events are planned, as well as beginner lessons and special events.