Preparing for the 20th Annual Timberbeast Challenge has been like no other.

Two massive storms between December 2025 and May 2026 left the 18-hole course in Callahan Creek Park in shambles. Flooding in December and windstorms in both left tons of silt and river rock as well as brush and trees littering the course.

Mike and Avery Wallace gave a sobering update Dec. 12 on social media, one day after flash floods slammed south Lincoln County following snowmelt and inches of rain during unseasonably warm weather.

“Holes 4 and 5 are gone, there is two feet on No. 7’s fairway and covering the tee,” the post said. “Lots of standing water and silt throughout the course. Still too early to tell how much damage, but it’s gonna be a mess to say the least!”

A Dec. 18 post on the Timber Beast Disc Golf Course’s Facebook page shared signs of hope.

“The City of Troy is working with Lincoln County and the Army Corps of Engineers to develop a plan to mitigate future flooding along Callahan Creek. This will entail extending the current dike along the creek from where it currently ends just downstream of Hole 3’s tee pad to the railroad trestle bridge just downstream of the course and also some upstream rehab and stream bank work, too. We are not sure what the final project will look like at this time.”

Not only did the extreme weather events endanger the June tournament, it put the Fifth Annual Masters Under the Big Sky Tournament in April in jeopardy.

But a small army of volunteers, supported by Lincoln County’s Troy Road Department and the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, got the work done in time for Saturday’s competition. Most were local, but some came from as far away as Missoula and Coeur d’Alene.

A Jan. 27 Timber Beast Facebook page had big news that the course is playable and both tournaments would occur as scheduled.

“We want to reassure everyone that despite the major flood and wind damage from earlier this winter, we are still planning to host both the Fifth Annual Masters Under the Big Sky tournament on April 25 and the 20th Annual Timberbeast Challenge on June 20."

Posts in February and April shared more optimism and the work that was being done to get ready for both tournaments.

“Thanks Jon Reny, Jeremy Husentruit, and Mike Wallace!!” in a Feb. 10. “Mike Wallace, Scott Wardian and Robbie Garrison unearthed the tee of Hole 7 from underneath about 18 inches of sand and silt. 

“Still lots to do - silt removal, cleaning up of down branches, cleaning tees, etc., but the course is playable and beginning to look like the Timberbeast we all know and love!”

An April 11 Timberbeast Facebook post shared even more hope.

“The city removed over a dozen dump truck loads of silt from Hole 6’s fairway!! And this hole will look even better once the seeding takes hold. A few things to tidy up still, but it’s shaping up nicely!”

Eighty-eight players took part in the Fifth Annual Masters Under the Big Sky tournament on April 25.

But disaster was just around the corner.

Following a May 28 windstorm in the Troy area, the course suffered even more damage from countless fallen trees.

Work days were planned for the next two weekends after city and county crews used excavators and dump trucks to remove large amounts of debris.

Volunteers worked to clear and clean Holes 2, 3, 5, 7, 10 and 11.

A June 10 City of Troy Facebook post shared the news that the course would be open June 12.

“The Lincoln County Troy Road Crew hauled around 70 loads of brush and stumps and had both of their excavators loading and clearing brush out. The City of Troy's Crew hauled around 60-70 loads of brush and stumps with their 5-ton dump truck and excavator. Cabinet Mountain Contracting also cleared brush and decked four loads of logs that went to the mill in Moyie Springs. Mo Huisentruit helped for a couple days with his excavator. Ekstedt Tree Services safely removed a hazardous cottonwood tree. The list of volunteers that helped is long and is greatly appreciated.”

In addition, Lincoln County Commissioner Jim Hammons also jumped in and bought 18 new baskets for the course. 

Brian Bjortomt, event organizer, was extremely thankful for the huge amount of community support.

“Please express our heartfelt gratitude to all involved with clearing the storm damage from last year’s flooding and this spring’s wind storms,” Bjortomt said. “Mayor TJ Boswell played a big role in getting the city parks crew down there and county commissioner Jim Hammons had a big hand in getting the county road crew there.

“Mike Wallace spent well over 100 hours in the first week after the storm cutting and bucking up slash and debris as well as general clean up and rehabilitation of the affected areas.

“The Timberbeast park and disc golf course is a special place! Every year I hear players tell me how much they wish they had something like it in their town. “We’re excited to bring 180 players, their friends and family to Troy this weekend to celebrate 20 years of the Timberbeast!" Bjortomt added.

The 20th Annual Challenge has 180 signed up to compete. They primarily come from Montana, Idaho, Washington, Oregon, Colorado and British Columbia.

But three will travel more than 1,200 miles to participate. Two - Juliana Korver (Women’s Pro 50-plus) and Jim Oates (Mixed Pro 60-plus), are from Orange City, Iowa. They will travel 1,252 miles.

"Korver is a several time World Champion and is widely regarded as the GOAT of women's disc golf," Bjortomt said.

But that seems like a short jaunt when compared to the 2,514 miles which Andrew Young-Styer will journey from Langhorne, Pennsylvania.

Among the 200 golfers are eight locals. They are among those who worked to bring the ravaged course back to life. One of Troy’s Mike Wallace. He’s competing in the Mixed Pro 60-plus group.

City of Troy officials, in a June 10 social media post, showed it appreciation to Wallace.

“A big THANKS to Mike Wallace for coordinating all the other volunteers that raked out fairways and stacked brush to get the course back open,” it said. “Mike has been working every day on the course, bucking up logs, clearing brush, raking out ruts, seeding disturbed areas, coordinating local and out or town volunteers and everything else.”  

Seven local competitors are from Libby. They include Chris Faulkner, Eldon Marks, Jon Reny, Wyatt Crismore, Kaleb Wilson, Kurtis Smith, Joel Chevalier and Jeremy Huisentruit.

    A small army of volunteers have rehabilitated the Timber Beast Disc Golf Course in Troy for the 20th annual tournament. (Courtesy photo)
  

    Large and small equipment were needed to clean up the Timber Beast Disc Golf Course in Troy following repeated storms in south Lincoln County since December 2025. (Courtesy photo)