Cypress, TX

Texas Army Trail DGC

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3.695(based on 21 reviews)
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20 0
HyooMac
Diamond level trusted reviewer
Experience: 7.3 years 447 played 414 reviews
3.50 star(s)

Wooded course in Houston

Reviewed: Played on:Oct 25, 2022 Played the course:once

Pros:

+ Good concrete tees (although erosion has made "step up" necessary for long runups). Brand new baskets



+ Tee signs include a feature I haven't seen before: in addition to the hole map, there's a small photo inset showing the view of the approach to the green. The drawn map has a camera icon on it, showing where the picture was taken from. This is a really handy feature for doglegs and longer holes


+ Overall good mix of left-to-right and right-to-left holes, and the total layout includes some very good holes with enjoyable challenges


+ Midway through the round, there's a run of very good long holes (#9 - #11) that are also scorable if you keep it in the fairway. They come as a good change of pace from all the par 3's - and the holes that follow are some of the best on the course:


+ Hole #12 has a tight alley over a small gully off the tee, and then turns left to find the basket placed down below fairway level, hiding in that same gulley you just crossed


+ Hole #13 is probably the "signature hole" (at least the most photographed): a short par 3 with a steep slope down to the creek and a narrow slot to hit on the far bank. A bad tree kick and you're wet


+ Hole #17 is a long arcing left-to-right with a very narrow fairway (it's a trail that drops off steeply on both sides). The hard packed land makes groundplay a consideration throughout much of the course - and on this hole, an errant skip will put you off into the woods. If you have a RH turnover, you'll be really happy to use it on this hole


+ Hole #18 is a 245' choice: RHFH out over the creek for much of the length, or RHBH through a tight screen of trees that will probably stop you 100' off the tee. If you have a reliable 250' forehand (you need a lot of room out over the creek to clear the trees along the bank), this is a wonderful challenging closing hole. But if you don't have that length, you're left with a "poke and hope" backhand




Cons:

- The first four holes traverse a huge open field. They provide easy birdie opportunities and give you a chance to just throw wild. They are so bland and out of character with the rest of the course that you will probably have forgotten about them when you finish your round


- Missing tee signs on almost half the holes, and the signs that remain indicate multiple tees that don't exist. The middle and short tees may have been planned, but never installed. No clearings, no small flags in the dirt - nothing. You're playing the back tees whether you planned to or not


- A few tees have really steep drop offs right in front of them. Will be dangerous on wet days or if you really like to plant at the very front of a tee


Other Thoughts:

~ Navigation is generally intuitive, except for a "choke point" where the outbound and inbound holes intersect. Pictures indicate there used to be a tall sign with arrows indicating which path to take, but it's seen better days - and you might take a few wrong turns


~ The new baskets stand out in a course that feels generally neglected - maybe that's a hopeful sign for future efforts. But even if nothing more happens to improve it, the course is well worth playing in its current condition. Once you get past those opening holes, the course is full of challenges and thoughtfully designed holes, with thick woods that are unusual for Texas disc golf. And there's the added benefit of being sheltered from the Texas wind!



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15 2
kevdiv48
Silver level trusted reviewer
Experience: 18 years 268 played 30 reviews
3.50 star(s)

True Wooded Golf in H Town 2+ years

Reviewed: Played on:Mar 15, 2022 Played the course:5+ times

Pros:

Best wooded golf in Houston including 3-4 holes that require multiple well placed shots to score well.
Brand new bright orange Mach VII's. Grippy concrete pads. Tee signs on each hole. Course map and two practice baskets at start.
Well carved wooded fairways offering left, right and up & down shaped lines, including multiple true par 4's. Alternate pin positions on the majority of holes that are changed regularly.

Cons:

Opening 4 holes play across a flood plain and are the weakest of the course. The offer little more than a way to include disc throwing in your walk from the parking lot to the wooded holes.
Short tee pads; coupled with a few that are off a few crucial degrees there are some unnecessarily difficult tee shots.
Course flow in the middle holes with back to back to back par 4's. Likely the best that could be done with the land but consecutive grueling holes is not a good course flow.

Other Thoughts:

Texas Army Trail DGC is the pinnacle of wooded golf in Houston. It offers challenging but fair wooded lines that have been well worn in the course's 10-plus year lifespan.
A couple cons are noteworthy enough to cap the course at 3.5. Overall it does a lot of things right and I recommend giving the course a visit, especially since the offering of wooded (& good) golf in the Houston area is limited.
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11 0
MikeTorre
Experience: 12.4 years 80 played 23 reviews
4.00 star(s)

Pretty unique technical course 2+ years drive by

Reviewed: Played on:Jan 19, 2020 Played the course:5+ times

Pros:

Unique feel -> this mostly technical 18 hole course is located in a beautiful and rugged forested wetland along a historic creek made famous by the sh*t kicking Texas army in 1836

Great design -> after starting with some nice open holes zig zagging across a field, players descend into the forest wetland playing along densely forested fairways on sandy creek beds

Fun & free -> most amateurs and competitors will enjoy this course, which is open to the public and features a course map sign, great long tee pads, tee signs, and a warm up basket

Length & variety -> inventive mix of hole lengths (200s, 300s, 400s, 500s) plus long and short positions (but only long pads) make this course challenging but fun for most disc golfers

Cons:

Water hazards -> while integral to the experience and stunning, I find the murky water hazard of the large creek intimidating (apparently, the locals do not...)

