Measuring holes....

[mmyersdisc]

Ok, so my TD for our upcoming local tournament wants someone to get distances and signs taken care of for the people out of town. So my question to everyone is what is a good instrument to use to get distances? And whats a good way to make signs? We have some signs up now but some are missing/vandalised so im basically trying to make the course presentable for out-of-towners...thanks for the ideas!

[srm_520]

The best way to get the most accurate measurements is with a laser scope. It's more accurate than a wheel. EricJ can give you models, since he has researched all of that. As far as making signs, temporary can be anything from laminated paper, to cardboard, to something a little more permanent but cheap like thin plywood. It all depends on what you have time and money for.

[mmyersdisc]

Tournament is June 7th, money...cheap...lol since most of it will be from the TD and us...

[DavidSauls]

Skimpy-budget alternative to laser scope is a 300' tape measure, available in hardware stores. The little bit of sag is insignificant, and you have to do multiple measurements on longer holes, but it works. Except in places you can't run a tape, like crossing bodies of water or briar patches.

[mmyersdisc]

well my job has a wheel/and I dont know what else...I work for a Underground construction company...I still need to ask my boss what we have for surveying distances..and see if I can borrow it for a day or something...but wanted to get ideas from people that have done it

[John Rock]

Measuring straight line distance is easy with the laser or electronic devices, and very accurate. I like the 300 foot tape measure because you can get a better measurement of the way the intended fairway twists or turns. With the electronic devices you probably need help, with the tape measure you can do it alone (cutting the labor cost in half).

[mmyersdisc]

labor cost won't matter haha...not getting paid to do this nor will the guy I drag with me :-P....I actually got some pretty accurate distances from google earth! Some of them have signs now and distances and mine matched up pretty accurately to what they had on that sign...Im gonna show the TD what I had done on google earth to see what he says about that...worked our decently...

[Dave242]

Don't worry if you are off by +/- 10'. Most course signs are off by that much since there is no standard way of measuring curved fairways.

A cheaper way is to go out with a 100' tape with two people and just have the first guy walk out and stand still when the tape is stretched and then the 2nd guy walks past him until he gets to the basket or the tape is stretched again. You can measure a course as fast as you can walk it this way.

The highly recommended thing to do with a tournament is to hand out maps in the players' meeting with distances and pars listed as well as all ground rules (OB's, drop zones, pads being used each round, etc). Also, on the scorecards have distances and par listed. This adds a very nice touch to things and makes sure there are no legit excuses for player screw-ups.

[Dave242]

Yes! - google earth is another very quick and accurate and cheap way to go (if they have good imagery in your area and if the entire course is not under tree cover).

[solomon.trenton]

well my job has a wheel/and I dont know what else...I work for a Underground construction company...I still need to ask my boss what we have for surveying distances..and see if I can borrow it for a day or something...but wanted to get ideas from people that have done it

i have used a wheel and it works better than a tape measure. no idea about surveying equipment but who knows, it might be better and easier.

[mashnut]

i have used a wheel and it works better than a tape measure. no idea about surveying equipment but who knows, it might be better and easier.

The only issue with using a wheel is that it exaggerates the distance if you have a lot of elevation changes.

[solomon.trenton]

The only issue with using a wheel is that it exaggerates the distance if you have a lot of elevation changes.

true, but the laser level is like $300 and the distances are just an idea.

[mashnut]

true, but the laser level is like $300 and the distances are just an idea.

Very true, I was more talking about the wheel versus a measuring tape. You're absolutely right that the wheel is much easier, especially if you're by yourself, but if you want to have more accurate signs the tape measure might get you a little closer.

[NatiBuckeye]

Wouldnt a tape measure exaggerate distance in the same manner a wheel does?

I have spent a good amount of time trying to deduce a good measurement system while designing a practice course for my classes and every method has some flaws to it. Bends/trees/water/elevation/

[optidiscic]

The only issue with using a wheel is that it exaggerates the distance if you have a lot of elevation changes.

If the terrain undulates up and down it will...but if it is straight up or down I think a wheel is ok.....beware the roots, logs and rocks etc...after walking 500 feet with a wheel over difficult terrain you can add an extra 50-100 feet to the distance due to going over or zig zagging around obstacles! I always thought some super long string, I always thought running kite string along a disc golf holes trajectory would be the best way...Kite String can be bought in 300 meter spools btw.

