Growing Disc Golf One Course at a Time

McCabe Minute
by Eric McCabe

The Heritage Park Disc Golf Course located in Flower Mound, TX  is an 18-hole course I designed that is becoming the most popular course in DFW. Nestled within the woodlands of the Cross Timbers eco-region, the course is laid out over 25 acres of some of the most scenic, natural, and undisturbed land Flower Mound has to offer. There is a wide range of tree lined fairways, meandering creek beds, water hazards, rock outcroppings, and terrain that offers dramatic elevation changes. The course is designed for the more experienced players, but can also be enjoyed by beginners.
This Par 58, measures in around 5,500 feet and forces you to throw accurate shots if you wish to shoot anywhere close to Par.

This course has been well over a year in the making. Clint Wofford and Chuck Jennings, Director of Parks and Recreation of the Town of Flower Mound, reached out to me with the dream of having a Disc Golf Course in their town. Of course I was thrilled with idea, seeing how my family is all located in North Texas, matter of fact my brother lives in Flower Mound approximately 4 miles from the course. When I made my initial trip down I didn’t really know what to expect. I met up with Clint and Chuck and we spent hours walking the property, getting to know the lay of the land. First thing I noticed was a sign that said, “Beware of Snakes” uhhh yea, I’m not a fan, and from that moment on I was watching every step very carefully. I’m happy to say after spending many, many days out there, I didn’t see a single slithery serpent. I spent the next week straight walking through the tight, thorny woods getting to know every inch of the property. I had a good idea of the direction I wanted to go, I already knew exactly where I wanted the course to being, and end, now I just needed to find 16 more holes in between. Another week has gone by and I’m finally ready to start marking everything. With my backpack full of ground whiskers, marking paint, and miles of ribbon I hit the course. Depending on how wooded the hole is and how much I need to mark, it can take almost 3 hours to properly mark one hole. That’s how thick these woods were. GPS coordinates documented, tee pads, basket locations and trees are all marked and ready for the final walkthrough. The Town of Flower Mound hired a tree service to remove all the underbrush, thorns and invasive species that I had previously marked. They absolutely killed it! They had everything removed within a week, and were ready for me to come back down and check their work. While walking the course for what felt like the 1000th time, I was as excited as I was the first time! The course was shaping up great and I knew it was going to be a very popular one. There is nothing like it anywhere close to DFW and the Dynamic Discs Carrollton crew will have another great course to put in their rotation of quality events. The weekend of February 23rd and 24th, Flower Mound held a soft opening for the course. You could tell people were extremely excited about it because the course was packed the entire weekend, even if the conditions weren't exactly perfect for Disc Golf.

I’ve been involved in Disc Golf for more than half my life. From a fan, watching the Pro’s  to competing at the highest level and winning majors, to now designing courses across the Country,  Design has become a passion of mine, and I take pride in every one of my courses. I now have over 35 designs in 15 different states, and I’m looking to add a handful more and even an International course to my resume this season. Thanks to everyone for the support throughout the years!

Below are some quotes from players that played the course on opening weekend:


“This course is definitely going to make me a better player!”
Carlton Logic

“Loving this course my new all time favorite”
Andre Gonzalez


“I've played it all three days lol it's fantastic!!!”
Kyle Kettner


“Played it twice already- this is a quality, difficult but fair course. Lots of fun, challenging holes.”
Christopher Casey

“Played there today its an awesome course that will challenge your game”
Steven Snider

A Look At Unique Courses - Are They Kitchy Or Can They Offer A Real Challenge?

By and large, the general layout of an 18-hole disc golf course hasn’t changed much in the last handful of years. Even as far back as two decades ago, you could say that the overarching style of play is similar among courses around the world, with the exception of difficulty and natural obstacles, of course. However, as the sport is becoming more and more popular and top players are absolutely shredding these layouts, we’ve seen some changes.

