Disc Golf info - Greenfield Oakwood Park feasability study primer

Home Browse Search

Hi Greg, should we place this in the packet for the commissioners? -----Original Message----- From: Michael Snelson [mailto:discindude@comcast.net] Sent: Saturday, January 20, 2007 2:39 PM To: Steve Dazenski Subject: Greenfield / Oakwood Park feasability study primer Mr. Dazenski Thank you for the opportunity to work with the City of Mounds View. I have visited Greenfield Park and have determined that it could sustain a disc golf course on its northern, central and eastern portions of the park. I believe that with some creative design work we could install up to eighteen baskets without impacting the neighbors that back up to park land, and you would gain a park amenity that draws people from all over to your community to play. The area immediately east of the ball field, all the way to half way across the park on the south of the creek, is unusable due to considerable wet land. The strip of park land between the homes along Hillview Road and Lois Drive is also not desirable because it is too close to the neighbors, and I feel that errant throws would encroach on them. The remaining park land is reasonably dry, wooded with occasional openings, with a little elevation change along the north side, a confluence of a couple of creeks, and would make a good site for a disc golf course. I envision a course that begins from the southeast, shooting northward a couple of holes and then there would be a small walk to the next tee due to the narrow property between neighbors. The holes then would continue north, then west over to the creek along Jackson, then south, east again, and finishing back to the south end of the park on Quincy and Jackson. Distances would vary from 150-500’, and would incorporate much of the water as hazardous areas to shoot over. There is a good possibility that we can make the course in to a double-loop that gives your players the option at some point to play a nine-hole OR an eighteen-hole layout. By offering this option we can increase the daily course traffic by adding the alternative lunchtime players or others that who do not have time to play the full eighteen. My recommendation is for a basket with a 24-chain configuration. This gives the disc golfer a better catching capability with less “blow-through”, and therefore a better disc golf experience. The baskets will be galvanized for durability, (the Innova DisCatcher is a stainless and galvanized combination). I am suggesting a direct pipe-to-concrete installation process (theft deterrent ), since there will be little room alternate pin positions. There are three manufacturers that I would recommend for Greenfield Park. Both Disc Golf Association (www.discgolfassoc.com) and Discraft (www.discraft.com) make a 100 % galvanized basket. The Innova DisCatcher (www.innovadiscgolf.com) has a powder-coated stainless steel head assembly with galvanized post and basket. (For removable sleeve/collar assemblies, add $35 each basket to the prices). The DGA prices are posted on their web site for their pole holes. I recommend the Mach V ‘No Frills’ basket. DGA’s pricing on 18 baskets is $5670.00 ($315 each). Their Mach III is the most popular basket, priced at $6786.00 for 18 of the finest basket available, ($377.00 each). Discraft’s Chainstar basket price is $6354.00 ($353 each), for 18 baskets. Innova has a new chain configuration on their DisCatcher which works very well. Their basket is probably the sturdiest basket of the three. The top head assembly is typically yellow, but other colors and custom designs are available. Visibility is one key advantage of this basket. Basket choices should be determined by the design, and once the final design is complete I will be able to narrow down the best basket for the application. We are able to provide samples of the various baskets, and the different features will be pointed out so that you understand why a specific basket is being recommended. All these prices do not reflect additional freight. Signage is also highly recommended. Signage at each tee pad gives the golfer direction, distance and other information necessary to plan the throw. Tee signs are available from Innova ($35-152), the DGA ($85.00), or any local sign vendor. Placement for the tee sign should be marked off to the side of the tee pad and out of the way. I will supply basic signage information as part of the design process. Additional sign artwork can also be arranged. It is also recommended to have a course map at the beginning, typically on a kiosk set to the side of hole #1. Tee pads can be simple or extravagant. Hard surface tee pads of textured cement or asphalt are preferred. The preferred size is 4 ft wide by at least 12 ft long. Maximum size is 6 ft wide by 15 ft long with the back end flaring out to 9 feet wide. The front edge of tee areas must be indicated by the leading edge of the cement, asphalt, or by a tee board buried flush in the ground with a crushed rock area behind it in a rectangle shape. The choice of materials is up to you to decide. Asphalt or Class 5 aggregate rock will work OK if it is necessary to keep costs down. Tee pad sizes will be determined by the length of the specific holes. (Longer hole = longer tee area). Fairway Flyerz is happy to place your basket order for you. The benefits for the city to utilize Fairway are two-fold. You have our assurance that only the correct products will be ordered for your application and future needs will match the existing units, and lead times may be reduced due to Fairway Flyerz’ buying power and experience with the vendors. Installation direction is also offered at no charge if you purchase baskets through Fairway Flyerz. If requested, Fairway Flyerz can install the baskets, signage and tee pads, and clear the fairways. Let me know and I will formulate a quote for installation. Last but certainly not least is the design and on-site course marking. The design fee will be $900.00 for a nine-hole design, and an additional $600.00, (totaling $1500), for a complete 18-hole design. You will receive a comprehensive layout that accentuates the features in your park. It will adhere to stringent length and difficulty standards while retaining safety issues, (both personal and environmental) so it can be played and enjoyed for many years. The course will be marked for installation and lengths will be verified after the installation for submission to the Professional Disc Golf Association. You will be kept informed on the progress and will be requested to walk the course and approve the final design. Let me know if you have any questions or wish to place an order. Thank you for making Disc Golf part of Mounds View’s recreational offerings. I am certain that you will be pleased with the feedback from your new course. Sincerely, Michael Snelson Qualified Course Designer Fairway Flyerz Discs, Inc p.s. I am including a copy of an article from the NRPA magazine, and here is a link to the PDGA statistics- http://www.pdga.com/information.php