New equipment and courses are coming to Champions Landing thanks to recent action by Emporia City Commissioners.
During their most recent study meeting, commissioners received an allocation request from Champions owner Jeremy Rusco for just over $53,900 in Transient Guest Tax dollars. It is important to note, TGT dollars are used to fund a variety of tourism-related expenses each year, including a new Disc Golf Superintendent position approved by Emporia City Commissioners back in August of 2023.
The tax dollars are only acquired through hotel and lodging stays and not through other tax collections, such as sales or property taxes. Rusco plans to use those dollars to purchase equipment and cover the cost of labor for three new disc golf courses, as well as a single foot golf course as part of a two-phase project.
The dollars approved Wednesday will be used solely for phase one of the project, the development of the courses, with a separate request expected to come forward in 2026. Commissioners approved the request unanimously, on the condition that the courses be made available, free of charge, for all Emporians and students at Emporia State University and Flint Hills Technical College.
Mayor Erren Harter says this was important for the commission for a few reasons, namely the belief that all residents should have the opportunity to participate in disc golf, a cornerstone of the community.
Both Rusco and Harter called the new courses a win-win for the community, with Harter noting it will allow Emporia to return to its roots of hosting more amateur and intermediate tournaments on top of the professional level players in the future, thus driving more visitors and TGT dollars into the community. For Champions, Rusco says the ability to welcome more individuals to the property will help them further remove the “country club” stigma from the property, which has been a major focus for him and his staff since opening.
It is also important to note, the recently allocated funds will not be used for any past or “already committed investments” for the property, including plans to construct a new outdoor event space, pro shop and brewery.
