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Rio Grande, NJ

Ockie Wisting DGC

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2.475(based on 17 reviews)
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11 0
dino2disc
Silver level trusted reviewer
Experience: 24.8 years 83 played 39 reviews
3.00 star(s)

If you don't have exceptional aim/line control, you'll pay for it 2+ years

Reviewed: Played on:May 14, 2021 Played the course:once

Pros:

Based on prior reviews, I wasn't sure what to expect here, but the good news is that this course appears to slowly keep improving, and that the bugs are mostly seasonal. Here's my thoughts, starting with the positives:
- Perfect location right off of route 47 in a 'dead zone' of very few courses down by Cape May. It's literally 30 seconds off the main route down to the Cape from Philly, which makes for an easy travel round on your way to or from the Cape.
- Most of the baskets have a flag on top of them to help you see them from a distance in the woods.
- A good mix of dense woods (#1, 5, 6, 8), moderate to light woods (# 2, 3, 4, 14, 15), and open bomb holes (#16 through 18).
- A couple water hazards on #4 and #5 add more challenge, for those who are looking for that. Although I couldn't find it, it seems like from recent photos that #6 is also being lengthened to include a water carry off the tee? That would be a great addition.
- Nice, detailed tee signs with accurate maps at all holes.
- A surprising abundance of trash cans by tees, in case you need them.
- The fairways seem well mowed by the park staff, and there's plenty of parking and a practice basket.
- Good, obvious next tee signs near many (but not all) baskets), and the tee signs include an arrow of the direction to walk next too. Really appreciate that effort!

Cons:

- Far too repetitive in hole design. #1, 5, 6, 7, 9, 10, 11, 12, and 13 are almost all the same: straight and narrow wooded tunnels, with the only differences being ~100 ft in length between some of them and a slight left or right turn at the end to the basket. Perhaps the course designers just used open paths already made by park ranger vehicles, but it doesn't make for intriguing hole designs.
- Although I managed to stay out of the worst of it, the rough here is SERIOUSLY ROUGH! If you pull it just a few feet off line you are going to pay for it -> thorns and poison ivy galore, brambles, and super-dense and muddy undergrowth leaving you no easy recovery shot either! It could be better to play here in the winter when there's probably less undergrowth.
- The tees honestly suck. They've recently been changed to gravel beds bound by three logs, and all this does is give you unsteady and sliding feet. A few have sizable divots in them too. Yes, there's rakes at a few tees, but the divots aren't the problem, the gravel is! I slipped twice during my round, and could easily see twisted ankles, falls, or worse happening here. Concrete or paver tees are DIRELY needed here.
- #6 and #8 kind of lack fairways, they need a couple more trees removed to give you a defined line through the woods. And the basket for #8 is right on the edge of some really soupy marsh (it would be better to have it positioned about 15 feet further left/in from the muck).
- It's a long walk through the woods back to the course from the practice basket, and that offers a great opportunity to incorporate a new #1 hole before the current #1. Also, it would be very easy to add in at least one left-turning open hole after #18 that could wrap around the woods and follow the dirt two track to back near the practice basket. That could eliminate some of the boring walk back to your car at the end too.

Other Thoughts:

- There are bugs, but thankfully I didn't encounter any horseflies or mosquitoes, just dragonflies and other ignorable bugs. Horsefly season in South Jersey is usually June through August, so this could be a completely different (worse) place to play most of the summer.

- The best hole here is definitively #18: it's the only hole with elevation, in which you throw off a low hill over rolling hills down to a basket ~350ft away surrounded by fair rough and without any water hazards to worry about. The low risk bomb opportunity on this hole is a really nice/refreshing way to cap off your round after a ton of tight, narrow woods shots. Really good and scenic closing hole!
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4 0
RamsFan1
Gold level trusted reviewer
Experience: 13.7 years 91 played 91 reviews
3.00 star(s)

A Good, Ongoing Effort 2+ years drive by

Reviewed: Played on:Aug 13, 2019 Played the course:once

Pros:

Legitimate 18 hole course in the southernmost area of the state. Located in a very nice community park which has clean bathrooms and a pavilion on the premises. Practice basket located near the hole 1 path. The first 12-13 holes feature a wooded, technical layout while the latter holes open up a bit into an open field with mature trees spread about. Good tee signs, definitive fairways and intuitive, easy navigation from hole to hole. Log benches and trash cans at many holes are a plus. There is some water on two holes which adds challenge. Very manageable distances for all levels of play. Despite the lack of overall elevation, finishing hole 18 is a neat shot from an elevated perch to a basket placed strategically between two large areas of rough.

Cons:

Holes 1 and 18 are considerable walks from the main lot. Natural tee pads with roots sticking up on most holes create uneasy tee offs. Oppressive rough which includes thorns and thick undergrowth surrounding many fairways. Bugs an issue as others have mentioned- bring spray. I am not a fan of hole 8, which I feel is poorly conceived and needs 2-3 trees removed to create a fair tee shot.. No true signature hole here.

