Bailey DGC reviews
19
0
Yes, TWO Tops of the World 2+ years
Reviewed:
Played on:Jun 25, 2021
Played the course:once
Pros:
A moderately open mountain course with many solid holes and some spectacular ones.
-Amenities: Turf tees, good baskets (DiscGolfPark perhaps?), good signs with maps and position indicator, next tee cues.
-Elevation: What most people will remember Bailey for. There are both open and wooded slopes here, with several holes of massive elevation change. Two 500+' top of the world shots, and even the mildest holes have 10+' of change.
-Multi-Pins: Multiple pin positions on almost every hole, which can vary the challenge.
-Difficulty: Due to length, slopes, and trees, Bailey plays towards the harder end of courses. It's not grueling, but birdies will feel pretty rewarding for non-advanced players. Putting will also be difficult here thanks to rock formations and trees.
-Natural Beauty: Obligatory Colorado mountain course pro. This isn't the prettiest in the area that I've played (I would rate Beaver Ranch and Lake Dillon ahead of it for sure), but you can make out mountains and hills throughout, and the rolling pine meadows are pretty scenic as well.
-Shot Shaping/Gameplay: A somewhat wooded challenge that will require a lot of full sends. Holes vary from mostly open rips down or uphill to short and technical pine needling. The dominant type of hole is a slightly curved, longish par-3 with an interesting basket placement (such as rocks). There is less than a handful of par-4s built in, both short ones (due to uphill struggling) and longer ones. The most memorable holes are (1) and (20), giant downhill bombs. There are plenty of other nice holes with moderate woods that will be a tough birdie challenge.
-Amenities: Turf tees, good baskets (DiscGolfPark perhaps?), good signs with maps and position indicator, next tee cues.
-Elevation: What most people will remember Bailey for. There are both open and wooded slopes here, with several holes of massive elevation change. Two 500+' top of the world shots, and even the mildest holes have 10+' of change.
-Multi-Pins: Multiple pin positions on almost every hole, which can vary the challenge.
-Difficulty: Due to length, slopes, and trees, Bailey plays towards the harder end of courses. It's not grueling, but birdies will feel pretty rewarding for non-advanced players. Putting will also be difficult here thanks to rock formations and trees.
-Natural Beauty: Obligatory Colorado mountain course pro. This isn't the prettiest in the area that I've played (I would rate Beaver Ranch and Lake Dillon ahead of it for sure), but you can make out mountains and hills throughout, and the rolling pine meadows are pretty scenic as well.
-Shot Shaping/Gameplay: A somewhat wooded challenge that will require a lot of full sends. Holes vary from mostly open rips down or uphill to short and technical pine needling. The dominant type of hole is a slightly curved, longish par-3 with an interesting basket placement (such as rocks). There is less than a handful of par-4s built in, both short ones (due to uphill struggling) and longer ones. The most memorable holes are (1) and (20), giant downhill bombs. There are plenty of other nice holes with moderate woods that will be a tough birdie challenge.
Cons:
-Multi-Shot Holes: The main thing that keeps Bailey down for me. There aren't very many holes utilizing careful placement for a second shot. It's mostly tee shot or bust, and even the par-4s are more length than anything. It gets a bit old to have a mostly open tee shot and then likely a short approach for par.
-Hike: It's a workout. Watch your step going both up and down hills with loose rock. Similar to other steep courses in the area. You could also easily encounter wildlife of the region (I ran into several bucks that slowed me down).
-Disc Loss: A definite risk on steeply downhill holes.
-Navigation: A small number of spots are difficult to make the transition, mainly (16)-(17) and finding the first tee. Nothing fatal, just annoying.
-Hike: It's a workout. Watch your step going both up and down hills with loose rock. Similar to other steep courses in the area. You could also easily encounter wildlife of the region (I ran into several bucks that slowed me down).
-Disc Loss: A definite risk on steeply downhill holes.
-Navigation: A small number of spots are difficult to make the transition, mainly (16)-(17) and finding the first tee. Nothing fatal, just annoying.
