Stephen Boclair throws a disc Tuesday from the back of Kevin Skrip at the expanded disc golf course at Knoch Knolls in Naperville. Both Naperville residents navigated standing water on the course, but Boclair opted to keep his feet dry.
Daniel White/dwhite@dailyherald.com
An expanded disc golf course was the final element of a $6 million project to create a nature center at Knoch Knolls park in Naperville, but the 18-hole course now is open for action.
The former nine-hole course was doubled during park improvements that also included a 5,000-square-foot nature center, trail connections, a canoe launch, a nature-themed playground a permeable paver parking lot and a sculpture of a historic sawmill.
To clear the way for the extra holes, the park district let 5 acres of tree-filled fields become a grazing ground for a herd of 45 hungry goats. Beginning in September 2013, the goats ate everything in sight in less than a month so the area could become a place for tossing discs at targets.
Naperville Park District officials hosted a grand opening for the disc golf course Saturday, handing out 100 free discs and giving quick lessons on how to play the game.
The 224-acre Knoch Knolls park is the only Naperville Park District site to offer disc golf. The course is one of roughly 220 in the state.
Ryan Irmick of Naperville takes a shot Tuesday at the expanded disc golf course at Knoch Knolls in Naperville. The course now has 18 holes instead of 9 after it was expanded during a $6 million project that also brought a nature center, a canoe launch, trail connections, a nature-themed playground and sculpture and a new parking lot to the park.
Daniel White/dwhite@dailyherald.com
Stephen Boclair of Naperville takes aim Tuesday while playing a round at the expanded disc golf course at Knoch Knolls in Naperville.
Daniel White/dwhite@dailyherald.com
Stephen Boclair jumps on Kevin Skrip's back Tuesday as both played the disc golf course at Knoch Knolls, which recently was expanded to 18 holes from 9. Players on Tuesday navigated standing water on the course at the end of a rainy June.
Daniel White/dwhite@dailyherald.com
Kevin Skrip of Naperville finishes the 18th hole Tuesday at the expanded disc golf course at Knoch Knolls in Naperville. The course length was doubled to 18 holes as part of a $6 million project to add a nature center to the park.
Daniel White/dwhite@dailyherald.com