Bailey Road Park DGC reviews
9
0
Bailey Road
Reviewed:
Updated:
Played on:Jun 2, 2023
Played the course:2-4 times
Pros:
Bailey Road Park offers a short, 21 hole Disc Golf Course that has a very unique layout, which makes it very different from other courses in the surrounding Charlotte area.
-The main thing that stood out to me was the variety of land used for the course. There is a perfect mix of wide open holes, partially open holes, and wooded holes.
-Great elevation for what is offered. Because the course is very short, I can understand that it could've been hard to design holes with very noticeable elevation changes. However, there are many holes at Bailey that are uphill and downhill, which helps add some challenge and fun factor
-Speaking of fun factor, I think Bailey is the perfect course to visit if you're looking for a fun outing. A majority of the holes have something about them that is just fun. #9 is a perfect example of this. Throwing a disc downhill and under/around a power line is the definition of a fun disc golf hole.
-If you take the best group of holes from Bailey and add them to a course with some longer holes, you've got yourself one hell of a course.
-Course maintenance is great. The grassy areas are cut to a nice height, the wooded fairways are clear with very little rough, and there was no trash and litter. It's a great vibe out here.
-Easy and straightforward navigation. The practice baskets and kiosk are in sight from the parking lot, as to the first tee. There were many next tee arrows when navigation could have gotten confusing.
-Although the course doesn't loop back to the parking lot halfway through, there are multiple ways where you could play a quick 9 holes by skipping some holes. There are a couple baskets that sit close to multiple tee pads.
-Great for some ace runs. There are multiple holes that I could spend hours on trying to ace. The distances of the holes are perfect for this.
-#13 has a nice wooden barrier for its green, and there are some wooded stairs that help prevent erosion. This is a great feature that I feel like all courses should add, and Bailey executed this perfectly on #13.
-Signature holes. It is very easy to identify the best holes. I already mentioned #9 & 13, but #12 is also a great hole. It's incredibly butt-clenching with the thick stuff/wet marsh on the right.
-Baskets, tee pads, and tee signs are all standard for CDGC courses, which is a good thing if you've played any of them.
-EDIT 12/12/2023: The CDGC has completely scrapped #17 and replaced it with a new, wooded layout. It has an incredibly difficult tee shot, almost unfair with how many trees are still in the way of the fairway. Once this hole gets broken into, it will be a great hole.
-The area that is marked OB behind #7 and to the right of #9's basket has been cleared out, thankfully. However, the thick stuff still remains behind #9 & 12's basket.
-The main thing that stood out to me was the variety of land used for the course. There is a perfect mix of wide open holes, partially open holes, and wooded holes.
-Great elevation for what is offered. Because the course is very short, I can understand that it could've been hard to design holes with very noticeable elevation changes. However, there are many holes at Bailey that are uphill and downhill, which helps add some challenge and fun factor
-Speaking of fun factor, I think Bailey is the perfect course to visit if you're looking for a fun outing. A majority of the holes have something about them that is just fun. #9 is a perfect example of this. Throwing a disc downhill and under/around a power line is the definition of a fun disc golf hole.
-If you take the best group of holes from Bailey and add them to a course with some longer holes, you've got yourself one hell of a course.
-Course maintenance is great. The grassy areas are cut to a nice height, the wooded fairways are clear with very little rough, and there was no trash and litter. It's a great vibe out here.
-Easy and straightforward navigation. The practice baskets and kiosk are in sight from the parking lot, as to the first tee. There were many next tee arrows when navigation could have gotten confusing.
-Although the course doesn't loop back to the parking lot halfway through, there are multiple ways where you could play a quick 9 holes by skipping some holes. There are a couple baskets that sit close to multiple tee pads.
-Great for some ace runs. There are multiple holes that I could spend hours on trying to ace. The distances of the holes are perfect for this.
-#13 has a nice wooden barrier for its green, and there are some wooded stairs that help prevent erosion. This is a great feature that I feel like all courses should add, and Bailey executed this perfectly on #13.
-Signature holes. It is very easy to identify the best holes. I already mentioned #9 & 13, but #12 is also a great hole. It's incredibly butt-clenching with the thick stuff/wet marsh on the right.
-Baskets, tee pads, and tee signs are all standard for CDGC courses, which is a good thing if you've played any of them.
-EDIT 12/12/2023: The CDGC has completely scrapped #17 and replaced it with a new, wooded layout. It has an incredibly difficult tee shot, almost unfair with how many trees are still in the way of the fairway. Once this hole gets broken into, it will be a great hole.
-The area that is marked OB behind #7 and to the right of #9's basket has been cleared out, thankfully. However, the thick stuff still remains behind #9 & 12's basket.
Cons:
-The main issue for me is the lack of length. Sure, a nice short course will be really fun, but it's sort of disappointing leaving the course without playing any longer par 3's or par 4/5's. This is really all because of the filler holes.
-I would say about 1/3 of the course is filler. The majority of this chunk belongs to the first 5 holes of the course. In my opinion, each and every one of these holes are short (even to this course's standards), flat, and have no meaning to them. Once you finish #5, there are only a couple questionable holes for the rest of your round.
-With the course having 21 holes, I can imagine that there is enough land to remove some holes and add some par 4's to make an 18 hole layout. If that were to ever be the case, this course would be getting a near perfect score from me!
-Although I mentioned how the rough was pretty clear on the wooded holes, the wide open/partially open holes have rough that is incredibly thick. I can't imagine someone being able to retrieve their disc if it lands into these areas. #9, 12, & 20 are the three that come to mind.