Tight fairways -> a lot of fun to play, but if you don't like tight forested fairways that can punish you for errant drives, play elsewhere

Long pads only -> the short positions don't have pads, which could compel inexperienced players to throw long instead and maybe not have as much fun

Snakes -> this is one of those courses in Houston where you see a sign warning of venomous snakes. I try to watch where I step/reach when recovering discs from the rough.

Other Thoughts:

Signature details, like a nice elevated basket, all help lend to the feel of one of prettier courses in greater Houston.

Parking available at Bud Hadfield park - look for the course sign.
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12 0
blake833
Gold level trusted reviewer
Experience: 14.5 years 161 played 142 reviews
3.00 star(s)

It's tough, don't let it get to you 2+ years

Reviewed: Played on:Jun 21, 2018 Played the course:once

Pros:

It's pretty obvious how much effort has been put into this course when you're walking down the wide fairways carved into the forest, throw a variety of shots on many diverse holes, and looks from the tee.

Tees are concrete, but also a bit short, especially on the first holes. You can start your run up behind them, or throw next to them, if it's not too muddy. The first holes also span a drainage basin though, so if it's rained recently you may want to wait or wear shoes you don't mind getting wet.

I feel like the best feature of this course is that there really aren't any other wooded courses in the Houston area. You can go up to Spring Valley, or even farther to Shawshank, but those tight and technical, PUNISHING roughs, are right here at TAT.

(and other typical considerations: navigation is easy, beauty isn't bad, risk of losing a disc is low except for a few holes)

Cons:

This course is grueling, and because there are just a lot holes where to make it far down the fairway you have to hit some crazy tough lines. Play for par. Don't go for birdie unless you can see the basket, which will be few times.

On the tee signs, there are multiple tees depicted, and in reality, there is always only one tee. That's pretty frustrating because multiple tees would definitely help this course.

Some holes have long and short pin positions, and when I played they were mixed. A hole in the long, then the short, then the long, then the short, and I couldn't figure out why they don't just move them all in one or the other.

My biggest ish with this course is just how long it feels. There's a stretch of several loooong par 4s in the middle, all in a row, that just kill your energy if you end up in the woods at all. It would be nice to have the par 4s spread out a bit so you can recover some of your game.

Other Thoughts:

I played this course in what had to be the most miserable conditions- inCREDibly humid, muddy, standing water on most fairways (but the miracle is I NEVER landed in it!), and sweltering heat. But despite how miserable summer Houston was, I could see myself really enjoying this course in the fall, or early spring, when its cool and the brush is thinner.

This is one of those staple Houston courses. It was nice seeing the videos of this course for the Texas State Championships, because it gave me hope that even the pros have some issues. This is a good course, and I maybe it's just overgrown a little into a bad course, but overall it's worth a stop. Bring your water, don't get discouraged, and you can do it!
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14 1
The Valkyrie Kid
Diamond level trusted reviewer
Experience: 46.4 years 1562 played 1507 reviews
3.00 star(s)

Mostly Technical Course an Anomaly Around These Parts! 2+ years drive by

Reviewed: Updated: Played on:Sep 24, 2017 Played the course:once

Pros:

The Texas Army Trail DGC has been carved out of some thick, Texas foliage. Many volunteer hours were spent cutting and shaping fairways where there was once only jungle. Many trees were lost a couple of years ago due to a prolonged drought. Trees larger than 4" around can not be cut down due to environmental restrictions. The last 14 holes could all be considered technical. The county has been inconsistent in their support of this course. They placed restrictions on what volunteers could accomplish but then out of the blue, they construct a nice large parking lot.

There is a practice basket at the start. There's also a snake warning sign warning you about cottonmouths, coral and copperheads. What, no cobras? The tee pads are nicely sized concrete ones and the baskets are Mach V's. There is currently one cool elevated basket sitting a cement base. The other firmer raised basket on # 7 is currently one foot high. My local guides, Tom and Fred, assured me that this basket would quickly be raised to a normal height.

Holes 1 & 2 play back and forth over the large drainage basins. I found them to be fun throwing from up on the ridge. Starting with # 5, the course moves into the woods and become tighter and more technical. I guess by Texas standards, this is considered very technical. I think you always have a fair route to play through. Some of these routes are tighter than others. One thing that seems to be a constant here, is the rough is very forgiving. As per my usual, I spent much of my time four wheeling my way through the rough and I was almost always able to get a decent look at the basket.

