Belmont West may feature a high degree of "artificial challenge", but it's got a surprising amount of variety for a temp course on some unique property. A temporary layout primarily set up for the annual Hazy Shade BYOP Doubles tournament, most holes remain the same from year to year as players wind their way across the grounds of Belmont Park, Immaculate Conception church/school, and the Lohrey Community Center. In a lot of ways, the design feels like a throwback to the early days of lids and object courses as golfers have to throw around buildings, baseball fields, bleachers, tennis courts, and even soccer goals & PVC pipes (more on those below). There's something here for technical specialists and bombers alike, with hole lengths in 2017 ranging from 150 to 800 feet. This backyard feel provides a ragged charm worth experiencing for yourself.

West's signature hole (#10 in the 2017 layout) is a short throw to a basket on top of a ladder whose direct line is nearly 100% obscured by trees. Run it and miss and you could find yourself OB outside the island green, but laying up still forces you to putt into a basket that's over eight feet off the ground. Since this course is almost exclusively used during doubles play, most teams have one player run it and the other play it safe, creating an aggressive spectacle worth watching.

Not all of Belmont West is inorganic though, as 2017 Holes 8, 9, 11, and 18 all feature idyllic beauty on holes and greens that would find a comfortable home in many city park layouts.

The baskets used for this layout are Dynamic Discs Recruits, which I enjoy, but I've heard mixed opinions.

Nearly half the holes in the 2017 layout featured at least one of the following: two or more mandos, artificial (i.e. non-boundary) OB, or temporary structures designed to enhance hole difficulty. On most courses these implements would feel gimmicky or overly penal, but here they provide flavor to otherwise unremarkable holes. For example, Hole 5 in the 2017 layout began life as a dead flat 260-foot open field shot without any obstacles. Instead, a roughly 7' x 6' net was added about 50' from the tee to prevent straight runs at the pin and a number of ~10' tall PVC pipe "trees" (one player called them Quidditch goals) dotted the green and protected the basket, creating quite a sight as they swayed gently in the breeze. Another example is Hole 13, whose two double mandos force players to drive from goal to goal across the length of a disused soccer field. As a result, these filler holes become memorable throws that add some difficulty, all while leaving birdie opportunities available for rec-level players. Personally, this is an important distinction between courses with artificial challenge designed for higher skill levels, which often leave me frustrated and ground down. Still, if you're violently opposed to these types of non-natural challenge then Belmont West may not be for you.

Obviously, being a temporary layout means that Belmont West is only open once, maybe twice a year. Do not attempt to play on your own, as it is largely on private property that is not set up for disc golf. You will be trespassing and risk serious damage to the property.

All the typical cons of a temporary course are here: mostly natural & sidewalk tees, few amenities, etc.

The annual Hazy Shade BYOP Doubles is the largest and one of the most well-reviewed disc golf events in the state. The players pack is always killer, and the tournament offers a lot of fun and challenge for all skill levels. Come get a crack at this course during next year's 17th annual event!