Gravitational Pull at The Cove - Presented by Gravity Disc Golf & Walker Rocks

Mountain Cove Temp Course Talk Through General Observations: Course Length 8225 ft., 7625 ft., 6305 ft. Par 3s: 13 Par 4s: 2 (1,18) Par 5s: 3 (2,11,17) Course has a pretty goo ... show more ›

Mountain Cove Temp Course Talk Through

General Observations:

Course Length 8225 ft., 7625 ft., 6305 ft.

Par 3s: 13

Par 4s: 2 (1,18)

Par 5s: 3 (2,11,17)

Course has a pretty good compensation of open, woods and mixed holes. Big difference between three sets of tees (450 feet on one hole!). I think it is a good course with lots of chances for scoring separation, based on ability, not random chance. Fair for both righties/lefties/forehand/backhand throwers. Big distance is an huge advantage on multiple holes, but plenty of chances for the straight throwers/course managers to make up strokes.

Toughest holes: 1 (especially back tees), 18 (both tees)

Birdie holes: 2 (if no strong wind), 3, 7 (front tees), 11 (if no strong wind), 13

Big Swing Holes (two stroke swings on the lead card potential): 1, 2, 9, 11, 16, 17, 18

Controversial Holes: 9 (Triple Mando, smaller than the one at USDGC? With less protection for slightly missed mando AND thrown from above the mando)

General Note:

Tough walking course. Big Climbs, one sketchy hole transition. Bring water, bring food, bring a chair?, not really cart friendly.



Guide:

Each hole has hole number, par and distance for 3 layouts. If I only do one description, my rating of hole and predicted scores are on the top line. If I do descriptions for all layouts, the rating of the hole and predicted scores are on the line with each tee.

Rating of Hole:

Birdie Hole – everyone is looking for a birdie and not a lot of danger

Bonus Birdie – lots of pars, with <25% birdie rate

Good Par 3/4/5 – This means there should be lots of separation on the hole. A good par 3 means that a typical card might have scores of 2,3,3,4. (This doesn’t mean I like or dislike the hole!)

Safe Par – Means you can probably make choices that guarantee a par but limits your chance of birdie (and I think it’s the right thing to do)

Find a Par – Tough hole. You might play a par 4 like a par 5. Play smart, make a good upshot and putt to save par. Don’t blow your round trying to force a par. (Hole 1 from the backs is a perfect example)

Predicted Score: The score I think that the top 2 cards on each of the three layouts will shoot on the hole. This is totally a guess and me just having fun!



Course Walk Through:

Hole 1 Par 4 (710/710/420)

Hole is harder than the picture indicates. Plays uphill all the way. Plays well over 800 from the back and 550 from the front. If the drive is low or fades to the left, a second shot layup may come into play. Take your medicine if needed to avoid starting with a double.

Green

Basket is out in the open 40+ from OB deep and left. No real roll away issues. Run it from everywhere.

710/710 (Find a Par….4.20/4.50)

This hole is an absolute beast from the back. I watched 16 throws from the back tee today (with a strong tail wind) and only 2 got past the front tee, I’m pretty sure all but the biggest arms are going to have to play this as a par 5. Take your medicine if you don’t bomb it off the tee and try to make 4 the hard way. At most, there will be a couple of birdies from the back. A 4 is picking up strokes on the field.

420 (Bonus Birdie for big bombers, Safe Par with solid shots)…4.20

Ok…looking at the google earth on this hole I thought I would throw a driver over the OB on the first shot and then do the approach shot from the far side and not have to worry about the OB. When I got there, I immediately had a change of heart. The hole is up hill and 2nd shot is extremely up hill, if you throw over the OB on the first shot. Throwing straight up the fairway gives you a much better run up for your second shot.

Stable driver fading off OB for your tee shot gives you 250-300 in for your second. Basket is not very close to the OB. Likely par if you avoid the OB, but a bonus birdie with two good shots.

