New Course Development

by Ross Hammond SFDGC

I. Introduction

 

            Disc golf courses are an essential part of the development of  the sport.  The quality and number of courses in a particular region is a concrete measure of the degree to which the sport has been established.  Good, well-run courses are also the very best recruiters of new players.

 

            It is a common experience for players to happen upon a park or campus and say, "Wow! What a great course this would make!"  The tees and fairways almost seem to lay themselves out.  The other way that the process often begins is that a player is located in an area that does not have a course nearby.  The natural response is for the player, to begin looking around for a place to play.  The mother of invention in action again.

 

            This document is intended to serve as a guide for the process of course installation.  It has been built through the accumulation of experience and is designed to make the process of new installation more efficient and effective.  There are many pitfalls and dead ends that can be found in this process.  Some sites that appear to be ideal may turn out to be impossible.  The process of getting any particular course installed is unique.  Therefore, there is no single formula for success.  The key to getting cooperation in one park may be the suggestion of a pay for play arrangement.  In another park district the same suggestion could be the kiss of death.  One community may welcome the course as a wonderful activity for the children in the area while another will see the influx of "strangers" as a safety threat.  Because there are so many different possible developments, this document deals with several major aspects of course installation and attempts to cover a wide range of possibilities within each. 

 

            The PDGA is very supportive of all efforts to develop new courses for play.  Course installation attempts that go badly can do more harm than good for the game.  Courses that  are established on inappropriate sites  benefit no one. In order to aid developers who are  considering an installation, PDGA will attempt to provide advice and consultation from a PDGA member who has had experience in this process.  To inquire about the availability of this service, contact the PDGA offices.

 

II. Sites          

            -Parks

            In some areas, particularly smaller towns and rural areas, courses have been installed simply on the whim of a park director who had seen a course somewhere else or had been approached by local golfers. In other areas getting a course installed can be a much more difficult and frustrating experience. You may have to deal with multiple layers of bureaucracy, community approval processes, etc. Try to be patient but persistent. Although many people are intimidated by the thought of dealing with government agencies, it is really not that difficult if you remember the following things:

 

1) Always be polite and courteous, whether you’re dealing with the head of the department, the local maintenance person or the department secretary. Being nice to the head of the department is an obvious thing to do. But whether your phone messages and letters reach those in charge in a timely manner is often the function of your relationship with those below them.

 

2) Never take no for an answer. The corollary to this is: be polite but persistent.  You may come into contact with park officials and even players who will tell you that a course can’t be installed for one reason or another, or that someone tried a few years back and ran into a dead end, etc. If the department tells you that the site you have in mind cannot have a course then ask them where it would be possible. If there is a player in your area who tried to get a course in but failed call them. Ask them what they think went wrong and if they have any advice on what you could do differently.

 

3) Familiarize yourself with the park planning process and other issues facing your park district. By learning how decisions get made, who makes them and when they get made can save you and your organization valuable time. Most parks have a “master plan” which is basically a planning document outlining the goals for the park in terms of recreation, conservation of natural areas, maintenance, etc. It usually also discusses park history, current planning issues, budgets, etc. Get a hold of this document and read it. This will help you to talk intelligently to park staff about your proposal and give you an idea of whether a course is even feasible in that particular park. Also, find out what your park department’s policies are towards sponsorship and volunteer labor. This will effect your fund-raising plan.

 

4) Try to find allies in the inside the parks department. Those who run recreation programs for young people are potential allies. Although they may have never heard of disc golf, they are always looking for new activities. Also, ask friends, family, players, etc. You just may end up knowing someone in the system who can help you. Allies within the system can be invaluable sources of information and advice on how to pitch your proposal, what the deadlines are, etc.

 

 

            Having strong club can be extremely helpful in your efforts to get a course. Park officials like to see that there is an organized constituency that would use such a facility. On the flip side, make sure in your presentations that a disc golf course would be for everyone in the community. You can emphasize this by stating your club’s willingness to hold free clinics and demonstrations, tournaments for charity, etc. In most cases it also probably wise to de-emphasize the competitive aspect of the sport. As much as you may dream of your course-to-be being the site of the World Championships someday, this is not likely to impress park staff who have never even heard of the sport. One of the great benefits of a disc golf course is that it can be used by all members of the community. Try to highlight that in all of the materials you use.