Some course designers have opted to utilize a wide range of objects in order to offer more of a challenge or at least a bit of visual interest if nothing else. Private landowners will sometimes use old cars to spice things up while other elements may not always be by choice, like the reason for hole 12’s fitting name “The Kitchen” at DeLaveaga. But what about when specific elements are intentionally placed, or an event is played at a location that’s not really meant for disc golf at all?

A Fighting Chance

Without getting into too much of a heated debate, one has to look at the last few years of tournament play and wonder if and when the sport is going to make things more difficult. When players can shoot an 18 down like it’s nothing, most would agree that something has to give. You could say that was the motivation for changes to hole 2 at USDGC a few years ago, as five wooden pillars guarded the right side of the basket.

Others argue that holes simply have to be longer in order to offer more of a challenge, but does that really enhance the aesthetic as a whole? Or, is it simply catering to those who can throw a mile so that competitive play seems that much more exciting?

Transforming The Game

Although top tier events have yet to truly shake things up when it comes to course layout, smaller tournaments are opting for more unusual settings. Our very own Bobby Brown and his trusty camera will be heading up to the Old Joliet Prison in Joliet, Illinois for the Inparcerated II - the second annual event that takes place in an abandoned jail!

While we’re not running full tournaments at each of our Stadium events, these special occasions give disc golfers the chance to throw discs in some pretty unlikely places including Broncos Stadium at Mile High and Pocono Raceway. Again, we realize that the sport’s touring players aren’t necessarily coming out to these types of events, but could we start to see unique courses become more mainstream, or are they cheesy at best?

Share your thoughts with us in the comments below about unusual layouts and whether completely changing the type of physical environment is what the sport needs in order to offer more of a challenge, or whether simple changes like wooden pillars will do enough to keep 18 down scores from happening regularly. Could there be room for both, with some alterations catering to more casual players and others geared toward the touring scene? It’s a complex issue and one that we want your opinions on.

Is More Always Better? When It Comes To Course Length, Maybe Not

For most of us, heading out to play a round of disc golf entails a journey across 18 holes. Sometimes, if we have the time and energy, two rounds make it into our day but very rarely do people play fewer than 18. Admit it - if you had the chance to choose between this “standard” length course compared to one that’s only 9 holes, which would you choose?

Although some might look at a 9-hole course and assume it doesn’t have much to offer, there are actually a ton of benefits that this type of layout can bring. However, many players don’t realize this and tend to stick to what they know. For example, whenever we get requests for new courses through Dynamic Course Design, it’s often to explore the possibility of a full 18-hole installation. Even when we take a look at the typical basket order, most of the time people are opting for 18 instead of 9.

If you’re of the opinion that a 9-hole course just doesn’t serve much of a purpose, consider how they can be beneficial for both players and course designers alike:

• Great for all - An 18-hole course may be the ideal spot for those who have been playing disc golf for years, but this layout can be intimidating and downright difficult for beginners and children. Individuals who are just dipping their toe into the world of disc golf often find that a 9-hole course is far more approachable.


• Saving money - Installing a disc golf course isn’t overwhelmingly expensive, but it’s not cheap either. Assuming that you’re looking for a cost-effective way to introduce the sport to a new area, consider spending half the money and time that you normally would and bring in a 9-hole layout.


• Fitting in - Many would argue that a well-designed course needs at least one acre of land per hole and finding tracts of land that are near 20 acres can be a challenge. Instead, a 9-hole course needs far less space and can find a home in many established parks.


• Staying casual - While children may not have the stamina to complete a full 18-hole course, that doesn’t mean that all adults can handle it with ease. Rather than only having championship-style layouts to choose from, a casual player can change up his or her routine and opt for a shorter set of holes to work on specific shots.


• Timing is everything - It can be difficult to find several hours of your day to hit the disc golf course, but when 18-hole layouts are all that there is, sometimes you can’t play as often as you’d like. In many instances, a 9-hole course can be completed during a long lunch break or on your way home from the office before it gets dark out.

