Morley Field reviews
19
0
"Most Played Course in the World"
Reviewed:
Played on:May 5, 2023
Played the course:once
Pros:
+History: This course is 12 years older than me! It has a lot of the feel of a course that old but still is maintained well. Lots of the players that I saw were older players that have probably been at it a long time.
+Nice pro shop at the start. They were out of Morley Field custom stamped discs... Worker said that they sell out of them fast. If I were in charge, I'd never run out. They had lots of other good looking plastic but that's all that I was interested in.
+Decent scorecards/maps that you get at the start. Full color and nice card stock.
+Lots of unique SoCal plants on the course. Much different from what I'm used to in the Midwest.
+Maintenance: The course looks good. There are some areas where the foot traffic and general wear/tear has had an affect but it looks better than I expected. Lots of the course has grass and there was mulch down here and there were the grass likely can't survive.
+The course is located in Balboa Park which also houses the SD Zoo, multiple museums, other sporting facilities, gardens, walking/hiking trails, etc. It is a huge park and is truly a gem to have that much public space in the middle of San Diego.
+Tees are good enough. Some of them were worn smooth and a bit slick but good enough for this length of course.
+Multiple pin positions probably keeps the course fresh for locals. They were all accurately marked on the tee signs.
+No huge elevation but there are gentle ups and downs on most of the holes.
+Baskets are Disccatchers and were all in good shape.
+Hole variety was solid. There are holes that turn right, left, go up, down, fast greens, etc. No true signature holes in my opinion but no real duds either. There were enough trees and other foliage to make holes interesting but always still a line or two. Definitely a fair course.
+A couple practice baskets are helpful. Even with tee times, you might end up waiting to tee off at the first hole. They had a guy checking passes and making sure people started on time at the first tee.
+Playable year round in reasonably similar weather conditions. Can't be said for most courses that I've played. When I played, it was around 60, low winds. Quite nice.
+The course does a decent job of challenging more advanced players while not beating newer players into submission. It's technical but fair. You will hit some trees but it's pretty easy to find discs.
+Nice pro shop at the start. They were out of Morley Field custom stamped discs... Worker said that they sell out of them fast. If I were in charge, I'd never run out. They had lots of other good looking plastic but that's all that I was interested in.
+Decent scorecards/maps that you get at the start. Full color and nice card stock.
+Lots of unique SoCal plants on the course. Much different from what I'm used to in the Midwest.
+Maintenance: The course looks good. There are some areas where the foot traffic and general wear/tear has had an affect but it looks better than I expected. Lots of the course has grass and there was mulch down here and there were the grass likely can't survive.
+The course is located in Balboa Park which also houses the SD Zoo, multiple museums, other sporting facilities, gardens, walking/hiking trails, etc. It is a huge park and is truly a gem to have that much public space in the middle of San Diego.
+Tees are good enough. Some of them were worn smooth and a bit slick but good enough for this length of course.
+Multiple pin positions probably keeps the course fresh for locals. They were all accurately marked on the tee signs.
+No huge elevation but there are gentle ups and downs on most of the holes.
+Baskets are Disccatchers and were all in good shape.
+Hole variety was solid. There are holes that turn right, left, go up, down, fast greens, etc. No true signature holes in my opinion but no real duds either. There were enough trees and other foliage to make holes interesting but always still a line or two. Definitely a fair course.
+A couple practice baskets are helpful. Even with tee times, you might end up waiting to tee off at the first hole. They had a guy checking passes and making sure people started on time at the first tee.
+Playable year round in reasonably similar weather conditions. Can't be said for most courses that I've played. When I played, it was around 60, low winds. Quite nice.
+The course does a decent job of challenging more advanced players while not beating newer players into submission. It's technical but fair. You will hit some trees but it's pretty easy to find discs.
Cons:
-I get why they have a tee time system but... As a traveling player that wanted to play by myself, at my own pace, it wasn't ideal. I picked the earliest tee time with the hopes of having noone else sign up but that didn't happen. I probably won't be in SD again anytime soon but I wouldn't play here again due to this system. I ended up playing with a couple of locals that also came alone. It went fine but just wasn't what I was looking for. You could have great luck and get the best crew to play with or you could have bad luck and hate your round because of it.
-Even with the earliest tee time, we still waited a bit to tee off on some of the later holes due to the crossing fairways.
-Safety- The land used for this course is much smaller than most (or all) ~18ish hole courses that I have played. As a result, many fairways are close to each other (or crossing). Some pin positions are very close to the next tee. They do have various barriers to keep players safe but I'd rather just have a bit more space to spread out.
