A backyard course with a remarkable amount of elevation and extra OB challenge.

-Setting: A bit out of suburban San Diego, this course provides a decent feeling of privacy. Obviously, you won't be overrun by other players unless you opt into one of two annual tournament days. The views near Hellhole Canyon are also solid, thanks to the house's placement atop a hill.

-Host: Can't recommend Mark enough. Super friendly and welcoming, organized, and has some fantastic stories to tell. Thanks also for your service as a TD, sir.

-Hills and Wind: The two course elements most at play. Every hole plays up or down in addition to some gorges and side hills that create compelling shot choices. The wind was also moderate but not gusty when I played, adding another layer of thought. Mark told me that sometimes it's very out of hand, though.

-Flow: The navigation wouldn't be easy by yourself, but assuming you'll have a course guide everything flows very nicely with good paths if you know where to look.

-Shot Shaping/Gameplay: On paper, the layout/distance/tree cover doesn't seem like it would lend itself to an interesting course, but Mark has managed to create a very engaging double loop. Course plays as two baskets for each of nine holes, so typically the first nine are slightly shorter with the last nine playing tougher. The finesse needed to read hills and wind successfully is challenging. Lots of lined OB can make things extra treacherous, including some tiny islands and peninsulas. Scrambling is a necessary skill out here for when you end up behind or inside large bushes. There are some ace runs but also a few short par-4s for those who like placement golf.

-Tree Cover: Wildfires took away most of the course's trees a few years ago. Accordingly, it's not heavy on shaping per se, just requires delicate handling of the elevation to land where you want. There are still a couple of holes with gaps.

-Scratchy Rough: It can be tricky to avoid rough on some of the long holes, and the rough is predominantly scrubby bushes that will leave your legs tingling.

-Disc Loss: On a similar note, some errant shots will float down into large gullies were it might be difficult to track down the disc amongst the ground cover.

-Exposure: No relief from sun, heat, or wind. I'm guessing it's pretty toasty when the Santa Ana's come through.

This one isn't a destination course, and Mark is aware of its limitations as well as anyone. However, it's a very solid course with lines you can't really throw anywhere else in SD County. There are some similarities to Brengle Terrace, but I feel that the demands here are clearer, more fair, and more varied. All in all, it's a Good course in a private spot. If you quantify the hosted experience, I'd boost the rating considerably - but I typically try to rate the course on its own.

-Amenities: Paver tees, a mix of Mach baskets with numbered plates and poles, and varying OB markers.

~Similar Courses: The overall topography reminds me of Skol Ranch (CO), though here things are a bit more rugged. Really, pick any of the private ranch courses in the Colorado Front Range and you'll see traces of them here as well.

I wasn't sure what to expect but glad I came out! The course is in great condition and its got a little something for everyone from long par 4's to short birdieable 2's. The views are amazing and Mark is extremely nice and helpful. For the layout he had when I went, you play the front 9 to the baskets with the numbers on top and the back 9 is played from the same tee pads (except for a long tee pad on 13) to the baskets without the top numbers. I was skeptical about sharing the tee pads for the same hole because i thought it would be a bit redundant, but the way its designed really makes it feel like a completely different hole each time. Would 100% recommend to anyone and hope to one day be able to have a course of my own half as challenging and beautiful as this one!

The only knock I have is that its a predominantly right hand back hand course. I am a righty so i was fine with this but I didn't have to flick or throw an anyhyzer on any hole. Other than that, this course rocks!

So The Katana Kid's review is followed by the Valkyrie Kid's review. Next up can be The Wiz, The Wraith or The Tee Rex! Owner Mark purchased this 13 acre plot in 2014 with the idea of having his own personal course and he surely has accomplished that. Although it seems a million miles away from civilization, the course is only about 20 miles from Escondido. Bordering on the Hellhole Canyon Preserve (Hence the course's name) the rugged property is covered with large boulders, Sages, Manzanita and Lilac bushes with seldom a level piece of ground to be found.

The course has nine or more patio block tee pads and the signs are simple metal ones with just a large number cut out. The baskets consist of several different DGA Mach III's. There is a practice basket near the house. There are alternative baskets for each hole which play anywhere from 10' longer to upwards of 250' and sometimes play like an entirely different hole. There is a nice combination of downhills, uphills, Ace runs and longer bombs on the Alt baskets. I especially liked the two island holes and the baskets set in the large boulders. My favorite hole? I liked # 1 which is a 275/300' downhill toss to baskets set in an old corral with the corral playing like an island. With my weenie arm, I'm seldom a fan of uphill holes but # 9, which is 220' but steeply uphill, and thus plays more like 350' has such a cool basket placement in these large boulders that you gotta love it. It will probably break your heart putting up at it though.

Finding cons here will be tough. I guess that it's a con that it's only open on weekends. You can call Mark and he'll probably join you for a round. Mark is a big Disc Golfer and supporter and has been for years. He hosts two tournaments a year here and serves as a tournament director at several others.

The course if well off the beaten track and can be a little tricky to find. Google maps seem to be lost up in these hills.

Players wanting to really air it out won't have many chances here. The course has recreational distances but hills, OBs, wind and underbrush notch up the challenge.

The July tourney sounds interesting. It's 100 holes in mid-summer which can be quite warm and Gates of Hell is nothing but up and down so be prepared for the physical challenge. Lunch and dinner is provided as well as great prizes and a special prize for anyone that beats Mark. I would have to settle for the eats.

Remember, this is a privately financed course so donations are appreciated and smoking is only permitted on the drive way designated spot.

This is a well thought out course. There are mostly elevation shots with many obstacles that are quite challenging.

If you are able to get it worked out with your schedule and Mark's then you'll get a personalized round with the course designer in his 13.2 acre backyard.

There are 9 tees but the 18 baskets are well placed so that you're really playing two different rounds, especially if you use the long tees. By looking at the hole lengths at the bottom of this review you can see how much longer the second nine is.

On the first hole you are throwing down hill into a horse coral that has two baskets in it. The first basket is 275' and the second basket for #10 is 300' but if you land outside the coral you must drop into the corner of the coral and take a penalty.

All tees are numbered and since you'll most likely be playing with Mark he explains every hole in detail. For example, on #8 you can't see a ravine from the tee that is off to the left, but he warns you to stay away from it. I still ended up in the ravine.

The course is not crowded because you are scheduling your round ahead of time with Mark.

It's way off the beaten path to get to this place, but it's right next to the Hellhole Canyon Preserve, which is beautiful. That's where the name of the course, The Gates of Hell, came from.

It's great to play with Mark, the course designer, but it also limits the time you can go there.

There is currently no course map to look at, but it's not a big deal if you're with Mark since he explains better than a map can.

Mark hosts a tournament on July 1st that is limited to 27 entrants. You can sign up soon on his Facebook page, "The Gates of Hell Disc Golf Course" for $30. This will be his third year for the event.

Only 12 people, as of today, have recorded on this site that they played there. Mark said he's had about 300 visitors play his course since he put it in 1.5 years ago.

You can see a satellite view of the course from his Facebook page.

Mark is an active member of the San Diego Aces Disc Golf Club and hosts a two day match play in December with different skill levels.

Mark gave me a score card with hole distances:
1 - 275'
2 - 265'
3 - 235'
4 - 325'
5 - 180'
6 - 240'
7 - 350'
8 - 270'
9 - 220'
10 - 300'
11 - 285'
12 - 500'
13 - 500'
14 - 265'
15 - 235'
16 - 480'
17 - 280'
18 - 400'