A ‘hole’ new course

McKinley Park’s disc golf course is about to get a facelift.

The course at McKinley Park was installed in 2007, the first of now three outdoor courses in Union County. Other courses can be found on SWCC’s campus and at Cedar County Park. Created by Michael Mark and Jim Street, the original project took more than a year to complete. However, it was an instant hit, with Mark seeing families playing before the course was even finished.

Seventeen years later, Joel Wires and Joey Hoepker are working to update and upgrade the course. Meeting with Creston Parks and Recreation on March 20, the two proposed redesigning the course and using the existing equipment to create a beginner course as well.

“We will be redesigning the 18-hole course to stretch across more of the park property, make the course more fun and challenging, add some longer holes and make better use of the natural and manmade obstacles,” Wires explained in a Facebook post. “We are planning to use nine of the existing baskets to create a shorter pitch-and-putt style course that would be installed at McKinley Park along side of the 18-hole advanced layout.”

While the pair don’t have a specific configuration in mind for the course yet, Wires said they have a few ideas. The goal is to have the course ready to be played this summer.

In order to redesign the course, Wires and Hoepker and looking for sponsors for each hole.

“We are seeking people and businesses to sponsor 16 holes at $1,000 per hole to pay for new baskets, 5x12 concrete tee pads and signage,” Wires said. “Two holes already have committed sponsors. Please contact Joey Hoepker or myself if you or your business is interested in sponsoring a hole.”

Wires and Hoepker can be contacted on Facebook.