Pros:
- gorgeous setting in the eastern sierra.
- campground on site
- excellent course design: easy to find next tees and the pins
- maps available at the course kiosk
- varied shots in the forest
- creek in play on several shots
- championship level course, with a true par 5, and a couple of par 4s.
- big time shots for big arms
- a few nice ace runs.
- multiple pin locations allow for variations
- a great volunteer crew
- excellently constructed 6'x12' rubber pads
Cons:
- no working bathrooms, at least in March when the course is playable and the campground is closed. But I suspect this wouldn't be a problem for much of the year.
Other Thoughts:
This place is sick. Long shots will challenge everyone, even top pros. Shorter shots are technical and fun. Here are some highlights:
Today was prescribed burn day at the course, and hole 6 was literally on fire this morning. We threw the hole anyways. Never had a fire hazard like that before I'll bet. My disc landed in fire, and I had to take a stroke (unplayable lie).
Hole 4 is a nice 400 some odd foot downhill bomb in which you have a choice between going straight at it, or possibly going over the initial row of trees.
Hole 7 is a sweet RHBH turnover shot to an island like green.
9 is a big downhill anny with water behind the pin. There is a direct ninja route available, but I didn't try it.
11 is truly a beast. At 777 feet, it's not the longest hole in the state, but it sure feels like it. Basically, if you don't throw perfectly straight off the tee to the obvious fairway/landing area, you're hosed. The trees are very thick. If you do have a great drive, then your second shot has to also be pimped perfectly. Not easy with the amount of trees here. Then your third shot has to get near the pin to get a 4, which is a birdie.
Hole 12 is also a bomb, but a bit easier. 13 is a long turnover with a double mando (maybe not officially, but in reality) right off the elevated tee.
Hole 14 has the stream in front of the basket. Very easy to put your drive in the drink here.
Hole 17 forces a RHBH hyzer off the tee, then a long upshot to get a 3.
18 is a long bomb uphill, and I don't think anyone could get it within 100 feet of the basket off the drive.
All in all, I highly recommend getting out to Markleeville to check this course out. There are hot springs 10 minutes away from the course at grover state park. Stay a while and play the course a few times. You won't regret the ambiance, and the challenge, of this championshp caliber mountain course.