Fruita, CO

Fruita Riverfront DGC

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3.245(based on 17 reviews)
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Fruita Riverfront DGC reviews

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12 0
sillybizz
Diamond level trusted reviewer
Premium Member
Experience: 22.2 years 407 played 392 reviews
2.50 star(s)

It's closer to a 9 hole course than an 18

Reviewed: Played on:Sep 29, 2023 Played the course:once

Pros:

- Course infrastructure is solid
- Really nice views, very pretty area
- Lots of opportunity for big drives
- Decent mix of left to right, right to left holes
- Good variety of hole distances
- Hole 4 throwing off a cliff with the rockery guarding the RHBH was a signature hole

Cons:

- Half of the course is filler holes that all look the same
- Hole 2 is one of the worst disc golf holes I've ever seen
- Most holes are very open and boring
- Aside from distance on some holes, the course is fairly easy
- Not a lot of punishment for bad drives

Other Thoughts:

Holes 3 through 8 or 9 are interesting but other than that the rest is either the same hole over and over, wide open or both. I consider this to be closer to a 9 hole course in that regard. Perhaps that's why my rating is lower than most of the reviews. I honestly thought about a 2 instead of a 2.5 honestly. I really don't know why they started the course where they did and why they added so many bad holes. Instead of starting in the main parking lot there is an additional lot by hole 3. I think the course could have started here and the last hole somewhere in the valley after hole 4. This course would be way better if were turned into an 8-12 hole course IMO. I still think it's playable and if you're close at least come and play 3-9.
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3 0
rkravitz
Experience: 6.5 years 30 played 4 reviews
3.50 star(s)

Overgrown, but all there 2+ years drive by

Reviewed: Played on:Jul 28, 2019 Played the course:once

Pros:

Easy to find (~1 mile off the freeway), not crowded, good layout, all the holes were complete. Free, easy to get to. I would play again, although I played in hot summer weather at noon!! No Homeless (although that's never been a problem, they never bother me at other courses I play, but they might freak some people out so I thought I'd mention it)

Cons:

Tough to know where #4 goes, it's down over the cliff to your left and then you are down on the "bottoms" throuigh #16. #'s 4 through 7 I think were really overgrown and #5 is a vary narrow fairway with foul water to the left and I had to make short throws to stay in the fairway. A pretty athletic walk, up the sides of hills and through this one really overgrown plant, dark green and no stickers, but high, up to your waist. No spiders or bees, but a couple biting flies got my ankles. I played alone and luckily, a local helped direct me at a couple spots. Took me exactly 2 hours. I lost no discs!!
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5 0
Fritz
Experience: 22.3 years 136 played 10 reviews
4.00 star(s)

Good Excersise, Wonderful Views 2+ years drive by

Reviewed: Played on:Jan 6, 2018 Played the course:5+ times

Pros:

Views
Challenging shots
Technical shots
Long course
Not a Multiple Use Park, so little to no, non-disc golf traffic
Location to the highway
Good signage
awesome concrete pads
A couple unique fun holes

Cons:

4 of the holes are just bomber holes, not much skill needed other than watching for where your disc ends up so you don't lose it in a shrub
Can get quite windy
Can get super hot in the summer months, bring a couple water bottles, this is high desert and there are no facilities to fill up your water bottle.
Bathroom is a port o potty, and it's located by the lake

Other Thoughts:

This is my home course, I play here often and helped to put it in. This course is a good course to train your stamina on. The baskets move around from time to time and the city does a fairly good job at maintaining the grass levels. I cannot stress enough bring enough water with you when you play this course in the warm months, you can get dehydrated quickly.
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4 0
noexit33
Experience: 26 played 7 reviews
3.50 star(s)

Worth a stop if in the area 2+ years drive by

Reviewed: Played on:Dec 26, 2017 Played the course:once

Pros:

- Excellent, large, concrete tee-pads
- Baskets are OK and mostly visible from pad. Didn't have to scout too much on first run through
- Great signage on every hole. Has all possible pin locations and locations of next tee which helps with navigation since map is a little tricky to follow
- Good variation in hole length though the par 4's are in boring, wide open section (1-2 & 17-18)
- Some very fun shots. 3 is over a little hill. 4 is my favorite with some nice elevation drop
- Close to the freeway w/ easy access, tons of parking
- Never crowded. Occasionally run into other disc golfers and usually someone walking their dog but not a multi-use space.
- In a pretty scenic area. Some views of the monument. Catching the Bookcliffs to the North at sunset is pretty awesome.

