Difference between revisions of "Main Page"

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(Alabama thru Indiana)
(Tennessee thru Wisconsin)
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==Tennessee thru Wisconsin==
 
==Tennessee thru Wisconsin==
 
[[Image:Granite3.jpg|300px|thumb|right|Granite Ridge 3, Highbridge, WI]]
 
[[Image:Granite3.jpg|300px|thumb|right|Granite Ridge 3, Highbridge, WI]]
<table> <tr> <td>'''State'''</td><td>'''City'''</td><td>'''Last'''</td><td>'''First'''</td><td>'''Group'''</td><td>'''Contact''' </td></tr> <tr> <td>TN</td><td>Brentwood</td><td>Pittman</td><td>Ron</td><td>Designer</td><td>Email </td></tr> <tr> <td>TN</td><td>Goodlettsville</td><td>Lee</td><td>Cody</td><td>Designer</td><td>Email </td></tr> <tr> <td>TX</td><td>Abilene</td><td>Kingston</td><td>Jerry</td><td>Designer</td><td>Email </td></tr> <tr> <td>TX</td><td>Arlington</td><td>Brenner</td><td>Pat</td><td>Designer</td><td>Email </td></tr> <tr> <td>'''TX'''</td><td>'''Austin'''</td><td>'''Houck'''</td><td>'''John'''</td><td>'''Master Designer'''</td><td>[[User:JHouck|Web page]] </td></tr> <tr> <td>'''TX'''</td><td>'''Austin'''</td><td>'''Olse'''</td><td>'''Michael'''</td><td>'''Designer'''</td><td>[[User:MOlse|Web page]] </td></tr> <tr> <td>TX</td><td>Austin</td><td>Tolbert</td><td>Zac</td><td>Designer</td><td>Email </td></tr> <tr> <td>'''TX'''</td><td>'''Houston'''</td><td>'''Lehmann'''</td><td>'''Andi'''</td><td>'''Designer'''</td><td>[[User:ALehmann|Web page]]</td></tr> <tr> <td>TX</td><td>Irving</td><td>Morrow</td><td>K. Kevin</td><td>Designer</td><td>Email </td></tr>  
+
<table> <tr> <td>'''State'''</td><td>'''City'''</td><td>'''Last'''</td><td>'''First'''</td><td>'''Group'''</td><td>'''Contact''' </td></tr> <tr> <td>TN</td><td>Brentwood</td><td>Pittman</td><td>Ron</td><td>Designer</td><td>Email </td></tr> <tr> <td>TN</td><td>Goodlettsville</td><td>Lee</td><td>Cody</td><td>Designer</td><td>Email </td></tr> <tr> <td>TN</td><td>Nashville</td><td>Boutte</td><td>Daniel</td><td>Designer</td><td>Email </td></tr> <tr> <td>TX</td><td>Abilene</td><td>Kingston</td><td>Jerry</td><td>Designer</td><td>Email </td></tr> <tr> <td>TX</td><td>Arlington</td><td>Brenner</td><td>Pat</td><td>Designer</td><td>Email </td></tr> <tr> <td>'''TX'''</td><td>'''Austin'''</td><td>'''Houck'''</td><td>'''John'''</td><td>'''Master Designer'''</td><td>[[User:JHouck|Web page]] </td></tr> <tr> <td>'''TX'''</td><td>'''Austin'''</td><td>'''Olse'''</td><td>'''Michael'''</td><td>'''Designer'''</td><td>[[User:MOlse|Web page]] </td></tr> <tr> <td>TX</td><td>Austin</td><td>Tolbert</td><td>Zac</td><td>Designer</td><td>Email </td></tr> <tr> <td>'''TX'''</td><td>'''Houston'''</td><td>'''Lehmann'''</td><td>'''Andi'''</td><td>'''Designer'''</td><td>[[User:ALehmann|Web page]]</td></tr> <tr> <td>TX</td><td>Irving</td><td>Morrow</td><td>K. Kevin</td><td>Designer</td><td>Email </td></tr>  
 
