Pros:
-DISCatchers (thank you for the yellow band!)
-Distance course
-Elevation
-Water hazards
-$5 pay to play
Other Thoughts:
Sea Pines Golf Resort is a 'disc on ball golf' course located on the bay in Los Osos. Greens play typical of bolf greens and the view out to the ocean features Morro Rock and an estuary. The course plays very long and includes several hazards along the journey.
For reference when looking at the pictures, basically assume that the pin is beyond the grass horizon, nearly out of view from the tee. It is a very long course.
While wind can be an issue throughout the area, we were lucky enough to visit on a day that the wind was minimal, however it still existed. Fairways are wide and straightforward, and the course presents an opportunity to practice in diverse wind conditions with little fear of lost discs. Moisture in the air and regular fog keeps the grass fairly damp, something to consider when deciding your shot. Additionally, tee pads play from bolf tees, which are also grass.
The course begins with a simple downhill toss with a left fade, really providing the only opportunity for a birdie at this monster. Since the pro shop was closed when we visited, we were playing the course blind. We thought we had hit the jackpot on birdie runs.
After a fairly excessive walk from the massively out of place first hole, you reach the rest of the course, as well as hole 2. This one plays much longer than 1, and plays generally flat. An easy three for any player with a descent arm.
Hole 3 has the best view of the course, and plays flat and uphill, about 1000 ft. Toward the end of the fairway is a lake that you definitely have to think about. All water on the course is circled by white stakes, so if you are ever uncertain about a hazard, just look for these stakes.
Four and Five play up and down a hill alongside each other, with the main challenge being elevation with some minor tree route shaping issues. A small water hazard exists just in front of the pin on hole 4. Casual water in some dips in the area would not be fun to play from.
The course begins to shorten itself a little bit at hole 6, which plays flat with a bit of downhill, and again behind the lake. Both lakes on the course exist at the end of the hole, so be ready for this on both occasions.
7, 8, and 9 all play next to each other and are short compared to the rest of the course but long for disc golf in general. Nearly every hole (Except hole 1) plays at least 500 feet.
We arrived at the course after the pro shop had closed, and we were instructed by the hotel staff that it is 'walk on' when this is the case. You do not need to pay the green fee and it is legal to be there. It is a bit difficult to get your bearings here; when you enter, the pro shop is on the right. Park here to be near hole 1. You can also make a left and drive to the restaurant (near the driving range); park here and your car will be waiting after hole 9. The walk from hole 1 to hole 2 is long, but follow the signs across the street and through the hotel complex and you will see it.
Having played this course with very little information about it (I made the course map provided here after our visit), we were blown away by the massive amounts of distance these 9 holes cover. It had been raining before our visit so it was basically dead, but as per most ball golf courses; even when busy they play tee times which should separate you from other golfers.
More and more disc golf is popping up in the SLO area, and this course is a great addition due to its extreme length with little obstacles. This is a real treat for any golfer trying to add distance to their game and learn to work with wind. Being only 9 holes, it keeps the commitment to the course minimal and allows for multiple loops, or the opportunity to warm up before playing one of the SLO courses. A great addition to our sport in a quiet community that needed its own course.