Eureka, IL

[CEValkyrie]

What an awesome surprise this morning. I set out to play more IL courses today. On the way to Peoria I decided to stop at Lake Eureka Park. I had been reading on the PFC Website that the collars were in the ground. I figured i'd check out the terrain.

I pull up & can't find anything. I thought the course would play around the lake. I'm about ready to leave because I couldn't find a trace of the collars & I decided to drive back towards the baseball fields tucked back in the corner of the park. As I pull up I see a brand new Innova Discatcher in the ground with empty boxes sitting close. I get out & and find the tee pad and play the hole. I managed to find my way around the course. On hole #6 I see a truck with empty Innova boxes driving my way. It's Greg Nettles & a few other volunteers. I've communicated via e-mail with Greg before but i've never met him in person. They had just finished installing the baskets. I was the first person to play the course with the baskets in the ground.

Baskets-> Innova Discatchers w/Inner Chains.
Tees-> Dirt/Grass
Signs-> No signs yet but coming.

It's a 10 hole course. I'm not sure if they are going to expand it or not. These 10 holes are pretty cool. The first hole is set on the side of a big hill. The next hole you throw from the open to a tight alley. It has a very steep uphill grade. The next 3 holes are very tight wooded holes with elevation back in the woods. The baskets are set in elevated areas in the woods leaving an upward putt outside of 20 feet or so. After those first 5 holes you go out to the open. There is a 500ft hole in the open & 2 others over 300. You end with a couple of semi wooded holes.

This course has potential to be a Morton IL (Northwoods type course). There is plenty of room to add more holes in the woods & in the open. The white tees aren't the longest but there is plenty or room to lengthen them. There is some nasty shule & it's very rough right now. I can't wait to see the progress on this course.  

[CEValkyrie]

Actually, here is Greg's post from today on the PFC Board.


Baskets went in this morning. Course is playable (just ask Chuck Majerus and Jon Bricker), but be forewarned: 5 of the 10 holes are wooded and a couple of them are still a bit rough. I still have some clearing to do. Signs are not up yet (hopefully within a week), but I have painted arrows on the ground, and I will try to get a map posted on Wilbur's site within a day or so that you can print out and take with. First round honors go to Brett Comincioli of the Chicago area (he played in the Peoria Open), who stoppped by after reading about the course in the PFC meeting minutes. His timing was perfect, as he was planning just to play to the sleeves. He also happens to be a great guy and is very complimentary of our area courses. Check it out! Back 8 will go in next spring.
     Posted by: gnettles (Greg Nettles) - 07-28-2004 11:15 PM  

[Dan Michler]

He also happens to be a great guy and is very complimentary of our area courses.

isn't that special.   sounds like u guys had a very special afternoon together.    

[Greg Nettles]

Brett invited me to add some comments here. He said pretty much everything, but just a couple notes: there will be a set of longer blue tees going in, probably spring.  Back 8 will begin construction this winter. About half wooded, half open. We originally had several holes up by the lake, and they were awesome, but I had to kill them because of safety issues (walking path over blind hilltops frequented by little old ladies, you get the idea). Still, it's a pretty cool course. I am raising the money for most of the course through donations, and let me just say that for a town with less than 5000 people, Eureka is very generous.

Brett: I widened hole 10 after you left, so that S-curve is a little easier to execute now. It cost me a couple bumblebee stings in the head, so you better appreciate it.

Also, sometime late fall we will be opening yet another course, this one on the campus of Illinois Central College in East Peoria. This will make seven 18-hole courses (Bradley, McNaughton, Northwood, Washington, ICC, Canton, and Galesburg) and 3 nine-hole courses within a half hour of Peoria.

Thanks for letting me post here. Come down and give our courses a try.

Greg Nettles

[CEValkyrie]

Eureka is now 18 holes and has cement tee pads. It is marked very well and easy to find each tee. Before it was pretty hard with no arrows.  

[CEValkyrie]

Eureka is looking very sweet right now. All the colors make this place look awesome. I would love have this course near me. If you want to learn how to throw quality shots this is the place to go.