-With the amount of elevation, there are a lot of unfair roll-away opportunities, mainly toward the area next to the basket. Adding some leveled out greens would help this issue I suppose.
-There were a handful of holes that had blind tee shots. Not saying that it is necessarily a bad thing, but I walked the fairways for these holes just to make sure, which was kinda frustrating.
-Alright, enough nitpicking. Just come out and play the course.
-I would say about 1/3 of the course is filler. The majority of this chunk belongs to the first 5 holes of the course. In my opinion, each and every one of these holes are short (even to this course's standards), flat, and have no meaning to them. Once you finish #5, there are only a couple questionable holes for the rest of your round.
-With the course having 21 holes, I can imagine that there is enough land to remove some holes and add some par 4's to make an 18 hole layout. If that were to ever be the case, this course would be getting a near perfect score from me!
-Although I mentioned how the rough was pretty clear on the wooded holes, the wide open/partially open holes have rough that is incredibly thick. I can't imagine someone being able to retrieve their disc if it lands into these areas. #9, 12, & 20 are the three that come to mind.
-With the amount of elevation, there are a lot of unfair roll-away opportunities, mainly toward the area next to the basket. Adding some leveled out greens would help this issue I suppose.
-There were a handful of holes that had blind tee shots. Not saying that it is necessarily a bad thing, but I walked the fairways for these holes just to make sure, which was kinda frustrating.
-Alright, enough nitpicking. Just come out and play the course.
Other Thoughts:
I am very pleased with Bailey, and my rating of 3.0 may seem low. Without that much challenge, a course cannot really get a much higher rating from me. The park is very beautiful, with soccer fields and multiple playgrounds. There are also tennis and basketball courts near the course. I will mention this again, if you are looking for a course that is pure fun, Bailey is your best option.
16
0
Baily Road Park 2+ years
Reviewed:
Updated:
Played on:Jul 28, 2021
Played the course:2-4 times
Pros:
Bailey Road Park DGC is a pretty course that shares the park with soccer fields, tennis courts, baseball fields, restrooms, water fountains, picnic areas, a playground, and multiple walking trails. The course features 21 holes with concrete tees, DISCatcher baskets, nice tee signs, and plenty of benches throughout the course. Clearly designed with beginners and Rec level players in mind, it is a short course, but it is also a lot of fun with well designed holes throughout. Intermediate and Advanced players will be treated with 21 opportunities for easy birdies and/or ace runs.
When describing the overall design of Bailey, I would say that it is balanced / has a lot of variety. It has a healthy mix of wooded holes and open holes. The open holes are designed well enough so that golfers have to shape their shots instead of just being boring shots in the field. It will periodically jump in and out of the woods, which is much appreciated on a hot summer day as a reprieve from the sun. Throughout all of the holes, players will notice that different shot shapes will be used and that the course doesn't heavily favor one over the other. They'll also notice that the course utilizes elevation extremely well for such a beginner friendly course- featuring a decent mix of flat holes, uphill holes, and downhill holes.
The way the electrical tower is utilized on Hole 9 is brilliant! It creates a very memorable hole, that has a unique feeling as you hear the electrical currents buzzing far above your head.
When describing the overall design of Bailey, I would say that it is balanced / has a lot of variety. It has a healthy mix of wooded holes and open holes. The open holes are designed well enough so that golfers have to shape their shots instead of just being boring shots in the field. It will periodically jump in and out of the woods, which is much appreciated on a hot summer day as a reprieve from the sun. Throughout all of the holes, players will notice that different shot shapes will be used and that the course doesn't heavily favor one over the other. They'll also notice that the course utilizes elevation extremely well for such a beginner friendly course- featuring a decent mix of flat holes, uphill holes, and downhill holes.
The way the electrical tower is utilized on Hole 9 is brilliant! It creates a very memorable hole, that has a unique feeling as you hear the electrical currents buzzing far above your head.
Cons:
The most noticeable issue with the course is the amount of disc loss potential, though the only real areas that I would say it is truly noteworthy is around Holes 9 & 12 - which play through manicured sections of an electrical line row. They are both downhill, gentle hyzer putter shots for most, but beginners have a tendency to become sprinklers when throwing, on holes such as these. So I imagine a lot of plastic gets lost in the tall, likely thorn-invested mess surrounding the fairways. It's a bit of a shame because outside of this, if I played this course as a beginner, these would likely be my favorite holes - and the rough would make me hesitate to play as aggressively as I would want to.
While nowhere near as bad as some other courses in the area, there are a few places on the course showing signs of erosion, and could use some erosion bars to help alleviate this. Hole 13's putting green is a prime example of this..
This next point, I would like to put a huge asterisk beside because it was likely limited by the original amount of space allotted for the course. The course was originally made up of 18 relatively short Par 3 holes, it was later lengthened to 21 holes. If there had been a way for a small redesign to allow it, it would have been nice to see a couple Par4s of appropriate lengths for a Red level course. However, tweaking the course that much would have likely been difficult (outside of a temporary nature) and likely would have come with their own safety concerns. For instance, holes 4 & 5 could be combined, if doing so wouldn't lead to an increased risk of discs flying into Old Statesville Rd. Also, holes 10 & 11 could be combined, but that would possibly play too close to Hole 1's fairway. Hence, the HUGE asterisk! These would have been fun, amazing holes for a beginner course (and if there was a way to implement these or similar changes I would personally be over-the-moon), but I can see reasons why the designer or Parks and Rec may not want the course designed in that fashion.
