Jasper, AR

Horseshoe Canyon Ranch

3.845(based on 22 reviews)
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5 1
Doofenshmirtz
Gold level trusted reviewer
Experience: 11.8 years 121 played 72 reviews
3.00 star(s)

A headscratcher. 2+ years

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

Pros:

Lots of elevation. A few good holes and a few more good hole designs.

Hole 2, 3, 5, 6 and 7 are laid out very well but suffer from a lack of maintenance and other things discussed in the cons below.

#2 requires a tee shot though a narrow tunnel, over a small creek and then uphill to the basket. This could be a very fun par 4 hole.

#3 is a long, uphill hole that ends with the pin across a small pond. One of the better uphill designs that I have played.

#5 is a downhill tunnel hyzer with the basket near a creek. One of the shorter holes, it would be very fun if maintained properly.

#6 & 7 are longer par fours that give you less elevation to deal with than other holes. #7 is wide open off the tee and gives you a chance to air it out if you can do so without tripping.

Of all the holes, about the only one that didn't have problems was #14, a "top of the world" putter hole at only 275'.

It's pay to play. I always count that as a plus, even in this case because it's only $5. I'm assuming that this course would not exist if it didn't generate some revenue.

This could easily be a fantastic course on an incredible piece of property but . ..

Cons:

Baskets are Discatchers with faded yellow chastity belts on movable bases. They can be hard to see and are seldom where indicated on the map. This is key, because almost none of the baskets is visible from the tee box.

Navigation is a nightmare. There is no course map available at the course. Tee markers can be hard to spot and there are no navigation signs anywhere. There are a few board "signs" that at one time apparently had some hole information on them, but they are less than basic, very faded and precious few in number.

So, on hole 1, you have no idea where to throw from or in which direction to throw. I looked at the map, made a guess and got lucky. Throw roughly parallel to the creek. The guy at the store told me to throw from the top of the rock. If not for that, I'd have never found the tee.

On hole 3 you also have to guess where to throw. My advice is to err to the left. There is a hidden swamp (yes, its on a slope, weird) downhill from the short, spread-out tree straight ahead. Don't throw there, you'll regret it and have wet feet for the rest of the round.

Hole 13, the one that everyone likes because the basket is on the rock, well there's zero indication of that from the tee. I got lucky, guessed a right turn and hit the rock. It's gimmicky and if you know where it is, you are going to get an easy par. 16 and 17, two long, downhill holes, require full on hikes to find the basket.

The lack of navigational aids, proper tee markers and signs and lack of maintenance are maddening.

On holes 2, 5, 8 and 15, the tunnels have closed up leaving such narrow paths to the basket that they simply reward luck. The grass is unmowed and leads to a lot of wasted time searching for discs.

Tee "boxes" are "natural," and include roots, rocks and very unlevel ground. These are the worst tees that I have ever seen, but that isn't saying much. They are playable, and some have boards that sort of let you know which direction to throw and where to stop. I.e., throw perpendicular to the boards and use it as the end of the teebox.

Some holes are miserably bad. 8 and 12 stand out, but there are others. 8 requires throwing over two different tree lines on a very long hole. You literally cannot see the basket for the first two throws at least. Hole 12 is a longer-than-marked hole with the basket at the bottom of what is basically a ditch. You can't see it from more than about 50 feet away and will probably walk around twice the length of the hole before you find it.

Other Thoughts:

This course could be such a gem. However, some of the hole designs are just plain bad. It is such a chore to play and you'd better be in pretty good shape if it is your first time because you will need to scout up and down steep terrain on almost every hole before throwing.

The course really needs a redesign, but if the owners aren't going to keep it maintained any better than they do now, there isn't much use in spending the effort to redesign it. The frustration level is extremely high when you find a tee box and have only a vague idea of where to throw without hiking around over steep elevation changes to find out.

I'd play this course again, but its also the only course within nearly an hour drive. If you are considering going out of your way to play it for the first time, I wouldn't recommend it.
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6 1
JerryChesterson
Bronze level trusted reviewer
Experience: 29.6 years 186 played 42 reviews
2.00 star(s)

overrated 2+ years drive by

Reviewed: Played on:Mar 28, 2015 Played the course:once

Pros:

The property is amazing.
13 is a cool basket location (on the rock).
14 is a cool downhill hole.
15 is a nice hole.
Thats it.

Cons:

Where to start?. At the time i played the course it had a 4 rating. This isnt even close to a 4.

The tee areas are terrible. There are rocks and roots on every one. It's dangerous.