Three holes stood out to me. They were all three the riskier holes on the course and normally I hate these types of holes. # 13 is just 198' but you have to hit the window or risk having your disc sink into the creek. # 14 then has you throwing from an elevated pad and having to annie around a big sweeping fairway to the basket 312' down there somewhere. And I think, # 18, is an excellent example of a true Rusk/Reward hole. It's 252' with a safe hyser throw mostly ending in a par. Or you can take the risky route which involves throwing an anhyser shot around some branches, over the creek and hopefully, be rewarded with a birdie. An additional problem here is the recent flooding took out about 10' of embankment, leaving you even less margin of error. I really like the fact that you, Mr. Disc Golfer, are making this decision.

Cons:

I wasn't impressed with the tee signs. By the way, there is no sign on # 1. The other signs all show three pads, The short Reds, the medium Whites and the longer Blues, each with varying distances depending on whether the baskets were in the short or long positions. But I never saw any other tee pads and when I inquired with my two, very knowledgeable locals, they couldn't tell me with any degree of certainty the distance.

The rough is mostly thick by Texas standards and not very forgiving having lots of vine like things hanging down all over.

No where for big arms to let em rip. I think, the course's longest holes is # 9 at just over 400'.

C snake warning sign disturbing to us players not used to being around real poisonous C snakes.

Evidence of recent flood seen over all parts of the course. I'm sure the course has shown better before flooding.

Other Thoughts:

Note to Texas players: This course would be considered the norm in many other parts of the country. States getting a lot of moisture, like Oregon and Washington, feature courses that make the Texas Army Trail DGC seem.........I think fair is the word I would use. We see courses where there doesn't appear to be any fair route to the basket.

I liked this course. It's a course where accuracy is more important than distance. I didn't say this course was my kind of course, I suck at any course where you need to throw straight. Texas Army Trail kicked my butt, big time, but I did welcome the challenge even though I mostly failed miserably. I think other players may enjoy having their lunch handed to them here.
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9 3
Pizza God
Diamond level trusted reviewer
Premium Member
Experience: 36.6 years 1888 played 637 reviews
4.00 star(s)

Decent course with defined fairways 2+ years

Reviewed: Played on:Jan 4, 2017 Played the course:once

Pros:

Tee pads on all the holes
Tee signs on all but hole #1
Several holes have 2 pin placements
Good arraignment of holes in distance and left to right.
Makes use of the small elevation in the park.
Several holes are two shot holes forced by the rough

Cons:

First few holes are pretty wide open with the basket tucked into the woods. Actually kind of boring compared to the rest of the course.
Hole 18 is a crap shoot, only hole without a defined fairway and is a throw and pray you don't hit a tree shot.

Other Thoughts:

This is a good course despite the slow start and horrible ending hole.

First 4 hole are all wide open fairways across a flood pond with the basket tucked into the woods.

Then you get back into the woods where you have defined fairways and rough that you DO NOT want to be in.

Several holes should be played by throwing to the turn, then throwing your up shot. The risk reward is not worth it, you miss the fairway, your looking at a 4 or higher score on the hole.

Two of the holes have baskets that are raised, one on a tree stump and another on a cement poll.

Hole 18 is a throw and pray shot, either if you throw the safer hyzer shot, or if you throw the risky anhyzer shot over the river (it was a river today with the recent rains) The problem I have with this hole is there is a row of trees protecting the basket on the creek banks, I got lucky and missed them landing behind the basket. But if I had hit one of the trees, good chance that disc would have been gone. The hyzer shot does not have a defined fairway, you just have to throw and hope you don't hit anything. This is for a 3 as the hyzer fairway does not give you much for a birdie shot.
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2 9
DeadEye
Experience: 43 played 11 reviews
3.00 star(s)

Been a While 2+ years drive by

Reviewed: Played on:Feb 22, 2015 Played the course:once

Pros:

Fun course. Good teepads. Variety of shots. Haven't played it in a while so I can't remember too much about it, but I did really enjoy it. First few shots are wide open and it lets you warm up, and it gets progressively more and more fun.

Cons:

Signage was decent but not amazing.
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4 7
JerryChesterson
Bronze level trusted reviewer
Experience: 30.2 years 186 played 42 reviews
4.00 star(s)

Great Course, Requires Shot Making 2+ years drive by

Reviewed: Played on:Nov 12, 2014 Played the course:once

Pros:

Easy to navigate
Lots of shot variation
Benches
Great singage
Great Baskets

Cons:

There really wasn't anything not to like about this course

Other Thoughts:

I gear my ratings for someone traveling through or in the area trying to find out which courses to play.

If you are passing through, play this course.
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20 1
GT Chris
Experience: 19.3 years 101 played 12 reviews
4.00 star(s)

Great Technical Course 2+ years drive by

Reviewed: Updated: Played on:Jul 19, 2014 Played the course:once

Pros:

The basic items check out. There are cement tees, DGA Mach V baskets, good signage, and some benches. I hardly noticed them, in that I never had to worry about footing, putting style, etc. This is a good thing, because it frees up your mind to think about the course itself.

I loved the course itself. I played the long tees and as a blue level player I felt challenged without being overwhelmed. The first four holes were mostly open, although the first three still required good placement to access a protected pin placement. The rest of the holes were in the woods, and offered a stern test of shot shaping and execution. Every hole had a well-defined fairway with valid routes. There were also some true par fours on the course, with well-defined landing zones.