Cons:

- Holes 1-2 and 17-18 are just big, wide open throws of varying length depending on where the pin is.
- Can get windy, though I only experienced this in the summer afternoon.
- As others have said, even though it is along the river, it really doesn't come into play that much. I always design a couple cool holes in my head on my hike from 16 back to my car.

Other Thoughts:

Played this one time in the heat of the day in summer and as other reviewers have pointed out, can be windy, dusty and hot. Have played this course 7-8 times Oct-Dec and it has been awesome. May shut down for occasional snow over the winter but I imagine it will be equally amazing in the spring.

As far as the layout, skipping holes to the SW of the road is the way to go (1-2 and 17-18). 3-16 play to the NE (R side of road as driving in). I always park right at the first opening in the fence on the right which is 50' from the tee to hole 3. Of the remaining 14 holes, 4 are awesome, 5 are decent and 5 are kind of ho-hum. Navigation is pretty simple with the map and the tee signs which point out next tee location.
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6 0
Sideshow775
Experience: 9 years 12 played 10 reviews
3.50 star(s)

Hot. Hot. Hot. 2+ years drive by

Reviewed: Played on:Jul 16, 2017 Played the course:once

Pros:

Great course layout. Decent parking. Easy access from interstate. Lots of challenging shots. #3 (my fave) is a blind hole, throwing over a rise, and down into a valley. Basket is completely hidden in the valley. It's only 218', but you are kinda throwing on faith. 4 is another downhill and around a cliff. Very pretty hole. 12 has an island of trees right in the middle, basket 100' behind the island. It forces you to throw a curving line to one side of the island or the other. Makes for interesting upshots. Good mix of short and long holes. Great signage at all tee pads. Excellent, large map at the trailhead to 1. Benches every few holes.

Cons:

No bathrooms that I saw in the parking area. I think I saw a port-o-let along the fenceline between 12 and 13, but not sure. More benches would be nice, but certainly not a deal breaker. The biggest drawback to this course is the lack of shade. I played in the afternoon, in the middle of July, and it was ungodly hot with minimal relief. Benches were metal, and you could fry an egg on them. In the future, a small, covered area over the benches would be amazing. Just a little shade to escape to and recharge would make a huge difference.

Other Thoughts:

In the summer, this course is probably best played early in the morning, before the heat of the day. I suspect late fall to early spring are optimal times to play this course. If you're going to brave it in the summer, take LOTS of water, and possibly an umbrella to create a portable shady spot. But even with the heat, this course was amazing. I will definitely be back. If you get the chance, play this course. You won't be disappointed.
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7 0
nightwing
Silver level trusted reviewer
Experience: 15.8 years 273 played 56 reviews
2.50 star(s)

Good 'Fourteener', Tedious Eighteen 2+ years drive by

Reviewed: Played on:Mar 23, 2017 Played the course:2-4 times

Pros:

-Could serve it's 'Championship Course' function
-'Monument Cliffs' and some River Valley Views.
-A few good tee shots and basket locations
-EASY drive from town, freeway and the Monument
-Ample parking for large events

Cons:

-See other reviews for 'Can be buggy, dusty, windy, soggy etc'.
-Not a family or beginner friendly course.
-Long, boring walk out to hole 3 and back from 16. (Play fourteen holes?)
-Many repetitive long drives and short chip shots.
-Needs AM tees. (Even just flags would do it.)
-Confusing names...see below.

Other Thoughts:

Because I rate this course lower than others have, I should note that it was a pretty nice day with no bugs, swampiness, dust storms etc. And shooting 3 down as a 922 rated Grandmaster means the course is easy enough for serious players. The problem is that it just wasn't that much fun.

