As with most of my reviews, my perspective is of a traveling player. With this course, while staying in Ventura, I saw that this was a highly rated, nearby course that I could play in the morning before my family of late risers would even get up.

The course is in a nice setting. It was foggy the morning I went, so the views weren't particularly spectacular. When I started my round, I was the only player on the course. I saw two more groups out there before I left.

This is a mostly open course with a couple of tunnel shots and excellent use of the existing trees. I found the difficulty level of most of the throws to be spot on.

Elevation is the course's best feature with three downhill throws with significant elevation change - throw-a-mid-400-feet type elevation change. And, as fun as the downhill holes were, l think the uphill holes were really well done. I've played courses where the uphill holes can just be a slog - serving only to get you up the hill so that you can throw downhill again. Here the uphill holes have appropriate distances and utilize trees and other vegetation just as well as the rest of the course.

There are multiple pin positions for every hole indicated by a washer system on the tee signs. This is moderately helpful in determining where to throw your disc.

I had no trouble with the tee boxes although some were on the small side. Baskets are adequate.

The course is pay-to-play which I always consider to be a pro for a high quality course, and this is a high quality course.

NAVIGATION. As much as the elevation change is the course's strongest feature, it's most frustrating feature, to me, is the lack of much-needed navigation aids and hole layout indicators.

The tee signs contain photos of the view off the tee that apparently hasn't been updated in years to account for the growing vegetation. After walking to the second basket, the B position was not visible as shown in the photo and I threw to the wrong basket. I discovered my mistake and re-threw. I was more careful after that, but there are several tee boxes where it isn't clear which basket to throw at.

Finding the next hole can be a pain. There are no "next tee" indicators and this course needs them bad in several places. I wasted a significant amount of time looking for the next tee.

If there are no navigation issues, I typically spend 1 - 1.25 hours playing an 18-hole course depending mostly on length. This course wasn't set up particularly long and it took me two hours with all of the extra time spent looking for the next basket and trying to determine which basket to throw to. I like to play quickly. I play better when I play quickly. I hate spending time looking at a not-particularly-helpful downloaded map on my phone and still not being able to find a tee pad.

Holes 7 and 8 cross fairways. I guess I have been lucky to not play courses with issues like this before, but this was a completely unnecessary safety concern. At the very least, this could cause delays.

Lake Casitas is low. This course had over-the-water throws on what looks like three holes. Now they are over-the-thicket throws. The floating bridge is still in place to walk through the thicket.

Thinking back on this course, there are maybe two middling holes with the rest being very good or better. The downhill holes are incredibly fun. I'd rate this course higher if not for the constant frustration that came with the navigation issues and uncertainty of what basket to throw to.

- Incredible views from start to finish
- Great hole variety that demands many shot shapes. Certainly forehands, backhands, flex shots and dead straight tunnel shots. No use for rollers and you'll need overhands to get out of trouble.
- Excellent hole variety--some are long bombers (7,8,16) that are wide open while others are short but incredibly tight. Hole #10 is my favorite: you can literally put from the tee box and have an easy birdie but mess up the drive and you're in jail.
- Great for all levels of play. (Though novice players may struggle with accuracy and lose a disc or two)
- Handful of really scorable holes (1, 2, 4, 5, definitely 10, 13, 14,
- Massive parking lot and easy access from campsites
- The camp store has plenty of discs if you need some
- Good locals, I lost a couple discs and people always called me to return them
- Tournaments here are an absolute blast. Casitas Campout was crazy. Getting that many disc golfers together for a whole weekend is bound lead to some partying. But I hear Coyote Classic is even crazier somehow...
- Great exercise from all the hills
- Bathrooms in campsites and in parking lot (plus tree cover for #1)
- The water has dried up on whatever hole initially had water on it (thats definitely a pro for me)
- Good variety of basket locations to keep holes interesting
- Thick rough, bushes and grass make placement a premium

- Layout on some holes is at best inconvenient and at worse dangerous. 7 and 8 criss cross each other so high potential of a slow down or hitting someone. Hole 3 you will very likely lose your disc without a spotter... also I just hate this hole because of the tunnel tee shot and I have yet to par it so I'm biased...
- If you have a cart bag or you struggle with hills, this is not the course for you
- The grass is so thick in many fairways that even you throw a dead straight shot you can still be searching for a while
- Not the most accessible course as you have to pay to enter the recreation area and there is not much in the surrounding area outside the park.

