HYZER

Course Review: Black Diamond Disc Golf Course

I had the pleasure of traveling to a few new courses the other day.  Black Diamond in South Wales, NY, was definitely a course I’m glad I didn’t miss!  Black Diamond is one of the newer, if not the newest, course in New York.  You can tell the group dealing with the design of the course really wanted a fun and challenging course.

The variety of Black Diamond is the number one thing that would bring me back to play it again.  It goes anywhere from a medium length midrange shot that makes you slam your disc to the right to a 1165 foot downhill adventure.  The basket placements added challenging putts and aesthetic appeal to the course.  There are a couple elevated baskets that are gorgeous but really make you not want to miss your putt!  Every hole on Black Diamond was a great time and it seemed no two shots were the same.  Each hole had four different tee placements so anybody, even the newer disc golfers, could come and play the course (though it is very challenging). 

Being a very new course, Black Diamond does not have any tee signs and the tees are marked only with little orange flags and ground markers.  Luckily as more time and effort are put into the course, I believe the markings of the holes will improve.  There are many locals that work on the course a good amount, as I noticed while playing.  With a little work, this course will easily be a championship level course.

Pros:

-Gorgeous course
-Challenging and enjoyable holes
-Variety of tee placements
-Dedicated local players/workers who are very friendly!
-Some raised basket placements

Cons:

-No tee signs
-The back nine can be challenging to find the next tees

Signature Holes:

#1 - A 1165 foot hole down a ski slope with a semi tight fairway
#17 - A line of trees block your path, followed by a huge grass mound!

Conclusion:

I am very happy I didn’t miss my opportunity to play this wonderful course.  It is easily up there on my list of favorite courses.  This course will really shape your disc golf game because if there is any shot that you are not currently throwing correctly, after 18 holes here you will know it.  With some work, I am positive we will see many tournaments and many pros at Black Diamond disc golf course.

Final Rating:

4/5

-Jeffrie Pack

Bag Review: Jonathan Pack

I decided to do something a little different with this review.  Instead of the typical course or disc review, I’m going to go through my bag and explain why I use each disc.  I hope this helps some newer players, or can give a helpful hint to a more seasoned player!

Drivers:

170g ESP Force: One of the fastest and most overstable discs I’ve ever played with!  Throw a huge turnover drive and trust this disc to always come back, or rip a huge hyzer.  The most dependable driver in my bag, no questions asked.


170g ESP Crush: Another great driver from Discraft.  I throw my crush when I need a long controlled hyzer.


173g Z-Surge: My distance driver!  I throw my surge when I need controlled big distance off the tee.  You never have to try and throw this disc too hard, it just goes!


172g ESP Predator: Big and overstable, what else can I say?   I can throw my force a bit further, but the pred is still a staple in my bag.

171g X-Tracker: For reaching distance just outside my buzz.

170g Champion Orc: Doesn’t get too much use anymore, but I grew up on this disc.  Controlled distance off the tee.



Midrange:

172g ESP Buzzz: One of Discrafts most dependable discs.  This thing will do whatever you want it to do.  Holds whatever line you throw it on like a champ.


170g ESP Meteor: Recently discovered this disc, and don’t know how I lived without it.  I can throw it pin straight or get a beautiful right curve with it.  I play RHBH!


169g Z-Wasp: I use the wasp for long midrange hyzers.  It is the perfect finish to my midrange game.


170g KC Pro Roc: Like the Orc, I grew up learning this disc.  With all the discraft plastic I throw, it doesn’t get too much use but when I need it, I know it’s there.  One of Innovas best discs.



Putters:

175g Pro-D Magnet: I used to throw hyzer putts, but not anymore!  Throw the magnet straight at the chains and count on the fact that it’s going in.

Course Review: Baker Farm

Ah, my home course.  What can I say?  If you’re in the Rochester area, be sure to hit up this ex-farm turned course!  Beautifully manicured fairways, tough basket placements and a mixture of very long and short holes makes for a very enjoyable experience at Baker Farm!

