Santa Barbara (Goleta), CA

Evergreen Open Space

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2.875(based on 27 reviews)
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6 0
The Valkyrie Kid
Diamond level trusted reviewer
Experience: 45.9 years 1563 played 1507 reviews
3.00 star(s)

Evergreen Open Space Doesn’t Look Like It’s Had An Upgrade In Thirty Years! 2+ years

Reviewed: Played on:Jan 21, 2019 Played the course:once

Pros:

First, I would like to thank locals, Tomas and Andres, for guiding me around. This would be a difficult course to navigate solo seeing how it has no signage, unmarked tee pads on sidewalks and then the recent storm damage would have only compounded the navigational issues.

The Evergreen Open Space DGC has been active since 1995. The bones are still good but the equipment is looking a little weary. The Discatchers and the tee pads are looking a little tired. There are no signs to get old. The course starts near Brandon Elementary School and finishes way over at El Rancho Elementary leaving you with a long hike through residential streets to get back to your vehicle. I would have been so lost without my locals.

There is a lot of wonderful disc golf to be found here. The course features a lot of different looks forcing you to use most of your tricks. The course plays at probably a high recreational level to low intermediate level. An advanced player would score very well here.

Some of my favorite holes were # 7 which about 350' from the short tee but the basket is hidden in the center of about twenty Eucalyptus trees. # 10 is a fun 300' mostly open downhill blast. I was impressed with the # 11 well engineered tee pad. # 13 is a monster. It's 350' but you either have to have the arm to throw over the trees and danger or guts enough to try to throw through and across the bridge opening. Either way, there is an ugly gorge on the right you really want to steer clear of. # 15 is known as the swamp hole and now with four trees blown down, it has a different look.

Cons:

No signs.

Some unmarked tees on sidewalks.

Lots and lots of downed trees after the recent storm. There are trees downed on baskets, on tee pads and blocking paths and fairways. A couple are hung up and could possibly come down at anytime. The city probably needs to get in here and chain saw up a few logs and branches.

General feeling of neglect.

Other Thoughts:

I understand they have both weeklies and monthly events here. Why isn't some of this revenue being sunk back into the course. There's so much needed. Evergreen Open Space DGC is kind of an Iconic figure on the coast here. It was a pleasure getting to finally tackle it.
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6 0
The Katana Kid
Gold level trusted reviewer
Experience: 8.3 years 183 played 56 reviews
4.00 star(s)

I like this course 2+ years drive by

Reviewed: Updated: Played on:Apr 11, 2017 Played the course:5+ times

Pros:

If you favor a left to right shot, which I do, then you'll like this course. For every one right to left shot (1, 2, 5, 8, 12, & 18) there are two left to right shots (3, 4, 6, 7, 9, 10, 11, 13, 14, 15, 16, & 17).

If you go first thing in the morning, which I do, then there's usually no one there.

There are several very challenging holes:
#8 is a tunnel shot up a hill, but there's trees inside the tunnel. Last week I was 4 over on this hole, and only 3 over for the rest of the course. But yesterday I barely missed a birdie when my fairway shot hit the chains from about 150'.
Also challenging is 13, which tees off from a hill and goes over a jungle/swamp to an unseen basket off to the right. When I first saw this I was a beginner and was amazed someone could get a disc over that. Now I can actually do it myself and parred this the last two weeks.

This course has only two (4 & 14) open field and roughly flat holes with grass, like are so abundant in other parks (yesterday I played Pritzger in Santa Maria and that's mostly what it is) but even these two holes are interesting: 4's basket is at the bottom of an ivy slope which comes down to that grassy flat field and 14's basket is nestled againat the woods with the grass leading up to it.

I like the dreaded "cauldron" with crossing fairways, but in all fairness no one has ever been there early in the morning when I'm playing so I get the good without the bad. The cauldron starts with 10, down the hill against the jungle/swamp and to the right. There's a cluster of trees to the right blocking any normal backhand right to left. So a forehand fling is preferrable, at least in my arsenal, but a lititle too far and you're in the swamp monster that eats discs. Number 11 is the next of the crossing fairways, but another challenge down the hill and to the right between trees to reach the basket nestled into some trees on a slope. Number 12's basket is in a ring of trees, which is a challenge, at least for me, to get inside. I got in yesterday but missed my birdie putt. Then you end the cauldron holes with the signature 13 (I was talking to a guy recently at Rabbit Flats, another cool place, and the main thing he remembered about Evergreen was 13).