Fantastic course--my favorite in the SoCal area so far in terms of both scenic beauty and course design. Could easily be a five star with a little bit more room to breathe between a handful of holes as well as some maintenance of the very tall grass. Whether it's a tournament or a casual round I would highly recommend stopping by coyote point.

-excellent terrain for disc golf: rolling hills, big elevation changes
-design makes great use of the land available
-breathtaking views of the hills and the lake
-concrete tees, baskets, and signage are top-notch
-lots of signature holes and just straight up fun shots
-3 to 5 different pin positions on each hole, with indicators on the tee sign for the present position
-double loop design
-huge parking lot, tourney parking not a problem
-restrooms available, trash cans, benches
-general store in the park on the way to the course
-pay to play, keeps out the riff raff (per vehicle, easy to carpool and split)

-some areas of the course are very open and lack any shade, can be oppressive during the summer
-there are a few holes that have crisscrossing fairways, notably 7 and 8
-there are also many fairways next to the long downhill shots that would be subject to errant throws. while the downhill shots are awesome, one really has to be paying attention on those tees. the same goes if you're down the hill on the holes below.
-some holes are close to camping areas that may be filled with people
-navigation can be tricky without a map or local guide, a few tees are hidden from view from the last basket, no next tee signs
-SoCal drought conditions mean the water is usually dried up. also, being so close to the lake and not having a better water carry is disappointing.

Coyote Point is without a doubt the best course that I have played in California, limited as my experience is there. This course combines spectacular views of Lake Casitas, the Los Padres National Forest, and the coastal mountains with a fun variety of shots that make great use of the elevation and terrain, finished with top notch amenities: concrete pads, Mach 5's, and great tee signs that indicate which of the several pin positions is currently in use.

The course starts with a mouth-watering downhill drive across a (dried up) inlet of the lake. The rest of the front 9 plays up and down the rolling hills of a mostly open area but utilizing the few huge mature oaks as obstacles. Hole 4 features a steep uphill drive through a mando of arched branches and hole 5 has a great steep downhill drive. Hole 9 is another steep uphill across the inlet back toward tee 1. This completes the first loop and brings you conveniently back to the parking lot where you'll probably need to refill your water after all the steep hikes on the front 9.

The back 9 is more wooded and kicks off with a wild downhill tunnel shot. It's really tempting to run right at this hole but you'll think twice once you've had a bad rollaway or overthrow. Tunnels or low ceilings are featured on holes 10, 11, 13, 14, and 18, there are a few more open shots, and hole 16 is the signature top of the world shot.

The multitude of different pin positions on each hole is one of the biggest draws of this course beside the elevation changes. I'm not sure how often the pins are moved but the number of positions out there mean that you could return every few months and never play the same layout. The only drawback is that some of the different locations won't significantly change your shot, particularly on the open holes, but at least it changes the routine for the locals. Most the of the holes will not force a specific line since it is mostly open, except for the tunnel shots or hole 4's mando. LH, RH, and OH throws are all accomodated on many fairways. Dealing with the wind is also a major factor, especially on the open and/or downhill shots.

This brings up a few of the safety issues that could come into play here. There are some crisscrossing fairways, particularly 7 and 8, and holes near camping areas (again 7 and 8). Players on holes 2, 8, and 9 could be subject to errant throws from tee 1's downhill shot and 2, 3, 12, and 17 could be in the line of fire from hole 16's big down hill drive also. A windy day will exacerbate these dangers as downhill drives get blown off course.