   -Schools and colleges

 -Private land

III. Planning

 -Site evaluation

 -Location

 -Costs/ Budget/Fund-Raising Ideas

-Community Support/ Politics

(Find allies in the schools, among ultimate players, environmentalists, etc.)

(How working with the schools can be both fun and helpful to the cause).

IV. Design

(Adapt some of the materials form John Houck, Tom Monroe and Chuck Kennedy)

V.  Course Equipment

(adapt Innova and DGA sheets on tee-pads, baskets, etc.)

 

VI. Operation/ Promotion

   -Community impact

SAMPLE Q&A SHEET

FRISBEE GOLF: FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

 

What Is Frisbee Golf?

Frisbee golf is a fun, inexpensive, healthy and environmentally friendly game that can be enjoyed by people of all ages and abilities. It is played much like traditional golf, only instead of hitting a ball into a hole you throw a frisbee into an elevated metal basket. As players progress from the “tee” to the “hole,” the trees, shrubs and terrain changes in and around the “fairways” provide challenging obstacles. Ultimately, the “putt” is tossed into the basket and the hole is completed. The goal is the same: to complete the course in the fewest number of shots.

 

Why Have Parks Departments Chosen

activities; and frisbee golf players are good citizens, active in youth programs and willing to contribute to course maintenance efforts.

 

Who Can Play?

One of the great things about a frisbee golf course is that in can serve a broad section of the community. The game is extremely easy to learn and the courses are short enough that they can be played in around an hour.  Men and women, young and old, families with small children -- all can play frisbee golf. A number of phys-ed teachers in the SF Unified School District teach frisbee golf as an elective, and since April 1997 the SF Disc Golf Club has conducted clinics with over 3,000 school-aged children.

 

How Much Does It Cost To Play?

Nearly all courses located in public parks are free to play although a few parks do ask for donations. Some departments have chosen to sell frisbees and related gear through existing concession stands, thereby generating extra revenue for other park needs. Players only need a frisbee disc that can be purchased for around $8 and may be used over and over again.

 

What is Involved in the Installation of a Frisbee Golf Course?

The installation of a disc golf course simply requires the construction of simple, durable tees and the installation of inexpensive, durable signs and baskets. It is common for a disc golf course to have at least two sets of tees, one for advanced players and one for beginners. Tees usually measure 6' x10' and can be composed of dirt, wood chips, crushed gravel or concrete. By each beginners’ tee is a small sign indicating the hole number and direction. Finally, each hole has a removable disc golf target set in a small cement hole.

 How Much Land Is Needed? Does It Conflict With Other Park Uses?

A frisbee golf course usually consists of 18 or 27 holes, requiring ideally one acre per hole. The ideal site for a course includes both wide open spaces and areas of dense trees. A frisbee golf course is not an exclusive use area -- the game co-exists amicably with other recreation uses such as dog walking, hiking and biking. Experience and care go into course design, ensuring that it is safe for both players and non-players who pass through it. Finally, the portability of baskets and signs allows departments to inexpensively relocate specific holes -- or even the entire course -- as other park priorities mandate.

How Much Does a Frisbee Golf Course Cost to Install? Who Will Pay For It?

The targets and signage for an 18-hole frisbee golf course cost around $12,000, plus the nominal cost of the tee pad materials and installation. This compares extremely favorably with the cost of other recreational facilities such as basketball or tennis courts, particularly when you consider that a frisbee golf course can accommodate many more users at one time. The San Francisco Disc Golf Club has consistently demonstrated its ability to help raise the modest funds required to install a frisbee golf course.

What Are the Maintenance Needs of a Frisbee Golf Course?

The maintenance needs of a frisbee golf course are minimal. The baskets are made of welded, galvanized steel anchored in concrete and require no regular maintenance. At many courses, players volunteer to pick up litter and maintain the pathways.

Is Frisbee Golf Environmentally Sensitive?

Frisbee golf is an uniquely environment-friendly sport. Unlike a traditional golf course, a frisbee golf course does not require any alteration of the existing landscape, watering or mowing. Rather, the course utilizes the existing landscape of the park. Foot traffic is the only potential environmental impact; alternate tees and basket positions are easily and regularly rotated on each hole to minimize this problem. The visual impact of a frisbee golf course on the surrounding area is also minimal: the tees are level with the ground and are visible only from a short distance, while the baskets are a dull metal color and do not stand out.

