Iolans will have a new pastime to enjoy in the spring. A disc golf course is currently being constructed on South Washington Avenue.
The Community Involvement Task Force, a Kansas State PRIDE group, received a $25,000 grant from the Healthcare Foundation of Greater Kansas City to help make the course a reality for the Iola community.
After the flood in 2007 the city was left with vacated land near Elm Creek. CITF/PRIDE wanted to utilize the land in the best way possible for the community.
Disc golf is similar to golf in theory. Instead of using a golf ball and a club, participants use discs. The goal is to land the discs in baskets scattered around a course. Discs have different weights and are used like clubs: drivers, putters, wedges.
CITF/PRIDE secretary and treasure Kara Godfrey said disc golf can be played by people of all ages.
“We know there are a lot of people in town who already love the game,” she said. “We also wanted to give the college kids something to do in their free time.”
Godfrey said the group applied for the grant in August but had to wait until mowing season was over to have help from city crews to construct the course. On Thursday, crews helped pour concrete tee pads for the disc baskets.
“It’s going to be a nine hole course,” Godfrey said. “It starts in Elm Creek Park North and will be on both sides of Washington.”
Godfrey said baskets will be ordered soon and the group hopes to have the course open by the spring. CITF/PRIDE would like to work with the Iola Recreation Center and after school groups like SAFE BASE to teach people how to play.
A portion of the grant money will help maintain the pickleball courts on North Cottonwood Street.
CITF brings disc golf to Iola
