The layout of the new disc golf course. (Tor Olson) [Click to enlarge]

With sponsors committed for 11 of the 18 holes, the McCook Rotary Club is optimistic that the Kelley Creek Disc Golf Course will become a reality before the end of 2006.

A Rotary Club committee is spearheading fund raising efforts through a variety of activities, including a challenge to all civic clubs to sponsor a hole. So far, the Optimists and Lions clubs have voted to sponsor a hole and the Elks Club and Sertoma Club are considering it.

Other sponsors now include the McCook Community College Foundation, McCook National Bank, First Central Bank, Wells Fargo Bank, McCook City Employees, Mr. and Mrs. Richard Stull, the George W. Norris Foundation and Roger Moreau, in memory of his wife, Patsy.

Sponsorship involves a one-time donation of $750. A co-sponsorship is $400. Individuals may participate in the project by making a donation to one of the service clubs or to the George W. Norris Foundation.

Construction of the Kelley Park Disc Golf Course has begun with the installation of some of the goal bases. Once completed, the course "will offer a challenging and inexpensive opportunity for healthy exercise that almost everyone can enjoy," said Duane Tappe, who is helping with fund raising.

"Although serious disc golf players use specialized discs similar to having a bag of clubs, a simple Frisbee works for the most basic level of play," he added.

The proposed disc golf course has been designed by a professional disc golf course architect, Dusty Rodiek. The Kelley Park course is the ninth course he has designed over the past few years. He previously designed courses for Gothenburg, Hastings, Holdrege, Ogallala and North Platte, as well as three in Kearney.

During a recent visit to the McCook site, Rodiek said playing the course will be a lot of fun for participants because of all the trees and the constant elevation changes.

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"It has a similar configuration and feel to the Swope Park course in Kansas City," Rodiek noted.

"It also has elements that remind me of the Grandview course in Des Moines," he declared, pointing out that both Swope and Grandview are championship courses.

For more information about the course and sponsorship opportunities, interested people may contact Tor Olson, Duane Tappe or Rhonda Vetrovsky.