Wooded vs. Scenic

[Innovastar]

I am proposing an 18-hole course at a local park around one of the larger lakes in the state. As i was walking trying to layout potential holes I found alot of holes along the water with great views. Most of the holes have mature trees in play and elevation changes. There is also plenty of land that is totally wooded with and with out clearings and paths away from the water. There are some big slopes and ravines in the woods. My question is, would you prefer more holes in the scenic area or a balance between the two?

[Midnightbiker]

I like to have a combo of both.

[Innovastar]

That os what i was envisioning, a couple of the guys I play with went out with me to walk around and find a few signature holes and they were talking about using alot of the scenic ones because they were already cleared and the wooded holes would need a little work. I would rather put a little work into it and make it a great course vs. just a nice one.

[mashnut]

If you have enough room, make a course out of your more open scenic land, and make a course out of your tougher wooded land. If not, I would definitely say make a mix of different types of holes.

[mickas]

i ussually don't mind a little extra walking between holes to get a mix of both, don't be afraid to make people walk to get a variety of wooded and scenic holes, just be sure you have the funds for signs directing people

[RHINESEL]

I would like both. Especially a transition hole or two. Like driving out of the woods into a beautiful scenic basket location or teeing off by the water and plunging into the trees.

[A.Mutt]

I'm more of a wooded course guy but I do love a good open, scenic hole. On transition holes, I personally prefer ones that start in the open and finish in the woods. I like that that kind of hole requires very accurate drive placement.

[wolito]

Definately try to balance it out. Lake Lewisville in Texas has some very nice looking shots that go right up to the water of the lake, then the rest of the course dives in to a mildly wooded section. The water holes do stick out though.

[solomon.trenton]

if you decide to do woods stay away from sudden dropoffs and ravines as you dont want someone getting hurt.

[Innovastar]

Thanks for the great input. I hope to get a meeting set up next week to meet with the head of this park. Going to present a first run of and 18-hole course to him via an aerial map modified in paint. Will let you all know how it goes.

[Cgkdisc]

When dealing with Park Departments, it's important to know the trade-offs between holes in the open versus those in the woods. In general terms, (well designed) wooded holes will cost more upfront if (usually) any tree and brush clearing is required, but are then (usually) less expensive to maintain down the road because (usually) no mowing is required. On the other hand, holes in the open (usually) require little extra cost to create them (maybe some limb trimming) but then (usually) require regular mowing to keep them playable. These upfront (capital) costs versus ongoing (operating) costs tradeoffs are many times more important to the Parks departments from a budgeting standpoint than whether the holes are more in the open or in the woods from a design and coolness standpoint for players.

[buzzinb]

Variety is the spice of life. Sounds like a great place to build a course.

[reverand_redbeard]

My favorite local course is very scenic and has a good variety of wooded and open holes (bryant lake, eden prairie MN) but even though its scenic it never makes it down along the lake which is something i've always thought would be great, there are several other courses were i can see a lake or stream from the course but the course never utilizes them, at Moir park they set up a temporary 18 hole and they set it up across a stream, which you can see from the perminant course, and most people think its the best course ever but the 9 hole perminant course isn't too great.

[BogeyNoMore]

It's the mix of tight & technical with open, long sweeping fairways that provides that "every shot in your bag" experience. Throw in an Ace run or two and that's something for everyone.

When dealing with Park Departments, it's important to know the trade-offs between holes in the open versus those in the woods. In general terms, (well designed) wooded holes will cost more upfront if (usually) any tree and brush clearing is required, but are then (usually) less expensive to maintain down the road because (usually) no mowing is required. On the other hand, holes in the open (usually) require little extra cost to create them (maybe some limb trimming) but then (usually) require regular mowing to keep them playable. These upfront (capital) costs versus ongoing (operating) costs tradeoffs are many times more important to the Parks departments from a budgeting standpoint than whether the holes are more in the open or in the woods from a design and coolness standpoint for players.

Excellent point. Further thought would be if they are already mowing area the open holes would be in, then an open hole costs no more in the long run.

[Cgkdisc]

Actually, there are some cases where the Park Department might be able to mow less once disc golf holes go in. Leaving maybe 8-12 feet wide unmowed rough to separate fairways makes the course look really sharp with well defined holes and can reduce the mowing area 10-15%.

[Innovastar]

The parks department already mows the open areas. there are some cleared paths though some of the woods i am going to try and utilize if it makes good holes and flows nice.

[magictenor1]

Two courses would be good otherwise a mix. I disagree with Solomon and would really use the ravines and dropoffs.