Raymond, CA

Cody Minter Memorial DGC

2.25(based on 5 reviews)
Filter course reviews

Filter reviews

Filter reviews

Cody Minter Memorial DGC reviews

Filter
2 1
Lonhart
Bronze level trusted reviewer
Experience: 30 years 422 played 38 reviews
2.00 star(s)

Gem in the rough 2+ years

Reviewed: Updated: Played on:Mar 6, 2020 Played the course:once

Pros:

-Solitude - it is highly likely you will have the entire course to yourself.
-Baskets (9 DGAs) are in good shape.
-Large oak trees come into play on some of the fairways, but usually allow multiple approaches and routes to the basket. This is a great example of oak chaparral habitat, and there is a seasonal creeklet along the western edge of the property.
-There is moderate elevation at this site (20-40 ft changes), but generally consists of gentle rises and falls. Great terrain.
-Scenic terrain, with occasional rocky outcrops, some of which serving as a valuable landmark.
-Most baskets are visible from the tee, but there are a few that are hidden and the first time through you will need to walk along the fairway to see the basket.
-There is a course map, which was made by the course designer. It is actually quite accurate even though it is a digital drawing, and quite helpful. You must have the map to navigate the course.

Cons:

-There are no tee signs or other indicators to show you where the tee pad is located. Nor is there information about where to through.
-The baskets are not labeled. Writing the hole # on the poles would be very helpful.
-Tee pads are outlined with brown pressure-treated 4x4s buried in the ground. The wood is still there and intact, but the dirt in the tee is full of weeds (no real use is keeping them bare), and weeds are, in general, everywhere and obscuring the tee pads. Tee pads do point in the direction of the basket.
-There are multiple tee pads per hole. It would be great to label each pad with a number. Since the map has red and white tees, the #s could be in red and white paint to correspond with the map.
-There are no 'use trails' that show where to go next. This is clearly an area that has little traffic, other than wildlife.
-There are no benches, trash cans or other amenities, but given this is a 9 hole course at an elementary school, that seems fair.

Other Thoughts:

I played on March 6, 2020. As you drive into the tiny town of Raymond from the south (coming from Hwy 99), the Raymond-Knowles Elementary School is just about the first thing you see. I checked into the Admin Office, which is to the right of the parking lot (about 10 car spaces). The staff was very pleasant, excited to host a disc golfer, but had very little information to offer. Since no children were present that day, I literally had the whole place to myself.

From the parking lot (which also serves as the drive-thru pick up area), walk to the southern end of the school and you will see the fence begin. The gate is downslope of two large dumpsters, the only gate in the fence, and in front of a large power pole on the other side of the fence. The gate was unlocked but had a mechanism to keep it closed. I've added photos for you to see the conditions during my visit.

With the exception of hole #4, I was able to find the tee boxes. They are heavily overgrown with weeds. Even minimal use would make them much more obvious. Or a little maintenance.

There are, in theory, at least two tee pads per hole. With the exception of hole 9, I only ever found one tee, but I am sure they are there, under the weeds. I can only describe the holes as I played them from the tees I found.

