Morley Field Disc Golf Course About Pay to Play

Notice: The information on this page is to help other courses decide if they want to go pay-to-play. It does not reflect the current course fees as they have gone up. To check the current fees, please visit the About Morley page.

We have had some request to post some information about how to go Pay To Play. This is some of the information Snapper used when he switched from free to pay. I hope this is of some help.

Pay to Play at Morley Field

By resolution of the San Diego City Council , Morley Field Disc Golf Course became a pay to use facility on March 21, 1994. The new user/entrance fee was established at $1.00 per day, per player. Fortunately this being Spring break it's our busiest time of year. Through the first 15 days 2500 people have come by the pro shop and gotten their play ticket and neon play bracelet. The city needs the tickets to keep track of the numbers and my monitors need the play bracelets to easily spot who's somehow missed the 15 new signs and 12 foot banner announcing that we are now a pay to use/enter facility. The bracelets color changes each day and make expensive fencing unnecessary. Most of our monitors are from the local Frisbee Club the Free Flyers. They receive a free months pass ($15 value) for handing out fee notice's to the few people who don't have wrist bands on.

After nearly four years of forced delays, haggling, and finally a formal 6 months Request for Proposal (RFP) process, whereby the general public was invited to bid for the concession rights to the course, I finally won the bid . I now have a signed and city council approved 10 year contract for the Morley Field Disc Golf course. In it there is a pay to play/enter provision making it a violation of San Diego municipal code 63.03 if caught during working hours on the course without a valid daily play ticket or monthly play pass. I was also given permission to expand my parking area adjacent to hole one. That was huge as people have had to walk 1/4 mile to get here for the last 3 1/2 years, nearly destroying my business as the numbers had tumbled from the pre 1990 days of unlimited parking. We can now accommodate 50 cars at tee 1. The area the course occupies is also officially for the exclusive use of disc golfers only. In return we do all the course and grounds maintenance, keep liability insurance and indemnify the city, pay the possessor interest taxes, and give the city a graded percentage of the gross that will probably average around 11 to 13%. There is a $550 per month minimum.

In preparation for the transition to pay to play we've now upgraded the entire course with a top to bottom facelift costing in excess of $15,000. People have responded well to the new image and it's made the transition very easy with a minimum of grumbling over the new $1.00 charge. In fact people were enthusiastic knowing their course was improving and most said the charge was long overdue.

1. We've built a new shop. My good pal Jim McDowell took his time and engineered a real beauty. All mahogany paneling outside. Everything is tongue and groove and should last a lifetime. We even have a microwave now. Everything is on wheels , the discs are in drawers on carts. With a five minute setup time it's a marvel of engineering.

2. We purchased a 20' X 8' X 8' sea cargo container for a storage unit. Made of 14 gauge steel "Bertha" is a 4000 lb. impregnable vault. Bertha, in addition to storing extra case drinks houses my new 20 hp. 60" cut riding Snapper mower.

3. We've installed a new parking area consisting of a series of 4 x 4 posts connected with 3/4 in. cable. It's accessed from the old lot.

4. 15 new signs with the new rules and the pay to play ordinance. Also a 12' banner on hole one stating "Disc Golf $1.00 per day".

5. 400' of fence awaiting installment at strategic points on the course to insure anyone entering the area is aware that it is for Disc Golf only.

6. A new Dell 486 computer with HP color printer. Everything is done and tracked on computer (notices, entries, monthly passes, inventory, scorecard design, etc.)

8. Finally, we've added 15 new pin positions to the course and added a second practice basket . We now have 72 pin positions for our 19 hole course.

1. Control of the area. No non disc golfers allowed.. Also the removal of undesirable transient elements. Especially drug peddlers and used disc peddlers from the premises.

2. People value something they have to pay for more than if it's just handed them for free.

3. Money generated from fees will pay for high quality maintenance , improvements, and increased staff.

4. We can now afford advertising so that even more people can learn about Disc Golf.

5. We've expanded our hours of service by opening the shop daily at 8:00 am closing at dusk.

6. If the course will now support a staff and cover its' maintenance costs and still provide a profit--more pay to play courses are just around the corner.

