LANCASTER—About 50 people raised a glass to toast the grand opening of Lancaster County’s newest and first disc golf course recently.
Deadrise Disc Golf, about a year in the making, opened for play to the public Saturday, June 11, on a portion of the former King Carter Golf Course at Hills Quarter near Kilmarnock. The 18-hole course was developed through community donations and from the back-breaking labor of organizers John and Marsha Jedlinski of Saluda, Davy Nichols of Irvington, Rob Pittman of Weems and Justin Burke and Brandon Frazier, both of Kilmarnock.
“A year ago, my husband, John, and our friend, Davy, had the idea to build a disc golf course in the community,” Marsha told the group, gathered near the former King Carter driving range in the midday sun. “We had all been playing for awhile, but knew with the recent pandemic the sport was starting to grow in popularity. All we needed was a piece of land to make this dream come true. That’s where Jimmie Carter came in and saved the day.”
The course is built on property owned by Carter and includes the former driving range and portions of the ninth hole.
Marsha said over the past year, organizers have taken that land and created a fun, yet challenging, course.
A number of local businesses helped to sponsor the course and several others, including Burke, Frazier, Pittman, Nick Cockrell, Adam Wood, Alan Graves, Brent Mihills, Neill Shultz and Becky and Kyle Jones, contributed their time and talents.
Erik Graulich of Boy Scout Troop 341 in Middlesex County is raising money to build 12 benches to place along the course as part of his Eagle Scout project.
The ceremony also included a question-and-answer session with Jimmie Carter, board chairman of the TriWay Trail project, a 9.5 mile multi-use pathway which will connect Kilmarnock, Irvington and White Stone. At its center is Hills Quarter.
The trail, he said, will hit two key metrics—improve the health of the elderly living in this area and being an attraction for the young, millennial sect. The walking/biking trail will include along its paths “nodes of activities” and the disc golf course is one of those activities, he said.
Deadrise Disc Golf is a free, public course open sunrise to sunset daily, said Nichols. There are a list of posted rules and regulations which include no littering, no alcohol, drugs or smoking. Organizers also ask players to be courteous of other players, of those walking on the trail and to pack up all trash and belongings. Dogs, on leashes, are allowed but owners are reminded to clean up after them.
For disc golf newbies, there is a loaner box of discs. Players are asked to return them to the box at the end of the round and donations of discs are always welcome.
