Devens - The Hill: Devens, MA

[Rob Walker]

Yup you've got some bad a$$ hawks patroling your course. Last fall while practicing prior to the ace race, I watched one of them swoop down out of the trees and attack my disc. It stood right on it clawing at it with it's feet. Crazy. I think Rob was with me and witnessed it.

True story. I remember saying, "Hope that hawk moves off your disc soon because you're going to need that disc for the tournament".

[Mike Dussault]

Does it go all day Mike? I have the morning free and was tempted to watch my 1st ultimate game, sandwiched around some disc golf of course.

Yes, all day Jeff. The first game is at 9:00am and it goes all day.

[Ken Gary]

I am scheduled to do a walk-around with DPW on Monday. Appreciate any extra course garbage pick-up this weekend.

[Luke Adolph]

Put something up on Facebook too ken

[Rob Walker]

Everyone should bring their mother to the course on Sunday to caddy for them and their mother can pick up trash at the same time.

[Doug Callaghan]

great idea Rob. lol.

[Luke Adolph]

Edit

[Luke Adolph]

Lots of cool stuff happening on the hill these days. Keep up with everything by liking us on Facebook, following the blog, etc. Details below:

[Rob Walker]

Damn, that is a huge picture! You gotta wonder why people complain about not knowing about what is going on at Devens, since there many different ways to get the news.

[Ken Gary]

One of the other goings on - alternate holes. We would like to establish some alternate hole configurations to add some variety to the course. These alternate positions are currently marked on the course (orange ribbon on a stake) and we would like to solicit your opinions of the proposed new positions. Please do not move the stakes, just give any opinions or recommendations. Thanks.

After we complete the ten weeks of PDGA league we would like to test these new positions for a week or so. They will not be permanent and we will go back to the original positions after a week or so. Plenty of notice will be posted before the change.


Alt Hole Descriptions:

Hole 1: Pin moved to left on the path to Hole 18
Hole 2: Pin moved back and right in alcove to left of path from Hole 2 to Hole 3
Hole 3: Pin moved to straight down road before road turns left
Hole 4: Pin moved about 30 ft right and back slightly
Hole 5: Pin moved back and right about 30 ft
Hole 6: Hole moved back down the road past Hole 7 path
Hole 7: Use right fairway
Hole 8: Move pin back and right 30 ft
Hole 9: Move pin right down the road to end of straight sight line
Hole 10: Move pin down and left on side hill
Hole 11: Move pin in line with right fairway below 12 tee
Hole 12: Move pin further down fairway across road
Hole 13: Tee from right of road straight look to pin
Hole 14: Move tee up hill right of big rock
Hole 15: Move pin straight back 30 ft to trees
Hole 16: Move pin left and back. Open fairway.
Hole 17: Move pin to right of rocks on top of hill by path to 18
Hole 18: Pro tee

Looking forward to feedback.

[Doug Callaghan]

thanks Ken, cant wait to check them out.

[Jim Bobka]

#s 2, 10 and 17 sound just about fantastic. Nice plan!

Were you guys thinking about sinking extra sleeves for alternate placements? If so, we picked some up from Innova at about $25 each, you could have them made with a flange welded on for cheaper, probably.

[Rob Walker]

I was just remembering how much fun it was sinking the sleeves the first time around............

That is the problem with building a course on a bigass rock.

[Matt Stroika]

I played the Hill for the first time in months today. I wish I would have seen the hole change post earlier so I could have looked for the flags. The changes sound great and challenging. Course looked and played awesome today in the wind.

[Doug Callaghan]

Hey Ken, after finding all of them, here are my comments. Love most of them except for these few placements. Holes 12 and 13 are the big ones. Both are bascially creeping toward the fence and over the dirt road. I think we might want to avoid doing that as it might bring up other problems. For instance on 13, with the fence right there, discs would be going over that all the time. Id imagine that might cause problems if people are jumping that fence to get their discs.

On 12, again its over the dirt road and too close to the fence i think. Also there really is no lane unless we plan on cutting some of the huge trees. Personally i think 12 should go over the woodpile and to the right. There is a natural lane there from the current tee pad. When people use a driver and go too deep their discs end up down where im thinking. Also any cutting wouldnt effect the current hole.

