Charlotte, NC

Elon Park - Eager Beaver

3.165(based on 53 reviews)
Filter course reviews

Filter reviews

Filter reviews

Elon Park - Eager Beaver reviews

Filter
6 1
Jukeshoe
Diamond level trusted reviewer
Experience: 14.7 years 316 played 268 reviews
2.50 star(s)

Eager Beaver 2+ years

Reviewed: Played on:Apr 1, 2011 Played the course:once

Pros:

- Located in the same park as the longer, more difficult Angry Beaver, the Eager Beaver seems tailored for beginners or for players looking to get in a quicker round. Little elevation comes to play throughout, but that is made up for with the wealth of lines presented by the course's trees. Nothing gets too tight or pin-bally, but lines must be hit to score well. Long tees as well as short tees on most holes do a decent job of changing up the looks. Water comes into play on a couple of holes in the form of a small pond. #15 encourages a hyzer shot out over the lake and around the trees and brush straight ahead in the "fairway."
- Fun signage drawn by the local school children. Apparently the short tee signs were made by elementary or middle school students while the long tee signs were done by the high-schoolers. Concrete tees for both long and short.

Cons:

- A couple of holes play over a road or paved walking path, creating a bit of a safety hazard, although it appeared as though little traffic occurred at these spots.
- The signage, although pretty to look at, is suspect at best. Often, only the hole number is given. For the long tees, the signs' distances seemed incorrect. This isn't a major factor, as almost every hole is fairly self-explanatory.

Other Thoughts:

- While a great course for those looking to have a one or two disc round, or for beginners, Eager Beaver tends to be too short and repetitive for more experienced players. Fortunately, those players can cross the park and try their hand at the much more difficult Angry Beaver.
Was this review helpful? Yes No
12 0
The Valkyrie Kid
Diamond level trusted reviewer
Experience: 45.9 years 1562 played 1507 reviews
2.50 star(s)

New Course With Potential! 2+ years

Reviewed: Played on:Jul 17, 2009 Played the course:once

Pros:

This seems to be in a very nice part of town. The course is designed as a beginner to intermediate level course. I wouldn't quite call it a pitch and putt. There is a great starting area for a course with benches, picnic tables and the fact that the course starts and finishes here. It plays mostly through the trees and the little fishing lake does come into a play on a couple of holes. There are concrete pads though they might be a bit short for some player's run-ups. It has nice new disccatchers. The tee signs are cute. They're hand drawn by elementary school kids and show the pars, distances and hole #. TI didn't have any trouble navigating the course although I was using the on-line map at times. There are forms lying around for new, longer pads getting ready to be poured. It looks as though they will be adding 20 to 50 ft. to each hole. I think this would be a pretty nice course to learn to play on. The course provides plenty of ACE Ops as well as some easy eagle opportunities if you're playing the pars as listed on the signs.

Cons:

Long arms won't appreciate this course. They won't be holding any national championship tournies here but it fills a void. There are no pads yet for the longs. I think the course has the chance to be pretty wet after rains. There is some potential for lost discs on the holes near the lake, especially with newbies playing and learning the game. The pars on the signs are really easy (leading to all those eagles). I'm sure most serious players would just everything a par 3.

Other Thoughts:

Another new course for a city that already has twenty courses. Charlotte is a premier disc golf destination with courses ranging from pitch and putts to championship type courses. Players in Charlotte town are very lucky to have the number and variety of courses. Appreciate them and have fun.
Was this review helpful? Yes No
25 0
DiscGolfCraig
Diamond level trusted reviewer
Premium Member
Experience: 19.9 years 593 played 543 reviews
2.50 star(s)

2+ years

Reviewed: Updated: Played on:Feb 13, 2009 Played the course:5+ times

Pros:

Great beginner course. It was built to introduce newcomers to the game in a fast-growing part of the Charlotte area.
- Great layout, beautiful park and scenery. Park has plenty of other amenities.
- Lots of trees, accuracy is more important than distance. The only hole I thought may have been too tight was #11 long.
- Water only potentially comes into play on 2 holes - #15 long & 17, to the right.
- Almost every hole is a birdie opportunity, especially from the short tees.
- Dual tee pads. Short pads average less than 200 feet per hole, longer average about 250.
- Mostly a pitch and putt course. For people who throw 300+, only several holes to throw a driver on long pads and only 1 hole from shorts (#6).
- The course, and park as a whole, has done a tremendous job of reaching out to the community. Each hole has art work done by local elementary school students, which is a cool touch. It also hosts rec-level tournaments, which are great ways to bring more casual people to the game without them feeling overwhelmed or intimidated by playing with serious players. That said, be sure to treat the course with more respect than most courses - i.e. no littering, no signing baskets, be extra patient with all the newbies playing, etc.

Cons:

- Course can be tough to navigate first time without a map. Many holes are close, so there's a risk of throwing to wrong basket/teeing off from wrong hole.
- Several holes (#3, 6 & 18) present risk of hitting cars or people due to baskets being really close to road/parking lot and picnic benches.
- Many holes have a lack of shot variety in the short and long tees. For most holes, the short tees are only 50 - 75 feet in front of the longs. A little more variety would have helped.
- Course has risk to be really muddy. I played 2 days after a light rain and there were noticeable muddy areas on some holes.
- Hole #15 long. With the leaves on trees (spring - fall), it's a blind tee shot to the pin with no direct path and the pond directly to the right. It seems the preferred path is a high, arching hyzer over the pond, through a narrow opening in the trees to get near the pin. In the winter, with no leaves on trees, it's a fair hole. The rest of the year, the hole is difficult and high lost disc potential.

Other Thoughts:

It's a fun course, easy to play a quick round. I usually play at least 36 holes because the rounds are so quick and easy. It's enjoyable, but won't blow you away with difficulty. It definitely gets more casual players than most courses around.
- I hit my second career ace on this course, on hole #13, from the short tee pads. Of all the ace chances on this course, it was one of less likely holes, making it even better.
- The course has the feel of a Reedy Creek light.
- This course was built to be a beginner-level course. There will eventually be a championship level course built, giving the park two distinct courses.
- It's great that the south part of Charlotte finally got some disc golf love with the addition of this course and Squirrel Lake. Previously, anyone living in this part of the city would have to drive 30 minutes to Renny or Reedy Creek/Mint Hill. Now, anywhere in Charlotte, you're within 15 minutes of disc golf. No excuses for not playing the game.
Was this review helpful? Yes No
Top