Bates Park - Old Layout reviews
4
1
Pizza God
Diamond level trusted reviewer
Premium Member
Experience:
36.1 years
1717 played
574 reviews
2+ years
Reviewed:
Played on:Mar 13, 2018
Played the course:once
Pros:
Map by the parking lot, but once you find hole one, you are NOT going to have any problem finding the next tee, trust me.
rubber tee pads
Beautiful large tree's
rubber tee pads
Beautiful large tree's
Cons:
You know the course is going to have a bad design when the basket for hole 9 is in the fairway for hole 1.
Then you get to the basket of hole 1 and you have to throw over the tee pad for hole 2.
In the vain of "what where they thinking", hole 3 throws across a baseball field.
Then you get to the basket of hole 1 and you have to throw over the tee pad for hole 2.
In the vain of "what where they thinking", hole 3 throws across a baseball field.
Other Thoughts:
As you can see, I have played a few courses over the last 30 years (1/2 of the courses I have played have been in the last 2 years) I have seen a few bad/poorly designed courses.
This one is right up there with some of the worst ones I have ever played.
Don't get me wrong, individual holes are pretty good, however the design of the course is horrible. I rated this course as a 2 because there are some good holes, but I can't rate it higher because of the reasons listed here.
First thing you notice is that the basket for hole 9 is literally in the fairway of hole 1. Then when you get to the basket, you realize that you have to throw over #2's tee to get to the basket. So not only would you have to wait for the group in front to putt out, but then to drive the next hole.
Hole 2 throws down with a ball field on your right. Not a long hole but guess what, 10ft past the basket is tee #3. yes, I had to putt back over the tee as I overthrew the hole.
Hole 3 literally is a wide open shot across the ball field. What were they thinking? And guess what, yep, #4 tee box is right next to #3 basket.
This teebox basket thing is on every hole. You will not have any problem finding the next tee box.
Now starting on hole 4, the tree's are all large and in rows. This gives you some killer fairways that the course does take advantage of. Low low ceilings in this area of the park give you some added challenge on an otherwise easy course.
Oh, Holes 4 and 9 also throw across a driveway.
This is not a huge park, but this course could have been done much better than it is. While it could never be a championship course, they could have at least design it where more than a few groups could play at the same time.
Would I play here again?
Nope, while it does have a few good holes, I see no reason to ever play here again.
This one is right up there with some of the worst ones I have ever played.
Don't get me wrong, individual holes are pretty good, however the design of the course is horrible. I rated this course as a 2 because there are some good holes, but I can't rate it higher because of the reasons listed here.
First thing you notice is that the basket for hole 9 is literally in the fairway of hole 1. Then when you get to the basket, you realize that you have to throw over #2's tee to get to the basket. So not only would you have to wait for the group in front to putt out, but then to drive the next hole.
Hole 2 throws down with a ball field on your right. Not a long hole but guess what, 10ft past the basket is tee #3. yes, I had to putt back over the tee as I overthrew the hole.
Hole 3 literally is a wide open shot across the ball field. What were they thinking? And guess what, yep, #4 tee box is right next to #3 basket.
This teebox basket thing is on every hole. You will not have any problem finding the next tee box.
Now starting on hole 4, the tree's are all large and in rows. This gives you some killer fairways that the course does take advantage of. Low low ceilings in this area of the park give you some added challenge on an otherwise easy course.
Oh, Holes 4 and 9 also throw across a driveway.
This is not a huge park, but this course could have been done much better than it is. While it could never be a championship course, they could have at least design it where more than a few groups could play at the same time.
Would I play here again?
Nope, while it does have a few good holes, I see no reason to ever play here again.
4
1
9 Hole in Angleton 2+ years drive by
Reviewed:
Played on:Oct 9, 2013
Played the course:2-4 times
Pros:
The PROS:
1. New course with fresh baskets.
2. Easy to find and navigate
3. Big and easy to read sign at beginning of course.
4. Big number plates on the baskets.
1. New course with fresh baskets.
2. Easy to find and navigate
3. Big and easy to read sign at beginning of course.
4. Big number plates on the baskets.
Cons:
The CONS:
1. Tee pads are rubber, but its the lack of size that makes them cons.
2. Baskets and next tee pads are so close that if there are other players you have to be on the alert for a flying disc.
3. No tee signs by the tee pads.
4. I didnt knock off any points for this, but some of the holes are labeled as a par (4) when really there is no justification for it being any higher than (3). I typically play every hole under 500-600 ft. as a par (3) unless its tightly wooded. So for instance hole 3 is a par (4), but the distance is only 300ft. Not to mention its a wide open shot with no obstacles in the way.
