Pros:
Lake Montebello - Youth is a 6 hole disc golf course sitting on the opposite side of the lake of it's 18 hole big brother . There is NO Parking other than where you can find a spot on the street .
I saw no bathrooms while here , not sure if the rec center at the start of the course opens or not .
The course is packed into a small rectangle just outside the walking/running cement area encircling the small lake . There is a slight grade that affects holes #1 and #3 mostly . The first 3 holes are mostly open , with the #3 basket part of the in a grove of bushes and trees . The last 3 holes are in that grove . The tee pads are natural , and I guess since there is not any scuffing dirt spot , you can throw either side of the tee sign . The tee signs are the old school white plastic ones on the metal poles . #5's sign is gone . The baskets are basic and still catch . #1 is located near the doors to the rec center , and is 189' and up a hill . I liked the idea , because a #1 hole is always hard to unleash a long drive , the uphill will slow that drive down , and the road is behind it . #2 is longer and runs parallel to the road . #3 is a slightly downhill 222' run , finishing just inside some trees . This same basket will also be the basket for #6 , whose tee is on the far end of this little grove . It's a nice little intro course and just might attract a curios local , and an added game for the rec center to occupy the kids . The course at 1107' is a fast play . It took me 15 minutes to play here .
Disc Risk - Near zero . Holes are short and no blind shots .
Cons:
#1 Safety - This course was installed for kids and newbies , mostly . It plays pretty close to the road , and it is windy . I can see an errant throw maybe hitting a car or pedestrian , leading to an ugly altercation . Also , the course is not in a good part of town . park as close to the course as possible , don't play at dusk , and stay aware .
#2 Is it a Course ? - It's only 6 holes , with 5 baskets ( 3 & 6 use the same one . I normally call these practice or instructional areas , but some might .
#3 Mother Nature Hates The Grove - The grass was mowed and the course wasn't in bad shape ,,,, until you had to enter the grove ! Maintenance must never go back here much . Grass was high , a tee sign was broken , and overgrowth is growing up through the #5 basket .
#4 Unnoticed - A tell tale sign of a course being abandoned or unplayed are natural tee pads that have no dirt spot to throw from . Even though I was on this side for only 15 minutes , I saw no one , now was I intending to .
Other Thoughts:
I didn't rate this a 1 because of course design or even because it was 6 holes. I rated it because a small 6 hole course wedged into a small area should be easily maintained , and it is a big fail . I applaud the volunteers and course designers for having the vision and guts to install this ( and the challenging course on the other side ) and introduce disc golf to an area which wouldn't normally support the game . As disc golf gains popularity year by year , there are places that just don't fit the demographic . This is one of those places . Locals won't want to come here . Many of the people walking and sitting along the reservoir seem angry , and riots had broken out maybe a mile away or less . This would be a perfect intro course or a course to cut a newbies teeth for their first few rounds . . Most first rounds on real short course are memories that sound like " hey , I got my first ace " , instead of " hey , can you pick me up from the hospital ? they stole my gas money , too " . I reality , families will not come here for a short outing and an ice cream if they don't feel comfortable , Any players intermediate and up might play across the lake , but there are good course just miles away . It's terrible to feel that way . but it's just IMO . Travelers , don't stop , Course Collectors - I picked up 2 courses , having to move my car a quarter mile in the process , and leaving a little disappointed . You can get a 3'fer down at Druid Hill , instead . You might want to give this course a " Drive By "