Pawhuska, OK

The Lodge - Island Course

4.55(based on 16 reviews)
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5 0
Upshawt1979
Diamond level trusted reviewer
Premium Member
Experience: 20.9 years 550 played 429 reviews
4.50 star(s)

Island Life 2+ years

Reviewed: Played on:Jul 26, 2018 Played the course:once

Pros:

The Island Course is as good as its counterpart at The Lodge. Another stellar 18 that is decked out with good concrete tees, tee signs and baskets. Two sets of tee pads for most holes, and 3 for some. The layout is just as diverse and fun as Moccasin Creek. Nice elevation change, water, and trees are prominent on this course, too.

Hole 1 is a good hole, but just an appetizer. Hole 2 is where the stakes are raised. A great hole as long as you don't lose any plastic. It is a big downhill drive if you tee from the long. There is a pond lurking on the left side of the fairway and trees to the right. If you can avoid these hazards, you're doing well. Hole 3 is also downhill from the long position, and has woods on both sides of the fairway.

Holes 7-10 are another really good stretch. Lots of ups and downs. Some tight wooded shots. Pin placement on 9 is rocky and jagged. 10 has a great downhill drive, crosses a grass flat area, and into a gap further down a slope still to the basket.

Big Jim Island is the namesake for the course, and the pin location for hole 17. It isn't a long hole, but it isn't a big island either. Downhill and water surrounding the target. Luckily the wind was calm on the morning that I played there, and I landed safely on the island. Hole 18 is a nice finisher. The long tee crosses over water, but as long as you can avoid a tree branch or two out of the box, you have a good chance to reach the other side safely.

Cons:

There was a sign on the first tee that said the Island Course was not being maintained this summer. It had been dry, and the fairways were not in bad shape. I played it through and had no issues, but the grass on the island was getting a little tall.

The bridges were weathered pretty badly, and could use a bit of TLC. There is an outhouse, but not a lot of trashcans. Course map could be helpful, but navigation is not too difficult.

It is pay to play, but very reasonable price for two of the best courses in the state. Worth a drive and shelling out a few bones at least once.

Other Thoughts:

The Island Course didn't give me any birdies, but I was one shot better than on the Moccasin Creek course. It is par 56, with two par four holes. I was 9 over par with five bogeys and two double bogeys.

I camped on the property and played both courses the following day for $10. Would have gladly payed double that. These courses are both spectacular, and a ton of great holes.

Don't make me choose a favorite, because I can't do it. They are both in my top 3 courses in Oklahoma, along with Buffalo Run. A trip to The Lodge should be a no brainer for any serious disc golfer that is anywhere near the area.
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11 0
armiller
Gold level trusted reviewer
Experience: 9 years 275 played 60 reviews
4.50 star(s)

An elite disc golf destination in Osage territory 2+ years drive by

Reviewed: Played on:Jun 3, 2017 Played the course:2-4 times

Pros:

-nice property and tournament level course in beautiful Osage Nation territory
-variety galore, with decent elevation changes, trees in the right places, water shots, and good use of rocky outcrops as well
-concrete tees (at least two sets per hole), good baskets, logical course flow
-multiple memorable holes, but signature is definitely number 17, the island hole
-fairways and essential golf features have always been well maintained in my 3 visits

Most memorable holes for me:
3 - good par 4 (maybe par 3 from Pro tee?) with initial option to go over the top from elevated tee, with a slightly elevated and guarded green
7 - fairly straightforward but fun downhill RHBH into a wooded green
9 - uphill through corridor of trees to a basket on rocky outcrop
10 - par 4 with placement shots required; basket is nestled in a rocky green across a creek providing some water danger
13 - long, right finishing par 3 with some down-sloping trouble long or left

17 - They don't call it the Island Course for nothing! This hole showcases a well-constructed island green that would be too small if the tees were farther away. The slope of the green also helps discs catch on the small area. As it stands, it's very scenic and requires your best putter precision and touch.

Cons:

-the course requires a lot of maintenance, and the bridges, though not unsafe, are a little run down (leading to 9's tees and to 17's island)
-never really cycles back by the main parking area, so take what you need with you
-I managed to miss 15's long tee my first time out because the path was a bit overgrown
-check for ticks; I got a couple on only one of my visits (early June)

Other Thoughts:

Between the two courses here, there is an awesome selection of memorable and challenging holes. Both courses are full of character and have that extra, intangible pizzazz from start to finish. Pawhuska is smack dab in the middle of beautiful Osage Nation territory, and both courses benefit from having abundant space in great disc golf terrain. From a design standpoint, maybe a few of the 36 are only middle of the road good, but there aren't any bad holes here.