Don’t get us wrong, we love 18-hole courses as much as anyone else, but keep in mind that they aren’t the only option out there. If we truly want to #growthesport and make disc golf as accessible as possible for all, an influx in shorter layouts is certainly a step in the right direction. Tell us your thoughts on 9-hole courses below - what purpose do they serve in your personal game?

If you are looking into getting a course installed in your area send us an email at coursesales@dynamicdiscs.com to see what is possible.

Assessing Our Tees - Does Disc Golf Need A Redesign?

It’s always a hotly debated issue every time it comes up - the quality and construction of tee boxes in disc golf. While many players have specific preferences when it comes to the type of material they like best, what’s often noticed more often is when a tee is difficult to utilize.

Courses around the country vary their design, and while many opt for traditional rectangles, footage from The 2018 Memorial showed round concrete pads for the players to utilize. One couldn’t help but notice time and time again commentary that stated how long certain players’ run-ups were, and it begs the question - should tee boxes be reevaluated?

Going By The Book

If you play ten disc golf courses in your area, there’s a good chance you’ll encounter at least two or three different types of tee boxes. Some aren’t boxes at all, and rather you know where to throw from based on the pit that’s been ground into the dirt. However, before the comments start flying off the rails, it’s important to note what the PDGA deems as acceptable tee box requirements.

You can reference the entire PDGA Course Design Guidelines at your leisure, but here are the important parts to note:

“Hard surface tee pads of textured cement or asphalt are preferred. Preferred size is 5 ft wide
by at least 12 ft long (1.8x3m). Maximum size is 6 ft wide by 18 ft long with the back end flaring out to 10 feet wide.” Later it goes on to state: “If possible, provide adequate level ground for a run-up behind each tee pad, especially on longer holes.”

While materials are always debatable, it’s the length of the pads we’re really focusing on today. Again, we can vividly see in our minds several players who could have used nearly 30 feet or more during The Memorial, especially at Vista del Camino.

What Change Might Look Like

Implementing a new tee box standard would be a costly and lengthy process for the disc golf community, and it’s not the direct answer we’re leaning toward. However, on certain holes where a super long run-up is beneficial, are players at a big disadvantage by having to start on one surface and then transition up and onto a tee pad during their shot?

Rarely do we see a professional touring player struggle with such a task, but we’d be that there’s a fair amount of casual players who have a hard time navigating this aspect of their game. On holes where the ground is sloped off in an unusual way, needing extra space might look like running uphill on dirt and then stepping up to a short concrete pad - trust us, we’ve seen it before and it isn’t pretty.

What do you think of the current state of our tee pads? If the PDGA should revise their standards, particularly by possibly removing the maximum length of a pad, will that affect players in any way? We’d love to know what you think in the comments below!

Blanketing the country with Eric McCabe

Signature Disc Golf Courses

For more than two decades, professional disc golfer Eric McCabe’s passion was winning national tournaments. In that time he has earned almost 100 wins and was crowned the 2010 PDGA World Disc Golf Champion.

McCabe still relishes a good win, but his bigger joy is designing disc golf courses all across the country for others to enjoy. “It has been an honor to have someone like Dynamic Discs standing behind my name and us putting our names together, collaborating to help grow the sport.” McCabe said.

With the explosion of sport, McCabe is seeing a dramatic increase in demand for his services. He is having to work overtime to keep up. McCabe currently has several 18-hole courses under development and a large, 27-hole championship course in Michigan.

Dynamic Discs and Eric McCabe offer a turnkey design and installation services for clients.

McCabe’s years of experience play into developing a better course.

“As a touring professional for more than 20 years, I have played every type of course imaginable,” McCabe said. “Some good, some bad. As a professional I know what pros look for, so it gives me an ability to create a championship course.”

McCabe spends several weeks to conceptualize the courses, a process which involves visiting and walking the courses. Once his plans are approved by clients, he oversees the installation process.

“I have been a player for so many decades,” McCabe said. “I am really enjoying working with clients and turning their properties into amazing courses that people will get to enjoy for decades to come.”
Written by Chris Walker

This article originally appeared in our Chasin The Chains Magazine. For more articles like this go to ChasinTheChainsMagazine and subscribe to have it delivered.

