I played The Dam Course in Jefferson City on a cold April afternoon. Snow flurries were forecast and the mercury was hovering just above the freezing point. Luckily, the wind was not bad, and I had time to get a round in.

This is a really good disc golf course. All of the things I want to see on a good course are here. Hills around the lake provide elevation change on nearly every hole. There are some holes that are mostly open, but a very nice wooded element on many holes as well. Water is in play on a few holes, but the risk of losing discs is low.

There are trash cans and restrooms near the parking lot. The rest of the park was nicely groomed and litter free. Many holes have benches by the tees. The boxes are concrete, and big enough. The fluorescent orange baskets and the flags topping them were a bit faded, but I liked the Kingpin baskets a lot. All tees were numbered, and the layout was easy to follow. Arrows pointed out the transitions between several holes. Converging nines allow an easy trip to the vehicle between holes 9 and 10 with a minimal walk.

The pin locations were in good spots on many holes. Overshooting can lead to difficult recovery shots. Hole 14 is in a wild spot, with a trench crossing in front of the pin, and steep hill down to the creek not very far behind it. I was putting for par from the trench, and was very relieved that the put fell. Could easily see skips or rolls into the water taking place there.

My favorite holes on the front nine were 2, 6, 8, and 9. 2 is a steady downhill with evergreen trees that create the low ceiling in the fairway. 6 is the first par four, and tees up a large hill through a line of trees. The downhill approach from the top is more open and not as steep but still has a few branches in play. 8 is down a steep hill, with mature trees blocking access to the pocket in the woods surrounding the long pin, and another pin behind a large tree, up the hill to the right side. 9 has a couple of pin locations, one left and one right. The tee shot is downhill, and there are numerous small trees beginning about halfway down. My drive was knocked down by the first line, and the second throw was also rejected by a low limb. I took a bogey on the left side pin position.

The back nine was the better half to me, and I really liked the stretch of holes in the woods from 13 through 16. I hit a solid drive on 15, and made a birdie. It's at the top of a steep hill, with a couple of large trees sitting directly in front of the basket. My disc hit one of them, but was far enough past to bounce off and continue toward the pin.

Though some of the characteristics of this course may be frustrating to new players, I like having the added difficulty. I describe some of those features under the cons, but the holes described were still parts of the course that I enjoyed.

The paper signs at the tees were laminated, but several were missing or damaged. The ones that were there had the hole number and distance, with no illustration. Many holes have multiple pin locations that have yet to be noted on existing signs. Upgrading these signs is one of the few improvements I would want.

The wooded holes were some of my favorites, but the lines can be tight. Some might think they're too tight. Holes 9, 10 and 11 are maybe the worst offenders in this respect. 9 got me for a bogey, but 10 and 11 are the two shortest holes on the course, and I did make birdies on both of them. 10 is a good putter throw with a narrow fairway that is lined by trees on both sides. It is downhill out of the box, and climbs back uphill to the pin. My drive was short, but took a good skip to within ten feet of the basket. 11 is slightly uphill and it's tree population and location is especially crazy. I was fairly amazed my mid range held the line I was aiming for up the left side, and landed pin high in the bottom of the ravine to the right of the pin.

There are a few long holes that take great throws to make par. 17 and 18 are maybe the best examples. They're clear of trees mostly, but one poor throw can cost you the par, and birdie will require a long distance hole out. Hole 17 is par 3, and listed at 424'. I threw my driver hard twice, and was past the pin by 15'. The drive is uphill and the approach is downhill, and you have to nail both of them to get a good putt. Hole 18 is a par 4 that is 789'. I made par on that one too, but it took a really nice comeback out of the trees after I overshot the pin on my third throw.

The Dam Course is a beauty. I played terribly on the front nine. Made pars on one hole 1 and hole 7, and bogeys on the rest. 7 over par after 9 holes, with a lot of missed putts. I think I was overdressed for the cold weather. It was 35 degrees, so I had on long sleeves, a hoody, a jacket and a wool cap. Hiking up the hill on hole 7 I took off the beanie hat. After hole 9 I dropped my jacket off in the truck. And my fortune took a turn for the better.

Hole 10, birdie! Hole 11 birdie! Sure they are the two shortest holes on the course, but I made the throws, and I was making up some ground. I two putted and took a bogey on 13, but got one back with the birdie on 15. Finished the day at 61 (+5), and enjoyed every hole, results be damned.

Check it out if you are able, it is worth the trip. I am glad I stopped and will try to get back to Jefferson City to play the other courses in the area. Joseph C. Miller is 1.3 miles away, on a nicer day I would have played it also.