15 i thought the perfect location would be on the little access road on the left (up toward the ace race tee pad). Really dont have to cut anything and its perfect simply because it changes it from a L to R hole to a R to L.

17 i thought just a little more to the right. Farther away from the path between 17 and 18.

Liked the rest. 3 will be a fun one. Alot of holes we are kindof limited to where we can put an alt basket. 2 is a good example. We cant go too far left or we get near 18's fairway. Cant go to far right as that brings in 3 and 5 teepad. Seemed like a bunch of holes are like that.

[Ken Gary]

Thanks Doug. Keep those ideas coming.

[Andrew_Bottcher]

Hi Ken,

You probably don't know who I am (I doubt many here do), but I play Devens semi-frequently and though you might like some feedback on the alternate hole placements. Just trying to make myself useful instead of solely being a "lurker."

Hole 1--I have safety concerns here. I feel like an errant shot left could potentially hit someone leaving the course...unless I'm totally picturing this wrong? I wonder if the pin could simply be moved back up the hill even more instead?

Hole 2--No issues here, except I'm sad to see a potential ace slip away! Sounds good, though.

Hole 3--Love this. Think it'll be awesome

Hole 4--Sounds good to me.

Hole 5--Might need to clear out a few of those skinny trees but I think it could work just fine.

Hole 6--This will add at least a stroke to my game!! All kidding aside, this sounds fine.

Hole 7--LOVE this. Seriously, awesome. Been wanting to use that for a long time.

Hole 8--Would this be nearing 9's teepad? Otherwise sounds fine.

Hole 9--Sounds fine to me.

Hole 10--Sounds fine to me.

Hole 11--Sounds fine to me.

Hole 12--Yikes...not sure on this one. I echo Doug's concerns above with the fence. I've gone over the fence on 12 as it currently stands (Valkyrie...terrible shot...long story). I doubt the folks in that building want to be pummeled with discs all day.

Hole 13--Ditto for #12 above.

Hole 14--Like it!

Hole 15--I also like this.

Hole 16--Sounds good.

Hole 17--If I'm picturing this accurately, I think it's great.

Hole 18--I think I need more detail, but I'm sure it'll be fine.


Hope this helps.

[Doug Callaghan]

hey Andrew, i remember you. Come on out to league sometime on Wen.

[Andrew_Bottcher]

Hey Doug, ditto!

I'd love to. Seriously, I would. But it's near impossible with my commute. I work in Boston, and typically the train doesn't even get me home until well after league even starts

Guy in my building plays though if that counts. lol

[Doug Callaghan]

Fake sick every Wen at 3pm, they will never catch on Andrew.


Thanks to whoever took down that tree on 17. That was hung up forever it seemed like. I feel a little safer walking to 17, i just have to look out for that hawk thats trying to kill me.

[Ken Gary]

Yes thank you Erik Lindgrin for taking down that dead leaner on the path to 17.

Andrew - thanks for the comments. Come on out and look where we flagged the potential changes. Some be slightly different than my descriptions.

Hole 1. I'll look again to see if there is a safe level putting surface (not that current hole 1 is level) above the hole.
Your ace run on 2 is not going away. These changes, if they happen, are only for a short time. Then the course and your ace run returns (btw, I finally aced hole 2 for the first time).
Hole 5 like any of these changes may need some small things cleared, but these changes will not require any new significant clearing.
Hole 8 is past hole 9's tee pad. Its not any closer than the current pin placement.
Hole 12 - I have to look again at how far the fence is. I thought is was a good distance, protected by trees. I also thought it was left of the buildings. Quite a shot if you cleared the fence.

[Doug Callaghan]

Yes thank you Erik Lindgrin for taking down that dead leaner on the path to 17.

Andrew - thanks for the comments. Come on out and look where we flagged the potential changes. Some be slightly different than my descriptions.