While nowhere near as bad as some other courses in the area, there are a few places on the course showing signs of erosion, and could use some erosion bars to help alleviate this. Hole 13's putting green is a prime example of this..
This next point, I would like to put a huge asterisk beside because it was likely limited by the original amount of space allotted for the course. The course was originally made up of 18 relatively short Par 3 holes, it was later lengthened to 21 holes. If there had been a way for a small redesign to allow it, it would have been nice to see a couple Par4s of appropriate lengths for a Red level course. However, tweaking the course that much would have likely been difficult (outside of a temporary nature) and likely would have come with their own safety concerns. For instance, holes 4 & 5 could be combined, if doing so wouldn't lead to an increased risk of discs flying into Old Statesville Rd. Also, holes 10 & 11 could be combined, but that would possibly play too close to Hole 1's fairway. Hence, the HUGE asterisk! These would have been fun, amazing holes for a beginner course (and if there was a way to implement these or similar changes I would personally be over-the-moon), but I can see reasons why the designer or Parks and Rec may not want the course designed in that fashion.
Other Thoughts:
While Bailey Road Park might not be one of the challenging, destination courses that many players visit Charlotte to play, it definitely has its place in the city's disc golf landscape. It is one of the better beginner friendly courses in the city, and is overall, very well maintained. I am going to give it a 3.0 rating for the time being. While designed for beginners, the course can be enjoyed by players of any skill level - as it is a lot of fun!
Favorite Holes: 9, 13, & 18
Favorite Holes: 9, 13, & 18
5
0
2+ years drive by
Reviewed:
Played on:Aug 14, 2013
Played the course:once
Pros:
Bailey is a fun rec-level ("red") course in North Mecklenburg County. It's great for beginners or players looking to practice their putt and approach games.
The average hole distance is about 220 feet, with about half of the course (roughly 10 holes) at 200 feet or less. Only 6 holes are 250 or more, four of those being holes 14-17. The two longest holes are only 300 feet.
The course starts out with a few open holes. It's park golf with a few guardian trees and other obstacles (power towers), some nice elevation, and good for watching the full flight of the disc.
Holes 6 through 8 are more wooded and technical. Holes 7 and 9 play to baskets near a pond. The course opens up again with holes 9 through 11, then back in the woods for 12 and 13 and their various alternate layouts.
You finally get to the longer holes at #14. The longest holes are 14 and 17 (300"), 15 (285"), and 16 (255").
+ Lots of ace runs, good course to practice "upshots off the tee" and putters off the tee.
+ Very well kept. The grass was actually being cut while I was playing.
+ Good elevation, good holes to watch the flight of the disc.
+ Easy navigation if you are new to the course and playing without a regular (like I was).
+ Good tee pads and baskets.
The average hole distance is about 220 feet, with about half of the course (roughly 10 holes) at 200 feet or less. Only 6 holes are 250 or more, four of those being holes 14-17. The two longest holes are only 300 feet.
The course starts out with a few open holes. It's park golf with a few guardian trees and other obstacles (power towers), some nice elevation, and good for watching the full flight of the disc.
Holes 6 through 8 are more wooded and technical. Holes 7 and 9 play to baskets near a pond. The course opens up again with holes 9 through 11, then back in the woods for 12 and 13 and their various alternate layouts.
You finally get to the longer holes at #14. The longest holes are 14 and 17 (300"), 15 (285"), and 16 (255").
+ Lots of ace runs, good course to practice "upshots off the tee" and putters off the tee.
+ Very well kept. The grass was actually being cut while I was playing.
+ Good elevation, good holes to watch the flight of the disc.
+ Easy navigation if you are new to the course and playing without a regular (like I was).
+ Good tee pads and baskets.
Cons:
For a beginner or for practicing short holes, Bailey is great. I would highly recommend it. But a big part of my score is the challenge a course presents. That's why I gave it a 3.0. Again, this isn't a knock on Bailey, as it was designed as a red-level course. But advanced players aren't going to find much of a challenge here. Intermediate players will enjoy the ace runs and many more birdies than they're used to carding, but again, not too much of a challenge.
The rough on some of the open holes, particularly the power line holes, was some pretty high grass and weeds. I didn't lose any discs, but the potential for losing a disc is there. The beginners this course was designed to cater to will have to watch out on these holes.
The rough on some of the open holes, particularly the power line holes, was some pretty high grass and weeds. I didn't lose any discs, but the potential for losing a disc is there. The beginners this course was designed to cater to will have to watch out on these holes.
Other Thoughts:
This isn't going to be a destination course, especially in Charlotte, but it's a lot of fun. If you're looking for a warm-up to Charlotte's epic courses, or if you're new to the game, definitely try out Bailey.
6
0
Cool putter course. 2+ years
Reviewed:
Played on:Jul 5, 2017
Played the course:once
Pros:
-I liked Bailey. It's a really short putter course with some really interesting lines and elevation. While it is a pitch and putt, it does have holes that won't work with a putter because of fairways being sharp. Knowing that I am not an accurate player, this was great practice for my short game.
-Very well kept. There were guys cutting the grass when it wasn't even that high. The underbrush isn't too bad either. Definitely shows that people enjoy the course because of the maintenance.
-Navigation is pretty straightforward. You'll usually see the next tee-pad from the proceeding hole, and if you don't, you'll see a next tee arrow. #18 also ends at the parking lot so it ends in a circle.
