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Macon DGC reviews
14
0
Cerealman
Diamond level trusted reviewer
Premium Member
Experience:
15.8 years
588 played
178 reviews
Mud-prone Macon has ups and downs
Reviewed:
Played on:Jun 11, 2023
Played the course:2-4 times
Pros:
Elevation is the star at the new course in Macon as hilliness is present on nearly every hole, whether you're launching lines in the open or dodging timbers in the tougher woods.
The Macon course has the bones for a really good course. The land is utilized well to provide excellent variety. Only three holes would be considered mostly flat. The course starts with some open holes, shows its teeth in the middle with some hilly, wooded challenges, and then concludes with a few longer holes.
The designer did a fantastic job with basket placement by utilizing the fluctuating topography without being absurd. Several baskets are positioned fairly just inside a tree line. A few other baskets are placed near the edge of a small hill with some rollaway potential.
The middle section of the course (Holes #6 to #12) is extremely wooded. This section provides some intriguing lines with significant elevation on every hole. A couple holes require ascending a steep hill, and then Hole #11 offers up a downhill ace run to a guarded basket.
The beautiful blue Veteran baskets can be spotted easily and catch well. The teepads are reasonable length. There's a board at the beginning with a course map, though most of the time, the next teepad can be spotted from the previous basket and the navigation is intuitive. The baskets include a little arrow pointing to the next teepad too.
The Macon course has the bones for a really good course. The land is utilized well to provide excellent variety. Only three holes would be considered mostly flat. The course starts with some open holes, shows its teeth in the middle with some hilly, wooded challenges, and then concludes with a few longer holes.
The designer did a fantastic job with basket placement by utilizing the fluctuating topography without being absurd. Several baskets are positioned fairly just inside a tree line. A few other baskets are placed near the edge of a small hill with some rollaway potential.
The middle section of the course (Holes #6 to #12) is extremely wooded. This section provides some intriguing lines with significant elevation on every hole. A couple holes require ascending a steep hill, and then Hole #11 offers up a downhill ace run to a guarded basket.
The beautiful blue Veteran baskets can be spotted easily and catch well. The teepads are reasonable length. There's a board at the beginning with a course map, though most of the time, the next teepad can be spotted from the previous basket and the navigation is intuitive. The baskets include a little arrow pointing to the next teepad too.
Cons:
The biggest con at the Macon course is a sticky, sucky one: MUD.
In its current state, the course is extremely treacherous when wet. Several holes featured the worst footing I've ever experienced. My playing partner slipped and wiped out next to the Hole #2 basket. I skidded on the ice-like surface and crashed to the ground on the Hole #7 fairway. I had to use a walking stick on Holes #9 through #11 to gingerly tiptoe up and down the hills. Fortunately, mulch has been added to the fairways of several holes to patch over most of the problem areas.
As of last month, the fairway on Hole #16 was an enormous issue. Not only were our shoes caked with brown earth by the time we reached the teepad, most of the fairway was very muddy. There was some heavy land equipment in the middle of the fairway, so it appears that work is being done on and around that hole.
The teepads for Holes #9 and Holes #11 are very close to each other and could easily confuse. As you approach them, Hole #9 goes to the left; Hole #11 goes to the right.
Holes #5 and #13 definitely feel like filler holes. They are two of the flat holes with a similar design: mostly open with some rough on the left side.
When I played last month, the teepad for Hole #8 was covered by thick mud and we were forced to throw on the side.
Hole #9 is listed as a par 3, but it plays as a par 4. From the teepad on top of the hill, it requires a short placement throw into the uneven valley below, then a tough wrap around the side of the mountain shot. There's no visible line to get near the basket from the drive. Hole #16 includes a narrow gap and uphill climb; it could also be designated as a par 4 as it will likely require two good shots to get near the basket.
In its current state, the course is extremely treacherous when wet. Several holes featured the worst footing I've ever experienced. My playing partner slipped and wiped out next to the Hole #2 basket. I skidded on the ice-like surface and crashed to the ground on the Hole #7 fairway. I had to use a walking stick on Holes #9 through #11 to gingerly tiptoe up and down the hills. Fortunately, mulch has been added to the fairways of several holes to patch over most of the problem areas.
As of last month, the fairway on Hole #16 was an enormous issue. Not only were our shoes caked with brown earth by the time we reached the teepad, most of the fairway was very muddy. There was some heavy land equipment in the middle of the fairway, so it appears that work is being done on and around that hole.
The teepads for Holes #9 and Holes #11 are very close to each other and could easily confuse. As you approach them, Hole #9 goes to the left; Hole #11 goes to the right.
Holes #5 and #13 definitely feel like filler holes. They are two of the flat holes with a similar design: mostly open with some rough on the left side.
When I played last month, the teepad for Hole #8 was covered by thick mud and we were forced to throw on the side.
Hole #9 is listed as a par 3, but it plays as a par 4. From the teepad on top of the hill, it requires a short placement throw into the uneven valley below, then a tough wrap around the side of the mountain shot. There's no visible line to get near the basket from the drive. Hole #16 includes a narrow gap and uphill climb; it could also be designated as a par 4 as it will likely require two good shots to get near the basket.
Other Thoughts:
I have played the Macon course twice – in December 2022 and June 2023. Both times, the course was extremely muddy, which was a significant detriment to my ability to traverse the area. From a design standpoint, Macon is really good. From a course condition perspective, the mud was so prevalent and it's a troubling issue. While the course is playable, the course designers say the course is still "under construction" as they await proper signage and a few tweaks.
Pick a dry day, this is a 3.5- to 4.0-rated course. Pick a muddy day, the course might be unplayable. I'm going to err on the side of the conditions affecting the rating a little bit for now.
Maybe it's a badge of honor – if you don't leave the Macon course with mud on your pants, you didn't get the full experience.
Pick a dry day, this is a 3.5- to 4.0-rated course. Pick a muddy day, the course might be unplayable. I'm going to err on the side of the conditions affecting the rating a little bit for now.
Maybe it's a badge of honor – if you don't leave the Macon course with mud on your pants, you didn't get the full experience.
6
0
Keokuk Discer
Experience:
18 years
53 played
22 reviews
Fun little course
Reviewed:
Played on:Apr 9, 2023
Played the course:once
Pros:
Good use of elevation and woods. Some holes were easy, others quite a chore to par.
Cons:
No signs. Some tee pads were off of the place UDisc said they were. On hole #9 I got really confused due to two tee pads within 20 feet of each other. Maybe spray paint the numbers on the pads until signage gets out up.
