Kirkwood, CA

Kirkwood Mountain Resort

3.895(based on 18 reviews)
Filter course reviews

Filter reviews

Filter reviews

Kirkwood Mountain Resort reviews

Filter
8 0
wolfhaley
Diamond level trusted reviewer
Premium Member
Experience: 20.5 years 1165 played 745 reviews
3.50 star(s)

Reviewed: Played on:Sep 24, 2024 Played the course:once

Pros:

Kirkwood Mountain DGC is a pretty typical 18 hole ski hill course. The views are excellent on this one and the design is tastefully done. You play uphill for the first seven holes before making the turn back down the hill. You don't go all the way back down though, just holes 9 and 10 which take you about halfway down before you start towards the top again. I always hate these types of courses that bring you to the bottom in the middle only to have to hike the hill again. This one, thankfully, spares you of that.

The baskets are old Discatchers. These are some of the older ones I've seen in quite awhile. They catch just fine though and are still fairly visible despite how faded they are. One basket and placement per hole. Quite a few of them have red flags on the top but not all of them.

The designers did a nice job of utilizing the tree lines between the slopes and tucking baskets into those tree lines. Plays more wooded than one would expect. There's a few benches in the form of logs and stumps scattered about which is much appreciated on a hilly course like this.

The tee pads are rubber mats. These are pretty grippy and decently sized. One tee per hole.

The course is free to play which is kind of rare for ski hill courses from my experience.

Cons:

The tee pads have definitely seen better days. Many of them are missing chunks off the edges and most of them aren't really level anymore. If they ever were in the first place.

The tee signs are pretty useless. Most of them are no longer present but the ones that are only have tee #, par and distance on a tiny metal sign sitting on the front of the tee pad. A hole map would be awesome for most of these holes. Most of the signs that are still there are borderline unreadable now anyway.

The walking is pretty treacherous on this one. It's to be expected since it's on a ski hill but this one was a little rockier than most that I've played. Granted most of them I've played are in the midwest so it's a different animal out here. Be sure to wear sturdy footwear when playing here.

Other Thoughts:

This was a pretty fun course. The experience and the views were more memorable though. It's a decent drive from anywhere to get to this one and isn't going to be for everyone, especially newer players. That said I'd play this one again if I ever make it out this way. One of the nicer ski hill courses I've played and I've played quite a few of them. I still liked Donner Ski Ranch much better and would recommend that one over this course if you only have time to play one in the general area. Worth a visit but not a must play by any means.
Was this review helpful? Yes No
3 2
matycakes
Experience: 10.4 years 22 played 3 reviews
4.00 star(s)

Awesome! 2+ years

Reviewed: Played on:Jun 21, 2020 Played the course:once

Pros:

This is one of the most fun courses I have played. I didn't really have any expectations going in and was surprised how much I enjoyed playing here. The amazing scenery didn't hurt. The course winds up and down the hillside. It doesn't feel repetitive though. It's not like there's a bunch of huck it up the hillside as far as you can type holes all in a row. There's a good mix of open holes and holes that play through the trees with some tight gaps to hit.

Cons:

Lack of signage and restrooms. Only a few teepads have benches. 16's basket was missing, or maybe an alternate pin position I couldn't find.

Other Thoughts:

It's about a 4 mile hike with a fair amount of up and down. Be in shape and bring snacks �
Was this review helpful? Yes No
2 6
scottiver
Experience: 13 played 2 reviews
2.00 star(s)

Kirkwood 2+ years drive by

Reviewed: Played on:Aug 13, 2016 Played the course:once

Pros:

If you don't like crowds this is the place. Even on a sunny summer Saturday.

Cons:

Basically the first 15 holes or so are uphill. Just when you think you've gone as high as you can go, it just keeps going up.
The little map they give you at the store is almost useless. Not to scale at all and the next tee direction is not even close.
This is not an up and down course, it's ALL up until the 16th hole then you lose all your elevation in two crazy long holes.

