Helena, MT

Deerknuckle

1.55(based on 1 reviews)
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AndyJB
Bronze level trusted reviewer
Experience: 32.8 years 52 played 42 reviews
1.50 star(s)

Classic Montana "Folf" course...if you're into that kind of thing 2+ years drive by

Reviewed: Played on:Aug 21, 2013 Played the course:once

Pros:

-Interesting hole layouts that, while short, do provide quite the challenge

-Good use of the surrounding land, including improvising due to recent brush cutting operations

-Super chilled-out Helena locals who are always eager to show people around the course

-The object on hole 3 is an old box fan. I find it hilarious and unique...which is why it is a Pro.

Cons:

-NO SIGNAGE!!! There used to be some spray painted arrows on trees, but they have mostly been cut down. No tee sign markers. No markers on the objects. Even the online map is terrible.

-Horrible "teepads" that provide no way to run up (though you won't need a runup on most holes)

-Vast majority of holes are right finishing due to Montana players being, by and large, forehanding fiends

-The objects, while unique, are hanging from trees which makes putting in the wind or after another player has hit the object, a challenge...but not in a fun way

-The object on hole 6 is a post on the ground. Just a weird putt that doesn't work at all.

-The object on hole 7 is a slash pile painted orange. Works for now, but when that pile gets burned or moved who knows what they will use?

-Trash everywhere and tons of graffiti. The graffiti is bad because the very few directional signs are also spray painted on rocks, leading to tons of confusion.

-No shade and plenty of Rattlesnakes. Nothing can really be done about that, but it's a huge con especially if you bring children or dogs.

Other Thoughts:

My family and I arrived at this course on a local trip to Helena. I really wanted to check out Hyzer Hills, which has actual Mach 5 baskets, but my wife insisted on Deerknuckle because of the short holes. the second we arrived I knew it was a mistake as the sun was blaring down and there was no shade. My daughter and wife were not pleased.

We struggled for about 15 minutes to figure out where holes 1 and 2 were before a local, John, showed up and offered to guide us (if you ever play here and run into a shirtless guy who only throws one disc, tell him Andy from Colorado said hi and let him guide you...he's a really cool dude) and he even gave us the history of the course as we played. Super nice guy as all the local "folfers" here are. The laid back vibe helped me to have fun on a really un-fun course.

This review is a struggle for me. Growing up in Montana, these are the kind of courses I'm use to. Local-friendly object courses that often turn into safari golf with the changing environment. But, sadly, that doesn't make for a good course. it makes for a terrible course.

I still had a ton of fun, as did my 69-year old father-in-law, but we are from that Montana mindset. Though I am a competitive player, it's courses like this that bring me joy and take me back to my original love of the game, throwing in the woods with my dad and his friends.

So, in closing, this is just a bad course that I can't recommend to most players. But if you are a Montanan, are looking for a fresh new challenge, or just are a generally chilled-out dude or dudette, there are much worse options out there. Take this course with a grain of salt.
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