• Easy to find and free!
• Nice practice area with two baskets
• Multiple basket locations on some holes (not sure how many)
• Alternate tees on some holes (also not sure how many)
• Nice variety of shots
• Restrooms (barely - no soap and rather dingy)
• Nice surroundings and park activities
• Signs are....ok (more on that below)

• Seriously nasty rough (poison oak, prickly bushes, ivy, etc...)
• Gusty winds
• A little tricky to navigate in spots

Tips
• Get a map although it's only mostly helpful
• Bring a spotter...or two.

Random Thoughts:
Pinto Lake (the course) plays on the north end of Pinto Lake (the lake). What's a little odd is you don't actually see the lake until your round is half over but when you do get to see it and get close to it, it's really quite scenic and a pleasant break from the butt kickin' you probably endured on the prior 13-14 holes. About this course....it's hard. This is a pro-style course. When they say "pro", they mean it. Do NOT bring beginners here. We saw a couple beginners out there, and needless to say, they spent a lot of time looking for discs. This course is long, tight in spots, and very very punishing off the fairway in the 'tree area'. By tree area, I mean holes #1-4 and #14-18. What's that you say? The map shows #13 in the forest. Yea, that's change #1 you'll note. #13 is now right behind #12 tee box. Then you head in the forest and play #14. Then you'll walk a bit and come across #14A (a new, short, very uphill right-hand shot). Then you'll be tempted to keep going up the hill. Don't! Unless you want to get a glimpse of #16's basket position (not the worst idea - more on that shortly). Really, go back down the hill and follow the path to the right of #14A. You'll then come to some stairs on the left. Ignore them and keep walking, and walking. When you crest the top of the hill, you'll see #15 on the right. After that the map is still correct.

Stepping back to the beginning, #1 is a wide open but blind shot to get the blood flowing. You best get warmed up because play time is over. #2 is a very long woodsy shot demanding length and precision on all throws. The ivy on the right is narsty. Trust me on this. #3 & #4 are reachable but tight technical shots. Then you get somewhat of a break as you head into the clearing at the top of the hill. #5-#13 are pretty much wide open but loooong shots (in spots) where your only obstacles are the wind and the forest on the perimeter (stay out of it!). It's not totally clear if the posts/non-mowed areas represent OB all the time or only during tournaments. It's here where I'll comment on the signage. The signage at this course is just...odd. Clearly money has been spent on these signs, and sometimes there are two signs on a hole, but what is shockingly missing is basket indicators on most holes or maps on where those positions are. Consequently, you're going to do a fair amount of walking ahead to confirm basket positions. It's also not totally clear if the tee you're standing on is the front or back one. I'm guessing these may be remnants of a prior tournament. The other thing that is super aggravating is walking up to a 500-600' shot and seeing par 3! Again, not sure if these are tournament remnants but egads, that's just mean. The one really interesting hole in this area is #11, in that it has three baskets and you get to choose which one you want to throw to: long, f'n long, and holy sh*t is that another basket down there?! If De La has Highway 5, I guess this would be Highway 80. Anyhoo, when you're done with that long walk you get to #12 which is a fun one because you have the lake on both sides. #13 is also fun with multiple lines and birdy opps. Then you head back in the forest. I've discussed #14A so I'll chat #14 (not sure what # is on the sign actually) which is a butt puckery straight shot with no room for error to the right (lake). #15 is a lot like #12 only higher in the air. Then you get to #16. Ya know...I can count on a few fingers the number of holes I've skipped in my time playing. Put this one on the board. So you'll see the sign on the right as you're backtracking from #15 and then you'll wonder: where's the tee box? I don't know. It's probably part of that concrete area just in front of the sign that Hulk apparently smashed but I'm not totally sure. When you stand anywhere around there and look, you have exactly two throws to choose from. A better be dead straight or slightly left, low tunnel shot (that you hope stays on the path or left) or a super high 450'-ish hyzer that better finish on the top of the hill to the left, which is where the basket is. There is no room for error right (bushy, lakey) and nothing but trees straight ahead. I checked my bag and didn't have the hyzer and didn't feel like balling up $15 and throwin' it in the lake so I moved on. I just don't get that hole. Me thinks an amateur tee down on the path makes sense. Anyhoo, with that said, I love #17! A short, technical, across the ravine and through the trees shot. Hellooooo near-ace but I'll happily take a birdie. Then you finish with #18 which is a decent sized left to right shot (depending on which tee you use) through the trees. Then, pat yourself on the back and hit the nearest bar.

