Pine, CO

Phantom Falls

4.625(based on 161 reviews)
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7 0
dreadlock86
Diamond level trusted reviewer
Experience: 16.9 years 382 played 296 reviews
4.50 star(s)

bittersweet goodbye 2+ years

Reviewed: Played on:Jun 24, 2016 Played the course:once

Pros:

-exclusive access, 1 group a day
-major elevation changes across the course
-tons of mature pines that shape fairways and give options of lines
-great signage
-very good natural tees
-cool, unique touches: a couple homemade baskets, the hat tree, snowboard benches, etc.
-pro shop on site
-all the amenities Paulie provides
-mini course on-site
-memorable holes, beautiful views, seclusion (apart from Paulie's house), and a totally unique experience

Cons:

-exclusive use and required tee times means you might not be able to play the day that you would really like to. this also means you probably can't play on short notice and during the busy season travelers might not be able to get a time at all.
-since the course occupies a limited space and the routing goes through the same areas multiple times, it can begin to look or feel repetitive. the variety of fairway shapes and elevation elements temper this though.
-usual cons related to crossing fairways etc do not apply
-no water elements, no multi-shot holes

Other Thoughts:

It may raise some eyebrows that I'm writing this review four years after playing the course. I had hoped that I would get a chance to revisit Phantom Falls and have a more experienced perspective when reviewing. However, that is no longer possible since the course has been closed permanently after Paulie moved to Idaho. This review is my goodbye letter and a testament to a special place for disc golf.

Phantom Falls plays through Paulie's backyard on a major hillside covered with mature pines. The nearly 40 holes give you every combination of straight, left, right and up, down, over, across with greens that usually feature some slanting. The trees give many options for different lines off the tee and you are challenged to find a flight that will navigate the line but also land on the appropriate angle.

The course occupies a limited space so the routing goes through some areas multiple times. On a typical course this would be a problem but at Phantom Falls you have the course to yourself for the day. The space is maximized to include as many kinds of shots as possible.

The signage is excellent, navigation is easy, Paulie's accommodations on the patio are great, and the pro shop is stocked. I see a lot of complaints about natural tees but they are in great condition. The greens fees clearly go into the course.

I normally prefer a secluded course that plays over a larger area but Phantom Falls is a unique animal. There is charm and satisfaction in the fact that it is a backyard course. But it's not just a backyard course, it's like a backyard vacation destination. What a privilege it must be to be in the local club that plays here on regular basis. The love, sweat, and pure love of the game is palpable at Phantom Falls and evident at every turn.

This is a difficult course to rate. It lacks many things that I really enjoy on a course and it features things that would not be possible anywhere else. In some ways, I could understand any rating from 4.0-5.0 but for variety and quality of experience I have to go at least 4.5. I think I could describe this course as a kind of 'Flip City in the mountains': a private, ultimate par 3 course but on major elevation. I regret not going out of my way to come play here again. I couldn't bring myself to use the past tense throughout this review. I would love to think that some disc golf fan with the means may resurrect this course one day. Thanks for the experience and the memories, Paulie!


**Like this review? Hate it? Message me and let me know why! I want to make them better!**
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5 10
nnewms
Experience: 13 played 9 reviews
2.00 star(s)

2+ years drive by

Reviewed: Played on:Aug 9, 2016 Played the course:once

Pros:

Great Scenery, awesome drive, and great hospitality.

Cons:

The course was short and full of gimmicky holes, the fairways felt crowded and it makes sense that only one group per day is allowed. The tees were natural which was annoying and did not feel super great on the knees after a full day playing.

Other Thoughts:

This isn't a bad course it is just rather expensive and with cheaper options (that in my opinion are better courses with Beaver Ranch and Bailey) very close by with permanent teepads and uniform(ish at bailey) baskets, I don't see myself coming back
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5 2
Dagger
Experience: 6 played 6 reviews
5.00 star(s)

Private Country Club of DG 2+ years drive by

Reviewed: Updated: Played on:Sep 27, 2017 Played the course:once

Pros:

This private DG course only books one tee-time per day, so your group has the entire course to yourself. The course has tons of personality, and a very welcoming vibe. The variety of shots are almost uncountable. The access you have to the CC style area is an awesome addition to your DG day. We used the grill at hole 14 and had an awesome mid round lunch. This is a DG experience, not just a normal DG day.

