The Taupō-Nui-a-Tia Disc Golf Classic attracted a bumper field of competitors. Photo / Supplied
The Taupō Disc Golf Club was overwhelmed with the success of a sold-out 2022 Taupo-Nui-a-Tia Disc Golf Classic event, held at Anzac weekend.
Club founder/treasurer Ken Harris says history was written as the event turned out to be the largest disc golf tournament in New Zealand to date, as 164 participants thoroughly enjoyed two of the best disc golf courses in the country.
The first was the world-class Spa Park course, and the second was a temporary bespoke course set up on rented grounds at the Taupō Golf Club.
Prior to the event kicking off, registration and a players’ meeting took place in the Taupō Golf Club’s clubhouse, which was streamed on social media.
“The night included a special pounamu presentation by Taupō Disc Golf’s own Nigel Tipene to Bob Gentil, New Zealand’s only member of the World Disc Golf’s Hall of Fame, a long-time tournament director, and NZ radio personality. It was a special moment of appreciation to a man that has been instrumental in growing the game over several decades in New Zealand,” Ken says.
“This exceptional event was only possible with the generous help of the community. The tournament was directed by Haydn Shore of Disc Shop Disc Golf with direct assistance from Taupō club members Kit Wyatt and Steve Lawson.
“Many other helpful locals made the tournament possible in the weeks leading up to the event, which included a major clean-up of the grounds at Spa Park, the construction of two permanent staircases and the addition of a new and challenging fifth hole. During the weekend, the support of cyclists and dog walkers was much appreciated to allow the event to proceed smoothly.”
Showcasing incredible skills, the tournament saw 12 division winners take home custom-made trophies and a slew of prizes from a long list of sponsors.
“The Open championship went to Queenstown professional Mikey Yu, with our very own Shaun Ashford and Steve Lawson taking home the titles in their divisions (Amateur 40+ and Amateur 50+, respectively). We could not be prouder of them, as well as all the other great club members who played in and contributed to this tournament.”
Just as important are the benefits the tournament brought to the district and businesses.
“The event brought more than 300 visitors to our town from around the country, the majority staying at hotels, campgrounds and holiday homes. This was an incredible boost to our local economy.”
This week is National Travel and Tourism Week (NTTW), an annual celebration of the contributions of the U.S. travel industry and its impact on local economies.
“On behalf of our Board of Directors and team, we look forward to celebrating and sharing the powerful story of tourism,” Dave Herrell, President and CEO, Visit Quad Cities, said in a Sunday release kicking off the week. “Tourism continues to move our regional destination forward in so many ways and supports local jobs. Its positive impact on our economic prosperity, community programming, and brand positioning is vital to the future of the Quad Cities. Tourism and the non-resident revenues — including the significant tax revenue it creates for the public sector — directly benefits quality of life and quality of place for our residents.
Visit Quad Cities launched the “QC, That’s Where” promotional campaign last fall.
“This week is about shedding light on the positives of what it means to all of us locally and nationally,” he said. “Visit Quad Cities is proud to be a shared and common community value for the region and will continue to lead tourism development, destination marketing, and visitor experience as we compete for market share and worldwide attention.”
Dave Herrell is president/CEO of Visit Quad Cities.
Visitors and non-resident revenues generate significant economic benefits to households, businesses, and the public sector. These impacts from visitation result from overnight stays, day trippers, meetings, conventions, sporting events, and group tours. In 2020, per the U.S. Travel Association and Tourism Economics, visitor spending in the QC generated over $958 million.
Through a partnership with Datafy, Visit Quad Cities can track overnight visitation and day-trippers coming into the Quad Cities regional destination. Datafy uses mobile devices and geofencing to gather data on each visitor 16 years or older.
Using Datafy, Visit Quad Cities since February 2018 has tracked 2.6+ million unique visitors who made 13.6+ million trips to the QC and spent 45+ million visitor days, for an average trip length of 3.3 days, the release said. The top cities generating the most visitation were Chicago, Cedar Rapids, Omaha, Dubuque, Des Moines, and Minneapolis.
Visit Quad Cities — which last fall unveiled a new “QC, That’s Where” promotional brand campaign — reported positive 2020 economic numbers, despite the pandemic.
In addition to working with Datafy, Visit Quad Cities has launched curated destination experiences with Bandwango, a travel technology-based platform designed to deliver access to places and experiences digitally.