Other Thoughts:

There's a reason you never see anyone else on the course. It is not a user friendly course at all.
If you have a course at a resort it should be family friendly. There is more than enough real estate here to build a nice medium level course for everyone not just hard core players.
We complained the whole time about what a horrible job the designers did. So many holes just didn't make sense.
If i'm camping in the area again, I doubt I would bother playing this course again. I'd rather just make up my own course in the woods.
Was this review helpful? Yes No
1 3
Gdizzle
Experience: 3 played 3 reviews
4.50 star(s)

Hidden Gem 2+ years drive by

Reviewed: Played on:Jul 23, 2016 Played the course:once

Pros:

Very fun course, mostly difficult holes.
Amazing views
Never crowded

Cons:

Lacking good signage

Other Thoughts:

This is one of my favorite courses, its really a hidden gem. You play up and down the slopes, through the trees, and on 16 you play a MASSIVE par 5 downhill while looking out at redcliffs. This is an amazing course and there is hardly ever anyone else there.
Was this review helpful? Yes No
2 1
Mr72datsun
Experience: 10 played 10 reviews
4.00 star(s)

2+ years drive by

Reviewed: Played on:Jul 10, 2016 Played the course:once

Pros:

Great location.
Fun holes.
Not crowded.
Dog friendly.
Really Easy to find your way after you find the first tee for the most part.
Nice hike.
Scenic.
Fun to play a course with elevation for a change.

Cons:

Finding the 9th tee was just a tad confusing and that was made worse by having the tee marked as #10. It took all of 30 seconds to conclude the mistake since I use udisc app which shows where you are on a course map and it showed us on the 9th tee.

Other Thoughts:

If you don't like walking up and down a hill don't play here.
First hole is by chair lift #9. This is the first lift you come to when driving in.

I'll be back.
Was this review helpful? Yes No
7 0
Discette
Gold level trusted reviewer
Experience: 28.2 years 681 played 64 reviews
4.50 star(s)

One of the best Ski Resort courses I have ever played. 2+ years

Reviewed: Played on:Jun 16, 2015 Played the course:once

Pros:

Kirkwood DGC is a seasonal course on a ski resort. Not only is it one of the best courses in the Lake Tahoe area, it is one of the best ski resort courses I have ever played. I went in June when there was no staff at the resort. I was the only person on the course the day I played. I never saw another person and there were no other cars in the parking area.

I have used bullet points for those that don't want to read the entire review.

I love ski resort courses
I have played enough to know a top notch course when I see it. I really appreciate the fact you do not have to buy a lift ticket to play. It is enjoyable way the course traverses on the way up the mountain. Some ski resorts just go straight up or straight down. Kirkwood has a mix of up and down along with traversing holes. Holes wind across, around and up the mountain until you get up to the 16th tee. Here is where the course starts back down the mountain on this 1200 foot hole. The scenery and wildflowers are also very amazing. Players have to be ready for an adventure as there are no tee signs or navigation aids except a small undetailed map and scorecard.


Amazing Alpine Beauty
Amazing vistas, snow covered peaks, alpine meadows covered in summer wild flowers. It is as beautiful as it sounds.I was amazed at the number blooming plants and flowers. I went in late June and really enjoyed the wide variety of flowers in mountain meadows and along the ski trails. Please leave the flowers behind so that people can enjoy them for many summers to come. Removing wildflowers, removes diversity. They did a good job of showcasing the terrain.


Rugged Western Disc Golf
I love rugged western disc golf and I love ski resort disc golf. I seek out these types of courses: partly for the solitude and partly for the adventure. This course is not nearly as rugged or rocky as most ski resorts which is one of the reasons I love it so much. However, holes 12 - 14 play on top of a narrow ridge. Hole 12 is perched on the edge of the "Trench of Terror"! If you accidentally throw down there, you will have quite a rocky, steep hike to recover. On the other side of the same ridge, as a backdrop to target 13, is the "Ditch of Doom". You have been warned.

No Lift Ticket Needed
This is always a bonus when playing at a ski resort. There is no lift ticket needed to play and you don't have to walk up the mountain to start. The course begins at base of the bunny hill and inner tube lifts at Timber Creek. That doesn't mean you don't have to walk up the mountain while you are playing, just that you don't have to walk or lift up to begin play.

Variety and Challenge
Kirkwood is a course for more advanced players. As mentioned, Kirkwood offers a variety of shots, it is not all up or all down like some resorts. There are some tighter holes in and among the trees that line the ski runs. Other fairways traverse or follow the ski runs challenging players to keep it in the fairway. As on most mountainous courses, players need to be mindful that errant throws can go a long way the wrong way! A couple of targets have been placed on fallen logs, stumps and rock piles for a some extra challenge. It really takes advantage of and showcases the mountain environment and terrain.


