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COVID-19: SFDGC Events (03-14-2020)

March 14, 2020 in Announcements, Club Communications, Club Information, Events

COVID-19: SFDGC Events Postponed / On Hiatus Until Further Notice (03-14-2020)

Hi Everyone,

Out of an abundance of caution and in response to the City of San Francisco moratorium on gatherings of 100 or more people (through April 30th), we have come to the following decisions regarding our weekly events and the Birthday Bash.

Sunday Singles / Tuesday Doubles On Hiatus

We are putting these club sanctioned events on hiatus until further notice. We have come to this decision after much deliberation and exploration of various substantial mitigation efforts over the past 36 hours. While we can certainly reduce the chance of transmission during one of our events, we cannot be sure how effective those efforts would be.

As such, we have come to the conclusion that we need to take this somewhat drastic action to do our part in preventing the spread of the SARS-CoV-2 virus, which can cause COVID-19 disease.

To be clear, we are not saying you cannot play disc golf in Golden Gate Park. That is up to each individual. However, if you do decide to venture out and play disc golf, please take every precaution possible to eliminate the chance of spreading the virus. In addition to the precautions we urged in our last communication, here are some additions:

  • Only handle your own discs and all other personal items
  • Do not pass a paper scorecard around — this is a great time to start using UDisc!
  • Enforce social distancing of at least 6 feet between yourself and others

We will monitor and re-evaluate this decision in an ongoing manner with the goal of ending the hiatus as soon as reasonably possible — hopefully well before April 30th!

13th Birthday Bash is Postponed

For the same reasons given above, Sean Jack and the club officers have decided to postpone the 13th Birthday Bash to a future unknown date (previously scheduled for March 28th).

Here are a few additional key points regarding how we are handling the postponement:

  • We will proactively refund everyone their registration fees and addons ASAP
  • All current registrants will have the first opportunity to re-register once a new date is set (multi-tiered registration)
  • We have cancelled the disc and shirt orders

We hope everyone understands that these decisions were not taken lightly. Disc golf competition and social interaction are a big part of many of our lives and we know that losing any of that for the time being does not feel good.

If you have any questions, please respond below or email us at sanfranciscodiscgolfclub ( at ) gmail.com

Warm Regards,
Shawn Mercy
Chris Tirrell
Steve Erle
Harper Alexander

===Links for Reference====

San Francisco Moratorium (03-13-2020):
https://sfmayor.org/article/san-francisco-issues-moratorium-gatherings-100-or-more-slow-spread-covid-19

Previous SFDGC COV-19 Message:
https://www.facebook.com/groups/sfdiscgolf/permalink/10157987652307192/
http://www.sfdiscgolf.org/archives/18518

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COVID-19: Events and Precautions (03-12-2020)

March 12, 2020 in Announcements, Club Communications, Club Information, Club Membership

COVID-19: Events and Precautions (03-12-2020)

As all SFDGC members are likely aware, the spread of COVID-19 is ongoing in the community. In response, local, state, and federal governments are imposing new restrictions on events and gatherings to reduce the spread of the coronavirus. While there are currently limited restrictions on our planned events, the situation is evolving rapidly and we should all be thinking about what we can do to reduce the rate of spread in our communities.

You can find more information regarding COVID-19 and the virus that causes this illness here: https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-nCoV/index.html

We as a club have a responsibility to ensure our community is informed and is doing what’s best for society as well as other individuals. We have a responsibility to each other and society to think long-term rather than short term.

Disc golf might be the game that brought us together but it’s the people that make our community so special. While we can understand the frustration that people may feel due to various impacts on their lives, we need to remember that in situations like these, our priorities and behaviors must change.

Social Distancing Practices

No matter your reason for being at the course (event or casual round), we all need to be aware of and modify our habits to help minimize the spread of the virus. We know that those exposed to the virus may not exhibit symptoms for up to 14 days but are still able to transmit the virus. We strongly urge all club members to implement social distancing practices:

  • Maintaining space between individuals of approximately six feet is advisable.
  • Minimize or eliminate physical contact with others. Foot bump, not high five. 
  • Do not share beverages, tobacco, water bottles, or other items. 
  • DO NOT EXPOSE OTHERS TO POSSIBLE INFECTION! If you are feeling any symptoms what-so-ever, please stay at home!

Sunday Singles / Tuesday Doubles

While we are currently not planning on cancelling our weeklies, mitigation policies are evolving quickly. We may change this position in the future as warranted. In the meantime, please do your best to implement the Social Distancing Practices above. 

