Winter Wednesday #3 – Jackson Park Golf Course
Winter Wednesdays is a new series offering training opportunities between the Winter League meets. The night training events are low-key with two point-to-point courses, the Easier with reflective control markers and the Harder with non-reflective markers. In addition, a Score-O format course will be offered. The timing is self-provided if you so choose; there will be no punching (neither manual nor electronic).
The third and final event will be February 12th at Jackson Park Golf Course (north Seattle) on a new map.
At this event we’ll combine the compass skills from Lynnwood and the reading details practice from North SeaTac with topography, often with large features but occasionally with smaller ones (at night, most likely the latter will be more usable for navigation; the former, for generating fatigue).
Please check in before going out on a course and check back in before leaving the venue. (We don’t want to search for you in the dark.)
Remember to bring a headlamp or flashlight. Whistles are required.
COURSES
Course designer(s): Mike Schuh
Course distances will be provided here once the courses are finalized.
Meanwhile, here are the estimated distances:
ESTIMATED
Easier: 1-2 km
Harder: 2-3 km
How are courses measured?
Courses are measured as the crow flies, in a direct line from control to control. Unless you have wings, you will travel farther than this distance! Courses are measured in kilometers, so a good rule of thumb is to simply round up to miles to estimate how far you will go. So in a 5 kilometer race, you’ll likely travel up to 5 miles.
COURSE and MAP NOTES
New map! Like the first two events in this series this one will also be on a golf course (North SeaTac has disc golf, hence the narrower and shorter fairways). However, the venue is not flat – total vertical relief is ~35m (nuthin’ compared to, say, Fire Mountain, but more than many COC maps). It covers 161 acres (0.65 sq km), includes a conventional 18 hole golf course (“the driest public course in the City of Seattle”), a short “Executive 9” course, a putting green, several ponds, some power lines, and, from a few very special places, views of Link Light Rail. There is a driving range, a Pro Shop, and a cafe.
Website: Jackson Park Golf Course
Check back later for special notes from the Course Designer.
– Mike Schuh
SCHEDULE
5:28 pm – sunset
6:00 pm – civil twilight ends
6:00 pm – 8:00 pm: Start window (no assigned start times)
8:30 pm: Course closure
Report to Finish by 8:30 pm even if you have to abandon your course.
Why is there a start window?
This event uses an interval start, which means that participants are started in waves instead of all at once. When you arrive at the start tent, find the chute for your course and follow the start volunteer’s instructions.
PRICES
PRE-REGISTRATION PRICES
$12 base price
– subtract $4 for Cascade OC members
Participating as a group? Just add $5 for each additional adult (18+) group
member, no cost for additional minors. Max group size is 3 including the group leader.
SIGN UP
Online pre-registration closes: Tuesday, February 11th, at 11:59 PM
Day-of-event registration will not be available.
LOCATION
DIRECTIONS
Street address is 1000 NE 135th St, Seattle. From I-5 head east on NE 145th St, turn south (right) on 15th Ave NE, and then turn west (right again) on NE 135th St (traffic light). Parking lot is a fifth of a mile, on the right. Alternatively, from the Northgate area, head north on Roosevelt Way NE, continue straight across NE 125th St (now on 10th Ave NE) about half a mile to the parking lot.
PARKING
The main parking area is behind the multicolored “Jackson Park” sign. Check in (and the Magnificent and Most Glorious Event Arena) will be through the gate at the northwest corner of the lot and up the hill toward the Pro Shop and cafe.
CARPOOL
Looking for a carpool? Join the club email group and share your request to find a ride.
THE MAP
No map preview available
SAFETY & ETIQUETTE
Return to the Finish
All participants MUST return to the finish and download their e-punch or turn in their punch card.
Even if you have not finished your course, you must still return to the the finish and confirm with event staff that you have returned safely.
Out of Bounds
Some areas may be marked out of bounds. It is imperative to respect these boundaries to maintain our relationships with land managers. Participants MUST NOT go out of bounds. Any participant caught going out of bounds will be disqualified.
Course Closure
All participants MUST return to the finish by course closure time. If a participant does not return by course closure, event volunteers will begin coordinating a search party.
If you need a long time on the course, start as early in the start window as possible, wear a watch, and be prepared to cut your course short to make it back by the course closure time.
Whistle
All participants MUST carry a whistle on the course. Complimentary whistles are available at the start tent (please only take one).
If you are injured on the course and need assistance, blow three long blasts to call for help.
If you hear a call for help, abandon your course to find the person in distress.
Voices
Part of the fun and fairness of orienteering is navigating your own course, so please be polite when you find a checkpoint and don’t holler that you’ve found it.
