-One of the hardest permanent courses in the world, offers an amazing challenge for golfers of all levels
-Two great layouts that overlap however they offer completely different experiences
-Well designed technical and long par 4s and 5s
-No two holes are similar, new challenge on every tee
-Good signage, hard to get lost
-You feel as if every hole was built not just installed in the woods

-It would be nice if the park had more facilities

A must play for any aspiring course designers, or anyone looking for a true challenge.

: ) :

Difficult, long, challenging, fun, well-designed. Great use of alternate tees and baskets. Very inventive use of elevation. Mix of fairly narrow wooded holes and wide open holes. You will need every shot in your bag for righties and lefties. The Gold course is looong.

Can be confusing to navigate, lots of blind tee shots. The original course is overlayed by the Gold course, so there can be some confusion when navigating the course.
The woods can be thick, you will make quite a few blind throws, and the slopes that border the holes can be prohibitive. This is an easy place to lose your disc.

This is a really pretty course, but it is a long hike up and down lots of elevation. It's a great challenge, but take your time and take it easy. It will take some stamina to finish because it is hot in the summer and windy in the winter. The Gold course navigates an old bike trail, so it can be messy when it's been raining.

This is one of the toughest courses I have ever played! Several holes are unique and memorable. As you approach each new tee you think "what could possibly be next!"

When I was there we had to ask somebody where the first tee was (it is kind of hidden.) Not really a con, but I remember being physically and mentally exhausted coming up the 18th fairway!!!

I have only played it once, so you can read the reviews of those who have played it more recently and more often for more details.

Bottom line is this is one of the best and most challenging courses there is. It is a MUST PLAY. I can't wait to play it again.

This course is definately one of a kind. When my friends and I play other courses alot of times we make comparisons. Like this course is like that course or this course is like this course and that course combined. However the Renny is like nothing else I have ever played. The first two holes are in the open and still play harder then I thought they would. Then you go into the woods. 3 and 4 play like any wooded course but then you take a look at five and start having a harder time visualizing the shot. It is a short uphill hyzer with lots of trees and as easy as it looks I still never birdied it! The woods will continue to beat you down untill finally you get to one of their signature holes. Throwing down a hill into a cascade of rocks with the basket sitting nicely on top of them. Throw it short and you are in the woods. Long and you are in a muddy mess! If you have confidence in your putting ability you can drill your putt and go on to the next hole. But if you have any doubt in your mind you better lay up or you will find yourself 40 feet below the basket on the other side. The next hole is one of the easiest holes as a 300 hyzer will put you in good shape for a birdie or an easy par. Par on this course is like a birdie on most other courses. I gave myself a big pat on the back for a par, the two or three times it happened! The rest of the holes from here on out have a nice open fairway but usually end up with a basket in some trees or on top of a hill making the risk reward factor as high as it can be. If you can manage to hold yourself together untill the 17th hole you are doing better than me as I was black and blue by then and begging for mercy! 17 will now take another stab at destroying your score as it is probably 600 feet or more to the hole and 200 trees in between! The best I could do there was a bogey and that was with tomahawks the hole way. 18 is a nice finish if you can throw 500 feet. A noob like me took a double bogey and went home feeling like I was thrown down a mountain and left for dead!

At the time that your a$$ is getting stomped you will be thinking that ol Renny is one mean unfair SOB! I left thinking that the course accentuated chance way too much and I wouldn't be back anytime soon. Then I was back again the next day for another round. Ol Renny whooped me again, but this time I was only 25 over instead of 30+.

Definately a must see, the most difficult course I have ever played. I think a newer player, however, can have more fun at other courses in the area.

