http://www.nwherald.com/articles/2008/05/20/news/local/doc4832bf2107e8f401362203.txt (http://www.nwherald.com/articles/2008/05/20/news/local/doc4832bf2107e8f401362203.txt)
CRYSTAL LAKE – Seniors at Prairie Ridge High School took a break from social studies Monday to make their own mark on history.
Well, school history at least.
More than 200 members of the class of 2008 on Monday began building their senior project – a nine-hole disc golf course and nature trail along the Prairie Ridge High School campus.
The group is carrying on a tradition started a few years ago by social sciences teacher Curt Wadlington, who came up with the idea of a senior project after being angered by a senior prank at the school.
"I tried to form some sort of way for kids to give back, ... to leave a positive print, not a negative print," said Wadlington, who was overseeing student workers Monday.
"It has been awesome. The kids have really run with it."
That enthusiasm was apparent Monday as seniors dug holes, carried concrete blocks, and slashed away brush.
"I think a lot of people came together around it," senior Meghan Gregus said.
"It's awesome," senior Paige Kopecky said. "After this project, I think senior projects will keep getting bigger and bigger."
The students have led the project from its inception to execution, senior Courtney Calahan said.
A few weeks ago, seniors gave a nine-point presentation on the plan to school and district leaders, said Calahan, part of a group of students in charge of the public relations aspect of the project. The presentation went over well, she said.
While students led the way, they have been supervised by Wadlington, social sciences teacher John Pellikan and science teacher Matt Senese.
The trio did their best to help students split up tasks Monday, including digging holes for the disc golf course along the back end of the campus.
Also called Frisbee golf or "frolf," disc golf is played with rules similar to golf, but uses metal baskets as "holes" and a disc instead of a ball and club. The object is to throw a disc into the basket with the fewest throws, or "strokes."
"I've never done it, but now that there's one here I think it will be sweet," said senior Nick Maier, as he dug a hole Monday.
The nature trail will loop around about a mile at the back end of campus, passing through both prairie land and a forested area near a creek. The course will be open to the public during non-school hours and when there are no events on the tennis courts.
The trail and the first hole of the disc golf course will be named in honor of Josh Spencer, a member of the senior class who died earlier this year because of complications of a rare blood condition.
Besides creating the trail and disc golf course, the seniors also took time Monday to freshen up the senior projects from the classes of 2006 and 2007.
That included cleaning off and replanting stones that formed the mascot name "Wolves" near the football field and building a retaining wall near a student-created picnic area.
Several seniors working Monday said the project had been a big success with students.
"It shows that we're giving back to the community and commemorating a member of our class," senior Tasha Pinkley said.
It looks like the project also could have the desired effect of deterring senior pranks, students said.
"We're helping the school instead of hurting it," senior Alex Crisci said. "I'd like to keep the tradition of a senior prank alive, but I guess we're starting a new tradition."
Calahan offered a similar sentiment.
"It's not a school prank where everyone laughs for five minutes," she said. "This will last for years."
To help
Prairie Ridge students already have raised thousands in cash to help pay for their senior project, but anyone interested in offering further financial support can drop off or mail a check to Prairie Ridge High School, 6000 Dvorak Drive, Crystal Lake, IL, 60012.
Checks should be made out to the high school with a note that the donation is intended for the senior project.
that's awesome! Hopefully they had a lot more room to work with compared to Hannah Beardsley Middle School. If Lippold is packed and I'm trying to introduce new people to the game, maybe I can take them to Prairie Ridge instead... it's only about 3 1/2 miles away.
I read this article in the Northwest Herald and immediately headed out there this past weekend. Yeah, umm, well........... I was a little early. I don't know why I thought they already had it in the ground. I didn't see any baskets on the campus so I had my wife re-read the article to me. I guess I assumed that this year's seniors where constructing it AND completing it before graduation, and you know what they say about assuming... They don't even have the funds yet! :P
The campus is huge, though. I hope they utilize its space.
I was running a tournament at Hannah Beardsley yesterday for the middle school kids, and I found out that the Prairie Ridge course IS in. The only had the sleeves in last week, and I guess the baskets were ust put in this weekend (something like that). The best spot to park is in the faculty parking lot since that is near hole one. I don't know if there are any course signs or tee information - so hope to find someone that is involved with the course to guide you around. So far the word is pretty good about this 9-hole course.
Check it out and feel free to report!
Is the faculty parking lot easily identified? Is it near the tennis courts?
My brother and I went out to play the new course today. NICE JOB. Hopefully some day they will consider something other than just grass tees along with flattening a couple tee areas because some are not completely flat ground.