Overall, this course makes for a really fun round with a variety of shots and distances in an incredibly beautiful and secluded natural setting. It is the perfect contrast to SoCal's many crowded park courses. Additionally, there seems to be a vibrant and dedicated community of local golfers who take serious pride in this course, keep it in great condition, and frequently hold great events and tournaments. This is absolutely a destination course and a must play for anyone in the Ventura/LA area or any travelers through SoCal.


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Nice challenging pin placement. Elevation changes. Well maintained. Clean cut

Thick brush. Lost three of my discs. One in a tree 30 feet in the tree too high to get down and 2 others in the brush.
Can get very hot
Pay to play $15 on summer weekends

Overall a good course

Difficult course with lots of trees, blind shots, and elevation changes. Long holes with great views of the lake. Store in the park sells discs and the market right before the entrence has a great selection of beer and discs as well. You can bring your dog but it will cost you a couple extra bux.

First timers maker sure to get a scorecard at the entrence with a map, some Tee's are hard to find for the first time. Very thick brush and trees which makes it easy to loose discs. 10$ per vehicle so it pays to carpool, and a couple extra bux for the dog.

The views are great for SoCal. Elevation changes. Great signage with a picture of the hole from how you see it on the Tee pad instead of a top down view. Coarse changes basket locations monthly. Lots of signature holes.9 holes brings to back to the parking area. Camping right next to course.

Hot in summer, lots of campers, not much shade on front nine. Entrance fee to the lake, more expensive on weekends during peak season.

Avoid Holidays. Bring sun protection and good hiking shoes.Drinking water can be found on or near Hole #'s 6, 8, 10, 11, 13 and 14 in campground I, top of 18. Picnic table or bench on every hole but 11. Restrooms near # 1, 6, 8, 10, 13, 15. You might have to walk a short way.

1. I liked the fact that the course is like two 9 hole loops. This enables you to stock up on drinking and gives you a rare chance to use the bathroom again.
2. All the holes have multiple pin placements.
3. The concrete tee pads are good and have lasted the test of time since they were installed. There nice and flat and I didn't notice any dips, bumps, or inclines.
4. Nice mixture of elevation and hole lengths.
5. Course caters to right and left hand throwers.
6. There is some shade on the course and it's very welcomed in the summer. Nice to find benches around some teepads. It really helps with a few of the longer walks.
7. There are a few holes that have amazing views and have a chance for nice breezes.
8. Looks like maintenance on the course is performed on occasion and dramatically helps keep the course flowing.
9. Plenty of parking by hole 1!
10. Camping is on site and there are a ton of sites at Lake casitas.

1. The price to get in is 10 dollars and that can be a lot if it's one person going to play a round. 15 dollars to play on holiday weekends is a lot and sometimes the course isn't even open on holiday weekends.
2. Some of the views from the teepad show multiple baskets and it can be confusing.
3. A few of the fairways can be crossed or are close which will slow play. (like 7 & 8)
4. A few baskets need signs close by pointing to the next pad. A few pin placements can make it confusing finding the next hole.
5. There are multiple holes where high grass comes into play and it can make it very difficult to find your disc like on the top of the world shot and others throughout.
6. With all the lakes I thought it was a con they didn't get used in the course design.
7. A few holes lack shade and really leave you out in the elements. We did notice a wasp or bee nest on one of the holes (10, 11, or 17.) in that area.
8. Need of more trash cans would be nice and drinking water would be nice if it was available especially since golfers pay to play either a lot.
9. It would be nice to see more bathroom options. The bathrooms by hole 1 are out of the way once you tee and a lot of people dont know of the bathrooms off of hole 6's teepad in the camping area. I also believe there is some type of bathroom by 15's pad but I don't know.
10. Small hike up the hill from teepad one to practice basket makes it feel like the basket is ment to be used after the round. Wish the basket was place in another spot. There was also some random graffiti.
11. The OB road on hole 14 wasnt really diffitive. Hole 15's brush was really high and hard to clear for the majority of players.
12. There was a few blind holes that could of used some flags on poles on top to help spot for first timers.