Seasonal Course
Only open in the summer. The course is generally installed in late May or early June depending on winter snowfall. Snow can linger in the shadows and higher elevations in June. The course is removed in the fall.

Altitude
Kirkwood is just on the border of the Alpine Climate zone which means nearby peaks may be snow covered year round. It also means folks from the lower elevations may have trouble breathing or may experience some altitude sickness. Be sure to take full deep breaths and take rests as needed. The high altitude also means discs will fly more stable than at sea level.

Allow time to play
You will be walking up and down and across the mountain. To play all 18 holes will take about three hours. It could be longer if you have trouble navigating or if you have to search for lost discs. Players should also be prepared for afternoon thunderstorms in the summer. Rounds may start with beautiful blue skies, but summer showers can pop up without warning.

Not for Beginners
Kirkwood is absolutely not recommended for beginners or folks that are not physically capable. If players are not in condition to hike up a mountain, they should not attempt to play. Part of the problem with playing at altitude, is discs can travel a long way the wrong way. A beginner could easily lose discs or do a lot of extra up and down hiking if they don't have a lot of control.


Bring the Map!
Or go with someone that knows the course. It is hard enough to play for the first time with the map, I can't imagine you could play it for the first time without one. There are no "next tee" signs so the map or a guide is absolutely necessary. The extra challenge of trying to find unmarked tees from an undetailed map added to the experience for me, but it was a bit frustrating at times.


Water and Snacks
Since this is an outdoor adventure, please be prepared. Bring all the water you will need for a three hour round and a hike up the mountain. Bring snacks as well, so you can rest and get some nourishment on the ascent. Players are expected to carry out all of their own garbage. There are no trash cans on the mountain. Be sure you get all your supplies before you leave as there are no convenience stores or gas stations nearby.

All 18 in a row - or not
If you are playing all 18 holes, you will not get back to the Timber Creek lodge until the end of the round. However, there is a shorter option. If after playing Hole 10, you have had enough mountain disc golf for one day, you can bail out now and take a short walk down to the Tee for 18! Holes 11 through 15 wind back up the mountain to near the top of the Timber lift. Now is the time to rest and prepare to hike up, or hike back down to the car.

Pack it in - Pack it Out
The course was in great shape. I didn't find any trash or cigarette butts. Please help keep this mountain beautiful and be prepared to carry out all of your own trash. Hopefully you will not have to pick up after any other players.

Kids and Strollers
No and No! Not fit for strollers or disc golf carts. Do not bring any small children unless you plan on carrying them and all of their gear up and down the mountain. I wouldn't bring any whiny teenagers or grown-ups either. Only go with people that are in good shape and actually want to hike up a mountain.

Restrooms
There are restrooms at Timber Creek only when the resort is open. However, there are plenty of opportunities for privacy on the course.

Cons:

Navigation, Maps and Signs
This would honestly be a Five Disc course if there were more detailed maps and tee areas were better marked.


Signs and Ski Poles
It would be great if they could install ski poles at each tee so they would be easier to spot. I understand that they can't install permanent tee signs above ground as that interferes with skiing. The current plaques work, but they are not installed on every tee. An easy fix is to nail basic tee signs to large logs. Logs and stumps are plentiful here and easy to re-purpose. They can be stored nearby in the winter and reinstalled in the spring.

Bring the Map.
The map and scorecard provided here by the resort is not necessarily to scale or super accurate. However bad the map is, don't play a round without it. The distances on the scorecard can help to guide you to the target location, except a couple of those distances were off for the current layout. There is no way Hole 7 was only 260 feet! I played the course alone with only the map and I did just fine.

Tee 9 confusion
Is a quite a walk from Target 8 to Tee 9. It is not a bad walk since it is all downhill. However, as of June, 2015, the Tee for 9 is currently marked with a course tee marker that says Hole 10. This is confusing to say the least as you can see the 9 target at the bottom of the hill. Holes 9 and 10 are actually where the map indicates.


Mosquitoes
Bugs and mosquitoes are a fact of life here in the summer. Be prepared, and they won't be as much of a problem. The bugs and biting things seem to get worse as you go up the mountain. Bugs are not the fault of the course nor the course designer, but they can detract from the experience.