Birthday Bash – 03/28

On Wednesday, 03/11, we received guidance from SFR&P that our Birthday Bash event is currently still authorized to proceed. However, SFR&P has published guidelines that we will comply with and we must all be prepared for eventualities such as having to postpone this event to a later date. If you do decide that you would rather not attend, please request a refund via Disc Golf Scene and we’ll take care of it ASAP.

Here are the current guidelines from local and state authorities (as of 03/11/2020):

Thank you for taking the time to read this message. We will continue to communicate as the situation evolves. In times like these, it’s best to plan for the worst and hope for the best. Let’s all take care of each other out there. 

If you have any questions, please post them here or email us (sanfranciscodiscgolfclub (at) gmail.com).

Warmest Regards,
Shawn Mercy
Chris Tirrell
Steve Erle
Harper Alexander

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New Baskets for GGPDGC – Voting Information (WITH RESULTS)

August 18, 2017 in Announcements, Club Communications

Update: Results have been validated and summarized

This was extremely close!

A total of 160 votes were cast by current club members. That’s 48.9% of the current total of 327 members for 2017.

The winner with 76 votes (47.5%) is the Innova DC 28 Pro!

The DGA Mach X was just 1 vote behind with 75 votes (46.9%).

We also received 9 “No” votes (5.6%) with none of those voters expressing a preference for one of the two options offered.

Detailed, anonymous, results with comments can be found in a .pdf HERE.

==============

New Baskets for GGPDGC?

Background

After much discussion and debate, it is now time to settle this question in a fair and open manner: A vote where all current SFDGC members can make their voice heard.

The goal of this post is to present information to help club members make an informed decision. The vote will be in response to the following question where there 3 options to choose from:

——

Should the SFDGC purchase new baskets to replace the current DGA Mach IIIs? If yes, which basket should be purchased?

  • No – New baskets are NOT needed at this time
  • Yes – DGA Mach X (light customization per SFR&P approval)
  • Yes – Innova DisCatcher Pro 28 (custom green band per SFR&P approval)

——

The option above that receives the most votes is the direction that club officers will pursue (relative majority “wins”). If the “No” option receives the most votes, we will not pursue new baskets at this time.

As previously communicated in our “New Baskets for GGPDGC – Next Steps” email and website post , a Request for Quote (RFQ) was sent to both DGA and Innova. The goal of the RFQ was to outline terms that would protect the interests of current and future SFDGC Members, independent of which target is chosen. Here are links to both the email content and RFQ:

Summary of Responses to RFQ

We are extremely pleased to announce that both companies have provided quotes that meet all terms outlined in an aggressive RFQ with one minor exception: Both companies requested that the SFDGC officers do whatever they can to retain some branding on the chosen target.

Although this cannot be guaranteed, we have agreed to work with SFR&P to include some form of branding.

The pricing requested by the SFDGC and agreed to by DGA and Innova is very favorable to the club. As such, we agreed that this pricing would not be publicly disclosed to protect the business interests of both companies we are working with. However, we understand that voters would like to understand the financial impact to the club. To that end, we can say the following:

  • The total price for new equipment will not exceed $7000
  • The club has the funds to cover this cost and will retain a healthy balance
  • The cost will be offset significantly by way of auctioning the existing targets

In summary, this is a significant expenditure by the club but we are in a position to purchase the new equipment without undermining our financial stability.

Time to Vote!

We, the club officers, do not take this decision lightly. A lot of time and effort has gone into preparing for this vote. All we ask is that people respect the efforts of your SFDGC Officers, DGA, and Innova in getting us to this point. We strongly urge Members to read the RFQ prior to voting to understand what is being offered from both manufacturers. This is a rare opportunity that may not present itself again in the future.

Voting opens on Friday, August 18th at 8am PDT and will close on Wednesday, August 23rd at 8am PDT (5 days). You must be a current member in 2017 to vote.

>>VOTE HERE<<

Thank you for your time!
Your SFDGC Officers:
Jon Toby – President
Shawn Mercy – Vice President
Steve Erle – Treasurer
Jerry Showman – Secretary

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July 2017 Newsletter – Addendum

July 31, 2017 in Announcements, Club Communications

Hi Everyone,

This was previously posted on our Facebook page, but wanted to make sure those not using FB were also aware…

——-

2017 NorCal Team Invitational

SFDGC Weekly Players:

As you may have heard, the SFDGC has been invited to send a team to the 2017 NorCal Team Invitational!

I (Shawn Mercy) will take the helm from Sean Jack, as captain of the SFDGC team. It’s a great honor to represent such a great club and team. I was able to participate last year and can’t say enough good things about this event and the players that attended– both from our club and from all over NorCal!

