Pros:
• Creative Use of angles on every hole, even mix of RHBH and LHBH (or RHFH) holes throughout the course
• Challenging for more experienced players, but accessible to all levels of players
• Great use of obstacles throughout the park
• Water Hazards and OB are present and intermingled making for a challenging element
• Park is well kept and beautiful
• 4 to 5 holes that are 400 foot+ which retain their character (thus remaining interesting) while still being highly challenging
• Great use of limited elevation change especially The "Back 9"
• New Up and Coming Pro Shop with Drinks and a Snack bar. They also have been setting up a stand at the Hole 5 tee.
• Bathrooms at the Pro Shop and at Hole 7 (The Snake)
• Navigation was a snap for a first timer. Great "next tee" signs tell you where the next tee is. Very important especially on the 5 to 6 transition. Need a "Next Tee" sign at the 11 to 12 transition as well that was the only spot I had to ask directions.
• Brand new DGA Baskets
• Free! (Buy something at the Pro Shop to support the guys)...
Cons:
• Natural loose dirt Teepads
• Some holes play through high use areas in the park. Especially Holes 15, 16 and 18 which are right through prime picnic areas
• OB Areas and "Protected Habitat" are a bit limiting. You are forced to shape your shot around them, but then you can't go in to get your disc? This Seems a tad counterproductive.
• Dust on the first 4 holes seems like it would be wicked in the summertime. Too bad there's not more grass in these areas.
• Walk Back between 15 and 16 was a bit cumbersome, walking back up the fairway you just shot down to get to the next hole is always tiring.
• No Smoking signs everywhere you look
Other Thoughts:
Kit Carson DGC is a new 18 hole course in the San Diego area, and it is a welcome addition to the few courses in this large metro area. The crowds at Morley Field need some sort of relief at this point, it is just getting too crowded there. I played Kit Carson on a Saturday, and there was decent foot traffic with people playing pretty much every hole. However, the vibe was more easygoing and there wasn't a 15 minute WAIT at every hole which has become a Morley Standard.
What I think I liked most was this course really made me think about each shot. There was a bit of Morley like flavor here in the technicality, but with less crossing terrain and a little more room to stretch the legs. It was necessary to pull out my sidearm game here as there were several shots that either doglegged right or had obstacles cutting off RHBH Hyzer angles. Overall, This course has an excellent design. Holes 9, 10, and 14 were redesigned in Mid-June 2010 due to some apparent injuries caused to park goers by Disc Golfers. This has resulted in 9 skirting the creek perfectly (I went in the water) but the real gem is Hole # 10. It has just a beautiful tee tucked among the trees alongside the creek, So you're shooting through a tree window, uphill, over the river, and well, through the woods to make it to a pin that seemed to be about 370 feet away. Very challenging hole. Hole 14 seems to have been (unfortunately) removed for the time being.
To me the biggest con here was the dirt tee pads. I really think that the addition of Concrete or maybe even Rubber tee pads would add a great sense of permanency to this course. I am not a fan of the natural tee pads that are currently in place. The Dirt is loose and I lost my footing a few times. Often times I'd tee off in the grass next to the dirt tee pad or concrete if it was available. Hole 18 was a good example of this. Why use the Dirt tee when there is a natural concrete tee 6 feet in front of it? Also, the OB Area on Hole 2 is a little ridiculous. The hole skirts the OB (DogLeg right) so you have to shoot around it then there's a Sign that says "Protected Habitat. Do NOT remove discs." Yea right. Are they really serious about this? I can't see any Disc Golfer willing to just leave their disc in there when the brush isn't even that thick.
This is definitely a mixed use park, and watch out for Non DG'ers starting on Hole 6. I almost decapitated a kid playing soccer on a RHFH shot with my Nuke on Hole 18. Watch out for other park goers, who aren't quite as familiar with the sport yet. I took the time to talk to a gentleman who was playing baseball with his 2 sons on the shared fairway for 15 and 16. They were very interested in the game and promised they'd try it soon. There really is a family focus here as opposed to the normal party vibe you'd find at other courses.
I would definitely play this course again if in the area, but unfortunately I live a bit far away to make it a regular occurrence. The San Marcos area is really putting itself on the Disc Golf Map. This course and CSU San Marcos make excellent additions to the San Diego Disc Golf scene. Add in Montiel Park and you've got 3 new courses in the area in the last 2 years. Flat out, this is a fun course with a great vibe. If you don't feel like putting up with the crowds at Morley Field, give Kit Carson a try. It doesn't quite have the variety (yet) that Morley does, but it is an excellent alternative.