Cons:

Price could be seen as a con. The course has very well maintained natural tee pads, could be seen as a con. You do reuse a few baskets from multiple tee boxes as there are 27 holes and 23 baskets, this did not bother us as we hardly noticed, but this could be seen as a con also.

Other Thoughts:

The pro-shop on site is awesome, it is a cash only shop so bring some extra cash. Ask about using the grill as this was an awesome amenity that we used and enjoyed.
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1 1
fooswillb21
Experience: 8 years 21 played 5 reviews
5.00 star(s)

CC of DG 2+ years drive by

Reviewed: Played on:Aug 25, 2017 Played the course:2-4 times

Pros:

If you are out to play a standard course that happens to be in the mountains, this isn't the course for you.

If you're looking for a great day on a unique course with your group, then this is exactly what you're looking for.

Plenty of challenge, unique terrain, and a different shot choice on every hole keep things interesting.

Small pro shop, grill, trash cans and benches at every hole keep you comfortable.

Cons:

Love to have a big open downhill roller but the course doesn't allow for it.
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27 5
Freeheeler7
Experience: 27.8 years 55 played 4 reviews
2.50 star(s)

Seriously? 2+ years drive by

Reviewed: Updated: Played on:Oct 15, 2016 Played the course:2-4 times

Pros:

Private, well kept, amenities, located in close proximity to great courses.

Cons:

Short, gimmicky, terrible footing, dissimilar baskets throughout, not all holes have baskets.

Other Thoughts:

That this course is on the top rated course list is amazing. There are several other courses in the area that are a) better courses, b) have a better design/layout than this course, c) are more challenging with a greater variety of shots.
I'm not saying you're not going to have fun here because, hell, just being out playing disc golf is fun. However, the 4.65 rating this course has is so far above what it should be for what you get during your playing experience. If you want to give it a bump because of the amenities or the tiny pro shop, fine, but let's just make sure there's some common ground on what makes a truly great course. Nearby Bailey DGC, Beaver Ranch DGC and a handful of other, private courses could be considered great courses that run circles around PF DGC in every aspect, yet somehow PF has a higher rating.
Why the owners at PF DGC have decided to cram upwards of 30 holes in a space suited for maybe 18 is beyond me. What's more, a mini course has been jammed in there with the regular course, for some reason, too. Why?!?! Does anyone really, truly want to play mini round? Maybe take a step back and look at what has been created. Then, remove at least 12 holes from the regular course, along with the entire mini course, and start from there. Not only would you have a much better, much improved course, but you'd have enough baskets for the entire course!
For what it's worth, you'd be better off playing Bucksnort, or Bailey, or Beaver Ranch than you would spending a day here. Phantom Falls is an ok, serviceable course and I'm happy that it exists. However, it in no way is deserving of a 4.65 rating. The above guidelines state "Remember, a "5" is the ultimate. Nothing could be done to improve this course." This review isn't hate, just reality.

UPDATE:
I love that P22 responds to any negative reviews with the standard,"Check out these trusted reviewers..." blah, blah, blah. It's unfortunate that he can't accept some critiques from 'untrusted' reviewers and actually try to improve his course. But, when you rely on gimmicks, I guess that's what you get.
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Designer response by [email protected]
For an accurate account of what you can expect at Phantom Falls, click the trusted reviewers only box above. For a solid reference, there are 17 trusted reviewers who have rated PF, and the average TR score is 4.53.
2 12
jdw80550
Experience: 21 years 90 played 15 reviews
4.50 star(s)

Nothing new to add, but that's not a bad thing 2+ years

Reviewed: Played on:Jun 5, 2016 Played the course:once

Pros:

Private, plush setup, and super enjoyable

There's is nothing new to be said, all previous reviews are amazingly accurate.

