Disc Golf: The Oaks Course Offers a Scenic Challenge

Last Sunday was not an ideal day to go outside, let alone exert yourself.

Ninety-four degrees, humid and the sun glaring down from a cloudless sky.

While most sane folks didn’t leave the pool or the comfort of air conditioning, New Lenox residents Randall Bruemmer, Ryan Hoffmann and Anthony Rodriguez met up with Joliet’s Dave Kociuba and Tom Matesevac and Lemont’s Steve Slater and battled the heat during an abbreviated round at The Oaks Disc Golf Course in Mokena.

The Oaks Disc Golf Course, located at 10847 LaPorte Road in Mokena, is a PDGA certified championship-rate 27-hole course. Siutated on 35 acres of rolling wooded terrain, the course features Mach 5 baskets, rubber tee boxes for three levels of play and signage for each hole.

The Mokena Community Park District operates The Oaks, which was constructed in 2003. The length of the course obviously varies by tee box but challenges players of all levels with more than 7,000 feet to nearly 9,000 feet of length over the 27 holes.

Majestic oaks that have at least 10 years on Betty White, give the course its distinct character while steep ravines, rolling terrain and elevation changes add to the tranquil setting while providing a greater challenge to all players. The course also features benches near the tees on many holes, giving players an opportunity to play at their own pace.

“It’s a good course. It’s open for the most part, but it’s a good course to play,” Slater said. “It’s one of the longer courses for us in the area. We don’t have a lot of longer courses around here and, with 27 holes, you can spend a day out here. It’s also nice and shaded, too. You don’t really get overheated. Plus, they give you three different tees for every hole.”

Sunday was Slater’s first appearance at The Oaks since 2006. He had played two rounds earlier in the day elsewhere and got through 12 holes at The Oaks before meeting with the others for a late-afternoon round.

“We figured out earlier that I hadn’t been out here in that long because I got an ace that day and wrote it on my disc,” he said. “I travel all over to play, not just around here, but all over the country, too. I just got back from North Carolina and it was pretty nice out there with a lot of holes where you have to go over water.”

Sticking to the subject of aces, Kociuba carded one on Sunday on No. 7, a 280-foot hole from the back tee, which is guarded by trees and shrubbery.

Kociuba’s drive faded from left to right, perfectly squeezing between a pair of trees and then skipping off the hard ground before rattling the chains in the basket. Everyone had to use their ears rather than their eyes to note the significance of the shot as a variety of bushes, shrubs and trees make it impossible to clearly see the basket.

“I haven’t played out here too much because I live closer to the courses in Shorewood, Channahon and West Park, and now even Pilcher Park,” Kociuba said. “It is a beautiful park, though, with some awesome holes, but I don’t like the 300-foot holes. I wish they took the yardage from the full 27 holes and added it into just an 18-hole course.”

Disc Golf Fosters Their Friendship

Bluemmer, Hoffmann and Rodriguez have been friends since their childhood. While they are approaching their 30^th birthdays, they were in their late teens when they first seriously picked up a disc. They met the three others they played with on Sunday years ago in league play.

“Overall, the disc golf community is just a great group of people who love playing the game,” Hoffmann said. “Everybody is encouraging and wants to help each other and there’s great sportsmanship. I seriously have never met any negative people out here.”

Although the oppressive heat had the players reaching for their bottled water and Gatorade frequently, it didn’t deter them from enjoying The Oaks, the friendly competition and the peaceful sites.

While the game can provide excellent competition, it is also a very good exercise outlet and a wonderful opportunity to hang out with friends as well as make new ones.

“It’s a lot of fun and friendly competition,” Bruemmer said. “We play every Wednesday in a local league that we’ve been playing in for as long as we’ve known each other, but it’s also a good time to get to relax and just come out and do your thing.

“You get the exercise as well, too. It’s not like we’re out here riding out on carts. We hoof it up and down all of this terrain and carry our bags.”

The Oaks also gives players a quiet place to come and get away, even if for a quick round.

“It keeps me in shape, but it also keeps me sane,” Slater said. “I use it as therapy. I went through a lot of stuff with family and stuff when I started, and when I’m out on the course I don’t think about it.”

While most regular golfers who swing clubs are happy to get out once a week for a round, these guys play throughout the week, often squeezing in three to five rounds during the regular week as well as weekend play in tournaments or with each other.

“Dave probably plays about every day and I also play quite a bit,” Matesevac said. “I travel quite a bit around the area and with going to tournaments. I’ve been to the Twin Cities, Evansville, Des Moines and Davenport.”

You Can't Beat the Price of Disc Golf

Disc golfers don’t have to worry about green fees, at least not at The Oaks or at other local courses. Usually the only cost is a couple bucks to pick up a Gatorada or large bottled water before a round. The Oaks does not charge greens fees. That’s right, it’s FREE to play.

Of course, you can’t play without discs. The Administration Building/Oaks Recreation Center has discs for sale. You can also find discs at most sporting goods stores and there are countless discs dealers on the Internet that can ship you a bunch of discs at a reasonable price.

Discs range in price, but often you can find a beginner’s set for under $25 and single discs can range in price from under $10 and up. Remember, you don’t need a full bag of discs to get out and play like the avid player, but simply a few discs to get started. Having a driver, a mid-range disc and a putter would be a good start for the novice.

On Sunday, as the six friends made their way to their finish on No. 27, most of the players emptied their bags and took their best shots at nailing a hole-in-one. None of them was able to rattle the chains, but that didn’t stop them from smiling as they completed their round.

With sweat dripping from their bodies, the guys quickly posed for a picture before considering what they needed more: dinner or a shower?

There was no official word on whether they grabbed a bite together or if they all went their separate ways, but what the casual observer learned is that the disc golf community is really friendly and the sport is a great deal of fun. Plus, cheap and active entertainment for all ages is always a good thing.

Perhaps you would like to give this challenging sport a try at The Oaks in Mokena?

The Oaks Disc Golf Course is open from dawn until dusk, year round and is FREE to play.

COMING FRIDAY: Log on at 6 a.m. Friday to see a video demonstration of how to play the toughest hole at The Oaks Disc Golf Course.

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