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Gamers Ranch DGC reviews
8
0
Bonus Disc Golf at Board Game Paradise
Reviewed:
Played on:May 22, 2023
Played the course:2-4 times
Pros:
- Great mix of hole types with uphill, downhill, open, wooded, and water carry fairways.
- Well balanced to be both accessible to new players and engaging to more experienced golfers.
- Divided into two 9-hole loops, one around the lake, and one mostly in the woods.
- Well balanced to be both accessible to new players and engaging to more experienced golfers.
- Divided into two 9-hole loops, one around the lake, and one mostly in the woods.
Cons:
- No tee signs or directional signage makes for some challenging navigation the first time out.
- Rough can be thick in some places off the fairways...check for ticks after your round.
- A bit in the middle of nowhere, best played while staying at the ranch.
- Rough can be thick in some places off the fairways...check for ticks after your round.
- A bit in the middle of nowhere, best played while staying at the ranch.
Other Thoughts:
The Gamers Ranch disc golf course is a labor of love by owner and operator David who wanted to expand the outdoor amenities available to visitors of his ranch. By his estimation the disc golf course maintenance is the largest operating cost of the ranch but he maintains it due to his love of the sport and the positive feedback from patrons. I'm so glad he feels this way because, while it was not the purpose of my visit, it was awesome being able to take some time off from playing board and video games to get in a few rounds of disc golf during my several days at Gamers Ranch.
The course strikes a good balance between being accessible to newer players (likely most of the visitors to this property) while still providing challenge and fun to more experienced golfers. This could easily have been a little pitch and putt course to just check a box and list an additional amenity, but it is really a well designed course that could stand on its own. There is a good amount of elevation in play, as is water from the lake and one smaller pond (though it can be pretty easily avoided for those wanting to play more conservatively), fairways tend towards straight shots but there is some line shaping. The course leans more open on the front nine, but the back nine is more wooded with a few very technical (if very short) shots. There are even a couple par 4s: Hole 3 is the signature hole of the course, a gorgeous downhill shot towards the lake, providing an eagle chance for those with bigger arms willing to test the generous peninsula green, and Hole 14 lets even the biggest arms air it out before approaching to the basket tucked into the woods.
The lack of tee signs is unfortunate and navigation can be confusing in a few locations. I would definitely make sure to have UDisc or a picture of the course map on hand for your first round. Next tee signs would help a lot between holes 2 and 3, 9 and 10, 12 and 13, and 16 and 17 in particular. The walk between holes 16 and 17 is one of the longest I can remember, you could easily put in another great wooded hole between these two. The baskets and tee pads are both great, though there aren't any benches or trash cans out on the course. There are two distinct 9-hole loops, which is always a great design feature, especially so for a location like this where disc golf is not the focus, easily allowing for shorter rounds.
This isn't a destination disc golf course, but it exists on a destination property. If you are at all a fan of board games I can't recommend staying at Gamers Ranch enough, and you get the bonus of a super fun disc golf course on site. The course is perfect for its setting and well worth playing if you get the opportunity.
The course strikes a good balance between being accessible to newer players (likely most of the visitors to this property) while still providing challenge and fun to more experienced golfers. This could easily have been a little pitch and putt course to just check a box and list an additional amenity, but it is really a well designed course that could stand on its own. There is a good amount of elevation in play, as is water from the lake and one smaller pond (though it can be pretty easily avoided for those wanting to play more conservatively), fairways tend towards straight shots but there is some line shaping. The course leans more open on the front nine, but the back nine is more wooded with a few very technical (if very short) shots. There are even a couple par 4s: Hole 3 is the signature hole of the course, a gorgeous downhill shot towards the lake, providing an eagle chance for those with bigger arms willing to test the generous peninsula green, and Hole 14 lets even the biggest arms air it out before approaching to the basket tucked into the woods.
The lack of tee signs is unfortunate and navigation can be confusing in a few locations. I would definitely make sure to have UDisc or a picture of the course map on hand for your first round. Next tee signs would help a lot between holes 2 and 3, 9 and 10, 12 and 13, and 16 and 17 in particular. The walk between holes 16 and 17 is one of the longest I can remember, you could easily put in another great wooded hole between these two. The baskets and tee pads are both great, though there aren't any benches or trash cans out on the course. There are two distinct 9-hole loops, which is always a great design feature, especially so for a location like this where disc golf is not the focus, easily allowing for shorter rounds.
This isn't a destination disc golf course, but it exists on a destination property. If you are at all a fan of board games I can't recommend staying at Gamers Ranch enough, and you get the bonus of a super fun disc golf course on site. The course is perfect for its setting and well worth playing if you get the opportunity.