-I don't know a lot about the history of the layout as far as whether or not there were re-designs or any other updates. To me, the course had the feel of being pretty original. Back in the 70s, mid 300s was probably a longer toss but now it's pretty average. There's not a ton of variety in hole length. Most holes were between low 200s and mid 300s.
-Even with the earliest tee time, we still waited a bit to tee off on some of the later holes due to the crossing fairways.
-Safety- The land used for this course is much smaller than most (or all) ~18ish hole courses that I have played. As a result, many fairways are close to each other (or crossing). Some pin positions are very close to the next tee. They do have various barriers to keep players safe but I'd rather just have a bit more space to spread out.
-I don't know a lot about the history of the layout as far as whether or not there were re-designs or any other updates. To me, the course had the feel of being pretty original. Back in the 70s, mid 300s was probably a longer toss but now it's pretty average. There's not a ton of variety in hole length. Most holes were between low 200s and mid 300s.
Other Thoughts:
+This course has a high fun factor for me. The gameplay alone was great. For me, the crowds/busyness/tee times took a bit off the experience. The course is historic and should be played by everyone that gets a chance but there's certainly pros and cons to this course. On most of the best courses that I've played, I've had to nitpick to find cons but this one has some real issues. They might not bother you as much as me but I have to state them.
+I really struggled on how to rate this course. I went between 3 and 3.5 and ultimately settled on 3. I think it would be hard to rate it less than 3 but also very hard to rate it above 4. Unless one is very nostalgic and in love with Morley.
+I played with just two discs: MVP Volt and Innova Atlas. I maybe could have used something between them but got through just fine. I would have brought more but I ran to the course from downtown and that's all the room that I had in my luggage.
+Unfortunately, this was the only course that I was able to play in the area so I can't give any recommendations to others in the area.
+The course is pay to play. Probably a pro as it might slow the crowds a tiny bit and definitely helps pay for upkeep here.
+I really struggled on how to rate this course. I went between 3 and 3.5 and ultimately settled on 3. I think it would be hard to rate it less than 3 but also very hard to rate it above 4. Unless one is very nostalgic and in love with Morley.
+I played with just two discs: MVP Volt and Innova Atlas. I maybe could have used something between them but got through just fine. I would have brought more but I ran to the course from downtown and that's all the room that I had in my luggage.
+Unfortunately, this was the only course that I was able to play in the area so I can't give any recommendations to others in the area.
+The course is pay to play. Probably a pro as it might slow the crowds a tiny bit and definitely helps pay for upkeep here.
16
0
So Much History: so Much Fun to Play 2+ years
Reviewed:
Played on:Nov 19, 2019
Played the course:once
Pros:
+ A classic course with lots of history and a great traditional disc golf vibe: many players carry small bags or just a few discs in their hands. They're serious about the game, but laid back and welcoming to visitors. The guy in the pro shop (more of a "pro shack") speaks with a lot of pride about the course, and has great stories
+ You don't need an especially big arm to play Morley. The game here isn't as much about distance as it is about placement, elevation and slope.
+ Lots of opportunity for both forehand and backhand tee shots
+ The course is really well-kept, and features 4-6 baskets placements on every hole. Excellent scorecard with map. Three of the holes feature "pro" tee placements, but you'll need a local to point them out (the one on #9 is up the hill 75 feet or so back, and you throw through a "V" formed by a couple of trees)
+ Living in the Northeast, this was my first time playing true SoCal foliage: low, scrubby and very grabby trees. They really represent a very particular type of hazard
+ A couple of standout holes: #9 has a beautiful shape to it. It's long down-and-up, with a distant fence of trees to navigate off the tee. I saw rollers, flex shots, and even a few high hyzers watching others on the tee. Hole #11 is a beauty with an elevated tee and a gap that opens up to a wide fairway. When the deepest basket position is guarded by a double mando in front of the green. The trees that cover #17 are pretty spectacular: gnarled, twisted and in your face. If you can keep them out of your head, there's a pretty clear line for a laced BH, FH or even a FH roller
+ The course is very manageable for new players. I brought a coworker who had played only a few times
+ It's pay-for-play but very reasonable ($4), and there are plenty of discs for sale in the pro shack
+ You don't need an especially big arm to play Morley. The game here isn't as much about distance as it is about placement, elevation and slope.
