I had pulled into the lot on a Sunday and realized that because the small parking lot at Meeman-Shelby was filling up , I was walking into a club or course small tournament .If traveling , these are best avoided , as foursomes will slow you up , and you feel rushed when the nice guys push you through . I played the East Side first , then came over to West , both 18 holes . The baskets are a mix of older Discatchers , and maybe Machs . The cement pads are older but has good grip . The signage is the same as East , old but informative enough with the hole # , distance and picture of tee to basket . Multiple pin positions on many holes . I did not see on the signs where to indicate which position the basket was in , though . No online map , but I had bypassed the kiosk at the left front of the shelter only to have one of the locals show me that there was info there if you looked closely . Water is at a blue faucet just left of the shelter , which houses several picnic tables and a bathroom . There are amenities throughout the course like benches and trash cans . West seems to have about the same technical lines , playing most holes short , but more elevation feels present on this side . Just like East , the course can confuse you early . West starts behind the shelter and to your left when facing the kiosk . It throws across the back yard to the basket behind the tree on the left of the tee pad . You will see several tee pads after finishing up the hole , but ignore them and walk more than back up the fairway you just threw over , and turn right . #2 is a downhill throw , throwing away from the back of the shelter , to the basket . #3 is to the right of #2's basket and throws back up the hill you just threw down . You proceed to walk close to #1's basket to throw back down a tight hill , to where you go back and forth and up and down through the first 9 . All of these holes rate a par 3 in my book because you have birdie opportunities on many of the holes and you can also recover for par for fairway miscues most of the time . The back 9 move you off to the left of the woods for 5 holes , then return you back up to where you turned left to continue your round instead of right . You have to pay attention to the course and its paths or you might miss a hole ( I almost missed 14 ) here or there . The course opens up a little at a time after 15 , eventually leaving you with 17 , a long hyzer to an opening fairway and a basket tucked back a little into the woods . #18 looked like a practice basket when you pulled into the lot . The #18 tee starts you teeing off from the edge of the woods , another slight hyzer to this basket out in the wide open . The course is yet another fast play , Many different lines to play .I know that earlier reviewers have dinged the course in the cons section for not having a set of pro tees , but I like the fact that the course tries to preserve its historical aspects . solo players once they get their bearings can complete a round in an hour . Foursome in under 2 for sure . What can go wrong with stepping out of your car and having the opportunity to play 36 holes of woods disc golf . Disc Risk , minimal but still there . The fairways and woods seem pretty clear of serious foliage , and there is literally no water throw into , so the most common way to lose a disc would be to clip a tree and go out of sight and roll down a hill . Signature hole : I kind of liked #5 , an uphill throw to a basket in a jail of small trees surrounding most of it . It's not a long throw , but there is plenty of elevation and trees are scattered in the middle of the fairway .

#1 Navigation can be frustrating in a couple of places . Especially 1-2 and I think 8-9 . 2 or 3 NEXT TEE signs would help immensely , along with an informed online map . Also , maybe a code on the sign showing which position the pin is in . #2 This course can feel a little repetitive . Even though most of the holes show you different lines , the course plays tight and short . I personally didn't mind , as I still like playing 36 holes without moving my car . #3 Bugs . In the late spring or early fall , and especially the summer , this woods is a haven for mosquito and other biting insect . Bring spray and apply generously . Make sure you complete any calls you want to make before you even get close to Meeman-Shelby . I lost service until I was about 4 miles from there .

Lots of history here , widely considered the first permanent course in Tennessee . I found out from the locals that the front 9 of East and the front 9 of West actually comprised the first course ( who knew ? ) . 36 holes of disc golf in a free Tennessee state park , Thank You Tennessee Parks and Rec for allowing me to play here . nice locals , excellent course amenities , enough to keep you entertained for at least a half a day . Make it a full day and travel to the 2 Bud Hill courses just down the road .This is certainly a destination area . My Recommendation : Since both Meeman-Shelby courses and the 2 Bud Hills were a main reason I came to Memphis , whether you are local , newbie , enthusiast , traveler , or just want to see what disc golf looked like in the late 70's , PLAY IT FOR SURE !!!!

The Meeman-Shelby courses both play through some nice disc golf terrain consisting largely of woods with mild to moderate elevation changes throughout. Both courses focus on par 3s with tight windows and lanes, and are overall similar in style and quality, which I found to be quite solid. I felt the West course was a bit more technical than the East, owing largely to its slightly more exaggerated elevation changes. These add wrinkles to an otherwise often-straightforward see-line-throw-line design. There are also a handful of more open holes that allow you to throw more freely: 18's 425' in a largely open field was a welcome, relaxed ending to my two rounds here where I could happily uncork a bit of distance after mostly throwing midranges.