One note on those wooded holes. Many holes only offered a single route, but from hole to hole the routes were different. One hole would force a straight shot, the next might force a slight left-to-right shot, and the one after a hard right-to-left shot. While this does limit creativity, it also limits the ability to find a hyzer line off of every tee. Instead you are forced to throw different shot shapes on demand.

The last thing I should mention is the tee signs. These were some of the most useful I have ever seen. As a traveling player playing the course blind, I had next to no trouble navigating the course and finding baskets. In particular, these signs included an aerial diagram of the hole. In addition to showing tees and pin placements, there was also a little camera symbol at some point in the fairway. Then at the bottom of each sign was a photo taken from that symbol and looking towards basket. Essentially, they show right on the tee sign what you would see if you walked up the fairway to look at the green. I had never seen this before, and thought it was fantastic.

Cons:

My biggest con was the lack of multiple tees. Each sign had shorter tees marked, but they were natural tees and not even marked on the course. I don't know if they will be installed in the future, but given the difficulty of the long pads, shorter pads would be a wonderful complement to this course.

I felt that the hole distances lacked variety. I threw a driver off of the tee on 16/18 holes, and the two holes on which I threw a midrange came back to back. I'd have liked to see one of two more shorter holes, and with better spacing in between.

Also, I imagine it is really easy to lose a disc or two in the thick rough if you are not careful. The fairways were fair, but the rough sure was rough. Keep a close eye on any errant shots.

Other Thoughts:

I should note that this is a course who's reputation preceded it. I spent my first 7 years in disc golf playing around the Southeast, in general playing more heavily wooded and technical courses. After moving to the relatively open spaces of Texas and commenting on how much I miss technical courses, Texas Army Trail was invariably brought up as a course in Texas I needed to play.

I was not disappointed. This course reminded me of Jack McClean park in Tallahassee, Florida, which is another long, wooded course that I really enjoyed. After the round, I met one of the locals who was partly responsible for upkeep of the course. After playing through the course, I could tell that someone (likely many someones) had put a great deal of time and effort into the course. It was great to talk to him and have the opportunity to thank him for all his work. If you have a chance to play this course, I highly recommend it.
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18 0
Texconsinite
Gold level trusted reviewer
Experience: 16.8 years 138 played 79 reviews
3.50 star(s)

Too Much of a Good Thing? 2+ years drive by

Reviewed: Played on:Nov 16, 2013 Played the course:once

Pros:

My initial impression of this course, seeing the first few holes in the field, was hoping that the whole course wasn't just wide open.
Be careful what you wish for.
This course has a nice concrete long tee on each hole, and a nice sign with distance to both basket positions. Also, each sign has something I've never seen before on a course. A picture of basket on the bottom right of each sign, with a camera logo on each hole map to show the view the picture was taken from. This really helps with the MANY blind shots on this course, and saves first-time players like me the trouble of having to scout out every hole. Kudos to designers for that

This course offers a ton of variety: Some more open holes to warm up, then woods, woods and more woods, with water lurking in spots.
The course design really makes good use of what's there. The first few holes that play through the open field make good use of late trouble, at least in the long baskets.
On the field holes, just because of the terrain available, the short baskets are pretty open, but the long basket spots are really tucked into the woods with some interesting challenges on every one.
Also, the small trees planted in the field will grow into interesting, fairly wide fairways given a few more years, which will make the short baskets less of a drop-off from the tricky long placements

This course, from the current concrete tees, is probably the hardest course I have played in the Houston area so far. The course does not favor right or left-handed throwers, either way you will have to make shots that are difficult for you. Accuracy is rewarded here, the shule is thick, so staying on the fairways is key to shooting well on this course, as well as throwing far.
Many holes are blind throws off the tee, which only adds more challenge
On top of the long blind fairways. This course does a great job of throwing late trouble at you. Wherever possible, they have tucked the baskets amongst guardian trees, making precise approaches as important as accurate drives. This course does not give you an easy way out. You will need multiple good to great shots on each hole to shoot well.
Though the fairways are fairly narrow, they are very clean and intentional. The rough here is thick and punishing, but there is always a line if you stay on the fairway, so it again rewards accuracy, as a well-designed course should. There are not pro-spike hyzer routes on these holes, the thick foliage does a great job keeping big arms honest, and thus when I call this a championship course, I mean that it is a challenge no matter how far you can rip it. Most courses this length are significantly less wooded, but I prefer courses like this that force accuracy
This course also uses water for two memorable holes, where you must throw a right curve over the river/bayou/creek thing off the tee to carry the water. The designers mercifully made these two among the shortest holes on the course, allowing for birdie opportunities for those who make the scary shot.
Also, some elevation comes into play on this course. The designers have put baskets on these inclines where possible to create rollaway and high-risk putts, also a nice challenge on the course.

