clint oldfield

Now that spring is back on the table, those plans are coming back into focus.

Disc golfer Cameron Hertzler had visited with the Lee County Conservation Board last summer about the possibility of putting in a disc golf course near the walking trail in Pollmiller Park and incorporating West Point’s South Park.

Hertzler showed the board how the course would be laid out and said the GPS was a little off, so no tee pads would actually be on the path itself but about 10 feet away.

Park Ranger Clint Oldfield said the LCC staff hadn’t been party to planning of the course and had some concerns. Hertzler said he would be happy to walk through the course with them.

Oldfield also was concerned about discs or people crossing the road and creating a safety issue.

Hertzler said there would be no throwing across the roads.

“The holes are separated so you’re not crossing that threshold. Disc golfers would have to walk across that road but not throw across it,” he said. “And one thing we keep in mind too, when we were doing the layout of the course, we want to pour the tee pads close to the walking path and put the baskets away from it. That way at least the angle of trajectory is I’m standing close to the walkers and I’m throwing into the green space, as opposed to the other way around, which is not good.”

Additionally, Hertzler said, holes are kept away from blind corners.

“We don’t want to put baskets near those at all,” he said. “It’s dangerous.”

One hole is planned to be placed in West Point’s South Park, which also has a good parking lot, whereas Pollmiller has a smaller parking area.

“It doesn’t really matter how you number the holes. If parking becomes an issue, it’s very easy for players to start at that tee of seven which is that first one in South Park, and play seven through 18,” he said. “And then like I said, it’s one big figure eight so they can do one through six and end up back where they parked.”

West Point Councilman Joe Loving said West Point is in the process of enlarging that parking area as well.

Hertzler said all the golfers he’s ever played with understand that pedestrians have the right of way on the trails.

“If anytime there’s somebody even near where I’m throwing, I will wait for them to get out of the way. I’m not risking hitting them,” he said. “It’s very courteous.”

There’s been no fundraising yet, as the project’s been on pause during the winter and waiting for direction.

Hertzler said last year when he ran some numbers for materials, it ended being around $18,000 for an 18-hole course. Now as the cost of materials has risen, he said a realistic estimate is around $20-23,000.

“The cost of the metal baskets that are put into the ground has gone up,” he said, “between labor, concrete and wood and stuff for tee pads and such.”

Hertzler said he plans to purchase all 18 baskets from a local retailer and those baskets would be approved by the Professional Disc Golf Association, a requirement for tournaments.

“If there’s ever a tournament that wants to be held at the course, which is an awesome fundraising opportunity for the community,” he said, “it has to be PDGA sponsored and PDGA approved.”

Disc golf is very popular, Hertzler said, and practically free for players.

“Buy your one disc and you’re good until you become addicted to it,” he said.

There are three disc golf courses located in Rodeo Park; another is being planned for Ivanhoe Park. A nine-hole course is located at Denning Conservation Area. Westview Disc Golf Course can be found in Donnellson.