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 active course (Northwest Branch DGC) in Montgomery County, MD and two active private courses in Maryland, and have consulted on designs for six disc golf courses in Georgia, Indiana, 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 525 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 over 8 years of professional experience. On a daily basis, I deal with federal, state, and local requirements and practices for development and permitting.

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. Disc golf course design, when done right, is far more than just putting flagging tape in the woods—it’s understanding the land and client’s wants and needs, prioritizing safety and fun for all park users, thinking carefully about how the landscape will evolve during construction and long-term play, specifying materials and specifications so that the builder can install course features as intended, and sequencing for a smooth installation, opening, and operation.

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:

  • Northwest Branch DGC, 18 holes, Montgomery County, MD (opened November 2025)
  • 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