BECKLEY, WV (LOOTPRESS) – Raleigh County Parks & Recreation staff along with the Beckley-Raleigh County Chamber of Commerce and members of the Raleigh County community gathered at Lake Stephens on Friday afternoon to celebrate the grand opening and ribbon cutting ceremony for a brand-new Disc Golf Course.
Boasting an 18-hole, multi-level course designed by Ryan Shumate, the newest addition to Raleigh County Parks features two tee pads per hole and alternative basket placements on-hand for when a fresh layout is needed for the course.
Raleigh County Parks & Recreation Director Molly Williams was present at the ribbon cutting and spoke about the efforts put forth by many in making the course a reality. The process, which had gotten underway as far back as 2019, incurred a number of obstacles, not the least of which was the COVID-19 pandemic, the ensuing lockdown period, and the subsequent economic impact.
“Today is a momentous occasion because this has been a project that we’ve been working on since 2019,” said Williams. “This was years in the making, and it wasn’t just a Parks & Rec effort, it was definitely a community effort. It was a Beckley Area Foundation grant that helped pay for the baskets, and we also had sponsors from all over the county that stepped up to help us get it completed. So, we’re really excited to finally be able to open this course.
In addition to designing the course itself, Shumate has organized the very first disc golf tournament set to take place on the course, which is scheduled for Saturday, June 10, 2023.
“This course would not be possible without Ryan Shumate who’s the designer of the course,” said Williams. “He has kept us going; he has gathered volunteers to help get things accomplished when my staff was busy with other things. He was really instrumental in making this all possible.”
The upcoming tournament is nearly at full capacity with regard to participants, with 68 of a maximum 72 players having already registered to partake. Along with local players and community members, out-of-state disc golfers from areas such as Virginia and Ohio will reportedly be participating.
Along with members of the Beckley-Raleigh County Chamber of Commerce, Raleigh County Commission President Dave Tolliver was present for the grand opening event as part of the Raleigh County Parks & Recreation staff.
Touching on what this addition could bring to the area at large, Williams states that along with getting the Raleigh County community outside, the new course will also be a prime amenity for attracting tourists to the Mountain State.
“It adds something else to Lake Stephens. We already have great boating, fishing and camping. So, it just adds another great piece for people to come and try out,” she says. “If they’re new to the sport or if they move around the country trying different courses, it will definitely bring people in from our local communities and bring them outside. It will also bring tourists as well.”
The following sponsors were acknowledged during Friday’s event for their contributions in making the Lake Stephens Disc Golf Course possible:
Marquee CinemasWork Wide Products INCCoca ColaVaught Neurological Services PLLCAlliance Consulting INCAaron BoardersWhitco Cleaning Equipment INCBill Miller InsuranceRon HedrickLowes84 LumberAppalachian Aggregates
Additional LOOTPRESS coverage of Raleigh County Parks & Recreation events can be found here.