Bottom Line:
This is a very challenging course with a decent variety of shots from long wide open bombs to super-tight shots of all shapes. There are a couple things that I think need attention (signs, poison oak) but all in all we had a good time out there. If you are an above average player I think you'll really enjoy the challenge. If you're not, I'd advise taking a pass until you're ready.

Changing Terrain
Challenging technical holes on the front side
Long open shots on the backside
Usually not crowded
For all skill levels
Good exercise!

Poison Oak!!!!
Ticks!
Sometimes there are hooligans, but they keep to themselves.
The tall grasses this time of year can make the roughs treacherous if you lose your bearings or where you think your disc ended up. (i spent about 15mins looking for a disc that was about 3' off the fairway)

the Poison Oak is the biggest con, it is easy enough to apply some Off! and not have to worry about Ticks, but I get P.O. just from looking at it.
The tall grass can be a pain, but the backside would be a bore without it.. So suck it up and get out your machete Indiana Jones!

This course can be a cruel mistress, my scores often range from good(for me) to extremely bad (also for me). But I always have a good time playing Pinto.

-Has some beautiful holes, and views
-Challenging holes
-A good Variety with some extremely long open holes, and some shorter narrow holes
-Well designed for all types of throwers
-Above average signage
-Not crowded

-Lots of poison oak
-Easy to lose a disc
-The back 9 half has a few "forgettable/plain" holes
-Geared more towards the above average players (not necessarily a Con)
-While the signage wasn't the worst I have seen, it certainly could have been a little clearer.
-Its a long course that will take alot of energy

Definitely a very nice course, clearly well planned, it is also well kept. I don't think I would travel more than 30 miles or so just for this course, but if you are already around here or traveling to the area, then I would recommend playing it at least once.

Best mix of open and wooded holes in the area
Best place to bring your buddy from out of town who brags about his 400+ ft drives
Obvious difficulty on some holes, and deceptive difficulty on others
Nice, easy hike through varied settings
Perfect place to work on your windy day play

Pros that I won't write about:
Bathroom on site, well marked holes with beautiful (if out of date) tee signs, real concrete tees, very well groomed, very easy navigation, uniform Mach3 baskets, friendly local players, no crowds.

PO is around for sure
The rough can be pretty rough
Locals/public walking really really slowly through holes, hanging out in innapropriate places, and/or generally being in the way

Pinto is fantastic. Being located in Watsonville seems to have hit it with a tiny bit of stigma, but it's world-class. Bring your patience, your favorite wind discs, and your Tecnu. This hasn't got the technical demands of DeLa, but I find it more mentally difficult thanks to the tricky winds and the temptation to throw too hard.

Pros:
Best mix of open and wooded holes in the area/Best place to bring your buddy from out of town who brags about his 400+ ft drives:
This course is really two separate, and very different, courses thanks to the original 9 and the Worlds additions. This is a strength. The first and final few holes are wooded and technical, while the middle holes are wide open. DeLa has a nice mix of these two as well, but it has nothing on the amount of air the big boys can bring out in the meadow at Pinto. Bring along your longest disc, as long as you know it'll come back.

Obvious difficulty on some holes, and deceptive difficulty on others:
There are some beautifully tough holes on this course. 1 and 2 are the best first two holes I've ever seen. Both are technical and long, with lots of risk/reward and opportunity to go OB. I could play just those two holes for hours.
Jhern put it perfectly in his review when he said that people who claim that the meadow is easy probably aren't playing OBs, which is just silly since they are well marked. It's very true that the fairways are wide open, but they are deceptively narrow, especially beyond 300 ft. Combine the tricky fairways with the tricky winds and you've got a tricky shot on many of the holes. The grass pulls rollers flat early. What people don't mention is the part that testosterone plays in making the meadow tough: since there are no trees in the way, and the fairways are huge for the first 100 ft, we all feel like we should be able to throw as hard as we want. Unfortunately, this affliction, mixed with the narrowing fairways and the often heavy/gusty winds mean that discs flip/flop and go OB shockingly often, even for skilled players. The bane of my Pinto score is always the number of discs that end up six inches out of bounds.

