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Don Shannon Memorial DGC reviews
9
0
Lovin' the Lake 2+ years
Reviewed:
Played on:Jul 3, 2020
Played the course:once
Pros:
Also known as Dundee Lake, the Don Shannon Memorial Course is a diverse, beautiful intermediate-level challenge.
-Layout: Listed as 18 holes on DGCR, there are actually 22 holes on site. There are 18 original holes, and then a four-hole loop (2A)-(5A) to be used in case of flooded (2)-(4). However, it's easy to go 1-4, 2A-5A, then 6-18 for a great 21-hole course.
-Amenities: Back tees are concrete with turf on top, quite grippy when dry. Adequate signage. DISCatchers. Bathrooms. Practice basket.
-Beauty: Really an exquisite park. The large creek flowing from the dam comes into play from 2-4 and 2A-3A, and the massive lake figures prominently on the final 4 holes. Even neglecting those water holes, the foliage and rolling hills make for a nice place to play.
-Shot-Shaping/Gameplay: Other than a par-5, Dundee Lake has all the basics of a great intermediate-level challenge. Elevation comes into play from the very first hole, which throws 300' along a left-to-right slope, and continues to appear sporadically, making for some awesome sloped greens. Even the most open tee shots require avoiding carefully-placed obstacles. Several par-4's are very attackable. Water is a factor to consider, mainly on (15)-(16), and the smart player will also adjust to the moderate wind blowing off the lake. Although (7)-(18) are generally open (not to say there aren't trees, but there are a generous diversity of possible lanes), the addition of (2A)-(5A) brings a loop of shorter, technical holes that add a deep woods variety to give the course a perfect spread.
-Multi-Tees: Several holes have alternate tees, including the one water carry on (16). These tees are just rubber mats and not in good shape, but nonetheless a good addition.
-9 & 9: Easy to play just a few holes and skip back to the parking lot.
-Layout: Listed as 18 holes on DGCR, there are actually 22 holes on site. There are 18 original holes, and then a four-hole loop (2A)-(5A) to be used in case of flooded (2)-(4). However, it's easy to go 1-4, 2A-5A, then 6-18 for a great 21-hole course.
-Amenities: Back tees are concrete with turf on top, quite grippy when dry. Adequate signage. DISCatchers. Bathrooms. Practice basket.
-Beauty: Really an exquisite park. The large creek flowing from the dam comes into play from 2-4 and 2A-3A, and the massive lake figures prominently on the final 4 holes. Even neglecting those water holes, the foliage and rolling hills make for a nice place to play.
-Shot-Shaping/Gameplay: Other than a par-5, Dundee Lake has all the basics of a great intermediate-level challenge. Elevation comes into play from the very first hole, which throws 300' along a left-to-right slope, and continues to appear sporadically, making for some awesome sloped greens. Even the most open tee shots require avoiding carefully-placed obstacles. Several par-4's are very attackable. Water is a factor to consider, mainly on (15)-(16), and the smart player will also adjust to the moderate wind blowing off the lake. Although (7)-(18) are generally open (not to say there aren't trees, but there are a generous diversity of possible lanes), the addition of (2A)-(5A) brings a loop of shorter, technical holes that add a deep woods variety to give the course a perfect spread.
-Multi-Tees: Several holes have alternate tees, including the one water carry on (16). These tees are just rubber mats and not in good shape, but nonetheless a good addition.
-9 & 9: Easy to play just a few holes and skip back to the parking lot.
Cons:
Mainly a few picky issues, but as others have noted, some blandness as well.
-Disc Loss: Definitely a potential issue. There are holes playing straight towards the lake, a couple more where a shot could stand up and roll into the water, and a few where a tree kick could mean lost plastic.
-Blind Shots: Several holes required me to walk a ways up the fairway before I could figure out how to throw. Not really sure what to do about that.
-Steep: (2)-(4) and (2A)-(5A) are quite steep, a bit of a workout especially in Georgia summer.
-Sign Distance: Several of the posted distances seemed highly improbable to me and my playing partners.
-Short Tees: Though the positions are good, the materials are an afterthought. I think the caretakers would do well to replace disintegrating and slidey rubber pads.
-Hole (4A): The only hole without a believable line to the basket. A good tee shot still leaves a tricky putt working around trees for the bird.
-Openness: I think there are too many holes with only a weakly-defined par-3 challenge to make this a truly excellent course. I considered dropping my rating to Good because of this, but decided that the lines are interesting enough, and the front half exotic enough, to keep it Very Good.
-Disc Loss: Definitely a potential issue. There are holes playing straight towards the lake, a couple more where a shot could stand up and roll into the water, and a few where a tree kick could mean lost plastic.
-Blind Shots: Several holes required me to walk a ways up the fairway before I could figure out how to throw. Not really sure what to do about that.
-Steep: (2)-(4) and (2A)-(5A) are quite steep, a bit of a workout especially in Georgia summer.
-Sign Distance: Several of the posted distances seemed highly improbable to me and my playing partners.
-Short Tees: Though the positions are good, the materials are an afterthought. I think the caretakers would do well to replace disintegrating and slidey rubber pads.
-Hole (4A): The only hole without a believable line to the basket. A good tee shot still leaves a tricky putt working around trees for the bird.
-Openness: I think there are too many holes with only a weakly-defined par-3 challenge to make this a truly excellent course. I considered dropping my rating to Good because of this, but decided that the lines are interesting enough, and the front half exotic enough, to keep it Very Good.
Other Thoughts:
It's a pleasure to play this course around the lake and through the woods. The variety is good, presenting a pleasing succession of open-ish par-3's, punctuated by the occasional short par-4. I don't know how Griffin, a town of 25,000, has this many good courses, but since it does, I highly recommend visiting to play at least Dundee Lake and Tyus, and secondarily Green Valley and the Compound if you're up for a long day.
