Laurens County Park reviews
7
0
radeckec
Experience:
16.8 years
6 played
1 reviews
My New Backyard Course 2+ years drive by
Reviewed:
Played on:May 31, 2011
Played the course:5+ times
Pros:
First of all I have to say that I live in Laurens and am very excited to have a course in town that is not only fun but challenging and exciting to play.
The second time I ever played the course I brought a friend, and we met the Director and Maintenance Supervisors of the Laurens County Park (also the creators of the course). These guys were extremely nice and approachable and answered all of our questions about the course development. They were equally intrigued by the sport and asked us just as many questions concerning how the game is played and how the course plays in comparison to other courses. For these guys to have never picked up a disc, (and I'm trying to fix that...) they designed an extremely challenging and exciting course.
The Director also informed me that the course is created from mostly recycled materials from other parks and recreation areas that they maintain. The tee pads are made from old picnic table tops, and are surrounded by mulch or wood chips. Although they may feel short at times, the concrete pads really give a legitimate feel to the course. The posts holding the signs with hole information are made from leftover and reused lumber from a park in Waterloo, SC. I really like, and am thoroughly impressed with the idea of using recycled materials to create the park.
SIGNAGE- The course does not have a sign clearly stating the start but the first tee pad can be found left of the first parking lot beside the tennis courts. The tee box signs map the hole placement pretty accurately. SIgns give distance to baskets in ft., par score, and accurate representation of basket placement, even on blind holes. They offer dotted lines to suggest the creators intended path to the hole, although it may not at all times be your preferred shot with many obstacles in your path.
All tee pads are located within visible sight of previous holes.
The course is easily played backwards to create an 18 hole course and eliminate a long boring walk back to your vehicle. (See my Other Thoughts on back 9 info.)
The course utilizes the terrain of the park to make challenging elevation change shots as well as tight wood shots and even shots over water.
The Baskets are nice disc catchers that are very well installed into the ground and stable.
Pars are very challenging on several holes including many of the par 3's and some par 4's.
The second time I ever played the course I brought a friend, and we met the Director and Maintenance Supervisors of the Laurens County Park (also the creators of the course). These guys were extremely nice and approachable and answered all of our questions about the course development. They were equally intrigued by the sport and asked us just as many questions concerning how the game is played and how the course plays in comparison to other courses. For these guys to have never picked up a disc, (and I'm trying to fix that...) they designed an extremely challenging and exciting course.
The Director also informed me that the course is created from mostly recycled materials from other parks and recreation areas that they maintain. The tee pads are made from old picnic table tops, and are surrounded by mulch or wood chips. Although they may feel short at times, the concrete pads really give a legitimate feel to the course. The posts holding the signs with hole information are made from leftover and reused lumber from a park in Waterloo, SC. I really like, and am thoroughly impressed with the idea of using recycled materials to create the park.
SIGNAGE- The course does not have a sign clearly stating the start but the first tee pad can be found left of the first parking lot beside the tennis courts. The tee box signs map the hole placement pretty accurately. SIgns give distance to baskets in ft., par score, and accurate representation of basket placement, even on blind holes. They offer dotted lines to suggest the creators intended path to the hole, although it may not at all times be your preferred shot with many obstacles in your path.
All tee pads are located within visible sight of previous holes.
The course is easily played backwards to create an 18 hole course and eliminate a long boring walk back to your vehicle. (See my Other Thoughts on back 9 info.)
The course utilizes the terrain of the park to make challenging elevation change shots as well as tight wood shots and even shots over water.
The Baskets are nice disc catchers that are very well installed into the ground and stable.
Pars are very challenging on several holes including many of the par 3's and some par 4's.
Cons:
There is a slight litter problem on the course but the Director has informed me of his intent to install trashcans as well as benches near the tee pads of many, if not all holes. Hopefully this will resolve the problem with time.
The park does not, at this current time, offer a working water fountain but there are bathroom facilities that are pretty well maintained.
Holes 8 and 9 near the water could offer problems to unskilled players and even veterans at times.... The pond behind basket 8 and beside basket 9 is a fishing pond and has wildlife to be reckoned with. I have seen snakes in the water on more than one occasion, so be wary when retrieving wet discs. Any discs that over shoot 8 and drift left of 9 could potentially be lost in this murky pond as well. Beware, but smart shots will produce great outcomes on these last two holes.
The course does end abruptly at 9 and leaves a very long walk back to your vehicle at hole #1. See my Other Thoughts to learn our created back 9 to get you back to your vehicle with a full round under your belt.
The park does not, at this current time, offer a working water fountain but there are bathroom facilities that are pretty well maintained.
Holes 8 and 9 near the water could offer problems to unskilled players and even veterans at times.... The pond behind basket 8 and beside basket 9 is a fishing pond and has wildlife to be reckoned with. I have seen snakes in the water on more than one occasion, so be wary when retrieving wet discs. Any discs that over shoot 8 and drift left of 9 could potentially be lost in this murky pond as well. Beware, but smart shots will produce great outcomes on these last two holes.
