Arcata, CA

Humboldt State University

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3.985(based on 31 reviews)
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10 0
chris deitzel
Gold level trusted reviewer
Experience: 30.6 years 286 played 54 reviews
3.50 star(s)

To Par Infinity and Beyond!!! drive by

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

Pros:

Wandering through the trees where the Ewoks will eventually call home throwing discs is quite a grand experience. The course plays through a Redwood forest and there are also abundant old stumps throughout the course. One of these stumps is even the tee pad for Hole 2. I missed the pad the first time I came through in 2011 but found it in 2019. Climbing up to this tee pad is pretty cool and the shot to the pin is a fun little ace run. This is a classic course that has been here since the beginning of disc golf and should not be missed if travelling through the area. One of the true original disc golf courses.

Cons:

It can get confusing finding your way around. I highly recommend taking a photo of the map at the entrance to the course or you could be wandering around here in an infinite loop. It is on college property. I was there in the evening and never had an issue parking by the course but I imagine sometimes you made need a pass of some sort??? No idea on that. Seems like everyone parks back there so may not be an issue. Can always park just down the hill on the road and walk up.

Other Thoughts:

This was one of the first courses I heard about when I started playing back in 1994. My friend that I started playing with had a brother who went to college at Humboldt State where this course is and told us about it and the tee pad on the redwood stump. He talked about how it looked like the Ewok forest. And it does.

I'm so glad I've made it here twice over the years and hope to again someday. Definitely should be on everyone's radar just for the fact that you tee off on a redwood stump. Where else you gonna do that at?? And the course is pretty cool overall. I really liked hole 1 to start. Lots of big trees, some blind shots and pins, a few tricky navigation spots, but it's still a super fun old school par 3 style course that you should have a good time playing. Udisc is definitely a help with the updated layouts out here also. I didn't have much of an issue in 2019 finding my way around. But definitely still got messed up in a few spots.

Back in the 90's when all you ever heard about was Humboldt County, this course was what many late night smoke sessions were spent dreaming about playing. It's held up well all of these years and is a special place to play disc golf. If you've ever seen the Bang the Chains disc golf song on youtube, some of the scenes are from this course. Bang the chains Mofos.
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3 1
amcnutt
Experience: 8 played 8 reviews
3.50 star(s)

Deep forest, large Redwoods 2+ years drive by

Reviewed: Played on:Sep 13, 2018 Played the course:once

Pros:

Heavily shaded. Not much brush. Large tree Redwood forest feels like a fantasy world. Makes the most of elevation change. No one on it on a weekday. Easy to find your disc.

Cons:

A few holes difficult to find. Dirt or rubber tees. A class was using the pin area of 18 for something, preventing play. Got a $40 ticket for parking in the lot by hole 1. Be warned.
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17 0
mashnut
Diamond level trusted reviewer
Experience: 22.1 years 831 played 767 reviews
3.50 star(s)

Pay no attention to the tree behind the curtain 2+ years drive by

Reviewed: Played on:Jun 30, 2014 Played the course:once

Pros:

The course plays through a beautiful redwood forest. Redwoods of all sizes come into play throughout the course, making this a pretty unique place to throw. Huge stumps and logs make great obstacles, and the tee on top of a stump is a fun touch. Though there isn't much brush, this course plays surprisingly punishing with plenty of large trees that really block your line to the basket from off the fairway.

Elevation comes into play on a lot of the holes. There aren't any huge elevation changes, but lots of tricky uphills and fun downhills. There are several tricky pin positions that bring rollaways into play, and some interesting side hill shots where you have to be careful how you land your drive. The course is short, but the variety of lines keeps it interesting throughout. You really need to know how to shape mid and putter lines to score well here, and the balance of left and right turning fairways is pretty nice.

Cons:

The course does play really short, there aren't any chances to open up and throw a longer drive and it doesn't make you pull out your distance drivers. There are some safety issues, especially on the back 9 with holes playing right on top of other tees and fairways. It's too easy to throw onto another hole here.

The tees are pretty beat up, and in many places that means sensitive redwood roots are being trampled every time someone tees off. Navigation is terrible even with a map. The tee signs are really nice, but often hard to see and the walks between holes aren't at all obvious. The walk to find 11 is pretty impossible to figure out without local help, and several other spots are nearly as difficult. I strongly recommend finding a guide rather than trying to figure this one out yourself.