Visit Quad Cities uses Bandwango for the QC Coffee Trail, QC Family Pass, and QC Advanced Pro. In addition to the QC Ale Trail, these tourism products showcase our authentic and locally curated experiences.
Hosting events boosts economic impact
Visit Quad Cities is constantly looking at opportunities that drive prosperity, value, and quality of place. The QCs hosts hundreds of meetings, conferences, trade shows, military and family reunions, festivals and special events, and sports events of all sizes every year. These events generate a positive economic impact through non-resident revenues and help to employ 8,000 local residents in the tourism and hospitality industry.
Sports tourism continues to generate a strong economic impact leading to bookings in the pandemic recovery phase, and growth is projected in this market for some time to come, the VQC release said. In addition, the river cruise industry will highly-activate the world-renowned Mississippi River, our global asset.
The QC has 54 stops from national cruise line companies this year — with Viking Cruise Lines embarking on the Mississippi for the first time this summer, joining American Queen Voyages and American Cruise Lines.
Visit Quad Cities is seeing an increase in requests for proposals from meeting planners this year, giving a positive outlook for the return of meetings, conferences, and conventions. This uptick similarly compares with the data U.S. Travel Association and Destination International is sharing regarding the meetings industry recovery.
Some of the upcoming events scheduled in 2022 include:
NAIA Men’s Golf Championship, May 17-20 – TPC Deere Run
Iowa Wastewater Conference, June 7-9 – RiverCenter
Illinois State Cowboy Action Championship, July 14-17 – Holiday Inn Express, Moline
2022 Antique Automobile Club of America National Meet, August 11-14 – Bend XPO
ISC World Tournament, August 14-20 – Greenvalley Sports Complex
USS Leary Navy Reunion, September 7-10 – Holiday Inn Hotel & Conference Center – Rock Island
PDGA Tim Selinske U.S. Masters Championships, September 7-11 – QC disc golf courses
Tea Leaf Club International National Convention, September 7-11 – Holiday Inn Hotel & Conference Center – Rock Island
Central Regional CrossFit Competition, September 16-18 – Mississippi Valley Fairgrounds
Iowa Recycling & Solid Waste Management Conference, October 3-4 – Quad-City Waterfront Convention Center
American Cue Sports Iowa State Pool Championships, October 17-23 – RiverCenter
Lutherans for Life National Conference, October 18-22 – Holiday Inn Hotel & Conference Center – Rock Island
Celebrated annually the first full week in May, the NTTW was created by Congress in 1983 to elevate the economic power of travel in the U.S. For more information, visit ustravel.org/NTTW.
Golf has a long and often deserved reputation as a stuffy sport obsessed with notions of the past and tradition. But unlike the Olmstead Parks Conservancy’s years-long passion project to dismantle Cherokee Golf Course, a long list of municipal golf courses around the United States are forward-looking, meeting challenges with creativity and evolving to meet the needs of their patrons. The future of golf points to a sport that doesn’t take so long, one that forgoes its worst puritanical tendencies, and one that wants to help, rather than harm the environment.
In an age where we’ve suspended our collective capacity for sustained concentration, talk around the golf world is that the sport needs to meet the time constraints of the modern human. A short, 9-hole course, like Cherokee Park, meets those needs. It’s also without the trappings and formality that dissuades folks from picking up the game. In the right hands and with creative changes, a course like Cherokee is precisely what golfers want and need.
As part of Ingham County’s 2022-2026 Master Plan, a variety of accessibility developments for parks and recreation facilities are set to be implemented soon.
To sustain the parks and better accommodate the community for years to come, the Ingham County Parks Board of Commissioners composes a recreational master plan every four years. This includes a detailed plan of improvement projects that addresses several concerns, while meeting eight objectives. The most recent plan includes a variety of developments such as accessibility adaptations that allow for a maximized experience for everyone.
The Ingham County 2022-2026 Parks and Recreation Master Plan includes what’s in store.
Such developments are contingent upon a demographic analysis of park visitors, citizen feedback and Americans with Disabilities Act guidelines. Using this system, facilities are graded from 1 (none of the facilities/park areas meet accessibility guidelines) to 5 (the entire park was developed/renovated using the principles of universal design).
After receiving updated assessment scores and considering community input, the board decided there is still room for further accessibility improvements to Ingham County parks.
Timothy Morgan, Ingham County parks director, said “We follow the ADA accessibility codes, but whenever we can, we try to take it up a notch and provide universal accessibility. This exceeds the minimal requirements, making things easier for all persons of all abilities when utilizing facilities.”
