Devens - The Hill: Devens, MA

[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....

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.

Agreed. I was stunned.

Is that even allowed?

[Rob Walker]

It isn't allowed. I'm all for people having a good time, but not at the expense of all of our hard work and also ruining a round of golf.

[Luke Adolph]

I've been working on some changes to the Devens Blog lately so I thought I would post a link here just in case you haven't visited in a while. I'm hoping to merge the blog and the main web site to keep it as simple and efficient as possible. Still sort of in the works so bear with me for a bit. Blogger is kinda limited but let me know if you have any suggestions.

www.devensdg.blogspot.com

[Rob Walker]

Can we have the dirtbikers post their ride times on the blog? That way we'll know when to show up to get some practice throwing at moving targets.

[Marc Duci]

Looks great Luke! Looking forward to Thrill on the Hill.

[Rob Walker]

Mark your calendars:

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

Saturday November 8th - Bag Tag Bonanza - Annual League Tag Holder Tournament

So that all is clear for the people that confuse easily..... I believe that Luke meant to say "Saturday, November 9th" for the Bag Tag Bonanza. Not that I'm speaking for Luke....

[Luke Adolph]

Edited, thanks Rob!

Just got a hot tip on the idiots who rolled our nice tables down the hill.

Someone was waiting in the parking lot for a buddy when 2 guys in their early 20s driving a late model gray pontiac grand am arrived and headed out onto the course to play. The friend arrived and they went out onto the course and they were about 3-4 holes behind the 2 young guys. They heard a loud crash and when they finished hole 9 they noticed what had happened. The people who rolled the tables were nowhere to be found and they think they played through 9 then rolled the tables on 10 and 13 on their way out.

Anyone know a disc golfer that fits this description? If so, maybe you can encourage them to come to a future workday so they can understand the amount of work that goes into a course for their enjoyment...

Luke

[Jim Bobka]

Encourage.

Isn't that the word Whitey Bulger used once or twice in his infamous career?

[Rob Walker]

Didn't Josh lock those tables to the trees last Wednesday? Do you know if they managed to get the cables off of the tables?

[Luke Adolph]

Yup, the locks are working fine so far. This was from the initial incident

[Rob Walker]

Okay, I was afraid that it happened again.

[Ken Gary]

We are looking at adding a second 18 hole course at Devens, potentially beginning work this fall. This new course will be adjacent to the current course. We have a preliminary layout sketched out. I will be walking the new layout this Sunday, Aug. 18th in case anyone would like to see the land and course layout. Input on design is welcome. We will meet in the parking lot at 9:30am. Singles or doubles may follow.

[Titan_Bariloni]

ken I am dying to see where your twisted lefty mind plans on fitting another 18 on da hill...will try to make it out there if I can find a rollmatemance

[Jim Bobka]

I walked through some of Ken's mind a month or so ago..... and it was definitely twisted.....a little to the left

Looks to be a great addition to a great place to play! Count me in for a day of chainsawing.

[Mike Murphy]

Will it be as hilly as the current layout or is it on more level land?

[Jim Bobka]

Somewhat more level, but there are some definite elevation changes. It somewhat rides the back of the hill, starting near the bottom of 3, then wrapping counterclockwise. Somewhat. There were a lot of mosquitoes when we walked through, so from all the slapping I was slightly dazed and confused.

If Ken Climb-o is on it, it will shape up to be great. Nothing 'left' to the imagination....

[Ken Gary]

Will it be as hilly as the current layout or is it on more level land?

Cheef,

The proposed course plays across flatter lanes where the hill is steeper (so stay on the fairway) and around the back of the land where the slope is gentler. Google Maps estimates put the downhill holes to be in the 300 - 450ft range. Uphill holes slightly less (nothing as steep as the current course). Right now two 500-600ft holes planned. All still wooded. Think anhyzer for you. I have a beat Stingray to lend.

[Luke Adolph]

oops. wrong thread

[Luke Adolph]

From Ken Gary:

It’s official. Devens Disc Golf is approved to move forward with installation of an additional 18 holes adjacent to the current course. This new course will offer longer holes with much of the same variety of terrain. It will play across the hill on the eastern side of Shepley’s Hill behind hole 6 and circle around to close to hole 12’s basket before returning to hole 4.

We approached Devens back in April with this concept. At the time, the land on Shepley’s Hill was transitioning from Mass Development Open Space to Devens land under a conservation restriction (CR). Our timing was excellent because the CR language was not finalized and could be amended to allow the installation and operation of a new course to occur. One primary concern of the Devens Enterprise Commission (DEC, the agency responsible for managing the land use in Devens), was the environmental impact around the Certified Vernal Pool behind hole six, as well as numerous other vernal pools at the top of Shepley’s.