Cons:

Sketchy footing

Other Thoughts:

Have hinges added to snowboard benches to help add a back, and allows seats to be stay cool during hot parts of the day.
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13 2
Lightbringer
Experience: 15.9 years 11 played 7 reviews
4.50 star(s)

The Ultimate Sunday Event 2+ years drive by

Reviewed: Played on:Sep 12, 2015 Played the course:once

Pros:

The course is around 30 holes of technical, well thought-out shots. There are some very challenging holes through and over trees, and some holes that are set up for just being fun.

Some of the shots seem very hard because of all the trees, but if you choose a good line you are heavily rewarded.

For being an all natural course on 11 acres, the land usage is very good. You play the same baskets a few times, but as other reviewers have said it doesn't make a negative impact because you are the only group on the course and the tee positions drastically change the holes.

You can really tell that a lot of work was put into building the tee boxes and the signs. It is very difficult to get lost or be confused about where the next tee or basket is. Basically every hole has great benches, bag hangers and trash cans. We tried to empty some of the trash cans on our way but they were screwed to the benches and we were getting tired of hauling the trash, so we only did a few.

You are the only group there. You can do whatever you want (with respect to Paulie's property). Enough said.

Paulie is a great host. He accidentally made a personal commitment during our scheduled tee time, and he and his family were supposed to be somewhere else for the whole day. However, when he realized this he called to let me know and he took time out of his day to meet us and give us the course orientation at the scheduled time. He showed us around and chatted for a bit and then left us to our own devices.

Paulie built this course as a place for he and his buddies to hang out, drink beer, watch football and play disc all day. He did an EXCELLENT job. The patio area is impeccable. There are comfortable couches, a TV to watch the games on, a grill for your food and a cooler for your beer. You can hang out there as much as you wish between holes. It's shady all day, so it's very nice to have a place to take a break between hiking up and down the property. If you are looking for something to do with the boys, this really can't be beat. You get to hang out on a well set-up property drinking and eating and watching the games, AND play disc golf to your heart's content.

There is a good selection of discs for sale in the pro shop. I was able to find a Bar Stamp Stable Mid-Range Driver Roc to feed my Roc addiction.

Cons:

Probably the biggest con to Phantom Falls, and one that isn't really avoidable without cutting down a bunch of trees, is there there are very few big long distance shots. It is what it is, and I totally respect Paulie's decision to let it play naturally and not to start clearing out trees. There are still some long shots, but you WILL need to be on your game in terms of accuracy. However, this makes it even more rewarding when you park your disc next to the basket from the tee.

There are no concrete tee pads if that's what you're into. I'm more used to dirt anyway.

One other thing that might be a con, depending on your physical condition, is that the property is extremely hilly. Drink a lot of water especially if you are drinking alcohol, and wear some good shoes. There is a good amount of hiking up and down steep hills.

Other Thoughts:

After playing this course, we are spoiled. We want to make it a monthly thing. You really can't beat the VIP treatment of being the only people on the course and being able to stop for a burger and a beer whenever you want. Spending a Sunday on this course watching football (or college football on a Saturday, as in our case) and playing disc is about as good as it gets. Thanks, Paulie! I'll be calling you again soon.
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3 2
Jonny T
Experience: 9.8 years 28 played 7 reviews
4.50 star(s)

The true "Country Club" of DG 2+ years drive by

Reviewed: Updated: Played on:Jun 21, 2015 Played the course:once

Pros:

Paulie's pad is super plush with tons of great tee shots that vary elevation and lots of very difficult approaches. Make sure to bring a floppy putter as elevated pins are abound and your disc will role hundreds of feet at times. Phantom Falls has lots of fun elevation change, and some very technical shots that require both backhand and flick. The holes are well marked and the "Bible" that the owner gives you has detailed suggestions of what to throw from each tee box. This "Bible" is a lifesaver as many tees throw at the same baskets from different angles and approaches, which doesn't cause any problems because you're the only people on the course when you make a reservation. Not only do you get access to the course, but you also get to use a cooler and grill so make sure to bring some burgers for part-way through your round.

Cons:

No cons. It costs a little $$$ to play the course, but its a great deal when you consider the quality of the course and the experience.