Citizens can expect to see widened trails, added disc golf courses, movement of administrative offices to county park facilities, carousel renovations, restroom accommodations and more. Starting in 2023, designs and modifications will be made to parks across the county including Lake Lansing North, Lake Lansing South and Hawk Island. More parks are expected to see renovations in coming years.
Accessibility accommodations are essential for full community engagement. Having parks and recreational areas be more accessible for people who are physically or mentally impared could result in an ideal space for a larger percentage of the population. These improvements also contribute to urban health. According to Elizabeth Perry, assistant professor of parks, recreation and community engagement at Michigan State University, parks contain lots of well-being components. Incorporating accessibility developments would result in more inclusive spaces which could increase individuals’ functionality and society contribution.
Making county parks and recreation areas has many upsides. Citizens are already showing their gratitude for such accommodations. MSU student and Ingham County resident Makayla Adams said, “Parks are a wonderful place where individuals from all walks of life with differing social identities can come together as one. Having a common meeting place where everyone is able to fully engage and participate is important. If recreational areas are not easily accessible to all, this would be impossible. It feels good to know that truly inclusive experiences are being considered and encouraged by the county”.
A major new spur of the Leon Creek Greenway trail opens this month, connecting multiple neighborhoods in northwest San Antonio inside Loop 1604.
The French Creek trail is a 1.3-mile concrete path along a typically dry tributary stream of Leon Creek, one of the two major spines of San Antonio’s greenway network. The French Creek route’s completion improves greenway trail access for multiple subdivisions in the Mainland Drive area between the Leon Creek Greenway and Nani Falcone Community Park.
The trail also for the first time unlocks easy access to French Creek Park, a roughly 30-acre patch of woods between two neighborhoods off of Mainland Drive. Prior to the connection, the park had only a short concrete path that ended in a loop.
Some golfers don’t give their bag much thought — they simply look for what’s on sale and grab it if it seems to fit their needs. But you’re going to have to live with your golf bag for a few years, and there are a lot of factors you should probably consider.
A lot of golfers own more than one bag, so they’re usually looking for one each that fits perhaps the days when they ride and the rounds in which they walk. But most folks are looking for a golf bag that will work for them in every situation. Regardless, a golf bag is great if it has ample storage space for everything important, including outerwear, balls and tees. It needs to be well constructed and have a good strap system as well as stand (if it’s a stand bag). It must have a divided top that allows the golfer to easily remove and replace clubs, and all good bags have a functional valuables pocket. Added bonuses might include insulated bottle pockets and pass-throughs for cart straps.
A new championship-level course debuted this year as part of the Dynamic Discs Open.
The Supreme 18 at Jones Park is replaces the previous Jones West, Jones East, and Jones Gold courses.
“Jones Gold — it’s a course, that has definitely had some history, dating back in Emporia as to when I’d been there, I think first time in mid 2000s, 2008, 2009,” said five-time world champion Paul McBeth in a video about the redesign. “But now 2021, I think it is small. I think that’s the biggest thing is where the talent level is now, a lot of the players can throw up and over the trees, not use the course the way that it was originally designed.”
Course designer Eric McCabe heard that concern and met it head on. He agreed with the need to improve and redesign the course after the 2021 DDO.
“We started after the tournament last year and looked at the course,” McCabe said. “We looked at the scores from everybody and decided, you know, if we want to do something next year big, and we’re hosting the world championships, we gotta get a course that’s a little bit more aggressive.”
The gears started turning and McCabe went to work laying out a few different designs. He presented them to Doug Bjerkaas and they discussed which one might work best for Jones Park.
“We ended up going with the one that we have now,” he said. “We started construction and putting in the new baskets around November.”
Supreme 18 brings a number of new challenges for some of the world’s best players, and McCabe said it was a collaborative effort with a number of different parties.
“This couldn’t have been done without a team here in Emporia,” he said. “Our DD crew, Doug Bjerkaas. Keith Krause, and a couple of others that have really helped out with the process. Obviously the city of Emporia, too, for helping out with some of the funding to put some benches in there.”
McCabe said benches may not seem like a big deal, but in the disc golfing world? They are almost a necessity.
“I’ve been playing golf here since the late 90s and I’ve always thought, ‘Why don’t we have benches at our courses?’” he said. “You know, every other course you travel to, that’s a good quality, high-rank course, has benches.”