It's the variety of this course that makes up it's inimitable character. The woods on a hill for 8 and 9 with a creek at the bottom to punish your errant throws. When you do well (yesterday I birdied 9) then you feel you earned it more than a simple pitch and putt. The swamp hole (15) literally leads you through a swamp with boards to walk on then the basket is under some trees with a creek behind it that'll grab your disc if you're not careful. Fortunately the swamp's been dry lately, even with all the rain, but the reeds/weeds are high and hide discs here. 18 is a nice finish from the right to left under a low hanging tree and around the woods that blocks your view of the basket. If I get a par here, which I did yesterday, then I'm happy but better players should birdie this. An ace is impossible.

There are 2 porta potty bathrooms. One is near the tennis courts at the 1 and 3 tees. The other is near the jungle gym by the 5th tee and about halfway between the 5 minute walk between your finish at 18 and getting back to where you parked at #1.

Cons:

There is no signage at the tees. This would be a GIANT improvement.

The layout of 14-18 Is counter intuitive. For example, the 14th tee is not the tee next to the 13th basket, that tee is for 17. And the 15th tee is not next to the 14th basket, that tee is for 18. Some locals helped me. Now that I've got it figured out I actually like it, but this negative would be greatly reduced with good signage at the tees and a next hole arrow in the baskets.

There are long tees for the better players but not easy to find. I'm aware of ones at tees on 3, 4, 10 and 16, but there may be more.

The concrete tee pads aren't great, but they're fine with me.

The walk from 18 to 1 is also fine with me, but I can understand complaints about it. This problem, unlike tee signage, is unfixable.

Blind shots on 5, 13, 14, and 18 are a problem. My goal on 13 is to get my disc to fly across a path I can't see from the tee. So I try to look before throwing, especially since two friends told me of disc to people contact on other courses (One hit a two year old resulting in a bruise and a letter to the city from a mad mom. The other from a guy who told me his disc hit someone in the forehead and the gash/bleeding was so bad the person went to the hospital). I don't know how to solve this blind shot problem which crosses walking paths that people walk on without just being aware and being careful.

There are not multiple basket positions but that doesn't bother me. I guess it just means less maintenance is required for the course.

Poison ivy is there and I've been slightly affected by it on a rare occasion, but it's not a serious problem.

There are a lot of places on this course you can easily lose your plastic. So you better keep a focused eye on where it's going, which is true on all courses, but especially here.

Other Thoughts:

I like this course a lot and I play it a lot. It is anything but boring. I wonder who would need to get the ball rolling to get signage at the tees.I have heard there's a good group of locals here, but I don't know who they are.
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4 0
Mr72datsun
Experience: 10 played 10 reviews
3.00 star(s)

beat expectations 2+ years drive by

Reviewed: Played on:Jun 20, 2016 Played the course:once

Pros:

a good challenge for intermediate to good players.
requires a lot of different shots.

Cons:

not for beginners
portable bathroom was hard to find
run down park and neighborhood

Other Thoughts:

after reading reviews i had very low expectations. course exceeded expectations. i will play again. navigating the course was a challenge, but i thought the challenge was fun and the one local guy i ran into was super nice as far as explaining 14-18 holes.
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3 1
ShortyToThrow
Experience: 10 years 61 played 6 reviews
1.50 star(s)

A lot of potential 2+ years drive by

Reviewed: Played on:Mar 1, 2016 Played the course:2-4 times

Pros:

Beautiful holes in the tree grove.
Not busy with disc golfers.
Neighbors and walkers friendly.
Short drive to the beach-the Gold Coast!

Cons:

Layout can be confusing first time there.
Intoxicated homeless/loiters become unruly.
Tee pads and baskets need maintenance.
Four fairways crisscross.
Poison Oak.
No restrooms-1 portable john only.