Other Thoughts:

Bring lots of beer and grill food. There is a grill that you can use, and the course loops back to the house every 5 or 6 holes so you don't need to carry all your beer at once, and you can grill whenever you please.
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1 2
iconoclastes
Experience: 10.8 years 84 played 10 reviews
5.00 star(s)

So much fun you forget how hard you are working 2+ years drive by

Reviewed: Played on:Sep 29, 2014 Played the course:once

Pros:

This is the 2nd best course I've ever played (only bucksnort is better imho) and is worthy of a solid 5.
*so much variation in difficulty, distance, technicality
*amazing lounge area that the course keeps coming back to every few holes to take a break
*owner is an awesome dude who shows you everything you need to know about the course then he leaves you alone to throw, at his house!!
*laid out perfectly, and you will never wonder where the basket is because you will either see it, or see an arrow pointing to it
*couple of ace runs
*pro shop to buy discs and memorabilia

Cons:

*only thing remotely a con is that there is a lot of walking up and down the hills but if that is a complaint then you aren't into throwing that much anyways

Other Thoughts:

This course is amazing from beginning to end. This is an all day kinda course and you will never forget the day you threw phantom falls. This and bucksnort (owned and ran by the same dude) are two courses you will be glad you had the opportunity to play.
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2 8
d rock
Experience: 10.2 years 18 played 3 reviews
5.00 star(s)

Awesome!!!! 2+ years drive by

Reviewed: Played on:Apr 12, 2015 Played the course:2-4 times

Pros:

Course is exclusive to your party! BBQ Area for resting between holes. Awesome!!! Holes are challenging for all player levels.

Cons:

No hotel rooms on the course. :)

Other Thoughts:

Great course to play with a large group of people.
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10 2
sillybizz
Diamond level trusted reviewer
Premium Member
Experience: 22.1 years 400 played 385 reviews
4.50 star(s)

Pauley's Heaven 2+ years

Reviewed: Played on:Sep 9, 2014 Played the course:once

Pros:

With over 150 reviews I'm going to try and keep this shorter than I would most of my reviews and avoid what has already been said a ton. I'm going to discuss a few of the things that I have noticed and love/like/dislike/hate about it and why....


One of my favorite things about this sport are the things that are unique to a certain course/area, etc. The wooded homemade basket that was made for Pauley is an absolute work of art. You can see pictures of the basket here and it was made famous (to me at least) in the Innova Calendars but it's even more interesting up close and personal. Not only that but it catches extremely well.

I love the 'hat tree'. Have a hat? Need a hat? Tired of your current hat? No worries there is a special tree set up on the course that just has random hats people have left in sort of a take a penny leave a penny kind of deal like they have at the local 7-11.

The elevation makes for some really crazy unique lines and multiple routes. With 39 holes and less than half of that number of baskets you get to play the same hole(s) from a multitude of angles and actually opens up your thinking to what you might throw on the next tee pad or what you should have throw on one of the previous tee pads.

Pauley presents you with so much info (on all of his courses really) with his course map/guide/scorecard/cheat sheet that you shouldn't have to ask any questions or get lost, etc. in fact Paulie refers to the cheat sheets (and next tee markers/basket markers on Bucksnort) as being "idiot proof" and since we had no problems I think that's pretty well true.

I especially love that only one group can play on the course per day and that you have to make reservations ahead of time, I know I might be in the minority in that view point but when I think of all my crowded Seattle courses I never want to go back to waiting ever again. My dad and I made this our special once a year traveling disc golf trip and I couldn't think of too many more places I'd rather be. We felt incredibly grateful and lucky that Paulie was so accommodating to us and that we actually got to play with him and get the inside knowledge on the course and the man.