+ Lots of opportunity for both forehand and backhand tee shots
+ The course is really well-kept, and features 4-6 baskets placements on every hole. Excellent scorecard with map. Three of the holes feature "pro" tee placements, but you'll need a local to point them out (the one on #9 is up the hill 75 feet or so back, and you throw through a "V" formed by a couple of trees)
+ Living in the Northeast, this was my first time playing true SoCal foliage: low, scrubby and very grabby trees. They really represent a very particular type of hazard
+ A couple of standout holes: #9 has a beautiful shape to it. It's long down-and-up, with a distant fence of trees to navigate off the tee. I saw rollers, flex shots, and even a few high hyzers watching others on the tee. Hole #11 is a beauty with an elevated tee and a gap that opens up to a wide fairway. When the deepest basket position is guarded by a double mando in front of the green. The trees that cover #17 are pretty spectacular: gnarled, twisted and in your face. If you can keep them out of your head, there's a pretty clear line for a laced BH, FH or even a FH roller
+ The course is very manageable for new players. I brought a coworker who had played only a few times
+ It's pay-for-play but very reasonable ($4), and there are plenty of discs for sale in the pro shack
Cons:
- This "classic" course shows it's age in the tees, baskets and signage: you'll see that most of the concrete teepads seem a little "raised", because of erosion and years of foot traffic around them. Some of the greens have wood chips, but a lot of them are very very hard packed dirt: watch out for bounces and rollaways
- The tight layout creates some really sharp doglegs (hole #10 comes to mind). If you can't see the basket it's worth walking ahead and taking a look. There's a handful of blind tee shots that also benefit from taking a look: but there's so much traffic on the course that you're always risking slowing down play
- "FORE!" Four of the last five holes all cross the same valley. When you're in that valley and you need to keep your head on a swivel - they're firing from all sides!
- The tight layout creates some really sharp doglegs (hole #10 comes to mind). If you can't see the basket it's worth walking ahead and taking a look. There's a handful of blind tee shots that also benefit from taking a look: but there's so much traffic on the course that you're always risking slowing down play
- "FORE!" Four of the last five holes all cross the same valley. When you're in that valley and you need to keep your head on a swivel - they're firing from all sides!
Other Thoughts:
~ So many great stories about this place. Like the late addition of hole #19: the owner was away for a few weeks and the regular players put it in,so the course could finish at the parking lot. Paul McBeth aced #13 (look it up on YouTube). McBeth, Wysocki and so many other pros have made it to Morley
1
5
Itsmeganpost
Experience:
13.7 years
52 played
2 reviews
2+ years drive by
Reviewed:
Played on:Apr 21, 2017
Played the course:2-4 times
Pros:
The course is fun and quick. You don't see a layout like this very often, with fairways crossing over each other, which makes it really unique and iconic.
Cons:
The close quarters, while endearing and memorable, can make the course feel crowded at certain times.
Other Thoughts:
I love this course and think it's a must-see if you are in San Diego.
9
0
Hot as fuego, in San Diego 2+ years drive by
Reviewed:
Played on:Sep 22, 2016
Played the course:once
Pros:
Morley has cemented its status as a legendary course in the San Diego area. I was able to join a few guys on this crowded course about midway through my round, and 2 of the 3 had never played anything BUT Morley Field in their disc golf careers. I will get to that later.
Morley is a rather short, technical course that has a lot of twisty trees everywhere and manicured lawns that makes for a rather beautiful experience for a variety of experience levels. The course is a mix of tight lines and more open shots, with many of the greens offering challenges of slope and trees. I would say if you play there regularly, you would be able to tap into the lines quite easily, except for the fact that there are numerous pin placements (I recall 5 or 6 on many). I suppose part of the appeal is that since there are not many highly rated courses nearby, that having this variety of pins would be a huge attraction for locals that would possible get bored of the place otherwise.
Other attractions include the pro shop onsite, and some friendly locals who don't mind having newcomers play with them. The place is well-maintaned and worth the small greens fee.
Morley is a rather short, technical course that has a lot of twisty trees everywhere and manicured lawns that makes for a rather beautiful experience for a variety of experience levels. The course is a mix of tight lines and more open shots, with many of the greens offering challenges of slope and trees. I would say if you play there regularly, you would be able to tap into the lines quite easily, except for the fact that there are numerous pin placements (I recall 5 or 6 on many). I suppose part of the appeal is that since there are not many highly rated courses nearby, that having this variety of pins would be a huge attraction for locals that would possible get bored of the place otherwise.
Other attractions include the pro shop onsite, and some friendly locals who don't mind having newcomers play with them. The place is well-maintaned and worth the small greens fee.
Cons:
Yes, the crowds are a con if you don't like waiting at nearly every hole. I suggest you try to join a group if you are alone, or combine groups to give yourself some good conversation as you inevitably wait at every tee pad. Somehow I was lucky - I played on a weekday evening alone until I caught a pair on #9, and they offered to let me play with them. They said that it was a rare evening that the course was as "quiet" as it was.