The course layout was set to ensure sufficient setback from the vernal pool and use of an existing tank road to minimize impact. Vernal pools will be an area of ongoing sensitivity. We will rope those areas off and treat them as unplayable (or OB) to reduce any potential impact. Stay tuned for some additional educational materials on vernal pools. Our respect and proper treatment of those areas will ensure our continued access to this land for disc golf.

Based on a course design that minimized any impact on vernal pools, it was recommended that we could move forward without the need for a more complete environmental impact determination by the state. At a meeting of the DEC on Aug. 8th, that recommendation was approved, and pending some additional paperwork (update of our current lease – yes Devens Disc Golf leases the land from Mass Development), we are set to go.

This process went as smoothly as it did because Devens sees the success and growth of our course and the respect of its players for maintaining the land. The Devens Master Plan sought to utilize its open space for “passive recreation” and although disc golf is not zero impact, it is an activity that draws a wide range of participants and keeps the land in a natural state.

It’s now up to us to continue to be responsible managers of the land and continue to enjoy what we are about to build together. Stay tuned for more details on work days and basket sponsorships.

Join us for a walk of the new land this Sunday morning at 9:30am!

[Jim Bobka]

Wow.

Ken Climb-o. Man, friend, disc golf god, lefty.


Borelli would be, and is, I'm sure, extremely proud. As I am.

A thousand questions; let's start with a couple:





1) Can you be my lawyer?


2) There's some land at Barre that could use about 9 more holes......

[Jeff Prendergast]

Vernal pools are no joke. There was one on Green Hill in Worcester that held up an $80 million construction job until they found a solution. They are heavily protected.

This article describes them well.

Congrats on the expansion project.

[Andrew_Bottcher]

I'm ecstatic over this news!

Wish I could make the Sun AM walk through but unfortunately I cannot.

[ira divoll]

Nice work, Devens Disc Golf! Looking forward to helping out when I can...

[Matt Stroika]

Vernal pools are no joke. There was one on Green Hill in Worcester that held up an $80 million construction job until they found a solution. They are heavily protected.

This article describes them well.

Congrats on the expansion project.

Vernal pools don't do much for me. I am in favor of bulldozing them.

[Luke Adolph]

New Course - Let the work begin!

Yesterday was another historic day on the hill. 7 of us walked the new land and I must say that it has the potential to be awesome! It is time to get to work! We have come up with a plan that will hopefully get the course playable in 5 hole bits over the next several months. We plan on working through early December with a weekend of major work each month. Work will also go on between these major weekend workdays and will be announced here and on the devens Web site. There will be a dedicated page for activity at the new course.
http://devensdg.blogspot.com/p/new-course.html Please check it often.

From now until late September we will get the course ready for work by clearing access roads, marking trees, putting in bucket targets, etc.

Workday Schedule:

September 28th & 29th - We will cut and clear all appropriate trees on holes 1, 2, 3, 17 & 18.

October 19th & 20th - We will cut and clear all appropriate trees on the next 5 holes.

November 16th & 17th - We will cut and clear all appropriate trees on the next 5 holes

December 7th & 8th - We will cut and clear all appropriate trees on the last 3 holes

Can those that have chainsaws let us know if and when you can attend. We would like to have 3-4 people assist each chainsaw with clearing and moving of fallen trees.

This is a huge undertaking and many hands will make for the lightest work possible. Please consider putting these dates on your calendar to help install a killer course!

Luke and Ken

[Rob Walker]

I have a chainsaw and she is hungry!

[Luke Adolph]

Small workday for new course - Thursday August 29th 4:15pm to 7:15pm

We will be clearing the path past current hole one (right side) along the fence to a flagged area (where we will then go up the hill to enter new course) Who can help?

Lots of stuff on the ground and hanging down. Just needs to be cleaned up a bit for somewhat easy access. I don't think this will be our point of entry for the new course down the line but it is our point of entry at least for now.

If anyone wants to clear some of that path before than thats cool too!

[Bill Bertera]

Small workday for new course - Thursday August 29th 4:15pm to 7:15pm

Clearing a path along the fence past hole one (right side) & possibly removing an old fridge from the new course. Who can help?

If anyone wants to clear some of that path before than thats cool too!

I guess we know what Breck did with that fridge he was trying to get rid of

Can you explain the path a little better? Basically along the fence the whole way?

[Luke Adolph]

I know Rob Walker wanted a fridge on the course but he could have at least put out a better one! Just like Rob, creating more work!

As you are playing hole 1 on the original course there is a path to the right along the fence. This path leads to current holes 3 & 4. Lots of stuff on the ground and hanging down. Just needs to be cleaned up a bit for somewhat easy access. I don't think this will be our point of entry for the new course down the line but it is our point of entry at least for now.

Just along the fence for now if you are cleaning up before the scheduled date

[Rob Walker]

My real problem is that I ran out of extension cords.