Devens - The Hill: Devens, MA

Rick Hobbs · Post by **Rick Hobbs** » Fri Oct 28, 2005 12:37 pm

Sounds like a plan. I'll try to confirm by Saturday night.

John Borelli · Post by **John Borelli** » Sun Oct 30, 2005 11:40 pm

Thanks Pete T and Rick H for helping out with layout this morning. I appreciate the fresh pair of eyes. :shock:

Any luck finding a hole for 8 and 9?

Everyone else, for updated news and pix click my signature below or go here: http://devensdiscgolf.blogspot.com/

Rick Hobbs · Post by **Rick Hobbs** » Mon Oct 31, 2005 9:42 am

John, Pete and I picked out some possible locations for 8 and 9. We had some discussion between ourselves over the pros and cons, but it's not easy to look at fairly thick woods and come up with a DG course. I'm not claiming to be an expert because I'm still new to the sport.
The upside and downside of Shepley Hill is that there are a lot of rock outcroppings and rapid elevation changes. This makes for interesting terrain to play on, but also makes for tough footing in some areas. We'll need to borrow some knowledge from people that work on hiking trails.
A lot depends on how much clearing we'll be allowed to do. There is potential for longer-driving holes because the more mature trees are spaced apart fairly widely.
I have all the GPS coordinates, except tee #1. I'm planning to go walk it again sometime this week. I'm not sure if I have the necessary skills and software, but it would be valuable to generate a topo map and aerial photo showing the locations of tees and pins. I'll send you the coordintes in any case as soon as I've obtained the location for tee #1. Rick

Pete Tolvanen · Post by **Pete Tolvanen** » Mon Oct 31, 2005 11:07 am

As Rick said - We did scout out an 8 and 9 although you may want to abandon them. The western slope of Shipley's hill is pretty steep with rock ledges so it will be an issue over what property management will say about people scrambling around throwing discs in that area.

Basically Shipley's hill is 20 acres of gnarled fist. The challenge will be to make it family safe and attract some of the 100's of kids I saw playing soccer on Rogers field as I left sunday.

That said - there are some interesting features up there to make for a large variety of throws and a couple 'open' ones along an old dirt road of 300+ feet (think Hodges old #1 and #9).

If "Steady Eddy" Headrick thought Rindge was an ideal location for disc golf then he would have loved Devens.

John Borelli · Post by **John Borelli** » Mon Nov 07, 2005 9:07 am

Hi everyone,

Not that anyone in NEFAland would do this, but I just wanted to remind you that since we do not have official permission for the course yet, please do not do any cutting, breaking, chopping, sawing, or anything else besides walking in and around Shepley's Hill.

We definately appreciate the buzz and excitement growing around the course, but since we are so close to getting approval, we don't want anything to ruin our chances. Thanks!

Rob Walker · Post by **Rob Walker** » Tue Nov 08, 2005 9:03 pm

I'm waiting to go to town with my chainsaw. Just give me the word.

John Borelli · Post by **John Borelli** » Thu Nov 10, 2005 9:48 am

Sounds good, Rob! Thx.

Great news! We have received a $400 grant from NEFA for a basket and tee sign sponsorship. One down, eight to go. Thanks very much NEFA!

If anyone else would like to get in early and sponsor a hole, please PM me. Thanks!

Rob Walker · Post by **Rob Walker** » Sun Dec 04, 2005 9:47 am

What is going on with Devens? Any guesses when work may begin? I am trying to buy a house in Shirley, so I can easily help with construction.

John Borelli · Post by **John Borelli** » Sun Dec 04, 2005 8:58 pm

They were supposed to flag the boundaries around Thanksgiving so that we would be sure we were all talking about the same land. I haven't been over there lately, so don't know if they did. We are still waiting for the official GO letter...

John Borelli · Post by **John Borelli** » Tue Dec 13, 2005 10:46 am

I was playing with Google Earth yesterday (very cool) and was scoping out Shepley's Hill. I drew in the proposed holes and it actually helped me figure out where the remaining holes should go.

