Pros:
- Great scenery
- Good distance variety
- Some holes are well-designed
- Decent use of elevation
- Decent risk reward opportunities
- Regulation baskets were in good shape with number plates.
- Interesting baskets?
Cons:
- Overgrown
- Overgrown
- Rustic
- Gravel Tee pads
- Navigation issues
- Interesting baskets?
Other Thoughts:
NSRA Disc Golf Course has been the toughest course for me to rate to date. The raw disc golf at this course is not very good, due to the overgrown holes. There definitely some interesting shots, with some serious clearing out this course could be great. Yet, the atmosphere made the time at the course worthwhile.
The fairways are overgrown (even the open field shots). There are thorns and stickers all over the fairways. The gravel tee pads are awful. some of the holes are not super interesting, while others are, but are so overgrown it is risky to play them aggressively without fear of losing a disc. The course uses the elevation to create some nice risk reward opportunities. The whole course is very "natural" and not for the faint of heart. I highly recommend using a spotter(s) on EVERY hole. My group did and we still misplaced discs for several minutes. The grass is high and the local plant life runs rampant
The saving grace for this course is that the surrounding area is gorgeous. The course plays through foothills of the Cascade Mountains. There are abandoned farm buildings throughout the course that add to the rustic feel of the course, and the non-regulation baskets add a quirky special-ness to the atmosphere.
Overall, do not go to this course looking for a casual round of disc golf. This course offers a high intensity rustic disc golf experience that offers beautiful views and an adventurous atmosphere. As a dude from Illinois I found the landscape and scenery enough to make my round worthwhile. Throw controlled shots, watch your discs finish, and use spotters to avoid losing plastic. If the navigation was improved, nice teepads added, and some serious weed whacking a mowing took place this course could stretch to a 4 or 4.5.
EDIT: After mulling over my rating and changing it and changing it back, I have decided to stick with my initial rating. I tried to change some wording to reflect the potential this course has. With that said, this course has TONS of potential, but it just isn't quite there yet. I do imagine this course is more pleasant in any season but the summer when the foliage is not so rampant. Hopefully, I can return here in a different season and add more.