Other Thoughts:

Some course maintenance and a course redesign from the locals could really bring the course to another level. The rest is in the hands of the municipality-building actual restrooms, managing the poison oak and getting the homeless/loiters to behave.
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3 0
CIDG
Experience: 9.8 years 34 played 10 reviews
2.00 star(s)

Needs Love 2+ years drive by

Reviewed: Played on:Jan 29, 2016 Played the course:5+ times

Pros:

-Good use of possible space provided
-Accessible from 101
-Santa Barbara area
-Errant throws can be severely punished on some holes
-OK variety of holes
-Decent baskets
-Holes up to 360 feet (Hole 4)
-Some elevation shots (albeit small)
-Awesome Eucalyptus grove
-Water can come into play

Cons:

-Some teepads are the worst I've ever seen (Hole 12)
-Confusing where to go next
-The Cauldron: a bowl shaped area with FOUR criss crossing fairways
-Highly geared towards shots that finish right from the teepad (RHFH/turnover or LHBH)
-Zero signage
-First hole desires a RHBH hyzer straight towards houses
-Practice basket is Hole 2 basket
-One port-o-potty for restroom
-No drinking fountains
-Few trash receptacles
-Recently (1/29/16) some homeless people have been creating a stir (i.e. getting very inebriated) to the point where Sheriffs have been foot patrolling the Eucalyptus grove, removing some local seating @ Hole 9.
-About 3 Eucalyptus trees have fallen, blocking the path to hole 8

Other Thoughts:

This course can be an enjoyable 18 holes if you're in the area. The whole part of the course with the criss crossing fairways is nonsense. If you don't have a RHBH turnover, RHFH, or LHBH shot dialed, this course will get under your skin. There are great challenging shots to keep things fun. Santa Barbara/Goleta has to be one of the most beautiful places in the US (if not world.) Everyone can appreciate walking through the Eucalyptus grove.
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5 3
corin_brown
Experience: 13.6 years 62 played 4 reviews
1.00 star(s)

Hmmm... Let's see if I can be nice here 2+ years drive by

Reviewed: Played on:Jul 12, 2015 Played the course:once

Pros:

It's a disc golf course. Proximity to the 101, Santa Barbara, wine country and the beach. There are 18 intact tee pads & baskets. Most of the holes, on their own, are an interesting challenge. Variety of holes.

Cons:

The layout is alllllllllllll effed up. Worst laid out track I've ever played. Many holes cross each other to much negative effect. Many tee pads & baskets were difficult to find. The 18th basket is a good 5 minute walk from the tee box for 1 and the turn is nowhere near the tee box for hole 1 either. And this course is dangerous to pedestrians. Pedestrian walking paths snake all through this course and due to several blind holes, there's no way of knowing if pedestrians are in the way when one is teeing off or throwing on these blind approaches. Another con is the neighbors. This course skirts many home and I had a couple of uncomfortable interactions with neighbors & dogs because of their proximity to the course.

Other Thoughts:

I played this course only three times, for the three rounds of the 2015 Evergreen Open this past weekend. First, I would like to compliment the TD's and the club for putting on a great tournament. My comments about this course are confined to the course alone, not the people responsible for the tournament, who are great.

Also, the designers probably could not have done any better designing or building this course, considering the limitations of the site they had to work with. Evergreen is an example of how the restrictions & limitations of a site can really affect the end product.
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2 1
thespeedokid
Experience: 9.4 years 110 played 34 reviews
2.00 star(s)

Poorly marked 2+ years drive by

Reviewed: Played on:Feb 9, 2015 Played the course:once

Pros:

Nice elevation changes. Variety of holes. Good distances. Not a lot of people on course. Possibly an ok course if you know where the holes are.

Cons:

Lots of blind baskets. No hole signs. Tees are broken up and hard to find. Swampy ravine area. Some tees are not long enough. Long grass/weeds. Grass holds moisture making this course very wet during rainy season. Some tees are just part of a side walk marked in a faded yellow line. If you throw into trees you can easily lose a disc.

Other Thoughts:

Back holes are very difficult for beginners. Hole 8 is extremely difficult and should probably be a par 4. Holes 14 through 18 are very confusing on which tees go to which baskets. Hole 13 is a completely blind tee shot over a swampy ravine that can prove near impossible to clear for a beginner. It is probably a fun yet somewhat challenging course for the more experienced player.
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1 6
SDtoSB
Experience: 17.1 years 24 played 6 reviews
4.00 star(s)

Great Local Place 2+ years drive by

Reviewed: Played on:Sep 20, 2012 Played the course:5+ times

Pros:

-Quiet course with typically short waits (quick but fun round)
-Worth playing 2 rounds back-to-back
-Above average terrain and tree density variation
-Above average ground conditions (except the swamp hole)
-Fun for all skill levels (except the swamp hole)

Cons:

-The swamp hole
-Finding the basket can be difficult if you've never played it
-Can be difficult to locate a disc at twilight

Other Thoughts:

This was the course I learned on both when first starting out, and when I broke my right wrist and learned to throw left-handed. Was a fun course when shot -4 (after a year's experience) and still fun when I shot +27 (1st left handed round).