Other Thoughts:
Bailey is a very solid, scenic mountain course. It doesn't have weak holes, and a couple of stunning holes make it one to remember. However, much of the appeal is merely beauty and terrain, which makes it a slightly less satisfying gameplay experience than some other places I've been. I would certainly return, but it's not making my all-times list.
13
0
Excellent Mountain Course 2+ years
Reviewed:
Played on:Aug 23, 2016
Played the course:once
Pros:
Bailey DGC is a semi-open mountain course that offers a lot of variation in hole length (220' - 700') with three epic "top of the world" holes.
There are a few holes that required an accurate drive through trees, but the majority are long and semi-open and favor a big arm. On a hole-by-hole basis I was surprised at how many of the holes played essentially flat or with modest elevation change.
Hole 1, and especially Holes 16 and 23 were giant downhill drives that really stand out. Each drives down into a cleared meadow so finding your disc(s) is easy, but the opportunity to crank your drive out there and watch it drop 100'+ is great.
There were some interesting basket placements in boulder piles and near fencelines that created challenging greens. Some of the baskets are on sloping ground and present challenging roll away potential.
There are a few holes that required an accurate drive through trees, but the majority are long and semi-open and favor a big arm. On a hole-by-hole basis I was surprised at how many of the holes played essentially flat or with modest elevation change.
Hole 1, and especially Holes 16 and 23 were giant downhill drives that really stand out. Each drives down into a cleared meadow so finding your disc(s) is easy, but the opportunity to crank your drive out there and watch it drop 100'+ is great.
There were some interesting basket placements in boulder piles and near fencelines that created challenging greens. Some of the baskets are on sloping ground and present challenging roll away potential.
Cons:
The biggest con is the natural tee pads. While they are large and flat, they are also lumpy and bumpy, and a bit slick when damp.
Tee signs were helpful, but not great. Each sign was a crop from an overall course map and some showed as many 4 holes in the diagram. With no holes labeled in the diagram it was a little confusing.
On some holes it was tough to determine where to throw (no numbers on baskets) The Hole 5 map (and course notes) indicate a dogleg right around an aspen grove. After my second drive(600' hole) I spent a lot of time looking for a basket to my right, but finally threw straight ahead to a basket that had been in view all along. With no basket number I couldn't be sure, but the next tee sign was for Hole 6 so I guess I played it correctly.
Didn't love the start. Hiking 80' up a hillside and then turning around and throwing back down to the bottom seemed odd. Why not play up the hill and then back down?
Tee signs were helpful, but not great. Each sign was a crop from an overall course map and some showed as many 4 holes in the diagram. With no holes labeled in the diagram it was a little confusing.
On some holes it was tough to determine where to throw (no numbers on baskets) The Hole 5 map (and course notes) indicate a dogleg right around an aspen grove. After my second drive(600' hole) I spent a lot of time looking for a basket to my right, but finally threw straight ahead to a basket that had been in view all along. With no basket number I couldn't be sure, but the next tee sign was for Hole 6 so I guess I played it correctly.
Didn't love the start. Hiking 80' up a hillside and then turning around and throwing back down to the bottom seemed odd. Why not play up the hill and then back down?
Other Thoughts:
I think that comparisons to the nearby Beaver Ranch course are inevitable, so here I go. The Bailey DGC is:
- Longer
- More open
- Less elevation (with the exception of the three big downhill holes)
- Less finished
Since I don't have a big arm and like wooded courses I preferred the Beaver Ranch course, but this one was still excellent.
- Longer
- More open
- Less elevation (with the exception of the three big downhill holes)
- Less finished
Since I don't have a big arm and like wooded courses I preferred the Beaver Ranch course, but this one was still excellent.