Other Thoughts:

There are a lot of really fun shots here, I would love to have this as my home course. It's going to be tough for beginners, but not impossible. The lengths are reasonable and lost discs aren't really a problem here. Experienced players will be pushed to develop a really strong midrange game by playing here, but it won't test any distance skills. I highly recommend a stop here if you are in the area.
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3 2
12thManJustin
Experience: 14.7 years 100 played 3 reviews
4.00 star(s)

You're playing disc golf in a redwood forest! 2+ years drive by

Reviewed: Played on:Jul 20, 2013 Played the course:once

Pros:

Super cool climbing up the redwood stump that is hole 2's tee pad.
The back half was absolutely stunning for me, after you shoot the pond hole the remaining holes are full of huge redwood trees. Much nicer then the college of redwoods course in my opinion.

Cons:

It was kind of hard finding the parking lot as an out of towner. Couldn't have imagined playing this course with out a guide, would've made for a longer round I'm sure.

Other Thoughts:

I was lucky to find a local on hole one to guide me through the course. He was a nice dude and he shot his best round with us.
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10 1
The Valkyrie Kid
Diamond level trusted reviewer
Experience: 45.8 years 1563 played 1507 reviews
3.50 star(s)

Playing The Redwood Curtain Course Without A Guide Is Frustrating! 2+ years

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

Pros:

Inviting start with kiosk and lots of notes of players asking for their lost discs returned. Handwritten note at # 1 tee pad warning of Hornet's nest. I'm already a little worried. Gorgeous redwood forest mountain terrain.

The course has these new but little wooden signs. They're cure but hard to spot. I'm sure they're made to blend in to the forest. They did so well that I couldn't find a few.

Course keeps you climbing through first six holes before heading back down.

Many epic/memorable throws holes such as the # 2 throwing from atop a 10 foot high Redwood stump.

# 15 was awesome. It's a 242' downhill thread the needle shot to a basket guarded by six smaller Redwoods. It's like being a 6 foot white guy driving the lane and finding Kareem Abdul Jabbar, David Robinson, Shaquille O'Neal, Wilt Chamberlin, Labron James and Dwight Howard all waiting to swat your shot!

# 17 was a wonderful little 211' open ACE run to a basket sitting on an open landing with major trouble behind.

And then # 18 was a really memorable finishing hole, 304'/325', downhill through a tight tunnel through the trees to a basket sitting on a little grassy landing area.

Cons:

Need a local for a guide everyone says. After hunting around for the # 2 tee box ( I looked everywhere but 10 feet straight up on a giant stump) a guy comes playing up behind me. Wonderful, thinks I. A local to guide me or perhaps to follow. Nope, this guy is playing speed disc golf with his dog. One disc, throw and run. He barely takes time to point me to the next tee and then he disappears into the forest like a gnome or something. So much for my local guide. The only people I met thereafter were more lost than me. I was giving them directions!

How about something on the baskets helping with the next tee? Either a simple little sign w/arrow hanging from the bottom of the basket or maybe painting the rung that is pointing to the next tee pad.

As beautiful as this course is, my experience was definitely soured by the frustration of trying to navigate it without a guide. I missed the # 11 throw over the little pond as I never quite found the tee pad.

Other Thoughts:

The front nine isn't long or overly memorable but the back nine has some super downhills and # 11 is supposedly a fun little throw over the gross, green pond.

But this is a beautiful Redwood's forest and with just a little more help navigating, I would have left with a much more positive vibe.
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4 1
bentpenny
Experience: 35.8 years 167 played 2 reviews
4.50 star(s)

stunning fun 2+ years drive by

Reviewed: Played on:Jun 21, 2013 Played the course:once

Pros:

Simply beautiful--what an amazing course. The holes have tremendous character, with gems like teeing off a redwood stump on #2. In general, it was easy to find errant discs and the grounds were dry and relatively easy to navigate, even with steep elevation. Almost every hole was a stunning view to the basket, with creative and interesting placements for the pins. Advanced throwers will find it challenging, yet there are birdie opportunities as a reward for making it through the gaps between giant redwoods. This is simply one of the most amazing courses I've ever seen.

Cons:

We would have been desperately lost without guides. Don't even think about playing this course the first time without someone to show you the way. Fortunately, we met not one but two groups who were willing to let us tag along for the front/back respectively.

Other Thoughts:

I've played only one other course--Base Camp Adventures in Moab--that compares with The Redwood Curtain in terms of beauty and quality discing experience. This course was instantly one of my all-time favorites.
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15 2
forehandfranz
Gold level trusted reviewer
Experience: 31.8 years 226 played 128 reviews
3.00 star(s)

The forest from the trees.... An out of towner's view 2+ years drive by

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

Pros:

It goes without saying that this forest is lush with big gorgeous trees. These and the nice people gave this place a great atmosphere.