This course has great Par markings, all the holes that are marked par 4's are legitimate multi-drive holes, with the basket in either setting. This also adds to the challenge, since it allows this course to stretch you even more than all the long par 3's do.
Overall, this is a championship difficulty course that will test your skills and will force you to earn par. There are no throwaway holes here, every one has forces you to think and almost all are quite challenging, but very intentionally so. This course is hard, by design, and uses the limited elevation and water very well, in combination with the thick woods these fairways are carved out of

Cons:

Did I mention that this course is very difficult and long? It is very tough to get pars out here, and ace runs are not part of the picture.
Its tough because you have to throw straight or avoid shanking into thick shule that's hard to even tomahawk over once youre in it, but the fairways are all blind and curve, so you need to hit precise lines around blind curves or be punished

The course has no bathrooms, which is annoying because it takes awhile to play. The arrows pointing to the next tee are well-placed, but they are only laminated paper and starting to fall apart from rain. They are much needed for navigating the course, and should be replaced with something more permanent. I was able to navigate course, but we did see several groups wandering around lost after they played the first few holes in the field.
This course was very intentionally designed. Many courses will have early or late trouble, this course kinda throws it all at you. In many cases, you throw several good drives to get around the blind curves, and when you get up to the basket, it is tucked deep amongst thick trees. Sometimes it just felt like too much. The short basket placements are all difficult and well protected, and the long ones are all significantly harder. I found myself wondering why they needed a longer basket spot in many cases, since the shorter one is already quite challenging. This speaks to my level of play, but also the length and challenge of this course.
When I looked this course up online, I thought wow the long tees look tough, but the multiple tees on every hole shown in tee signs will be great for my wife (not a distance thrower) so she can play from the short tees and have fun on this course, and I can play from mediums since its my first time here.
The only tees are the longs, which are tough even for me. My wife did not like the course much, because she doesn't have enough distance to par most of these. I love the design and layout, but you could have quicker rounds from the medium tees and it would still be quite challenging. Some longer courses have a nice mix of short, birdie opportunities mixed in. This one feels like its set up for a PDGA tournament length.
The tee maps have the medium and short tees marked, and distances for them, but walking the course, I was struck that there are no pads, or any kind of marking for the other tees whatsoever. Not even a post in the dirt. I could tell kindof where the other tees would go. It even seems like the trees are cleared off and the ground is leveled out in spots that seem to match up with where the map says they should be.
Walking up to those areas, I got very excited, imagining the shots from these spots. The shorter tees really do change the holes, not just subtracting distance, but also taking the first blind curve out of many fairways. Because of the way this course is designed, the medium and short tees would still be very interesting on almost every hole. Many of them would still be blind shots, and the well-protected baskets remain hard to park in either case. The pars wouldn't even need to be changed, presuming that for someone throwing from the shorts (my wife), 350 ft of tight tree tunnel is still a tough 4.
The short tees would have many midrange shots off the tee for a player like myself, and quite a few ace runs, but it still forces accuracy.
My point is this. I was ok playing the long tees, but I would LOVE to play this course form the mediums, and I think newer players or more finesse players would really enjoy playing from the shorts. Right now, this course appeals to the advanced players, but dang its hard. Just putting a colored stake in the ground and having dirt tees would make a big difference, and make this course way more fun for me, and fun for players like my wife. The holes still look challenging from the middle tees, and it would make the course play like 36 holes.
I say this with a big asterisk, because this course hasn't been very long, but I look forward to the day the curators stick some posts in the ground and at least mark the other pads. I will gladly rate this course higher once this has changed. I really wanted to like this course more, but the tee signs kept reminding me of what the holes could've been.

Other Thoughts:

I enjoyed this course, and I understand why you would put in the longest tees first:
-You can have tournaments right away and challenge the best players
-Once you have the land for the long holes approved by parks dept, it makes sense to get them in so that whole area is now DG designated
Its way easier to just put up the shorter tees afterward, once the long fairways are already clear and the holes are figured out.
This course has some interesting holes, I just think that for most golfers, these holes would be more fun from the shorter tees, instead of SO hard like it is now

Most courses don't have the space to put 3 tees on each hole. This is an awesome feature, and this will play like 3 different courses with the 3 sets of tees in. Even if the other 2 are dirt, I think many golfers will choose to play from mediums if there is just a colored post there

I'm sure this will be added in coming years,and I look forward to coming back and checking it out

BRING WATER AND BUG SPRAY, its a long round full of skeeters otherwise
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8 0
bogeymanjr
Bronze level trusted reviewer
Experience: 13.3 years 35 played 24 reviews
3.50 star(s)

Not Easy To Maintain Par 2+ years drive by

Reviewed: Played on:Jun 13, 2013 Played the course:5+ times

Pros:

This course has every possible difficulty that a disc golfer could think of encountering on any one course. There are quite a variety of holes here. From open and easy to tight and restricting due to many trees in some fairways. I have always appreciated a good challenge and this course has it. Very difficult to stay on par due to elevated basket or tough curving fairways. A disc golfer is challenged to throw the straightest shot they can throw or risk fading off into some unforgiving brush. I have played my share of these type of courses and have found them to keep me on my toes, so to speak. My favorite hole here is 13 with its throw over a mini gorge bordering Cypress Creek. A throw must have enough hyzer on it to get it over the opposite gorge wall and through an opening between two trees with brush on either side. The distance is only 199 feet to the basket and I have deuced this hole twice. This course is such with the level of difficulty that I feel it ranks up there with some of the better courses in the Austin area. It also proves that holes do not have to be particularly long to be tough or challenging.

