how far away should a basket be from a bike path/walking/jogging reail

[optidiscic]

trying to design a course layout and its a bit crammed...taking into consideration the worst possible player with the worst possible judgement and the no common sense I will throw my Katana on 250 foot holes etc types.....I am thinking 50 feet behind a basket and perhaps 100 ft from the fairways......Im trying to avoid throwing towards paths but its like a puzzle to make this work. What is the safest (cant sue me etc) distance a basket should be from common areas?

[Billipo]

If it is a single hole near a bike path, I would suggest a short par 3 in the spot a hole where a controlled shot is the obvious choice.

Vegetation can be a barrier and an uphill holes need smaller landing zones so they are much more predicable. Downhill the opposite.

Dunno if this is the case for your situation, but I am not a big fan of trying to add a disc golf course to an established park which already has extensive use of the space, just as I have successfully fought not have other recreation added to my disc space. A mutual respect for their space and my space.

[optidiscic]

If it is a single hole near a bike path, I would suggest a short par 3 in the spot a hole where a controlled shot is the obvious choice.

Vegetation can be a barrier and an uphill holes need smaller landing zones so they are much more predicable. Downhill the opposite.

Dunno if this is the case for your situation, but I am not a big fan of trying to add a disc golf course to an established park which already has extensive use of the space, just as I have successfully fought not have other recreation added to my disc space. A mutual respect for their space and my space.

yeah I totally agree...your just asking for trouble.....its all about zoning and unfortunately DG falls under recreation zone....:wall:

[DavidSauls]

The "Safest" is probably 200' or more away.

We'd like to avoid this entirely but don't always have that option. A few thoughts:

Behind the basket is definitely better. Not many throws go more than 50' behind a basket, and they're usually going slower at that point if they do. Plus throwers have a good view of pedestrians, and perhaps will delay their throw due to the distraction.

Otherwise, some better options may be a pretty short hole---say 200', where more players are making short ace runs with very controllable discs. Or a long hole---at 450', few players are driving at the basket with the trail nearby, most are making shorter 2nd or 3rd shots, more controllable.

And of course it depends on the walking trail usage. Many parks have used grants to put in trails that are virtually never used, and thus less of a concern.

[solomon.trenton]

if its relativaly open i would say a minimum of 50' if possible. I have played course that are 10' or less though

[DavidSauls]

It it's not open you have a kind of double-edged sword. Trees can stop errant discs....but they also block your view, so players may not see the pedestrians and may throw when they shouldn't, and the potential victims may not see the disc coming.

[optidiscic]

what do you consider the spray zone on a 200 300 400 ft hole?

[Steve West]

what do you consider the spray zone on a 200 300 400 ft hole?

See attached. Also, you can play around with this model (http://stevewestdiscgolf.com/ThrowSimulator.aspx).

The safest places are behind the tee and beyond the basket. The worst configuration is to make the fairway parallel to the path.

[Midnightbiker]

See attached. Also, you can play around with this model (http://stevewestdiscgolf.com/ThrowSimulator.aspx).

The safest places are behind the tee and beyond the basket. The worst configuration is to make the fairway parallel to the path.

That is really cool. Where did you find that?

[Cgkdisc]

He created "that" from throwing data he gathered.

[wolito]

I think the shorter the hole the better so players are not tempted to overthrow on a hole where the basket is pretty close to a path.

[Spatula Cornroll]

I don't know anymore. A few years ago I would have said to stick to a 2 shot, putt left dogleg when close to a path because most people throw RHBH. But that has changed with the influx of RHFH players. I guess the short shot option would be the best now.

[Steve West]

That is really cool. Where did you find that?

I made it.

[cydisc]

Imagine the worst possible shot for the hole and add another 50'.

[Thumber]

Imagine the worst possible shot for the hole and add another 50'.

and another 90 degrees

[NothinButChing]

I've seen baskets basically right next to paths or sidewalks and as long as people pay attention there are no problems

[tstack10]

if its relativaly open i would say a minimum of 50' if possible. I have played course that are 10' or less though

Seen several courses where paths run through holes. Disc golf is permanent yield sign to everything else. Just how respect and cation as it gets to be a problem when people get hit. Even with a roller:)

[hendersondayton]

The course I am working on has a lot of "nature trails". See my social profile page for pics in my album. Most of them run along the fairways. For us though, the elevation was such that we never had a blind shot where the thrower couldn't see if someone was coming.

Nature trails are all marked OB which really makes for an added challenge on the holes.

As always, walkers have the right of way.

[mashnut]

I think the shorter the hole the better so players are not tempted to overthrow on a hole where the basket is pretty close to a path.


I disagree, I think if you have the path beyond the hole you should have a hole that newer (less accurate) players can't easily reach and throw past, that way the people who have the potential to blow past the hole are the people who would hopefully make a better disc choice.

[Steve West]

I disagree, I think if you have the path beyond the hole you should have a hole that newer (less accurate) players can't easily reach and throw past, that way the people who have the potential to blow past the hole are the people who would hopefully make a better disc choice.

Nah, that doesn't work. New players could blow past a long hole on the second or third shot anyway. A path beyond the hole should be at least 75 feet behind the basket no matter what the length of the hole.