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Bill Paulson prepares to take the disc golf baskets to Emporia, where they will be on display at the Lyon County History Center.

Fan takes history on the road
By Chris Strunk
Last Updated: April 25, 2019

By Chris Strunk

Where some saw rusty chains and buckets, Bill Paulson saw a slice of American history worth preserving.

So, he did something about it.

Paulson, who lives in Valley Center, established what could be the only collection of homemade disc golf baskets in the country, spanning nearly 40 years of the sport.

"I'm a disc golfer, and I'm a lover of history," Paulson said. "They were disappearing, and somebody needed to save them for posterity."

Paulson's collection of 18 baskets — along with other memorabilia from the 1970s and 1980s — is on display this week in the Lyon County History Center in Emporia. The appearance coincides with the Glass Blown Open tournament, which draws nearly 2,000 players from around the world.

Also on display will be a quilt of disc golf T-shirts made by local quilter Karen Roth.

In addition, Paulson's efforts will be featured on a KPTS episode of "Positively Kansas" at 8 p.m. April 26. It re-airs on KSN on April 28.

Bringing the collection together wasn't easy, Paulson said. Some of the baskets were in decent shape. Others were mere scraps.

He chose a broad selection of rare baskets — from complex contraptions to simple, single-pole targets — to make up the collection. Each has a story.

One of the more unique targets was made with a plow disc, snow tire chains and a washtub. It was used at a private course west of Wellington.

Paulson said a basket used at a course in Norton was made entirely of aluminum, which makes it unique. It was built by New Age Industries, which manufactures aluminum products.

Paulson rolled out the collection during a disc golf tournament near Rose Hill earlier this month. The baskets were set up for tournament participants to use as an exhibition, separate from the tournament course.

"They wouldn't have missed it for the world," Paulson said. "Experiencing what it was like to play on these things back in the old days was priceless."

Paulson documented the Historical Homemade Baskets of Kansas project in a book he wrote titled "Homemade Disc Golf." It includes a history of disc golf in Kansas and brief stories about each basket.

Paulson, who has had a hand in designing every course in the Wichita area, said disc golf has gained popularity over the years.

In 1990, there were 10 courses in Kansas, he said. Today, there are more than 250.

"It's cheap and inexpensive to play," Paulson said. "… It doesn't take four or five hours to play like ball golf, but you get the same enjoyment of chasing something around the course."

The sport promotes physical activity and camaraderie, he said.

"Anybody can do it, from little kids to old men," Paulson said.





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