They dont have scorecards or maps. If i am paying to play I expect those types of amenities.

The course design is downright criminal. The property is so amazing it could be a 4 or 4.5 rated course with a good design. That said you never really throw down the hills there except for 14, and thats a midrange or putter shot. On almost every tee my group was asking why arent we throwing down there. You walk up the hills and all the shots are sidehill or uphill shots. The design is the main reason for such a low rating.

Theres animal poop everywhere .... And i mean EVERYWHERE.

Other Thoughts:

If your passing through id play this even with the low rating but i wont be going back. I think it gets such high ratings because of the atmosphere at tourneys is probably awesome as camping here looks to be very cool, but as a disc golf course its bad. Again terrible design on such a beautiful canvas.
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6 0
dmarsh27
Experience: 10.8 years 23 played 5 reviews
4.00 star(s)

Thanksgiving Treat 2+ years drive by

Reviewed: Played on:Nov 29, 2013 Played the course:once

Pros:

Beautiful. Creative basket placements. Even compared to some of the best courses in Colorado and California, almost half of the holes stand out as memorable, and I already want to go back for more. Some par 4s and 5s. Calls for some long RHBH anhyzers or forehands with fade. Nice use of the ups and downs of the terrain (although I'd like for them to add one huge down hill shot - even bigger than #16, maybe off of a bluff with some kind of incorporation of the 2,800 foot zip line). Some nice through-the-tree-gap shots. Water hazards require some care in spots.

This is the kind of course that gets better and better the more you play it, and every hole is distinct. (Some other reviewer already did a nice job of describing the holes).

One of the prettiest places in Arkansas, and the drive out there is nice too. Stop at the Marble store for catfish, or better yet, try the Low Gap Cafe. Mix in some time on the Buffalo River or Lost Valley trail/cave before heading back home.

Cons:

Your $5.50 does not include a map or scorecard. They encouraged me to take a photo of the course map on their clubhouse wall, which was slightly better than nothing, but the map here on dgcoursereview is 100X better. You will likely not have cell coverage, so load the map onto your phone before venturing out towards Jasper. I spent way too much time and energy searching for baskets. Some of the baskets are truly hard to find, especially #8 (way up the hill) and #12 (don't overshoot to #14). I also spent too much time looking for tees (#4 is across the pond and up the hill). With leaves on the ground and much distance between some of the holes, you'll end up just on a pretty hike if you just try to wing it.

Tee boxes are dirt or grass, and not always entirely flat. There are wood boards that let you know what line to throw behind, and give you a good sense of which way to throw.

Only a few holes had signage with a distance, direction, and par listed. And since many holes are not par 3, I'd recommend loading par info before playing. It will make you feel better about that 4, 5, or 6.

The ranch was packed with a hundred or so climbers, horse riders, and kids petting animals. This is only a con because many of them were camping there and a few had pitched tents on the course. People were friendly, but I had to warn them of potential danger before teeing off. Maybe it was just the Thanksgiving weekend crowd.

Other Thoughts:

This is rural Arkansas, not a groomed city course. Bring a towel to clean your discs, just in case (there's manure).

The pictures for holes #16,17,18 do not match what I just played. Just be mindful of that if you're trying to use the photos to navigate the course.

The course basically makes a big counter-clockwise loop, and at times you will be a long ways from a bathroom or water source.

We were the only group playing disc golf, and judging by the lack of foot-traffic wear on the course, it appears as though disc golf is far from the most popular activity at the ranch.

There are farm animals roaming around. I adjusted my route on #18 to avoid hitting a group of horses.
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14 1
notapro
Diamond level trusted reviewer
Premium Member
Experience: 20.7 years 568 played 281 reviews
4.50 star(s)

Intermediate/Expert 2+ years

Reviewed: Played on:Dec 27, 2012 Played the course:once

Pros:

- Course is set in a private ranch, which is home to general camping, climbing, and horse riding activities. As long as the course is open, there shouldn't be any major interference.
- Terrain here is pretty mountainous, with plenty of elevation changes, rock formations, and scenic views. Steep downhill shots include #5, a nasty downhill hyzer or sneaky flick into dense woods, #6 plays down on the back end, and #7 is an open bomber. Plenty of valley shots as well; #8 is the mother of all valley shots; with a long steep uphill approach past a line of trees. #2 is a smaller creek valley, but has a tight line to snake through. #15 shoots through some trees over a deep valley as well. Not too many uphill tee shots, really, but plenty of uphill approach shots. Also many many spots with slopes off the fairway to swallow errant drives, like holes #9 thru #12.
- Decent amount of trees and woods here to force line shaping; both off the tee and on approach shots. #2 is a tight FH shot through trees, #5 forces some sort of wide shot, probably a hyzer, into a large patch of woods, and #6 is a FH flex out of some woods. #3 has a hard right turn at the end of the fairway for a tough approach. Other holes have woods on the right side to take away hyzer lines as well.
- Lots of hazards here to cause trouble; #2 has a small creek to go over, #3 has a decent sized pond in front of the basket, #6 has a pond way way left of the fairway. Plenty of valleys/rollaways on holes to make trouble. #13 has the signature basket on a boulder; a nearly vertical upshot is required to stick on the 'green'.
- Plenty of distance at this course, there are some BOMBERS out here that the biggest arms will reach back on. #1 is 529' and slightly downhill, #3 is a long uphill at 484' (with the hard turn at the end). #8, the gigantic uphill valley shot, plays looooong at 650'. Also shorter holes to get deuces on with a good shot - or much much worse with a bad shot. #12 is a blind, short flick around a boulder with rollaway potential. #14 is open, pretty short, but again has a rollaway behind the basket. Scoring out here can take raw power AND a gentle touch.
- Wooden posts with hole numbers are good enough to locate the tees, but the map is definitely needed to get going at first. Tees seemed OK, doesn't seem to get much traffic to wear them down. Baskets are having a rough go; a couple were tipped over and others were in really bad shape. Kinda sucked having to walk up and set up the basket before a couple of putts.

Cons:

- Cons, cons, let's see... oh, I got one. Horse crap. Horse crap everywhere. EVERYWHERE. Teeing off? Horse poop. Approach shot? Horse pie. Putting? Might just be a big pile in the basket. I understand that this place is called Horseshoe Canyon Ranch because it is in a canyon shaped like a horseshoe. But honestly, just call it Horsepoop Canyon Ranch.

Other Thoughts:

- Well, this is a big time course with big time shots. Elevation changes, woods, water, rock formations, technical lines, bombers, doglegs, really a little bit of everything. A fair amount of pretty open shots, but there is enough variety where it doesn't detract too much.
- Best suited for advanced players, intermediate players will be fine as well. Beginners might be a tad overwhelmed.
- If things like teepads, signs, and baskets make or break your round, you might be disappointed. But the golf itself is top notch,
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3 23
inoladiscgolf
Experience: 1 played 1 reviews
1.00 star(s)

Great Layout but that's ALL 2+ years drive by

Reviewed: Played on:Dec 14, 2012 Played the course:once

Pros:

Course is on some great land. Up,down,flat and all kinds of shots.

Cons:

Horses and goats all over coures. No tee pads(rocks and hores poo) on the so called tees. Talked to office day before was good with my group paying when finished with first round. Went in to pay after one and was told we are lucky we didn't get kicked off. Was told had good disc selection (10-12) guess that is good for them.
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1 5
RC51ManSam
Experience: 16.2 years 30 played 6 reviews
4.00 star(s)

Great Layout, Long Walks, Terrible Management 2+ years drive by

Reviewed: Played on:Dec 14, 2012 Played the course:once

Pros:

This course has a great layout and lots of challenging and awesome holes.

Cons:

The bad side of this course is that there are long walks between holes and the terrain is rough. The lack of tee pads, and the fact where you tee is very uneven and rocky means you can't really set your feet or get a good run-up. The management (Jamie) was very rude and unaccomadating. She was very rude and unwilling to work with the group I was with.

Other Thoughts:

Due to the cons of this course I would only recommend it as a play it to experience it and my group will not be returning.
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1 3
Filipeeno
Experience: 21.9 years 31 played 12 reviews
4.00 star(s)

Challenging length 2+ years drive by

Reviewed: Played on:Mar 17, 2012 Played the course:2-4 times

Pros:

Challenging distance on almost every hole. Great views of the Ozark Mtns.Great changes in elevation throughout the course. Variety of shots needed. Use full skill set for a good score.

Cons:

Pay to play. No concrete tee pads. Tee signs minimal.

Other Thoughts:

If this course could take care of the cons I mentioned, it would be a 4.5 or 5 for me. I love a course covering an expanse of mother nature like this one.
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3 7
Zfreeman43
Experience: 12.7 years 5 played 4 reviews
3.00 star(s)

OKAY Course 2+ years drive by

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

Pros:

Great for long arm throws, scenery, challenging, lots of unique shots.

