How far is too far???

[biscoe]

Originally Posted by Guurn

Walks that are too short from Basket to next teepad are a much more common problem than too long.

yep.

[pfpro]

My vote for - occasional long walk is better then feeling too cramped. Just make sure you do your course map is to scale.

My home course is in a multi-use park, (course map herehttp://www.dgcoursereview.com/course...1/ba9d19cd.pdf).

There are a few long walks - 9-10 is past the restroom, drinking fountain and you walk past where you parked, so it doesn't feel long. The map is posted several places throughout the park, so you pretty much know where you are and where you are going. There aren't any surprises.

However, on the other hand, I played this course
http://www.dgcoursereview.com/course...1/870bfb8e.jpg

25% of the walking is on holes Not 8-12. 75% on those 5. It was brutal - they were spread out, but since the map wasn't to scale (and things weren't marked all that well), you were back there thinking - am I still on the course.... Definitely not cramped, but I will never play that course again.

[tistoude]

The walk between Holes 9 and 10 on Orange Crush is easily around 5 minutes but in this case the walk is necessary not only avoid some steep slopes but ensure that the course loops completely back to the beginning. I think in this case the walk is much longer than normal but is essential for the course. Also the walk is on flat asphalt, which after trudging up and down the slopes of the front 9 is kind of a relief.

[Sadjo]

There's a really long walk between holes 8 & 9 at Chattooga Belle Farm. When we designed this course (it's on private land) we were given parameters. Those were where the course had to start and finish, no baskets within 20' of a tree, and we had to go to the far part of the old orchard (basket for #5 and tee for #6).

Once we started designing the course, trying to get from the open holes on the front side to the lake and back all but required us to have a long transition.

Players have complained about the transition but those players also weren't aware of the parameters we were given on the design.

The course has been redesigned twice (the map is from the original design) and we are making another change this spring. The walk between 9 and 10 isn't as long as it looks on the map.

[BionicRib]

^^ I definitely agree about people griping and not knowing why certain decisions were made. That problem runs rampant in our area and I'm sure many others. I guess if you are going to put your name on any design you have to be able to take the criticism. (whether its deserved or not). I personally am not a big fan of walking a lot between holes (especially as I walk past other tees or baskets) but I usually try to look at what restrictions or conditions were talked about before a layout is.....layed out.

Thanks for the feedback guys

[medicinalfunk]

martin and i walked about 109852098120951825091820598 miles to play sugar bottom today when the gate was closed

[Sadjo]

Originally Posted by medicinalfunk

martin and i walked about 109852098120951825091820598 miles to play sugar bottom today when the gate was closed

I love that course. I remember playing in the IA State Championship years ago when that was one of the top five or so courses in the state.

[oldguy]

I agree with what's been said so far. I wanted to add another criteria for the op to consider. As a player, I don't want to be walking so far that I wonder, "Why didn't they just have a hole here?" If I wonder that question as I'm walking to the next tee, I want to be able to know the answer before I throw my next disc: I see a playground along the way or I get to the next tee and see a fantastic hole. I tend to be really annoyed when I walk forever to the next tee to find a hole that looks remarkably similar to the terrain that I just traversed.

[haier2]

I think there are definitely some different criteria to be considered. At my home course, Oregon park, there are several examples of walks that are on the tight rope between way too long and just lengthy.

The first example is from hole 2-3, The biggest problem with this is, not only are you walking a good 300-400 ft (at least) you walk almost directly past 18's basket and through 14's teepad, down a hill and through woods to get to 3's pads. This creates confusion, and with a better layout the designer could have avoided the mess completely.

Another example is much later, between 10-11, you walk about the same distance, but it is more justified. You are walking between a baseball diamond and a tennis court. There is some open green space that has been used as a temporary hole in the past but the risk is just not worth putting a hole in. 11 is a nice hole that has a creek in play and really keeps the course flowing, so the walk is justified.

The park is infamous for its long walks between holes, and I haven't seen anything like it much in my time playing in memphis, south carolina and all over atlanta. I think that walks can be okay, if its because of a hazard or because it makes the course flow. However, if the walks are because you just can't connect the baskets and pads, either an entirely new layout or at least a little more creativity should be used to make the course memorable for the right reasons.

[BionicRib]

Originally Posted by oldguy

I agree with what's been said so far. I wanted to add another criteria for the op to consider. As a player, I don't want to be walking so far that I wonder, "Why didn't they just have a hole here?" If I wonder that question as I'm walking to the next tee, I want to be able to know the answer before I throw my next disc: I see a playground along the way or I get to the next tee and see a fantastic hole. I tend to be really annoyed when I walk forever to the next tee to find a hole that looks remarkably similar to the terrain that I just traversed.

I completely agree and that is a great point