Elk Creek, CA

Stony Gorge DGC

Permanent course
3.55(based on 4 reviews)
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6 0
wolfhaley
Diamond level trusted reviewer
Premium Member
Experience: 20.5 years 1165 played 745 reviews
3.00 star(s)

Reviewed: Played on:Sep 25, 2024 Played the course:once

Pros:

Stony Gorge DGC is a hilly 18 hole course that plays next to the Stony Gorge reservoir. There's enough trees to force shot shaping on most of the holes but the wind and elevation are going to be the main challenges on this one.

The baskets are Discatchers. These have the yellow bands and are highly visible from the tee. Each has the hole # on the top band too. All of these are in good shape and catch great. There's also some red Dynamic Veterans out there too. No rhyme or reason that I could tell since some of them were longer and others shorter than the original baskets. These alternate baskets were on holes 2,3,13 and 16. So there's a single basket on 14 of the 18 holes with the other 4 having 2 each. It appeared that there's multiple pin positions too but I have no idea how many since it doesn't say on the signs.

The tee pads are concrete. These are all poured level and have good grip to them. One tee pad per hole.

The design is pretty well done on this one. The holes are almost all on the short side with distances ranging from around 120' up to 485' with most being in the 200 to 350 foot range. Hole 6 is the only par 4 on the course. The mix of up and downhill throws is split pretty evenly it felt like. The course doesn't really favor one throwing style over the other due to the scarceness of the trees so it plays pretty fair across the board. They did a nice job of incorporating the trees that are on the course though. Plays tougher than the distances indicate though.

The tee signs are very basic. These have the hole #, par and distances. Basic but serviceable since most baskets are visible off the tee anyway.

The course plays in a gorgeous park with some fantastic views of the reservoir from the holes at the top of the hill. The water can come into play too depending on the water level. It was very low the day we played so the only potential danger was on the left side of hole 3's fairway.

Plenty of benches throughout the course and ample parking in the upper lot.

Cons:

There's some treacherous downhill walks on this one. Some stairs would be a big plus. We had to slide down the hillside on one of the holes which isn't ideal. The ground is most loose dirt too so it's a little dicey even on the tamer downslopes.

The terrain is very rocky in spots which isn't ideal for your discs. I'd recommend bringing discs you don't mind getting gouged up if playing here.

The course is short but is still quite the hike. Even with the scattered trees you're going to be spending the majority of the round out in the sun. Be sure to bring plenty of fluids and wear sturdy footwear when playing this one.

The course is pay to play in the form of a $5 day use fee. Well worth it in my opinion but it's worth noting.

Hole 3 was kind of annoying. It's a pretty one but it plays in a completely different direction than the flow of the rest of the course. You throw the hole then have to walk all the way back up the fairway and past the tee to get to hole 4.

Other Thoughts:

This was a fun little course. It's not as brutal of a hike as some of the other reviews make it out to be. That said, it's not the easiest course you'll play either. I'd recommend giving this one a spin if you find yourself near here, which isn't too likely given it's distance away from anything. Fun course but not worth any kind of detour out of your way to play. Excellent views though.
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4 0
frodriguez
Experience: 1 played 1 reviews
4.00 star(s)

Its a Workout!! 2+ years drive by

Reviewed: Played on:Apr 19, 2019 Played the course:2-4 times

Pros:

Concrete Slabs.
Some really great shots. Hole 3 is great since your shooting on a pinansial. A few around the world shots with going downhill.
Amazing View and Beautiful Area to picnic or BBQ afterwards since you will honestly need to rest after playing a round.

Cons:

Holes are not marked out very well. There is a map at the front of the entrance so take a photo and use it but really needs more directions on how the course goes.
No Trails. Of course with the wet winter we had there was a man made bridge with a large tree log so you can walk over a large puddle.

Other Thoughts:

After a few years and if this course was kept up this would be a very solid course. Will for sure be coming back as this is a great workout none the less.
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4 0
Knippelmeyer
Experience: 30 played 3 reviews
4.00 star(s)

Good round, fun course 2+ years drive by

Reviewed: Played on:Feb 28, 2018 Played the course:once

Pros:

Challenging and technical shots made for a good round. Like the change in terrain and obstacles to shoot around.

Cons:

Grass is tall in areas. I'd like to see whoever maintains the course to mow the fairways after the grass goes dormant this spring.