Cons:

Gotta hike to find basket then hike back to throw, no signs to let you know where to even begin looking on some holes, horse manure- LOTS!!, not taken care of, and goats just roaming in middle of course

Other Thoughts:

cost $5 to play which is not bad, but its not worth it for this course, bring a camera to take pictures.
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4 5
dlopez916
Experience: 12.7 years 40 played 16 reviews
3.00 star(s)

Very scenic, but not care for... 2+ years

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

Pros:

Very Scenic, Challenging Holes, Good Baskets, they made use of the land very well.

Cons:

No Concrete Tee Boxes, No signs on the holes. The course is extremely hard to navigate, especially if it is your first time. Horse droppings everywhere. Tee off spots not only lacked concrete, but they weren't reliably flat or sure footed. 5$ to play.

Other Thoughts:

I like the scenery, but you could tell this place w did not care about it's disc golf course. We spent a ton of time trying to find the next hole, and a ton of time trying to find the basket for each hole. No signs, terrible tee off spots, could easily roll an ankle teeing off if not careful. This is one I can say I played, but probably wont go back.
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2 10
StoneWallKid
Experience: 16 years 18 played 12 reviews
4.50 star(s)

Should host the National Championships 2+ years drive by

Reviewed: Updated: Played on:Aug 24, 2009 Played the course:2-4 times

Pros:

This is a huge course! These are some long and interesting holes! There are multiple lines for almost all of them. There are water shots, wooded shots, field shots, cliff shots, bridge shots, etc shots. Its beautiful!

Cons:

A few of the fairways are always soaking wet which usually leaves you with at least one soggy shoe. Length of the course is both a pro and a con. I'm always exhausted by the end.

Other Thoughts:

While I put the length under con cause the hike in the summer can be unbearable, Its really this distance that makes it so epic.. There are shots off cilffs, up cliffs, over hills, around, down, between, hills/creeks/woods/Horse barns.. This place is Great if you have a long arm and good hiking boots! There is one hole that you play down a tiered hill into a family of goats, then play over and cross a huge swinging bridge! Brilliant layout!
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1 11
arkansas_banjo
Experience: 13.5 years 7 played 3 reviews
4.50 star(s)

horseshoe canyon 2+ years drive by

Reviewed: Played on:Apr 1, 2011 Played the course:once

Pros:

absolutely phenomenal course blew my mind the scenery was fantastic the elevation changes are crazy awesome; had a goat dog follow us for all 18 holes. Great hole locations

Cons:

the front 9 is waaaaaaaaay long rest up your arm for this course. the only way this course could have been any better is if they had concrete tee pads and if they had a map in the pro shop showing where the holes were

Other Thoughts:

Best Course in Arkansas......Period
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3 12
chains314
Experience: 15.4 years 18 played 4 reviews
3.00 star(s)

LONG 2+ years drive by

Reviewed: Played on:Sep 17, 2010 Played the course:once

Pros:

- Beautiful scenery
- Good variety of holes
- Bouldering, Hiking, and Mountain climbing in the same canyon.
- Ranch activity all around makes it a neat experience

Cons:

- Long. I mean super long.
- Very difficult to navigate. (keep an eye out for tiny patches of pink synthetic grass because that and a 2x4 are the only things marking tees.
- $5 fee to play.

Other Thoughts:

- Find someone who can help you navigate the course.
- Don't play the day before you play here. You will need your arm fresh.
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1 13
dirty8224
Experience: 14.7 years 13 played 9 reviews
5.00 star(s)

HOLY DISC GOLF HEAVEN BATMAN 2+ years drive by

Reviewed: Played on:Nov 13, 2009 Played the course:once

Pros:

INCREDIBLE!!! BEST VIEWS EVER!!! Simply amazing course. Breathtaking views. There's a tee box on a cliff basically and a basket on top of a boulder the size of a house!!! Never seen anything like it before. My favorite course of all time. Period.

Cons:

Horse poop. Lots of it.
LONG. and I mean LOOOOOOOOOOOOOONG.

Other Thoughts:

If you have never played it, YOU NEED TO.
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2 5
mhwalkabout
Experience: 2 played 1 reviews
4.00 star(s)

Fun course! 2+ years drive by

Reviewed: Played on:Mar 18, 2010 Played the course:once

Pros:

Great layout, fun and challenging holes, awesome scenery, only $5. Holes 13 and 15 are great!

Cons:

Really hard to navigate. No maps available.

