Pride Park reviews
6
0
A resurrected KY hill workout 2+ years
Reviewed:
Played on:Aug 23, 2012
Played the course:2-4 times
Pros:
If you are looking for a workout while you play, Pride Park DGC is right up your alley! It feels like more than half the holes either run slightly to severely uphill, or the path to the next tee does. It's a good thing there are benches near about 2/3rds of the tees.
Located in Taylor Mill, KY, this pretty, wooded course wends its way downhill from the parking lot from a nice family park with all the amenities. When (not if) some of the family decides the course is too challenging, there's plenty here for them to do.
The first hole runs across a valley, where you'll see that the photograph here on dgcr is fairly dated. That tree in the valley is more than twice the size pictured. The second hole angles downhill to a woods teaser, then you walk back uphill to a shot over a graveyard on #3 (unique!), and then into the woods on 4 & 5 . A few hillside annys (rhbh) later, you're hooking to the right, 200' out and 50' up a severe hill on #8 (to the right, not down the path to the left: that's the #16 basket), before getting really 'interesting' as you start the back nine.
When you stare down the hill on #10, and see the creek ravine below, you can't imagine that the simple 140' #11 actually is a level shot, but you'll need to climb down about 60' (and back up!) for your putt. The short left hook on #12 finishes at a beautifully MacGyver'ed basket, and then you need to backtrack downhill for the final ravine-crossing #13 (don't go on past #12's basket without some breadcrumbs and a gps device).
14-16 work back along the left side of the ravine with some decently challenging control shots, then you walk back up to the #8 tee, turn right across the ravine, go up to the trail, where you jog left, then double back right, and (more!) uphill to the 17th tee (follow the pink ribbons). 17 & 18 are tight, slightly uphill holes that feel long (290') and get longer (334'), with low overhead to navigate, as well. I chose to divide (the fairways) and conquer, and settle for the 3's if I could get them. You finish your cardio workout by continuing to slog your way uphill about a marathon's distance to the parking lot (at least it felt that way to me).
In all, a great workout, a tight course, and a real challenge for the recreational to intermediate level disc golfer. It's not the longest course around, but it can feel like it by the time you get back to your car.
Located in Taylor Mill, KY, this pretty, wooded course wends its way downhill from the parking lot from a nice family park with all the amenities. When (not if) some of the family decides the course is too challenging, there's plenty here for them to do.
The first hole runs across a valley, where you'll see that the photograph here on dgcr is fairly dated. That tree in the valley is more than twice the size pictured. The second hole angles downhill to a woods teaser, then you walk back uphill to a shot over a graveyard on #3 (unique!), and then into the woods on 4 & 5 . A few hillside annys (rhbh) later, you're hooking to the right, 200' out and 50' up a severe hill on #8 (to the right, not down the path to the left: that's the #16 basket), before getting really 'interesting' as you start the back nine.
When you stare down the hill on #10, and see the creek ravine below, you can't imagine that the simple 140' #11 actually is a level shot, but you'll need to climb down about 60' (and back up!) for your putt. The short left hook on #12 finishes at a beautifully MacGyver'ed basket, and then you need to backtrack downhill for the final ravine-crossing #13 (don't go on past #12's basket without some breadcrumbs and a gps device).
14-16 work back along the left side of the ravine with some decently challenging control shots, then you walk back up to the #8 tee, turn right across the ravine, go up to the trail, where you jog left, then double back right, and (more!) uphill to the 17th tee (follow the pink ribbons). 17 & 18 are tight, slightly uphill holes that feel long (290') and get longer (334'), with low overhead to navigate, as well. I chose to divide (the fairways) and conquer, and settle for the 3's if I could get them. You finish your cardio workout by continuing to slog your way uphill about a marathon's distance to the parking lot (at least it felt that way to me).
In all, a great workout, a tight course, and a real challenge for the recreational to intermediate level disc golfer. It's not the longest course around, but it can feel like it by the time you get back to your car.
Cons:
Maintenance is the major issue here: it's being lovingly resurrected from near-extinct, but you won't always catch this course at its best.
Course navigation can be a challenge despite printing out the map here on the website, because the woods get pretty claustrophobic, depending on the maintenance, which can be very sporadic (see 'other thoughts' below).
Some of the 'wrong' baskets are visible from the next tees. For instance, don't shoot straight downhill to the visible basket on #2, your shot will be 30 degrees to the right. You'll see the #16 basket from the #8 tee. Look way up the hill for the right one. When you reach the #10 basket, look to your left to preview the location of #13.
Missing basket on 9, but there's a clearing where it should go. There are actually some treacherous paths which range from cleared, to half blocked by fallen timber, to rocky and steep. You will experience difficulty crossing the creeks, and these hills are likely impossible when it's slick.
Course navigation can be a challenge despite printing out the map here on the website, because the woods get pretty claustrophobic, depending on the maintenance, which can be very sporadic (see 'other thoughts' below).
Some of the 'wrong' baskets are visible from the next tees. For instance, don't shoot straight downhill to the visible basket on #2, your shot will be 30 degrees to the right. You'll see the #16 basket from the #8 tee. Look way up the hill for the right one. When you reach the #10 basket, look to your left to preview the location of #13.
Missing basket on 9, but there's a clearing where it should go. There are actually some treacherous paths which range from cleared, to half blocked by fallen timber, to rocky and steep. You will experience difficulty crossing the creeks, and these hills are likely impossible when it's slick.
Other Thoughts:
If you're looking for a nice relaxing round of disc golf, these hills are not for you. If you're a really big guy like me, make sure your cardio fitness has been approved by your MD.
The layout works in a full loop for the 18, so don't come expecting to take a break at the 'turn' on #9.
Course navigation is notoriously difficult, but look for the pink ribbons to guide you from hole to hole, wherever paths diverge.
The park board has said they plan to pull these baskets, and put them in storage, while anticipating a future redesign, but some local, dedicated DGers have worked so hard this spring and summer to resuscitate the course (thank you, RustyChains & Sir Sidearm!), the park is pitching in with maintenance (for now). And that #12 basket is a treasure. I hope folks come to see what you did there!
The layout works in a full loop for the 18, so don't come expecting to take a break at the 'turn' on #9.
Course navigation is notoriously difficult, but look for the pink ribbons to guide you from hole to hole, wherever paths diverge.
The park board has said they plan to pull these baskets, and put them in storage, while anticipating a future redesign, but some local, dedicated DGers have worked so hard this spring and summer to resuscitate the course (thank you, RustyChains & Sir Sidearm!), the park is pitching in with maintenance (for now). And that #12 basket is a treasure. I hope folks come to see what you did there!
