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New Lake DGC reviews
13
0
PastorofMuppets
Silver level trusted reviewer
Premium Member
Experience:
4.9 years
150 played
118 reviews
New Challenges await at New Lake
Reviewed:
Updated:
Played on:Aug 26, 2023
Played the course:5+ times
Pros:
WHAT TO EXPECT: New Lake is a relatively new, eyes on Championship Level in the future, disc golf course set around a recreational camping area near Oakland City. Expect a combination of HEAVILY wooded, moderately wooded, and some wide open shots as this course will put your through a gauntlet of elevation changes, tight demanding shot shapes, and tons of risky water carries. Offering both Championship level, and recreational level tees, this course never fails to present a challenge regardless of the layout you choose. Every bit as demanding as it is beautiful.
AMENITIES: Ample parking, campground setting with both permanent RV, temporary RV, and primitive sites available. Several shelters, volleyball courts, Fishing spots, playgrounds, etc. Modern Bathhouse, Port o Johns and water spigots to fill up your canteens are available.
TEES/SIGNAGE/BASKETS: Most tees are "hog slats" type tee pads. These large concrete tee pads are pre-manufactured and have 1/2 or so slits in them to allow water to drain through them. These are decent tee pads, durable for sure, but aren't textured and can be slippery. You can also risk hitting one of the slits just right on your runup and catch your shoe which may make you stumble or lose your balance. Baskets are (I believe) new Mach VII's or whatever version they are up to now. No issues with the baskets at all. Tee signs are basic but nice in appearance and contain all relevant information.
DESIGN: Course designer and volunteers put in a ton of work to make this course both beautiful and challenging. The course is still being worked on tirelessly and improved. The front 9 is a more open trek through the camp grounds. This side of the course plays along (and over portions of) the lake and is at risk of high winds blowing in off the lake. The front 9 starts you off with an uphill smash over the edge of the lake to a sloped green, protected by massive hardwood trees on both sides. Hole 2 give you a more open downhill tee shot around a huge guardian tree to a tiny green protected on all sides by paved trails. Hole 3 then shoot you through a very small double mando uphill through a narrow fairway of trees to an elevated basket inside a tree stump. Hole 4 is a massive downhill bomber par 4 that requires a less powerful but precise tee shot, followed up by a bomber approach shot heavily protected by trees and OB. I highlighted the first 4 holes because they are the example of the 4 types of holes on this course. Bomber open hole with water defending, shorter open holes with a very specific and hard to stick green, tight tunnel holes with severe angles to them, and massive holes that require a shorter precise drive to a preferred landing zone followed by a large distance approach shot to guarded greens. This course will test all of your skillset, forehand, backhand, roller game, scramble game, awkward putting stances and uneven greens, line hitting, touch game, everything will need to be working well to score well here. While there are a few must get birdies on this course, most holes par will feel like birdie and survival. Difficult, but always fair without being gimmicky.
EXTRAS: The front 9 is the more beautiful (lake view, manicured grass, towering mature hardwoods) portion of the course, and in my opinion contains most of the easier to get holes. The back 9 is HEAVILY wooded and requires a lot of long throws on very skinny lines with the lake often looming just beyond the basket. While still gorgeous in it's own right, if you are off your game on the back 9, you could have yourself a very frustrating day. Be sure to say hi to the Horse behind the fence next to Hole #4's tee pad. He's usually hanging out near the old basketball court.
SIGNATURE HOLES: Too many to single out just one. If I had to pick it would be Hole #13 (the getable par 5 at just 750 feet) until you see it and realize that the entire hole is uphill the entire way and shaped like back to back S's. It is daunting and not the most beautiful hole on the course (besides the green which is one of the best on the course) but it is definitely the most memorable.
AMENITIES: Ample parking, campground setting with both permanent RV, temporary RV, and primitive sites available. Several shelters, volleyball courts, Fishing spots, playgrounds, etc. Modern Bathhouse, Port o Johns and water spigots to fill up your canteens are available.
TEES/SIGNAGE/BASKETS: Most tees are "hog slats" type tee pads. These large concrete tee pads are pre-manufactured and have 1/2 or so slits in them to allow water to drain through them. These are decent tee pads, durable for sure, but aren't textured and can be slippery. You can also risk hitting one of the slits just right on your runup and catch your shoe which may make you stumble or lose your balance. Baskets are (I believe) new Mach VII's or whatever version they are up to now. No issues with the baskets at all. Tee signs are basic but nice in appearance and contain all relevant information.
