Pinon Park reviews
1
0
thelittlestfernbug
Experience:
13.9 years
95 played
3 reviews
Peek-a-boo basket, where are you? 2+ years drive by
Reviewed:
Played on:Dec 25, 2020
Played the course:2-4 times
Pros:
Nice new tee pads and signs
Cons:
most of the flags on baskets have fallen, so they aren't visible
some of the tee pads are tough to find
some of the tee pads are tough to find
Other Thoughts:
North Mesa is a better course for beginners or folks without a strong drive
8
0
Shot a Lot a Blind Shot 2+ years
Reviewed:
Played on:Dec 2, 2020
Played the course:2-4 times
Pros:
-Much tougher than North Mesa
-Therefore fills a local need
-Gorgeous Views up top
-Fully Developed Park amenities
-Good baskets and pads.
-Nice, quick workout
-Therefore fills a local need
-Gorgeous Views up top
-Fully Developed Park amenities
-Good baskets and pads.
-Nice, quick workout
Cons:
-'Still blind AFTER you find it' blind
-'Dikembe' trees...'No, No, No Nooo!'
-Tedious to play without a local.
-TALLLL Basket flags might really help
-Park goers could be hit on a few holes.
-'Dikembe' trees...'No, No, No Nooo!'
-Tedious to play without a local.
-TALLLL Basket flags might really help
-Park goers could be hit on a few holes.
Other Thoughts:
I guess if I lived in a place that ONLY had the lovely rec course up on North Mesa, I would really Jones for more challenge. So Pinion does fit the bill. And there is efficiency to building an advanced level course on probably only about 4 acres or so. But DGCR primarily serves the traveling player, so I gotta set you straight if you play this course by yourself. Of my 250+ courses played, this is by far the hardest to just plain see the dang basket.
As has been stated elsewhere, the pinions will slam errant shots here. It's a fair fight though: frequent play will wear down these fragile trees.
The rocks will eat up your cheap plastic and cheap shoes. So put your boots on, bring your beaters, and leave extra time to walk most of the holes to find the basket.
To be fair, it is clear that local players will have no trouble learning the lines and have a real alternative to challenge their game. But for me this course was pretty annoying...maybe that's just me.
As has been stated elsewhere, the pinions will slam errant shots here. It's a fair fight though: frequent play will wear down these fragile trees.
The rocks will eat up your cheap plastic and cheap shoes. So put your boots on, bring your beaters, and leave extra time to walk most of the holes to find the basket.
To be fair, it is clear that local players will have no trouble learning the lines and have a real alternative to challenge their game. But for me this course was pretty annoying...maybe that's just me.
7
0
Rugged Challenge 2+ years
Reviewed:
Played on:Mar 9, 2020
Played the course:once
Pros:
+ Great concrete tees, very good signage
+ The course is cleverly designed to fit into a fairly small footprint. It incorporates a steep mesa that's otherwise unused in the park
+ This is a ruggedly beautiful park, with great views from the top of the mesa
+ The juniper trees require absolute precision when throwing lines: they stop discs cold. There's no throwing "through" the branches like you can get away with hardwood trees elsewhere in the US
+ There is a particular challenge to throwing well when you're standing on a tee high above the basket - like throwing off a cliff. The little 9 holer has two such opportunities - holes #5 and #7. So you have two chances to work on this shot
+ The course is cleverly designed to fit into a fairly small footprint. It incorporates a steep mesa that's otherwise unused in the park
+ This is a ruggedly beautiful park, with great views from the top of the mesa
+ The juniper trees require absolute precision when throwing lines: they stop discs cold. There's no throwing "through" the branches like you can get away with hardwood trees elsewhere in the US
+ There is a particular challenge to throwing well when you're standing on a tee high above the basket - like throwing off a cliff. The little 9 holer has two such opportunities - holes #5 and #7. So you have two chances to work on this shot
Cons:
- Navigation is tricky because you generally can't see the next tee, and you'll wander around some (uDisc is a big help!)