Other Thoughts:

Owners should at least paint an arrow on the basket bases pointing the way to the next tee. A hand-drawn map that they photocopy and give out would even be helpful.
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2 4
zudalu
Experience: 2 played 2 reviews
4.00 star(s)

Beautiful Course 2+ years drive by

Reviewed: Played on:Sep 5, 2009 Played the course:2-4 times

Pros:

By far the most spectacular course i have ever played. Set down inside a canon in the middle a nation forest. Shot that extremely unique. Huge variety of shots. Just a great experience.

Cons:

Poor tee box, dirt and with a 2x4. Most sign have been knocked down. No map so first time playing it is very hard to navigate, especially with the knocked down signs.

Other Thoughts:

Live 2 hours and have driven to here to play 2 now. Love the course. I wish they would be just a little more work into it and could easily be by a 5 disc course.
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7 0
DiSCRoCKeR
Bronze level trusted reviewer
Experience: 23.9 years 204 played 43 reviews
4.00 star(s)

An Ozark Gem 2+ years drive by

Reviewed: Played on:Sep 3, 2009 Played the course:5+ times

Pros:

I can't really say much more about this course that hasn't already been said. Beautiful course with amazing scenery. Many long and challenging throws. A few tight alley shots but most of the holes are pretty open. Almost all of the holes are over 300 feet with #8 being a 650 ft. uphill toss. There are a few risk/reward shots thrown in to make things interesting. This course is a must play if you are in the area and it is also worth driving several hours to just to play it. The ranch is also a popular site for camping and rock climbing. Don't pass this one up!!

Cons:

Dirt tees. No course map and most of the tee signs have been knocked down by horses. Horse poo a plenty though I have never had a disc land in any on any of my visits there.

Other Thoughts:

Holes 16 - 18 have been moved due to compaints from the campers since these holes used to play through the camping area. I talked to one of the ranch workers at the camp store and it seems that the course is one of the least concerns regarding the ranch. I said that was a shame because they have one of the best courses I have ever played and that it would be nice to see them give some more attention to their wonderful course and the sport.
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6 0
john501
Experience: 10 played 10 reviews
4.50 star(s)

Ozark Challenge 2+ years drive by

Reviewed: Played on:Sep 8, 2006 Played the course:once

Pros:

Beuatiful Ozark Mountain setting- spectacular views of the valley through which the course moves. Challenging layout that requires both finesse and power. Helpful staff, interesting flora and fauna. $5 a day to play and it would be a bargain at twice the price.

Cons:

Not well maintained. This is a caveat that every player who encouraged me to make the trek up there mentioned, and they were right. Many of the holes are long and don't have signs, so you have to throw and hope that you aare headed in the right direction.

Other Thoughts:

This course would easily warrant a five star rating if a little more attention were paid to signage and mowing. This is a working ranch with many other concerns, so it really is cool that there is a disc course there at all. Well worth the trip to Jasper if you can make it. Do it in the fall or early spring to beat the heat and the bugs.
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24 0
Razorback Ramsey
Experience: 15.7 years 16 played 14 reviews
4.50 star(s)

This is why we play Disc Golf! 2+ years drive by

Reviewed: Played on:Apr 4, 2009 Played the course:2-4 times

Pros:

Horeshoe Canyon Ranch is a Mecca for true outdoor sporting enthusiasists. With premier rock climbing, bouldering, caving, camping and hiking, in addition to the top notch Disc Golf Course, this location is worth the drive. If you live in the mid-south area... this one should be on your short list of 'to do's'.

www.gohcr.com

+Amazing course design
+Good Baskets
+Multiple shots required
(bring your entire bag)
+Sweeping views of the Canyon
+One of a kind holes and views
+Course design loops in a circle
+Great Hospitality by HCR staff
+Not overcrowded for Disc Golf
+Multiple outdoor opportunites: climbing, horseback riding, rappelling, zip line, etc.
+Camping & Cabins on site

Cons:

For me, any "cons" were minor and did not take away from the overall experience. But if there were to be improvements or things to know before you go, here they are:

-Primitive teepads (dirt/grass)
-Primitive signs & markers (homemade)
-Lack of course map
-Horse droppings EVERYWHERE!
-No restrooms on the course
-Expect to hike alot, up and down hill (bring your hiking boots)
-Pay to play (although I would gladly have paid $20 to play this course).
-Accessability: Jasper is a little out of the way in relation to other major towns in AR. Also, the roads into HCR are rough (i.e. dirt, washed out, pot-holes, standing water). Might want to bring an SUV, truck or 4 wheel drive; especially during rainy season.
-Weather: AR can have some intense thunderstorms, hot summers (100 + degrees), humidity that feels like you are breathing thru a towel, bugs and biting insects. Best to play in AR during winter, spring and fall.