We all want our sport to grow and gain the recognition and respect from the general public that we know it deserves. But we've been caught in a catch 22. Players want more money in tourneys and more big tourneys. But sponsors are only interested in the numbers a sport generates. We need to generate more players at the grass roots level and the sponsors and money will follow. Most course I've seen sit fallow most of the day with some evening activity with the most use on the weekends. Course pros claim they can't make a living just hanging out selling discs during the week. But if someone isn't there to show the newcomer what to do and how to do it and answer questions about rules, or give them an inexpensive rental disc, or scorecard, then how's he going to learn and why come back? It's not enough to just expose people to the sport, you've got to make it an appealing and easy entertainment option for middle class masses. Only through a full time full service pro shop can this be accomplished.

My firm belief is our sport will grow dramatically when more course pros dedicate themselves to their course and their constituents. To this end you won't see me on the tourney circuit this year as I'm dedicated to making this continue to work here in San Diego.

With a pay to play contract you and your city both come up winners. The key as always is don't be greedy be realistic. Practically no one is put out by a $1.00 charge. But a $3.00 or $4.00 charge is a commitment and you'd better be offering something special on the entertainment spectrum. It works for some courses but many are better suited to just a $1.00 charge. But if they were all pay courses think of the revenue that could be generated and the number of pros that could make a decent living running their course.

Usually a fee will give you exclusive use of an area and a disc golf course must be on dedicated land if we're ever going to receive any respect as a sport and not just some recreational activity to do in the park.

Finally, if anyone out there thinks they have what it takes to do the job but your unsure of yourself . I can tell you that only with perseverance and by networking with other people in the Frisbee family can you make it happen for you. It was only a couple years ago we had another pay to play dream at another site here in San Diego at Colina Park. It had night lights, beer and wine license, big club house--the dream and it inexplicably fell through. I was devastated. But now the dream has come true for Morley and it's just the beginning.

There are some very special people in the Frisbee family here in San Diego that have helped create the Morley dream. Mike Goetz the ever smiling consummate sales person in the shop ever ready with advice for novices. Will Phillips, Mr. Computer, he has upgraded all the course paperwork and is an unbelievable organizer of detail. He's a selfless and seemingly tireless individual from the Dennis Byrne mold of helping out just for the love of the sport. Scott Christie, a combination Mr. Haney (Green Acres) and Mr. Wizard. He can find anything and fix anything. He's a fountain of knowledge and always there when needed. Jim McDowell who's engineering abilities and carpentry talents are that of an artist in his element. Gene Wilson, 75 years young is known as the "can man" on the course. Gene's my main volunteer monitor--traversing the course 10 times a day recycling cans and reminding errant player's to pay their fees. Gene's handyman skills on the course are legendary. Finally my wife, who had faith in my dream even at the bleakest moments over these past few years. To all these people I owe a deep and abiding thank you. It's because of these people's continuing efforts the dream lives in San Diego. I hope it comes to your town soon.

State of the Course
Morley's one year anniversary as a pay to play course.

Well March 22, 1995 was our one year anniversary as a pay to play course. Time flies when you're having fun and finally making a decent living. A lot has happened during our first year all for the better. The 50,000 plus players who played here at Morley this year helped finance tremendous changes both social and physical. We've added approximately 30 new pin placements this year and repaired all the old ones. About half of the course now has new Mach III's with new tee signs. Turf and tree upgrades are ongoing and the general atmosphere is improved tremendously. Long gone are the drug dealers, transients, and malcontents. Lots of families and gals now play here. Overall numbers have increased over 20% from last year. Locals take pride in their course now. We hear players down from L.A. say they now prefer Morley to even La Mirada. We even have a player who flies out weekends from Phoenix just to play golf here because he prefers it to any of the courses out there. Best of all people are completely used to the new system of picking up their play bracelets first before beginning play so we no longer have a need for course monitors as we did the first 6 months. The transition is now complete. Virtually everyone prefers the way things are run now as to when it was free and a free- for- all . The one issue we have remained strict on is non golfers on our course. Interlopers are neither welcome nor tolerated. This a dedicated disc golf course and no other activity is allowed (i.e.. dog walking, jogging, mountain bikers, etc.).

