How do you design a course from 800 miles away?

[Sadjo]

A got a call this afternoon from a Park & Rec department in another state, 800 miles away, asking if I could help them with laying out a course in one of their 4 parks in their community.

Anyone else ever get a requests concerning Disc Golf from some place far away?

[waynewf]

You get them to fly you out there and charge a consultant fee.

[Sadjo]

Yeah...I actually drive that way every Spring/summer. It's about 2/3rds of the way to visit my parents. I did a search online and the nearest course listed on this site or the PDGA site is more than an hour away. Great place to build a course.

[superberry]

It might hurt but, YOU DON'T. Being personally familiar with the property is a MUST for even decent design. Knowing almost every contour and tree may yield a good design. Spending hours on the property may yield a great design. You have to be there!!!

[Sadjo]

Got the phone call today. The guy said he would call me again in a couple of days. He's suppose to be sending pictures of the property and some aerial photos. I'm going to wait to see how it develops. If there is an opportunity, I will use my stored up 3 plus weeks of vacation and head that way.

[Steve West]

If you are willing to make the trip as many times as needed - and whenever needed - over the next few years, fine. Otherwise, I'd suggest getting a more local designer involved.

[BogeyNoMore]

It might hurt but, YOU DON'T. Being personally familiar with the property is a MUST for even decent design. Knowing almost every contour and tree may yield a good design. Spending hours on the property may yield a great design. You have to be there!!!

If you are willing to make the trip as many times as needed - and whenever needed - over the next few years, fine. Otherwise, I'd suggest getting a more local designer involved.

They're right.

If you want something truly amazing (as your sig suggests) course designer(s) need to be intimately familiar with the property the course will be on.

[Sadjo]

Oh, I agree. This parks department is in the early stages of this process. I was contacted because an old friend who lives in the town suggested they contact me.

[kenjiac]

where is this mystery park? Maybe a local will see it on here and step up to help you.

[DavidSauls]

I'd ask what their budget for the project is, and how much they've budgeted for design.

Probably nothing, but if you can get a couple of grand out of them, it might be worth your while.

Convince them that, like architects' fees, design fees are peanuts in the scheme of things, and worth paying to get things right. Of course, at that point they might go to an experienced, "name" course designer.

[Sadjo]

Every time I talk with anyone about installing a course I talk to them about course design options. I pitch John Houck, letting Innova or however they purchase baskets from and I also offer my services.

Right now they're still considering the whole idea of installing a course. If they opt to put a course in, that's when I'll start looking for someone locally or in the region.