Atchison Course

[CHAS.]

Kudos to the City they have replaced the basket on # 14

[AtchisonParks]

Yep, we got the basket on #14 replaced. A mower hooked it. It wasn't vandalized. Also, we knocked out a lot of poison ivy this summer and plan to keep working on it in seasons to come.

Today we'll be out there building forms for the first round of tee pad installations! We're doing the first 5 pads this week and 6 more hopefully next week. Then next year, we plan to continue putting pads on the remaining holes.

I walked the courses and marked the tee areas that showed the most wear and tear so the reason those 11 tees were chosen was because they were wallowed out the most.

Looks like tee designs have evolved in the last five years since I last researched them. Some places install trapezoids 18' long and 6-12' wide. We're going to stick with what we had planned 5 years ago...4x8' rectangular pads. From the wear patterns on the ground, it doesn't appear to us that golfers are using super long approaches on these holes anyway.

Another idea that one of the guys that works on the course suggested that I think we'll probably do is install hooks of some sort on the tee posts for your disc bags and what not...nothing fancy, just a convenience thing. So if you start seeing them on the posts, that's what we were thinking.

Another item that has come up recently is that our tourism committee has been questioning the potential of the course(s) to promote tourism and such in the community. They are interested in what could be done to better market the course probably in terms of where to advertise, what events could be held...etc. If anyone's got ideas...

-Clinton

[Schoen-hopper]

Short pads are usually fine, but please make sure they are close to flush with the ground. Also, the rougher the finish, the less slippage during wet conditions.

As far as marketing the course, dgcoursereview.com is where most people go when investigating a new place to play. Encourage people to review the course there. Read the reviews: sometimes they can be helpful in improving a course. By far, the biggest and closest disc golf scene to Achison is KC. But they have so many good courses there that few venture out of town much. Yes, hosting a tourney would be the best bet, preferably a PDGA tourney that will draw in players from out of the area. If nobody in the local player base is willing to do this, contact Dynamic Discs (Emporia, KC) and LS Discs (Topeka) and they could possibly host one for you. Generating sponsorship for the event, especially added cash, helps draw players as well.

Nice to see the parks actively involved in improving courses. Good luck!

[AtchisonParks]

Thanks for the advice. As far as the pads being flush goes, that is our goal. It's challenging for us because almost every tee is located on a slope. There may be a few where the slope around the edges drops off quickly, but I think we can eliminate vertical dropoffs. We don't want anyone to twist their ankles or worse.

[AtchisonParks]

The tourism board is hoping to find a local disc golfer who's willing to help them develop and host a tournament or similar event. If anyone out there is interested or knows someone who may be, please give me a call (Clinton) at the City Shop in Atchison.

[Schoen-hopper]

It's not an easy job. One of the most difficult parts is figuring how you are going to prize out the amateurs. Players generally want to choose something from a large disc inventory and usually only clubs have this many discs stocked. If somebody offers to TD an event, certainly take them up on it. But I would still check with DD and LSD to see if they'd be willing. There are a lot of people that go to their events.

[kscustom]

Drive around and watch for a guy with a big bag full of discs, I used to know people there I'll call around and try to get a name or 2

[Austin]

To bad Mothrows doesn't really golf anymore. He would be good help and only lives 20 minutes from the course in Everest.

[mckeetr]

Clinton, I just called you and I am interested in doing an Ice Bowl or something like it. I am with First Christian Church and it could be tied in with the food pantry. Maybe some community involvement or corporate olympics-type event.

I am trying to get ahold of some people in the area, trying to find some fellow golfers in the area. Feel free to get ahold of me on Facebook, too. Travis Smith McKee or facebook.com/mckeetr