The San Francisco Disc Golf Club is a not-for-profit organization with two simple motives: promoting the game of frisbee golf and working with young people in San Francisco.

 For More Information, Contact:

Ross Hammond

San Francisco Disc Golf Club

tel. 415-695-7482

(11/98)

 

SAMPLE LETTER

Board of Directors

East Bay Regional Parks District

PO Box 5381

Oakland, CA 94605

 

                                                                                                September 11, 1998

Dear Board of Directors:

 

            We are writing to inquire whether the East Bay Regional Parks District would consider installing a frisbee golf course in an appropriate place within the Regional Parks. Marci Adams, your Outdoor Recreation Director, suggested that we first send this short letter outlining frisbee golf and what is involved in installing a  course.

 

            Frisbee golf is a fun, inexpensive, healthy and environmentally friendly game that can be enjoyed by people of all ages and abilities. It is played much like traditional golf, only instead of hitting a ball into a hole you throw a frisbee into an elevated metal basket. As players progress from the “tee” to the “hole,” the trees, shrubs and terrain changes in and around the “fairways” provide challenging obstacles. Ultimately, the “putt” is tossed into the basket and the hole is completed. The goal is the same: to complete the course in the fewest number of shots.

 

            There are now more than 600 public frisbee golf courses in the United States, nearly all installed by local parks departments. These departments have found frisbee golf courses to be a great addition to their recreation programs. Frisbee golf is an enjoyable, growing sport, especially popular with young people; frisbee golf has an exceptional cost-to-benefit ratio for both capital and maintenance costs; frisbee golf is environmentally sound; and frisbee golf is compatible with other park activities. A frisbee golf course serves a broad section of the community. Men and women, young and old, families with small children -- all can play frisbee golf. The sport is extremely easy to learn and the courses are short enough that they can be played in around an hour. All you need is a frisbee golf disc that can be purchased for around $8.

 

            The targets and signage for an 18-hole frisbee golf course costs around $12,000, plus the nominal cost of the tee pad materials and installation. This compares extremely favorably with the cost of other recreational facilities such as basketball or tennis courts, particularly when you consider that a frisbee golf course can accommodate many more users at one time. Some courses are financed by parks departments, some through the fund-raising efforts of local clubs, and some through selling hole-sponsorships to local businesses and individuals. Although most courses located in public parks are free to play, some departments have installed a collection box for players to donate a modest users fee (usually $1) per round. Some departments have also chosen to sell frisbees and related gear through existing concession stands, thereby generating extra revenue for other park needs.

 

            Frisbee golf courses usually consist of 18 or 27 holes, requiring approximately one acre per hole. The ideal site for a frisbee golf course includes both wide open spaces as well as areas of dense trees, although some departments have located the courses exclusively in the woods, while others have located them entirely in more manicured areas. A frisbee golf course is not an exclusive use area; frisbee golf co-exists amicably with other active and passive recreation uses such as dog walking, hiking, and picnicking. A lot of experience and care go into the design of a course, ensuring that it is safe for both players and non-players who pass through it. Finally, the portability of baskets and signs allows parks department to inexpensively relocate specific holes -- or even the entire course -- as other park priorities mandate.

 

            The installation of a frisbee golf course simply requires the construction of tees and the installation of signs and baskets. Many courses have two sets of tees, one for advanced players and one for beginners. Tees usually measure 6' x10' and can be constructed of wood chips, crushed gravel, concrete, or even just two stakes set in the ground. Each hole has a small sign indicating the hole number, length and par. Most courses also have a rules sign and information board near the first hole. Finally, each hole has a removable frisbee golf target set in a small cement hole. The maintenance needs of a course are minimal. The targets are made of welded, galvanized steel anchored in concrete and require no regular maintenance. At many courses, players volunteer to ensure that the course remains litter-free and that the pathways from the tees to the baskets are well-maintained.