Hole by hole description from 6 MAR 2020 for RHBH
#1. Slight downhill, with barbed-wire fence on right running parallel to fairway. Basket is visible from tee, straight shot at it. Oak trees on both sides, and basket is sheltered under an oak tree. After playing #1, head west (in same direction you came for previous hole) and up the slope near the fence of the schoolyard, behind two large oak trees.
#2. Slight uphill then slightly down fairway, with basket obscured from tee. Tee shot goes between two large oak trees. Longer drive for this course, heads south. On grassy knoll in wide open. Next tee is south and down slope under an oak tree. Southern fencing of property will be on your left as you tee for #3.
#3. I did not find this tee and ended up finding the short tee for hole 9 and shooting at basket 8. I did not know my error at the time, and only figured it out as I wrote this narrative. After you play basket 2, tee 3 should be just down the slope a bit. I could see basket 3 but never found the tee, which I am sure is there, but was buried in weeds. I looked for about 5 min and them made my own tee on the maintenance road and shot up to the basket. Basket 3 is just past a large oak, with the corner of the schoolyard fence behind it in the field of view (but not really a hazard). Next tee is up and to left (west) of basket 3.
#4. Tee pad is visible and adjacent to (west or left of) dirt maintenance road. Basket is visible on a slight hill, with a different arm of the maintenance road in the middle. Some trees can come into play. Basket has logs forming a border on all sides but north.
#5. Tee pad is back (south) of basket 4 and up the slope, closer to the schoolyard fence and under a cluster of 4 oaks. Basket barely visible, protected by a pair of oaks. Fenced property to right, looks like school maintenance yard.
#6. Tee pad for the 'short' position was just upslope (east) of a short wall of rocks. There is a fence on your left, and the shot is downhill and heads into several rock formations and some thick trees and bushes. This is the northwest corner of the property (the fence on your right as you tee runs east-west). Basket 6 was in the seasonal creeklet's ravine, and had lots of weeds in it (see photo). Next tee pad was near the fence (now running north-south) and easy to find.
#7. An uphill drive to a clearly visible basket framed by two large oaks, blue sky in the background. Next tee pad is back down the slope, heading towards the north-south fence.
#8. Long hole with oak trees framing a wide fairway. Initial drive will be out on flat area, and then approach up the hill to the basket on slope next to large oaks. Next tee pad is up the hill and closer to fence (running west-east). Long pad #9 is in open near the crest of the ridge, shorter pad #9 is down the slope (east) under an oak tree.
#9. Another long hole for this course. Basket 9 is visible near where you started. Slight downhill on drive, then lesser uphill on approach, with fallen tree debris just in front of the basket.

I enjoyed this course, particularly for the quiet and solitude. If it was used a little more, or if someone spent 2 hr per month on it to clear out the 'rough', it would be a real gem.

**If you have issues with this review, please message me and provide constructive criticism. I am always seeking to improve the information I provide.**
Was this review helpful? Yes No
2 0
The Valkyrie Kid
Diamond level trusted reviewer
Experience: 45.9 years 1563 played 1507 reviews
1.00 star(s)

The Cody Minter Memorial Course Just Ain’t Getting The Love Anymore! 2+ years

Reviewed: Played on:Jan 27, 2019 Played the course:once

Pros:

The two ladies in the office of the Raymond-Knowles Elementary School (82 students) were most helpful and excited to see someone show up to play their course. One of the ladies is a disc golfer herself and the other walked out to make sure the gate was unlocked for me. They warned me that the course had not been subjected to the weed eater in quite some time. And those Ladies and Gentlemen, are today's highlights, brought to you by Ray's Feed & Farm Supply, 2 Main Street, Raymond. Phone # - LO-4517.

Stretching up through the 2 foot high grass, I uncovered five DGA baskets. A history professor from nearby Raymond-Knowles Elementary School, Mr. Cletus Barnaby, deduced these might be artifacts from a long ago forgotten disc golf course. No other proof of this course's existent has survived. There were no tee pads, signs or other baskets to be found.

The grass was knee high and very, very, thick in places. On my way back to the car, I launched my trusted Valkyrie towards one of the baskets. My Valkyrie was ever so slightly off line and landed just about 20 feet from the basket in a small area covered with this incredibly tall, thick grass. It took me 15 minutes of a full field search to finally locate my longtime companion. I was about to call in U.S. Marshall Sam Gerald and his team to help me locate my Valk.

Cons:

There isn't really a course here anymore.

Other Thoughts:

Unless the caretaker comes back to work here, The Cody Minter Memorial DGC might just become a memory.
Was this review helpful? Yes No
4 0
jasonandsharon
Gold level trusted reviewer
Experience: 39.9 years 498 played 65 reviews
1.50 star(s)

What Happpened? 2+ years drive by

Reviewed: Updated: Played on:Apr 8, 2015 Played the course:5+ times

Pros:

Cody Minter Memorial Disc Golf Course is a CA wilderness style 9 hole located next to Raymond-Knowles Elementary School. The course starts to the left of the school behind a little garden gate and then plays out and wraps around the back of the school. There are 9 well thought out holes that take advantage of elevation change and topography. There are large mature oaks that will grab your discs out of the air. The course has excellent flow and offers short and long tees as well as multiple pin positions. Free course in an area with two p2ps closeby.

