Back 40 at Fulkerson Winery and Farm

@brianphillips

1761

The front 9 needs mowing in areas. The back 9 in the woods needs better market fairways. Great baskets. Tee pads are great, assigned are amazing with just a little more worm. This is s 5 star course

@nathanalleman

169

Ok, I played this and Wild Vines (WV) dgc, another winery course just down the road, in back to back days, so here is a comparison review: DESIGN: lots of similarities. Both are relatively short and pared generously, yet offer challenges of elevation, shot shaping, and distance control. The soft par 4s/5s on both courses will make you feel better about your score than you maybe should. B40 shines in the short holes that make great use of elevation. WV shines on the back 9 woods holes that are gorgeous and the right amount of challenging for the skilled player. Both courses have holes that need work: B40 hole 12 needs a few small trees removed to make it fair. WV 17 is a 430 par 3 uphill, which makes no sense given the par 4 390 downhill hole 10. B40 has a few long walks but ends you up by parking. WV has a few longer walks and does not. LOOK: both have lovely views down to the lake, though B40 is a bit nicer. WV has this inexplicable Jurassic/fantasy grove of plants and animals that gives the front 9 a mini golf vibe. B40 has new longer tee pads though I played the main since added pads tend not to make for as well designed lines. AMENITIES: here is where B40 pulls ahead, with better baskets (new Mach X), nice signs, benches, and wayfinding. WV relies on Udisc to get you around, but does have arrows in the baskets. The kicker is that B40 has brick and paver pads while WV has soft gravel, which is completely unacceptable. Both have winery bathrooms that are only open when the shop is; B40 also sells a decent variety of discs, but retail+ prices. CONDITION: both courses needed to be mowed and trimmed when I played, more so B40. Some of the back 9 pads need maintenance, but at least they're there. Otherwise, both were decent but not exceptional. FINAL: Did I fail to mention that WV is $5 to play but B40 is free? For that reason and the pads, if you only have time for one, play B40, though both are interesting enough to be worth your time. *kudos to the Udisc update that let's me write a long review!!