The 2nd annual NTI is again taking place at Ryan Ranch DGC, in lovely Monterey, on October 28th & 29th. Nick Maffei is the mastermind of this unique and thoroughly enjoyable event and is again heading up the effort as TD in 2017. Nick is supported by the Monterey Stinging Jellies Disc Golf Club, who have done a fantastic job of growing the sport on the Monterey Peninsula. We are all very grateful to Nick and the Jellies for the invitation and for putting in all the work it takes to host such a wonderful event.

The NTI uses a team match-play format to deterimine which of the 12 teams from across NorCal will come out on top. This unique format is fun to play and really does a great job getting the whole team involved. The SFDGC didn’t win last year (congrats Santa Cruz!), but we did place 5th which got us an automatic bid for the event in 2017!

Each team of 16 players must be composed as follows:

  • 12 Open/Advanced (any age)
  • 2 Masters (40+)
  • 2 Women

Same as last year, we will use the 2017 Summer Season standings to determine the Top 10 Open / AMs, 2 Masters, and 2 Women (if possible). You must play at least 8 weeks of the Summer Season through Week 21 (10/15) to qualify. The remaining 2 spots will be chosen by those that make the team through the weekly standings.

To be clear the “mean adjusted score” (not handicap) will be used to rank candidates.

That is all for now. Apologies for making the official announcement so late in the season.

Keep reading for more info on the format, scoring, and results from last year.

LINKS:

—–

Format / Scoring (from Nick)

Format

The format of play will be an alternate team doubles format. For example, if you have Team Monterey with players A, B, C, D against Team Santa Cruz players A, B, C, D the holes will be played as such: Monterey Team members A & B are a doubles team, and C & D are a doubles team. The same with Santa Cruz. Monterey players A & C tee off first, followed by Santa Cruz A & C. The teams each take their best lie (just like standard doubles), but then Monterey players B & D and Santa Cruz B & D take the next shots from their respective doubles partner’s lies. This continues throughout the duration of the match, with each individual team alternating who tees off first on every other hole. (I.e. – A & C tee off first on hole #1, B & D tee off on hole #2, and so on for the match.)

There will be 8-somes on each hole during the event, two doubles teams per club will face off against two doubles teams from another club. Doubles partners from each club are together for the entire match and teams may switch partner parings throughout the event if desired. So take time to decide who will be playing with who as a doubles partners, as they should complement each other’s game and pick each other up when needed.

We do encourage teams to bring a substitute or two in the event that a player gets injured or cannot play in one of their matches due to health or some other unforeseen reason.

Scoring

The format for scoring will be standard match play. So teams will record either a 1 or 0 on a hole. If a team pushes they each get a half point. Once a team has officially won the match and the other team has no mathematical way of catching up, the match can be determined as “Complete” by all members of each team and there is no need to continue playing once the match is complete.

——-

That is all for now but we’ll be in touch soon. Stay tuned!

-The SFDGC-

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July 2017 Newsletter

July 29, 2017 in Announcements, Club Communications

July 2017 Newsletter

Hi Everyone,

Apparently it’s already the 3rd week of July and we have yet to follow up on the annual meeting, status of new baskets, and other news. We apologize for the delay but hope you find this update informative.

——-

Anderson Valley Brewing Company presents the 2017 Safari

Tournament Director Jamie Thomas and the SFDGC are excited to announce that Anderson Valley Brewing Company will again be the title sponsor for the Safari!

The 28th annual incarnation of this event will take place over 3 days starting on Friday, September 15th and conclude on Sunday the 17th.

Registration is currently open to sponsors (while supplies last) but will expand to include the FPO and FA1 divisions at 8pm PST on July 31st. Registration for all other divisions opens at 8pm PST on August 1st.

Jaime has some exciting changes in store. For more information, use the links below.

LINKS:

 

SFDGC Annual Meeting

The date for the Annual Meeting has been set for Monday, August 28th. The location is TBD. The current agenda is as follows:

  • Annual Elections (Jon Toby)
  • Safari Update (Jamie Thomas)
  • Status on new baskets (Shawn Mercy)
  • Status on new tee signs (Shawn Mercy)
  • Other club business as time allows

Additional information will be sent out over the next few weeks.

 

New Basket Update

As previously communicated, a formal Request for Quote (RFQ) has been sent to both DGA and Innova. The RFQ  is focused on (2) products down-selected by your club officers: DGA Mach X and Innova DISCatcher Pro 28.