Overal this course is definitely one of the top 10 is the southern California area. This course is pretty secluded and since there isn't another course close by its hard to justify spending the entire day to get there and play at just that course. I wish the club would try to get another course on the facility or in town to really make it more worth coming out. The courses that have been set up in past years for the coyote classic were epic and I wish that this course would evolve into two 18's or a 27 hole monster. The store on sight isn't bad and if you forget something you might want to pick it up there instead of driving a long way out of the way. In the summer bring lots of drinks and a good cooler. There isn't really any shade in the parking spots by hole 1.

A course in the hills overlooking Lake Casitas. Just perfect terrain for a course. Lots of elevation, oaks and manzanitas. Nice concrete pads on every hole. Good signs that show the multiple basket positions. No repetitive holes, boring holes or gimmick holes. There are ups, downs and mandos to make you use all your shots. There are long holes, short holes,technical holes and let 'er rip holes. Great variety. I could play this course repeatedly, and never get bored. When you tee of down the hill on 1 it will give you an idea of what you have to look forward to playing. Just a really fun technical course.

$10/$15 to play a round.

The course plays very close to a camping area. There are multiple places where bike/walking paths cross fairways, and create some dangerous situations. I had to repeatedly wait for kids on bikes, or walkers to clear the fairway. In a couple cases it's hard to see tham coming.

I am not a fan of courses mixed in with other park facilities, but sometimes that's the only way a course gets installed. While the course itself is one of the best I have played in CA, the interference from other people spoils the fun. This course ranks up there with Stafford and Napa of the CA courses I've played. If at all possible the best way to handle this course would be to make a weekend of it and make use of the campground. Then you could turn a negative into a positive. Crawl out of your tent , and start throwing. If you like to fish or bike, there is plenty to do around the lake. That makes this a great destination course.

First of all, great course. Holes had plenty of variety of shots and distances. I threw every shot I had in the book. Only one mando from what I remember (hole 3?), but made a cake 100-some foot hole no gimme deuce. Hole 16 was spectacular too; sitting on top of the hole overlooking the beautiful park and lake and letting it fly to the basket, absolutely beautiful.

Very few downfalls, the only one I could think of was doing a better job letting the thrower know which basket to throw too. Quite a few holes are blind the only way to know which basket you're going to for sure is to run down and take a look around. A few holes need some markers stating where the next tee pad is as well. Even with a scorecard it is hard to locate the next tee pad off the map.

Great course, definitely one of my top 3. Has a great mixture of shots and just a beautiful view.

This is one of my favorite disc golf destinations. I love the elevation shots, the variety of holes, the broad spectrum of shots required and the locals. Fantastic scenery, serenity and fun is what Lake Casitas is all about.

One of the best tournaments and tournament courses around is at Coyote Point every year.

I think the layout is kind of screwball in some spots because I think it was designed with shots and holes in mind not necessarily flow. Also you have to pay to enter the park.

Not for the out of shape or non-adventure types. If you like throwing discs off big hills and watching them fly and fly then you'll have fun. If you like throwing through tight windows and up hills then you'll have fun. If you like playing in natural environments with laid back locals then you'll have fun. If you think a DG course requires park-like grass and perfectly manicured greens then you won't like it much.

Beautiful location
Exellent use of natural terrain/obstacles
Good signage
Great elevation changes
Multiple pin placement
Cement tees
Camping on site
Great variety of holes--hyzers, anhyzers, very long, technical, water hazards, driving over valleys, elevation drop drives, and a couple of the most unique tee off challenges I've ever seen (Hole 3 for example...CRAZY!)
Not very crowded
Excellent downloadable map

Can get very windy in the afternoon
A few of the holes have blind placements and some were a challenge to locate before teeing off
Deep brush to lose a disc if you have an errant throw (definitely have someone ready to spot for you)
These "cons" are not a result of "faulty design"--just a fact of the area/terrain and you should be aware of it so you can plan properly

This is a great destination course as part of a DG road trip...
As said in other reviews...be prepared with water, snacks, sun/brush protection

This course is well worth the effort to seek out and drive to...

