Construction of a nine-hole disc golf course on Lake Panorama’s south shore began in early October. The course is one part of a package of low-impact recreational amenities developed by Friends of Lake Panorama and approved by the LPA board of directors at its July 25 meeting.
John Worth, an LPA member who in 2019 volunteered to design a disc golf course at Lake Panorama, is working with LPA and Friends staff on this project. He designed the course to fit on land that is nestled between two sections of the Lake Panorama walking trails system.
“Due to the type of area the course is being built on, all pretty deep woods, this will be a bit of a non-typical course,” Worth says. “First, all the holes are shorter than probably an average course. The guideline is 200 to 400 feet, but the holes on this course run from 150 to 300 feet. This type of course is called a ‘technical’ course, which means distances aren’t as long, and fairways are tighter, so your aim needs to be good.”
Each hole will include a concrete tee pad and chained basket target. Participants will bring their own discs. A sign near the first tee will include a course map, rules and other details.
To help finance the disc golf course, tee box sponsorships are available for a one-time donation of $1,000. Colored tee signs that are 9-inches by 12-inches will include the hole number, distance between the tee pad and basket, and a graphic of the fairway between those two points. Tee box sponsor signs will be 9-inches by 4-inches and mounted on the same metal posts as the tee signs.
Tee box sponsorships will go to the first nine businesses, families or individuals who agree to make a $1,000 donation by Dec. 31, 2023. Those interested in being a tee box sponsor can make arrangements by contacting Susan Thompson, 515-240-6536 or thomcomm@netins.net.
LAKE PANORAMA TRAIL SYSTEM
Construction on a fence that leads to a fenced parking lot was completed in early October. Wood was used at the entrance and surrounds the parking lot, with barbless wire used along the road to the parking lot. There is a walk-through gate to enter the recreation area. Motorized vehicles are not allowed on the south shore beyond the parking lot. A gate at the west end of the road allows access by LPA staff.
As users enter the recreation area from the parking lot, there will be a single picnic table on a concrete slab, plus a small shelter with four corner posts and metal roof. A welcome sign will be at this location, and include general rules, a list of south shore donors who give $500 or more, and directional arrows to the disc golf course, which will be to the right, and the beginning of the Lake Panorama trail system, which will be to the left.
A sign at the Lake Panorama trailhead will include specific information about the trail options and trail markers, plus a map. Visitors will be encouraged to snap a photo of the map to help them stay on the trail.
Those who do the full loop down to the shoreline and back up through the meadow area to return to the parking lot will have walked two miles. In addition, four places where the riprap contractor widened existing trails to get to the shoreline will be offered as trail options.
People who start at the trailhead and choose the first option will walk sixth-tenths of a mile. The other three options offer distances of 1.1 mile, 1.6 miles, and 2 miles. This final loop results in walking the same distance as the original loop, but the terrain and views provide a different experience.
Brown fiberglass trail markers will be installed at each “junction” of the trail system, along with arrows and distances back to the trailhead. It’s hoped these trail markers can be installed yet this fall. The larger metal signs planned for the shelter and starting points for disc golf and the trails will be finalized over the winter.
PANORAMA CROSS COUNTRY TRAILS
The Panorama Schools cross country trails use some of the same sections as the Lake Panorama trail system, so blue fiberglass trail markers can be seen in some areas. The cross country trails begin and end on school property, with all bus and spectator parking and bathroom facilities on school property. For the middle school, a distance of two miles has been mapped. For the high school, the trail is 3.1 miles.
On Sept. 14, Panorama Schools hosted its first cross country meet on the new trail, with 23 schools and 650 runners involved. Greg Thompson is the Panorama Schools head cross country coach.
“We received many compliments on the scenery the course provides. Many runners appreciated having boats out on the lake and supporting them by honking their horns and ringing cowbells,” Thompson says. “Very few cross country courses are near a body of water; those that are near water are usually a small pond or river. The lake shore also made it much cooler for the runners.”
Thompson says the course had some rough spots and washouts from rain earlier in the summer on the parts that don't have much grass growing yet. “The dry, hot weather took a toll on the grass and made the ground very hard,” he says. “We feel we can improve those areas over the next year or so with some landscaping work and more moisture. There are going to be growing pains when developing a new cross country course, but this was a very positive, initial meet.”
Thompson says the combination of the trails for the runners and the Lake Panorama trails that go to the lake shore worked well together. “I saw spectators on the shore by each of the side trails,” he says. “I think as we work together to develop the trail systems, this will be a premiere hiking destination for LPA members, and teams will want to come compete in our meets.”
BENCHES AND BIRDHOUSES
Two more components of the Friends of Lake Panorama plans for low-impact recreational amenities on the south shore are benches and birdhouses. Four backless benches will be placed along the Lake Panorama trail system. Two will be tucked into the timber along the shoreline section of the walking trail to provide lake views. Another two benches will be placed along the open sections of the trail system above the lake. These will provide views of the Lake Panorama dam, and the native plants that cover 30 acres of land enrolled in the federal Conservation Reserve Program Pollinator Habitat Initiative.
Fifteen bluebird houses have been built and donated by Steve Brannan to be placed along trails on the south shore. Mark Dorhout, Panorama Schools science teacher, has agreed to help choose locations for the birdhouses, and may get his middle school students involved in additional birdhouse placements.
HOW TO DONATE
The estimated cost of these recreational amenities—Lake Panorama trail system, disc golf course, fencing and parking, four benches, birdhouses, small picnic shelter, signage—is $35,000. Over the past two years, Friends of Lake Panorama has received $11,000 in private donations for projects on the south shore. Some funds also are available from the 2023 Beach Ball.
Additional donations for these south shore amenities are being sought. While donations of all sizes are appreciated, those who give $500 or more by Dec. 31, 2023, will be recognized on the welcome sign on the south shore.
Tax-deductible donations to support recreational enhancements on the south shore can be made by check payable to Friends of Lake Panorama, and mailed to Friends of Lake Panorama, PO Box 488, Panora, Iowa, 50216. Donations also can be made through Venmo @Panorama-Friends, or by credit card on the Friends website at friendsoflakepanorama.org.