Thacher Park DGC reviews
1
0
Redzo
Experience:
7.6 years
13 played
11 reviews
Fun time 2+ years drive by
Reviewed:
Played on:Aug 14, 2019
Played the course:once
Pros:
Fun open course, with limited challenges; inviting newer players to let loose and have fun.
Some nice views on the back 9.
Back 9 layout is a lot more fun and organized than the front 9.
Some nice views on the back 9.
Back 9 layout is a lot more fun and organized than the front 9.
Cons:
Not worth going out of the way for, but was fun on a stop through town and the Park itself is beautiful.
5
0
Mell
Experience:
14.9 years
9 played
9 reviews
Was hoping for REAL improvements 2+ years drive by
Reviewed:
Updated:
Played on:Aug 1, 2019
Played the course:5+ times
Pros:
Distances, pars and challenges are appropriate for a casual (rec) player like myself. This is what I like best about this course.
Good course for family DG & teaching children the sport.
Restrooms available throughout course.
Located in a beautiful park.
Scorecards available at Visitor Center.
Good course for family DG & teaching children the sport.
Restrooms available throughout course.
Located in a beautiful park.
Scorecards available at Visitor Center.
Cons:
Tee signs are basic with only pars & distances posted. Some have totally wrong distances (#15 & #18).
The redesign of #15 is a disaster. It's now only about 150'. Doesn't seem to have a clear fairway or line to the target.
Many tee, target & fairway areas need a good brushhoging.
Safety concerns:
* Picnic areas in fairways (#4) and too close to target area (#15).
* #1's tee area is way too close to #7's target area.
Tees for #1 & #8 should be leveled & their positions adjusted.
#1 especially.
There are many other things that could be implemented to improve this course, like "next tee" navigational signs & a few benches.
**Pay to play, parking fee of $6 from May-October.
The redesign of #15 is a disaster. It's now only about 150'. Doesn't seem to have a clear fairway or line to the target.
Many tee, target & fairway areas need a good brushhoging.
Safety concerns:
* Picnic areas in fairways (#4) and too close to target area (#15).
* #1's tee area is way too close to #7's target area.
Tees for #1 & #8 should be leveled & their positions adjusted.
#1 especially.
There are many other things that could be implemented to improve this course, like "next tee" navigational signs & a few benches.
**Pay to play, parking fee of $6 from May-October.
Other Thoughts:
Don't get me wrong I like this course.
It has promise and is close to where I live.
I heard that the tees will be replaced with new artificial "Turf" tees. This should be better but.... that all depends on the quality of installation.
I was hoping & expecting more after meeting with management to discuss improvements for the course.
Many other experienced DG'ers have met with management recently for the same.
We will see what happens in the near future.
It has promise and is close to where I live.
I heard that the tees will be replaced with new artificial "Turf" tees. This should be better but.... that all depends on the quality of installation.
I was hoping & expecting more after meeting with management to discuss improvements for the course.
Many other experienced DG'ers have met with management recently for the same.
We will see what happens in the near future.
6
0
Lotsa potential waiting for a zealot... 2+ years drive by
Reviewed:
Played on:May 27, 2018
Played the course:5+ times
Pros:
* beautiful park with incredible geology (lots of fossils, karst topography, a huge escarpment with 100+ mile view on a clear day)
* decent variety of left, right, open, choked, long, short holes.
* good use of terrain.
* this place just screams "BUILD A DISC GOLF COURSE HERE!" and someone listened.
* decent variety of left, right, open, choked, long, short holes.
* good use of terrain.
* this place just screams "BUILD A DISC GOLF COURSE HERE!" and someone listened.
Cons:
* no tee signs
* no next tee directional aids at the baskets
* dangerous basket/tee locations
* some poorly thought out flow issues (front nine)
* tee pads (such as they are) are uneven, bordering on unplayable at times
* course upkeep is spotty
* no next tee directional aids at the baskets
* dangerous basket/tee locations
* some poorly thought out flow issues (front nine)
* tee pads (such as they are) are uneven, bordering on unplayable at times
* course upkeep is spotty
Other Thoughts:
Bag used/needed: carried 17 discs, used 12
Impression:
On a scale of 0 (horrible) to 5 (heavenly):
Scenery: 5
Ease of navigation: 1
Tee pads: 2
Baskets (catchability): 4
Baskets (location): 3
Variety: 4
Bomb factor: 4
Risk/reward opportunities: 1
Fairness: 4
Use of terrain: 4
Amenities: 3 (average between the golf area 2 and the park as a whole 5)
Beginner friendliness: 2 1/2 (average between the front nine and the back nine)
Non-disc golfer opportunities for fun: 5 (unless you hate hiking, then 4)
REVIEWER'S THOUGHTS...
