Matt Niswonger

By Matt Niswonger

by Cathy Claesson

The Lake Tahoe/Truckee area is said to be a disc golf paradise.ย  We had to find out for ourselves.ย  Not to play a course or two in between mountain biking and climbing, but to get serious about playing as many courses as possible.ย  This will not be a tour or a spree, we decided, this will be an endurance challenge.ย  We are not here to sample
some disc golf, we said, but to immerse ourselves in it.ย  Four courses back to back in 24 hours.ย  Discwood, Bijou, Zephyr, and Truckeeรทwhat better way to experience these well-known disc
golf courses than back to back?ย  What better way to spend a fall weekend?

COURSE ONE, DAY ONE, 11:00 AM

NAME:ย  DISCWOOD
DISC GOLF COURSE
This is the disc golf
course at Kirkwood Ski Resort.

LOCATION:ย  Hwy
50 to Hwy 89 to Hwy 88 to Kirkwood.ย  The
course roughly follows chair-lift seven, going
up the hill.

BETA:ย  Discwood is simply epic.ย  The course roughly follows a ski slope up and down a mountain. Amazing. The average elevation is right around 9000รข, so be advisedรท18 holes at Discwood will
wipe you out.ย  Folks from sea level can expect to feel pretty winded.ย  The course is not particularly difficult, although I got
my butt kicked.ย  Why?ย  I am weaker on holes that fade to the right and my putting game fell off the table.ย  Some holes are extremely tight.ย  A couple holes feel almost impossible.ย  The elevation WILL
kick your butt.

COURSE BEAUTY:ย  **** (out of four)

SIGNATURE HOLE:Hole 16 will blow your mind.ย  1200 feet down a ski run.ย  Looks easy for a par 5, but donรขt be deceived.ย  This hole has never been completed in three, according to local Steve Newell.ย  The fairway looks huge, but one must fade right for a mile and then turn over and helix back for two miles.ย  Days and days of air to magnify your every driving mistake.ย  Got
a huge backhand drive?ย  Donรขt get cocky.ย  Most will go bye-bye into the woods.

COURSE TWO, DAY ONE, 1:25 PM

NAME:ย  BIJOU DISC GOLF COURSE This is one of two South Lake Tahoe disc courses that we played.

LOCATION:ย  Bijou community park is right off Hwy 50 in South Lake Tahoe.ย  Look for yellow baskets in the woods next to the parking area.

BETA:ย  Bijou is a tight course.ย  Most holes have a workable window, but the trees are always lurking.ย ย  Being able to drive forehand will help your score, as many holes fade to the right.ย  For
the rest of us who tee-off pretty much exclusively back-hand, its critical to have a slightly understable disc that will fade right.ย  I
was playing with a VERY beat-up (and VERY understable) Gazelle that often died to the right way too early.ย  For other unfortunates like myself
with no forehand drive, bring a slightly used Roc or Stingray that is not so easy to overpower.ย  Or just quit your whining and learn to drive forehand.

COURSE BEAUTY:ย  **

COURSE THREE, DAY ONE, 4:20 PM

NAME:ย  ZEPHYR
COVE DISC GOLF COURSE
The second South Lake Tahoe course.

LOCATION:ย  Take
Hwy 50 to Al Tahoe blvd.ย  Look for the
Zephyr Cove sign.

BETA:ย  Zephyr is a magnificent course.ย  Play this course.ย  The views of Lake Tahoe are not to be missed.ย  Many
tee-boxes sport epic views.ย  Think of Zephyr as a wild and wooly hike through the Manzanita.ย  Playing with someone who knows the course is just about mandatory.ย  Some holes are hard to decipher.ย  Not that
Zephyr isnรขt 100% legitimateรทevery hole has a basket and every tee a tee-pad.

Wading
through Manzanita can scratch your legs, so wear pants if itรขs not too hot.ย  The course is not quite as civilized as say, Delaveaga,
but the scenery is stunning.ย  EVERY HOLE REQUIRES A SPOTTER.ย  Have the spotter stand about half the distance to the basket and watch every drive like a hawk.ย  Manzanita eats discs.

COURSE
BEAUTY:ย  ****

COURSE
FOUR, DAY TWO, 9:55 AM

NAME:ย  TRUCKEE
RIVER DISC GOLF COURSE
The final course
of the disc marathon, in Truckee.

LOCATION:ย  The
course is right on the Truckee river, in Truckee,
off Hwy 80.

BETA:ย  Truckee
is a civilized, beginner friendly course.ย  By no means is it easy, just fairly straightforward.ย  The
course is absolutely top-notch.ย  The tee-box signs are beautiful, the course layout is logical, and the tee-pads are roomy.ย  I really
enjoyed the views of the river and the railway boxcars along old-town Truckee.ย  The course favors longer drivers.

COURSE BEAUTY:ย  ***