The course does end abruptly at 9 and leaves a very long walk back to your vehicle at hole #1. See my Other Thoughts to learn our created back 9 to get you back to your vehicle with a full round under your belt.
Other Thoughts:
Back 9
My friends and I have realized that the course is very easily played in reverse, with a few modifications, and will bring you back to your vehicle with an extra 9 challenging holes to boot.
Hole 10- can be played from the wooden "Look Out" point built into the bank of the pond 3/4 of the way down hole #9 back to basket #8 as a par 3. This offers a dogleg left in contrast to the dogleg right over the same water as hole 9.
Hole 11 can be played from the left side of the picnic shelter just uphill from basket #8. Shooting to basket #7 as a short par 3 through the trees.
Hole 12 is played from the same picnic shelter as hole 11 but from the right side. (its not a long walk back to the shelter) This shot is played up the "cart path" or circling road, over the short fence to basket #6 as a par 4(suggested).
Hole 13 can be played from the bathroom sidewalk straight ahead from basket 6. This hole straightens out the 90 degree elbow shot of hole 6, but is still played as a par 3 back to basket #5.
Hole 14 can be played one of 2 ways.... The first from the area of the tee pad of hole 6 back to basket #4. Just left of the tee pad offers a small "peak-a-boo" hole to reveal the basket at the bottom of the hill. The other way to play is down the hill from basket #5 which offers a tight shot through "the chute" to basket #4. Either way the hole should be played as a par 3.
Hole 15 - from here the course is pretty much played in reverse... from basket #4 you shoot up hill the basket #3 behind the baseball field. It is a 3 down the hill so it is appropriately played as a par 4 up the hill.
Hole 16 is played from basket 3 back around the fence to basket #2 as a par 5 just as hole #3.
Hole 17 is played from basket #2 back up the hill to basket #1 along the 3rd baseline of the baseball field. It is a par 4 down the hill so we generally play it as a long par 5 up the hill. (its over 600 ft)
Hole 18 is played from basket #1 back down the hill to the post at tee box #1(no basket; just make contact with the post with the sign).
I enjoy playing this course and have talked to the Director of the course in consideration of hosting tournaments to help raise funds for the course and its improvement and further development. They have been very excited and compelled to tell me that they plan to extend the course to make 18 holes.... They are talking of making hole #10 across the pond and further into the woods before circling back to the tennis courts.... I am not sure how this will go but we will play it by ear.... Please try the course for yourself and feel free to message me if you would like a guide for the course.
My friends and I have realized that the course is very easily played in reverse, with a few modifications, and will bring you back to your vehicle with an extra 9 challenging holes to boot.
Hole 10- can be played from the wooden "Look Out" point built into the bank of the pond 3/4 of the way down hole #9 back to basket #8 as a par 3. This offers a dogleg left in contrast to the dogleg right over the same water as hole 9.
Hole 11 can be played from the left side of the picnic shelter just uphill from basket #8. Shooting to basket #7 as a short par 3 through the trees.
Hole 12 is played from the same picnic shelter as hole 11 but from the right side. (its not a long walk back to the shelter) This shot is played up the "cart path" or circling road, over the short fence to basket #6 as a par 4(suggested).
Hole 13 can be played from the bathroom sidewalk straight ahead from basket 6. This hole straightens out the 90 degree elbow shot of hole 6, but is still played as a par 3 back to basket #5.
Hole 14 can be played one of 2 ways.... The first from the area of the tee pad of hole 6 back to basket #4. Just left of the tee pad offers a small "peak-a-boo" hole to reveal the basket at the bottom of the hill. The other way to play is down the hill from basket #5 which offers a tight shot through "the chute" to basket #4. Either way the hole should be played as a par 3.
Hole 15 - from here the course is pretty much played in reverse... from basket #4 you shoot up hill the basket #3 behind the baseball field. It is a 3 down the hill so it is appropriately played as a par 4 up the hill.
Hole 16 is played from basket 3 back around the fence to basket #2 as a par 5 just as hole #3.
Hole 17 is played from basket #2 back up the hill to basket #1 along the 3rd baseline of the baseball field. It is a par 4 down the hill so we generally play it as a long par 5 up the hill. (its over 600 ft)
Hole 18 is played from basket #1 back down the hill to the post at tee box #1(no basket; just make contact with the post with the sign).
I enjoy playing this course and have talked to the Director of the course in consideration of hosting tournaments to help raise funds for the course and its improvement and further development. They have been very excited and compelled to tell me that they plan to extend the course to make 18 holes.... They are talking of making hole #10 across the pond and further into the woods before circling back to the tennis courts.... I am not sure how this will go but we will play it by ear.... Please try the course for yourself and feel free to message me if you would like a guide for the course.
