(2.812 Rating) (RE-EVALUATED) A nice recreational course with new baskets installed summer 2018.
- HISTORY - From what I've been told, this is the second oldest course still playable in Alabama after Brahan Springs. Originally an object course in 1976 which obtained baskets in 1983, the 4th perhaps to do so in Alabama. The baskets were recently updated in July 2018 hence this re-evaluation
- NATURAL BEAUTY - IMO, the most beautiful of the three Florence area courses. Lots of rolling elevation in play. A few shots that play to over 20 feet down. Hole (7) plays over a gorging valley. A couple holes have views of the Tennessee, and hole (13) has an obscured view of Wilson dam. There are some really nice sized towering oak trees to weave around as well. The drawbacks are just a few. Barbed wire fence along (13) and (16) and there's a road in play along (3).
- CHAINS - Dynamic Veteran baskets were installed in July 2018. There are custom colored in a red white and blue color scheme. This is a huge upgrade over the homemade baskets that had been in place for 35 years. This change alone was enough for me to bump the course 0.06 rating points.
- CHARACTER - In addition to the new basket the basics and extra amenities are above average. Lots of extra pin placements to keep the local pleased and to entice those outside the area to make a return visit. About half of the holes have two carpet tee tads. A majority of the holes have seating and there's plenty of tee shading. Community board and practice basket by tee (1)
- SIGNAGE - Nice hand crafted hole signage which was a treat after seeing the unsatisfactory ones at McFarland. It would have been nice to have put next tee direction arrows on them though.
- UNIQUENESS - About average, but good for a par 54. Lots of minor elevation changes in the 10 to 25 foot range. Water comes into play a couple times with an airmailed shot or if the disc spins into death role. A few well defined right pocketing shots, unfortunately not much to the left. Perhaps there are some alternate placements to the left, but just not on my round. Adequate hole length variation, 430 to sub 200. Hole (13) also has a nice risk reward needle line to the basket, where the wider safe play will leave a 30 foot putt.
- SKILL LEVEL FRIENDLY - Veterans should play fair for largest skill level groups in the disc golf community, Intermediate and Recreational. The long pads for intermediate and the shorts for recreational. Recreational players looking to improve their game should choose the long pads, as cakewalks won't make anyone better.
- QUICK PLAY - For an 18 hole this one plays fairly quick. Much quicker than McFarland. My group of two finish in 75 minutes. Figure a group of four should play in about an hour and 45 minutes. Solos should be in and out in 50 minutes.

One minor issues and a few ticky tack callouts.
- TEES - There are two or three great concrete tees out here. Why the rest are carpet is definitely a head scratcher. For the most part the carpet pads are flat but it's still far from ideal.
- LACK OF CHALLENGE - The new baskets probably made the course and entire throw easier now. Regardless, this course has been a breeze for anyone above the Intermediate level, even from the back tees. I had no issue breaking par on first attempt as an intermediate level player. Figure intermediate players will average a few down. Recreational players will average a few over and some Advanced players could average 8 to 10 down. Shot shaping overall is mild, although there are a couple holes that will need a well thought out line to run it to the basket clean. Other than hole (18), being able to bomb it is not a requirement. Players that like to admire +400 foot drives should head over to McFarland.
- LOOSE DISC OPPS - Not as bad as McFarland but leaving a disc behind here is very much a possibility on 3 holes. Missing long on (6) (8) and (14) is not advisable as the disc could enter the backwater of the Tennessee River. The odds of retrieving a disc in this water looks slim to none.
- OVERGROWTH - I played in December but it doesn't take a genius to realize that the overgrowth off fairway gets excessive during the summer months. The course probably plays a shot or two more difficult over the summer.
- NAVIGATION - I'm glad I had a guide cause I don't recall too many navigational aids in the layout. The layout jumps around a bit and the map on DGCR is not the greatest.

Playing the old baskets last December was truly unique experience that was like taking a time machine back to early 80's. Although the some of that nostalgia factor is lost, I feel the change was necessary to move the course forward. I had Veterans scored at a border line 2.75 but just on the low side. The new baskets inclined me to up the rating of the course across the threshold to a 3.
- THANK YOU - A big thanks to local Greg McAtee for joining me for my 200th course. I gave him the choice between McFarland and Veterans for my 200th, and I'm exceedingly grateful that he picked this one. It's such a great mile stone course.

**3/24/2020 Update** Now has new concrete tee pads. Multiple concrete tee pads on holes 2, 3, 7, 12, 14, 15, and 16. Tons of underbrush cleared out in the park. Hole 13 has been altered. I feel it is a much tougher hole now.

New Veteran baskets and signage. Classic design appealing to beginners and advanced masters utilizing the hills and woods well.
Some short and long tees, plus multiple pin positions.
Family friendly with other amenities in the park to utilize.

