Ypsilanti Course - Waterworks Park - Update

[terrycalhoun]

Pad Timmons and I met with Jason Wicha (City of Ypsilanti) and walked Waterworks Park this morning. There's huge potential for a great course there. There's already a small pavillion and 5-6x as much parking as Brown Park had. The park is 19.5 acres, partially wooded but 2/3 open, and surrounded on three sides by the Huron River. And only 10 minutes slow walk from downtown Ypsilanti.

Ypsi has little money to work with, so the plan as it currently stands is to design the first 9 this fall and have it playable by next spring, then put 9 more in perhaps a year later; leaving dirt pads at first and then perhaps in a third year put in concrete pads.

Of course, a strong local group supporting this will help a lot. We've started a subgroup of the Ann Arbor club as a Yahoo! Group callled YpsiDisc (http://sports.groups.yahoo.com/group/ypsidisc/?yguid=1695393). Please join it if you want to be part of the local core.

I took a few pics, but won't have time right away to post them on line.

there can only be one true and great "waterworks" course, and thats in KC. better rename it guys.

[terrycalhoun]

The a3disc board of directors is voting right now by email on whether or not to invest $2k toward a course in Ypsilanti. If you care about this strongly, reach out and let a board member know how you feel!

[terrycalhoun]

The Ann Arbor Club (a3disc) board has approved the purchase of nine (9) Chainstars and gear for use at the course being planned for Waterworks Park in Ypsilanti.

[terrycalhoun]

Pad and I are walking through Waterworks Park tomorrow morning, Saturday, to begin the first look at where the holes might be.

[terrycalhoun]

Please join the YpsiDisc Yahoo! Group to stay more closely connected with the development of this course: http://sports.groups.yahoo.com/group/ypsidisc/. - in fact, there is a PDF document with the first draft of the course design marked up there for members of the group to see right now.

Jason Wicha tells me that he will be having a meeting with some other Ypsilanti staff this week to check that the area we are using with the first cut at the design of this new nine-hole course is okay. He does not foresee any problems.

He then expects to get his proposal whipped up and presented to the Ypsilanti City Council some time within March. Once they approve, also very likely, then the course can start getting put into the ground.

Since a3disc is purchasing the baskets and the clearing of the wooded areas will be done by volunteers during a working weekend, and given that the tee areas will be natural, at least for this year, we could see this course playable as early as some time in April!

The current design includes one par 4 hole that is 750' in length and two holes that bring a large pond into play. It's a good mix of open holes and woods, and it's so close to downtown Ypsilanti that it is amazing. There is lots of parking and also a small pavillion.

[scottcwhite]

I love the location of this course... The summer evening rounds will be followed by a visit to the 10th Hole otherwise known as Sidetrack Bar and Grill in Depot Town.

[cyferban]

The course is proceeding on a good path. i spoke with jason via email this past week and he told me the union has approved use of volunteers to clear brush on the course. the next steps for jason is to approach the rec department and the city council about this venture. I believe Jason has the DPW approved to supply the concrete necessary to plant the baskets, the next step is to approach or get it on the agenda in front of the city council. once that is done hopefully I or somebody from A3 disc or some other publicly speaking inclined individual can make a presentation to the city council that Disc Golf is not a niche sport or somehow small in any way. I am willing if my schedule allows it to attempt this speaking engagement but Terry Calhoun, if he is willing and available, might be better for the job, or perhaps somebody else. It might be nice to get some disc golfers to show up for the meeting once it is scheduled. Even if you don't live in Ypsi., the more courses we have in the area the better!!!
More importantly when this venture passes city council we will really be needing volunteers to help clear the brush at this site 10+ people would be excellant, this will be in the spring of course. The more volunteers the quicker this course will get in the ground and the quicker it can be played. The long range goal here is for concrete tees and possibly 18 holes. the tees might not happen until late this year or next year and 18 holes somewhere after that. Think big and long term and we could have a course in Ypsi.
We have also talked about using large rocks as tee signs, so if you have access to some rocks in the 50-100# range keep us in mind.

