11 and 13 Done, Blood Sacrificed

Today I cleared holes 11 and 13 and donated some blood to the hundreds of mosquitos out there. Damn, it was brutal at times!

Hole 11 had a huge pine tree laying across the fairway (it had snapped during an ice storm this winter), so I spent most of the morning clearing that. The teepad is on a ledge with the road OB on the right. I made a lefty and righty route so there should be no complaining!

Here's the hole. Look for the orange bucket behind a branch to the left of my truck (the blue blob near the center of the picture) . You'll have to click the picture to see the big version.

Hole 11 is going to be a fun one. It is pretty short, probably about 100 feet, but it's an uphill alley of trees and the basket is behind a tree at the end of the alley. If you make it through the trees, it's an easy 2. If you grab a tree, you could be in trouble!

So now there are 12 holes done. Get out there, try it out, and let me know what you think!

What To Do, What To Do?

So yesterday afternoon I'm sitting in my cube looking out the window thinking to myself. "Hmm, my wife won't be home until late tonight and there's no need to worry about the dogs since they're with her, so what to do, what to do..... Hmm, I wish I had something fun to do tonight instead of going home and watching tv. Hmmmm...." Then, like a bolt of lightning it dawned on me. "You're building a disc golf course, dumb ass! Go play a round!" Oh yeah! I forgot I could go play a quick 10 on the way home. I have only been looking forward to this day for over two years.... d'oh!

So I gave Brian a call and in 25 minutes we were hucking plastic on the Hill. We whipped through the course in about 30 minutes (the trees were kind to us last night) and I remained undefeated and recorded a course "record" at +2. Brian ended +6 but was happy that he beat me on two holes and held the box for about 5.

It was definately better than sitting on the couch watching Deal or No Deal. :-)

Borderland Loans Us Four Baskets!

I got a note this morning from DeanW from Borderland Disc Golf course offering us four baskets on long-term loan. How great is that?

The only condition is that once we get our new baskets, we have to loan these baskets to the next new course. What a deal! Thanks very much BDG!

"I Like To Cut Things!"

Today StevieB, ArtyG, ChrisG, and I whipped through holes 8, 9, and 10. Hole 9 came out really nice once we cleaned out all the brush and is a genuine ace run. Steve and I played a round later and I am happy to report that I am still undefeated! ;>)

Many thanks to Arty and Chris for helping out today, even after playing a round at Barre. Quote of the day goes to Arty: "I like to cut things!"

Workday Sunday 6/3

If it is not pouring, I'll be headed over to Devens this Sunday about 9:00. If it is pouring, I'll go over later since it's not supposed to rain all day.

Bonus Incentive: Brian will have a Segway personal scooter thing on loan for the weekend, so you'll have a chance to try it out at lunch.

Needed:

• Saws, chainsaw, loppers, tick repellent, gloves, water
  

To Do:

• Kathy wants us to make a new path from the bottom road up to tee one. She does not want us to use the path along the fence.

• Finish hole 8

• Start 9. This is a short downhill ace run, but there is lots of shitty brush that has grown since I planned it this winter. Loppers needed!

• Start 10. Another longer downhill ace run. Mostly sparse brush and some trees.

• If we have a chainsaw, revisit holes 1-7.

Let me know if you can make it. Directions here.

Devens DPW Lends Its Support

Kathy and I walked the course with Charles, the Devens DPW head honcho, earlier this week and he agreed to help out with cutting any large trees and hauling out any trash and brush. That was great to hear and will definately help speed things along.

Although he said we'd never get him out there to play since his time in the woods has long since passed, he is supportive of our project. I betcha we get him out there at least once, tho. Thanks Charles! :)

Seven is Done, Eight Is On It's Way

I worked on 7 the past two weekends and finished yesterday. This has been the most work as of yet and there are still a number of larger trees that need to be cleared. It is playable, though. Hole 7 is a long right-turning downhill fairway featuring a huge boulder near the pin. There are plenty of options for multiple pin placements. Unfortunately, I forgot to take a picture of the putting area.

At the tee. Fairway bends to right and down at the opening.

At the bend looking down toward the pin. Big boulder on right. Smaller trees will be going away.

Since I rented a brushcutter yesterday, I was hoping to fly through 7, 8, and 9. The darn thing kept stalling out so Brian and I returned it. I was bummed, so after lunch we played a quick 7 and all was good in the world. It's definately going to be a fun course.

Hole 8 is filled with saplings and I cut a good chunk of them down the old-fashioned way before calling it a day. This hole goes up through a valley of rock ledge and I'm looking forward to seeing how it looks when we're done.

Borderlands Gets Some Ink

Borderlands DG in Sharon, MA was featured in an article in the Boston Globe this week. Nice job, guys!

Read it now.

