Johnstown, CO

River Ranch DGC

1.895(based on 28 reviews)
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2 3
mile9542
Experience: 29.2 years 23 played 8 reviews
3.00 star(s)

Solid Shorter Course 2+ years drive by

Reviewed: Played on:Apr 8, 2021 Played the course:once

Pros:

Challenging and short. Not crowded (saw nobody else). Mostly easy to find holes.

Cons:

Lots of water and house hazards. Wayward discs have potential for loss/damage.

Other Thoughts:

I'd play again. Don't let the first few holes fill you.
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2 4
Missheatherjean222
Experience: 2 played 1 reviews
2.00 star(s)

1st Time at The River Ranch 2+ years drive by

Reviewed: Played on:Oct 20, 2020 Played the course:once

Pros:

Easily accessible Tees. Shorter distance holes (great for girls like me). And pretty sunsets.

Cons:

Retention Pond (not good for girls like me). Rough terrain. Baskets sit low. You cannot count on the chains to grab your disc on a put. Overshot quite a few...
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14 0
JuanA
Silver level trusted reviewer
Experience: 24.4 years 119 played 29 reviews
1.00 star(s)

Sometimes less really is more 2+ years drive by

Reviewed: Played on:Jun 12, 2020 Played the course:5+ times

Pros:

- Concrete Tees
- Navigation has been addressed
- Restrooms on-site in summer
- Water fountain available in summer
- Very nice neighborhood setting
- Trash cans along bike path.
- Pond in play on hole 16
- Easy bag off I-25

Cons:

- A full 18 hole course
- No shade makes it very hot in summer!
- Very low baskets. Feels like putting into a pail
- Damage to a few baskets, but still playable
- Open field layout offers very little challenge
- Often overgrown. Summer is usually unplayable

Other Thoughts:

- To find the first tee, look for the Red Silo on your left as you pull into the River Ranch subdivision

- It's hard to figure out who this course is for. The first 4 are so short it feels like a pitch and putt, so you think it's a beginner course. But then hole 5 requires a 250' carry over a tall section of reeds that you will never find a disc in...so not beginner friendly?

- There doesn't seem to be any budget for course maintenance (or maybe no interest). I've played here throughout the year, and winter is best. Once the grass/weeds start growing, the course quickly becomes unplayable. Tonight the grass is growing up through most of the baskets.

- Older reviews rightly criticized the navigation. This has been addressed but you have to pay attention to the tee markers...they tell you where the next tee is on tees 5, 6, 13 and 17. If you look at the directions, navigation shouldn't be an issue.

- I don't feel a course should require a safari layout in order to be rated well, so I didn't take that into consideration. I do feel a layout change could really turn this place around. More below.

- Holes 9 through 13 can be confusing since it's not always clear which baskets you are throwing to.

- I listed "a full 18 hole course" as a con because I think this place would be better off as a 9, or maybe even a 12 hole course. The first 4 feel like they were shoved in as an afterthought, and the open field area by 9 and 13 is too overcrowded. It could be dangerous if too many groups are there together. Sadly, with no money for maintenance, I doubt a redesign will happen. A lot of wasted potential sits in the middle of this subdivision.

- My final thoughts are don't drive too far to play here. It's an easy bag off I-25, but that's about it. A goofy layout, very little challenge, and unplayable conditions for months out of the year will always keep this course's rating low.


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2 4
DRSevier
Experience: 1 played 1 reviews
0.50 star(s)

Frustrating 2+ years drive by

Reviewed: Played on:Aug 21, 2016 Played the course:once

Pros:

I honestly cannot think of one.

Cons:

Confusing layout. Could not even find hole 7 tee box. Very high risk of loss, which is OK if the course is fun, but this one is not.

Other Thoughts:

Though I would try this course out in spite of the generally bad reviews. Quit before finishing, which is something I have never done. Worst course I have ever played.
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3 3
Justin J
Experience: 17.3 years 1 played 1 reviews
2.50 star(s)

A LITTLE LOCALS TOUCH 2+ years drive by

Reviewed: Played on:Mar 4, 2016 Played the course:5+ times

Pros:

Close to home being that I live in the subdivision
Concrete tees
Safari can make any course fun

Other Thoughts:

So as most of us know this course needs help in many ways. So since I live in the neighborhood I have been trying to make it better. So here you go

Hole 1 throw from behind the red silo by the picnic area making sure to hide the hole behind the silo

Hole2 from the basket of 1 go to the right side of the pool to the trail next to the ditch walk East till the trees just past the pool are in line with hole 2 play from there

