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V-Rock DGC reviews
25
0
The V may eat you.
Reviewed:
Played on:Oct 1, 2023
Played the course:5+ times
Pros:
This course has the best elevation changes throughout the course in the Huntsville area. Very heavily wooded with well defined lines. If hitting trees doesn't frustrate you, the elevation will wear you down physically forcing mental mistakes. Directional arrows are abundant throughout the course making navigation easier amongst all the well defined paths.
There are many different layouts, hole combinations, tee pads, and basket locations. So many, I can not remember the hole numbers. I absolutely love the long par 5 up hill along the cabin. This hole requires precision placement and physical fitness. A par feels like a birdie.
I also love the last hole threading a bomb downhill. So satisfying when you hit your line. If it's raining, there's a waterfall at the bottom.
Other memorable holes include throwing over a massive sinkhole. Screw up here and your disc may never be seen again. The third to last hole is a tight uphill shot with obstacles near the tee pad. This hole proved to be a difference maker often if you get greedy and hit a tree early. Throw a midrange up the fairway for premium placement can gain you a stroke or two here.
And of course there's the V-Rock hole that used to be hole 5 (V). Put some Kentucky Jelly on your disc to thread the gap for that ace run!
There are many different layouts, hole combinations, tee pads, and basket locations. So many, I can not remember the hole numbers. I absolutely love the long par 5 up hill along the cabin. This hole requires precision placement and physical fitness. A par feels like a birdie.
I also love the last hole threading a bomb downhill. So satisfying when you hit your line. If it's raining, there's a waterfall at the bottom.
Other memorable holes include throwing over a massive sinkhole. Screw up here and your disc may never be seen again. The third to last hole is a tight uphill shot with obstacles near the tee pad. This hole proved to be a difference maker often if you get greedy and hit a tree early. Throw a midrange up the fairway for premium placement can gain you a stroke or two here.
And of course there's the V-Rock hole that used to be hole 5 (V). Put some Kentucky Jelly on your disc to thread the gap for that ace run!
Cons:
Footing is always tough here. You're on the side of a mountain. Stay in the fairway!
V-Rock is not cart friendly even though I've seen it done before.
Not much room to run up on some tee pads. I'm sure that'll improve over time.
V-Rock is not cart friendly even though I've seen it done before.
Not much room to run up on some tee pads. I'm sure that'll improve over time.
Other Thoughts:
V-Rock is a beautiful property with many gems hidden throughout the course. I feel like putting too much here can ruin the surprise for other golfers. Mark and his wife do an awesome job keeping up and improving the property.
34
0
Something Special 2+ years
Reviewed:
Played on:Feb 27, 2022
Played the course:2-4 times
Pros:
For nearly all of my reviews I try to use an objective evaluation-based rating of attributes such as course safety, quality of tee pads, baskets, quality of design, course flow, signage, navigation, amenities, and natural beauty. While I'll touch on these, for V-Rock, they are pretty much irrelevant to this review. What makes V-Rock great is the owner's passion and commitment to making a round on V-Rock a positive disc golf experience for everyone lucky enough play the course.
V-Rock is a labor of love carved out of the owner's large "back yard" on a rocky hillside forest, just outside of Huntsville. He is constantly working on improvements. Each hole has 3 and occasionally 4 tee boxes to accommodate many skill levels. He's even moved a basket if needed to accommodate a visiting player's ability and agility. Both times I got the "Legends" layout to go easy on my senior-citizen knees and limited distance of my drives. Stronger players will generate lots of birdie opportunities, but they better hit some tight lines. Even rag-arm rec players like me can still have an occasional ace run and make a few birdies if we stick to the Red or Green tees.
-The 15 (or sometimes 16, and maybe expanding to 18) holes are each a unique line and distance. Masterful use of elevation and some giant boulders make every hole feel fresh. Risk and reward lines will demand that players be both skillful and thoughtful to score well. The first hole is in the open, the rest of the course is technical, wooded, with elevation changes that can be dramatic. Depending on the layout you'll have one or two par 4's maybe even a par five.
- If you lucky enough to play just after heavy rains, you may even have a rushing series of waterfalls along your fairway. Occasional painted rock, sign, or statue decorate a few fairways. I'm looking at you Angel Rock.
-The basket placement and greens are never gimmicky, but usually require a well-placed approach. Get greedy on your birdie run and you could get an epic roll-away. The baskets are a bit of a mashup of different manufacturers', mostly "sport" models, but all are of reasonable quality. If this were on a pay-to-play it might ding the rating by a ½ star, but in this case it's perfectly appropriate.
