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Pepper Branch Park reviews
11
0
wellsbranch250
Diamond level trusted reviewer
Premium Member
Experience:
10.3 years
659 played
639 reviews
New And Improved 2+ years
Reviewed:
Updated:
Played on:Jan 27, 2018
Played the course:2-4 times
Pros:
(2.059 Rating) (RE-EVALUATED) A park style course with lots of recent improvements.
- UPGRADE - Although I've not been back since last year, I felt the need to overhaul this review due to all the upgrades. Pepper branch is no longer a 1.030 rating that I originally gave it. 4 holes were modified and 3 holes were added to now make nine holes. Concrete tees have been added. Appealing signage has been installed and there are numbered posts for alternate tees.
- NAVIGATION - This was really bad when I played here last year as the numbered posts were falling apart. There is a new course map and new tee signage as noted above. Unfortunately no next tee direction on the tee signs. I generally don't like double back conditions like what happens between (8) and (9).
- QUICK PLAY - Based on prior experience, the new layout is likely a 25 minute bag for quick solos.
- LOCATION - Pepper Branch fills a substantial gap in the disc golf course coverage. The next closest course is over a half hour away.
- UPGRADE - Although I've not been back since last year, I felt the need to overhaul this review due to all the upgrades. Pepper branch is no longer a 1.030 rating that I originally gave it. 4 holes were modified and 3 holes were added to now make nine holes. Concrete tees have been added. Appealing signage has been installed and there are numbered posts for alternate tees.
- NAVIGATION - This was really bad when I played here last year as the numbered posts were falling apart. There is a new course map and new tee signage as noted above. Unfortunately no next tee direction on the tee signs. I generally don't like double back conditions like what happens between (8) and (9).
- QUICK PLAY - Based on prior experience, the new layout is likely a 25 minute bag for quick solos.
- LOCATION - Pepper Branch fills a substantial gap in the disc golf course coverage. The next closest course is over a half hour away.
Cons:
I removed several cons to pros in this revision and all but one listed below is improved.
- SAFETY HAZARDS - From looking at the new photos, this aspect is still not ideal, but it's gotten better. Hole (2) still plays around some picnic tables. I could see some park patron interaction on holes (1), (3) and (4) as well. The course however is spaced out much better now.
- BASKETS - The single chain baskets appear to still be present. I'm not sure what they picked for the new holes.
- UNIQUENESS - Improved, but still below average IMO. It's rare to find good variety at a course with this small of footprint. Original holes (1) and (2) are still both similar tricky throws across a 15 foot wide creek. (4), (5) and (7) are mostly open. (8) is obstacle free. Completely revised holes (3) and (6) are both nice adds. The holes are short in general, and the one long hole is downhill. Higher skilled bombers may not need a driver.
- NATURAL BEAUTY - I bumped the score up a bunch here too. The new holes add some nice flavor and it spaces the course out much better. Too park style and too open for me to rate the course above average, but it appears to be getting close to that notion. It's also not surprising to read bjreagh's review that there's abundance of trash along the railroad tracks. That's been the case every time in my experience.
- SAFETY HAZARDS - From looking at the new photos, this aspect is still not ideal, but it's gotten better. Hole (2) still plays around some picnic tables. I could see some park patron interaction on holes (1), (3) and (4) as well. The course however is spaced out much better now.
- BASKETS - The single chain baskets appear to still be present. I'm not sure what they picked for the new holes.
- UNIQUENESS - Improved, but still below average IMO. It's rare to find good variety at a course with this small of footprint. Original holes (1) and (2) are still both similar tricky throws across a 15 foot wide creek. (4), (5) and (7) are mostly open. (8) is obstacle free. Completely revised holes (3) and (6) are both nice adds. The holes are short in general, and the one long hole is downhill. Higher skilled bombers may not need a driver.
- NATURAL BEAUTY - I bumped the score up a bunch here too. The new holes add some nice flavor and it spaces the course out much better. Too park style and too open for me to rate the course above average, but it appears to be getting close to that notion. It's also not surprising to read bjreagh's review that there's abundance of trash along the railroad tracks. That's been the case every time in my experience.