Everything is pretty crammed together, so there was truly a danger factor with discs straying onto other people's fairways. The worst culprit was hole #1. With the pin in the long left position (A), you throw a righty BH hyzer which runs the risk of hitting everyone on tee #2 (I hit that tee pad both times I threw). At least they could put a protective net around tee #2.
Everything is pretty crammed together, so there was truly a danger factor with discs straying onto other people's fairways. The worst culprit was hole #1. With the pin in the long left position (A), you throw a righty BH hyzer which runs the risk of hitting everyone on tee #2 (I hit that tee pad both times I threw). At least they could put a protective net around tee #2.
Other Thoughts:
I got some really good vibes from this course, but it wasn't the epic experience I had expected. A quite enjoyable layout, for sure, but didn't have any signature holes or great variety of length (other than what the alternate pin placements could offer). It had a very old school feel, very similar to Oak Grove in Pasadena - and you could tell that new disc technology has outgrown this type of layout. As I mentioned earlier, some of the local people never play any course but this, and not because it is the greatest course ever, but that it shines a lot brighter based on the lack of great local courses.
9
0
Adam Tarr
Experience:
9.9 years
15 played
3 reviews
2+ years drive by
Reviewed:
Played on:Oct 31, 2015
Played the course:once
Pros:
- Pro shop with knowledgable, friendly pros.
- Very well maintained (nice tee boxes and baskets, grass in great shape, clear signage telling you which pin was in play, protection for the tee box in the firing line).
- Lots of good variety of curves and shaped shots needed. Plenty of opportunities to get creative with your shot selection. Lots of blind, technical drives. Despite the lack of distance there was plenty of challenge.
- Very well maintained (nice tee boxes and baskets, grass in great shape, clear signage telling you which pin was in play, protection for the tee box in the firing line).
- Lots of good variety of curves and shaped shots needed. Plenty of opportunities to get creative with your shot selection. Lots of blind, technical drives. Despite the lack of distance there was plenty of challenge.
Cons:
- Really crowded. My group was pretty slow (several beginners) and we were still waiting a few minutes for each hole until at least halfway through the course.
- Not a ton of distance. Much more of a control shot course with less of a premium on distance. There were a few long pin positions listed but none in play the day I played.
- Lots of potential to get a disc thrown at you. There are plenty of crossed/adjacent fairways. Moreover, with so many blind tee shots on a crowded course, it's easy to hit into someone without realizing it. Lots of people shouting "fore" from all directions.
- Pay course. I don't mind too much, and given how crowded it is there's obviously enough demand to justify it. But it's a mark against it.
- Not a ton of distance. Much more of a control shot course with less of a premium on distance. There were a few long pin positions listed but none in play the day I played.
- Lots of potential to get a disc thrown at you. There are plenty of crossed/adjacent fairways. Moreover, with so many blind tee shots on a crowded course, it's easy to hit into someone without realizing it. Lots of people shouting "fore" from all directions.
- Pay course. I don't mind too much, and given how crowded it is there's obviously enough demand to justify it. But it's a mark against it.
Other Thoughts:
Honestly, I think this course gets a bit of a pass on some of its weaker features because it's such an institution. I had heard about it long before I played it. I don't regret paying and playing it at all - it was a fun round! - but it doesn't really deserve the hype, IMO.
4
8
adamwad
Experience:
40 played
6 reviews
Fun Design, Too Crowded 2+ years drive by
Reviewed:
Played on:Aug 23, 2013
Played the course:once
Pros:
The park itself is very pretty, well landscaped, and cared for. There are lots of different types of shots, and the course is pretty interesting, start to finish.
Cons:
Like everything else in California, it is incredibly crowded. You have to wait on almost every pad, and you are always worried about getting hit by a disc. The crowd ruined it for me.
Other Thoughts:
As a course that has been around a long time, it is fun to play if you are in the area. Try to avoid evenings and weekends cause it is just packed with people.
6
4
Peanut-butter and Jelly of courses 2+ years
Reviewed:
Played on:Mar 7, 2013
Played the course:2-4 times
Pros:
Good park for all skill levels. The park is well maintained and has a great pro shop. It's impossible to beat the weather in San Diego, impossible. Multiple tee pads is a great option to keep things fresh.
Cons:
Every time I have been there it's been crowded. The parking lot is really small. The holes are for the most part short and the last few are complete blind shots. Those blind shots suck even more where the holes overlap. You never know if or when you'll get hit and people can't see to yell a warning. The worst part is that you have to pay for this average course. I'm not above paying, but I expect better quality for my dime.