Other Thoughts:

Directions
After you turn off Highway 88, you have to drive in a ways to get to the parking area. Park in the lot just across the street from the sign that says Timber Creek. Walk up the stairs stay right and head towards the back of the buildings. In 2015, the first tee pad was directly under a green "sample lift" on the tubing hill. It is located above the far right side of the largest Kirkwood building. I have uploaded a photo for reference. The first tee is between the bunny lifts and the Magic Carpets (tube lifts).

Worth the drive!
The drive here from nearby Lake Tahoe is very beautiful. On Hwy 88 you get to drive past a couple of alpine lakes on the way to the Kirkwood turnoff. The Alpine scenery is a nice change of pace for this city slicker. It is about a 45 minute drive from South Lake Tahoe. This is absolutely one of the must play courses if you are visiting the Lake Tahoe area in the summer.

I love ski resort courses.
And again, this is one of my favorites. Part of the draw of playing at a ski resort is the solitude. I love the wide open spaces, fresh air and clear blue skies. This is not a crowded city park with lots of other people around and groups of players on every hole. On weekends you may not even see (or hear) other groups of players on the course. On weekdays, chances are you will have the entire resort to yourself. However, if you don't like hiking up and down mountains, you probably won't find this as enjoyable as I do.

Lake Tahoe Courses are Awesome
Especially if you love rugged western disc golf like I do! If you want to play on green grass and manicured parks, don't come here to disc golf. If you want to hike up and down in the mountain wilderness in the fresh air with blue skies, and amazing vistas, Tahoe is the place for you. There are lots of campgrounds and hotels in Lake Tahoe area. There are accommodations for every budget. There is so much to do in Tahoe it limited my ability to play even more courses.

Rating
This is a five disc design that provides a decent variety and challenge. Like most of the courses in the Lake Tahoe area, this is a five disc destination. However, the navigation problems prevent this from being a five disc course. I rate it 4.5 and among the best of the best in the Tahoe Area.
Was this review helpful? Yes No
3 8
elvenschool
Experience: 42.4 years 12 played 12 reviews
4.50 star(s)

Distance, distance, distance 2+ years drive by

Reviewed: Played on:Jul 25, 2013 Played the course:2-4 times

Pros:

Long downhill shots are a joy to behold and the views around this course are exceptional. The trees are majestic and as you walk the course you sometimes cannot believe the beauty of the surrounding trees, mountains, sky and forest. This is easily the finest venue I have ever played and a must-experience course.

Cons:

The location means that it has a season, but the wait each year for the course to reopen is worth it.

Other Thoughts:

Climb up to the top, walk down to the bottom and have fun in both directions. If you live in Northern California and have never experienced Kirkwood, you need to get out more.
Was this review helpful? Yes No
10 0
mashnut
Diamond level trusted reviewer
Experience: 22.7 years 831 played 777 reviews
4.00 star(s)

Fun mountain golf 2+ years drive by

Reviewed: Played on:Sep 22, 2013 Played the course:once

Pros:

The course plays up and down a set of beginner level ski runs and through the woods in between. Though I would prefer a little more wooded golf, there were enough technical shots to keep things interesting. Several holes had baskets tucked into the woods or tight enough shots that you really did have to shape a line. The holes in or near the woods had enough rough that you will have to be somewhat creative on your recovery shot after an errant drive.

The elevation is used really well here. There's a great balance of tough uphill holes and payoff downhill shots including the last three holes which make for a very fun finish to the round. There are several places where the pin offers rollaway potential or you're shooting across elevation so a bad shot can fade way down the hill. There's pretty good distance variety throughout. The views are incredible, and despite some weeds the course was maintained pretty well for a ski hill setting.

Cons:

Signage would go a long way here. With nothing above ground, it can be a little tricky to find your way to the next tee especially if it's early or late in the season and there's a little snow on the ground. It also makes it tough to know where to throw on a few blind holes (and when it means a big uphill hike you don't really want to run ahead to scout on some of them).

The course is just a little open for my tastes. The fun factor is still very high with the great elevation but that's the major thing that keeps it from a higher rating in my book.

