I know there was much celebration when the golf courses opened back up earlier this year. And I’ll admit it, I’ve even been out on the greens more than once. But there’s another type of course that is also up and running this summer, and it hasn’t gotten near the fanfare, despite being more accessible and less expensive than playing a round of pounding the heck out of a little white ball with the purpose of knocking it into a hole on what is, in essence, an uber-manicured lawn. I’m talking, of course, about disc golf. And I’d be remiss not to give a shout out to two old newspaper guys with whom I once spent an afternoon chucking discs up at Lake Tahoe, photographer Dan Thrift and editor/publisher Tim Parsons. Image at left: Pixabay, Joshua Choate.
Over the past few years, we’ve had a few new additions to disc golf family, and the Carson area courses offer a great opportunity to get out for some fresh air, some exercise and to enjoy the high desert natural environment in a way that traditional golf lacks. Be sure to stay aware of weather conditions, and you may want to take advantage of the cooler mornings and evenings rather than trying to get a round in during the heat of the middle of the day. And, need we say, observe social distancing protocols on the course.
The Carson Ridge Disc Golf Park is located out toward Mound House, on the south side of the highway on Rifle Range Road, just off Flint Road. There are two courses located here – Pony Express and Stadium. Pony Express is great for beginners, and Stadium offers a bit more challenge. They are both part of the big disc golf complex project that has been years in the making, and they incorporate interpretive trails into the courses. With the informational signage that tells about the native flora and fauna, these courses really do give people a chance to glimpse the natural world that exists at the urban/wildland interface and on into Nevada’s interior. Photo at right: Facebook, Carson City Parks, Recreation & Open Space Department.
Speaking of the interior, if you want to keep heading east on Highway 50, you can travel just over the hill and Dayton has a disc golf course out that way too. You might have to hunt for it; it’s near the end of Cardelli Road and the River Road Park. This one has 18 holes and offers a glimpse of natural Nevada that is often overlooked, the riparian-adjacent valley lands.
Back at Carson City, down at the south end, is a disc golf course that is known both as the Indian Hills Disc Golf Course and the course at James Lee Park. This one has 27 holes with sections of varying difficulty. The course ranges from gullies to hilltops, and given the setting in Indian Hills, the higher spots offer a great view of the Carson Valley to the south. Photo at left: flickr, VSP.
Way down at the other end of the Carson Valley is the Pine Nuts Disc Golf Course. At 18 holes, it starts and finishes alongside the Douglas County Fairgrounds. Like the Carson Ridge courses, the Pine Nuts course really drives home what the natural state of existence is in the land just outside of the towns, and if you choose to play it mid-day in summer, it drives home just how unforgiving that natural state of existence can be. In other words, be smart, take some water along with you and time your play for the cooler parts of the day.
About the Author Keith Rugg
R. Keith Rugg has worked on staff for a number of local publications, including Lake Tahoe Action Magazine, the Tahoe Daily Tribune and the Reno Gazette-Journal.