The course is listed here as Riverside? but it is in Riverfront park. And the locals I met call it 'Snooks Bottom'. Whatever you call it, it is just south of the river, the first right on the way to the spectacular 'Colorado National Monument'. A morning round before heading into the Monument makes for a nice day. But you might park by hole 3 and play 3 through 16. Holes 1,2 and 17, 18 are as bad as they say.

But even if you play this course as a 'Fourteener', it still has a lot of long, open drives to flat, open greens. Holes below a cliff have some interest going out, but open fields bring you back. Then there is a ridiculous half mile walk from the 16th green to the 17th tee. Since there is plenty of room and terrain for 2 good holes along that walk, I gotta say this course could use some alternate holes. (Maybe even a new layout....there is room for well over a dozen cars right there at hole 3,).

The lack of AM pads makes this a very long course for typical players. There are multiple basket locations, but even there, they tend to be set up in a straight line from 'pretty long to really long', rather than offering much variety.

So there you have it. If you need LOTS of parking, for an Advanced and Pro level event that tests whether players can throw accurately over 300 feet and make a long open putt, this will do the job. But I could only say that holes 3 thru about 9 were interesting.

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4 0
Unlimited
Experience: 11.8 years 9 played 8 reviews
3.00 star(s)

2+ years drive by

Reviewed: Played on:Aug 5, 2016 Played the course:5+ times

Pros:

Kinda challenging
Nice backdrop of Red Rock formations
Great when maintained
Good place to teach or learn dg
trash cans and some signs

Cons:

Not mowed enough, sometimes grass makes it difficult to find drives in fairway
Mediocre use of natural obstacles and no mandos
Avoid during high water and mosquito season (late spring to mid summer)
Needs clearer marking to get non locals from hole 2 to hole 3 across road

Other Thoughts:

Play this one in late fall to early spring for best conditions. Otherwise ask a local what condition its cause it varies drastically.
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6 0
JefeMT
Experience: 5 played 5 reviews
3.00 star(s)

Must play if you are driving I-70 west-bound 2+ years drive by

Reviewed: Played on:May 11, 2014 Played the course:2-4 times

Pros:

The back-drop, to the south, of the Colorado National Monument sandstone cliffs and formations (think Utaaaaah!!), spectacular. The middle 14 holes, along the Colorado river, in a Cottonwood Bottom, maximize the terrain and trees to their best. Also, the wind seems to be knocked down, due to that part of course being nestled under the cliff/river terrace, so its just a pleasant walk. If you are driving west, take a couple hours to play it, or a couple of days to hike, play DG, and mountain bike around Fruita. AWESOME. Grand Junction CO is a great little town.

Cons:

HOTTERTHANHELL from mid-June thru September. Ideal time to hit this one, and Moab, UT/ upper Colorado plateau is mid-April to Mid-May, or October.

Other Thoughts:

Link up to courses at Old City Park, in Moab, UT, and for the absolute trilogy, head south out of Grand Junction, along route 141, to Gateway, Colorado course along the Dolores river. THAT one has the prettiest canyonlands setting, bar none. Moab course is terrific. Go in early to mid-May and smile.
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3 5
dust4tears
Experience: 10.8 years 7 played 5 reviews
3.00 star(s)

First 18hole I played 2+ years drive by

Reviewed: Played on:Aug 11, 2013 Played the course:once

Pros:

~obstacles were decent for beginner.
~Had to search for my discs, but didn't lose any
~Even though it is the desert, it is very pretty.

Cons:

~Horrible signage. We walked around for 45mins looking for #3. After 3, it is kind of easier. But, a navigation sign should change that.
~Must be physically fit. There are some very steep parts of rocks.

Other Thoughts:

This was my first time playing (I am new) a full 18. I am learning all kinds of things, so I do not want to be too judgmental.

BRING PLENTY OF WATER, it is the desert.
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7 0
TheGrim
Bronze level trusted reviewer
Experience: 13.5 years 75 played 44 reviews
3.50 star(s)

Championship Caliber? 2+ years drive by

Reviewed: Played on:Aug 9, 2013 Played the course:once

Pros:

The course is set in a beautiful area and is quite wild, which adds to it's character. I loved being right up next to the river and appreciated that it wasn't a constant worry for the course.