McCabe said the city’s willingness to assist with the project shows how much it values what disc golf brings to the community.
The course itself is both aesthetically pleasing and a lot more challenging. A limestone island at Hole No. 1 was designed and built by Scott Tjachman. McCabe said Tjachman was able to build the island is a matter of days.
“It was pretty amazing how quickly he got that turned around and we absolutely love it,” he said.
Supreme 18 will again be the featured course during the PDGA World Championships in August, giving players at the DDO a chance to preview what they will be facing. So far, the new course has delivered on its promise to be a challenge.
“A hole one, for the FPO — the female pro open — there was only one birdie on hole one, and it’s pretty crazy. It’s a challenging island hole, which is kinda cool, but scores were all over the place for the women and and the men.”
Another challenge is Hole 16 which has a “pretty big par” for the men. Hole 10 only had one birdie. That honor went to Corey Ellis, a pro from West Virginia.
“A lot of that is the elements,” McCabe said. “A lot of that was the direction of the wind and how strong it was blowing, so that makes things a little bit more challenging when you’re out there trying to score.”
He said that can make it challenging when it comes to design, too, knowing that it can be windy one day and completely still the next.
“There’s a fine line between those two,” he said.
Perhaps the most exciting aspect of the course is that it’s actually two courses in one. Other than the Supreme 18, there is also the Supreme Short. That course is designed for the casual players who make use of the park most of the year.
“It starts at the same hole and the only difference is you don’t play that as an island,” McCabe said. “You can play the Supreme Short course and there will be a course map and tee signs out following the Dynamic Discs Open. You can go out there and kind of get an appreciation for the big, championship-level course, but not have to play it.”
Disc golf, or “frolfing” to the less civilized, is experiencing a boom in interest level and there are plenty of places to try it out in Rockford if it interests you.
This graph from discgolf.com shows how much it has grown over just the past 5 years.
That’s an almost 15x increase in rounds played between 2016 and 2021. Undoubtedly, the pandemic played a huge part in disc golf’s exploding popularity since it was one of the few activities you could still do in public during a lockdown.
I’ll fully admit that I’ve never been disc golfing but that is going to change this summer. I wasn’t aware of the facilities we have here in town and for some reason TikTok has been showing me a lot of disc golf videos over the last year. Maybe TikTok knows something about me that I don’t yet.
For this list of Rockford disc golf courses, I’m going to focus on the ones run by the Park District but there are at least 10 courses in the area from Rockford to Beloit. You can find a complete list of every disc golf course here.
The Rockford Park District has 5 courses in 3 locations for players of all levels.
Anna Page Park:
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According to the Park District website, Anna Page Park is considered “one of the finest disc golf facilities in the country.” It is comprised of 3 separate courses.
East Course (built in 1986) – Beautiful scenic course with concrete tee pads; a nice mix of open fairways and woods with pins in tight areas. All holes have both easy and advanced positions for different level of players.
West Course (built in 2004) – Presents its own challenges with some tight wooded fairways and elevation changes plus some long open holes for the big arms.
South Course (built in 2013) – Long in places but tight and technical with tunnels through the woods making this one of the premier courses in northern Illinois and a destination for visitors from around the country.
Ingersoll Park
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Built in 2018 this course works its way through a mature oak savannah and is compact
and level. A perfect course for beginners and kids.
Shorewood Park
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The newest course in the area, the Shorewood Park course was built in 2021. This 9-hole course along the Rock River is another great course for kids or beginners.
I would also like to note that while researching this article I came across a Rockford Disc Golf group on Facebook and it appears to be one of the nicest communities I’ve ever seen. Just a bunch of people throwing Frisbees in the woods. It doesn’t have to get any more complicated than that.
LOOK: Here are the 10 US golf destinations with the most courses per capita
Discover where you can find the best access in the country for your pick of courses, the unique terrain that lends itself to world-class golf, and what makes select clubs noteworthy.
FLASHBACK: 10 Rockford Places You Probably Hung Out At on Friday Night
From water sports and serene campsites to beautiful landscapes and plush amenities, Oklahoma has some of the best lakes within a short drive of Tulsa. Find something to do this summer with these tips to enjoy the lake life.
Broken Bow Lake
Rent a yurt at Beavers Bend State Park on Broken bow lake.
