Long Walks??

[Camgolfer]

We are mapping out a course site. The first 9 holes run along the left side of the creek and to the right is a lake. The problem is that after the first 9 you would need to follow a trail about 900 ft, cross a bridge, and walk another 900 feet before the next good tee off spot. The course stands to be an amazing course and something this is very different from most of the Denver area courses.

There is room in the first 900 feet to put in a hole but 1. It runs parallel to a busy walking path the whole way, 2. It does not fit in with the rest of the course feel, and 3. It would stand to be more of a filler hole than something we would be proud of.

Other than this long walk the course could be 18 or 27 holes with all the open space by the creek. This course would feature nice tree shots, water shots and many risk/reward holes. My big question is: Would you walk the 1800 feet to get to deter you from playing the back 9?

Would you market them as two different 9-hole courses at the same park or just hope the draw of the back 9 and your well thought out signage helps people get to the back 9?

[solomon.trenton]

are those two 900' walks wide open or are they crammed with trees and such. if they are wiude open why not have two super long par 5's for grip and rip?

[billnchristy]

I think if it was worth it I would walk it...is it possible to park somewhere near the middle or would you have to walk all the way back? Maybe it could be set up as 2 seperate 9s that fan out from the middle?

I think most people would make the walk and I think you are right to not put fillers in there that would mess with the flow.

Any way we could see a satellite shot or something?

[War Eagle]

Make like a pratice hole on each of the 900 walks.

[srm_520]

If it makes the course better - than long walks with good signage is okay. I think people don't mind as long as they are rewarded at the end. I believe filler holes that make a course worse are counterproductive even if it is another hole to play. Also, long walks before or after hole 1 or 18 are okay again if the course is worth it. Conifer is great example of this:
http://www.dgcoursereview.com/course.php?id=2488
One of the top rated courses on this site has a marathon walk in the mountain elevation just to start the course - and people still love it. True the perfect course won't have this, but it's okay if it does.

If you want to read more check out this thread:
http://www.dgcoursereview.com/forums/showthread.php?t=1589&highlight=filler+holes

[Lewis]

My big question is: Would you walk the 1800 feet to get to deter you from playing the back 9?

Would you market them as two different 9-hole courses at the same park or just hope the draw of the back 9 and your well thought out signage helps people get to the back 9?

Absolutely not. Market it as an 18-hole course. Sometimes people don't play courses just because they are listed as 9's. And don't worry about a 900-foot walk, as long as the signs are clear. I'd recommend listing something on the sign like "Next Tee: 900 feet -->".

If people can't walk 900 feet a couple of times between holes, why are they out there walking the other several thousand feet of the course? I really don't think it's a big deal.

[NovaDiscHead]

Giles Run in Virginia has this scenario- holes 1-7 are next to the parking area, then you have a long walk over a stream then up a hill to 8-16, then back over again to 17 and 18 next to the lot.

The walk is a bit confusing the first time you play it, but it adds so much to the course. The designer wanted to put a hole in the area of the walk, but the county said no, due to erosion and the fact that there's a flood plain.

I say go for it, but make sure you have really good signage so people know where to head.

[Camgolfer]

Thanks all,

http://maps.google.com/maps?client=safari&q=prospect+park,+wheat+ridge&oe=UTF-8&ie=UTF8&hl=en&sll=39.775996,-105.131615&sspn=0.006295,0.019409&ei=0Az-Sda5KYnONerQhZkE&cd=2&cid=39773780,-105133410,14801835370046778411&li=lmd&ll=39.774085,-105.133989&spn=0.0016,0.004141&t=h&z=18

This is a overview of the park. Basically where the "A" Arrow is where the first 9 stops, but on the north side of the creek. Players begin in the parking lot to the east and follow the creek west. Then you would have to walk west down the path, cross the bridge and then come back to the "A" before any shots are worth playing. It looks like you can throw one shot before you cross, but that area is not as good as it looks and would not be a great shot.
There are many low rocks that could make an easy foot bridge to get across the creek when it is low, but I am sure the city does not advocate the use of this as a permanent or advised means to cross.