Cons:

There are no restrooms here but there are plenty of trash cans and places to sit at almost every tee. Lots of brush to deal with and plenty of trees in the woody part of the course. I see alternate tees on the signs but I do not see them marked anywhere on the course, so I guess that is best guess as to the exactness as to their location.

Other Thoughts:

My recommendation for this course if you want to score well: bring your straightest throwing discs. I have done well with my JLS, Viking, and Avenger SS. A floating disc is not necessarily needed unless a throw is made off of hole 18 over the creek. This is a well-maintained good course and definitely a worthy challenge.
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11 0
Frasier
Experience: 7 played 2 reviews
3.50 star(s)

Maybe Too Unforgiving 2+ years drive by

Reviewed: Played on:Feb 15, 2013 Played the course:once

Pros:

One of the good things about this course is that it is well maintained. The tee boxes are all cement, and the baskets are, if not pristine, at least functional. The course is also well marked with signs at the beginning of every hole and directions between many of the holes. The directions were particularly useful in the heavily forested section where I would have been completely lost, but even on my first time playing the course I was never confused about where to go.

The course layout itself is interesting and varied. The course includes doglegs in both directions, long straight holes, and short approach and putt holes. Every hole is like an interesting new puzzle that must be solved.

Cons:

The most notable aspect of this course which I have not mentioned yet is the incredible difficulty. The first four holes are open, but after that every hole winds through thick forest and is constrained to incredibly narrow fairways. By the second nine I was relieved to see that any fairway was ten meters wide, because they were often much narrower. I consider myself an experienced player but I often double or triple bogeyed after bouncing back and forth between the brush on each side of the fairway.

This difficulty would have been one of the the courses greatest strengths except that the difficulty often seemed unfair and frustrating rather than fun. Often many trees were located in already narrow fairways which made strategies and skill irrelevant. Hitting or missing the trees was simply a matter of luck. Also several of the holes are elevated a meter off the ground which makes putting consistently much harder.

Other Thoughts:

This course is very good due to its good maintenance and interesting variety, but the frustration prevents this course from being excellent. If some of the random aspects of this course are reduced then it could be one of the best in the Houston area. Ultimately if you enjoy a difficult course this is definitely worth a try.
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9 12
BradleyWilliams
Experience: 18.4 years 180 played 2 reviews
3.00 star(s)

2+ years drive by

Reviewed: Played on:Feb 5, 2013 Played the course:once

Pros:

First few holes are open which allow you to warm up your game.

Controlled flights are demanded on the rest of this course.

Cons:

I didn't see any ice cream trucks or topless women riding bareback on horses.

Other Thoughts:

Course could use more of the former.
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14 3
JR Stengele
Diamond level trusted reviewer
Experience: 24.5 years 255 played 191 reviews
4.00 star(s)

Texas Army Trail DGC 2+ years

Reviewed: Updated: Played on:Sep 25, 2012 Played the course:once

Pros:

Texas Army Trail DGC was established in 2011 by Telge Disc Golf, Inc. at Bud Hadfield Park in Cypress, Texas. This moderately hilly and heavily wooded 18 hole disc golf course is a prime example of a professional course which requires both distance and accuracy to score well. With the exception of the first four holes, the entire course plays through extremely dense foliage with tight and unforgiving fairways that often times punishes shots that are off target. Most holes on the course provide multiple routes to the basket even though the fairway still requires shots to eventually dogleg left or right.

The Mach V baskets are durable and strategically placed, with many heavily guarded and even occasionally elevated on the top of tree stumps. Holes range in distance from 192-568 feet with two par 4's, making par for the course 56. Holes 13-18 play along a river but realistically, only holes 13 and 18 have water that come in to play. Holes 1-4 and 16-18 have alternate pin positions, which is great for locals who look for variation, and a practice basket was installed near hole one to get players dialed in before a round.

Cement tee pads and colorful metal signs were installed fairly recently throughout the course helping with navigation on each hole, making things much easier for those unfamiliar with the course. However, printing off a map is still a very good idea as there were a few spots where the map came in handy. Overall, the designers did an amazing job making a challenging course, testing players both mentally and physically. I was very impressed!

Cons:

Coming from the Pacific Northwest where we have very few poisonous creatures lurking in the shadows, seeing a massive sign when first entered the park telling me to beware of Cottonmouth, Coral and Rattle snakes was a bit alarming. This had less to do with the course and more to do with the geographic location of course but was still a bit unsettling. My cousin tried to make me feel better however by telling me that the other two courses we previously played that day had the same issue but just didn't have an amazing sign to inform us about it. That helped, but not much.

