Oct 15, 2019

World disc golf champion McCabe designs new Alliance course

Posted Oct 15, 2019 3:27 PM

By KALIN KROHE

Panhandle Post


On Oct. 14 new disc golf baskets were installed at the newly re-designed Rolling Prairie 18-hole disc golf course at Alliance, Nebraska's Laing Lake Park. The new course was designed by 2010 PDGA World Disc Golf Champion Eric McCabe in late September.


The previous 9-hole course set on the west side of the park was installed with the help of Dave Kimmel and his family in 1998. The new course will utilize the entire park system.


The new course was spearheaded by the Alliance Disc Golf Committee about four years ago. Within those years the committee changed members a few times.


The Committee raised $18,405 toward the new course with the City of Alliance approving ACE funding to complete the project. ACE funding is used for community betterment projects. The Alliance Park Foundation along with many local businesses, organizations, and donors helped pave the way to make this course a success.


"I first started playing disc golf in high school around 1994 and turned Pro in 2000," said Disc Golf Pro/Course Designer, Eric McCabe. "I've had quite a bit of success throughout my travels winning close to 100 professional tournaments, including two Majors, one of them being the 2010 World Championships. I started designing courses in my hometown [Emporia, Kansas] just for fun, which quickly turned into a passion of mine. I've now designed around 40 courses in 20 different states and 1 in Canada."


McCabe is employed with one of the biggest disc golf companies in the world, Dynamic Discs. He's been with the company since it started. He now manages over 150 players throughout the world and is the company's main course designer.


McCabe said he has designed courses in California, Arizona, New Mexico, Texas, Oklahoma, Kansas, Iowa, Illinois, Michigan, Alabama, Tennessee, New York, New Hampshire, Massachusetts, Maine, North Carolina, Arkansas, Alaska, Kamloops, British Columbia and now Nebraska.


He said he had a fantastic time designing to new course. "The two sides of the park are night and day different. This will result in a great mix of holes," added McCabe. "There's plenty of trees to act as beautiful tunnel shots and lengthy open holes at the beginning. Overall fun and challenging course. I just wish there was a way to incorporate some more water shots." He said a unique challenge he had designing was "not knowing how much time will be needed on the property and not knowing the terrain."


McCabe stated there are many benefits for a city to have a course.


"Having a course can help generate money for the community by hosting events and bringing people to your town and spending money within the community. Meaning filling up in gas stations, eating, and staying in hotels. Having a good organized disc golf club will go a long way for your community," added McCabe.


The Alliance Disc Golf Committee is also very excited about the new course. There are few more construction projects that are being completed now including tee, entrance, and map signs; baskets numbered with flags installed on top of them, movement of baskets, etc. At least 12 new trees will be installed on the course in the future.

-Alliance Disc Golf Committee. From left to right: Robbie Cerv, Omar Escamilla, Kalin Krohe, Eric Anderson, Evan Mehne (Not pictured Marcus Hjersman and Ian Nelson)


"It's about growing disc golf and giving people opportunities to build relationships," said Alliance Disc Golf Committee member, Robbie Cerv. "This will put Alliance on the map in the panhandle of Nebraska as a disc golf destination and will provide the community something beneficial, unique, and cutting edge."


"I've wanted a great course in Alliance for a long time and am honored to have been a part in its realization," said Committee member, Eric Anderson.


Another committee member, Omar Escamilla said, "It’s exciting to see the growth of the sport in our panhandle and I’m honored to be part of the team who made Alliance a part of that."


"I'm really excited to throw on the new course and to take in the new experience," said Committee member, Evan Mehne. "I hope it will bring in new players and inspire others to play this course and really make it their own."


People at Laing Lake park can enjoy many outdoor activities including: fishing, grilling, park shelters, a skatepark, walking trails, ice-skating in the winter, and now an updated state-of-art 18 hole disc golf course.


The Alliance Disc Golf Committee is planning a big tournament in 2020 with directions from Cerv.


Alliance resident, Derek Shafer will hold a "Halloween Fling Disc Golf Tournament" on Oct. 27 starting at 1:30 p.m. Proceeds benefit Alliance Park Foundation for disc golf maintenance. Prizes are being donated by Monument Flyers Disc Golf Pro Shop in Scottsbluff.



Disclosure: Panhandle Post’s Kalin Krohe is a member of the Alliance Disc Golf Committee.