On exactly how to go about it.  I'm from Cincinnati, loved Mt. Airy, Harbin Park, and Winton Woods.  Now I live in the West Palm Beach area and there is pretty much nothing in the way of courses.  So I've decided(about an hour ago) that I'm gonna change that.  Anybody on here successfully start a new course?  Was wondering if there was any advice on stuff that I definitely should/should not do as far as trying to get support/funding from the local gov't, ect.

Any advice would be greatly appreciated.

Tony

You could probably find the closest disc golf club in the area from PDGA.com for some help/support.
Course maps can be found under "courses" on this site.
A well written letter to the local park board is a plus, and attending a park meeting is a good idea too.

 
If this club was to charge for course design then it wouldn't be afraid to spend any money the way it does now. There is money to be made in course design but how can a professional(like me for instance) compete with a club that insists on designing courses for free. That's what clubs do "you say" BUT is this the same club that insists that the parks have tons of money and resourses for course improvements and we should let the parks provide materials and man power "cause we don't want to spend our money" and in the end nothing gets done and we're providing free services. I don't get it..... 

Brad, that's all good and everything but on the other hand the club is trying to raise money for tournaments by taking money from the players when it could be making money selling and designing courses and adding that money into the purses. You're making chicken feed when you could be making caviar(you know what I mean).  If I'm wrong on this tell me and I'll shut up.
I don't get the HB thing.

Fred has poured himself into Idlewild (for no compensation) and has been critcized (in the recent past) for trying to motivate others to work on courses - the criticism was...  "Let the parks take care of the courses - it's THEIR job".

Now the talk is that the club should volunteer their time - "The parks have very little resources - we need to help them".

Anyone see the contrast here???
 

Mike, that is something the club could sell to parks, the whole package. We sell them on the disc golf course for a set price and we do all the work and what ever money is left over we donate to a tournament. It's called a contract, play grounds, ball courts etc are done this way why not disc golf courses. In that way the course is done correctly and we don't have to come in and make changes.

It seems like parks need to be sold on the idea of disc golf.  It seems like less of a priority to parks than baseball or soccer.   Baseball and soccer are time tested and seen at every park in my town.  Disc golf is growing but it isn't in the minds of parks developers like the typical activities of a park like playgrounds, soccer, and baseball.  There may come a  day when we can charge a premium to put a course in but right now it doesn't seem like parks are knocking down doors to get courses installed.   Thats my impression anyway.

A quick correction, HB did not design the Mason Course, and have never been to Mason; although I did spend a day driving to Mason's contracted design engineering firm in Cinci and meet with the parks and some of their board, and explained the concept of disc golf, gave them disc and minis, and explained budgets and construction to them.

In trying to promote disc golf as a sport and a facility that is a good addition to communities, I do make alot of these trips that do not pay off, and some one else does the design, sells the baskets and signs, and maybe even does the installation work. I also go to trade shows, make presentations to state and national conferances, and write articals for park publications. Hopefully this will pay dividens for all disc golfers in more and better courses.

But, I do offer design services, sign packages, and complete turn key installations (like Jenny Wiley or Madisonville KY - grand opening this weekend) hiring under employed disc golfers along the way under my liability and workers comp insursnce. And I pay sales comissions to disc golfers that give me referrals that turn into a contract.

There is a place for both volenteer involvement and professional contracts in disc golf courses just as there is in soccer or t-ball. And as most of you know, course installation and maintenance takes alot time and equipment to make a course that players want to return to.

I think the parks employees did it, I guess I am a good teacher!!!

If you build on a college or university campus you will qualify for the Matching Basket program with the PDGA run by another genius course designer (HBnFred) named Pad Timmons. Even Burnet could qualify-or Cincy St.(not much room)   http://www.discgolffoundation.net/baskets.html

The Mason course is pretty nice.  There's a little walking between holes but good hole lengths and use of elevation.  (I think me and Ken were at the same meeting when we asked)  The parks did refer to HB when we asked who designed it.  HB, guess they found enough to go on... 

As to the original question, keep attending the park meetings.  Show them that there's interest and that you are not a one and done visitor.