Hole 3 play from the tee pad for hole 2

Hole 4 usually play as normal but can be either moved back for more distance or played on ditch trail behind the big tree

Hole 5 and 6 played normal

Hole 7 tee off from 15's tee pad across the street

Holes 8 and 9 played normal

Hole 10 played from Street behind trees inline with basket (close to electric box in ground I believe)

Hole 11 played from tee box for 10

Hole 12 played normal

Hole 13 played normal I know it's short but really fun to try and ace seeing as there is a huge tree right of the tee box

Hole 14 as you walk up you will see three trees stand in the ditch line behind trees you should see three line to the basket one on each side of trees and a tight line shot threw them

Holes 15-18 played normal again 17 is short but a good ace challenge
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1 1
cptbash
Experience: 1 played 1 reviews
2.00 star(s)

Okay course, needs some love 2+ years drive by

Reviewed: Played on:Jul 11, 2015 Played the course:once

Pros:

Some challenge and a few holes with high risk of losing your disc.

Decent Basket placement

Cons:

-Watch for holes, for some reason there are 2ft+ small holes in between holes 6-10 and I scraped my shin in one of them

-Unkept fairways means you will spend a lot of time looking for discs in tall grass

-No signs or map telling you where tee/ next tee box is and spent a good time wandering around lost and even played 2 extra holes backwards because we could not find where to go next.

Other Thoughts:

Just needs a little love. Put some signs up/maps up, and mow the fairways and you will have an excellent course. I also suggest flagging any of those big holes to avoid injury.
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4 0
mndiscg
Diamond level trusted reviewer
Experience: 16.4 years 502 played 494 reviews
2.00 star(s)

Colorado is better in the Mtns 2+ years

Reviewed: Played on:Aug 19, 2013 Played the course:2-4 times

Pros:

-Concrete tees and nice baskets
-Poles with numbers on them marking the hole
-A few of the tee poles had directions to the next tee. Get your bearings and read these, they will save you some wandering.
-A few 'water hazards' to liven up this otherwise fairly dull course
-A bit of elevation, mostly created by drainage ditches and built up roadways.
-Many ace opportunities for players of all levels.
-A few fast-ish sloped greens that add neccesary challenge to this otherwise easy course.
-Parking lot at the start.
-Easy to find course off i-25 and complex has signs that point you to start of course.

Cons:

-Hardly any trees at all which results in no shade and very little challenge.
-Could lose a disc in the 'water hazards'
-Not long at all and very little variation in hole distance.
-The course is dirty and dusty on most holes. Grass doesn't do well here unless irrigated.
-Navigation is pretty average. They have added signs at some of the harder junctions but it still isnt the best. Longer walks than normal compound this problem.
-A lot of the tees are at strange angles to the basket. There are also multiple baskets in sight of the same tee so it can be confusing.
-Nitpicking here: lack of trash cans and benches may hurt in some people's eyes.

Other Thoughts:

I would say this is a good course for beginners due to the distance and relative lack of challenge but it might not be much fun for them. I enjoy a good pitch and putt with fun and unique shots but this course didn't have a lot of fun factor.

I do like that the housing development had the foresight to put this course in and provide some recreation for their residents. It makes use of otherwise useless strips of land.

I probably won't come back and play this course. I am a course bagger and had to play it at least once but would be surprised to find myself there again.
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1 1
banknwank
Experience: 11.5 years 14 played 14 reviews
2.00 star(s)

ehhhh...... 2+ years drive by

Reviewed: Played on:Jul 14, 2013 Played the course:once

Pros:

easy birds on first three , with strong potential for aces........ Gave all three birds back in middle of course and took a penalty stroke on one of the lake holes. finished +3 ( I am the newb in my group, the rest were under par for intermediate rec players.

Cons:

stupid short on some of the holes, lots of water in play with ditch and small lake. baskets were really low for some reason?

Other Thoughts:

only reason i ventured up this way was to meet with some fellow disc golfers from the north side of town.......Not worth a special trip for this course. (imo)
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2 3
bcos4life
Experience: 12.5 years 77 played 23 reviews
2.50 star(s)

Great short course. Level changes everywhere. 2+ years drive by

Reviewed: Updated: Played on:Feb 3, 2013 Played the course:2-4 times

Pros:

This course is a lot of fun and will test your short to midrange game. Great for beginners, as it doesn't have any 400+ holes and few trees. You can easily walk to the 4th tee with a minus 3. The level changes and deceptive hill locations test your putting. The play around the lake is fun as well. The lake water level changes quite frequently from what I've heard, but it was very low, and easy to avoid. It can test your depth as well. You throw over many ditches that look closer than they are. The level changes occur on almost every single hole.

