Located in between Anchorage and Palmer is Peters Creek DGC located just off of the Old Glenn Highway (right next to the Glenn Highway). This 18 hole course plays through heavily wooded areas with some of the holes on the back 9 playing near or along Peters Creek.
This was my first and only disc golfing experience while I was up in Alaska. And one I had heard very little about as far as on DGC Review website or by word of mouth. Actually, my golfing buddy suggested I make the trek out to downtown Anchorage to play Westchester Lagoon but it's been closed during the summer due to clashes between golfers and other users of the park. Since I was staying in Palmer, I decided to give this course a try.
There's two parking lots to choose from when entering the park. The closest one (near the course's bulletin board) is located near the path to hole # 1, while the other parking lot (through the gate) is closer to hole #10...so depending on where you want to start your round, parking in either of these lots will accommodate your plans. While I played early (10 AM) on a Wednesday morning the course and parking lot was pretty empty, I did do some reconnaissance the evening before on the way back from dinner in Eagle River. I noticed that the course and front lot can get crowded, especially in the summer evenings when it doesn't get remotely dark-ish until Midnight or 1 AM.
A short walk from the front lot down a path into the thick forest of Birch Trees is where the tee for hole # 1 awaits. As a California disc golfer and a first time player of this course, I stood for a while trying to take in the path and overall set up for the first basket. It's not too often you play a course in California with this many trees in your line of sight. Courses in CA tend to be a bit more wide open. I can imagine this is what those on the east coast have to deal with when playing some of their heavily wooded, tight fairway courses. After the shock, I started my round...hitting a share of trees but making Par on most holes on the front 9. Aside from the trees, you have quite a few holes that tend to play extremely short (some as short as just over 150 feet) but hook hard to the right, meaning if you're not left handed, you need to have a disc you can turn over or have a decent side arm game. This course definitely forces you to break out of your normal throwing game if you want to have a shot at some birdie opportunities.
Most of the front 9 plays through the maze of Birch trees, with a few holes giving the player an opportunity to power out some throws on a few open fairways (holes 4,5,6 come to mind as they play along side of a rocky hill and down what looks like a dirt fire lane path.) Hole 7 is an straight away up-hill shot with a drop off to the left side (another good hole for something understable or a side arm shot for RHBH throwers). Hole 8 proved to be one of the more exciting holes on the course for the fact it's the only downhill shot in all 18 holes. With a mandatory on the right side, it's a straight and slightly to the left 237 foot hole that could easily lead one to empty their bag because it's such a fun hole to throw on.
Much like the front 9, the back has a mix of tree laden holes as well as quite a few long holes as well. You can also hear Peters Creek throughout the back 9, making the atmosphere quite relaxing. Hole 15 is likely what many consider the courses signature hole, especially since this is where we get our first sight of Peters Creek. It's the longest hole on the course (375 feet) with a long and wide fairway and a basket nestled in a grove of thick trees to the left. But BEWARE! There's a drop off beyond the basket (both behind it and to the right...where the fairway leads you) into the "creek". The "creek" runs more like a river in the summer due to the snow / glacier melt from the nearby mountains. Chances to loose a disc to the creek come into play on holes 17 and 18 as well.
I finished 4 over on my first 18 and 3 over on my second 18. Not bad considering this was my first time here.
Some other thoughts...
- Perhaps the only reason why I didn't give this course a perfect rating is due to the fact that there are no tee pads. Some tees were muddy and unplayable (had to throw from one side or the other on some holes). This is honestly the only complaint I could come up with.
- Along with tee signs at every hole, there was a garbage can attached to the tee at every hole as well. It's something we need to see more of in CA. Unfortunately I did see some trash while walking the course. Seriously??? It's fucking Alaska! Show some respect!
- While there are tee signs at each hole, navigating the course could be troublesome if you fail to bring a course map with you (map can be found at the link at the top of this business page).
- During the summer the mosquitoes are relentless, so be sure to bring some repellent with you.
- Look out for wildlife (saw moose prints in the mud). read more