Lori Duckworth/Oklahoma Tourism
Driving time: 3.5 hours
Popular activities:Rugaru Adventures takes guests on zipline tours through the forest canopy with views of Broken Bow Lake. Horseback riding is available through multiple outfitters. Those looking to hit the links can do so at two local 18-hole golf courses, as well as several miniature golf amusements.
Where to get on the water: Launch your motorboat at any of the public ramps inside Beavers Bend State Park. The park offers paddleboard and canoe rentals, too.
Where to swim: The Mountain Fork River has small inlets popular as swimming holes. On the lake, the Stevens Gap area is one of the best spots to take a dip.
Best place to watch the sunset: Hike to Rattlesnake Bluff inside Beavers Bend State Park for an only-in-
Oklahoma kind of sunset.
Where to eat: Nearby Hochatown has several eateries from which to choose. Grateful Head pizza serves up pies like the Dire Wolf (a meatlover’s extravaganza) and the Casey Jones (with Head Country barbecue sauce, chicken, bacon, red onion and pineapple). Just down the parking lot is the Blue Rooster, which cooks up Southern favorites like catfish, fried chicken and po’boys. Mountain Fork Brewery brews beer on-site and features a family-friendly menu and indoor and patio seating.
Where to stay: This area of the state has seen an explosion in luxury cabin rentals. Bookings for an intimate cabin for two, as well as homes and cul de sacs perfect for a family reunion, can be made on websites like airbnb.com.
Numerous RV parks and campsites dot the area. Lakeview Lodge at Beavers Bend State Park is currently closed for renovations but is projected to reopen in September.
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Deep in McCurtain County lies Broken Bow Lake, a 22-mile-long reservoir surrounded by mountain terrain and dense forest. Beavers Bend State Park sits on its southwestern shores. The area is popular during autumn for its spectacular foliage.
Lake Eufaula
Carlton Landing on Lake Eufaula
Courtesy Cartlon Landing
Driving time: 1.5 hours
Popular activities: Disc golfers love the short, but challenging course at Hummingbird Beach. Hike on the 3-mile hilly Arrowhead Hiking Trail at Arrowhead State Park or take on the 2.5-mile Chinkapin Hiking Trail, used by hikers and mountain bikers, at Lake Eufaula State Park.
Where to get on the water: Porum Landing — with its campsite, playground, swimming beach and marina — is a popular boat launch site. Dozens of other boat ramps can access Lake Eufaula.
Where to swim: Yogi Bear’s Jellystone Park Camp Resort offers a water trampoline, splash pad and more. The City of Eufaula also operates two free swim beaches.
Where to learn something new: The Deep Fork Nature Center welcomes students of all ages to learn about the area’s animals and habitats while participating in naturalist programs and activities.
Where to eat: Lunch at June’s Restaurant in Checotah is sure to please any picky eater. Choose from one of seven burgers on the menu at Dobber’s Restaurant, just across the Canadian River bridge on Highway 9.
Where to stay: Live the resort life at Carlton Landing, a community of private homes, vacation rentals and condominiums. The community hosts numerous events, such as yoga, live music and outdoor movies, for guests to enjoy. Cool off during the hot summer months with a cold, sweet snack from Bud’s Frozen Treats.
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Lake Eufaula is Oklahoma’s largest man-made lake with more than 800 miles of shoreline and 105,500 surface acres.
Grand Lake O’ the Cherokees
Rock crawling below pensacola dam at Grand Lake
Keli Clark/Oklahoma Tourism
Driving time: 1.25 hours (to Bernice)
Popular activities: There’s more to do than be on the water. Be sure to visit the Grand River Dam Authority’s Ecosystems and Education Center located steps from Pensacola Dam, which visitors can tour Wednesday-Sunday between Memorial Day and Labor Day.
The dam features 51 arches that stretch the length of the river valley and it is on the National Register of Historic Place. Those who love off-roading head to the GRDA property below the Pensacola Dam for rock crawling. Jeeps and off-road vehicles congregate on weekends and during special events. Also popular is Hogan’s Off Road Park in Disney.
Where to get on the water: Ten public boat ramps are available, along with multiple marina options.
Where to swim: Several swimming beaches are included at the seven Grand Lake State Park locations.
Best place to watch fireworks on the 4th: Motorboat over to Duck Creek, in front of Cherokee and Arrowhead Yacht Clubs, for this annual fireworks spectacular — one of the state’s biggest and oldest celebrations. Don’t miss a flyover by the Tulsa Warbirds.