P.S. If you find my Starfire on the swamp hole, please call the number on the back!
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2 2
rakemucker
Experience: 26.6 years 40 played 2 reviews
3.00 star(s)

Forehand Course 2+ years drive by

Reviewed: Played on:Apr 29, 2013 Played the course:5+ times

Pros:

Nice mix of short and longish (400ft) holes, in a public park, but the public is usually easy to avoid.

Cons:

No signs, slow play by large groups, poison oak, difficult to navigate without a guide or map.

Other Thoughts:

Great course for forehand drives. Hole # 8 is a bear.
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5 0
mashnut
Diamond level trusted reviewer
Experience: 22.1 years 831 played 767 reviews
2.50 star(s)

Long tees are better 2+ years drive by

Reviewed: Played on:Apr 13, 2013 Played the course:once

Pros:

The course plays through a multi-use park, though most of the holes have little conflict with other park users. There is a little bit of elevation, especially in the middle section of the course, and it's used pretty well to add some fun and variety. There's a decent mix of more open shots and holes where you have to hit a gap or place your shot well to have a good look at a protected pin location. Several holes have enough rough that you'll really pay for an errant shot, and they force you to choose between going for the pin or laying up and knowing you'll stay out of trouble.

The lengths are fairly short from the main set of tees, there is more variety from the longs the locals have marked. The short tees are concrete or pavers, and seemed to be in good shape. The baskets are in fine shape and catch well.

Cons:

The course had a lot of right turning holes, I threw the same turnover shot a lot and I would have liked a little more variety. The longs offer a nice challenge, but are not well marked and add some extra crossing fairways and safety concerns. Even from the shorts there are several places where holes play over one another or throw blindly into other fairways.

The walking path is in play on several holes. It didn't seem to be heavily used, but there's still some potential for issues. There is no signage, and the flow of the course is not easy to follow. Without a guide I would have spent a lot of time figuring out where to go next. The grass was overgrown in many areas, making discs tough to spot even in the middle of some fairways. There is a lot of poison oak here, keep an eye out whenever you leave the fairway.

Other Thoughts:

Beginners will find the lengths and challenge appropriate, though the overgrown fairways might be a little frustrating. More experienced players won't find a ton of variety or challenge from the short tees. The long tees are much more challenging, but still lack a little in variety and are not easy to find without a guide. If you're in the area, this course isn't a bad place to get in a round, especially if you can get a local to guide you.
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8 0
Danger
Gold level trusted reviewer
Experience: 14.7 years 105 played 68 reviews
2.50 star(s)

An OK City Course 2+ years drive by

Reviewed: Played on:Nov 24, 2011 Played the course:once

Pros:

-Open & Wooded Holes
-DISCatchers
-Defined fairways
-Very few blind holes

Cons:

-Thick, swampy brush with poison oak and spiders
-Multiple major fairway crossings
-Long walk from end of course
-No vertical signage (bring a map and you will be FINE)
-Concrete tees can be deceivingly slippery. Watch your step, even in dry weather.

Other Thoughts:

Evergreen Open space plays through a city park that first plays through an open, grassy part of the park; then continues to an area that is partially wooded with thick brush and eucalyptus trees next to a swampy stream. The course ends with a section that is both grassy and woodsy.

The first five holes give the player an opportunity to warm up their throws as very little plays in the way of your throw. There is not any tee protection or fairway protection, and in nearly every case, very little pin protection. A good section of the course to hone in on your lines, as you will need them later.

As you are introduced to the wooded part of the course, a couple of birdie holes play through a secluded yet fairly open area below some homes. Beyond these is fairly difficult hole 8, which is an S curving fairway though some substantial coverage.

Holes 10 through 13 all play in a bowl shaped area of the park that is mostly grassy, but has a few trees scattered about. The bottom of the hill is home to the swampy creek, as well as some reeds, smaller trees, and intermittent poison oak. Discs accidentally thrown this direction are not always hard to find, but not necessarily easy to get to. These four holes fairways literally play right over each other. The pins and tee pads basically form a circle around the bowl.