Nice, easy hike through varied settings:
Pretty much equal distance to DeLa in only 18 holes. This tells you that the holes are LONG, and they are (and without the favorable elevation that helps you out at places like Ryan). It's also a bit of a hike, but it's pretty easy walking. The complaints about this aspect are so foreign to any I've ever heard from disc golfers. Everyone I've ever played with lists the walk through beautiful country to be one of the pros to disc golfing. Pinto is very pretty, especially hole 12 now that it's been cleared of most of the PO.

Perfect place to work on your windy day play:
The wind really kicks off of the lake. It humbles me. Unless you are a demon in the wind, enjoy the suspense of waiting to see if your disc will turn over early, or not at all.

Cons:
PO is around for sure:
I grew up playing in SC, so PO and DG always go hand in hand. I carry a bar of Fels Naptha in my trunk and wash up afterwards, no matter where I play. If PO is a big issue, unfortunately you need to cross all of the Central Coast courses off your list.

The rough can be pretty rough:
From the marsh, to the old growth PO, to the tall marsh grass, this course can definitely steal your plastic.

Locals/public walking really really slowly through holes, hanging out in inappropriate places, and/or generally being in the way:
This is my single biggest complaint about Pinto, in terms of something that can wreck the rhythm of a round.
There is a nature trail that shares the space of a number of the holes. People jogging the path aren't too irritating, given that they move fast enough to only interrupt the hole for a few seconds. People going birding also get out of the way. It's the parties of aged folks strolling along, in apparently straight lines from the tee-pads, directly toward the pins, at .2 miles per hour, none of whom respond to screams (even those of "¡Cuidado!").
My favorite story of people misusing the space comes from the ancient days of Pinto. I talked to someone who stepped up to the pad to throw on what is now 17. He looked across the gully to see a big family that had packed the basket with coals and hung chicken from the chains.

Really tight technical holes in the trees, not all are short either.
Serious use of OB's to make the course even more challenging.
Good elevation changes on many holes including some punishing tilted fairways.
a few huge airbomb holes in the meadow with well cut fairways (the tall grass on each side is considered OB by the way).
Benches at every tee.
Concrete tee pads on all holes.
Signs on the original 9 holes (1-4/14-18) I am sure they will add the others soon.
Tons of parking (even for a tournament).

Poison Oak.
This is not at all a novice/beginner course with the tall grass, Poison Oak and OBs.
A little confusing first time thru.
A few really long walks between holes.
The tall grass OBs in the meadow will eat your disc too so watch ALL throws.
If you go OB into most poison oak your disc is gone.

This course would be better if the course could play in and out of the Meadow instead of playing all 7 meadow holes one after the other. It does get a little boring, but just play all throws off the fairway as OB this is how it will be at Master's Cup and the 2011 Worlds. This makes the treeless aspect less important. You still need to be accurate to stay safe in the fairways.
The original nine are some of the meanest unforgiving disc golf I even played. These holes are a true challenge with serious OBs, trees galore and tilting and changing elevation.
Seems like they have added a hole between the new #9 and the long 1200 foot hole which is now #11.
The designer told me it plays 61 par.
If you are really sensitive to poison oak beware it is lush here.

