Los Alamos, NM

North Mesa Picnic Grounds

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3.255(based on 10 reviews)
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4 0
thelittlestfernbug
Experience: 13.8 years 95 played 3 reviews
3.50 star(s)

Good course for beginners 2+ years drive by

Reviewed: Played on:Dec 25, 2020 Played the course:2-4 times

Pros:

Short holes for new players or folks with weaker drives
Beautiful
Basket visibility is great
Generally hard to lose a disc (with a few hole exceptions)

Cons:

Out of the way - not much else up thataway
A few rocky holes could chew up discs
Not very challenging for more experienced plays

Other Thoughts:

If you are coming up to Los Alamos/White Rock, anyway, you should hit this course and the (slightly harder) one at Pinon Park. They aren't really worth the drive just for themselves.
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7 0
nightwing
Silver level trusted reviewer
Experience: 15.8 years 273 played 56 reviews
3.50 star(s)

Pocket Paradise 2+ years drive by

Reviewed: Played on:Dec 2, 2020 Played the course:2-4 times

Pros:

-Gorgeous views AND nice surroundings.
-Consistent focus on practice and rec play.
-Parking, restrooms, picnic tables.
-Signage, tee pads, good baskets
-Part of a great day's drive around the cliffs.

Cons:

-Not much unless you only enjoy hucking.
-Had trouble finding the 'blue alternate' tees.
-You could lose a disc I suppose
-A bit out of the way for 9 holes

Other Thoughts:

Wow...I really liked this course. Thought I would play it once and mostly head down the cliffs for leagues in Santa Fe. But NMPGDGC was fun while I was staying up top so I just kept coming back. A lot of courses have views OR are nice to walk around. This course shines both near and far.

NOTE: Someone REALLY needs to include evaluation of the newer Blue/ Alternative tees. I could barely find them in light snow and will leave that to the locals.

I can't agree with the comment that there are all straight lines here. I found I either needed or just wanted to look at straight vs wrap-around the tree shots. But I could still easily hit every line with just a couple putters and mids.

As an older pro, I gotta admit it's a hoot to birdie nearly every hole. And a solid RHBH hyzer makes an eagle quite possible on the par 4. But I wouldn't come here to 'test my game' or 'put up a number'. This is just a really nice place to be, whether you want to practice your short game or learn to play in a beautiful setting.
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4 0
HyooMac
Diamond level trusted reviewer
Experience: 6.7 years 415 played 382 reviews
3.00 star(s)

Short but Stunning 2+ years

Reviewed: Played on:Mar 9, 2020 Played the course:once

Pros:

Absolutely beautiful wooded course with rocky canyons in a small park

+ Short holes, but the trees and rocky ground force you to plan and hit your lines

+ Signage is excellent; baskets are new and in great shape. Very visible: as I recall, there's only one hole where you can't see the basket from the tee (#5, where it's uphill and slightly the left, protected by trees)

+ Hole #2 is fun shot across a short canyon. If you don't make it across, you're playing for bogey, because you're estimating your shot from down below (that's my experience speaking -I caught a branch on the far side and got knocked down)
+ Hole #3 is a 125' par 2 (yes, par 2). It's a straightforward pitch-and-putt and it's not wrong to call it a par 2 - but that's so unusual that I didn't notice it until after the round and couldn't figure out how I got a bogey 3

+ Hole #5 is a generous par 4. The basket isn't visible (uphill and protected by trees), but it's a fair par for new players who can't expect to make the 230' distance

+ Holes #7 and #8 play alongside a steep dropoff to an OB canyon on the right. It didn't really come into play until the approach on #8 - the basket on #8 is very close to the edge and is surrounded by rocky, hard ground. Anything that doesn't land softly is headed OB (and way, way down!)

+ Hole #9 is designed to bring a few tall pitch pines into play off the tee, creating several gaps you have to make. The gaps aren't particularly narrow, but they can get into your head


Cons:

- Tees are outlined with wood frames, but they don't have concrete poured (maybe this is planned?). Many of them are uneven with exposed base rock. The good news is that the holes are so short you don't need a run-up

- Four of the signs (#5, # 7, #8, #9) have "upside down" maps: the basket is at the bottom and the tee is at the top. Not a big problem, but you might scratch your head for a minute trying to orient yourself on these holes

- The distance on #6 sign is 230' - but I really think it's a lot shorter..maybe 180' - 200'


Other Thoughts:

~ It looks like the layout and baskets have changed since earlier pictures on this site were taken. I'll post some I took (March 2020)

~ There's a comment on one of the earlier reviews that the course is cart-friendly and jogger-stroller friendly, but I don't think that's true

- Parking is a little haphazard: there are various places alongside the park road where I think you can pull off. There's more space for parking near the playground in the center of the park

- Los Alamos is at 7300' elevation. If you're visiting the area, take that into account. Bring lots of water and expect some shortness of breath when hiking uphill

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4 0
lohrtom
Experience: 15.1 years 40 played 16 reviews
3.50 star(s)

Rare Wooded Course 2+ years drive by

Reviewed: Played on:May 11, 2019 Played the course:once

Pros:

All the holes are relatively short, makes you feel like a pro when you can birdie nearly every hole.
Has a bathroom.
Nice view of the canyon along a few holes.
Shaded in the summer.
The best tee pad signs I have ever encountered.
Good for practice
Can play in about 30 minutes.
Great course to introduce someone to disc golf

Cons:

Not many unless you are expecting a challenging course with long holes.
Need to watch your footing.

