Austin, TX in early Jan [Archive] - Disc Golf Course Review

12StonesScott

11-29-2009, 12:45 AM

I'll be heading into Austin again this year for my company's annual kickoff meeting. Usually, we start on Monday, have activities scheduled non-stop for a couple of days, then fly out again, so I've never had a chance to play any of the Austin area courses. This time, though, they're having us fly in on Saturday and starting the meetings on Sunday. So I'll have the option of flying in early enough on Saturday to get a round or two in. I'll be flying into ABIA, and will be staying at the new conference center on the UT campus. I probably won't have a company-paid rental car, so I'd either need to use public transportation, rent a car out of my own pocket, or possibly get my much younger cousin who's a student at UT to haul me around. Saturday between the time I arrive and dark will probably be the only free time I'll have.

I'm an old noodle-armed guy, and prefer technical courses over wide-open distance fests.

Given that info and those constraints, any suggestions on which courses I should try to hit?

FRIZZLE TOSSLER

11-29-2009, 01:08 AM

Pease Park (http://www.dgcoursereview.com/course.php?id=932) and Zilker Park (http://www.dgcoursereview.com/course.php?id=933) are going to be your two closest options from the UT campus. You should even be able to walk to Pease if you don't have any wheels. Pease is probably the most well known course (ie. high traffic) in town and is pretty challenging, but long in parts. Zilker is a short pitch & putt.

If you have the time and the wheels, I'd highly recommend Circle C (http://www.dgcoursereview.com/course.php?id=542). It's the most complete course in town. Dual concrete tees and signs. Beautiful scenery. It's got it all and then some.

If you are looking for the toughest, most technical course in town you might want to try Austin Ridge Bible Church (http://www.dgcoursereview.com/course.php?id=3694). It's brand spankin' new and likes to spank... uber technical. It's set on some great land (I think close to 80 acres) w/ tons of elevation, but hard to navigate.

If you'd like a guide (or a ride) shoot me a pm. If I'm not out of town for work, I'd be more than happy to show you around.

grodney

11-30-2009, 01:37 PM

Anyone going to Austin should try to play Houck's courses southwest of town.
http://www.dgcoursereview.com/course.php?id=664
http://www.dgcoursereview.com/course.php?id=612
Theses courses are, hands down, the best in the area.

Your transportation and time constraints certainly make it more difficult, but they are well worth the effort. And if you're truly that noodly in the arm, they have 3 sets of tees on every hole, and the Red play just as lovely as the White or Blue.

However, these courses are only open occasionally. As the course pages say: Check the website or call/write to see if the courses will be open when you are there.

skurf

11-30-2009, 03:42 PM

The MetCenter (http://www.dgcoursereview.com/course.php?id=3631&mode=ci) is a new course about 5 miles from the airport on your way into town that you could hit up. It has a lot of technical holes, some of which have some pretty good length on them, but there are dual concrete tees that can help you cut down the length on a lot of the holes. One bad thing about it is that the course is always muddy along the creek and in a few low lying areas so bring an extra pair of shoes that you don't mind getting mud on.

You'll probably want to get some lunch before your next round so I'd head on into town where's there's lots of eating options and Pease Park. There's this nice bar/grill across from Pease Park at 12th and Lamar called The Tavern that has a killer Philly Cheese-steak sandwich and some good beers on tap.

Frizzle, how did you like that new church course? Anything you can compare it to?

FRIZZLE TOSSLER

12-02-2009, 11:44 PM

[URL="http://www.dgcoursereview.com/course.php?id=3631&mode=ci"]Frizzle, how did you like that new church course? Anything you can compare it to?

Oh, man. I am really having a hard time thinking of a similar course. I really, really like it a lot. I've only gotten to play the first 12 holes two diff times. It reminds me a little of Circle R in Wimberly, but MUCH, MUCH more difficult. It is still super new and IMO needs a little trimming in a few spots. It is long and uber technical.... hands down the toughest course I've ever played. Lots of blind baskets from the tees. Hard to navigate (and I rarely haver a hard time navigating a course for the 1st time 'round). They do have maps in the main office of the church which help immensely (I left mine in the car on accident 'cause I got so excited when I got there)

Hole 12 has the one of the best views (if not the best...2nd only to #18 on the Hill course @ Circle R) off the tee in Texas disc golf. Sadly though, I was talking to a dude that mentioned they might have to take that hole out b/c it bombs onto another fairway and could be very dangerous. Hopefully they can work something out to keep that hole.

