After pulling its old course more than a decade ago, NGU has a new and improved layout. It's a simple layout, but still offers lots of fun.
- I was pleasantly surprised how much I enjoyed this course. It's such a basic layout, with not much room to work with, yet it's a varied course.
- I think this course will be known for three distinctive features: gauntlet shot on #1, basket in the rock on #5, and the mando around the edge of the track on #6.
- I liked holes 3, 4, and 8. These holes are all doglegs left. All are blind tee shots. #4 is one where you'll feel you should have thrown a better tee shot because it's only 220 feet. But, you're shooting a gap and having to judge how far back the basket is. I feel many players will get a disappointing three here.
- #8 is a nice longer layout. 388 feet, par 4. It's about 275 feet to the gap in the woods. Then the basket is 100 feet back to the left. Basket is protected by trees so you'll need to be accurate. Don't miss the gap long or short as that rough is thick.
- #5 is a fun hole. It's a long island green at 271 feet. On a breezy day, that was a tough green to hit. Once there, you're putting to the raised basket in the rock. What adds to the hole is having the mountains as your backdrop. On a Fall Saturday afternoon, with the leaves changing and having the large American flag in the background as well, I only felt I was missing my apple cider. Side note: the area's largest, or at least most well-known, apple orchard is only 25 minutes from here. Anyone with kids in the western half of the Carolinas has seemingly gone there at least once. So, yes, apple pie, apple cider, apple donuts. Whatever you want, you needed your apple something to complete this scene.
- I like the idea of the double mando on #6. Not sure I actually like it in reality. For sure you need the first mando to keep people from throwing over the track. But it be forced to throw through the narrow gap between two storage buildings seems a tad too much on the gimmicky side.
- Potential for a future back 9. Designers are in the planning stages of getting a back 9 built. That'll make the trip here even more worthwhile.

think for a fair number of players, there's not going to be a large scoring separation between good and bad rounds. Every hole is pretty easy based upon its listed par. Getting birdies on a lot of holes is a challenge (in a good way). You'll need good-to-great tee shots on holes #3, 4, 6, 7, 8, and 9 to be getting a birdie 2 or 3. #9 for example is a simple, open layout. But, at 410 feet, and slightly uphill, if you're not throwing drives of 400+, you're left with a simple up and down from 50 - 125 feet. Same thing happened on #3, 4, and 7 for me. Easy pars, but not a real chance at a birdie.
- Course may not always be accessible. Track meets or ball games may limit access to the course.
- I didn't see signs stating whether the course was open to the public or not. I had zero issues playing here. I'd guess if large crowds showed up or people causing a mess may affect its availability.
- It's a little weird that the course map is by the basket for #1. You have to walk the length of #1 backwards to play it. It's a short hole, so it's not a distance issue. Just a weird quirk.
- As mentioned above, the biggest gripe here will be the forced double mando on #6. Personally, I'd only have the single mando. Maybe set up the double mando as a challenge during singles or a tourney. But, I wouldn't make it a feature of the course.

I remember driving to NGU more than a decade to play the then listed course. At that time, the course consisted of temporary baskets. And they had been pulled (or I couldn't find them all). So, when I heard a new course was here, I was picturing more temp baskets.
- Glad the school and a group of locals (students, staff, DGers) were able to get a permanent course in the ground.
- I know this isn't the largest school. With an enrollment of around 2,000, it is smaller than the high schools in Charlotte. Still, on an October Saturday afternoon, I was surprised I had the entire parking lot and course to myself save for an older couple walking the track. You'd think anyone would be out and about on this area of campus.
- As I was leaving, I ran into one of the course designers. It was great hearing his thoughts about getting a back 9 installed. That could make this a fun 18-hole layout.
- It's not a beginner course by any imagination. The average hole length is more than 320 feet, with three holes longer than 380 feet. The course lets you play multiple shots throughout your round.
- In terms of layout and backdrop, hole #3 was my favorite on the course. It's a fun, calm, pleasant layout.
- Most of these holes could be transposed to any of the area's other 18-hole courses and they'd fit right in.
- There's not a bad hole on the entire course. The two simplest holes are #2 & 9.
- I'm glad I played here. It was one of the highlights of my course bagging day throughout the Upstate. Will look forward to playing here again.