Hole 13 is a fairly difficult shot over the creek into an area where holes 14, 16, and 17 play. While the fairways are not cris-crossing each other as in the previous bowl, they certainly play right on each other fairly tightly.

Hole 15 plays in a wooded area that was swampy at the time of our visit and we decided not to play it. A very narrow boardwalk is the only means of transportation through the swamp and any step off of it is a guaranteed wet foot and maybe leg. Hole 16 begins in the swamp but it is a very safe throw to return it to the grass.

Hole 18 plays down a road and ends near a bridge. Cross the bridge, follow the trail up the hill, walk down the street, make a left, and walk another 5 minutes or so and you will return to your vehicle.

The course plays well under par for any golfer that knows what they are doing, and can be a very competitive fun round for those just starting out. There were very few complaints from us as we played, and the environment seemed nice enough. We played in the morning and saw a few other groups but fortunately there were no backups and nobody was playing the other holes where they all cross each other. I don't know if this is the norm but I would imagine the back half of the course being a nightmare with any population on the course at once. This is a great course for the community of Goleta and provides all of the variety necessary for a memorable 18 holes; however the traveling golfer has very little reason to stop by considering the other road trip worthy courses in the area.
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3 0
Fishdisease
Experience: 40 played 3 reviews
3.00 star(s)

Evergreen Open Space 2+ years drive by

Reviewed: Played on:Nov 18, 2010 Played the course:2-4 times

Pros:

Good variety in hole design, some wide open, some more challenging.
Not very busy at all, however both times I played I was able to throw with a local.

Cons:

There are some places where it is easy to loose a disc.
Signage is a bit lacking and some holes cross each other.

Other Thoughts:

I liked this course, I played it immediately after playing Morley Field in San Diego and I still liked it. Don't let the first 4 holes fool you, it gets much better.
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5 1
austoroc
Experience: 19.8 years 71 played 20 reviews
2.50 star(s)

Unrealized Potential 2+ years drive by

Reviewed: Played on:Jul 27, 2011 Played the course:2-4 times

Pros:

The primary thing I thought was very positive is the fact that there are variety of hole designs and the throwing techniques that you may want to employ. It certainly makes up for the weak spots.

Even though there were holes that are too close to each other, I particularly liked the back nine. They are more fun to play than the first few holes.

Cons:

First of all, the navigation is, at times, tedious. The course wouldn't be able to be navigated by first-time players without consulting the printed map repeatedly.

Secondly, Some of the paths leading to the next tees are just awkward. There are quite few opportunities that you will have to wait for people to get out of the way or finish up the hole before you can even consider throwing.

Third, since this is the second time I have played here, I still find the hole #15, #16 to be creative, but I can imagine they will be unplayable when it's wet and soggy.

Fourth, the walk back to the car from the 18th tee is just a bit awkward. After a long round, especially when it's crowded, I don't think many of you would want to have to walk too much back to your cars.

Other Thoughts:

I don't want to knock this course too much because it was still fun for me to play with my family. I consider this course to be decent because it definitely give you some fun, and potentially aces for the better players.

This course, for the more advanced players, will be fun for birdie/ace runs or just an excuse for an easy round.

If the holes #15 and #16 aren't going away soon, it would be awesome if they had some heavy, natural stones put in so it would be easier for people to walk on them rather than these planks.

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3 2
rpcvlawson
Experience: 12.9 years 5 played 3 reviews
2.00 star(s)

Fun little throw-around. 2+ years drive by

Reviewed: Played on:Jul 10, 2011 Played the course:once

Pros:

-Some wide open shots, especially the front 4.
-Technical shots as you move into the wooded area.
-Tee boxes are part of the city space (i.e., some are the city sidewalks or bus stop pads).

Cons:

-no maps at tees
-no numbers at tees (unless you count spray-printed numbers on tee boxes, which are hard to see)
-difficult navigation after hole #7 (print out the map!!!)
-no practice pins.

Other Thoughts:

When I went, locals were using holes #1 and #2 as practice pins...over and over. Not that that really interfered with our play--though we did let them play through twice as our group was playing. Just speaks to the needs for a practice pin here.
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5 0
Pottersmash
Experience: 13.8 years 14 played 1 reviews
4.00 star(s)

Super fun 2+ years drive by

Reviewed: Played on:Feb 12, 2011 Played the course:once

Pros:

-Great variety of wide open shots to let it rip, short shots, fading blind shots, and wooded shots.
-With the map that you print out from this site it was easy to find everything and see what the throw was going to look like.
-Locals were really nice to let me play through
-weather was warm and sunny, we played around 2:30pm and wind wasn't bad at all.
-beginner friendly, yet challenging enough.
-my wife got her first par here!