Hole 1. I'll look again to see if there is a safe level putting surface (not that current hole 1 is level) above the hole.
Your ace run on 2 is not going away. These changes, if they happen, are only for a short time. Then the course and your ace run returns (btw, I finally aced hole 2 for the first time).
Hole 5 like any of these changes may need some small things cleared, but these changes will not require any new significant clearing.
Hole 8 is past hole 9's tee pad. Its not any closer than the current pin placement.
Hole 12 - I have to look again at how far the fence is. I thought is was a good distance, protected by trees. I also thought it was left of the buildings. Quite a shot if you cleared the fence.

Hey Ken, it was the dirt road also for me. I just dont love the idea placing a basket on the other side of the dirt road or using it as a fairway, pointing out the fence i thought was more convincing is all. That road is actually being used more than used to be,,,golf carts (yes ive seen them) and off road vehicles. People are using it as a short cut from the houses to the right of Borelli's old store. Also kids from the school are always going up and down that road during the day. As the course is now, the road is like a little buffer, i think going over the road should be a last resort. Just my 2cents though. Wherever the baskets end up going ill be happy throwing discs at them.

[Rob Walker]

Wherever the baskets end up going ill be happy throwing discs at them.

See Doug, I told you that you had become quite the optimist!

[Luke Adolph]

What are you doing Saturday July 27th?

Please consider taking a trip out to Keene, NH. Rob Breckenridge and Derek Decoste have been busy putting in a sweet new DG course up there but they need some help. I'll have more details later but please set this date aside to help get this course in the ground faster. Our course and local players have been making a name for itself with a meticulously maintenance record, rapidly improving players, a solid team challenge team & a great league. Let's turn some heads with our willingness to help grow the sport as well. Who is with me?

[Luke Adolph]

Attention Devens Locals:

An emerging course out near Keene, NH needs our help. Please consider coming to a workday out there this Saturday.

As mentioned previous our course is making a name for itself for having some dedicated locals and a great league. Let's turn some heads for doing our part in growing the sport and hopefully other courses and their local players will follow..

Soo who can come??? We will hopefully need some help soon and this is a good way to earn some good karma. There is a recently completed (9 hole?) course nearby that we can hit when done to get our fix as well.

Please Let me know so I can tell them how many people we got coming. devensdiscgolf@gmail.com

From the Otter Brook course thread:

Here's what needs to be done:
Chainsawing
Brush stacking
Pole sawing
Fairway clearing
Bridge Building
irrigation flowage work

So Chainsaws, pole saws, work gloves and the like. I will need you guys to sign ACOE volunteer waivers but will have some made up ahead of time. Also, I do not recommend wearing shorts, Jeans or logging pants are the way to go, hopefully it won't be scorching out.

Otter Brook is on Route 9 East heading out of keene, technically it is the town of Roxbury
Location: From Keene, East 2 miles on NH 9 to recreation area, we should meet at the gate up top @ 9AM

[Luke Adolph]

Mark your calendars:

Sunday October 13th - Devens Tournament (format TBD, thinking PDGA Bare Bones)

Saturday November 9th - Bag Tag Bonanza - Annual League Tag Holder Tournament

[Doug Callaghan]

Do we want to put that round table back up on 10? Guess there have been some non-discgolf people hanging out up there at night. I havent seen them but couple people said they saw big groups up there on 9 and 10. Explains all the broken glass and the table that was rolled down the hill. The table took a tree out on the left side of the fairway, we moved it off to the side. Wasnt a big one but wasnt small either. We moved the table off to the side a little before league but it was close to taking out the basket. Maybe just chain the one up thats on 10? not sure, i was thinking about it and i think its the only hole where the table could reach the basket if its rolled down the hill. Unless there is one on 9, cant remember.

[Luke Adolph]

Yeah, what a bummer about the tables. Very lucky that it didn't crush the basket though.

We should get some solid chains for the ones on 10, 15, 9 & 16 (if we put tables there). They rolled the one down on 13 too but obviously no potential damage there.

[Andrew_Bottcher]

I've also seen people dirtbiking at the course on several occasions. Usually around the hole 10 area. One time they were coming UP 9 as I was waiting to shoot....

[Rob Walker]

I've also seen people dirtbiking at the course on several occasions. Usually around the hole 10 area. One time they were coming UP 9 as I was waiting to shoot....

We're trying to control the erosion on the hill from all the foot traffic, people on dirtbikes going up the hills is going to screw a lot of things up.