Benches for Butts, Turf for Tees: The Real Work Behind Dragonfly’s Glow-Up
<p>In this episode of the Elevate Utah Disc Golf Podcast, I sit down with Dustin, Sean, Scott, and guest Colby Zimmerman to dive deep into Dragonfly—Lehi’s uniquely lush, water-table-fed disc golf course—and the wild bell saga at the Wonder Course. We kick off with Sean’s months-long quest for the perfect warning bell for shared-use trails: cast iron over brass or aluminum, lead clappers, farm-store field tests, and kid-proofing strategies so hikers can safely signal throws on new Holes 1 and 4. Then Colby takes us through Dragonfly’s journey from a community pitch to a challenging, par-4/5-rich layout, including the infamous, volunteer-built Hole 2, city partnerships, mowing logistics (becoming a city employee to run equipment!), winter swamp management, and long-term improvements for pathing, benches, bathrooms, and tee upgrades as Dragonfly is eyed for US Women’s. We also unpack smart course evolution: replacing invasive Russian olives over time, adding strategic tree plantings (willows and more), restoring “Old Hole 7” with a double mando tunnel, and repurposing 13’s basket to expand Hole 1 and add gold/red tees. We cover parking and shuttle planning for majors, future land expansion, and practical volunteer calls-to-action (with a nod to how good leadership makes work days run). We close with favorite-hole picks, a bench story that “made butts happy,” and a reminder that embracing change—done thoughtfully—builds better public spaces for years to come.<br /><br />Favorite holes discussed: Hole 2 (shot-shaping gauntlet), Hole 18 (elite par 4), Hole 17 long (picture-perfect green), Hole 6 (mail-slot gap), Hole 8 long (blind finesse).</p>