Other Thoughts:

Beginners might be a bit intimidated by the big hike and the chance for some long walks to retrieve errant shots. More experienced players won't get a real workout for their technical game, but it's definitely a cool place to play with some tough elevation to contend with. I highly recommend a trip here if you're in the area.
Was this review helpful? Yes No
2 2
nickrew1
Experience: 11.4 years 77 played 10 reviews
4.00 star(s)

WOW 2+ years drive by

Reviewed: Played on:Jul 1, 2013 Played the course:once

Pros:

Incredible views and stunning elevation change.
Solitude- Did not see any other groups the entire Sunday that we played.
FREE
Wildlife- Need I say more

Cons:

Hard to find hole one- It is right by charlift #9
Map- The map is not entirely accurate, finding tee pads can be difficult.
The walk to hole #9 is long and confusing

Other Thoughts:

This is sort of a hidden gem in the Tahoe area, as many people do not want to drive 30 mins to play this when there is soo many other options around the lake. This has elevation and danger on many holes, including a 1200' downhill smash. Relatively easy to find your discs, especially when compared to Squaw Valley. This is a must play, just be prepared to do a little searching for the holes. Enjoy the solitude and smash some birdies!
Was this review helpful? Yes No
4 0
MrAnderson7
Experience: 12 played 4 reviews
4.00 star(s)

Beautiful & Technical 2+ years drive by

Reviewed: Played on:Jun 15, 2013 Played the course:2-4 times

Pros:

One of the most beautiful courses you will play at for sure. Snowmelt creeks running all over, so lots of places for dogs to get water (although they are almost gone already due to the dry winter). There is a large variety of shots and terrain - short uphill tree shots, long downhill curve shots, and everything in between. Each hole is challenging enough to be rewarding when played well, but not too daunting for beginners. Rubber tee pads and decent trails.

Cons:

A bit of a drive from most places - although this could be a pro since it is usually deserted. The tee pads are a bit too small/confined in some places, so players who like a big run up will have to start on a slope. The course is hard to navigate your first time there, so make sure you grab a map or go with someone who has played there before.

Other Thoughts:

This has probably already been mentioned, but it's hard to figure out where to start. Turn into the lot on your right that is adjacent to the Timber Creek lodge. The tee pad is right by the northernmost chairlift. BRING BUG SPRAY.
Was this review helpful? Yes No
7 0
ashmgee
Experience: 24.4 years 53 played 10 reviews
4.50 star(s)

Discwood! 2+ years drive by

Reviewed: Played on:Jun 15, 2011 Played the course:5+ times

Pros:

This place is really a special place to play discgolf. It is situated at 7800' of elevation along the sierra crest and the views are amazing. The wildflowers come out in full force and the mountains in this area are beautiful. The course is a good mix of shots (long, short, left, right), and utilizes the hill side of chairs 7 and 9 well. There are tough uphills for a chunk of the course, but you are rewarded with some really amazing downhill shots. 16 is great being 1200', but downhill. As a par 5 it can be done, but that is still a tough 5. All in all if you want to take an amazing hike and play 18 holes of golf that will test your skill, this is a great place to play. Finally getting tees on the back helped out a lot with some of the bigger throws. (I know this was a couple years ago) I have played this course a lot and I have to say that the course sees little traffic so unless it is a holiday weekend it is pretty nuch yours.
Also closeby is Caples lake for a swim afterwards and if you needed to camp there are places that are faily close to Kirkwood.

Cons:

Seasonal with it being a ski area and one that gets a ton of snow. The mosquito season isn't terribly long, but it is bad when they are at peak. Its out there, maybe thats a pro or con in some book. It can be tough to figure out where it starts because in the summer at kirkwood there are not many people around and it isn't signed on the way in to the 1st tee. You are just "at Kirkwood" when you turn off hw88.

Other Thoughts:

If you get a chance to play this gem in the sierra do it. You wil be happy you did. Just make sure you bring plenty of water and are prepaired for a hike. The 18 hole course can take a few hours to play so plan on that.
Was this review helpful? Yes No
4 0
erikc64
Experience: 2 played 2 reviews
4.00 star(s)

Very Difficult to HIt Par But Fun 2+ years drive by

Reviewed: Played on:Sep 10, 2011 Played the course:once

Pros:

Elevation challenges from tee to basket were a great change from a lot of my time spent on valley courses. The scenery was amazing this time of year. Dry conditions, very few mosquitoes, everything that could grow and bloom was doing so all at once. Great fun on the par 5 1200' hole near the end. I was surprised that no one else was up there.