Island Course uses this space and terrain well. This isn't your typical wooded course, but you never forget about the trees nor the other natural features. About half the holes on Island Course are somewhat open but with well-placed trees, but there are also several tight wooded holes, and water comes into play on holes 2, 10, 15, 17, and 18. Elevation changes are ever present and come into play in more than half the Island Course holes, greatly enhancing the visual appeal and feel of your round while adding a vertical element to the disc golf challenge.

I've been out to this property three times, had a blast every time (once in the rain and once a day or two after heavy rain), and will be back even though it's almost three hours' drive. Jim and Debbie and family have been great, and the courses are undoubtedly two of the best in Oklahoma. You can't help but enjoy the drive out here, regardless of where you started. If you're into this kind of thing, I'd recommend stopping by the Tallgrass Prairie Preserve to check out the grasslands, bison, and birds. Family and friends that aren't disc golf inclined have joined me on two trips, once enjoying the property with me and once visiting the well-known Pioneer Woman Mercantile store and restaurant while I played.

Rating and summary: 4.5 or "phenomenal." If the bridges and on course navigation cues were in a bit better shape, it would be closer to 4.75 though not quite a 5.0. As is, maybe it's down in the 4.4 range but still well worth this rating. The variety of shots on this course alone is commendable, but when put together with the Moccasin Creek course this is really a special venue. It would be worth setting aside a full day or even two to have adequate time to enjoy these courses.
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20 0
Avery Jenkins
Premium Member
Experience: 39 years 1410 played 4 reviews
4.50 star(s)

The Lodge at Taylor Ranch 2+ years

Reviewed: Updated: Played on:Mar 15, 2015 Played the course:5+ times

Pros:

These Disc Golf Courses located at the Lodge at Taylor Ranch are both considered to be the Top 2 courses in the state of Oklahoma.

The Island Course is the original course at the Lodge designed by Oklahoma Pro, Kevin McCoy in 2007. It's experienced a solid break in period throughout the years with the increasing number of players coming through on Disc Golf Road Trips as it's the #4 Top Rank Disc Golf Destination according to DGCourseReview.

It's also been the host to the 2009 Green Country Open PDGA National Tour Event and countless other local events and tournaments. Many of the best players in the US have gotten the opportunity to play these courses as they are conditioning very nicely.

The Island Course offers a solid mix of Open and Wooded Holes as well as some elevation and water on a few of the holes. It's a Pro Level Course that offers long and short tee pads on every hole that makes it adaptable for even recreational skill levels. There's even a few holes with Gold Teepads for extra difficulty on Holes 9 & 18. This course offers many longer and challenging Par 4's that usually take a long drive off the tee and a long upshot from the fairway to the basket. It might be a few longer drives for some players to complete and finish the hole, but don't be intimidated by the length as it's still a very entertaining round of Disc Golf.

It's a very challenging course that's going to test every facet of your game from both backhand to sidearm, you must have both if you want to really score well. The addition of wind which is very prevalent in Oklahoma can kick up the difficulty of this course at least a notch or two.

There's a practice area available with a pair of baskets and a huge driving range to warmup on before starting your round, that's always a plus at any course that you go to.

There is also camping, RV hookups and a Cabin for rent for those players that want to come out to make for a Disc Golf Weekend at the Lodge. Please call (918) 724-3121 for more information and availability.

Hole #17 in which the course is named is very much a resemblance of the Island Hole #17 at TPC Sawgrass, it's a Do or Die (Risk/Reward) Shot that can determine the final score and tournament outcome as players are coming down the stretch to the last hole.

All in all, this course offers a wide variety of holes that challenge even the best in the world but a course that can be dialed back to be sought after by all skill levels that want to play it. These are courses that are a little off the beaten path but well worth the drive to have an experience that can't be offered at many of the city park courses, it's a rugged country course at it's best. Come on out and check out the Lodge, it's definitely a course that should be on your Wishlist!

Cons:

There is a tremendous amount of work needed to maintain this course throughout the year including the collection of fallen debris and cutting of the grass fairways. This is a big course and lots of manual work is required to keep this course in tip top, playable shape.

The Taylor Family has been carefully maintaining these courses for years and have put a lot of money into maintaining these courses for everyone to come out and play! Team Jenkins spent several months and countless hours cutting down limbs & trees, clearing away brush and maintaining the beautiful holes out here. I only wish that I was able to put in more time into maintaining these courses because there is always a lot of work to be done.

Very thick rough off the fairways on some of the wooded holes where it's possible to take a shot or two to get back out, keep it in the fairways and you'll be just fine.

Very rough terrain on some of the holes along the back side of the property and the creek...dirt, rocks and possibly snakes. It's going to beat up your plastic if you're not keeping your discs in the fairway and close to the basket.

