I had already played one round of challenging disc golf in
the Texas heat (at the Creekside Course), but I was there to play the #1 and #2 courses in the world –
BOTH of them. I hopped in my all-terrain golf cart and went to the first tee.
I laughed because there’s a giant animal trap near the first
tee. I think it’s probably for wolves or hyenas or coyotes or some sort of
larger animal. Maybe even a mountain lion or something. I just hoped I didn’t
see whatever it was out on the course. Intimidating. But still, I’m always more
worried about fire ants in Texas than cougars.
At almost 700 feet, this hole is an awesome opening to a
pretty monumental course. The rule for this hole is don’t hit any trees, or you
won’t even have a chance at the posted par 5. Remember, these courses should not
be played using traditional everything-is-a-par-3 method. Use the posted pars
to save yourself from blowing a gasket on the course (or at least that’s what I
told myself about every three shots). From the tee, hit one of the gaps in the
trees and throw out into the open landing area. Then take a couple of big shots
to a basket that sits right next to the huge lake (from the course namesake).
Challenging hole – really enjoyable.
I should also point out that this is the first time I
noticed there were distance markers implanted in the ground (like at ball golf
courses). This way you can tell if you’re 100, 150, or 200 feet out, depending on
the color. This is a brilliant idea. It’s pretty cheap and good for course
management.
Hole 2 is a big out-over-the-water shot, whether you’re a
lefty or a righty. There is a tricky set of trees RIGHT where you want to land
your drive. If you can throw it 400+, then try to land past the trees, but
otherwise, you can decide if you want to throw less than 300 feet to a safer
landing spot. The basket is 528 feet ahead on top of the berm that serves as an
access road to the rest of the course. This hole makes you think from the tee,
and then again when you’re going for the basket that’s on a fast green.
Hole 3 is a short 244-foot shot, followed by hole 4 at 837
feet. It’s got lots of placement shots along the bank, and then a final tricky
approach to the green over the edge of the lake. Amazing golf, this hole. Well
designed. I only took one photo of this one, from the green, looking back over
the little water-filled inlet I threw over to get here. I’m guessing I was
sweating to death in the heat and too lazy to make any additional body
movements like taking my camera phone out. Hahaha
Hole 5 is a challenging 581 feet curving to the right from
the tee. It isn’t narrow, but it definitely isn’t wide open. Need to keep this
one on the fairway. I know it’s obvious, but if you keep it in the fairway, you
can get the 4 strokes you need to make par. Fun hole.
Then, hole 6 is a narrow, short 250 feet through a generous
tunnel of trees to a picturesque tree-covered green. If I played here a lot, my
score would range from 2 to 8 – I just know it.
Hole 7 is 890 feet constantly out over the water on your left.
Now the right-handed folks get to understand what most courses are like for
left-handed players. You either need a reliable turn-over disc or need to know
where your forehand shot is going to land. Seriously, every shot you throw is
in danger of hitting the drink. I love this hole, all the way to an amazing
island green with a bridge going out to it. I played this hole like garbage and
loved every second of it.
Hole 9 is a 500-footer with a very narrow fairway that you
really need to hit. It doesn’t matter how far down that fairway you get, but
you need to be on that fairway. If you aren’t, then you get off into some
serious rough. And that rough has billions of spider living in it. This isn’t a
great photo of the cyclone shaped web, but these things are all over the place.
Be ready!
Hole 10 is 555 feet with a generous fairway (that you need
to stay on) and a nice realistic up-shot to the green. Hole 11 is a 213-foot
shorty for right-handers with some elevation to play with. Holes 12 and 13 are
300-ish and narrow, but drive-able. Fun little holes that you need to
capitalize on. I didn’t, of course.
Hole 14 is one of those poke-and-hope holes. 426 feet isn't a
terrible distance until you take away a realistic fairway. The tee sign is what
I like to politely call “bullshit”. If you draw enough lines on it, you can pretend
there’s a fairway. There isn’t. You throw into the trees and then try to figure
out where your second shot will be thrown through the trees until you take your
third shot (now uphill) which will be thrown through the trees to a green that’s
just past the tree line (with a few trees surrounding it, just to be a pain in
the ass). I didn’t play this hole as poorly as I expected to, thankfully. Here’s
a view from the tee so you can see the weird uphill angle you throw your first
shot through. Tricky hole.
And I took a little video so you can see the trees. Keep in
mind that I veered left from the tee, so even though you think I’m driving down
a clear road, that road isn’t in line with the flight path/basket. Good luck on
this one.
Hole 15 is a glorious 831-foot hole down a small hill that you need to throw clean. Then take an upshot to
a landing area that you need to be left on. Then you can navigate some
elevation over a small hillock to the basket. I really liked this par 5 a lot.
It’s solid golf. You’ll want to keep throwing this one until you figure it out.
If I wasn’t playing on the surface of the sun for 6 hours already, I’d have
played it multiple times.
Hole 16 is a slight incline, up 555 feet. You have a couple
of fairways to hit, but the basket is directly behind that grove of trees you
can see at the end of the fairway. Very fair, but tough hole.
Hole 17 is a drive-able 318 feet around some trees. I’m
guessing once you figure out how far to throw his hole (for regulars), it’s
probably mostly a deuce.
I was feeling good about how I had played this course (both
courses actually). Only one lost disc for the day. So I got cocky on hole 18.
It’s 600 feet with the lake on the left and an extremely narrow landing strip
along the bank for the first 400 feet. I threw my best turn-over driver flat
and just as it leaned back in to the right, the wind took it out to the middle
of the lake. I grabbed another turn-over driver and put more angle on it, and
the wind died so it landed on its edge and rolled into the lake. Then, I got
mad and grabbed whatever disc I grabbed first and threw that way out into the
lake. So now, I’m throwing 7 from the tee – fuming. Hahaha. Classic Chad. I was
prepared to empty my bag out into the lake if I needed to. So I threw an angry
forehand out over the water and it ended up crashing into all those trees on
the right – but a long way up there. I managed to get out fairly well – well
enough to throw my 9th shot up by the basket for a whopping TEN on
the final hole, and down four discs for the day. Oh well!!!
Even though my blood pressure and body temperature were sky
high, I loved this course. It’s brutal, but still fair. I’d go back here and
play anytime I get to Dallas. I’d recommend it to all my friends who play, and
if I ever see the first guy that recommended this course to me, I’ll thank him
profusely. It’s top-notch golf and I’m really glad I took the whole day to play
here. I’d definitely consider staying overnight here sometime and playing both
courses over two days. Again, get the golf cart – you’ll need it.
I’ll be honest, it’s a toss-up which course is “better”. I
think they’re equally challenging and play a little bit different. I’m guessing
my preference would change every time I played these courses. They’re both
wonderful. And it doesn’t matter which order you play them in, either. There’s
decent tree-cover on both of them, so it isn’t like one will be more shady in
the afternoon or anything. Flip a coin and play what the disc golf gods tell
you to play first!
Thank you, John Houck, for designing such an amazing course
and to the owners of Selah ranch for sharing it with the public. Having played
it, I wouldn’t question the cost at all. It was all worth it.
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