<tr> <td>TX</td><td>Lubbock</td><td>Kitten</td><td>Patrick</td><td>Senior Designer</td><td>Email </td></tr> <tr> <td>TX</td><td>Missouri City</td><td>Jubin</td><td>Eric</td><td>Designer</td><td>Email </td></tr> <tr> <td>TX</td><td>Plano</td><td>Duke</td><td>Gary</td><td>Designer</td><td>Email </td></tr> <tr> <td>TX</td><td>San Angelo</td><td>Keane</td><td>Mike</td><td>Designer</td><td>Email </td></tr> <tr> <td>'''TX'''</td><td>'''Spring'''</td><td>'''Young'''</td><td>'''Don'''</td><td>'''Designer'''</td><td>[[User:DYoung|Web page]] </td></tr> <tr> <td>TX</td><td>Tyler</td><td>Nance</td><td>Lawrence</td><td>Designer</td><td>Email </td></tr> <tr> <td>VA</td><td>Alexandria</td><td>Beron</td><td>Tim</td><td>Designer</td><td>Email </td></tr> <tr> <td>VA</td><td>Wallops Island</td><td>Conger</td><td>Mike</td><td>Senior Designer</td><td>Email </td></tr> <tr> <td>VA</td><td>Williamsburg</td><td>Roy</td><td>John</td><td>Designer</td><td>Email </td></tr> <tr> <td>VT</td><td>Grafton</td><td>Ferrara</td><td>Chris</td><td>Designer</td><td>Phone </td></tr> <tr> <td>VT</td><td>South Burlington</td><td>Hall</td><td>Larry</td><td>Designer</td><td>Email </td></tr> <tr> <td>WA</td><td>Port Orchard</td><td>Conte</td><td>John</td><td>Designer</td><td>Email </td></tr> <tr> <td>WI</td><td>Appleton</td><td>Jenkins</td><td>Tom</td><td>Designer</td><td>Email </td></tr> <tr> <td>WI</td><td>Appleton</td><td>Martin</td><td>Rich</td><td>Designer</td><td>Email </td></tr> <tr> <td>WI</td><td>Blue Mound</td><td>Hoffman</td><td>Don</td><td>Master Designer</td><td>Email </td></tr> <tr> <td>WI</td><td>Cedarburg</td><td>Dorn</td><td>John</td><td>Designer</td><td>Email </td></tr> <tr> <td>WI</td><td>Markesan</td><td>Blake</td><td>Pat</td><td>Designer</td><td>Email </td></tr> <tr> <td>WI</td><td>Menomonee Falls</td><td>Miller</td><td>Terry</td><td>Designer</td><td>Email </td></tr> <tr> <td>'''WI'''</td><td>'''Menomonie'''</td><td>'''Hendrickson'''</td><td>'''Jason'''</td><td>'''Designer'''</td><td>[[User:Jhendrickson|Web page]] </td></tr> <tr> <td>WI</td><td>Milwaukee</td><td>Lennie</td><td>Brian</td><td>Designer</td><td>Email </td></tr> <tr> <td>WI</td><td>Mosinee</td><td>Hoover</td><td>Pete</td><td>Designer</td><td>Email </td></tr> <tr> <td>'''WI'''</td><td>'''Osseo'''</td><td>'''Ticknor'''</td><td>'''Don'''</td><td>'''Designer'''</td><td>[[User:DTicknor|Web page]] </td></tr> <tr> <td>WI</td><td>Stevens Point</td><td>Schukar</td><td>Randy</td><td>Designer</td><td>Email </td></tr> </table>
 
