James ‘Jaguar’ Smithells marked out the country’s first disc golf course in the Queenstown Gardens in 1996.
That was ahead of the Queenstown Disc Golf Club’s (QDGC) first Classic tournament.
Nelson-based for the past eight years, Smithells returned last month for the 30th annual The Helicopter Line Queenstown Classic and addressed players before they teed off.
The following Friday he played with about 15 ‘Smiddlemetimbers’ crew.
Their name arose when Irish player Ray Chalkley said, piratically, ‘Smithellsmetimbers’, which to Kiwi ears sounded like ‘Smiddlemetimbers’, Smithells says.
"Smiddlemetimbers is really just a group of friends who really enjoy playing disc golf together, proudly representing Queenstown at competitions and supporting one another to improve our game.
"We’re in the Gardens a lot and we’re always happy to help out tourists and newbies with info about the sport and about our beautiful course."
While coming last during that Friday round, Smithells did manage to score his first birdie on the 13th hole, ‘Spot the Jaguar’, also named in his honour.
Meanwhile, Smithells — who remains QDGC’s Gardens liaison officer — also visited Totally Tourism owner Mark Quickfall, whose The Helicopter Line’s (THL) sponsored 28 of the past 30 Classics, to present him with a 30th anniversary tournament disc.
THL provides a chopper flight prize to six competitors each year.
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