Improving the Course

[bettercounsel]

Recent History

While the recent history of disc golf course development in the Houston area has been characterized by growth, there has been a degradation of some of the courses in the City of Houston, proper, and The Mozola Course has diminished with the recent installation of the skate-park, e.g. the loss of the old hole #1 and the modification of old #9 to insure nine baskets. HFDS conducted an emergency meeting last summer at the Mozola course to address the challenges and opportunities of the the skate-park and to receive input from the disc golf community. The following were the desired paths for going forward by those present:

(1) consider expansion to 18 baskets by using the Eleanor Tinsley Park on the south side of the Bayou; (2) consider expansion further along the hike and bike path into the Glenwood Tributary area (across the Bayou from the police officer's memorial); and (3) consider some other redesign of the nine hole course to seek to maintain the quality of the course.

Current Circumstances

There is a consensus that without a footbridge connecting the area near the current hole #4's tee-box to the south-side of the bayou, expansion of the course to the south-side of the Bayou is not feasible. Recently, the Rice Design Alliance (RDA) partnered up with the Buffalo Bayou Partnership to have another competition called "Stirring Up Buffalo Bayou", whereby design teams present their ideas to RDA with the winner getting the funding to do the project. One of the past RDA competitions resulted in a foot-bridge being built across the bayou near Bagby Street. The competition is this weekend. Here is the link:
http://rda.rice.edu/index.php?topgro...=41&groupid=81
It might result in a foot-bridge near the Mozola Course.

Successful efforts have been made to raise the level of communications between HFDS and Houston Parks & Rec. regarding disc golf. HFDS has increased its volunteer efforts by participating in an adopt a spot program with the Buffalo Bayou Partnership. HFDS has agreed to perform 4 workdays to beautify the areas near the course at Glenwood Tributary with an eye toward expanding in this area. Two of the work days have been performed and we expect that two more shall be scheduled between now and January 2009. In January, more than 30 volunteers attended a workday to clear litter and conduct repairs on the course. In addition, HFDS coordinated with Houston Parks and Rec. and Houston Birdshot in the temporary basket course expansion of July 12th. Houston Parks & Rec. is attentive and wants to receive proposals and input from disc golfers about course improvement and expansion to create a greater interaction with the disc golf community. HFDS seeks involvement of the disc golf community to promote these ends.

HFDS has discussing expansion of the course along the north side of the Bayou and is working with Houston Parks & Rec. in formulating an expansion. Houston Parks and Rec has been receptive and encouraging. Recently, Glenwood Cemetery has taken efforts to install a fence in the Glenwood Tributary area, making clear where Glenwood contends the property line ends. This does decrease the amount of land that was believed to be available in the Glenwood tributary area and renders moot the last discussed design for 18 along the North Side of Buffalo bayou. However, there may still be sufficient space in the Glenwood Tributary area for at least approximately 4 quality holes.

Some Ideas

(1) Concrete/cement tee-boxes - Something that has been needed for a while and HFDS is discussing this with the city currently.

(2) All Double-chain Baskets - It appears it would be easy enough to install double chains to those baskets that are currently lacking.

(3) Modification - Now that the dust has settled on the skate-park, people have asked the following questions, among others: Can we modify the current course? If a hole is installed on the plateau near the current #1 and #2 with basket near the big Oak Tree can we bring back the old number 9? Would this necessitate the modification of the current hole #1 and #2 to maintain flow? Can we place the basket for the current number 7 further back and up the hill more, now that we know where the margins are for the skate-park?

(4) Expansion - Some say if expansion to a good 18 hole course is not feasible, then keep it a good 9 hole course, only. Some have stated that the course should be expanded with any additional quality holes, even if less than 18. What about the possibility of an "A, B, C and/or D" optional holes near the Glenwood Tributary, which would not interfere with the existing course? If we have 4 additional quality holes set up and the footbridge comes in, perhaps we would be poised to expand to a quality 18 hole course. Some have suggested looking to expand the course further along the North Side of Buffalo Bayou past the Glenwood tributary area where the hike and bike path goes under Memorial for approximately 800 ft.

(5) A Complete Re-design - To those making this suggestion, you are encouraged to make proposals and obtain support for those ideas. If it is a good idea it is likely to be approved by HFDS and proposed to Parks & Rec.

