Course Information Page

[Smokin' Joe]

It's a very sad and unfortunate situation and I hate to be the one, but 'I told you'. This world isn't the same as it once was. (doesn't have to be a disc golfer either, just one who happened to walk by the box and saw a messed up opportunity)

Maybe change the 'kitty' to a sign that reads, 'if you like the course as much as us, please make a cash donation at the front desk upon completing your round', or something to that extent. Place a few of them out there; 1 at the 'kitty', 1 at hole 15 or so, and 1 at the last hole as a reminder.

Sorry for your loss; GOD knows who they are.

I haven't been back to WW in few months, so am looking forward to WHEN I do.

[JimKelly]

I can't even put into words how disappointed I am to hear all this....
1. Disc Golfers breaking into the donation box.
2. Disc Golfers calling people trying to sell them their disc back for 5 bucks that they pulled from the ravine.
3. Disc Golfers who show such blatan disrespect for the property owners rules regarding alcohol on the course.


That sure is crappy, when a certain type of person in our society infiltrates our sport.

Someone robbing a donation box... That would be a thief.

Asking money for a found labeled lost disc. That’s a shady business man.

Drinking on church property where alcohol is prohibited. That would be a jerk.

They just happen to be playing disc golf at the time, they are not Disc Golfers!

They don’t represent Disc Golf, and saying that they are Disc Golfers and not what they are is kind of a negative light on Disc Golf.

[Smokin' Joe]

Originally Posted by JimKelly

I can't even put into words how disappointed I am to hear all this....
1. Disc Golfers breaking into the donation box.
2. Disc Golfers calling people trying to sell them their disc back for 5 bucks that they pulled from the ravine.
3. Disc Golfers who show such blatan disrespect for the property owners rules regarding alcohol on the course.


That sure is crappy, when a certain type of person in our society infiltrates our sport.

Someone robbing a donation box... That would be a thief.

Asking money for a found labeled lost disc. That’s a shady business man.

Drinking on church property where alcohol is prohibited. That would be a jerk.

They just happen to be playing disc golf at the time, they are not Disc Golfers!

They don’t represent Disc Golf, and saying that they are Disc Golfers and not what they are is kind of a negative light on Disc Golf.

AMEN, Brother Jim!

[ChrisMacG]

Originally Posted by tarazarr

I can't even put into words how disappointed I am to hear all this....
1. Disc Golfers breaking into the donation box.
2. Disc Golfers calling people trying to sell them their disc back for 5 bucks that they pulled from the ravine.
3. Disc Golfers who show such blatan disrespect for the property owners rules regarding alcohol on the course.

And this is how they behave on a church course.. It's no wonder is it?

1. Why Disc Golf courses like Oak Meadows become restricted and completely private so quickly.
2. Why HPARD hasn't been a huge supporter of Disc Golf in the past.
3. Why Disc Golf tournments are struggling to find sponsorships and the sport as a whole has stagnated
4. Why Disc Golf can't gain respect in the community.

First let me say that it has been my experience that disc golfers by and large are good folks who don't break the rules. The small group of troublemakers that cause problems are few and far between and not disc golfers. Unfortunately their actions are often seized on to paint all of us as miscreants. We can't let this happen. If you see someone being an ***** on the course call them out on it. Let them know that they need to respect the property and that you'll be watching them. We've had some success at TLV in cutting down trash and driving fast in the park because disc golfers are willing to call people out on being an ***** in the park.

Having said that I don't feel that your lists are an accurate assessment of the situation. From what I've read on this board there has only been speculation that the donation box was broken into by disc golfers; until we know who did it I see no reason that disc golfers need to accept blame. The folks calling and offering to sell discs are obviously not disc golfers anymore than I am a carpenter because I own a hammer. I'd also guess that the people flaunting the no-alcohol policy are also not disc golfers but instead beer drinkers who happen to throw discs.

I guess what I'm saying is that the disc golf community shouldn't be so quick to accept blame for the actions of folks who are not part of the community. Instead we need to be more active in educating casual players about what is acceptable behavior on the course. The folks who are disc golfers are the ones leading by example. The folks causing trouble are not part of the disc golf community.

[ChrisMacG]

Originally Posted by JimKelly

They don’t represent Disc Golf, and saying that they are Disc Golfers and not what they are is kind of a negative light on Disc Golf.

