Players rebuilding Greenfield disc golf course after 2024 tornado
Updated: 5:26 PM CDT May 21, 2025
LAKE WASN’T THE SAME AFTER THE STORM, BUT AS SUMMER HEATS UP, KCCI ALYSSA GOMEZ SHOWS US THE WORK THAT’S BEING DONE TO RESTORE ONE OF THE TOWN’S MOST LOVED COURSES. THERE SMALL TOWN CHARM FLOWS THROUGH GREENFIELD LAKE AND IT POURS INTO THE TOWN’S DISC GOLF COURSE. THE GREATEST THING ABOUT WHAT GREENFIELD DISC GOLF WAS IS IT WAS PRETTY STANDARD. IT WAS THE HOMEMADE BASKETS AND STUFF LIKE THAT. IT WAS JUST A REALLY, REALLY FUN COURSE TO PLAY. AND IT WASN’T HARD TO FALL IN LOVE WITH IT. BASICALLY A TRADITION THAT DATES BACK TO 1989, THE COURSE SERVES THE COMMUNITY AND VISITORS ALIKE. EVERYBODY GREW UP THROWING FRISBEES. FOR THE MOST PART. HENRY BUCHANAN IS A DISC GOLF ENTHUSIAST AND FREQUENTS THE GREENFIELD COURSE. HE SAYS HE LOVES THE ENERGY AND THRILL OF THE GAME, BUT THERE’S SO MUCH MORE. THERE’S COMMUNITY. THERE’S, YOU KNOW, WORK ETHIC, YOU KNOW, FRISBEES WHIPPED THROUGH THE WIND. ON MAY 21ST, 2024. INSTEAD, THE GREENFIELD TORNADO SENT DEBRIS FLYING OVER THIS CORNER OVER THERE, YOU COULD SEE THE FORMATION OF THE ACTUAL STORM AS IT ROLLED THROUGH THE STORM THAT WRECKED THE TOWN. LOOKED LIKE A WAR ZONE. YEAH, YEAH. I MEAN, HAVING. YEAH, HAVING BEING A VETERAN AND SEEING A WAR ZONE. YOU’RE ABSOLUTELY CORRECT. THE DISC GOLF COURSE WAS ALSO HIT, LITTERED WITH BROKEN TREE BRANCHES, BASKETS DAMAGED, LEAVING THE FIELD UNRECOGNIZABLE. IT WAS WEIRD SEEING, LIKE, AN ENTIRE COURSE JUST WIPED OFF THE MAP. BUT THE STORY DOESN’T END THERE. 18 DISC GOLF BASKETS WERE DESTROYED IN THE GREENFIELD TORNADO, BUT EVERYWHERE YOU LOOK AT GREENFIELD LAKE, THERE ARE SIGNS OF PROGRESS BEING MADE TO BRING BACK THAT WELL-LOVED PASTIME, BUCHANAN SAYS. THE ORIGINAL OWNER OF THE DISC GOLF COURSE SET OUT ON A MISSION TO NOT JUST RESTORE THE COURSE, BUT GIVE IT NEW LIFE. ONCE WE KIND OF CAME TO LIGHT THAT, YOU KNOW, HE WAS OUT THERE DOING STUFF, THEN IT KIND OF LIKE THE PEOPLE UNDERNEATH FORMED AND WERE LIKE, OH, HEY, YOU KNOW, HOW CAN WE HELP? WHAT ARE WE DOING HERE? A COMMITTEE WAS FORMED, AND NOW, LITTLE BY LITTLE, STEPS ARE BEING TAKEN TO REPAIR WHAT WAS LOST. AND DICKENS SAYS THE REBUILDING PROCESS IS BRINGING PEOPLE CLOSER TOGETHER. SO THE COMMUNITY OF DISC GOLF HAS GROWN WITH THE RESURGENCE OF THE DISC GOLF COURSE FROM VOLUNTEERS PLANTING MORE THAN 100 TREES TO ORDERING BRAND NEW BASKETS, GREENFIELD DISC GOLF COURSE IS MOVING FORWARD WITH THE FUTURE IN MIND. IT’S VERY SIMILAR TO THE TOWN IN THE ASPECT OF. OUT OF THE ASHES WERE RISING OUT OF THE ASHES AND INTO THE AIR. YEAH. IN G
Players rebuilding Greenfield disc golf course after 2024 tornado
Updated: 5:26 PM CDT May 21, 2025
In addition to the many houses and businesses that were destroyed in the Greenfield tornado, the town also lost the disc golf course. Located next to Greenfield Lake, the course welcomed disc golf players of all ages and abilities. The tornado ripped its homemade baskets from the ground and leveled the tree cover that made the course unique and intricate. “The greatest thing about what Greenfield Disc Golf was was that it is pretty un-standard. It was the homemade baskets and stuff like that. It was just a really, really fun course to play, and it wasn’t hard to fall in love with it,” said Henry Uken, a Des Moines Area Disc Golf Club member. After assessing the damage, Uken and a group of community members decided the course was not something they could lose. They set out