-
Discover new ways to elevate your game with the updated DGCourseReview app!
It's entirely free and enhanced with features shaped by user feedback to ensure your best experience on the course. (App Store or Google Play)
Glen Isle DGC reviews
13
0
Pine Profusion, no Plateaus
Reviewed:
Played on:Jul 29, 2022
Played the course:once
Pros:
Another great addition to the US-285 corridor, but one that needs some more breaking in.
A lot of these pros will be shared pretty closely with the other mountain courses SW of Denver. They draw on similar strengths, but each has its own personality. I think it's worth playing Glen Isle in addition to these more well-known tracks.
-Baskets: The rest of the course equipment is coming along, as noted below, but the baskets are solid, shiny, and easy-to-see red Prodigies.
-Elevation: Generous elevation changes throughout, and quite a few major downhills. Holes (1), (7), (13), and (21) are all big ol' downhills, giving Glen Isle an edge on dramatic downs over even some of these other US-285 courses. On the flip side, there are plenty of holes doing the exact opposite, and also a few sidehills used particularly effectively on par-4s.
-Seclusion and Beauty: Another stunner. Great views of the hills across the highway, mountains in the distance, and thick evergreens throughout. The course is secluded away from people (I didn't see anyone after exiting the highway), though the highway noise is ever-present, so it's not quite a total solitude.
-Navigation: Good next tee paths and arrows, plus intuitive flow, make Glen Isle easy except for the (13)-(14) transition.
-Shot Shaping/Gameplay: A mix of big downhills, big uphills, perched baskets, short and long birdie shots, and par-4s. The iconic shots out here are the ginormous downhills, which will require touchy and committed shots to birdie. However, there are some nice shorter ones that use gullies, rock formations, and precipitous elevation to create higher challenge and risk shots. Mixed in are three par-4s, which are all compelling multi-shot holes requiring nice placement to take the bird. Rollaways are a constant risk, and the shaping is serious with the number of pines out here. On the whole, this isn't the most dramatic course for careful turning shots, but it's plenty interesting and uses its terrain to good effect.
-Proximity: There are a lot of really great courses nearby. Bear Mountain, Bailey, Beaver Ranch/Conifer, and Bucksnort are all outstanding places. This small section of low population towns is a serious disc golf destination.
A lot of these pros will be shared pretty closely with the other mountain courses SW of Denver. They draw on similar strengths, but each has its own personality. I think it's worth playing Glen Isle in addition to these more well-known tracks.
-Baskets: The rest of the course equipment is coming along, as noted below, but the baskets are solid, shiny, and easy-to-see red Prodigies.
-Elevation: Generous elevation changes throughout, and quite a few major downhills. Holes (1), (7), (13), and (21) are all big ol' downhills, giving Glen Isle an edge on dramatic downs over even some of these other US-285 courses. On the flip side, there are plenty of holes doing the exact opposite, and also a few sidehills used particularly effectively on par-4s.
-Seclusion and Beauty: Another stunner. Great views of the hills across the highway, mountains in the distance, and thick evergreens throughout. The course is secluded away from people (I didn't see anyone after exiting the highway), though the highway noise is ever-present, so it's not quite a total solitude.
-Navigation: Good next tee paths and arrows, plus intuitive flow, make Glen Isle easy except for the (13)-(14) transition.
-Shot Shaping/Gameplay: A mix of big downhills, big uphills, perched baskets, short and long birdie shots, and par-4s. The iconic shots out here are the ginormous downhills, which will require touchy and committed shots to birdie. However, there are some nice shorter ones that use gullies, rock formations, and precipitous elevation to create higher challenge and risk shots. Mixed in are three par-4s, which are all compelling multi-shot holes requiring nice placement to take the bird. Rollaways are a constant risk, and the shaping is serious with the number of pines out here. On the whole, this isn't the most dramatic course for careful turning shots, but it's plenty interesting and uses its terrain to good effect.
-Proximity: There are a lot of really great courses nearby. Bear Mountain, Bailey, Beaver Ranch/Conifer, and Bucksnort are all outstanding places. This small section of low population towns is a serious disc golf destination.
Cons:
Mostly items due to the unfinished nature of the course. Please PM me as these are improved over the coming years, so I can adjust my review.
-Maintenance: There's no clear difference between fairways and rough, with tall grass and scrubby bushes along the entirety of the course. I didn't have much trouble finding discs, but long pants will be a must-have here to avoid bugs, scratches, and other discomfort. There are also some spiky grasses that can poke even through jeans.
-Amenities: Beyond the basket, amenities haven't really been made permanent. There are well-marked pebble/dirt tees and temporary tee signs with hand-drawn maps. However, judging from the Facebook page, these are likely to change as time goes on, so I'm optimistic that concrete tees and metal signs will be permanent. There are some nice log benches strewn periodically.
-Variety: Mostly par-3s, a common con in this area. Also, Glen Isle had a peculiarly low number of forehand holes, at least in the first two thirds.
-Access: A dirt road pushing what's comfortable for a sedan leads to the course. I turned off at the wrong place at first, and almost got stuck on a rutted road before turning around and trying a different route.
-Maintenance: There's no clear difference between fairways and rough, with tall grass and scrubby bushes along the entirety of the course. I didn't have much trouble finding discs, but long pants will be a must-have here to avoid bugs, scratches, and other discomfort. There are also some spiky grasses that can poke even through jeans.
-Amenities: Beyond the basket, amenities haven't really been made permanent. There are well-marked pebble/dirt tees and temporary tee signs with hand-drawn maps. However, judging from the Facebook page, these are likely to change as time goes on, so I'm optimistic that concrete tees and metal signs will be permanent. There are some nice log benches strewn periodically.
-Variety: Mostly par-3s, a common con in this area. Also, Glen Isle had a peculiarly low number of forehand holes, at least in the first two thirds.
-Access: A dirt road pushing what's comfortable for a sedan leads to the course. I turned off at the wrong place at first, and almost got stuck on a rutted road before turning around and trying a different route.
Other Thoughts:
Glen Isle is a classic Colorado mountain course with unrelenting pines and a healthy dose of big elevation shots. It is a "finished" course, but lots more work is planned, and would certainly elevate the experience. The raw gameplay element of the course, combined with natural surroundings, would give it an Excellent were it not for the undergrowth and temporary amenities. For now, it's Very Good, but worth a visit and expected to improve with time.
-Workout: Almost every hole is either a workout climbing up the fairway or a tough trek between holes. My legs felt it the next day for sure. Keep in mind that, if you don't live at this elevation, the altitude sickness is a very real threat, especially in a secluded area like this.
~Similar Courses: First off, check out all the US-285 courses. Glen Isle is most closely a mix between Bucksnort and Bailey. I also see similarities between Glen Isle, Carolina Adventure World in Winnsboro, SC, and Burde Ridge in Woodbury, TN.
-Workout: Almost every hole is either a workout climbing up the fairway or a tough trek between holes. My legs felt it the next day for sure. Keep in mind that, if you don't live at this elevation, the altitude sickness is a very real threat, especially in a secluded area like this.
~Similar Courses: First off, check out all the US-285 courses. Glen Isle is most closely a mix between Bucksnort and Bailey. I also see similarities between Glen Isle, Carolina Adventure World in Winnsboro, SC, and Burde Ridge in Woodbury, TN.
