Stanton City Manager Jake VanBoxel nails a short putt on hole No. 15 during a round last September played with Daily News Sports Editor Alex Freeman. — DN file photo

STANTON — The Stanton City Commission voted to spend $7,600 on 18 additional disc golf baskets for the new Big Chuck Disc Golf Course as part of an ongoing recreational, health and wellness effort throughout the city.

During Tuesday evening’s City Commission meeting, City Manager Jake VanBoxel used a sports analogy to explain his recommendation for adding more disc golf baskets to the course which opened last autumn at Veterans Memorial Park.

“Being a city manager is kind of like being a football coach,” VanBoxel said. “Last night (Monday), Georgia was up 59-7 in the national championship game (against Texas Christian University) and they were still playing, still blitzing.

“Since we started working on this disc golf course, all I’ve heard is about Lightning Bend Park in Belding and Tower Park in Greenville and how they’re the best in the area,” he continued. “Well, they’re not anymore. In nine months we were able to build a course that’s rated at the same level as those two. I want every recreation project that we do from now on, starting with this one, to be the standard and benchmark in this region moving forward — disc golf, mountain bike rail, nature trail, whatever the case may be, I want this to be the standard.

Stanton City Manager Jake VanBoxel, right, and City Commissioner Charles “Chuck” Miel discuss additions to the city’s new Big Chuck Disc Golf Course during Tuesday’s meeting. — DN Photo | Elisabeth Waldon

“I just think health and wellness is so important and it’s something we can build on here in Stanton,” he said. “We have a plethora of natural resources we can build on and capitalize on and provide more opportunities for residents and guests to be healthier.”

The City Commission voted unanimously to approve the purchase of additional disc golf baskets for the course, which was designed by David McCormack, a Professional Disc Golf Association Hall of Fame member who is a famous course designer in the world of disc golf.

Day Township Board Trustee Marc Nelson and his son Mitch were both present at Tuesday’s City Commission meeting. They’ve been helping with the disc golf course and are part of the newly formed Stanton Disc Golf Club.

“I want to extend my appreciation to the city and Jake…