Any college which can proudly call their sports teams the Banana Slugs can certainly embrace disc golf on their campus. The course at UC Santa Cruz is set in the their physical education complex. This area with swimming pool, a very popular jogging track, soccer/lacrosse fields and open space offers panoramic views of Monterey Bay which are pretty spectacular.

I played on a beautiful January day and the jogging track was busy and the coeds near hole 1 were sitting out enjoying the sun. There were a couple others out on later holes that I had to throw around or skip the hole.

The course starts just past the softball field. The signs are the old school fiberglass ones. The tee pads are either natural or play off sidewalks. The baskets are a pretty blue DGA models with a number plate that says Santa Cruz Disc Golf. The signs list both a Pro and an Am distance but I was never able to locate the second tee pad.

The course is actually kind of bland. # 1 is just a simple 231' up the hill shot. # 2 is a basic, easy downhill hyser throw. I had to skip # 3 due to a couple studying right in the flight path. # 4 plays 300' or 438' over a small gully. 5 & 6 are both downhills. # 7 uphill and open. # 8 has you starting back towards to the start. # 9 then plays slightly downhill towards the East Remote parking lot. I chose to skip this hole as they were three deer happily munching on grass near the basket while countless students walked by. I didn't think it would be a popular move to skull a Bambi with my driver in front of 10 startled student witnesses.

One reason, I don't look forward to playing campus courses is because of the parking hassles. UC Santa Cruz is no different. I found a lot near the pool with metered parking which was reasonable.

Course lacks the wow factor. Kind of wide open.

Wind is certainly a possibility although it was calm when I played.

Natural pads are OK but not great.

Had to skip 2 of 9 holes due to coeds and Bambi's.

I think I remember that The Banana Slugs have a competitive disc golf team. I bet they leave this course to the student one disc wonders and get their serious practice in at DeLaveaga which is just three miles from here. Between the parking hassles here and the mediocre golf, I'd recommend skipping this course and concentrating your allotted disc golf time for the iconic DeLa. Dela has majestic views, too.