Not much to add. I agree with most of the "Pros" already listed here.

Very difficult to navigate even with a map.

Actually it wasn't too difficult to find each tee with the map.

My gripe is about the holes themselves. There are so many "hidden" baskets that even after you find the tee you have only a general idea where you need to throw. I think on 7 of the first 9 holes I had to walk at least half way down the hole to spy the pin and then back to the tee.

This course is hilly and wooded (beautiful location) so walking each hole 1.5 to 2 times got to be a drag.

Obviously playing with a local would have helped but if you are there solo you're screwed.

I know how difficult it is to acquire and maintain decent tee signs so I can't find fault in that.

I would suggest that some enterprising local (like the guy who took the time to print out the white rat/black mouse helpful hints fliers) to put out a more detailed map including more specific pin locations.

Minutes from Highway 9, Black Mouse DGC is located on a middle school property in Felton, a quaint little town located in the Santa Cruz Mountains. This beautiful 18 hole course is overwhelming in both challenge and scenery, with tight fairways and massive Redwoods. The course plays along the hillside behind the school, where elevation constantly comes in to play. The course shows no bias, with doglegs and straight on shots alike, players will be forced to show much accuracy if they want to shoot well.

The flow to this course seemed to transition well, and fairways were well defined and manicured. The course was also clean of litter even though it is heavily used by locals, with benches on nearly every hole and garbage cans near the entrance. However, it can become congested at times due to players looking for lost discs, so if you're there on a busy day don't expect to play the course quickly. The layout though was well designed, weaving well through the woods, making the front nine technical but more spaced out than the back. Although this is a fairly short course with most holes between 125-250 feet, plan to bring water and hiking shoes because the course plays on a slope and can be strenuous at times. Fortunately, there is a lot of shade and is the perfect place to be on hot summer days.

Course navigation can be an issue at times,
but fortunately there are several little "next tee" signs on the ground after each hole, so look down! I had little issue finding hole #9 due to the advice from all the other reviews, but still had trouble some on the back nine, especially locating tee #13. Printing off a map will be a must for first time players, cause without it I might have never made it.

Although the fairways are well defined on this course, I can imagine that deflections can be quite harsh at times, so keeping an eye on your disc will be crucial throughout the entire round! The ground is quite thick off the beaten path and poison oak grows wild in certain areas so long pants might be a good idea.

Because many of the tee signs on this course have been vandalized or are gone altogether, it was difficult to locate a few tee signs and pins. With all the growth off the fairways, many times I had to walk the hole in order to see where to throw. Once played enough times, I know navigation and locations are no longer an issue but first timers just beware. The basket numbers are off too, which is a little frustrating.

This is yet another example of a well designed course in the beautiful Santa Cruz area. The local club and volunteers have done a great job getting this course in the ground and maintaining it. I had a wonderful time there with my wife, and felt privileged to finally get the chance to play in Felton. It is about 15 minutes from the beach, and has a lot of great food nearby. If given the chance, Black Mouse, De LaVeaga, and Aptos are all a must! They all bring a little something different, but will all be challenging and scenic. I was very impressed with the whole area and glad I made the time to visit.

Also, please donate to the course fund!


NOTE:
Doubles on Sundays at 9:30

-Beautiful course in the redwoods of the Santa Cruz mountains
-Great variety of shots required
-Tight & Technical course that requires accuracy
-Elevation used to great effect on a number of holes
-Benches on most holes
-Good flow (although a little tricky), "Next Tee" signs are very helpful

-Some Tee Pads are a little small for my taste, esp. for some of the required shots
-Tee Signs that exist are poor
-The numbering on the baskets is often wrong

An extremely fun course in a heavily wooded area near Santa Cruz. It's so secluded you can't even see it from the middle school its located directly behind. A map should definitely be brought and I would suggest playing with others. A disc that defects off of one of these trees could always use another set of eyes. An awesome place to play in the heat of the summer as nearly the whole course is shaded by the trees.