<tr> <td>TX</td><td>Lubbock</td><td>Kitten</td><td>Patrick</td><td>Senior Designer</td><td>Email </td></tr> <tr> <td>TX</td><td>Missouri City</td><td>Jubin</td><td>Eric</td><td>Designer</td><td>Email </td></tr> <tr> <td>TX</td><td>Plano</td><td>Duke</td><td>Gary</td><td>Designer</td><td>Email </td></tr> <tr> <td>TX</td><td>San Angelo</td><td>Keane</td><td>Mike</td><td>Designer</td><td>Email </td></tr> <tr> <td>'''TX'''</td><td>'''Spring'''</td><td>'''Young'''</td><td>'''Don'''</td><td>'''Designer'''</td><td>[[User:DYoung|Web page]] </td></tr> <tr> <td>TX</td><td>Tyler</td><td>Nance</td><td>Lawrence</td><td>Designer</td><td>Email </td></tr> <tr> <td>VA</td><td>Alexandria</td><td>Beron</td><td>Tim</td><td>Designer</td><td>Email </td></tr> <tr> <td>VA</td><td>Wallops Island</td><td>Conger</td><td>Mike</td><td>Senior Designer</td><td>Email </td></tr> <tr> <td>VA</td><td>Williamsburg</td><td>Roy</td><td>John</td><td>Designer</td><td>Email </td></tr> <tr> <td>VT</td><td>Grafton</td><td>Ferrara</td><td>Chris</td><td>Designer</td><td>Phone </td></tr> <tr> <td>VT</td><td>South Burlington</td><td>Hall</td><td>Larry</td><td>Designer</td><td>Email </td></tr> <tr> <td>WA</td><td>Port Orchard</td><td>Conte</td><td>John</td><td>Designer</td><td>Email </td></tr> <tr> <td>WI</td><td>Appleton</td><td>Jenkins</td><td>Tom</td><td>Designer</td><td>Email </td></tr> <tr> <td>WI</td><td>Appleton</td><td>Martin</td><td>Rich</td><td>Designer</td><td>Email </td></tr> <tr> <td>WI</td><td>Blue Mound</td><td>Hoffman</td><td>Don</td><td>Master Designer</td><td>Email </td></tr> <tr> <td>WI</td><td>Cedarburg</td><td>Dorn</td><td>John</td><td>Designer</td><td>Email </td></tr> <tr> <td>WI</td><td>Markesan</td><td>Blake</td><td>Pat</td><td>Designer</td><td>Email </td></tr> <tr> <td>WI</td><td>Menomonee Falls</td><td>Miller</td><td>Terry</td><td>Designer</td><td>Email </td></tr> <tr> <td>'''WI'''</td><td>'''Menomonie'''</td><td>'''Hendrickson'''</td><td>'''Jason'''</td><td>'''Designer'''</td><td>[[User:Jhendrickson|Web page]] </td></tr> <tr> <td>WI</td><td>Milwaukee</td><td>Lennie</td><td>Brian</td><td>Designer</td><td>Email </td></tr> <tr> <td>WI</td><td>Mosinee</td><td>Hoover</td><td>Pete</td><td>Designer</td><td>Email </td></tr> <tr> <td>'''WI'''</td><td>'''Osseo'''</td><td>'''Ticknor'''</td><td>'''Don'''</td><td>'''Designer'''</td><td>[[User:DTicknor|Web page]] </td></tr> <tr> <td>WI</td><td>Stevens Point</td><td>Schukar</td><td>Randy</td><td>Designer</td><td>Email </td></tr> </table>
  

Revision as of 11:42, 26 February 2010

DISC GOLF COURSE DESIGNERS

The Disc Golf Course Designers (DGCD) is a group dedicated to pursuing excellence in disc golf course design for all skill levels. The DGCD was founded in 1994 by Ed Headrick, Tom Monroe, John David and Chuck Kennedy. We have grown to more than 120 members at the end of 2008. Our basic design standards have been adopted by the Professional Disc Golf Association (PDGA) and are posted at their website.

The current member list is shown with many members providing their design experience on this site and/or linking to their design websites. At this point, there are no professional requirements for becoming a member. However, within our group, more experienced designers have earned the title of Senior or Master designer which is designated by their name. Contact Chuck Kennedy for information on membership.


NV panorama.jpg

Choosing the Best Course Designer for your Project

Once you’ve provided the property, nothing will impact the experience of your players more than the course design. Make sure it’s the best you can afford. This is a guide to help land owners and park supervisors choose the appropriate designer to develop safe, challenging and enjoyable courses for their community.

Disc golf has come a long way since the 70s, when many courses used trees and light poles for targets. Older courses – many times designed by local players with little design experience and few qualifications – have become outdated and even less safe in some cases. As disc technology, park operations experience and player expectations have advanced through the years, the art and science of course design have also advanced. In the past 10 years, the PDGA has been systematically developing course design guidelines in cooperation with the Disc Golf Course Designers (DGCD) group. The DGCD is an independent group of 120 designers with a wide range of experience, dedicated to excellence in course design for players of all skill levels.

