Wendell State Forest

[Titan_Bariloni]

I spoke with the Wendell office and he referred me to the main office in Erving MA,

Spoke with project director for the entire property today,

He is highly interested in installing an 18 hole course somewhere on the property with the help of some local DG'ers

We went over some basic details/info/logistics and some what to expects

We plan to use as much already timber harvested forest as possible to find natural seams creating a less labor intensive installation process,

the tees will prob remain natural as in just basic stone dust/fill..

They have many parking areas and I explained this is the most crucial aspect to start...then identifying impact zones for blah blah...and avoiding them..

So it is scheduled for mid to late April land search to find the best fit to fill the course and there needs best....

I can say this looks promising and the main obstacle here will be fundraising efforts for the baskets..as in most cases lol

I will update as project evolves into fruition

Any early support is welcomed...

Thanks

[Rick Hobbs]

Sure'n it's a sign o' spring when Titan is starting work on new courses again...
WSF is big. There could be room for several courses there should the PTB be on board.
This could be a breakthrough of sorts. Massachusetts has lots of state forest land but none of it (that I know of) has DG. Should this course succeed, perhaps it would open up other areas. Leominster State Forest? Willard Brook or Pearl Hill Brook? (To name a couple of forests in my area)
I'm going to include the comments I wanted to make re Gardner and Bicentennial Park here as well, save me a little typing.
The holdup on some of these proposed new courses seems to be timber harvesting. Said harvesting seems to be taking a while. I don't know about the rest of you but it seems that if a certain location gets approved for DG, it shouldn't have to wait two years or more for a timber harvest. I would tell the PTB, don't give approval and get us all rarin' to go unless the land is really ready. Maybe they were thinking the harvests would happen sooner than they thought, but it's kind of galling to have to wait to start work. Are the timber harvesters state workers, or are they private contractors? Is there a fixed timetable for the work to be done, and if it's not being done according to said timetable, is there any effort to get things moving? Is there any reason the work on the courses can't begin anyway, with the understanding that we'd have to stay clear of the harvest work? It seems to me that at least some of the course work could be ongoing while waiting for the timber crews to arrive. If the course workers have to stay clear of ongoing timber work for safety reasons, that's certainly understandable. But right now I don't see any good reason not to work on the course while waiting for the timber crews to get around to working on the land in question.
So there's one lesson learned. WSF may very well get approval for DG but if it has to wait for a timber harvest, it could take a year or more. That's not good, IMO, you want to capitalize on the enthusiasm to get folks involved, otherwise, it'll be that much harder to recruit work crews farther down the road.
Keep up the good work, Titan. We'll make it to Greenfield yet...
Rick

[Titan_Bariloni]

Rick Hello,

the good thing about WSF is it has already been thinned..due to the tornado that blazed through a few years ago..it is all cleaned up and nice now...and this site does not need TH

yes they have a few spots that make sense..I prefer one in particular..but will keep that mum and see what unfolds naturally to start..

In regards to Timber Harvesting...

It is always an up in the air time line..unless already bid and blah blah..sometimes companies get bids for many forest over X years etc etc...I could type for awhile about time lines and whys and stuff..it is all so open to variables..

The good thing though..is no matter what we gotta go through these first stages...and make/meet the connections...get a lil buzz..discuss land..alot land etc etc...

also as I have found a lil down time and some rotation of sorts is a blessing for the crew..lol

oh so back to TH...YOU NEVER EVER wanna do work on a piece of land that is scheduled for TH until it is finished,,SERIOUS...

happened at Tullz..I left to VA for a summer of work/training/family/stripers etc etc and came back..I cried almost..

it takes all your work..pimp smacks it to nothing and leaves you feeling well abused and battered...the machines are sooo big and just destroy everything

all design work is basically moot until then to except for some start finish/etc..and parking areas are often determined by the harvest and need some time to be dried out and graded...

anyways...greenlights great..TH...actually awesome...waiting for TH sometimes sux..sometimes helps...losing momentum..sometimes..but sometimes it was not all the way there and time is great..

basically I used to get frustrated...maybe even over whelmed..now IDC..enough are going in the right direction...they are being put in volunteer style..I use them for well needed keep in shape efforts..and enjoy the outdoor work friendships..

I am just now more realistic on time frames...I am in for long haul..and yes one day I will make it to Greenfield..and then can rest..I predict 6 more years...

It is good for anyone reading to see hey sometimes these things takes years to get going and then even more years to get up to par...building a DG course is truly a huge effort..any that help on that front I greatly respect...

but anyways working before timber harvest very bad....

