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Whistler's Bend reviews
10
0
pdx-disc
Experience:
31 years
15 played
6 reviews
The Present versus The Potential 2+ years drive by
Reviewed:
Played on:Sep 6, 2015
Played the course:5+ times
Pros:
NOTE: Course is currently in the middle of a redesign from 18 holes to 27 holes. All 27 are playable but navigation is difficult.
* Beautiful location on the Umpqua River, oak groves, rolling hills, scenic viewpoints, wildlife, etc.
* Amenities are good - concrete tee pads on most holes, good signage, a few benches, and usually three basket locations for each hole. Good quality baskets.
* Lots of variety to the holes. You will use most of the discs in your bag and most of the types of shots you are able to throw.
* Very challenging course - even with the baskets in their short positions, this is a tough course. Lots of gamble-and-lose-your-disc shots. Variety of challenges - difficult tree holes, long brutal drives, windy shots, cliff hazards, deep rough, etc. (note, this is a "con" for beginners)
* Camping is available within walking distance (small campground with showers, reservable online) and there is also a day use area. Plenty of activities in the summer.
* The new holes add a lot to the course. The new course now has two impressive "top of the world" shots with different views (#16 and #17), and some new along-the-river shots. The challenge level went up quite a bit.
* Beautiful location on the Umpqua River, oak groves, rolling hills, scenic viewpoints, wildlife, etc.
* Amenities are good - concrete tee pads on most holes, good signage, a few benches, and usually three basket locations for each hole. Good quality baskets.
* Lots of variety to the holes. You will use most of the discs in your bag and most of the types of shots you are able to throw.
* Very challenging course - even with the baskets in their short positions, this is a tough course. Lots of gamble-and-lose-your-disc shots. Variety of challenges - difficult tree holes, long brutal drives, windy shots, cliff hazards, deep rough, etc. (note, this is a "con" for beginners)
* Camping is available within walking distance (small campground with showers, reservable online) and there is also a day use area. Plenty of activities in the summer.
* The new holes add a lot to the course. The new course now has two impressive "top of the world" shots with different views (#16 and #17), and some new along-the-river shots. The challenge level went up quite a bit.
Cons:
* Due to the redesign, all of the tee signs need to be redone. The ones that are there are mostly accurate, but sometimes the numbering of the signs is off. Quite a few of the new holes do not have adequate signs. Players familiar with the old course will be *extremely* confused. Ask locals ahead of time if you can find them, or play with someone who's played the new layout.
* There is no current course map available online, or at the beginning of the course (not even stapled to the signboard), or from the park host. You'll probably get lost several times and play things out of order without a guide.
* Poison oak on a few holes. Rare except along the river edges (deep rough) and then quite a lot in the middle of #17 in the hillside (most players will throw well past it and over it, but still).
* A few steep hikes between holes, especially on the new holes. Once the trails are worn in a bit, these will be better, but I would dread a couple of them in the winter (particularly the walk from #16 -> 17).
* There is no current course map available online, or at the beginning of the course (not even stapled to the signboard), or from the park host. You'll probably get lost several times and play things out of order without a guide.
* Poison oak on a few holes. Rare except along the river edges (deep rough) and then quite a lot in the middle of #17 in the hillside (most players will throw well past it and over it, but still).
* A few steep hikes between holes, especially on the new holes. Once the trails are worn in a bit, these will be better, but I would dread a couple of them in the winter (particularly the walk from #16 -> 17).
Other Thoughts:
* Good Course For: experienced disc golfers looking to challenge themselves, backwoods trackers (for figuring out where the next hole is), hikers and nature enthusiasts, and people who've got all day to play disc golf.
* Bad Course For: beginners and casual players, people who aren't able to hike steep terrain, people without good trail shoes, people with vertigo or fear of heights.
* King for a Day: new signs on every hole that needs one, and "next tee" arrows on every basket. Crosswalks painted on the road and real stairs on the side of the road for when you move from 14 -> 15 and 15 -> 16. A current map posted on the signboard at the beginning (easy to take a picture of it with your phone - all we need is *one map*). Eradicate poison oak from fairways and trails.
* Other Thoughts: Do you rate a course on how it IS, or it's POTENTIAL if it's finished? As is, three stars. If it's finished as planned, to the quality level of the old course (concrete tees, excellent signage, three possible basket positions on every hole), then it will be an easy five stars and probably one of the best courses on the west coast. So I split the difference at four stars... for now.
* Bad Course For: beginners and casual players, people who aren't able to hike steep terrain, people without good trail shoes, people with vertigo or fear of heights.
* King for a Day: new signs on every hole that needs one, and "next tee" arrows on every basket. Crosswalks painted on the road and real stairs on the side of the road for when you move from 14 -> 15 and 15 -> 16. A current map posted on the signboard at the beginning (easy to take a picture of it with your phone - all we need is *one map*). Eradicate poison oak from fairways and trails.
* Other Thoughts: Do you rate a course on how it IS, or it's POTENTIAL if it's finished? As is, three stars. If it's finished as planned, to the quality level of the old course (concrete tees, excellent signage, three possible basket positions on every hole), then it will be an easy five stars and probably one of the best courses on the west coast. So I split the difference at four stars... for now.