 

            Frisbee golf is an uniquely environment-friendly sport. Unlike a traditional golf course, a frisbee golf course does not require any alteration of the existing landscape, watering or mowing. Rather, the course utilizes the existing landscape of the park. Foot traffic is the only potential environmental impact; alternate tee boxes and basket positions are easily and regularly rotated on each hole to minimize this problem. The visual impact of a frisbee golf course on the surrounding area is also minimal: the tee boxes are level with the ground and are visible only from a short distance, while the baskets are a dull metal color and do not stand out. In the long-term, a frisbee golf course can actually help preserve a park’s natural beauty by providing young people a structured way to enjoy the outdoors and by serving a community’s recreational needs without altering the landscape. Furthermore, many parks have overcome serious litter and vandalism problems at “problem sites” by installing a frisbee golf course.

 

            At many courses, local clubs work with park staff to run clinics, leagues and tournaments. In the Bay Area, the East Bay Disc Golf Club and the San Francisco Disc Golf Club frequently hold clinics and demonstrations for schools and community groups. In the past year we have run clinics for thousands of children in the Bay Area at such events like Operation Hope, the Golden Gate Park Summer Games and at individual schools. We have also worked closely with the San Francisco Unified School District’s Athletic Curriculum Department, conducting city-wide trainings for PE instructors.

 

            If you would like more information, or would like us to come make a presentation before the Board, please let us know. Thank you for your time and consideration, and we look forward to hearing from you.

 

Sincerely,

 

Ross Hammond                                                                   Jeff Fiedler & Leonard Muise

(on behalf of the San Francisco Disc Golf Club)                   (on behalf of the East Bay Disc Golf Club)

88 Norwich Street                                                               1638 Josephine Street

San Francisco, CA 94110                                                   Berkeley, CA 94703

cc:   Marci Adams, Outdoor Recreation Director

            Maxine Turner, Planning Department

            Jerry Kent, Operations Department

 

1. “DESCRIBE YOUR PROJECT: (Attach sketches, plans, photos as needed)”    

 

The San Francisco Disc Golf Club is proposing the installation of an 27-hole disc golf course in John McLaren Park. Total cost of the project is estimated at $30,321.00.

Rationale:

There are now more than 600 Disc Golf courses in the United States and Canada, nearly all installed by city and county parks departments (see Annex II for testimonials by parks and recreation staff and a list of major U.S. cities with disc golf courses). They have found that there are few recreational activities that offer the high benefit-to-cost ratio of disc golf. Disc golf has low capital and maintenance costs, is environmentally sound, is played year-round in all climates and is enjoyed immediately even by beginners of all ages.

 

The installation of a disc golf course would be consistent with the stated goals of the recently revised master plan for McLaren Park, one of which is to “add major attractions to increase park use.” Disc golf is also in perfect keeping with the plan’s call for the development and improvement of recreational facilities that “emphasize the natural attributes and sweeping views of the City” and that “meet diversified recreational needs and offer opportunities not available elsewhere in the City.”

 

What Is Disc Golf?

Disc Golf is played much like traditional golf, only instead of hitting a ball into a hole you throw a disc (similar to a frisbee) into an elevated metal basket. The goal is the same: to complete the course in the fewest number of shots. A golf disc is thrown from a tee area to a basket, which is the “hole”. As a player progresses down the fairway, he or she must make each consecutive shot from the spot where the previous throw has landed. The trees, shrubs and terrain changes in and around the fairways provide challenging obstacles for the golfer. Finally, the “putt” lands in the basket and the hole is completed.

 

Who Can Play?

The simple answer is that everyone can. In studies measuring participation in recreational activities, “throwing a Frisbee” has consistently been a top-ten activity. A disc golf course serves a broader portion of the community than many narrower interest activities with higher cost, skill or fitness levels required to even begin to play. Men and women, young and old, families with small children -- all can play disc golf. Because disc golf is so easy to understand and enjoy, no one is excluded. Players merely match their pace to their capabilities and proceed from there.

 

How Much Does It Cost To Play?

Since most courses are located in city or regional parks there is no charge to play. The equipment itself is quite inexpensive -- golf discs sell for around $8 and only one is needed.

 

What Kind of Construction Would Be Needed At McLaren?

Unlike traditional golf, a disc golf course does not require that trees be cut down, fairways mowed and watered, plants uprooted or non-native species planted. Rather, the course fits into the existing flora of the park. The installation of a 27-hole disc golf course at McLaren would involve the construction of tees and the installation of signs and baskets.