A must play, along with Delaveaga, if in the Santa Cruz area. Probably the most fun I've had playing disc golf on both occasions I've been there.

fun, tightly wound course ,some new locations on 3 baskets, locals play more than 18 holes,recently the course has been cleaned up

none really, except , no play during school hours

no guide needed, easy navigation ,small signs great fun shaded course

• Course is easy to find
• Beautiful location
• Warm-up area on the soccer field
• Baskets are in good shape

• Difficult to navigate
• Tee pads are hit and miss. Some are paved and/or defined. Some you'll have to look for posts, sticks, or worn areas to figure out where they are.
• LOTS of Poison Oak, particularly on the front side
• Very criss-crossy. Might not be an issue depending on the course congestion which wasn't bad on a Saturday afternoon.
• Restrooms were all closed when I was there. Not sure if it's like that all the time, but you have been warned. There was a water fountain though that I used to wash up.

Tips
• Your best friends on this course are the little white 8" square signs on the ground telling you where the next tee is. Be on the lookout.
• Even so, a map is a MUST. Even with the maps, you're going to have trouble so definitely look ahead for baskets and tees. Speaking of which...
• When I was there, basket #1 had been moved to the far left.
• I'm not completely sure but there might be mandos on 3 and 4.
• Don't go long on 6. Something tells me going over that fence sucks.
• Yes, 9 tee pad is past 10. Keep walking.
• It seems that 13's tee pad is actually to the left of #12 basket, where 14A was? I never found a pad to the right as shown on the map, but that doesn't mean it's not there.
• A spotter is not a bad idea, although not quite required. I suppose it depends on how tree-wacky your game is.
• Throw short accurate shots. None of the baskets are as far as you think, and they're very frequently tucked into a tight grove of trees.
• Lastly, a lot of baskets are misnumbered so don't trust that.
• Pack out your trash people! I picked up as much as I could but there was still a fair bit left.
• Donate to the course in the collection pole by the entrance.

Random Thoughts:
So if you're a player that needs to work on threading a needle with a disc from 150-200', this course is for you. While you'll probably never throw full power on this course, it will have no bearing on your score. This is a very tightly wooded course that if you succeed in not hitting a tree will set you up nice for a birdie shot, but if you even nick one, you will likely be walking away with bogey. Baskets frequently only have 1 or 2 attack angles so missing the fairway is not a good idea. But here's the good news. It's beautiful in there! I actually stopped to take pictures in a couple spots because of how nice the trees are. And you're going to need a little peace because trying to find the next tee box is some kind of cruel experiment. It's a repeated exercise of 'find the little white sign and look for a flat area with scuff marks'. And then, you very likely can't see the basket. You'll have to walk ahead and find it and then figure out the best path to get there. But once you do all that, you do get rewarded with a challenging risk/reward shot.


Bottom Line: Despite the lackluster course conditions and frustrating navigation, this is a great course for working on your game. While short, it has a variety of shot shapes that demand precision and are fair in the risk/reward arena. Advanced players might decimate this course, but I, as a beginner/intermediate player, found it enjoyable and helpful. With a few improvements and a hostile takeover of the Poison Oak Posse, this course could really shine.

Located in the Santa Cruz Mountains for starters. very secluded. beautiful scenery. long and short shots. pretty technical course. plenty of parking. never crowded. lots of shade (sometimes too much if you go too late) nice "hang out" areas throughout course. the donation box is cool. at least a few opportunities for an ace.

on school grounds. no smoking/drinking. trees galore. gets dark rather quick due to many tall trees. extremely hilly during a few areas of the course. only open after school hours. no restrooms. long walk to the first tee from parking lot. not a tee pad on every hole. also, you must walk from basket #8, past tee #10 (its weird) to get to tee #9.

lots of up n down walking. not so good for beginners except for the last 5 or 6 holes. dont throw your favorite discs there... use mid-ranges or putters... i only threw my driver on 1, 2, 6, 18 and maybe a couple others. i got a birdie on 4 holes in a row- i think 14,15,16 and 17. this is a very cool under-rated course. they finally (recently) added a few new benches and small tee signs guiding you through the confusing course... all they need are a few new tee pads and its on!!! its a MUST PLAY if anywhere near the area.

Addicting, almost every basket begs for an ace but they always elude me. The greatest disc golfer I know, Jose J, can be seen playing here often. This is the course that got me addicted to the game, showing the potential for having a great time and getting some exercise while enjoying the beauty of a redwood forest. I have only lost one disc there and it happened my first time ever playing.

I got poison oak there once. If you don't have someone that knows the course with you, you might get confused at a couple spots.

I never pass up a chance to play. Even compared to the mighty DeLa it isn't a dissappointment to play here. If I lived close enough I would play every day until I aced every hole.