I hope to see ya out and about at one of the new projects...and maybe a tour of RF&G in Spring...

we shall conquer

edit..holtshire is also PI city..I am hoping the TH rips it up a lil...but sometimes it can spread it..we shall see..I predict we keep it super short..nice views 9 holer...I am comfortable with that esp with all the other action....

looking to have rustic beaver wood baskets when we do finally reblaze there..they will be neat and fit the scene there

besides for another site weedwhacking this course is way playable..and has 3 baskets on scene..I just know for fact when they harvest wowzer things are gonna change...but not holes 1-3..where baskets are..hole 2 is one of my favorite holes in NE

edit x 2...gardner was about in time frame..a lil later then expected..the issue here was more a retirement that hindered the communication chain for abit...

and holtshire..grr yes about TH...so many things involved all the way to hydrofracted well sites etc etc...I refuse to work here until they have a long term plan for future so we can adjust to that and just do the work...we were spinning in circles before...but I am still happy we have at least 3 baskets and the future use granted already

state forest...BLand...but not along the same lines as the massive open forest...so yes this may set some precedent....lets hope we can impress them and set a great model for others to model

[Titan_Bariloni]

cuz ya got my mind back thinking again..lol

we started with along and around the RT2 belt

Barre
Tully
FlatRock
Devens
Conway
Noho
Rindge

we then had

PCC

now
HCC
Coggs
keene
Bratt VT
RF&G
Umass
Swanzey
Pittsfield
Devens 2

soon
Gardner on the side that will serve the northern abutting towns and city area of Gardner

Wendell

if we can get to

Greenfield

Crack Mohawk State forest en rout to Pittsfield or somewhere along trail and North Adams

would love to see one at Mt Wachusett but then again Princeton is there lol..cocco keys fun nine hole? or do they keep the kids trapped in there..lol

and then the devens bug spreads East

someone anchors in Boston Finally

and for SNG's say hinsdale en route to Bratt...

I bet woosta crew cracks that deadzone from the burg to woooosta on 190 as well..


we will then have the grid along the rt 2 belt in full affect...and our friendly neighbors we tend to frequent in transit around our region...

kinda cool to think about really...I am certain one day it will all be connected and am sure some spots I never even thought of emerge strengthening the grid even more...

fun stuff...ok back to work

[Rick Hobbs]

Thanks for the answers re TH. Citing Tully makes it make sense. Glad to see WSF doesn't need that to happen but I'm sure there'll be some hoops to jump through to get the full go-ahead. I don't know the place well enough to say where in particular the course should go but I do know there's plenty of room which makes for lots of options. This time around some real thought and planning could go into the design as there might be less restrictions or obstacles.
You've been doing your homework, I see. Getting the land managers on board and working with them is so crucial to the formula. I can see how it would make clearing fairways seem easy.
This could be a productive year by the look of it. I believe that Coggshall is going to take another giant step forward so I might with luck be available for new projects. I'm up for a little exploring with DG in mind, just to get some ideas, realizing it could take a while to make something actually happen. I've hiked a lot of the woods around these parts, there are places you can throw a disc just about everywhere. The trick will be to find the ones that can actually become courses.
So I'll keep doing my part as long as I'm able. It's taken some time but it seems the idea that courses have to be built is catching on. This region has a lot to offer to the game already, in the long run the deciding factor will be how many people actually want to play. I can't imagine that number decreasing. This game is way too much fun. Unless you hit a tree. Or lose one in the drink...
R

[Titan_Bariloni]

Getting the land managers on board and working with them is so crucial to the formula.

yeah that really does sum it up....

and then getting nuts to come help..lol

[Julie Ferdella]

Franklin County is scary. I have never heard of MOST of those towns.

Disc golf, however, would get me there.

[Glenn Hause]

Think Deliverance + Herb/Granola + Appalachia + Ivy League?..an odd but beautiful mix. In some ways The Land That Time Forgot, in some ways a blessing it did.

[Titan_Bariloni]

hello Glen

Guy and I walked some of the massive land that is called WSF today to find some proposed site locations for the DG course.

The land is awesome and the extras are great.

I am in love with one particular area called "ruggles pond" and hope to lobby for permission around this area.

Although all doors are still open and once I have the next meeting I can better understand what they will need to make this all work

We will prob do some more exploration of some other chunks of land here once the snow melts as it was fairly slippery out there today.

Anyways this will be awesome in due time and help connect us a lil more to the deadzone we call Greenfield

Great things DG related planned for our greater region over the next few years and we will be working hard to fill the fast growing want for DG courses around here

I am super excited at the promising future this area may hold

stay tuned

[Glenn Hause]

Titan... Correct me if I'm wrong, but I remember going down Rt 63 to Amherst as a kid and hearing about a 'Ruggles Pond' as an active nudist swimming hole somewhere near the road to Leverett. Its been 40 years so I'm guessing I'm wrong. But it would bring up an interesting notion...nude disc golf... naw, forget I said that.

