Base Camp Adventure Lodge DGC reviews
19
0
Base Camp Adventure Lodge DGC 2+ years
Reviewed:
Played on:Mar 27, 2021
Played the course:once
Pros:
My Three Pros:
-The word 'Adventure' in the course name is no understatement. The drive, course and surroundings are so epic that the adventure begins on your drive out of Moab and doesnt end until you reach pavement again. It goes without saying the #1 'pro' for the course is its beautifully epic location that requires an adventure just to get there. The course itself requires a substantial hike through rocky sandy terrain, up and over cliffs and boulders and alongside the the Colorado River directly across from Canyonlands National park. The number of signature holes keep the round exciting throughout to make for an equally epic round of golf.
- The baskets were surprisingly nice For some reason I expected portable or even homemade baskets but these are very nice Innova Baskets all permanently mounted. In addition all tees were well marked and Tom had maps available that made navigation pretty easy.
-The signature holes of the course were some of the best I've played anywhere due to the combined elevation, scenery and basket placements. #5 is easily my favorite and one of the most fun holes I've played, throwing across the canyon to basket protected by boulders, all right next to the river below. The string of holes up in the rocky hill have such dramatic elevation in play with precarious baskets placed on slopey slickrock just waiting to send your disc rolling.
-The word 'Adventure' in the course name is no understatement. The drive, course and surroundings are so epic that the adventure begins on your drive out of Moab and doesnt end until you reach pavement again. It goes without saying the #1 'pro' for the course is its beautifully epic location that requires an adventure just to get there. The course itself requires a substantial hike through rocky sandy terrain, up and over cliffs and boulders and alongside the the Colorado River directly across from Canyonlands National park. The number of signature holes keep the round exciting throughout to make for an equally epic round of golf.
- The baskets were surprisingly nice For some reason I expected portable or even homemade baskets but these are very nice Innova Baskets all permanently mounted. In addition all tees were well marked and Tom had maps available that made navigation pretty easy.
-The signature holes of the course were some of the best I've played anywhere due to the combined elevation, scenery and basket placements. #5 is easily my favorite and one of the most fun holes I've played, throwing across the canyon to basket protected by boulders, all right next to the river below. The string of holes up in the rocky hill have such dramatic elevation in play with precarious baskets placed on slopey slickrock just waiting to send your disc rolling.
Cons:
My Three Cons:
-The adventure is a double edged sword.... I made the trek to moab in 2019 very intent on spending a day at the base camp only to be turned around by the required creek crossing below the drive up the pass. We figured our jeep cherokee could make it up the pass but the creek was deep enough to change our minds. Many reviewers mention the crazy drive up and over hurrah pass but it is well worth mentioning that if you come in spring you may have to cross a 16"+ creek before you have the chance to try the crazy hurrah pass. Definitely check the weather for rain the days BEFORE you plan to arrive to guestimate what you may have to drive through. I came back this time with a much higher vehicle and drove right through no problem. Needless to say this place is remote and you will be without signal or access to food/supplies until you get back to Moab.
-Teepads leave very much to be desired as they are mostly all strips of turf laid on the ground and marked by small blue or red PVC stakes. On the rock holes you throw from a marked area on the rock itself. It is obviously a major effort to try to haul the water and material up here to pour teepads but the natural pads are the glaring flaw on an otherwise incredible course. Luckily there are long and short teepads for most holes. The natural tee's and lacking teesigns are what take this course from a 4.5 to a 4.
-Although most holes here are good or great, there are a few filler holes that could be tweaked or replaced. #2,3,4 come to mind as those that could be replaced and some of the longer holes need some work or to be split up. My issue with #2,3,4 are their close proximity to the lodge in a scrubby area just make for a not so pretty slog through the sand hoping a disc doesnt find its way under s bush. The longer holes always irk me at sandy locations as I find it hard to throw it nearly as far with sandy footing. Then again I'm not very good.
-The adventure is a double edged sword.... I made the trek to moab in 2019 very intent on spending a day at the base camp only to be turned around by the required creek crossing below the drive up the pass. We figured our jeep cherokee could make it up the pass but the creek was deep enough to change our minds. Many reviewers mention the crazy drive up and over hurrah pass but it is well worth mentioning that if you come in spring you may have to cross a 16"+ creek before you have the chance to try the crazy hurrah pass. Definitely check the weather for rain the days BEFORE you plan to arrive to guestimate what you may have to drive through. I came back this time with a much higher vehicle and drove right through no problem. Needless to say this place is remote and you will be without signal or access to food/supplies until you get back to Moab.
