I used to play disc golf a lot as a college student.

There was one summer where I’d wake up probably three or four mornings a week and go play the course in Big Rapids. It was fun to get in a groove, get to know the course and try to go improve on my personal best rounds. I sustained an ankle injury that summer and would stop playing for a while, however.

The basket at hole No. 7 is shown with one of the original art pieces from Stanton City Manager Jake VanBoxel shown in the background of an alien abducting two people from above the basket. — DN Photo | Alex Freeman

Since college, I’ve only played disc golf a handful of times but it’s still a sport I appreciate. When I got the offer from Stanton City Manager Jake VanBoxel to come play and try out the new Big Chuck Disc Golf Course at Stanton’s Veterans Memorial Park, I jumped at the opportunity. But I have to admit, my arm is a little sore as I’m writing this — I forgot about the physical exertion and arm strength you need for those longer shots.

The Big Chuck Disc Golf Course in Stanton was originated by the Rotary Club of Stanton. This year, mostly throughout the summer, it has been a pet project for VanBoxel — he estimates he’s put in 250 to 300 hours of labor into the course between landscaping, trimming branches, cleaning up fairways, setting up tee pads and putting in additional trails to certain holes with boulders and logs lining the way. VanBoxel has also been working with the department of public works, who have helped to pour the concrete tee pads, mowing, moving boulders, placing the tee baskets and building the benches.

The course was designed by David McCormack — a Professional Disc Golf Assciation Hall of Fame member who is a famous course designer in the world of disc golf. He designed the Eagles Crossing Disc Golf Course in Hawk Point, Missouri, a course that is considered, by many, the best disc golf course in the world.

A few of the baskets at the Big Chuck Disc Golf Course in Stanton sit atop kegs donated by Zerka’s Party Store in Stanton. — DN Photo | Alex Freeman

As the course has its soft-opening starting tomorrow, the public will be able to go play the course and enjoy all of its uniqueness. VanBoxel has added some flair to the course with his art skills….