Decatur City Park reviews
9
0
700 Foot Par 3 2+ years
Reviewed:
Played on:Jul 20, 2019
Played the course:once
Pros:
(1.610 Rating) A park style 9, where apparently new park construction doesn't consider the existing disc golf course's fairways.
- BEGINNER FRIENDLY - A very forgiving layout in terms of little overgrowth and near impossibility to lose a disc. That stated, taking a beginner here means they will need to know real quick that they cant throw when people are within 150 feet in every frontal direction and perhaps a little bit behind them.
- TEES - Decatur City Park starts off on the right foot. Nice 5 foot by 12 foot concrete tees that are in good shape on every hole. Just don't look up at the line... It will ruin the first positive impression, See cons, Design.
- CHAINS - Hooray for DISCatchers. A few were showing some rust, but I'd take a bit of rust over new baskets from a bunch of other brands.
- SIGNAGE - Adequate for this style of course. Detailed tee signs that will need an overhaul in a couple years. Next tee direction is not on the tee signs and there is no posted course map. Baskets are numbered.
- QUICK PLAY - My two some completed the round in 40 minutes. We had to use another online source to get around easily, but even without it, its so open that players will eventually figure it out.
- BEGINNER FRIENDLY - A very forgiving layout in terms of little overgrowth and near impossibility to lose a disc. That stated, taking a beginner here means they will need to know real quick that they cant throw when people are within 150 feet in every frontal direction and perhaps a little bit behind them.
- TEES - Decatur City Park starts off on the right foot. Nice 5 foot by 12 foot concrete tees that are in good shape on every hole. Just don't look up at the line... It will ruin the first positive impression, See cons, Design.
- CHAINS - Hooray for DISCatchers. A few were showing some rust, but I'd take a bit of rust over new baskets from a bunch of other brands.
- SIGNAGE - Adequate for this style of course. Detailed tee signs that will need an overhaul in a couple years. Next tee direction is not on the tee signs and there is no posted course map. Baskets are numbered.
- QUICK PLAY - My two some completed the round in 40 minutes. We had to use another online source to get around easily, but even without it, its so open that players will eventually figure it out.
Cons:
Nails running over a chalkboard may be more appealing.
- DESIGN - Walking up to (1) and seeing a newly built large sign honoring veterans almost in the direct middle of the fairway was instantly concerning. On hole (2) you can either go for the black ace at (1), throw into a tennis court, throw into a basketball court, throw into the school access road or peg someone standing on tee (2). Yikes! Tee (3) throws over a corner of the basketball court. On hole (4) the ideal play is down a walking path. A new dog or perhaps kiddo enclosure was built directly in front of tee (5). Tee (6) throws over two walking paths. Then hole (7), a 700 hundred foot par 3. Let that sink in.... Why even go through the process of listing a par figure, if the person who made this call can't comprehend the idea of something other than a par 3. In addition, the approach on (7) has the opportunity to land a disc on top of a building. Hole (8) plays over a tennis court. Finally hole (9), where a new fitness area and large billboard were constructed in the middle of the line. Sadly this was not the worst designed course on my road trip as a few of items listed above were obviously added after the course was constructed.
- NATURAL BEAUTY - Not a pretty park and among my bottom 10 percent of courses played to date. Manmade objects other than baskets are in play and also in the logically fairway line on every hole.
- CHARACTER - Other than the nice basics of tees, baskets and tee signs, the course related extras and amenities are mostly absent. No multi tees, practice basket or alternate basket locations. No tee seating and 6 tees baked in the sun. There are however, a couple nice park related amenities, such as shelters, restrooms, picnic tables and fitness areas in fairway lines.
- UNIQUENESS - Alright for niner, but far from the average course. All park style shots that meander through park amenities. Excellent par 3 distance variation, with 200 foot chip shots to roll eye emoji 730 footers.
- CHALLENGING - Actually one of the better qualities but still a touch below average. I rated the course as a par 28 rather than penalize the course for par figure designer lunacy. The course felt like a lower to middle Rec level. Several 300 footers with the need to miss one or two obstacles. There a no 150 foot dinkers here either.