5. Basket for hole 9 is literally in the middle of hole 1's fairway. So again you need to be paying attention to your surroundings at all times.
6. Hole 8 plays dangerously close to small playground.
1. Tee pads are rubber, but its the lack of size that makes them cons.
2. Baskets and next tee pads are so close that if there are other players you have to be on the alert for a flying disc.
3. No tee signs by the tee pads.
4. I didnt knock off any points for this, but some of the holes are labeled as a par (4) when really there is no justification for it being any higher than (3). I typically play every hole under 500-600 ft. as a par (3) unless its tightly wooded. So for instance hole 3 is a par (4), but the distance is only 300ft. Not to mention its a wide open shot with no obstacles in the way.
5. Basket for hole 9 is literally in the middle of hole 1's fairway. So again you need to be paying attention to your surroundings at all times.
6. Hole 8 plays dangerously close to small playground.
Other Thoughts:
Overall the course is fun to play. Recommend it as a beginner course. I did get a chance to talk to the designer of the course. He was out and about asking for feedback about the course. He admitted to me that he knew basically nothing about disc golf until he heard about from someone and decided to put in a course at Bates park. He invited me to be apart of the back nine design if the funds get approved. So with most of the cons being that of basket location and tee pads.. I offered advice about small relocation to make the course safer and more appropriate. The course does play on a mostly unused part of the park which is nice. Low traffic means less innocence people in the way of flying discs. The course is a fast play course which means playing the course can be accomplished in under 20 min. I played two rounds in 20-30 min. This course is a nice end to a day of disc golf if you played Dunbar earlier in the day or you just happen to be in the Angleton/ Lake Jackson area. Like i said though, not a course for the serious disc golfer.
I would give it a 2.5 if there was more variety from hole to hole, and larger tee pads with signage. and it offered a little more challenge. The only challenge the course really offers is the fact that the fairways have mostly low ceilings from the surrounding trees.
I would give it a 2.5 if there was more variety from hole to hole, and larger tee pads with signage. and it offered a little more challenge. The only challenge the course really offers is the fact that the fairways have mostly low ceilings from the surrounding trees.
6
0
2+ years drive by
Reviewed:
Played on:Jun 24, 2013
Played the course:once
Pros:
The course and surrounding park was very clean and well kept up. The baskets are brand new and in great shape and have big numbers on the top, easy to see from the tee. The tee posts are all present. There is a big course map near hole one, it is not necessary as the course is easy to navigate but it is still nice to see.
Shot wise this is not your run of the mill public park course. The back six holes are in a part of the park with a lot of low hanging trees that need a low, clean shot for a chance at a 2 (Houston folks, think of First Colony Aquatic Center when I mention low ceilings).
A great course for this town to introduce people to the sport in an easy way. There is little chance to lose a disc and the course is easy enough that will encourage beginners and not discourage them
Shot wise this is not your run of the mill public park course. The back six holes are in a part of the park with a lot of low hanging trees that need a low, clean shot for a chance at a 2 (Houston folks, think of First Colony Aquatic Center when I mention low ceilings).
A great course for this town to introduce people to the sport in an easy way. There is little chance to lose a disc and the course is easy enough that will encourage beginners and not discourage them
Cons:
Sadly, this course has more cons then pros. The first real big thing is that the next hole tees are literally five feet from the previous basket. If more then one group of people played here this could become a huge hazard.
Hole 9 plays across the street. This means that you have to throw across a street which also could be hazardous if an unsuspecting car drives by. One tip would be watch where you throw your drives.
Speaking of Hole #9. The basket is right in the middle of #1 fairway. Again, this could be seen as a hazard.
The rubber tee pads are ridiculous. They are maybe 3'x4' and some are pointing in the wrong direction. They are doing more bad then good. I would much rather have preferred the grass getting worn into dirt than have these small, pointless tee pads.
Hole 9 plays across the street. This means that you have to throw across a street which also could be hazardous if an unsuspecting car drives by. One tip would be watch where you throw your drives.
Speaking of Hole #9. The basket is right in the middle of #1 fairway. Again, this could be seen as a hazard.
The rubber tee pads are ridiculous. They are maybe 3'x4' and some are pointing in the wrong direction. They are doing more bad then good. I would much rather have preferred the grass getting worn into dirt than have these small, pointless tee pads.
Other Thoughts:
This course is easy to get to from 288 and can be played in ~30 minutes and that would be slow play. This course adds to the mini trifecta of the courses in this area along with Dunbar and Clute. This is a good course for beginners as mentioned previously.
The course description said that there may be hopes for an 18 hole course else where in town and that would be huge and greatly looked forward to by many players.
The course description said that there may be hopes for an 18 hole course else where in town and that would be huge and greatly looked forward to by many players.
