Designing a Disc Golf Course

[BGLeftyFlick]

At the end of May, I moved from Wichita (missing the Doo Dah SUCKED!) I'm currently in central PA and there's not a lot out here for disc golf. Closest course is over 30 mins away. HOWEVER, I've started peaking interest in disc golf in this area. My father-in-law and I have already set up a small 9-hole course in their yard using 2 temp baskets (one in the front, one in the back). I've also met other disc golfers who drive the 30+ mins to play disc golf. I want to design a course, but I'm not sure how to get started. I need some pointers. Thanks

[cfluty]

Every issue of disc golfer mag has course design tips.

[Schoen-hopper]

You just talking about putting one on your own land? If so, most of your work is done.

The best resource is the DGCD (Disc Golf Course Designers) Yahoo group. It costs to join, but most of the best course designers are members and there are lots of tips and tools and archived discussions.

[scarpfish]

Pennsylvania supposedly has a lot of great courses, although a lot of them are in state parks near Pittsburgh or Philly. The central part of the state is comparatively barren.

DGcoursereview.com has a course design forum. A number of the DGCD guys are on there I believe.

[cfluty]

There are a few around the Lancaster/York area, played a couple while I was up there working last summer.

[BGLeftyFlick]

Unfortunately, I'm in the central part of the state that is barren. I play at Lime Bluff in Hughesville, which is nice, but the only other course anywhere close is in State College and it's only a little 9-hole (and easier than the course I created in the yard). Places like Pitt and Philly are 3+ hours drive away. Lancaster & York are not much closer. I've played several courses in the Poconos (state parks). Really nice! Harrisburg has a few, I'm going to check them out tomorrow.
My goal is to get a course in the area (not just the backyard). Not sure if it will be on private land or public park. The local charter school has a set of Skill Shot baskets, but from what I'm told, they don't use proper discs. Just the cheap ones businesses hand out.
I really appreciate the suggestions. It's hard to say if this will even get off the ground, but keep the suggestions coming!

[_dm4]

I played the one in Lancaster last year and thought it was pretty good. I think it might help you if you want to put the course in the town where you live. I would say, in general, most city councils would be in favor of disc golf because it is one more thing to attract people to their community. If you can pick out a spot that looks like it would work for disc golf (trees, elevation, already maintained, etc.) then you could approach the city and see if they might be interested. You would have to research costs. There are some recourses on the pdga site. That’s where I would start.

http://www.pdga.com/course-development

Good luck!

Don

[jsun3thousand]

My buddy Mike Solt lives in Pennsylvania and is super active in the disc golf scene. He should be able to help you in some capacity. Here is a link to his site http://mrdiscgolf.com/ Tell him that jsun3thousand sent you.

[BGLeftyFlick]

I've actually met Mike Solt. Great guy! I played the Great Pocono Open last year, he was the TD. I'll have to see if I can find my contact info for Mike (I've got a phone number somewhere). I'll have to drop him a line. I was disappointed the Great Pocono Open didn't happen this year (or maybe it just wasn't on the PDGA site).
There's several guys from Lime Bluff that I've met when I'm out here during the summers that I plan on talking to this weekend.
Really appreciate the help guys! Keep ideas (and contacts) coming. I'll keep letting you guys know how things go.

[ronconversjr]

http://www.disclife.com/resources.shtml Brian Sullivan helped design the application for a course on this site. It has been used successfully to get approval in over 2/3 of the courses in existence now. I recommend giving it a try, once you have a location, if the property is not yours.