 

Tees: Each hole would have two tees, a short one for novice players and a longer one for advanced players.  The novice tees would be made of concrete, the advanced tees would either be grass or gravel. On a few of the proposed holes, existing asphalt pathways could be marked with paint and used for tees. On the rest, concrete tees 4" thick measuring approximately 4' x10' would be built flush with the ground. We estimate that a maximum of 27 tees of this size would be required.

 

Baskets: Each hole would have a Mach III Disc Pole Hole target with a locking collar which would be set in a cement hole measuring approximately 8" in diameter and 18-24" deep (technical specifications for the installation of tees and baskets can be found in Annex IV). In addition, each hole would have 1-2 additional collars so that the basket could be moved to those locations periodically to avoid soil compacting and erosion. We estimate that approximately 80 holes would need to be dug.

 

Signs: Tee signs are very important to help the first time user find his or her way through the course. Each hole would have a sign indicating the hole number, length, recommended flight path and par. In addition, a rules sign and information board near the first hole are strongly recommended. The signs can be constructed with a variety of materials although we believe it would be preferable to construct signs with a natural appearance to fit in with the surrounding area.

 

Kiosk/Message Board: A kiosk/message board measuring approximately 20' long and 6' high would be installed near the first hole. On one side would be space for Friends of McLaren Park and other community groups to post messages and announcements pertaining to park issues. The other side would contain: a map of the course and the rules of disc golf, as well as space for area golfers to post announcements of upcoming tournaments, etc.

 

What Would be the Maintenance Needs of a Disc Golf Course at McLaren?

After installation, the maintenance needs for a disc golf course would be minimal. The targets are made of welded steel anchored in concrete and need no regular maintenance. In the unlikely event that one of the targets is damaged beyond repair or stolen, they can be replaced for around $350. Much of the area of the proposed course is underutilized and not highly maintained. Under the proper supervision of the McLaren Park staff, SF Disc Golf Club volunteers would be eager to undertake an initial clean up of these areas and then maintain them as trash-free zones. With 2-3 pin placements per hole, wear and tear on any one area is avoided. Players’ walking pathways may need occasional maintenance to prevent erosion and soil compacting which Club volunteers would also be willing to do under proper supervision.

 

How Much Land Would Be Needed?

A 27-hole course would cover approximately 27-35 acres, depending on design. A significant advantage of disc golf is its ability to utilize areas that are not very desirable or usable for other activities such as dense woods, rocky areas and slopes.  In addition, a disc golf course need not be an exclusive use area -- it can co-exist amicably with other active and passive recreation uses such as hiking, dog-walking, etc. Finally, the relative portability of baskets and signs would allow the park department to inexpensively relocate the course to another site as the needs of the master plan dictate.

 

2. “HOW DOES THE PROJECT BENEFIT THE COMMUNITY: (Discuss demographics, safety, conservation, economics, etc.)”

 

The installation of a disc golf course in McLaren Park would benefit the surrounding community by increasing and enhancing recreational opportunities, park safety and conservation goals.

 

Recreational Needs: A disc golf course would provide an inexpensive form of recreation for people of all age and skill levels and be a much needed addition to the recreational facilities at McLaren Park.  In 1996, frisbee skills, and in particular disc golf, were incorporated into the San Francisco Unified School District’s athletic curriculum. Unfortunately, there is currently no disc golf course in San Francisco at which physical education staff can teach basic disc golf skills. Given the high density of middle and high schools in the immediate vicinity of the park, the installation of a disc golf course would provide an important recreational resource for the schools surrounding the park, as well as for the wider community. A disc golf course would give youth in the neighborhood a healthy and challenging outlet for their energies and would allow members of the San Francisco Disc Golf Club to organize clinics and youth leagues on their behalf. For the growing number of disc golfers in San Francisco, the presence of a disc golf course in the city limits would obviate the need to travel to play and would give them a base from which to further promote the sport.

 

The San Francisco Disc Golf Club, in response to a request by the San Francisco Unified School District’s Athletic Curriculum Department, conducted  a very successful city-wide training for PE instructors at McLaren on October 8^th.  It will also be holding clinics in the local schools over the course of the next year (clinics at Visitacion Valley and Luther Burbank middle schools and Burton and Bridgemont high schools are being arranged). Support from the schools surrounding the park is strong, as the letters in Annex I attest. In addition, the new Recreation Director at McLaren has expressed his strong support for the course and offered to work with club members to design and implement programs for neighborhood youth including leagues and clinics.

