Avoiding the Toll
Having to travel to Topeka Kansas for some business on this Leap Day of the Leap Year, Monday February 29, 2016 I thought I'd take Kansas Highway 50 and by-pass the toll road. Not knowing what was ahead of me I left the Shire with two stops along the way. I made it through Wichita and began heading north where I would be reaching the fisrt stop at the town of Newton. Newton is where I will begin my trip down Highway 50.
At Newton I ventured to the edge of town to Centennial Park, close to the point where I would head out of town on highway50, and one of three courses in Newton. The 9 hole course at Centennial Park, 1500 N. Kansas Ave Newton KS, 67114, is a fun little course next to a playground ball diamonds. This is a nicely manacured park with moderate elivation and some perimeter trees as well as putting area trees for most holes. Following a quick nine holes I headed east on 12th street until I met up with "old trail road", highway 50 and down the road I went.
Over the 74 mile stretch of highway 50 between Newton and Emporia lies three disc golf courses. An 18 hole course, Marion County Lake Disc Golf Course just a few miles north of highway 50 from Florence. Then two nine hole courses. The Florence Disc Golf Course in Florence, KS and Peabody City Park, in Peabody, KS.
I stopped at the course in Peabody City Park and way very impressed with this very fun course. The park itself is has a good sized playground, pool, baseball diamonds, as well as the course. Parking by the playground will have you next to hole one, With hole one's tee area just to the north of the pavilion. Welcome to Peabody with a tunnel shot off from the start. The park is decently wooded with numerous hundred year old trees that line the fairways. A fun course with a good viriety of shots presenting themselves. Good baskets with natural tee pads and I heard from a local, Jake, that concrete pads are in the works. A great upgrade to a unique course. A lot of potential here for expansion one day, and a fun stop any time your cruising down highway 50. All you need is 30-45 minutes and a few discs. A note for the seasons, during summer months the trees would provide great shade making it a good spot on those nasty hot days.
A little further down the road you come up to the exit to the town of Cottonwood Falls in Chase County Kansas. Cottonwood Falls has some interesting historical facts, nestled in the Flint Hills and home to the oldest functioning court house in Kansas. You can dig around for some real Kansas history right at your finger tips in Cottonwood Falls and coming in the Spring on 2016, the Swope Disc Golf Course. An Eric McCabe designed course will make pilgrimages down highway 50 a must. So a tease for a future adventure down highway 50, so until next time enjoy the flight.