Other Thoughts:

Horseshoe Canyon Ranch (HCR) is a phenomenal disc golf experience. Driving down into the canyon, one is struck with a sense of wonder and awe at the sheer natural beauty of this hidden place. A sweeping valley is nestled inside of this U-shaped canyon - home to some of the best rock climbing in the USA.
The disc golf course is honestly just an aside to what HCR has to offer; but more than enough to bring disc golfers from around the country here to try their hand at its grueling design.


Hole by Hole brief:

Hole #1: As you walk down past the Lodge, you quickly realize you are not in your local park. This natural wonder is about to take your next 2 hours and rock your world. Approaching the tee pad, you search for the basket. You look at the homemade sign at the foot of the dirt tee pad and see where the basket should be, but it is not in within your eyesight. Get use to it, 90 % of the holes at HCR are not visible from takeoff. The course is hilly and rolls up and down - testing your stamina and your accuracy.
The first hole is a 529 foot- par 4. It requires enough power to top the first hill and clear the small creek, while avoiding the large boulder and maintenance shack. With a decent drive of 200 - 300 feet, you have a chance at a good approach shot. After clearing the first of many hills you will climb today, your approach shot is a straight forward glide onto the green, setting up a rare birdie opportunity. Tap in for birdie and save some of your excitement and zeal... your going to need it.
Hole #2: Walk a short distance to your left from the first basket for the second tee pad. GULP! You will notice a thin tunnel cutting through trees and brush, crossing a beautiful creek, ending up in who-knows-where? You blindly throw your best left to right fade, hoping to power thru the tunnel and up to the basket 349 feet away. Most likely your disc will be swatted down by the overwhelming foliage and brush, leaving you with a 'pull-something-out-of-your-hat' second shot. Once over the creek and through the tunnel, #2 opens up into a clearing. You can now see the basket protected by a couple of guardian trees. Throw a good approach shot and the large rocks at the base of the basket may be kind to you and gently cradle your disc to a stop -or- could kick your disc a couple of yards away. A par 4 here leaves you thankful; it could have been worse.
Hole #3: Walk back up the gentle hill to the left to receive your next eye-popping gift. This 484 foot -par 5 requires a big arm. You will need at least 400 feet of drive or drive + fairway drive to even reach the spot where you can see the basket. Once you trek up the incline, past the lonely trees, here and there, you see one of the more picturesque spots on this course. About 100 ft away is the basket standing on the banks of a man-made pond, surrounded by large boulders and the rock bluffs of the canyon on either side of the backdrop. Take a deep breathe and enjoy the view. Now, pull out your long-range approach shot and gently fly the pond and stick your disc on the small green. Careful not to be too short - or you're wet. Too long and you will be searching through brush and bushes for a while. Played well this hole offers a birdie opportunity. Weaker arms will be happy to have 5 shots to muster the nearly 500 feet of distance - up hill.