Cons:

This is a course that was built with Pauley and his buddies in mind and hey why not cram as many holes as you can get into your backyard, I would do the same thing but at the same time I think some of the holes could be condensed or made extinct all together in favor of a few longer par 4 holes to break up the redundancy of dozens of holes back to back that are very similar to each other. One of options that could be taken is making multiple tee pads (for all or just some of the holes) and possibly multiple basket locations. Multiple pads could keep a lot of those same fun lines to multiple baskets and then mix in the longer holes in between. To clarify when I say multiple tee pads I don't mean a long set and a short set or even stopping at 2 pads per hole what I mean is they should be at different points away from the basket to make more lines. I think the course is pretty well perfect for what it is but these small things would make me happy anyway. :)

Other Thoughts:

My dad and I haven't stopped talking about our trip to Colorado since last year and I have been slowly working on my reviews for them for months now. We're in the stages of planning our trip this year and are planning on heading to Minneapolis but we have had some serious discussions about going back to Colorado, some day I will move here. I highly recommend playing both Phantom Falls and Bucksnort, don't worry about the steep greens fee it's totally worth the money for a unique and fun experience.
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5 2
chowee21
Experience: 9.5 years 26 played 1 reviews
4.50 star(s)

Great course for groups & avid disc golfers 2+ years drive by

Reviewed: Played on:Mar 20, 2015 Played the course:once

Pros:

-Entire course to yourself (no rushing through holes)
-Well maintained
-Good mix of uphill, downhill, short, and long
-Excellent signage to keep you on track (nearly idiot proof)
-Great host who loves the game of disc golf
-Great for all arm strengths
-Best Ever markers are pretty sweet
-Several different types/brands of baskets that are well marked/ identified

Cons:

-Lack of parking (not really a knock on the course itself)
-Need to be in okay shape to trek this course (hilly and long; however you can take breaks if needed)
-only a few long open shots
-No water shots (some could see this as a pro)

Other Thoughts:

This is a fairly tight, touch shot type of course. Having a strong arm has minimal advantage on most holes allowing for accuracy to be the king of all.

We had a group of 9 with majority of guys brand new to the sport. The ability to have the entire course to yourself allows for a good relaxing time.

Much of the course is high risk high reward as you have a lot of trees and steep hills. Paul provides a cheatsheet on tips for each hole along with which line to take.

Paul was a great host and even came out and played a couple holes with us. Very passionate about the sport and knows his course well.

Why not a 5? Personal preference as I like concrete pads and flatter, more open holes with water hazards. But it is a beautiful course and is a must play if you are in the area. We drove an extra 1.5 hours and it was well worth it. This course is for people who love the game.

Advice - Bring a couple baseballs/throwing apparatus as getting a disc stuck in a tree is inevitable (especially if you have some new players!). Also, bring water, a snack, good trail shoes, and be ready to work your body.
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7 5
Hooter320
Experience: 22.8 years 18 played 1 reviews
4.50 star(s)

Tricky and bewildering and fun 2+ years drive by

Reviewed: Played on:Oct 11, 2014 Played the course:once

Pros:

Super friendly hosts. Paulie had great enthusiasm when explaining his course to us, which is understandable after playing it!

The differently constructed baskets (Pine builders, chimes, and Frankenstein) are not only fun to play, but cool to look at.

All tee boxes are level.

Great "cheat sheet" given with basket distances, description of baskets, and tips for every hole.

Great course layout and flow.

Taking off your boots and stretching on the shared patio every 13 or so baskets is really nice (while enjoying a good beer).

The pro shop is quite extensive.

Having the entire course to yourself is a luxury I've never really had before - I'm afraid I got spoiled with that 1st class treatment, and never want to "ride coach" again!

Cons:

They're not joking when they say "evaluate your fitness level". My legs are still sore 24 hours later.

Smooth terrain on the steeps sent my disc rolling right down past my feet after a putt... more than once.

Makes me want to drive to Pine more often.
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6 70
JVonD
Experience: 27.2 years 8 played 7 reviews
1.00 star(s)

It's ok... 2+ years drive by

Reviewed: Updated: Played on:Jun 21, 2014 Played the course:once

Pros:

You have a private patio to use and being able to hangout there as you take breaks is nice. If you like going up and down on a hill side over and over then you'll love it.

Cons:

The coarse is crammed onto a little piece of property so you are going back and forth around on a hill so it's hard on the feet, legs, and butt when slipping. No water shots unless there's a 100 year flood and only a couple vanity features. The dirt you walk on is real dry and you can easily slip out causing falls on sketchy features. Big roll outs can easily occur.