Cons:

Pretty short and not many obsticals. The pool was put in after the course and made them pervert the first 3 holes. The first hole is only 60 feet. The local players told me that it can have baskets completely disappear, due to water levels. It was low when I played, but they said that up to 4 of the baskets can be under water at any one time. The hole locations can be a good hike and hard to find. The baskets are comically short.

Other Thoughts:

Print a course score card for distances. The tee markers are the best I've seen. Big wooden posts with the hole number on them. They could use a hole map, distance, and directions to the next tee though.
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1 2
ottofueler
Experience: 1 played 1 reviews
2.00 star(s)

Needs some TLC 2+ years drive by

Reviewed: Updated: Played on:Aug 18, 2012 Played the course:5+ times

Pros:

Close to Loveland, with easy access. Open course. No overcrowding. It's a nice course for an hour of exercise.

Cons:

As of 10/1/2012, baskets 14 and 15 near the lake are no longer under water. Baskets 7 and 8 have been replaced after evaporating.
Ditch and lake attract discs. Wear long pants for comfort. Cattail section on hole 5 is a place to find other discs, if you wish to wade in the swamp. Wear mosquito repellent.

Other Thoughts:

With a bit more of TLC this course would score higher. Mowing.
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8 0
The Valkyrie Kid
Diamond level trusted reviewer
Experience: 46.4 years 1562 played 1507 reviews
1.50 star(s)

How About opening The Pool To The Disc Golfers? 2+ years drive by

Reviewed: Updated: Played on:Jul 17, 2012 Played the course:once

Pros:

River Ranch DGC is set up in the mostly high desert scrub bordering two new housing projects. Being visible from I-25, makes it easy to hop off the freeway for a quick 18. The course starts right near the red siloh, a kids playground and the newly constructed swimming pool. This course has these great solid posts with the hole number on them. There are nice concrete pads and DGA baskets with the numbers on top. The numbers aren't always facing back toward the teepad and some of the baskets are sunk a little too low.
The course starts out with three extremely short holes and I'm thinking this this will be one of those quick easy 20 minute rounds. Then # 4 and # 5 are like more normal recreational course length. # 5 is a neat little hole where you throw over a retention pond, it's probably empty much of the year, to a basket on the other side. It's not far but it's just kind of natural bowl effect and a fun little throw for some of us. # 6 is probably 300' and then you have a long walk to the mostly scrub, open area.

Holes 14, 15 and 16 all play around a rather large pond. # 14 was sitting near the edge and was partially in the water. # 15 basket was 20 feet out in the water while # 16 involved throwing over the pond to a basket just 20 feet past the ponds edge. This was in mid-July. Granted there had been a heavy rainstorm the previous night, but is it always this soggy?

Cons:

This course starts with an 75' easy ACE run and followed by two more 100' holes. Then later has these three Risk/Reward holes that the average SMART recreational player will choose to pass over. That might just be an oxymoron insinuating that the average disc golfers is smart. My point is, Who is this course designed for? The first three holes are pitch and putt all the way. The middle holes are more or less mundane, hot and dusty recreational level and then you have a couple of disc eating Risk/Reward throws.

Other Thoughts:

Maybe the pond water problems aren't always there. I might have just played this course as an inopportune time. I realize the shortness of the first three was made neccessary by the construction of the pool.

And that pool looked awfully inviting after stumbling around through the dry scrubland on this warm day. A couple of those young yuppie mothers were looking fine. I really would have liked a chance to cool off. After all, it's construction did negatively effect my disc golf course.
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1 0
zowynn12
Experience: 4 played 2 reviews
2.00 star(s)

Short course and desert conditions 2+ years drive by

Reviewed: Played on:Jun 18, 2012 Played the course:once

Pros:

short holes for kids or new players. not to bad of a walk to each hole

Cons:

holes are to short and the grasses are really bad same with the catails on hole 5 and 18

Other Thoughts:

in other words if you a very skilled player use this course for a break day or a warm up game other than that have new player or friends play with you here
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1 3
jdw80550
Experience: 21.6 years 90 played 15 reviews
2.50 star(s)

Great course if you don't play the regular layout. 2+ years

Reviewed: Played on:Jan 5, 2012 Played the course:5+ times

Pros:

Very little traffic, never have to wait. Bathrooms on sight. Full 18 holes.

Cons:

Short holes, low baskets, weedy grass everywhere, tons of walking

Other Thoughts:

If you play this course from alternate tee positions it can become quite a fun little course, turns into about 27 holes instead of the regular 18, adds length and some challenge.
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2 2
mikespike
Experience: 24.4 years 31 played 1 reviews
1.50 star(s)

2+ years drive by

Reviewed: Played on:Sep 29, 2011 Played the course:once

Pros:

Good for beginners and the family. Nice playground near first tee. Nice concrete pads.