Where to watch the sunset: In Disney grab a table at l, known for its ribeye steak sandwich. This live music venue frequently hosts some beloved Tulsa acts.
Where to eat: In a quaint log cabin in Eucha sits Cosby’s Catfish Restaurant, a favorite for its all-you-can-eat catfish, as well as a full menu of steaks, burgers and other fare.
One can find many dining options near the dam in Langley, including Carlos Montez Mexican Restaurant and Cantina for Tex-Mex favorites and the Chicken Coop, where you shouldn’t skimp on dessert. Order a slice of chocolate or coconut pie. New to the scene is the Cove Club, which opened in 2020 and serves up classic and elevated dishes like prime rib, crab legs, steaks and more.
In Ketchum is the family-friendly VIP Pizza at Hammerhead Marina.
Where to stay: Built in 1938, the historic Dam Hotel was recently renovated and transformed with two, two-bedroom suites available for those wanting an escape. Just downstairs is the Disney Island Outfitters and Dam Hotel, a boutique swim and gift shop.
Book a short-term rental at a home inside South Shore, a private, gated community featuring a pool, clubhouse and numerous amenities.
Indulge in a vacation at the renovated and luxuriated Shangri-La Resort.
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Created in 1940, Grand Lake has 46,500 surface acres of water with miles of shoreline dotting the foothills of the Ozark Mountains. Often the host of elite fishing tournaments, such as the recent Redcrest 2022, it’s a haven for those fishing for bass.
Keystone Lake
Keystone State Park
Lori Duckworth/Oklahoma Tourism
Driving time: 30 minutes
Popular activities: Fishing is tops, of course, but Keystone Lake also is home to Windycrest Sailing Club, which hosts amateurs and experienced sailors throughout the year and at numerous events.
Where to get on the water: Host your big event on a 60-foot yacht rented from Keystone Harbor. Those with their boat already in tow can launch at the New Mannford Recreation Area ramp, or any of the more than a dozen ramps across the lake.
Where to swim: Along with the lake’s public swimming areas, a great place to spend the day is Yogi Bear’s Jellystone Park Camp Resort. Check out the splash pool, slides and Wibit for water fun.
Don’t miss: Just east of the lake lies the Keystone Ancient Forest, a 1,300-acre nature preserve protecting 500-year-old cedars and 300-year-old post oak trees. Several hiking trails dot the City of Sand Springs-managed park that is open Thursday-Sunday.
Where to eat: After a long day on the water, fill up at Mannford’s Steer Inn, which has been serving comfort-food classics for over 65 years. Don’t leave without trying the hot fudge cake: ice cream sandwiched between two slices of chocolate cake and topped with hot fudge.
Where to stay: RV and tent sites are available at Keystone State Park, along with 22 cabins that can accommodate intimate weekends or large family gatherings.
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The area surrounding Keystone Lake is steeped in history. Originally there was a community of Keystone, named for its key position at the junction of the Cimarron and Arkansas rivers. BotanistThomas Nuttallexplored the area’s plants and flowers in 1819, and famed writerWashington Irvingmade camp at Bear’s Glen during his 1832 tour.
Oologah Lake
Verdigris river park at Oologah Lake
Anne Brockman
Driving time: 30 minutes
Popular activities: Take a hike! The Skull Hollow Nature Trail is a well-marked path with a short and long loop, and a longer 1.3-mile trail with views of the nearby lake and an old Verdigris River horse crossing. The Will Rogers Country Centennial Trail spans 18 miles, beginning near Highway 88.
With its large expanses and wind opportunities, Oologah is a favorite for those who sail.
Where to get on the water: There are 14 boat launching ramps, as well as Redbud Marina, which offers a full range of services and supplies.
Where to swim: Two beaches, Hawthorn Bluff and Spencer Creek, welcome seasonal swimmers.
Where to eat: Open seasonally, the Oar House at Redbud Marina serves up Caribbean soul food with an Okie twist. If you’re on the northern end of the lake, head to Nowata for a belly-filling breakfast at the Depot Cafe.
Where to stay: Bring your RV or tent to Hawthorn Bluff where dozens of lakeside sites are available by reservation on recreation.gov.
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This U.S. Army Corps of Engineers-managed lake was once the site ofWill Rogers’ birthplace, which was moved and now sits on a hill overlooking the lake. Verdigris River Park, just below Highway 88, is a popular early-morning, bank-fishing spot.