Pay To Play Courses - Why Disc Golf Needs More Of Them

There are typically several controversial topics within any given sport, and when it comes to disc golf, the idea of pay to play courses tends to be near the top of the list. Whether you’re morally opposed to paying for the ability to huck some plastic or pay to play is your only local option, there’s reason to believe that increasing this type of course could have a positive impact on the sport. Let’s examine the idea of pay to play courses, why they receive such grief, and how they can make a difference.

What Is Pay To Play?

The idea of a pay to play disc golf course is quite similar to that of ball golf where you pay fees in order to obtain access to the area. Sometimes the course will run on an honor system and directs players to deposit their money into a locked box or use an on-site card machine while others have attendants who collect fees upon entry.

The costs will vary depending on the caliber of the course and the part of the country you’re in, with some 18 hole layouts charging $10 or more to play. Other more rural areas might cost half that and give you access to more than one set of holes on the property.

The True Cost Of The Course

If you haven’t been involved in the disc golf scene for very long, you might not realize how much hard work it takes to install and maintain a course. Even short pitch and putt courses are spread across acres of land that require an immense amount of time and effort to keep in line. If you’ve ever let your lawn grow unchecked for a few months, you get the idea.

Disc golf courses aren’t a “set it and forget it” type of situation, and keeping fairways trash free, trimming hazardous branches when needed, and trying to install new pin positions from time to time all cost someone money for tools and equipment. Unfortunately, many players feel that they shouldn't have to pay to enjoy the land that's intended for public use. Some disc golfers will flat out refuse to use a pay to play course simply on principle alone.

Elevating The Sport

While it might make disc golf more expensive for those who are addicted to playing during every free moment they have, the bottom line is that pay to play courses can help to make disc golf more legitimate in the public’s eyes. Instead of players stomping through overgrown woods to locate their discs, we can compete in high-level tournaments on manicured courses that make it easy for spectators to attend.

Pay to play courses might not be everyone’s cup of tea, but for those putting in the blood, sweat, and time to keep their local course looking great, a little bit of money to offset costs doesn’t hurt. At the end of the day, we’re all committed to growing the sport of disc golf. If a few extra dollars here and there leave our pocketbook so that we can experience cleaner and higher caliber play, isn’t that worth it?

Let us know your opinions on pay to play courses in the comments below!

Course Etiquette - How Much Do You Think About It?

It’s a common consensus in the disc golf community that any fellow golfer you meet, no matter how or where, is generally a cool human being. Maybe you don’t have the same taste in music and perhaps you throw different brands of plastic, but overall, you have mutual respect for one another.

While this is typically true when individuals interact with each other, what often doesn’t carry the same weight is how we treat the courses we play on. Yes, most of us will do what we can to leave a disc golf course in the same condition as when we arrived, and an exceptional few volunteer long hours to improve and beautify the land we play on.

Yet sadly some disc golfers don’t have quite the understanding of course etiquette that perhaps they should, so let’s review some of the more well-known rules that players of our sport hold dear to their hearts.

The Basics

It doesn’t matter if you’re playing in a public park, on private land, or in a secluded area away from most - any disc golf course you play on should show no trace that you were even there. Things like disposing of trash properly are a given, and those who go the extra mile sometimes bring trash bags with them and help clean up the mess left by others as they play.

Most disc golf players carry a Sharpie in their bag, but that doesn’t mean you have to use it during a casual round to deface property. All too often you’ll see a bench at each tee box that has “disc charger” written on it with an outline of someone’s disc. There’s nothing more discouraging than having a deep respect for the game and seeing this out on a course.

The same idea goes for drawing on tee signs and baskets. We know it’s exciting to get an ace, but all too often baskets are scribbled and written on with names and PDGA numbers when it, in fact, detracts from the course’s natural beauty.

Your Effect On The Course

Sometimes we don’t quite realize the impact we can have on our local disc golf course. Even smaller actions like trampling through the rough will, over time, change the nature and layout of each hole. While that’s a small example that happens after years of wear and tear, other players tend to take matters into their own hands in a more serious way.

