Best Way to Mark OB

[klay]

We have recently redesigned and installed a new layout at the Eagle County Fairgrounds course in Eagle, CO

This new layout features a decent amount of out of bounds both natural (river, ditches) and artificial (island hole, parking lots, bike path, property line).

I'd like to find a way to permanently mark OB lines for as much of those areas as possible. How expensive the materials end up being will determine how much will be marked.

I'd like to know what you think would be the most efficient, durable and cost effective way to get this done.

My plan was to use a decent gauge of twisted poly line with metal grounds stakes (the line being placed at ground level). The only worry is feet getting stuck and ripping the stakes out of the ground.

However, if there is a better way, please lend me your ideas.

Thanks!

 

[DavidSauls]

I'd like to know what you think would be the most efficient, durable and cost effective way to get this done.

These are a bit contradictory.

The issues with any kind of rope are tripping, accidentally pulling them up, and mowing. They do make great temporary markers.

Some sort of line-of-sight markers, such as posts, are more durable, if less precise. You can run twine between them during events.

 

[JedV]

I recently played Wickham Park in Connecticut. Their solution to this problem was to bury white painted small bricks, flush to the ground. They were spaced every couple feet or so to make a dotted line. I suppose that periodically the paint would need to be touched up, but over all they were great. First time seeing something like this.

I bet that you could get used brick cheap or free if you look for it.

 

[Aim For The Chains]

rocks.

 

[mashnut]

Painted 4x4s spaced 10-15' apart make a pretty permanent line and like David said you can run string or paint between them if needed for events. Phil Moore Park in Bowling Green has that on several holes, I don't think it's the most aesthetically pleasing solution, but it's also pretty easy to put in and tough to vandalize.

 

[billtvshow]

I always thought these could be a good solution:

http://www.presco.com/whiskers/

 

[TalbotTrojan]

I have seen the whiskers before. I have seen 4x4's. I have seen the poly rope as well. There is no perfect solution and people will always play whatever they like. I have seen 1' garden fences for islands, those are pretty cool.

 

[knettles]

To the OP, you mentioned marking areas like parking lots, bike paths, and rivers/streams. Generally, I don't see concrete areas being marked because people usually know concrete is OB. And if people don't know, you can have a sign at the start of the course explaining some simple rules and stating OB. Also, I don't like streams being marked because the water level changes. I think if it's in the water, it's OB, and if it's touching dry land, it's ok. Just my opinion.

 

[mashnut]

To the OP, you mentioned marking areas like parking lots, bike paths, and rivers/streams. Generally, I don't see concrete areas being marked because people usually know concrete is OB. And if people don't know, you can have a sign at the start of the course explaining some simple rules and stating OB. Also, I don't like streams being marked because the water level changes. I think if it's in the water, it's OB, and if it's touching dry land, it's ok. Just my opinion.

Streams and small ponds changing is exactly why they should be marked. If it's worth having as an OB, then it's worth putting real thought into where the line should be rather than counting on the water to get it right. As an extreme case, I've played an event in pouring rain where the OB line on a water hazard moved by several feet from the time the first card played a hole to the time the last card did. Having an actual line would prevent that kind of issue and show that the OB is there by design not just because somebody heard that all water is supposed to be OB.

 

[sjberry2017]

Best way I've seen it done is 1x2 wooden stakes painted red that line the OB area. If you end up hosting tournaments etc, then you can put down string along these boundaries

 

[Steve West]

Anything with a clear edge (like a well-maintained road) don't mark. Save money and avoid confusion about whether OB starts at the curb, or one inch away where the marking is.

Natural, consider not calling it OB. It may be enough punishment just to be there.

I like the idea of calling something OB only when it lets players avoid wading into something unpleasant.

Calling all buildings and walls OB let's people take a meter relief, even if the disc can't actually penetrate the OB area.

For marking edges of natural OB areas, there isn't a "best" way. Use what works for you.

 

[Cgkdisc]

It's also good to declare the inside of big rock walls and boulders OB when it's possible for players to land up against them and not be able to take a stance without an unreasonable use of the "solid object" relief rule that would place them off the property, in a location too far away or not easily accessible.

 

[spinachd]

White stakes ala ball golf. If wooden also protects against vampires.

 

[SamuliKL]

Best way I've seen it done is 1x2 wooden stakes painted red that line the OB area. If you end up hosting tournaments etc, then you can put down string along these boundaries

Please don't paint them red.

Yours truly,
10 percent of the male population who are red-green colour deficient

 

[1978]

Get a post puller, find neigborhoods or parks that are established and pull the silt fence posts they are required to install and the beginning of development. They arent needed after a few years. Line your fairway with metal fence posts every 20-30'. At the course I just built, I collected green hose from club members and lined the OB with that, staking it down with RR tie spikes (free along railroads) and the fence posts. Now you have a permanent sight line (the stakes) and actual OB line (the hose). Start by lining the areas most commonly OB, like near baskets or where you have to carry OB on a drive. I started and plan on completing...painting the top 8" of the stakes red and the remainder white to the ground.

 

[1978]

It's also good to declare the inside of big rock walls and boulders OB when it's possible for players to land up against them and not be able to take a stance without an unreasonable use of the "solid object" relief rule that would place them off the property, in a location too far away or not easily accessible.

Additionally for objects like fences...if you dont declare the FAIRWAY side of the obstacle OB, people can fly in, hit the back side of the Fence and claim they hit in bounds.

 

[Cgkdisc]

Additionally for objects like fences...if you dont declare the FAIRWAY side of the obstacle OB, people can fly in, hit the back side of the Fence and claim they hit in bounds.

Not necessary any more. That's one reason the OB line is now OB rather than IB like it used to be in earlier rules. Plus, the OB line/fence is now considered to flex. So a disc hitting on the OB side will not be considered briefly IB as it was under the old rule if the chainlink fence flexed.

 

[1978]

Yes, that is right...but unfortunately most people don't realize that so if there are those types of OB obstacles I always ask in the players meeting. I still cant believe you made me stick my leg down that drainage pipe!

 

[Cgkdisc]

"On" the exposed open half, not "down" the pipe.

 

[Cgkdisc]

We used three ways to mark "natural" OB lines at Highbridge for Pro Worlds in 2007, two which were permanent. For OB lines around small ponds and sand traps (former ball golf course in some areas), I got the inexpensive, heavier duty, white plastic cups from the Dollar Store. I took a garden trowel and dug up a cylinder of dirt, filled a cup and buried it upside down and flush with the ground. This gave you a line of white circles spaced 20-25 feet apart where the outside edge of the circles defined the OB line when running a string or tape (10m tape in player packs) between them or eyeballing it.

This cup technique was used for OB areas where you didn't want OB flags or posts projecting above the ground for discs to potentially hit them to affect play. But we did have one flag or post at each area so players could get an idea that there was OB nearby. The cups flush with the ground allowed mowers to trim close to/over them.

The other technique used for OB flush with the ground was along the grass/gravel road borders. We cut 4" lengths of 1.5" white PVC pipe and drilled a hole in the middle. These were buried parallel to the road about 20-25' apart with a 4" nail through the drilled hole to spike it in the ground. The outside edge of the nail was the reference point for defining OB pulling a string or tape between nails as needed. Having these flush with the ground meant no interference from vehicles swinging a bit too wide off the road.

The third technique was the common use of white flags. However, these were locations where permanent posts could have eventually been installed. There were white stakes in some areas that were sponsored. For $10, players could get their name on a permanent white OB stake.