Service: The Mobile Disc Golf Experience
Event: Green Mountain Getdown
City: Londonderry, VT
Status: Complete

Design Overview

The Big Idea for The Mobile Disc Golf Experience at Green Mountain Getdown was to provide not only a recreational outlet for those in attendance, but a creative means of moving users to one of the highest points on site, where many enjoyed the sights and sounds of the festival below, while taking in the backdrop of the surrounding Vermont mountains. This first year festival offered disc golf, a ropes course, zip lining, yoga and a wellness center in addition to their stellar music lineup.

Green Mountain Getdown was hosted by Magic Mountain Ski Area, a scenic ski resort situated in southern Vermont. Those in attendance were treated to a wonderful weekend of beautiful weather, great music and plethora of on-site activities. While our 3-hole Mobile Disc Golf Experience got a good amount of use the first day, it was all day Saturday that proved to the mountain staff and patrons alike that disc golf was the activity of choice, as the course moved users throughout the property where significant on-site features were showcased through trail creation, seating areas and hole design.

The overall flow of the course connected the campground to the music/vending area, while taking advantage of prospect points whenever possible. The 2nd and 3rd holes were specifically picked for their fun, yet technical shots while providing an opportunity for patrons to rest, relax and take in the views of the festival from high above. While we knew we had to reach a certain elevation for patrons to take in the views, we used switchbacks to compensate for the change in elevation so hiking up the mountain didn’t seem such a daunting task.

The 1st hole started adjacent to the camping area and went up a ski trail skirting between the wood line and several large spruce trees. The hole was only 208′ with a raise in elevation of 16′ and was a great introduction to disc golf for those who hadn’t played. Instead of going straight up the mountain ski trail to get to the elevation where the 3rd hole would tee off from, we used switchbacks to compensate for the near 40′ change in elevation that we needed to reach. After the 1st basket, we created a trail that cut through the woods, gaining about 25′ feet in elevation that was barely noticeable on a trail that passed through fern fields, a stream bed and several large rock outcroppings.

The 2nd hole was the other half of the switchback, which compensated for another 10′ change in elevation. The tee was situated in the field where players had to throw roughly 75′ before having to hit a window in the wood line, which would then led itself to a tight wooded hole with several large fairway buncrs in the form of specimen pine and beech trees. The basket was tucked just shy of the ski trail on a ridge where everything broke to the right that made players respect that landing zone and gladly take a par or be cautious on their rare birdie attempt.

After cutting across the ski trail, and meandering through another patch of woods to compensate for another 15′ in elevation, players then reached the tee of the 3rd and final hole. Perched on a plateau, the tee box was a gathering space for many who wanted to take in the sights and sounds of the festival below. This hole measured nearly 500′ with a 56′ change in elevation, inviting players to let loose any big bombers they had been dreaming of. While the entire hole was played downhill, the basket was perched on a slippery slope that demanded precision or a sloppy bogey would be the result. Beyond the basket was a concave bowl that ended in a large berm another 125′ down the hill. This berm provided not only a seating area at the top of the music amphitheater, but a safety buffer for any errant throws. While the concave bowl provided a safety feature, the ridge the basket sat on quickly gave way to a steep slope that would catch any disc that went long. This strategic placement made for an extra challenge on what was intended to be a fun, downhill bomber for all to enjoy.

The reception of this Mobile Disc Golf Experience was once again overwhelming! We sold several DX starter packs, which included a driver, mid-range and a putter — everything you need to be a soon-to-be obsessed disc golfer. The portable basket in the music area was frequented throughout the festival, and attracted the attention of many parents due to the amount of usage by their children. The course was a scenic, yet technical test for both novice and advanced players, offering unique vantage points of the festival below whenever possible. You can look for Explore Disc Golf’s Mobile Disc Golf Experience at several more music festivals this summer, but please contact us at info@explorediscgolf.com if you’d like to bring disc golf to your next event!