-Good chance for an ace. If you live around here, then I would think there's a good chance you've made one here or more. Every hole is reachable for an intermediate player.
-Some fun and unique holes out here. #9 was really fun throw under the power line. #12 was a nice downhill hyzer. #12A has an elevated basket, and #12C almost plays as a drop shot. #18 was also a scenic finisher.
-Tee pads and baskets are in good shape.
-Very well kept. There were guys cutting the grass when it wasn't even that high. The underbrush isn't too bad either. Definitely shows that people enjoy the course because of the maintenance.
-Navigation is pretty straightforward. You'll usually see the next tee-pad from the proceeding hole, and if you don't, you'll see a next tee arrow. #18 also ends at the parking lot so it ends in a circle.
-Good chance for an ace. If you live around here, then I would think there's a good chance you've made one here or more. Every hole is reachable for an intermediate player.
-Some fun and unique holes out here. #9 was really fun throw under the power line. #12 was a nice downhill hyzer. #12A has an elevated basket, and #12C almost plays as a drop shot. #18 was also a scenic finisher.
-Tee pads and baskets are in good shape.
Cons:
-While I said that the underbrush wasn't too bad (it really isn't), that doesn't mean that you can't lose a disc. My friend and I found a D4 on hole 3 and it belongs to Another Round Disc Golf. We got a 10% discount! But disregarding that, you could lose sight of your disc. Either because of the blind shots or simply because you lost track of where it went.
-Sorry, but #12B is a goofy, wonkidy hole. It's a 185' dogleg full of roots just waiting to stop you from a skip shot. Under 200' but you can't really get close unless you by some luck go around the cluster of trees. Following the fairway won't really get you close. Super easy par, but you'll probably make a longish putt if you were to birdie. Yep, that's called being Schwartzed. Thought #11 was a filler. It's like 160' and plays as a flick toss around the underbrush, but could be played as a jump putt across it. Few other potential filler holes out here.
-I liked it, but if you don't have fun at short courses, you'll want to go play Bradford or Robbins. The shortness is not a con for me, but it's potential con to some people.
-Sorry, but #12B is a goofy, wonkidy hole. It's a 185' dogleg full of roots just waiting to stop you from a skip shot. Under 200' but you can't really get close unless you by some luck go around the cluster of trees. Following the fairway won't really get you close. Super easy par, but you'll probably make a longish putt if you were to birdie. Yep, that's called being Schwartzed. Thought #11 was a filler. It's like 160' and plays as a flick toss around the underbrush, but could be played as a jump putt across it. Few other potential filler holes out here.
-I liked it, but if you don't have fun at short courses, you'll want to go play Bradford or Robbins. The shortness is not a con for me, but it's potential con to some people.
Other Thoughts:
-Bailey is a cool course. It's there for a good warm up round or for an ace race. A few of the pads are a little small, but nothing too bad aside from some of them being raised. Course has good elevation, as there are a few steep uphills and steep downhills. Felt a bit like Glenn Hilton on the wooded holes.
-My favorite hole was actually #15. It's a sweet downhill flick shot. Almost aced it and rolled down into the woods. Similar to #16 at Nevin except that the basket is where you would want your drive to land if you were playing #16 at Nevin.
-My favorite hole was actually #15. It's a sweet downhill flick shot. Almost aced it and rolled down into the woods. Similar to #16 at Nevin except that the basket is where you would want your drive to land if you were playing #16 at Nevin.
Designer response by 1978
Thanks for the review.
11 wasnt a filler, but between the powerline company cutting out the trees and the park brush hogging, it became way easier.
12b you just need to know how to play it. It is not a Russell hole. Russell holes have odd turns that give you no possible look, just to appear hard. This hole is a little more devious. It looks like a hard hyzer but it is not. An anny flick with a stable mid parks this hole every time. It is meant to look like a hyzer but actually be a better Lefty anny or sidearm anny. It is easily 2'd in glow all the time. Almost a gimme hole.
Understand the rating, even if I feel courses should be rated according to the target they serve. This is a 4* + course for families, beginners, disabled, elderly etc. Navigation, signage, upkeep and variety is there for 4 disc rating. Even though I am partial to this course, I would rate a similar course in this condition over a 4* because it is the perfect course for what it was meant to be. A super long advanced level course with a poor design and maintenance shouldnt rate higher than this course just because of the length or difficulty.
11 wasnt a filler, but between the powerline company cutting out the trees and the park brush hogging, it became way easier.
12b you just need to know how to play it. It is not a Russell hole. Russell holes have odd turns that give you no possible look, just to appear hard. This hole is a little more devious. It looks like a hard hyzer but it is not. An anny flick with a stable mid parks this hole every time. It is meant to look like a hyzer but actually be a better Lefty anny or sidearm anny. It is easily 2'd in glow all the time. Almost a gimme hole.
Understand the rating, even if I feel courses should be rated according to the target they serve. This is a 4* + course for families, beginners, disabled, elderly etc. Navigation, signage, upkeep and variety is there for 4 disc rating. Even though I am partial to this course, I would rate a similar course in this condition over a 4* because it is the perfect course for what it was meant to be. A super long advanced level course with a poor design and maintenance shouldnt rate higher than this course just because of the length or difficulty.
