Overview
Blue Lake Disc Golf Course is located in the beautiful Blue Lake Park in Fairview, Oregon. Established in 2012, the 18-hole course with concrete tees and DISCatcher Pro (original) Targets is known for its highly advanced layout. It is not just another disc golf course; it is a true testament to target disc golf at its finest. The course demands not just a good throwing arm but also precision and strategy. It’s perfect for those looking for a serious challenge.
Note that the park charges a $5 parking fee, and no dogs are allowed. The course is cart-friendly and has drinking water and restrooms available.
Blue Lake Course
Layout and Environment
The course is split into two distinct halves. The front 9 holes provide a leisurely toss through picturesque white oaks with well-mowed grass fairways. It’s quite a pleasant walk that soothes you before the real challenge begins.
As you move into the back 9, the course turns challenging and demands utmost accuracy and safer throws. Be ready for plastic-eating borders and several OBs. Especially the infamous hole #13, which is known to be quite unforgiving, especially when throwing into the wind.
Be aware that the grass can get high, especially in summer, so be prepared with extra discs. Speaking of summer, it’s advisable to bring bug spray as mosquitoes can be quite relentless. There is also limited shade on the course, so remember to pack some sun protection.
Challenges
If you are a beginner or a casual player, you find this course somewhat challenging. With dense blackberry bushes and thorny teasels dominating the landscape, wayward discs often find themselves in unreachable places. Hence, it’s best to come prepared with a disc retriever.
This course rewards accurate throws. It’s a battlefield that becomes a lot easier if you have accurate 300-350 ft forehand and backhand hyzer shots. It’s also recommended to have a spotter to track your throws and landing zones, as some holes can be punishing for even a slightly off-target throw.
There are also plenty of par 4 distance holes, so having a good understable anhyzer disc for rollers is super beneficial.
Signage
Despite its beauty and challenge, the course could use better signage. For newbies, some more directions would be highly beneficial, particularly indicators for next hole locations. It’s always a good idea to scout out your landing zones before you throw.
Final Thoughts
Blue Lake Disc Golf Course is not for the faint-hearted. It’s a demanding course designed for championship-level play, with a beautiful layout and a diversity of shots that require a solid arm and accurate placements. While it might not be the most aesthetic course in the Portland area, it’s undeniably beautiful and offers an unmatched disc golf experience for those who are up for a challenge.
In the end, the Blue Lake course has a lot of rich history and might push you to your limits, but the sense of accomplishment you get upon completion is an unparalleled experience. So, if you have the skills and abilities, this course is a must-play.