We will have formal responses within 2 weeks. Once those responses are received, we will put the 2 options up for a vote to the full current SFDGC Membership. Once a decision is made, we will work with the chosen manufacturer to procure and install the new targets as soon as possible.

You can become a member (or renew) through our website:

Thank you for your continued support throughout this long and arduous process!

 

Wednesday Evening PDGA League Finale (GGPDGC)

This coming Wednesday (07/26) is the final week in the PDGA League. The race for 1st place is hot in MPO where Greg Breazeale holds a 2 stroke lead over Danny Kerfeld. Jesse Kerfeld and Nate LaChance are also within striking distance! We will arrange for a “lead card” with the top 4 players, as is normal for a PDGA tournament.  Even if you aren’t interested in playing, come join us for the final round to watch the action!

More Information:

 

Gleneagles DGC Correction and Dress Code

Previously, we indicated that the earliest tee time for disc golf was 12pm (since updated to 11am). This was only for weekends. Except for weekends and holidays, disc golfers can tee off during normal business hours.

Disc Golf green fees and Tee Times

  • “Weekdays” (Mon-Thur): $21 for 18 holes of disc golf, starting at 9am.
  • “Weekends” (Fri-Sun & holidays): $24.50 for 18 holes of disc golf, limited to the afternoon hours, starting at 11am.

Dress Code

Since this is a golf course, there are some restrictions on attire. Please consider this before making your way to the course. If you have any questions, please contact the course at (415) 587-2425 or gleneaglesinsf@gmail.com

More information on the course:

——-

That is all for now but we’ll be in touch soon. Stay tuned!

-The SFDGC-

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New Baskets for GGPDGC – Next Steps (04-12-2017)

April 12, 2017 in Announcements, Club Communications

New Baskets for GGPDGC – Next Steps

Dear SFDGC Members–
First, we would like to thank everyone who responded to our last email regarding the subject of new baskets. We thought people were passionate about this topic and it turns out we were correct!  This is certainly an important decision by the club with long-term impact to the GGPDGC and how it is experienced by players.
WYSIWYG???
Of the 1094 past and current club members that the message was sent to, 379 people at least opened the email. Of those that opened the email, 61 clicked through to the survey. Of those, 36 people responded to our survey with some type of feedback. The responses were overall supportive of the plan as previously detailed…in short, to purchase and install DGA Mach X baskets at GGPDGC prior to our 10th Birthday Bash celebration.  However, there was enough push back on either the choice of Mach X, the process by which the decision was made, or both, that we have decided to engage the membership further in the process before moving forward.
WYSIWYG???
You can read all of the responses here (names are not included): http://www.sfdiscgolf.org/?p=17144
(Please contact us if you would like your response removed from the website.)

WYSIWYG???
 A vote on options available is needed to gain consensus of the membership. To protect the future membership and the course against problems associated with any chosen basket, we need to work on preparing options that are on equal footing.
WYSIWYG???
This will require communication with the manufacturers regarding warranty, manufacturing specifications, color requirements, and also price. It’s clear that the top two baskets are the DGA Mach X and the Innova DISCatcher 28. Those will likely be the options offered although if another equal or better possibility turns up, we will consider adding a 3rd option. There will also be an option to essentially choose that no action be taken now.
WYSIWYG???
We will need to clear options with with the SF Recreation & Parks Department. The Mach X is already approved, so this work will focus on a viable solution for the DC 28.  All of this will take time –thank you in advance for your patience and support.
WYSIWYG???
In order to reach the largest number of club members, we will kick off the vote via an email message which will also be posted on the club website. Only current (2017) club members will be eligible to vote. The vote will use a similar format to what was previously provided for feedback (Google Forms). We will then publish the results and a plan of action based on those results.
WYSIWYG???
We appreciate your continued patience on this important club matter. You will be hearing from us again soon!
WYSIWYG???
Sincerely,
Your SFDGC Officers
Jon Toby – President
Shawn Mercy – Vice President
Steve Erle – Treasurer
Jerry Showman – Secretary

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Membership Comments from 03/28/17 Email

April 12, 2017 in Announcements

Comments received in response to the email sent by the SFDGC Club Officers on March 28th, 2017.

