Stay Gold
Withrop is a course that since its inception in the 1990’s, the fairways were designed to be tight. Compact, while making excellent use of space. Course designers Harold and Andrew Duvall, along with TD Jonathan Poole and Dave Dunipace set out to create a course for the future of disc golf. In 1999, USDGC launched at Winthrop, with room for the spectators, as an objective of design. A way to grow the the sport, and immerse fans of the game in a PDGA Major. All relatively new at the time. And all part of a growing tradition.
A championship level disc golf course on a college campus. With enough water and elevation changes to rival top courses on tour. Being a campus ‘rec area,’ the course design makes use of many elements. Which, it pretty much has to with tennis courts, baseball field, and a multipurpose park in the mix. The 2024 layout, like many years before it, makes use of extensive OB, well sprinkled hazard areas, 8 holes with a single mandatory (mando), 1 hole (hole 1) with a double mando, and then 2 more holes with triple mandos.
The focus is always creating the best course for the players. If we felt that the course played better backwards, I don’t think we’d be scared – for a total redesign.
The diabolical Andrew Duvall
Beyond the many holes with mandos, and the extensive OB, and hazards, and tight fairways – 7 holes, of the 18, that for MPO are 640 feet or longer. Including the longest hole, and only par 5, hole 5 at 1025 feet. OB on both sides, with water to the left. The shortest of these long distance holes, is hole 18 at 647 feet, a par 4. A slightly diabolical hole that carries water off the tee, playing to a sloping right to left hill, and of course OB on both sides, into a green that is featured image of this profile, often creating death putt scenarios that can decide the event.
But I say slightly diabolical, since it is the hole before that, which is shortest hole on the course at 249 feet, that is truly diabolical. During 2022 USDGC, there were 8 MPO rounds in the 4 days, that took an 8 on hole 17.
No lead has ever been safe until you are past hole 17.
The honorable Andrew Duvall
From Setback To Success:
US DG Team Delivers
Like most events on the pro tour, prepping the course for the big event is half the battle. There’s months of ongoing maintenance, tweaking layouts based on slight changes to hole designs, and dealing with unexpected challenges.
Less than 2 weeks before the start of the 2024 Pro Major, Hurricane Helene moved through southeastern part of the U.S. leaving damage like the above pics (or much worse). According to spokesperson for the US Disc Golf Team, they worked tirelessly to whip it back into shape. On a course that makes use, of water, grass, wood chips and sand, their typical upkeep consistently displays an immaculate course. In 2024, that challenge was magnified, and the Team adapted.
Photo credits
All logos and graphics courtesy of US Disc Golf Team Media
All images credited to Chad LeFevre Photography