As for the course itself, and as others have mentioned before, it would be nice to eventually see some of the old rusting appliances removed from the back nine. It is amazing to me that a stove could find itself clear across the course with no real way of getting there. I am guessing there was either a major flood or some moron decided to try and cook a brisket between holes. Either way, it is an eyesore.

Last, there were a few holes on the course where some of the dense foliage off the fairways could be cleaned up. Although almost every fairway is well maintained, once off the fairway it is another story. Some of the roughs resembled the Belizean jungle more than the Houston suburbs. Believe me, I've been there!

Other Thoughts:

With family living in Cypress, I have the pleasure to visit the Houston area every so often and because of this, I have had the chance to play a few of the local courses. Of the courses I have played so far however, this one is my favorite! It reminds me a lot of SeaTac, one of my home courses in Seattle, WA, which is by far the hardest course in the state. It too has extremely long and tight fairways that reward accuracy and precision shooting over raw power and distance. Those who come looking to throw a high speed driver will be very disappointed once entering the woods as midrange and fairway drivers are king! I look forward to the next time I have the chance to play this diamond in the rough as it truly was a memorable experience.
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7 3
c_a_miller
Diamond level trusted reviewer
Experience: 12.5 years 299 played 209 reviews
4.50 star(s)

2+ years drive by

Reviewed: Played on:Sep 20, 2012 Played the course:5+ times

Pros:

-This is what disc golf is all about. A practice basket, cement tee pads, nice baskets, great tee signs just scratch the surface of what this course has to offer.

- The first few shots are your typical shorter, no obstacle shots that most Houston players are used to playing. But once you get to #5 the easy part is long gone. Each hole has a different approach to dogleg lefts to dogleg rights, every tee shot is different.

If you are one that enjoys scenic walks through nature, it does not get much better then this. There are a few long walks in between holes but you are walking through a very scenic forest that feels very peaceful.

There is a little bit of elevation. In Houston, that is really all you can ask for is just a bit.

There are benches, trash cans, and brooms for sweeping off the tee pads at almost every hole.

There are legitimate par 4's. 500' with an S-curve through the woods is a lot more exciting then 600' bomb in the open.

Cons:

There is some old chairs and other appliances in the middle of a few fairways that sort of make the course look a bit trashy.

There are no bathrooms or water on the course so pack lots of water to fight the Texas heat.

Other Thoughts:

This really is the prime destination in Houston. Combine this with Windwood and you have yourself a good duo up in northwest Houston. This is not a place to bring beginners as they will get frustrated easily, but even for the most expedienced players this will be a course to test your skill and your wit.

If you are in the Houston area this is an absolute must play.
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3 4
Eluwak5447
Experience: 15.4 years 63 played 2 reviews
3.50 star(s)

Control freak 2+ years drive by

Reviewed: Played on:Sep 16, 2012 Played the course:once

Pros:

This course has the opportunity to be a gem. The concrete tee pads are nice as are the seats and or benches at every hole. The last throw over the creek is very memorable.

Cons:

The course was litered with old appliances rusting in the woods. I saw a fridge and a oven. Why hasn't this been cleaned? Also the white and red tees need to be marked better than using some flags that can blow way or get knocked down. We had a tough time finding the shorts.

Other Thoughts:

This course is tough but rewarding when you put that perfect touch on your disc to fly around each tree and bird a 300+ shot in the shire. Check it out, you'll only want to play it again.
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18 7
jimjohnmarks
Experience: 15 played 15 reviews
3.00 star(s)

Increasingly Disappointing 2+ years drive by

Reviewed: Updated: Played on:Dec 29, 2020 Played the course:5+ times

Pros:

The only course I know of in/near Harris County that gives you the slightest sense of what it is like to play this game outside of the state of Texas. It isn't all 500'+ RHBH flip hyzer bombs.

Unlike quite a few years ago, the fairways are no longer lined with walls of debris and logs and whatever else was removed to clear the fairways. You can still lose a disc, especially if you're playing alone, as many links are completely blind for much of their length, but it isn't a 100% you'll lose a disc every time you play (it was in 2012 or 2013).

Because of the layout you are rarely overlapping with people playing another hole (unlike, say, Agnes Moffit). This makes it easy to play through.

Holes 1-6 are kind of a set "up front" and then 8-15 are a loop with 13-18 going back to the parking lot. If one section is really crowded you can easily work your way back somewhere which isn't and replay those holes to ensure you always keep moving.

Cons:

The signs are more trouble than they are worth. They were made before the course was completely installed and there were obviously plans for multiple tee pads which never happened. Unfortunately, the pads which do exist aren't the short tees on the signs, they're the white tees (except where they're the blue tees).

Some of the longest, most blind holes have no sign at all.

There's no indication on the sign which basket location is in play which in some cases completely changes your shot.

So basically you're guessing at distances and disc selection until you memorize the course -- which is what you'd be doing if there were no signs at all.

