Can a course be designed HERE (via Maps)?

[Gamecock]

Proof the Bing aerial photo was not taken recently...

From the photo showing the green material backstop (and July 4 entrance), you can see an old spare tire in the background on the left. From the below shot, you can see that same tire on the right. Note how the 2 pine trees (as seen in aerial view and discussed as a spot to place a basket) now have a tree growing in between them! This is proof Bing photo was taken quite some time ago... I'll find out Monday if that new tree in middle can be cut or not.

 

[Lewis]

This would be a good spot for a 9-hole pitch-and-putt course if that's what you're looking for, but I would keep everything under 300' in this space. One thing you should be sure to keep track of is how close together your fairways run. In one of Bill's proposals, the one with the 350' hole, he has that hole's basket within 20' of the middle of the next hole's fairway. That's a bad idea. In that layout, you'd do better to make it a 300' hole along the northern edge of the property. You could go longer around the outside edges of the property, but as your photos show, the discs should be kept inside the tree line. If you do it right, this could be a fun place to play 9 holes with Superclass discs. Just be careful you don't shoehorn more holes into the space than is comfortable.

 

[Gamecock]

Did they cut any trees down to make all those baseball fields? If so, I doubt cutting a few trees down is an obstacle that can't be overcome for the sake of a good addition to the recreational facility........but it is an obstacle to be sure.

Good point Dave! This park truly is a first class facility that a LOT of people in the community contributed to financially. I'll post a few photos to show it off...

Summerville hosts an annual Sculpture in the South Show and Sale (May 15-16 this year) with proceeds benefiting a Permanent Public Sculpture Program. Below is one of 20 pieces of bronze sculpture have been purchased and installed since 1999 through the efforts of this organization.

The kids playground here is one of the nicest I have seen ANYWHERE! Look how the names of contributors (individuals, families and businesses) were burned into the fence posts. Maybe we could ask some of these businesses to pitch in to help the disc golf course be first class as well? 4' x 12' tee pads here would give this course THE best tees of all 7 courses in this area!

 

[Gamecock]

Here's my take, why not just lower the hole # to 6 and play it 3 times for a quick 18 hole round.

Need at least 9 holes to attract visitors from out of town. That's essentially already been decided. Some people would pass on a visit if there's less than 9. I was completely wrong about how wet the middle part of this layout is, so a couple holes could have a tee or basket in there. It's also possible to have a hole (or 2) completely contained in those woods (narrow fairways)!

Having only one official course design under belt, I figured I'd offer what little course design advice I have.

Thanks for taking the time to come up with a layout. It's much appreciated!

There are no mandos anywhere, I actually despise the idea of forcing players to throw their disc a certain way. I like allowing a player to make what he feels is the right choice when throwing a disc. For safety and hazard reasons, I can deal with them, but here it looks like everything is in the clear and no mandos are going to be needed.

I agree on mandos (mandatory flight paths). It's nice to have your choice...

If you don't have any aces, this would be the place to start collecting. Although the more of those you get, the less they mean. It's more fun now to watch other people's ace reactions, lol.

For every player who has had an ace, there are at least 100 who never have.

I've only seen one ace scored in person and on that same day, I sank a shot from the fairway (an Eagle 2) that was even longer. I obsessed to get one!

Very nice looking piece of land, I hope you the best in making a permanent course there, regardless of what design is used.

Thanks again Jody! Your input will be considered and one of your holes may be chosen. The more ideas we get here, the better the course will be I bet.

 

[Gamecock]

what about an alternate set of tees that plays the same basket locations as in your layout, but flows the opposite direction.

That's an interesting idea, but what happens when 2 groups are playing in the opposite directions?

 

[mashnut]

That's an interesting idea, but what happens when 2 groups are playing in the opposite directions?

You might have to wait a couple minutes to let the other group pass through, but it's not that big a deal. You just put up a sign at the beginning of the course on which set of tees has the right of way so everyone knows when to let other groups go. Unless it gets really crowded it'll only add a few minutes to a round.

 

[Gamecock]

You might have to wait a couple minutes to let the other group pass through, but it's not that big a deal. You just put up a sign at the beginning of the course on which set of tees has the right of way so everyone knows when to let other groups go.

Hmmm... It's hard to imagine that happening if you've never played a 2-way layout before. I'd have to assume those courses are quite rare. Probably more rare than courses with less than 9 holes (in a negative way too).

Unless it gets really crowded it'll only add a few minutes to a round.

If this course has top notch tee pads (4' x 12' to allow run-up throws), it may get popular VERY quickly! It would be the only course in this county, this side of Charleston metro area and the closest course for many people.

There would also be at least one annual tournament, probably during the Flowertown Festival (the cool name "Flowertown Fling" has been suggested) and hopefully another during the World's Biggest Disc Golf Weekend as well. Sadly, there were no events at all for WBDGW here in Lowcountry for 2010.

