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New Smyrna Beach, FL

Doris Leeper DGC

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3.055(based on 10 reviews)
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14 0
pmay5
Gold level trusted reviewer
Premium Member
Experience: 20.9 years 482 played 245 reviews
3.50 star(s)

The Best in New Smyrna Beach

Reviewed: Played on:May 19, 2022 Played the course:once

Pros:

Two, flush to the ground, concrete tee pads on nearly every hole. These aren't the longest tee pads, but with them flush to the ground, I had no problems starting on the edge or just behind them.
Both tees have really good tee signs, mounted on large Red and Blue posts, yes for the Red and Blue tees! The tee signs are upgraded from the ones pictured on here, Par and distance to both (or more) baskets, and a very detailed diagram. They have distance measurements (dashed lines) from each tee to the baskets, how far to that gap in the trees?, oh just over 200'!
All holes have at least two basket positions, with PVC pipes marking the unused position. All seemed to be in the long positions the day I was there. Not sure how often they are changed but this helps with the replay factor.
A good mix of wooded and open holes, also good mix of left and right turning holes, more left than right and several straight shots through the palms.
#18 is a great finishing hole, with plenty of risk/reward. If you're trailing on the last hole, do you go for it, or play it save?
Oh yea, tons of parking available also!

Cons:

Probably the biggest Con here is the walk to a separate section of the course to play holes 6-8. It wasn't as long as I thought it was, but it led to 3 pretty basic holes. #7 backed up to a great looking river and there was an old court fence along #6 but it just seemed strange to use this area.
The open holes were spread out quite a bit, it seems the layout could skip these 3, and add 3 more open holes, that would bring the course pretty close to a 50-50 split between open and wooded.
While there is a large open area between #1 and #18, #1 uses a good part of the road as the fairway. If the park is busy with the many other uses, mountain biking, kayaking, horseback riding and dog walkers (all there the day I played), it would interfere with this hole.

Other Thoughts:

I've got to hand it to New Smyrna Beach, great looking town, beautiful beach and 3 eighteen hole courses, all rated 3.0 or higher. (Plus a decent Niner at a nearby church.) Glencoe is a mostly open, good place to bring the beginners, then Holland is completely wooded and tight, then Doris Leeper, longer, mix of holes and the best of the bunch.
After #1 starts in the open, with a low ceiling to avoid, then #2 thru #11 play through the woods, some hardwoods, mostly palms. #12 has tight line to hit, before opening up to the pasture. Most of the rest of the holes are in the open pasture, with cut grass fairways (paths) and longer rough.
#15 is the exception on these, tight off the tee, then turning left and going under a low ceiling to the basket.
#9 - #11 are the tightest and best looking holes through tight palms. Challenging and really give you that FLA feel.
#18 is the signature hole on the course, 307'/420' Par 3 that is open off both tees, then a small pond, filled with cattails, right in front of the two basket positions. There is room to bail out on either side, depending on the basket position, but that leaves you with a long run at birdie. They do have a Drop Zone, that has to cross the entire pond, between two big palms.
It looks like the NSBDGC has been very active at Doris Leeper lately, multiple tees, great signs and a fun and diverse layout. This course feels a lot better than the current rating of 3.0.
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6 0
JLethal2
Experience: 12.9 years 38 played 17 reviews
3.50 star(s)

A Fun and Diverse Place 2+ years drive by

Reviewed: Updated: Played on:May 2, 2018 Played the course:5+ times

Pros:

This course has been an ongoing project for a couple years now. At first it did not have any official tee pads...only flags. Once the concrete pads were poured last year it then became a real "Official" feeling course for me.

AREA - I really think the surroundings of a course really set the tone for a good DG course and this place is very nice in its seclusion. While it is not a dedicated DG park the few bike or horseback riders you will see roaming do not get in the way of really any disc activity. Only a couple of the holes really border the main trail where you would see other non discing park patrons.

LAYOUT - Leeper uses the land it is on pretty perfectly both to co-exist with the the other park goers as I mentioned and to provide a nice mixture of shot variety. Most every hole has a long and short tee option which change the hole dynamics and the overall flow of the course has a nice progression. Hole one starts pretty open near the parking area and then you progress into the woods with some tighter more precision shots required, then veer off into the "tennis court area" which makes for a nice few shots before heading back into a variety of mildly wooded/open holes...with finally ending the final 4 holes or so out in the field where you can let loose on a little power. The final hole 18 is probably my favorite as it is a nice finishing bomber out over the retention pond which definitely makes for an interesting hazard if not cleared. But the overall design of the course is pretty nice on the land provided.

DIFFICULTY - This course plays nice for all skill levels but would be a bit tougher for new players through the woods due to the heavy brush and narrow fairways. But for most it is the perfect blend of shot variety. I enjoy the challenging and rewarding aspect of nailing a perfectly thrown disc at the target throughout this course as it pretty technical .

Cons:

There are not many things I can say are a con for this course other than I would like to see more elevation changes but I can't fault the course on this simply because the land does not provide it...but I love elevation changes on a course.

I think it is time also to see some new pin placements go in. The baskets are always in the same spots and there is room to make some minor adjustments to the shots with some new pin locations.

I dislike the main entrance road being a very bumpy dirt road...would love to see it paved and with an official parking lot.

Update (11/10/2018) RATTLESNAKES... We had heard the rumor before of a rattlesnake sighting at Leeper but though meh..whatever. Then 2 weeks ago as I was walking over to my disc after striking a tree right off the Hole 7 teepad I heard what sounded like a flock of locusts on the ground... and then I saw the rattle shaking and right next to my disc was a Fully grown Adult Eastern Diamond Back Rattlesnake. It was sitting about 18 inches away from my disc and had I not seen/heard it warning me I would have been within it's striking distance... Scariest Disc Golf moment todate for me. Beware of where you step in this park as Rattlesnakes are a real threat here. I mean this thing was sitting right in the middle of the fairway.

Other Thoughts:

Overall, this course like I said is one of my favorite courses within a 40 minute drive from home. This area has many courses to play but Doris Leeper is a very peaceful & challenging place to play some disc golf. The designers here did a fantastic job and the local club maintains the property well. I definitely recommend making the trip over if you are looking for a round of golf to play that will test most of your skill level...you won't be disappointed.
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