There is no formal certification or state licensing program for course designers. So, beware of anyone indicating they have such credentials. No colleges yet have a curriculum for disc golf course design. The closest relevant degree is in landscape architecture. But even those programs aren’t known to directly address disc golf issues. Here are several questions a land owner/developer should ask a potential course designer to determine whether they have the necessary skills and experience to design and develop appropriate courses to meet the needs of their project and their community.

1. PDGA Course Development Guidelines – Designer openly supports designing disc golf courses following the PDGA guidelines available here: PDGA Skill Level Design Guidelines and Basic Course Design Standards

2. References – Contact those who hired the designer for their projects. Contact target manufacturers to locate experienced designers in your area. Contact PDGA HQ for information on designers in your area at: 706-261-6342

3. Courses Designed Resume – The designer should provide a list of courses developed indicating their level of design involvement with each project. Most designers have fulltime jobs and have honed their design skills over several years working part-time on a few local courses. The handful of designers who develop courses as a primary part of their professional activities will likely have their design resumes on a website listed here.

BGputt.jpg

4. Specific Experience for your Project – Does the designer have experience with your type of course development project? Is your project a public or private development, a multi-course complex, or a property with alternating seasonal use like downhill or cross-country skiing? Does the designer have experience developing courses on your type of terrain such as dealing with erosion issues on steep hills, identifying appropriate trees for clearing and saving on heavily wooded parcels, or designing safely on sites with several bodies of water?

5. DGCD Membership and Level – People may join the Disc Golf Course Designers group by paying dues. They automatically receive the basic title of Designer. However, DGCD Members who have significantly more design experience earn the higher levels of Senior Designer and then Master Designer. However, even relatively new Designers are at least exposed to the current advances for developing good courses.

6. Training & Education – Has the designer studied under and/or worked with more experienced designers to learn the craft? Does designer have much experience with landscape architecture projects, possibly a degree, to assist with your property development issues? Or how about having business experience or education to provide guidance for helping set up your “for profit” disc golf operation? Does designer have experience teaching disc throwing skills in a class environment or with national education programs such as EDGE for children?

7. Technology Expertise – Does designer own and use state-of-the-art equipment and processes such as laser rangefinders for distance measurement, GPS system if mapping the base site is needed, or topographical software and related graphics programs to produce professional maps and scorecards?

8. Years as a PDGA Member – Indicates the designer has likely been exposed to and possibly participated in the evolution of the current PDGA course development guidelines.


Design expectations and requirements have advanced to the point where land stewards run the risk of making a poor choice by placing inexperienced local player volunteers in charge of their course design. Some local disc golf pros feel they can design courses even without relevant design experience. These volunteers should definitely be encouraged to work with a hired professional designer to provide design feedback and especially to test each draft of a course layout as it evolves. Safety and liability concerns for your course layout in addition to lack of design experience are important reasons to avoid placing local players, scouts, or high school students in charge of the project. Scouts are a great resource for building course amenities like tee signs, benches and information boards, just not doing the course design.

Actual design fees range from 10-20% of the true total cost of a course development project. The true total cost includes the estimated labor cost of local volunteers and public workers, who are usually involved building Park & Recreation courses, even if their wages aren’t specifically considered part of the project cost by the supervising authority. If the designer’s quote is more than 20% of the project cost, it’s usually because they will have additional costs such as non-local travel expenses, or they are quoting additional services not part of the basic design such as more comprehensive site mapping, supervising or actually performing tree clearing, or providing business operations training.

Good luck with your course project. Contact PDGA HQ or call 706-261-6342 for additional information.

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DGCD Current Members

Contact Chuck Kennedy to get Member Email address or Phone if not shown.