[Michael Morin]

titan & glenn -

keep me posted on Wendell State Forest movement. Good intentions moving west along RT2 for sure. That will leave a HUGE gap in the southwest - meaning - Westfield / Southwick and moving west along RT57 towards Great Barrington. If Wendell State Forest becomes a potential I'm thinking Granville State Forest or/or Tolland State Forest. Both have camping, Tolland has a boat ramp too so lots of users to these areas. I envision lots of potential and after seeing the work done at Borderlands State Park in North Easton, if done correctly, a beautiful partnership could be had between the State and NEFA.

- 2 cents worth -

- m

[Titan_Bariloni]

I am not sure Glen..I never got to live in the days of awesomeness like that..

Guy L might know..lol if he does we know why...hahaha

Ruggles is well sweeet I was actually really amazed...

yes this is our true push west...honestly I like the west..just been more action east/north

as the goal is greenfield/trail/north adams...well in my crazy perfect world

Mike I know lightsville/knightsville is just awaiting the right timing...as that gap between noho and say hunter is all just so wide open..and to my surprise
it is rather populated and has well at least roadside..all these state forest etc etc appearing to be dead remains of when people actually walked and didnt use the pike I guess...same as the mohawk trail..rather sad actually

if ya really look at the map...it is much easier to see the grid and break it down...using key "rt's" IMO is the best method to this crazy madness of DG domination

I think as I have stated before the real issue is not having an organized acute regional club that functions for fundraising,workers,greenlights,events etc etc

I am trying to solve that but can't commit to the day to day as I am often in the actual trenches and well I have a baby now and way less resources..lol tis life I guess but I won't let that stop me..just semi contained to what my brain/heart really wants to see in regards to DG course domination...hopefully I have spawned a future daddy lil helper..lol..if not I will then have my time even further segmented helping her get started conquering her life's quest

that said I predict I start crushing Grand Masters on all the courses we have created...before I figured Masters hey whats another 10 years

[Michael Morin]

sorry this is not Wendell related -

@ titan - Knightsville Dam is ACOE I believe. You got a contact there? LMK and i can make a call / set up a meeting - PM or EM me is best i guess so as to not clog this post....or post here....

peace
-m

[Glenn Hause]

Titan...the Wendell lake I was thinking of I believe was Cranberry Pond more towards N Amherst on Rt 63, thanks to a google flyover a minute ago...so if you should get going at the Ruggles Pond site, don't worry about nudists. Would be curious if any old farts out in DG land remember this besides me.

[Titan_Bariloni]

@ mike and Glen just spent 10 minutes typing and it messed up...grrr baby duties will try again later when I get another 10mins...

nut shell mike any way for you to create a map with your residence area being the middle..and say listing your comfort/realistic ability to drive to X and then we can circle that off and start homing in on perspective plots of land to solicit

Glen...any connection to that 9 hole BG course in Gill?

grr I had fountains of awesome stuff in that deleted post lol

[Titan_Bariloni]

when I return from VA 4/26 a first walk about/logistics will occur with head Ranger

this Fall should be exciting breaking ground up here

stay tuned!!!

[Titan_Bariloni]

update

land has been scouted several times during different seasons
great snow shoe hike this year out there as well

target area discovered
some early pre planning happening
first meeting being scheduled soon

I have been personally contacted by an interested party to be apart of this project
The goal of course would be family orientated and design would reflect

stay tuned any lurkers
things are happening behind scenes
this is and holtshire road are where my heart wants to be hopefully the push west can start over the next 2 years after Gardner and RFG are finished or underway

[Titan_Bariloni]

for my records

made human contact with Franks assistant
left message

will update as soon as they call back

[Titan_Bariloni]

Frank returned phone call
He is lame duck

Retiring in June

Info sent to next guy
Give him a bit to settle in July target date for meeting

[Titan_Bariloni]

will be inquiring Tuesday 6/16 with new ranger
we shall see what his stance is on DG

[James Reinle]

Speaking about the Mohawk trail area, I don't know who owns the land now, but this seems like it would be a good place to have a course.
http://www.nelsap.org/ma/mohawk1.html and a wealth of other possibilities http://www.nelsap.org/ma/ma.html Mt Tom, Brodie Mt and Berkshire Snow basin being areas I loved skiing at in my youth.

[Titan_Bariloni]

yeah great ideas

[Titan_Bariloni]

stil no word, we spent some time scouting during the down time and have a preselected area to discuss once we can connect with the new PTB

emails, why don't people respond to an email...if for anything else to say I got your email
I am finding when one person who has been somewhere a lifetime retires and then they transition...it can take some time and sometimes they decide to remove the position


soon we may go jehova and knock on their door