Wtf. Steilacoom is what it should be re-named. (edited)

679 courses.

Today was a mixed blessing, a few good courses, nice run in with some disc chicks, and one course so absurd to figure out I'm not sure I'd call it a course. More of a Mind-. Lots of cold, light rain today which is kinda of nice except hard to get pictures in it. While stopping for dinner, I noticed two very attractive young women in a jeep behind my car waving discs at me. After doing a double-take, I grabbed some minis and went over to give them the first of the new DGRUS minis.

Auburn, WA- White River:Many tough, long holes near the par 4 range and a few par 4. There's some real trouble to get into, including a river and ob paths, thick rough. One hole has ob road left, ob river right, small place to land and basket in woods on slope toward water. Minor elevation changes, mix of tight woods, open, and brushy fields. Confusing layout after #3, a small sign says "Alt Summer Course", but doesn't say anything about it. I spent 15 minutes trying to find the next few holes when I figured that it meant those normal holes are gone and the Alt. course is the course I must play. There should be better signs about that. So after that, it's not properly marked but I figured it all out eventually. Some signs broken. Nice land, high quality course.

Kent, WA- Lake Fenwick:Another typical Washington layout, of more holes than there are baskets. This one's fairly well marked though, with a map as well. Several holes so tight I wasn't sure if it was even the fairway, lots of blind holes too. Very rough with thick fern and thorn cover. One hole was like one at HollyWoods on opening day. Putter driving finesse is key. Disc golf only type park. Watch out for slugs.

South Tacoma, WA- Ft. Steilacoom:I could go on and on for en entire book about the madness of this "course". It was so frustrating, I didn't even enjoy it and wish I had't gone there, pretty much ruined my day. It took 20 minutes to find it, because my GPS took me to Ft. Steilacoom park, down the road which is not where the course is. When I pulled in, I saw a sign saying "SE course", so I decided to play that one, knowing ahead it was going to be a confusing mind-. And it was. The first tee area had 3 tees marked on a large slab of concrete. One sign showed 3 different holes, all different colors and #'s. From there you can see 4 baskets, each of which could be the hole. There is NO sign explaining how this place works, so how can you know what course to try to play, which one is the tougher or easier one? How many there are? It's insane. I found the first hole and played it, complete with a blind OB line and mando. Hole #3 had a next tee marker pointing up a hill, so I went up there to find multiple, unmarked tees and several fairways and baskets. Picking a logical one, I parked it and walked up to find it wasn't the right hole. I walked back past there to find the #3 tee way back by #1's basket, so sign pointing you that way. After that hole, around a blind corner, a sign points you to #4. I spent 20 minutes looking for #4's tee, walking easily a mile, up and down and around checking everything out. Getting annoyed, I gave up. Could not find #5 either. I found #6 while looking for #4 and began again there. Hole #8 had 4 different teeing areas, fairways and baskets depending on which #8 you are trying to find. I spent 10 minutes looking for #9, never found it. Giving up entirely, I made up my own course. It's the best course ever, because I only played holes I liked. Long and tight through yellowing grass and tight tree lines. Definitely some good holes here, great land. Still worth playing, do not expect to be able to play a course though. Make your own up and just have fun. I'd really like to find out who thought of doing that to this otherwise wonderful course, and why they did it. Will they ever fix it? Every single local in state I talked to said it was nuts and confusing. So if everyone thinks that, why is it like that? It needs to be completely scrapped, take all signs out, make up 2-18 hole courses are re-mark those. Leave it at that. There's no point in 7 layouts if not even 1 can be played except by the few who know it. Mark 1 layout well for the rest of us and play your own course when you want, don't mark it. One of the worst experiences on a course ever. I will give it 1 of 5 stars until it gets fixed.

Because of that, I didn't have time to play another course I was planning on.

Vancouver, WA- Glenwood Community Church:A solid beginner course, with 3 arm-stretchers for the rest of us. One tight hole features a right or left route. In a small piece of land next to a church, with a grassy tree filled area, one hole over or around some pines, and a few open. Great tees and well marked. Makes an otherwise worthless waste of space (a church) into something worthwhile.


Vancouver, WA- WSU:It took 20 minutes to find the course, having to call the course contact to find it. Thanks man. Tucked behind the college, and basically closed due to construction. There is only 1 hole with a chance of hitting a tree. The first 8 are wide open, flat, varying from 100-300'. The 9th holes throws around a bush. Well marked. Not worth playing at all obviously. Might be re-done into a new, 18 hole course I have heard. Go for it.

[Murray The Brit]

so when you are in portland you should play rockwood and vance 2 very nice 9 holes can play them in 1 hour if you are let me know and i will meet you out there

[essjay]

Fort Steilli is a crazy course, but I have to say that the 27 hole tournament layout is awesome! You should ditch Wa and come down to Oregon where the really good courses are!

[Jeff]

Ben,

If you are in Portland today (Wed 7/30/08) come to Pier Park at 5:00-5:30 for random draw doubles. Its a great time, with some great people.

Also, DO NOT MISS Milo McIver State Park while you are in town. It is a world class course.

Jeff

[donnyv]

They must have been trippin' when they designed it!

At least you didn't pull out any signs/posts and chuck'em in rage. Too bad there wasn't a local to show you around that mess.

[Jamie 'gr8rocshot' Ruane]

I'm heading to Auburn in mid Sept to visit some family. Will be playing White River. I going to contact Johnny Mac for some rounds and the guided tour. Looks like a great course. After that heading to Eugene...will play Estcadia? and possibly Dexter.

[Kyle Jacob Smalling]

Some of them sound like just family courses or ace courses