-Teepads leave very much to be desired as they are mostly all strips of turf laid on the ground and marked by small blue or red PVC stakes. On the rock holes you throw from a marked area on the rock itself. It is obviously a major effort to try to haul the water and material up here to pour teepads but the natural pads are the glaring flaw on an otherwise incredible course. Luckily there are long and short teepads for most holes. The natural tee's and lacking teesigns are what take this course from a 4.5 to a 4.
-Although most holes here are good or great, there are a few filler holes that could be tweaked or replaced. #2,3,4 come to mind as those that could be replaced and some of the longer holes need some work or to be split up. My issue with #2,3,4 are their close proximity to the lodge in a scrubby area just make for a not so pretty slog through the sand hoping a disc doesnt find its way under s bush. The longer holes always irk me at sandy locations as I find it hard to throw it nearly as far with sandy footing. Then again I'm not very good.
Other Thoughts:
I had high hopes to play this course since seeing it in 'the most epic courses' thread years ago. After being turned away by the creek in 2019 it was a dream come true to finally make it out and play the course. The course did not disappoint in fun and beauty; and the stars aligned such that I played a fantastic -7 round with girlfriend in tow.
We were lucky enough to camp in one of the 5$ hogans and had a great time. The lower of the two hogans is directly next to the #6 teepad and the #4 basket is about 100' away to throw at while sitting at camp. Definitely try to stay at the lodge or hogans if you have the chance, but be sure to call ahead as the place fills up regularly nowadays.
Also nearby are plenty more 4x4 trails out around chicken corners, or hiking trails around Jackson hole, or mountain biking on the nearby captain ahab trail, or paddling on the colorado river- all epic adventures of their own.
Tom was a very nice host and we were able to even see Kobe, the giant tortoise, come out to get some sun on the lodge porch.
I cant recommend this place highly enough.
Play This Course.
We were lucky enough to camp in one of the 5$ hogans and had a great time. The lower of the two hogans is directly next to the #6 teepad and the #4 basket is about 100' away to throw at while sitting at camp. Definitely try to stay at the lodge or hogans if you have the chance, but be sure to call ahead as the place fills up regularly nowadays.
Also nearby are plenty more 4x4 trails out around chicken corners, or hiking trails around Jackson hole, or mountain biking on the nearby captain ahab trail, or paddling on the colorado river- all epic adventures of their own.
Tom was a very nice host and we were able to even see Kobe, the giant tortoise, come out to get some sun on the lodge porch.
I cant recommend this place highly enough.
Play This Course.
10
4
The most unique course I've played 2+ years drive by
Reviewed:
Played on:Aug 14, 2015
Played the course:once
Pros:
Amazing scenery and landscape. Extremely exclusive land for the course. Friendly owner. One-of-a-kind experience.
Cons:
Confusing course layout and flow. No tee signs and a terrible map (but at least eyes a map!). Exceptionally difficult to get there. Old baskets. No tee pads.
Other Thoughts:
The truth is that this course gets most of its score for the unique location alone. Playing among the alien Utah landscape feels like a disc golf course in one of the local and spectacular parks like Arches.
The course itself isn't anything special. The layout can be very confusing, the baskets are old and worn-out, and there are no tee signs or tee pads. The landscape allows for the placement of some epic holes, and there are quite a few of them on this course. However, that also makes it very easy to lose track of discs and there is some seriously nasty underbrush for some of the roughs. There are also some uninspired filler holes.
But the epic holes are so epic they overshadow a lot of the cons. And the sheer uniqueness of the course scores it higher. But there are a lot of cons that the overall experience and the landscape itself overcompensates for. A little care and attention could make this a truly spectacular course.
I do have to point out that we called to ask about bringing a Honda Element out to the course and were told it would be no problem. That was a dangerously misguided response from the course owner. The road to get there from Moab becomes extremely rough and a vehicle with clearance is definitely needed. I'm not sure a 2WD vehicle would be advisable, but it might be possible.
The downhill part of the road was even more gnarly than uphill to Hurrah's Pass. In fact, we drove up to the Pass in the Element and turned back around. We then rode bikes to the course the next day. The owner kindly drove us back to the Pass after our round. I'm not sure we would have made it on bike, especially after an exhausting round in 110°+ heat. In hindsight, the suggestion here to go by bike probably meant motorbike!
You will definitely want a capable vehicle with clearance as well as the nerves to drive some rough mountain roads both up and down. If the owner tells you, as he did us, that a minivan could make it, do not listen to him. I felt it very irresponsible for him to suggest that. The desert is no joke and the route to the course could be dangerous for the unprepared.