Buy a Disc, Support the Course

We have teamed up with Marshall Street Disc Golf to help raise some funds for our course. As long as you click the ad in the Links section (or above), 5% of your purchase is returned to DDG. Pretty cool! Thanks Steve!

Workday 1 is Done

Today David, Rob, Kiril, and Steve joined me on our first workday. We had a very productive day and cleared six holes and installed six temp baskets. It was amazing how the course took on a different dimension once the fairways were defined and we could see the baskets. After we finished a hole, we would play it, and each of us had varying success along the way. Some nice throws turned into "Oh craps" when they caught an edge and rolled and rolled and rolled down the hill. Just a preview of things to come, I guess!

Here are a few pictures of the day.

David and Rob work on Hole 2 (before and after).




Rob let's one fly up Hole 4.




Kiril doesn't like the looks of this shot, but wait until he gets over the rock.




Steve trims the fairway for Hole 6.

Nature Center Open House Demo

Stevie B. and I put on a demo last Sunday at the opening of the new Tyngsborough Nature Center in Tyngsborough, MA. There was a large turnout for the event and we kept the kids busy with putting and CTP contests as well as some general hucking. We had three baskets setup and had a group of girls that kept coming back to play more. It was great and lots of fun!

A few parents also tried chucking some plastic and we answered lots of questions on how to play, why we were there, and where were we thinking about installing the next course. (Steve is working on that part.)

It was really amazing to watch these kids who had never thrown a disc before get better and better with each throw. Phrases like, "I can't do this" were quickly replaced with, "Wow, look at how far that one went!"

Check out the future of disc golf:

Directions

Go here for directions to the Hill. A few people have told me they'll be there. Looking good!

Our First Workday Is This Sunday, May 7

Our first workday will be this Sunday, May 7 at 9:30 AM. Please come and help out on this truly historic day.

If you have any lawnscaping tools, please bring them (chainsaws, bow saws, brushcutters, loppers, rakes, shovels, etc.). Please wear long pants since there may be a few ticks waiting for your skinny little ankles. Gloves, work boots, and hiking boots would be a good thing to wear too.

The general plan is to clear out the first few holes. I know it is prime DG time and there are only two days in a weekend, so if you can't make this one, there will be more, don't worry.

Hope to see you there. I'll post directions later. Let me know if you can make it. Thanks!

It's Official!

What a great day. Devens Disc Golf is now officially a go!

I just got back from a walk-through with Brian and Kathy (the Devens Rec director). We hiked the Hill and were quickly huffin' and puffin' after the first two holes. Yes, welcome to Devens. I showed them my proposed layout and Kathy was excited about everything and said we can start installing our temp baskets and do some minimal clearing. Brian is ready to hit the fundraising trail, so be expecting a phone call...

Unfortunately I will be out of town next week, so we will have to wait until I get back. Looks like nothing but disc golf weekends for me the next few months with tourneys on Sat. and workdays on Sunday. Whoboy...

If you want to help out, please email me (stove95xxATxxgmail.com -- replace xxATxx), even if you have done so in the past so I can update my list.

Kathy also mentioned she got two thank you emails last week, so thanks for your support!

DDGC In the News

We have been interviewed twice so far concerning our efforts. Autographed copies are available upon request. ;)

Nashoba Publishing Newspapers

Lowell Sun

The Magic Letter

The magical letter has arrived. We heard yesterday that the insurance company for Devens has no problem with a disc golf course on the property. Next up is a walk-thru by the Devens environmental and recreation people who will note any sensitive or off-limit areas.

Given all the stuff going on with Devens as they try to figure out if they are going to become a town or get parceled off to the surrounding towns, we are very happy with how quickly things are moving. Again, special thanks goes to Kathy Wiberg, Manager of Devens Recreation, for all her support! If you'd like to send Kathy an email thanking her for her support, I'm sure she'd appreciate it. I know we would!

Layout 1-18, Take 2

Here is our latest layout, a complete 18 holes and plenty of room to grow into (click photo to enlarge). Some holes may look close, but are separated by cliffs, valleys, large trees, or major elevation changes. All lengths are approximate.

The Nut Front Nine
After a short walk from the parking and practice area, you'll see Hole 1, a hole that quickly introduces you to the dangers of the Hill: trees, rocks, and lots of up and down. You start to wish your legs were in better shape.