5
0
2+ years drive by
Reviewed:
Played on:Sep 5, 2015
Played the course:once
Pros:
One of the best red/white level courses that I have played. Very designs can tread the edge of making a course appropriate for that skill level without making it boring but Bailey Road is a prime example of how to do that right and if I had started playing on the course, my enthusiasm would have developed much more quickly. Open holes, wooded holes, flat holes, uphill, holes, downhill holes. Everything is here and all at a level that shouldn't overload new players. The wooded fairways are generous, forgiving of lines that aren't perfect but punishing of shanks and noob hyzers. The open holes add a little length but not so much that it is going to take a rookie a half-dozen throws to traverse them. Most importantly, the navigation is easy with both tee signs and next arrows the wooded sections are clean enough so that disc searches will rarely be a problem. Great course for appealing to new players and encouraging them but still manages to be interesting to those that have been around a bit.
The course starts off fairly simply, with a few flat holes that are mostly open but there is really quite a bit of variety, highlighted by 15's long uphill climb through the woods. 10 provided a similar climb but in an open setting, while I think it was 13A that had a nice left-curving downhill to a fairway that slopes sharply to the right as the basket is approached. I also like the blind toss with a right hook at the very end on 9? (I'm not sure, the pictures on the sits seem to be outdated.)
The course starts off fairly simply, with a few flat holes that are mostly open but there is really quite a bit of variety, highlighted by 15's long uphill climb through the woods. 10 provided a similar climb but in an open setting, while I think it was 13A that had a nice left-curving downhill to a fairway that slopes sharply to the right as the basket is approached. I also like the blind toss with a right hook at the very end on 9? (I'm not sure, the pictures on the sits seem to be outdated.)
Cons:
It's great that the course caters to a specific demographic and one that is not served by the other two course in the area. It really does a fantastic job of hitting that mark. But veterans should not think of this as a destination course. It's not going to wow anyone, or leave too much of a memory as time goes by. It's interesting but not that interesting. And that's really it. As such, straddles the line between a 3 and a 3.5 for me.
Designer response by 1978
I think the holes you mentioned:
12 is the downhill curl to the left.
13A&B are shorties in the woods
Right hooking shot you thought was 9 was probably hole 15 (9 is under the power lines to the pond) 15 is a hole that would fit on any skill level course. Course was designed for a certain demo, thanks (makes a great glow golf course every Monday evening)
12 is the downhill curl to the left.
13A&B are shorties in the woods
Right hooking shot you thought was 9 was probably hole 15 (9 is under the power lines to the pond) 15 is a hole that would fit on any skill level course. Course was designed for a certain demo, thanks (makes a great glow golf course every Monday evening)
7
4
Beginner Road 2+ years drive by
Reviewed:
Played on:Aug 1, 2012
Played the course:once
Pros:
This course is in a very nice park. It is very short and super beginner friendly. It has many holes playing in the open. The grass is very lush and mowed. The open holes have brush or large trees protecting the green area. The rest of the holes play in the woods. There is some slight rolling terrain around the course and water comes into play on a few holes. There was water and restrooms located near the parking.
Excellent Innova Discatchers.
Great concrete tee pads.
Good signage.
Navigation was super easy and super fast to play.
Course forced many basic lines.
More skilled players can dump the bag and play this course with a couple of discs. This course measures around 4,300ft. You can go old school and play it with a big lid.
Excellent Innova Discatchers.
Great concrete tee pads.
Good signage.
Navigation was super easy and super fast to play.
Course forced many basic lines.
More skilled players can dump the bag and play this course with a couple of discs. This course measures around 4,300ft. You can go old school and play it with a big lid.
Cons:
This course is very very short and won't challenge more skilled players. 16 of the holes range from 155 to 255 in distance. The other 2 are listed at 300ft.
I almost deducted a 1/2 disc for this reason. I felt like this was the most poorly designed course in Charlotte. They built a wooden fence to protect the tee on #5 from being thrown on from #4. They also installed a big arrow pointing to #11. Another basket is in view and they planted some shrubs. Beginners will be bombarding that green with their shots. #16 plays down the walking path.
#18 was a very uneventful finish. Playing away from the parking by #1 then walking back.
I almost deducted a 1/2 disc for this reason. I felt like this was the most poorly designed course in Charlotte. They built a wooden fence to protect the tee on #5 from being thrown on from #4. They also installed a big arrow pointing to #11. Another basket is in view and they planted some shrubs. Beginners will be bombarding that green with their shots. #16 plays down the walking path.
#18 was a very uneventful finish. Playing away from the parking by #1 then walking back.
Other Thoughts:
I saw this course had a weekly glow league. That would be fun to play on this course.
This is by far the easiest course I played in Charlotte. It's a good mix up to make you feel like you can play this game after taking a beating from the harder courses.
This is by far the easiest course I played in Charlotte. It's a good mix up to make you feel like you can play this game after taking a beating from the harder courses.
Designer response by 1978
Thank you for the review.
Unfortunatly sometimes a design is limited to what is allowed by a park department. This comment has a number of good "Cons" to discuss.
The "purpose" of this course redesign from 9 to 18 was to host very old and very young competitors for the 2012 worlds. In addition, it is intended to be "Your first course" and attracts hundreds of beginners/families daily. It is one of Charlotte's most played courses and is not in any way targeted towards the more advanced player.
Hole 4's backstop wall is a result of the skill level that plays at Bailey. 1 disc recreational players can over throw this green because of the speed of their 1 disc. 4-5 Green to Tee is about 80' and longer than many transitions in Charlotte. The wall isnt necessary however even the best planned 200' hole doesnt account for someone throwing 400'. Sometimes it just is not feasible with space provided to make a 200' hole with 200' of buffer. The comment of the wall should be in the pro section. I have played MANY courses where tees and greens encroached on each other and most provided no protection. At least here thought to what "could" happen (albiet rarely) was given.
