Lockeford Springs DGC reviews
7
0
Bring your Big Arm. Actually, bring Two. 2+ years drive by
Reviewed:
Played on:Aug 13, 2017
Played the course:once
Pros:
• Beautiful course and views (who doesn't like vineyards)
• Easy to find
• Nice new baskets with flags on most, if not all, for easier spotting
• Warm-up basket with a decent sized area to practice
• Restrooms in a couple spots
• (mostly) Great signage (more on that below)
• Decent tee boxes with a few missing (more on that, as well)
• Tests every shot in the bag
• Only $5 to play
• Easy to find
• Nice new baskets with flags on most, if not all, for easier spotting
• Warm-up basket with a decent sized area to practice
• Restrooms in a couple spots
• (mostly) Great signage (more on that below)
• Decent tee boxes with a few missing (more on that, as well)
• Tests every shot in the bag
• Only $5 to play
Cons:
• Confusing navigation in spots
• No map
• No basket locators
• Swirly winds (minor con)
• Disc golf times are limited (call ahead)
• No map
• No basket locators
• Swirly winds (minor con)
• Disc golf times are limited (call ahead)
Other Thoughts:
Tips
• Use the pictures on this site and be looking around for other baskets and tees
• You don't really need the cart if you enjoy a good walk
• Bring water
• Park in the middle of the lot as close to the clubhouse as you can to avoid errant shots. There really isn't a safe spot but that's probably the safest.
• #7 tee is on the top of the hill across from #6's basket
• #11 tee is on the other side of the bridge. Just keep walking.
• Try not to cry when you get to #14 tee and see 848'. Continue tear suppression when you see 'Par 4'.
• Not a tip but I'm not sure I dig #1's close proximity to the parking lot. Can it be moved to the right side of the ball golf tee? I'd hate to see cars getting blasted.
• #13 is a short, hard right turn with double-mandos but don't let the easy appearance fool you. You want to be a little long to avoid the bush protecting the basket.
Random Thoughts:
Right up front, this is a mixed ball/disc golf course, except despite playing several other courses like this, this one sets itself apart by being a full-size legit ball golf course. I'm actually surprised the disc crew pulled this off. I was not surprised to find that I was the lone disc golfer out that day and was fairly well surrounded by ball golfers, and not of the duffer variety. To give you an idea of the size, the 18 disc holes only cover the front 9 of the ball golf course. Yup, that means they could fit another 18 out there quite easily. Though with that said, this is a long course. It's a par 61, which is already 7 strokes more than most courses, but if you walk off with a 61 on your card, bravo. Because this is a tough, well-earned 61. Unless you've got a variety of accurate 350'+ shots in your bag, it's going to be tough to park these baskets. The holes are not only long, the baskets are well protected, either by OB boundaries, waterways, or more regularly, trees. Pars will be earned and birdies, celebrated. It would not shock me to see tournaments played here and I would look forward to watching them. Now, I don't want to scare off the beginner player. The good news when discussing this course's difficulty is that it is pretty hard to lose a disc out here. You might need to throw it a few times to get it there, but you'll be able to find it without too much worry. I say "too much" because there are a couple spots where water is in play, the most glaring of which is #4. This shot is directly across a wide river, diagonally. I don't know many folks that would try to throw straight at this basket. I'd advise throwing up the right side and then across. That netted me a par that felt great. Tip on #4: The tee is on top of the hill, past the sign. It's tricky to see with the overgrown grass. Other than #4, the water is very avoidable on the course with a reasonably safe throw where it comes into play.
As for the rest of the course amenities:
The tees are decent but mixed. The standalone tees are of the square block variety. Any time I see seems on a tee box, I wonder how well they will hold up over time, but right now, they are fine. The other times, you are teeing off the cart path in mostly flat spots. You will be looking for spray paint near the tee signs (usually in front of them) although there were a couple spots where there were multiple colored sprays on the ground, so it wasn't clear which one to use. There were also a couple tees that are missing (#2(I think) and #15). #15 was particularly frustrating because the sign is down in the valley but it implies the tee is back on the cart path but I didn't see any spray marks so I just winged it based on the picture. I will also state that this flight path needs a serious re-think. Throwing up a fairway towards golfers teeing off at you is not a great idea. I had to wait a good 10 minutes before the path was clear and that allowed those same groups to crawl up behind me. I like this shot. It's a sexy fun one, but it's just not smart to me.