I'm gunna be out of town this weekend, but maybe we could try to play the following weekend. I'd highly recommend checking it out if you have the chance.

skurf

12-03-2009, 07:09 PM

It is long and uber technical.... hands down the toughest course I've ever played.
Wow, harder than East Metro?! Hands down?!?!? Oh my, that sounds...impossible, but I'm always up for a good challenge....I think.

I'm gunna be out of town this weekend, but maybe we could try to play the following weekend. I'd highly recommend checking it out if you have the chance.
I'd be down. I'll toss you a PM next week to arrange a time.

skurf

12-06-2009, 09:23 PM

I played that new church course this weekend and it rocked me pretty hard. Some of the holes just seem to go on forever, especially considering how tight the fairways are on some of these 600'+ holes. If you thought the view at 12 is good, you should play the alternate holes. The view from A's pin or B's teebox is simply spectacular and B's hole is a much steeper incline than 12.

Scoot_er

12-06-2009, 09:32 PM

Oh, man. I am really having a hard time thinking of a similar course. I really, really like it a lot. I've only gotten to play the first 12 holes two diff times. It reminds me a little of Circle R in Wimberly, but MUCH, MUCH more difficult. It is still super new and IMO needs a little trimming in a few spots. It is long and uber technical.... hands down the toughest course I've ever played. Lots of blind baskets from the tees. Hard to navigate (and I rarely haver a hard time navigating a course for the 1st time 'round). They do have maps in the main office of the church which help immensely (I left mine in the car on accident 'cause I got so excited when I got there)

Hole 12 has the one of the best views (if not the best...2nd only to #18 on the Hill course @ Circle R) off the tee in Texas disc golf. Sadly though, I was talking to a dude that mentioned they might have to take that hole out b/c it bombs onto another fairway and could be very dangerous. Hopefully they can work something out to keep that hole.

I'm gunna be out of town this weekend, but maybe we could try to play the following weekend. I'd highly recommend checking it out if you have the chance.

Harder than Manor and even the Gold course Olse built in Corpus?

Sounds like I need to play it and Met center next time I'm in town.

Trampy1

12-06-2009, 09:39 PM

Harder than Manor and even the Gold course Olse built in Corpus?

Sounds like I need to play it and Met center next time I'm in town.

What course in corpus are you talking about?

Scoot_er

12-06-2009, 09:46 PM

What course in corpus are you talking about?

It is actually in Ingleside where there was already a Pitch and putt. Didn't get to play it yet but Olse says it is tougher than Manor.

FRIZZLE TOSSLER

12-06-2009, 10:42 PM

Harder than Manor and even the Gold course Olse built in Corpus?

Sounds like I need to play it and Met center next time I'm in town.

Yep, IMO much more difficult than Manor. The new church has super tight lines... tighter and longer than Manor w/ more trouble. I feel like it plays somewhat like a ball golf course w/ landing zones that you need to hit in order to get on the green w/ a chance for birdie/par. I've never played down in Corpus....road trip!!!

The Met Center is OK, but it sure ain't no "championship caliber" course like some have stated... My second time to play out there I shot a 7 down from the longs & I left a handful of birdies out there. Don't get me wrong, it's worth playing & I'm very grateful for the course, but it doesn't even compare to Manor, Circle C, & the Circle R courses. Also, it is by far the muddiest course in town (it's in a large drainage ditch) so make sure to take some waterproof boots w/ ya.

Scoot_er

12-06-2009, 10:58 PM

Ingleside is probably pretty similar by the sound of it. Long and wooded with landing zones being key.

I will ask Olse about the Church next weekend in Tyler.

ChaseTheAce

12-06-2009, 11:01 PM

play Metcenter

skurf

12-06-2009, 11:08 PM

Yep, IMO much more difficult than Manor. The new church has super tight lines... tighter and longer than Manor w/ more trouble. I feel like it plays somewhat like a ball golf course w/ landing zones that you need to hit in order to get on the green w/ a chance for birdie/par. I've never played down in Corpus....road trip!!!