Other Thoughts:
There isn't anything that I wrote that hasn't already been said I'm sure. Just because the surrounding area has crappy courses doesn't mean that it should get anything possibly over 3.25, that is just silly.
8
0
rmcguire86
Experience:
15.8 years
17 played
8 reviews
Great but Crowded 2+ years drive by
Reviewed:
Played on:Aug 2, 2012
Played the course:5+ times
Pros:
- Great layout. 5+ pin locations on each hole, changed frequently. Lots of technical shots. Really rewards players who can throw a variety of shots (i.e. forehand, tomahawk, rollers, etc.) Course flows really well, when it isn't crowded.
-Monthly Tournament is set up really well. The multiple tiers makes it so even the newer players can be competitive.
- Ace Pool on 15! Hit my first ace there and got paid for it. Gotta love a course where that happens.
- Located in a very easy to get to location in North Park.
- Meticulously taken care of. They really put the pay-to-play fees to work. The course is always upkept and nice looking. Trash is never out of hand. A great place to spend some time on a weekend.
- Pro shop/concession stand is always fully stocked with pretty much everything any of the golfers will need. Great guys running it. You can tell they care a lot about the course and the sport.
-Pro shop pays you a buck for every found disc. This is great, because it encourages people to turn plastic in when they find it, instead of just keeping it. Of course, you gotta pay the pro-shop back to get the disc, but I say a favorite disc is worth a dollar any day of the week.
-Monthly Tournament is set up really well. The multiple tiers makes it so even the newer players can be competitive.
- Ace Pool on 15! Hit my first ace there and got paid for it. Gotta love a course where that happens.
- Located in a very easy to get to location in North Park.
- Meticulously taken care of. They really put the pay-to-play fees to work. The course is always upkept and nice looking. Trash is never out of hand. A great place to spend some time on a weekend.
- Pro shop/concession stand is always fully stocked with pretty much everything any of the golfers will need. Great guys running it. You can tell they care a lot about the course and the sport.
-Pro shop pays you a buck for every found disc. This is great, because it encourages people to turn plastic in when they find it, instead of just keeping it. Of course, you gotta pay the pro-shop back to get the disc, but I say a favorite disc is worth a dollar any day of the week.
Cons:
-The crowds can be out of control, especially on the weekend. If you don't want to wait for ten+ minutes on each hole, get there before 9 on a weekday. After that, it becomes too much of a hassle. Honestly, I would rate this course a 4 if it weren't for the crowds.
- Fairways can get a bit crowded, especially from hole 15 on. They managed to make a great course on the land they had available, but size restrictions mean that you get some cross over.
Parking lot is kind of small, considering how many people come out.
- Fairways can get a bit crowded, especially from hole 15 on. They managed to make a great course on the land they had available, but size restrictions mean that you get some cross over.
Parking lot is kind of small, considering how many people come out.
Other Thoughts:
Morley is Morley. Its the center of the sport in San Diego, and its a really fun course to play. Most of the shots are technical, and none of the holes are very long. Challenging enough to keep a veteran entertained, but not so hard that it will put off a new player.
Personally, I'm not a big fan of the crowds. While about 90% of of the people you meet out there are courteous and friendly, the other 10% can really ruin the experience. Some of them are new players who haven't really learned the etiquette yet, but most are just jerks. There's nothing more frustrating to me than getting stuck behind a group of six - eight, stoned/drunk college kids who feel the need to take 2-3 shots each on every hole. I would say this is more of a problem on the weekends, so if this kind of thing bugs you then come on a weekday morning.
Personally, I'm not a big fan of the crowds. While about 90% of of the people you meet out there are courteous and friendly, the other 10% can really ruin the experience. Some of them are new players who haven't really learned the etiquette yet, but most are just jerks. There's nothing more frustrating to me than getting stuck behind a group of six - eight, stoned/drunk college kids who feel the need to take 2-3 shots each on every hole. I would say this is more of a problem on the weekends, so if this kind of thing bugs you then come on a weekday morning.
5
0
MightyJeff
Experience:
27.9 years
34 played
13 reviews
2+ years drive by
Reviewed:
Played on:Jun 30, 2012
Played the course:once
Pros:
-Nice variety of holes. You'll be dealing with doglegs, straight shots, anhyzers, and the ocean wind will be playing tricks on you throughout
-Multiple pin locations will always keep you on your toes
-Course upkeep is good. Very little litter, well-maintained grass and trees, concrete and rubber tee pads are all in good shape.