The signage is both fantastic and slightly frustrating. The fantastic is that they are beautiful with an abundance of 'Next Tee' signs to help guide you. The frustrating bit is that the scale is a bit tricky to figure out (things sometimes seem farther/wider then they are), the basket markers are not there (yet), and the OB markings are not totally clear in several spots (specifically, where does the OB end when it's on the same side of the cart path as the basket? - see #10). It's also curious why they're sometimes mounted parallel to the fairway versus perpendicular, making them easier to spot. Lastly, some joker (perhaps Mother Nature) had twisted the 'Next Tee' signs on a couple baskets causing me to tromp off in the wrong direction. I fixed one but at least one is still wrong. Obviously, most of this is fixable.
Lastly, some general comments on the experience: You'll want to make sure you're comfortable playing around ball golfers and know the proper etiquette. If so, you're going to have a good time out here. It's also a healthy-sized walk. If that's not your thing, a cart is a short $10 away. The wind also got fairly aggressive towards the end of the day. Not sure how normal that is on this course but it sure shortened my drives on #s 17 and 18. Bring your wind friendly discs.
Bottom Line:
This is a very challenging course and also one of the nicest I have ever played. We are definitely reaping the benefits of playing on a well-maintained ball golf course. With a little more effort, this could be a destination course hosting many events. Despite the growing pains (and I certainly recognize this is a new and evolving course) I thoroughly enjoyed my time here. Thank you to the course designers and I look forward to a return visit soon (and an ever increasing rating).
• Use the pictures on this site and be looking around for other baskets and tees
• You don't really need the cart if you enjoy a good walk
• Bring water
• Park in the middle of the lot as close to the clubhouse as you can to avoid errant shots. There really isn't a safe spot but that's probably the safest.
• #7 tee is on the top of the hill across from #6's basket
• #11 tee is on the other side of the bridge. Just keep walking.
• Try not to cry when you get to #14 tee and see 848'. Continue tear suppression when you see 'Par 4'.
• Not a tip but I'm not sure I dig #1's close proximity to the parking lot. Can it be moved to the right side of the ball golf tee? I'd hate to see cars getting blasted.
• #13 is a short, hard right turn with double-mandos but don't let the easy appearance fool you. You want to be a little long to avoid the bush protecting the basket.
Random Thoughts:
Right up front, this is a mixed ball/disc golf course, except despite playing several other courses like this, this one sets itself apart by being a full-size legit ball golf course. I'm actually surprised the disc crew pulled this off. I was not surprised to find that I was the lone disc golfer out that day and was fairly well surrounded by ball golfers, and not of the duffer variety. To give you an idea of the size, the 18 disc holes only cover the front 9 of the ball golf course. Yup, that means they could fit another 18 out there quite easily. Though with that said, this is a long course. It's a par 61, which is already 7 strokes more than most courses, but if you walk off with a 61 on your card, bravo. Because this is a tough, well-earned 61. Unless you've got a variety of accurate 350'+ shots in your bag, it's going to be tough to park these baskets. The holes are not only long, the baskets are well protected, either by OB boundaries, waterways, or more regularly, trees. Pars will be earned and birdies, celebrated. It would not shock me to see tournaments played here and I would look forward to watching them. Now, I don't want to scare off the beginner player. The good news when discussing this course's difficulty is that it is pretty hard to lose a disc out here. You might need to throw it a few times to get it there, but you'll be able to find it without too much worry. I say "too much" because there are a couple spots where water is in play, the most glaring of which is #4. This shot is directly across a wide river, diagonally. I don't know many folks that would try to throw straight at this basket. I'd advise throwing up the right side and then across. That netted me a par that felt great. Tip on #4: The tee is on top of the hill, past the sign. It's tricky to see with the overgrown grass. Other than #4, the water is very avoidable on the course with a reasonably safe throw where it comes into play.