Other Thoughts:

At least it isn't treated as an "all holes par 3" like so many courses around here.
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7 3
coyotepower
Experience: 19.2 years 87 played 34 reviews
4.50 star(s)

Wowwy Wow Wow 2+ years drive by

Reviewed: Played on:Jan 12, 2012 Played the course:2-4 times

Pros:

Holes 1-4 are wide open so get your birdies early. Love the baskets up high, utilizing tree stumps on 5 and 7. Holes 5-11 play through some tight alleys with plenty of trees to obstruct. They are all well designed but OH so very tight! Hole 11 has an awesome ending down into a gully. Hole 12 is across a small stream and is one of the few birdie holes (my only one!) #13 is 190ft with a river to the left. If you miss trees then you will play well. If you seem to always find wood, it makes for a long day. Hole 18 is one of the best in Houston.

Cons:

Very few Cons actually. A few dead trees and vines that need to come down still. Other than that, just spectacular. Figure 2.5 hrs for a twosome.

Other Thoughts:

I loved this course. Played it Monday in the drizzle and was so impressed, I had to play it today (Thursday) in the sunshine just to get a TRUE feel for it. The course is a tad long for those who love ace runs, but its an incredible journey through the woods. This course will someday be one of the Crown Jewels of the Houston Disc Golf scene.
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20 3
srm_520
Diamond level trusted reviewer
Experience: 20.6 years 156 played 142 reviews
4.00 star(s)

Congrats Army Trail - I'm Impressed! 2+ years drive by

Reviewed: Updated: Played on:Sep 29, 2011 Played the course:2-4 times

Pros:

You have to love the design here. There are plenty of anhyzers and hyzers to keep any arm style happy and challenged. The trees are big and the lines are unforgiving, and by Houston standards - this becomes instantly epic. Even the first four open holes manage keep the pins tucked back in the long positions. Also, one cool little touch is the crossroads sign in the woods pointing holes areas as well as distances to other nearby courses.

Some holes have two pin position options and was in the long positions when we played. This was great because it was amazing just how different the hole became with another fifty feet. There are handmade wooden benches on many holes, and the paths are mulched and easy to follow if you pay attention. Holes 5-11 are killer, and making a three is reason to celebrate. A few of the pins are even raised up on cut trees giving the putter something to think about.

Holes 16-18 are gorgeous and treacherous with the creek running along the left side mixed with subtle undulating terrain. Hole 18 is fantastic as it makes you pick your line. Do you make the big throw over the drink to have a shot at bird, or play it safe along the path in hopes of saving par? I always love a course where the round isn't decided until the last putt.

Parks and rec. installed a huge parking lot area, there is practice basket near #1, and quality signage as well as concrete tees are in place.

Best Hole/s: #11; #13; #18

Cons:

People who frequent this site won't think of this as a negative, but this is not a course for beginners. Truly some lines border on fiancee to pinball shots. The winding lines and brutal length on holes 5-11 is enough to make any amateur throw up their hands and surrender, and this comes from someone who prefers the tight and wooded over an open power course.

Worst Hole: #3

Other Thoughts:

Texas Army Trail is ready to roll and with signage and concrete pads finally in - you can truly sit back and admire the work and effort that has taken place to make this course what it has become.

Design is king. In the world of Texas disc golf, Houston is low on the destination, but with a challenging designs that maximizes the terrain and foliage - that is starting to change. Along with Oak Meadows DGC and Windwood Presbyterian DGC, the northwest corner trio is now a real haven for the serious golfer. These courses will test your accuracy, length, and ability to improvise a shot on the fly. This certainly isn't the Anges Moffitt Park or Bear Branch Sportsfield Park type of Houston courses that I learned to play on, and finally gives new golfers the ability to improve on their game without making a trek to Austin.
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19 3
ERicJ
Diamond level trusted reviewer
Experience: 16.9 years 288 played 154 reviews
4.00 star(s)

Should get better over time 2+ years

Reviewed: Updated: Played on:Jul 2, 2011 Played the course:5+ times

Pros:

This course is a fantastic addition to the Houston disc golf landscape. It has bright, new, shiny MachV baskets. Most of the fairways are tight and force you to hit specific lines to be in position to make your next shot. Unlike many Houston courses bad drives here will be punished by a stroke or more. This is the type of course where driving with a midrange to stay in the fairway <span class="italic">might</span> be a better strategy than kicking a high speed driver off a tree deep into the woods. There are multiple pin positions on a few of the holes, most notably the first four: the easy ("A") positions are all out in the open, the "B" positions are tucked into the woods making for much tougher birdies. There's some minor elevation in play. Two RHBH anhyzer holes with the creek on the left add a good pucker factor to the course. Benches on some holes with more planned. Concrete tee boxes on every hole and excellent signage are great additions to this course.

Cons:

The course is still new and needs some breaking in and final clearing of fairways. No restrooms.

Other Thoughts:

Chuck and his work crew deserve huge props for making this labor of love come to life. Thousands and thousands of man hours have been poured into this course. "TAT" has become one of the top courses in Houston, consider it a destination course if you're coming in from out of town.
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