The course itself is challenging (albeit fairly short), forcing tight lines over undulating elevation changes. Beginners may find it frustrating, and advanced players will still find many holes somewhat demanding, though there are many opportunities for birds here.

The memorable holes would include a short (but deadly shot over a pond- #11) and the only tee box INSIDE a giant tree stump I've ever played - #2.

Cons:

I did not have a guide, which was recommended in some of the posts here. I wish I had one, but one didn't magically appear for me. I used the online map but still got lost several times. Most important - to find hole 11 - walk back to the parking lot, straight down the road past the kiosk and hook a right on the trail as the road bends left! In a nutshell, I had to downgrade the score by a half point based on the frustration of hiking around looking for the nice (but almost camouflaged) signs on the trees, next to the tees which are natural but almost invisible themselves. The course could really use some "next tee" signs. Sorry, but getting lost can just ruin the fun- now matter how good a course may be. And I like to have fun!

It would be helpful to have flags , perhaps on top of some pins to help identify some of the pins that are blind from the tee.

Other Thoughts:

Wear good, sturdy shoes, as there is a lot of slick muddy hills to navigate.

As previous reviewers have stated, watch yourself, as many holes and tee pads cross each other, or share very close proximity to each other. Respect each other out there.

Thank you to the local club for all their hard work!
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5 5
Wayne Disqus
Experience: 2 played 2 reviews
3.00 star(s)

Beautiful scenery, bad design. 2+ years drive by

Reviewed: Played on:Jan 16, 2013 Played the course:5+ times

Pros:

This course has a lot of technical shots through huge redwoods. There's nice elevation changes on every hole. Very good weather year round. Some rain occurs but is covered by trees for the most part. Locals often come here on bad weather days due to the protection the trees offer from both rain and wind.

Cons:

Design is lacking good flow. The transition from 1 to 2 is a good example. After completing 1 the tee for 2 is right next to the pin on a huge log. After teeing off from 2, players must cross past 1's basket again on the way to 2's basket. Similar problems come up throughout the layout. Wouldn't be a great tourney set up. A lot of waiting would be problem. Hitting people with discs could also an issue on a few of the holes that have blind landings. This course eats discs in the ferns. A lot of the holes are short and can be completed with a mid or putter. Not many opportunities to open up.

Other Thoughts:

This course has natural tee pads, which I like, but they are poorly maintained on a few holes. Some tee's are squishy. There are some pedestrians and equestrians roaming the forest who cross fairways on occasion. Just recently got a few extra pin locations on 3 or 4 holes that mixed up the layout nicely.
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1 8
underpar24
Experience: 16.6 years 142 played 14 reviews
4.00 star(s)

Great Environment 2+ years drive by

Reviewed: Played on:Jul 7, 2012 Played the course:once

Pros:

The course is placed in the Redwoods and it is absolutely beautiful. Great placement of pins up and down hills. Tight course but not unrealistically tight. Great shade for summer play.

Cons:

Course tee boxes are poor.
Hard to navigate for first timers

Other Thoughts:

Getting the chance to play in the Redwoods is something to jump on. This is a great course and allows you to hike through Redwoods while you play.
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6 0
ashmgee
Experience: 23.8 years 53 played 10 reviews
3.50 star(s)

Great Forest!! 2+ years drive by

Reviewed: Played on:Jul 9, 2012 Played the course:5+ times

Pros:

Putting baskets in for the last six tone poles was a great improvement. This course is beautiful in the redwood forest adjacent to the Arcata community forest. The holes here are typically shorter and technical so accuracy is the key to score well here. Multiple pin locations for many of the baskets provides some longer locations and a good change in difficulty. Tees have been improved some. The course plays on a hillside so the greens in some areas are fast and punishing. Locals are friendly and willing to show people around which is needed on your first time through. In the summer when school is not in the course is generally empty because many people around here enjoy playing the other less challenging courses.

Cons:

No bathrooms
Fairways cross on some holes proving to be a hazard
Tough to find your way through the back without a guide the first few times.
Some holes are so technical it almost feels a little "poke and pray"
Will be muddy for much of the year.
Tees although improved, are not great and probably will never be concrete.

Other Thoughts:

This course is unlike any course I have played. It is lots of fun and is worth playing if you are in the area. It offers a significantly tougher challenge than the other courses in the immediate Arcata area. Even though it is tough and technical you can score well there if you learn the course.