Cons:

Baskets are very low to the ground. Holes are incredibly short. Advanced players will shoot well under par. I wont go there again due to too short of holes.
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4 0
tbsox
Experience: 18.3 years 40 played 17 reviews
1.00 star(s)

18 Hole Course in a 9 Hole Courses Space 2+ years drive by

Reviewed: Played on:Sep 10, 2011 Played the course:once

Pros:

Its a good beginners course in that it is very short and every hole is a birdie opportunity with a good shot. 16 and 17 are fair passable holes with a nice play to them. The tees all have very well made number markers which make them a little easier to find.

Cons:

Its way to short. Holes 1 through 4 are less than 100 ft to hole and for the most part there are no holes that need a driver. For the most part I shot my buzz to every hole and the one time I didn't the unkept grass and weeds which are everywhere between holes 5 and 16 ate my driver. There are 3 areas of the course which have multiple holes within 15 foot of each other. This makes the course very confusing to play. Even with the map on the tee of hole 5 hole 6 was difficult to fine.

Other Thoughts:

Even as a local I don't see myself playing this course much. I spent to much time looking for discs in fairway areas due to safari style conditions on must of the holes and the actual gameplay was not very fun.
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1 0
Leremy
Experience: 65 played 1 reviews
1.00 star(s)

short and sweet 2+ years drive by

Reviewed: Played on:Aug 27, 2011 Played the course:once

Pros:

you can use your putter on most holes and get lots of birdies. Possibly a good course for beginners if they can stay our of the swamp and water hazards. Great play park for kids to play with lots of shade and grass next to the disc golf course.

Cons:

a little hard to navigate the first time. If you mess up you could be looking for while in swampy areas. Might be hard for beginners on these holes. Most holes are really short. Not easy to find some of the tees.

Other Thoughts:

I would probably not play there again unless in the area, not really worth traveling to.
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3 0
Wise Fool
Gold level trusted reviewer
Experience: 15.7 years 125 played 118 reviews
1.50 star(s)

Walking with the Grasshoppers 2+ years drive by

Reviewed: Played on:Aug 12, 2011 Played the course:once

Pros:

-Nice concrete tee pads
-Quite a few ace chances as many of the holes are quite short
-The baskets are in great shape
-A water hazard that three of the holes play around including one hole that throws over it and those are probably the best holes on the course.
-The course doesn't get very crowded so you don't have to worry about waiting on other people.
-Right off of I-25 so it is a quick stop if you need a break on a long road trip.

Cons:

-The hole design on this course is really boring. Many of the holes are straight ahead with very few obstacles and very few of the holes are over three hundred feet. It starts to feel like you are playing the same holes over and over again.
-Many of the tee pads are pointed away from the basket and with many baskets in one area it can be difficult to know which hole you are playing to.
-Many of the holes are missing tee signs, there are posts marking the holes but very few of the holes have tee signs on them. The tee signs that are there don't even tell you the distance.
-Holes 1 and 2 are so short and boring that they are almost not worth playing unless you want a really easy chance at an ace.
-The course flow can be very hard to follow as there are usually a long walk between many of the holes and it is not always clear as to which direction to go next and several of the tees could easily be missed when looking for them. We were playing with someone who had played before and with out them I doubt we would have found a couple of tee pads or we would have at least spent a lot more time wandering around looking for tee pads.
-Lots of tall grass and cattails on the most of the holes so keep a good eye on your disc or you might lose several discs while playing.
-No benches or trashcans and very little shade throughout the course.
-When we were there the pond had overflowed and baskets 14 and 15 were surrounded by water

Other Thoughts:

I feel like this course could be better with some redesign and a little work but as it currently it is not worth going out of your way to play. If you are in Loveland or Johnstown looking for a quick play then or traveling through and need a quick stop, then it is a decent stop.
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6 1
jugglerbri
Experience: 13.7 years 45 played 8 reviews
2.50 star(s)

Fun course for beginners 2+ years drive by

Reviewed: Played on:Jul 1, 2011 Played the course:5+ times

Pros:

Great course for less advanced players. Being a new player, this course is a perfect challenge for me. Some of the holes are short and depending on basket location, some are very challenging getting around the water and other hazards.

If you don't like crowds, you'll definitely like this place. I rarely see other players while out playing let alone have to wait on anyone. I can usually play the course in about an hour and that includes the walking time from my house to the first hole.

