Bakersfield, CA

Kern River DGC

Permanent course
35(based on 7 reviews)
Filter course reviews

Filter reviews

Filter reviews

Kern River DGC reviews

Filter
3 0
The Valkyrie Kid
Diamond level trusted reviewer
Experience: 45.9 years 1562 played 1507 reviews
2.50 star(s)

Nice Course With Some Design Issues 2+ years

Reviewed: Played on:Jun 20, 2014 Played the course:once

Pros:

There's a lot to like about this course. The park sits in a long, narrow piece of land squeezed into between the Kern River walking/jogging/bicycle path and a busy street (Truxtan) and then the course is split by another busy street (Mohawk). This unique setting definitely created problems for the designers.
The park itself, is a nicely manicured area which sits in a kind of a natural bowl. There is ample parking by # 1, plenty of garbage cans available, concrete tee pads and nice new tee signs. The new signs are colored ones with the sponsor's name, OB, Par, distance, hole # and the clubs name, Kern River DGC, all clearly written on them. The baskets are older Liberty models. I found them hard to spot in the trees and shrubs.
Navigation was more than a little confusing for me. I backtracked several times trying to make sense of the layout. I initially missed whatever sign pointed the way that crossed Mohawk to get to the second part of the course. And I don't think I ever fully figured out which basket was 4 and where # 5 was. I believe I played them both to the same basket.

Cons:

Beside having some navigation issues, this course has a couple of real safety problems.

IMO, # 7 is just a poor design. With trees on the left and a fairly narrow fairway, many players are going to end up throwing right into the incoming traffic on Truxtan.

# 8 is a blind throw throwing up a walking path.

And then # 10 is another problem hole. You're throwing around the corner blind, again into walking/biking path.

#11. I liked throwing on the hole here but with the basket so close to the corner, How many discs have landed on either Mohawk or Truxtan?

The walk around after # 5 is very long and I'm sure many players will take the short cut and just cross Mohawk.

Other Thoughts:

I want to like this course. The course is long enough to play as an intermediate course. Unfortunately, I think 2-3 holes should be shortened (7 & 10 especially) to lessen the safety risks involved.

Bakersfield has this nice range of courses stair stepping up in nice increments, from the very easy Pitch & Putt beginner course at San Laurel to the brutally hard physical challenge of Shark Tooth Mountain.

From Easy to Hard:

San Laurel Park
City In The Hills
Kern River Park
Silver Creek Park
Riverview Park
Suicide Flats
Shark Tooth Mountain

Bakersfield disc golfers have a nice variety of courses to choose from, with two easy beginner courses, one slightly harder beginner type, two intermediate courses and then two courses that will challenge anyone.
Was this review helpful? Yes No
4 0
mattdabbs
Gold level trusted reviewer
Experience: 20.8 years 104 played 61 reviews
2.50 star(s)

2+ years drive by

Reviewed: Played on:Oct 25, 2013 Played the course:2-4 times

Pros:

This course is very centrally located in Bakersfield which is very convenient. It has newer baskets and some shot variety with a couple of anhyzer holes for RHBH that you don't always find on shorter courses. The people there were very friendly and helpful, which is always a big plus. If you play pavement as OB it ups the challenge of the course significantly. Lots of birdie opportunities.

Cons:

Navigation is a problem. They put in signs but they don't tell you much. I hate to say that because I think this was part of a recent re-design so I want to be respectful of people's time and energy they have put into this course while still being honest about the shortcomings. The tees are short and easy to slip off the end. There are a couple of oil pumps with fences around them on the course that would be pretty easy for your disc to land in and hard to get back out. A busy street splits the course and you have to walk way around either way to avoid jaywalking (big sign saying to not do that). The course wasn't very busy when I was there but if too many park users got in there several holes would be unplayable.

Other Thoughts:

Looks like the locals play a few "bonus" holes including playing 12's tee toward 11's basket (right after you hole out on 6) and tee on the grass near the back corner of the park to 7's basket. I am moving to Bakersfield in January and will probably play this course a lot due to its convenient location and friendly locals.
Was this review helpful? Yes No

Latest posts

Top