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Tarwater reviews
12
6
Someday 2+ years drive by
Reviewed:
Played on:Nov 10, 2009
Played the course:2-4 times
Pros:
-Course tests every type of throw:
- amazing spot nestled deep in the santa cruz mountains
- county mows the main meadow areas
- takes you through several different ecosystems: oak woodlands, redwood forests, meadows, mixed forests
- fair shots for everyone, with defined landing areas on each hole.
- mixes the best of hiking with the best of disc golf
Here's a rundown of all the holes.
1- big downhill shot straight into the prevailing winds. Go left and you'll end up in a vast forest of coyote brush. Go too far and you'll be in a gully. Too far right and a different gully awaits. Play it short for a safe shot or go for the glory.
2: welcome to tarwater. Big uphill shot that will test your will and accuracy off the tee. While a 2 is possible, it is difficult and this is more like a par 3.5 hole
3. Beautiful shot over a gully to a nice open meadow dotted with trees. Hyzer out to the left and you're in trouble
4. One of the most straightforward shots at Tarwater. An aceable 300ftish downhill shot. FUN!
5. Enter the forest for a tightly wooded, slightly downhill shot that demands control off the tee
6. You can see the pin, but you ain't gonna reach it on this giant uphill shot. Going into the woods on the right is a bad idea.
7. Birdie opp! But don't go too far or you'll go all the way to the bottom of the hill!
8. The hardest 150' hole I've ever played. Steeply downhill, the tee forces anything but a standard RHBH and the pin lies precariously close to a deep gully.
9. Maybe my favorite shot at Tarwater. A downhill throw across a sloping meadow into the trees. Basket is visible from the tee, but accuracy is crucial here.
10. A great birdie or ace opportunity as you throw into a redwood forest. Some of the trees here are unreal old growth and some have been cut. The stumps are enormous. The basket is placed near a seasonal stream up on a second growth 'fairy ring'.
11. Up the hill from the redwoods, this hole is difficult in that it requires a perfectly thrown LHBH anhyzer to reach the green.
12. Tight window to a basket placed on sloped terrain.
13. Extreme uphill. The main window invites a RHBH but can be drilled with anything. However, it is difficult to get past the initial slope. I throw a tommy.
14. Flat shot but long. 2 routes possible on this dogleg right.
15. Enter the tunnels. Keep it straight or else!
16. Next tunnel is more uphill and basket is placed on bluff to the right.
17. Third tunnel in the middle of ancient coast live oak forest. Hit the gap and finish right to get to the pin.
18. Last tunnel is short but requires precision, otherwise your shot will turn into a coyote brush nightmare.
19. Out of the tunnels, this unique shot is flat at first and then downhill to the pin, set in a wooded alcove. Going into the treeline on the right will produce a bogey or worse.
20. A big blast that avoids the well placed trees will get a shot at the pin.
21. Dogleg left to the landing area, an open meadow. Then two more huge rips in the open will get you putting. But there's plenty of trouble to get into on each shot before you finish this par 5
22. Biggest uphill at the course. Your distance and accuracy will be challenged. First shot is a blast off uphill. Second shot will require a dogleg left with accuracy. If you accomplish these, you'll be putting with a chance for bird.
23. Uphill again to a gorgeous pin placement overlooking the entire area.
24. Dogleg left with danger on both sides. Accuracy a must to get a 2 here.
25. dogleg right on this touch shot. Lots of danger/reward
26. Very straightforward. Get a 2 or else.
27. Big and potentially windy, with the road OB behind the basket.
Playoff hole: 625 downhill to an open ridge. Make a mistake and kiss your favorite driver goodbye. Play it conservatively and you may end up losing the playoff. Either way, its a blast to rip!
- amazing spot nestled deep in the santa cruz mountains
- county mows the main meadow areas
- takes you through several different ecosystems: oak woodlands, redwood forests, meadows, mixed forests
- fair shots for everyone, with defined landing areas on each hole.
- mixes the best of hiking with the best of disc golf
Here's a rundown of all the holes.
1- big downhill shot straight into the prevailing winds. Go left and you'll end up in a vast forest of coyote brush. Go too far and you'll be in a gully. Too far right and a different gully awaits. Play it short for a safe shot or go for the glory.
