Pros:
-A variety of open, woods, open to woods, and two water holes.
-Variable lengths.
-Good for beginners, recreational, a few holes could be challenging for Intermediate.
-The flow is good the course runs counterclockwise.
-The course flows away from rest of park with some possible interference.
-Wind can play a big factor, the course is exposed to an open field for at least 1/3rd of a mile.
-A good practice course with the variable lengths, and variety of hole type.
-Good park maintenance. Holes 1-4 and 9 does not seem to have a standing water problem after a sold rain.
Cons:
-I could only find tee boards for No. 1, 5, and 7-8. It seems that grass has overgrown the tee boards. Played basket to basket or what made sense where to play from.
-No hole signs can lead to confusion on where the tees and the location of a few hidden baskets in the woods.
-The first three holes are bland.
-There is a park map posted at the parking lot, but no info on disc course.
-The Tee Board Secret is where are they for the other holes? The big secret is for #6 and 9 where I felt like I was missing out on two solid holes.
-For the most part you are playing away from the rest of the park. Except No. 1-3 runs along side a track and field course that walkers also like to use. Those holes may not be available when there is an event in play. It is a long walk to retrieve a disc that has flown over the fence.
-There is an obstacle course that run along side 6-9 that was being in use just as I was finishing. Courtesy and a possible wait will need to be used when the course is in use.
-Drainage is poor in the woods for 6-8, very muddy after a rain.
Other Thoughts:
I think the course is solid for its intended use at a small city park for those learning the game for recreational purposes and an education on how a course can be set up with the variety that Camden Community DGC offers. There are other courses to the south where I plan on playing in the future, and with Camden being only a mile off the Hwy, it would a great place for a quick stop to warm up.
The big mystery is the location of the tee boards for 6 and 9 and finding them could be a plus for intermediate players and the overall rating.
#6 at 330 feet, the tee board could have been 100 feet from any direction from the open, from where I ended up playing at about 230 feet on the other side of the walking path towards the tree line and basket. With basket in the woods, what a loss of more fun and possibly an exceedingly difficult hole with length.
No. 9 at 220 feet having not found the tee board and no clue where the basket maybe. I threw one disc parallel to the tree line in the open thinking the basket could be tucked into the woods. And a second disc toward the parking lot thinking the basket could be hidden behind an outlet building. The basket was tucked in the woods, for about 260 feet from where I teed from and a dogleg right at the basket.
With the variety of the layout, the potential of no. 6 and 9 with tee board location, and the surprise moments with No. 4 and 5 is rated at 4.0, and that is where my overall rating is anchored on. The overall rating could get a boost if those tee boards can be found and some navigation help with hole signs.
Signature Hole is No. 5 at 220 feet and the tee board is there! The distance seems more like 260 or maybe further. The tee is in the open and a lazy dogleg left with a shallow downward slope from about 60 feet out from basket. To the right from about 130 feet is a tree line. To the left is clear water and runs about 70 feet out. From the tee you can see the top of the basket. The basket sits on the edge of the woods. The hole represents all aspects of the course. From my approach in the woods, I heard a hollow thud throwing a putter. When I came over the rise, I could see water right in front of the basket about 4 feet across and few feet deep. The basket sits about 5 feet from the water. The thud came from wood planks shoring up the bank on the basket side with a few feet of dry land in front. The trench is used to drain water from the park to the swamp. What a surprise moment, a disc in the water would be a penalty stroke, and not seen from the tee.
Trouble Hole is No. 4 at 130 feet. It would seem to be easy for the tee board to be found, but no. I played from the No. 3 basket at about 180 feet. Deep clear water all along the left, and a corn field all along the right. Hit the water you can kiss your disc goodbye. When the stalks are high, have fun finding it. The fairway is only about 20 feet wide and a roller into the water all along the left. Basket sits in the middle. You can play the right as OB or the field can be playable. From the field you have a possible roller putt into the water. I decided to play OB and will stick to it on any possible future visits. At the tee, surprised to see the scene before me, and was not expecting it after the first three holes. I would imagine when the stalks are high for harvest, the hole would be scenic.