My first time…

I did clear the OB on a conservative line just to see what it was like, but I played my stable driver that landed 80 left of the OB. Another driver out to the right for safety faded inside the circle.



Hole 2 Par 5 (1150/800/700)

Fun Hole! Down hill, so we all get to fill like a big bomber. OB on both sides and enough elevation change that even a neutral disc has time to fade 150 feet. From the back tees, the fairway narrows in the landing area (500’ from tee). From the forward tees, your drive should carry past the pinch point. I think the better players from all three tees will be expecting a birdie here and eagle is available, especially from the two forward tees.

Green

Basket is located in a stand of a trees on the right side of the fairway. OB is about 40’ right of the basket. Basket is about 40 feet past first tree on the right side. A left to right approach is the easiest as no trees block the line and you don’t have to worry about OB, unless you come in very hot. If you are throwing a shot that you know won’t get there, miss a little left to leave an easy up shot.

1150 (Birdie Hole)…4.40

Maybe max distance on tee shot isn’t the best idea. Stable driver or fairway might travel 450 down the hill and will be short of the narrowest part of the fairway. Then, you have lots of room to unload on second shot. If you are OB free after two shots, you should be looking at an easy up and down for birdie.

800 (Birdie Hole)…4.50

You are 300 feet from the narrowest part of the fairway. You will get extra distance with the drop in elevation, but expect a ton of fade from even neutral discs. Even 330 arms could top 400 here and have an outside shot a getting home in two, but a couple of mid-ranges got get you in position for a pretty easy up and down birdie.

700 (Birdie Hole)…4.80

You are only 200 feet from the narrowest part of the fairway, so airing it out makes the most sense. Maybe a little less stable than you normally use for distance shots to avoid the crazy fade at the end. IF you have 320 normal distance, you could definitely get home in two with a pair of good shots.

My first time…

I threw my neutral driver at the right side OB. Honestly thought it was pretty good, but got a little lift and faded all the way to the left OB. I threw a second attempt with a driver with a tick of turn and it still almost got back to the left side OB. I think neutral is fine as long as you throw it flat and right at the right OB. My second shot was a driver to within ~120 feet. I was 10 feet for a par with and OB stroke. I kind of want to throw a big anhyzer line off the tee and go for the eagle, but I really think you just need to execute a couple of decent shots and get the birdie. Played it a second time, exact same results. Maybe you need a little turn on your driver…it’s just scary to turn it over OB



Hole 3 Par 3 (335/335/335) (Birdie hole for all…2.35/2.53/2.79)

(Must get for MPO and MA1, but birdie hole for all.)

Downhill, open shot. The real trouble is long. Accessible with any type of shot, but maybe most open for RHBH. Obstructed putts from inside the circle if you are left and/or long. I think people will birdie this with everything from a putt/approach to driver. Just don’t airmail the green and you should get a birdie putt.

Green

Open access from the front, but shrubs/small trees inside the circle long and left. There is some tough rough just in C2 left and past the basket. Maybe not an ace run hole!

My first time…

I thew three discs. Slightly over stable fairway/Neutral fairway/Very overstable driver. All three were in a line about 35 feet right of the basket. I think I’ll go with the slightly over stable fairway, as I think I’ll birdie at the same rate as the other two but will never get into the rough past the green (briars and thick stuff).

Hole 4 Par 3 (260/260/260) (Good Par 3…2.75/3.12/3.30)

First, be careful going from hole 3 to hole 4. It is pretty sketchy!

Into the woods! Seems like a long 260, but that is woods golf. I think there will be a foursome that has a 2/3/4/5 spread on the scores. Priority one is making the first gap. It isn’t that small, but if you are trying to miss trees 200 feet away, you might just find a double bogey of a tree 40 feet away. Throw your 300 foot neutral flying disc. Probably best to turn something toward the small creek on the right (casual water) and hope it beats the late tree to get back to the basket instead of risking going left early.

