More Trees at Montiel Park?
The City of San Marcos is applying for a grant that would (among other things) pay for the addition of irrigation lines and landscaping at Montiel Park in San Marcos. If you’ve played Montiel, you would probably agree that more trees and landscaping would improve the park and the disc golf course.
If you’d like to help make this happen, please send an e-mail to the San Diego Aces Course Representative for Montiel Park, Allen Risley @ rizbee@teamrizbee.com. Your e-mail should describe your use of the park and your support for the addition of irrigation lines, landscaping and erosion control measures for Montiel Park. All of the e-mails received from disc golfers will be collected and forwarded to the Director of Community Services, Craig Sargeant-Beach. Thanks for your help!
San Diego Aces Disc Golf Club 
I also like the unfinished short course – in addition to playing 3 uphill holes and 3 downhill holes you get some experience playing with a little more wind compared to most other local courses. If there are improvements I’d like to see concrete long tees – on several holes this would have the same effect as adding trees/obstacles.
Props to the city of San Marcos and the dudes that maintain this course, the best tee/basket combination in town hands down. A hidden gem for those that want to get in a quick round at lunch or after work.
I think trees would be a great addition to the course. It does get very hot out there and some shade spots would be superb. Also, the course needs more obstacles. I’ts very plain jane as it is right now.
Sounds like I’d be ok with the changes you’re talking about. But if there’s a way to contractually obligate keeping down the underbrush there, please look into it. I’ve seen several discs lost in weed patches at Montiel in what I’d consider fairways.
Thanks for your comments – that sentiment will be included in discussions with the city.
Rest assured, any landscaping done at Montiel Park would be minimal – mostly the addition of trees in some key spots around the course. There are no plans to add grass, ground cover or ornamental plants that would require maintenance, so don’t expect a lush greenscape that’s nice for picnickers. Many of the tree locations that have been discussed with city staff are places that would increase safety on the course – protecting tees from errant shots (e.g., Tees 3, 5 and 9) or adding shade at places where players often wait. Replacing the existing dead avacado trees on holes 8 and 9 has also been discussed.
In over four years of receiving comments from disc golfers, the complaints we hear most about Montiel are that it could use more obstacles and that the course becomes too hot, dry and dusty in the summer (heard a lot from families bringing kids to play). Adding some trees addresses both of these issues but should not change the overall rustic character of the course.
Keep the weeds down and leave the course as is.
I actually do not agree. I prefer the unfinished short course the way it is. Once a course gets manicured we then will have to watch for the joggers and children and dogs and picnic people. Please leave it alone.