There is something about this course that I just can't explain. Even after playing the famed Idlewild a few days ago and naming it my new favorite, I think this course still has top honors with me. Here are my thoughts on the holes (Gold Course):
1 - Have to throw under the trees, and stay right, with huge D to make a good lie, not the easiest thing to do for a RHBH.
2 - You can go HUGE hyzer like the pros do, but i could not, played through the stand of trees, and ended up decent, then you have to clear a big ditch before ending up on a green that is both tiny and the basket is elevated 10 or so feet.
3 - Nice tight wooded fairway, but not to hard to clear, then the basket is waaay back to the right in a circle of trees.
4 - Loooooong rising/falling fairway, ends in a wall of railrod-ties, with the basket at left about 15 feet higher.
5 - You have to throw up a huge hill with very tight trees, then at the top of the hill go left another 60-70 feet with a drop-off on your left.
6 - Not a very long hole, but don't let it fool you, if you throw long you'll go off the drop-off at the end, hard not to go to far, definitely makes you think twice about trying to ring the chains from very far out.
7 - The first mando tree is rediculous, like 10' away and NOT in danger of being hit, but I guess some people have hit it, hence why it is a Mando. Definitely stay out of the creek to the left, it is NOT fun to retrieve a disc from (ask me how I know). I don't see how anyone could ever 3 this hole. After you drive ~400-450 feet right then gentle left, you have to dogleg right then up a hill and the to the right another few hundred feet.
8 - Very cool, but the hill is deceiving. I threw an Eagle GENTLY and it went long OB. Finish in a very cool rock-formation green with hugely elevated basket.
9 - BLIND shot up over a hill, then you have to clear a semi-circle of rocks that are like 7 feet tall, very cool
10 - up a hill to a tunnel fairway with a massive boulder in the way, then dogleg right up another hill to the basket.
11 - BIG ARM open hole, throw your longest drive 3-4 times and you might be at the basket. Wide open, but curves right so you have to control your flight pretty well.
12 - Another long open hole, but curving left, so a little more forgiving than 11.
13 - Starts open then gradually the trees tighten in on you until the basket is back in some trees at the end of almost 1000 feet of frustration (at least for me).
14 - After walking through a cool little shrubbery "arch" to the tee, you have to go long and straight to stay out of the woods, then dogleg left down a hill and up to a 15 foot elevated basket.
15 - Very cool tee where you throw out of the woods down a huge hill. Basket is in the woods that lines the right of the fairway. Don't hit the tower on your drive, and don't overthrow the basket once you get within striking range (OB creek).
16 - Two separate fairways to reach the basket, one to the left sweeping right, and vice versa on the other side. The left fairway is more open, but the right fairway lends itself to RHBH hyzer shots. I messed up and went right into the stand of trees in the middle, but surprisingly it wasn't that thick and I was able to lay up next to the basket on my second shot.
17 - Long straight drive next to the creek, then dogleg right and up a slop to the basket on a slope, harder than it seems.
18 - OK this is the craziest hole. After snaking between two power line towers and several OB areas, you have to throw over a 75 or so foot deep trench to an island green that is roughly the elevation of the fairway. Miss the green and you take an automatic stroke. 800+ feet! But visually AWESOME.

Some of the walkways and grounds needed attention when I was there, and some of the approaches to the greens were downright dangerous. This course needs some steps, rails, etc added. But that will certainly not keep me from playing it as many times as I can!
Sometimes hard to find the next tee, Course Map definitely recommended.

I love all the elevated and extremely creative basket configurations. Overall the course is beautifully laid out and my hat's off to the designer. I wish this were closer to me, I'd play it once or more a week if I could. I guess I'll have to settle for good ole Freeman Lake a few times a week. Definitely have to play this course if you're in the Charlotte area, only 5-10 minutes from the airport, so keep that in mind!

Insane course design. This course will challenge you on every front: accuracy, distance, mid-range, putting, skill shots, finesse shots, trick shots. Several long open holes that allow you to sling it. 18 is a monster open hole that needs a good arm. 12 is mostly open as well but once you see the basket position you'll realize its tougher than the par 4 suggests. Holes 3 through 8 are all smashed together in a small area of woods almost cris-crossing one another. Its tight, hilly (on hole five you have to throw a tee-shot directly up a steep hill) and unforgiving. Hole 17 is another satanic hole; a tee shot needs to reach a turn where you then turn 90 degrees and shoot uphill over some small pines to the basket. Once you get out there and see the layout of some of these holes, you cant help but be impressed and scared at the same time. A par is worth celebration on many holes. I actually scored worse my second time out because I remembered what was coming up on each hole. This course will test your mental fortitude. Brilliant.

Almost sadistic in parts. The footing can be treacherous in wet weather due to the steep inclines and slick red mud. Not the prettiest or cleanest looking course out there.

If you like cigarettes as do I, be prepared for an occasional wheeze; there are some crazy inclines here and there.

The toughest course I've ever played (of 1,030). It's the prototype of the future of disc golf. Tests even the top #1 pros to throw shots sometimes beyond their capabilities but still plays fair. Massive, hilly terrain of open and tightly wooded. A small creek in play. 2 different layouts (regular and Gold-gold is the toughest one and the one I played), so there's more than 18 baskets and tees.
Unique holes that can't be compared to anything else. OB usage- island green above a small cliff, park road. Wooden outpost a spotter can climb to watch the shots on one blind hole. 2 baskets cemented into large boulders.

Would be a bit tough to navigate- but map is online and there are signs.
Gold layout would be a turnoff for a beginner- but their not supposed to play it anyways!
Some rough means potential for lost disc or wearing jeans a good idea.
On 2 holes, rough spots not maintained by park- hand cut for tournaments though.

Lots of lots of work has gone into this labor of love and it paid off.
The place to play in the region for anyone of advanced+ skill level who is serious about the game.

