Whether you’re new to the game, or a veteran, Hutchinson’s new disc golf course provides great game play for all skill levels.

Located in South Park, the nine-hole course winds its way through one of the city’s largest oak forests.

“It’s an underutilized park,” said Shane Kruse, initial organizer for the course. “You don’t see a lot of people there and it’s a pity because it’s such a nice area.”

That was in June 2006. Now, on any given spring, summer or fall day, groups of area disc golfers flock to the park for a round or two — one might even catch a brave hardcore user during warmer days throughout the winter. And because it’s a city park, it’s free to play.

Kruse began his quest to bring the game to Hutchinson in 2005. By early 2006, he had the city parks and recreation department keen to the idea.

“I’m originally from this area, but when I moved, I started to really love the sport,” he said. “When I moved back to this area I wanted to see if there was interest. I wanted to spread the joy for the game.”

He still lacked the funding to go forward with constructing the course, however. But with a bit of creative fundraising and a little help from his friends, Kruse managed to raise the $3,000 necessary to purchase the baskets. After a bit of consulting with PDGA Senior Certified Course Designer Tim Mackey — responsible for creating courses at Riverside, Calvary and River’s Edge in St. Cloud and several others across the state — Kruse also had the course design picked out.

All he needed was help placing the tees and cages. City work crews began laying the brick tees and installing the metal baskets by early summer of 2007. Because trees and other natural structures make for a more interesting time on the course, not much else about South Park was altered.

“That’s the beauty of disc golf,” said Hutchinson Parks Resource Director Lawrence Winter. “There isn’t a whole lot to maintain.”

Now, the park is home to Kruse’s Crow River Disc Golf League. He hopes to bring in more talent to the area by hosting tournaments in the future. Winter said such tournaments would be a boon for area commerce.