Columbus, Ga. finally gets it's first course!

[Jody Mitchell]

After countless meetings with our local parks & rec. group and deputy city manager, we finally got the approval of adding a DGC to a park here.
Leading the course design team is yours truly, with help from Nick Wrenn, Jayson Camper and Mike Griner. Special thanks to my wife Carrie Mitchell for making the initial call to the city and parks & rec. and hundreds of hours being on the phone with very important people in the Disc Golf know.

Moving on, the course is located at Flat Rock Park, 18 holes, concrete 5x10 pads already down and dry, Disc King's King Pin baskets which will have 3 alternate pin placements to be shuffled around throughout the year. I'll add more info on an official opening date in the next few days. Course par is set at 59 but could be tweaked as the basket won't be in the ground for a week or so. There's still some manicuring and touch ups to do with underbrush, foliage, etc. I'm not a big fan of mandos but we have 4 holes with safety mandos because there's a bike path that serpentines throughout the park. As far as actual footage for each hole I can't give you because as I've said, the sleeves for the baskets aren't in the ground at this moment. I can tell you that the overall footage could wind up being around 7500 ft. with the longest hole being 800+ft. and shortest 220ish. The front 9 are fairly open with the back 9 being longer and more wooded.

Right now, I can show the the land we're using, the park's site and our parks & rec. department's site which will also update within the coming days.

This will be 2 courses under my belt (one still private on hunting land) that I've designed so that too is just as exciting as having a home course itself.

Anyways, if you have any questions, I'll answer the best I can.

http://www.columbusga.org/parks/

http://columbus2004.web.infoseek.co.jp/columbus/flatrockpark.html

^Photo 12 is hole #1.

http://www.discking1.com/Baskets.html

Anyone passing through, PM me and I'll meet up for a round.

Also, we're undecided on what to name it. We've chosen 2 but I'm up for opinions. The 2 we have are Disc Golf Playground At Flat Rock Park or De La Roca which is spanish for "of the rocks".

:thmbup:

[Jody Mitchell]

Figured I'd add a few pics.

Coming down from 18 to the parking lot.

http://img819.imageshack.us/img819/7569/008nn.jpg

And, this is Hole #2's Tee, the concrete pad is down now. It's around 320 ft.

http://img716.imageshack.us/img716/7746/013mo.jpg

And Hole #7 and 8's fairways. #7 is around 240 ft. down the tunnel and 8 is going back uphill around 400 ft.

http://img704.imageshack.us/img704/2237/18311213203499.jpg

I'll put up more later today and maybe an overhead view of some of the lay-out.

Peace.

[Thumber]

Congrats....from the photos it looks like sweet land

[jkdisc]

looks like aztec ruins, i will hit this place next time i'm through GA

[billnchristy]

Sweet, Christy will be in town Sunday, I will tell her to check it out.

[Jody Mitchell]

Cool, it's been in the works since November last year but I was told to keep it hush hush until actual physical progress was made. We broke ground on the concrete pads last week, then parks and rec. put the notice on their site, so I figured it's ok to spill the beans.

I'll be out there taking hole by hole pics tomorrow and placing markers in all the basket locations for them to dig Monday.

:)

[Jody Mitchell]

Hole #2 overhead view. Hole 1 isn't complete because we're in a toss up on the pin location.

All that greyish and lighter stuff is natural rock. We didn't put it into play but this hole and 18 so you won't have to worry about rock rashing your discs, unless you look at it as if it were a lake and throw into. It's more than likely going to be a signature hole due to the park being named Flat Rock and here you are throwing over a lake of Flat Rocks...lol.

The mando is there because of the road and the hole is 320 ft.

http://img408.imageshack.us/img408/3747/captureuu.jpg

[Jody Mitchell]

Here's #3 and #4's overhead. Like I said, I'll have actual photos from the tees of each hole before the weekend is over.

Hole #3 is a tunnel shot about 290 ft. with trees lined down both sides with low ceilings. There is a RHBH Hyzer route but seeing it in person, it's probably better to just toss something down the pipe.

http://img69.imageshack.us/img69/6378/captureoj.jpg

Hole #4 is a big LHBH hyzer route or RHBH anny, but there's also a tunnel up the middle but the hole is going to be around 340-350 depending on basket placement next week.

http://img411.imageshack.us/img411/6866/capture1lh.jpg

[Jody Mitchell]

I have the final official footage for each hole. I also have a ton of pics I'm going to upload to an album then I'll link it here.