Other Thoughts:

This review is in comparison to all courses I've played. I keep it real so I can't give any coarse a rating over a 3 that doesn't have water features, and other unique features I'd expect, etc... So this course is on the very low end of the scale when it comes to the mountain courses. I don't recommend it. Plus the "customary" donation seems pretty mandatory which is kind of a turn off.
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Designer response by [email protected]
For an accurate account of what you can expect at Phantom Falls, click the trusted reviewers only box above. For a solid reference, there are 16 trusted reviewers who have rated PF, and the average TR score is 4.53.

8 3
chips n salsa
Experience: 13 played 7 reviews
4.00 star(s)

Stop in and play all day 2+ years drive by

Reviewed: Updated: Played on:Sep 27, 2014 Played the course:once

Pros:

Wide variety of challenging holes, course all to yourself, basecamp nearby for refreshments if you get tired, thirsty or hungry, cheatsheet that gives you the best strategy for how to play each hole, nice and shady.

Cons:

Extremely steep climbing and descending--I personally like this aspect of it but if your crew isn't somewhat fit and up for the challenge they'll NEVER make it. Our group started with 4 and ended with two before we even reached the 7th hole.

Owner was super friendly but went on for 20 minutes (you're a captive audience) as he explained what seemed like each and every one of the 39 holes on the course, during which time he subtly (as in not so subtly) kept reminding us that donations--in addition to the $20 donation that is mandatory at the start--are appreciated. Here's my issue with this: I'm surrounded by beautiful landscapes with awesome baskets and killer challenges everywhere and I've got my discs and I want to throw. Cut it down to 5 minutes please because I'm drooling over the course and I'll be mentally checked out after that long anyway. We crisscrossed near the owner's house a half dozen times and there were plenty of opportunities to ask him questions if we needed. Maybe pin each basket on a Google Map so I'll know where to go if it means I can skip some (most) of the intro. And I don't need reminding about donating. If I enjoy myself I'll very much want to add a gratuity (which we all did--it was important to us to do so and any decent guest would feel the same way).

One tee time a day, FOUR MONTH WAITING LIST if you can only make the 9am tee time on the weekends.

Other Thoughts:

Is the kind of course you would imagine heaven would have. Put it on your bucket list.
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2 7
bilen434
Experience: 11.8 years 27 played 7 reviews
5.00 star(s)

Ultimate day of disc golf 2+ years drive by

Reviewed: Played on:Aug 17, 2014 Played the course:once

Pros:

Variety of hole types that utilize the elevation changes of the land.

Frankenbasket (made from a wine cask and a wagon wheel).

Good signage so you never get stuck looking for the next hole.

You get a cheat sheet with tips/recommendations for every hole.

Benches on every hole, and you loop back to the main area every 7ish holes, so you can rehydrate or grab some food.

Cons:

Some of the tee pads could be a little longer

Other Thoughts:

Totally worth the $15, there is nothing that compares to this anywhere.
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25 3
prerube
Diamond level trusted reviewer
Premium Member
Experience: 16.8 years 274 played 235 reviews
4.50 star(s)

Must play resort style experience. 2+ years

Reviewed: Played on:Jul 29, 2014 Played the course:once

Pros:

This is a total package. It has been in my wish list for 4 years and did not disappoint.

you have all 36-39 holes all to yourself, so you play at any pace and take as many shots as you want with out ever being rushed by another player.

I am a huge fan of unique baskets and Phantom Falls was a sampler platter of baskets. There was the iconic pine basket, classic wind chime, a hot pink basket, Disc Nation Liberties, Innova DiscCatchers, a beaver ranch style basket, and even FRANKENBASKET.

The shot selection and variety is great. it is beginner friendly and still fun for experienced players.

Course flow and navigation is idiot proof. signs point the way to next tee sometimes every 10 feet.

Tee signs do not have pictures of the holes, but they are unique flagstones that you will only find here, anymore than the hole and distance would look cheesy.

Plenty of benches , which you will need while playing at over 8,000 feet of elevation. The benches are mostly made out of snowboards, which adds character to an already charismatic course.

you will receive a cheat sheet with hints on how to play the holes and which basket to throw to.