My first time…

I threw two neutral fairways, both pretty well. Both clips branches on the right late in the hole and dropped about 40 short. Probably staying with that play. Seems like a sure 3, with birdie possibilities.



Hole 5 Par 3 (240/240/240) (Good Par 3…2.92/3.12/3.3)

It is only 240, but you have a tight window and it is a big uphill dogleg to the right. It is obviously a RHFH hole, but it is pretty technical and you have to have 300 feet of power to hyzer it up the hill. The big tree in the left part of the fairway makes a big swinging shot almost impossible. You need something to fly straight for 170 feet and then head hard right.

Green

Pretty open green. There is a big log that is just long of the basket, but nothing to obstruct a putt inside the circle. Low roll away risk.

My first time…

I threw three shots. I hyzer flipped RHBH to turnover with a very understable fairway driver and hit it perfect…which meant I was through the fairway and still not nearly enough turn. Had about 60’ to the basket. I also tried two stable forehands. Both had two much hyzer. I think it is a forehand hole all day, if you have a decent one. I don’t think many backhands can get to c1, as not a lot of room up high to turn over anything. I’m probably going to throw an understable mid, jump put from 60’ and complain about my sucky forehand.



Hole 6 Par 3 (295,295,295) (Good Par 3…2.70/2.88/3.10)

There are a couple of gaps you can go for, but the straight gap seems to make the most sense. If you pick the right gap, then it should be tough to get back left before the barn and still reach the basket. The left gap is pretty small. Take the center gap with you straightest disc and let the 20’ of late fade get you back into birdie range

Green

Trouble left and long. They have a free relief area with drop zone, but that takes you from inside the circle to 40? Feet away.

My first time…

I threw the same neutral fairways I threw on 4. I got over on the less stable one and slide into the bottom left corner of the barn about 50’ from basket. The other one I threw about pin high in the thicket left of the basket. Making it out of the woods should be top priority when selecting disc.



Hole 7 Par 3 (360/360/275)

Significantly downhill par 3, with OB long /left of the basket and some tree trouble to deal with.

Green

Open green on a slope toward the OB 35’ long of the basket. Shaggy grass short of the pin, but thinner grass long with a slope toward OB. Not a super-fast green, but tee shots that come in basket high could get to the OB and C2 putts from above the hole will be a little scary.

360 (Good Par 3…2.60/2.90)

Honestly didn’t look at this line. Should get carry down the hill and with all the trouble long you probably want to play this closer to 320.

275 (Good Par 3…2.90)

Pick a disc that you throw no more than 250 feet, the downhill should get it the rest of the way there. Prefer something that ends up moving left to right, because all the trouble is long and left. Forehand or slight turning RHBH.

My first time…

I threw a Buzz SS at about 80% and a touch of anhyzer. Ended up perfect. 250’ throw that you know won’t go hard left at the end.



Hole 8 Par 3 (390/390/300)

Pretty long par 3 that plays uphill. The tree on the left takes away the big hyzer play, so you need to throw a forehand or a slight turnover to avoid having the disc fade downhill toward the OB on the left. Birdies can be had, but disc selection / shot selection should eliminate the big mistake (left off the tee) and let birdies happen as they do.

Green

Open green on a big of a side hill. Grass is pretty tall, so risk of a rollaway isn’t high. Could be some scary-ish putts from long and right of the basket, because of the drop of left of the basket.

390 (Good Par 3 with bonus birdie feel…3.00, 3.20)

Slightly up hill and requiring a straight to turnover line from a RHBH, this probably falls in the good to get or bonus birdie category. It doesn’t require a great shot to get a putt, but an average shot will mean a c2 look and missing your angle could leave you in a bit of trouble.