[mmyersdisc]

I think Im just going to use the google earth....it doesn't count for hills and what not...but I guess neither does a lazer or whatever right? Ill talk to my TD and see what he says...he wasn't at the tuesday best shot.. :-/ .....it started pouring so I left and found out that they ended up having 24 people...it stopped raining after a few holes :-(

[Geoffro]

And whats a good way to make signs?

I play at Sugar Camp DGC (http://www.dgcoursereview.com/course.php?id=1877) sometimes, and it is a relatively new course. They used PVC pipe and connectors to construct the posts for their course signs, and it works great. PVC weathers well, and bends under stress rather than breaking. Also, it's super cheap. The way they did it looks really classy, I wish I had a photo (will take one the next time I'm up there) but if you head down to the Fleet Farm (or whatever you have in your area) and take a look around the PVC stuff, I'll bet you'll see what I mean. Good luck!

[mmyersdisc]

I play at Sugar Camp DGC (http://www.dgcoursereview.com/course.php?id=1877) sometimes, and it is a relatively new course. They used PVC pipe and connectors to construct the posts for their course signs, and it works great. PVC weathers well, and bends under stress rather than breaking. Also, it's super cheap. The way they did it looks really classy, I wish I had a photo (will take one the next time I'm up there) but if you head down to the Fleet Farm (or whatever you have in your area) and take a look around the PVC stuff, I'll bet you'll see what I mean. Good luck!

I work for an underground pipe company :-) I know all about PVC pipe hehe but thanks...most of the signs have metal pipes/aluminum places to put signs...just the signs (paper part) is either torn off or the whole peice is missing...frustrating watching stupid ****ing kids throw there discs at the signs trying to break them..thank god for plexiglass

[Geoffro]

I play at Sugar Camp DGC (http://www.dgcoursereview.com/course.php?id=1877) sometimes, and it is a relatively new course. They used PVC pipe and connectors to construct the posts for their course signs, and it works great. PVC weathers well, and bends under stress rather than breaking. Also, it's super cheap. The way they did it looks really classy, I wish I had a photo (will take one the next time I'm up there) but if you head down to the Fleet Farm (or whatever you have in your area) and take a look around the PVC stuff, I'll bet you'll see what I mean. Good luck!

Here it is, finally:

http://www.dgcoursereview.com/course_pics/1877/4db601d7.jpg

Maybe this wouldn't work in areas prone to vandalism, but none of these signs have been destroyed (to my knowledge). In this area, it's not much of a problem. You're right, though, if I wanted to wreck this thing, I could do it pretty easily. Let us know what you come up with anyhow.

[REDARMY]

i'm diggin those signs geoffro.

great idea, whosever it was.

[ChronoDisc]

you could always do measuring by the way we measure our putts. count the number of steps and multiply by three. its not exactly accurate but it is close. it only doesnt work if you are frakishly tall or really short.

[REDARMY]

you could always do measuring by the way we measure our putts. count the number of steps and multiply by three. its not exactly accurate but it is close. it only doesnt work if you are frakishly tall or really short.

well, im 6'2'' and i know my steps aren't three feet.

i was practicing on a soccer field today and my numbers were waaaaaaaaay off.

the 3 foot thing is a good place to start, but it's prone to errors too.

[billnchristy]

Those are cool!

You know, scarily enough, google earth is pretty accurate...I played around last night and it was only 1.2' off the sign distances at Lenora park.

Obviously you have to have open areas to use that though.

[XxInnovaxX]

i say just guess....just like the how many jelly beans are in the jar game.....

every course i play the distances seem to be way off...so i just play them by my own judgement

[zud00]

Those are cool!

You know, scarily enough, google earth is pretty accurate...I played around last night and it was only 1.2' off the sign distances at Lenora park.

Obviously you have to have open areas to use that though.

Maybe they used google earth for the distances on the signs at lenora park:confused::eek:;)

[GuitarCrazyo]

God bless you - 54 holes in one day

I did that when I was a kid, playing on Caddies Day. Wed show up at 7:00 am and play until the sun went down.

However I have never had an inclination to play 54 holes in one day since then.

Reminds me of the old "bull" joke, the punchline being something like "easy son, lets just walk down there nice and easy, and take our time."

[traittyprielt]

This may be pretty basic for most of you, but I still see people doing this wrong often enough

When measuring two holes center to center of holes the same size, I often see people trying to hold their tapemeasure in what they "guess" is the center of the holes. Instead, measure from the leading edge of hole A to the leading edge of hole B. The distance is the same and it takes the guesswork out.