Amazing, well written. I wholeheartedly support the club’s decisions regarding the baskets and am excited for the future.
What a great decision. I know that I’m moved away as of about 1 year ago, but I still like getting these e-mails and suggesting and implementing many things y’all do to and for my new local club.
Also, if possible to setup a straight donation page I would toss a few bucks into that. Looking forward to that e-mail 🙂
I’ve only been playing the sport for about eight months I love being able to go to playin the park enjoy time with my family and friends keep up the good work and I had a question about starting a disc golf course in the town of Pacifica how do I go about organizing it through the city what are my first steps thank you
Very excited to have the Mach X baskets put in! Great quality baskets that are worth the clubs investment. Very proud to be part of this club.
Mach X baskets are not aesthetically pleasing and do not maintain the traditional styling of the hallowed Mach III. I believe the Mach V basket to be a much better choice for our aesthetically stunning course. Mach X baskets are plain ugly, and abstract function is being given too much weight. Mach V baskets are the right balance between form and function imo.
Thank you, for the time and thoughtful energy put into this project. Also for the very clear communication. Very proud to be part of such a well organized club. New Mach X baskets will be a great addition to ggp
I am very much in favor of replacing the baskets, and love the idea of the orange number plate. That being said, Why are we not also power coating the cage and top assembly? They will have minimal impact on the overall appearance from a distance, the metal being too thin to really stand out in the woods that much, but it would help with possible corrosion in the future, as well as looking striking when you get within about 100 feet. Overall very excited!
Personally, I don’t like how the Mach Xs sometimes push out softly thrown putts. However, this is only a quibble, since clearly they are well made and will be an upgrade from what is in the ground now. So I support the decision to install new Mach Xs at GGP.
As a person who went to city hall for disc golf in SF and set up numerous Safari courses pre the Marx Meadow permanent course I fully support the idea of replacing the baskets. Mach Xs are wonderful and I think the orange would look very nice in the park. GO FOR IT!
I totally support the installation of new baskets and am excited to see our home course take the next step. Thanks for this informative letter – this is my first year as a member and I look forward to participating in the next work day. I will keep my eyes out for any and all GGPDGC newsletters!

Keep up the great work.
Great email guys, really well done. I fully support the move to the Mach X’s and ready and willing to help however I can. Especially by buying one off the old baskets! 🙂 Greatly appreciate your guys work and dedication!
I would like to thank everyone who contributed so much time into this project. The Mach X would not be my first choice but I stand behind your decision and I look forward to seeing them in the ground for Birthday Bash!
Just read the excellent letter from the Club. I’ve only been a member for a few years here but I know good leadership when I see it. I’m proud to be a member of this Club, and I fully endorse this effort to replace the baskets. Looking forward to the Birthday Bash!
Most consistent catching target available IMO. There are other targets that do and accept different types of puts better but nothing gives the reliable performance of the Mach X where you know if you throw the same put over and over you will get the same result. No spit throughs and no bounce outs!
I enthusiastically SUPPORT the decision choose the Mach X baskets. 🤘
I like the basket choice. I would also have been happy with Innova Pro 28s, but slightly prefer the Mach X. Special thanks to Shawn Mercy for his excellent research.
I’d also like to express my tremendous gratitude to everyone who has made the club and the course so wonderful for so long. The club leaders have been fantastic, and the maintenance and BP achievements have been amazing. Your leadership and stewardship are the best disc golf gift I get every year, for 10 years running.
THANK YOU SO MUCH!!!
Can we make it a 36 holes course, creating a new short layout for beginners, with the old baskets? Peace!
I support the plan to install X’s
I’m highly disappointed in how this process has turned out. I feel like the democratic process was abandoned because the answer was not what the officers wanted to hear. I’m sorry to be blunt, but that’s how I feel.
This is a completely nearsighted move for multiple reasons:
1. The turnout for the basket meeting was the highest turnout for a club meeting that I’ve seen. So by doing this, we are now discouraging attendance and participation in important club functions, because it sends the message that frankly it doesn’t matter what the majority responds (when asked) if it’s not the “right” answer. I’ve heard complaints often about people who don’t show up to meetings, and now that we got what we wanted (participation in the process) we decide to kill it.
2. This precedent means that in the future, elected club officers can do what they please. This is the money from everybody, and it wasn’t like the vote was 49%/51%. It was heavily in favor of “no”…overwhelmingly against. What exactly is the rationale for overruling the majority? What is the OK to spend everyone’s money on a proposal that the majority have voted against?
3. I get that the club officers believe the Mach X will last longer, and that it “catches better” – a statement I wholly disagree with – and one that is not based on a shred of empirical evidence. However it far oversteps the job to silence the overwhelming majority because “these are (in our opinion) better”. At the end of the day, the club voted against the proposal on multiple grounds, and the response is “no, we know what’s best for you, we’ll do this anyway”. The disproportionate amount of weight given to the construction of the basket itself, at the expense of the player experience demonstrates that the rubric for the decision making by the officers does not reflect that of the average club member in this regard.
4. An email newsletter feels like just trying to sneak it past the goalie. I can’t believe this was the chosen course of action. It feels like just trying to take the path of least resistance and ask forgiveness instead of permission. Furthermore, the phrasing of the email to make it sound like additional due diligence was what the club asked for with their “no” vote is blatantly misleading. Most members voted no to the basket itself. Others felt that DGA was favored in the process.
However, at the end of the day, the reasons are irrelevant. If the democratic process is invoked (as it was in this instance), it’s only right to see the entire process through democratically. I’m writing, not due to my personal preference, which you’ll note I’ve neither pushed here nor publicly, but because the reasonable wishes of the majority are not being represented by our leadership.
I love each of our club officers. Every one of the four of them are awesome people that I’m proud to know and be a fellow club member with. None of this critique is a reflection on how I feel personally, nor is it an attack on their character. However, that is not going to cloud my critical thinking, because this is a very, very botched process.
I offered my help multiple times, and was never taken up on it. I know for a fact that Innova would have our backs if something was wrong with the baskets we would order from them, and I would confidently bet that DGA would offer the same. Both companies were willing to abandon protocol and aggressively bid for the opportunity. The only legitimate differentiating factors in the candidates are a cross-chain inner chain pattern, and a slightly better weatherproofing process. All this is to say that claiming that we’ll get a couple more years of longevity from basket A vs. B – at the expense of the approval of the constituents – is a poor decision to make as elected leaders. Please do the right thing and represent the wishes of the whole club.
I just wanted to drop a note of both appreciation and accolades for our SFDGC Executive team. I recieved the announcement email regarding the 2017 course upgrades; signs and baskets. The communication provided was well written, very informative, provided us a logical line for all SFDGCs decisions and is truly an enthusiasm generator. I support these decisions made on our behalf by the SFDGC BOD for aquisition and installation of 18 New Mach X targets and 18 New tee signs. Cheers to all these efforts!
I am ok with the Mach X baskets. My personal preference would be the Discatcher 28. I think that any new baskets would be nice to have and a step in the right direction. What I am not OK with is the lack of action on new baskets based on everybody griping. I think that we should pull the trigger already, and if you don’t get the basket you want….. so what? They will be new and you will get used to them quit complaining.
Hi club… thanks for the update. I understand this is a very volatile subject, and I think you did a GREAT job at communicating to the club. I think “international orange” is going to become a signature feature of the course, and I’d like to offer a high five to whoever thought of it.

