Disc Golf Course Design 101Disc Golf Course Design 101
Rick Kapalko, Brad Deteau
Gem State Disc Golfers
www.gemstatediscgolf.org
Table of Contents
This is a short guide to the small things that
make aworld-class disc golf facility. This
document is written for the city decision
maker and includes:
• Landscape Plan
• Foot Traffic Plan
• Signage Plan
• Structure Plan
Landscape Plan
The course designer will already have leveraged the pre-existing
features of the site and the course maintainer will always
know where to place any improvements. An average disc golf
course can be transformed into a world-class facility with
these two landscape improvements:
• Light Excavation
• Trees and Bushes
Light Excavation
• Elevation changes around the targets are used, to create
challenging "pitch" shots onto the green. Also, tee areas may
be raised a few feet for drainage and players' line -of -site to
the target. Small hills (5-10 ft) help to define fairways and
flow moisture.
• Retaining walls and tiers (3-6 ft), in the vicinity of a target, add
handsome, abrupt terrain changes. Well-defined depressions
can be filled with river rock to create Out -Of -Bounds areas in
lieu of actual ponds and streams.
sprinkled bushes
cL7 elevation changes
man made dry -pond Greens Design
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Trees and Bushes
• Generally, the more trees the better, but a modest amount of trees
and bushes, well placed about the course, can go a very long way.
Approximately, 3 big/tall trees, 20 small trees (10-20 ft), and 20
bushes (5-15 ft) can produce the challenge expected on a great disc
golf course.
• Each big tree will be used to create a dogleg fairway, which
promotes challenging play and fairway safety. The 20 small trees
will be sprinkled on 3 or 4 fairways that were relatively open; they
should be placed in the last third of the fairway. Small groups of
bushes can be sprinkled around the targets and tees.
• Of course, vegetation should always consider the natural landscape
and water use.
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CD Small trees
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for dogleg
Fairway Design
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Foot Traffic Plan
A disc golf course does not have to be a lawn and it
can have a relatively small foot print on the
environment. Overall., the carefully improved
areas are a small percentage of the course. Foot
traffic will be in four distinct areas:
• Around targets (baskets)
• Between targets and trees
• Around tee pads
• Fairways
Footpaths around Targets
• A target should have a clean area around it; similar in size and
intent to a ball golf green. It does not have to be flat and may have
obstacles right up next to the target, but should not allow standing
puddles. The "green" can be, for example, wood chips or neat dirt.
The player should be comfortable setting a knee down to make a
stretched out putt. Other players will be standing around, with
their golf bags beside them on the ground.
• Especially note that around the target is a landing area for longer
throws (drives); discs should be easily found in this area. Good
golfers aim for the "sweet spot" on the green, just like in ball golf.
A casual observer should easily recognize this area.
"green"
benches, shade, trashcans
Pro tee
Am tee
Footpaths between targets and trees
The edge of a "green" should have one obvious
path to
the
next
tee.
As sensible, this
path
should
lead
into
the
backside of the next tee
area. Because these paths are out of the
fairways, portions of this path, away from the
green, may be integrated with peripheral
walking/jogging trails. Sometimes, stairs or
bridges are needed.
Footpaths around tee pads
• Normally concrete, but not necessarily, the launch pad,
or "tee," should have steady footing. The tee pad
standard size is 6' x 10', with the short side facing the
target. Often, tees are slightly raised.
• The tee areas are an assembly area. Benches, shade,
and trashcans are behind the tee pad and course
signage is to the side. Material can be gravel or crusher
fines, should have proper drainage, and be about the
size of a 6m diameter circle.
• A path, of the same material, can be incorporated that
connects a Pro tee area and an alternate Amateur tee
area, which may be up to 1/3 down the fairway.
Fairways
• Fairways do not need improvement, just
general surface maintenance.
• When sensible, a fairway is maintained in a
way that makes the course of play more
obvious. Sometimes, longer holes, or dogleg
fairways may have an area, which is more
neatly maintained, for drives that are short of
the green.
Signage Plan
Typically, disc golf targets come in a set that
includes 9., 1or 36 baskets., tee signs, Out -
Of -Bounds signs, and aRules-Of-Play sign.
