Press Release

Onawa Park Hosts July 1 Grand Opening of New Disc Golf Course

Kids, teens and adults have a new game to play in Gaukel Park in Onawa - disc golf - and they can learn all about it at the grand opening Wednesday, July 1 from 4 to 6 p.m. at the park. All that is needed is a Frisbee or similar disc.

Disc golf course experts Bill Hulbert and Chris Oien of Omaha will offer a free 30 minute clinic at the park. The public is welcome and refreshments will be served.

A nine-hole disc golf course was recently installed with funds from the "Got 2 Move" project of Burgess Health Center and the Wellmark Foundation. Purchase of the disc golf course was developed to help meet the goal of the Monona County Health Coalition to get kids to move more and enjoy healthier physical activity.

Disc golf is a lot like traditional "ball" golf, except players use plastic flying discs instead of balls and clubs, and throw them at targets above-ground rather than a hole in the ground, says Julie Phillips, Gaukel Park assistant for activities this summer.

Players want to use the fewest number of throws to get the golf disc into a "pole hole" basket. The player "drives" from a tee with a throw and continues toward the target. A successful 'putt' sends the disc into the target. The lowest score wins.

Members of the Franklin Go-Getters 4H Club helped install the holes. They were assisted by adult volunteers Jaimie Murray; Tommy Miller Marv, Jill, Allen and Nate Hausman; Alice Parr Peggy Rolph and Brenda Miller.

"Kids love it," says Sue Mc Laughlin, Burgess Got 2 Move grant coordinator. "It's a great way for kids to get outdoor exercise and for parents to play with their kids. I think the course looks great!

The Hausman family played a strong role in assisting with the projects, according to McLaughlin.

"I so appreciate their help and dedication," McLaughlin says. "It’s great to have parks with a variety of fun equipment for kids and families to enjoy. I know how much my own kids have enjoyed the parks over the years."

"It parallels ball golf all the way down the line except it's about a third in scale," Hulbert says. "Every throw is a stroke. The away player throws first, just like golf. People in Omaha thought this would never take off. And one day when a family showed up with ice cream tub lids and we knew we had arrived."

Persons can use their own discs or buy special discs at sporting goods stores or online. Persons who want to know more about disc golf should log onto nebdisc.com or pdga.com.

They can also check out and use the new Gaukel Park disc golf course before its grand opening.