The back nine follow the creek back east and end with a nice shot over the creek near the bridge and back to your car. There is potential to expand the course to add more holes and 27 will be discussed when we talk with the city, but 18 is our minimum goal.

We went out yesterday with a few discs and mapped out what we might want to have their. We had one guy ride by on his bike and scream, "Heck yeah! They need to put a disc golf park there!" So that was a little confirmation on what we are planning.

Hope the city feels the same way.

[billnchristy]

Hell, after seeing that I would walk double...could be a real sweet deal!! Good luck!!

[innova]

I am an old guy & I'd walk what ever it would take to play on property like that!

Do what you have to do. If folks gripe about the walk, they likely aren't real golfers.

[nunez23]

Yeah the area in question is fantastic, I think most people would be slightly upset at first but once they played that back nine they would be ready to go for another round. Hopefully we can get the city to back us on this and get ourselves an awesome course.

[Camgolfer]

I can just see some lame-o's complaining about that part on their review... I think that the course can be really good considering the land that is there. Will update on the progress of the course and then invite everyone to a grand opening party/tourney!

[gvan]

I agree that having a Nex-T sign with the distance is a good idea. It certainly looks like the back section would be worth the walk. I wouldn't complain (unless it's a tournament and I'm not doing well and it's 100 degrees. Then I'd blame everything on the extra walk). Just sayin...

:)

[zenbot]

You could buy a rickshaw and charge the lazies to pull them to the back 9. Proceeds would go to the club, of course.

[jroll]

Looks great, I would gladly walk to to the back nine. Proper signage would be the key. kepp me up on this. once you get the city's ok I will gladly help out

[Mattallica]

I am an old guy & I'd walk what ever it would take to play on property like that!

Do what you have to do. If folks gripe about the walk, they likely aren't real golfers.

amen

part of why I do this is weight loss, the more I walk the more I lose

[wolito]

Long walks are certainly not a problem, as long as they are well marked. I played a course in Iowa where the distance beteen 17 and 18 was quiet long. It wasn't marked well. I walked where I thought it would be for quiet a while, then gave up and started walking directly to the parking lot and a little while later came upon the 18th hole. I wouldn't have minded the walk if I knew I was going to get to the hole.

[garublador]

Long walks are certainly not a problem, as long as they are well marked. I played a course in Iowa where the distance beteen 17 and 18 was quiet long. It wasn't marked well. I walked where I thought it would be for quiet a while, then gave up and started walking directly to the parking lot and a little while later came upon the 18th hole. I wouldn't have minded the walk if I knew I was going to get to the hole.I'm assuming you're talking about Ewing Park in Des Moines.

Yeah, the walk is annoying, but Ewing is still considered one of the best courses around. It's listed as a few sponsored players' favorite courses.

If you can put sinage, benches, bathrooms, water fountains or stuff like that along the path people will be much happier about it.

[CwAlbino]

Absolutely not. Market it as an 18-hole course. Sometimes people don't play courses just because they are listed as 9's. And don't worry about a 900-foot walk, as long as the signs are clear. I'd recommend listing something on the sign like "Next Tee: 900 feet -->".

If people can't walk 900 feet a couple of times between holes, why are they out there walking the other several thousand feet of the course? I really don't think it's a big deal.

I never understand this... There are a lot of good 9 hole courses to just pass up because they aren't 18.

As for the 900 foot walk, let the lazies complain, if they are complaining about it then they are likely rec and not going to be on a site rating a course. There is a walk in Iowa before the last 3 holes (wildwood park in Ottumwa, Iowa) that is quite long, and It's never even crossed my mind that it could be a negative.

[bazillion]

Put Burma Shave signs up along the walk :D

[mashnut]

As long as I don't have to wander to find the next hole, I'm happy. I don't mind a walk one bit when there's adequate signage that lets you know which direction to walk, and the fact that's it's not right around the corner.