- The layout has too many blind tee shots. Some baskets have poles with flags to help spotting, but several have lost their flags or the poles are broken. You'll spend a lot of time walking back and forth over rough ground to figure out where to throw
- The course is very rough underfoot: wear hiking shoes or boots, and be wary of turned ankles when climbing up and down various holes
- The layout has too many blind tee shots. Some baskets have poles with flags to help spotting, but several have lost their flags or the poles are broken. You'll spend a lot of time walking back and forth over rough ground to figure out where to throw
- The course is very rough underfoot: wear hiking shoes or boots, and be wary of turned ankles when climbing up and down various holes
Other Thoughts:
~ The rocks on this course will chew up your discs. Don't throw anything you don't want scarred or marked up
- I admit I grew frustrated by the last few holes. The combination of rugged terrain, blind holes, and throwing up/down cliff sides became tiresome
~ But this is a course that probably becomes a better experience the more you play it, as you develop a feel for throwing the right lines without being able to see the target. That's not my preferred type of disc golf, but if I were local I'm sure I'd play this course more times just for the satisfaction of getting some birdies
- The Los Alamos area is at 7300' elevation. If you're visiting the area, take that into account. Bring lots of water and expect some shortness of breath when hiking uphill
- I admit I grew frustrated by the last few holes. The combination of rugged terrain, blind holes, and throwing up/down cliff sides became tiresome
~ But this is a course that probably becomes a better experience the more you play it, as you develop a feel for throwing the right lines without being able to see the target. That's not my preferred type of disc golf, but if I were local I'm sure I'd play this course more times just for the satisfaction of getting some birdies
- The Los Alamos area is at 7300' elevation. If you're visiting the area, take that into account. Bring lots of water and expect some shortness of breath when hiking uphill
2
0
lohrtom
Experience:
15.2 years
40 played
18 reviews
Better Than Most in the Area 2+ years drive by
Reviewed:
Played on:May 3, 2019
Played the course:once
Pros:
Smallish course that can be played in 30-45 minutes.
Shorter holes make it a good beginners course.
Easy to get to, just off of the main road.
Has a bathroom.
Clean
Interesting holes for the size allocated
Good for practicing obstructed shots
Shorter holes make it a good beginners course.
Easy to get to, just off of the main road.
Has a bathroom.
Clean
Interesting holes for the size allocated
Good for practicing obstructed shots
Cons:
The course is covered in piñon trees. That makes finding the baskets on your first trip a bit challenging.
Nearly every shot is obstructed.
The trees can sometimes make your disc hard to find.
Nearly every shot is obstructed.
The trees can sometimes make your disc hard to find.
Other Thoughts:
It is embarrassing to say, but this course is in better shape than any within the city limits of Santa Fe. You would think such an affluent city could do better. It was a welcome respite from the run down courses there.
The two shots off of the cliffs are very cool. That course is in a park but none of the shots are interfered with by pedestrians or playgrounds. You would have to toss a very errant disc to hit someone. The trees can be a hassled. I like an obstruction here and there, but this course has too many. It is good for learning to navigate around obstructions. If you are from out of state, this is a high altitude course, you will notice the thinner air, and your discs will fly a little different. It is also close to the course in Los Alamos so you could play both in the same day.
The two shots off of the cliffs are very cool. That course is in a park but none of the shots are interfered with by pedestrians or playgrounds. You would have to toss a very errant disc to hit someone. The trees can be a hassled. I like an obstruction here and there, but this course has too many. It is good for learning to navigate around obstructions. If you are from out of state, this is a high altitude course, you will notice the thinner air, and your discs will fly a little different. It is also close to the course in Los Alamos so you could play both in the same day.
4
0
hakaluge
Experience:
32.8 years
450 played
10 reviews
Excellent use of the space! 2+ years drive by
Reviewed:
Played on:Apr 2, 2017
Played the course:once
Pros:
Beautiful setting that makes you feel very secluded.
Top quality baskets and tees.
Unique trees, yet very little brush; although you may not always see where your disc lands, it would be rare to lose one here.
Great variety and use of elevation.
Top quality baskets and tees.
Unique trees, yet very little brush; although you may not always see where your disc lands, it would be rare to lose one here.
Great variety and use of elevation.
Cons:
Challenging to find the baskets on your first time here.
No tee signs (as of 4/2/17.)
You need to watch your footing as many of the hikes between holes have loose chunks of rock.
No tee signs (as of 4/2/17.)
You need to watch your footing as many of the hikes between holes have loose chunks of rock.
Other Thoughts:
This is a well designed course, to make use of the small strip of land available. Some holes are very hard to locate, but after playing a few times, they would all be reachable. There are a couple of picturesque ace runs, but most shots are blind, due to the tall bushes/trees that dominate this landscape. This course is rare because it is only nine holes, but was designed for the more advanced disc golfer. If you get the chance to come to White Rock, you won't be disappointed. Also, check out the spot in town called "the overlook." Only 5 minutes out of the way, with sweeping views of the Rio Grande and the surrounding mesas.
I will play this course again.
I will play this course again.
3
1
pypirate
Experience:
27.9 years
69 played
8 reviews
Juniper trees are tough 2+ years drive by
Reviewed:
Played on:May 27, 2016
Played the course:once
Pros:
Nice use of small mesa for elevation shots. My favorite holes were the two from top of mesa down.
Cons:
Some holes have no clear path to basket. IMO, this course needs some chainsaw work to open up some fairways. Juniper trees are difficult obstacles because they are impossible to throw thru, so the only option is to throw over which is awkward.
Other Thoughts:
My nephew said he helped build this course for someone's Eagle Scott project. I didn't get his name, but invite him to add details to the course description that I didn't know. I was happy to see another course in Los Alamos area, but I wouldn't have known about it without my nephew telling me, so I added the course to this Website. The next course should be at camp may, or some where in the Jemez amongst the big ponderosa and aspen trees, could be the best course in NM.
