North Buncombe HS has potential to be an enjoyable nine-hole course. It's a solid, wooded, short nine-hole layout that has, sadly, been ignored.
- The course was in horrible condition when I played. Grass and weeds were waste high or taller throughout the nine holes. Multiple throws that landed in the middle of the fairway took several minutes to find because the grass was so tall. That disclaimer aside, I'm focusing on the course's layout and the potential it has to offer.
- This could be, and should be, a fun nine-hole layout. The course plays entirely in the woods and gives some good practice to approach and mid-range throws.
- This should be a great beginners' course. The average hole length is 145 feet, with the longest only 170 feet. Fairways are plenty wide for the hole lengths, so even very casual players should be able to be aggressive.
- There is actually a good variety of layouts. There are two good downhill holes (#1 & 8), one really good uphill hole (#7), good dogleg layouts (#1, 4 & 5) and others with nice basket placements protected by trees (#2 & 9).
- This is a total ace run/birdie-fest course for casual players and above. I carried 3 discs with me, and that was at least one too many. Take away the time searching for 'lost' discs in the fairway, I knocked out the nine holes in about 15 minutes.
- Awesome tee signs. It's a signature of the Nature Trail courses, and this was no exception. Add to that, this course is easy to navigate and anyone can find their way through the course.

Simply put, the course can't be played in the state it was when I played. I know this is a Nature Trail course, but they're taking the 'nature' part a bit too far in its current state.
- Take a look at the pictures of the course. That's what this course should be like. The fact I was looking up at several weeds makes it seem like nothing had been cut since those pictures were taken 17 months earlier. The frustrating part is that it would only take two or three people with weed whackers and loppers a couple hours on a Saturday morning to get things cleared up. Not sure if that responsibility falls to the local disc golf scene or the school's maintenance workers.
- Add to the grass, there are also a bunch of briars and thorn bushes. I scratched my legs up pretty good and I didn't even end up in the rough.
- Course doesn't allow for much variety in shots. If you can throw straight and throw 150 feet, you'll have nine birdie putts. That's due to this being a beginner course.
- No benches or trashcans in the disc golf area of the school. Granted, if you can't last 15 - 30 minutes that's your issue.

I was disappointed I didn't get to experience this course in its intended state. North Buncombe would be a fun course to practice on if it were in your neighborhood, and it would also be better maintained.
- There's got to be some concern that this course doesn't get much play. Clearly a lot of work went into designing the course and tee signs. You could blame the tall grass as being a deterrent, but I doubt scores of people are showing up here with the hopes of playing. At best, the course will get heavy usage from students and the occasional passerby.
- I'm giving this course a 1.0 rating based on its design. It's most similar to other courses I've rated 1.0, so I'll rate it that and not give it a low rating for its maintenance issues. It achieves its intended goal, and that's a beginner-level course.