I'm nearing completion of playing every course in Illinois. Here is my list. http://www.dgcoursereview.com/profile.php?id=1910

After playing quite a few courses in different areas it's very frustrating seeing such poorly designed courses. Some areas have fantastic courses while others are absolutely brutal. I see many people blame the PDGA for this and don't understand why.

I would like to see the basket distributors like DGA, Innova, Discraft, Gateway, & the other distributors ask the person buying the baskets a series of questions.
1. Where are these baskets being installed?
2. Who is the course designer?
Then, give them information about course design and have a regional contact list of someone who can help them.

It's way to easy to install a course and there are way too many people that have no clue installing courses. Instead of it being a positve for the sport it's actually a negative. Negatives such as not designing a course that maximizes the potential of the land, conflicts, dangerous situations, and errosion.

Any thoughts?

If you are in Illinois contact me. Here are my top 10 reviews.
http://discontinuum.org/index.php?option=com_smf&Itemid=26&topic=1486.msg6 2818#msg62818

The same sentiments exist in the course designer's group.

There is always the battle between "it is better to have more courses" and "only good courses should be installed".

Then there is the question of whether course designer's should give away their services if the land owner is unwilling to pay for the course design.

I am all for more baskets in the ground. Take a look at the Chicagoland Map and where all these 9 hole courses are located. Lots of people get to see disc golf and many people are playing them. It's great exposure for the game.

The irratating thing to me is not maximizing the potential of the land avaliable and poor design. Add onto that the conflicts and dangerous situations you have some major problems.

I really think a lot of these issues could be resolved. A perfect example around here is this park design architecht. He's added disc golf to his drawings and plans when he bids for a project. He has thrown in 2 very poorly designed courses in the past year and i'm sure there will be more.

I've only played slightly over 100 courses in 24 states. I've played some I didn't like---but only a handful so bad I would consider a negative for the sport. It would be ideal to have great designers for every course but, if I moved to a place with no courses and the only option was a non-professionally-designed course, I'd take it.

How about this?

The PDGA can't govern course installation, either on public or private property. The basket manufacturer's have little control either, unless they all work as a cartel, and it's probably not worthwhile for them to devote many resources to inspecting courses, etc.

On the other hand, both the PDGA and manufacturers have webpages on course installation. Perhaps they could add, as a first item and very prominently, a list of the values of using a certified course designer. This would include safety issues, environmental issues, best use of land, and design for a wide range of skills to make it suitable for a broad range of the public. It could point out that proper design is easily worth the relatively small cost.

It seems likely that governments, before purchasing baskets or giving over land for courses, would check out the manufacturers and come across such info.

(And if this is already included on their websites, well, ignore this post. I was too lazy to check first).

All the PDGA could really do is not allow sanctioned play on any courses that have not been inspected and blessed by a PDGA designated course review crew.

How many TDs do you know that would object to needing to pay the PDGA to come out and check out their course before they could sanction a tournament?

Yes, the reviewers deserve some compensation for their time in looking over the course, determining where safety issues exits, making recommendations, and filing reports.

Is it really the courses holding sanctioned events that is the problem? Or some of the 9-holers with casual players throwing into playgrounds?

With the threat to withhold sanctioning would be the TD's option to go non-sanctioned. Also, would the recommendations of the inspectors have to be addressed to get sanctioning? Or just be suggestions?

As a private course owner, I'd be reluctant to pay to have my course inspected. I'd love to have the viewpoints and opinions, but not particularly to pay for them. I'll let the opinions of our guests tell me whether the course is suitable or not. Now, if I were trying to hold an NT, I'd feel differently.

A certification program, which courses can choose to pursue or not, wouldn't be so bad. Perhaps as a prerequisite for NTs or even A-tiers.

If we really wanted to stir things up, we would go to the various insurance companies out there and offer design evaluation services which the insurance companies would then require of the course owners to get insurance. Of course, many cities are self-insured for things like this. However, the fact there was an insurer supported program might be enough to have the Park Departments want to have the evaluation anyway.

Yeah, but who on this board wants to stir things up?

David,

That was really my point, the PDGA has no power to do anything to any land owners that install an unsafe course except refuse sanctioning. If the owner is not interested in sanctioning any events, the PDGA has no power.

A manufacturer can only make determinations based on plans, not actual installations. Many unsafe areas on courses are the result of poor installations or activities added after the course was designed. I know this is not always the case, but it happens even when there was a good design in the beginning.

Agreed. There's no much we can do about those determined to build a bad course.

Hopefully enough wiser heads will build enough good courses that the good courses will outnumber the bad ones.

In the early days, Ed would pay one of us to do the design. Then he knew it had a chance of a good design.

Most courses are installed on public land, generally local parks departments.

They should be strongly encouraged to use the services of an established course designer. It costs money but, in terms of their overall budgets, is a relatively miniscule amount.

On the other hand, another factor in bad designs is courses that were originally well-designed, but the parks department later made changes that altered the original design, or the park. I know of one case where they installed walking trails around and through a disc golf course. First time you see it you'll think it was an incredibly reckless course design....but the course preceded the trails by almost 20 years.

In the early days, Ed would pay one of us to do the design. Then he knew it had a chance of a good design.

You mean like Brahan Springs? :D

You mean like Brahan Springs? :D


It seems hard to believe someone actually paid for that design. At least there are no safety issues. :o