No bathroom amenities on the courses...yet.

Other Thoughts:

These 2 Disc Golf Courses are listed as #1 and #2 in the state of Oklahoma and the Lodge Facility #4 in the Top Ranked Destinations on DGCR: http://www.dgcoursereview.com/top_ranked.php

"Come here once, you're a friend...come here again, you're family" - The Taylor Family
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11 0
Dan Ensor
Experience: 14.2 years 62 played 11 reviews
4.50 star(s)

Oklahoma Gem 2+ years drive by

Reviewed: Played on:Jun 9, 2014 Played the course:once

Pros:

-I played alone, and had never seen the course before. I never got lost, and never felt the need to walk the holes before playing. There were only 2 throws I would change playing again. It's very easy to navigate. The signs are accurate (other than one pin that had been moved recently) and very helpful.
-There seem to be chairs at every pin! Not benches. Chairs. That you might sit and bs with your friends at for a while, because this place is so beautiful!
-It's private property.
-The "fun factor" was exceptional for me. Lots of hole variety, etc. It punishes errant throws. I was very pleased playing placement golf and scoring just a few over par (I'm 910 rated).
-Peaceful and secluded. Other than the first and last holes, and a couple of holes playing along the highway, I could have forgotten other people existed for the day.
-Well maintained. The rough was rough, but the fairways were prisine.

Cons:

The "cons" are barely cons.
-I wish there was a course map available (as I said, though, I had no issues with navigation)
-If you go off the fairway, it can get a little rough. There are some brush piles, etc.
-No other golfers. Seriously ... WTF Oklahomans? Get out and play some good golf! I very much expected to be able to join a group and have a guide, even without making plans with anyone. The more I played, the more I was shocked that wasn't the case.

Other Thoughts:

I don't particularly enjoy reviewing courses, but I'm so happy that private courses like these, with wonderful people, wonderful golf, and wonderful scenery, are available, I must say something publicly. I doubt my review is helpful to someone preparing a bag for the course, but hopefully you can see what an amazing time I had here, and what a wonderful place this is even without a golf course.

While trying to find this course, I found two dissenting locations. So I called Jim to ask for directions (after I had missed a few turns). Who ended up being one of the nicest, most helpful people I've ever spoken to. The course is easy to find with proper directions.
I had heard there might be snakes about, so I was very cautious. It certainly looks like a great place for snakes to chill. I never saw a snake, though. I did see several newts/salamanders, turtles, hawks, and my first wild lizard! That alone made the trip a pleasure :) I would make a $5 donation to go on a nature walk here.
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10 0
rd.bittle
Silver level trusted reviewer
Premium Member
Experience: 13.6 years 66 played 47 reviews
4.50 star(s)

Awesome. Worth The Trip 2+ years

Reviewed: Played on:Oct 19, 2012 Played the course:once

Pros:

So much fun
Good concrete tees (on white and blue)
Good tee signs
Multiple tees.
Good for different skill levels
Great baskets
Plenty of parking
Not crowded
Great shot variety
Uses every shot in your bag
Some tight technical, some bombs
Love the rough country
Great views
Pretty well kept
We were there right after a rain. Ground was solid everywhere. No problems
Great workout. Loved the hike
Great use of water
Great elevation changes
Wonderful use of the trees and land/ rocks.
And to top it off: another awesome course on site.

Favorite Hole(s): #3, #6, #8, #15, #17
Every hole was fun in its own right. No repeats

Cons:

Need directional signs
Tee signs should have layout
Rough walking between holes (not a big deal for me but you might take a RTV or ATV of some sort)
Could use concrete on the other tees
Just not very many cons

Other Thoughts:

We loved this course. Well worth the trip (3.5h drive). This is a must play if you are anywhere near the area. They don't charge a set fee to play, but, any disc golfer should be willing to donate for the priviledge of playing these two courses. Call ahead and camp on site. You are guaranteed to have a blast if you stop in.
You would be well served to have a guide.

All in all this is one of the most fun courses I have ever seen. Would have been a 5 but, I have to reserve that for the "perfect" course with no cons.
If it was only based on fun I would give it a perfect score.

Stop in, you won't regret it. Stay all day for both courses. Or two days, or three...
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7 0
TylerM
Bronze level trusted reviewer
Experience: 13.6 years 31 played 23 reviews
4.50 star(s)

Amazingly fun course!!! 2+ years drive by

Reviewed: Played on:Oct 19, 2012 Played the course:once

Pros:

This course is my very favorite course, without question. The fun factor on this course is just unbelievable!