Boy, this is a beautiful location. And boy, does this course need a zealot, some wild-eyed disc golf freak who lives near it and plays it a couple of times every week. It needs someone willing to put in the time and effort to push the powers that be into redesigning the front 9, adding tee signs, adding REAL tee pads, etc etc etc... a disc golf fanatic who will teach the park maintenance people how to care for and feed a disc golf course so it will grow into a mature faciility. The potential is huge here, with a little bit of tweaking it could be a destination course worthy of an A-tier event. As it stands right now, experts will be frustrated by the front nine (too short, too illogical), beginners will be frustrated by the back nine (too long), and both groups will be frustrated just trying to navigate around the course. It took me three tries to find all 18 holes and to play them in order, and I am the son of a surveyor and woods tracker (would it really be all that hard to put in a tee sign and next tee arrow?). As noted by other reviewers, the front nine has some safety issues, and there is that massive cliff you could throw a disc over, but the chances of having to be there in the first place could be easily rectified with a redesign...
Having said all of this, I do make a point of stopping up here every few months because the park is just such a nice place to hang out. I look for fossils, ride my mountain bike, have a picnic, set up a hammock, and somewhere in there I take a walk around a disc golf course with an excellent variety of long, short, left, and right throws.
It doesn't suck.
About the reviewer: I've been playing for over 20 years, and playing seriously since 2007. I throw RHBH predominantly, with a wide arsenal of other shots that I use when I need them; my drives average about 320 feet +/- 30 feet on flat ground. My PDGA rating hovers a little above 900, which means on good days I shoot a few below par, on bad days a few above.
About my preferences: In my opinion the perfect disc golf course is an interesting walk in a natural space, with a wide variety of challenging but fair opportunities that test ALL of your shot making skills regardless of which hand you favor for throwing discs. I am happiest when I have to think my way from tee to basket hole after hole after hole weighing risks versus rewards. In my opinion the worst disc golf courses have nothing to offer but holes that a) only test of how far you can throw b) only favor one particular type of throw on the majority of holes c) feature "plinko" lines choked with obstacles where luck is more important than skill d) are so short that a putter is all you need e) are so wide open that the only challenge is one of judging distance f) force you to lose a few discs if you dare to play g) feature lines that discs were never meant to travel, such as those $@#!$ <300 ft holes in the woods that have two 90 degree doglegs bending in opposite directions like a badly drawn letter N. I am saddest when I feel bored or cheated by holes and/or by an entire course.
Impression:
On a scale of 0 (horrible) to 5 (heavenly):
Scenery: 5
Ease of navigation: 1
Tee pads: 2
Baskets (catchability): 4
Baskets (location): 3
Variety: 4
Bomb factor: 4
Risk/reward opportunities: 1
Fairness: 4
Use of terrain: 4
Amenities: 3 (average between the golf area 2 and the park as a whole 5)
Beginner friendliness: 2 1/2 (average between the front nine and the back nine)
Non-disc golfer opportunities for fun: 5 (unless you hate hiking, then 4)
REVIEWER'S THOUGHTS...
Boy, this is a beautiful location. And boy, does this course need a zealot, some wild-eyed disc golf freak who lives near it and plays it a couple of times every week. It needs someone willing to put in the time and effort to push the powers that be into redesigning the front 9, adding tee signs, adding REAL tee pads, etc etc etc... a disc golf fanatic who will teach the park maintenance people how to care for and feed a disc golf course so it will grow into a mature faciility. The potential is huge here, with a little bit of tweaking it could be a destination course worthy of an A-tier event. As it stands right now, experts will be frustrated by the front nine (too short, too illogical), beginners will be frustrated by the back nine (too long), and both groups will be frustrated just trying to navigate around the course. It took me three tries to find all 18 holes and to play them in order, and I am the son of a surveyor and woods tracker (would it really be all that hard to put in a tee sign and next tee arrow?). As noted by other reviewers, the front nine has some safety issues, and there is that massive cliff you could throw a disc over, but the chances of having to be there in the first place could be easily rectified with a redesign...
Having said all of this, I do make a point of stopping up here every few months because the park is just such a nice place to hang out. I look for fossils, ride my mountain bike, have a picnic, set up a hammock, and somewhere in there I take a walk around a disc golf course with an excellent variety of long, short, left, and right throws.