As for the rest of the course amenities:
The tees are decent but mixed. The standalone tees are of the square block variety. Any time I see seems on a tee box, I wonder how well they will hold up over time, but right now, they are fine. The other times, you are teeing off the cart path in mostly flat spots. You will be looking for spray paint near the tee signs (usually in front of them) although there were a couple spots where there were multiple colored sprays on the ground, so it wasn't clear which one to use. There were also a couple tees that are missing (#2(I think) and #15). #15 was particularly frustrating because the sign is down in the valley but it implies the tee is back on the cart path but I didn't see any spray marks so I just winged it based on the picture. I will also state that this flight path needs a serious re-think. Throwing up a fairway towards golfers teeing off at you is not a great idea. I had to wait a good 10 minutes before the path was clear and that allowed those same groups to crawl up behind me. I like this shot. It's a sexy fun one, but it's just not smart to me.
The signage is both fantastic and slightly frustrating. The fantastic is that they are beautiful with an abundance of 'Next Tee' signs to help guide you. The frustrating bit is that the scale is a bit tricky to figure out (things sometimes seem farther/wider then they are), the basket markers are not there (yet), and the OB markings are not totally clear in several spots (specifically, where does the OB end when it's on the same side of the cart path as the basket? - see #10). It's also curious why they're sometimes mounted parallel to the fairway versus perpendicular, making them easier to spot. Lastly, some joker (perhaps Mother Nature) had twisted the 'Next Tee' signs on a couple baskets causing me to tromp off in the wrong direction. I fixed one but at least one is still wrong. Obviously, most of this is fixable.
Lastly, some general comments on the experience: You'll want to make sure you're comfortable playing around ball golfers and know the proper etiquette. If so, you're going to have a good time out here. It's also a healthy-sized walk. If that's not your thing, a cart is a short $10 away. The wind also got fairly aggressive towards the end of the day. Not sure how normal that is on this course but it sure shortened my drives on #s 17 and 18. Bring your wind friendly discs.
Bottom Line:
This is a very challenging course and also one of the nicest I have ever played. We are definitely reaping the benefits of playing on a well-maintained ball golf course. With a little more effort, this could be a destination course hosting many events. Despite the growing pains (and I certainly recognize this is a new and evolving course) I thoroughly enjoyed my time here. Thank you to the course designers and I look forward to a return visit soon (and an ever increasing rating).
12
0
Lockeford Springs DGC 2+ years drive by
Reviewed:
Updated:
Played on:Jan 25, 2016
Played the course:5+ times
Pros:
Beautiful, challenging, 18-hole championship-caliber course on a well maintained and manicured ball golf course.
Nice mix of medium to long distance holes, with seven par 4's (par 61).
Lightly to moderately hilly throughout the course, with some elevation change on several holes.
Lots of OB; there are sand traps, ball golf greens, and cement cart paths that play OB, plus the cart path and beyond are OB on several holes.
Lightly wooded, but the layout of the course brings the trees into play on nearly every hole.
Challenging greens with baskets protected by trees on many holes and 3 baskets right next to sand traps.
The course is mostly open with multiple shot types available from the tee on nearly every hole, but not so open that you can throw the same drive on every hole. You will need your whole bag.
Despite being mostly open, most holes are technical enough that you need to hit your line for a clean approach at the basket. You can get yourself into some tough putt / approach situations if your lie ends up 10+ feet off your target on many holes.
All new Mach V baskets.
Multiple pin positions on several holes, more coming soon.
Very nice clubhouse with full bar and food (kitchen limited to certain hours but there are always snacks and hot dogs), and during tournaments and peak hours there is also a drink and snack cart on the course.
Adult beverages are allowed on the course, but no carry-ins.
There are restrooms in the clubhouse and near hole 8, and drinking water by holes 8 & 10.
Many trash cans throughout the course.
Electric golf carts available ($10 per person).
Scorecards and pencils in the pro shop where you pay.
Driving area next to the clubhouse to warm up before your round.
Very beautiful and clean course with vineyards on 2 sides and views of the Sierra Nevada mountains from several spots on the course.
New improvements are being made frequently.
Nice mix of medium to long distance holes, with seven par 4's (par 61).
Lightly to moderately hilly throughout the course, with some elevation change on several holes.
