I recently started a disc golf business focussing mostly on disc golf course design, installation, and maintenance, but I will also be selling discs, baskets, etc and running some tourneys and leagues.
Check out my blog about all of my awesome experiences and stories of all the courses I have played in a short time in this awesome sport. Are you as addicted as me?
http://www.thediscgolfexperience.com
Well since I have seen a lot of people write their review criteria on this section of their profile I thought I would include mine.
The disc rating is a good place to start. Basically the disc rating is the measure of how likely I would be to return to this course (with the consideration that I was already in the area of the course). It is not necessarily how challenging the course is, it is not about how nice the course amenities are, it is not about how beginner friendly it is, nor is it about just the design of the course . . . it is about the likelihood that I will return. You can argue that the likeliness for me to return is about all of those things and that is somewhat true . . . but it is more about how much fun did I have. The amount of fun is hard to quantify but it is just a feeling you get from a course. A lot of times I can know that a course is going to be fun before I even tee off. Because I do think all of those things mentioned above can affect my level of fun they do need to be accounted for, and that is why there is a RATING and also a REVIEW. The review is the substance, the rating is simply my overall impression of the course and how likely I will be to return. This can be argued is not the same for courses that are far away as it is for courses that are near me. That is correct but as you can tell by my statistics I do not really discriminate against courses. If I am in the area I will play just about any course, there are only a few courses I have played that I absolutely would not go to again. If I was in the area of a course I rated a 1 but it was the only course I could get to and play because of time constraints I would still play it, but if I had a little more time and a little further drive to get to a 2.5 disc rated course I would likely do so.
Here are all of the other factors that go into my review and a brief explanation (if necessary):
Teepads (Condition and sustainability are imp.)
Tee Signage
Course Flow and other signage
How beginner friendly is the course (I will downgrade a course that is not beginner friendly unless it is specifically designed for pros only. A course like Winthrop Gold does not need to accomodate beginners, but it would be an added bonus to the course if it did.
Cleanliness (Trash cans, garbage on ground)
Turf and Trees (Health and condition are imp.)
I am a landscaper so it is hard for me to not downgrade a course with trees falling apart, Buckthorn and Poison Ivy. Proper pruning and maintenance should be considered.
Design of the course
Shot selection
Multiple shot holes (Single shot Par 3's are the standard for disc golf, but longer Par 4's and 5's with multiple shots are important.) Just a wide open 700' hole requiring 2-3 good shots to reach is not a good hole, I would rather play a 450' hole that had a sharp dogleg, or a tunnel you need to hit at some point.
Challenge (I like a challenge whenever I play but it also needs to be fair and executable for the average player)
Maintenance of the course
What are the locals like (if applicable . . . only really good or really bad people will be considered)
What is the neighborhood like (Again only really bad neighborhoods are worth mentioning)
Multiple shots allowed on holes (accomodating lefties and righties, or FH vs. BH throwers)
Properties I have played that are not listed on DGCR (some count as courses and some do not just like Practice areas on DGCR):
Western Lakes Golf Club, Pewaukee WI (Western Lakes Open March 2009) (18 Holes)
Riverside Park, Berlin WI Tourney 9 (9 Holes)
Private Course in Cambellsport, WI (10 Holes)
Burr Oak Groves Private Course in Markesan, WI (19 Holes)
O'Fallon Fields, Private course in Franksville, WI (18 holes)
Phantom Ranch Bible Camp in Mukwonago, WI (9 Holes)
The Roundhouse Farm (Now called Highzer Fields) in Watertown, WI (8 of 10 holes were set up)
A church in Medford, WI (9 holes)
A school in Spencer, WI (7 Holes)
School course in Wautoma, WI (6 holes)
A homemade basket (tires and bike wheels) course in West Allis, WI (5 holes)
A private camp course in Montello, WI (9 holes)
The Rock Sports Complex (15 Holes) My Second Temp course setup for a tournament and league the following day.
Temporary Course setup (9) in Virmond Park in Mequon.