Original 9 holes are very tough and narrow, shot selection is everything. When you finish #4 turn around and follow the access road across and up the hill to the meadow.When you get to the top, turn right and follow the running trail till you find #5 that runs along the path.#6 crosses the meadow. #7 runs along the path on the far side of the meadow. #8 brings you back across the meadow. #9 is a dog leg left along the path.#10 starts in the middle of the meadow, so we you finish 9 just walk to the middle through the mowed area.#10 is a 1200' straight shot down the middle to the end of the meadow with great views of the lake.#11 heads straight down to the farthest end of the meadow, more killer views. Double back to #12 and it follows the path.#13 is down at the bottom of the hill and has a good path started, but keep on the lookout.#13 runsalong the edge of the lake and brings you back to the access road.Croos back over and continue on to #14(the old #5).The new nine are wide open but extremly long, 1200' on #10. Also the baskets on the new nine are all posts.

poision oak, spotters and a map are a big help here.

This is shaping up to be a a real championship course.

this course reminds me of my favorite course ever - Waterworks in KC, MO.
- tight fairways and some open fairways
- shot placement is at a premium as to compared to other courses in the County
- some nice elevation changes
- implementing some OB areas could really make this course difficult
- no crossing fairways
- nice mix of distances
- bathrooms and water near first tee
- beautiful park setting
- plenty of parking

I'll preface this "cons" by saying that this course is still in the works and i'm sure alot of these will be addressed.

- signage or lack thereof
- no maps anywhere
- the brush is thick with plenty of oak
- teepads are natural and therefore uneven and or slightly sloping up, down or to the side. definitely manageable though.

if the newly installed 9 holes are indicative of the rest to come, this course will be incredible when it's a full 18.

the terrain is mild rolling hills with moderately woody holes and some open holes. the lake comes into play in just one or two holes right now. some good elevation change on some holes and some very tight fairways on others. there's plenty of danger if you leave the fairway and there's a healthy amount of oak everywhere.

here's my shot at a break down of the holes:

hole 1 - 469ft, par 3 - open for the first 250 and a gentle downward slope. some big trees come into play at the bottom of the little valley but there's a decent window to reach the pin. basket is on a slope and you'll most likely be approaching it from the bottom

hole 2 - ???ft, par 3 - a somewhat lined fairway with a pedestrian trail cutting through and a road off to your right. at 250ft, a ravine about 4' deep cuts across the fairway. Just past this ravine, the fairway turns left down an dirt access road and the basket is in the road about 175'. there could be OB on this hole with road coming into play.

hole 3 - 210ft, par 3 - this is one of the toughest 200 ft, par 3 holes i've played. the entire hole plays on a right to left off camber slope with trees all along the fairway. the basket is straight ahead. again, OB could be in play on this hole with road off to the left.

hole 4 - ???, par 3 - this is one of the shorter holes on the course. the basket is straight ahead but there's a big cluster of trees right about 50' down the fairway. there's a big hyzer route and probably an overhand route if you can put it up...way up.

hole 5 - 500ish, par 4 - the hole tees off from the right side of the road. the fairway is the road itself with the lake coming into play on the right with some thick thick brush in between the road and the shore. the fairway plays a slight incline all the way. the basket sits on top of a ridge in a clearing to the left side of the road.

hole 6 - 320ish, par 3 - the teepad is off to the left side of the road and the hole plays slightly up and then down towards the pin. no trees come into play as this is the most wide open hole on the course. no basket is currently installed for this hole. there's a 4" diameter post sticking out of the ground. I could see this hole having an island green with the way the landscaping looked.

hole 7 - 450ish, par 3/4 - i'm not sure on the par for this one. this hole tees off by the white shed/bldg and the teepad itself looked like an old patio. the fairway follows the road (same road as the end of #2 but from the opposite direction) with some steeps lining the left with trees and the lake and thick brush on the right. your drive off the tee will most likely be downhill to hit the road. the basket is located on the left side of the road.

hole 8 - 200ish, par 3 - hole 8 plays across a big ravine. you tee from the road just past #7 basket. the basket is basically at the same elevation as the tee but the ravine is deep about 40ft. there are big trees guarding the basket with a couple different windows for some ace runs.

hole 9 - ???, par 3 - this one is a little tough to describe. the basket sits on a side of a hill that slopes right to left. the fairway plays down hill and to the right into a little valley. from the bottom of the hill/valley, your approach plays uphill to the right through a bunch of spaced trees to the basket. there's an over the top line going to straight to pin if you can get it there.