Apache Shores - Playing Hooky on Friday Afternoon

I played hooky Friday afternoon to meet Steve, Lif and Mark at Apache Shores DGC.  They have never played it before and wanted to scratch it off their lists.  Temperatures were in the 80's sunny skies and no wind to speak of.  We were the only players on the course.  Course conditions were rugged, well it is Apache Shores.

This course has some very rugged terrain, finding the next hole can be a challenge.  Especially when you get into the "Badlands".  Lots of very technical shots.  All the holes are par 3's, but we called #7 a par 4 because we were throwing at the wrong basket.  We all did alright.  Mark had a bad front nine but an outstanding back nine.  Not the kind of course where he can show off his arm.

A total of five birdies were made:  Mark(3), Steve(1) and Heady(1).  No discs lost but two discs found!

The Badlands

Preparing to take the challenge

Mark starts us off!

Mark putting for birdie on #2

Steve almost went out of bounds

Steve's approach on #5

Lif putting on #5

Mark driving up #6.  The challenge was finding it

Steve on the #7 'fairway'

Mark's approach on #7

Lif with a tough putt

Steve driving on #9

Climbing out of it

Mark driving up #12

Lif putting on #12

Leaving the badlands

The Well

Lif throwing on #13

Out in the open on #15

Baby lizard sunning itself on a little rock

Mark getting his drive down.  One shot

Steve admiring his drive

Lif flicking on #18

Steve finishes it up

Official Scorecard.  Recorded by Steve.  Compiled by Rob.

Apache Shores - Tuesday Afternoon

I wanted to have a couple of guys from the group play this course to get their opinion.  Dave and Bob wanted to play it, so that's what we did on Tuesday afternoon.  Temperatures were in the upper 80's, sunny skies and only a slight breeze.  Course conditions were dry and rugged and there were lots of people playing the course.  It was so busy we played holes 16 thru 18 to allow a large group to get ahead of us.  We skipped #4 and ventured into the badlands to get around the group.

Both Bob and Dave liked the course.  Bob said the holes are like the Church but with the distances of Zilker.  Both said they would play it again.  Bob had the shot of the day with a blind, uphill, tomahawk birdie on #12, he threw it in from about 50 feet.  My approach shots were a little off today and I had a disaster on #14.  Some of the holes are so short they play like approach shots.

We managed to have five birdies:  Heady(2), Bob(2) and Dave(1).  No discs lost and no discs found.

Bob putting on #16

Dave on #17

Dave on #1

Dave driving on #2

Dave in some cactus on #2

Bob's approach on #3

Dave driving on #5

Rob with a birdie attempt on #5

Steep trails

Rugged country

Finally made it to #6

Dave putting on #6

Heady with a birdie on #11

Bob's birdie tomahawk on #12

Dave's birdie on #13

Bob driving on #14

Dave putting on #14

Apache Shores - Lakeway

I just discovered a new course that is fairly close to me, Apache Shores.  The Disc Course Review site lists this course as Extinct, but it is very much alive.  Apparently, the HOA asked to remove it from the site as they don't want the general public playing here.  I must say this is a unique course.  It can be divided into two sections, the upper course holes 1-4 and 15-18 and the badlands are holes 5-14.  All of the holes are fairly short but most of them have heavily wooded fairways and steep elevation changes.

Navigating this course is nearly impossible unless you have someone to guide you.  I first played the upper holes and was able to birdie four of the holes.  I talked to other players and they warned me about trying to navigate the badlands on my own.  Up for a challenge and with nothing better to do I decided to venture into the badlands.  I found hole 5, a downhill tunnel shot and  hole 14, which was a short uphill drive and I was able to make birdie.  I then ran into a group of seven players that were playing best disc doubles and needed another player, so I joined them.

They led me deep into the badlands, I never would have found hole 6 without them.  They were a good group of guys and the player I teamed up with, Brad, proved to be a worthy partner.  One member of their group was a novice but he drilled four 50 foot putts with laser throws.  Many of the baskets in the badlands are positioned in front of steep cliffs, so it is better to layup unless you are sure.

This course is designed for a left handed player.  I found myself flicking on almost every hole.  I did have some pretty good drives that left us with tap in birdies.  We finished at 8:45 and it was totally dark, we had to use our cell phones as flashlights to illuminate the baskets.  I'm lucky I did not lose a disc.

I don't know if our group would like playing course but I would like to introduce a couple of them to it for evaluation.

The basket on hole 3, behind some junk cars!

Hole 2?

Hole #5

Pretty scenery in the badlands

Hole #14

Brad driving on #16.  Watch for cars!