Cool, shade most of the holes. Although wooded, access along fairways possible. Hole down a steep incline, and one across wide ravine were fun.

TICKS, TICKS, TICKS. Have to constantly check and monitor legs and clothes. A few holes a spotter may be helpful for some blind fairway landings.

Course made longer by the trek along hilly, rough, rocky terrain. Legs get a work out b/c of Ozark hills.

I read the colorful DG reviews before I went to Mighty MO (Sunrise Beach) on vacation visiting my hillybilly cousin. Most times I take reviews lightly when I read them, BUT the one that sticks to mind about Dragon Ridge is, "Bring your lunch and bring your "A" game." Holy crap...no kidding!
The first couple holes were Ok, but when you get into the meat of this course I have to admit that I was taken back...I had a couple of those, "You gotta be freekin kidding me?"
Most of our group was done after the front 9. It was hot, steamy and challanging plus it was our first run on this course so I get it, but my son and I were having nothing of that.
After playing a couple other courses in MO (Airpark, Hillybilly and the mighty Harmony Bends) I was jones'n to go back and tackle Dragons Ridge again. 27 holes later, dripping with sweat, exhausted and totally satisfied I could now hit the Lake o' Ozarks feeling accomplished. I absolutely LOVE this course and is ranked waaaaay up there in my book.
Signage, layout, course fluidity, parking, cool locals, baskets & tee pads quality is well above most.
Hydrate (summer months)...wear proper foot gear...be ready for a solid hike and after 18 rocking holes have some coldies on-hand to celebrate regardless of your score.

Hmmm?
Oh, the bathroom op's were limited for doing the #2.

If you are sensitive about your favorites discs getting nicked-up it would be best to use your thrasher discs instead at the Dragons Ridge...loads of sharp rocks will do their number on your prestine discs.

I did pretty well, all things considered, BUT I can not wait to go back to Missouri and nail this beast down.

Last note: The photos on DGCR for Dragons Ridge are somewhat misleading because they look as they were taken in the fall/winter months when there is no leaves and it's wide open....The late Spring and Summer it is completely covered and green.
Word to the wise: Our group of 6 only had 2 ticks between all of us combined, but they are def there.

This course is an excellent experience for those who are up for the challenge. The course tracks through a highly rugged area that rewards the player with many challenging lines and some significant elevations. One will really enjoy the beautiful shots that are get you fully engaged with the wooded high variance topography. My favorite holes are the ones that follow the deep creek bed that demand exact lines. Many holes errant throws will definitely be punished in certain area's risk of roll away down a hill side. So the course will demand discipline.
Big shout out to the local "Sherpa's" who have made this course a great experience with decent upkeep, next tee signage, concrete tee pads, and bench's on many of the holes.

You can generally find the next tee's with good signage, but a few of the baskets themselves were hard for me to find. Maybe some bright markings might help.
The topography of the course requires one to be in excellent shape and is not a good idea for those who might struggle navigating difficult slopes.

Recommend wearing good solid shoes or boots that have thicker soles. Much of the ground is incredible punishing 50/50 mix of dirt and small rounded or jagged rocks. Thus every step is an uneven ground, and your feet will feel it as you go.
Because of the elevation and climbing up difficult slopes, this course can be dangerous. I played alone, and was concerned about slips on a dry day.
On a wet day, some holes should probably be skipped. Not sure if their is a way to salvage 9+ holes on those days or not, but folks who are most familiar with the course to consider if their is a track to keep people from more dangerous holes when conditions aren't ideal.
Overall, this course is definitely a great challenge to play. I struggled to get to Par on most holes, but that didn't bother me.

Gary Braman, the designer of this course is a marathon runner. After attempting to get through this course without breaking any major bones, this fact does not surprise me one bit. Only a fitness guru would design and build such a physically challenging course. Add on the fact that much of Dragon Ridge is covered with sharp, jagged ankle busting rocks. Every step you take has to be carefully taken.

Dragon Ridge (an appropriate name) sits in a baseball complex park. The start of the course is next to a nature trail. There is a sign here for Cardenton Disc Golf. Now prepare to meet your fate.

Dragon Ridge has some concrete tee pads and some carpet pads. The Monkey Trap baskets come in a variety of color combinations, purple/gold (my U. Washington Huskies); black/teal, solid yellow, green/red and others. I don't know why they mixed up the colors? There are plenty of benches, next tee signs, some baskets have tape on a spoke pointing towards the next tee.

The course starts out rough and quickly get bat shit, crazy, treacherous. # 2 is a twisting 400' fairway through the trees. # 3 is just 200' but there is a 40' Ridge on your right.

# 6 is where things really heat up. First, there is a warning sign stating something to the effect that you are entering a series of holes (6-9) with rougher than average terrain and only players in good physical condition and sporting proper foot ware should proceed beyond this point. It shows a route where you can detour and miss this section.