Short, technical course with all kinds of shots required.I played it with my 5 year old and had a blast.Great setting in a redwood forest, nice and cool under the trees.

Trees, trees and more trees, it makes up the character of the course but its tight. A little poison oak, but not to bad. Hard to navigate, easy once you know but with out a map or someone whos played it before you might get confused.

Had a lot of fun out there and will be going back for sure. We played on a sat afternoon and there was only 1 guy coming off of 18 and as we finished there was a 3some teeing off. Great short course, put my stingray to the test.

Excellent Course to play during summer, school is out and the area is very shaded by trees. Tons of glorious elevation changes! Course is chalked full of interesting shots, as well as birdie chances.
The risk/reward aspect of this course also makes it very fun! For example you can go for the basket and take a difficult route, with the risk of hitting a tree and putting you in the rough. Or you can also play safer by keeping your shot low and setting yourself up for a managable second shot. Secluded layout actually takes you through a small portion of forest.

Biggest con is the Very Limited Signage it can be a little confusing navigating to the next hole, just look for the arrows.
There are some blind tee shots where you'll need to walk out onto the fairway to see the basket.
1 or 2 holes feel like you are throwing on the side of a hill, which wasn't too fun.
There can sometimes be a lot of poison oak around, but thats because you are in the Santa Cruz mountains!
Some tees are just flattened dirt, and some have those pesky mandatory flight routes (arrows on trees)

Course is a blast to play, bring a map just to be on the safe side. I liked this course because it is more about shot placement rather than power, very challenging. Highly recommended if you are in the area, or you are looking for something different than DeLa.

Lots of huge redwoods to throw amidst and about.

Combining the many, large trees with hard-packed dirt, a steep slope, and smattering of underbrush at the bottom of the slope means the chance of losing a disc is fairly high - you'll probably want to play with a spotter.

Basket numbering, especially on the front nine, is incorrect. #2's basket is labeled #5, and visa versa. #6's basket is labeled #7. I think there is another #5 later. Ignore the numbering (which improves for the back nine), and just trust the map. Baskets are difficult to spot from a distance, with only a small orange band on the pole to make them stand out.

Only a few holes, mostly on the back nine, have any type of sign or marker at the teepad, After the first four holes, the course changes from small concrete teepads to small square areas of flattened dirt, so don't spend an eon on #5 looking for a concrete teepad - that flattish area of dirt you stumble across is likely #5's tee location.

Holes 8-10 all parallel each other and play in the same direction, with #10 being located between #'s 8 and 9, so after playing #8, you'll effectively backtrack upon yourself, walk past tee #10 to #9, and after playing it, backtrack to tee #10. Obviously this would become a bit of a chokepoint if the course was crowded.

USE THE MAP.
TRUST THE MAP.
Without it, a first-time visitor is going to have a miserable time attempting to navigate the course, given the lack of tee signs, next-hole direction signs, and mis-labelling of baskets.

The course plays on a steep, wooded slope which contains many redwoods. While most holes have some change in elevation, only a few (#1 up, #6 and #18 down come to mind) have significant changes. The other holes play along the side of the slope, so you'll find yourself mostly walking, vice throwing, up/down the slope. There aren't any long holes - maybe 250' maximum? I didn't use a distance driver at all, but the Stingray got quite a workout. Each hole will involve a turn (about an even mix of left and right, the right turns being a bit sharper). For the most part, turns will come into play very near to the basket - only a few happen during the middle part of the flightpath. There are reasonable flightpaths on every hole, some being quite challenging.

Favourite hole: #12. About 165' with a sharp right turn at the end to the basket set in the midst of a "fairy ring" (over a dozen redwoods set in a circular formation).

Despite the many navigational cons, if you've never had the opportunity to play a course with many redwoods in play, you should definitely play a round at this course.

A cool Red Woods course not to far from Dela.
Great Topography. Not a huge course but lots of cool shots.

Where in the world are holes 3-5????

Now that is some California Dreamin'.
Easy course that would be a great warm up for a Dela round

great place to cool off and play a game when its hot out,

lots of tecnical holes.

dont have to worry about crowds or seeing other people

your not supposed to play during school hours. but its hidden from campus.