Alabama thru Indiana

IDGC Steady Ed Hole 5, Appling, GA
StateCityLastFirstGroupContact
ALAthensBullingtonBillDesignerEmail
ALHooverMonroeTomMaster DesignerWeb page
ALHuntsvilleWagnonBillDesignerEmail
ALHuntsvilleWolfeLavoneSenior DesignerEmail
ALMobileSherrodJoeSenior DesignerEmail
CAOntarioDunipaceDaveSenior DesignerWeb page
CASan JoseChallasJimDesignerEmail
CASolana BeachCadeSunnyDesignerEmail
CASomersetCallahanCharlieSenior DesignerEmail
CAWillow CreekBelchikMikeDesignerEmail
COFt. CollinsYoungKirkDesignerEmail
FLOrlandoHosfeldGreggDesignerWeb page
FLSt. PetersburgMohringMikeDesignerEmail
FLTampaRitnerDennyDesignerEmail
GAAthensPorterDougDesignerEmail
GAAtlantaDavidJohnMaster DesignerEmail
GAAtlantaRitgerJohnDesignerEmail
GAAugustaMayPeteDesignerEmail
GAEvansGentryDavidDesignerEmail
GASenoiaMcCoyKevinDesignerEmail
IAAmesKentonSteveSenior DesignerEmail
IADes MoinesLatchJonDesignerEmail
IDBlackfootLyksettJonDesignerEmail
IDBoiseBekkerWalterDesignerEmail
ILJolietLewisGaryMaster DesignerEmail
ILRantoulWallisWilburDesignerEmail
ILWaukeganKlemJimDesignerEmail
INFishersByrneDennisDesignerWeb page
INBloomingtonMadsenSteveDesignerPhone
INMunsterCummingsBrianDesignerEmail

Kansas thru North Dakota

North Valley, Twin Cities, MN
StateCityLastFirstGroupContact
KSSt.Mary'sMannPaulDesignerEmail
KSValley CenterPaulsonBillDesignerEmail
KSWichitaSchoenhoferMichaelDesignerEmail
KYBowling GreenClarkH. B.Senior DesignerWeb page
KYLouisvilleGreenwellDavidSenior DesignerEmail
KYNicholasvilleLasleyEverettDesignerEmail
KYWilmoreMcCoon, Jr.LyleDesignerEmail
MDGathersburgGangloffCraigDesignerEmail
MEAuburnAdellGordyDesignerEmail
MIAnn ArborCalhounTerryDesignerEmail
MIDexterRifeGregDesignerEmail
MNAndoverSnelsonMikeDesignerEmail
MNBurnsvilleAshtonBillDesignerEmail
MNInver GroveKennedyChuckMaster DesignerWeb page
MNLauderdaleWalliBrianDesignerEmail
MNNorth OaksWestSteveDesignerWeb page
MNRichfieldGillTimmyDesignerWeb page
MNSt. CloudMackeyTimMaster DesignerEmail
MNVirginiaTomonovichAntonDesignerEmail
MOBlue SpringsTheissJohnDesignerEmail
MOBransonKalichSeanDesignerEmail
MOKansas CityLoweJackDesignerEmail
MOSt. LouisMcCormackDaveSenior DesignerWeb page
MODrazDaveDesignerEmail
NCCharlotteHolgateMikeDesignerEmail
NCCharlottePooleJonathanDesignerEmail
NCGarner BibbyLoweDesignerEmail
NCIndian TrailMcDanielStanSenior DesignerEmail
NCIndian TrailSchwarzRussellDesignerEmail
NCRaleighHowardCarltonSenior DesignerEmail
NCMeigsBrianDesignerEmail
NDDickinsonNodlandDarrellSenior DesignerPhone

Nebraska thru South Dakota

Little Lehigh Park, Allentown, PA
StateCityLastFirstGroupContact
NEAmherstRodiekDustyDesignerEmail
NELincolnChisholmAndrewDesignerEmail
NELincolnJacksonAnitaDesignerEmail
NMKingstonFustPeteDesignerEmail
NMVaditoLeslieBillDesignerEmail
NMVaditoLeslieSueDesignerEmail
NYGrand IslandStephensPaulDesignerPhone
NYIthacaGovangPatDesignerEmail
NYWarwickDoyleDanSenior DesignerWeb page
OHClintonGriffithBillDesignerEmail
OHColumbusWarnerDerekDesignerAddress
OKBlackwellConvers, Jr. RonDesignerEmail
OKDuncanLowryTomSenior DesignerEmail
ORGrants PassChardRobertDesignerEmail
ORSalemHugginsBradDesignerEmail
PAEmmausWinnShannonDesignerEmail
PAHaverfordStembelDaveDesignerEmail
PAHermitageGivensRichDesignerEmail
PAHuntingdon ValleyDuesler JrDr. JohnDesignerEmail
PAKunkletownKofronSteveDesignerPhone
PAMechanicsburgLynnJoeSenior DesignerEmail
PAPittsburghDropchoJ. GarySenior DesignerEmail
PAWest LawnLaGrassaJeffDesignerEmail
SCGreenvilleFarrellPatDesignerEmail
SCRock HillDuvallHaroldMaster DesignerWeb page
SDSioux FallsWheelerJohnDesignerEmail
SDVermillionHuffBrianDesignerPhone
SDVermillionWoodsDionDesignerEmail