Other Thoughts:

This course is a nice respite from the desert like course that populate most of the courses in New Mexico. I really enjoyed playing this course. Not sure I would recommend a drive just to play it as it is in Los Alamos which is fairly isolated. But if you are in the area or checking out the nuclear history of Los Alamos, I recommend a stop. It is in a park so you can have lunch and then play a round.
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2 0
von lipvig
Experience: 9.8 years 26 played 3 reviews
2.50 star(s)

Pitch and Putt 2+ years drive by

Reviewed: Updated: Played on:Aug 25, 2016 Played the course:5+ times

Pros:

Good course to practice upshots and putting. Takes 30-45 minutes to play. Brand new baskets.

Cons:

Tee boxes are uneven and crumbling. Way short. Righty friendly, I feel sorry for Lefties.

Other Thoughts:

This is a good course to learn on.
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0 2
mtnryan
Experience: 5 played 3 reviews
4.00 star(s)

Fun, easy yet challenging 2+ years drive by

Reviewed: Played on:Aug 2, 2014 Played the course:5+ times

Pros:

Easy to navigate, lots of trees make for a nice challenge, there is a makeshift back 9 as well as alternate tee boxes to make for more challenge

Cons:

There are a lot of trees that could be trimmed but still, you don't want to make the course to easy.
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4 0
Dreeks505
Experience: 2 played 2 reviews
3.00 star(s)

Fun lunch break getaway 2+ years drive by

Reviewed: Played on:Feb 8, 2013 Played the course:2-4 times

Pros:

Great little course that you can play during your lunch break.

Cons:

Mostly straight shots..

Other Thoughts:

Hole 2 needs to have some work done to it. All you do is launch it and hope it doesn't hit a tree... when you have one fall in the canyon make sure you watch your footing... its rugged down there. Second time I played this course I +1'ed it... and Im new to the sport... so this is a beginner course... I can safely say its the best in Los Alamos!
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8 2
giles
Bronze level trusted reviewer
Experience: 27.3 years 225 played 19 reviews
2.00 star(s)

The name is longer than the course. 2+ years

Reviewed: Played on:Aug 5, 2012 Played the course:once

Pros:

Nice informative tee signs, good tee boxes, new baskets made extra visible with orange reflective tops, easy to navigate. Cart friendly and can be played with a child in a jogging stroller. Plays fast and can be played with just a putter or midrange. Every hole is an opportunity to ace. Beautiful park with mature trees and interesting terrain. Great views, both from the course and on the drive into Los Alamos if you are just swinging by to play the course as you travel. Good bathrooms and playground on site.

Cons:

Hole layouts are straight forward and repetitive. Holes are really short and it doesn't accurately reflect what disc golf is or can be. Course is a bunch of ace runs with a putter and holds no real challenge. Scrubby plants around baskets mar the green and impede the putting area.
Hole 2 has no line and has you trying to hit random gaps in the trees while throwing over a small valley, leaving it up to luck if you land on top near the basket or climbing down to get your disc. On holes 7& 8 a bad kick can send your disc off the edge of the canyon leaving you an adventure to retrieve your errant shot and make it back to the course. These things are out of place on such a short beginner friendly course. One unlucky throw can double the amount of time spent at this course.

Other Thoughts:

A fun pitch and putt course but not worth going out of your way to play. Though the town seemed really great and I'm sure you could find some other fun stuff to do to make the trip into town worth your time.
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2 3
unclephool
Experience: 11.7 years 2 played 2 reviews
3.50 star(s)

2+ years drive by

Reviewed: Played on:Aug 18, 2012 Played the course:2-4 times

Pros:

Easily accessible for beginners and kids.
Nice natural routes and views.
Good tee boxes and easy paths between holes.

Cons:

Nearly all holes are straight shots.

Other Thoughts:

This is a nice course through the woods and along a canyon edge. Puts a premium on straight shots and distance control. Not particularly long, but there are plenty of trees to get in your way and penalties if you get trajectory or distance wrong. Par ratings on some holes are a bit generous. Would be great to have some longer tees and add another 9.
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2 5
waylonmock
Experience: 13.2 years 90 played 2 reviews
4.00 star(s)

2+ years drive by

Reviewed: Played on:May 9, 2012 Played the course:2-4 times

Pros:

Great use of the landscape. Amazing views of the canyon and surrounding mountains. Short but technical 9 hole course= lots of fun!

Cons:

The only thing I'd like to see is 9 more baskets

Other Thoughts:

A fun to play course that is beginner friendly. Fun shots in a great rec area.
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