The difference, in ball golf, between a championship course and an  executive course, is that championship courses are generally par 72 over 18 holes, and executive courses are par 54 over 18 holes. That's 4 shots per hole compared to 3. In championship ball golf, also called par 4 golf, the first shot is a long drive with no hazards or obstacles. The object is to drive the ball as far as you can and land in the fairway. The second shot is also relatively long, but much more controlled. The object of the second shot is to hit the green and avoid the bunkers, trees, mounds, rough, ponds, and other hazards placed near the green. The second shot requires a great deal of accuracy, the first shot requires brute distance, and less accuracy, since there are no obstacles to worry about (at least on the par 4 and 5 holes).

In executive ball golf, or par 3 golf, the 3 strokes correspond with the 2nd, 3rd and 4th shots of the par 4 golf...everything is the same except for the elimination of the first "brute distance" shot. Right from the tee area, there are hazards and obstacles to worry about. You can be standing on the tee pad staring at the same hazards you'd expect to see on the 2nd shot on a par 4 hole.

Disc golf has traditionally been par 3 executive golf, but there is a growing trend for more par 4 holes. The above description of par 4 "ball golf" describes the philosophy of the design of the par 4 holes at Hyzer Creek. Although there will be many par 3 holes, designed in the tradition of disc golf, there will eventually be more par 4 holes. Hyzer Creek will break the tradition of having many hazards right off the tee pad, at least on the par 4 holes.

Here is a list of some of the points of the design:

1.  There will be a balanced number of straight fairways, and fairways curved in various directions to make it fair for left handed people and righties, and also to test your hyzer and anhyzer skills. Some holes will curve right or left or even have S curves.

2. There will be holes designed to be ace-able. People love to get aces. But we can't just give aces away, so there will be hazards.  Holes 3,  11, 13, and 18 are ace runs but some others are ace-able.

3. Trees in the middle of the fairway right in front of the tee pad are just dumb, they just ruin your disc. None of this nonsense here.

4. Fairways that require luck will be kept to a minimum. This is a test of skill, not luck. This is disc golf, not pinball.

5. The fairways will be groomed as much as possible, small twigs and branches will be trimmed as much as possible. Everybody hates invisible twigs in the fairway. Nothing is worse than watching a great shot cruise right down the middle of the fairway, and watching it hit an invisible twig that never should have been there.

6. Everybody hates "spit-outs" where a perfectly good putt doesn't stick because of an inferior, inexpensive target. So, extra money has been spent to get the best pole-holes possible. There are 3 or 4 brands that are top-of-the-line pole holes, but we chose the Strokesavers for several reasons. They have 16 outer chains and 8 inner chains, and a basket that is twice as deep to prevent bounce-outs from the basket or blow-outs on windy days. They have sliding chain hangers, so hitting high won't bounce off the hanger. Also, the chains are heavier, so if you hit them from a long distance at high speed, they can stop the disc better.

jan31'07