I don’t have an opinion of “Mach X” vs. “something else.” IMO, as long as everyone is throwing at the same (PDGA-approved) target, it’s a level playing field.

I’m also looking forward to bidding on a basket for my backyard!
If the Executive Commitee is trying to push this through under 7.1a then I say under 2.2 this action is not in the spirt of goodwill because it was shot down before and is now being forced through without a vote.
I’m in favor of new baskets and at the moment the Mach X’s seem to be the best choice. We can’t wait for an improved basket that may or may not hit the market. It’s also my understanding the X’s have an improvement coming up (that perhaps we should publicize).
The Mach III baskets should be first offered for purchase to the Hole Sponsors for each respective hole, at a reasonable price.
Absolutely agree with all the reasons given for the choice on the baskets – Good work, great choice, and can’t wait to see them!
It’s a good plan. Go for it. Happy to help with installation and I can store some of the mach III’s in my garage if they need a temporary home.
I play disc golf which involves putting a disc into the basket. Do we all have preferences on the type of baskets? Yes, but at the end of day, it’s a FREAKING basket. Be glad we are able to get new baskets and have officers who put loads of time in behind the scene. Also, if parks and rec won’t approve a colored band, it should be an easy decision to stick with DGA
I love you guys.
Time is now
I am not a fan of Mach X baskets, but admittedly am mostly uninformed as to what the options for the course are.
Hello friends! Love what you guy are doing and I support your Mach X decision. Personally, it doesn’t matter much to me – I’m fine with the existing baskets – but I know that new baskets will make a lot of people happy. I think y’all made a very logical decision, and I think that the vast majority of club members will come to the same conclusion about the Mach X if they have the same information to consider in the same decision the club officers made. If Innova 28’s (which seem to be the popular choice) are definitively off the table because of color issues with the park… can we have a simple club vote on the actual options that exist? I’m sure that if the options are Mach X vs. Prodigy? vs. MVP Portal vs. Keep old baskets vs. Tone Poles vs. whatever else (and Innova 28s are no longer possible), then the group vote will result in the same end game – Mach X’s – and everyone will feel included, including the vocal minority. I assume that a vote using this format – a Google form – would be fair and inclusive, and should include a required confirmation of current member status. Bummed to see this turning into a headache for the club officers, but I can definitely see validity from both sides of this issue and I think a simple vote could heal all wounds.
Fine letter. Glad to see improvements to the course. Excited for new baskets and am somewhat impartial to the model, though the durability argument makes good sense for DGA. I too have seen the corrosion evident on a number of courses with the Innova baskets. Feel free to count this as a yes vote, if counting. Hope to see new baskets by the Birthday Bash and would hate to see this decision get stalled out even further for months. I do wonder why the park is so opposed to brighter baskets, when it could help on the recognizability & safety front. With the popularity of the sport and course, it’s not like we are exactly a low profile backwoods sport anymore. Are we supposed to wear camo and nobody told me? 🙂
Thank you, guys, for all that you do! Clearly, it’s a thankless job, and no decision made will please everyone. Most of us have had a chance to throw at the Mach X basket since several courses in the area have them…it seems to me they favor the hard putter. Which is great for me since I tend to putt hard, but not everyone does..maybe there’s a basket with less bias for any specific putting style? If there are other basket types that a lot of club members really want, I suggest we get one of them and set it up in the practice sleeve so everyone can spend some time with it. At the end of the day, however, I’m down with whatever we end up doing. We’ll all be throwing at the same baskets, and disc golfers learn to adjust to anything!
It is my opinion as a club member and regular golfer at GGP that our current baskets are fine as is. Their is lots of chatter of us “needing” new baskets for one reason or another. Even though I am not a huge fan of Mac IIIs, they are not broken and work fine. I’d like to see our club focus on what I think are more important issues to spend our time and money on like planning for the long term future of the course, ie. tree planting and heavy duty infrastructure upgrades to the course. We can upgrade our baskets at anytime. We cannot, however, plant mature trees at anytime. Lets not undermine the future of our course for a short term want.

