About MADC

Madison Area Disc Club, LTD is a limited liability not-for-profit Wisconsin corporation. The MADC exists to promote the growth and enjoyment of disc golf and other flying disc sports in the Madison area and beyond.

Current Board of Directors

President - Kipp Van Orsdel

Vice President - Nic Lelm

Treasurer - Jamie Royea

Secretary - Mike Farnham

At-Large - Jay Smith

At-Large - Garrett Lee

At-Large - Mike Newhouse

To see a copy of the Madison Area Disc Club Bylaws Click Here

History of MADC and Disc Golf in Madison

Some time between 1977 and 1980 - Steady Ed Headrick approached Dane County Parks about installing a disc golf course, county was clueless and uninterested.

1980's - at least a few individuals approached the Park Division (PD) regarding installation of a disc golf course. PD reply; "give us funds we will work with you".

1991 - Four individuals directed toward each other by PD formed Madison Area Disc Club (MADC) for the purpose of installing a course. Elver Park suggested by PD. PD asks that course use existing winter use areas. The sledding hill and ski / hiking trails.

Duster Don Hoffman, Dan Madden, Pete & Paul Boersma were the fine gentlemen that got Elver in the ground.

1992 - MADC raised funds, People For Parks matched funds to purchase Pole Hole Basket targets and tee signs. MADC course design was accepted by PD. MADC gathered volunteers to clear brush, dig and install target anchors.

September 1992 - Elver Park Disc Golf Course was installed and opened.

Every year since - In fall the targets get taken out of their anchors and stored until April when the targets get reinstalled and course is open again.

1994 - Madison Ultimate Frisbee Association donates $9000 for a disc golf course on the east side of Madison. People for Parks matches funds. Warner Park is suggested by PD with PD architect Tom Maglio assigned to project. A course designed and park use studied by Brad Wendt. Study finds park not compatible for disc golf. Seeks other option.

1995 - Hiestand Park suggested by PD. It is perfect for disc golf but very wild growth in park will require much work. Architect, and forester accept design. Architect adds mower accessible paths and enlarges fairways to the disc golfers delight. Duster tweeks design by insisting recreational or am tees be added.

Fall 1995 - About 50 Volunteers cut and stack a few hundred trees with permission from PD forester. Tree removal lasts into spring of 1996.

1996 - PD large equipment crews remove cut trees and brush, clear stumps, grade fairways, spread top soil, plant grass seed.

1997 - MADC Ltd. was incorporated as a Non-Stock Not For Profit WI Corporation.

1997 - Concrete tee pads installed at both Hiestand and Elver Park Disc Golf Courses. Metal tee signs installed to both courses at same time. Pole Hole Basket Targets anchors installed in concrete by MADC volunteers at Hiestand Park.

October 1997 - Hiestand course installed for one week end for an opening tournament, The Harvest Open. After the week end course is pulled and stored until May 1998.

1998 - Hiestand Course is officially open. Cost of the entire Hiestand Park Disc Golf Course project, Elver Park Disc Golf Course addition of concrete tee pads, a kiosk, and metal tee signs totals around $32,000.

2001 - Dane County Parks opened Vallarta - Ast Disc Golf Course in Token Creek Park as a pay for play. Disc golfers from around the state donated money for the course with Larry and Nellie Vallarta-Ast matching funds. The build a course design was used by Larry Ast and Duster.

New type of design- Building a disc golf course using earth moving and shaping equipment had rarely been done before. Disc golf courses had always been designed to fit into the land and forest with out moving or changing earth. Brush removal was common. Tree removal was an option used as little as possible.

Comment from Brad Wendt; "Working on the Hiestand course design with PD architect Tom Maglio was very fulfilling. He laid down basic request of the PD, and offered that the PD would pull stumps, remove cut trees and brush, grade fairways, shape green or tee areas, and plant seed. Tom accepted my design trusting I knew what disc golf play required He visited the project often with me. Tom added his "ball" golf course design knowledge to disc golf needs which really turned heads in disc course design. This was cutting edge design." Some other disc golf course designs have since followed this build the course method.

Significant changes

Elver Course

1998 - moved fairways #8 & 9 off the trail (next to it).

1999 - 2001- added alternate pin placements to 9 holes.

Yearly- Wood chips added to target areas and some paths.

2004 - Adopt a Hole program implemented to clean trash on the entire course. Worked.

2005 - Adopt a Hole program really catches on.

2006 - West side Wal Mart donates 18 Rubber Maid trash cans for Adopt a Hole at Elver Park course.

Hiestand Course

1999 - Concrete tee pad added to hole # 9.

2002- Removed old shelter building roof, service drive to the shelter, and parking lot located deep into the park (holes 9 and 10). All removed areas replaced with grass. This old shelter roof was a magnet for young trouble, causing damage to course equipment. Vandalism has been greatly reduced since removal of shelter. Six holes were closed for four months for grass growth.

2002 - 2005 - Alternate pin placements added on 8 holes.

2002 - Five year review of Use damage and trouble areas report submitted to PD.

2005-2007 Use damage and trouble areas work started by MADC volunteers. Sixty five 6" x 6" x 16' landscape timbers have been set into the ground on the course to stop or hold back erosion by volunteers. PD has delivered around eighty yards of crushed lime stone screening as fill at installed landscape timbers. The lime stone is spread by hand by volunteers. Grass seed planted. This project is about 80% finished. Entire course was closed from February until August do to all the reconstruction.

The Wall of Hiestand was built on hole 5 basket area.

1999- 2006- There has been constant brush removal and tree trimming.

Yearly- Wood chips added to target areas and some paths.

Bi-yearly- Grass seed added based on need.

2007 - Use damage and trouble areas report made for Elver Park Disc Golf Course renovation.