300 (Bonus Birdie…3.20)

Didn’t have a flag down for the tee, so I made a best guess based on caddy book. A little more open look from this tee. Priority 1 here is not missing your angle and flying down the hill left to the OB. There are some birdies here, but pick a disc that makes the par a sure thing and then see if a birdie happen.

My first time…

I threw my neutral fairway (hard, high and with a decent amount of anhyzer). My goal was to be right of the pin and have a boring par. I was 40 right and 10 short. I’m planning to do the same thing again in the tournament. If the mess up and get a birdie..great!!!



Hole 9 Par 3 (270/270/200)

Triple Mando and a small one at that! Dead straight shot, with no other complication by the mando. Drop Zones left or right of the mando, so almost certain bogey if it is missed. I can see good players laying up and taking the par. I can see people running it for the bird.

Green

Flat, no issues. Basket about 45’ past mando.

270/270 (3.12/3.30)

What I said above. This is a you do you hole. That Mando looks tinny from 270!

I went back a looked at this again. The back tee is higher than the top of the mando. I think you could offer 1000 rated players 2 to 1 on their chances of getting through the mando and make money all day long. Lay up and take a par!

200 (3.30)

What I said above. This is a you do you hole. That Mando looks pretty small from 200!

My first time…

I threw four shots. One layup and made good up shot for an easy par. The 3 go for it shots were: 1 made mando and was inside the circle, 1 hit the door and had an easy upshot, 1 missed the mando. Not sure what I’ll do in the tournament, but I think if I had a lead on Sunday I would layup and see what the chasers could do.



Hole 10 Par 3 (440/440/440) (Bonus Birdie…2.60/2.80/3.00)

Throw down the mountain! I watched lots of youtube videos on Mountain Cove Classics and a vast majority of those shots finished short and left of the hole (and those were MPO or MA1 lead cards). So, know that you are probably going to end up short and left. There is a tree across the road about 125 feet right of the basket. RHBHs that start left of that tree are almost certainly going to end up left of the basket or short. Throw something flat and neutral or even slightly understable at that tree and don’t hold back. If you don’t have more that 350 of power, you aren’t going long.

Slight caveat: I saw one throw on youtube that matched the slope of the hill and was slightly turned over. It got over the road in about 1 second. If your do this, just puff out your chest and tell everyone you can throw it 600 feet.

Green

High grass, no skip, no rollaway.

My first time…

I threw 4 drives, ranging from over-stable driver to understable driver (thrasher). The first three all ended up about 60 above the basket in a 40 foot straight line. I hzyer-flipped the thrasher to flat and even turned it a little, it landed two feet from the flag. My lesson, further right for my line and don’t worry about it swinging to the basket. Don’t help it with any hyzer. Just throw it flat, throw it hard and let gravity do its thing.



Hole 11 Par 5 (925/775/630) (4.60/4.80/5.08, all highly wind dependent)

The runway hole! OK, I had watched it on film and driven past it 40 times, but never threw on it. Impressions. The fairway looks a lot tighter in person. I think your brain sees the runway as in bounds an everything else as out of bound.

I’m not doing a separate write up for each tee, because I think this hole really is the same concept from all three tees and skill levels. This hole is all wind dependent and personal style dependent.

If the wind is up, the best MPOs are throwing stable disc and just trying to safely eat up small chunks of distance. From the back, three 300’ shots gets you a birdie putt. From the front, three 200’ shots does the same.

If the wind is down, then you can decide to throw 3 safe shots and take an easy bird or go for a bomb and bring eagle in to play. This is a you do you hole.

Green

The green is asphalt. Not issues. This is my observation from watching youtube. Everyone expects huge skips on their approach shots. 90% of the time it didn’t happen. Steep hyzers and flat throws sat relatively quickly. Only fast, low hyzers had a big skip.