Hole # 6 is either of one the greatest holes in all of disc golf OR the worst, most treacherous, diabolical hole ever conceived! Honestly, I'm not sure which way I'm leaning. 6 plays 275' straight down a very steep hill. It is actually a very fun throw. It's when you when starting descending the steep, slippery, rocky goat trail that you start to question your decision/sanity. When you reach the bottom, you see how genuinely diabolical this hole really is. The basket sits on a small peninsula maybe 25' x 40' with a 15-20' drop off on three sides. Anywhere off this tiny peninsula is craggy, jagged and dangerous.

Holes 7-9 are equally treacherous. Sorry, I can't come up with s better adjective to describe this place. 7-9 all three play up a rugged gorge strewn with these sharp jagged rocks. Walking on a the so-called path is ridiculously uncomfortable and anything off the path is worse. As this wasn't enough, the # 7 basket is perched 25' a crazy rock formation. This makes for some horrific approaches. Now you just have to climb out of this gorge.

Are we done yet? The very next hole, which seems almost normal until you realize that on your left all way down the fairway is that dangerous, deep gorge you just climbed out of. Don't hyser your shot.

Now you enter of series of semi-normal holes until you get to # 14. It's just a normal 330' hole until you spy the very cool elevated basket built into a tree. The bottom of the basket is 14' high. There is a ladder which is needed to retrieve your disc once you finally get a putt to stick.

# 15 is a fairly normal 190' shot over a gully but it's great fun.

# 17 is a wonderfully designed hole. There is a strange tree right in front of tee with a big branch growing out horizontally across in front of your line. This gives you all kinds of options on how to play it. The popular choice is teeing off right through this branch although players can throw way around it on the left or right and some players try to throw under it. Any hole that has players having to decide between three and four options must be considered a well designed one, Right?

Dragon Ridge's rugged terrain is not for everyone.

Carpet tee pads are very sloppy when saturated by recent rains.

Craggy, jagged rocks are hazardous to negotiate over.

Mix match of baskets colors is kinda weird. Plus, when you are looking for the usual yellow basket in the woods, spotting the teal/black basket is more difficult.

Just getting to discs off the fairway, especially on holes 6-9 is arduous and has to mentally affect you on your next throws.

Dragon Ridge is reminiscent of of the high that mountain climbers get when they reach a point on a mountain that 99.9 % of the world's population will never see. This course has some awesome holes to experience but probably only the younger, more physically fit 50% of all disc golfers would even attempt. Then you think what % of those will ever get to Camdenton, Missouri. Those fortunate ones will then have incredible tales to tell their friends about.

I, in no way, fall into the 50% or younger, more physically fit disc golfers. I somehow managed to play through the course and managing not to injury myself in the process. I consider myself to be one of the lucky ones who have experienced Dragon Ridge. I have tales to tell my friends and family.

Elevation and creek bed fairways make for a unique disc experience. One pin placement is the highest from the ground that I've ever seen.

Gravel tee boxes, super challenging pin placements on steep hills

Please contact me if you found my yellow elite z flick. So heart broken

Very wooded and requires many different kinds of shots. I'm not sure I've ever putted so far above my head before. Fun stuff. I've ignored my roller shot, and sure wish I had one to use.
Well marked and easy to navigate. I didn't pay attention to every hole, but when I looked for a bench, trash can or sign, there was one right where I needed it.

Only 13 holes.
I played on a calm evening and the bugs (mosquitoes and horseflies) were very annoying. This is a tiny nit, but it was the only thing that bothered me during my round.

The warning about 3-5 is no joke, but these were my favorite holes. Come prepared and don't skip them.
I came from the KC metro area to play this course and struggled to find it using the directions on this site. I'd recommend using your GPS with this address. "2 Ball Park Rd; Camdenton, MO" This is not exact, but if you drive a bit either direction from this spot, you'll see the ball park.

This is a unique course and worth a special trip. I just wish I had time to play it again. Can't go higher that a 3.5 without a full 18 holes.

Great use of elevation and nature's elements. "Next tee" signs near holes work great. Great variety of shots, nothing left in the bag. Course runs naturally along erosion channels cut in limestone formations--you will think you are in the Rockies. Undergrowth is limited b/c of this, so finding discs is easy.

Pretty steep terrain requiring some stamina and balance--good shoes a must, but course is only 10 holes long so you won't die. Natural tee pads are good. Only con really is lack of 8 more holes! Can't wait.

Designer really used all that is there, playing up, down, and across elevation changes. Hole 1 and 2 start up top and are conventional holes with grass fairways, but after that lookout! 3 is strait downhill and then the next few holes wind along a dry creek bed with rock scrabble and fallen timber. As you climb out, the last hole has a nutty placement that is on top of a "termite mound" with trouble on all sides forcing you to putt above your head. Fairways are tight, usually 20-40 ft. wide requiring accuracy off the teepad, and elevation changes work your distance control. there is For a short course, I can't recall one that had more to offer. When this fills out to 18 I bet it will be awewome.

Fun, fun and crazy fun. Hills, slopes, banks, trees, rocks, creeks and more! The disc elves change the basket locations often and you never know whats ahead until your there.

It's not finished, but new things show up in the middle of the night (Aliens). Your discs will get scratched (no big deal).

They seem to be covering it all. What's next, a Cabana between 2 & 3? This is a great course and growing. Bring a first timer with you and it will hook them for sure!