-Disc golf-specific part of the park, and it's very pleasant and pretty.
-The locals are a nice, relaxed group.
-Well-stocked pro shop onsite.
-Very easy to navigate for first-timers.
-Multiple pin locations will always keep you on your toes
-Course upkeep is good. Very little litter, well-maintained grass and trees, concrete and rubber tee pads are all in good shape.
-Disc golf-specific part of the park, and it's very pleasant and pretty.
-The locals are a nice, relaxed group.
-Well-stocked pro shop onsite.
-Very easy to navigate for first-timers.
Cons:
-$3 to play during the week, $4 on the weekends. I've played far better courses without ever having to pull out my wallet. The best part of disc golf is the vast majority of courses are free. Not here though.
-Unbelievably crowded. I had to wait on every hole, and was never told to play through, even though I was alone with three groups of two ahead of me
-Not a very long course. I think I pulled out a Teebird once to drive with, every other time it was a Roc. The holes are good, but they're all pretty much hovering around 300 ft., give or take.
-The crowds. I know I mentioned it already, but really, it bears repeating. It's easily the most crowded course I've ever played, and that's not a good thing.
-LOTS of overlapping fairways and cramped holes. You'll hear "fore!" a lot, and you should watch out when you do. This mixed with the crowds makes for a less relaxing round than you might find in a course that's more isolated and spread out.
-Did I mention the crowds?
-Unbelievably crowded. I had to wait on every hole, and was never told to play through, even though I was alone with three groups of two ahead of me
-Not a very long course. I think I pulled out a Teebird once to drive with, every other time it was a Roc. The holes are good, but they're all pretty much hovering around 300 ft., give or take.
-The crowds. I know I mentioned it already, but really, it bears repeating. It's easily the most crowded course I've ever played, and that's not a good thing.
-LOTS of overlapping fairways and cramped holes. You'll hear "fore!" a lot, and you should watch out when you do. This mixed with the crowds makes for a less relaxing round than you might find in a course that's more isolated and spread out.
-Did I mention the crowds?
Other Thoughts:
If you can manage to come at a non-peak time on a non-peak day, Morley Field is definitely worth coming to despite my grievances. It's one of the storied Southern Californian courses along with La Mirada and Huntington Beach, it's fun, and you'll see what SoCal disc golf is like.
1
8
Masonian
Experience:
7 played
7 reviews
A great course right in the middle of SD 2+ years drive by
Reviewed:
Updated:
Played on:Dec 3, 2012
Played the course:5+ times
Pros:
Well maintained (the $ goes to good use)
Chicks play here sometimes
Right in the middle of a big city
Playable year round
Chicks play here sometimes
Right in the middle of a big city
Playable year round
Cons:
Very crowded on weekends! By far the most heavily played course I have ever seen. Expect some downtime. Low on obstacles and elevation changes.
Other Thoughts:
Most holes are open fields with a cluster of eucalyptus trees around the pins and tees
15
0
Classic course needs a facelift 2+ years
Reviewed:
Updated:
Played on:Aug 2, 2011
Played the course:once
Pros:
-awesome amount of variety, 5+ pin positions per hole!
-concrete tees and baskets in decent condition
-great tee signs with map, distance to each pin, and current pin position stickers
-nice park with a great old school course vibe
-holes range from open to semi-open/semi-technical to tight and technical
-nice pro shop, lots of discs
-historical course, est. 1977, a cool piece of DG history
-maps and scorecards available
-locals friendly (but many lack etiquette)
-concrete tees and baskets in decent condition
-great tee signs with map, distance to each pin, and current pin position stickers
-nice park with a great old school course vibe
-holes range from open to semi-open/semi-technical to tight and technical
-nice pro shop, lots of discs
-historical course, est. 1977, a cool piece of DG history
-maps and scorecards available
-locals friendly (but many lack etiquette)
Cons:
-SAFETY ISSUES: design is terrible in terms of safety. fairways cross, tees throw on other fairways or other tees
-inadequate parking, hole 1 throws on the parking lot
-very short course, little variety in distance and only 6 holes over 300'
-ridiculously crowded, many large groups, some won't let you play through
-inadequate parking, hole 1 throws on the parking lot
-very short course, little variety in distance and only 6 holes over 300'
-ridiculously crowded, many large groups, some won't let you play through
Other Thoughts:
This historical course dating from 1977 is a great piece of disc golf history. The course reflects the state of the game back then: shorter distances and finesse shots. The park itself is beautiful and, of course, the San Diego weather makes this a fantastic place to play a round.