Other Thoughts:

Ockie Wisting, is a sorely needed venue which wasn't easy to get approved. The efforts of Jay, Herb and others who conceived, built and have doggedly tried to maintain this course deserve much respect. Players who were there from the beginning have lauded OW's improvement the last couple of years, and it is obvious a lot of work has been done here. That said, continued efforts must be made to widen some areas of terrible rough and overgrowth throughout the course and to tweak areas of need. Volunteers step up!

Priority number one is the installation of cement or paver tee pads- a must for any highly rated course or one where tournaments are run. Currently, the natural tee pads are showing many roots in spots which make for an uneasy tee off experience.

Hole #5 shows great promise, and I can envision a re-design in which players throw over the pond to the right of the current fairway, which would make it a signature hole.

Ockie Wisting has tremendous potential and is definitely worth your while if traveling in the Cape May area or other parts south. A good overall play.
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1 0
bob s
Experience: 12.6 years 73 played 6 reviews
3.00 star(s)

Great Potential 2+ years drive by

Reviewed: Updated: Played on:Aug 13, 2017 Played the course:2-4 times

Pros:

I may be repeating a few things said previously but here it goes: the biggest PRO of this course is that it exists at all, giving folks at/near the South Jersey beaches a real place to play. The designers made good use of the terrain provided, creating a fair combination of lefty and righty shots. There are not a lot of areas where overhand shots are possible and roller opportunities are few and far between. There is water in several areas but really only comes into play on hole # 3 on the left side. (It's sneaky - you might want to check it out before you throw at the basket...) Around hole # 9 and a few holes thereafter, the rough becomes really rough - you might want to send a spotter forward to save some time looking for errant/defected shots. Hole # 18 is a really cool elevated shot but there is rough on both sides that can easily rob you of your disc. (The right side rough is as rough as it gets...)

Newer signage throughout has made for easy navigation (save for getting to the first and last holes) and new yellow tees are well marked. More play on the course will help rectify the biggest CON but it is clear that this course is in its infancy and work is ongoing.

Don't be fooled by the par 54 layout and think it's a pitch and putt. This is a challenging course.

Cons:

The course is still very raw, with brutal rough, some of which is within the putting circle. There are thorns in many spots oftentimes just off the fairways. (not my favorite thing.)The parking situation is currently unsettled - we pulled in and parked near the amphitheater and someone closed the gate on us. Directions to the 1st hole are non-existent and difficult to explain. Signs there are needed. We've played twice now and the first time, surprisingly, the bugs were not too bad. The second time, they were awful including a wasps nest on top of one of the baskets (hole 4?.) We did our best to knock it down. I would not step foot on this property without an ample supply of bug spray.

Other Thoughts:

For years disc golfers have been hoping for a REAL course down here in southern Cape May County and we finally have one. Hats off to the folks responsible for making it happen. It is already a fine course and once this place gets broken in, it will be a gem. For now, it is imperative that folks stay in the fairways, else pay a steep price in lost discs or unplayable lies. If you are playing it for the first time, it is probably a good idea to walk the holes before throwing them.
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2 0
Chaser90EK
Experience: 14.2 years 4 played 4 reviews
3.00 star(s)

Great Developing Course 2+ years drive by

Reviewed: Played on:Jul 15, 2016 Played the course:once

Pros:

Great little developing course in an area that needs it. Very technical layout with a punishing rough.

Cons:

Still under the development so the course is subject to change. The bugs are pretty rough so be sure to wear appropriate clothing and repellent.

Other Thoughts:

For anyone who has every worked on a course this one should excite you. Once the designers clear all the bureaucratic hurdles this course will shape up nicely. I strongly encourage everyone to get out to play the course and provide constructive feedback so this course can reach it's potential. Also, sadly, due to field expansion plans hole 18 may have to be moved in the future. The view from the elevated tee is absolutely gorgeous and the ace is there for the taking so get it out and play it while it's still there.
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2 4
poolking8
Experience: 11.1 years 30 played 1 reviews
3.00 star(s)

A work in progress 2+ years

Reviewed: Played on:Mar 12, 2016 Played the course:2-4 times

Pros:

Another course in South Jersey.

Cons:

Most courses have a bad hole or two. This course is no different but since this is still new, I can see the powers that be taking the constructive criticism and building a true gem in South Jersey.

Other Thoughts:

Comments about bugs and ticks....really....maybe these guys should go back home to mommy's basement.
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4 0
Bryce_3
Experience: 9.1 years 62 played 4 reviews
3.00 star(s)

The only game in town 2+ years drive by

Reviewed: Played on:Jan 28, 2016 Played the course:once

Pros:

Beautiful brand new disc catchers, decent signage, good use of space and natural obstacles to provide a challenging and fun round. Dedicated DG area in an old campground, so no passers by. By far the best course down the shore between AC and Cape May, and a much needed addition!

Cons:

Rough is almost entirely dense thorns, even in the dead of winter. Sounds of automatic gunfire from nearby/connected hunting area can be a little distracting :)
A clearer indication of where the first hole is from the gate would be nice.
No tee pads.
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