If you’ve ever seen someone breaking branches or in some cases literally cutting down trees with a handsaw, then you’ve been privy to some of the worst course etiquette imaginable. Unless you are tasked with maintaining a course or are helping out with a work party, there is no reason to alter a hole just because you don’t like the trees in the way.

Etiquette Helps To #GrowTheSport

At the end of the day, there’s something to be said for the disc golf karma that’s in all of our lives. As long as we’re respectful and good to the courses we play on, the game keeps on giving back to us in countless ways. If you see someone exhibiting poor course etiquette, do you call them out? Let us know how you’d handle it in the comments below!

Dynamic Course Design Feature - The El Dorado Disc Golf Course At Legion Park in El Dorado, KS

There’s a new gem in the town of El Dorado, as Kansas city officials recently approved and installed an 18 hole course at Legion Park. Utilizing land that was formerly a ball golf course, Eric McCabe and the DD team had a blast designing a course that would be fair yet challenging.

We got a little more information from Kevin Wishart, El Dorado’s Parks and Recreation Director, to learn more about the process of installing the course and how he thinks it will affect this small town of about 13,000.

Dynamic Discs Was A Natural Fit

Given that El Dorado sits about 60 miles from Emporia, it was an obvious choice to work with DD when Wishart’s department started discussing the option of opening a course. The city formed a specific Disc Golf Committee, and after some research, they decided to schedule a meeting with Eric to find out all about Dynamic Course Design.

Kevin and his team are pretty new to the sport of disc golf, stating: “We understood that disc golf continued to grow; we had a space that needed a new use, and we had several citizens express interest in a local course.  Otherwise, our background was limited.” After a meeting between Eric, Kevin, and the town’s DG Committee, the decision was clear. “Once the committee made a recommendation, we got out of the way and let Eric do his thing,” Wishart said.

About El Dorado DGC

As with all of McCabe’s course designs, the El Dorado Disc Golf Course utilizes a great layout and allows players to complete the 18 holes in up to four different ways. Veteran baskets were installed along with dual tee pads across the course. Both beginners and more experienced players will appreciate the course’s terrain, and while it’s mostly flat, there are some lightly wooded areas that create a bit of a challenge.

El Dorado players can already feel the disc golf buzz growing quickly, as a professionally designed course brings individuals from neighboring communities to come play. Wishart notes that bringing in a Dynamic Discs affiliated course is already helping to bolster El Dorado’s economy too: “We believe that our disc golf playing population will continue to increase and that the quality of the course will bring players to town from the region.  It is our hope that they spend a few dollars locally while here.”

How Can Your Town Get A Dynamic Course Design?

Working with Eric and team to get a disc golf course installed in your neck of the woods isn’t difficult. Like the staff in El Dorado, you don’t need a ton of background knowledge about the sport - just a desire from the community and a viable piece of land. Wishart says: “Our process with DD was really very simple.”

If you’re interested in working with Dynamic Course Design, or just have questions about the process, contact us today!

Dynamic Course Design Feature - The Hollows in Manchester, NH

If you haven’t been out to New Hampshire in the last few years, you’re missing out on a complete gem of a course in Manchester. Named The Hollows, it’s one of the courses that Dynamic Discs’ very own Eric McCabe designed from start to finish. In an area that once had few disc golfers around, their local club now numbers over 140 members and The Hollows sees between 20,000 and 25,000 rounds played per year.

How did a course that’s only two years old completely revolutionize Manchester disc golf and bring revenue to the community’s restaurants and hotels via tournament play? We spoke with the Director of the Parks and Recreation department in Manchester, Don Pinard, to get an idea of how The Hollows came to be.

It Started With Don’s Vision

“Four years ago, as the newly hired director of Parks and Recreation in Manchester, it was my vision to increase affordable recreation for the citizens of Manchester and the surrounding communities,” explained Pinard. “I received numerous inquiries concerning the possibilities of a disc golf course in the city. I had no exposure to disc golf and knew nothing about the sport.”