The flow is weird on two holes and those two are hard to find

All 18 holes are complete now. most tees are being cemented. also the course changed a little so its easier to follow and there are a couple longer holes

- Challenging without being too frustrating
- Elevation comes into play in a big way
- Course design makes excellent use of its environment
- Most fairways are well-defined and there isn't too much brush.
- Pretty good flow (if you know where to go)
- Amazing setting

- Closed during school hours
- Confusing labels on signs and baskets
- Only a few concrete tee pads
- A small amount of poison oak, mostly on #3 and #4

I first played Black Mouse back in 2002; someone explained to me that the numbers on the signs and baskets didn't quite match reality because a few holes down near the creek had to be removed. When I went back to play again four years later, and again in late 2008, I found that everything was STILL off by a few numbers. Eventually I'm sure they'll get it right... meanwhile, don't let it discourage you from playing here, just be sure to bring a map.

But signage issues aside, I love this course. Even though the longest hole is only about 300 feet, it's challenging and a great complement to the monster at DeLaveaga Park a few miles away. There are NO wide-open holes; with the exception of some live-oak terrain in the lower elevations near the school buildings, almost the entire course plays through a steep hillside full of big redwood trees. Some holes go straight downhill, and some play along the hillside -- with roll-aways an ever-present danger. (Curiously, only a couple of holes go uphill.) Some baskets are inside or just behind "fairy rings" of redwoods. Bring your mid-range game; a Stingray will be more useful than a Wraith here.

The biggest drawback to Black Mouse is that it's on the grounds of San Lorenzo Valley Junior High, which means you can only play the course after 3:00 or on weekends. The good news is, it plays well in all seasons; the redwoods keep it from getting too hot in the summer, and keep you from getting too wet in the winter.

Note: because this is school property, drinking and smoking are prohibited; please respect the rules, or the course could end up closed to the public or removed entirely.

-great use of space behind the school
-in the redwoods for that majestic feel
-plenty of elevation and shot variation
-short holes aren't easy

-no maps, next tee can be pretty hard to find
-can't play during school hours (til 3)
-some holes seemed hopelessly wooded, but i'm the only one here that said that, so maybe i need to go back and improve my aim.

much love to whoever pushed for and designed the course. we appreciate it... hit the donation box before 1 with a buck if you have it.

this rating may have been higher if i hadn't gone there on a very rainy and windy day.

oringnal layout was nice since been change for the better really to small for any event 25 people or less a real start for less competive players bring your putter and your c games

cool under trees

nice for family to play

Great Santa Cruz mountains course. lots of shade, huge redwoods. Rarely crowded and a great place to work on your short game. Quick play, can get around fairly quickly.

Some (2-3) of the original holes were removed and were signature holes of this course. It was a bummer, Black Mouse was never the same for me. Apparently these holes were moved because part of the hiking trail was in play.

Limited parking, no garbage/facilities, purely local supported. A good time but tough to choose over Dela

Lots of Birdie opts, but pars are not given away. Makes for a great challenge to shoot low. I'm claiming "pitch and putt course" meets Redwood forest Mountain Side style course. It's never crowded and playable at all skill levels. Good baskets, good for your short game, and pressure putts.

Can be tough to find your discs, gets dusty in the summer, and a little oaky. Can't play during school hours during school season (8-3pm).

Show up to the monthly, get a bag tag, and learn some fun hole variations from the locals!
play-off holes are 1 tee to 2 basket, then 17 tee to 18 basket.

Sometimes I don't pack my whole bag here, just the discs I'd like to fine tune. And makes for a lighter hike!

Awesome terrain, each hole unique. Never crowded compared to DeLa.

Easy to lose disc, so +1 for spotter
I still cant find all 18 holes, I always end up doing like 15 or so. The 2nd basket says "5" on it for some reason...Then at the 3rd hole above baseball field, there is a basket to the right only about 100 feet away, then a basket to the left about 100 yards away so that always confused me too. I havent played with a local yet, even thought I went to high school there haha. I also get lost when i come to the water tank hillclimb, i just go wherever my disc flies haha.

Hope your drivers like to eat redwood bark :O

Heavily wooded area with nice trails. They have signs on the upper holes but their are a lot of blind shots so a spotter is nice. Short course but, there are plenty of obstacles to avoid.

After playing this course to the point you were comfortable with it, you could probably birdie most.

Donations box is located at the begining of the course just past the gate.