Cons:

-there definitely is a group of stoners that hang out between 7 and 8. I read that in someone else's review on here and just laughed when i saw it in person.
-the walk back is kinda long
-it got fairly busy, but we never waited longer than a few minutes at one hole. no biggie
-there's crossing fairways between 10-13, but its not that bad because everyone else knows that. so people are pretty cautious most of the time and take their turn at the right time. This was honestly my biggest concern coming to the course but it wasn't bad at all.

Other Thoughts:

I can see how some really experienced disk golfers may see this course as not being SUPER challenging, but for me it was a gold mine! I have around 6 months of experience and I had such a blast. The mixture of somewhat challenging elements, yet not too bad to where it's frustrating was nice. I ended the day with +1 which is the best i've ever done playing a course for the first time. I'm definitely coming back to this course next time I come through SB.
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7 0
DocHaole
Gold level trusted reviewer
Experience: 16.7 years 79 played 48 reviews
3.00 star(s)

2+ years drive by

Reviewed: Played on:Nov 20, 2010 Played the course:2-4 times

Pros:

- Great variety of holes and hazards

- The park is clean

- Well used but not totally over crowded

- Other park users are present, but mostly out of the way

- Good DG vibe, locals more than happy to help lost visitors

This course offers a good mix of hazards that will affect your shot selection, especially towards the back. It has some thick wooded holes, some significant elevation holes and a bit of black murky creek meandering through the park.

Cons:

Navigation is tricky, but I was warned right there on course info page to print out the map. Also it's usually crowded enough to join or follow another group.

Some of the tee boxes have seen better days, you can see where some have been replaced, but there are still some bumpy ones out there.

There are some serious safety issues on some crossing fairways 10-13, but apparently it's better than it was.

Other Thoughts:

Overall I really enjoyed this course. It offers a lot of birdie opportunities for the average disc golfer, but it packs just enough hazard to get you in a lot of trouble when you don't expect it.

It isn't the caliber of Casitas or Waller, but it's a decent challenge and worth the stop.
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10 0
bazillion
Silver level trusted reviewer
Experience: 23.5 years 55 played 37 reviews
2.00 star(s)

2+ years drive by

Reviewed: Updated: Played on:Aug 22, 2010 Played the course:2-4 times

Pros:

The first "pro", of course, is the locale. You're in the Santa Barbara area, which is absolutely loaded with great places to visit like the ocean, State Street, the mission, etc. Fantastic day-trip from anywhere in the LA basin - you can leave the family downtown and go hit this course while they spend your paycheck.

The course itself combines a good variety of holes, some downright malicious but mostly an enjoyable challenge. Lots of challenges, including significant elevation change, trees, and a creek slash swamp running through the whole thing that keeps life interesting.

You start with four more-or-less open holes before diving into the forest for some technical holes. Then it's back out into the open for a few long bombs, leading up to a series of blind annies, one of which skirts the edge of the swamp again. Then you're out in the open again for the finisher, which is a nice gentle hyzer shot that follows a dirt road.

Cons:

Overall this is a good course, but it's got a few serious flaws that knock a full disc off the rating.

First, there's one place (holes 10-13) where four fairways cross each other in the same open field. This is flat out dangerous, especially when the course is crowded: you walk out there and discs come flying at you from all directions.

Speaking of which, there are NO directions anywhere. Without a map or a guide, you'll be lost in 60 seconds, especially on the back nine.

Then there's the overall layout. As mentioned in other reviews, #18 does not end anywhere near the first tee, which means that when you've finished your round you still have to hike a quarter mile to get back to your car.

Lastly, the tee pads are a tad short and some have extremely rough (eroded) surfaces, which make for uncertain footing on drives.

One more note: our guide (Zenbot) told us that during the rainy season the creek really does become a swamp and can make some of the back nine pretty much unplayable.

Other Thoughts:

We played on a Sunday afternoon in summer, and the course was very crowded. Everybody moved along, but waits were common. Go during the week and you'll have a better experience than we did. Also be sure to print a map or connect with a local so you don't spend an extra hour trying to figure out the layout!

