I am laying out a temporary course at a local State Park for an Ice Bowl event. The park is deserted in wintertime (actually most of the time, thus the desire to incorporate disc golf and try to get some interest) so they are letting us put some holes down in their day-use area. My question is how to play the picnic table area?
I have been out there LOTS of times, as it is close to my house, and have never seen anyone on the tables that will be in our fairways, so I am not worried about endangering anyway (temp course, so we'll move a hole if needed), but I would like to play the picnic table foundations as either Buncr's or as OB. They are sand filled squares, made of railroad ties, approximately 15'x15'. There are, at most, 2 in play on one hole, and that hole length is 315'. The other 2 holes where they come into play are no longer, and only have 1 table in them.
What would be the best play on these? Buncr rule, where if you land in them you take a straight line back out of them and play on (no penalty, other than lost distance), or OB (like a water hazard) and go straight line behind and lose a stroke? There is really no other "risk" to these holes, as they are wide open land.

Ideas, feelings?

Are the picnic tables still in the sand pits or are they gone for the season? If the picnic tables are there, I would have players play the shot where it lands including giving them the option to play from the table top if they land under one and wished to mark directly above on the table or bench (assuming the benches are sturdy enough).

If the tables are gone, I would play them as OB as long as players can see the 15x15 areas from the tee.

They are still there, and that would make it fun. They are new metal tables, so no problem on sturdiness. Iwas just gonna use it to add some new element to it, and provide some "trouble" spot on a few open holes.

Depending on where they are in relation to the basket, it seems like 15x15 is a pretty small, random O.B. I'm inclined to think a Buncr would be more appropriate. Or inbounds, as obstacles creating awkward lies.

Was hoping there was some other choice besides the 2 stated...but, as you see, there's a bit of 'chiming in' for this third (neither).
"As is" is always preferable unless there are safety factors involved (as this should be the only reason (IMO) to NOT 'play it where it is').
And as David said, beware of the "randomness" that OB can produce.

Karl

i'm not a fan of random O/B. A well-designed hole should incorporate O/B in a purposeful and deliberate manner.

The use of O/B should be reserved for errant shots or for landing areas that a designer wants to define as O/B because they are attempting to force a certain risk vs reward decision, or alternatively because the designer wants to force a specific kind of shot or play on the hole.

If you were to define your picnic table area directly on a line with the fairway and the pin as O/B it should only be done if it forces a player to decide if they should lay up short of the area or attempt to throw over it. An area 15' x 15" is so small that one cannot predict with any great degree of certainty if landing in that area is a result of randomness or a bad throw so it doesnt seem to fit into the risk vs reward arena.

I'd therefore conclude it should be a bunCR.

Thanks everyone. I really had planned to play it as is, but when setting it up and looking over the layout I had a comment made that I was "obviously" going to play all picnic tables and walkways as OB, even though they are throughout the fairways, and I know there will be no one there. I hated it to be OB and cost a stroke for "bad luck", thus the question about the BunCR rule. I am not that familiar with it, but it sounded better than OB, but still not as good as just "play it". :)
I think I'll go with play it where it lands. Sounds more fun and interesting, for an Ice Bowl.

I agree, play it as it lays. Even if you have to throw it off big franknstines fat foot, or you have a tv tower blocking your shot! ;) I bet that would make a good ending to a movie!