There are many different kinds of shots here with lots of hidden and/or blind baskets. The number of different pin positions (between 5-10 per hole!) should make the replay value very high. On the other hand, many of these positions are quite similar perhaps just 20-30' further. This variety in basket position somewhat makes up for the lack of variety in distance. Only 6 holes are over 300' with just 2 of those over 400'.
One of the biggest issues here are the numerous safety hazards. The park barely fits 19 holes (it actually doesn't fit 19 holes) so some of the holes are literally on top of each other. There are a number of holes where a tee box will throw directly over another tee box or basket and there are countless places where fairways cross and groups will be throwing on one another. Particularly bad is the area around holes 15-19. Every hole there intersects at least one other fairway (except 17). Many baskets (depending on position) are very close to the next tee so stay aware of your surroundings. All of this is compounded by the fact that there are always hordes of people playing. It is a miracle that there have not been serious injuries here. Thank goodness there are no pedestrians.
It is great to have a pro shop and food on site. They have a good selection of discs for sale (including Course-stamped discs!), some discs for rent, and they also sell snacks and ice cream bars, etc. There seems to be a large community of golfers here and it must be a great place to play tourneys and be a part of the scene. It would be nice if the experienced locals would pass on more knowledge of etiquette to some of the chuckers that frequent the course. Since everyone has to check in at the proshop, maybe a short word about etiquette is in order, especially if it's a large group with one disc each. Hollering "clear on __" should be a course rule here for all the blind holes.
I loved playing this course. It has fun and challenging holes and has a really cool atmosphere. I don't mind an older course and I enjoy that style of golf but sooner or later this place is going to have to consider some revisions, if at least just for safety. There are just too many holes crammed into too small an area with too many golfers. Some might call it sacrilege but this place should have 15 well-designed holes instead of 19 holes that don't fit. I wanted to give it a 3.5 but I have to mark down for the safety issues. It usually wouldn't bother me so much but I just didn't feel safe here with so many people around and many of them not thinking twice about throwing on you.
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There are many different kinds of shots here with lots of hidden and/or blind baskets. The number of different pin positions (between 5-10 per hole!) should make the replay value very high. On the other hand, many of these positions are quite similar perhaps just 20-30' further. This variety in basket position somewhat makes up for the lack of variety in distance. Only 6 holes are over 300' with just 2 of those over 400'.
One of the biggest issues here are the numerous safety hazards. The park barely fits 19 holes (it actually doesn't fit 19 holes) so some of the holes are literally on top of each other. There are a number of holes where a tee box will throw directly over another tee box or basket and there are countless places where fairways cross and groups will be throwing on one another. Particularly bad is the area around holes 15-19. Every hole there intersects at least one other fairway (except 17). Many baskets (depending on position) are very close to the next tee so stay aware of your surroundings. All of this is compounded by the fact that there are always hordes of people playing. It is a miracle that there have not been serious injuries here. Thank goodness there are no pedestrians.
It is great to have a pro shop and food on site. They have a good selection of discs for sale (including Course-stamped discs!), some discs for rent, and they also sell snacks and ice cream bars, etc. There seems to be a large community of golfers here and it must be a great place to play tourneys and be a part of the scene. It would be nice if the experienced locals would pass on more knowledge of etiquette to some of the chuckers that frequent the course. Since everyone has to check in at the proshop, maybe a short word about etiquette is in order, especially if it's a large group with one disc each. Hollering "clear on __" should be a course rule here for all the blind holes.
I loved playing this course. It has fun and challenging holes and has a really cool atmosphere. I don't mind an older course and I enjoy that style of golf but sooner or later this place is going to have to consider some revisions, if at least just for safety. There are just too many holes crammed into too small an area with too many golfers. Some might call it sacrilege but this place should have 15 well-designed holes instead of 19 holes that don't fit. I wanted to give it a 3.5 but I have to mark down for the safety issues. It usually wouldn't bother me so much but I just didn't feel safe here with so many people around and many of them not thinking twice about throwing on you.
**Like this review? Hate it? Message me and let me know why! I want to make them better!**
7
2
rpcvlawson
Experience:
13 years
5 played
3 reviews
A fun afternoon and a worthwhile play 2+ years drive by
Reviewed:
Played on:Jul 6, 2011
Played the course:2-4 times
Pros:
-several pin placements per hole
-pin placements changed every Monday
-legit players who know how to throw (which is important considering one of my cons)
-elevation changes between the holes; sometimes throwing up a hill, sometimes down
-good pro shop with a great disc selection
-pin placements changed every Monday
-legit players who know how to throw (which is important considering one of my cons)
-elevation changes between the holes; sometimes throwing up a hill, sometimes down
-good pro shop with a great disc selection
Cons:
-chaotic criss-crossing of holes, especially toward the beginning and end of the course; flight paths cross tee boxes, etc. This scrunched configuration demands decent throwers.
