The Willits KOA now charges the same $12 as the neighboring Brooktrails Golf Course and the difference between the two experiences is miles apart.

The KOA course at Willits plays up and around this big mountain before finishing with an epic Top of the World hole on # 18. For those players seeking a adventure type round, this is probably it. The course features a rugged workout, lots of baskets placements perched on scary ridges, uphills and downhills, and finishes with two amazing holes. And the ever-present winds can greatly add to your challenge and probably heartbreak, too. I can see many a player throw an amazing shot here only to see the strong winds carry it down, down, down into valleys below.

I was disappointed when after paying my $12, I was handed a map, ..........of their campground? I was kinda hoping for a course map. So off I drive looking for that designated parking spot. I spy some baskets, see a sign that states "This way to disc golf", open the gate and walk to the first tee only I can't find any first tee. I do, however, find a # 1 basket and a concrete pad nearby which must be the # 2 tee pad. Now, I'm a little bit miffed that for my $12, I've already missed 1/18 of the course. I figure out 2 and 3 near the fishing pond and stupidly, I think # 4 might be up this big hill somewhere. I trudge up the hill only to find 17 and 18. I've gone the wrong way.

Back down the hill and I head to the fishing pond. # 4 is there in plane sight. It's 251' over the pond with probably a 225' water carry. Signs says, "No swimming." Thank you very much. I had no intention of swimming in this murky water.

From there you start up the back side of the mountain sans map. There seems to be a picnic table at or close to most of tee pads. That helps with the visual. I'm able to piece together the course, most of it. I missed a hole here and there. The views from up here are panoramic and lovely seeing the whole surrounding area. The wind is also pretty epic up here, too.

I think # 's 10 and 12 both play to baskets on steep hillsides. Errant misses, and or rollaways could both send your disc pummeling way down into steep values below.

A basket awaits far off into the distance with steep hills and valleys on it's side. It's kind of an epic hole but with epic consequences if you should misfire or if the winds shall take your disc away. I'm not sure of it's number as I don't have a map. Another basket awaits near here. That would be the next hole. They might be 15 and 16? Or 13 and 14?

I do know that 17 is next. It's a tricky, nifty downhill to a basket perched right on a ledge with dangers surrounding. I think if you are an disc golfing, adrenaline junkie, this might be the course for you!

And this brings you to 18 with it's empty your bag finale to the course. It's a 485', wide open hole, with an aerial views of the mountains in the distance and the campers on the tight. I'm sure every player's dreams of seeing your drive glide on the wind and then, it has a chance, and then it crashes into the chains! Your shot of a lifetime!

No course map. Navigation is difficult indeed.

$12

Lots of climbing involved.

Nasty basket placements on ridges and hillsides.

Big winds.

For young, strong confident players seeking an adventurous round with lots of physically exertion, this is probably the course for you. Especially, after you have the layout down. I definitely see this as risk/reward type course. With risks come rewards and this course is all about taking risks with drives over windswept valleys and putts on treacherous hillsides. You could be rewarded with some amazing throws. You might also be severely penalized with gut wrenching decisions, horrific rollaways, drives being swept away down into the abyss and possibly just some back throws that leave you way down looking way up there at the basket.

So I see the appeal here. It would probably be a better idea to play this course with a group and have it be your only course of the day. Playing it on a road trip as one of four courses in a day might not be the smartest move in the world.

- good use of the land, lots of elevation change
- some fun tight shots through the trees
- most of the course plays through a beautiful area of red woods
- hole 6 is an awesome tunnel shot over a pond
- hole 17 and 18 have pretty huge elevation change to offer some pretty unique shots

- Course is now advertised as a 16 hole course starting at hole 3.
- Hole 3 is an incredibly short shot with a basket 3 feet from a 4 foot tall fence
- tee signs only have hole number
- some baskets are only single chained and most are pretty seasoned baskets
- most tee pads are concrete but they also are very seasoned
- some navigation signs would be helpful
- flow of the course kind of leads you back and forth a couple times
- staff at the front desk didn't have course maps and didn't know a whole lot about the course

Considering this is a pay to play course I was slightly disappointed but also wasn't expecting too much. But there is quite a bit of potential to the land but it doesn't seem like anyway at the KOA is interested in making it better.