The disc golf course at Hockinson Meadows Community Park officially opened on Tuesday, May 23, providing the community with access to Clark County’s only 18-hole course.
While the course is open, tournaments and league-play events will have to wait until the fall to allow for closures of the course when needed to complete the construction of the new walking path, a news release from the county stated.
The course utilizes natural elements like native plants and features tree-protected areas within putting range and some tree-protected tee boxes before an open fairway. The holes are lined with out-of-bounds areas that serve as conservation areas as well.
“My eight years playing, I played quite a bit of courses on the West Coast, and you usually know a good course the first time you play it, and I would say this is a pretty darn good course,” Clarke Pindar said after his first round at Hockinson Meadows.
Pindar said the course is challenging since some holes feature long distances and natural obstacles. That can be seen on hole two, which has a distance that ranges from 195 to 245 feet and is lined by trees with about an eight-foot horizontal gap to work with. The course also plays to left-handed disc golfers, making some of the shots a challenge for right-handed throwers.
The course has an average hole length of 377.5 feet, placing it within the Professional Disc Golf Association’s hole length recommendations of 200 to 400 feet per hole.
“If I had to add one thing, maybe distance markers on the par fours, just so you’ve got an idea of how far you are from the (basket),” Patrick Robertson said after his first round. “But I like the challenge. I think it’s really balanced with short holes, long holes and lefty holes.”
Those who want to play the course should keep an eye out for closure notices online at clark.wa.gov/public-works. In its release, Clark County stated scheduled closures will be announced as far in advance as possible.
Those who want to keep track of their score on the new course can print off a scorecard online at clark.wa.gov/public-works/hock inson-meadows-community-park. A map of the course is located on a sign across the bridge from the playground area at Hockinson Meadows Community Park.
