2016 PDGA Am & Jr Disc Golf Worlds Courses
Update Monday, July 11th: Please see announcement concerning course rules changes that were not included in the published course maps & rules below.
The preliminary rounds will be held at five courses in Greater Madison. Three of the courses have 18 holes and two have 27 holes for a total of 108 holes of competition before the cut to the semifinals and finals. Everyone will play each course once during the preliminary rounds except for those in divisions that play 72 holes during the prelims.
Elver Park
1234 McKenna Blvd.
Madison, WI, 53719
Opening in 1992 on Madison’s west side, Elver Park was the area's first disc golf course. Elver is a classic parkland course that winds its way up, over, around and back down a large hill with approximately 100 feet of elevation change. It has a balanced mix of open and heavily wooded holes. The signature hole is #18, Madison's version of the "Top of the World" shot. Four holes have been either renovated or completely redesigned in the last couple of years, so make sure you get a practice round in even if you have played the course on earlier trips to Madison. The original baskets have recently been replaced with new red DGA Mach V Baskets. The Elver Park DGC was designed by Disc Golf Hall of Fame member "Duster" Don Hoffman.
Hiestand Park
141 Wittwer Rd
Madison, WI 53714
Madison's second course opened in 1998 at Hiestand Park on Madison’s east side. Known by some locals as "Radar Hill" for the Air Force radar unit that used to be where holes #8-10 are. This is another classic parkland course, with a mix of rolling open and wooded holes, and is a little longer than Elver. Everyone will have a chance to air it out on hole #3, while some tighter wooded fairways await throughout the back two-thirds of the course. As with Elver Park, the baskets at Hiestand have also been replaced with new red DGA Mach V Baskets.
Vallarta-Ast DGC at Token Creek County Park
6200 Williamsburg Way
DeForest, WI 53532
Token Creek or “VA” as it is known by some locals, is the area's "country club" course. The original 18 holes opened in 2001 as one of the first public pay-to-play courses in existence. The course has been very well maintained from the start, with trees and/or natural prairie areas defining fairways on each hole. The course was expanded to 27 holes in 2012. While most of the original 18 holes are fairly wooded, the newest nine are more open, with a few holes that let the bigger arms show off. However, the signature hole may very well be one of the shortest. #22 is wide open and barely over 250 feet from the long tees, but features a unique island green ringed by boulders that is approximately the size of the 10 meter putting circle. There is also a circle of tree trunks surrounding the basket. Since the new nine will also serve as the site of the Finals, this hole could make or break some championship dreams.
Bird's Ruins DGC at Charles Langer Family Park
860 Canal Rd.
Marshall, WI 53559
One of the area's newest courses, Bird's Ruins opened as an 18-hole course in 2011, and was expanded to 27 holes in 2016. The course has rolling terrain with some heavily wooded holes, but also features many open prairie holes bounded by some of the most brutal "rough" you'll ever see on a disc golf course. While the course has some of the longest holes in the area, there are some great short holes, including a relatively open shot to an elevated basket built on top of a wooden pyramid.
Capital Springs DGC at Lake Farm County Park
3220 Lake Farm Rd.
Madison, WI 53711
The newest course used for the tournament, the Capital Springs DGC opened in 2013 as the second course in the Dane County Parks system. As with Vallarta-Ast at Token Creek, the grounds are well-maintained with a ball golf course feel. However, while Token Creek is generally flat, Capital Springs features rolling terrain with many holes that have 15 to 30 feet of elevation change. This course is also much more open with only one wooded section, while most holes are lined by prairie. Capital Springs is also the most exposed to the wind, which combined with the elevation changes, can make it difficult to control your shots. If the wind is calm, you'll need to shoot a low score to keep pace.
Semifinals
Semifinals will be played on Saturday morning at Bird's Ruins DGC (using only 18 holes), Hiestand Park, and holes #1-18 at the Vallarta-Ast DGC at Token Creek County Park. All divisions that have a minimum of 16 players will have a cut to the semis with the top competitors playing in a semifinal.
Finals
Finals will take place on Saturday morning and afternoon on holes #19-27 at the Vallarta-Ast DGC at Token Creek County Park. This nine-hole loop is very spectator-friendly and we are expecting a big crowd to cheer on the finalists. All divisions that have four to seven players will advance two competitors to the finals. All divisions that have eight or more players will advance four competitors to the finals.
