Pros:
I would never have guessed that one of the best courses on my 14-state road trip across the country would have landed me in Alma, AR, but it sure did! What an incredible piece of disc golf land in the heart of Ozark Country.
- Front nine plays on a giant hillside that is actually a giant depression. It's kind of hard to describe it, but think of a big plateau that is on top of another plateau that's shaped like a horseshoe. The hill is rather steep, and errant throws on holes 2,3, and 4 will be punished by going off the giant hillside and rolling, rolling, rolling away. The rest of the front nine consists of throws that test your power, as they're mostly wide open throws of considerable distance to the baskets (some exceeding 400 and 500 feet).
- The front nine ends by the entrance, so if you're pressed for time or more inclined to open, big-arm throws, you can stop here.
- The back nine is a COMPLETELY different experience. For as open and long as the holes are on the front nine, the back nine is a technical thrower's dream, as the holes play in incredibly thick and wooded holes--many of which with a big beautiful lake in play. The hole lengths here are quite short, but laser accuracy is needed to par these holes.
- As I said, holes 9-13 and 16 have water in play, and #12 in particular really serves as a water hazard as the tee is adjacent to the water's edge and you have to throw an accurate throw to the basket (also by the water's edge). Put too much hyzer on it and it's in the drink!
- Hole #16 uses a mando and the lake is also in play.
So to recap, the pros are:
1.) Extreme elevation change (especially between front and back nine)
2.) Long bomb throws vs. super duper technical wooded holes
3.) Water hazards
4.) Large array of anny/hyzer doglegs
5.) 18 holes, many of which top 350 feet on the front nine
What more could you ask for?
Cons:
- Coordinates on this site put you by hole #5 instead of hole #1 and you have to climb the steep hill to get to the coordinates. Keep this in mind if you're making the trek to play here.
- Bring hiking shoes because you're gonna need them on holes 3 to 7 due to the steep terrain and 9-18 due to the fact that the fairways are lined with tons of rocks.
- Back 9 holes are way too short despite the fact that they are difficult. It would be nice to see at least half of the back nine holes exceed 250 feet or more.