Support Disc Golf

[NewDude]

I would be happy to help clear brush when the time comes.

[terrycalhoun]

I would be happy to help clear brush when the time comes.



Then be sure to join the Yahoo! Group - Ypsi Disc: http://sports.groups.yahoo.com/group/ypsidisc/ - to be notified about opportunities.

[thetruthxl]

there can only be one true and great "waterworks" course, and thats in KC. better rename it guys.



Not this guy again. :mad:

[terrycalhoun]

Pad and I have been out to the park a couple of times and are getting a better idea of holes.

Warning: When we were out there last week, about 6:15 pm as we were leaving, a group of guys in a beat-up old car attempted to rob Pad.

I do not recommend going to that park to look around on your own.

[terrycalhoun]

The Ypsilanti disc golf course at Waterworks Park, in memory of Gordy, is officially approved by city council. Plan on a course clearing work day on May 19. (See below.) Baskets are being purchased by a3disc from tournament proceeds: This is what disc golf is all about!

If you want to stay more closely connected with the volunteer efforts, join the YpsiDisc Yahoo! Group: http://sports.groups.yahoo.com/group/ypsidisc/.

From Jason Wicha, City of Ypsilanti staff person:


Hey Guys,

I wanted to let everyone know that Council unanimously passed the disc golf resolution last night! It's been a long time coming since our first walk-through of the park last summer, but the course is finally a reality.

With Council passing yesterday's resolution, the next step is rallying the troops for our May 19th volunteer date. This should give Pad and Terry plenty of time to mark the course first, plus that day is "Pride Day" in Ypsi, which made it easier to get Union compliance for so many volunteers coming in to work on city-owned property.

I hope to see as many of you out there as possible, and
please spread the word to anyone else you know who may be able to make it. Even if you can only make it for an hour or two, every extra set of hands helps.

Thanks again to all of you for expressing interest in a disc golf course in Ypsi, and I hope you're as excited as I am to finally get this course in the ground!

Jason

[tacimala]

That is great news, congrats!

[tommyb]

Everyone remember to mark May 19 on your calander. I cant wait to start getting this in the ground. Thanks to Terry and Pad and anyone else involved for all the hard work.

[terrycalhoun]

Here's an Ann Arbor News article from Thursday, April 26:
http://sports.groups.yahoo.com/group/ypsidisc/

[terrycalhoun]

Here's another article, this one from Sunday, April 29:
http://www.mlive.com/news/annarbornews/i...&thispage=1 (http://www.mlive.com/news/annarbornews/index.ssf?/base/news-4/1177830780266110.xml&coll=2&thispage=1)

Save that May 19 date!

[DSproAVIAR]

Sunday April 29th (http://www.mlive.com/annarbor/stories/index.ssf?/base/news-0/1177829977266110.xml&coll=2)

I believe this one was also in the news yesterday.

There should be an article about Loco at the Mills in the sports section today.

[terrycalhoun]

I hope everyone is planning to spend part or all of the day helping us clear the fairways for the new course in Ypsilanti on Saturday.

The baskets will be put in during the following week or two.

We need lots of people with hand tools - clippers and saws - plus wheelbarrows, etc.

Count on being there for one or both session(s): 10-1 and 2-5. Yes, if you want to show up and start at 8, and then work all day, you can!

[terrycalhoun]

What an exhausting day. Typing from the precarious edge of my infamous "hot tub," I am thrilled to say that if you so choose, tomorrow, Sunday, May 20, you could go to Waterworks Park in Ypsilanti and play the the new nine hole course, to wooden stakes anyway.

Great turnout, hard work, not sure I will be able to get out of bed tomorrow.

As Ben put it, "most of the holes are different from what I have seen on other courses." (Remember, Ben played 220 courses last summer and has now played about 340 courses.)

