Hindman Park reviews
17
0
A Surprisingly Good Niner
Reviewed:
Played on:May 23, 2022
Played the course:once
Pros:
(2.647 Rating) A dual tee park style course with a couple wooded holes.
- GAMEPLAY OPTIONS - Hindman Park kind-of surprised me in a good way. First off, I liked the fact that it offered 2 sets of tees. I opted for the shorter Red Tees as I had plans to bag 3 more courses over my 6-hour drive back to Huntsville Alabama. I found the Red Tee layout to be a fun mix of Rec and Novice level challenges. It offered some modest technical appeal and averaged 200-feet long while varying between 150 and 250. I took a look at many of the back tees as well and they appeared to amp up the difficulty factor quite a bit, perhaps five throws more difficult compared to the shorties.
- RAW BEAUTY - The course was not in the greatest shape when I played it. The grass was over a foot tall along hole (4's) fairway and basket. Hole (2s) line in the woods was overgrown with weeds accept for a small path in the middle. Despite this, the inner beauty did shine through. The course is completely surrounded by woods. There are some mini creeks in view and play and even some modest elevation to spice up a few lines.
- BASIC AMENITIES - The core equipment items are good. MachIIIs in great condition with the traditional numbered placard on top. As for the tee surfaces, concrete and the size of them are respectable. There are also benches at a handful of tees and there are shelters and restrooms.
- SIGNAGE AND NAVIGATION - Nice course map posted by tee (1). Tee signs look brand new and have all the info on them that one would need except next tee direction. I only looked at my map once here. It seemed fairly straight forward to follow. Anyone getting lost here is probably terrible at navigation in general.
- LOCATION - This layout is actually one of 3 courses in Hindman Park. The other two courses are both 18 holes and located in a different, but nearby section of the park. I didn't have time to play the other two courses, but from my research, it appears they are both ball golf conversion courses.
- GAMEPLAY OPTIONS - Hindman Park kind-of surprised me in a good way. First off, I liked the fact that it offered 2 sets of tees. I opted for the shorter Red Tees as I had plans to bag 3 more courses over my 6-hour drive back to Huntsville Alabama. I found the Red Tee layout to be a fun mix of Rec and Novice level challenges. It offered some modest technical appeal and averaged 200-feet long while varying between 150 and 250. I took a look at many of the back tees as well and they appeared to amp up the difficulty factor quite a bit, perhaps five throws more difficult compared to the shorties.
- RAW BEAUTY - The course was not in the greatest shape when I played it. The grass was over a foot tall along hole (4's) fairway and basket. Hole (2s) line in the woods was overgrown with weeds accept for a small path in the middle. Despite this, the inner beauty did shine through. The course is completely surrounded by woods. There are some mini creeks in view and play and even some modest elevation to spice up a few lines.
- BASIC AMENITIES - The core equipment items are good. MachIIIs in great condition with the traditional numbered placard on top. As for the tee surfaces, concrete and the size of them are respectable. There are also benches at a handful of tees and there are shelters and restrooms.
- SIGNAGE AND NAVIGATION - Nice course map posted by tee (1). Tee signs look brand new and have all the info on them that one would need except next tee direction. I only looked at my map once here. It seemed fairly straight forward to follow. Anyone getting lost here is probably terrible at navigation in general.
- LOCATION - This layout is actually one of 3 courses in Hindman Park. The other two courses are both 18 holes and located in a different, but nearby section of the park. I didn't have time to play the other two courses, but from my research, it appears they are both ball golf conversion courses.
Cons:
A solid small course with only minor issues.
- MAINTENANCE - I likely played Hindman during peak overgrowth. Anything that hadn't been trimmed or mowed was plus 3 feet tall. Even a couple of the flat fairway areas were rather unkempt when I showed up. Be cognizant that some of this course may not be in the greatest shape from late spring to early fall. Perhaps I got unlucky and it had just been too wet recently to mow.
