Pros:
(3.853 Rating) (RE-EVALUATED) The slightly shorter version of two similar awesome courses.
- UPGRADED BACK TEES - I received word that the blue tees were recently upgraded to concrete, hence this revision. The tee conditions at the time of my visit was the sole reason I scored it a 3.5 instead of a 4.0. The new pads are 5 feet by 12 feet and I elevated my score for the course nearly 2 tenths of a point, 3.659 to 3.853
- RAW BEAUTY - As with Whitetail, Dogwood is personally one of the more beautiful courses I've ever played, and I'd place it in my top 20 (482 courses played as of this re-evaluation.) Similar to Whitetail, I'd say every hole on this layout looks above average and a bunch would be signature looks on 85% of the courses out there. Carved mostly through pines, but what makes this course a treasure is the constant rising, sinking and twisting of the elevation. There are several downhill tunnel shots, although the one's on Dogwood are not quite as epic looking as a couple holes on Whitetail. Hole (2) is the first of many beautiful downhill shots. Anyone like me who's a sucker for beautiful courses will love this place.
- ELEVATION - Lots. Anyone who enjoys constant elevation change will be thrilled. Hole (6) plays down at least 50 to 60 feet, and then back up at 30 to 40 feet. Hole (9) plays down about 30 feet and then back up 40 feet. Hole (17) is a wicked tee shot over a ridge and then plays into the base of a narrow valley with 30-degree slopes.
- HOLE VARIETY - In addition to the elevation change, there's some good variety on Dogwood, but quite a bit less than at Whitetail. Four par 4s. Three of these are doglegs, two to the right and one to the left. Lots of defined tunnel shots of varying widths twisting every which way. For example, hole (6) plays along the power line path and is 50 feet wide. On the flipside, other lines are razor thin. Hole (14) for instance, can't be much wider than 6 feet on the optimal line. As for noteworthy variety omissions, no true open shot, no par 5s, and no water elements other than dry washes.
- CHALLENGING - The back tees read as Intermediate level and the front tees read Recreational level. This course with the two-tee configuration should work for a wide swath of skill levels, 750 to 925. I'd say that the challenge from the back tees is well above average but short of what I personally desire in top tier courses.
- TEE SIGNAGE - The back tees have gorgeous tee signs. They still would rank in my personal top twenty on artistic appeal.
- NAVIGATION - Some basic omissions but still easy for a heavily wooded course. No course map was posted yet for my appearance, but perhaps it's there now. The park office has a map, and although its diagrammatic, it still helps a lot. Lots of navigational cues between holes and intuitive pathways. I personally only looked at my map once on Dogwood. Between (14) and (15) I didn't find any navigational cues, although that's probably fixed now.
- AMENITIES - In addition to the tee signage, I appreciated the few picnic tables along the layout. About half of the holes have multiple basket placements and there are marked short tees. There are restrooms and shelters in the park too. At the time I did wish there was more seating and more multiple basket placements, but perhaps that's been rectified too.
Cons:
A stellar course with only preferential complaints, several of which I don't subtract score for and are for information purposes only.
- THE SAME THING - Lake Claiborne is one of 20 places I've thrown multiple courses at one site. This is still the most similar pairing among these multi layout parks. Thankfully, it's an awesome style imo, but once completing both, it felt like something was missing. Still an awesome experience, I just sort-of wished that the pair offered some different looks.
- NO ADVANCED CHALLENGE - Very similar in difficulty to Whitetail offering a solid Intermediate challenge and I ended up throwing one over from the back tees as an Intermediate level player. From looking on the DGCR scorebook, it appears everyone is throwing higher than normal rated rounds here. The course is listed as heavily wooded, but these lines are often wider than normal for what I would define as a heavily wooded hole. When comparing Dogwood to the courses that I've rated at the 4.5 and beyond level, it just doesn't have the same level of cerebral intensity that I cherish.
- BASKET LOCATION INDICATOR - Courses like this with several blind basket locations could benefit by installing placement indicators. But again, perhaps they are there now.
- TERRAIN - If you have bad knees or ankles I'd stay clear of this course. As stated above, lots of elevation changes and also rocks and roots to stub a toe or twist an ankle on. Although not the best course for the disc golf cart, it looked doable for the hardier models.
- PARKING - Very few parking spots next to the course. I think I counted five. Perhaps all the course traffic comes from those at the camping locations and the spots don't fill up here.
- TIME PLAY - Dogwood is going to take a chunk out of your day. Not quite as time consuming as Whitetail but expect at least 75 minutes solo to complete the back tee layout. I could see a group of four seasoned players playing the back tees at around 2 1/2 to 3 hours.
- LOCATION - This gem is unfortunately out in the middle of nowhere.
Other Thoughts:
As with Whitetail, Dogwood is an awesome course. The courses are not quite identical twins, but I'd say that 22 of the 26 chromosomes are the same. Like Whitetail, players that love beautiful courses over undulating terrain and aren't too concerned with an Advanced challenge, will love this place and likely score it higher than I have. Definitely worth traveling multiple hours to play. A destination course no doubt. On a side note, among the 482 courses I've played as of this revision, The terrain here is among the most similar to my back yard course called V-Rock.
- PAY TO PLAY - Still only $3 to enter the park. A steal imo.