New Algonquin disc golf course designed by village resident

An Algonquin resident's nine-hole disc golf design was brought to life last week with the opening of the village's first playable course.

After taking up the sport several years ago, Jaime Martinez found himself mentally mapping out courses whenever he passed an open section of Algonquin Lakes Park, near where he lived at the time. He bounced ideas around with friends before drawing up two potential layouts and presenting his proposals to the village in 2013.

Four years later, after securing funding and working with Martinez to refine his design, the village has completed the Quarry View Disc Golf Course - a roughly $5,000 project - at the neighborhood park, 700 Lake Plumleigh Way.

"They took my vision that I had on paper, and they executed it better than I could've imagined," said Martinez, a member of the Professional Disc Golf Association. "They hit it perfectly."

A 2010 evaluation of Algonquin's parks and recreation opportunities listed a disc golf course as one of the top amenities desired by residents, Assistant Village Manager Mike Kumbera said. Other features on the list were additional nature trails, picnic areas and indoor fitness areas.

Aside from one-time development fees, however, the village didn't have a source of revenue to fund such improvements, he said. Trustees have since approved a telecommunications tax increase and started using video gambling money specifically for park and open space development.

"Now we have a revenue pipeline where we're able to start upgrading and making those improvements to our park systems," Kumbera said.

Similar-sized disc golf courses have been created in Carpentersville, West Dundee, Huntley and Lake in the Hills, Martinez said.

The Quarry View course, he said, was created to be beginner-friendly while also allowing more experienced players to challenge themselves, he said. The course is free, open to the public and can be used during all seasons.

"It's something you can do with your kids, and even seasoned players can get good practice on it," Martinez said. "All levels can play. That's one of the things that was what I intended."