The 2012 Stockholm DG Open will take place in the beautiful northern Europe country of Sweden from June 28 – July 1, 2012 at the world renowned Jarva DiscGolf Park. Although the tournament has been taking place annually for the past 33 years, this is the first time it’s earned a major status.

Jarva DiscGolf Park in Stockholm
Erik Gustafsson

Whether you’re a casual or serious disc golfer, or just have interest in the sport, this event would be a great one to plan a vacation around over the summer. Stockholm is one of the most spectacular cities in the world, and it’s home to great food, a vibrant culture and an awesome music scene. We’ll have to forgive them for Abba.

The city faces the Baltic Sea and is located on 14 islands, giving tourists the opportunity to experience an abundance of recreational opportunities with all that water as well as parkland, forest and beaches. The Swedish people are also some of the nicest I’ve ever met, and of course, that goes for the disc golfers as well.

The Stockholm Open brings disc golf players from around the world, and 2011 was no exception. This year’s champion was Nikko Locastro from St. Louis, Missouri, and Sweden’s own Markus Kallstrom from Gavle finished in second place. In 2011 he captured the British Open, and was victorious in the Swiss Open and the Swedish Championships.

Other Americans who finished in the top-five include Paul Ulibarri from Phoenix, Arizona at third place, Will Schusterick of Knoxville, Tennessee in fourth, and Paul McBeth of Huntington Beach, California finished in fifth place. You can expect that many of the top disc golf professionals from around the world will be at this prestigious event in 2012.

The Jarva DiscGolf Park has been the home of the Stockholm Open for the past 16 years. It is not only one of the most picturesque courses, but one of the most important on the planet. In 1994, artist Mats Löf and landscape architect Jonas Löf, who is the Tournament Director for the Open, took the area that was then a dumping ground for rubbish, and a place where drug addicts indulged their habits, and turned it into a work of art. Through their efforts, all of the debris and tall weeds were cleared and it was transformed into a beautiful eco-friendly environment for sports and other recreation.

The course may be facing threat of destruction, but there are many involved who hope to save this beautiful park. For more information visit the Jarva DiscGolf Park – For the Future on Facebook . You can also view 2009′s Stockholm Open on YouTube.

The 2012 event is definitely one to plan on competing in, or attending. What could be better than disc golf and a visit to such a magnificent country?

The first time K.C. Dermody played disc golf was in the spectacular Black Hills of South Dakota. She has since become addicted to promoting the sport, and enjoys playing in the beautiful Pacific Northwest. She welcomes comments and suggestions, with the goal of promoting the sport of disc golf throughout the world. Find her on www.facebook.com/KCDermodyWriter.

More from this contributor:

Jarva DiscGolf Park in Stockholm, Sweden: Europe’s Premier Course Faces Threat of Destruction

More Education Needed on Disc Golf: Ignorance in Lubbock, Tecas and Hudson, Wisconsin Disappointing

Disc Golf in New Zealand: Players, Courses & the New Zealand Disc Golf Championships

Workout Routines to Improve Your Disc Golf Game

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