(0.766 Rating) A substandard course that's getting worse.
- QUICK PLAY - Sadly this is the best aspect of this course. My co-worker and I arrived here 10 minutes before sunset and we were still able to complete the round with enough twilight left to see basket (12) from tee. 26 minutes was all it took, although we did skip hole (3) due to no basket.
- CHAINS - The only other thing of substance good about this course is the baskets. I'm not sure what happened to (3s) missing basket, as noted above, but the other 11 were all in fine shape.

Lots of issues with Middle River.
- VARIETY - I'll start here, because this is a rather unfixable aspect. The space available to use for this course is bland. Other than the sinkhole on (9), the course is ice-rink flat. Distance variation is minimal being between 200-feet to 320-feet, and thus they are all par 3s. I can count the number of trees in play on one hand and have fingers left over. No water features either. Overall, I'd put the variety in my bottom 5% of all my courses played to date.
- SAFETY - The layout butts up against roads, parking lots and future buildings now under construction. In addition, the layout intersects with itself on (9) through (11). The tee shot on (11) is something I had never seen before with the roadside billboard 20 feet in front of the tee and the basket for (10) just beyond that, hoping to claim some black aces.
- LACK OF CHALLENGE - I personally didn't throw well, but I attribute that to only throwing one disc and throwing with a winter coat on. Advanced players should be able to throw 11 down and Rec players will likely average 3 or 4 down. There is no technical challenge other than the wind. The distances are Rec level imo.
- SIGNAGE AND NAVIGATION - At its peak, this course was likely easy to follow with the simple white numbered tee posts and due to the open landscape. Unfortunately, time hasn't been kind, as now several tee markers are missing. The posts are missing for holes (3, 4, 8 and 10) and hole (1s) is laying on the sidewalk. Following this layout is not possible without a navigational app.
- AMENITIES - Other than the baskets and seven intact tee markers, there is no other equipment or extras.
- NATURAL BEAUTY - A landscape with no elevation, few trees, no backdrop views and no water. So yeah, I didn't score this aspect very high. I went with 4 percentile.
- NO ALCOHOL - Park rules clearly indicate no alcohol on a sign by basket (2). Whoops.

Middle River is one of those courses that players will remember because of how bad it is. Perhaps this one will find some use for beginners who want to avoid the crowds at the other area courses or for those looking for open field practice. I personally have a feeling this course is going to get axed or tweaked due to the ongoing construction by holes (5, 6 and 12). However, even if it is tweaked and gets an amenities facelift, it's never going to score above a 1.5 in my books. As is, I'm going with a 0.75 rated course.

Middle River DGC sits behind and to the side of Fayetteville Community Church grounds . There is a large parking lot at the end of the side driveway . Look at the baskets so you can gage where you park ( far away from them ) . There are Port O Lets at the ball field .
The Equipment - You can tee off from the sidewalk for #1 , then the rest of the tees are natural . The tee signs are short white pipes that have numbers only on them . The baskets are yellow banded Discatchers with numbers on them .
The Landscape - The church grounds are meticulously mowed and trimmed .However , there was construction going on in the back of the property and it looks like vegetation next to it has claimed #9's basket and #10's tee .The course is Pancake Flat . There is a nice large twisting tree in the middle of the #2 fairway , and a couple of trees that you throw between on #3 when teeing off , but those are the only trees that come into play . A billboard is a factor on #11 . #4 and 5 play around a ballfield . A parking lot sits behind and around 2 baskets .
Course Appearance/Atmosphere - The church sits on a nice looking piece of property , but the combination of the parking lot , ball fields , construction and highway make it less appealing . One of the church hands actually greeted me when I came to play on a Monday morning .
Highlights - Maybe #2 , with the wide right to left throw around a large twisted tree ( you can also throw out over the highway left to right , too ) . I never threw a low trajectory throw using a billboard as the canopy before until I played hole 11 .
Disc Risk - with it being windy , it might be possible to have your disc blow over a fence . I couldn't tell if the gates were locked on the ball field or not . otherwise , disc risk is very low
The Time - deduct me looking for #9 basket and #10 tee and it took me 30 minutes to play 11 holes . A group of 4 will play here in 50 minutes . .
You can still get in 11 holes by playing #9 tee to #10 basket and proceeding . It is a flat fast play and easy on the knees . and you might get a deal on a car from the owner after a drive that was picked up by the wind dents his car .

#1 Safety - You could hit a moving car on the road with your drives on 1 & 2 ( A Mando on 2 would fix part of it ) . #4 tee throws between a utility garage and the ball field . I can't imagine that you would be allowed or want to play #4 & 5 . The church parking lot sits right behind the #4 basket and is in play on #12 for sure . The lot had a bunch of cars in it when I played . With the type of players that will come here to practice , this is going to be a problem .
#2 - 12 or 11 ? It was only supposed to be a 12 hole course , and really has only 11 tees and baskets for now . With the construction , I doubt that it will even expand .
#3 Challenge - Other than #2 and #11 ( under the billboard ) and maybe #4 between a chain link fence and shed . there are no obstructions here . Just wide open grips and rips . The wind will be your biggest hurdle to clear .

I couldn't find the #4 tee , but I wouldn't have thrown the hole as it was , anyway . It is a 90 degree turn at the end , and if I didn't make the turn , a Prius or Honda was going to feel the sting of my Star Tern . I think it is a good idea for churches and schools to add a course ( if logistically possible ) to its grounds just as a Welcome to the area beacon , and subtle advertisement ( " Hey , check us out " ) If you moved all of the cars away from the course in the later parts of the evening , You could attach some glow sticks or solar bars to the baskets and throw glow discs for night golf .
My Recommendation _ If in a controlled environment , this could be nice for a church social , or something for the kids to do in the back of the course after Sunday School ( do they still have that ? ) The course plays too close to fences and moving or parked cars for newbies , and intros , even risky for locals . Might be too boring for everyone else . Still might be a good place for locals to try out new discs and see how they react in the open and wind . Easy off and on from I-95 if you want to stretch for a few holes . Course Collectors can snatch a quick one here .
If local or a church member , practice here , otherwise , you might want to take a pass on this one .

Layout - Its a course on church property so it was designed with a more beginner/recreational type layout in mind. As that type of course I think it does a good job.

It's mostly wide open sub 300' shots. Any and every possible obstacle in the course area was used to create what challenge there is. You play near the few trees and a billboard giving you something to miss.

To me it's more of a practice area for experienced golfers, gives you a place to open up and try different lines. You can create any number of different safari holes as well.

Atmosphere - Church lawn type deal pretty much right in the middle of the city. As such it's probably one of the safer areas in Fayettville.

Equipment - Natural tee areas that are just marked. Baskets still in good condition.

Layout - It's pretty boring for an actual course, especially if you're an experienced player. Again it's probably more suited for a practice area or for non serious golfers to have some fun on. It's just a bunch of similar wide open shots except for a couple.

You do play pretty close to the road once and there is a possibility you end up in the ball field. I doubt anybody would be playing during a game but there's not really a way to get in there when nobody is around, the gate is locked.

Atmosphere - No seclusion, you're in a wide open area.

Remember this is church property so be respectful