Osborne expands disc golf course
The disc golf course at Osborne Park, near Elkader, was expanded from nine to 18 holes this summer, giving players a fun, new challenge. (Submitted photo)
The “front nine” of the disc golf course was put in two years ago, through the hunter education course prairie area. The new “back nine” picks up where the first section leaves off, wandering through the woods north of Osborne Pond.
By Audrey Posten, Times-Register
The disc golf course at Osborne Park, near Elkader, was expanded to 18 holes this summer, giving players a fun, new challenge.
The course was spearheaded by Clayton County Conservation Resource Manager/Naturalist Kenny Slocum, who discovered the idea in an Osborne master plan from 2001.
The “front nine” was put in two years ago, through the hunter education course prairie area. The new “back nine” picks up where the first section leaves off, wandering through the woods north of Osborne Pond.
“We found a very degraded section of woods that was mostly invasive plants, so we cut out the plants and put in disc golf,” Slocum said.
In creating the course, he added, “we tried to find a blend of what worked practically—a balance between conservation and recreation. It worked out really great.”
Slocum said the Osborne course differs from two other disc golf courses in the area, one at Elkader City Park and one in Postville, in that it’s longer and more difficult.
“The Elkader course is nine holes and so is the one in Postville, and they’re both pretty short holes, straight forward and really good beginner courses,” he explained. “We’ve got such a beautiful area and lots of space out here, so I wanted to put something in that had a little more challenge to it. It’s longer and a little more rugged than the other ones, but a lot of fun.”
“One participant even commented that you really need pants and hiking shoes for this course, not just tennis shoes and shorts,” added Clayton County Conservation Director Jenna Pollock.
The nine-hole addition has been well received so far, even spurring more use.
“It’s exciting that people are realizing the public space more,” said Pollock.
She encourages others to give it a try. If you don’t have your own discs, Osborne has some available to rent.