The holes are long and most are open shots. I like this because I've got a decent arm and love to put a lot on it. It wasn't horribly technical but made up for it in distances, requiring you to place your mid shots well or you'd face a long putt.

The signature hole has to be hole 4, throwing off the cliff around the bend. It's also the only hole where the water hazard comes into play if you shank your drive.

Great signage and a course map right at the parking lot made navigating pretty easy.

The tee pads were all good and I always like a course with multiple pin placements.

Benches were located in good spots to rest, which is needed since it is a long course.

For it being a pack in/out (garbage) course, it was surprisingly clean. I can't recall seeing any garbage on it at all which is extremely impressive.

Cons:

The biggest cons to me were the first and last two holes on the course. They are wide open long shots up on top. It starts out and ends the round with the least desirable holes. That's not a major con though, it is still a very good course. I also didn't really care for the hike back up to finish off the last two holes, it felt a little disjointed. It was probably unavoidable and is a little nitpicky of me, I know.

Some may consider the distances a con, especially if you face a stiff head wind like we did. It made parring a hole quite challenging or next to impossible at times.

Other Thoughts:

This proved to be an interesting course with some nice scenery, though I'm not sure the description of championship quality is accurate. Don't get me wrong, it was very good and certainly deserves a solid 3.5 rating, but I just don't know if it's championship material. That being said it was worth the visit. Fruita is a nice town and with 3 courses (including the 10 holes at a Jr High, how cool is that?) you can tell that they love disc golf!
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5 1
bobmcnelly
Gold level trusted reviewer
Experience: 12.9 years 324 played 189 reviews
3.50 star(s)

2+ years

Reviewed: Played on:Apr 26, 2013 Played the course:once

Pros:

-Concrete tee pads
-Great signage
-Good variety of shots
-Plays right along the Colorado river

Cons:

The river isn't used in the course at all.
Could use some elevation change.

Other Thoughts:

Quality challenging course. Could skip the first 2 shots and the last 2 shots though
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3 6
DustinRobirtis
Experience: 12.1 years 13 played 3 reviews
3.00 star(s)

Fun Course 2+ years drive by

Reviewed: Played on:Oct 14, 2012 Played the course:2-4 times

Pros:

Really fun course with some challenging bends and fun shots. Especially like #3 off the cliff.

Cons:

Wear some high socks because there are tons of little thorns and little seeds and stuff that will stick to your shoes
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4 0
BigGAC1
Experience: 14.6 years 39 played 29 reviews
3.00 star(s)

Fruita 2+ years drive by

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

Pros:

Gorgeous setting. Great signage, looks like the pins are regularly changed, challenging approaches on several of the pins. Very fun elevation change on a couple of the holes. Don't let the first two holes fool you into thinking its all flat and desolate.

Cons:

It seems like the land was originally cleared of a lot of brush for the course - which is great, but the land is incredibly rough and littered with tree stumps and brush because of it. Im pretty sure I nearly broke my toe from stubbing it on so many stumps. Also the elevation could have and should have been much better utilized, its only used on two of the holes even though you play along a hillside for much of the course. No water hazards.

Other Thoughts:

This is a good course overall - not great - but good. It offers a fairly challenging game, with a few tough approaches and good mix of short/long tees. I wish it had been designed to utilize more elevation, and that the first two holes weren't in a flat field. All that being said, it is definitely worth a play if you're in the area.
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1 0
dmbfan
Experience: 12.5 years 8 played 8 reviews
3.00 star(s)

Fun course, worth playing 2+ years drive by

Reviewed: Played on:Jun 16, 2012 Played the course:once

Pros:

-Great tee pads, signage, baskets.
-Each basket was easy to locate from the tee.
-Navigating from hole to hole was fairly straightforward except from 16-17.
-Good course for beginners when baskets are in the "A" position.

Cons:

-Many of the holes were very close to the same length and type of basket placement. A little more variety of shot shapes and basket placement would be nice.

