Avery designed a course in Utica, NY and it has to be the worst/lamest course ever built. Apparently the city paid 130 thousand dollars and it's a 9 hole course and the longest hole isn't even 300ft (7 out of 9 are less than 200ft), literally no one ever goes there to play because it's so bad and boring. Why would he do that unless he was just trying to get a check and get out asap, if he's such a great ambassador then why would he design such waste of taxpayers money pos course. Not one person I've talked to has anything good to say about it, and we were waiting and hoping that it would be good because there's really nothing else around. So now the cities/towns around think they have to spends hundred of thousands to build an 18 hole course and no other courses are in the process of even being talked about thanks to that disgrace. Zero "beginners" are playing there and anyone who already plays will not go there, so thanks for nothing Avery, thanks for spending all that money on nothing and leaving a bad taste in the surrounding areas for disc golf courses. Instead of growing the sport in the area now everyone thinks it's stupid and too expensive to build more courses, I'm telling you the dg community in this area is super pissed about that.
Avery Jenkins' standing in the disc golf community needs no defense. However, I appreciate and support my guests on PDGA Radio, so, a couple of thoughts in response to your post above: As is often the case, you don't know what you don't know. Regarding the city's stated expenditure of $130,000, we know nothing of the motivations behind the city disclosing that specific amount to the public, nor do we know the various line items involved in that amount... specifically we know nothing about what fractional portion of that money went to Avery Jenkins for his contribution to the overall project (which would have involved many other stakeholders and service-providers known only to the city). On a related note, we know nothing of any physical guidelines/restrictions required by the city that had to be adhered to in the course's design. ----- The course is very new... so much so that it doesn't yet appear on many online course lists... however it does appear on Udisc with a total of 16 ratings and an average of 3.8 out of 5 - a great rating for a 9-hole course. There are 5 written reviews. One (with "soldier" in the handle, perhaps you?) is negative and briefly reflects thoughts similar to your's above. However, other reviews include statements like the following: "Fun little course!" "Pleasantly surprised..." "...decent variety..." "Great for all play levels!" and "...great to get the spirit up for a new player!" Thus far, your assertion that it's a "...pos course..." seems to be demonstrably in the minority. --- I think you make some bold, unilateral assumptions as to the opinions of the broader disc golf community in your area with your assertion that the course "...leav[es] a bad taste in the surrounding areas for disc golf courses..." and your claim that the disc golf community at-large is "super pissed." ----- However, your statement that "...there's really nothing else around..." appears accurate. There aren't many courses, and thus perhaps not much of an organized disc golf community in your area (the Utica Disc Golf Club Facebook page has 2 followers and no content yet). The GOOD NEWS for a passionate person like you is that there is ample opportunity for you to get involved! Instead of being the kind of person that complains about a $130,000 gift and personally attacks (with incomplete information) a person who put actual sweat equity into that gift, you can rally support for your local community in an attempt to give more - perhaps better? - gifts to a fledgling, underserved disc golf community in the future by fundraising your own money to create more courses, hosting events to grow player numbers, and getting active on city/regional boards. Perhaps you're already doing some of this. If so, keep it up! And find plenty of resources or contacts that can help at PDGA.com. - Grant Zellner, PDGA Radio Host
Got to stay at Pete's house that week of worlds. What a great time we all had. And that after party was a blast.
Avery designed a course in Utica, NY and it has to be the worst/lamest course ever built. Apparently the city paid 130 thousand dollars and it's a 9 hole course and the longest hole isn't even 300ft (7 out of 9 are less than 200ft), literally no one ever goes there to play because it's so bad and boring. Why would he do that unless he was just trying to get a check and get out asap, if he's such a great ambassador then why would he design such waste of taxpayers money pos course. Not one person I've talked to has anything good to say about it, and we were waiting and hoping that it would be good because there's really nothing else around. So now the cities/towns around think they have to spends hundred of thousands to build an 18 hole course and no other courses are in the process of even being talked about thanks to that disgrace. Zero "beginners" are playing there and anyone who already plays will not go there, so thanks for nothing Avery, thanks for spending all that money on nothing and leaving a bad taste in the surrounding areas for disc golf courses. Instead of growing the sport in the area now everyone thinks it's stupid and too expensive to build more courses, I'm telling you the dg community in this area is super pissed about that.
Avery Jenkins' standing in the disc golf community needs no defense. However, I appreciate and support my guests on PDGA Radio, so, a couple of thoughts in response to your post above: As is often the case, you don't know what you don't know. Regarding the city's stated expenditure of $130,000, we know nothing of the motivations behind the city disclosing that specific amount to the public, nor do we know the various line items involved in that amount... specifically we know nothing about what fractional portion of that money went to Avery Jenkins for his contribution to the overall project (which would have involved many other stakeholders and service-providers known only to the city). On a related note, we know nothing of any physical guidelines/restrictions required by the city that had to be adhered to in the course's design. ----- The course is very new... so much so that it doesn't yet appear on many online course lists... however it does appear on Udisc with a total of 16 ratings and an average of 3.8 out of 5 - a great rating for a 9-hole course. There are 5 written reviews. One (with "soldier" in the handle, perhaps you?) is negative and briefly reflects thoughts similar to your's above. However, other reviews include statements like the following: "Fun little course!" "Pleasantly surprised..." "...decent variety..." "Great for all play levels!" and "...great to get the spirit up for a new player!" Thus far, your assertion that it's a "...pos course..." seems to be demonstrably in the minority. --- I think you make some bold, unilateral assumptions as to the opinions of the broader disc golf community in your area with your assertion that the course "...leav[es] a bad taste in the surrounding areas for disc golf courses..." and your claim that the disc golf community at-large is "super pissed." ----- However, your statement that "...there's really nothing else around..." appears accurate. There aren't many courses, and thus perhaps not much of an organized disc golf community in your area (the Utica Disc Golf Club Facebook page has 2 followers and no content yet). The GOOD NEWS for a passionate person like you is that there is ample opportunity for you to get involved! Instead of being the kind of person that complains about a $130,000 gift and personally attacks (with incomplete information) a person who put actual sweat equity into that gift, you can rally support for your local community in an attempt to give more - perhaps better? - gifts to a fledgling, underserved disc golf community in the future by fundraising your own money to create more courses, hosting events to grow player numbers, and getting active on city/regional boards. Perhaps you're already doing some of this. If so, keep it up! And find plenty of resources or contacts that can help at PDGA.com. - Grant Zellner, PDGA Radio Host