4
1
Wow! 2+ years drive by
Reviewed:
Played on:Jun 7, 2014
Played the course:once
Pros:
-Only mountain course in the area that has holes for you to really air it out
-Great mixture of shots: uphill, downhill, tunnel, left finishing, right finishing, short and tech, long and bombing...Literally everything but water
-Reasonable OB, none of it artifical
-Great views on nearly every hole, a truly unique experience all the way around
-Not a beginner course, but all skill levels will find something to enjoy
-Great mixture of shots: uphill, downhill, tunnel, left finishing, right finishing, short and tech, long and bombing...Literally everything but water
-Reasonable OB, none of it artifical
-Great views on nearly every hole, a truly unique experience all the way around
-Not a beginner course, but all skill levels will find something to enjoy
Cons:
-Dirt tee areas are super slick and make it tough to really crank on a drive on longer holes
-Saw a lot of spit-outs, including me getting robbed of an eagle, on the Disc - In brand baskets.
-Saw a lot of spit-outs, including me getting robbed of an eagle, on the Disc - In brand baskets.
Other Thoughts:
Played here for the Bloom tournament and this course is simply amazing. A must play course, for sure. Don't miss it.
20
0
A longer beaver 2+ years
Reviewed:
Played on:Aug 18, 2013
Played the course:2-4 times
Pros:
In short, this is a longer version of Conifer and shares many of the design similarities.
The first hole features a dramatic bomb over a little valley that is mostly open but with a few trees blocking the direct path. Bring your long distance S-shot. This is one of several exhilarating downhill shots where you need to consider your disc's stability fade more than you ever need to on a regular course. It's easy to go for a long S-shot and have it never come back, or to throw straight and watch helplessly as the disc fades way left.
The course uses the natural features really well. Hole 6 has a pretty double-mando (similar to the one at Conifer), throwing downhill to a basket sticking out of a crack in a huge boulder. Uphill putts onto boulders are used frequently in the courses around here, and I like it. Uphill putting is an underused skill, and the punishment is greater if you miss. Hole 9 forces your second shot under some trees to reach an elevated basket, and throwing too high or too low will cost you. Groves of aspens are used throughout, and getting caught in them may leave you in a bad place. A scenic, bad place.
Paulie has useful next tee signs on every hole, along with larger orange arrows indicating the hard-to-see positions (some are in the shadows) or around doglegs.
The elevation didn't seem as bad here, and the hike isn't as tough as at Conifer or Magic Meadows.
Scenery could be worse.
The first hole features a dramatic bomb over a little valley that is mostly open but with a few trees blocking the direct path. Bring your long distance S-shot. This is one of several exhilarating downhill shots where you need to consider your disc's stability fade more than you ever need to on a regular course. It's easy to go for a long S-shot and have it never come back, or to throw straight and watch helplessly as the disc fades way left.
The course uses the natural features really well. Hole 6 has a pretty double-mando (similar to the one at Conifer), throwing downhill to a basket sticking out of a crack in a huge boulder. Uphill putts onto boulders are used frequently in the courses around here, and I like it. Uphill putting is an underused skill, and the punishment is greater if you miss. Hole 9 forces your second shot under some trees to reach an elevated basket, and throwing too high or too low will cost you. Groves of aspens are used throughout, and getting caught in them may leave you in a bad place. A scenic, bad place.
Paulie has useful next tee signs on every hole, along with larger orange arrows indicating the hard-to-see positions (some are in the shadows) or around doglegs.
The elevation didn't seem as bad here, and the hike isn't as tough as at Conifer or Magic Meadows.
Scenery could be worse.
Cons:
Distance is really emphasized here, more than you may think based on the stated distances. You generally need a long, accurate drive that puts you in a position to have an open look at the hole. This is a useful skill to have, but it doesn't make for my favorite sort of course. I could have used a few more deuce-or-die holes. I've played all the courses in the area with friends, and the biggest arms score better here (this isn't always the case at Phantom Falls or Magic Meadows)
Note that this was created as a championship caliber course for the state championships a few years ago, so the distance is understandable. And there are plenty of great courses in the area with shorter holes.
No tee signs here since the course isn't permanent. If I wasn't with friends who had played, I think I would have had trouble determining where some of the baskets were (not every hole has the orange arrows).
Note that this was created as a championship caliber course for the state championships a few years ago, so the distance is understandable. And there are plenty of great courses in the area with shorter holes.