Lots of OB; there are sand traps, ball golf greens, and cement cart paths that play OB, plus the cart path and beyond are OB on several holes.
Lightly wooded, but the layout of the course brings the trees into play on nearly every hole.
Challenging greens with baskets protected by trees on many holes and 3 baskets right next to sand traps.
The course is mostly open with multiple shot types available from the tee on nearly every hole, but not so open that you can throw the same drive on every hole. You will need your whole bag.
Despite being mostly open, most holes are technical enough that you need to hit your line for a clean approach at the basket. You can get yourself into some tough putt / approach situations if your lie ends up 10+ feet off your target on many holes.
All new Mach V baskets.
Multiple pin positions on several holes, more coming soon.
Very nice clubhouse with full bar and food (kitchen limited to certain hours but there are always snacks and hot dogs), and during tournaments and peak hours there is also a drink and snack cart on the course.
Adult beverages are allowed on the course, but no carry-ins.
There are restrooms in the clubhouse and near hole 8, and drinking water by holes 8 & 10.
Many trash cans throughout the course.
Electric golf carts available ($10 per person).
Scorecards and pencils in the pro shop where you pay.
Driving area next to the clubhouse to warm up before your round.
Very beautiful and clean course with vineyards on 2 sides and views of the Sierra Nevada mountains from several spots on the course.
New improvements are being made frequently.
Cons:
Natural tees on most holes, with several playing from the existing cement cart paths and grass ball-golf tees (permanent 5' x 9.5' stone-work tees coming soon). The current natural tees can get muddy and slippery after rain.
Lack of signage, but these are coming soon as well with the new tees. Currently the course is a bit tough to navigate without a guide or group in front of you to follow.
Course is currently only open for disc golf on Mondays and Saturdays from 1pm to sundown.
No practice basket(s) for putting.
Lack of signage, but these are coming soon as well with the new tees. Currently the course is a bit tough to navigate without a guide or group in front of you to follow.
Course is currently only open for disc golf on Mondays and Saturdays from 1pm to sundown.
No practice basket(s) for putting.
Other Thoughts:
Pay-to-play: $5 per person if walking, additional $10 per person for an electric cart.
This is a new course and there are some minor tweaks being made here and there, but for the most part the course is in what will be its permanent layout.
This is a very fun, but challenging course. There is only one area with permanent water near the entrance and holes 1 & 2, but the water doesn't come into play at all and you would have to have a terrible shot to end up in it, so lost discs are not a big concern. That said, the course is long and tough so for lower skill level players or players that can't throw 300'+, you can expect scores well above par. Don't let this discourage you from playing this course, however. Players of all skill levels and families with children are welcome at this course.
The facilities are great for tournament play, and the staff is very friendly and accommodating. The first tournament was run very well, and I am very excited to play in future tournaments at this course.
This course embodies the evolution of tournament-style disc golf in recent years, and you can expect to see some big events here in the future as the course develops and gains acknowledgement.
[UPDATE 26 Jan]:
Due to recent heavy rains, golf carts are only allowed on the cement cart paths and there is standing water in several locations on the course. The water plays casual, but it is deep enough in some areas that retrieving discs can be an issue.
This is a new course and there are some minor tweaks being made here and there, but for the most part the course is in what will be its permanent layout.
This is a very fun, but challenging course. There is only one area with permanent water near the entrance and holes 1 & 2, but the water doesn't come into play at all and you would have to have a terrible shot to end up in it, so lost discs are not a big concern. That said, the course is long and tough so for lower skill level players or players that can't throw 300'+, you can expect scores well above par. Don't let this discourage you from playing this course, however. Players of all skill levels and families with children are welcome at this course.
The facilities are great for tournament play, and the staff is very friendly and accommodating. The first tournament was run very well, and I am very excited to play in future tournaments at this course.
This course embodies the evolution of tournament-style disc golf in recent years, and you can expect to see some big events here in the future as the course develops and gains acknowledgement.
[UPDATE 26 Jan]:
Due to recent heavy rains, golf carts are only allowed on the cement cart paths and there is standing water in several locations on the course. The water plays casual, but it is deep enough in some areas that retrieving discs can be an issue.
