I am very thankful that the sport has grown legs in this region, and I am hopeful that evenmore options will become available.  As I am sure you are all aware, this sport has been around for a long time, and I think that it does have local staying power, especially with the relative awesomeness of the Miller Creek course.  I have not played MDL, Carlton or the new Superior course.  The biggest thing that concerns me is the level of disregard some disc golfers have for their environment, and this problem seems to be unique to the area, as most courses that I've been to in the cities don't have nearly the garbage problem that Miller Creek in particular has.  Yes, the sport is conducive to chugging cans of PBR, but some people have yet to learn that it is simply wrong to leave empty cans and other garbage outdoors on the ground, even if there's already a pile of garbage there.  Bring a bag, crush your can, and pack it out, and pick up a few other pieces of garbage along the way.

It's not even a question if it has staying power, just look at the Twin Cities.  They have had great courses for decades and new ones are still popping up.  

The trash at Miller Creek is terrible.  The city did promise pick up at two spots and never followed through but still, you back it in you back it out.  I live nearby and I would rather drive to the other courses than to play there because it's so dirty -- and I even like Miller Creek a lot.

I think the Ryan or the city or someone should just yank 5 baskets and post a sign saying it will be a full coarse again once the trash has been picked up and has stayed picked up for a few weeks.  Then put them back and if the trash comes back, yank the baskets again.  They can store the yanked baskets at my house or I bet LSC might have room that they would be willing to give up for a bit. That would get others out there patrolling and telling people its not okay to throw trash around.  Right now people are just reinforcing each other.

There currently isn't any repercussions for people's actions.  I use to carry a garbage bag with me when I went but became way overwhelmed when I would see people see me picking up trash and still throw their garbage.  I say yank baskets.  I would be willing to help in that regard.

Yep. Every other city park has trash cans. Please, please install several at Miller Creek. Waste land changed into grace land.

I'm the environmental coordinator at LSC. I started in January 2010 and quickly realized something had to be done with this course.  

Upon doing some digging, I found there have been many groups in the past that have tried to take initiative to clean up the Miller Creek course, but without cans, the cleaned up course didn't stay that way for long.  

The Environmental Council organized a clean-up in September and with 9 students/employees collected about 15 huge bags of trash. LSC's Student Senate is also keeping an eye on the course.

I contacted the city of Duluth in August and it has now placed two trash cans on the edge of the course.  One is located at the gate on Trinity Road, the other is at the gate near LSC's entrance.  I realize these aren't the most convenient places for trash cans if you're in the middle of the course, but we are trying.  

We've also noticed that with the addition of the cans, the course isn't staying much cleaner.  I'll play naive and hope it's because nobody knows about the cans.  Please do your part to prove to the city that if it continues to pick up trash bags at this course, progress will be made.  

The Environmental Council and the Student Environmental Club will be trying new things in the future.  Please email sustainability @ lsc.edu if you have suggestions.

The cans are positioned for the convenience of the City for pick up. Beggers can't be choosers I guess!  We hope to add more cans next spring (student volunteers will have to collect those bags and carry them to the city cans) and also place arrowed signs on the course showing where the cans are.  

Taking baskets downs will be a last resort, but it is an option.

Do what other cities do and conscript low-risk criminals for community service to clean up trash and pick up garbage/recycle bins.  I remember a public golf course in Colorado frequently doing that.

George Hovland tried pay for play up at Snowflake years back. It didn't take.

With the exception of  High Bridge Hills Sports Complex, for-fee courses will fail every time.