The courses are technical enough to test more capable players while being short enough to not beat down newer players. A decently technical game is needed to play Meeman-Shelby effectively, but there are few courses better to cultivate such skills in owing to the modest distance and par 3 focus.

The courses have a well-worn feel that makes navigation easy and minimizes the chance of losing a disc off the fairway. They play quickly, and I didn't find them to be particularly demanding physically.

The biggest con of the Meeman-Shelby courses in my eyes is simply their unremarkable design. The holes are all pretty straightforward par 3s, with a single shot necessary to hit to play the hole successfully, and no distinguishing features. There is nothing creative about the layout or use of the quality terrain, and only one set of tees limits one's ability to jazz things up. The two courses run together both with each other and many other such wooded par 3 courses. This is hardly a fatal flaw: Meeman-Shelby offers enjoyably solid wooded par 3 disc golf. I just didn't come away with any distinctive impression.

While I think this course is a good trainer for one's technical short game, I can see true beginners or players used to more open spaces getting frustrated by the tight confines here. Come prepared to throw into some tighter windows and lanes.

The Meeman-Shelby courses are fun, technical par 3 courses that are worth a visit but also don't offer much that a well-traveled player hasn't already seen. They're definitely worth a play through if you're visiting the excellent Bud Hill and have the extra time.

2 course (east and west)
36 holes
some tee pads are in good shape (some are not)
Great baskets.
Beautiful wooded course with HUGE mature trees
distances vary as do shot selections.
some tight with technique needed to hit the right lines
some open for big arms

the tee pads and signs could use updated in certain locations.

I lived in Bartlett (Memphis area) for almost 5 years and always loved playing the forest.
If you play it, make sure to stop by the General store close by for a burger. Best I've ever had!

Short old school wooded course, but not silly short. Hole 1 is beautiful with lush green grass and played under a canopy of trees for most of the shot which is about 380, with the basket on a decline, so watch out for roll off. Most of the front 9 plays along the side of a hill which is wooded yet has defined fairways. You play 3 up and 3 down and all are cool and challenging shots for us rec players. Many hyzers and about 3 annys. Feels secluded, just not quite as much as the east, which isn't a con as the east is 1 of the most secluded feeling courses that I have played so far. Most pins were visible from the t pad. Shady as any course that I have played with lots of places to rest and many trash cans. No trash. Very well manicured with short green grass on the few open type holes. A scenic and peaceful round engulfed in the woods.

Too short for today's standards. Too easy for pro level players. Favors right handed traditional style golfers, which for me was great. Some of the baskets were old and there were many types, but I had no spit outs and it's an old course that has all of it's baskets so LAY OFF MAN!! LOL.

I was told that the city doesn't service the park, volunteers do it. I was told that the owner of Bud Hill has something to do with the upkeep, by the can lady. You locals know who I am talking about. I fully endorse these courses to any woods lover. If you are a pro just enjoy it for what it is, a slice of disc golf history and old school course design.

I'm used to playing the Red course at
Burns Park in Little Rock. For those of you familiar, this is like that... on steroids. The course is well laid out, and once i got started, it was very intuitive to find the next hole (the one exception is noted above about going behind the 9th hole to find 10). Check out the entire course layout on the big board by the bathroom. Someone put a lot of work into this, and if you have a decent memory, it can really help you as you walk the course through all the trees. This is a very tight, short course with loads of trees. I think the front 9 have pretty good lanes that lend themselves well to beginners and gripandrippers. There are also some alternate lanes for those that are looking to throw more finesse shots with some good placement. I felt like there was a good balance of left-to-right and right-to-left shots with a couple of dead-on shots for good measure. EVERY SINGLE HOLE was well marked for pin placement and distance (even on holes that had multiple pin placements).

Holes10-14 are a little more wooded/rustic than I like, with little to no lane and more of spray and pray mentality involved.

Some of the signs depict multiple pin placements and yardage.,,, but having never played the course before, i usually had no idea which place the pin was in, therefore negating the yardage info the sign gave me. (i know that this is ridiculous to bitch about, since there were signs on EVERY SINGLE HOLE)

If you love technical (albeit a little shorter) courses, then this is a must-play in the area. The fact that it has an 18 sister course that ties in is reason enough to stop by. I really enjoyed myself today on this course (despite a couple of doubles) and definitely plan to play it again next time i'm in town.