Temporary Addition to Sussex Village Park for Pet-Jam 2015 (9)
Elm Grove Park (5)
Little Sweden Resort in Fish Creek (5)
Open Hearth Lodge in Sister Bay (1)
A Private School (GLS) in Oconomowoc (9)
A Private course in Mt. Horeb WI - (18)
Highbridge Hills Honka 9 - Highbridge WI (9)
Lakehawk (Lake Sumter State College) Leesburg FL (18)
My current top 100 Courses Played
1) Bucksnort (CO) (5.00)
2) Frost Valley YMCA (NY) (5.00)
3) Brackett's Bluff Original (NC) (5.00)
4) Harmony Bends (MO) 5.00
5) Selah Ranch - Lakeside (TX) (4.95)
6) Flyboy Aviation (GA) (4.90)
7) Gran Canyon (FL) (4.90)
8) Idlewild (KY) (4.85)
9) Highbridge Hills - Granite Ridge (WI) (4.85)
10) Clover Cliff Ranch (KS) (4.80)
11) Renaissance (Gold layout) (NC) (4.80)
12) Highbridge Hills - Blueberry Hill (WI) (4.80)
13) Flip City (MI) (4.80)
14) Highbridge Hills - Highbridge Gold (WI) (4.80)
15) Selah Ranch - Creekside (TX) (4.80)
16) Harmon Hills (TN) (4.80)
17) Blue Ribbon Pines (MN) (4.75)
18) The Lodge (Island Course) (OK) (4.75)
19) Hornet's Nest (The Web Layout) (NC) (4.75)
20) The Lodge (Moccassin Creek) (OK) (4.75)
21) Beaver Ranch (CO) (4.75)
22) Rollin' Ridge (WI) (4.70)
23) Maple Hill (MA) 4.70
24) Foundation Park (IL) (4.70)
25) Mont du Lac - White Cedar (WI) (4.65)
26) Wilderness Campground DGC (WI) (4.65)
27) Treehouz at Branson Cedars Resort (MO) (4.65)
28) Tyler State Park (PA) (4.65)
29) Circle C Metro @ Slaughter Creek (TX) (4.65)
30) Phantom Falls (CO) (4.65)
31) Circle R - Rolling Meadow (TX) (4.60)
32) Deer Lakes (PA) (4.60)
33) Holler in the Hills (KY) (4.55)
34) Jim Warner Memorial (GA) (4.55)
35) Shawshank (TX) (4.50)
36) Steady Ed Headrick Memorial (GA) (4.50)
37) Grindstone (NM) (4.50)
Hobbs Farm (GA) (4.45)
38) Wildlife Prairie Park (IL) 4.45
39) WR Jackson Memorial (GA) (4.45)
40) Sandy Point (WI) (4.45)
41) Winter Park (WI) (4.45)
42) Lincoln Ridge (Banklick Woods) (KY) (4.45)
43) Nockamixon State Park (PA) (4.45)
44) Megiddo Park (IL) (4.40)
45) Silver Creek (WI) (4.40)
46) Ocala Greenway (FL) (4.40)
47) Bud Hill (TN) (4.40)
48) Bailey (CO) (4.40)
49) Magnolia DGC (FL) (4.40)
50) New Quarter (VA) (4.35)
51) Cedar Hill Park (TN) (4.35)
52) Wildcat Bluff (IA) (4.35)
53) Little Mulberry (GA) (4.35)
54) Jordan Creek (PA) (4.35)
55) Hawk Hollow (VA) (4.35)
56) Ghost Town (CO) (4.35)
57) Northwoods Gold (IL) (4.35)
58) Fairfield GOLD (IL) (4.35)
59) Justin Trails Big Brother (WI) (4.35)
60) Seven Oaks (TN) (4.30)
61) Colorado Mountain College - Glenwood (CO) (4.30)
62) Crooked Creek (SC) (4.30)
63) Palmetto Trails (FL) - 4.25
64) Highbridge Hills - The Bear (WI) (4.25)
65) Kaposia (MN) (4.25)
66) Johnson Park (TX) (4.25)
67) Burchfield - Devil's Den (MI) (4.25)
68) Seneca Creek State Park (MD) (4.25)
69) Trey Texas Ranch - Trey Deuce (TX) (4.20)
70) Zobel Park (WI) (4.40)
71) Robert L. Smith Park (NC) (4.20)
72) Lester Lorch - Coyote (TX) (4.20)
73) Castle Hayne (NC) (4.20)
74) Richmond Hill (NC) (4.20)
75) West Lake (IA) (4.20)
76) Disc Side of Heaven - Championship (AR) (4.20)
77) Charlie Vettiner (KY) (4.20)
78) Madisonville (KY) (4.20)
79) The Blockhouse - Darkside (VA) (4.20)
80) Highland Park (IL) (4.20)
81) North Georgia Canopy Tours (GA) (4.1)
82) Lester Lorch Park - Beaver (TX) (4.15)
83) Brakewell Steel - Warwick Park (NY) (4.15)
84) Deerfield (MI) (4.15)
85) Hudson Hills Metropark - Monster (MI) (4.15)
