HORRY COUNTY, S.C. (WPDE) — The sport of disc golf is one that many in the Grand Strand and Horry County have come to know and love.
Some love it so much, they will fight for it until the end.
Horry County unveiled its Imagine 2040 Comprehensive Plan, which includes an open space and a draft of county parks that require upgrades, improvements and additional amenities.
It was when the Imagine 2040 came out that many disc golfers started to worry, specifically for the Socastee Recreation Park.
The plans include acquiring more land for more soccer fields and not having a disc golf course anymore, and they have taken the disc golf world by storm.
The Socastee disc golf course would turn into more soccer fields, and the plan states it could happen due to the extension of Highway 31 and Ride 4.
These soccer fields would be to accommodate tournaments, leagues, and partners that come to Horry County, especially for sports.
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At the meeting on Tuesday, the Parks and Recreation Board of the county told concerned disc golfers their possible fate.
They were able to discuss going to the Loris disc golf course instead to residents, and also a permitting process in the works for a recreation center in Aynor.
However, many didn’t think this solved the problem.
They said Socastee has one of the best disc golf courses in the country.
“I don’t think they quite understand the importance of disc golf to the community as a whole, and how it kind of helps guide certain individuals into a healthier lifestyle in general, so I think it’s important for them to recognize that,” said Keegan Wroten, local disc golfer.
Others who attended the meeting said they had a unique pull to the Socastee course compared to others and hoped the county would understand.
We, who were there, need these places, so without the growth of these places, we won’t get them,” said one local man. “So, I don’t want Socastee to go, but I understand, but save us a little bit of it if you can.
Disc golfers continue to hope that the county will understand, or at least lend a little hand, when it comes to having land in the Socastee park for their sport.
“I just hope they keep it in the back of their mind, do what they can to save Socastee, and if not, advocate for a different pro-level course, something that can bring in future disc golfers to our community,” said one man.
Imagine 2040 Comprehensive Plan:
The Socastee Recreation Park is currently in the bid process, which means information about updates is being shared with contractors.
