After two decades, the plan to spruce up a rural Kansas golf course is almost done. The 2003 Carey Park Golf Course master plan is in its final stages, set to continue into 2024. Matt Miller, the superintendent, said they’ve completed five phases since starting in 2009.
Public golf courses in Hutchinson were pretty disorganized until 1928 when they decided to start one in Carey Park. The Carey Park Municipal Golf Course was built in 1928. Then in 1933, park superintendent Ralph McCarroll and Emerson Carey Jr. teamed up to upgrade the course. The clubhouse was originally on the South Loop.
In 1949, the old Carey Lakes Golf Course clubhouse was donated to the city and moved to the Carey Park Municipal Course. It was placed on the north loop when the course had to be reconfigured for the flood control levee. This old clubhouse was used by various civic clubs until 1987 when it was torn down and replaced with the current gazebo setup.
Construction started this autumn with the removal of the park equipment located at 30 Emerson Loop, southwest of the golf course.
Miller explained that the plan was approved by the City Council in 2003, but it takes time to gather funds to continue the process. He expects it to be completed in eight phases.
Phase six will replace the 60- to 70-year-old main irrigation lines in this area of the course. The sprinkler heads and lateral lines are over 40 years old.
While this improvement needs to be done, it’s more cost-effective to go ahead with the expansion at this time.
The golf course will use the park restroom facility already on site and will provide golfers with a restroom every three to four holes along the course, as well as water coolers for future use.
This area of the park has been more prone to vandalism over the years since it’s more secluded than the others.
“As another safety concern, we’ve had small children wander onto the course over the years. This will help create the separation needed to keep children safe, help curb vandalism, and allow golfers to drive up to the restrooms at the same time,” Miller said.
The course will still have 18 holes, but there may be some changes in length depending on the agreed concept. Golf enthusiasts will enjoy the expansion and the new challenges it brings.