Will publicly thank all volunteers when I can. Must acknowledge now Discraft's support of Pad Timmons working with me to design this one, Jason Wicha (Ypsi employee) for the idea and follow through, A3DISC for another one of its 15-year-old efforts to support regional disc golf by purchasing the baskets that will go in (Throwing a tourney is one thing; giving back and investing is yet another!), Side Track Bar & Grill (Matt) support, Sheila & Ben, and many Ypsi staffers who worked far beyond their requirements today to help us out.

You are going to like this course. Half in the woods; half in the open - right off the freeway (GoogleMaps "Gilbert Park"). Evenly balanced LH and RH. Two holes where the Huron River could possibly eat your disc. Some short holes but four over 325' or so. Magnificent trees. :)

[disc13207]

2 rounds played today with portable basket..... 5 people out for first official round! Could not resist after all the hardwork done by volunteers and Ypsi staff yesterday. We finished clearing out hole 4. A little more work overall and this place will rock!!

Great 9 hole course.
Hole 1
550-600 ft hole into the woods. Not an easy 3. Upshot into woods can easily be kicked left or right for a difficult putt.
Hole 2
170 ft anhyzer.... Must duece. Water on left comes into play.
Hole 3
330 ft tree lined fairway, uphill basket. Tough 3. Deuce is possible with great drive(saw two today almost make it up hill). If you get in trouble early, expect a 4
Hole 4
280 ft uphill small hyzer shot for RHBH. Small landing area around pin. Another must deuce for a chance at great score
Hole 5
150ft short hole. Take the Hyzer or straight at it
Hole 6
300 feet to get out of woods the another 100 ft to the left. tough deuce, but a nice putt will earn you a two. A few of us were jump putting for a two
Hole 7
300 Hyzer shot
Hole 8
440 ft. We played road or gravel is OB with drop zone before road. Somebody with a huge arm will deuce this one.
Hole 9
300 low ceiling off the tee.

Tons of fun, challenging, and nice to have. Looking forward to many rounds. Lot's of people out already today playing the stakes. Word has traveled fast.

[terrycalhoun]

:)

[terrycalhoun]

I visited the Discraft HQ today and picked up the baskets for this course, then delivered them to Ypsilanti's Department of Public Works (DPW). (The DPW is incredibly supportive of this course!)

Then Jason Wicha and I briefly walked the course to ensure that the pin placements are clearly marked, since the baskets will probably start going in on Tuesday.

As part of that, I carefully paced off the hole distances (from long tees):

1 = 570 (will be very tough to par)
2 = 180 (deuce or die)
3 = 325 (will be tough to par)
4 = 245
5 = 150 (deuce or die; can in future add second pin placement much longer)
6 = 350 (will be tough to par)
7 = 310
8 = 480 (par-able but difficult if gravel drive at 290' is OB)
9 = 290

Total = 2,900

[ck34]

1 = 570 (will be very tough to par)




By that, I hope you mean tough to get a 4...

[terrycalhoun]

It probably is a Par 4, Chuck, since the approach has a low ceiling near the basket and must be straight on. I just hesitated to call it that. It will take two good drives, the second one coming straight in, to get a 3.

[disc13207]

After you measurement Terry, it looks like my estimations were pretty darn close. I do not work Tuesday afternoon if Jason wants someone out there to watch installation. I will probably go anyway to take some photos.

[wander]

I hope someone has taken the time to let the installation folks know that they should theft-proof the installations as much as possible. I suggest lengths of rebar extending from the cement into the sides of the hole. Makes it much harder to yank the basket out. And weld the assemblies together, too. I think that given the frequency of baskets being stolen, these are sensible precautions and far cheaper than buying a replacement or trying to secure them post-installation.

I think this course will get a huge amount of play. Huge. I know a bunch of folks working across the street will be popping in for a round before or after work. Ideal.

Joe

[disc13207]

Terry, could you contact Jason and let him know. I would be extremely worried about hole 7 basket being so close to the road.