Don began his research and formed an acquaintance in Bill Bruce, owner of Breakin Chains Disc Golf Supplies. As a first time player, Don traveled to a nearby community to play a round and was instantly hooked. He saw the obvious link between offering free recreation for all and the benefits a course could bring to his local area.

What Was It Like Working With Dynamic Course Design?

Don certainly performed his due diligence when exploring course options, and said that it was clear Eric McCabe was the one to work with: “I was impressed with his professionalism and enthusiasm. He also shared our vision of bringing disc golf to the forefront in Manchester and the area. Through our research of Dynamic Discs, we soon came to realize that DD was the company we wanted to partner with.”

Eric flew to Manchester to work with Don and figure out where the new course would take shape. Pinard had three locations in mind but kept his preference to himself while Eric surveyed the possibilities. In the end, McCabe selected Don’s first choice, and the designing phase instantly began.

The goal was to create a course that wasn’t just enjoyable on a recreational level, but one that could host top level tournaments. Taking this into consideration, Eric’s design included two pin positions on all but one hole as well as two tee pads on many holes.

After the ground had been flagged, it was up to Don, Bill and wife Norma Bruce, Parks Department employees, and numerous volunteers to bring the course to life. The Hollows was the first course in the US to feature first run Veteran baskets, but these were later swapped out for the newer version.

The Hollows Is Truly Special

Not only is this course a premier destination for New Hampshire residents, but Eric designed it to be especially versatile. Using the various pin placements and tee pads, Don says the course can be played four ways. It utilizes a tight and technical tract of wooded land and even has separate teeing areas specifically for junior and beginning players.

Manchester’s beauty of a course is truly family friendly and is in a secluded setting over rolling terrain. The city itself is on the smaller side, just reaching over 110,000 people. The effects of the course in the community are stunning, as Don describes:

“Although still in its infancy, The Hollows has hosted many tournaments from Trilogy Challenges, B-Tier tournaments, and the New England Amateur Disc Golf Championship.  The NEADGC has brought people to our course from all NE states and has reached states as far as Texas. The course is near the interstate, airport, and hotels.  Restaurants in the area have already felt the impact of The Hollows.”

The Hollows has been such a success that Don is currently planning the installation of a second course in the area to meet the high demand of Manchester disc golfers.

Designing A Course With EMAC

Could your community benefit from installing a disc golf course? We’d bet it probably can. Contact us at Dynamic Course Design to learn more.

Exploring Clover Cliff Ranch - A New Disc Golf Destination

It’s just about summertime, which means it’s time to start making plans for your next disc golf destination. One of the up and coming spots in the Kansas area is the gorgeous Clover Cliff Ranch, located just outside of Cottonwood Falls.

It’s a short 20-minute drive from Emporia and is complete with eighteen pristine Veteran basket. This beautiful disc golf course provides open holes and can be very windy. With hills and valleys that offer a variety of elevation, it’s a challenging experience for experts and beginners alike.

Check out the property!

Fine Tuning The Course

So what kind of work has gone into making Clover Cliff Ranch so spectacular? With many years under his belt designing countless courses, Eric noted that he looked at a few specific elements when playing the initial 9 hole layout.

When playing with a group, seeing a lot of errant shots or crossing fairways can raise a red flag. Eric, Bobby, and many other DD employees visited the course to discuss basket placement and made sure the setup was worthy of upcoming tournaments.

See their round here!

A Little Rest And Relaxation

After your round is done, you can cozy up and experience the old-fashioned hospitality that Clover Cliff Ranch Bed and Breakfast has to offer. As an elegant late Victorian era empire-style stone home, it boasts beautiful design elements with themed rooms.

Visitors are often in awe of the bedrooms, as they are filled with authentic period-specific furniture and decor. You can put your feet up and relax in the family parlor and get lost in the panoramic views of Flint Hills. The next time you’re up for a disc golf getaway, check out Clover Cliff Ranch.