DESIGN: Course designer and volunteers put in a ton of work to make this course both beautiful and challenging. The course is still being worked on tirelessly and improved. The front 9 is a more open trek through the camp grounds. This side of the course plays along (and over portions of) the lake and is at risk of high winds blowing in off the lake. The front 9 starts you off with an uphill smash over the edge of the lake to a sloped green, protected by massive hardwood trees on both sides. Hole 2 give you a more open downhill tee shot around a huge guardian tree to a tiny green protected on all sides by paved trails. Hole 3 then shoot you through a very small double mando uphill through a narrow fairway of trees to an elevated basket inside a tree stump. Hole 4 is a massive downhill bomber par 4 that requires a less powerful but precise tee shot, followed up by a bomber approach shot heavily protected by trees and OB. I highlighted the first 4 holes because they are the example of the 4 types of holes on this course. Bomber open hole with water defending, shorter open holes with a very specific and hard to stick green, tight tunnel holes with severe angles to them, and massive holes that require a shorter precise drive to a preferred landing zone followed by a large distance approach shot to guarded greens. This course will test all of your skillset, forehand, backhand, roller game, scramble game, awkward putting stances and uneven greens, line hitting, touch game, everything will need to be working well to score well here. While there are a few must get birdies on this course, most holes par will feel like birdie and survival. Difficult, but always fair without being gimmicky.
EXTRAS: The front 9 is the more beautiful (lake view, manicured grass, towering mature hardwoods) portion of the course, and in my opinion contains most of the easier to get holes. The back 9 is HEAVILY wooded and requires a lot of long throws on very skinny lines with the lake often looming just beyond the basket. While still gorgeous in it's own right, if you are off your game on the back 9, you could have yourself a very frustrating day. Be sure to say hi to the Horse behind the fence next to Hole #4's tee pad. He's usually hanging out near the old basketball court.
SIGNATURE HOLES: Too many to single out just one. If I had to pick it would be Hole #13 (the getable par 5 at just 750 feet) until you see it and realize that the entire hole is uphill the entire way and shaped like back to back S's. It is daunting and not the most beautiful hole on the course (besides the green which is one of the best on the course) but it is definitely the most memorable.
Cons:
DEBRIS: The back 9 was cut out of a very dense forest and the course is very new and hasn't properly broken in yet. Though a lot of the area has been cleaned out, new storms continue to leave lots of limbs behind. (Not a knock on the designer or volunteers). Just a heads up to those who may come through that you may encounter some downed limbs, but they are usually cleaned up within a reasonable amount of time.
ROUGH: While the main lines (especially on the front 9) are clean and free of underbrush, the heavily wooded back 9 has some seriously thick areas just off the main fairways on a lot of holes. Expect thorns and poison plant life, and the occasional snake if you go too deep.
SAFETY: This is a heavily utilized camping and fishing location. Several of the front 9 holes play directly through and around the camping area. Beware of RV's, walkers, pets, ATV's etc. Since a lot of elevation is involved, be sure to make sure areas are clear before you throw.
LOST DISC POTENTIAL: No less than a third of this course involves serious risk of loss discs due to the lake, and probably 3 or 4 more holes have a minimal risk (if you have a really bad tree kick). If you plan to attack some of these pin locations, maybe don't throw your prized disc at it.
LONG WALKS: There are some very long walks from one basket tot he next tee pad and some steep elevation on this course. Expect this course to take a solid 3-3 and 1/2 hours to play with a group.
ROUGH: While the main lines (especially on the front 9) are clean and free of underbrush, the heavily wooded back 9 has some seriously thick areas just off the main fairways on a lot of holes. Expect thorns and poison plant life, and the occasional snake if you go too deep.
SAFETY: This is a heavily utilized camping and fishing location. Several of the front 9 holes play directly through and around the camping area. Beware of RV's, walkers, pets, ATV's etc. Since a lot of elevation is involved, be sure to make sure areas are clear before you throw.
LOST DISC POTENTIAL: No less than a third of this course involves serious risk of loss discs due to the lake, and probably 3 or 4 more holes have a minimal risk (if you have a really bad tree kick). If you plan to attack some of these pin locations, maybe don't throw your prized disc at it.
LONG WALKS: There are some very long walks from one basket tot he next tee pad and some steep elevation on this course. Expect this course to take a solid 3-3 and 1/2 hours to play with a group.
Other Thoughts:
New Lake is a wonderful breath of fresh air. It doesn't have the greatest of views (still nice but the area is old/fixer upper). You can see the signs of abandonment from whatever the area was previously, as well as the signs of new life and resurrection being put into the location by the new owners. This course is a bit out of the way, but offers an extremely challenging and definitely worthwhile spot to visit. I would say this is a destination course because of the camping onsite. It is very young and in it's infancy as a course with nothing but growth and improvements on the horizon. I expect this course to be one of the most loved courses in Southern Indiana in probably 10 years time. Big things happening at New Lake. While it isn't a resort destination for the masses or looking to host a DGPT, it is a pinnacle of difficulty and tryer of patience that is well worth the time to play.