-Tee boxes are bare dirt, but always clear of roots, rocks and provide solid and level surface to throw off of. You won't be able to take a massive run-up and big follow through, but on this technical course you probably won't need it. Again, on a big public park course or a pay-to-play it might ding the rating by a star, but in this case it's perfectly appropriate and fits in with the terrain.
-Tee signs exist with mostly correct distances (when things don't change too quickly), but don't worry about it, you'll be playing with the owner, and he can give you exact distances and elevation changes... and if you ask nicely, he'll probably suggest the best line to throw tailored to your game.
-Not a spec of trash anywhere on the course. Fairly low chance of losing a disc. Even if an errant throw gets buried under some leaf-cover, the owner will find it eventually and get it back to you.
-Not unusual for players to be offered a hot drink after a winter round (or I assume a cold drink after a summer round), and players seem to spontaneously show up with chili, cookies, or other snacks to share.
V-Rock is a labor of love carved out of the owner's large "back yard" on a rocky hillside forest, just outside of Huntsville. He is constantly working on improvements. Each hole has 3 and occasionally 4 tee boxes to accommodate many skill levels. He's even moved a basket if needed to accommodate a visiting player's ability and agility. Both times I got the "Legends" layout to go easy on my senior-citizen knees and limited distance of my drives. Stronger players will generate lots of birdie opportunities, but they better hit some tight lines. Even rag-arm rec players like me can still have an occasional ace run and make a few birdies if we stick to the Red or Green tees.
-The 15 (or sometimes 16, and maybe expanding to 18) holes are each a unique line and distance. Masterful use of elevation and some giant boulders make every hole feel fresh. Risk and reward lines will demand that players be both skillful and thoughtful to score well. The first hole is in the open, the rest of the course is technical, wooded, with elevation changes that can be dramatic. Depending on the layout you'll have one or two par 4's maybe even a par five.
- If you lucky enough to play just after heavy rains, you may even have a rushing series of waterfalls along your fairway. Occasional painted rock, sign, or statue decorate a few fairways. I'm looking at you Angel Rock.
-The basket placement and greens are never gimmicky, but usually require a well-placed approach. Get greedy on your birdie run and you could get an epic roll-away. The baskets are a bit of a mashup of different manufacturers', mostly "sport" models, but all are of reasonable quality. If this were on a pay-to-play it might ding the rating by a ½ star, but in this case it's perfectly appropriate.
-Tee boxes are bare dirt, but always clear of roots, rocks and provide solid and level surface to throw off of. You won't be able to take a massive run-up and big follow through, but on this technical course you probably won't need it. Again, on a big public park course or a pay-to-play it might ding the rating by a star, but in this case it's perfectly appropriate and fits in with the terrain.
-Tee signs exist with mostly correct distances (when things don't change too quickly), but don't worry about it, you'll be playing with the owner, and he can give you exact distances and elevation changes... and if you ask nicely, he'll probably suggest the best line to throw tailored to your game.
-Not a spec of trash anywhere on the course. Fairly low chance of losing a disc. Even if an errant throw gets buried under some leaf-cover, the owner will find it eventually and get it back to you.
-Not unusual for players to be offered a hot drink after a winter round (or I assume a cold drink after a summer round), and players seem to spontaneously show up with chili, cookies, or other snacks to share.
Cons:
-This course is a private, invitation-only course. Please understand that it's an honor and a privilege to play here. If you receive an invite, be thankful, enjoy an amazing experience, and please treat the course with the love and respect it deserves.
-It's a bit rugged out there. You'll be climbing up, down, around rocks, and in some weather, you'll be dealing with mud and slippery stream crossing. Hiking boots or at least some substantial footwear is needed.
-It's a bit rugged out there. You'll be climbing up, down, around rocks, and in some weather, you'll be dealing with mud and slippery stream crossing. Hiking boots or at least some substantial footwear is needed.
Other Thoughts:
V-Rock reminds me of an obscure mythic "backyard" course way up in Vermont near the Canadian border: Black Falls https://www.dgcoursereview.co....php?id=1013. Before the big money from the ski areas like Smuggler's Notch invested in Disc Golf, Black Falls was the number one course in Northern New England and made several "top 25" lists. One review wrote of Black Falls: "playing Black Falls was a euphoric trip to disc nirvana". It's time to add V-Rock to that short list.
