Coyote Cut DGC

@jimmylowercase

11

Played this course for the first time for the inaugural tournament. A very difficult course to play blind even with a doubles partner. I was off my game, but I still had a lot of fun thanks to the staff, course design, and players on my card. This course is in great condition for just opening up. There was a ton of care taken to ensure the course was challenging and rewards players who drive the fairway and find landing zones. As more people walk the course, the footing will become more even, the pathing will become easier, and nature will eventually open up some nasty (positive) back door routes. As this course gets reviewed you’ll hear: “technical golf, tight woods, lots of shot variety, etc.” The usual stuff you read in these reviews, and it’s all true. But I want to take a minute to write a short essay about how hole 17 is a PERFECT hole of disc golf. Stay with me until the end on this one. Hole 17 is a par five that starts with a relatively low ceiling tunnel shot off the tee through the woods. There are 2 smaller trees right by the tee that don’t come into play unless you absolutely shank it. These trees almost guide you through the tunnel shot. A perfectly straight shot and finish is rewarded. Distance is also rewarded if you put the slightest turn on a neutral driver. Once you’ve made it through the gap you arrive at a clearing with an OB garden to your left and a pond to your right. In front of you is the mouth of the gap and you must carry the water 275-325ft to penetrate the gap. A player with less distance can also lay up if needed. Once you penetrate the gap, take a stable mid or putter up another tunnel shot with a generous ceiling this time, and, ideally, putt for birdie from there. Missing the fairway can be punishing, and a mature player will likely pitch out of the final tunnel shot if they are off the fairway. This hole rewards distance appropriately, and requires 3 straight shots that all play very differently. Low ceiling to open shot after playing a tight woods course invites the player to rip it, but you are punished appropriately if you don’t make the landing zone or carry the water. The 3rd shot also encourages a player to use the now higher ceiling to access a basket that is deceptively elevated with a slower disc. A hole where disc variety for different straight shots is encouraged is a neat concept, and an open but technical shot is a welcome change of pace on a wooded trek. The final bit of elevation really makes the hole stand out. That was the boring way to describe hole 17. Imagine this instead. You and your best friend are playing a round together at Coyote Cut. After a grueling round of golf, you approach the tee of 17 and pure the gap. You enter a clearing and are greeted by a flourishing vegetable garden with a quaint hobbit hut and a water feature. You look around and see a path into the distant wood. At the end of the path, the sun beams down on a disc golf basket. As you approach your lie and adjust your aim, you take notice of the garden, the pond, the untamed forest, a mural of colors as the foliage thins and the days bleed into autumn. The clouds roll overhead through the Carolina blue sky and a gentle breeze brushes your forearms as you adjust your aim one last time. You exhale before letting your disc rip over the water. Your buddy matches you shot for shot as you both take a well-earned birdie. Perfect shots, perfect scenery, perfect hole. Hole 17 reminded me why I enjoy this sport, and I hope course designers take note of holes like this. So thank you to the designers of Coyote Cut. Y’all have something special to cherish.

@morienewman

244

Fun new course that will only improve with foot traffic. Some extremely tight gaps so bring your woods golf game!