That's a much more succinct way to put what I was trying to say.

[tarazarr]

I know most of the people on this board and I know they are respectful, good people... But that's me..

View it from the other perspective for a moment... The general public who is paying a hefty price to have their children in school at Windwood and the church member who has never once thrown a disc......

They are pulling into the parking lot to pick up their kids from school and they slow down to let "a disc golfer" cross in front of them headed to the course carrying a six pack of beer.....

They are pulling into the church to attend a meeting and again they slow down to let a "disc golfer" cross, carrying a six pack of beer.....

We could debate the phylosophical "who's a true disc golfer and who isn't" all day long..... and in the end, the church member and parent paying the tuition will call it for what it is... "a disc golfer" A person who is there to play disc golf....

What I'm saying, is regardless of whether or not you accept them into your inner circle as a "true disc golfer" or not, we are going to lose a very fine course if we look the other way....

If we aren't willing to stand up and put a stop to it....trust me, they will..

It's no threat, that's the reality of the situation..

I'm not calling anyone out on this board for their behavior...I'm calling ON you to protect your course before we lose it... big difference

[tarazarr]

Originally Posted by bmugwump

Maybe a "season pass" is in order....it would help raise funds & I doubt if the kind of idiots that broke into the donation box would want to pay it! I'm sure most of the "good" batch of players would be happy to pay 20 or 25 bucks for a yearly pass! Sad, sad, sad.....

You know Billy...That may not be a bad idea really....

I'm sure it's never been the churches intent to make anything from Windwood...But if charging for an annual pass, that you might have to surrender, is the only way encourage those who can't follow a simple rule, to move on to a place where they can freely drink beer and play, maybe it's better than losing the course completely...

It's the active disc golf communtiy, who's out there every week doing the best job they can to grow this sport that suffers when we let others ruin all the hard work.

Interesting idea.. maybe
church members get an annual pass
those who sponsored a box get an annual pass
Since HFDS sponsored a box, current members of HFDS get an discounted rate...

Maybe it's a way to hold people who throw discs accountable for their behavior on a course... I'm not for it.... but I'm really not for losing a great course by individuals who do not represent the hard working, active, disc golf community...

(trying my best to be positive...)

[ChaseTheAce]

Soooooooo if there is currently no patrolling of the course now, how will charging for a season pass make it better? Then you just encourage those to break the rules, sneak in, and play illegally. Sounds like more harm than help.

[tarazarr]

You might encourage them, but I wouldn't .. No more than I would encourage anyone to sneak into a texans game, disney world, or Spring Valley

[FlyinBryan]

Regardless if they were disc golfers it was theft and vandalism.

In the few months I've been helping maintain the Northside DGC I've seen some less than reputable characters out for a disc toss and blowing off steam in the afternoons, probably after work. Definitely not enthusiasts or serious disc golfers. They litter blatantly while right next to a trash can and have even dug ruts in the overflow gravel parking lot by spinning donuts with their pickups and other small occurances of vandalism. I think this is the same bunch that took a dump on the #1 fairway and beside our equipment shed as well. I had words with one bunch a couple weeks ago and they haven't been back. At least that I've seen. I hope they didn't just migrate to Windwood. Sorry Doug if this is the case but I had to give them the "welcome to play all you like and we want you to enjoy the property but please act in a mature manner or don't come back" speech. I suspect it may be the same rowdy bunch of late teenagers in pickups. They usually play in a "gang" of between 6 to 9 and have to be local to the north side. This group are probably the same bandits that blatantly grabbed and ran off with one of JimK's discs a few weeks ago. They probably have my brand new Wraith I lost at Windwind as well. Punks.......

We, as a community, have to self police these open volunteer courses. I know we want to be all inclusive but bad seeds will exclude us all if we don't take care of business. If you see something going wrong and something needs to be said, have words with the offenders. I know confrontation is uncomfortable but do what you know to be right in the least confrontational way you can.
As the quote goes "Evil prevails when good men do nothing".

Note: For those that play the northern courses, if you see a somewhat rowdy bunch of late teenagers (probably in pickups) just follow them one hole back to keep an eye on them. Keeps them looking over their shoulder.
Or, wait for them in the parking lot and get tag numbers off their vehicles if they commit a crime.

Sorry for the long post. I needed to rant..... /rant off...