Overall, this is a good course if you're in the area but if you're traveling through, I'd recommend giving this one a pass in favor of Casitas, which by all indications is a true West Coast DG Mecca.
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11 0
roadtripstuff
Gold level trusted reviewer
Experience: 21.1 years 286 played 57 reviews
3.00 star(s)

Classic 2+ years

Reviewed: Played on:May 15, 2010 Played the course:2-4 times

Pros:

Concrete or Paved Tees
Variety of Hole Lengths
Requires Multiple Shot Types
Clean
Locals were Friendly and Helpful
Mix of Open and Wooded Holes

Cons:

Poison Oak Throughout the Course
No Tee Signs
Last Hole far from First Hole
Older Baskets

Other Thoughts:

Great course located a couple block north of the 101 in Santa Barbara. Course is tucked away in a nice quiet neighborhood, off of Evergreen Drive, with plenty of on-street parking near the first tee.

The first few holes play around tennis courts, baseball field, and playground and while there was no one using them while we were there, the designers seem to keep the flight paths out of the way of other park users. One piece of advice I have is to print the map before you go. Not only can the layout be slightly confusing, a couple of the tee pads, 2 and 6, are on sidewalks and are not really marked.

After the first few holes (5), all of which are open and longer, you will get into the shorter more technical holes. Not only are they moderately wooded they also made use of the elevation changes to add even more difficulty. Once on the middle holes and back nine be sure to keep your eyes out of poison oak, it seems to be a big problem on the course, but not enough to deter playing.

The last few holes are a nice mix of open and wooded holes as well as more elevation changes, the designers did a really nice job of making each hole different from the last and you never get the feeling that you just played the same hole. The only real cons are the lack of signage, and the baskets being older. Another thing to keep in mind is when you finish 18 you are going to come out on a side street further down Evergreen Drive. Just head to the intersection,(street dead end in a cul-de-sac), and make a left on Evergreen to get back to the first tee.

All-in-all if you are in the area play this one. For one its the only real course in town, and two its pretty damn good. Its a nice course, with nice people, and has a nice classic feel.
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2 4
prosmotter
Experience: 15 years 46 played 2 reviews
3.50 star(s)

2+ years drive by

Reviewed: Played on:Mar 31, 2010 Played the course:2-4 times

Pros:

-Has open long shots AND wooded technical shots
-uses its elevation nicely
-cement tees
- lots of variation of difficulty
-not crowded

Cons:

-not the easiest course to follow, find a local to guide you if possible
-some pads are on sidewalk and poorly marked
-poison oak
-windy often
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9 0
Mark R
Gold level trusted reviewer
Experience: 21.8 years 115 played 89 reviews
3.00 star(s)

2+ years

Reviewed: Played on:Feb 12, 2010 Played the course:once

Pros:

This 18 hole course has a variety of unique holes in open and closed areas, with and without elevation changes. Cement tee pads for most holes, with a few others having pavers. Hole 2 is a favorite, a fairly wide open drive with some rolling hills and tree obstacles. Hole 7 also ranks highly, with a defined fairway near a creek that is a challenge for RHBH drives, making forehand drives or lefty throws advantageous. Holes 8 and 9 are tight and technical, resembling some back nine holes at Chavez Ridge in L.A., but are longer. Hole 10 is a downhill bomb shot with a deadly water hazard to the left of and below the basket. Holes 11 and 12 are mostly wide-open drives with elevation changes and some tree obstacles to add challenge. Hole 13 features a creek hazard and thick brush that requires a big throw to clear. Overall this is a decent course with a fairly high fun factor.

Cons:

No signs anywhere to speak of. Holes 3 and 4 are questionable, with non-fairways encroaching on tennis courts and soccer fields. Old baskets that spit out good putts could be replaced. Last few holes (16-18) are a little too close to each other. Hole 15 traverses a low lying area guaranteed to get your shoes wet after recent rains. Grass on Holes 1 and 2 was grown over significantly and needed some maintenance. Not a lot of 'open space' despite the name. Clay banks of creek near Hole 10 are more perilous than they appear at first glance. A long walk from 18 back to the main parking area.

Other Thoughts:

An average course, and one of few in the surrounding area. Not a place to plan a vacation around, but good enough to not crave playing elsewhere.
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