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GGPDGC 10th Birthday Announcements

March 28, 2017 in Announcements

Reflections and Announcements

Dear SFDGC Member–
This coming Friday, March 31st, the Golden Gate Park Disc Golf Course is celebrating its 10th Birthday!  Through the spirit and dedication of the local disc golf community, the GGPDGC was conceived, designed, built and was given as a gift to the City of San Francisco nearly ten years ago.  For those of us who have been a part of the SFDGC community for many years (even to the beginnings of the effort to build this beautiful course nearly 20 years ago), and also for new members alike, it is easy to see how fortunate we are to call the Golden Gate Park Disc Golf Course our home.  This understanding, and also our awareness of our part in the history of this great urban park, continues to be a primary reason that the SFDGC has honored its commitment to care for and maintain the course.  The time that we spend with our friends playing disc golf in Golden Gate Park is simply one of the great joys of our lives.  It is well worth reflecting on how truly fortunate we are to have and to share this resource with each other and with the greater community of park users.   

The founding members who designed and built this course promised to take care of it, and they did so right from the very start.  The San Francisco Recreation & Park Dep’t had the vision to give the SFDGC permission to build in this extraordinary place, and the membership and volunteers throughout the years have risen to the challenge of caring for it.  It wasn’t easy at any stage of the development to get the course in the ground–it took years of tenacity, talent and hard work. The course looks just beautiful today…it has certainly evolved over the years–look at some of the old photos and see how much it has changed.  We have always been concerned about the wear and tear for which our play might be responsible, and how we might mitigate our impact…but instead of looking beaten down now after ten years, it looks even more majestic and regal than ever.  The Cypress, Pine and Eucalyptus trees that line the course are maturing, some 100-125 years since many of them were planted.  We play through this peaceful, happy place with a continual sense of awe and appreciation for the sheer beauty of it all.  We have every reason to be proud, and humbled, and protective of this special place.

The SFDGC has always taken its stewardship seriously.  Through the early years of volunteership and work parties, the ongoing dedication of the Beautification Project team, and the overall cooperation we have all shared in to some great extent, we still have this remarkable place to play disc golf.  So–we continue our work.  This year, we will be replacing the signs at each tee box with new ones…it will be a gradual process, but the work is underway to get it done. The new design concept is exceptional…we know that you will love the new signs!  The specifications for the images and mounting features will be documented and repeatable so that we can maintain design and installation continuity into the future.  We’ll keep the bias-cut Eucalyptus trunks in place for as long as they can stand time and the elements, and we’ll find a suitable means of remounting as the the trunks decay.