1. 240 ft. The only open field shot on the course, at least for about the first 150 ft. Then it is into the trees. Straight mostly level shot with potentially evil downhill and rocks around basket.
2. 200 ft. A straight shot, slightly uphill through tight tree alley. Opens a bit around basket.
3. 330 ft. Downhill along an old road with a dogleg left at the bottom up to a bunch of boulders. Many second shots will be obscured by big rocks as you look up. Basket is positioned behind skinny trees on edge of cliff. High-risk, high-reward putting this one if you end up on the wrong side of the basket.
4. 280 ft. Another tight alley shot through trees, up and over a rock outcropping. Basket on rock ledge about 80 ft beyond rock outcropping.
5. 340 ft. A nice long level gentle right-turning fairway along the old road. Very cool rock ledge along left side.
6. 350 ft. Another shot up the road except this one is straighter and tighter. Opens up a bit at the end. Basically flat with slight up elevation.
7. 310 ft. The tee pad is an elevated old cement foundation probably used for an antenna. Remnants of an old building are nearby. This hole requires some major clearing to create a defined fairway down the hill through the trees. It doglegs right to the basket which will be somewhere behind a huge boulder in a fairly big opening. I've seen two big deer here the past two times I've been out there.
   
8. 266 ft. This is an interesting-looking hole up through a valley of rock ledge. It's a fairly straight shot up a gradual hill. You must shoot the gap to get to the basket in the opening. The ledge is at least 30-ft high on each side.
9. 130 ft. This could be one of two ace runs. It's a short downhill throw off a cliff with a tree smack-dab in the middle of the preferred flight path near the tee box. Should be a fun hole.
   
   Borelli Back Nine
   
10. 240 ft. Another possible ace run, but longer than 9. A gradual straight downhill shot but with less trees.
11. 240 ft. You'll tee off an elevated tee box near the bottom of the hill and throw across the hill parallel to an old road and fence (both of which will be OB) toward the basket which is below you. This is a fairly open hole with scattered trees.
12. 157 ft. A short uphill hole but with a very tight fairway (you've got to throw through a gateway of four trees). There's some major elevation change and lots of trees. Could be deceivingly hard.
13. 200 ft. Another uphill fairway, although not as steep or punishing as 12, along an old game trail. Fairly tight entry point to putting area which is in an open area (some annoying scrub brush).
14. 240 ft. Back on the road. This hole is a straight level shot along the road. It drops away to the right into some brush and trees, and goes up on the left. Nothing too bad about this hole (unless you catch a tree of course). Basket is near Teepad 6.
15. ~280 ft. (Haven't measured yet). The tee pad is alongside a very cool rock cliff. The hole follows the ridge down to the basket as it slopes gently to the right. If you hit a tree and go right, you'll end up in a deep canyon which could spell trouble.
16. ~250 ft. (Haven't measured yet). Throwing back down the hill, but at an angle across it, over a valley. Trees galore.
17. ~200 ft. (Haven't measured yet). Throwing back up and across the hill at an angle between a couple of trees.
18. ~280 ft. (Haven't measured yet). And back down the hill toward the old road and fence (OB). With plenty of trees to make you think.
    

Basket building

I went to the Home Depot this morning and bought the rest of the materials for our temp baskets. After some experimentation, I figured out that the best way to cut a hole in a tennis ball is by using a drill with a hole-cutting attachment. The utility knife method was just too difficult and dangerous for me (I've lost enough fingers already thank you very much). Once I exerted some pressure on the ball to flatten it a bit, the drill cut a nice hole through the ball. It took me a few tries before I got it right, but once I learned to go slow and steady, it was no problem.

Next, I drilled four holes in the bottom of the buckets to make it kid-proof and slightly less attractive to thieves. My prototype from last week did not hold, so I'm going to try some different adhesive this time. It's hard to find adhesive that says it works with plastic.

And here is how they should look. Yes, I know, they are works of art:


The buckets are labeled:

Layout almost done?

I went over with Steve B this morning. We tagged and measured holes 6-15 before calling it quits. Only three more holes to finalize. At the end of 15 all we could see were trees, trees, and more trees! Our brains were fried. I think the average length per hole so far is about 200-230 feet.

The course is shaping up to be deceivingly difficult. Most holes are short and should be easy pars, but if you are off your mark, it's Tree City, baby and you've got yourself a bogey or worse. Catch an edge on a putt or ricochet off a tree or boulder and you could get into some bigtime trouble as you watch your disc roll back down the hill. You'll definitely need accuracy and good shot selection skills. There definitely are not going to be any haul-off-and-give-it-all-you-got holes on this course.

I made a bucket basket today too. I'm curious to see if I used the right type of adhesive. We'll see tomorrow once it cures completely.

Some more scouting

My wife, dog, and I did some scouting this Saturday. We explored the northeastern section of the hill and found a really cool mini-canyon with steep rock walls on either side. It's not very long but will make a pretty hole. We tentatively mapped out a full 18 (which ended nicely over by hole 1), but will have to go back again and mark and map the tees and basket locations.

I also bought a couple of Home Depot orange 5-gallon buckets so I can make a couple temporary baskets using Pete T's method. Now all I need is some fence posts, old tennis balls, empty Gatorade bottles, and some super duty glue. Anyone have any?