This course uses water hazards very well. Several holes play around or over water. Hole 17 obviously gets the most attention, but water comes into play on several holes. Hole 17 should get the most attention due to its absolute awesomeness.

A very good mix of length, elevation, and direction makes every hole an adventure. No boring holes here!

Joe the dog!!!! He retrieved several discs for us during the day.

The pads and baskets are in good condition.

Jim let our friend Kenny (our guide) use his Rhyno to save ourselves a lot of walking - the course is huge.

No one else was there, so we had the course to ourselves.

Also liked the practice basket and driving range.

Cons:

No amenities.

Signs were inadequate. Only had distance from the pad.

Other Thoughts:

A must play for anyone in the area. This course alone is great, but with two courses here it's a no-brainer.
Make sure you contact the Lodge because you will need a guide. Not a course for the weak or disabled. It takes stamina to complete this course!

If I was rating only my experience, it would be a 5+. Outstanding course!!!!!
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7 0
odysseus81
Silver level trusted reviewer
Experience: 26.9 years 99 played 35 reviews
4.50 star(s)

Great Course 2+ years drive by

Reviewed: Played on:Oct 11, 2012 Played the course:once

Pros:

I played this course while in town and was able to compare it to some of the other Tulsa area courses. One of the things I loved about it was how well elevation was used throughout the 18 holes. Most of Tulsa is much more flat than this and that really sets it apart.
The teepads were excellent with plenty of length and concrete pads for two sets of tees. Some of the ponds were dried up with was a bummer, but there was still plenty of water on the course which added some nice risk/reward for shots. We actually played the white tee's which made for enough length without being brutal for an intermediate player. I still think there is enough challenge to be fun for an advanced player from the whites, but the blues take it to the next level. Tee shots were very thought out and there are some fantastic pin positions.
Navigation was quite easy as there were arrows pointing you wherever you needed to go and the course flow was very logical. I don't recall any spots where people were throwing into each other--the land is large and used well.
Jim is an awesome dude and it is obvious that he and his wife have put a ton of the passion, blood, sweat, and tears into this course which is an incredible blessing.

Cons:

Much more than Moccasin Creek, The Island beats you up walking between and during holes. Even though it is the older course, there are plenty of areas that feel like they are "under development" with lots of jagged rocks and spots to roll your ankle, so wear good shoes.
Tee signs left quite a bit to be desired from an information standpoint.
It felt like the course heavily favored lefty's with lots of left to right tee shots, which got a bit old---and it felt like there was a 7 hole stretch where things were a bit redundant in the woods.

Other Thoughts:

This course is fantastic and I couldn't be more thrilled to have played it. The island hole was a treat and I always have wanted to play a proper island hole. Lots to love here with just a few gripes, but a no-brainer to play if you are in the Tulsa area. Besides Blackhawk, there aren't any other courses in Tulsa near the caliber of the Lodge. Special thanks to Jim for how accomodating and friendly he was to us.
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6 0
mashnut
Diamond level trusted reviewer
Experience: 22.2 years 831 played 777 reviews
4.50 star(s)

Awesome variety 2+ years drive by

Reviewed: Played on:Apr 15, 2012 Played the course:once

Pros:

The course plays through a great secluded property with lots of fun elevation. Many of the shots play with tricky uphills and fun downhills, with a few cool rollaway greens. Water is definitely in play, with a couple ponds adding some cool looking shots with risk/reward decisions required. The island shot is a very cool green, and with elevation and wind adding to the challenge there's high pucker factor if you go for the island off the tee.

Several of the holes play through tighter woods. There is enough brush off the fairways to punish errant shots, and the lines get pretty technical in spots. There is a good variety of left and right turning shots, and with a great mix of hole lengths you'll need every shot you have to score well.

The white and blue tees have good concrete pads. They offer two very different looks at most holes, with more pinch points, tougher lines and more distance from the longs. The whites often offer easier landing zones on the water shots. The tee signs that were there had hole length, and the ones that were missing were due to a recent storm so I'm sure they'll be replaced.

Cons:

Navigation is tricky in a couple spots, though the painted basket spokes usually help quite a bit. The tee signs could use hole layout, there are some blind shots where knowing where to throw off the tee would be helpful. There are some areas with tall grass, especially on the more open holes, I'm not a huge fan of prairie grass as it adds frustration rather than disc golf challenge.

Other Thoughts:

This course is a blast, and would be worth a stop on it's own, when you add in another phenomenal course on the same property it's worth going out of your way to play here. Beginners might find a fun set of shots from the red tees, though I didn't look at them closely. The whites and blues are pretty tough with some length and lots of tricky water hazards. Experienced players will find some great challenge and variety, the whites are enough to test intermediate to advanced players and the blues will test even the best players.
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