Disc

Sheppard Air Force Base, Texas, is now home to a new 18-hole disc golf course, replacing the original golf course which closed in June due to a change in Defense Department policy. Sheppard partnered with the Wichita Falls Disc Golf Association to complete the project. (U.S. Air Force photo/Airman 1st Class Robert L. McIlrath)

Disc

Jack Banks, president of the Wichita Falls Disc Golf Association, Brig. Gen. Scott Kindsvater, 82nd Training Wing commander, Col. Lance Bunch, 80th Flying Training Wing commander and Lt. Col. Joseph Chargualaf, 82nd Force Support Squadron commander, ceremonially opened the newly transformed Wind Creek Park Aug. 25, 2014, during an official ribbon cutting ceremony introducing the disc golf course to Sheppard Air Force Base, Texas. The base partnered with the Wichita Falls Disc Golf Association to complete the project. (U.S. Air Force photo/Airman 1st Class Robert L. McIlrath)

Disc

Jack Banks, president of the Wichita Falls Disc Golf Association, Brig. Gen. Scott Kindsvater, 82nd Training Wing commander, Col. Lance Bunch, 80th Flying Training Wing commander and Lt. Col. Joseph Chargualaf, 82nd Force Support Squadron commander, made the inaugural disc toss that opened the new disc golf course. Sheppard Air Force Base, Texas, is now home to a new 18-hole disc golf course, replacing the original golf course which closed in June due to a change in Defense Department policy. Sheppard partnered with the Wichita Falls Disc Golf Association to complete the project. (U.S. Air Force photo/Airman 1st Class Robert L. McIlrath)

Sheppard opens disc golf course

Published Aug. 27, 2014
By Airman 1st Class Robert L. McIlrath
82nd Training Wing Public Affairs

SHEPPARD AIR FORCE BASE, Texas -- Base leadership ceremonially opened the newly transformed Wind Creek Park Aug. 25, 2014, during an official ribbon cutting ceremony introducing the disc golf course.

After months of hard work, Sheppard is now home to a new 18-hole disc golf course replacing the original golf course which closed in June due to a change in Defense Department policy.

Sheppard partnered with the Wichita Falls Disc Golf Association to complete the project.

"We wanted to leverage community support and expertise from the local club," said Lt. Col. Joseph Chargualaf, 82nd Force Support Squadron commander. "They came on board to help us design and to lay out the initial installation plan for the new disc golf course, so it was a great opportunity for us to work with the community"

With disc golf becoming more popular, leadership has taken the opportunity to bring a course to Sheppard to appeal to the younger Airmen on base.

"It absolutely worked out for us," Chargualaf said. "We've already had some of our Airmen come out here and start to play, even before the course was officially laid in."

"I'm excited to get out of the dorms and try out the new disc golf course," said Airman Brian Head, 366th Training Squadron electrical power production student. "It's nice to see leadership investing time and effort into the younger generation of Airmen."

Once the ribbon was cut, base leadership took to the teeing pad to make the inaugural disc toss. As their disc soared, it marked the completion of one of the many changes leadership ahead for Wind Creek Park.

"We're going to be introducing paintball," Chargualaf said. "There's also fishing and the driving, pitching and putting range is also open for regular golf."

The disc golf course will be accessible to military and civilians from on and off base.

-- To obtain a Wind Creek Park pass, civilians will provide the Sheppard Visitor Center with a Wind Creek Park form from the 82nd Force Support Squadron website. http://82fss.com/ The VCC will issue a 90-day pass to civilians that live in the local area (25 miles from Sheppard) and are going to use the facilities more than three times a week. If the civilian is not from the local area and/or not going to use the facilities more than three times a week, the civilian will be issued a 1-day pass. The pass for Wind Creek Park will be valid from 6 a.m. to 8 p.m. Monday through Sunday. The Security Forces at the VCC will interview each civilian and determine if a 90-day or 1-day pass will be issued.