Other Thoughts:

-Had lots of fun on the course with 2 beginners. Would like to play the course with the longer "B" and "C" basket placements. I'm sure the course will be much more challenging.
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2 0
jugglerbri
Experience: 13.1 years 45 played 8 reviews
4.00 star(s)

Great Course! Definitely worth traveling to 2+ years drive by

Reviewed: Played on:Feb 24, 2012 Played the course:once

Pros:

Course is in excellent shape. Baskets are all in really good condition, concrete tee pads, signs at each tee showing where the basket locations are for that hole as well as a photo indicating where the baskets can be located. This made finding the basket super simple. The course primarily plays through the Colorado River valley. There are a lot of trees and natural obstacles that make the course very interesting. Hole 4 had to be my favorite with the down the hill shot around the cliff face.

Cons:

The first 2 and last 2 holes are basically just straight shots (Oh look! There's the basket way out in front of me with nothing in the way). If it has snowed recently, trekking down the path along hole 4 could be very dangerous. The river is near by but doesn't come into play at all (which I suppose could be a pro if you can't control your shots well). It's a bit of a walk from the parking area to the first tee but you can use this as warm up time as there is a practice basket near the first tee.

Other Thoughts:

Don't let the first two holes fool you. I was pretty disappointed after driving from Grand Junction where I was staying. I was thinking, "I drove all this way for this?" But then you hit hole 3 with a shot over a berm and then down a hill (almost aced this one!) and then hole 4 goes down into the valley and that's when the fun really begins!

The signs at the tees could use an indicator as to where the next tee is but it wasn't too hard to navigate for a first timer. It would be nice if the course map was available here but again, with the tee signs, it wasn't too hard to navigate.

All in all, this is a great course and if anywhere close to it again, I'll make the drive to play it.

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10 0
TalbotTrojan
Gold level trusted reviewer
Experience: 15.6 years 112 played 104 reviews
3.00 star(s)

Hard To Say 2+ years drive by

Reviewed: Played on:Oct 16, 2011 Played the course:2-4 times

Pros:

This is another Colorado course that is burdened by being placed in a beautiful setting. This course sits right along the Colorado River on the Western Slope of Colorado and has some amazing views. The course design makes the most of some of the natural land features on the course. The design seems to make the most of the land that is there with a couple of holes making good use of elevation change (see hole 4). The course is in open space and there is or was a port-a-potty there when I played but I am not sure if this is permanent. There are great, new and consistent baskets all over the course. The tee pads are phenomenal and were made to be as even with the land as possible. The tee signs themselves are top notch. They have the birds eye drawing on them as well as a photo of the hole with basket locations. The course is fun to play and is easy enough for most to shoot well on. Good flow ont he course for the most part, minus 16 to 17.

Cons:

This course is most plauged by the number of filler holes (1, 2, 14, 15, 16, 17 and 18). The open space that this course is on means that there are no other amenities around this course. The distances seem to be pretty consistently in one of three distances with only a few exceptions look for holes around 280' and 350'. The overall challenge to the course was not quite what you would expect. The course being new is still a little ont he rough side, even after hosting an A-tier tournament. There is a lot of slash piles and while there are some paths, there are still paths being developed on this course. The holes up top are in a desert setting so be prepared for very warm temps. The parking lot is also in this area so bring a window shade if you have them or your car will be crazy hot at the end of the round.

Other Thoughts:

You will definately want a spotter on a few holes (4 and oddly enough 17). Be sure that you watch out for throwers on hole 4 when you are walking between 16 and 17. The path you take here is also the path for hole 4 and this path is more like a mountain hike than a nice path. The course really is a fun course and is definately worth playing but if you only have time for one course in this area, try Riverbend Park in Palisade.
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2 6
goggletan970
Experience: 1 played 1 reviews
3.50 star(s)

2+ years drive by

Reviewed: Played on:Aug 26, 2011 Played the course:2-4 times

Pros:

Nice course along the Colorado river. Multiple hole locations and good signage.

Cons:

First off...bring bug spray!! Much of the terrain is similar looking so it is wise to have a spotter.(lost 4 discs) Not alot of shade and bring plenty of water.
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