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Black Rock Disc Golf reviews
1
0
This rock needs a little more polish 2+ years drive by
Reviewed:
Played on:Jun 16, 2018
Played the course:once
Pros:
• Easy to find
• Nice Mach X baskets
• Multiple basket locations on some holes (not sure how many)
• Restrooms and refreshments
• Very nice surroundings
• Nice Mach X baskets
• Multiple basket locations on some holes (not sure how many)
• Restrooms and refreshments
• Very nice surroundings
Cons:
• Tees are mostly just spots on the ground that aren't necessarily clear or even
• No signage, leading to tricky navigation in spots
• A couple holes need a serious re-think
• Rough is quite...rough
• No signage, leading to tricky navigation in spots
• A couple holes need a serious re-think
• Rough is quite...rough
Other Thoughts:
Tips
• Get a map in the Pro Shop. It looks like it's been updated since the one posted on this site.
• Do pay attention to what's going on around you
• Call ahead to check course availability
• We paid $10 versus the advertised $5
Random Thoughts:
This is a mixed ball/disc course on a nice executive style golf course, with mild elevation changes, in the lovely mountains of Cobb/Anderson Valley. I know there are passions on the topic of mixed courses and I'm not going to get into that here. Rather I will focus on the course itself.
The first thing to note is that the tees are really just spots on the ground marked by black ball-golf style knobs with the occasional orange flag to help spot them. Even with the map you're probably going to struggle a bit finding several of them. A brighter color would help significantly. Some of the tees are on uneven terrain and may or not be grass covered so you'll want to check your footing before letting fly.
Once you find the tees, you'll be presented with holes that are usually quite lengthy with baskets that are frequently tucked into tree groves, and they don't always follow the ball golf course so do keep your head on a swivel. I didn't note any OB, which is usually the case with mixed courses (the greens in particular), so you would appear to have multiple paths to the basket without risk of penalty. There are a mild variety of right-to-left and left-to-right shots with some holes having some mando trees to get around, but most shots are of the throw it fairly straight and long variety, with the occasional over-the-creek shot to get your attention. There are a few holes (#7, #12, and #14) that are legit ace runs to give you a break.
With that said, the first, second, and third thing you're going to want to avoid is the rough. The rough here is ROUUUUUUUUGH. You do not not NOT NOT NOT want to be off the fairway for most of this course as it is riddled with huckle/black/whatever berry bushes that'll tear you to shreds. What this means is that you're going to want to pay attention to your approach shots/angles because there are several basket placements that are either very near the rough or even slightly in it. It also makes the baskets a bit hard to spot sometimes, of course, depending on what position they're in. Honestly, I'm not a fan of a couple of these basket positions as tromping through this rough (which also included a touch of poison oak) is not much fun (#2 and #3 long come to mind). I would actually advise pulling #14 out altogether and splitting #18 in two to compensate. As for #18, and I'm not trying to be mean, but this basket position, combined with the length, is just dumb. A blind shot over heavy rough and a creek is a recipe for pain and lost discs. If you want to keep the basket back there, how about a short ~200' control shot where you have a reasonable shot at clearing all the rough without losing the fun factor. This would also address my prior comments on #s 14/18.
Another challenge that came up, and I'm not sure if this is normal, was the wind. The wind was either not blowing at all or gusting at about 20MPH. Depending on the hole and direction you're throwing, this was either not a big deal or a very big deal. We played fairly late in the day (around 2:00PM) which might explain the wind but definitely explained the jerk maintenance guy who turned the sprinklers on (how about a heads-up marshall?!). The flip side was the course was fairly empty.
Bottom Line:
If it sounds like I'm being a little harsh on this course, I am. When you charge money for a course, I tend to raise the bar. While we had a good time out here, I wouldn't call it a great time. I think you need some legit tees installed with signs and a couple baskets/holes need a re-think. You knock those out and I think you'll really have something special.
• Get a map in the Pro Shop. It looks like it's been updated since the one posted on this site.
• Do pay attention to what's going on around you
• Call ahead to check course availability
• We paid $10 versus the advertised $5
Random Thoughts:
This is a mixed ball/disc course on a nice executive style golf course, with mild elevation changes, in the lovely mountains of Cobb/Anderson Valley. I know there are passions on the topic of mixed courses and I'm not going to get into that here. Rather I will focus on the course itself.
The first thing to note is that the tees are really just spots on the ground marked by black ball-golf style knobs with the occasional orange flag to help spot them. Even with the map you're probably going to struggle a bit finding several of them. A brighter color would help significantly. Some of the tees are on uneven terrain and may or not be grass covered so you'll want to check your footing before letting fly.
