FEATURE
Akron boasts US’s only Park Golf course Japanese game is easy to learn, fun to play STORY AND PHOTOS BY DAN MURPHY Dan Murphy lines up a putt at the fifth hole.
O
ver the course of his professional wrestling career as “The Intelligent, Sensational Destroyer,” Dick Beyer made many tours of Japan. In addition to collecting championships and developing an appreciation for Japanese culture, Beyer became interested in the uniquely Japanese game known as Park Golf. Beyer enjoyed the game so much that he built the first Park Golf course in the United States
adjacent to his home in Akron, New York. Destroyer Park Golf opened June 22, 2013 and was
officially certified by the Japan Park Golf Association. It continues to thrive and grow each year.
Safety, comfort, affordability.
We know what it takes to keep you Safe, Secure, Comfortable, and most importantly at a price that seems too good to be true. For over thirty-five years, our family owned and operated business strives to offer you this and so much more. Come be a part of our family.
Studio Apartments Starting at $550
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NOW ACCEPTING APPLICATIONS FOR QUALIFIED SENIORS. • 1 & 2 Bedroom Apartments • Conveniently located in Cheektowaga near to shopping, Maryvale East Senior Complex restaurants, banking, etc. 100 Moorman Drive Cheektowaga, New York 14225 • On-site self-serve laundromat Income Eligible Seniors 55 & Older • On-site management (716) 681-5061 • Pet friendly • 24 hr. maintenance
www.foreveryoungwny.com | July 2022
Park Golf differs from traditional golf in several ways. For starters, it’s intended for all ages, from kids to seniors. Only one club is used, and it looks almost like a snub-nosed croquet mallet. The ball is about the size of a tennis ball. And you can play all eighteen holes in about an hour. “Think of it as mini-golf on steroids, or golf meets croquet,” says Kris Beyer, president of Destroyer Park Golf and Dick’s daughter. “Park Golf is a welcoming combination of exercise and fun for people of all ages and abilities. It was invented in Japan for an aging golf population and to make better use of public park space. The game is a pleasant walk in a natural country setting. It has become a great way to gather persons of all abilities and ages.” Each hole has a par, like golf or miniature golf, so the game can be as competitive or relaxed as the players choose. Park Golf regulars challenge themselves to improve scores or work on getting holesin-one. Other players just enjoy the bucolic setting, sunshine, and fresh air on a summer day. (Small changes—hole placement, landscaping—are made to the eighteen-hole course each season to keep it fresh and challenging for regular players.) Benches every three holes allow players to rest if needed. Walkers