Plastic discs on every hole labeled the best throw of the year and best throw ever. This is the first time I have ever seen anything like this and I loved it. There are very few courses where this idea could work so well.

Course strategically loops so you can be back at the house or your car very frequently. you don't need to carry as many discs or drinks because you can loop back around so many times.

Pro shop had great selection, Where else can you find a used Puma, Bulldog, and Pegasus as well as brand new Vibram. Bring cash.

Cons:

Some holes share baskets, which does not mean much because no one else is throwing on the course.

Lots of baskets are visible on certain tee pads. Use the cheat sheet to eliminate any frustration, it is very clear which basket you need to throw to.

DARKSIDE, I HATE YOU!
Hole 23 starts what is called the darkside of the course. This is where i was introduced to roll aways.
Nearly every hole 23-30 I had a good shot land near the basket and roll 40-200 feet. On a short downhill hole (29 I think) my drive landed under the basket and rolled 150 feet behind the basket and down a hill. My upshot hit the basket and rolled 80 feet towards the road. Third throw hit the basket a second time and started rolling, but a sharp rock stopped it at 30 feet giving me the scariest 30 foot put of my life.

Big arms will not get too many opportunities to let it rip, this is a shorter finesse course.

Other Thoughts:

This course must be on your playlist. get the reservations with Paulie and plan on spending the day here.People ask if you can play another course in the same day, the answer is yes, but it will become more work than fun. I played solo and then when to Beaver Ranch and I hit the wall at Beaver Ranch and do not think the course was as enjoyable as it should have been. I highly recommend you stay nearby for several days and play Phantom Falls one day and Bucksnort another without playing anything else those days.
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3 4
xskatx
Experience: 14.1 years 22 played 16 reviews
4.50 star(s)

Sweet Pro Course 2+ years drive by

Reviewed: Played on:Jul 14, 2013 Played the course:2-4 times

Pros:

Custom Baskets (one of them is even a wind chime), 36 holes, privacy, cool pro shop, Hole designs are excellent, the level of difficulty is most challenging, Paulie is a great guy- we even got lunch after the first 18 holes.- Wow what an awesome layout for a course.

Cons:

Not much scenery to be enjoyed here for being in the mountains. Also, not a lot of ground vegetation and no water (ponds, streams, etc.) when we played. Lots of dirt and the hike was extremely intense

Other Thoughts:

Overall this course is one of a kind and we had an amazing time playing it. I would just say to be prepared for what you are getting in to- a really exhausting hike. It was hard to play the last few holes well because I couldn't catch my breath after 25 very steep elevation changes. The awesomeness of the course does make up for it though and the pro shop has sweet discs in it.
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4 7
Jgelband
Experience: 88 played 5 reviews
5.00 star(s)

Mountain DG at it's finest 2+ years drive by

Reviewed: Played on:Apr 27, 2014 Played the course:once

Pros:

This course was designed to be the private playground of Paul and his buddies. The rest of us should be grateful that he decided to share because this is a unique DG experience. The course winds around Paul's house, never going too far in any direction but always offering new shots and challenges. The greens are fast and it is easy to overshoot any of these holes. This course has all the character of a "homegrown" course but also has flat tees, great baskets and it is meticulously maintained. Paul is a great host. All the comments from previous visitors are spot on. The ability to have the course to yourself means never waiting or throwing near another group. We had a foursome and 2 of the guys are regulars and very skilled DG players. The 39 holes still took us 5 hours and I loved every minute of it. You play some baskets more than once and you throw across fairways but you would never know it by looking at each tee shot. Each shot is unique and fair, making you think it's not that hard before reality slaps you in the face like a 150 foot pine tree. I have never seen more signage and most tees are just a few steps from the last basket. The course flows so nicely and is so much fun that your round will be over before you realize how tired, whipped and satisfied you are.

