Southport, NC

Bill Smith Park DGC

2.345(based on 31 reviews)
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Bill Smith Park DGC reviews

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MrFrosty
Diamond level trusted reviewer
Experience: 31.1 years 764 played 387 reviews
1.00 star(s)

9 Holes That Need Some Love 2+ years drive by

Reviewed: Played on:Oct 8, 2020 Played the course:once

Pros:

Bill Smith Park disc golf course sets at the end of a semi circle on your way out of the park . This is a multi use park with bathrooms away from where disc golf course is . The 9 hole course sits away from other park activities and the place to park is small .
The Equipment - There are A and B pads at every hole . They both have a crushed rock base with toe boards, and in need of some leveling/fixing up . The signs are wood , look ancient , and are very basic , with hole number and distance . The 9 baskets are Chainstars with red flags on top to help identify them . There is a kiosk with a calendar on it , but no map . Make sure you print the map online .
The Landscape - The course is tight and technical with a lot of trees in and around the fairways . The course is flat , and carries a lot of pine needles throughout . It has 2 sections . 1 where the kiosk is has holes 1-3 , and the other side of the road carries 4-9 . The course starts and ends at the car . There are 2 marshes that come into play , one to keep on your left and the other to throw over . The grass and branches were a little overgrown when I was there , and many fairways littered with sticks .
Course Appearance/Atmosphere - The overall appearance of the course seemed abandoned . The overall vibe I had was kind of dismal . I was trying to just push through and not have to look for a disc or lose one in the marshes .
Course Highlights - None. They have an A and a B tee pad on the holes . Example : #5 has a 156' tee pad and a 159' tee pad . What The ?!?! All of the holes are short and technical . On #7 B , you get to throw over the swamp with your putter/midrange ( 165' ) .
The Time - It took me 25 minutes to get through this course . You won't find 4 people to make a foursome to play .
The course is short and flat , and should be ideal for families and dates . I say , Should Be ( see in my recommendations )

Cons:

#1 Navigation . If you have a kiosk already in place , put a decent sized map in it . It has an odd flow to it .
#2 Pinball - sometimes there are fairways , and sometime there are not . Be prepared to get a nick or 2 in your midrange or putter. #3 is ridiculous , and #8 has a set of trees to throw through just after the tee pad that I barely fit my shoulders through .
#3 7A , Gone But Not Forgotten - The tee pad for this hole looks to have been assaulted with intent to kill by a large downed tree . Debris has now built up around it , and it's in the middle of the marsh . You couldn't even throw to the basket if you could wander out to the tee pad .
#4 Abandoned - This course must have been made with the intent of having another option available to park users . Most will not want to venture onto a course that is not cared for and not promoted well .
#5 Flooding - During a good storm or 2 , parts of thsi course look prone to being flooded or at least soggy . Wear boots of some kind when playing ..

Other Thoughts:

The course obviously needs some love and maybe a few trees removed . If a family of 6 played here and they had some spray paint , and they played rounds from the A and B tees , they could engage in a game of tic tac toe by marking the trees that they hit ! The course may have been a good idea at one time , but it is now 12 years old and Mother Nature wants the area back . One of the most redeeming qualities of this course ? It is right next to the exit , so you can leave the park and drive to one of the beaches on the coast , only about 2 1/2 miles away .
My Recommendation - No longer a fun type course where recreational players and families can congregate and throw for a half hour . There are very few lines to practice safely and logically because of the water and trees . I am only recommending very bored locals or Course Collectors coming here , and only for 1 round . All others : Skip The course and go to the beach .
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