My first time…

Slight head wind. I threw three tee shots. My two neutral fairways and an overstable driver over the road on a hyzer. All three landed inbounds. I think in low wind I’m throwing the fairway. It is what I’m most confident with in hitting my line and getting the expected flight. Fairway/Fairway should get me to 100’ at the worst, with a likely birdie if I execute. Strong headwind, most stable driver at the road. VERY strong head wind….200’ shots?!?!?!



Hole 12 Par 3 (230,230,230) (Birdie Hole…2.36/2.60/2.86)

Caveat: This hole didn’t really have a tee pad yet. I was in the right spot, but kind of guessed. Not a great run-up. Better tee pad migh make it a little easier.

This hole is Very uphill! I think it is playing 280 or more. Might be easier with tee pad. There is a backstop to this hole, so throw more than you think you need. Unless you throw it straight in the ground, par shouldn’t be a problem’

Green

Flat area around the base of the tree. Safe to putt. Possible obstructed looks if you are right of the basket.

My first time…

I threw the neutral fairway. Usually goes about 300’. I threw it very well, but a touch low. Was around circles edge short.



Hole 13 Par 3 (360//360/260)

Downhill throw. RHBHs thrown at the basket are going to end up 50 or more left. Forehands is probably the preferred play, as the slop will keep it from fading too much. The slope might make it tough to get very close to the basket, but it takes a real mistake to not get a par.

Green

Slanted, but higher grass. Little chance of role away. Safe to run most buts, but air balls going downhill could leave you with 40’ coming back.

360 (Birdie Hole…2.50)

I didn’t really look at this line. It looks like the RHBH is restricted, so you might have to turn this shot. Again, forehands seem like the best throw

260 (Birdie hole…2.60)

Plenty of room to throw down the road on the right and let the natural fade take it to the basket. Forehand works as well. Throw your best 240 foot disc and the slope should take it all the way there.

My first time…

I threw two neutral to stable mids (m3 and mx3). I threw them right down the road way. The more neutral one had decent height and faded all the way to 15’. The more stable one was pretty low and despite getting basket high was 40’ above the basket. Seems like a 240’ shot carries out to the perfect distance.



Hole 14 Par 3 (280/280/280) (Bonus Period or Just Find a Par…3.00/3.15/3.30)

The third and last hole that basically plays the same as a hole from the Mountain Classics at the Cove. This hole has a low ceiling created by a limb from a big tree on the left about 70’ from the tee. The floor of the hole also rises for the first 175’ of the hole, creating a pretty tight window for a good shot. Watching video from high level players playing this hole in the past, not that many get it there (especially from this further back position). For most of us, this a get your par and get out of here hole.

Green

Pretty open. Long and left has some slope and role away potential, but that is more than 30’ from the basket.

My first time…

I threw my neutral fairway (running out of daylight, so only threw one). Threw it decent but turned it over a little. Landed by the last tree on the right. I don’t have a good plan for this hole yet. It seems to play very long for the distance, but I don’t know if more disc makes sense. I don’t think a par loses any strokes to the field, so I may stay with the fairway driver.



Hole 15 Par 3 (390/290)

This is a tight tunnel shot, especially from the back tees. There is OB right and left, only 40’ apart for much of the hole. The tunnel is about 30’ wide early and maybe 40’ apart at 200 feet from the back tees. Ceiling isn’t an issue. Make the gap and you can make a birdie, but somebody could wreck a round with an early tree kick OB that leads to a double. A good straight forehand is the easiest way to access the pin, but a straight shot with just a bit of turn will get the job done as well.

Green

Flat green, with little roll away potential. OB is around circles edge right. The OB does pinch in from the right before you get to the green, but you have about 70’ of open area between basket and OB pond.

390/390 (Good Par 3…2.80/3.00)

My best way to describe this shot is Michael Johansen would consider this the easiest shot in the world. To most people, the back tee cause claustrophobia. This is probably easier than I think, but It looks awfully hard to me!

290 (3.00)

You have room to hit your line from the forward tee, but it is just tight enough to get in your head. If you have a favorite straight flyer from 240-320 feet, throw that. Let birdie happen, but guarantee the par.