2: welcome to tarwater. Big uphill shot that will test your will and accuracy off the tee. While a 2 is possible, it is difficult and this is more like a par 3.5 hole
3. Beautiful shot over a gully to a nice open meadow dotted with trees. Hyzer out to the left and you're in trouble
4. One of the most straightforward shots at Tarwater. An aceable 300ftish downhill shot. FUN!
5. Enter the forest for a tightly wooded, slightly downhill shot that demands control off the tee
6. You can see the pin, but you ain't gonna reach it on this giant uphill shot. Going into the woods on the right is a bad idea.
7. Birdie opp! But don't go too far or you'll go all the way to the bottom of the hill!
8. The hardest 150' hole I've ever played. Steeply downhill, the tee forces anything but a standard RHBH and the pin lies precariously close to a deep gully.
9. Maybe my favorite shot at Tarwater. A downhill throw across a sloping meadow into the trees. Basket is visible from the tee, but accuracy is crucial here.
10. A great birdie or ace opportunity as you throw into a redwood forest. Some of the trees here are unreal old growth and some have been cut. The stumps are enormous. The basket is placed near a seasonal stream up on a second growth 'fairy ring'.
11. Up the hill from the redwoods, this hole is difficult in that it requires a perfectly thrown LHBH anhyzer to reach the green.
12. Tight window to a basket placed on sloped terrain.
13. Extreme uphill. The main window invites a RHBH but can be drilled with anything. However, it is difficult to get past the initial slope. I throw a tommy.
14. Flat shot but long. 2 routes possible on this dogleg right.
15. Enter the tunnels. Keep it straight or else!
16. Next tunnel is more uphill and basket is placed on bluff to the right.
17. Third tunnel in the middle of ancient coast live oak forest. Hit the gap and finish right to get to the pin.
18. Last tunnel is short but requires precision, otherwise your shot will turn into a coyote brush nightmare.
19. Out of the tunnels, this unique shot is flat at first and then downhill to the pin, set in a wooded alcove. Going into the treeline on the right will produce a bogey or worse.
20. A big blast that avoids the well placed trees will get a shot at the pin.
21. Dogleg left to the landing area, an open meadow. Then two more huge rips in the open will get you putting. But there's plenty of trouble to get into on each shot before you finish this par 5
22. Biggest uphill at the course. Your distance and accuracy will be challenged. First shot is a blast off uphill. Second shot will require a dogleg left with accuracy. If you accomplish these, you'll be putting with a chance for bird.
23. Uphill again to a gorgeous pin placement overlooking the entire area.
24. Dogleg left with danger on both sides. Accuracy a must to get a 2 here.
25. dogleg right on this touch shot. Lots of danger/reward
26. Very straightforward. Get a 2 or else.
27. Big and potentially windy, with the road OB behind the basket.
Playoff hole: 625 downhill to an open ridge. Make a mistake and kiss your favorite driver goodbye. Play it conservatively and you may end up losing the playoff. Either way, its a blast to rip!
Cons:
- no camping on site (portola redwoods is close)
- rattlesnakes
- not permanent
- mountain lions
- some poison oak
- not your everyday course...its a mountain course for certain.
- far from anywhere, accessed only by twisty mountain roads. This might not be a con for some, who appreciate a more isolated experience.
- no bathrooms, water, or any other type of facility
- totally raw
- dirt tees
- lots of hiking (again, may not be a con)
- rattlesnakes
- not permanent
- mountain lions
- some poison oak
- not your everyday course...its a mountain course for certain.
- far from anywhere, accessed only by twisty mountain roads. This might not be a con for some, who appreciate a more isolated experience.
- no bathrooms, water, or any other type of facility
- totally raw
- dirt tees
- lots of hiking (again, may not be a con)
Other Thoughts:
As one of the course designers, I'm biased. Yet I think everyone who's played this course thinks that it was very fair though extremely challenging. One round of 27 here and I was pretty much done. This is the perfect spot for one day tournies where everyone arrives before 8am and leaves no later than 4pm. Expect a 5-6 hour tourney round here. Visit Alice's Restaurant on the way home at skyline@84 for some great food and brews!
