Tendick Park Pay to Play

[amdiscgolfer]

Hello all,

The OZaukee Disc Golf Club needs SERIOUS Feedback!!!!

The Ozaukee County parks Department has made the decision to go forward with making Tendick Park pay to play. Anyone who has played at Token Creek knows what a course that should be pay to play looks like. Not saying that Tendick Park does not have the potential to be a great course or of the caliber of "Pay to Play" status. What we are saying is that the course is not ready now!

We (the OZDGC) need serious feedback on both sides of this topic so we can go to the upcoming board meeting to ensure that all sides have been represented fairly.

Please provide your feedback on this topic!!!!

[superberry]

NO!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! !!!!

It's not of the same caliber/quality as other pay to play courses. Don't get me wrong, I really like the wooded holes. and the course setting is very nice. But the county better be prepared to foot the entire bill (not the OZDGC) for concrete pads, elevated tee and pin areas, landscaping, maybe expanding the pond into a cool water hazard hole with a creek or fountain or something.

I suppose though that they'll have to look fairly at all other Ozaukee Co parks. If therer are fees for boat launches, dog parks, bike trails, ski trails, etc, then it's only fair. It will be a "pay to play within a Co park" fee though, not a "pay to play this awesome course that we put a ton of effort into, and all proceeds".

It would be a shame, but a $3 fee (or annual) pass is all too common nowadays for counties, and too often it goes more into their general revenue fund and not directly into the course.

[markpeterson]

hey superberry,it's not adisc golf only park,don't get to greedy. That area is growing rapidily and park users must share it. Any time something is added to a old park that brings new people to it ,the people who were already using it say "why are those people in MY park?"That entire park was donated by one family.Don't start telling them what they better be prepared to do.Nothing good will come from it.If you guys have put a ton of money and work inyo it ,ask for a free year or two pass for those most deserving.Or maybe a sign commemerating the work you guys did, or a couple of tee signs. shark

[markpeterson]

Hey guys Thats the choice of the people incharge. Work with them to see if it will lead to more courses/improvements ect. Twelve years ago Dretzka was very close to being pulled permanently because of mud,abuse to trees, and many other things.Not alot of people ever new this.I took it upon myself to change this.I worked with the parks dept. to fix these problems ,earn their trust and now it is one of the best places to golf in the midwest. My point is disc golf at their park is a priviledge ,not a right, no matter how much work has been done by individuals or clubs.They must have a reason for their actions( money,behavior,improvements, or ???).If your a diehard ,an annuall pass won't matter, if your a problem you will probably go some where else because you don't take the game seriously enough to want to pay every time you play. Heritage trails is very under used because of pay to play. I kinda like going there in the summer and not seeing 12 people per hole. If their mind is set ,go with them, not against them because you can only lose the thing you care about most,the course. Just my opinion. Good luck, shark.

[Karma Police]

Well said.

[superberry]

Jeff, how about a little more background? Or PM shark, terry, and other guys who can provide some personal testimony. I'd be glad to as well, but Winter Park is still fairly underused because of the only 11 holes. I'll help if I can.

Shark, there wasn't enough info really. He said "pay to play" which to me doesn't include the walkers, dog park, and other park users. Pay to PLAY means disc golf, so the revenue should go directly into disc golf. But if it is a $3 fee for use of the park and walkers and doggers alike will be paying it, then I'd say there is no use at all battling the decision. That's why I ask if the other County parks, trails, boat landings, etc also have a fee for their use and help with upkeep. Around Kewaunee Co their is no fee for anything, so if Winter Park was pay to play, all the money collected would be purely for disc golf. We shouldn't stand back as some kind of second rate sport, collect money from players on the course, and then not put the money right back into the course. That promise was made with Token Creek and you see how the course has flourished! If revenue is generated spcifically from people playing disc golf, it's only fair to put it back in.

I totally agree that battling the Co if they have made up their mind will only result in loss of privelages as well as quality. I don't mind Co park fees or pay to play courses at all, but the course had better be worth it - Standing Rocks (co fee), Tower Ridge (co fee), Token (course fee). With Elver, Heistand, Baraboo all so close to Token there is definitely stiff competition, but Token still thrives at $5 a day! It's only becuase of the dedicated funds and resources put right into the beautiful course.

[ck34]

BTW, all of your Park Directors should be receiving their NRPA magazine with article right now which addresses some pay-for-play ideas and even quotes Darren Marsh, the county Park Director overseeing Token. www.nrpa.org/content/default.aspx?documentId=507 (http://www.nrpa.org/content/default.aspx?documentId=507)

[superberry]

Thanks for the link Chuck!

[klemrock]

Happy Birthday, Jeff!

My 2 cents:
Pay to play is not a bad thing, necessarily.

The Saukville Parks Dept should realize some things like:
-when folks pay to play, they expect a higher level of course maintenance
-the type of players on the course will experience a partial shift from casual hackers to a more responsible breed, meaning there should be less damage to the course and less wear/tear/erosion, etc.
-at least part of the money collected should be earmarked for course improvements

These things are fairly obvious. But one thing I've learned over the years is that park district personnel need to be guided - through education, not confrontation.

Good luck!

[bboedeker]

Klemrock (& Mark) have it right... but so do others who say Tendick isn't of high enough caliber (yet) to be forking over money to play it. I'll likely be going elsewhere if it happens.

[amdiscgolfer]

Thanks, Klem!

What has been explained to us so far is that Disc Golf will be the only thing charged for "Pay to Play" the dog walkers, Cross Country Track and anything else that goes on out at the course will not be assessed a fee.

I agree that if the course is worthy of Pay to Play status then it should be indeed pay to play. Tendick has the potential to be a pay to play course but not at this time, unless we were to get major donations from businesses around the park (which the OZDGC has been working on) to generate the funds to get the teepads, multiple placements, elevated greens, landscape changes etc.

Token Creek and Standing Rocks are two examples of Courses that are Quality "NO PROBLEM PAYING TO PLAY" courses.

[klemrock]

Actually, I would have no problem with Tendick going P-T-P; each change in its evolution has been a positive upgrade. But if dg is the only activity being charged for, that money (or most of it) had better be going back into the course. If not, player response will probably be negative.
Chuck's link above is a good one; the Illinois Park District Association had a similarly good article back in June of 2003 (I think); if I can find a copy, I'll contact you.

[tkieffer]

I stopped by Tendick this morning at 8:00 for a couple of rounds. Threw in -11F and 20 mile an hour winds, and had a blast. Tendick has come a long way from what it was last time I've been there. I'd like to send out a 'Nice job' to everyone out there and the Ozaukee Club, and plan on getting back sooner next time!

As for it being pay to play, hey at least they have the new bathroom and water facilities (I'm assuming these are open during the summer). That gives the course a leg up on many in Wisconsin, and if the money is going to maintain the building, I'm willing to kick in!

Being a Packer fan, pardon me for extending out the required 'Go Colts" at this time!