Course Design...
In the Beginning

The "Clay Sport Royal" target launcher

Pull! Came the muffled command. I obliged and as the pair of black discs sailed out across the ravine over the waiting guns, multiple shots would ring out from the valley below. The targets were (occasionally) pulverized into dust and fragments. Whoops of excitement would drift back up the hill towards me through the misty drizzle and the cold wind. My first clay target machine purchase was worth every penny.

At that time I had a gun and fishing tackle store, Border Tackle and Guns on Langholm high street in the Scottish Borders. That first Clay Sport Royal quickly became two, then three, then four and more. Rabbit targets were rolled down a suitable slope from the channel fashioned by three pieces of wood nailed together. My Subaru estate car was traded for a monstrous Toyota “HiLux” 4 x 4 truck to carry all the traps in. I recruited teenagers from the local Agricultural College for trappers. Despite the often dismal weather, my small tournaments were popular. Enthusiasm among my customers for each scheduled shoot became increasingly infectious and my pheasant shooting customers especially loved them. Little did I know back then how the game of Sporting Clays would evolve to what it is today?

After owning and operating two successful shooting facilities in the UK I moved to the US in 1998 where I became the manager at Westside Sporting Grounds near Houston. One of the members there was the legendary Bob Brister and we quickly became friends. The bull whip was often knee deep as we swapped tales in the Westside Club house over a beer until the sun went down and I miss him still. Bob at that time was the editor of Field and Steam and he wrote an article about the new shotgun game for the magazine in 1980. In those days, the game of sporting clays was quickly dubbed “golf with a shotgun” and Bob became known as “The Father of Sporting Clays in America.”

In the US the sporting clays bug was biting. Most shotgun shooters at that time were dyed-in-the-wool skeet and trap guys. The Dallas Gun Club for example, was primarily a skeet club until I designed the sporting clay course there twenty years ago. Before long, the addictive game was gathering momentum and backyard courses were springing up like flowers in a roadside ditch. Clubs for the competitive shooters followed, then came the more elaborate Clubs for the well-heeled. To satiate the hunger of the enthusiasts, many Sporting Clubs could easily rival the discerning extravaganza of premier golf and country clubs. These elitist clubs were bastions of perfection and offered everything the members could possibly want. From in-house gun stores, with mouthwatering displays of exquisitely engraved Berettas, Perazzis and Fabris to on site gun-smithing to field fashion garments to wear on the course. Think Blixt, Orvis and Ralph Lauren…. and the ladies shooters especially loved it all. Today, it is still one of the fastest growing sports. With over 15 million participants in the US, it would be hard to imagine when the game wasn’t a part of the shooting industry.

Several years ago, I noticed a growing trend. The demographics seemed to be changing but what exactly contributed to this? Two things. Statistics show that more and more shotgun enthusiasts are purchasing rural properties for use as recreation and wildlife management; often a five stand or sometimes a full sporting clay course is part of the overall master plan. The second is that installing equipment now is now a lot easier than it was twenty years ago. Today, technology is such that most machines can be solar powered thus eliminating vulnerable wires that can be shot or chewed by vermin. Machines mounted on two wheeled carts allow quick presentation changes. Modern machines are waterproof and can with stand the weather. A radio release system with it’s own lapel microphone ensures that the owner can pull his own targets. If he so desires, the retired company director that liked an occasional shot at doves or duck can now hone his skills in private on his exclusive course. And this is pure speculation on my part but the recent Covid virus seems to have triggered (excuse the pun) an increase in inquiries. Installing equipment in a private location for the benefit of family and friends can effectively enhance social distancing.

To cope with the increasing demand, a few years ago I teamed up with Simon Hurley from Midwest Clay Sports, who I consider to be the very best trap mechanic in existence. Simon’s involvement in this industry is long, high and wide. For many years he worked for Promatic. Then he designed the machines for MEC here in the US. What he doesn’t know about clay target machines isn’t worth knowing. We make a good team; I design, Simon and his guys install. Between us we have over 60 years involvement in this industry.

So if you are considering installing equipment on your property and you are apprehensive about possible pitfalls and ramifications, I strongly advise investing in some expert advice and over the years I have had my share of horror stories. Like the landowner who for many years was dropping shot into his neighbors’ pristine trout stream. The law suit that followed wasn’t pretty. Or the multi-million dollar facility in the UAE where in early evening, the Olympic shooters were looking directly into the setting sun. A competent, experienced course designer is worth his weight in gold. The emphasis is on experienced. He will be able to eyeball a piece of property and tell you exactly where to put the machines, safety cages and pathways in days, not weeks and he will help with all the changes required including zoning ordinance.

Changed days from my introduction to the sport in Scotland all those years ago and I’m loving every minute of it!