[Technohic]

I never understand this... There are a lot of good 9 hole courses to just pass up because they aren't 18.


There are nice 9 hole courses and if you want 18, play a 2nd round, but I have found it to be unsatisfying if they have no holes over 300'.

As for walking. i would rather walk than have everything crunched in to try to get it all in one spot like some courses I have seen. One of the nice things about DG is it gets you out walking through some nice scenary.

[blackandwhite]

i hate walking and not knowing where im going. if you tell me where i need to go and the signs get me there, Im A OK

[mashnut]

There are nice 9 hole courses and if you want 18, play a 2nd round, but I have found it to be unsatisfying if they have no holes over 300'.



I definitely don't skip courses just because they are only 9 holes (or 6 or 12, whatever), but if I have to choose between a 9 hole course and an 18 hole course I'll usually pick the longer one unless there's a really good reason to play the shorter course.

[Camgolfer]

There are certain 9 hole courses that I love, but usually given the choice I will choose an 18 hole course because even though i can play the 9 twice, it is only 9 different holes. I do know some 18 hole courses that suck compared to some other 9 holers.

This brings up a review question: should a course be rated down because it is 9 hole even though it is a well designed 9 hole course that has shot variety and a mixture of OB, water, length, trees etc? If the 9 holes are done well do they deserve to be rated higher than a three. Most 9 hole course reveiws I have seen have some statement about being marked down for being 9 holes only. If the area that the course is in only has room for 9 holes to be well designed shouldn't that get it more credit?

[CwAlbino]

There are certain 9 hole courses that I love, but usually given the choice I will choose an 18 hole course because even though i can play the 9 twice, it is only 9 different holes. I do know some 18 hole courses that suck compared to some other 9 holers.

This brings up a review question: should a course be rated down because it is 9 hole even though it is a well designed 9 hole course that has shot variety and a mixture of OB, water, length, trees etc? If the 9 holes are done well do they deserve to be rated higher than a three. Most 9 hole course reveiws I have seen have some statement about being marked down for being 9 holes only. If the area that the course is in only has room for 9 holes to be well designed shouldn't that get it more credit?

I will not mark a course down for being any number of holes. I will, however, give a 9 hole course a better score if it has two pad locations for a more interesting second round.

[mashnut]

There are certain 9 hole courses that I love, but usually given the choice I will choose an 18 hole course because even though i can play the 9 twice, it is only 9 different holes. I do know some 18 hole courses that suck compared to some other 9 holers.

This brings up a review question: should a course be rated down because it is 9 hole even though it is a well designed 9 hole course that has shot variety and a mixture of OB, water, length, trees etc? If the 9 holes are done well do they deserve to be rated higher than a three. Most 9 hole course reveiws I have seen have some statement about being marked down for being 9 holes only. If the area that the course is in only has room for 9 holes to be well designed shouldn't that get it more credit?

I think a 9 hole course can be a good and fun course, but I can't see rating it above 4 discs. Even if it were the best 9 holes of Flip City or Idlewild, it just wouldn't be enough golf to really deserve a top rating imo.

[mambrose]

i would gladly walk a little ways to play on something diffrent, but....maby put a picknick table or something on the way, or afterwords, this 1. lets you take a break before throwing, and 2. gives you a chance to let someone play thru if there moving faster, or the other way around.

[klay]

I don't mind walking at all.

Hell, at some of the courses up here in the mountains, a normal walk between holes is harder on you than a long walk on a flat, low altitude course.

And Cam, good luck with the planning and approval stages. This course would be damn near impossible to pass up every time I come down from the mountains with it being right off of I-70.

[mashnut]

i would gladly walk a little ways to play on something diffrent, but....maby put a picknick table or something on the way, or afterwords, this 1. lets you take a break before throwing, and 2. gives you a chance to let someone play thru if there moving faster, or the other way around.

Really good point, a table or benches to sit on in the shade is really nice after long walks, especially on hot days.

[JoshBusche27]

Yeah, either make a practice hole there, or put benches and such.

Or both.