Betty G. Ross Park is a nice little community park that features a swimming pool, rec center, athletic fields, a fishing pier, and of course this disc golf course. The course is an 18 hole, par 3 layout that is appropriately designed with casual/recreational players in mind. While the course uses natural tees, I found them all to be level, and compacted very well.

The course spends a decent amount of time weaving through the woods, but there are also a number of open holes on the course as well that help mix things up. Near the parking lot, there is a helpful course map that is vibrant and colorful. The tee signs on the course match this map, and are equally as helpful.

There is an elevated basket on Hole 2 that helps keep things interesting, in a park that is relatively flat. A few of the holes are located near the South Fork of the Catawba River, which adds to the ambience. There was a ripple, just upstream of Hole 5's basket, that could be heard from a couple of holes around the course that gave off a peaceful atmosphere.

The course finishes with two great holes back-to-back, providing an exciting finish. Hole 17 requires a technical flex shot (or insane luck) to have a look at birdie. Hole 18 starts in the woods, and throws out into the open.

Unfortunately, four of the new tee signs are already missing. This is an issue, from my point of view, because when a course uses natural tees, tee signs are really imperative for finding where the tee actually is. A couple of times, I had to wander around a bit to try to find the correct spot. Luckily, as I said before, the dirt on the tees is really well compacted, so they were easy to identify. In the meantime, Holes 6, 8, 11, & 12 are missing tee signs.

Nine of the baskets are clearly relics from when the course was a 9 hole course, and feature rusty single chain DISCatchers. So on Holes 3, 5, 7, 9, 11, 14, 15, 16, & 17, keep an eye out for chain outs. The other holes have nice, double chained DISCatchers.

There are times when the course interacts closely with other areas of the park. From the look on the Course Map, some small athletic fields have been built right in the middle of Hole 4's fairway sometime after the course was built. When I played there were sprinklers running and a sign that said to keep off the field. I just moved further back and treated it as a water carry, still unfortunate since it was the longest, most open hole on the course. Hole 5's basket is right next to a seemingly newly constructed fishing pier that has a pathway cutting through the fairway down to the river. Hole 12 plays towards an electrical area that is fenced in with barbed wire.

Navigational signage could be used to make the course flow better. Around the middle of the course, there are a number of walking paths that intersect, and it was hard to tell which path to take to reach the next tee. It is also extremely easy to accidentally play Hole 10, when looking for Hole 7.

Due to the flat nature of the course, and the similar distance for all of the holes, the course can start to feel repetitive and relatively boring during the stretch of holes from #6 to #16. None of these holes are bad, but it would be nice if something could be done to spice this section up. Maybe another elevated basket.

While none of the rough around the course was quite in the Instant Disc Loss territory, it was quite unruly. Waist height rough can be found right off the fairway for all of the wooded holes. Most of the time, this rough is accompanied by thorns. For a course that seems to have been designed with casual players in mind, it would probably attract more repeat visits from said casual players if the rough could be fought back some. At least a few feet.

Players who visit Betty G. Ross Park will find a well designed course that is perfect for a short, but fun round of disc golf. It likely won't ever be a destination course, but it isn't likely to disappoint either. For now I am giving it a 2.0 rating. I think the course would likely warrant a slight bump if it had either permanent tees installed or the missing signage was replaced, and a few navigational signs added around the course.

Favorite Holes: 5, 17, & 18

Large Course Directory facing parking lot. Great for practicing anhyzer and hyzer lines as well as trying "new" shots such as rollers, sidearms, and skip shots. Playable with only one disc which makes for a perfect course to teach a friend how to play. Sharks are sold in the office for only 6 dollars. Volleyball net has been moved. The holes do not collide with other holes or fairways. You can play for hours with no DG traffic

only nine holes. they have added a bench that plays a factor on #2 but can be easily moved.

I frequently play this course and credit it with shaving at least multiple strokes off my score on Larger courses.

New "Long Version" adds a whole new feel to the course. long signs are still to come.