Pros:
-DISCatcher baskets
-Separate tee pads from bolf course
-Variety
-Length
-Exclusivity
-The voicemail at the course says 'Thank you for calling Center City at Goat Hill Golf and Disc Golf Course'
-$10 tee times keep the riff raff out.
Cons:
-No Practice Basket: Of all courses in SD, this one NEEDS one. Furthermore, it is inappropriate to warm up on the course. Bring one or warm up nearby.
-Could have some more technical holes thrown in
-Tee pads are not installed but are on their way
Other Thoughts:
Center City at Goat Hill is a public golf course in Oceanside, about a mile from the ocean. Trees and considerable elevation changes separate the fairways from each other. There are a few flat holes but the vast majority play with the elevation, and typically downhill.
This sprawling course is the only one I know of in Southern California where a tee time is recommended. We made ours for the morning to avoid afternoon winds, and we never passed a golfer nor did any catch up to us. This really helped us relax, as stepping up to the first tee at 720 feet is not exactly calming.
Of the three disc installations on ball golf courses in So Cal, this one is far and above the best of them. The elevation and variety make for a serene round, and the meandering nature of the course really helps you feel alone and not rushed (big plus for SD). The tees for the disc course are not the same as the ball golf ones (although nearby), and the pins are usually not affected by the greens. On several occasions, you can't see anything but grass and pins. It really did feel like an exclusive disc course instead of an awkward disc course intruding on a bolf course. The flags that designate the disc tees and baskets are yellow, and by the end of the round you hardly even notice the checkered ones for the golfers.
While none of the holes are particularly protected off the tee, the foliage and elevation do require some considerable control down the fairway. If a disc fades too early for example, you will likely be behind a turn on the fairway, providing you with terrible placement on your 300 foot up-shot.
Some of the shorter holes proved to be great fun, as well. Hole 8 was probably my favorite short hole; throwing off of the top of a steep hill, over a bowl, and to a pin about 40 feet below and to the right. All this, with major tee protection on the right. A pair of birdie/ace runs toward the end of the course also add to the variety.
While most of the holes are long, we only felt that maybe one or two of them were gratuitously long. They could have been shorter, but then again, they are fine long. Remember that the long ones are typically par 4, so a second drive is necessary for most golfers. This is the first course in San Diego that can really teach the region about placement shots instead of trying to hit the pin on every drive.
The best thing this course provided for me was watching the outcome of my throw. The lack of distraction off the tee rewards you with a chance to actually watch your disc fly, whether it be down the fairway or into a tree. Fortunately, you will not be losing your discs in any water hazards here.
We rented a golf cart, you should too. There is some major distance between some of the holes, especially on the back 9. It was $10 instead of $4, and worth every penny.
The flow is not entirely intuitive, but if you have a map, eyes, and a brain, you should not have any issues. We accidentally played to the wrong pin twice, and had plenty of time to re-tee and play it correctly. That probably won't happen the second time we visit.
We caught the pro shop dude driving around in a golf cart to watch us on numerous occasions, I am sure he is curious as to how this new installation is working out. We saw two other groups of disc golfers, which was nice too.
Rating: 4.5. Yes, I think it's that good. I'm not going to do the whole "4.0 until they get rubber tees" thing because it did not affect the day enough to warrant a half point knock.
Southern Californians. Change your plans and get out to this course as soon as you can. Out of towners, add this to your California road trip as this course is a definite winner. It is the best course in San Diego and Orange County, and it is nice to finally say we have a championship length course that is not in the middle of nowhere.