Hole #1 - 230 ft. Par 3
Hole #2 - 340 ft. Par 3
Hole #3 - 250 ft. Par 3
Hole #4 - 300 ft. Par 3
Hole #5 - 350 ft. Par 3
Hole #6 - 500 ft. Par 4
Hole #7 - 320 ft. Par 3
Hole #8 - 260 ft. Par 3
Hole #9 - 425 ft. Par 4
Hole #10 - 360 ft. Par 3
Hole #11 - 470 ft. Par 4
Hole #12 - 420 ft. Par 4
Hole #13 - 220 ft. Par 3
Hole #14 - 295 ft. Par 3
Hole #15 - 330 ft. Par 3
Hole #16 - 240 ft. Par 3
Hole #17 - 240 ft. Par 3
Hole #18 - 820 ft. Par 5

Total Footage - 6370 ft.
Total Course Par - 60

These footages are the white concrete tees and if all the alternate pins were in their furthest location, it bumps the total up around 6900.

Hole by hole pics are coming next. As the course gets closer to being officially complete and open for play, I'll post a hole a day because we're just a few weeks away from ribbon cutting.

[12StonesScott]

I so wish that course had been around in 2006 -- I spent over six months working Mon-Thu as a consultant at one of the larger local companies there, driving down from Atlanta and spending Mon-Wed nights in a corporate apartment on Schomburg Road right off Allen Parkway. That would have been practically just around the corner and I could have gotten a lot of rounds in during afternoons after work. Good luck with getting the course officially open, and maybe I'll make it down there sometime to check it out.

[Jody Mitchell]

I so wish that course had been around in 2006 -- I spent over six months working Mon-Thu as a consultant at one of the larger local companies there, driving down from Atlanta and spending Mon-Wed nights in a corporate apartment on Schomburg Road right off Allen Parkway. That would have been practically just around the corner and I could have gotten a lot of rounds in during afternoons after work. Good luck with getting the course officially open, and maybe I'll make it down there sometime to check it out.

Sounds good, I just got back from a meeting with the sign designer/maker again. I have no picture to provide yet of the sign template but they're gonna look sweet. As soon as I get a pic of one, I'll have it up.

You were only minutes from the park. I'm about 15 minutes from it, I'm towards downtown Columbus but Flat Rock was the ideal place for a course.

The idea was proposed back around 2003, it's just that the city didn't have the funding. We brought it back up last year and approved it right off the bat.
So it's actually 7 years in the making, lol.

They mayor and city manager are shooting for a labor day opening but I think it could be sooner than that.

[Jody Mitchell]

A look from Hole #1's pad, the branches will be cut back this week.

http://img694.imageshack.us/img694/5749/80250568.jpg

From the side of #1's pad, better view, basket up the hill in a few trees. Very picturesque hole.

http://img267.imageshack.us/img267/3787/82674372.jpg

And this is from the basket location looking back down towards the tee.

http://img806.imageshack.us/img806/8218/32661536.jpg

:)

[Jody Mitchell]

Hole #2's tee, mando to the right, basket way over on the left between a tree and creek.

http://img708.imageshack.us/img708/5105/13885811.jpg

I'll do more later as they're trimmed and manicured.

[Lewis]

That really does look like sweet land. Congratulations! :D

[Jody Mitchell]

Thanks, if you're ever in this neck of the woods, shoot me a PM.

:thmbup:

[Easy Tigur]

Have you decided on a name yet? De La Roca gets my vote.

But the land looks nice and seems like a promising course. I'm on the other side of the state, but if I'm ever around there I'll make sure to play it.

[Jody Mitchell]

We've ran a couple of names through to the city manager and parks & rec. So ultimately it's up to them, it could just remain Flat Rock Park DGC just like our parks & Rec. website displays.

The park itself is somewhere near 250 acres, the course takes up around 30 acres.

I'll have up more hole by hole pics throughout the weekend. Baskets may or may not drop in the ground this week depending on the heat indexes. If it gets too hot, the city workers are told to knock off work for the day.

:)

[billnchristy]

Christy said she remembers this park from when she was a kid. It will be cool to play.

[Lewis]

Maybe call it "Flat Roc Disc Golf Park"? :D

[hughb]

Jody, I'm from Columbus, but have lived in Florida for a long time. My son Ben is an avid player and is excited about having a good course to play when he visits grandma. I know Flat Rock, and I don't guess you could have found a better place to build. Is the course finished?

PS: Are you related in any way to my classmate Barry?

[Jody Mitchell]

Jody, I'm from Columbus, but have lived in Florida for a long time. My son Ben is an avid player and is excited about having a good course to play when he visits grandma. I know Flat Rock, and I don't guess you could have found a better place to build. Is the course finished?

PS: Are you related in any way to my classmate Barry?

I don't have any relatives named Barry, as far as I know but it's possible.

It's nearing completion. All the fairways got mowed and cleaned up last week, all 18 concrete pads are down, the baskets are not in the ground at the park yet. That will be the absolute last thing to go in. Nex-T and mando signs are going up one day this week. The signs for each hole/par/distance are being worked on as I type this.

The City Manager is shooting for a labor day weekend ribbon cutting and grand opening but we'll be able to play it before then.

I haven't had many updates the last few days because of the heat. They aren't letting the city workers do anything at the park until it cools down some. That's their call, not ours so we just have to tough it out and wait.

