The Retreat
24 reviews (showing 1–20)
@nathanalleman
OK, I ignored this course for years, but based on recent reviews that described how awesomely bad it is, I decided to check it out. Indeed, there are bad courses that are simply boring, like all those 9 hole Jr high school courses that are just a bunch of baskets out in a field. These should be ignored. But some courses are bad because the logic that governed the effort to design and build it is unfathomable. Such is The Retreat. The property itself is both compelling and cautionary: a nob of a hill, steep on all sides and mostly surrounded by houses, meaning errant shots have only dangerous places to land. Hole 1 is straight up a gravel path with a tangled mess of thorns and brush along the left. It's a par 5 at only 373', but you will need all of it. Most of the rest of the holes are sub-200', which seems fine, except several holes (3,5), drop off dramatically on the right toward houses that are very much in play. At the same time, however, the top of the hill, after the brutal climb, is charming, a grassy plateau with some mature trees, and incredible vistas out three directions, including toward the peak. What a great spot for local youths to consume age-restricted beverages and engage in other questionable behavior together! What's most impressive is the work someone put into placing a course in a spot so poorly suited for one. Baskets, the horrible old 16 chain type, were installed on this rocky hillside with great effort. Pads, too small and lined with gravel (terrible for planting your feet), were carefully leveled and framed. Signs with numbers were deliberately bolted INSIDE the baskets to the pole, meaning a good putt can make a lot of noise and at worst, could kick out off it. To top it off, the one hole reviewers love (9), was missing the basket. Well played. And yet, the views are so great, and a few of the throws (and accompanying danger) just fun enough to make it worth playing. So, check it out, but don't say you weren't warned.
@linman
Not very welcoming. No parking. Private parking lots with threatening signage about towing. Didn't play the course.
@k8ley4
Skipped 3 holes where we were worried we might lose discs. Lost 2 discs anyway.
@jkseitz
The retreat is truly one of the course of all time. I’ve played some of the best courses in the world, and some not so best courses, but no course has moved me to take the time to write a review until this one. Because if this was simply a bad course, I’d drop one start and move along, but not this one. The real tragedy is that there’s actually a decent pitch and putt course with unique angles and a variety of shots. But then there’s the everything else. Absurd cliffs, impossibly thorny rough, signs IN THE BASKET, and so much more. If you ignore the bottomless pit waiting to swallow your disc on every hole and the ever looming threat of property damage, there’s actually a decent course with incredible views buried beneath. But this is a course that happens when someone decides to ignore fundamentals like “make sure someone’s window doesn’t get broken when you shank your drive” Great views though
@everburg
WARNING: There are quite a few thorns and bristles, so I would recommend wearing pants Also, a majority of the course follows a gravel pathway, so bring old discs as they will probably get torn up. You really only need a fairway (or mid) and a putter and that's it. You'd be better off just skipping the first hole, it's 360ft straight uphill on a narrow path. No point in trying. The final hole is incredible though and this course has BEAUTIFUL views.
@brutilus
It would be nice to see the thistle pulled up from around the teepads and the signage to be replaced, but otherwise this is a nice short course with absolutely breathtaking views
@mikelennett
Not as much trash as expected for a first time playing this course. Don't use prized disks because of the gravel. I added a full point rating for the great views from the course on top of a hill.
@reichmusic
Not sure what constitutes a course that attracts trailer trash litter bugs- but this one has it- Prolly a whole case of Busch lites scattered around/ and sonic blast cups- sad. Other wise nice for those who live at this apartment complex- can do quick laps and teach your kid how to take a disc off their face or balls should anyone else be playing at the same time- Some safety concerns- very scenic.
@psychegoku
The first hole is steeep! Rest of it is short and loops around. Breath-taking views! It was fun!
@faderwars
All baskets are there now. Fun course with amazing views!!
@chaosillator
Hole 5 basket missing Weird small course.
@dustynmeadows43
Wear pants
@awalker
This course is better than the ratings suggest. Beautiful view and easy to find next basket.
@thegman125
Hole 1 is super uphill and very hard, but once you get to the top the views are amazing. Howe eat the course is self is very sub-par (no pun intended). The baskets are not good, most tee signs are non-existent, and the rough is very difficult to navigate and very thorny
@iamjake
Not a beginner course. Overall quite fun with a lot of elevation change. I see why it gates some hate but I will take any course that I can get.
@ryanmerritt
Cool views
@midrangemal
Half a star for trying.
@honeybadger94
Giving this course a half star rating for the descent views and another half for just being there. This course is covered in trash and has essentially no upkeep done to it. Lost a disc on the left side of hole one and had to find the basket on hole two that was pretty much under a fallen tree. Would not recommend playing this course
@javkthethird
Half a start for existing, another half for the views. The first hole if your disc goes left you will most likely lose it, like me and my buddy did, after that the really steep incline ruins your overall mood for the course
@collinsmith19
1 Star for the great views of the valley on a few of the holes, and a half star for the course existing, for a total of 1.5 stars. Upkeep is not good, the baskets are junk, and the numbered signs for the basket were huge and inside the basket and chains. The first hole seems like a joke, the fairway is hundreds of feet long straight up a super steep hill and is about 7’ wide. The 9th hole was actually pretty good. I won’t bother playing here again.