bviously Dismal River had been a lighting rod on this site so I thought I'd give the good, the bad, and the ugly of Dismal. I don't begrudge any of the sides for the fighting over Dismal but as an outside observer who was just there I think it's time to set the record straight on the place.
Getting to Dismal isn't easy, when you turn off 97 it's 17 miles (I think I measured it at just over 18 all the way to the clubhouse) of one lane road and then dirt road. It's a solid 30 minutes depending on if there is anyone else on the road or if the FedEx truck is going to fast and not paying attention. Once you get there you see the Doak unfolding around you and then you see the clubhouse and cabins on the hill in the distance. The clubhouse is great, a small but well stocked shop, the theater room, billards, poker, gym, and business center. The bar and dining areas are great, the food is great, yes it's expensive but you have to be naive to think a place like Dismal River is going to have cheap food prices. They do have one of the best pork chops I've ever had and the fire pit and the back patio are wonderful, I don't think there was a night I ever left that patio before midnight.
Chris had taken lots of heat on this site for self promotion, there are plenty of people who promote themselves on this site, anyone who want to hear passion and love for something should pick up the phone and call Chris. I'm sure he would gladly talk to you, I've never seen someone with so much passion for something he also does everything in his power to make you feel at home. I watched him interact with people, he is that way with everyone, this would be a better game if more club were run by people like Chris.
The cabins are great, they are furnished wonderfully, have satellite TV, and a great shower. Since cell reception is nonexistent out there I loved the free long distance calls, of everything at Dismal I thought this might be the best touch Chris and staff made. If you really want to live it up or have a bigger group the signature cabins are wonderful! My only bone to pick with them is that I have a hard time calling them cabins, those are houses.
There are 2 practice facilities at Dismal and both are good. I love the range up by the clubhouse which will be the range for the Doak course. From the main area at the club you take a 5-10 minute cart ride out to Jack's Shack and the course. Now the hole by hole tour,
1. I love this par 4, you have the giant speed slot and the approach played to the punchbowl green, it's a quirky hole, the first of many at Dismal.
2. When you are on the rest of the front 9 and look up the ridge to 2 I see what should be one of the best holes in the world but a hole I think falls short. The drive played across a canyon has much more room than it appears but down the hill is a popular spot. We found 14 ProV's in the weeds right in our group alone. It's an awkward second shot that I think would be a better hole with a taller stick.
3. A very good par 3. kind of reminds me of 17 at Sand Hills.
4. The famous windmill hole, someone made an interesting point, with a windmill it's a cool hole but if it was a tree the hole would be slammed for being stupid. It's a good driving hole and a good green complex, I know that seeing both Cory and I with eagle putts was awe inspiring, we both gave decent runs but we never get eagle putts so damn!
5. The saddle hole, it is stupid? Yes, it's a retarded hole, but I loved it! Anything can happen on this and usually does, except for birdies, I don't think those ever happen.
6. A lot of people don't like it but I do. As a short par 4 it works great.
7. I found the false front to severe for such a long hole, it's one tough SOB.
8. The short par 4 that can be reached by all but me. Cory twice had eagle putts, I'm pretty sure he popped wood the second time.
9. An awesome par 5 which I wish something were done with the right side. The drive seems kind of awkward but the green is awesome. I think the right side just needs to be widened.
10. The donut green. We played 3 different holes on that green, at first I hate the hole and the concept but now I love it. It's one of the stupidest holes I've ever seen but can play it all day.
11. Cool hole, the fairway bunker is in play for a short hitter like me and I like the big green with lots of movement.
12. A cool long par 5, it's got a very tough green site.
13. I like the new hole but Saturday afternoon played the old hole down the hill, I liked it a lot. I'm curious why that hole is being abandoned.
14. Don't like it, Cory and I termed it the abortion hole. These guys can't play to that green off that downhill lie, I made a double on it and actually hit some very good shots.
15. An all world par 3 in the dunes, when I played the reverse, cross country Dismal I played this as a short par 4 from 14 green.
16. A tough par 4 that gave a short hitter like me fits.
17. Another tough par 4, big dogleg left played to a very tough green.
18. I loved this hole, I don't know why anybody bitches about it. I played both the upper and lower tees and enjoyed it from both, really a good finisher.
I was telling someone that Dismal doesn't strike me as prairie golf the way Sand Hills does but almost like mountain golf. The pictures don't do the severity of the site justice. Dismal is a very good course and it lots of fun. It's not a great golf course, truthfully it's not in the same league at Sand Hills or Wild Horse, but it's very different than those 2. It's very comparable with The Prairie Club. depending on my mood or the day of the week I would go back and forth on which is better. I've never played Tobacco Road but it seems like Dismal is how Tobacco Road plays.