.\\att .\\onczka

[terrycalhoun]

When I dropped the baskets off, the DPW staff said the very first thing that would happen would be the welding. And even before I mentioned it, at the first meeting I had with the DPW folks, they were already on top of the rebar thing. :)

[wander]

Excellent news. I'm not happy that theft of public property is reality, but its nice the DPW folks will deal effectively with installation.

Thanks for the feedback.

Joe

[disc13207]

As baskets will be installed this week at Waterworks, the Ypsilanti Disc Golf Club will begin weekly doubles play beginning Tuesday, June 26th at ROLLING HILLS round will begin at 6:15. League play will be on Tuesday evenings, and will alternate between Rolling Hills and Waterworks park on a weekly basis. When at Waterworks, a round will 2x9 holes.

Points will be kept based on your finishes with year end prizes. More details to come about the league at first meeting or sooner.

Doubles will be $5 PRO/AM random draw with anyone able to participate no matter what the skill level.

Also looking for Ypsi club members who would like to begin forming a team to compete in match play with other clubs around the area.
A3, 101, Cass, Kensington, Ypsi, K-Aces, Club Dead, Motor City and many more!!!

[DSproAVIAR]

I think the inaugural Lake Michigan Team Invitational will be held this fall... Match Play team event.

[disc13207]

Count Ypsi in, and will be willing to host an event at Rolling Hills.

[DSproAVIAR]

I don't really have any details, I think Sarah Demar is organizing it. HOAR?

[scottcwhite]

No details yet, still in planning stage...

[janttila]

I think the inaugural Lake Michigan Team Invitational will be held this fall... Match Play team event.



L.M.T.I. = G.L.T.I. I think I like it :cool:

[disc13207]

Maybe I can get Great Lakes Brewing Company to kick in some bucks. That is what is on tap in my garage at the moment.

[savard1120]

watch out for the EMDG team of misfits

[ChrisWoj]

The Aces are in. Aces-n-Chains out of Toledo. :)

[disc13207]

Maybe we can get Sarah to give us some info about the match play. Lets start a new thread. I imagine the match play to be over several weeks(like a league) with teams being pros through ams with at least one woman on a team.
2 pro
1 woman
3 am 1
2 am 2 or below
8 person teams or more depending on how we want to set it up. But have teams set up based on ratings.

[terrycalhoun]

Maybe we can get Sarah to give us some info about the match play. Lets start a new thread. I imagine the match play to be over several weeks(like a league) with teams being pros through ams with at least one woman on a team.
2 pro
1 woman
3 am 1
2 am 2 or below
8 person teams or more depending on how we want to set it up. But have teams set up based on ratings.



How about some older guys, unless you want to include Masters and Grand Masters and Senior Grand Masters in the "Am-2 or below" category, which would be a pretty nice boost for the team that gets me :)

[scottcwhite]

The only thing I can say right now is that it will be teams of 7. Men seeded 1-6 and one female. The men can be any combination of Pros/Ams. Only restriction is a team can have a max of two (2) 1000+ rated players.

Date is set for early September, more details to come shortly!!

[dischick]

i thought this was happenin in early october?
so what teams do we already have?

[disc13207]

Ypsilanti is in!!!!!

[ChrisWoj]

Terry - with a 956 rating I'd qualify you as at the advanced level.

[terrycalhoun]

Ben went to Waterworks yesterday and said that the concrete had been poured and the collars were in place. That *probably* means the baskets will get inserted today! :)

[denny1210]

you guyz are killin' me, where are the pictures! :cool:

[disc13207]

Just went out this afternoon. No baskets.....yet. They have laid mulch all over the fairways!!!!! If you come out to play this weekend, bring a rake and spread some mulch, especially around the tee areas. Denny, pictures coming soon.

Remember Ypsi league begins Tuesday, the 26th at Rolling Hills. PRO/AM random doubles with league moving back and forth to Waterworks on alternating weekly basis.

[terrycalhoun]

I went out for a long lunch break, just got back, and put up temporary signage on all nine holes.