The course is set up in a great flowing links style.  The flow between each hole seems very natural, never leaving the player second guessing the next tee location. 

Every type of player can enjoy this course.  Cannon arms will enjoy the frequent holes over 500 feet, and short game golfers will get a good midrange test. 

Feel like throwing a huge hyzer?  Go for it.  A roller?  Go for it.  Big turnover drive?  Absolutely.  This course will allow you to happily throw every shot in your bag!



Pros:

-Beautifully manicured course
-Fair tee placements
-Nice mix of longer and shorter holes
-Perfect use of old farm equipment
-Very active, friendly disc golf community
-Annual Chili Bowl!


Cons:

-Besides a small river on 2 holes, no water hazards
-A few broken benches
-After a good rain the course can stay wet for a while



Signature Holes:

-#11 A huge ~900ft hole.  Enjoy it, big arms!
-#1 A personal favorite with huge birdie potential



Conclusion:

If you are in the Rochester area, this is one of the big three to play, the others being Ellison Park and the Parma course.  Locals are spoiled by this beautiful links style course.  This course can really teach you how to play the game.  I know it did for me!


Final Rating:

4/5

Course Review: Word Of Life

While in the Hudson, FL area, I was able to play a not so well known course at the Word Of Life Christian Camp.  All in all, the course was a fun little practice course.  I would not travel a long distance to go play it again, but the fact that the camp decided to incorporate a disc golf course into their camp activities sure is a good sign!

The course was maintained just as well as the rest of the camp was maintained, which is fairly decent.  Navigating the course was fairly easy, as you get a map when you check in.  There were arrows to the next tee on every hole, which was very helpful.

There was nothing extremely special about this course.  I had recently bought a few new discs to try out, and this course ended up being a nice little course to practice on.  There were some nice longer holes where you can get a decently long drive in, but there were no holes longer than 420ft.

Pros:

-Nice remote location

-Fairly easy to navigate

-Extremely friendly campgoers

-Nice use of land

Cons:

-Very open holes

-Little variation

-Uneven tees

-Cost: $2.00 to play

Conclusion:

While a nice course to practice on, this course didn’t really shine in any aspect.  I happened to be in the area when I played it, but definitely wouldn’t travel to play it.  If you’re in the area, go play Coachmen or Cliff Stephens.

Final Rating:

2/5

Course Review: Cliff Stephens Park

If you are a resident of the Tampa area, chances are you have played the Cliff Stephens disc golf course.  If you have not, you are missing out!  I had the privelage to play it a few times this past week, and it has very quickly become one of my favorite courses.  And believe me, I’ve played quite a few.

The course is very well kept, and obviously is maintained quite well.  Professional tees challenge those with big arms, and amateur tees are friendly to those new to the sport.  You will need every driver in your bag to be successful here!

The front nine plays on one side of the road, and only flirts with water a few times.  The labeled pars are fairly accurate, only questioning a few par 4s that perhaps could have been 3s.

I believe the back nine is where this course really shines.  Gorgeous shots over the water, and very challenging holes.  If you can manage a birdie on a few holes on the back nine, they will be some of the most gratifying birdies you’ve thrown.

Pros:

-Beautiful Florida landscape

-Bird and animal life

-Challenging water hazards

-Fair professional tees

-Long holes where you can really rip it, and shorter holes to test your midrange.

Cons:

-Not a whole lot of elevation change

-27 hours driving from where I live!

Signature Holes:

-#10 A 350ft drive right over a huge pond.  Huge birdie potential here!

-#16 A 450 - 500ft shot over an even bigger pond!  Birdie this hole, and you’re doing something right.

Conclusion:


If you are able to get out and play this beautiful course, then by all means do it.  It has the potential to be one of the best outings you’ve ever had.  Oh, and did I mention that Clearwater Disc Golf Store, the largest disc golf store in the Country is ten minutes away?  And there is always the chance that you’ll get to play with one of the best players in the game today, Ken Climo.

Final Rating:

4/5