The tees are all very solid concrete pads (yes, some are pointing the wrong direction but so what?) and some of the holes have alternate tee locations to make some of those short holes longer (holes 2, 3, 4, 7, 8, 9). They were installed spring '11. Look for a series of rocks in the ground that form a "Y" shape, something like >--    --<.

Favorite Hole: 5. Shooting over the reeds and the marsh is satisfying for me. I know often times I don't make it and that's why I wear water proof boots.

Cons:

Few vertical hazards.

Since the subdivision is still fairly new, the trees aren't all that big yet (even though I seem to keep hitting them) and the course seems to try and avoid them instead of using them to make it challenging. There does seem to be a bit of extra walking between some of the holes but I think most courses I've played has had at least one hole that you had to walk aways to get to the next tee (Edora between holes 2 & 3 and between holes 11 & 12) although I think this course has the largest gaps I've seen in my limited play experiences (between holes 6 & 7 and between 13 & 14). The course is also lacking in signage. There is a beautiful post marking the tee for each hole but there is nothing showing the hole, the distances, the possible pin placements, etc.

If you go in a wet time of year (this last spring for example) 3 of the holes (5, 6, & 18) can get pretty muddy and if the grass hasn't been mowed, it can be difficult to find your disc in the weeds.

Least Favorite Hole: 1. I've only been playing a short time and I've already aced this hole twice and that just shouldn't happen.

Other Thoughts:

I moved into the subdivision in December '10, found the course, and that's what got me into playing. I'm still a beginner and can't reach the basket first shot on most of the holes.

Overall, I really enjoy playing this course, sometimes seeing the sunset in the evening or the sunrise lighting up Twin Peaks is spectacular. There are usually several hawks or falcons flying around and often times I'll see one or more Great Blue Herons (still haven't seen a snake yet even though I've played it more than 30 times).
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1 6
Moore
Experience: 15.6 years 14 played 1 reviews
0.00 star(s)

A Joke 2+ years drive by

Reviewed: Played on:Aug 24, 2010 Played the course:once

Other Thoughts:

This Course is a Joke, several holes are over swamp reeds and what i guess is flood run off ponds. I spent more time trying to get my disc then i did enjoying the course. Not to mention the course is all over the place.
To me it feels like someone put the course in and had grand ideas, but then left and now no one cares about it.
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11 1
srm_520
Diamond level trusted reviewer
Experience: 20.6 years 156 played 142 reviews
2.50 star(s)

The Next Hole Is Where? 2+ years drive by

Reviewed: Played on:Jul 1, 2010 Played the course:once

Pros:

This is one of the few eighteen hole courses in the front range area north of Denver. Besides the better Edora Park in Fort Collins, you'd have to travel to mountains or Denver to get a more than 12 holes in one spot. The area is open and rugged although few holes measure over 300 feet. This is one of those - man, that's right of the highway great location for some disc golf type of places.

The main area of the park is well marked, and there are ample signs on the road pointing you in the general direction. Having said that however, follow the signs exactly and you'll be closer to #5 rather than #1. If you want to park near the beginning, park near the pool and red grain silo closest to the highway.

Besides the location, the park has quality concrete pads, granted few are actually pointed in the right direction. Each hole is also marked with a large beam and number marker, which is very easy to spot from the distance. Note that #5, #6, and #13 each have additional placards to assist you in finding the next tee box location.

BEST HOLE/S: #18

Cons:

River Ranch is a great example of why you always wait until the bitter end before putting in the concrete. With the addition of the pool area, which shrunk #1 and #2 to a laughable length, and what looks like a general redesign - most tees are angled off in different directions making things annoying.

I also wonder why they put in some of the most robust and impressive hole markers I've seen and not indicate the distance as well as number - but at least they waited on something. As mentioned earlier, #1 and #2 are about 80' each making for a nice mid-range ace attempt.

Given all of this, the biggest negative may be the general navigation. Land limitations are always a course's worst enemy, but by the time you finish, you've probably walked enough for 36 holes. Note that the walk between #6 and #7 and then from #13 and #14 are the worst, but if you park by the pool, you'll have a walk from #18, and by the disc golf sign a good walk to #1. Good news is that #13 shows a great layout of #8 through #14, so make the pit stop and check it out after finishing #9.

WORST HOLE/S: #1; #2

Other Thoughts:

River Ranch is fun for a casual round to shoot low scores. An intermediate player will have no problems shooting par and lower on every hole, based on the short length and limited amount of obstacles. However, if you have the time, and don't mind the crowds, Edora Park is the better way to go. If you hate crowds, and like the open prairie, then stop off the highway and give this place a go.
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