The DPW folks have been busy using 'dozers to put wood chips on holes 3, 4, 5, and 6. Very nice! They'll need a little more smoothing, so I second the "bring your rakes" suggestion for this weekend.

As I left, one of the workers was heading to the DPW warehouse to get the baskets and install them into the collars. He expected to be finished before the work day is over! :D

[janttila]

Great to hear Terry! And I'm a little jealous of your lunch breaks :D

[disc13207]

Baskets are in!!!! Took pictures and played some holes with the workers!!! Good work on the signs Terry.

[terrycalhoun]

Sheila and I went to actually play the course with baskets late this afternoon. Tony [don't know his last name] and three other players were finishing a round as we got there. Tony spent time today working on some tee areas, so there is a long and a short tee for every hole now.

As we played, two groups joined in behind us and as we left a 7-some was starting on hole 1. So many cars in the parking lot! Very cool.

[TmaCular]

good to hear terry..i look forward to playing it tomorrow afternoon..2 rounds of nine anyone interested at about 3-5 tomorrow pm me

[TmaCular]

got to play the course today..played first round from shorts shootin a -1 and then a second round from longs shootin -2?? dont know how that happened lol.but a great course in deed with alot of potential good job terry ben and all others!!!

[jfrosty42]

if anyone finds a white star sl on the right side of the fairway in the bushes of hole 4 with my pdga number on it, that'd be greeat. :)

love the course by the way. great work guys!

[scottcwhite]

Here are my initial impressions of the course and each hole rated on a scale of 0-5. Overall I think great job with the property you had to work with.

1: Nice long hole from long tee, I like the basket location. 3/5
2: Short hole, only one route, lots of bottles and garbage on the left side hidden underneath the foliage. 1/5
3: Probably the toughest hole on the course whether you are playing longs or shorts. 3+ routes available, low RHBH annie, low RHBH hyzer, high RHBH annie. Great hole! 4/5
4: Short RHBH hyzer shot with drop off on the left side of the basket. Lots of poison ivey. 2/5
5: Ace run hole from shorts wide open RHBH hyzer. 1/5 From longs tougher and a few routes available 3/5
6: long tight RHBH hyzer from longs around shrubbery on left side. Tough hole and I like it. 4/5
7: easy hyzer shot, either a putter from shorts or mid/fairway friver from long tee. lefties have to go over the baseball diamond. I don't like how the electrical pole and wire supports come into play on this hole. can only assume it was done on purpose to highlight the duality of this particular course - disc golf (an outdoorsy game) mixed with an urban setting. 2/5 ;)
8: loong hole from both teebads. Great basket location. Don't like the landing zone of dirt gravel pit driveway, but only comes into play if you leave the drive short. 3/5
9: nice looking hole with the line of planted trees on the left, RHBH friendly. 3/5

[disc13207]

OB line on 8 will be painted tomorrow. If you land OB on drive, you go to am pad as drop zone.

[terrycalhoun]

Sheila and I played the doubles last night, organized by Matt Monczka. It was great fun. There were cards at -7 and cards at -6, and some others. There were 20 competitors and a bunch of casuals at the same time (random draw, best-shot doubles, pro-am).

Today, Ben and I went out and (a) measured the course with a measuring wheel and (b) added a new long tee (experimental) for Hole 8. The new tee is basically at home plate and is a little longer than the current long tee. It makes the hole far more challenging in terms of the OB for the big-armed throwers. The totals are: short = 2,105, long = 2895 (or 2,965). If you play 9 long and then 9 short, that makes the course either exactly 5,000' in length or 5,070. The precise lengths, hole by hole, are below.

Tony Swofford has been doing yeoman's work on clearing the fairways and spreading chips. When Ben and I were there earlier today, he was working on a new route for the path from the basket on Hole 4 to the tee areas for Hole 5, something that we learned last night was needed as you could step unknowingly into a drive from Hole 5's tee areas when taking the original route.