Cons:

Really? None..............Refer to PROS

Other Thoughts:

I'm jealous and I wanna live in the CO mountains. The only thing that makes this course better is knowing there are at least 4 more world class mountain DG courses within a 30 minute drive. #bestDGtripever
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14 2
mndiscg
Diamond level trusted reviewer
Experience: 15.8 years 480 played 478 reviews
4.50 star(s)

PF, A Truly Unique Experience 2+ years

Reviewed: Played on:Apr 9, 2014 Played the course:once

Pros:

-Awesome elevation. There were many uphills, downhills, side hills, etc. The only holes that didn't have some elevation gain or loss usually had a large valley running down the middle or a great risk/reward green.
-Risk/reward- Definitely the best risk/reward course that I have ever played. You need to think about every shot or you will end up 100 feet down a ravine or across Pine Valley Road. Lots of fun, challenging holes and greens.
-Navigation is 2nd to none. There are many marker rocks with directions to the next tee even though you probably don't even need those. The next tee is almost always very near the last basket.
-Baskets- (see cons as well)- there were some very unique baskets. Hole 1 is a pine basket and is one of the most photographed baskets ever. Paulie will take your picture next to it. Other cool baskets include the prototype of the one that Paulie's company makes, the one made of the barrel, wheel, and tree trunk, hot pink basket.
-The tees are natural but they are well maintained and I had no issues with them.
-Only one tee time per day. You can run aces over and over, take a break at any time, stop for beers or lunch, and do whatever you want to do during your round. It is exclusive.
-Very tight wooded course. There are large pines all over the place and they provide plenty of challenge.
-Character- this course has it's own character that is hard to find at other courses. From the differing baskets to animal skeltons laying around to the ski and snowboard benches.
-Benches at every single tee
-Markers for best drive ever and of the year.
-Definitely some ace runs here but if you go long, you are often fighting for a bogey.
-Scorecards and guides provided at beginning of round with lengthy and informative orientation of the history of the course.
-A great local club- Foothill Flyers along with many other great courses in the area. This area of CO is definitely among the ultimate destinations for disc golf in the world.
-Pro shop located on site with lots of cool discs and other items.
-Paulie is a great host and a great guy. He is passionate about disc golf and it is awesome that he opens up his backyard to strangers nearly every day.
-I went in as a solo player and had the opportunity to play with 2 great guys- Ben and Aaron, thanks for the round guys!

Cons:

-Some of the baskets are poor. Single layer of chains and they will spit out discs more frequently than better baskets. As a private course, I understand that it would be very expensive to fund 28 top of the line baskets but I have to include this to be as thorough as possible.
-Pay to play- this will be included on both pros and cons. $20 is a bit steep for disc golf.
-One tee time per day. It can be hard to get on this course.
-Crossing fairways, crammed. 39 holes on 15 acres is pretty crammed. As a result, this is not a tournament course. You would have to have few groups on the course at a time and be very careful. Some holes also share baskets.
-This course is long and is constantly up and down steep hills with sometimes poor footing at high altitude. This course isn't for everyone.
-Natural pads- some may complain about these. One of the guys that I played with likes to follow through over the end of the pad sometimes and that is very hard to do here due to the wood and the drop off that usually occurs in front of the tee pad. Paulie doesn't want 39 pieces of concrete laying around his yard in case he has to sell the property someday.
-Not many (hardly any) open holes. This is a fairly tight wooded course. You will use your drivers but you always have to hit some kind of line and don't really have a chance to just truly let it rip.
-You could lose a disc here. The underbrush is limited but due to the huge elevation changes, your disc can travel a long way, including off of Paulie's property.

Other Thoughts:

-I had to list all potential cons in order to give people the best idea of what to expect when they come to PF.
-There is free camping about 10 miles beyond PF in the Buffalo Creek National Forest area. This is a popular area in the summer, especially on weekends. If you don't get into a free spot there is an official campground just down the road and another at Wellington Lake. If you do something like this, then you will have time to play the other esteemed courses in the area including Bucksnort, Conifer Park, and Bailey.
-Like my title says, PF is truly a unique experience and is something that I recommend to anyone who can handle walking up and down the hills all day. It has an enormous fun factor for me. It was very challenging and you literally had to use every disc and think about every shot. There were always big penalties for carelessness.
-This course is a solid 4 hours (minimum) of entertainment and is worth the $20. Every disc golfer who is able should experience a course like this at least once in their lives. I hope to return and bring some others that haven't played here before.
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