Road Trippin' on the Historic Lincoln Highway
Date Published
As I embarked on my 40-day road trip to help with PDGA events, including two visits to Lemon Lake for the ongoing Worlds preparations, I had no idea how much of my adventure would be spent traversing the iconic Lincoln Highway. The first transcontinental roadway conceived almost a century ago in 1912, this historic route now spans across the Midwest as US 30.
While driving along the Lincoln Highway, I stumbled upon an article about its creation in History magazine, which sparked my curiosity. Entrepreneurs and journalists who ventured out to develop the possible Lincoln Highway route were true adventurers, facing challenges such as muddy roads, plow horses, and farmers demanding payment for passage.
Fast forward to modern times, and disc golf is a far cry from its early days. In fact, poly type plastics weren't even invented until the 1930s! Can you imagine playing with wooden discs or horseshoes instead? The stakes have certainly evolved over time, as has the equipment used in competitive games like Barnyard Golf.
As I made my way east on the Lincoln Highway, I discovered that many of the courses I played were located within a 30-mile radius of this historic roadway. In Ohio and Indiana, where the Am and Pro Worlds took place this year, several top-notch courses are nestled along or near the Lincoln Highway. The defending MPO and FPO Worlds Champs, the Jenkins, even grew up nearby Roscoe Ewing Park.
My adventure started in early June, creating a 9-hole course design in Clarence, Iowa, where US 30 is the main street. The planned course site was a former farm field with no trees, but it has a small rise and gully cutting through the middle to provide some challenge. After utilizing some of the existing park and adding temporary holes in the ballfields, they now have a 14-hole disc golf course called Field of Greens.
Those traveling from Iowa or farther west can stop by this course for a quick exercise on their way east. Several other courses along US 30 are worth mentioning, including West Brook Park's challenging 18-holer in De Witt, IA, and the beautifully groomed Kelly Park in Morrison, IL, which has peaceful surroundings.
However, some courses stood out as unusual, like Kelly Park's surprisingly small concrete pads and Nims Park in Rock Falls, which boasts the shortest, fastest 18-hole course you can play. With holes averaging only 130 feet, this course is an extreme example of what's possible in disc golf design.
I also revisited some familiar courses near US 30 on previous trips, including Sinnissippi in Sterling, IL, and West Park in Joliet, IL, which are both long-time favorites. The Oaks in Mokena, IL, is another popular layout sandwiched between I-80 and US 30.
This story will continue in Lincoln Part 2, covering the route from Pennsylvania going west to Pro Worlds. Thanks to the Lincoln Highway National Museum & Archives for providing us with the title graphic and radio song.
Here are the courses with 18 holes or more near the Lincoln Highway in Iowa and Illinois listed in the PDGA Course Directory:
IOWA
* Ames: Carroll Marty
* Cedar Rapids: Jones
* DeWitt: West Brook
* Clinton: Eagle Point
ILLINOIS
* Sterling: Sinnissippi
* Rock Falls: Nims Park
* Aurora: Jericho Lake
* Oswego: Eagle Ridge
* Joliet: Highland, West Joliet
* Mokena: The Oaks
This article was compiled from disc golf coverage with AI assistance. Source: pdga.com — https://www.pdga.com/lincoln-highway-west