 

[mashnut]

I've played two courses with backwards layouts, and a few more with dual tee pads that went from different angles not just a longer and shorter version of the same shot. On all of those I ran into other people, but it was easy to just wave one group through then take your shot. It would be trickier in a tournament, but for a tourney or if weekend days get really busy, you could just put up a sign that the course goes a specific direction that day (e.g. when crowded, play only 1-9 on Saturdays and 10-18 on Sundays). Check out Beast and Goliath in Ludington MI, they use 18 of the same baskets but play in opposite directions with 6 extra unique holes on each course, and Groves Park in Tucson AZ with 9 baskets and two sets of tees going in each direction.

 

[Gamecock]

Here's a couple more ground level photos...

Here's a closeup of one of the bleachers, right around the corner from that casual water gully. Look like a spot for a basket to me!

 

[Gamecock]

Here's a shot taken not far from the last one, looking to the far corner. It's THE first shot of DG foursome ever at this location.

 

[RussMB]

I really hope this course can come to fruition. It's close enough, that I could go here for a visit while my Wife and her Mom go shopping! LOL

 

[Gamecock]

Looking to far corner. Woods on left is side which runs parallel to the dirt road with barbed wire fence. Next shot was taken near far tree shown here.

Below shot looks to other far corner (the side parallel to W. Carolina Ave.). I love the shape of that far tree there. Kinda looks like a disc flight path!

 

[Gamecock]

First Ever photo of a flying disc at Gahagan Park!

I saved this one for last... Hopefully, it is the first of MANY discs that will be seen flying through the air in beautiful Gahagan Park in Summerville, SC!

 

[RussMB]

I was playing around with this yesterday, although I didn't come to any conclusions. I liked the idea of making this tree a mando.

 

[Gamecock]

Does being a DGCR Par Member help your scores?

Hey, I just noticed this thread has pushed my post total to over 100. Finally, I am no longer a Bogie Member here at DGCR. Does this help prevent DG bogies in real life? I certainly hope so. I need every edge I can get!

 

[RussMB]

Hey, I just noticed this thread has pushed my post total to over 100. Finally, I am no longer a Bogie Member here at DGCR. Does this help prevent DG bogies in real life? I certainly hope so. I need every edge I can get!

Congratulations :clap:

 

[billnchristy]

I want to be the first to say that I don't like mandos either, but for safety's sake and for the purpose of making the longest holes possible here, I think at least one will be necessary.

This cluster of trees here (upper right cluster) looks like it could tuck a basket with some trimming...would be a sweet hole:

Also, could you match these photos to the map for us that don't live there?

 

[Gamecock]

Honestly - the best you could get out of this land is a course I would rate a 0.5-1.0 disc course. It would be like a ton of the courses around where I am at now (short, boring, 9-holers)....but on much more scraggly land. These courses are OK for recreational players, but do not show off the potential of what DG offers very well.

I want to insure, if possible, this course is worthy of at least 3 of 5 discs (average) if not a bit more. Not easy, I know. I would think top notch baskets (Innova DisCatchers), nice 4' x 12" cement tee pads (or as big as we can convince town officials to make them), good tee signs (plus a sign for DG rules too), a practice basket (behind kids playground) and an interesting layout might give it a chance. I am confident it would be well-maintained.

I really think 9 holes fits pretty well - tight, but safe. This is assuming you can use the woods (which Gamecock recently says he is doubtful of).

I'm glad to hear that! Sorry again I was dead wrong about middle woods holding too much water to be usable. I do hope more members will take a shot to post some more layout suggestions now that this issue is cleared up.

I am pretty biased against 6 hole courses since the vast majority of the population (DG playing and BG-familiar) are set in their ways of 9 & 18 being the convention. I personally have no problem playing 6, 8, 10, 12.....whatever, but if the users think something is goofy they are less likely to want to do it/use it. It is maybe like a softball field having a square shaped outfield (with rounded corner for safety) rather than round. It really does not change the game much but it would be so weird that people would find other places to play.

I agree with you 100% on this! This project will not get approved with just 6 holes. I may have implied a course going on this land is a done deal, but it's not (yet). I'll know much more by this time tomorrow (fingers crossed).

 

[Jody Mitchell]

I'll submit another design tomorrow morning, being mother's day, I can't find enough free time. Glad the middle wooded section isn't so bad after all. I can see a nice little course fitting in well.

The only reason I mentioned only 6 holes was due to the wooded area being closed off but now that you said it's not so bad in there, 9 holes will definitely work.

Best of luck again on getting the cities approval, keep us updated on that. I live in Georgia so you're not that far from me. I'd come play it before the year was over for sure.

 

[Dave242]

I want to insure, if possible, this course is worthy of at least 3 of 5 discs (average) if not a bit more. Not easy, I know. I would think top notch baskets (Innova DisCatchers), nice 4' x 12" cement tee pads (or as big as we can convince town officials to make them), good tee signs (plus a sign for DG rules too), a practice basket (behind kids playground) and an interesting layout might give it a chance. I am confident it would be well-maintained.

The interesting layout is the gotcha on this. There is only so much you can do on any given piece of land.....and this is no exception. Believe you me I am not trying to pour cold water on your enthusiasm.....rather I hope all the amenities you mention do get implemented and can do as much as possible to compensate for what is lacking in the given piece of land (terrain, water, trees, views, space, etc).