-some people think this course is technical, but the pin placement among the trees seems haphazard to me...not cunningly planned.
-Hole 19. Why? It really jams up holes 17/18.
-some people think this course is technical, but the pin placement among the trees seems haphazard to me...not cunningly planned.
-Hole 19. Why? It really jams up holes 17/18.
9
0
rj29274
Experience:
18.9 years
200 played
14 reviews
Morley Field San Diego 2+ years drive by
Reviewed:
Updated:
Played on:Dec 24, 2008
Played the course:2-4 times
Pros:
Morley Field has a good balance of well placed holes that can give players of all levels some kind of challenge. Since baskets are moved every Monday, and some holes have 10 different settings, the play is not redundant or boring. Trash cans at every hole, at least two holes with raised man made elevated baskets, nice teepads that can handle rain, well shaded, being a lefty who has been playing for eight years I was impressed by the balanced design. Ive played so many courses where all of the holes go to the left or straight, not here, Snapper did a good job of balancing the course for turnovers and hyzers, good time here with good people
Cons:
Waiting....Waiting....Waiting....at almost every hole, In my experience there the sixsomes dont let twosomes play through, the course is a little easy for my taste, Many shared fairways and baskets near teepads, can be a little dangerous at times due to crowds
Other Thoughts:
it was fun, -7 first round, followed by two rounds of -4, I could see top players easily shooting double digits no matter the settings of the baskets. Im about to play again now and see what baskets were moved, cheers
12
1
I finally played it... 2+ years drive by
Reviewed:
Played on:Oct 8, 2008
Played the course:once
Pros:
Well.... I finally got to play here. I have been waiting over 20 years and wondering what Morley Field would be like. I had pumped it up so much in my mind that there was no way it could live up to my expectations and I was right. It didn't. But it's still a good place to come if you're in to disc golf. It's one of those places you just have to go play.
About the course. This place has all the amenities. There's restrooms, a pro shop that sells discs, drinks and snacks. You can also rent discs here. You have to pay a small fee to play the course but it's not a problem. Judging by the amount of people out there playing it could make someone a millionaire. haha.
The course is short but it's not easy. There's a million different pin placements for each hole and they move the pins on monday. That's one of the really neat things about the course. There are concrete tee pads and very good tee signs. The land that the course is on is also very neat. It's got rolling hills and other good disc golf course topography.
About the course. This place has all the amenities. There's restrooms, a pro shop that sells discs, drinks and snacks. You can also rent discs here. You have to pay a small fee to play the course but it's not a problem. Judging by the amount of people out there playing it could make someone a millionaire. haha.
The course is short but it's not easy. There's a million different pin placements for each hole and they move the pins on monday. That's one of the really neat things about the course. There are concrete tee pads and very good tee signs. The land that the course is on is also very neat. It's got rolling hills and other good disc golf course topography.
Cons:
There will be a million people playing this course no matter what time you are there. I went on a Tuesday morning and there were tons of people playing. It was unbelievable.
You will hear "FORE" a bunch and you should pay attention. Discs are flying around all over the place here. There's definitely a chance to get hurt. There are also crossing fairways in a couple places and holes that are very close together. Back when this course was put in it wouldn't have been a problem but with the new disc technology it's a dangerous place to play.
Because of the cons it's not one of my favorite places to play and I probably won't go back but I'm glad I finally got to play here. I had a smile on my face the whole round just because I was playing Morley.
You will hear "FORE" a bunch and you should pay attention. Discs are flying around all over the place here. There's definitely a chance to get hurt. There are also crossing fairways in a couple places and holes that are very close together. Back when this course was put in it wouldn't have been a problem but with the new disc technology it's a dangerous place to play.
Because of the cons it's not one of my favorite places to play and I probably won't go back but I'm glad I finally got to play here. I had a smile on my face the whole round just because I was playing Morley.
7
4
ddevine
Experience:
45.1 years
133 played
39 reviews
Big Crowds 2+ years drive by
Reviewed:
Played on:Mar 1, 2008
Played the course:never
Pros:
Its in San Diego! A wide variety of shots with multiple pin positions that change every Monday. Lots of "late trouble", with well protected baskets. Although it is short by today's standards, deuces require well executed shots. Even so, top players should aim for double digits under.
Cons:
Probably the most played course in the country. Many blind tee shots that reward muscle memory.
Other Thoughts:
This is a very enjoyable course when it is not crowded.
