Current Disc Golf Course Design Projects by John Houck

John has begun the design process on one of HouckDesign's most exciting projects yet. The Selah Ranch near Mt. Vernon, Texas will soon be one of the top destinations in the disc golf world. John says "This may well be the most beautiful disc golf property in Texas. It has multiple lakes and ponds, huge beautiful hardwoods, rolling terrain, and a seasonal creek. On top of all that, it has great accommodations on site, making it the perfect spot for a true disc golf getaway. It's really unlike anything I've seen in our sport, and I absolutely expect it to be the highest-rated venue in Texas."

Selah Ranch will have two beautiful championship 18-hole courses, each with two sets of concrete tees and Platinum HouckDesign signs. The grand opening weekends are Oct 1-2, 2011 and Oct 8-10, 2011. For information on the tournaments that weekend email us at cp@moment.net.

Hillcrest Farm, just outside Charlottetown in Prince Edward Island, is an ideal property for disc golf. With beautiful spruce trees, birch trees, and other hardwoods, great topography, and a winding stream, Hillcrest Farm will give disc golfers superb variety, ample challenge, and great scenery. Working closely with owners Bill and Mary Best, John has a simple goal: to make the premier championship course in Canada while also catering to new players in the region. John will be making his third and final trip to the property in October to complete the design, refine recently-cleared holes, and to "polish" the remaining fairways so that they'll be ready for the opening, projected now for fall of 2011.

This spring John finished the preliminary design of a world-class 18-hole course for the newly formed Nantucket Disc Golf Club. The course has been gone through various levels of the approval process, impressing state and local officials along the way. Todd Rainwater, John Millar and the local volunteers are hoping to start clearing the South Pasture of the State Forest in late September. John should be visiting the site this fall to inspect the clearing and construction process.

John returned to Augusta in August to begin the next phase of course improvements. First will be small but important changes on Holes 1, 2, 4, 6, 8, 9, and 18, most of which should be implemented in time for the Augusta Classic in mid-September. These initial changes involve widening some routes, reinforcing the integrity of others, creating critical new routes, and some minor tee and pin refinements. The next step will involve more substantial improvements to holes 3, 5, 7, 14, and a few small routing changes.

This landmark project by the City of Austin will feature two championship 18-hole courses on a spectacular property bordering Little Walnut Creek. This facility, designed to include a permanent pro shop, will be a breakthrough in municipal managed play of disc golf. Opening date uncertain.

This spring John designed a beautiful 6-hole course on the campus of Trinity University in San Antonio. Using the available elevation and the property's unique mix of hardwoods, the course features two par 4 holes (#1 and #5), a memorable downhill par 3 (#3), and a nice mix of more "technical" holes. John's review, in part, concludes that "if this property were three times the size, it just might be the prettiest course in Texas -- what a great place for disc golf. I hope the Trinity students enjoy the course... after they're done studying every day."

John has just completed designing an 18 hole recreational/championship course at "Austin's premier 550-acre mixed-use business park." The course sits on about 20 acres that includes several wooded areas, a seasonal creek, and a pond. The course is open for play.

“We are extremely excited to have a firm of the caliber of Houck Design create a disc golf course for the Met Center development, as well as to be the first business park in the world with a disc golf course as an amenity. Hopefully we will be trendsetters that will bring a higher level of coolness to business parks everywhere.”Howard Yancy, President of Zydeco Development (more reviews)

John designed a 9-hole course in beautiful Westside Park. The course features huge mature trees, great terrain features, and a creek that runs through many of the holes. The city is working on acquiring additional land to expand the course. When it is all completed Marble Falls course will be a real jewel of Texas disc golf.

This remarkable church has decided to open its land to the community, and disc golf will be one of several amenities they're offering. John was happy to volunteer in his hometown and design this popular and amazing 18-hole course that features major elevation, including some tremendous hill country views. This course is a landmark project, as a leading example of how disc golf has grown beyond city, county, and state parks.