Cons:

Navigation without a map would be next to impossible. We were standing on hole 1 with 3 people surveying the land and had no idea we were on a tee. The tee boxes are wood frame with a DG surface that have been completely overgrown and all but blend into the fields of two foot tall weeds that make up the fairway. Raymond CA is kind of middle of nowhere. There are no tee signs which only add to the confusion.

Other Thoughts:

This could and should be an excellent 9 hole course as other reviewers have stated but it looks all but abandoned. I had a woman from the school office direct me out to where the course was and we still had a hard time finding where to start. A lot of work went into this course and it does show, but its like it was a one and done kind of effort. It looks like there has been no maintenance effort since the course went in. I don't know if there is basket rotation, but judging from the condition of the tees I would tend to doubt anyone is out here regularly.


Update 5/2015
I received a PM from the guy who does the maintenance:

"Greetings,
Sorry you caught the course at a bad time. I'm afraid I am the only one who does any of the maintenance on the course and the weeds this year outpaced my time and energy. I have tried to avoid using roundup or an alternative on the tees, but you have seen what happens. Next year I think I will give in. The course is back into playable shape again now. Hope you get a chance to play it when it is in better shape."

I know from experience, how difficult maintaining these kind of CA landscapes by yourself can be, hopefully someone from the area will step up and help. While I was there I could definitely see the bare bones of a good course and if it has been cleaned up like he says it would definitely be a enjoyable play, but unfortunately Raymond is a little too far in the middle of nowhere to get me out there again anytime soon to check it out, so I leave this course for the next reviewer.
Was this review helpful? Yes No
2 0
Leeb
Experience: 11.8 years 7 played 6 reviews
3.00 star(s)

Cody Minter DGC 2+ years

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

Pros:

Excellent use of terrain, hills, rocks, ledges.
Very well laid out, easy to follow.
Very easy to find.
Good use of distance and obstacles.

Cons:

The natural dirt tee pads are literally too well designed and blend in to the terrain. Minor issue, and any upcoming signage will take care of this.
Only 9 holes, but that's all the room there is, again, just a minor issue.

Other Thoughts:

Roughly located between Monument Ridge and Hensley (2 other 9 hole courses, hit all three in one day!!! While the other two are on A.C.E lakes, Cody Minter is more easily accessible and free! Access is through a gate adjacent to school parking. This is a relatively new course and deserves to be played!!
Was this review helpful? Yes No
5 0
CrashnBansh
Experience: 18.9 years 45 played 2 reviews
3.50 star(s)

Well designed Sierra foothill venue 2+ years drive by

Reviewed: Played on:Mar 23, 2013 Played the course:once

Pros:

Cody Minter is quite simply an excellent nine hole course. The course plays behind the school yard at Raymond-Knowles elementary school on rolling foothills. The usage of terrain is fantastic. Trees are many and in position such that they create interesting shots. The course has excellent flow and offers short and long tees as well as multiple pin positions. The tee boxes are wood frame with a dirt surface and terraced on more than one hole on the course. A nice mix of short and slightly more technical shots with some nice chances for big drives in certain tee and pin combinations. A lot of time and attention was dedicated to this course and it can be seen in both the design and play of the course.

Cons:

There really are few if any cons to this course in my opinion. There is a lack of signage, but I'm sure that will be remedied at some point in the near future. The proximity of the fence line on a couple of holes seems to be an effect of using the land well and creating flow, so I'm hesitant to consider this a genuine knock. It really only matters in the case of good distance with poor control.

Other Thoughts:

The true rating for this course is above 3.5 and is probably deserving of a 4. A very nice course in a serene area of the Sierra foothills. Nearby Monument Ridge and Hensley are both in proximity and nice nine hole course themselves, which only makes checking out Cody Minter even more worth the drive. It's likely worth playing even without the trip to the other courses. The nearby Raymond General Store offers excellent deli and cafe selections if you're hungry. The area can get hot so bring plenty of fluids. Once Cody Minter gets signage it will contest as one of the nicest courses in Central California, regardless of the number of holes. Thank you for creating an excellent venue for the region.
Was this review helpful? Yes No
Top