Beautiful Course
Great Layout (Front and Back Nine End at Parking Lot)
Great Amenities
Amazing Location
Very Challenging
Great Elevations Changes
Nice Teepads
Multiple Pin Placements (Four Per Hole)
Camping Right Beside Course
General Store in the Park
Nearly Every Shot in the Bag Will Be Used
Amazing Tee Signs (Some of the Best I have Seen)
Best Mandos in the Game (Only One I Have Like)
Restrooms and Fountain near First Tee
Ample Parking
Great Locals
Pin Positions Are Changed Regularly
Benches at Nearly Every Tee
Trashcans and Recycling Bins on Course

*There aren't really any cons, but these improvements would make it a truly 5 disc course.

Longer Tee Pads
Some "Next Tee" Signs In A Couple Of Places
Some Fairways/Path to Next Tee Cross Each Other

This course, located near Ventura, CA, in Lake Casitas Recreation area, is probably the best course that I have played so far. Very challenging, but even if your score is awful, you won't care. The scenery is beautiful and the layout is amazing. The great elevation changes, well placed tees, mature trees (that seem to be perfectly placed), and water hazards are just some of the things that make this course the best I have played.

Once you get to the park you will need to go to the entrance booth and pay the entrance fee, it was $8.00 per car when we were there, that was in January. This may seem expensive to some, but trust me it is well worth it. I would have very well payed double just for myself to play the course. There are also many other amenities in the park as well, making the entrance fee justified. Once you get through the entrance station take the road to the right, and follow it until it dead-ends into the large parking lot, about 2 miles. The first tee is located near the back of the parking lot, the side furthest from lake.

The course is challening right from the beginning. Hole 1 is a long downhill shot, over a little cove of the lake. This was dry while we were there, but I could see it being a real issue if the water level was up. For the terrain that you are playing through I would say that the course is fairly easy to navigate. There is a great course map, so with that you should have no problems getting through the course.

Each hole has only one tee pad, but multiple pin positions. Not only does each position change the distance, in most cases can change the hole drastically keeping the course fresh each time you play. The locals change the positions pretty frequently and have a great washer sytem on each tee sign indicating which placement each hole is in.

I mentioned the terrain above, it can really be a work out. There are steep elevation changes, and the course can be very hot, dry, and dusty, so bring plenty of water, and snacks, and be prepared to hike. The course also has some undergrowth, bushes, and trees, all can easily hide discs. Your best bet is to try to have someone spotting for you when you throw. This would be especially helpful on some of the holes with huge elevation changes, the discs can get into the wind and fly what seems like forever, if you don't keep an eye on it, you could be looking for a while. All of that said, don't let any of that deter you, this really is an amazing course.

The park itself has many other amenities. There are multiple campgrounds in the park and you can camp literally right next to the course. Obviously there is also a lake, Lake Casitas, so fishing and boating is available, but being a source of drinking water they do not allow swimming or pets in the lake. There is also a general store up the park road from the course, and they have just about everything you could think of and some you can't, from camping supplies to discs to snacks.

As I stated before this is the best course I have played so far, and the only con that I can really think of is that it's completely across the coutry. I can't wait to get back to the west coast to play this course, its a must play, even if you have to drive 2400 miles to play it like I did.

easy to follow, change tees often, and good map. changes of elevation, and wonderful view. can by some over priced disc at store. nice practice tee

out of the way, and 8 bucks for parking, besides that, not much

good for pros and ppl with some experience. first time place when about 7 over which was average for a first round for me

On a stunning piece of land alongside Lake Casitas is the most attractive course in So Cal. They did a good job meeting the design challenge. Did they make the best use of the beautiful area available for the course? Go play and you be the judge. Good camping right alongside the course. Love this course!

Crossing fairways (7 and 8). Drives on #7 are too close to one camping spot. $10/car/day entry.

When I last played this super fine course, it mainly lacked only sophisticated tees to be a 4.5 rated course.