on a mission to rebuild it, with a vision to make it even better than before. Renovations are still underway, but progress is evident. Eighteen new baskets are already in place, and hundreds of trees have been planted on the grounds. “It’s very similar to the town in the aspect of out of the ashes, we’re rising,” said Uken. An auction featuring the original Greenfield disc golf baskets is happening now, with all proceeds helping to revitalize the course.Remembering lives of Iowans killed in tornado May 21, 2024More coverage from Greenfield, one year laterGreenfield volunteer fire department looks to rebuild new station one year after tornado Greenfield residents take on new responsibilities to serve their neighbors, tornado victims ‘We’re really lucky’: Greenfield restaurant owners reflect on close call with deadly EF4 tornadoGreenfield residents unveil memorial dedicated to first responders and volunteersHabitat for Humanity builds new homes for Greenfield tornado survivorsGreenfield community plants new future one year after devastating tornadoPhotos, other belongings still turning up months after Greenfield tornadoIowa weather: Looking back at May 21, 2024, when storms spun up 13 tornadoesKCCI chief meteorologist Jason Sydejko, meteorologist Zane Satre look back at deadly stormPrayer service, bell ringing marks 1 year since deadly Greenfield tornadoGreenfield residents gather to recognize one year of recovery after deadly tornadoGreenfield church hosts community breakfast on anniversary of deadly tornadoDrone video shows destruction, path of Greenfield, Iowa tornadoLooking back at RAGBRAI’s stop in tornado-ravaged Greenfield, Iowa
GREENFIELD, Iowa —
In addition to the many houses and businesses that were destroyed in the Greenfield tornado, the town also lost the disc golf course. Located next to Greenfield Lake, the course welcomed disc golf players of all ages and abilities.
The tornado ripped its homemade baskets from the ground and leveled the tree cover that made the course unique and intricate.
“The greatest thing about what Greenfield Disc Golf was was that it is pretty un-standard. It was the homemade baskets and stuff like that. It was just a really, really fun course to play, and it wasn’t hard to fall in love with it,” said Henry Uken, a Des Moines Area Disc Golf Club member.
After assessing the damage, Uken and a group of community members decided the course was not something they could lose. They set out on a mission to rebuild it, with a vision to make it even better than before.
Renovations are still underway, but progress is evident. Eighteen new baskets are already in place, and hundreds of trees have been planted on the grounds.
“It’s very similar to the town in the aspect of out of the ashes, we’re rising,” said Uken.
An auction featuring the original Greenfield disc golf baskets is happening now, with all proceeds helping to revitalize the course.
Remembering lives of Iowans killed in tornado May 21, 2024
More coverage from Greenfield, one year later
KCCI chief meteorologist Jason Sydejko, meteorologist Zane Satre look back at deadly storm
Prayer service, bell ringing marks 1 year since deadly Greenfield tornado
Greenfield residents gather to recognize one year of recovery after deadly tornado
Greenfield church hosts community breakfast on anniversary of deadly tornado
Drone video shows destruction, path of Greenfield, Iowa tornado
Looking back at RAGBRAI’s stop in tornado-ravaged Greenfield, Iowa