Here's a rough drawing. Go to the blog for a bigger picture.

Rob Walker · Post by **Rob Walker** » Fri Jan 27, 2006 10:17 am

What is the latest? My chainsaw is getting itchy. My new house is 2 miles from the course, so I am eager to get this place up and running.

John Borelli · Post by **John Borelli** » Fri Jan 27, 2006 10:23 am

The letter has moved from one committee to another one, so that's progress I suppose. I may do some hole scouting on Sunday or late Sat afternoon.

You should come out to Barre and play with us Sat morning.

Rob Walker · Post by **Rob Walker** » Thu Feb 23, 2006 11:16 am

If anyone wants to try Devens, both my dad and I have portable baskets which we could set up on a hole by hole basis.

John Borelli · Post by **John Borelli** » Thu Feb 23, 2006 11:46 am

Sorry, Devens is still off-limits, although our letter of approval has moved to yet another committee for review. Slow but steady progress... Thanks for the offer -- we'll take you up on it eventually.

John Borelli · Post by **John Borelli** » Sat Apr 01, 2006 7:44 pm

The magical letter has arrived. We heard yesterday that the insurance company for Devens has no problem with a disc golf course on the property. Next up is a walk-thru by the Devens environmental and recreation people who will note any sensitive or off-limit areas.

Given all the stuff going on with Devens as they try to figure out if they are going to become a town or get parceled off to the surrounding towns, we are very pleased with how quickly things are moving. Again, special thanks goes to Kathy Wiberg, Manager of Devens Recreation, for all her support!

Rob Walker · Post by **Rob Walker** » Mon Apr 03, 2006 12:04 pm

Woo-hoo. Things are starting to look hopeful. Sounds like by the time the course will be ready to be worked on, my house will be less of a construction zone, so I will be able to help out.

John Borelli · Post by **John Borelli** » Thu Apr 27, 2006 9:58 am

What a great day. What a friggin' great day.

Devens Disc Golf is now officially a go!

I just got back from a walk-through with Brian and Kathy (the Devens Rec director). We hiked the Hill and were quickly huffin' and puffin' after the first two holes. Yes, welcome to Devens. I showed them my proposed layout and Kathy was excited about everything and said we can start installing our temp baskets and do some minimal clearing. Brian is ready to hit the fundraising trail, so expect a phone call...

I am pumped. Unfortunately I will be out of town next week, so we will have to wait until I get back. Looks like nothing but disc golf weekends for me the next few months with tourneys on Sat. and workdays on Sunday. Whoboy...

If you want to help out, please PM me and include your regular email address, even if you have done so in the past. I want to update my list.

Kathy also mentioned she got two thank you emails last week, so thanks for your support, NEFAland!

David Hoey · Post by **David Hoey** » Thu Apr 27, 2006 10:26 am

awesome!

That's great news!

Rick Hobbs · Post by **Rick Hobbs** » Thu Apr 27, 2006 4:13 pm

Great news! John, I apologize for not getting back to you with the GPS locations, but you seem to have the layout pretty well figured out. I was in the middle of trying to find a job before my unemployment ran out at the time. (I found one.) My new place of employment is on Rt. 2A in Ayer, just a short drive from the course.
I can pitch in with the shovels and rakes and implements of de-struction just about any day. I'm not into tournament play just yet, so that keeps my weekends more or less free.
Looking forward to building and playing the new course. Give me a shout when you want to get together and do some work.

Rob Walker · Post by **Rob Walker** » Thu Apr 27, 2006 10:28 pm

WOO-HOO. Time to give the chainsaw a tooonup. Is the plan to put in 9 then 9 or 18 all at once? Does Devens have somewhere to put the brush we will be clearing? Any details on the fundraising? Any chance that we can get help or equiptment from the "town" of Devens? Every morning I drive through Devens and see lots of official people make the place look respectable. Oh and by the way, good job Brian and John for getting it to this point.