Cons:

Not to fun in sandals. Wear boots or solid walking shoes. I can imagine it being too wet any earlier in the season and too cold any later. I think we hit it on the perfect weekend. The baskets and tees were not always where indicated. We just played through and made our best guess. Time was spent walking from the tee to where you thought the basket should be, searching around until you found it, and then walking back down to throw.

Other Thoughts:

This course appeared daunting but was not so upon reflection. I am out of shape and heavy but I got around by taking little steps and taking my time. It took us almost 4 hours to get through 18 holes. It is very dry no matter the temperature so take lots of water. My six year old caddy thought it was a blast also. He slept all the way home. Bad copilot.
Was this review helpful? Yes No
5 0
Swiftacle
Experience: 21.4 years 48 played 7 reviews
3.50 star(s)

Kirkwood 2+ years drive by

Reviewed: Played on:Sep 5, 2010 Played the course:2-4 times

Pros:

This course is an excellent challenge. There's a lot of variety from hole to hole. You'll use almost every disc in your bag.

Cons:

There is almost no signage. You really have to search around for the next tee and on a few holes you'll have to search for the basket as well.
It's a difficult course to hike. I say hike, because that's what you'll be doing. Through the course you venture up two ski lifts and back down.

Other Thoughts:

If you're playing the course before mid-summer, bring mosquito repellent and think about wearing pants. Also, bring lots of water. You'll need it.
Was this review helpful? Yes No
7 1
kwmikey
Experience: 15.4 years 21 played 1 reviews
4.50 star(s)

Come prepared... 2+ years drive by

Reviewed: Played on:Aug 25, 2010 Played the course:5+ times

Pros:

Let me start out by saying that my opinion is biased. I live and work at Kirkwood, and walk to the course several times a week. The course is tight and demanding on some holes, and forgiving on others. A good mixture of trees and meadows. There are quite a few long holes that will test every disc in your bag.

Cons:

You need to know the course, or go with someone who does. The signage is non-existent and the scorecard doesn't help much. We need to fix that, but we're too busy throwing!

Other Thoughts:

Be prepared for a hike, bring bug juice, wear sturdy shoes, and take time to enjoy the scenery. If you haven't played the course before, I would recommend finding someone who knows the course (or hanging out at the first tee after work).
Was this review helpful? Yes No
7 1
Joe_Maumy
Experience: 14.6 years 36 played 26 reviews
3.50 star(s)

Kirkwood 2+ years drive by

Reviewed: Played on:Jun 20, 2010 Played the course:once

Pros:

I am pretty sure we were the first to play this course this season as the snow is still on the ground in some places and as we rounded #9 we ran into the guy installing the baskets!
What a great course. All kinds of different holes, up down, left, right, straight...
Bring at over 8K your disc does different things here so be prepared. The course flows well and is easy to follow thanks to some trails laid out with rocks and limbs. Starts at the first lodge as you enter the resort, works up and across some runs then winds it way back to finish right by where you started.
Baskets are all in great shape and with the yellow on them pretty easy to spot.

Cons:

Non, this place rocks

Other Thoughts:

We had a long late winter this year and there is still some good snow on the ground, if your reading this after July 1 I would say its not an issue but prior to that BE CAREFUL if you are walking on the snow. The are hidden creeks that you can fall into if your not careful. You will get hurt or possibly worse if you fall into one of these.
If your anywhere near here (about 45 min from tahoe, hour and a half from Reno and Sacramento)
If you play here please respect the forest and pack out your trash.
Have fun
Was this review helpful? Yes No
13 0
gwillim
Gold level trusted reviewer
Experience: 23.4 years 169 played 41 reviews
4.00 star(s)

Stunning Views! 2+ years drive by

Reviewed: Played on:Sep 10, 2009 Played the course:once

Pros:

-The views at Kirkwood Mountain Resort probably top any other disc golf course I have played.
-Course design is intuitive and flows quite well.
-Rubber tees are adequate for summer alpine disc golf.
-Innova Discatchers help provide visibility in the high desert/alpine environment.
-Great shot variety between uphill, downhill, traverse, and left/right hooks.
-Holes are challenging, but not as unforgiving as chairlift mountain golf.
-Trails from basket to next tee were helpful, yet unmarked.
-Kirkwood General store open for snacks, drinks, a small amount of discs, and course maps.
-The resorts main entrance sign has a disc golf symbol on it right next to the skiing and hiking signs!
-Restrooms available at General Store. (on the mountain, you're on your own)
-Course maps with scorecard on back help with navigation.
-Course is free to play, which is rare for a private mountain resort course!
-Some really cool basket locations, inside of stumps, on fallen logs, etc.
-Benches on most holes to rest if need be.

