Not paying to park at Blue Lake = Douchebag

[columbia gorge discgolf]

What a great new course we have. I for one did absolutely nothing to make this happen. No work, no donations, not one damn thing. The least I can do is pay to park. I understand that it is "legal" to park on the road, but by doing so you are not contributing. Metro, Stumptown and a whole army of volunteers paid a ton of dues to build this course. I feel it is every disc golfers responsibility to show this to be a sustainable project. By paying to park or purchasing an annual parking pass($40) we are showing Metro something. We show that they made a good decision by installing a disc golf course. If we can show Metro that their investment in our community has even a small return maybe they will open up even more land for future courses. This is my opinion and I'm sure quite a few people will disagree. If you're not at least paying to park at Blue Lake, you are a douchebag.

P.S. The people who put in the bulk of the work all have annual parking passes. I would love to hear what your excuse is.

[Matt B.]

Originally Posted by columbia gorge discgolf

What a great new course we have. I for one did absolutely nothing to make this happen. No work, no donations, not one damn thing. The least I can do is pay to park. I understand that it is "legal" to park on the road, but by doing so you are not contributing. Metro, Stumptown and a whole army of volunteers paid a ton of dues to build this course. I feel it is every disc golfers responsibility to show this to be a sustainable project. By paying to park or purchasing an annual parking pass($40) we are showing Metro something. We show that they made a good decision by installing a disc golf course. If we can show Metro that their investment in our community has even a small return maybe they will open up even more land for future courses. This is my opinion and I'm sure quite a few people will disagree. If you're not at least paying to park at Blue Lake, you are a douchebag.

P.S. The people who put in the bulk of the work all have annual parking passes. I would love to hear what your excuse is.

Second.

[jdinteg]

I fully agree that cheating by parking on the street is a slimy move. If someone is too pinched for funds to pay for parking; then they should take the bus, ride a bike, walk, or carpool. But parking on the street and starting in the middle of the course makes DGr's look bad.

Btw, I called Metro to check on when the 2013 annual pass will be released. This Tuesday December 4th we can purchase the 2013 parking pass for Blue Lake and any other Metro parks that share reciprocity, I do not know which additional parks that would be. I plan on asking Metro to note I am only buying the pass due to the new Blue Lake course. If we all do that it would help them understand how much we all appreciate the course.

[Bruce]

I know it includes Chinook Landing, at least that's if I remember correctly.

[HerbalTee]

It is so weird. Pier and Blue Lake are the same distance from SE Portland...If you want to play for free it makes sense to go to Pier. Both a great courses and I know if I'm short for funds, I'll head to Pier or look in the cushions of the couch to pay to park at Blue Lake.

[sillybizz]

So if you bike to work because parking is too expensive are you being a "douche bag" too?

So someone is saving a couple of bucks by walking a little farther like when you go to a sports event and park farther away to save money? Sounds reasonable but I guess that would be taking away from all of the hard work of the people who built the streets and and signs rights?

[NWDiscer]

Originally Posted by sillybizz

So if you bike to work because parking is too expensive are you being a "douche bag" too?

So someone is saving a couple of bucks by walking a little farther like when you go to a sports event and park farther away to save money? Sounds reasonable but I guess that would be taking away from all of the hard work of the people who built the streets and and signs rights?

the course is part of the park......what your saying is it is alright to sneak in to the newest disc course in the Portland area

or maybe park along the road above Milo or Dabney and sneak in to play a round


since we want the Metro parks around here to help us, by letting us put more courses in the ground why is it so hard to cough up a couple bucks or buy a pass for the year... or just play any of the FREE 1's we have around also..... as we are some of the most spoiled discers in the USA

[Adam Schneider]

Originally Posted by NWDiscer

the course is part of the park......what your saying is it is alright to sneak in to the newest disc course in the Portland area

It's not "sneaking" in. The fee is to park a vehicle at the park, not ENTER the park. If it were an entrance fee, you'd pay per person — even if you biked or walked in.

[NWDiscer]

Originally Posted by Adam Schneider

It's not "sneaking" in. The fee is to park a vehicle at the park, not ENTER the park. If it were an entrance fee, you'd pay per person — even if you biked or walked in.