Tennessee thru Wisconsin

Granite Ridge 3, Highbridge, WI
StateCityLastFirstGroupContact
TNBrentwoodPittmanRonDesignerEmail
TNGoodlettsvilleLeeCodyDesignerEmail
TNNashvilleBoutteDanielDesignerEmail
TXAbileneKingstonJerryDesignerEmail
TXArlingtonBrennerPatDesignerEmail
TXAustinHouckJohnMaster DesignerWeb page
TXAustinOlseMichaelDesignerWeb page
TXAustinTolbertZacDesignerEmail
TXHoustonLehmannAndiDesignerWeb page
TXIrvingMorrowK. KevinDesignerEmail
TXLubbockKittenPatrickSenior DesignerEmail
TXMissouri CityJubinEricDesignerEmail
TXPlanoDukeGaryDesignerEmail
TXSan AngeloKeaneMikeDesignerEmail
TXSpringYoungDonDesignerWeb page
TXTylerNanceLawrenceDesignerEmail
VAAlexandriaBeronTimDesignerEmail
VAWallops IslandCongerMikeSenior DesignerEmail
VAWilliamsburgRoyJohnDesignerEmail
VTGraftonFerraraChrisDesignerPhone
VTSouth BurlingtonHallLarryDesignerEmail
WAPort OrchardConteJohnDesignerEmail
WIAppletonJenkinsTomDesignerEmail
WIAppletonMartinRichDesignerEmail
WIBlue MoundHoffmanDonMaster DesignerEmail
WICedarburgDornJohnDesignerEmail
WIMarkesanBlakePatDesignerEmail
WIMenomonee FallsMillerTerryDesignerEmail
WIMenomonieHendricksonJasonDesignerWeb page
WIMilwaukeeLennieBrianDesignerEmail
WIMosineeHooverPeteDesignerEmail
WIOsseoTicknorDonDesignerWeb page
WIStevens PointSchukarRandyDesignerEmail

International

CountryLastFirstGroupContact
FinlandNieminenSeppoSenior DesignerEmail
FranceLegerDavidDesignerEmail
JapanNakajimaSaoriDesignerAddress
New ZealandMarchbankTimDesignerEmail
New ZealandCaesarScottDesignerEmail
CanadaForbesGlennDesignerEmail
CanadaHoenigerBrianDesignerEmail

Designer Levels

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Associate

1) Interested to learn about course design and keep up with developing methods and technologies in the field.

Designer

1) played a minimum of 10 courses with at least one in four states, provinces and countries

2) designed or co-designed two courses

3) submitted PDGA Course Evaluations on two courses in your area


Senior Designer

1) played a minimum of 25 courses with at least one in eight states, provinces and countries

2) designed or co-designed five courses, at least four permanent 18s

3) submitted PDGA Course Evaluations on five courses in your area

4) your 18-hole hole design scores average 5 or higher on PDGA evaluations


Master Designer

1) played a minimum of 75 courses with at least one in twelve states, provinces and countries

2) designed or co-designed ten courses, at least eight permanent 18s

3) submitted PDGA Course Evaluations on ten courses in your region plus strive to get other 18-hole courses within 50 miles of Designer’s home evaluated or updated

4) trained at least one other person on design methods

5) recommended by another DGCD member familiar with your designs

Basic Disc Golf Course Design Standards

Disc Golf Course Design Goals

Members of the DGCD pledge to support these design goals upon joining the group.

A. Satisfy the design requirements of the people and organizations who approve use of the land and fund the equipment for the course.