:)

[Jody Mitchell]

Just got the official word from the head honcho in charge here. The baskets are going in next Monday the 9th.

Boom Shakalaka!!!

[bhuff]

Can't wait. I'll deffinetely come hit that course up, it looks sweet. From the pictures it looks like you did an outstanding job. I will shoot you a pm when I'm heading down there one weekend. You plan on starting a league there eventually?

[Jody Mitchell]

Can't wait. I'll deffinetely come hit that course up, it looks sweet. From the pictures it looks like you did an outstanding job. I will shoot you a pm when I'm heading down there one weekend. You plan on starting a league there eventually?

If you use Facebook, look me up and add me, I have pics of all 18 holes. Some may look thick with undergrowth and all, but I haven't gotten the updated pics of it since it's been cleaned out. May have new pics this week.

Everything is on schedule and the sign maker should have all the hole signs done soon too.

We've been working on our club too, which will be called N-Discguys but right now we've been so focused on getting the course up and running, it's hard to get everyone to sit down and handle club matters.

:)

[carpedisc]

i looked for you on facebook. The only jody mitchell that comes up is in phenix city... is that you?

[bhuff]

weird the only one I saw was columbus GA

[Jody Mitchell]

weird the only one I saw was columbus GA

That's the correct one.

[carpedisc]

So the phenix city one is correct?

[Golferguy88]

Ahhhhhhh I can not tell you how excited i am about this. I go to Columbus State University and have done all the asking i can about a park going in around lake bottom. haha Flat rock is a great park let me know if you need any help with anything. After this park becomes set. I will be a frequent visitor. Contact me on here and i can give you other contact info if you need any more local help.

[carpedisc]

So are the baskets still going in today?

[carpedisc]

Hey, I looked for you on Facebook but I could only find a joni mitchell in phenix city. So are the baskets still set to go in today? Im excited. Hope to be able to play out there soon. (Especially in the cooler weather)

[carpedisc]

I went by there yesterday 8/9 and there was 0 difference from when I went by there a few weeks ago. No baskets or signage up. Hopefully it will happen soon enough but I know when you have the government in charge, you just hope for the best.

[Jody Mitchell]

Update:

We just locked 16 baskets in, the other 2 were damaged during shipping and will be in the ground the middle of next week. This weekend, there's going to be a big group of us out there playing, we're using 2 portable discatcher sports on #8 and #15 until the baskets arrive. They're being shipped to my house, so as soon as they come in, they're going straight to the course.

Also, there's no signage for each hole for the weekend, I'll know more about that Monday when my wife is back on the phone with parks & rec.

Anyways, for those waiting to hear some good news, here it is. Come out anytime tomorrow or Sunday and the course will be fully playable minus signage. We do have all the mando and next tee signs up so if you want to try and find your way, it's pretty easy and the course leads itself but ask any one of us out there and we'll guide you through, you'll be able to memorize the lay-out after 1-2 rounds.

The footages are pretty much the same as earlier in this thread, plus or minus 10-20 ft. on some but write down the footage I gave earlier for reference until we get the actual signs in the ground by the tees.

For those wanting to know where hole #1 is, when you come in the park, follow the road around Friendship Hall, then past a long row of picnic tables, that will be hole #1's fairway to the left. Go on around that curve by the creek, you'll see the first teepad on the left with a basket up the hill, then you'll come to a huge open parking area with a rocky cliff. From there, the next tee signs will guide you. We'll be there if you have any questions, just look for the biggest group of players and 100% it'll be us.

Thanks!

[Jody Mitchell]

By the way, this isn't the official ribbon cutting ceremony, it's just playable but all the course info, ready to be rated stuff will be done by Labor Day weekend. If you do play it now, critique just the lay-out because signage and the other small things will be done by the Grand Opening.

[Amht33]

I have to work tomorrow....But I'll be out there sunday for sure, can't wait.

[carpedisc]

Any word on official opening day?

[Connor Jones]

At this point I think the only thing we're waiting for are the signs,the course is out there and ready to be played,i've played it 5 times or so already,and it's really nice to have a local course,especially for someone who's just starting haha.

[Jody Mitchell]

The hole by hole signs should be in before the end of the week, just waiting on public services to call me to meet out there. Other than that, Connor is correct although there's still a mando sign missing for hole #8 (bike trail) but it's not a problem at the moment and a few dead trees/limbs to remove.

Course has been added to the directory here and I'll update it in the next few days with pics and more info.

I'm working on scorecards and course rules/OB/hole names, etc.

[Jody Mitchell]

Also, for any of the people I haven't met in this thread that have played the course, I'm open to suggestions so either PM me here or I'll meet you out there.

[Damidgede]

Was at Flat Rock today and noticed the new course. Cant wait to get out and give it a try. Been awhile since I play disc golf, but to my surprise I am really excited about giving the course a go. Maybe one afternoon this week. Thanks for all the effort that went into making this happen.