George Payne Cossar State Park reviews
8
0
Time will tell the fate of George Payne Cossar... 2+ years drive by
Reviewed:
Played on:May 19, 2021
Played the course:once
Pros:
- Shot Features: I personally enjoy the variety of lines and features at George Payne Cossar. There are forced left, right, low, and high shots. Hole #9 is the longest hole sitting around 500 feet. 3 (maybe 4) of the 18 holes have the lake in play which is a great added challenge. The whole course is fairly short and lacking in underbrush, but it still plays somewhat technical with well placed trees and hills.
- #14: This signature hole deserves its own section of the pros. #14 throws clear over the water of the lake onto a (just wide enough) peninsula. The hole appears to be around 300 feet so it is clear-able for a decent amount of players. Easy birdie (or ace) if you run at it and pretend the lake doesn't exist so the risk-reward factor is very high.
- Tee Pads: This course features 18 concrete tee pads. While they are pretty short as mentioned in previous reviews, I'm still listing this as a pro. It's always better than the natural alternative. Lengthening the pads would be a nice addition.
- Benches: This course has a total of 6 benches that all begin at hole #7. Adding more to the earlier holes would be a nice addition, however 6 is already a pretty good amount. Bag hook poles are also featured on 2 of the holes.
- Lake Enid: While you are not around the lake for the entire course, it is quite beautiful when you are. This is true for half of the course or so.
- True Turn: This course returns to the parking area after hole #9 in case you want to grab anything from the car. There is also a nice enough restroom at #11 tee.
- #14: This signature hole deserves its own section of the pros. #14 throws clear over the water of the lake onto a (just wide enough) peninsula. The hole appears to be around 300 feet so it is clear-able for a decent amount of players. Easy birdie (or ace) if you run at it and pretend the lake doesn't exist so the risk-reward factor is very high.
- Tee Pads: This course features 18 concrete tee pads. While they are pretty short as mentioned in previous reviews, I'm still listing this as a pro. It's always better than the natural alternative. Lengthening the pads would be a nice addition.
- Benches: This course has a total of 6 benches that all begin at hole #7. Adding more to the earlier holes would be a nice addition, however 6 is already a pretty good amount. Bag hook poles are also featured on 2 of the holes.
- Lake Enid: While you are not around the lake for the entire course, it is quite beautiful when you are. This is true for half of the course or so.
- True Turn: This course returns to the parking area after hole #9 in case you want to grab anything from the car. There is also a nice enough restroom at #11 tee.
Cons:
- Tee Signage: My biggest con for George Payne Cossar is the tee signage. I think this is where it shows the most that the park has stopped caring for the course. Only 4 out of the 18 holes still posses a sign. This can get frustrating for many reasons, but not knowing if you are currently throwing the right hole (or direction) is the main issue. Of the 4 signs that still exist; only hole number, distance, and very basic shot shape are listed. They are missing par info, OB, and next tee info. Also, it's tough to confirm without measuring but the distances seemed way off at times as mentioned in previous reviews. Fortunately #1 sign still exists to show a new player the starting point.
- Navigation: This course can get confusing at points. The addition of a course map and next tee info on signage would alleviate this issue. There are some rocks propped up against the bottom of trees with very faded (at times) next tee arrows. However, the problem with rocks is that they can easily be kicked or picked up by a kid. The arrow was pointing the wrong direction a few times. Rather than repainting the rocks, I would suggest simple, small metal arrows nailed to the same trees that the rocks sit below.
- Staging Area: There is no course map or practice basket on this course. These would be great additions if the course ever tries to return to a better player experience. There is plenty of room for these additions.
- Upkeep: It doesn't seem like this course gets as much grooming as it needs. Grass can get very tall on a few of the later holes to the point of lost disc possibility. Based on the neglect of the tee signs, it doesn't seem like disc golf is any kind of priority here. However, if you are bagging courses nearby or live in the area, this place is the Ritz compared to Cemetery Ridge to the south when it comes to upkeep.
- Flow: One small flow issue here. #9 and #10 essentially share the same (or at least close) fairways going the opposite directions. However, this would only cause an issue on a busy day such as a tournament.
- Navigation: This course can get confusing at points. The addition of a course map and next tee info on signage would alleviate this issue. There are some rocks propped up against the bottom of trees with very faded (at times) next tee arrows. However, the problem with rocks is that they can easily be kicked or picked up by a kid. The arrow was pointing the wrong direction a few times. Rather than repainting the rocks, I would suggest simple, small metal arrows nailed to the same trees that the rocks sit below.
- Staging Area: There is no course map or practice basket on this course. These would be great additions if the course ever tries to return to a better player experience. There is plenty of room for these additions.
- Upkeep: It doesn't seem like this course gets as much grooming as it needs. Grass can get very tall on a few of the later holes to the point of lost disc possibility. Based on the neglect of the tee signs, it doesn't seem like disc golf is any kind of priority here. However, if you are bagging courses nearby or live in the area, this place is the Ritz compared to Cemetery Ridge to the south when it comes to upkeep.
- Flow: One small flow issue here. #9 and #10 essentially share the same (or at least close) fairways going the opposite directions. However, this would only cause an issue on a busy day such as a tournament.
Other Thoughts:
Not pros or cons:
- Baskets: Older Mach III baskets are featured at George Payne Cossar. I'm not listing this as a pro because they could use a little TLC. This could be a good pressure washing or maybe a coat of paint. Even just replacing the orange visibility strips (that have worn off) would be a huge, cheap improvement.
- Potential: A total revamping of tee signage, adding a course map, and playing on a fresh mow of the grass holes, gets this course to an easy 3.0 from 2.5 for me. A second set of longer tee pads (which there is often room for) could take the rating even higher. Any more neglect and this course will most likely slip to a 2.0 for me in the next few years.
- Baskets: Older Mach III baskets are featured at George Payne Cossar. I'm not listing this as a pro because they could use a little TLC. This could be a good pressure washing or maybe a coat of paint. Even just replacing the orange visibility strips (that have worn off) would be a huge, cheap improvement.
- Potential: A total revamping of tee signage, adding a course map, and playing on a fresh mow of the grass holes, gets this course to an easy 3.0 from 2.5 for me. A second set of longer tee pads (which there is often room for) could take the rating even higher. Any more neglect and this course will most likely slip to a 2.0 for me in the next few years.