This is world class course!!! Simply put this is the best course in Charlotte!!! This course provides the player with the option to throw ever shot in their bag. Sidearms, Backhands, rollers, thumber's, tomahawks...whatever the shot, you can throw it on this course. Renny also has a variety of different looks at holes with elevated baskets, crazy challenging angles, and monster 1000ft holes. This is the disc golf mecca on the East Coast!!!!

Can't think of any

This is a must play course for anyone who LOVES disc golf!!

Course has several real multishot holes which is excellent. The amount of work that has gone into this course is clearly evident. Every conceivable type of shot is required to play this course effectively.

Overall most of the holes are poorly designed and require too much luck. A lot of the property is really not suitable for a disc golf course as it is built in a flood plain/drainage area that reminds me of a scene out of Stephen King's "It." The fairway for hole 17 is always wet making it look like your playing down an oil slick. Several holes are too tight with too much penalty for just a sightly off line shot. The elevated baskets and baskets mounted in rock outcroppings is really just silly and cheapens the course. It just takes too much luck to get around this place with a decent score.

This course would be much better if a few things were changed. Almost every hole needs to be widened and trimmed. Good shots should be rewarded but a shot that is 90% perfect shouldn't be penalized by a double bogey. In addition too many baskets are placed where roll aways are very likely furthering the luck factor. I do want to state again that the amount of work that has gone into the course is incredible and it is disappointing that the end product isn't better. Dave Feldburg seems to mirror my thoughts about the course being unfair on the Clash at Renny Gold DVD.

Well developed course. Good mixture of terrain and hole length. Multiple tee pads. Not crowded.

None to speak of, had to use the porta-potty where the tennis courts are, no bathrooms? No pro shop, which is surprising for a championship level course.

Great championship level course. Located in Rennaisance Park adjacent to a tennis center. The course reflects community support and as a result is a great experience to play. Tee pads, tee signs, fairways, and baskets all show signs of constant maintenance and upkeep. Benches on most holes. Following the tee signs to navigate the am course is easy. No trash anywhere to speak of. There are multiple tees for amateur and pro players on almost all the holes. Shot placement from either sets of teepads is critical from start to finish on this course, tough but fair. The terrain is varied, hilly with trees throughout the course, most tee shots have trees or other foliage to account for, with a couple of long, open holes for the big-arms. There has been a design change starting at hole 7 or 8 that requires course knowledge. The gold/pro course skips a hole but makes it up later on the course. We were with a person familiar with the difference between the am and pro course layout so it wasn't too bad. A course map prior to starting would help a lot. This difference in the course does not detract from the course design at all, for whichever way you want to play it. It will take approximately 1.5 to 3 hours to play, depending on which course (am or pro), and how many people you are playing with.
There is a definite set of skill shots you need to enjoy this course, outside of the regular back hand shot. An overhead or tommy shot when you get off the fairways is needed, also a sidearm shot for the same reason. Roller shots wouldn't do well on this course, the fairways are too narrow on most holes with heavily wooded schule on the sides.
For the Charlotte, NC area this has got to be one of the flagship courses that everyone else sets a standard to. We were short on time and that was the only course we were able to play, since it was recommended as one of the best in the area. I agree, I think this course would be one of the best anywhere in the world. The main reason being the obvious local support and all the labor hours spent to create and maintain this great course. Every hole shows attention to detail and has its own character and feel.
If I were to pick a hole that was my favorite on this course I would probably choose 4. A heavily wooded narrow fairway that filters down to some man-made backstops and then doglegs left up to the basket another 60 feet. You need two perfect shots about 275/300 feet each, and then make a perfect putt up at the elevated basket for a three, even scoring a four on this hole would feel good. I could critique each hole, but then this review would be way too long. One last note, we played on a Saturday late morning and there were no crowds at all, which was a pleasant surprise.
***I had to add this course to the directory so I could get a review up. The up-front course information is missing vital data I don't have, so I'm hoping someone who is local can update it to reflect more accurate information about the course. ***
* I am dyslexic. this course was already in there and if i had just spelled it correctly i would have seen that!!*

Hole 18 is the best frolf hole I have ever played - Long drive, but not too long for fear of OB, then either an easy layup to a green island across the ravine from the basket or a dicey shot at the green. Super fun. Most other holes on the course are nearly as fun.

Busy and a bit of trash at the tees.

I liked this course much better than the Winthrop Gold. They seemed equally difficult (though the OB markers were not up when I played Winthrop), but Renny had more variety and elevation.

Very Challenging Course with variety of hole layouts. I love that no 2 holes at this course look the same. The terrain varies throughout the entire course and it is marked pretty well.

The course can be backed up at times and tends to have a good bit of trash. There are some long holes with brushy areas that tend to make discs disapear.

I loved this course. Challenging at every turn. Long and difficult. requires accuracy of the tee, solid approaches and good putting. most courses, you just fling your driver eith putt or approach from 75 feet or closer. Not at this course.