Shots from hole 6 penetrate hole 7's fairway. It is difficult to design around players throwing 320' throws on 180' fairways.
Hole 11 and 13 were part of the original design and have never been a problem. The large arrow is just a courtesy indicator of the actual fairway until the rows of crepe myrtle obscure the basket of 13 from 11. Seeing alternate/incorrect baskets in a meandering park design is common in disc golf, especially in open parks. At least here care has been taken to inform the thrower in multiple ways the correct bend of the fairway. Communication and the arrow sign should be considered a pro.
Hole 16 is bordered by 30' of tall grass and then a walking path to the left. Walking path borders are not uncommon in disc golf and the thrower/walker has a clear view of the entire disc golf hole. The walking path sits about 4' higher in elevation than the fairway, giving the walker an even better view and eliminating a good % of errant shots that cross the path. I actually used a disc golf shot predictor excel document that I found online to predict the % of shots that would cross this path or enter the switching station on #17. I presented this information to the town board when the course was designed.
Original design of the course had #18 finish after the current #18 around the back of the basketball courts. I nixed this for safety of the ball players. I toyed with a design that had 18 reversed with a double mando through the 2 green protective trees throwing back towards hole 1, however, that would have made the basket be surrounded on three sides by road or parking lot with the busy park road being on the Hyzer and prevailing wind side. The safety of this vs 200' extra finishing transition eliminated that hole direction from the final design. Players can finish the hole and safely transition to the border parking lot to get back to their cars. Also, the direction of 18 allows me to continue expanding the course as funding comes available. I have plans for 4 more holes prior to hole 16 and I can add some behind the basketball courts and baseball fields. For a 22-28 hole course that will reduce wear and tear on the current overplayed part.
Unfortunatly sometimes a design is limited to what is allowed by a park department. This comment has a number of good "Cons" to discuss.
The "purpose" of this course redesign from 9 to 18 was to host very old and very young competitors for the 2012 worlds. In addition, it is intended to be "Your first course" and attracts hundreds of beginners/families daily. It is one of Charlotte's most played courses and is not in any way targeted towards the more advanced player.
Hole 4's backstop wall is a result of the skill level that plays at Bailey. 1 disc recreational players can over throw this green because of the speed of their 1 disc. 4-5 Green to Tee is about 80' and longer than many transitions in Charlotte. The wall isnt necessary however even the best planned 200' hole doesnt account for someone throwing 400'. Sometimes it just is not feasible with space provided to make a 200' hole with 200' of buffer. The comment of the wall should be in the pro section. I have played MANY courses where tees and greens encroached on each other and most provided no protection. At least here thought to what "could" happen (albiet rarely) was given.
Shots from hole 6 penetrate hole 7's fairway. It is difficult to design around players throwing 320' throws on 180' fairways.
Hole 11 and 13 were part of the original design and have never been a problem. The large arrow is just a courtesy indicator of the actual fairway until the rows of crepe myrtle obscure the basket of 13 from 11. Seeing alternate/incorrect baskets in a meandering park design is common in disc golf, especially in open parks. At least here care has been taken to inform the thrower in multiple ways the correct bend of the fairway. Communication and the arrow sign should be considered a pro.
Hole 16 is bordered by 30' of tall grass and then a walking path to the left. Walking path borders are not uncommon in disc golf and the thrower/walker has a clear view of the entire disc golf hole. The walking path sits about 4' higher in elevation than the fairway, giving the walker an even better view and eliminating a good % of errant shots that cross the path. I actually used a disc golf shot predictor excel document that I found online to predict the % of shots that would cross this path or enter the switching station on #17. I presented this information to the town board when the course was designed.
Original design of the course had #18 finish after the current #18 around the back of the basketball courts. I nixed this for safety of the ball players. I toyed with a design that had 18 reversed with a double mando through the 2 green protective trees throwing back towards hole 1, however, that would have made the basket be surrounded on three sides by road or parking lot with the busy park road being on the Hyzer and prevailing wind side. The safety of this vs 200' extra finishing transition eliminated that hole direction from the final design. Players can finish the hole and safely transition to the border parking lot to get back to their cars. Also, the direction of 18 allows me to continue expanding the course as funding comes available. I have plans for 4 more holes prior to hole 16 and I can add some behind the basketball courts and baseball fields. For a 22-28 hole course that will reduce wear and tear on the current overplayed part.
7
3
BraveThrower43
Gold level trusted reviewer
Premium Member
Experience:
14.2 years
732 played
59 reviews
Perfect Beginner course 2+ years
Reviewed:
Played on:Jul 11, 2012
Played the course:5+ times
Pros:
Perfect beginner course
The course is mowed regularly and the open holes fairways look very nice.
It is an extremly easy course to navigate the signage is good and in most cases you can see the next tee from the previous baskets.
The design offers good variety of open and wooded holes and uses elevation change very well for such a short course.
Most of the time man made obstacles on a course are a negative for me but in this case the giant power line tower on hole 9 makes for a very unique hole in my opinion and makes for a fun hole.
The Blackberries on this course are some of the best I've ever had and its great to have a built in snack during the summer months.
The course is mowed regularly and the open holes fairways look very nice.
It is an extremly easy course to navigate the signage is good and in most cases you can see the next tee from the previous baskets.
The design offers good variety of open and wooded holes and uses elevation change very well for such a short course.