86) Yulga (WI) (4.15)
87) Standing Rocks (WI) (4.15)
88) Powder Mill (MI) (4.15)
89) Austin Ridge Bible Church (TX) (4.15)
90) Jefferson Barracks (MO) (4.15)
91) Pickard Park (IA) 4.15
92) Trey Texas Ranch - Texas Twist (TX) (4.15)
93) Turner Park (TX) (4.15)
94) Blackhawk (OK) (4.15)
95) Perkerson Park (GA) (4.1)
96) Tuscarora (IL) (4.1)
97) The Blockhouse - Sunnyside (VA) (4.1)
98) Hudson Hills Metropark - Original (MI) (4.1)
99) JP Moseley (GA) (4.1)
100) Camden II (IL) (4.1)
4.0 or better but not my top 100
Rosewood-Dekalb at Redan Park (GA) (4.1)
Ironside Bluffs (AZ) (4.1)
Circle R - Circ Hill (TX) (4.1)
Warrior's Path State Park (TN) (4.1)
Buckhorn (NC) (4.1)
New World Sports Complex - Green Course (FL) (4.1)
Clay DGC (AL) (4.1)
Sawmill (FL) (4.05)
Tower Ridge I (WI) (4.05)
Bad Rock Creek (MO) 4.05
Lakehawk (FL) (4.05)
McNaughton (IL) (4.05)
Stoney Hill (SC) (4.05)
Rogers Lakewood (IN) 4.05
The Brickyard (9 HOLES) (WI) (4.05)
Independence Lake - Red Hawk (MI) (4.05)
Mesker Park, (IN) (4.05)
Oak Island (MN) (4.0)
Inverness (AL) (4.0)
Patapsco Valley State Park (MD) (4.0)
Flat Rock (GA) (4.0)
Thunderhead (CO) (4.0)
Colorado Mountain College - Leadville (CO) (4.0)
Veteran Hills - WI (4.0)
Bryant Lake (MN) (4.0)
The Sinks (TN) (4.0)
Tom Triplett (GA) (4.0)
Patriot's Park (GA) (4;0)
Jack McLean (FL) (4.0)
North Charlotte Regional Park (FL)(4.0)
Ironside Bluffs (AZ) (4.0)
Picnic Island (FL) (4.0)
Honorable Mention (Were in my Top 100 at some point):
The Sarge (SC) (3.95)
Nevin (NC) (3.95)
Mt. Airy Forest (OH) 3.95
Live Oak Park - Gold (TX) (3.95)
Lake Lewisville (TX) (3.95)
Disc Side of Heaven - Recreational (AR) (3.95)
Edward Medard Park (FL) (3.95)
MacKenzie Park - (TX) (3.90)
Ed Austin Park (Fore Palms DGC) (FL) (3.90)
Sandy Creek Park (GA) (3.90)
Cliff Stephens (FL) (3.90)
Trophy Lakes (SC) (3.90)
Barnet Park (MD) (3.90)
Oak Park (KS) (3.90)
Middle Park (IA) (3.90)
Fox River Park - Grey Fox (WI) (3.90)
Todd Park (MN) (3.90)
Live Oak City Park (TX) (3.90)
Randolph Park (VA) (3.90)
Axldog Acres (WI) (3.90)
Brown Deer (WI) (3.85)
Shaver Park (IA) (3.85)
Ronnie Van Zant Memorial (FL) (3.85)
Scrapyard (Idlewild Park) (NC) 3.85
Squirrel Lake (NC) (3.85)
Earlewood (SC) (3.85)
George Ward (GA)(3.85)
Tocobaga (FL) (3.85)
Farm Life (NC) (3.85)
Reedy Creek (NC) (3.85)
Langan Park (AL) (3.85)
Kilborne (Skillborne layout) (NC) (3.85)
Armco - White Course (KY) (3.85)
Oakwood (MN) (3.85)
Live Oak Park - Red (TX)) (3.85)
The Tailings (MI) (3.85)
Anna Page East (IL) (3.85)
Z-Boaz (TX) (3.85)
Dretzka (WI) (3.85)
Bicentennial (TX) (3.85)
Tombigbee #2, (MS) (3.80)
UW Parkside (WI) (3.80)
Roscoe Ewing (OH) (3.80)
Grignon (WI) (3.80)
Anna Page West (IL) (3.80)
Indian Creek Park (GA) (3.80)
Plamann Apple Creek (WI) (3.80)
Bill Frederick Turkeynator T2 (FL) (3.80)
Gordon Barnett Park North Park (FL) (3.80)
North Watertower (FL) (3.80)
Zebulon (NC) (3.80)
Riverview Park (SC) (3.75)
Mont du Lac - Eagle's Peak (WI) (3.75)
Bryan Park (VA) (3.75)
Seviren Lang (IN) (3.75)
Keriakes (KY) (3.75)
Camden I (IL) (3.75)
Gordon Barnett Park Parkside (FL) (3.75)
Muse Park, (TN) (3.75)
West Thomson Lake (CT) (3.75)
The Oaks (IL) (3.75)
Timmons Park (GA) (3.75)
Freeman Lake Park (KY) (3.75)
West Park (IL) (3.75)
Foothills Park (GA) (3.75)
Justin Trails Classic (WI) (3.75)
Bethel University (9 HOLES) (MN) (3.75)
Sinnissippi (IL) (3.75)
Round Barn (IL) (3.75)