- HOLE VARIETY - Good and above average variety among all of the niners I've played as of this review, 185 niners, but a touch below the average course in my opinion. An all par 3 course that includes a 5-hole stretch that's all run-of-the-mill park style shots. I like the downhiller to end it, and holes (1) thru (3) were all changed up pretty good as a stretch of holes.
- TIME WAITING - Several holes have walking paths in play. Broadview Drive comes into play 3 times. Thankfully I only saw one walker and zero moving cars the entire time I was here on this early Monday morning. I could see several pauses occurring on active park days.
- TRASH - Sadly there was a lot trash on a couple holes. The worst spot was by the basket on hole (3) which appeared to have run-off garbage build-up along the creek's edge. As noted above, a few holes were shaggy for my appearance.
- MISCELLANEOUS - The long tee on (2) doesn't have a line in my opinion. The tall grass thicket along the right on (8) looks like a bad place to be. One of the pads on (9) was suffering from debris run-off covering the tee.
- MAINTENANCE - I likely played Hindman during peak overgrowth. Anything that hadn't been trimmed or mowed was plus 3 feet tall. Even a couple of the flat fairway areas were rather unkempt when I showed up. Be cognizant that some of this course may not be in the greatest shape from late spring to early fall. Perhaps I got unlucky and it had just been too wet recently to mow.
- HOLE VARIETY - Good and above average variety among all of the niners I've played as of this review, 185 niners, but a touch below the average course in my opinion. An all par 3 course that includes a 5-hole stretch that's all run-of-the-mill park style shots. I like the downhiller to end it, and holes (1) thru (3) were all changed up pretty good as a stretch of holes.
- TIME WAITING - Several holes have walking paths in play. Broadview Drive comes into play 3 times. Thankfully I only saw one walker and zero moving cars the entire time I was here on this early Monday morning. I could see several pauses occurring on active park days.
- TRASH - Sadly there was a lot trash on a couple holes. The worst spot was by the basket on hole (3) which appeared to have run-off garbage build-up along the creek's edge. As noted above, a few holes were shaggy for my appearance.
- MISCELLANEOUS - The long tee on (2) doesn't have a line in my opinion. The tall grass thicket along the right on (8) looks like a bad place to be. One of the pads on (9) was suffering from debris run-off covering the tee.
Other Thoughts:
Among niners, Hindman seemingly has it all. It's pretty, it can be challenging, it's fun and it's relaxing. It's know wonder that when I tallied up this one it shot up into my top ten for courses with just nine fairways. Had it been in immaculate shape, I may have considered putting a rare 3.0 on it. Considering everything, I'm opting for a high 2.5. Definitely worth a look see for those visiting nearby or traveling through like me. By itself, not destination worthy, but perhaps the aspect of 3 courses in one location changes that, especially for course baggers.
5
1
could be worse..... a lot worse 2+ years
Reviewed:
Updated:
Played on:Oct 27, 2010
Played the course:2-4 times
Pros:
2 sets of concrete Tees per hole. This offers variety as most change the shot considerably because of large number of mature trees. Hole 1s pin is elevated at the top/side of this wooded hill. Hole 2 runs along the side of this very wooded hill and is a sweet double gap shot with the 1st about 50 ft. from the pad and the other about 175 ft. out and the pin about 375 or so. Just a super cool hole. This course had NO trash and was manicured and maintained in an anal retentive manner. This is borderline Heavily wooded with well defined fairways and multiple routes to attack the pin. Not short for a 9 holer. More than 1 pin position. What elevation exist is used very effectively, which can lead to emptying the bag. Easy to navigate because the pads stand out in the woods.
Cons:
Most courses could use more trash cans and benches. Might not challenge top some pro golfers. Not a lot to complain about at this point. All courses should have arrows leading you to the next T in my opinion.
Other Thoughts:
To be so young, this course is in great shape and obviously has some dedicated locals that care.
