The opening of the new Town of Newbold disc golf course is set for next month. After three years of planning and construction, the 34-acre Rookery Run course is set to open September 15 at 9:00 a.m.. It's part of the Newbold Outdoor Recreation Area.
Recreation Committee chair Pete Cody says the September 15 date is a 'soft opening' with a grand opening set for October 6. Cody says the efforts of volunteers made the effort worthwhile...
"...It has taken a lot of hard work and a lot of hours and so far we have totaled about 2, 675 volunteer hours on the course.That does not include the hours the town crew has put in. They have done a lot of work, also...."
He says the town invested more than $70,000 to upgrade Ole Lake road leading to the course. Cody says two of the state's top professionals designed Rookery Run...
"....This course was designed by two of the best disc golf professionals in Wisconsin. John 'Duster' Hoffman, who has designed numerous golf courses and is in the disc golf Hall of Fame was one of the designers, and Bill Stolpa, the other designer is a disc golf professional also. They designed this course and did not charge us for anything except expenses..."
Sponsorships brought in $42,000 to construct the course. There is also signage to alert disc players to three milkweed patches that are part of the nationally recognized Monarch Watch program, designed to attract the increasingly rare butterflies.
Cody says disc golf and other activities are free to the public, with the exception of tournaments where charges are to be determined. He says at times it was frustrating, but now he is very happy the course is about to open about 7 miles north of Rhinelander.
