30
PAWNEE COUNTY
SOURCE
GOLF
Golf
Pawnee County
L
arned Country Club superintendent Dan Collins is happy the 2021 golf season arrived. The 2020 season unfolded like a biblical battle. Larned’s girls had their postseason stopped in October by quarantine restrictions under coach Collins. Collins underwent shoulder surgery, and shortly thereafter, he missed work when he endured the illness in October. Collins worked the majority of the course maintenance in 2020 when the coronavirus forced safety restrictions. With spring high school and junior college sports canceled, the course enjoyed a busy spring and summer. “When quarantines hit, the golf course was the busiest place in town. Golf was the one sport you could play,” he said. “We enjoyed good local play.” Club President Chris Froetschner oversaw various club improvements. The primary project was repaving a new concrete parking lot. New fencing provided a convenient barrier between
the golf course and parking. The city of Larned provided manpower and materials and donations reduced the overall price tag. “It’s been a really nice addition for the club and city when there are golf tournaments staged there,” he said. Taking expert care of Larned Country Club comes naturally for Collins. He’s spent the past 12 summers serving as full-time golf course superintendent. Plentiful rain has provided work for a crew that features Steve Webster, Luke Wilson and Larry Wilson. “It’s been a great growing season. We’ve stayed busy mowing. It’s the best grass-growing year I can remember.” Memorials from Clint Vratil and Steven Gillett provided money in 2020 that purchased trees which were planted between Nos. 1 and 6. The golf course property is owned by the city of Larned, which pays for the water and irrigation
system. Golf carts and cart shed rentals are available. Collins said Josh Kraisinger, Larned’s parks and cemetery supervisor, anchors support from the city of Larned. “Josh gets equipment prepared, and performs anything mechanical,” Collins said. The driving range stretches to 330 yards. Green fees are $20 during weekdays and $25 on the weekend. It is a well-maintained course featuring small and sloped Bentgrass greens with bluegrass and perennial rye fairways. Three of the sloping fairways are doglegs and tree-lined. Water hazards come into play on three holes. The nine-hole Larned Country Club layout features 2,747 yards of golf from the longest tee for a par of 35. The course rating is 33.9 and it has a slope rating of 106. LARNED DISC GOLF — The city of Larned gave permission to set up an 18-hole disc golf course several years ago that is next to the Larned Community Center building. “A group of guys approached me about starting a disc golf course, and I Iiked the idea,” said Mike Seeman, Larned Recreation Commission director. “The city council approved the idea. There’s a group of guys who play disc golf about every day, no matter what the weather is.” Seeman said the players use multiple discs to enhance longer or more precise shots. “They use a lot of different discs on various shots,” he said. “Several times a year, they run their own tournaments.”
NO JOB TOO BIG OR TOO SMALL WE DO JUST ABOUT ANYTHING SO GIVE US A CALL! 4BOE HSBWFM SPDL EJSU t %JSU XPSL Concrete construction (commercial and residential) %FNPMJUJPO t 5SVDLJOH t $POTUSVDUJPO FRVJQNFOU SFOUBM $PODSFUF DPOTUSVDUJPO TVQQMJFT t 4UPSBHF DPOUBJOFST 4OPX SFNPWBM t 4UPSN TIFMUFST $VMWFSU SFQMBDFNFOU OFX t (14 HSBEJOH &YDBWBUJPO t 5SFF SFNPWBM DMFBOVQ Check out our list of services and contact us today for your FREE ESTIMATE!
Locations in Larned and Great Bend
Main Office 620-285-2097 111 Main St., Larned, KS 67550 www.eakinenterprises.com
aci No job too big or too small