Hole #4:
Celebrate your par or birdie on #4 and get ready for a small hike up to the 4th tee pad. Follow the white signs on the trees leading uphill to your next hole. Number four is one of the few holes you may actually see the basket from the tee pad. However, that's not much consultation because you are now faced with a serious dilemma. You have 356 feet to cover and only 3 strokes for a par. There is a gigantic bolder in the middle of the right-to-left sloping fairway that necessitates your choosing to play top side right or left side down hill for your drive. Any indecisive shots that don't completely commit to a hard left or a hard right will be smacked down by the boulder and its accompanying friends - the trees. With a good drive, you have a chance at an easy approach and tap in par. A bad drive will have you scrambling to find a shot that will get you remotely close to the basket and perhaps save par or earn a bogey. At any rate, the large 15 -20 foot tall boulder behind and to the left of the basket provides a nice backstop for your approach/putt.
Hole #5:
By the end of hole five, you may have discovered that you have used a multitude of the discs in your bag. This par 3, 358 foot hole again requires a clear line of approach. A thick cluster of trees impedes your direct approach to the basket waiting downhill. Forehand drivers may be able to sneak a well thrown left to right drive on the green. Backhanders will need to have a good hyzer/anhyzer (depending on your throwing hand) to get them into play. Once past the cluster of trees, the green is generous, yet beware of flying your approach or putt too long. The steep down hill behind the basket will lead you far away from the basket and potentially into another small creek.
Hole #6:
Walk a short distance on the path to find #6's tee pad. This par 5 requires a couple of technical shots.
Your drive will need to be super-straight through the short tunnel of trees lining the path down into the open field that serves as the fairway. Once through the trees, the basket is visible. To your left will be another man-made pond. Behind the basket you will see another of the large boulders acting as a backstop. This will give you added confidence to really go for your approach shot. Let it rip to finish off whatever remains of the total 482 feet and find yourself shooting for birdie or again saving par. When you tap in, take a look up at the view. From here you will get a panoramic glimpse of the lodge, cabins and rock walls. Beautiful!
Hole #7
Number 7 begs you to throw your arm out. With almost 450 feet of open pasture, this par four is made for the long drivers. Play your drive to the right on this dogleg right and you will be in good position for a clear approach. A small creek runs the length of the pasture on the far left side - should not be a factor, though. As you approach the basket, the wide-open fairway turns in to a small pocket of green surrounded again by a cluster of trees. Accuracy will earn you a birdie/ par attempt. Wayward shots will have you fighting the trees and rocks.
Hole #8:
Number eight might steal some of your manhood (or womanhood...I guess?!?). This monster is 650 feet uphill. No really...UP HILL! You might wish you had a cannon to launch your disc on this one. You confidently approach the tee pad and valiantly throw your most powerful drive, just missing the trees that rise about 75 feet in front of the pad, and watch as your drive seems to flutter and fall to the earth, just missing the creek that runs right to left at the bottom of the hill. Trek down the slope and over the creek. Start climbing the hill and find your drive. Not as far as you would have liked, huh? You are blind to where the basket is (atop the next hill) and you are probably still a good 300 foot away. Pull back and throw your driver or fairway driver again with enough force to spin you around when you release and you might...might make the top of the next incline. If you do, you have a good shot at reaching the basket with your third throw. The basket sits atop of this incline in a generous clearing. Approach and putt out. You are thankful this one gave your 5 shots for par. Grab your breathe!

Hole #9:
Number nine has you back on the main entrance road and utilizes that same hill you just climbed in a treacherous 543 foot- par 4. The hole is simple enough - a straight forward look at the basket. The challenges lies in two matters. The road is OB and dangerously close on your left (within 30 feet of the tee pad). The second is that hill. It is steep and sloped down from left to right, ending in a no-man's-land of trees and a steep drop off into the creek. An accurate and long drive will be needed to get you within approachable distance. Stick the middle of the fairway and you should be able to throw a long, very long straight forward approach shot to the green of soft grass. Do all this in 4 throws or less and count yourself lucky.

Hole #10:
As you cross back over the main entrance road, you will climb another small hill to find 10's tee pad.
The good news: the long distance throws will subside for a while.
The bad news: you are about to compete with the house sized boulders and slippery hillsides.
Step up to the tee pad with renewed confidence for the back nine and throw your heart out. This simple dogleg right is a par three, 272 foot chance to find your game again. No much to talk about here, except the hillside you are playing on and the OB road. The hill slopes right to left and offers to take your disc for a long ride if you don't respect it. The main road is OB and demands that you play the hole close to the woods on the right side of the fairway. With a good drive, fading left to right, you should be able to get a clean approach and putt out at par.

Hole #11:
The eleventh hole gives the occasion to gain a stroke. 445 foot, par 4 with a simple, smooth right hook to the basket. Very similar to hole 10, with the trees on the right and the hillside on the left. A picturesque boulder acts as a spectator to the basket and offers a little safekeeping if you decide to go for the basket on your approach or long putt.
Hole #12:
Twelve wraps around the hillside to the right and taunts you with one of the largest boulders in the canyon. This particular boulder (about the size of your house) is playing a perpetual game of hide-and-go-seek with you and the basket. The basket is tucked behind this boulder. A drive of 275ft with a hard left to right fade has the prospect of being dead on the green. A small row of trees lines the back of the basket and offers added security for those who chance the big throw. The hillside again comes into play, but only if you hang your drive out a little too far left. This is another birdie/par opportunity to bring your score down.

Hole #13:
This is one of the most memorable holes in HCR. The designers of this course really showed their wit on the next few holes. The simple, easy, slow pace is over. 206 feet from the tee pad is another of the house sized boulders (20 foot tall, 30 foot diameter)...with a basket atop it! Throw your drive to hang out left and then dive hard right and hope that you can stick it on top of the 'house.' Drives that don't stick on top of the rock, force you to throw a putt/approach some 20 - 30 foot in the air. Shots that don't gum to the rock will continually roll off, over and over again - turning a par 3 into a potential double, triple bogey. This hole offers you a simple design that gives you a great view of the canyon when you putt out from atop the rock. Taken in the sight.