Another major project we are taking on this year is one that many members already know about–the replacement of the DGA Mach III Baskets.  Our baskets have stood the test of both time and of the salty air so close to the ocean.  They have lasted surprisingly well and frankly, they still work just fine.  However, as so many of us watch our “perfect” putts slip through the back side of the chains, we can see that the chains have gotten slick, and we know that better catching mechanisms are now available that more fairly catch the disc.  The SFDGC intends to replace the existing baskets with the most durable and up-to-date basket design available, the DGA Mach X.  Most of us have by now played on courses with Mach X baskets…the De Laveaga Disc Golf Club replaced their baskets with Mach Xs a couple of years ago.  Aquatic Park in Berkeley has done the same even more recently. Numerous other world-class courses around the country have installed Mach X baskets, including Fountain Hills in Arizona, Maple Hill in Massachusetts, and Rollin Ridge in Wisconsin,  The chain configuration is different than that of our existing Mach IIIs, and they take a little getting used to.  But after having played many rounds with these Mach X baskets, it is clear that they catch fairly and uniformly, with far fewer spit-outs than we see with most other designs, including the Mach IIIs.  The new baskets will feature number plates powder-coated a beautiful shade of International Orange, to stand out in a subtle but distinctive way against the parkland shades of green and brown, and also to echo the color of the Golden Gate Bridge.

Deciding on which new baskets we should install has been a challenging process.  There was lengthy discussion, and a vote was taken, regarding the basket project at an SFDGC meeting in November 2016.  The vote that night was not regarding which basket design people prefer; rather, it was a question of whether we should move forward at that time with purchasing the DGA Mach X baskets.  The group that night voted no for several good reasons, chief among them that we had to do more comparative research into cost, design, availability, and also to allow a more careful consideration of what is best for the course.  

It is accurate and appropriate to say that we have now researched our options and done our due diligence.  There are well-respected voices in our community that have expressed a preference for a different brand of basket…perhaps the Innova Discatcher 28, or the Prodigy Pro DG T1.  But another important element went into this decision; in addition to the more consistent putting target, the metal materials and corrosion protective coatings out of which the DGA baskets are made have proven to be uniquely well-suited to our local environment.  The Mach IIIs need to be replaced, but they have not rusted away or fallen apart throughout the years of use.  The Mach III is a fundamentally sound and sturdy product, and the materials and coating have lasted quite well.  DGA designed the new Mach X to be a better target than their previous products while maintaining their use of proven materials and their high standard of workmanship.  Furthermore, we have seen and played on baskets, produced by other manufacturers, at courses a similar distance from the ocean. Those baskets are not as old as our Mach IIIs but are showing significant signs of corrosion, especially at the welded areas.

For these reasons, we have chosen to purchase the new DGA Mach X baskets.  Our intention is to have them installed by the 10th Birthday Bash this spring, with the new sign project well underway by then, too.

With regard to the existing baskets, the preliminary plan is to put them up for auction to partially offset the cost of the new ones.  If there are baskets still remaining, they might be sold, raffled, or donated outright.  Details to follow on this element.   

The time is right for the club to take this step to improve the infrastructure of the course, and to continue our stewardship in this meaningful way.  Your SFDGC club officers have not made this decision lightly, nor do we expect that the decision will not be subject to criticism for having made it.  We hope that your response will be enthusiastic and supportive.  We hasten to add that, in the tradition of this exceptional community, we respect the views of the club members and we want to hear from you if you have any comments, complaints, suggestions, or otherwise thoughtful contributions to make on this subject.  We anticipate and wish for a positive response because we want to move expediently forward on this project. We hope that dissenting opinions might be made in a civil (if not conciliatory) manner.  So please give us your feedback, if you will–let us know what you think.

We will be accepting feedback until this coming Saturday, April 1st (no fooling) at 6PM PST.

Link to feedback form: https://goo.gl/forms/LFrS6yjMPBrK1LQJ2

Unless we are greatly surprised by your feedback, we’ll proceed with the plans to replace the old Mach IIIs with new Mach X baskets.  If everything goes according to plan, we will have the new baskets installed by the Birthday Bash on April 22nd, which will make a fantastic 10th birthday present for the GGPDGC!

Thanks very much for your time in reading this long letter, your thoughtful consideration, and your continuing financial support through membership (280 current members in 2017 as of this writing).  We could not pursue these projects to upgrade course equipment without you.  Please make plans to join your SFDGC family for a celebratory round at the Birthday Bash on April 22!

Sincerely,
Your SFDGC Officers
Jon Toby – President
Shawn Mercy – Vice President
Steve Erle – Treasurer
Jerry Showman – Secretary

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