Red Stick DGC

Although not technically a local, I’ve had the pleasure of being in town while traveling fairly often to play Red Stick since its early days. I don’t usually give out reviews but I truly think this is a top-level course. A course in my opinion should be challenging, but not arbitrarily ‘hard’. The difficulty of the course should stem from the level of shots that must be executed to score well, not just impossibly long or guarded holes. Red Stick in my opinion does an excellent job of kee ...
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Although not technically a local, I’ve had the pleasure of being in town while traveling fairly often to play Red Stick since its early days. I don’t usually give out reviews but I truly think this is a top-level course. A course in my opinion should be challenging, but not arbitrarily ‘hard’. The difficulty of the course should stem from the level of shots that must be executed to score well, not just impossibly long or guarded holes. Red Stick in my opinion does an excellent job of keeping true to its targeted player ability while also ensuring there is enough variety of shots that you can’t throw the same stock shot on every hole and expect to birdie.

As a right-handed player, there are essentially the same number of holes that favor the backhand versus the forehand, with probably five or six that are players’ choice/preference. The beauty of the course is that you will be demanded to throw a different disc from a different angle on basically every tee if you want to get a birdie.

From the shorts, the course is relatively scoreable and doesn’t require above a 300’ shot for birdie on any holes with maybe one or two exceptions. There is still opportunity for scoring separation as the angles needed to get to the pin vary greatly but they are very reachable for players who don’t have the longest range. From the longs this course has some teeth; every hole can be birdied, but several of them need a pinpoint shot to give you a look. A few eagle opportunities exist, primarily on the back nine, but if you are off the fairway I wish you the best of luck because it can get sketchy very quickly if you don’t put yourself in position. A few of the pars may seem soft, but even on a shorter par four I believe that the design gives a great amount of room for scoring separation. No holes from the longs are ones I would consider ‘gimmes’, and no holes would I think a top level player would still need luck to get a birdie. You have to earn it, but it’s fair.

Couple things worthy of note -

The locals are very friendly! They are always up for constructive advice on the course and the officials who take care of the property do an incredibly job.

The course is on a protected/preserved property; I don’t know all of the details, but there are restrictions on digging holes/etc, so the way the baskets are installed is different than most. Doesn’t play any differently, but might catch your eye.

Mach X baskets! My personal favorites, I was thrilled to see these.

Concrete tee pads that are very well done - brushed and plenty large enough.

Hole 9 throws over a creek - there is a rope by the bridge that can assist you if your disc found its way into the water.

All in all, Red Stick is a fantastic course that I would love to play a tournament at once any are on the docket. If you find yourself going through or near Eufaula, AL, it is absolutely worth a stop.
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