Where Do We Go From Here?

Regarding improvement, it seems we should move forward in the near term on seeking improvements and modifications of the 9 hole course. This can proceed independently of any efforts to expand the course.

In light of the recent Glenwood Cemetery fence line, analysis of the feasibility of expansion of the course along the North Side of the Bayou should be discussed and debated by the disc golf community to develop a consensus.

My Opinions/Agenda

I am an amateur player that lives near the course and I would like to see it expanded. I am in favor of adding additional quality holes. I would like to see some modifications to the 9 hole course, like the idea of putting a hole on the plateau by the big oak tree in order to bring the old hole #9 back. I also like the idea of changing the pin placement of hole #7 in an effort to make it a little longer and more difficult. I believe that at some point a foot-bridge will go into the park. I believe that the disc golfers should be poised for an expansion to 18 holes when the inevitable foot-bridge is built, and I am of the opinion that installation of an A,B,C and/or D holes helps toward that end.

Your Opinions

Since the message board now has a polling capability. Please anticipate polls on this website asking for your opinions on some of these issues in the near future so that a consensus can be formed in the Houston Area disc golf community.

[scoot_er]

So basically there isn't room and it will stay 9 holes? I was wondering how they expected to put in 9 holes past the bridge with so little room.

[bettercounsel]

Absent a feasible expansion of an additional 9 quality holes on the North Side of the Bayou, it will most likely be that the course will remain a 9 hole course with alternate tees.

The current question, which I unsuccessfully tried to make a poll, is whether efforts should be made to add some additional holes like holes A, B & C at MacGregor. I am in favor of an A, B C and/or D near the Glenwood Tributary that one could play in addition to the current 9, but only if the holes were quality holes. Many people I have spoken to have said that additional quality holes are desired even if less than an additional 9. I also believe that anything less than an 18 hole expansion should not disrupt the current 9 hole with alternates layout.

I agree with you that absent a quality 18 hole course we should keep the quality 9 hole course that we do have, but I also think that there is an opportunity to keep our 9 hole course the way it is and also add some optional holes in the Glenwood Tributary area without undermining the quality of the current 9 hole course. It would create an additional option, like A, B & C at MacGregor.

[bettercounsel]

In response to your question whether there is room, without some creativity and seeking additional park space under and or beyond the second overpass at the far end of the prairie near the Glenwood Tributary, probably not. However, I am a glass have full kind of guy, and I am not ruling out the possibility that someone could come up with a creative design that would meet the requirement of quality holes. Perhaps someone can create a design for hole or two under or the second over-pass creating (If Tom bass can have a Dragon Hole perhaps Mozola can have a Dungeon Hole). Last night after the Wednesday MacGregor League someone was describing such an idea, but I was unable to visualize it.


I am certain that additional study and significant creativity is required before an expansion for an additional 9 quality holes on the north side of the bayou would be feasible.

[bmugwump]

By the way....in all of the hubbub after the tournament Saturday, I forgot but had certainly intended to give a big THANK YOU to Richard Fason for assisting Birdshot this past weekend. It could not have happened without his efforts & especially his help on tournament day...thanks for walking the course one more time & picking up all the flags, man! You are the DUDE!

[bettercounsel]

After careful consideration, I believe one way to modify the course for the least amount of work and increasing the distances the most is to make the course a better nine hole course by relocating the current tee box and basket for #4 to the area near the Glenwood Tributary and also by creating a new #5 and #6 in the Glenwood Tributary area from the the current basket #6 and #8. This would make the current #6 tee throw to the current #7's basket (which we could also move up the hill 15') and also bringing back old #9, This way the three smallest holes would be relocated and as a result 3 holes 400' or over would be a part of the 9 course.

[LOU18132]

Do it !!!!!

[derek]

Good plan Richard, I agree. A strong 9 hole with good alternates is probably best for the land available. The question of where the course should start is probably the main question??? My vote is for starting where current hole #9 basket is, right at the bottom of those stairs.

[derek]

This weekend would be a good time for the workday because of the cold front.

[LOU18132]

I would be in favor of concrete tee boxes, could you keep them from washing away on the lower side of the course with every flood? They might just become another wier in the bayou.