Over all it is a unique experience that should be checked out if you happen to be in the area.
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4 4
trashmonster1985
Experience: 16.9 years 130 played 13 reviews
4.00 star(s)

18 Baskets are now installed!!! 2+ years drive by

Reviewed: Updated: Played on:Feb 4, 2012 Played the course:5+ times

Pros:

OVERVIEW: Extremely fun, but difficult 18 holes! A lot of work has been done recently and despite rumors saying otherwise, there are 18 BASKETS now. The Par Infinity club deserves a lot of thanks and are continually making the course better. Gorgeous walk through redwoods, this course is a unique must for disc golfers everywhere.
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5 2
jmp55
Experience: 12.8 years 23 played 4 reviews
4.50 star(s)

Simply Amazing 2+ years drive by

Reviewed: Played on:Jul 23, 2011 Played the course:once

Pros:

Beautiful scenery meets challenging course. I'm still very new to the sport, so this was a bit challenging for me. But since it was so beautiful, it cushioned the blow of my less than stellar score.
I started this sport to get get a little exercise and enjoy some more time with nature. This course really delivered on both.

Cons:

A couple of the holes have not been updated to baskets yet. Also, if you have a shot that leaves the fairway, you may find yourself hard pressed to find your disc amongst the foliage.

Other Thoughts:

Truly a can't miss course in California! I mean, hole #2 has a tee box atop a massive Sequoia Red Wood Tree stump (at least 10ft tall), how can you beat that?!
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2 8
Dirt4dinner
Experience: 17.2 years 72 played 17 reviews
5.00 star(s)

The sickest for me yet! 2+ years drive by

Reviewed: Played on:Sep 15, 2011 Played the course:once

Pros:

It's the most unique location, technical, but birdieable', scenic and KICK ASS!

Cons:

Not for the newbie looking to figure out how their discs work. This is a pretty technical course that will test a veteran.

Other Thoughts:

I'm in love with this course.
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7 3
tehrain
Experience: 23.8 years 12 played 10 reviews
4.50 star(s)

2+ years drive by

Reviewed: Played on:Mar 15, 2011 Played the course:5+ times

Pros:

Best marked course on the Nor-Cal coast.
-Great, narrow fairways with huge redwoods guarding every window
-Full arsenal of shots required. You WILL need good recovery skills at some point in the round.
-Great terrain. The elevation changes will give you a little bit of a workout and you'll love it.

Cons:

-Most first-timers will get lost without a guide. Make sure to follow the locals. New signs help once you're on the teepad, but just knowing where the next teepad is tends to get people.
-The only thing missing on the course to me is the chance to really open up. The holes aren't short by any means, but it's nice to have a couple holes on every course where you can test your arm.

Other Thoughts:

Don't miss this course if you're in the area. It will be worth it, I promise.
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3 11
Cole
Experience: 17.2 years 17 played 1 reviews
5.00 star(s)

Fun and Difficult 2+ years drive by

Reviewed: Updated: Played on:Nov 5, 2010 Played the course:5+ times

Pros:

Its a must play course for any disc golf enthusiast. Quintessential north coast disc golf course. New wooden plaque hole markers have been installed on every regular hole. Great addition, gives you distance as well as a rough layout of the hole. These additions can really help those unfamiliar with this course. Great craftsmanship.

Cons:

Its already been said in the other reviews. Muddy in the off season. A guide helps if you've never played, but with new wooden hole markers it is much easier to find your way around.

Other Thoughts:

There are a few secret holes too, but they don't have baskets or tone tubes, usually just an upright log or branch. Its fun to play them sometimes if you get tired of the regular holes.
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11 3
StringPeachIncident
Experience: 18.6 years 26 played 22 reviews
4.50 star(s)

Aaron McKenna 2+ years drive by

Reviewed: Played on:Apr 26, 2010 Played the course:once

Pros:

*Sick elevation
*Decent hike
*Some really technical and fun shots
*Playing in the Redwoods (what beats that?)

Cons:

*Some thick bushes
*Entirely unmarked and incredibly hard to even know where to start if youve never played here before
*Tone Holes mixed with baskets it random order
*No official te spots

Other Thoughts:

If it werent for this guy i met there at the beginning of the coursei probably wouldve played about 7holes and left. Luckily i had a personal guide through this really interestig and beautiful course, theres a bunch of sick shots downhills and over ponds from up above. The back holes are deffinately my favorite with a wider variation of shots and take a little more skill than the front. I would for sure come back, especially knowing where all the holes and tee spots are now. if you havent already, go for hike and find the back, ill post pictures at some point, dope huck over water
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6 19
number4
Experience: 21.9 years 102 played 12 reviews
5.00 star(s)

this course rules! 2+ years drive by

Reviewed: Played on:May 2, 2007 Played the course:5+ times

Pros:

Playing in the redwoods, not many courses offer that. unique tee location on hole 2, it's off an old growth redwood stump.