Skiatook Lake
Tall Chief Cove area at Skiatook Lake
Anne Brockman
Driving time: 30 minutes
Popular activities: Skiatook is known for its bass fishing — including largemouth, smallmouth, spotted and striper — as well as walleye, crappie, channel catfish and sunfish.
Where to get on the water: With seven boat ramps, if one seems busy you can always find one that’s not as trafficked nearby.
Where to swim: There are numerous steep bluffs surrounding this lake, but Tall Chief Cove and Twin Points both offer designated swimming areas for some fun in the sun.
Best place to watch the sunset: Just off Highway 20, turn into Osage Park Recreation Area. It’s not very well marked, but a quarter-mile from the entrance is a wooden post with a metal cable that leads to a clearing to a bluff that sits about 80 feet above the water. Be alert: There are no guardrails, but the scenery is second-to-none. It’s often been the site of proposals.
Where to eat: Before hitting the lake, be sure to swing by Mac’s Barbecue, an award-winning joint that is a great place to pickup carryout items. Try a “Favorite” like the Messy Pig, a sandwich piled high with pulled pork, slaw and barbecue sauce. Or pick up meat by the pound and a side of campfire potatoes.
Where to stay: A dozen quaint cabins are available for rental at the Cottages at Crosstimbers. Be near the water and within walking distance of the marina where wave-runner and boat rentals also are available. Get dinner at the marina’s Boomtown Pints and Pies.
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Managed by the Army Corps of Engineers, Skiatook Lake features 168 miles of shoreline, all nestled in the Osage County hills featuring Blackjack and Post Oak forests among Tallgrass Prairie.
Lake Tenkiller
Lake Tenkiller
Lori Duckworth/Oklahoma Tourism
Driving time: 1.5 hours
Popular activities: The 13,000-acre lake is known for its clear waters that make scuba diving a popular activity at Tenkiller State Park. There’s also plenty of space to water ski, tube or enjoy fishing for largemouth and spotted bass. Numerous marinas rent personal watercrafts, pontoons, ski boats and more.
Where to get on the water: There are many marinas and public use ramps spanning the lake, including Horsehoe Bend Public Use Area on the north side, Carlisle Cove boat ramp on the east side and Strayhorn Marina on the southwest corner of the lake.
Where to swim: There are swimming beaches at Cherokee Landing State Park and Tenkiller State Park.
Don’t miss this: In the first few months of the year, go on a guided bald eagle or loon tour in the Sequoyah National Wildlife Refuge in nearby Vian. There are also numerous paths to walk in the Tenkiller State Park trail system.
Where to eat: For three decades, Jimbo’s Restaurant in Gore has been serving home-cooked comfort meals. There are a lot of great options up the road in Tahlequah, including White Wolf Steakhouse inside Cherokee Casino Tahlequah (reservations recommended).
Where to stay: There is camping and RV hookups at Tenkiller State Park and Cherokee Landing State Park, plus many private campgrounds in the area. For those looking to rent a cabin or house, Fin and Feather Resort in Gore has plenty to choose from.
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South of Tahlequah sits Lake Tenkiller, an outdoors haven with plenty for those on land and water to see and do. Its location is steeped in Cherokee history and numerous significant sites are a short drive away.
What’s in a name?
How some of our local lakes earned their moniker
by Rachel Dupree
Grand Lake O’ the Cherokees
Grand got its name from Henry Holderman, often called the grandfather of the Pensacola dam, who envisioned it as a source of power for the Cherokee Nation. The lake was formed with the completion of the dam on the Grand River in 1940.
Lake Tenkiller
Lake Tenkiller is named after a prominent Cherokee family who used to run a ferry service on the river where the dam now sits.
Lake Thunderbird
This lake outside of Norman was dedicated in 1965 and given its name by contest winner Louie L. McKenzie after the Native American mythological legend — a powerful spirit in the form of a bird.
Oologah Lake
Named after a Cherokee chief, the word means “dark cloud.” The lake is most known as the birthplace of the Cherokee Kid, Will Rogers.
Sources: U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, City of Norman, Oklahoma Historical Society, Voices of Oklahoma
Links’ fever has struck again, following a lengthy winter hiatus, and the Shining Mountain Golf Course and Event Center has officially opened for the 2022 season.
Currently, the challenging 18-hole course in Woodland Park is fully open, weather permitting, and is available for walking and for carts (on cart path-only areas). Besides the course, the driving range, putting green and chipping area are ready for use.
