Signature Hole?

A favorite question for disc golfers is "what's your favorite hole?". The answer is usually more complicated that it seems. A good example is the 15th hole on Calico Creek. For me, it's a spectacular hole from the Green Layout. It checks all the boxes for great design: It's visually attractive, provides me with a challenge, and has a level of risk/reward.

I take my trusty TeeBird, forehand it with near full power, and aim just inside the left "Mando". If I hit my line, the disc will fly through the gap in the protective trees and glide up within the circle for a birdie opportunity. If I don't commit and throw a "lazy hyzer" shot, it's missing the right mando, an almost certain bogey form the drop zone. If I overcook the forehand, the the disc will "turn over" and the left mando may come in to play. If I don't fully commit to the shot I'll come up short and not make the gap and I'll be settling for par. Winds and other weather conditions can complicate things, and the hole plays a little easier in the late full and early spring with no foliage to catch the "high" line.

Even if I've made that gap, the huge limb behind and to the right of the basket can force some interesting putts. I feel great about my game if I birdie, feel like I've "earned it. A par is a bit disappointing, and a bogey feels like a disaster in a competitive round. A perfectly designed hole for my skill level.

Back me up to the Red Layout, the this hole becomes a ho-hum "par" at best. I don't have the arm to throw the more than 250 feet into the gap, the best I can do is "lay up" into the lush fairway grass, leaving me with about 100' upshot. If I can miss the trees, it's a straightforward par. If I get a little careless, I'm carding the bogey. Not a fun hole for my skill level.