 

Ross Hammond of the San Francisco Disc Golf Club (SFDGC) has offered to be the volunteer “course pro” for the McLaren Park course. In this capacity, he would work with Park staff and local players to run leagues, clinics and tournaments and secure any necessary permits for these activities. These activities would be self-funding and so would require no new park funds.  However, SFDGC members would be glad to train park recreational staff and other volunteers to take over and expand programs as demand increases.

 

Although San Francisco has never had a permanent disc golf course, it has played host to many important tournaments over the years and is the home to some of the country’s best disc golfers including the number two woman in the world.

 

Safety: A disc golf course at McLaren would increase foot traffic in the Park at random times during the day and steadily during evenings and weekends. The influx of purposeful visitors would discourage the presence of individuals who are only in the park to cause mischief and perhaps engage in crime. Areas that are infrequently used and considered unsafe would be “opened-up” by the course. As many of the attached letters from different Recreations Departments show (Annex II), the installation of a disc golf course has led to significant decreases in vandalism and litter as users have a stake in keeping the course and surrounding area clean and well-kept.

 

Conservation: Disc golf is an uniquely environment-friendly sport. Unlike traditional golf, a disc golf course does not require that trees be cut down, fairways mowed and watered, plants uprooted or non-native species planted. Rather, the course fits into the existing flora of the park. The impact of a disc golf course on the surrounding area is minimal. Each hole would have multiple pin placements, ensuring that no one area gets constant foot traffic (this has the added benefit of providing new challenges to players). In addition, disc golfers as a group tend to take great pride in where they play, guaranteeing that the area taken up by the disc golf course would be litter free. In the long-term, a disc golf course would also help in the preservation of the park by giving young people in the neighborhood a stake in its preservation and protection.

 

Economics: A deluxe 27-hole disc golf course with two sets of tees, professional signs and baskets can be purchased and installed for under $28,000, less than the cost of a single tennis or basketball court. A 27-hole course can accommodate 108 people at a time, as compared to a tennis court (4 maximum) or basketball court (10 maximum).

 

3. “IDENTIFY COMMUNITY SUPPORT FOR PROJECT: (Evidence of additional funding, neighborhood involvement, public meetings, general consensus in the community, etc. Include a mailing list of supporters, community organizations). For proposed acquisition projects, please provide name(s) and address(es) of all affected property owners.”

 

Additional Funding:

As of October 9^th, 1997 Club members have managed to raise $5,352 in pledges of cash and in-kind contributions from local players and the manufacturer of the disc golf baskets (over 200 discs have also been pledged for an opening ceremony and/or youth activities). This leaves a funding gap of $24,969.00 which we hope to fill with resources from the matching grants program of the Friends of Recreation and Parks; the Open Space and Park Renovation Program; and the 1987 Bond Fund.

 

Public Meetings and Support:

Members of the SF Disc Golf Club met with the Friends of McLaren Park on September 20^th and gave a presentation at an October 29^th community meeting hosted by Friends of McLaren Park, San Francisco Safe and Neighborhood Safety Partnership. They also conducted a disc golf workshop for physical education instructors from the San Francisco Unified School District. The Friends of McLaren Park has named Ross Hammond as Chairman of the Disc Golf Course Committee and has voted to endorse the proposal. In addition, the following people have pledged their support for the Club’s effort to get a disc golf course installed in John McLaren Park (See annex I for Letters of Support):

 

 

The San Francisco Disc Golf Club was formed in early 1997 to promote disc golf as an environmentally and socially beneficial sport that is challenging and rewarding for people of all ages and backgrounds and that can co-exist amicably with other recreational activities in the city’s parks. It currently has over 100 members. It maintains a web-site at http://www.dnai.com/~queue/sfdgc.

 

ANNEXES

 

I.    Letters of Support

II.   Testimonials from Parks Departments and Partial List of U.S. Cities With Disc Golf Courses

III.  Newspaper and magazine clippings

IV.  Technical Specifications for Baskets and Installation of Tees, Baskets and Signs

V.   Disc Golf Recreation Study & Other Miscellaneous Materials

VI.  Budget