Other Thoughts:

This was the first time I got to play the course since it became permanent. It will be a great course once more traffic come through and defines trails and knocks down the tall grass.
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7 0
Philbert
Experience: 12.8 years 41 played 8 reviews
3.00 star(s)

Windy golf at Stoney Gorge 2+ years drive by

Reviewed: Played on:Feb 11, 2017 Played the course:once

Pros:

Do you like to work out? Need to feel strong? Is it legs day and you don't feel like being inside? How about legs day in an external wind turbine? Ask yourself. Does your car drive over cattle guards with out a problem? Do you like throwing discs? If you answered yes to any of these questions then Stoney Gorge is the place for you!

Stoney Gorge is a beautiful location up in the foothills. The area around the disc golf course is a multiple use area. BBQ pits, boating, fishing, camping. The course is located between the boat launch / day use area and the Grimy Gulch campgrounds. Parking is located in the day use area. We where informed not to park in the rangers work area.

The course layout plays across a few of the drainage valleys and up and over a large hill. Most shots are up hill and down hill. Just a few holes are actually flat. Those that are, will usually result in several roll away opportunities. A couple holes play out to the reservoir, but most are dry. There is no real left or right hand dominance. Almost every hole had multiple ways to approach the hole. There is also scattered OB throughout the course. Heads up to those that use them, this course is not terribly cart friendly. Them steep hills are murder on tow capacity.

Pros:
Concrete tee pads. Roughed up pretty nice. Once they get some traffic they will be pretty solid.

Great mix of shots. I have a minimal bag, but I went through all of my discs. I think the only thing I didn't really throw was a roller, due to the grass being pretty thick this time of year.

Almost every hole makes solid use of the numerous trees. The fair ways can be pretty thick. And I am pretty sure every basket is near a guardian. Even on the short holes, you need to hit your line or your squirrel fishing.

The course has several iconic holes.
Hole 3 plays 375 or so out to a peninsula surrounded on three sides by water.

Hole's 6 and 15 are both pretty solid top of the world shots. 6 being the longer bomb, and 15 being a bit more technical trying to land the shot.

Hole 5 is pretty much straight up a 200ft hill with the basket perched on the edge. I can already feel someones pain from the roll away putt.

Hole 10.. I can't call it anything else besides the Tangle. There "is" at least two routes to the pin. But getting there through the mess of trees is impressive. (Only hole I birdied today)

Hole 11 looks like a double mando (it's not) unless you can throw a mean overhand.

Cons:

Please remember that at the time I wrote this, that the course has probably had less then 20 people play it.

The tee pads where roughed up very nicely, but they are on the short side. Some of them have some slight pitch and roll issues as well. Nothing that is going to harm your game, but you will notice it.

A noticeable amount of short holes. Short being defined as less then 150ft. Mind you these where fairly technical holes. Though if you don't hit your line, you will end up with a three or worse.

Course flow can be pretty rough. It is not obvious where the next tee is going to be. The baskets themselves are numbered which helps. Tee signs and some markers near the baskets pointing to next tee will resolve this rather quickly. Most likely they are already on their way. Make a copy of the course map and use it.

According to my Fitbit I traveled up and down 30 flights of stairs during this round. There is a LOT of hill climbing. Some people may have an issue with this, but to get those awesome views and top of the world shots, you got to get there somehow.

Trails still are not well defined and areas can be very rough. There are several places that this time of year you will be jumping over the run off streams in the valleys. Again, it's still a new course and once trails are established this will be less to no issue at all.

I saw a lot of sticker plants that have not turned into a real problem yet, but come summer they will.

Stoney Gorge can get pretty warm in the Summer. Please bring plenty of water. All that hill climbing with out liquids would be bad.

The area is also known for a large rattle snake population. Please keep your eye's, ears, and mind open. See all those ground squirrels making giant holes in the course? Yeah. rattlesnakes eat those. Let them eat.

A couple of holes do get a little close to each other. Though precautions are being taken to resolve that. There is some fencing up on hole 5's tee to protect people from teeing off from errant throws on 15.

Stoney Gorge itself is a fairly out of the way location. Travel time can be a consideration.

Other Thoughts:

For me, this course was a lot of fun. The holes where varied. The shots are mostly tight and technical and consequences can be painful. There is a lot of hiking to get around, but for some of the more scenic holes that's what you have to do.

I am really looking forward to playing this course again in the future. I want to see what it looks like after it get a little more beat in.
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