Pros:
have to say it's probably the # 1 Disc Golf destination in the state, too. Upon completion of the Blue course, possibly by next spring, that designation will just be a little justified.
Kayak Gold has the same great amenities as the Red course. Outstanding informative signs, great level carpet pads and the Mach VII baskets. Although it's a monster playing at over 10,000 feet but at least half of the holes feature some kind of wonderful downhills whether they're playing down multi-tiered hillsides like # 1 and # 5 or the more gradual downhills of many others. With the length here, one would think that a weiny armed rec player such as myself would be totally overwhelmed, but just like on the Red course, even with the constant length, it's a comfortable round for me. Only # 17, at 845' playing up a small hill most of the way did I feel completely overmatched.
Although all the downhills were great fun, my vote for signature hole goes to # 9 and it's 510' hole through a thick clumping of trees and then up a smallish hill. My vote for the course's most unique hole goes to # 12, a short (234'), blind uphill throw which is probably the easiest hole here.
Cons:
As much as I like this course, I believe it has a few cons.
$26 including a cart is still a little pricey in my world.
On some holes, you are playing in a field of tall grass which when laying over provides the perfect hiding place for your disc.
No water and no memorable "top of the world type hole."
This is probably more of a suggestion than a con but I would like to see some steps installed to # 4's basket which is set in a small gully. I could see the hill eroding badly with a constant stream of players going up and down the hillside here.
Other Thoughts:
I have two thoughts here. The first is for any review readers from other parts of the country, especially those of you from the heartland. If you haven't played a course like Kayak Point Gold with all of it's delicious elevation, you need to. To compare Kayak Point with a totally flat course like, say, Blue Ribbon Pines is not fair. BRP is obviously a well designed, highly competitive course but I am so firmly convinced that elevation on a course is so important. Of course, you need to incorporate a great design to compliment that elevation.
My second thought is for all you Washington golfers. If you are a serious disc golfer, in other words, if you are any good at all, then this is the course you need to play. If Sea Tac or Shelton Springs is your idea of a great disc golf outing with lots of challenge, then there is no doubt that Kayak Gold or Red is an absolute must play! It combines the advanced level challenge of those courses with all these great downhills and a couple of tricky wooded holes. Very few courses match Kayak's wonderful use of elevation.
Why then can I ONLY award Kayak Gold a 4.5 and not the 5.0 that Flip City, Harmony Bends, Idlewild, and Beaver Ranch received? For one, Kayak doesn't quite have the breathtaking natural beauty that Flip and Beaver Ranch possess. It doesn't feature any one amazing/creative hole like Idlewild or Harmony Bends has. It also isn't maintained to the highest standards like these 5.0 courses.