No tee signs here since the course isn't permanent. If I wasn't with friends who had played, I think I would have had trouble determining where some of the baskets were (not every hole has the orange arrows).
Other Thoughts:
It's $5 to play, and the course is not open starting around October through the late spring. The main reason is that cattle graze in pastures in the offseason, and they like to scratch themselves on the baskets and end up damaging them. This is kind of funny to picture.
The Conifer/Pine/Bailey area has quickly become a disc golf destination. Come and play all the courses. I'll still rank Conifer at the top of the list just because it has so many signature holes, but you shouldn't be disappointed by any of these.
The Conifer/Pine/Bailey area has quickly become a disc golf destination. Come and play all the courses. I'll still rank Conifer at the top of the list just because it has so many signature holes, but you shouldn't be disappointed by any of these.
0
8
VeloRandy
Experience:
4 played
3 reviews
Where to begin? 2+ years drive by
Reviewed:
Played on:Oct 1, 2012
Played the course:once
Pros:
The location of this course is perfect and the overall layout was designed pretty well. There are plenty of trees and changes in terrain that make this an above average mountain course.
Cons:
Where to begin? No really, where the heck is the first tee? No maps on table made this course a little difficult and we may have left if we didn't find a course map on the smartphone. Navigation was a bit tough at times but not impossible.
Other Thoughts:
A little course and hole information would be nice. I know this is a new course and still a work in progress.
4
0
Sandman1981
Experience:
22.8 years
19 played
15 reviews
Great tourney style course 2+ years drive by
Reviewed:
Played on:Aug 14, 2011
Played the course:once
Pros:
Awesome layout! Technical course that opens up for the long bombers in your bag. Holes are spaced great so as not to interfere with other players, it flows well and is adequately marked. A must play.
Cons:
Cow patties suck whether they are dry or not. The seasonal aspect is not great, but its open for long enough that you have time to get up there. Did not enjoy going OBO 30ft from the pin, but throwers fault. Baskets need to be upgraded so donations above the recommended are welcome!
Other Thoughts:
First time out kicked my butt as do any technical courses but I look forward to reducing my score the next round knowing the lines better.
10
0
Awesome!!! 2+ years drive by
Reviewed:
Played on:Aug 5, 2011
Played the course:2-4 times
Pros:
-Lots of variety in the distance of holes on the course
-Good amount of elevation change, whether it is straight downhill, slight up or downhill, across a side hill or up a steep hill.
-Great use of the trees and rocks, and other natural features that this property has in abundance
-Map a the table where you pay
-This course is a lot of fun to play because of the fun hole design
-Good amount of elevation change, whether it is straight downhill, slight up or downhill, across a side hill or up a steep hill.
-Great use of the trees and rocks, and other natural features that this property has in abundance
-Map a the table where you pay
-This course is a lot of fun to play because of the fun hole design
Cons:
Just a note before the cons, many of these cons are probably mostly due to the current non-permanence of the course
-Without the map or someone who has played the course before it can be very hard to find the next tee pad, as there are not much of a path between the holes and very few of the holes have tee-signs as mentioned before
-There are no bathrooms or benches or any other facilities
-As mentioned in the pros the tee pads are just dirt (they are in good shape for natural teepads)
-There is a motley assortment of baskets (including some innova travelers but all of the baskets work and catch the disc pretty well)
-The trees can easily eat a disc
-Without the map or someone who has played the course before it can be very hard to find the next tee pad, as there are not much of a path between the holes and very few of the holes have tee-signs as mentioned before
-There are no bathrooms or benches or any other facilities
-As mentioned in the pros the tee pads are just dirt (they are in good shape for natural teepads)
-There is a motley assortment of baskets (including some innova travelers but all of the baskets work and catch the disc pretty well)
-The trees can easily eat a disc
Other Thoughts:
This course is mostly definitely worth the $5 dollars to play the course. As stated above many of the cons are due to the non permanence of the course. I really hope this course eventually gets made permanent because it could easily be one of the best courses out there. Make sure you make a trip up to this awesome course before it gets pulled again.
