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Al Quaal Recreation Area DGC reviews
13
1
Paul Larson
Experience:
1 played
1 reviews
Should you build a course with ski trails for fairways?
Reviewed:
Played on:Mar 11, 2024
Played the course:once
Pros:
The course plays through some really beautiful terrain.
New Innova Discatcher baskets.
I'll count the tee pads as a "pro" since the old course didn't have tee pads at all, however the astroturf pads are showing their age already.
The tee signs were good, but I don't recall seeing any "next tee" signs.
There are several very cool holes.
New Innova Discatcher baskets.
I'll count the tee pads as a "pro" since the old course didn't have tee pads at all, however the astroturf pads are showing their age already.
The tee signs were good, but I don't recall seeing any "next tee" signs.
There are several very cool holes.
Cons:
The 18 hole "upgrade" was not a pleasant experience to play. I feel like Al Quaal was reworked to cater to +970 rated players. This course spits in the face of the +80% of regular players when you consider that a fun 9 hole course was eliminated to make it happen.
Any shot off the fairway (ski trail) ends up in thick, nasty brush. Often, your only option from the rough is to pitch back into the fairway or maybe go forward a bit. I played in early March when there were no leaves or ground cover and we still ended up searching quite a bit. You really want spotters on some of the holes especially the long downhill ones. Because the baskets cannot be placed on the ski trails, almost all of the holes are blind from the tee. In many cases you can't see the basket until you get about 70 feet from it.
The Blue tees averaged 428 feet which is long in my book. I don't mind some long holes, but when the average hole is well over 400 feet I know my arm is in for a tough round. Plus, five of the medium length holes are very much uphill making them play that much longer.
My group discussed playing the Red tees but we felt they were way too short for our liking (averaged under 230 feet per hole).
It would have been nice to take a breather after some of the long climbs, but there weren't any benches on the course.
Any shot off the fairway (ski trail) ends up in thick, nasty brush. Often, your only option from the rough is to pitch back into the fairway or maybe go forward a bit. I played in early March when there were no leaves or ground cover and we still ended up searching quite a bit. You really want spotters on some of the holes especially the long downhill ones. Because the baskets cannot be placed on the ski trails, almost all of the holes are blind from the tee. In many cases you can't see the basket until you get about 70 feet from it.
The Blue tees averaged 428 feet which is long in my book. I don't mind some long holes, but when the average hole is well over 400 feet I know my arm is in for a tough round. Plus, five of the medium length holes are very much uphill making them play that much longer.
My group discussed playing the Red tees but we felt they were way too short for our liking (averaged under 230 feet per hole).
It would have been nice to take a breather after some of the long climbs, but there weren't any benches on the course.
Other Thoughts:
I've gotten my butt kicked at Idlewild, Maple Hill, Rollin Ridge and other long, tough courses and walked away with a smile on my face. Al Quaal offers a butt kicking, but without the smile.
Overall, I didn't care for the "new and improved" Al Quaal course and I doubt if I will play it again. As Mark Twain once said, "There is nothing to be learned from the second kick from a mule."
Overall, I didn't care for the "new and improved" Al Quaal course and I doubt if I will play it again. As Mark Twain once said, "There is nothing to be learned from the second kick from a mule."
