The Cottage Grove Park Board approved a matching funds request for additional upgrades at the Oakwood Park disc golf course at the Feb. 13 meeting. Located at 7851 Harkness Road South, the city’s only official course of its kind has been an ongoing project over the last 20 years to create a great place for disc golfers to play.

A volunteer group in the city requested $2,500 to install and repair concrete tee pads to solidify the course as a stronger draw from around the area and outside the metro. Primarily consisting of local enthusiasts, the volunteer group has no official name, but they have been working for years to further the quality of the course as well as player experience. A series of improvements has been carried out as time and budget has allowed, and the course has been host to tournaments, including the 41st Annual Minnesota State Championships in October 2022.

David Baumrucker, a local therapist, appeared on behalf of the volunteer group to speak to the board about the funds match request.

Board member Samanthia Crabtree praised the progress of the course, saying, “I just want to say great job. I’ve heard and seen a lot of great comments and feedback, how great it is coming along and how much it has improved, so thank you.”

“It took a lot of time talking to over 200 people that live in the community and play out there all the time,” said Baumrucker. “The last piece of this whole puzzle is just putting in four new tee pads that we have. Then we’ll have two different layouts 100% completed out there. And then fixing the Hole 16 tee pad, because when it was first laid the trees weren’t the same way.”

In regard to the volunteer group fostering course improvements, he added, “Oakwood Park, for the land and the layout and everything it has, had the potential of being one of the best courses in the state. It just needed some TLC.”

Through partnerships with companies in the disc golf industry, as well as local landscaping and construction companies that have volunteered their time and effort, the landscaping and hardware of the course have been installed and maintained with the help of Parks and Recreation.

Board member David Olson commented, “There are just so many things to like about this. The community involvement and you all coming to us with a plan is one of them. The fact that this park will draw people from outside of our community is another big reason to be in favor of this.”

Crabtree asked about previously- raised trash concerns. Baumrucker said volunteers have been pitching in to help with trash collection and keeping the park clean and fairways cleared, as well as raising awareness for regular parkgoers to keep an eye out for discs flying in the vicinity.

“The garbage will have to be weekly,” he said. “We’re expecting probably 700 people a week now, so that’s going to be a lot of people and a lot of traffic. Most people in the disc golf space are pretty good with not bringing glass out there and crushing cans, and being stewards to the park. Unfortunately, there’s a handful of people that just aren’t that way. I think that’s true with any small community thing.

“When you have something that’s nice, people want to preserve it,” he added. “When something’s not nice, people don’t really care. We have this nice space. Let’s preserve and let’s take care of it. It sounds like a lot of people are prepared to do that.”

Board Chair Susannah Brown called a vote, which passed unanimously.

With the newly-approved funds to install the final concrete tee pads, the course is set to build on its status as an established disc golf destination. The volunteer group plans to hold tournaments every two weeks or so during playing season, bringing players from all around the state to Cottage Grove.

Hole 3 disc golf basket in Oakwood Park Photo by Dan Solovitz

A sign warns visitors of disc golf play in the Oakwood Park. Photo by Dan Solovitz