Vigo Co. to open Indiana's first championship disc golf course
TERRE HAUTE, Ind. (WTWO/WAWV) — Indiana's first championship-level disc golf course is coming to Fowler Park in Terre Haute.
The Vigo County announced the groundbreaking addition to Indiana's sports tourism landscape in a press release Friday. The project is going to be completed thanks to a $50,000 matching grant from the Indiana Destination Development Corporation (IDDC).
The grant was written and secured by RJL Solutions and was part of a highly competitive statewide matching program designed to fund high-impact tourism initiatives. Vigo County was only one of five recipients in this funding cycle, according to a press release.
How one Wabash Valley group uses disc golf to support a good cause
Vigo County Commissioner Chris Switzer said, this project will help establish Vigo County as a premier destination for outdoor recreation and competitive disc golf.
'This is a first for Indiana, and it's happening right here in Vigo County,' said Switzer. 'We're excited to offer a world-class recreation experience that will bring visitors from across the country, support local businesses, and strengthen our economy through sports tourism.'
The course, designed by nationally renowned Houck Design, will be a 27-hole gold-level course. It will also include 54 concrete tees, championship-baskets, improved trails for spectators and more.
'Indiana already gets a lot of tourism and about 81,000,000 tourists came from all over in 2023,' said Dee Leekha-Houck, founder and CEO of Houck Design. 'Out of those, if only 5% have played or tried disc golf, that's a lot of disc golfers already coming to the state (approx. 4,000,000) and when they find out there is a world-class destination course here, they will want to extend their trip and play it. Disc golfers are like golfers. They take vacations for disc golf and go to new places to play on new courses. The expectation is the economic impact from daily and overnight weekend tourism will be one of the highest from this course in Vigo County. 20,000,000 people in the USA, as estimated by AI, either play disc golf regularly or have played it. These courses should bring in many players from all over the state, region, country, and even the world.'
Disc Golf Course coming to Brazil, $40K in grants from UWWV
Switzer said the project is also made possible through strong regional collaboration. The Wabash Valley Community Foundation provided initial design funding, and the Terre Haute Convention and Visitors Bureau is playing a key role in tournament planning. Duke Energy, the Brett Family, the Crossroads Disc Golf Club, the West Central Indiana Partnership and the Vigo Park Department are also helping support and assist the project.
Construction is underway, with a soft launch expected in Fall 2025. A grand opening celebration, featuring a Professional Disc Golf Association-sanctioned tournament, vendors, live music, and professional disc golfers, is planned for Spring 2026.
Crossroads Disc Golf Club is looking for more members
Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Yahoo
16 hours ago
- Yahoo
Shakamak's Jalen Johnson talks comeback from injury
JASONVILLE, Ind. (WTWO/WAWV) — Shakamak sophomore Jalen Johnson talks about his return from injury and the baseball team's run to semi-state. Johnson suffered a compound fracture in his left leg playing basketball for Shakamak in the 2024 First Financial Classic. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
3 days ago
- Yahoo
Special Olympics Indiana's Summer Games begin in Terre Haute
TERRE HAUTE, Ind. (WTWO/WAWV) — Thousands of athletes, volunteers, and supporters from around the state of Indiana are in Terre Haute this weekend for Special Olympics Indiana's biggest event of the year. Athlete Hunter Canada said the feeling is amazing. 'It's pretty entertaining and fun just being out there with all the other people competing', Canada said. 'I'm wishing everybody good luck.' Athletes compete in a number of different events like swimming on the campus of Rose-Hulman and volleyball, track and field, and pickleball at Indiana State. One duo from Jackson County, AJ Engel and Hunter Canada, claimed the top two spots in their 800-meter race. 'I was expecting him to pass me at the end, but we were expecting to get first and second', Canada said. 'It feels good to take first and second', Engel said. 'The runners were good competition.' Some athletes have been competing for their entire lives. 'I've done this for as long as I remember', Engel said. 'I've run track in middle school and high school. I just really feel like Special Olympics is good.' Other, like Madison Carter, have chosen the volunteer route. 'I've actually been doing this for eight years now', Carter said. 'I started out in high school doing Best Buddies, unified track, peer tutoring, you name it, I've probably done it. Then I've been in volleyball since I was nine years old, so I reached out to somebody here at Special Olympics. I started as a volunteer, then became a part of the management team, and now I'm the manager of it all.' All involved agree the best part about the event is coming together. 'The camaraderie and building those relationships throughout the entire experience here is like no other', Carter said. 'I've seen people since I started eight years ago, all the way to new people this year. I think those relationships are like no other.' Events will continue in Terre Haute and on the campuses of Indiana State and Rose-Hulman through the weekend. All events are open to the public at no cost. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
3 days ago
- Yahoo
Terre Haute Chamber of Commerce to hold 112th Annual Meeting
TERRE HAUTE, Ind. (WTWO/WAWV) — The Terre Haute Chamber of Commerce will hold its 112th Annual Meeting on Thursday, August 21, at the Terre Haute Convention Center from 5 p.m. to 8 p.m. The chamber of commerce said the event will bring together West Central Indiana businesses and community members to celebrate the past year's accomplishments and achievements. They said the annual meeting will also be a platform to highlight progress, unveil future initiatives and continue momentum across the business community. Terre Haute Chamber of Commerce honors businesses and individuals 'This year's theme, 'A Collective Vision Forward,' emphasizes the shared commitmentof the Chamber and its members to build a stronger, more vibrant regional economythrough collaboration and innovation,' said the Terre Haute Chamber of Commerce. The chamber will also announce its annual awards, which include the Building Business Award, the Leading Tomorrow Award and the Building Community Award. They will also recognize the 12 Under 40 nominees. If you want to nominate someone, you can do so by going to these links: Building Business Award, Building Community Award and the Leading Tomorrow Award. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