Hole #14:
Fourteen is FUN! There you are standing atop of a large smooth stoned tee pad that slants down the hill and offers you a panoramic view of the valley. The basket sits 275 foot down the fairway and below you. The fairway is wide open. No trees. No worries. Grip it and rip it. Drives glide nicely around the grassy green. But beware! Drives beyond 260 foot will skip and fall down the backside of the hill. Lay up - play it safe and enjoy the par 3.

Hole #15:
Approach 15 and get ready to be amazed. The wooden suspension bridge that spans the chasm is reminiscent of something off of Indiana Jones. You get to throw over the gorge, the bridge and onto the other side in search of the basket (244ft). A few pesky trees force you to throw a technical shot that has a lot of potential to go wrong. This hole also offers one of the few hard right to left fade shots off the tee. Players who have trouble with hard left fades will find themselves uncomfortable and possibly looking for a disc in the creek. Once across the span, enjoy the walk on the suspension bridge and finish the hole with very few obstacles. Par 3 is doable, but with the potential penalty strokes here, it could be worse.

Hole #16:
Climb atop the next rising hill and take in the nice view of the horse stables and barns, below the hill. Another chance to throw down the steep hill brings up the adrenaline. The marker says, "308ft, par 4", but the hole looks and feels more like 600+. The creek cuts across the fairway and the trees lining the creek make for a pretty littered middle approach. Players would best be served to hang the drive out hard left or hard right. Either way offers you a very long 2nd shot, which with a strong arm may reach the green. The backside of the green is treacherous though. The creek snakes to the right and behind the green. A small slopping hill offers to take your disc directly into the creek if you overshoot the green. Well placed shots could earn you a birdie opportunity here. Be smart and stick you shots to earn par.

Hole #17:
This is the last of the long throws and the designers had one last adventure for you. The tee pad is back on level ground and overlooks the main road and the horse barns. The 400 feet between you and the basket must be covered by flying your disc over the road and then sharply left and down the hill. A large set of wooden stairs will lead you down to the green, but also serve as a menace if you are errant with your drive. The theme continues: good drives and long approach shots offer you a birdie opportunity. No real hazards once to get over the stairs and down the hill. Par four is doable.

Hole #18:
You are now back in the base of the canyon and heading back to the Lodge. There is one final hole, and your legs, arm and lungs are probably welcoming this sight. This hole's design punctuates the great use of this canyon's natural resources and the genius of the designers. A short par 3 (about 275 feet). A mound of earth impedes your view of the basket (which is actually due straight). The mound is topped with a few trees and demands that you hook right or left. Once around the mound, you notice the final basket beautifully shaded by a large pine tree and being kept company by a last large boulder. Both of these natural resources offer a backstop for your final approach/putt. Go for birdie! Catch your breath and take in some more views of the canyon. You have just played one of the best courses in the mid-south.
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7 3
1ChainBanger
Experience: 20.3 years 61 played 4 reviews
5.00 star(s)

2+ years drive by

Reviewed: Played on:Feb 8, 2008 Played the course:5+ times

Pros:

-Most difficult course in the state, birdies are out there but you have to work verrry hard to keep them.
-Long distance shots rewarded with breathtaking views of canyon. Worth every penny of the $5 at the gate.
-One basket sits atop a boulder the size of a house about 300' away.
-Shoot even par here on a regular basis and that should WOW your friends.
-Best mtn climbing in the region.

Cons:

-Horse Poop
-Mtn Climbers and disc golfers can co-exist, just watch out for their tents on a few holes.
-Could be discouraging to a rec player or anyone new to the sport.

Other Thoughts:

Alternate pin placements, better tee pads and signs. An A tier or SuperTour event would be great to see here.
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4 4
Pitch
Experience: 47.9 years 15 played 15 reviews
4.00 star(s)

2+ years drive by

Reviewed: Played on:Nov 28, 2006 Played the course:5+ times

Pros:

Fantastic views,Huge layout(Pack a few things,Your gonna be out there a while)Monster distances that can be reached.Great facility.A MUST see if you can.Several signature holes.

Cons:

Not for the faint of heart.If your not in shape better stay away.Can't get there enough LOL!
Concrete T Pads and Alternate Pin Placements would make it a 5.

Other Thoughts:

This course should be the A Tier or Super Tour location for Arkansas.I'd like to see the big boys on this one.
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