The Met Center is OK, but it sure ain't no "championship caliber" course like some have stated... My second time to play out there I shot a 7 down from the longs & I left a handful of birdies out there. Don't get me wrong, it's worth playing & I'm very grateful for the course, but it doesn't even compare to Manor, Circle C, & the Circle R courses. Also, it is by far the muddiest course in town (it's in a large drainage ditch) so make sure to take some waterproof boots w/ ya.

I'd put the church course and Manor on a different difficulty level than the other courses in Austin, but yeah, I'd give the slight nod in difficulty to the new church course. I'd say the MetCenter is somewhere along the same difficulty as Pease if you're playing by course par, but if you're just counting strokes then you're gonna score worse on MetCenter pretty much every time. It's the same with Circle C though. If I go by course par I will usually score better than course par at Pease, but if I'm just counting strokes or going all par 3's, then I score worse at Circle C.

grodney

12-14-2009, 10:28 AM

FRIZZLE TOSSLER

12-14-2009, 12:22 PM

Austin guys, what's the story with Circle C? Is it 18 holes now? There's still a map on this site with 21 holes.

I last played this course in Mar 2008. Is it still pretty much the same course? Changes? Improvements?

Thanks.

Yep, it's 18 now w/ dual concrete pads and signs on just about every hole. It's pretty much the same course, but better. You can tell a whole heck of a lot of work went into this course. There are a handful (3 or 4) "new" holes & a handful of the old holes are now modified w/ diff. tee locations. They still have the two practice baskets and old #21 is now #18 & didn't change a bit. It's the most "complete", manicured course in town.

Check out this (http://www.dgcoursereview.com/course.php?id=542&mode=ci). It has all the new course info and a link to the new map.

judson

12-15-2009, 01:01 AM

12StonesScott

12-15-2009, 10:57 AM

Are you flying in jan 2 or jan 9? I am free on the 2nd but in LA for a wedding on the 9th I think. I have been working on the Ridge since the begining of August. I also know all the other courses in and around town

9th.

Appreciate the info and suggestions. Keep 'em coming, if anyone has different/additional suggestions. I've decided I'm going to hang in Austin for a few days after the meetings this time, flying out on Thursday evening instead of Tuesday night, so I might also be able to get in a round Thursday afternoon before heading to the airport. Wednesday and Thursday I'll be at our offices up near The Arboretum (Braker Lane/183/Mo-Pac).

judson

12-15-2009, 11:43 AM

There are 3 nine hole courses in that area. Wells Branch, cactus patch, and brushy creek. There are three 18 hole. Courses Wilco(costs $1), cat hollow(liberty walk) and Pease. The ridge is about 15 minutes south on loop 360 and 3 miles west on 2244. I can take a day off to play wednesday or thursday maybe both. I may have them off anyway. I live off of jollyville rd just north of there.

12StonesScott

12-15-2009, 12:09 PM

Looking at the options, and given that I'll probably be without wheels, I might try to get a round in at Met Center -- I just realized that besides its proximity to the airport, it's also fairly close to the only relatives I have in Austin, who're in the Onion Creek area just off William Cannon. I might be able to cab it over to their place to drop off my luggage and then get them to drop me off (or even talk my cousin into playing also).

BTW, as I mentioned, I'll probably be at the AT&T Executive Conference Center at MLK and Lavaca for Saturday through Tuesday. It does look like Pease Park would be walkable from there. On Google Street View I can see the tee area for (I think) Hole 16 near the intersection of Lamar and MLK -- any reason I wouldn't be able to (or wouldn't want to) walk there from the conference center and start on 16 and end on 15? Walking all the way up and around to the first hole seems kind of pointless.

skurf

12-15-2009, 04:50 PM

On Google Street View I can see the tee area for (I think) Hole 16 near the intersection of Lamar and MLK -- any reason I wouldn't be able to (or wouldn't want to) walk there from the conference center and start on 16 and end on 15? Walking all the way up and around to the first hole seems kind of pointless.
I don't see a problem with that, especially since 15's pin ends right there on Lamar as well.

12StonesScott

12-16-2009, 02:05 PM

Well, I woke up this morning to the news that my company's been bought by IBM, and one of the implications is that our kickoff meeting is being pushed back until sometime after the deal closes, meaning probably late January or early February. And I have no idea whether we'll still do it Sunday-Tuesday. So maybe I'll get a chance to play somewhere in Austin, and maybe I won't.