Priest Lake State Park unveils new junior disc golf course
(Photo courtesy of IDAHO DEPARTMENT OF PARKS AND RECREATION) A visitor tosses a disc into a hole at Harvey’s Hemlock Hideaway, Priest Lake’s newest outdoor attraction, in this undated photograph.
In partnership with the United States Youth Disc Golf Association, Idaho State Parks and Recreation and Priest Lake State Park have joined together to provide campers, local families, students, and school teams with a new junior disc golf course at Indian Creek Camp Ground called Harvey’s Hemlock Hideaway.
The course is nine holes with a max fairway of 210 feet designed for beginners and families.
The course, completed in June of 2018, has been in the works for several years, and if all goes as planned, they hope to design a larger, more challenging course in the near future.
Harvey’s Hemlock Hideaway was named in honor of Harvey Burns.
“Harvey Burns was a longtime volunteer at Priest Lake State Park,” Park manager Lonnie Johnson wrote in a press release. “Harvey and his wife Gene started here in the early 2000’s. Harvey’s wife passed away in 2015, but Harvey kept returning to the park volunteering because it felt like family.”
“Harvey was 89 years old and was going to return in 2018, but he unexpectedly passed away in May,” Johnson said. “For his years of volunteering, his smile, his zest for life and always making people smile and laugh, I proudly wanted to name this new course and family activity after my friend Harvey Burns.”
The course was funded through a collaboration of efforts.
Initial startup funds came from the First Time Adventure Program, which purchased the baskets.
The park then went to local businesses and got a sponsor for each basket, which paid for the cement and other expenses around the course.
They also have a variety of discs for sale at the park.
Priest Lake State Park would like to extend a thank you to the Course Sponsors, the United States Youth Disc Golf Association and Priest Lake State Park patrons.
As one of the only disc golf courses around Priest Lake, Harvey’s Hemlock Hideaway will be of high value to local golfers, campers, and families.
Visit parksandrecreation.idaho.gov for more information about the park.