Aurora

[Abelardo Arenas]

I've thought a bit more about your proposed location for alternate 9.  That path across the ravine is the only access fishermen and dog-walkers have around that side of the pond (except for walking all the way around clockwise).  I'd hate to throw a good shot through the gap only to have it clock a fisherman in the head who was walking back to his car.  I think that placement might lead to a lot of non-golfer complaints

One of the original plans for Jericho Lake had the course designed to go around the lake. So inconveniencing the dog walkers for one basket might not be that bad. 

But this is the type of stuff that is constructive. I'll bring up your point, and see what the club has to say. If you can think of any other pin placements, post them here. We'll play them and see if they can improve the design.

And the post above yours mentions the water coming into play. I wish! I want to throw over the lake to that island-type area across from #9! I think the landscape unique to any park should always be maximized, not just used for its aesthetics. But the pin placements with water, here, make your discs very retrievable if your shot goes bad.

We will play/try out any suggestions. We want to make it a better course, not just a course to favor our own personal approach to the game. 

[can't putt]

If you can think of any other pin placements, post them here. We'll play them and see if they can improve the design.

That's the thing.  Given the size of the park, I'm not sure Jericho Lake is conducive to many alternate pin placements.  Some maybe, but certainly not on every hole.  I get the impression from Adam's post that a goal is to reduce birdies from the long tees.  Why?  If you look at the IOS results from Jericho Lake you'll see that par from the long tees on Saturday was a 938 rated round.  The SSA was similar to Anna Page West and higher than Anna Page East.  It's a lot harder to make par from the longs than from the shorts and that's how it should be.  It would be unfortunate if you made the holes so difficult from the shorts that beginning players would get turned off to the course for fear of losing discs in the creek.  Your alternates have 1, 4, 5, 6, 12 and 18 all within about 20' of water, some much closer.  Even where the pins are right now I've seen discs go in the water on 4, 5, 6, 8, 9, 12, and 18.  Yeah, most of those were really bad shots, but alot of people who play the course casually make really bad shots.

From what I saw, many of your alternate placements are in the brush and stands of small trees.  How much brush would be removed around the pin?  Would erosion be an issue after cutting the reeds, grasses, and stinging nettle around 1 and 18?  Is the Forest Preserve District willing to do this?  It's not just about making more difficult holes.

I'm all for variety, and changing that course up a little now and again would be welcome.  I could suggest other placements, but they probably wouldn't be very good.  I have only been playing for less than 18 months and although I get around, I don't think I have nearly enough experience on different courses to really make a good layout.  I don't think many in the Fox Valley Metro club have much more experience than I, do they?  Maybe one or two, but that's probably about it.  Meanwhile, there are players in the area with FAR more experience and expertise.  My suggestion is to get their opinion.  I think Gary Lewis was involved in the current Jericho Lake layout, wasn't he?  Maybe approach him for an opinion.  Brett, if willing, is another possible resource.  He certainly has both the skills as a player and experience in hole layout to consider a variety of factors that those of lesser experience like myself might simply miss.

Anyhow, like said earlier, everyone has an opinion and this is mine.  I have probably voiced it much more than I should have, so I'll shut up now.   Thanks for listening! 

[Abelardo Arenas]

Those are all good comments; all of that should be considered. The course is being designed to be tougher. Maybe that's what should be reviewed. What is meant by "tougher." Ironically, one night  after IOS #6 (before there was a club), Adam and Aaron (the president) and I were talking about these changes; and I said I'd pay for Brett's time to come out and do the design. So, we're on the same page there.

The club part is off, though. The members have played tournaments all over the place (IA, KS, MO, FL, MN, KY, IN, MI, WI, CO, etc.). Rob Merkel started playing tournaments in 2001. Gary Tree Camp won the Intermediate Divison at Bowling Green (KY) in 2006. Adam Camp, his son, took second place, in a large field (I might add). Adam Camp has been playing tounaments since 2001. Gary has been playing disc golf since the late 80s. Mike Holmquist (our secretary) runs the leagues in Joliet, and started playing tournaments in 2001. I myself have played over 55 courses, in the last 5 years. Gambled over $800 in heads-up matches. And then there is Kelly Kras who has played all over the place and so on.