Each of these is "foot -path" sized.
Additionally, a disc golf designated area may
have three other types of signs:
• Entrance
• Alternate access
• Designated area
Entrance Sign
The primary entrance sign is an introduction to the disc
golf course and incorporates an informational area,
like a kiosk or bulletin board (maybe on the backside).
Nearby are tee #1 and aRules-Of-Play sign. Size is large
(overly obvious to anyone in the vicinity) and
welcoming. There is one Main Entrance sign per
course; facing the parking lot.
Welcome to
Meridian f `ourse MP
Or Other
Disc Golf Course k.
Info
Designated Area Sign
Any place where a disc golf area is relatively close to an
alternate or multi -use area. Emphasis is on safety, but
this sign can incorporate information about other disc
golf facilities or a city sports web site. A Rules -Of -Play
sign can be included on the backside. Size is small (like
one aside a foot path). One sign should be used for
each place disc golf encounters other -use areas.
Disc Golf Area
Beware of flying discs.
Alternate Access Sign
• Any secondary entrances to a disc golf course should
be clearly marked. A passer-by should easily become
cognizant of the activity and recognize the course
perimeter. It should indicate where Tee #1 is located
and may have a Designated Area sign nearby.
• Size is medium (like a street sign). There may be none
or several Alternate Access signs at a disc golf course.
Welcome to
Meridian
Disc Golf Course
Beware of flying discs.
Tee #1 is in the NW corner.
Structure Plan
The course designer/maintainer will always know
where to place any improvements. An average
disc golf course can be transformed into a world-
class facility with several structural
improvements:
• Perimeter
• Parking Lot
• Pavilion
• Amenities
• Odd Structures or Art
Perimeter
• The course perimeter should be fenced and
naturally direct people to the course main or
alternate entrances.
• The course will play 'over -the -fence' as Out -Of -
Bounds, but once over the fence, a golfer will
want to retrieve their disc, so small gaps in the
fence line are nice. The gaps should be Y2way
down each fairway that is adjacent to a fence
line. A disc golf designated area sign should be
placed by a gap that is prone to other multi -use
areas.
Parking Lot
A disc golf course can hold 5 golfers x 18 holes =
90 players at once. The parking lot should
hold 80-100 cars. Driving through should
allow someone to see the main entrance to
the course.
Pavilion
The bigger the better, but one pavilion, capable
of holding about 4 picnic tables for meetings
and tournaments. Three open -sides works
best, with one side enclosed to block
inclement weather. The pavilion should be
placed near the main entrance and parking.
Power and lighting are optional.
Amenities
Players and spectators need bathrooms and
water fountains; located near the main
entrance and pavilion. If shade is hard to
come by, small shelters, like those at a bus
stop, can be placed behind some tee boxes.
Odd or Art Structures
• The most aesthetic sites always have statues or fountains.
But, consider cost effective alternatives - a defunct railroad
car or water tank can be neatly painted. The odd
structures can be a collection of rock walls.
• The odd structure can be incorporated into a fairway as an
additional obstacle. Sometimes the structure can be used
to "guard" one side of a target area, while also providing a
buffer between the target and next tee.
• The Meridian art community might like to create open-air
big art structures that can diminish the need for natural
vegetation. For example, every disc golfer would want to
throw into the middle of stone-henge.
11
.
Settlers Park — Design Analysis
Flat, open, multi -use terrain.
Safety concerns:
—Crowds during soccer and football games, etc.
—Solution: Golfers need to yield to pedestrians.
This currently works at Ann Morrison Park.
Suitable for short, 9 -hole course.
— More trees are desirable.
— More terrain structures are desirable.
Settlers Park
Disc golf hole opportunities along sidewalk (northern perimeter).
Settlers Park
Disc golf hole opportunities along sidewalk (northern perimeter).
Settlers Park
Disc golf hole opportunities in open field (southeast perimeter) if trees added.
Settlers Park
Great disc golf hole opportunity due to water hazard and numerous trees protecting target.
Contact
Brad Deteau
➢208-395-1187 (home)
➢208-284-3713 (mobile)
➢brad deteau@msn.com
www.gemstatediscgolf.org