Once you find the tees, you'll be presented with holes that are usually quite lengthy with baskets that are frequently tucked into tree groves, and they don't always follow the ball golf course so do keep your head on a swivel. I didn't note any OB, which is usually the case with mixed courses (the greens in particular), so you would appear to have multiple paths to the basket without risk of penalty. There are a mild variety of right-to-left and left-to-right shots with some holes having some mando trees to get around, but most shots are of the throw it fairly straight and long variety, with the occasional over-the-creek shot to get your attention. There are a few holes (#7, #12, and #14) that are legit ace runs to give you a break.
With that said, the first, second, and third thing you're going to want to avoid is the rough. The rough here is ROUUUUUUUUGH. You do not not NOT NOT NOT want to be off the fairway for most of this course as it is riddled with huckle/black/whatever berry bushes that'll tear you to shreds. What this means is that you're going to want to pay attention to your approach shots/angles because there are several basket placements that are either very near the rough or even slightly in it. It also makes the baskets a bit hard to spot sometimes, of course, depending on what position they're in. Honestly, I'm not a fan of a couple of these basket positions as tromping through this rough (which also included a touch of poison oak) is not much fun (#2 and #3 long come to mind). I would actually advise pulling #14 out altogether and splitting #18 in two to compensate. As for #18, and I'm not trying to be mean, but this basket position, combined with the length, is just dumb. A blind shot over heavy rough and a creek is a recipe for pain and lost discs. If you want to keep the basket back there, how about a short ~200' control shot where you have a reasonable shot at clearing all the rough without losing the fun factor. This would also address my prior comments on #s 14/18.
Another challenge that came up, and I'm not sure if this is normal, was the wind. The wind was either not blowing at all or gusting at about 20MPH. Depending on the hole and direction you're throwing, this was either not a big deal or a very big deal. We played fairly late in the day (around 2:00PM) which might explain the wind but definitely explained the jerk maintenance guy who turned the sprinklers on (how about a heads-up marshall?!). The flip side was the course was fairly empty.
Bottom Line:
If it sounds like I'm being a little harsh on this course, I am. When you charge money for a course, I tend to raise the bar. While we had a good time out here, I wouldn't call it a great time. I think you need some legit tees installed with signs and a couple baskets/holes need a re-think. You knock those out and I think you'll really have something special.
2
0
The_Real_Mr_W
Experience:
15.2 years
25 played
2 reviews
Black Rock in Cobb 2+ years drive by
Reviewed:
Played on:Jul 29, 2015
Played the course:2-4 times
Pros:
Beautiful setting on a golf course! Each hole has Mach 5 Baskets, and concrete tee pads are on their way!
You can rent a golf cart for $10 per person.
$5 per person to play.
Course is set up really well. There are a few par 4's and par 5's. Lots of good bomber shots, rollers, and even a few techy ones.
You can rent a golf cart for $10 per person.
$5 per person to play.
Course is set up really well. There are a few par 4's and par 5's. Lots of good bomber shots, rollers, and even a few techy ones.
Cons:
No signage as of yet. (This is supposed to be changing)
Pay to play. (It's worth it)
Disc Golf can only play after 2pm.
Pay to play. (It's worth it)
Disc Golf can only play after 2pm.
Other Thoughts:
Call ahead to get a tee-time
3
1
Gorgeous Course in Cobb 2+ years drive by
Reviewed:
Played on:May 23, 2015
Played the course:once
Pros:
Beautiful Mountain Setting in this somewhat out of the way location. On a 9 hole golf course that is not a pitch and putt in any way, Black Rock's design is a two for one deal. That is, each golf hole has 2 disc golf shots. The course weaves its way throughout the course, playing mostly on its periphery but not always. There are nice trees, pretty well defined OB, and some tight lines. What I liked best though were three shots in particular. Hole 8 is a beautiful uphill RHBH anhyzer to a pin located near the corner of the property over a creek. As an added bonus you can easily access a gas station to fuel up on extra beverages or a snack. Kinda cool midway through a course! Hole 15 is a hard dogleg right par 4, also playing with the same stream as a hazard. And of course, the crown shot is hole 18, an 1100ft par 5 to a green wedged between a short and long golf green with some bunkers in play. Nice design!
$5 for each round and $12 for a gas putt putt cart. I'll skip the cart next time as walking seems the way to go.
$5 for each round and $12 for a gas putt putt cart. I'll skip the cart next time as walking seems the way to go.
Cons:
Some of the shots on the front felt dinky, like pure ace runs and maybe just thrown in to make 18.
Since some of the golfers had carts and others walking, it sometimes felt a bit like disc golf didn't really go with the golf flow out there. Everyone was really nice however when I played as we let several golfers play through.
Since some of the golfers had carts and others walking, it sometimes felt a bit like disc golf didn't really go with the golf flow out there. Everyone was really nice however when I played as we let several golfers play through.
Other Thoughts:
I'd play this course again, and I think the designers did a fine job with this course. It is a bit out of the way and doesn't quite have the wow factor of courses rated higher, but that is likely a function of a lack of serious elevation changes....something completely out of control of any course designer! Should be a worthy place for tournament play!