Most of the time man made obstacles on a course are a negative for me but in this case the giant power line tower on hole 9 makes for a very unique hole in my opinion and makes for a fun hole.
The Blackberries on this course are some of the best I've ever had and its great to have a built in snack during the summer months.
Cons:
The rough can be extremly rough and water comes into play on 2 holes inso there is a chance for a lost disc. There are also many briars in these areas that can tear you up
Very long transition from 15 to 16
This course has a few jacklegs that play it so there can be broken bottles and spraypaint on the course.
Very long transition from 15 to 16
This course has a few jacklegs that play it so there can be broken bottles and spraypaint on the course.
Other Thoughts:
Bailey Road Park is a perfect design for its target group of players which are kids and beginner players. It is likely one of the most played courses in the charlotte area because so many players who are new to the sport play here. while experienced players will find it boring or too easy disc golf needs more courses like this so that people who are not as good or experienced can be introduced to the game on a course that can let them have some sucess
This course is very close to bradford and a private course which could make for a fun day of dg. bailey is a perfect course to throw in for a fun/quick round if you are in the area.
This course is very close to bradford and a private course which could make for a fun day of dg. bailey is a perfect course to throw in for a fun/quick round if you are in the area.
Designer response by 1978
Thank you Pat.
The park department has limited the size tree that can be cut at Bailey Road Park. Therefore holes have to be designed to be shorter, wooded holes cannot be made fair if trees cannot be cut. Hole 15-16 transition is less than the old hole 15-16 transition since the creation of new hole 15. Hole 15 is one my favorites and most challenging on the course so I had to include it in for Worlds. Don't be suprised to see an additional 2 holes between 15 and 16 in the near future. I purposly planned 15 to allow for additional holes when the course grows to its full 24 hole size.
The park department has limited the size tree that can be cut at Bailey Road Park. Therefore holes have to be designed to be shorter, wooded holes cannot be made fair if trees cannot be cut. Hole 15-16 transition is less than the old hole 15-16 transition since the creation of new hole 15. Hole 15 is one my favorites and most challenging on the course so I had to include it in for Worlds. Don't be suprised to see an additional 2 holes between 15 and 16 in the near future. I purposly planned 15 to allow for additional holes when the course grows to its full 24 hole size.
6
2
2+ years drive by
Reviewed:
Updated:
Played on:Apr 23, 2012
Played the course:once
Pros:
This is a fun course with no distances exceeding 300 feet. Most holes are open with a few tree obstacles. The course flows fairly well with some elevation used. A pond comes into play on #7 and #9.
Other Pros:
- adequate tee signs (distance, par, hole #)
- some holes have benches/ trash cans
- concrete tee pads
- extra hole after #11
- kiosk has a place to record your ace!
Other Pros:
- adequate tee signs (distance, par, hole #)
- some holes have benches/ trash cans
- concrete tee pads
- extra hole after #11
- kiosk has a place to record your ace!
Cons:
#11 and #13's baskets are very close to each other. *(see 1978's response)
The park was generally clean but the garbage cans were overflowing.
There are a few tricky spots to navigate, check the map to make a mental note; especially for the last 3 holes.
The park was generally clean but the garbage cans were overflowing.
There are a few tricky spots to navigate, check the map to make a mental note; especially for the last 3 holes.
Other Thoughts:
I didn't mind the holes being relatively short, it's a nice change from some of the other courses I've played.
The sign at the kiosk said Glow rounds are on Thursdays, I bet that is a blast here.
**Edit: I'm told glow rounds are on Monday's now, I am not a local so please check before joining in.
Bailey is definitely worth a play.
The sign at the kiosk said Glow rounds are on Thursdays, I bet that is a blast here.
**Edit: I'm told glow rounds are on Monday's now, I am not a local so please check before joining in.
Bailey is definitely worth a play.
Designer response by 1978
Its actually 11 and 13 that are close together however and only when 13 is in the long basket. When in the short it is much less confusion. They are over 100' apart and separated by a 7 crepe myrtle hedgerow that will be untrimmed and proved future protection once mature.
Glow is now Mondays.
Glow is now Mondays.
6
3
scottlarson
Experience:
14.9 years
38 played
5 reviews
Great variety 2+ years drive by
Reviewed:
Updated:
Played on:Oct 3, 2011
Played the course:2-4 times
Pros:
Great variety in the shape of each hole - in and out of the trees the entire time. Uphill, downhill, flat, straight, right, left, and every combination. Very well maintained and safe. Good signage. Concrete tees on all but the newest hole. Lots of nice benches. Hole 15 has an alternate pad near the basket for 2 (don't let that confuse you - follow the signage). Anybody who thinks this course is too short will, at least, enjoy letting one rip here.
Cons:
The length of each hole is fairly redundant. some of the tee pads are very short, but, then again, it's not like you need a big run-up on most of them. Lack of trashcans and piles of litter in several places (hole 6 is bad). Kind of odd that the last hole goes away from the lot.
Other Thoughts:
While most of us will be content with only a couple hole that are 300 ft, if you can throw a driver the length of 2 football fields, this isn't your course. With the addition of the 2 extra holes, It'd be nice to combine #4 & #5 into a 450 grip'n rip hole. The recent improvements for the 2012 worlds will make this a nice warmup course. I like to think of this as an easier Reedy Creek.