Other Thoughts:
When I first played here, it became one of my least enjoyable disc golf experiences and I couldn't see how the course could appeal to anyone. Fast forward 18 months later and reading about the upgrades noted in bjreagh's updated review, I was impressed. My original review quote from April 2018 is as follows <span class="italic">"I think this course should be re-laid out with a looping layout and have a few holes in the 200 to 250 foot range to make it more novice and recreational friendly." </span> Well it was re-laid out in a loop, and its more Novice/Recreational friendly with seven holes between 180 and 280 feet. Well done McMinnville parks department.
- CHALLENGING - From looking at the pictures and hole data distance, the difficulty was dialed back a touch. Not ideal for me, but much better for locals IMO. I'd estimate that even par would net an 880 rated round.
- CHALLENGING - From looking at the pictures and hole data distance, the difficulty was dialed back a touch. Not ideal for me, but much better for locals IMO. I'd estimate that even par would net an 880 rated round.
9
0
2+ years drive by
Reviewed:
Updated:
Played on:Jun 21, 2019
Played the course:2-4 times
Pros:
I was thrilled to see that this course (formerly 6 holes) had been upgraded and slightly redesigned to have 9 holes. This is now a much better course as it is a now a pretty standard 9 hole beginner/intermediate city park course.
The course now offers a bit of everything:
1/2 wooded park style over a creek
3/6 tunnel like shots
4/5 mostly open field
7 steep uphill
8 short downhill touch shot
9 long downhill bomb
Plus scenic views of the river and dam.
Baskets are easily visible and catch just fine. Signs are good. Navigation is easy, course map available.
2 practice baskets (one plays as the long alt. basket for #9)
Plenty of parking. Port-a-pottie near hole 1.
Tees- there are 9 concrete tees #1-9, then 9 natural tees marked #10-18. The "back 9" tees play to the same baskets but offer a different look and distance from the concrete tee.
Only course in town and surrounding areas. Good place for people to learn about the game and how to play it. I had a guy come up while I was playing to get some info and I was more than happy to explain how to play and gave him a quick lesson on disc types.
The course now offers a bit of everything:
1/2 wooded park style over a creek
3/6 tunnel like shots
4/5 mostly open field
7 steep uphill
8 short downhill touch shot
9 long downhill bomb
Plus scenic views of the river and dam.
Baskets are easily visible and catch just fine. Signs are good. Navigation is easy, course map available.
2 practice baskets (one plays as the long alt. basket for #9)
Plenty of parking. Port-a-pottie near hole 1.
Tees- there are 9 concrete tees #1-9, then 9 natural tees marked #10-18. The "back 9" tees play to the same baskets but offer a different look and distance from the concrete tee.
Only course in town and surrounding areas. Good place for people to learn about the game and how to play it. I had a guy come up while I was playing to get some info and I was more than happy to explain how to play and gave him a quick lesson on disc types.
Cons:
Hole 3 will sometimes be flooded or have stagnant standing water. It looked swampy and smelled like dead fish. I did not see an alt. tee for this hole either.
Hole 6 behind the trees along the RR tracks had a lot of trash on it.
Hole 6 behind the trees along the RR tracks had a lot of trash on it.
Other Thoughts:
It is almost as if somebody read my previous review and suggestions, and then made them happen. Probably not, as my ideas seemed pretty logical and were just common sense. But whether I had anything to do with it or not doesn't matter, I am just glad to see a course with potential reach that potential!!!
The course went from one I would have never played again, to one I would play again if passing through town. However, there is no reason for out-of-towners to go out of their way to play here as there are much better courses all over Middle TN.
My rating from 3 years ago was 1.0 (poor) but is now changed to 2.0 (reasonable).
The course went from one I would have never played again, to one I would play again if passing through town. However, there is no reason for out-of-towners to go out of their way to play here as there are much better courses all over Middle TN.
My rating from 3 years ago was 1.0 (poor) but is now changed to 2.0 (reasonable).