If you haven't been there recently, someone (not sure who) has marked the gravel on Hole 8 OB with solid lines of paint, turning it into a large island hole. Very challenging.

Suggestion: Try to get people you meet out there to join the Yahoo! Group. It makes organizing things and communicating a whole lot easier!

Coming: I will be away for a week or two but should have some time to design cards for the course while I travel. I will get some printed up before the end of July. Just in case someone wants to work on getting a few course sponsors to contribute for the local efforts, I will ensure that I leave space on the card design for sponsorship recognition.

Here are the current precise distances, hole by hole:

Hole 1
long - 620
short - 300

Hole 2
long - 170
short - 160

Hole 3
long - 300
short - 230

Hole 4
long - 230
short - 180

Hole 5
long - 220
short - 190

Hole 6
long - 320
short - 280

Hole 7
long - 280
short - 200

Hole 8
long - 450
short - 350
from the drop zone - 250
new, experimental long at home plate - 520

Hole 9
long - 305
short - 215

[disc13207]

Here are current and upcoming sponsors.
Current for doubles league

Sidetrack Bar and Grill
Corner Brewery
Happy's Pizza

Potential for doubles league etc
Aubree's Pizza and Tavern
Print Shop-they did a nice job on the cards I had printed
Great Lakes Brewing Comany

[terrycalhoun]

Okay, kul. Check with the print shop, please, about cutting us a deal on the production of a couple thousand scorecards. Maybe they would keep us supplied for their logo, etc., on each card produced?

I will share the specifications once I get a little time to lay them out. I'm taking the train to Chicago tomorrow and might have time on the trip.

[janttila]

I'll be riding the Amtrack to Chicago tomorrow as well Terry. I'm heading out of A2 @ 8am I think. I'll have to double check my tickets and make sure. First train ride ever, I'll be bringing a cooler. :cool:

[tacimala]

Joe if you are here around lunch time, let me know. Unfortunately I have to leave around 4 or 5, but I could meet up for a quick drink around lunch if you are staying in the loop (downtown) area.

[janttila]

Sounds good Taylor. Can you PM me your cell number? I'll give ya a holla when I get to town.

[terrycalhoun]

I'll be riding the Amtrack to Chicago tomorrow as well Terry. I'm heading out of A2 @ 8am I think. I'll have to double check my tickets and make sure. First train ride ever, I'll be bringing a cooler. :cool:



Heck, you must've missed it. I just walked up and down the entire train and didn't see you.

This is so much cooler than flying! (Just crossed into Indiana.)

[terrycalhoun]

Sheila, Ben, and I played a couple of rounds Saturday morning. At first, I thought someone had taken a hatchet to some of the trees. But it looks like one type of tree has very easily peeled bark.

I went back later with some black, ribbed drainage tubing and placed tubing around a couple of trees on Hole 2 and on Hole 5. I left a bunch of tubing at the tee area for Hole 5. My small knife and my hands were not up to more cutting.

It should be obvious which trees need this protection, so if anyone wants to use that tubing a protect some more, please do so. It will probably be two weeks (after Am Worlds) before I have the time to do more.

[disc13207]

Looks like a final course improvement is complete. The current course configuration brings the course to 27 TEE PADS!!!! That is right 27.
Shorts=RED
MID= White
Long=Blues.
The tees are clearly marked,with most painted or yellow ropes as the tee pads which are also painted. Hole 6 from the blue(which is marked with white right now)is incredible!
2 mandos will be marked this week. Hole 1 white, you must play to the left of the big tree in front of pad. Hole 6 will have a mando once it is discussed to eliminate going thru hole 5 tee pad.
This nine hole course has now been turned essentially into a 27 hole monster. Come out for Tuesday doubles and check it out.

[terrycalhoun]

How cool! The 9-hole Bandemer course in downtown Ann Arbor (coming in August) is designed from the beginning to also three tees for each hole. I bet that these will be the only pair like that, that there is, anywhere, and both on the Huron - only a few miles from each other.

[NewDude]

yeah man