So many times we take disc golf courses for granted. Layouts that are well-manicured and maintained that offer both interesting holes and unique features are hard to come by, yet when we get the chance to play a round somewhere special, we don’t really think twice about it.
But what about the man hours and struggle that it takes to actually get a course put in, let alone an impressive one? Those who have gone through the process from start to finish will no doubt tell you about how big of an undertaking it is, although in the end, the effort is well worth it. If you’re thinking about installing a course in your town, here are some hoops you’ll need to jump through.
Represent Yourself
Unfortunately, disc golfers can sometimes have a bad rap across the nation as being lazy bums or unemployed weirdos. While this certainly isn’t the case, those outside of the sport don’t know otherwise. When you begin the process of trying to install a course, you’ll have to present a proposal to your local government. These meetings and forms will look different depending on where you live, but there’s a good chance that you’ll have to speak in front of a group of people who don’t have a clue what you’re talking about.
Make sure to dress professionally and practice your speech ahead of time. Create a PowerPoint presentation if it’s helpful to outline specific information. Essentially, you should treat this opportunity the same way you would a job interview. After all, you’re not only selling the idea of a course, but you’re representing the sport as a whole.
Factors To Think About
Local government wants to know what’s in it for them, whether you’re pitching a new disc golf course or a new business in town. As we all know, a disc golf course has the potential to bring in a ton of revenue to an area from visitors coming to play the course. Highlighting this information will help the powers that be to see how beneficial a course could be.
Take the attitude of local officials getting more bang for their buck by explaining how a disc golf course will help bring more visitors to already existing parks and can it can help to encourage residents to engage in a more active lifestyle. Keep in mind that you may be asked a ton of questions, as it’s the job of any local board to make sure they are doing what’s right for the town as a whole.
Be Patient
In the end, you’ll have to wait for others to complete their due diligence. These steps may include environmental impact studies or even local surveys to see how well-received a new course might be. As long as you stay persistent and professional, you’ll have a great shot at getting the course of your dreams put in right where you live!
Have you gone through the steps of getting a course installed in your town? What were some of the biggest hurdles you had to overcome? Let us know in the comments below!
Good day! I’m a local City Council member from Dayton, MN (USA). I think articles like this are very important and the explanation of how these courses get built (from beginning to end) is a topic that is underutilized by fans of the sport. We’re building a course as we speak in our community (our first one) and the process by which this is done is something that anyone should be familiar with if they are looking to bring disc golf to their area!