NILES CHARTER TOWNSHIP — A walk down Madeline Bertrand County Park’s trails can reveal a number of forested noises — a bird call, a rush of river, a creak of wooden bridge, a wave-like sound of trees in wind.

On Friday, those sounds were accompanied by the tinkle of chains and the occasional whoop.

The Niles Charter Township park’s disc golf course hosted Gilligan’s Islands Disc Golf Tournament Driven by Innova Disc Golf. The amateur C-tier tournament was part of the Professional Disc Golf Association and brought in 70 players from the Michiana area and beyond to the park, which saw its first association action in decades.

The par 63, two-round, 21-hole course featured five islands on the course — hence the tournament’s name. Players had to throw their frisbees into onto these designated circles from the tee box or face a penalty, all the while avoiding trees, shrubs and gravel roads while taking a strong wind into account.

Organizer Dave Brunsting, president of Sand Ridge Disc Golf Club in Lake Township, said the islands were constructed to add a layer of difficulty to a course that is otherwise easier for advanced players.

The reason for its ease is because the course was constructed during the early days of disc golf by who the association calls the father of the sport, “Steady” Ed Headrick, in the mid 1980s — some tournament players remembered playing in the park’s first competition shortly after it opened. Back then, golfers did not have the variation of discs many have now.

Brunsting likes the course. He said novices, who played without islands, will find it challenging, and advanced players will appreciate its rolling hills and numerous trees to work around.

“If you put out a disc golf course on a very flat, wide-open field, it would be extremely boring,” he said. “When you incorporate elements like hills, trees and all those sorts of things, that’s when they become really interesting.”

Over brisket and macaroni and cheese donated by Greenbush Brewing Company at the park’s lodge, Brunsting announced the top three finishers from each of the seven divisions of play, all divided by skill level and some divided by by age. Each top finisher received a tiki torch trophy that could be lit, another homage to the 1960s TV show the tournament’s name is based on.

Advanced player Cory Murphy posted the lowest overall score, shooting a 19-under 107. Terry Eckman took the second-lowest score of the day, posting a 15-under 111.

Ryan Westling, of South Bend, was the novice winner, scoring a 1-over par. He said he is a regular at Madeline Betrand Park’s disc golf course and liked having a home field advantage.

“This park can really test you, especially with those islands,” he said. “If you like to compete and be put to the test, this is a great park and a great tournament.”

Breanna Miller, of St. Joseph, enjoyed the tournament, too. It was her third UDGA event in southwest Michigan, and she won the advanced women’s division with a 19-over par.

Miller threw against her two other division competitors through the tournament’s 42 holes. While there was a layer of nerves added compared to casual played, she said she still enjoyed the comradery that disc golf always brings.

“It’s very relaxing, and you meet a lot of down-to-earth people. It’s kind of my zen,” she said. “It’s a nice refresher.”

Miller, Westling and Brunsting all encouraged novice or prospective players to try out the sport due to its laid-back nature. Brunsting encouraged newcomers to the sport to try out Madeline Bertrand’s course in particular.

Not only is it a playable course for first-timers, he said the staff are accommodating, helpful and keep the course well-kept.

“We’re definitely going to do it next year,” Brunsting said.