Cons:

some thick vegetation on a few holes, but if you keep to the fairway you are ok.

Other Thoughts:

definitely play this course, and come out for leagues, always a fun time at the redwood curtain.
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11 2
DocMenach
Experience: 19.8 years 12 played 2 reviews
4.50 star(s)

My personal favorite 2+ years drive by

Reviewed: Played on:Aug 29, 2009 Played the course:5+ times

Pros:

This course is my personal favorite course. Great hole variety, spectacularly beautiful, and challenging. Any time I go to another course I always find myself comparing it to this one. Also one of the only 18 hole courses nearby.

This course will keep you on your toes. Lots of trees to watch out for, which is excellent for dialing in your accuracy. Plus, since the course is in the forest it often changes from year to year due to trees growing/falling.

Hole variety makes it good for righties or lefties.

Cons:

Only 7 of the holes have baskets, the rest are tonepoles (though they are decent tonepoles). Tees are dirt. The course becomes unplayable due to mud and closes during the rainy part of the year.

Other Thoughts:

It's good to be able to throw both forehands and backhands on this course.

Watch out for the Trillum flowers(they are delicate and rare), and try not to trample the vegetation.
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11 1
gobias
Experience: 21.6 years 258 played 8 reviews
4.50 star(s)

All around, best course I have played 2+ years drive by

Reviewed: Played on:May 13, 2009 Played the course:5+ times

Pros:

Beautiful scenery, challenging disc golf, friendly people. The course has plenty of variety, and hence does not favor lefties or righties. After hole 14, head up the hill to the left for 6 extra holes, giving the course at least 24 holes (more if you ask others).

Cons:

The holes are poorly marked- almost as if the locals prefer newbies to not be able to find their way around, which is unfortunate. It rains all the time in Humboldt which make the course a mudfest for much of the year. Dirt tees make the mud issue even worse. Keep an eye on every wayward shot, as ferns are good at swallowing up your discs. All of the holes are par threes- I would have liked to play a few longer par fours or fives winding through the redwoods. Only 6 of the 18 targets are baskets, the rest being tone poles, which can be strange if you're used to only baskets. In my opinion, however, slamming a tone pole is just as rewarding as hitting the chains.

Other Thoughts:

All in all, this is the most unique and fun course you are likely ever to play. Teeing off from the top of a redwood stump on # 2, drives through stands of gorgeous, gigantic trees, throwing over a water hazard on # 10- this course will bring numerous "firsts" to your dg experience. If you pass through Arcata, CA, PLAY THIS COURSE! You won't regret it. Don't try to do it on your own, however. Wait at the first tee for a local and tag along (they won't mind), or else you'll be lost after hole 3. I love this course!!
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18 0
DSCJNKY
Diamond level trusted reviewer
Experience: 22.6 years 682 played 129 reviews
4.00 star(s)

Going to miss the Curtain 2+ years

Reviewed: Played on:May 23, 2009 Played the course:5+ times

Pros:

- The Redwood Curtain (locals name) is a great course with a variety of shots - uphill, downhill, tight, moderately open, short, long, etc...
- Course repays accuracy - there is a lot of trouble out there for poor drives.
- Beautiful scenery through the redwoods, a great Nor-Cal DG experience.
- Several infamous shots - treestump tee-pad for Hole #2, lake shot on Hole #11 (in the video Bang Da' Chains), tight redwooded fairways (everywhere).
- HUMBOLDT Greenery!

Cons:

- If you've never played on tone-poles before it will be a shock the first time you see one. I'm used to it now, but I hated them at first.
- The natural tee-pads get muddy and a few of them are ankle breakers. Tee-pads are also short, uneven, off camber, etc...
- Can be hard/impossible to find your way around "the curtain" the first time. NO SIGNAGE/NO MAP.
- There always seems to be an 8-sum in front of you... and to make it worse they probably can't golf.

Other Thoughts:

- It would be beneficial to get a guide for your first trip through this course - easy to do if you wait a while since someone is always there. Otherwise you'll be looking everywhere for tee-pad #2 (on a redwwod tree stump) and every tee-pad from there on.
- There are the "Hidden 6" holes in the back that are set up part of the year. Need a local to find them.
- If you're coming to Humboldt for a DG vacation, hit up a fellow dgcr'er for some guidance... especially since there are several courses in Humboldt that are on private property and not listed on this site.
- I'm moving out of Humboldt and going to miss this - my 2nd Home Course.
- My best score: -8
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