My first time…

Threw the neutral fairway again. It is obviously my go to whenever I’m not sure of what to throw. Threw it almost dead straight, ended up just outside of circles edge on the left of the basket. Probably my throw for the tournament. Rather try to make a 40’ putt than turn something down a tight tunnel with OB all around.



Hole 16 Par 3 (240,240,240) (Good Par 3…2.50/2.75/3.20)

This is either the longest 240 feet in disc golf or I’m getting tired!

Island green, uphill. Island is about 60 feet in diameter. Forehand, Backhand, Thumber. Dealers choice!

The good players will eat this hole up, but it is uphill. Plus, it is steeper past the basket. I would throw my 270 foot disc and don’t baby it.

Green

Sloped back to front, but not a ton of rollaway potential.

My first time. I threw 5 shots. Three landed on the Island, one pin high about a foot OB and one about 5 feet short left…but none past the basket. My plan was to throw a spike hyzer. I don’t know if the up and down hikes were getting to me, but it seemed like a really long way. I might go back fresh and try spike hyzer and a fairway right at it. I don’t feel like mids are enough (usually 250ish for me), so I might go back to the neutral fairway straight (especially if I throw it well on the previous hole). Went back to retry it…3 shots all on the green Neutral Fairway right at it landed basket high (that is my 290-300 disc). Spike hyzer drivers still short. If I’m throwing the fairway driver well, I’ll go with it. Otherwise, spike hyzer driver.



Hole 17 Par 5 (810/710/580)

A par 5 that is slightly uphill all the way. The first half plays like woods golf and the second half is in the field. We were hustling in to beat the sun. Met an MP40 play who was questioning his life decisions from the back tee. Tunnel shot, low ceiling, OB fence right, thick woods left and 400+ to get out. Gets a little easier as you move to the forward tees, but looks tough.

Once out in the field, the terrain slopes from right to left as you approach the basket. OB awaits at the bottom of the slope, but the basket is far enough up the hill (60’) to make safe approaches possible.

810 (Good Par 5…4.80)

710 (Good Par 5…4.92)

580 (Good Par 5…5.16)

My first time…

Didn’t throw it. Burning day light and telling the MP40 player how to find hole 4. Hope he made it out of the woods!



Hole 18 Par 3 (540/330)

My prediction, not a single card on either day plays this hole under par. Very narrow fairway (40’?) with OB on both sides for almost the whole hole. It is extremely uphill. For the cards that are playing this course the second day, score may dictate the strategy.

Green

The basket is above the steepest part of the slope, but still slopes back to front. High grass, no skips, no roll-aways. If you somehow get 40 feet past the basket, an aggressive air ball can leave you with a longer put than you started with.

540/540 (Tough Par 4…4.40/4.52)

The tee area is slightly uphill making things tough from the beginning. Now, add a steep up slope immediately in front of the tee. Now, add a big branch hanging over most of the fairway about 60’ out that establishes a low ceiling. OB on both sides. Anything past the short tees in the fairway is going to be better than many. Second shot starts the extreme uphill section. Somebody will birdie it, but it will be at the risk of an early OB and double bogey.

330 (Tough Par 4…4.60)

The tee area is uphill enough to make a normal run-up difficult. No ceiling issues from the short tees, but OB and uphill in full effect. Stand still shots might be the best bet for all the shots on this hole. If you get half the way up the hill in bounds, you are good shape to pick-up a stroke on the field (Yes, I know that is just 160’)

My first time…

I threw a one-step Buzz SS in the fairway. I seemed to go about 120 feet. I tried throwing a fairway and a driver, but missed the fairway with both and didn’t seem like all that much more distance. I threw a standstill fairway driver for the second shot and got up to where the fairway widens. That got me to 60 feet. I would take that every time. Really tough hole. Par picks up strokes on the field all day long.