flyindutchman's blog
Object Course - Stanton Park - Madison....
Posted by flyindutchman October 23rd, 2007. Discuss
An unofficial park course that I play every now and then when I can't hit the road... I entered it into Google maps with lines and rough directions on what you're aiming for.
http://bbs.keyhole.com/ubb/showflat.php?Cat=0&Number=1035910&page=0&vc=#Post1035910
Stanton Park is a nice little park, fairly flat, next to Lake Erie. Weekend has a fair number of people there and concessions and swimming pool during the summer. The park itself is pretty well maintained and all areas of the park are mowed. Your only potential problems are having your disc blow into the lake or across Chapel Road.
There is talk of it potentially closing down due to development - hopefully that won't happen.
Anyhow, if you're in the area, print out the Google map page and try it out. This isn't a Deis or a Great Seal and the locals might look at you funny for winging a frisbee all over the place, but give it a whirl and come up with your own layout. Maybe at some point we could get some baskets up and make it a real course someday.
Later,
J.
Skunk On 6....
Posted by flyindutchman September 14th, 2007. Discuss
Had to pass this along...
Playing a round yesterday at lunch at Lakeshore Park. I was teeing off on the white tee on hole #6, wound up and pitched it into some trees on th left. Walked by and I damn near stepped on a flattened, half decomposed skunk, complete with skull and the skin of its face falling off.
It was a good game up to that point, but then I sorta lost my focus after that. It was like the alligator in Happy Gilmore. Only it didn't move as much.
I played a few more holes, but some park volunteers were firing off shotgun blanks to scare the Canadian geese back to Florida. I took this as a sign and promptly left.
Go figure.
What else have you found on a course? (And no, Sabo Park doesn't count. It's been fully documented.)
New Course Across The Eastern Border....
Posted by flyindutchman August 6th, 2007. Discuss
Again, although this is Ohio Disc Golf, just a quick note that a new course is going in near Jamestown, PA - about 7 miles in from the Ohio border on the south side of Pymatuning Lake (45 minutes from Ashtabula and Youngstown). The back nine are done and have rubber pads and double baskets - the front nine are delayed while the state park puts in flush toilets. Get a map at the park office.
Despite the fact that there are only nine holes done, the course is /extremely/ well done. It is designed as a championship course and as such has some long holes (a couple over 700+) and some interesting fairways. The best holes on the course are 13 (long course with forest gauntlet in the middle), 14 (hard right angle to a downhill pin next to the lake), 15 (forest hole) and 18 (across inlet of lake to basket). The fairways are fairly accommodating, particular on 10, 11, and 17, but no so much that it hurts the layout in any way.
Anyhow, it was a good time and I'm anxious to see this course developed out further. I ended up doing a run from this course, down to Young's Run where I went wading with a stick on the long #3 tee thanks to a crappy shot, and then snuck over to Middlefield to get in another quick 9. All in all, a good Saturday.
Within the next week I'm hoping to post an unofficial object course via blog/external link for Stanton Park in North Madison on Lake Erie. There are enough trees and objects to aim at with minimal traffic around the outskirts of the property to make for a fairly open object course for anyone in the area. It would be nice to have baskets there, but the park is losing quite a bit of money in upkeep every year, so I doubt it will happen any time soon.
Western New York scouting......
Posted by flyindutchman July 16th, 2007. Discuss
I know this is Ohio disc golfing, however, in my opinion, there are a couple gems outside of the state worth mentioning... If you happen to be in the area, give 'em a try.
Went out to the Buffalo area to scope out two courses. Chestnut Hill GC in Orchard Park, NY is easy to find, and is a twisting layout through mature woods. The course has been there for a while and most of the rough is easy enough to get into for any errant shots. The course runs along a ravine through the center of the park and most holes run next to it, although quite a few force carries over the ravine and one hole forces you to carry over an island within the ravine. For an Ohio equivalent, the surroundings are reminiscent of Shaker Park in Cleveland, while the layout and hole feel would be what you find at Sims Park, only 50-100' longer on the holes. Easy to get to and free to get in. Make sure you print out directions and a scorecard from Niagara Region's Disc Golf site.
The second course is in Evangola State Park. The course parallels an access road into the park. Upon paying $7 to get in for your car (hint: bring friends), you wrap around, park the car, and hit a relatively open, flat layout. I thought I would be bored with it, however, the mandatory dog legs and wind off nearby Lake Erie with good use of existing landmarks makes it a good intermediate course. I liked it because it felt like a more traditional ball golf course in terms of letting you have some variance on your shot but still forcing you to have some accuracy on your putts and approaches.
Next up at some point - extreme western PA. In the meantime, I'll be warming up at Lake Shore and working on my game.