Cons:

-No tee signs at tee pads. Some holes have little metal plaques with hole number and distance, but at least 1/3 were missing.
-Signage leading to next tee would be helpful. Walking uphill in the wrong direction is a big bummer for mountain golf.
-Hole 11's teepad was pretty iffy, not made of the same material as the rest of the tees.

Other Thoughts:

Kirkwood Mountain Resort is a fantastic mountain course. Driving through the main entrance and noticing that they acknowledge disc golf with it's own symbol right next to the skiing and hiking gave me a really good feeling. I only wish they had a t-shirt with their disc golf logo on it for me. I asked the lady at the general store and she said they might do t-shirts for next year!

The course itself is definitely all mountain, and starting at just over 7800' things are pretty fun, pretty hard, and pretty rough. Hiking boots and long pants are a good idea, but not 100% necessary. The main selling point for the course is the scenery. The course is set on the the side of the mountain giving you fantastic views of the surrounding mountains, with beautiful rock outcroppings and sheer rock walls.

Other than scenery, the course design is quite good as well. The thing to remember is that this is not Chairlift style mountain golf. You have to climb up, in order to shoot down. This will probably frustrate a lot of people. Some of the holes are steep enough that they should almost be par 4s. But then again, after you're down climbing up, you are rewarded with throwing down. The 1200' par 5 is pretty awesome considering it's actually a placement shot hole. After that you get to throw a +600' hole straight down the mountain with little in the way.

Bring some water, two or three granola bars, and a camera. This is a must play course if you are visiting Tahoe or the surrounding area.
Was this review helpful? Yes No
7 0
trashmonster1985
Experience: 17.5 years 130 played 14 reviews
3.50 star(s)

One of a Kind 2+ years drive by

Reviewed: Updated: Played on:Jun 20, 2009 Played the course:5+ times

Pros:

Kirkwood is unlike any other place i've ever played, or snowboarded at. I worked there for 3 years so i may be partial, but it is a great course. Some real challenging shorter shots make up the front 9. Most of the shots are uphill and can be deceptive with distance. The back 9 starts to come back down the hill and you get one of the best descents at any course. Hole 16 is a 1200 foot monster downhill shot. The elevation is over 8000 feet so get out your light discs. Awesome elevation changes, some tight short shots, some huge downhill shots.

Cons:

Very long, normally i will play 27-36 holes in a day and be fine, this is one course where 18 is enough. It is as much a hike as it is a round of disc. So bring water, food, tents what have you. Mosquitoes, and dense forest can make the course a bit of a bane.

Other Thoughts:

Fun course, very unique, insane elevation changes and an isolated location make for a great round of disc. When your done hit up the Kirkwood Inn on hwy 88, between 3-5 pm and get some 2 dollar tacos. In lieu of playing 20 new courses this summer, I am lowering my rating some. I feel confident in saying this course is a 3.5 though.
Was this review helpful? Yes No
4 0
Starwraith169
Experience: 21.5 years 48 played 21 reviews
3.50 star(s)

ski mountain course 2+ years drive by

Reviewed: Played on:Jul 16, 2005 Played the course:once

Pros:

beautiful location, some excellent long downhill shots, you can mountain bike after you play a round. Not crowded at all

Cons:

lots of snow in the winter make the season very short. When I played, it was in mid July and there was still snow in spots, making it very wet and messy in certain spots. Also, there is some fairly thick grasses and underbrush, so losing your disc after a long downhill shot is definitely a possibility.

Other Thoughts:

Kirkwood is definitely out of the way if you are in the Tahoe, but if you are there in Aug-Sept, make the hour drive and check it out. Its pretty cool.
Was this review helpful? Yes No
Top