Course Design

If you are a private or public landowner with acreage not dedicated to other uses, disc golf can be an excellent resource in a variety of settings with minimal landscaping or significant clearing to provide a fun and accessible outdoor activity for all ages! Depending on the setting and desired features, a simple course could be installed for far less than traditional park amenities like tennis or basketball courts. Disc golf courses can fit in the woods, on shared or defunct golf courses, or in park settings. With the rapid growth of disc golf in the last several years, a well-designed and well-maintained course can even be an economic driver, with players traveling to your area for the experience!

As an internationally-recognized disc golfer, and one of the top woods players in the world, a Fish design represents a thoughtful investment in your course's and property's future. I am the lead designer of three proposed disc golf courses in Baltimore County, MD and one in Montgomery County, MD, and have consulted on designs for five disc golf courses in Georgia, Maryland, and Wisconsin.

I'm also a “Designer” member of the Disc Golf Course Designers Group and led maintenance at Perkerson Park in Atlanta, GA from January 2013-May 2014, clearing fairways and installing erosion control structures, steps, & basket placements. I attended the 3DG Conference in 2025, learning from acclaimed designer John Houck and other experienced disc golf course design professionals.

Additionally, I have played over 480 disc golf courses in 43 states, ranging from beginner-friendly to professional championship-level layouts, I have seen a wide variety of hole designs and concepts, and borrowed concepts from golf course architecture. We can maximize the potential of the land by considering elevation, obstacles, shapes, distance, and selectively adding features to fit your needs and desired user group.

I have two degrees in Civil & Environmental Engineering, a PE license (MD) in Civil-Water Resources, and 8 years of professional experience designing and reviewing stormwater management projects. I also worked for the US Forest Service seasonally for three years, specializing in recreational trail maintenance, including building rock and log retaining structures, planning trail reroutes, maintaining trail tread, assisting with sign plans, and managing erosion due to water and users, all with and without mechanized equipment. This diverse set of experiences inside and outside of disc golf gives me a unique understanding of land design and coordination with installers or other stakeholders.

The green of Perkerson Park, hole 15, in Atlanta, GA.

Services

  • Lead disc golf course designer
  • Disc golf course construction
  • Subconsulting as a disc golf course designer to engineers, landscape architects, or other design professionals
  • Site assessment for property owners or managers for feasibility of disc golf in preparation for Master Plans, RFPs or other bidding documents
  • Independently review existing disc golf courses for safety, sustainability, or redesign potential

Fees range depending on client needs, travel, complexity of design, and scope of work requested. The initial walkthrough and quote is free, and at a minimum I can help refine your goals or refer you to another designer. I am available throughout the continental US, with a home base in the mid-Atlantic. Fall and winter is the best time for designing around the disc golf touring schedule, but for the right job I'm available all year.

Active courses:

  • Private course (undisclosed), 18 holes, Prince George's County, MD
  • Private course (undisclosed), 9 holes, St. Mary's County, MD (design-build with Caves Valley Landscaping, LLC)

Proposed Courses:

  • Mt. Vista Park, 9 holes, Baltimore County, MD
  • Days Cove Park, 9 holes + 18 holes, Baltimore County, MD
  • Northwest Branch Park, 18 holes, Montgomery County, MD (opening 2025)