It doesn't suck.
About the reviewer: I've been playing for over 20 years, and playing seriously since 2007. I throw RHBH predominantly, with a wide arsenal of other shots that I use when I need them; my drives average about 320 feet +/- 30 feet on flat ground. My PDGA rating hovers a little above 900, which means on good days I shoot a few below par, on bad days a few above.
About my preferences: In my opinion the perfect disc golf course is an interesting walk in a natural space, with a wide variety of challenging but fair opportunities that test ALL of your shot making skills regardless of which hand you favor for throwing discs. I am happiest when I have to think my way from tee to basket hole after hole after hole weighing risks versus rewards. In my opinion the worst disc golf courses have nothing to offer but holes that a) only test of how far you can throw b) only favor one particular type of throw on the majority of holes c) feature "plinko" lines choked with obstacles where luck is more important than skill d) are so short that a putter is all you need e) are so wide open that the only challenge is one of judging distance f) force you to lose a few discs if you dare to play g) feature lines that discs were never meant to travel, such as those $@#!$ <300 ft holes in the woods that have two 90 degree doglegs bending in opposite directions like a badly drawn letter N. I am saddest when I feel bored or cheated by holes and/or by an entire course.
6
0
vonnegut21
Experience:
5 played
4 reviews
Tons of promise, just needs some work 2+ years drive by
Reviewed:
Played on:Aug 27, 2017
Played the course:2-4 times
Pros:
Beautiful location, lots of scenic views. The front 9 offers lots of open, easy holes that are great for beginners, while the back 9 offers longer, more difficult holes which bring the woods into play.
Cons:
No tee signs. Tee pads need work and are difficult to find. Layout of the front 9 results in some blind shots into areas where park visitors could be walking. Front 9 really needs a re-design for safety.
Other Thoughts:
A nice change of pace from CPS and JPark, I'd love to see a little more work put into this course to take it from pretty good to great.
1
7
bfoflyer
Experience:
10.8 years
10 played
3 reviews
Nice easy start with a challenging back 9 drive by
Reviewed:
Updated:
Played on:Aug 1, 2017
Played the course:2-4 times
Pros:
Great views around the course. Decent signage and finally a useable course map.
Cons:
Close to huge (300'-400')cliff wall so watch the heavy heisers. Tee pads are useable but could use some work.
6
0
Assumer
Experience:
6.9 years
6 played
1 reviews
Great Addition to Thacher 2+ years drive by
Reviewed:
Updated:
Played on:May 14, 2017
Played the course:once
Pros:
Edit: Tee signs appear to be in process of being installed.
Good mix of holes. Field golf along the front 9 with some technical shots to keep it interesting.
The technicality of the back 9 is a nice change of pace.
Last several holes play along the escarpment.
Good mix of holes. Field golf along the front 9 with some technical shots to keep it interesting.
The technicality of the back 9 is a nice change of pace.
Last several holes play along the escarpment.
Cons:
Edit*******************
Hole 15 was one of the best holes on the course, a gently left to right moving fairway. The new bathroom caused a basket relocation, making it now one of the worst holes on the course, a simple chip-up RHFH.
It would appears whoever manages the course has doubled down on the obviously unsafe placement of the hole 1 teepad about 40 feet from the hole 7 basket.
**************************
Mixed use areas may prove problematic on busy days. Course plays directly over a firepit and along a mountain bike track. Hole 18 could do with some tree removal to make a real fairway.
Hole 15 was one of the best holes on the course, a gently left to right moving fairway. The new bathroom caused a basket relocation, making it now one of the worst holes on the course, a simple chip-up RHFH.
It would appears whoever manages the course has doubled down on the obviously unsafe placement of the hole 1 teepad about 40 feet from the hole 7 basket.
**************************
Mixed use areas may prove problematic on busy days. Course plays directly over a firepit and along a mountain bike track. Hole 18 could do with some tree removal to make a real fairway.
Other Thoughts:
The teepads of 1 and I think 8 are far too close to the pin for hole 7. They need to be moved, otherwise on a busy day or in a tournament there would be no teeing off on 7 unless both those pads are clear.
This property is capable of hosting a championship caliber course with a little bit of care, hopefully someday a redesigned course will take it to that level.
This property is capable of hosting a championship caliber course with a little bit of care, hopefully someday a redesigned course will take it to that level.