Rob Walker · Post by **Rob Walker** » Thu Apr 27, 2006 11:29 pm

Shirley has a weekly newspaper that is sent to every house called the "Shirley Volunteer" that may be interested in a story. Hmmm....maybe I should find my thinking cap, I know it is around here somewhere.

John Borelli · Post by **John Borelli** » Fri Apr 28, 2006 10:31 am

Well, aren't you full of questions, Mr. Walker... I like it!

The basic plan is:

- Install our temporary bucket baskets for the first few holes.
- Do some minimal clearing of brush, small saplings, and branches.
- Play the holes and make adjustments as needed.
- Move on to the next few holes.

Probably the first thing we need to do, though, is beat down a wider path to hole 1 and do some digging and clearing through some piles of dirt and overgrowth. There is limited access to most holes (for a truck), so does anyone have a 4-wheeler with a trailer? Kathy has said that Devens may be able to provide a brushhog to clear the old fireroad, but beyond that, probably not much else. But that's to be determined. We discussed what to do with the brush. She said we can haul it out and keep it or stack/pile it to the side.

Brian is heading up the fundraising and plans to approach the businesses in Devens first, and then make his way out to the surrounding towns. We have not figured out sponsorship levels yet. If anyone would like to sponsor a hole and save Brian some time and effort, please let us know while there are still some left. Three out of 18 are already gone. Once we have 9 substantial sponsors, we will probably buy real baskets and install them.

Any suggestions/hints/tips from existing courses concerning how to go about these next steps are appreciated.

Sean Franchi · Post by **Sean Franchi** » Fri Apr 28, 2006 11:29 am

I have a polaris ranger that i would be happy to bring along and help install the course. it is a big 4 wheeler with a dump bed. i used it to put in the last 9 holes at flatrock, it works awesome

978-249-2669
franch

John Borelli · Post by **John Borelli** » Mon May 08, 2006 12:01 am

Thanks to David, Rob, Kiril, and Steve for helping out today for our first workday. We cleared six holes and created a path to hole 1.

See the blog for pictures.

John Borelli · Post by **John Borelli** » Thu May 11, 2006 9:08 pm

Heading over to Devens Saturday, May 13 @ 9:30AM, rain or shine, to clear a few more holes. Meet in the soccer parking lot.

John Borelli · Post by **John Borelli** » Sat May 13, 2006 8:01 am

OK, I wasn't expecting Noah's Ark to be floating past my window this morning so I don't think I'll be heading over today. Maybe if it lets up, but it's doubtful. We'll try again next week.

John Borelli · Post by **John Borelli** » Mon May 15, 2006 6:33 pm

We have joined Marshall Street's affiliate program,
so if you are about to buy some new plastic,
please use the link on our website.

It's an easy, sweat-free way to help build our course! Thx.

Rob Walker · Post by **Rob Walker** » Mon May 15, 2006 9:30 pm

Does this even apply to Fly By Nite Discs?

John Borelli · Post by **John Borelli** » Tue May 16, 2006 12:22 pm

If they are sold at MS, then yes, as long as you go thru our site.

jonnyo62 · Post by **jonnyo62** » Thu May 18, 2006 1:37 pm

Hello everyone. I own a house that borders the other side of Sheply Hill. For the last ten years walking the trails of Sheply Hill with my Lab has been something I've be doing on a regular basis 4-5 times a week. Last week I noticed the beginnings of your course. I have a few questions (not concerns) on how this will effect what I do with the public land. They are as follows.

1-Will I still be allowed to walk the trails where your course is?

2-My Dog is nice but she is a Lab. Will she be a bother? I am a responsible dog owner and understand that all people rights need to be respected.

3-How far up the hill are you going?

4-Is The course free or do you pay?

5-What are you doing with the wood you will cut down? I burn wood that's the reason for the question.

6-What's the season going to be? Is it all year?

7-How many people will be using the course? Will the noise affect my quality of life?

Its nice to see something being done with the land .I am happy to see people will be enjoying themselves. I can be a very good neighbor. I hope it will work both ways.

Regards

Jon Olson

NEFA DISCussion

Devens - The Hill: Devens, MA

hizzah!