Design 2.0

[Cgkdisc]

I'm working on a 9-hole design for hire and the best this course might get is a rating of 2.0 once installed. Is it still worth recommending to the client that they invest the park funds to install it? No safety issues the way the design is laid out but the property is essentially flat, mostly open and skirts other active use areas like picnic shelters, park road, parking lots, volleyball, horseshoes, playground, neighborhood homes.

[Dave242]

IMO, this depends on the area. If there are lots of 18 holers around, my guess is Park Management will be disappointed in the play their course/investment gets. On the other hand, there are a few 9-holers around here that get an absolute ton of play. There are no 18 holers around here.

[biscoe]

i suspect you already know the answer... i'm working on a 9 holer too that i would say will be 2.5 at absolute best, however it will be the only one within that locality with no other public course within 30 miles or so (hawk hollow is about 15 miles but not public and not overly beginner friendly) so it's a go.

[timg]

It sounds like it might be worth while as a rec. course. Those people playing horseshoes might check it out or the locals in the neighborhood there might play it fairly regularly. If it's in a disc golf dead zone like biscoe described then I'd say it's definitely worth while. I know I'd play a 2 disc course in my backyard far more often then the one that requires a long drive.

[Cgkdisc]

The nearest courses are about 15-20 minutes away with one 9 hole in one direction and one open 18-holer in the opposite direction so this 9-holer will provide a closer local option for the community. I'm doing it with dual tees numbered from 1-18 to make it feel like 18 holes. They do know it's a below average site with the best course we could safely fit in so I haven't blown smoke up their butts on how great it would be. Break out the Super Class discs!

[biscoe]

the one i'm working on would be superclass appropriate as well. site started with about 15 usable acres which has dwindled to maybe 8. we'll be doing 2 tees per hole as well with longer set walking the line between white and blue. (blute?)

[Cgkdisc]

Perhaps those who think the longer tees are too tough will call them blutal?

[John Rock]

Since the local population already knows about the game and there's already other options available, why not just scatter the baskets in the park and let the residents use their imagination to create their own challenges? You're not trying to create a masterpiece and there's already golf in the area, so save the city some $$$ and let the users play it as they see fit. Beginners can play short holes, advanced players can play tougher holes. It's all about getting people in the park isn't it? It wouldn't be too difficult to post the basic info on the sign near the parking lot and you might be surprised that more folks will use the baskets for more fun type games, and then going to the other local courses when they want the strict rigidity of an actual course.

[Cgkdisc]

That's a good idea that has worked in school yards and has been done a few places in the region. But two issues are in play here. There are too many other activity areas in the park such that players making up safari holes could easily be unsafe vs providing structured routing via course design. Also, around here at least, practice baskets get stolen because I guess they figure no one will miss it since it's not a hole on the course. The Park Dept already plans to permanently cement the baskets without anchors and weld them on the pole to improve security.

[gfellerjm]

I would say do it! I live in Kearney, NE. We have Cottonmill DGC (http://www.dgcoursereview.com/course.php?id=390), a pretty dang nice 18 holer, withing 5 minutes of Centennial (http://www.dgcoursereview.com/course.php?id=841), a short flat 2 disc ratted 9 holer with a spattering of trees (although they only come into play on a few holes). Also Fort Kearney (http://www.dgcoursereview.com/course.php?id=2667) is right out side of town. Although Centennial is flat and short it gets a TON of play because you can just go out and enjoy it without having to make a hike out of it. Also I believe it draws a different crowd then the big 18 holers, it's more people that want to get out and have fun, or people that are learning.

In Review, DO IT!

[mashnut]

As others say, it's nice to have a close easy course to play superclass or putter rounds on, and to bring newer players along to. If you can get the parks to put in the course and make it safe in a multi-use park, go for it.

[the_lung]

Ten years ago I would have said that any new disc golf course is growth and a positive thing for our sport.

However, lately I have done a complete 180 on that. In the last decade I have seen many a 9-hole course go in, which for a variety of factors but is predominantly due to poor design, fail completely. These courses get overgrown, neglected, and ultimately become a black eye for the sport. Without proper support, the course becomes overgrown and unplayable, the baskets get damaged, or stolen outright, and it fails miserably. The park service gets dismayed that they spent the money to put in new equipment which did not get used and was wasted.

It's a no-win situation for everyone. In general, 9-hole courses are not played over 18-hole courses anyway. A 9-holer has to be an absolute bang up job, a course that people will want to return to over and over again, a course that the local disc club will want to see maintained and played, etc. for it to be worth it, imo.

When a world class designer can make a course which at best might only get a rating of 2.0, it's a bad idea.

[billnchristy]

I don't feel that way. I think 9 holers have several advantages:

1) Great place to introduce new players...not as daunting and generally not as challenging.
2) Great place to practice
3) Great place to sneak a quick round in
4) Great place to get your kids to play a whole round

I would suggest doing a medium tee (everything 150-250) and a jr. tee (80-120) and market it as a family course.

We NEED the green level courses or whatever you call the lowest, otherwise our kids won't play (like our daughter...everything is way too far and she has too much pride to have a tee made up).

Also is it possible to plant small trees/large bushes that could grow into challenges later?