You're welcome to come to the next meeting. You can meet everyone and get more of a full picture of what's happening with the club. It's at the Vaughan Center in Aurora on the 13th, I think. We'll be playing in the fieldhouse, afterwards. I'll take you on in a game of PIG for $40.  (just kidding!)

Please post any ideas you have. They will all be brought up and played. 

[can't putt]

The club part is off, though.

I apologize for that assumption.

[Abelardo Arenas]

Jericho Lake now has a sign that reads that the park is open until an hour after sundown. (It was open until 10.)

But when we have the glow tournament, we'll just have to request a permit to keep it open later.

{Also, just as a correction, several of the players I mentioned in the last post have been playing longer than 2001. 2001 is just as far back as pdga.com goes with their tournament stats.}

[Mukey]

Just an FYI, they'll be doing construction at Orchard & Jericho Roads in Aurora from early Spring until December.

http://www.suburbanchicagonews.com/beaconnews/news/286643,AU07_JERICHO_Web.article

[atowndoug]

^^^^^^^^^^  Just want to add that the mentioned construction will be a BITCH this summer! They have barely started work and the other day traffic was backed up pretty bad on orchard.  If you are coming from the north or east i would suggest taking prairie or galena to barnes, then take it south to jericho and turn left.  From the south I would take 47 to jericho and enter from the west.   

[Jon Brakel]

Is this going to be a problem when arriving at the course at 7am on a Saturday or Sunday?

[atowndoug]

^^^^^ probably not as 7am is pretty early.  But during the day on weekends and during rush hour times on the weekdays could be very bad.  Example:  I waited about 20 minutes in traffic to travel just a few miles on orchard heading south towards jericho last thursday i believe, this was around 4 o'clock pm.  Also, i would avoid taking jericho road from the east altogether as I have waited in traffic for about 3 light changes at that intersection of jericho/orchard (like if you are coming from the oswego course).  I suggest looking at a map and figuring out a way to avoid that intersection altogether.

[Mukey]

thanks for the info, I figured that would be a snafu

[can't putt]

Aurora is still pretty wet, especially by 17 and 18.  I see the proposed alternate pin locations for 6 and 16 are not where I originally saw them.  I like these positions MUCH better.  Thumbs up!

[ChiBlender36]

played Jericho for the first time ever today and I was impressed.  Pretty decent course.  Totally different than my home course Madison Meadows.  I liked all the trees and the little elevation, good time, will defiantely go some more this summer

[rev rick]

The storm yesterday left a nice temporary obstacle on 4, a good size limb about 20 feet in front of the basket. Hardly anybody's seen it though, I was the only person on the course from about 9:30 until 11:00, when one other group of three guys started a round.

And if you're keeping track, no cicadas between Orchard Road and Naperville.
Not.Even.One.

[Abelardo Arenas]

20 trees were cut down on the back 9. And 10 other trees had large limbs taken away. The cause is insect infestation.

The holes affected were #10, #11, #13, #15, & #18.

[pickax]

There were a lot of sick looking trees when I was there Monday. I was surprised that they hadn't been already cleared out.

[can't putt]

The tree removal pretty much took all the trees from hole 11 for a big impact there.  There is also a lesser impact on hole 15.  Other than that, the course plays the same.  Hopefully this action will preserve the rest of the trees.

[Abelardo Arenas]

Other than that, the course plays the same. 

Not for the forehand.

#10 is a now a deuce, S-shot around the tree. Coming in from the left-hand side. The tree that was eliminated always killed that forehand.

The tree at #13 always directed that forehand shot for you. Now that it's open, the ability to take it out to the left makes it a much easier shot. I put it by the pin when we played it for the first time. All the other times before, it forced me to settle for a standard backhand shot.

We might have to see about possibly moving #11 back to the 2nd pin position. It's too easy right now. And there again it will make for a good forehand shot (taking it around to the left with a Monster).

[can't putt]

Yeah, that makes sense.  Admittedly I look at things in a backhanded way. 

[Abelardo Arenas]

Here's the tree they took away on #10. Ron Miller is walking toward the basket. The tree that was once between Ron and the basket, is now in the back of that truck.

I'll put another 2 pictures in a 2nd post.

[Abelardo Arenas]

This is Aaron from the teebox of #10. And from #11.

It's not clear, but you can see the edge of the basket on #11. Just past the bushes. It's a wide open shot now.