Even the experienced owner in his pickup truck was struggling on some parts of the road and I wasn't even sure if his truck was going to make it. There's no way a sedan or anything with low clearance is going to make it up to Hurrah's Pass from the course, even if you somehow made it there to begin with.
At any rate, it's without a doubt the most unique and memorable course I've ever played. It wasn't the best course I've ever played, but it stands alone. 5/5 for the setting, experience and uniqueness. 3/5 for the course design, layout and flow.
The course itself isn't anything special. The layout can be very confusing, the baskets are old and worn-out, and there are no tee signs or tee pads. The landscape allows for the placement of some epic holes, and there are quite a few of them on this course. However, that also makes it very easy to lose track of discs and there is some seriously nasty underbrush for some of the roughs. There are also some uninspired filler holes.
But the epic holes are so epic they overshadow a lot of the cons. And the sheer uniqueness of the course scores it higher. But there are a lot of cons that the overall experience and the landscape itself overcompensates for. A little care and attention could make this a truly spectacular course.
I do have to point out that we called to ask about bringing a Honda Element out to the course and were told it would be no problem. That was a dangerously misguided response from the course owner. The road to get there from Moab becomes extremely rough and a vehicle with clearance is definitely needed. I'm not sure a 2WD vehicle would be advisable, but it might be possible.
The downhill part of the road was even more gnarly than uphill to Hurrah's Pass. In fact, we drove up to the Pass in the Element and turned back around. We then rode bikes to the course the next day. The owner kindly drove us back to the Pass after our round. I'm not sure we would have made it on bike, especially after an exhausting round in 110°+ heat. In hindsight, the suggestion here to go by bike probably meant motorbike!
You will definitely want a capable vehicle with clearance as well as the nerves to drive some rough mountain roads both up and down. If the owner tells you, as he did us, that a minivan could make it, do not listen to him. I felt it very irresponsible for him to suggest that. The desert is no joke and the route to the course could be dangerous for the unprepared.
Even the experienced owner in his pickup truck was struggling on some parts of the road and I wasn't even sure if his truck was going to make it. There's no way a sedan or anything with low clearance is going to make it up to Hurrah's Pass from the course, even if you somehow made it there to begin with.
At any rate, it's without a doubt the most unique and memorable course I've ever played. It wasn't the best course I've ever played, but it stands alone. 5/5 for the setting, experience and uniqueness. 3/5 for the course design, layout and flow.
5
9
forsakenZen
Experience:
16.9 years
1 played
1 reviews
Not for the faint of heart 2+ years drive by
Reviewed:
Played on:May 18, 2009
Played the course:once
Pros:
The whole experience, Base camp is a great course and well worth the drive. You'll never play a course like this anywhere else in the world.
Cons:
One or two holes are so hard, IIRC 10 and 15 that half of our group had to skip them.
DO NOT PLAY THIS COURSE WITHOUT TAKING PLENTY OF WATER FOR EVERYONE AND PACK A LUNCH AND HIT IT EARLY! TEMPS HERE GET WELL OVER 112 F DURING THE SUMMER MONTHS
DO NOT PLAY THIS COURSE WITHOUT TAKING PLENTY OF WATER FOR EVERYONE AND PACK A LUNCH AND HIT IT EARLY! TEMPS HERE GET WELL OVER 112 F DURING THE SUMMER MONTHS
Other Thoughts:
Tell Bill Hi from Team DISCordia! (The boys from Ogden) He may have already left for Hawaii and the big surf but the ranch hand and his dog are the best!
We recommend getting a room or going budget and pitchin yer tent on site, you won't regret it.
We recommend getting a room or going budget and pitchin yer tent on site, you won't regret it.
24
2
2+ years
Reviewed:
Played on:Jun 20, 2008
Played the course:never
Pros:
As far as I know a totally unique course. Red rock features all around, and a bit of brush here and there to get stuck in. Huge, quick elevation changes with some devastating canyons to fall into. Pins that aren't visible from the tee are marked with large white poles sticking up. Beautiful, challenging course. Check out the pics.
Cons:
While all the tees (2 per hole) are clearly marked, finding them is a bit tough at times. The map at the lodge is a must have. Beginners may find this course intimidating. Course is also extremely difficult to get to. The road in is also very intimidating.
Other Thoughts:
While hard to get to, the course is well worth the trip. I strongly recommend calling the lodge, the guys there are very nice, very helpful and can give you a idea of what you're in for. Having traveled there by road, I suggest taking the Colorado river to get there. You can pick up the river in Moab (and a boat in town too) and follow it right to the lodge's/course's backyard. Staying at the course overnight is also a very nice option.
