-great layout that works through the grapevine rows on slightly rolling hills with occasional mature oaks
-nice concrete tees, Mach baskets, detailed signs, and brooms on each tee
-lots of fun and reachable birdie holes and a few longer holes where longer arms can rip one or shorter arms have to manage 2 shots
-a few downhill tee shots that are fun and a couple interesting uphill shots (i really liked hole 16)
-basket atop wine barrels on hole 3; hanging basket on 14, cool touch at the right point on the course; all other holes have 2 basket positions
-convenient DG parking right next to the course
-P2P: i think it's a pro
-cool whale bone fossils embedded into each tee pad
-not far from the Firestone Walker Brewery, stop for great food and beers!

-gets a bit monotonous going through grapevines almost the entire way through the course
-throwing OB into the grapevine rows is a real pain retrieving your disc, you often can't see exactly which row you're in and if you pick the wrong one you have to walk all the way around
-course is not very shaded and dry, bring water
-course closed the day after a rain
-the first and last few holes are very close together

Whale Rock is a well done course on the Castoro Cellars Winery. The rolling hills, sparse mature Oaks, and great amenities make for an enjoyable disc golf experience. The course has some fun shots from elevation and uses the land well. The concrete tees, Mach baskets, brooms at each tee and detailed tee signs show that the $5 is well spent. There are two basket positions on each hole except hole 3 where the basket is atop some wine barrels and hole 14 which has a hanging basket.

By the time you get to around hole 12, the course starts to feel a bit repetitive. The grapevine rows are cool and make some good OB areas but it's a pain to retrieve your disc. There is little shade in the middle of the course and it is hot and dusty so make sure to bring water.

Check in at the tasting room where you'll sign a waiver, pay your $5 fee, and get a key for the gate at the course entrance. The staff is super friendly and the wine is probably decent. I didn't stick around to find out because I headed over to Firestone Walker for lunch and beers. Whale Rock is a great way to burn some time waiting for the Taproom Restaurant to open at 11am. Definitely worth checking out and worth the $5.


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This is a fun course and is an added perk to having a membership to the Castoro Wine Club. I work at another winery right down the road, so it's a great place to play when I have the chance and I am apart of their Industry Wine Club which makes a great deal even better. The actual vines are out of bounds, but there are great technical shots and terrain changes that the majority of the SLO County courses don't have. You can see the love that went into making this course. Great scenery, fun stroll through a vineyard.

The course is as par 3 as it comes. No real difficult long drives, most holes are around the low 300 ft range. Not great practice for competitions in terms of distance or heavy wind compensation. Hours are while the tasting room is open, 10-5 (they ask for the keys back at 5 because they close at 5:30), which doesn't help me during the week since I get off at 4:30.

This is my favorite course in the county so far. I wish I were friends with the vineyard/winery team that works there because I've seen them do some glow stuff after dark and sometimes play in the early morning before work. I wish they were open a little longer, at least during the summer when the sun is out longer, but I completely understand why they close when they do. My favorite basket is the hanging one, which I've almost aced, followed by the top of the world shot (Hole 6?). Actually I've almost aced a few of them. I love that they have multiple pin positions that changed somewhat frequently that add variety to the course. Highly recommend it when you decide to stop in wine country.