The course is by far better than both HBMS and Lippold. It was definitely a joy playing the course.
However, there are a few problems to note:
- a couple of the tees are in the direct path of the previous hole's fairway. They did it to help make both holes a little bit longer, but on hole 4 my drive landed right on the tee for hole 5. Not cool.
- there is no tee rock that we could find for hole two. Make sure you note on the map at the course where they say hole 2 starts (it's a sweet hole!)
- there is a note on the message board that if the tennis courts are in use for practice, then the course is closed. To be fair there are a couple holes that are VERY close to the tennis courts. It also says that if a disc lands in the tennis courts while it is in use, the disc is permanently confiscated.
There's quite a walk between hole one and two, other that it's a short walk (too short of a walk in most cases). Not all of the tee signs are in - I'd say about 5 or 6 are done. Hole 1 is 400', the longest is hole 7 around 440. Nice use of elevation. HUGE chance of lost discs. Make sure you watch where your disc goes or bring someone with to help spot!
Hole 5 is the shortest at 187' The tee sign is marked Par 2. It's a shortie with the basket tucked in the middle of a ton of brush and trees. I recommend laying up at the opening to the bushes and then putt. If you go left or overshoot you have a ton of garbage to go through and it's tough to find. Hole 6 is like hole 12 at Lippold, only no trees. If they don't set up a mando to go around the trees you should be able to thumb it over the top of the trees.
My brother (about 900 rated) shot +2 (all par 3), and then I shot a +8 (probably should have been +5 or 6 if I would stop shanking 10' putts)
The best place to park is in the faculty parking lot. It's on the south side of the school. There are signs that point to faculty parking. There's a course sign with a map at the parking lot. I don't know what they expect during school hours.
one thing that I should add - a lot of lefty hyzer holes. sorry guys :).
I'd break the holes down as follows (distances are my guesses, only remember a couple of what it said on the tee sign):
1: either (400')
2: righty (300')
3: leftie (250')
4: leftie (280')
5: either (187')
6: righty (220')
7: either (440')
8: either (300')
9: leftie - (marked about 376' or something like that, but it felt more like 325') - there is a rightie hyzer route, but you probably need to throw at least 250' to clear the swampy area (think Streamwood around hole 7 type of stuff)
as long as the course isn't too busy the tees won't be too much of a problem - just be alert and courteous! I'd even recommend this course for some best shot doubles.
Baskets are Discraft Chainstars. I don't know the contact info for the course or else I'd submit it to the pdga website.
Thanks for sharing that information, Scott. I can't wait to get out there and see for myself!
I would assume that they would expect that the course is closed during school hours.
Closed while school is in session, sure, but right now it's summer vacation, so all lights are green. It's a good course, the only 9 hole I've ever played where I didn't leave feeling like I just finished a warmup.
I got out & played the course today. It was windy and the course played tough. This course is long and has some nice elevation changes. There will be some lost discs on this course.
Some notes.
Hole #1 is tough to reach. 400+
Hole #2 Talked to a high school kid saying the tee is close to the flag poles. We played from the grass in the middle of the circle drive. Awesome downhill shot.
Hole #3. We threw anhyzer & spiked over the tennis court.
Hole #4. Tough long anhyzer for a righty with some nasty rough if you hyzer out. We bomed some hyzers over the top of the tennis courts as well.
Hole #5. Schumann nailed the bin. Easiest hole on the course but the green is tight. Might not have a putt with all the rough.
Hole #6 Tough angle to get around the corner to birdie.
Hole #7 Excellent hole. Nice elevation. Don't hyzer out!
Hole #8. Nice burm blocking the pin. Don't go deep!
Hole #9. Nice multiple routes. Risk/Reward for the righty Hyzer.
Fun 9-hole course. Couldn't find the tee for Hole #2, but the middle of the Circle Drive would be a very nice option. Hole #7 was a great hole and could be a challenge to find your disc if you go into the rough on the left hand side in mid-summer. I thought I had the arm and went for a righty hyzer on 9. I'm now short 1 Wraith.
I played there for a tennis tournament a week or so ago and noticed there course. I take it's worth going out too?
I live < 15 miles from the course & I've played it once. I wouldn't travel too far for a 9-hole course. Unless you're on a "Mission to Conquer All 9-Hole Courses".
Quote from: Classic_ROCer on May 23, 2009, 05:30:20 AM
I live < 15 miles from the course & I've played it once. I wouldn't travel too far for a 9-hole course. Unless you're on a "Mission to Conquer All 9-Hole Courses".
Lol. Alright, I was in Crystal Lake the other day and didn't visit the course instead I played a couple rounds at Lippold Park and was very happy with my decision.