More Discovery Days activities lined up for sun and summer lovers

Birch Bay Discovery Days has grown out of its weekend. “We’ve stretched it because there are enough events,” said Jim Tull of Birch Bay Golf Club. “We’re slowly adding more activities and people seem to love it.”

This weekend the golf course will roar with lawn mower drag races on Saturday and return to its roots with the Birch Bay Open golf tournament on Sunday.

The Custer Lawn Draggers Association organized the Saturday of racing as part of a growing roster of yearly events. “Our membership has almost doubled this year,” said club president Steve Nicolaas.

The club was started seven years ago as a unique event to draw a crowd to Custer, and now races as far south as Oregon against other clubs. This weekend’s event is expected to draw a few souped-up lawn mowers from Granite Falls to compete against local machines.

Lawn draggers compete in one of three classes. The stock class is open to any unmodified riding mower ridden by a lawn-jockey aged eight to 13. The modified class is for ages twelve and up. “It’s for lawn-mower running gear but souped-up,” Nicolaas said. In the unlimited class motorcycle and snowmobile engines up to 750 cc turn mowers into hot rods. “They’ve hit speeds of 50 miles per hour at 110 feet in the dirt,” Nicolaas said.

This weekend’s event promises some stiff competition. “Right now we have a three way tie in the unlimited class for first place in points for the season and two in the lead are rookies,” Nicolaas said. “There’s a two-way tie in the modified class – both rookies. They’re building them faster and lower. This race will be a hot one to see.”

Racers will begin to assemble at the course at 7878 Birch Bay Drive at 10:30 a.m. on July 28, and racing starts at 1 p.m. To sign up for any class or for more information call Nicolaas at 384-3786.

After the dust settles, the golf tournament on Sunday offers a day in the sun and a walk in the park for golfers of all levels. “The course is in fabulous shape – everyone is bragging about it,” said owner Jim Tull. “They’re the fastest greens in the county. The golf course is only one of two bentgrass courses in the county.”

There will be a division on the Callaway scoring system, which throws out poor scores, for less experienced golfers. “It’s for average golfers who just want to have a good time,” said Tull. For hot-shot golfers, the low gross division is more competitive, and the lowest score wins.

The tournament offers prizes beyond the standard hats shirts and golf balls. Local restaurants and hotels have donated dinners and weekend getaways for winning golfers. “We’ve got some good stuff,” Tull said.

The tournament starts at 10 a.m. on July 29 and the entry fee is $22. Golfers need to call the course pro-shop at 371-7933 to pre-register..

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