May be too short for more experienced players. Hole 12 long pad doesn't really fit the hole and seems like a bad design. That's because it is a tee pad for a hole after current 18 that was previously removed and design intent was not to 12's basket.

I personally loved the original baskets and the history of them, but all the upgrades to this course are amazing!

Hole 14's signage is now missing. It's a shame locals destroyed signage of the donor that lives and breathes diversity instead of virtue signaling.

Overall, quite well designed, with very little repetition. A mixture of technical shots and a few longer rips, with smart use of the hillside - uphill, downhill, cross-grade, and valley shots all make appearances, and the uphills are ling enough to add some perceived distance to a course that, on paper, should be painfully short. It isn't, though it certainly isn't 18 holes of arm-stretching. Most holes feature moderate park-style tree cover, but some are more technical tunnels and a few are more open.

Tees are a mixture of concrete and carpet; carpet dominates, but it's kept up and changed often. Baskets are new DD Veteran baskets in red and blue, to match the originals, and so also to suit the location. Tee signs are doubled up at the moment - hand-painted wood next to printed metal signs. When in doubt I would trust the distances on the newer signs, but other than that the OGs are actually pretty good.

Essentially weatherproof, unlike McFarland - yes, the grass may stay wet for a few hours after it rains, but that's it. Overall flow is fairly sensible, without any long walks, which keeps time of play down.

Not quite too short, but if you like to lead out with a driver on more holes than not, you will want to hop across town to McFarland afterward. Certainly the two complement each other well, though.

The nominal line of play on hole 3 runs slightly to the right of an OB parking lot, then hooks left to the basket right past the lot. The potential for doinking a parked car was somewhat nerve-wracking as a new player. (There is also a forehand line straight over the parking lot, but it essentially relies upon an absence of cars.)

The short pin position for 14 is atop a roughly 2 foot tall block, which is fine (read: bane of my existence, but that's a personal problem), but that block is made of disc-chewing concrete, which can make approaches painful.

Next tee signs could help; while the layout is fairly compact, where to look isn't always obvious.

Climbing gear may be needed for retrieving lost discs; while actually hitting the lake would require a serious overthrow, several holes on that side of the park feature a long, moderately steep, and nearly always slick hillside, and if you somehow actually put one into the ravine to the left of 18, finding enough traction to climb back up is a major challenge.

Holy kudzu, Batman!

A few holes play close to each other, but I've never seen any issues because of it. The small exception to that statement comes at holes 13 and 14. If 13 is in its right-hand position (and it usually is), 14 is played from a tee past 13's basket, at the top of the hill. If 13 is in its left-hand position, 14 has to be played from an alternate tee partway down the hill to avoid crossed fairways; that tee is theoretically only meant to be played with 14 in its longest pin position (ALL the way down the hill, near the shore). Confused yet?

Holes 2, 3, 7, 12 (look across the main road from the parking lot way to your right as you walk down 11), and 16 have "pro" tees in addition to the regular set. Hole 14 has an upper and a lower tee (see above), and hole 15 has a ladies' tee.

The baskets are great at catching big lids, which kinda makes historical sense.

Interesting layouts, varied distances and one my favorite holes of all time make the course one to be played. The views are fantastic. Several of the later holes in the woods closer to the lake are especially fun to play.

Without a lot of research online before playing some of the holes are very confusing to find. I can not remember a single sign on the entire course directing you from hole to hole.

The course favors long throwers on many holes as the holes were open all the way to the basket with few obstacles.

This is a great piece of land for a course. The elevation change and wooded areas provide for a great throw. I agree with the reviewer who called this a medium length course. It's certainly more than a pitch and putt. The rough can be very unforgiving on a couple of holes. It was mostly signed. There are some benches placed around the course. I was lucky enough to hook up with a couple of locals otherwise I think it would have been a difficult to navigate the first time. Nice view of the river/harbor area.

Start with the baskets. They're certainly well constructed if they've lasted since 1983. I have no problem with the single chains but the saucer shaped baskets are going to kick out their share of putts. The carpet teepads are a little uneven and apparently a problem after rain. Navigating the course for the first time would be difficult.

I'd have no problem playing this as my home course. The baskets are fair for all that play here. It won't challenge the pros or more advanced players but provides an enjoyable afternoon of disc golf for most of us.

A historic course with a variety of shots, accuracy and multiple skill shots (backhand, forehand, overhand) rewarded. Unique history of this course makes it a must play.

The carpet tee pads can get slick when wet and are unlevel in places. Course markings can be confusing for players unfamiliar with the course.

I couldn't decide to but the unique baskets as a pro or con. They definitely change how you play the course, and personally I would prefer them be replaced, perhaps relocated to a "pitch and put" style beginner course. If you have the opportunity stop by and play this course, you won't be disappointed! Huge props to SFC, the local club, for keeping this course in great shape!