Originally published in the Journey News, Hillsboro written by by Isaiah Atkins

With summer just around the corner, local residents looking for a new hobby are encouraged to play a round or two out at Brewer’s Spring Disc Golf Course. Hillsboro’s very own public course is located out by the Fireman’s Clubhouse.

With the arrival of summertime on the near horizon, disc golf enthusiasts, curious locals and more should be sure to make their way out to Brewer’s Spring Disc Golf Course. Hillsboro’s very own free public course is located near the Fireman’s Clubhouse at 736 City Lake Rd.

The course features 18 holes, each complete with concrete tee boxes, long tees, baskets and multiple pin locations. The project was put into motion by Superintendent of Parks, Lakes, and Public Properties Jim May and the city, who had wanted for some time now to add to Hillsboro’s offerings.

“We had talked about the course for five or six years prior,” May says. “I could have just put some baskets in the ground. But we wanted a real course, so we reached out to David McCormack of Gateway Disc Sports.”

Few are more familiar with the sport than McCormack. A former professional disc golfer, McCormack has played over 1,400 different courses and was one of the first inductees into the Missouri Disc Golf Hall of Fame in 2016.  In 2021, he was inducted into the World Disc Golf Hall of Fame, recognizing his efforts as a pioneer of the sport. In 1994, he founded Gateway Disc Sports, a company built on a passion for growing the sport. Over the past 30 years, McCormack has designed 132 courses and counting across the Midwest.

After meeting with McCormack and scouting out potential sites, the city settled on the land near the Fireman’s Clubhouse, part of the city’s Lake Park. After the city council approved the course project, the planning began. “I spent 50 hours designing the course in Hillsboro before construction even began,” McCormack says. “It’s a very nice course. I’m very proud of it.”

McCormack’s experience with designing parks in wooded and hilly areas was crucial for the Hillsboro site, which featured a wide variety of elevations and terrains. The front nine holes were designed with an open park layout, and the space was cleared by hand with chainsaws. The back nine, which dives deep into a wooded area, was cleared by Lentz Forestry.

When plotting out a course, McCormack begins by finding the best pin locations. “I look for coves, nooks and knolls, places that are framed well for a hole,” he explains. “Then I work on how to get to that hole.” Each of the 18 holes features a concrete tee pad and multiple pin locations for the baskets to be moved to keep the course feeling fresh to returning players. The baskets are Titan Pro 24’s, made locally in St. Louis, MO, by Gateway Disc Sports. Sixteen of the holes feature long tee boxes as well, adding an additional option for experienced players seeking a challenge. The course is suitable for players of all ages and skill levels.

Disc golf courses can generally be categorized as one of three course types: recreational, competitive, and championship, based on tee length, hole difficulty, and other factors. What makes Brewer’s Spring special is that it can fit in all three. “The front nine leans more to the recreational side of the competitive category,” McCormack explains. “The back nine is more competitive, and using the long tees, it ranges to the more championship level of courses. It’s very diverse.”

One of McCormack’s goals with each course design is to incorporate a double loop; that is, designing a layout where the first nine holes end where they begin. Players wrapping up their first nine can then continue into the back nine, which starts nearby, or play another round on the front nine. “You have courses out there where the ninth hole ends and players are the furthest point from their car,” McCormack explains. “I always try to have a double loop.”

Notably, the course also doesn’t infringe on other public properties, allowing disc golfers to enjoy uninterrupted play without fear of a disc straying.

The front nine holes were completed in May of 2023, and the rest shortly after. Tee signs were installed in January of 2024 at all 18 holes. An informational kiosk and course map have been posted as well.

Brewer’s Spring Disc Golf Course is posted on the UDisc app, an online directory of more than 16,000 locations, drawing players in from all over. May and McCormack have hopes that the positive response will lead to a local disc golf club or community that can take charge.

“Everyone has raved about the course and how special it is,” May says. “Reviews are all very favorable, and it ranks well online. We’ve seen people even playing in the snow. We are very happy with it.” The city and McCormack hope to plan an open invitational in the future to officially christen the course.

Learn more about the courses designed by Gateway Disc Sports.