7HYRZ7SH`NYV\UKZ BY JOSHUA MILLER

Optimistic About Pessimist DiscGolfPark

ontrary to its name, a new disc- facility in Fort Morgan, Turnkey design Colo., has city officials feeling positive about the impact of this provides a Cgrowing sport for their community. The Pessimist DiscGolfPark opened in September 2015 at the fast-track solution city’s signature 300-acre Riverside Park. It complements Fort Morgan’s existing Optimist Course at the other end of the same park, for the course and burnishes the city’s growing reputation as a destination for disc golf.

20 MARCH 2016 PRB Photos: Josh Miller / City Of Fort Morgan Informational signage about the Pessimist DiscGolfPark and disc golf in general are displayed on the course as well as individual signs at each pad with a map of the hole, distance, hazards, and other information.

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The Optimist course was so named because of the involvement of the local Optimist Club in its original development years ago. There had always been a dream of adding another 18 holes at the park, and the Pessimist name was set aside for the day that dream became reality.

A First For The The long-awaited debut of the Pessimist course actually culminated a fast-track process to create the course. That opportunity grew out of a chance encounter for me at the High Plains Challenge, a popular annual disc-golf tournament hosted by the city at the Optimist course. I connected with Austin Montgomery, who had recently been hired as the first U.S. designer for DiscGolfPark, a Finnish developer of disc-golf facilities that have been hugely successful across Europe. Our first conversation quickly led to the selection of Fort Morgan as the site to design and install the company’s first course in the United States. The attractive part for me was that DiscGolfPark is a turnkey solution for installing a disc-. Montgomery spent three days at Riverside Park in late July, and by the end of that time with staff input, he had laid out the course, identified every tee pad and location, and done general sketch work for the artists to create the course signage for the facility. This approach overcame one of the foremost obstacles to the creation of disc-golf facilities by municipalities—a lack of expertise in design and layout of a course. The DiscGolfPark concept READER SERVICE #294

22 MARCH 2016 PRB A memorable and challenging course offers holes with a variety of lengths, shapes, vegetation, and possibly elevation.

takes care of that key element, but still allows the city or town to handle construction of the course in order to control costs.

Design Details Varied and versatile holes make a good disc-golf course. A memorable and challenging course offers holes with a variety of lengths, shapes, vegetation, and possibly elevation. Take the aesthetics of the area into account to ensure an enjoyable playing experience. The city’s parks department played a big part in the rapid completion of the DiscGolfPark. After Montgomery had designed the course, parks staff prepped the areas for the tee pads and baskets, installed frames for the turf pads, and mowed the facility so it was playable for its first event. Using the DiscGolfPark approach also helped ensure that other uses of the public park were considered in the course design, and that safety was always kept in mind. A disc-golf disc is a fast-flying object, and it may cause damage when hitting people or other objects. The possibility for accidents cannot be completely excluded, but with professional design the risks are minimized. It is important to design the holes so the safety of other park users, as well as other disc golfers, will not be compromised. Erno Vayrynen of Discmania Inc., the parent company of DiscGolfPark, says “Safety is an essential requirement of a good disc-golf course. The use of the whole park area needs to be taken into account. Possible safety hazards need to be clearly presented on the course signs. Many times, our customers READER SERVICE #284

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have suggested, for example, a local Mutt Mitts Boy Scout as a course designer. If that made in the person does not have experience in disc U.S.A. golf and course design, it’s unlikely that the course will be popular or safe.” The DiscGolfPark package includes informational signage about the course and disc golf in general, as well as individual signs at each tee pad with a map of the hole, distance, hazards, and for safe and easy poop pick-up other information. Positive Feedback One feature that has already proved popular among players at the Pessimist DiscGolfPark is the artificial-turf tee pads that provide a solid, cushioned grip for players. Artificial turf is new to the sport of disc golf, but initial feedback from players has been positive. Tee pads have a significant effect on the general impression and usability of the course. A turf mat looks tidy and natural. In addition, the mats are durable and player-friendly, when maintained properly. The turf tee pads are not as www.muttmitt.com hard on shoes and the body as other 1-800-697-6084 surfaces currently being used. Also receiving positive comments READER SERVICE #281

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Directional arrows on basket cages are especially useful for players who are H[SHULHQFLQJDFRXUVHIRUWKHÀUVWWLPH

from players is the directional arrow on blend of 3s and par 4s, the new Johnny Roberts Memorial Tournament the basket cage for each hole that points course includes water shots, trees, the first weekend, with 140 participants. players to the next tee. This is especially tunnel shots, and other challenging Like the Optimist course, Pessimist is useful for players who are experiencing features. This variety of terrain, hazards, free and open to the public to enjoy at a course for the first time. and other features is another part of all times, except when special events The Pessimist course garnered the DiscGolfPark concept, which can like tournaments are scheduled. positive reviews from visitors in its first customize courses to the site, as well as DiscGolfPark is based in few weeks: “This course has a great mix the target audience. and has designers all over Europe, of technical shots as well as long, open “There’s no reason to design an including , , , drives to test many different aspects 18-hole championship-level course for , , , and Russia. of your game,” wrote one reviewer in elementary school kids. That course The sport is extremely popular and the www.dgcoursereview.com website. needs to be designed with extra safety thriving in Finland, where disc-golf “This was a great course and makes this in mind, with shorter, yet still interesting tournaments are broadcast on TV, and park great with two challenging courses. and varied holes,” says Vayrynen. “Disc the number of courses has quadrupled Nice river views … This makes Fort golf is a game with an easy starting from just over 100 in 2008 to more than Morgan more of a disc-golf destination threshold, but disc golf is being played 400 today. to spend a day at now.” by players of varying levels of skill and The sport of disc golf is also experience, and course design must take growing rapidly in the U.S., and Challenging Players this into account.” DiscGolfPark has a goal to establish 500 The Pessimist course plays through new high-quality courses in the country a native area along the South Platte Soaring To New Heights by 2020. River corridor, around the fishing ponds The Pessimist course opened in Fort Morgan’s reputation as at Riverside Park’s east end. With a mid-September and played host to the a mecca for the sport is reaching

26 MARCH 2016 PRB beyond Colorado. City officials hope It’s possible that Opportunist, 1VZO\H4PSLYPZ[OL*VTT\UP[`:LY]PJLZ the addition of the Pessimist course Realist, and Perfectionist disc-golf +PYLJ[VYMVY[OLJP[`VM-VY[4VYNHU9LHJO will continue to attract more players courses could be in the city’s future. OPTH[QTPSSLY'JP[`VMMVY[TVYNHUJVT and visitors to the area and make Fort Meanwhile, the initial success of the Morgan a regular stop for professional Pessimist course has the city nothing ;VJVTTLU[VU[OPZHY[PJSLSVNVU[V and national disc-golf tournaments. less than … well, optimistic. PRB ^^^WHYRZHUKYLJI\ZPULZZJVT

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