B. Design course to be safe for both players and non-players who may pass near or through the course.

C. Design course with the potential for multiple configurations to serve not only beginners but players with advanced skills; consistent with the budget and design needs expressed in Goal A above.

D. Design a well balanced course with a wide range of hole lengths and a good mixture of holes requiring controlled left, right and straight throws.

E. Utilize elevation changes and available foliage as well as possible. Take care to minimize potential damage to foliage and reduce the chances for erosion.

Course Design Assistance

There are several documents available on the PDGA website to help with course design There are additional design resources available online, primarily at the websites of target manufacturers. Contact information for manufacturers of PDGA approved targets can be found at the end of the following document: Approved Disc & Targets Course design has gotten more sophisticated over the years and there’s nothing like seeking experienced design help from qualified individuals.

Experienced designers can be well worth their fees by guiding clients thru the process, recommending cost effective processes and equipment alternatives, and perhaps most importantly, reducing chances for safety related problems. While youth and service groups like the Boy Scouts and Lions club can provide a significant source of labor and even funding, they should be guided by an experienced designer to develop a safe and successful installation. Some of the lowest rated and least used courses were installed by these groups and local players without appropriate design guidance to avoid problems.

Course Design Elements

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Space Required

The first decision is to determine what type of course you would like to develop and whether enough space is available for that type of course. The amount of space available can sometimes depend on whether brush and trees can be removed to create fairways. Ideally, a well balanced course has a mixture of holes that go completely thru the woods, partially thru woods and mostly in the open. Typically, fairways in the woods range from 20-40 feet wide. This usually means that some larger trees sometimes need to be removed to create fair flight paths.

Most new courses are being developed with two sets of tees to better serve the different skill levels of players in the community, even if both sets aren’t installed right away due to budget constraints. Four levels of player skills (Gold, Blue, White and Red) have been defined with design guidelines for each level PDGA Skill Level Guidelines Public courses are usually designed with a combination of Blue & Red or White & Red tees to meet the needs of most players. Well developed disc golf markets and private facilities can sometimes justify installing a few of the longest, most challenging courses that include Gold tees for the highest level of players, although it still makes sense to install a set of shorter tees for White or Red level players.

A full length Championship course can require more than one acre per hole depending on foliage density (more trees, less acreage required). However, a small recreational course can sometimes fit 2-3 holes per acre depending on terrain.

Hole Count

Most courses are either 9 or 18 holes. There are several with 12, 24 or 27 holes. Tradition appears to dictate that the number of holes be divisible by 3. It's better to install a well designed, dual tee 12-hole course than it is to install a cramped, less safe 18-hole course on the same piece of land.

Typical Length

Most courses should have at least one configuration for beginners and casual recreational players that rarely averages more than 250 feet per hole (75 meters). This works out to a maximum of 4500 ft (1350m) for an 18-hole course or 2250 feet (675m) for a 9-holer. The preferred length range is 3600-4300 feet (1080-1290m) for the shortest setup on a typical 18-hole public course. This is an average length of 200-240 feet per hole (60-73m). No hole should be shorter than 120 feet (35m) even on courses for Red level players, but 150 feet (45m) is the "normal" low end limit.

Longer configurations are achieved by installing alternate tees and/or target positions on several holes. Typical 18-hole course setups for amateur White level players range from 4500-6000 feet (1350-1800m). Course setups longer than 6000 feet (1800m) are primarily for better players at the Blue or Gold level, and for tournament play. There is no maximum length allowed for a hole. The longest holes in the world are about 1200 feet (366m). See: PDGA Skill Level Guidelines

Hole Notes

There should be a preferred flight path to a hole. Ideally, there should be more than one flight path (including rollers) to play several of the holes. There should not be too many obstructions within 30 ft (10m) of each target. An obstruction should not be so imposing that a player can't at least try to putt by stretching sideways, throwing from a low stance or throwing over the top of or through any obstacles near a target.

No player throwing from the shortest (or only) tee on a hole should ever be "forced" to throw over water that is normally greater than 18" deep (50cm). Have an alternate flight path (usually to the left) that gives player the option to not cross water. Any normally dry trenches or bodies of water under 18" deep that are regularly in play should have safe paths down and out to be able to throw and/or retrieve disc safely.