[judson]

only if the holes are the same size.

[DiscChucker]

I just measured my local 9 hole course (Dorton Park (http://www.dgcoursereview.com/course.php?id=281)) yesterday because I've always suspected some of the posted distances are off. Are they ever! The sign for hole 4 says it's 113'. When I measured it came out to 79'! Believe me, you can look at this basket from the tee and without a doubt know that it's not breaking 100'. Several of the holes had major discrepancies. I honestly can't imagine how they measured these holes to come up with some of the distances that are posted on the tee signs.

Anyway, I used a wheel to measure these holes for this course. This course is flat and only has one fairway with a slight elevation but not enough to really make a significant difference. So in this case the wheel was perfect for the task at hand. I use this measuring wheel (http://www.harborfreight.com/cpi/ctaf/displayitem.taf?Itemnumber=95701) that I picked up at Harbor Freight. My only complaint about this particular wheel is that the telescoping shaft is a tad short. I'm 5'11" and I feel like I have to lean forward ever so slightly when rolling it across the ground. Because of this it's somewhat uncomfortable.

For this particular course the wheel is more accurate than Google Earth because of the tree cover. If I had used Google Earth, I would have been guesstimating the location of some of the tees and baskets. That would have undoubtedly added or subtracted several feet for each hole.

Elevation is definitely something to keep in mind when measuring though. For example I wouldn't use a wheel at some of my other local courses such as Reedy Creek, Renaissance Park or Hornets Nest because of some of the undulating changes in the topography.

I don't recall if anyone has mentioned GPS. That's another tool for measuring distances. Has anyone here used GPS yet?

[Apothecary]

God bless you - 54 holes in one day

I did that when I was a kid, playing on Caddies Day. Wed show up at 7:00 am and play until the sun went down.

However I have never had an inclination to play 54 holes in one day since then.

Reminds me of the old "bull" joke, the punchline being something like "easy son, lets just walk down there nice and easy, and take our time."

lol...great colors reference!:clap:

[Danger]

Just be like Liberty Park and put 188' on every sign, regardless of the length :)

No but seriously, spend the $7.99 on a 300' measuring tape. It will be accurate enough.

[Peterb]

GPS is an option. However, most GPS are accurate only to within 15-20 feet, not the sub meter accuracy desired by discerning disc golfers.

[Cgkdisc]

No but seriously, spend the $7.99 on a 300' measuring tape. It will be accurate enough.
Measuring over open bodies of water and marshes can be tough though unless you remember Pythagoras. That's how we measured one of our marsh holes before rangefinders. We found a point on the shore we could stretch the tape to and get two 90 degree legs from the pin and the tee. Then took the square root of the sum of the squares of those two measurements. Voila!

[grodney]

And what's the trick for knowing you're at a 90 degree angle?

[John Rock]

Framing square or speed square. Or the 3-4-5 method works very well.

[grodney]

Yeah, but if I'm stretching a tape a couple-hundred feet, I think it's reasonably difficult to tell if it is lined up with a 1 or 2 foot long framing square. Know what I mean?

[John Rock]

Well you asked, try 30-40-50. Works every time.

[martinb]

has anyone used a range finder? like they use in hunting? i think they are hand held laser....

[ERicJ]

has anyone used a range finder? like they use in hunting? i think they are hand held laser....
I have a Nikon Monarch 800 (http://www.nikonsportoptics.com/Products/ProductDetail.page?pid=8356) and it works fabulously for measuring hole distances. Also works well for measuring throws, i.e. distance competitions, if you like. Only downside is that the minimum range is 11 yards... well that and the cost. I've laser'ed just about every course I've played and try to post or update the distances here on DGCR.

[wolito]

I have a Nikon Monarch 800 (http://www.nikonsportoptics.com/Products/ProductDetail.page?pid=8356) and it works fabulously for measuring hole distances. Also works well for measuring throws, i.e. distance competitions, if you like. Only downside is that the minimum range is 11 yards... well that and the cost. I've laser'ed just about every course I've played and try to post or update the distances here on DGCR.

You got a pretty serious piece of equipment there! That would be cool to have if you got the money. I know there are a bunch of courses out there that could use your help with that, lots of inaccurate distances posted on signs.

[ERicJ]

You got a pretty serious piece of equipment there! That would be cool to have if you got the money. I know there are a bunch of courses out there that could use your help with that, lots of inaccurate distances posted on signs.
They can be found for around $200 on ebay these days.