- DESIGN - Walking up to (1) and seeing a newly built large sign honoring veterans almost in the direct middle of the fairway was instantly concerning. On hole (2) you can either go for the black ace at (1), throw into a tennis court, throw into a basketball court, throw into the school access road or peg someone standing on tee (2). Yikes! Tee (3) throws over a corner of the basketball court. On hole (4) the ideal play is down a walking path. A new dog or perhaps kiddo enclosure was built directly in front of tee (5). Tee (6) throws over two walking paths. Then hole (7), a 700 hundred foot par 3. Let that sink in.... Why even go through the process of listing a par figure, if the person who made this call can't comprehend the idea of something other than a par 3. In addition, the approach on (7) has the opportunity to land a disc on top of a building. Hole (8) plays over a tennis court. Finally hole (9), where a new fitness area and large billboard were constructed in the middle of the line. Sadly this was not the worst designed course on my road trip as a few of items listed above were obviously added after the course was constructed.
- NATURAL BEAUTY - Not a pretty park and among my bottom 10 percent of courses played to date. Manmade objects other than baskets are in play and also in the logically fairway line on every hole.
- CHARACTER - Other than the nice basics of tees, baskets and tee signs, the course related extras and amenities are mostly absent. No multi tees, practice basket or alternate basket locations. No tee seating and 6 tees baked in the sun. There are however, a couple nice park related amenities, such as shelters, restrooms, picnic tables and fitness areas in fairway lines.
- UNIQUENESS - Alright for niner, but far from the average course. All park style shots that meander through park amenities. Excellent par 3 distance variation, with 200 foot chip shots to roll eye emoji 730 footers.
- CHALLENGING - Actually one of the better qualities but still a touch below average. I rated the course as a par 28 rather than penalize the course for par figure designer lunacy. The course felt like a lower to middle Rec level. Several 300 footers with the need to miss one or two obstacles. There a no 150 foot dinkers here either.
Other Thoughts:
This course provided many laughs to say the least. Looking at the raw course data before my play I was a bit shocked by the lower review ratings. Then I played it... and understood fully. The course is playable, but a mess. It's apparent that the park leadership does not care about the course. Clearly a not a great design to begin with, but it's become even worse with the lack of concern. I would only recommend this course to hardcore course baggers. Everyone else who's played a handful of courses will be disappointed.
8
0
2+ years drive by
Reviewed:
Played on:Feb 21, 2011
Played the course:once
Pros:
9 hole course in small city park that utilizes most of the park. The holes are straight forward, easy to navigate, and mostly open with a few obstacles to avoid like isolated trees, ditches, light poles on a walking trail, and tennis courts. Each hole has very nice and informative full-color tee signs. The tees are concrete (they look like the same material used for tennis courts.) I really like the orange DISCatchers- it is cool to see different colors other than the standard yellow. Holes are relatively open so it is easy to see the non-yellow baskets. Overall, there is a good variety of hole distance among the 9 holes.
Cons:
Most of the obstacles here are other park amenities like tennis courts, basketball courts, walking trails, benches, picnic tables, a livestock stable, etc. which is a bad idea because these other things also get used by people. Basket #1 is in #2's fairway. Holes #2 and #8 play up to a basket over a corner of a tennis court. Hole #3 plays over the corner of the basketball court. (We made an alternate tee to avoid hitting someone in the pick-up game!) The walking trail is thrown over or along side of most of the other holes. Overall, this set-up is just asking for injuries/lawsuits to other park users, which could lead to the course getting removed.
Many of the holes here are wide open. There are several that have no obstacles, and those holes that do have a few obstacles that are easily avoidable.
Some might say distance variety is a pro, and I would agree for 8 of the holes, but this course is obviously geared towards beginners, families, casual players. The 730' foot wide open hole is unnecessary and completely out of character of the rest of the course (the other 8 holes have a more normal range of 205'-365'). To add to it, you are forced to play around the livestock stable that appears to have been built after the hole was put in. (I accidentally played through it!) This hole should be redesigned in my opinion.
Many of the holes here are wide open. There are several that have no obstacles, and those holes that do have a few obstacles that are easily avoidable.
Some might say distance variety is a pro, and I would agree for 8 of the holes, but this course is obviously geared towards beginners, families, casual players. The 730' foot wide open hole is unnecessary and completely out of character of the rest of the course (the other 8 holes have a more normal range of 205'-365'). To add to it, you are forced to play around the livestock stable that appears to have been built after the hole was put in. (I accidentally played through it!) This hole should be redesigned in my opinion.
Other Thoughts:
Though not a completely horrible course, it has many obvious flaws. The little challenge offered here would make this a very boring course to have as your home course. Couple that with the interference of the other park activities that might limit the availability to play it in full.
Recommendation- Decatur is good course for a local to introduce someone the game. Don't drive long distances to play here. If you are in the area skip this one and go to Athens instead.
Recommendation- Decatur is good course for a local to introduce someone the game. Don't drive long distances to play here. If you are in the area skip this one and go to Athens instead.