Tee Design

Hard surface tee pads of textured cement or asphalt are preferred. Preferred size is 5 ft wide by at least 12 ft long (1.5x3m). Maximum size is 6 ft wide by 20 ft long with the back end flaring out to 10 feet wide. If you need to conserve materials, make tee pads shorter on short or downhill holes and longer on long holes. For example, a hard surfaced tee pad at the top of a hill on a short hole might only need to be 8 ft long because players will just stand at the front edge of the tee to make their throws.

Non-hard surface tee areas should be even surfaced and not contain protruding rocks or roots. Tee areas should be level from left to right. They should not slope too sharply from front to back. The front edge of tee area must be indicated by the front edge of a tee board buried flush in the ground or by the imaginary line between two stakes that mark the front edge.

Beyond the front of each tee pad should be adequate room for follow-thru so a player doesn't risk twisting an ankle, falling off a ledge or whacking their arm on a tree or sign. If possible, provide adequate level ground for a runup behind each tee pad, especially on longer holes. Avoid major obstructions that severely block flight path up to 20 feet in front of tee.

On courses with alternate tees on some holes, the tees in the shorter positions should always be better or at least equal in quality to those in longer positions. For example, avoid designs where the long tee pads are cement and short tee pads are grass or dirt.

The tee color for each set of tees should match one of the four recognized player skill levels that set of tees was designed for: Gold, Blue, White or Red. Sometimes there’s no room for two tees on every hole. Just make sure to mark each tee on single tee holes with both colors.

Course managers are encouraged to move toward these color guidelines when the opportunity presents itself for new installations, redesigns or course upgrades when their current color(s) do not match the PDGA guidelines.

Targets

Any well marked object, post or basket can serve as a target. Make sure targets do not have any sharp edges to injure players or damage discs. Locally fabricated targets for sale or to be installed on public land must not violate any basket manufacturer's patents. Most PDGA sanctioned events require the use of PDGA approved targets which are listed here: PDGA Approved Disc & Targets

Signs

Install a rules sign prominently before the first tee, plus post a rules sheet on an information board (if there is one). Signs or marker arrows near each target should indicate the direction to next tee (as needed). Signs should indicate Out-of-bounds boundaries and any other areas players should avoid. The shortest tee on each hole should have permanent signs indicating the hole number, length, teeing direction (if needed) and recreational par. Signs on shortest tees should always be equal to or better than those at longer positions on each hole.

Setting Par

Par should be set for each tee/basket position combination on a hole based on the player skill level they were designed for. The document PDGA Skill Level Guidelines provides some assistance for determining these values. In addition, the following document, Par Guidelines, provides a more specific way to determine par based on length and foliage elements of holes for each player skill level. The hole length should be adjusted up or down if it has a significant upslope or downslope based on a 3-to-1 factor (i.e. 30 feet length adjustment for every 10 feet elevation change).

So players know what standard has been used for par, it should be indicated on scorecards and tee signs as Blue Par or Red Par, which hopefully matches the tee color(s) used. When less precise estimates are used to determine par, the older method is to use the terms Expert or Pro Par for longer tees and Standard or Amateur Par for shorter tees.

Course Routing

Fairways should not cross one another and should be far enough apart so errant throws aren't constantly in the wrong fairway. Fairways should not cross or be too close to public streets, sidewalks and other busy areas where non-players congregate. Avoid hazardous areas such as swamps and thorny or poisonous foliage. Tees and targets should be far enough from the targets and fairways of other holes.

The tee for the first hole should be the closest to the regular parking area. The target for the last hole should not be too far from the parking area and relatively close to the first tee. If possible, try to locate at least one other hole in the middle of course near the parking area. Try to minimize the amount of walking between holes (still keeping safety in mind).

ADA Compliance

Sections of many disc golf courses are accessible to at least some people with a disability. The normal challenges presented by the types of holes intrinsic to the sport plus the sometimes rough terrain utilized for courses make it unrealistic to accommodate everyone everywhere. Efforts should be made to try and provide a legitimate opportunity to play for those with disabilities, even if not all holes can be made accessible. In some cases, a multiple hole loop within a section of the course may provide that opportunity.