By Molly Payne
(Cushing, Okla) — At Monday night’s meeting, the Cushing Board of Commissioners unanimously approved improvements to the disc golf course in Memorial Park. Several members of the Cushing Disc Golf Club and the Cushing Alumni Association, along with Matt Turner from the Cushing Rotary Club, were present at the meeting. CHS graduates Christina Morrill and Jonathon Pauley spoke passionately to the Commission about the possibilities the improvements could bring to the community, including a disc golf tournament during this year’s All Class Reunion scheduled the weekend of CHS Football Homecoming on October 8, 2021.
Recently the Cushing Disc Golf Club approached City staff about the possibility of rehabilitating the disc golf course in Memorial Park and transitioning it from a 9-hole course to an 18-hole tournament sanctioned course.
“Commissioner (Mike) Griffith mentioned to me that during the vision process several years ago this was something that was discussed,” City Manager Terry Brannon said. “We felt this was some low hanging fruit that would help get us some momentum.”
The proposed (and now approved) rehabilitation will include new baskets throughout the park, replacing all the existing baskets and adding 9 new ones, new concrete launch platforms, and signage. The club has committed to funding all the proposed enhancements except for the new baskets. A grant awarded to the Cushing Disc Golf Club in the amount of $7,450.00 from the Cushing Rotary Club is being matched by local businessman Geoffrey Beasley. All of the monies are being committed to fund the enhancements – leaving only the cost of the new baskets, some signage and incidentals to the City of Cushing. The Rotary Club has also committed to help pay for some of the signage. The total cost to the City is estimated at $9,350.00.
Pauley said he has played disc golf courses all over and every time he would come home, he would dream of holding disc golf tournaments in his hometown of Cushing. Now, thanks to Cushing Rotary Club, Geoffrey Beasley and the City of Cushing, that dream is going to become a reality.
Disc Golf is currently the fastest growing sport in America.