I now have four people on staff with me. This a second or part time job for each of them. I've found for me, this is the secret to getting quality employee's. Their first jobs pay more but not enough to live in the style they would like and they are industrious enough to get a second job to make ends meet. The $6 per hour plus bonus plus play pass is just enough incentive .This is the best group of people I've ever had working with me. Each one is intelligent, articulate and fun to be with. We work as a team here now. Through teamwork no project is too daunting. Next week we begin to install new irrigation systems here. Each week we repair and upgrade fences, signs, tees, pins, or something as we still have a problem with vandalism here in the park after dark with no lighting when all sorts of unsavory characters "cruise" in the night . As the summer approaches and the grounds maintenance demands increase with the days longer we'll be adding two more workers to the staff to keep this place green and lush.

We've begun the process of converting over from Mach 2.5 to Mach III's. Our original goal back in January when we began was to have one hole per month sponsored. So we put up a new Will Phillips designed tee sign on hole 16 stating that if anyone wanted to sponsor a hole to come talk to me a the pro shop. We charged $300 to be a hole sponsor at first later raising it to $350 when the DGA raised it's prices to us . We sell the old baskets at auction at the monthlies to raise the extra monies needed to cover the costs of Will's computer art work ($15), screening costs at the sign center ($30), Lexan cover ($10), and new lock ($25)for the new Mach III. As Steady Ed pointed out in a recent article good signs are absolutely essential for a well run course. We also do a little dedication ceremony for the new baskets at the monthlies where all the players throw their disc at once from a 80' semi circle around the basket. Closest to the pin or any shots sunk win a free disc from the pro shop. We also take pictures of the sponsors at their respective hole give them a free months play pass and send an article and pictures into the local newspaper that we also advertise in. The $450 we raise from the sponsor and selling the old basket just covers the costs of the new basket and sign.

The sponsor gets the upper 2.5" X 12" space on the tee sign for a period of up to ten years with whatever "G" rated message or ad they choose. With over 4000 people per month coming through the course many people realized this is a sweet advertising deal. For this reason we've already done 7 holes and have 5 others in the works we should be completely converted by summer at the present rate. Not all sponsors are businesses. Two that have yet to go up are to be memorials, hole one was sponsored by a family, and hole 16 is to be sponsored by 14 local golfers. Frankly, I'm amazed at how easily the system sells itself. I get inquiries regularly and have done very little solicitation beyond the tee sign and the article in the local newspaper. Yet we've still surpassed our stipulated goals. Yea !

Small flyer handed out to inform about pay to play.

Welcome to the Morley Field Disc Golf Course. As of March 21, 1994 this became a pay to play facility. Entrance/User fee is $1.00 per day. User fees are necessary in order to keep the course open and maintained. Because this is a Entrance/User fee, it must be paid, even if you are not playing disc golf. All fees are to be paid in advance at the pro shop on the west side of the restroom. You now have three options;

You'll receive a player identification bracelet. All players on the course will have either a bracelet or a monthly pass card. There are several volunteer course monitors on the course at all times. Or...

Do not pass go. If you came unprepared to pay your dollar, please exit immediately. Or...

We will call the ranger who will then issue you a ticket for noncompliance. He also has the right to confiscate your disc's as evidence. So...

It shall be unlawful for any person to make use of any municipal recreation facility for which an activity fee, ticket or permit has been established by resolution of the City Council without first having obtained the required permit or ticket or paid the required fee authorizing such use.

Sample of hole sponsorship contract.

This agreement, dated ___________ 1996, is between Leo "Snapper" Pierson, Morley Field Disc Golf Course (hereinafter "Pierson") of San Diego, California; and _________________________________.

In consideration of the mutual covenants herein and the other good and valuable consideration, the parties agree as follows; __________________ shall pay to Pierson on or before___________ the sum of four hundred dollars ($400.00). In addition, _____________ may supply Pierson upon the execution of this agreement camera ready artwork fitting the proportions of no more than 2.5 inches by 12 inches in black and white only.. Artwork can be any form of advertisement utilizing corporate logos, symbols, insignia, or mascot symbols. All advertisements must be mutually acceptable in appearance.

In consideration thereof, Pierson shall, for a period of ___ years, designate__________________ as the sponsor of Hole Number___ at Morley Field Disc Golf Course in San Diego, California commencing __________1996, by designating______________ as the sponsor on the tee sign posted at the respective hole.

About Pay to Play

Pay to Play at Morley Field

State of the Course Morley's one year anniversary as a pay to play course.

Small flyer handed out to inform about pay to play.

Sample of hole sponsorship contract.

State of the Course
Morley's one year anniversary as a pay to play course.