I have only played it once, meaning that I had no idea from the tee what a good position to be in for approaches.

I shot an 80...and I was ecstatic. I think if I played it again, I could place my drives better but I have no regrets. Don't be foold by the first hole. It is kinda tame, but #2 is where I remember the fun starting.

This is without a doubt the hardest Disc Golf course I have ever played. When looking at the course you can tell its long, and brutal, but when you actually step up and play, the course will destroy you. the shorter tees to the shorter baskets is a big challenge. Then, if you dare to try the "Gold" course which has tees that are further back, and baskets that are even longer, and tougher, the course takes everything out of you. I can not explain the toughness. You have to experience it. The throwing lanes are not too tight, but the holes are long, and tough. When I went (2004), I read a sign saying they are even going to be adding more to the course making it LONGER and HARDER. A course has not kicked my butt like this one ever.

GREAT job making the course look awesome. You can really see all the work done to this course. I can just imagine how much more difficult the course would of been without all the countless hours of volunteer work that was done to make it look great. This course would probably skyrocket in rating if I played it more.

Most every hole you have to walk 400 feet just to find the basket. Then you have to walk back to the tee to throw. Can take a lot out of you doing this for every hole on a 98 degree day like I did.

The 9500 ft, par 70 Gold Course setup is simply awesome. There are only 5 par 3's on the entire course and there is a premium on precision placement and strategy. Every type of shot is required and there is plenty of distance required(there are 10 holes over 500 ft and #11 is 1042 ft). I'll save everyone the time of me being repetitive and just say that I agree with Lowe's review.

A few areas of holes on the back nine were a little wet and muddy though none of the rest of the course was at all. Tee signs mark the original course setup well but the Gold course is hard to navigate at spots. I was lucky enough to pick up with 3 locals who "showed me the way" but I would hate to try and play this by myself for the first time.

This is a world class course. I agree that it is among the most difficult, if not THE most difficult in NC. The SSA is 69 so anything around par is impressive. While this course is not for begginers, I highly recommend playing this course! It is a very impressive job of design by Charlotte legend Stan McDaniel. He and the Charlotte Disc Golf Club have really outdone themselves here. Excellent!

My Score = 9.9 out of 10
Course Levels: Original-A = Blue, Gold = Gold

This is the best course of the ~210 that I've played so far, and the only course that I've rated 5 discs. (as of Sept 2008)

Awe inspiring! A sublime experience on a world class course! A great course that just keeps getting better! The Charlotte club, led by Stan McDaniel, has done a mind boggling amount of work on this course! It is a model for what all disc golf courses should aspire to. You do battle with the course, and it beats you up, but you ask for more. It kind of reminds me of fraternity hazing-- as you're getting punished you keep asking "May I have another please?"
With 2 courses and 2 sets of basket layouts there are 4 course layouts available, but all are long and challenging, for players of the highest skill level. The Gold course pushed this course up to an even higher level of excellence.
The land has great elevation changes, and the fairways have every type there is-- left, right, straight, L bend, S curve.
Many of the greens are some of the best and most challenging that you'll ever play. Many are fast with steep slopes that drop off into ravines; you're not safe until your disc is in the basket.
There's also great variety of terrain with many wooded shots requiring accuracy balanced by some open "crush" shots.
The man made structures can't be adequately described; you just have to see them to believe it. Telephone poles were hauled in by mules to build up green embankments over steep ravines, long stairways and bridges were built, concrete blocks were hauled in for a remote tee pad, and there's even an observation tower to climb up on one on blind hole!
Whenever I finish playing there, even though I'm tired and my ego is bruised by my score, the "euphoria factor" lasts for days afterward. This is a legendary course that you must play if you ever get the chance.

The only area that needs improvement is better signs and instructions to navigate the Gold course. There's an awesome map on the Charlotte Club website (CDGC) and a link to an Excel spreadsheet with the current layout. (That's such a handy piece of work in itself!) Don't attempt to play the Gold course without these or you may have lots of frustration.

Many players, including myself, say that Renny this is the best and the toughest course in North Carolina. Personally, I prefer the Original course to the Gold course because I think the holes are better. I highly recommend that you play Renaissance for the quintessential disc golf experience!

Other Reviews-
• From Ken Climo- "Nestled on a very wooded piece of property, Renaissance boasts long, demanding holes with a slew of treacherous greens. An incredible amount of elevation change will tax both the legs and the conscience. The finishing holes at Renaissance are as awesome as they come. Both #17 and #18 are incredible par 4's that can ruin a round before you know it. This course never gives you an opportunity to relax. From the first tee it's game on, so give yourself plenty of time to psyche up before a round. Even on a good day you might just get kicked around." (kenclimo.com)

Very hard layout with great tee placements and baskets. All interesting holes and various skills needed. Play a lot and expect to see some of the best in the Southeast show up.

Humbling feeling after finishing.