The course and club management will feature familiar faces, but will also sport some new people too.
“We are really looking forward to the season,” said Amy Fuller, who has returned as the general manager of Shining Mountain. Fuller is a familiar face, who has worked with Shining Mountain since 2016, and has much experience with area restaurants.
Golfers will be quite impressed with the quality of the course for this time of year, with new flags, specially-groomed tee areas and well-conditioned greens for this time of year. Preliminary reports have given the course’s condition, especially the tee areas and greens, a definite thumbs-up.
“Our greens’ crew has done a great job. They really take care of this place,” said Fuller. The crew is headed by Tom and Dustin Hedwall, who know the course better than most people know their own backyard.
Fuller also is happy to report that Tom Hedwall, the head master greens’ guru, often considered the grand-daddy of links enhancements made to SM over a number of years, is improving well from shoulder injuries suffered from an earlier motorcycle accident.
“Tom is recovering very well. We have had a lot of people asking about how he is doing. Shining Mountain regulars will be glad to know that,” said Fuller.
The course, regarded as one of the most challenging small tracks in the state, listed once by Golf Digest as one of the top places to golf on “your bucket list, has increased slightly in length due to a popular change made in 2021. It sports a par-71 track, instead of a par-70 layout.
Area linksters love the changes made last year to the 16th hole, which sports a new tee area and has been reconverted back to a scenic par-5. This added change has turned the back nine into a par-37 track; and in this writer’s opinion, ranks as probably one of the best nines in the Pikes Peak area.
Carts are permitted for play. For right now, linksters can use carts daily (weather permitting) from about 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. These hours will get extended as the season progresses and temperatures warm up. Golfers, who use carts, though, only use designated cart path areas. This is one restriction that is sometimes misunderstood by the public.
“We are not trying to make it hard for the golfers. We want to do our part in helping out with the ongoing drought and extreme fire dangers,” said Fuller. “This helps us preserve the turf much better.”
Currently, the course is open for 18-hole tee-times from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., weather permitting. For nine-hole players, the deadline for those using carts is around 3:50 p.m. (But these hours will change as the season progresses.) Interested players can book a tee-time online, or by calling 719-687-7587.
Arranging tee times is much easier than the public courses in Colorado Springs. SM also offers some great deals in the form of punch cards and features specials on certain days of the week, such as their infamous “Three Tee Tuesdays,” with considerable discounts.
The course is also ready to kick off league play for a variety of groups, including a men’s and women’s league and a senior’s group. Plus, many tournaments and fund-raiser galas that got canceled due to the coronavirus epidemic are now back on the schedule.
One of the first big tournaments is one hosted by a nonprofit group that works with the Teller County Sheriff’s Department. That popular outing is set for June 10, and may even involve players from TMJ (Special Advance Warning).
The course also will play host to a variety of top junior events. It has reigned as the home course for the Woodland Park High School golf team, which has captured much praise for their amazing level of improvement over the last decade.
Nationwide, golf has experienced a huge interest among women and young girls. In fact, during the pandemic, golf became one of the real growth sports on a recreational basis across the country.
Besides traditional golf, Shining Mountain offers three, disc golf courses, and has hosted some of the premiere state championships for frisbee linksters. It also prides itself as offering one of the few disc golf tracks in the state that runs along parts of a regular, traditional course.
Shining Mountain Bar Serves as Key Community Hangout
Shining Mountain, though, is much more than about golf. SM is known as one of the best places to hang out in the community, and to enjoy a drink and snack, and embrace the stellar views of Pikes Peak from the deck.
The Shining Mountain bar operation is headed by Jacob Neal, who has worked at SM for a number of years. “Jacob has been here longer than any of us,” commented Fuller.
Currently, Shining Mountain offers drinks, snacks and quick food items, such as prepared sandwiches, hot dogs, brats and nachos.
A variety of different options are being explored for the restaurant, according to Fuller.
But more than anything, Shining Mountain will continue its reputation as a key community hub during the golf season. Last season, the club opened its facilities up more to community groups. This same tradition will continue this year and will only improve, without the COVID-19 albatross hanging over the poplar links, a mainstay of Woodland Park since 1995.
And with the COVID restrictions reaching a conclusion (at least for now), Shining Mountain will become a prime spot for weddings and a variety of events.
For more information about Shining Mountain, call 719-687-7587 or visit their web site at www.shiningmountaingolf.com.
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