Just reaching out to see what people's opinions are on shared pathways for teepads.
I am debating about the option of using a shared walkway (about a half mile or so of path) as teepads for a potential course. Without going into details, how do people feel about the "walking path" tees at Black Bear in Hoffman Estates? Or if the walking path at Buffalo Grove was used as tees? And truly these would be used for the long tees only. Short would be pushed for cement tees, technically all tees would. Just planning options in my proposals for my meeting.
Benefits at this park:
Stretch the distance of holes
Flattest part of the park already (technically safety)
Cost (already paved)
Safety (no crossed fairways or throwing over path)
Cons:
Path has medium traffic (Rest of park not really used much except playground)
Will limit ability to utility park to its fullest potential
Since it will be asked, this is all I can say at the moment. Pushing for 9 to 12 (won't let it become a crappy 18) hole course North of I-90 between I-294 and Route 53. Asking for the world, dual tees, dual baskets, cement tees, multiple pin locations, etc. Just planning some compromising options. I am trying to get it installed with the long tees being the priority and the short tees as the afterthought (for lake of a better explanation in a sentence). They seemed interested but "budget" and "time invested" came up. It would be a solid intermediate course but no potential for anything championship caliber. Would be more Oakbrook or Alder-esque, not as wooded but...
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I am not a big fan of throwing along a path, I think that you are better off throwing across a path. Throwing across you can usually see people coming and it is only for a short period of time that they are on the path. If you are throwing "up" or "down a path there is a chance of much longer interference. Having a path for a tee pad, or ob is a good thing.
I'd prefer it over throwing from natural tee pads. I don't mind it so much from a traffic standpoint but I really dislike asphalt tees. They are always slick even in good conditions.
Tom - We wouldn't being throwing down a path more of 90 degrees straight off it. It's wider than an average path but would measure it (the length) before considering it an option. I don't want the tee pads too short. Obviously would use path for OB throughout the course intentionally.
Brett - Didn't think about the asphalt aspect. Going to have to take a closer look at it. Not sure what it is. I'd assume it asphalt but don't remember it being slick walking my dog there. I know where we are going for a walk on Monday after work.
Obviously, this is not a overall goal, just getting opinion on how people feel about it in general.
Having run tournaments off asphalt path tees, I'd agree with Brett that they are slick and unsuitable for disc golf. Also, I played a round on Friday on a course with asphalt tees. Even when dry they can be slippery.
How many acres are potentially available?
Walking path is not wide enough anyway. I would want a minimum of 2 feet longer. That option will not work. Definitely going have to utilize the land differently.
Dana - Park is 26 acres. Maybe two, three acres tops are out of play. Four tennis courts and a small playground. Walking path in a 6 block loop. There is a gazebo and a couple of benches around the loop. Nothing else in the park is really used.
Only one hole would really work outside the walking path. Everything else would risk safety of pedestrians and traffic. Biggest problem is that the park has water hazards, including retaining water areas like Shady Oaks (Streamwood), probably worse, so some options are limited. I need to see a spring melt (if we have one) to make sure we are putting things in horrible locations. Probably just going to be another 9 hole in the Chicagoland suburbs. Just want to make sure the challenge is there. IF things get approved I will definitely get approved, I will get additional help from a Blue/Gold level player. It has no potential to be championship caliber, but does have more good holes than most courses. I am going to spend the next week checking other park locations in that suburb since I already have someone's ear, but as of right now this seems to have the most potential.