1
2
Benttreedg
Experience:
13.7 years
4 played
4 reviews
Nice course 2+ years drive by
Reviewed:
Updated:
Played on:Jun 25, 2011
Played the course:5+ times
Pros:
Nice course very clean. Some what of a short course. There are some tough holes but then there are some pretty simple ones as well. Nice concrete tee pads. This is a perfect course to work on midrange shots and some possible aces.
Cons:
Short course. Some of the marking from tee to basket are not correct. Could use score cards.
Other Thoughts:
Hole one starts right next to the tennis courts. When you get done playing and its between June and August you can reward yourself with some blackberries right behind 18 basket there are tons of them so enjoy.
3
17
GET SOME 2+ years
Reviewed:
Updated:
Played on:Aug 13, 2010
Played the course:once
Pros:
this beginner friendly course will test the beginner, a great place to learn the game. the park has a nice play ground, and the new and improved layout will make you want to run for aces on every shot.
Cons:
none ,this is the most perfect course in the world ....loook no further than bailey road park
Other Thoughts:
after playing this course once and shooting 10 down , i cosider it a huge ego boost to play here. the new holes are really cool for the amount of space that was available, good balance of shots. mark did a great job with this course. show this man some respect. and as a final thought.....GET SOME
17
2
Baileys; rich, smooth, creamy, delicious 2+ years
Reviewed:
Played on:Aug 11, 2010
Played the course:once
Pros:
This course is Ace Race personified. Short < 300' holes abound in this mostly open park with a few of the holes being moderately wooded. For the more experience player, there should be more birdies here than an aviary. A great course for working on the putting and approaching, all you really need to score well here is a putter, maybe a mid.
The L-R variety is actually pretty good despite the shortness and it's mixed up pretty well so that the holes don't feel too repetitive. The concrete tees being put in are really nice too, they're fit for a course twice as long. Next tee signs help tremendously since multiple baskets are in view often. Well-maintained park with plenty of other stuff to do, tennis, basketball, etc.
Nice Innova Discatchers and apparently they have some glow rounds on Thursdays I think which would be a lot of fun there.
The L-R variety is actually pretty good despite the shortness and it's mixed up pretty well so that the holes don't feel too repetitive. The concrete tees being put in are really nice too, they're fit for a course twice as long. Next tee signs help tremendously since multiple baskets are in view often. Well-maintained park with plenty of other stuff to do, tennis, basketball, etc.
Nice Innova Discatchers and apparently they have some glow rounds on Thursdays I think which would be a lot of fun there.
Cons:
Well, it's short but I actually like that, makes it a nice compliment or change of pace from Stumpy Creek up the road. You can see baskets everywhere, and I actually parked #12's thinking it was # 11's (#11 is to the right, #12 has a flag sticking out on top.)
The rough is tall and thick grass that borders the fairways, giving the course the its only semblance of difficulty. I didn't find a problem avoiding it but the many golfers I passed looking for their discs apparently did.
Finding the tee for #16 is not easy, keep to the right side of the road and follow the tree line. #17's tee is apparently just a dirt patch right now. It's really easy to go from #15 to #18 without realizing it.
The rough is tall and thick grass that borders the fairways, giving the course the its only semblance of difficulty. I didn't find a problem avoiding it but the many golfers I passed looking for their discs apparently did.
Finding the tee for #16 is not easy, keep to the right side of the road and follow the tree line. #17's tee is apparently just a dirt patch right now. It's really easy to go from #15 to #18 without realizing it.
Other Thoughts:
This course appears to be really popular with college kids and Rec types, as it should be b/c it suits their skill level well. These types aren't always the most etiquette savvy but I didn't have a problem with any of them, they seemed nice.
This course is great for quick, fun, metal-seeking rounds. Grab your brosephs from the local frat and bang tha chainz.
Oh, and one more thing: I'm Old Gregg!!!
This course is great for quick, fun, metal-seeking rounds. Grab your brosephs from the local frat and bang tha chainz.
Oh, and one more thing: I'm Old Gregg!!!
8
2
Mule1
Experience:
2 played
2 reviews
Bailey Beginner Course 2+ years drive by
Reviewed:
Played on:Jul 15, 2010
Played the course:once
Pros:
Please pardon my rating. I would rate it higher if I were a beginner. I am proud of Mark's design here. Making a short , very short, course fun to play is difficult. He used the terrain and woods well. The idea was to make this accessable for the very young and not frustrating for the true beginner.
Cons:
It is a work in progress. Mark will make sure that benches and tee signs show up as he continues to complete the course.
Other Thoughts:
This course is targeted specifically at beginners and families. The Charlotte Disc Golf Club has already designed another course just a few miles down the road for those of you who want a beat down! Hopefully work on that course will begin the fall of 2010.
8
2
Pitch and Putt 2+ years drive by
Reviewed:
Played on:May 25, 2010
Played the course:5+ times
Pros:
- Easy to Navigate
- Course is very clean and well maintained
- Good accomodations, clean bathrooms and water fountains
- Great for beginners
- Good mixture of shots
- Great course to get a quick round in and or work on your approach game.
- Course is very clean and well maintained
- Good accomodations, clean bathrooms and water fountains
- Great for beginners
- Good mixture of shots
- Great course to get a quick round in and or work on your approach game.
Cons:
- Some will find the course too short
- Still new, so signs and teepads are still being put in for some holes
- Still new, so signs and teepads are still being put in for some holes
Other Thoughts:
Unlike most short pitch and putt courses Baileys doesnt come across as repetitive. It makes good use of the park and offers a variety of shots and mixture of wooded/open holes. Dont let the short holes cause you to miss out on this very fun course.
