Many thanks to a great community; tentative plan.
Hi again all!
With your help, I have a much better idea of an itinerary...
My schedule on the way down is the most rigid. The earliest I can leave is 4:30pm from Toronto on Thursday, and I have to be in DC Friday night. So, my thinking was this: I could get to the Niagara area by around 6:00-6:30pm leaving 2-2.5hours to play a round before dark in that area Thursday night. I was looking at Beaver Island State Park Grand Island, NY, since it is about the right distance from me to fit in this narrow window of time. Though, I am tempted to drive the extra distance to play at Black Diamond DGC @ Emery Park. Either way, I would play a round there before dark, then continue the drive for a few hours before finding a place to camp for the night.
I would need to choose a course to play between Niagara and DC. My gut tells me to drive the three hours at this time (at night, ~8pm-11:30pm) and get close to Moriane, by taking I90 and I79 towards Pittsburgh as Tim mentioned (thanks Tim), find a place to camp, and play Moriane on Friday morning on my way down.
Friday morning, I would get up early and play a round at Moriane (or alternative), and finish up there by mid day, and do the rest of my driving towards DC. I would get near DC by Friday evening, and I hope to play nice round at Seneca early Friday evening (it's about 4.5 hours from Moriane to Seneca). Still up for a round, boys? Sorry to dictate the schedule, but as you can see I'm a bit fixed.
I am staying with a close friend in DC Friday night, and working all day Saturday but should have enough time in the evening to throw a round in at Bluemont Park in Arlington, WV before dark.
Assuming I like that course, I would likely do the same on Sunday evening after I finish work, and stay again in DC Sunday night. I am open to perhaps throwing a round of glowie at a course that is close to downtown DC, but only if it is really worth the extra miles/time. I would only play glowie if I was with local players. Bluemont looks like the right alternative. Plus, a friend or two from the area may join me Sunday evening if I play close to downtown. They would be disc golf rookies, which is always an interesting experience.
Monday, I would get up early and play a full round at the two courses in Paw Paw. I am already really excited about that. I am aiming to leave DC by 9am, and spend a full day there.
From there, I think I am open. I hope not to be frolfed-out by that point, and assuming I am not, I would drive north from there into the night, and camp somewhere, and play one more course in the early morning on the way home. It would have to be farther north, at least to the north of the Pittsburgh area as to split up the drive. I should be in back in Toronto Tuesday afternoon/evening, but haven't fixed that as of yet. Knob Hill would be awesome to aim for, or Moriane again, but Chestnut Ridge or Emery Park (if I didn't play it on the way down) make sense if my time is tight. If I can swing it, this is where I would take an extra day, perhaps playing my favourite course a second time (or even camp in Paw Paw as DDG mentioned, and play it twice, that sounds awesome) or fit in another. I will have to see what time I can afford as the trip gets closer, and of course see just how bad I get whipped by the post.
I realize that many of the courses mentioned by you all I am skipping, but I hope I am making the right choice by staying efficient with my time. Here is a list of the courses you have all mentioned in this thread, and obviously, I can't play them all, so I had to cut down from the list:
1. Druid Hill Park Baltimore, MD
2. Rockburn Branch Elkridge, MD
3. Patapsco Valley State Park Marriottsville, MD
4. Seneca Creek State Park Gaithersburg, MD
5. Baker Farm Chili, NY
6. Basil Marella Park Greece, NY
7. Beaver Island State Park Grand Island, NY
8. Black Diamond DGC @ Emery Park South Wales, NY
9. Chestnut Ridge Park Orchard Park, NY
10. Churchville Park Churchville, NY
11. Como Lake Park Lancaster, NY
12. Denison Park Corning, NY
13. Ellison Park Rochester, NY
14. Deer Lakes Park Tarentum, PA
15. IUP College Lodge Indiana, PA
16. Knob Hill Park Warrendale, PA
17. Moraine State Park Portersville, PA
18. Prince Gallitzin State Park Patton, PA
19. Whispering Falls DGC Greencastle, PA
20. The Woodshed Paw Paw, WV
21. Whippin' Post Paw Paw, WV
...after seeing the list in full, do any others stand out as "must plays"? ...I am still open to moving things around if I have to. What would your top 7 (or so) be (ranking)?
My definites:
20. The Woodshed Paw Paw, WV *1*
21. Whippin' Post Paw Paw, WV *2*
17. Moraine State Park Portersville, PA *3*
4. Seneca Creek Park Gaithersburg, MD*4*
Courses of convenience:
7. Beaver Island State Park Grand Island, NY
Bluemont Park in Arlington, WV
Possibles on way home [or]:
16. Knob Hill Park Warrendale, PA
9. Chestnut Ridge Park Orchard Park, NY
8. Black Diamond DGC @ Emery Park South Wales, NY
Anyway, for now this is as far as I have planned. As I mentioned, I am open to critique if anyone has suggestion or comment. You have all been extremely generous with your time and advice.
Also, I do hope to meet up with local players, and the round at Seneca should already be a good one. I will be sure to IM both Craig and Tim as my trip gets closer.
It would be great to play Opti in Whispering Falls, I am really curious to see this course is all about. I will definitely keep you updated if I can fit that in. Any chance you want to join us at Seneca?
Deepest and sincerest thanks,
Aaron Richard Arndt.