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Bobby Brown State Park reviews
8
0
Decent Pitch ’n’ Putt 2+ years
Reviewed:
Played on:Jan 15, 2021
Played the course:once
Pros:
Bobby Brown offers a fairly interesting nine holes between 150 and 250 feet long.
Contrary to the title, Bobby Brown Park is no longer a state park, as evidenced by entrance signs with one word obviously blacked-out. It's a smaller park whose main draws seem to be the Danny Burt Yurt Village and various boating opportunities on the Savannah River. On a beautiful January day, it was remote and isolated with hardly a soul around. Thrown in as a side bonus at the park is a short little nine-hole disc golf course.
The course has decent terrain to work with, despite utilizing possibly the most boring part of the park. Nary a hole is flat, with a good mix of ups and downs ranging from gentle to steep, and plenty of trees provide enough obstacles to be interesting. Most holes are basically straight, but differing tree placements and elevation grades keep it fresh. There are also a couple of pocket right shots to keep you on your toes. Without a doubt, though, the star hole is (9), which drops probably 40ish feet through a medium woods tunnel for a touchy but thrilling putter run.
The biggest appeal of Bobby Brown is that it is very rec- and beginner-friendly. With most shots in the 170'-200' range, distance isn't crucial to doing alright, and at least six of the nine holes have generous forgiveness for a shot badly to one side or another. It's really a rec course done right--entirely achievable for a newer player, but still generating lots of interest with trees and hills in its short space. If the park put this in as a diversion for Burt Yurt guests, it's perfect. I failed to inquire whether discs were available at the office.
The course is also really easy to navigate. The natural tees are marked by beams including a plaque with hole number and distance. The holes are short enough that it's easy to locate each basket from the tee, and it's not too hard to spot the next beam from the previous basket. It even ends where it started, so no long walks.
Contrary to the title, Bobby Brown Park is no longer a state park, as evidenced by entrance signs with one word obviously blacked-out. It's a smaller park whose main draws seem to be the Danny Burt Yurt Village and various boating opportunities on the Savannah River. On a beautiful January day, it was remote and isolated with hardly a soul around. Thrown in as a side bonus at the park is a short little nine-hole disc golf course.
The course has decent terrain to work with, despite utilizing possibly the most boring part of the park. Nary a hole is flat, with a good mix of ups and downs ranging from gentle to steep, and plenty of trees provide enough obstacles to be interesting. Most holes are basically straight, but differing tree placements and elevation grades keep it fresh. There are also a couple of pocket right shots to keep you on your toes. Without a doubt, though, the star hole is (9), which drops probably 40ish feet through a medium woods tunnel for a touchy but thrilling putter run.
The biggest appeal of Bobby Brown is that it is very rec- and beginner-friendly. With most shots in the 170'-200' range, distance isn't crucial to doing alright, and at least six of the nine holes have generous forgiveness for a shot badly to one side or another. It's really a rec course done right--entirely achievable for a newer player, but still generating lots of interest with trees and hills in its short space. If the park put this in as a diversion for Burt Yurt guests, it's perfect. I failed to inquire whether discs were available at the office.
The course is also really easy to navigate. The natural tees are marked by beams including a plaque with hole number and distance. The holes are short enough that it's easy to locate each basket from the tee, and it's not too hard to spot the next beam from the previous basket. It even ends where it started, so no long walks.
Cons:
Size and infrastructure.
As nice a rec course as Bobby Brown is, it's snoozes for more advanced players, unless they're trying to rack up aces. The holes are mostly quite short, so that even the existing trees and elevation add only a little bit of challenge.
It's also just the bare bones of disc golf. There is no course map anywhere in existence that I can find, no practice basket, no label at the first tee that says something like "Disc Golf Course" for curious park visitors, and not even any explanation on the park website, just a singular picture of a basket. The tees are natural and already showing a little bit of use--if they get much traffic, they'll be mud slicks. I'd really like to see a map and explanation on one of the several community boards around the parking that explains what the course is, how to play, and where to get discs.
I also have a gripe with Bobby Brown in that it underused its natural beauty. It's not an eyesore, but for such a lovely parcel of land it underwhelms. Most of the course plays directly next to park roads in only lightly-wooded grassy spots, completely neglecting copious lake views and gorgeous thick woods just a short walk away. I understand not making a monster course in order to appeal to overnight Burt Yurt guests, but they could have at least made this rec-level course stunningly beautiful.
Lastly, the park is remote. I don't rate based on that, but it does mean you won't have cell signal and you would probably have to drive a long way out of the way to play. There's also a $3 parking fee for the park (cash or check, self-service). For a course of this scope, it isn't worth it unless you're planning to make a day of it by canoeing or something else.
As nice a rec course as Bobby Brown is, it's snoozes for more advanced players, unless they're trying to rack up aces. The holes are mostly quite short, so that even the existing trees and elevation add only a little bit of challenge.
It's also just the bare bones of disc golf. There is no course map anywhere in existence that I can find, no practice basket, no label at the first tee that says something like "Disc Golf Course" for curious park visitors, and not even any explanation on the park website, just a singular picture of a basket. The tees are natural and already showing a little bit of use--if they get much traffic, they'll be mud slicks. I'd really like to see a map and explanation on one of the several community boards around the parking that explains what the course is, how to play, and where to get discs.
I also have a gripe with Bobby Brown in that it underused its natural beauty. It's not an eyesore, but for such a lovely parcel of land it underwhelms. Most of the course plays directly next to park roads in only lightly-wooded grassy spots, completely neglecting copious lake views and gorgeous thick woods just a short walk away. I understand not making a monster course in order to appeal to overnight Burt Yurt guests, but they could have at least made this rec-level course stunningly beautiful.
Lastly, the park is remote. I don't rate based on that, but it does mean you won't have cell signal and you would probably have to drive a long way out of the way to play. There's also a $3 parking fee for the park (cash or check, self-service). For a course of this scope, it isn't worth it unless you're planning to make a day of it by canoeing or something else.
Other Thoughts:
Bobby Brown Park is a beautiful recreation area on the shores of the huge Savannah River, a perfectly secluded place to stare contemplatively into a lake and enjoy silence. Its disc golf course is a small add-on to the park, a fun rec-level meander to tickle you a bit. However, the course is so small and has so little guidance that it can't really rise beyond a high-level Passable. I actually had a lot of fun playing, but I wouldn't have gone there if I weren't making a day out of being at the lake.