Thanks for that info now i feel like a total shit for what i said.....naw i dont think so.

if you park on the street around the park i hope you get towed i doubt it will happen.

Thanks again Adam

and if your biking/busing/walking to the park then more power to you

[columbia gorge discgolf]

Bike and walk to Blue Lake all you want to. I'm all for that type of non intrusive transportation. I don't think it's cool to park all along the neighborhood when parking is offered for a small fee and benefits the course. I feel we as golfers need to cultivate a positive image with the neighbors. Parking in front of their houses and dipping into the park really is counter productive. It's a shame that some people have a problem supporting their own recreation.

[Scotty B]

Since I already have a pass just curious how much of the purchase of a pass goes back into course upkeep and improvement? I would also like to say to everyone please clean up after yourself I have carried out one plastic grocery sack of trash after each round that I have played mostly beer cans/bottles. I think this would be a quick way for metro to shut the course down if you are going to drink pack out your trash please.

[Yoduh]

Paying to play is the wave of the future. The more popular and successful it is the sooner another course gets put in!

[jdinteg]

Originally Posted by Yoduh

Paying to play is the wave of the future. The more popular and successful it is the sooner another course gets put in!

If paying to park and play is the trade I have to make to get courses like Blue Lake in, then I will happily pay $5 a day to park my car. It's still cheaper then the $40-60 I would pay to play an 18-hole round at an OK municipal ball golf course, or the $80-100 for a high caliber ball golf course, then some require a caddie +$50, and a cart +$20. Turn left early as your heading up to Hornings some day and look at the prices at Pumpkin Ridge, then let me know if $3-$5 is unfair?

[General Scales]

I honestly have no problem paying to play disc golf so long as the course calls for it. I buy a yearly pass for Farragut (even though I don't have a car) because the courses are well worth the money spent. The best part about pay to play is it usually keeps the 18 pack 1 disc huckers away from the course meaning a more enjoyable day of golf for me!

[Scott]

Paying $5 to park isn't that big of a deal for me and if I lived closer I wouldn't think twice about purchasing an annual pass. Judging by the previous comments, it seems that most here feel the same way.

But that doesn't mean that everyone has to feel the same way we do. Calling someone a douchebag for doing something that is perfectly legal seems a little harsh.

[Lund]

Originally Posted by Scott

Calling someone a douchebag for doing something that is perfectly legal seems a little harsh.

I suppose any slang word is up for interpretation but from my perspective choosing an option that is an obvious attempt to circumvent a rule's intention solely because it is legal is the essence of douchebaggery.

There has been at least 1 car parked on the road next to holes 6/7 every time I have played Blue. My first thought is that it will be the residents along that side of the park that sound the alarm and that will be looking for shady or illegal behaviors to bolster their complaints.

[columbia gorge discgolf]

You are correct Scott. It is harsh but that was the point. It's my opinion and I tend to lean that way. I also figured a jarring thread title would generate attention and debate. To be clear all I am saying is, if you drive a motorized vehicle to Blue Lake park, you should pay to park.

[spikehyzer]

$40 to feed one of my addictions for a year? sold!

Purchase a pass online, over the phone or in person at the Blue Lake or Oxbow Regional park offices. MasterCard and Visa are accepted. For more information, call 503-665-4995 option 0.

Prices
Regular passes are $40
Senior passes are $30
Low-income/disability passes are $10 (documentation required)
For information about disabled veterans passes call 503-665-4995.

[jdp11284]

I will be purchasing a 2013 pass the next time I come up from Albany. I agree 100% that we need to show financial support for our incredible disc golf scene, especially on courses managed by public entities. Blue Lake is truly a special place that will soon be (if it already isn't) a destination course. We should all support in ANY way we can. This will ensure the continued prosperity of the sport (and the development of exceptional courses) in the region.

No low putts.

[Mcw5378]

Since this course is to be used for The Worlds in 2014, it would be nice to for it to be there to use. Hopefully us disc'ers, the neighbors, and Metro will soon make a lasting relationship. I need to get up there and play it soon I guess.