Signs soon will be installed near the first tee that include a course map, rules and other details.
By Susan Thompson | Lake Panorama Times
The disc golf course on Lake Panorama’s south shore has been open for play since last November, yet additional work is being done this spring. The course is one part of a plan for low-impact recreational amenities developed by Friends of Lake Panorama and approved by the LPA board.
The fifth hole on the Lake Panorama disc golf course is a straight shot of 150 feet through a mild ravine to the basket on the other side. The hole is characterized by many trees and a tight fairway choke point of about 10 feet wide. The hole is sponsored by Hawkeye Molding, which is owned by Lana Leander and Ryan Gruhn. The couple also has donated a bench, which will be installed near this tee box.
John Worth, an LPA member who in 2019 volunteered to design a disc golf course at Lake Panorama, created the course to fit on land nestled between two sections of the Lake Panorama walking trails system.
“Due to the type of area the course is built on, all pretty deep woods, it is a non-typical course,” Worth says. “All the holes are shorter than an average course. The guideline is 200 to 400 feet, but the holes on this course run from 150 to 300 feet. This type of course is referred to as a ‘technical’ course, which means distances aren’t as long, and fairways are tighter, so your aim needs to be good.”
The course features nine concrete tee pads with nine metal basket targets. Worth recently installed tee box signs showing distance and layouts for each hole, plus hole sponsors, with one near each of the nine tee boxes. He also installed three “caution – flying discs” signs in locations where the walking trail and disc golf fairways are close together.
The sixth hole on the Lake Panorama disc golf course is one of four holes that will eventually have two options for basket placements. One will be 225 feet from the tee box, with another 275 feet. This hole features a couple of trees in the middle of the fairway that players need to navigate. The hole is sponsored by Joshua and Mariah Tuggle, who chose the words “Tuggle & Cates Family” for their sign.
Signs soon will be installed near the first tee that include a course map, rules and other details. Also there will be a sign about UDisc, which is an app that lists more than 14,000 courses worldwide. Disc golfers use the UDisc app on their smart phones to keep score and navigate interactive course maps. The Lake Panorama course is listed on UDisc.
In early May, a chemical control for broadleaf weeds will be applied on the course fairways. Soon after, a seed mixture that is a blend of grasses and white clovers will be spread. This perennial mix is designed to quickly produce cover and grow in lower quality soils and areas with low sunlight. The goal is to eliminate weeds in the fairways, improve the turf and make the course fairways low maintenance.
Worth has plans for another improvement to the course. He has chosen secondary positions for baskets on four holes. This is typical on disc golf courses where extra “anchors” are installed, and the baskets can be moved to different locations. These additional basket locations were incorporated into the full course sign and individual tee signs. These optional locations could be available within the next couple of months.
Caution signs are now in place in three locations where the walking trail and disc golf fairways are close to each other.
Another part of the south shore recreation area plan yet to be completed is the addition of five benches. These are ready to be installed when conditions allow with two along the shoreline portion of the trail and two along the meadow portion. A bench donated by Lana Leander and Ryan Gruhn will be located near the fifth tee box on the disc golf course. That hole is sponsored by Hawkeye Molding, a business the couple owns.
Nine tee box sponsors donated $1,000 each to Friends of Lake Panorama last fall to help with the cost of establishing the disc golf course. Each sponsor is recognized with a sign on a tee box. The nine sponsors, in order from one to nine, are Sunset Realty; State Farm, Robert Carr; Panora Fiber; OvaEasy; Hawkeye Molding; Tuggle and Cates Family, Joshua and Mariah Tuggle; Mindy Larsen Poldberg Family; Martin – Flanery Ace Run, Jeff and Maria Martin; and Lake Panorama Realty.
To get into the recreation area, there is a fenced driveway that begins at 5501 Chimra Road and leads to a parking lot with walk-through access. Beyond the shelter with picnic table are two brown markers; one points right to the first hole of the golf course, and the other points left to the beginning of the trail system.
Two additional signs are on order and will be installed as soon as these are received. One is a welcome sign that will be near the parking lot. It includes a graphic of Lake Panorama, history, donor recognition, emergency contact details and other information. The second sign will be installed at the beginning of the trail system. It includes a map of the trail system, trail option descriptions and details on the native plants and wildlife along the trails.
The recreation area is open during daylight hours. Wheeled vehicles are prohibited. There are no trash receptacles, restrooms or running water; visitors should plan accordingly.
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