Challenging layout that will test your game.

Easy to lose discs.

I think this is a great course but definitely not for beginners like myself. I throw RHBH and immediately got into trouble on the first hole due to the tee box placement. If you're looking for a challenge, play this course. If you want something a little easier, somewhere where you can go just to have fun, RL Smith, Kilborne, and Hornets Nest are relatively close and not nearly as difficult.

As other reviewers have said, the pictures don't do this course justice. The terrain winds up and down through the park's rolling hills, forcing you to use every shot in your bag and punishing you when you can't. I only played the Black course, and it was quite a challenge. Looking at the pins and sheer amount of length on Gold, its obviously a championship level layout.

The front nine has a great mix of holes, with some that are tightly wooded and others that start open and finish in the woods. What's great is how unique each hole is. For instance, #2 starts by having to split the gap between a large tree, only to have the gorge waiting behind the pin (across the gorge on gold!). #8 is a short dogleg left into the treeline, with the basket nestled on and around a couple huge rocks. Maybe you've caught on, but the theme here is pin placement! Almost every hole is protected by a steep drop-off, gorge, treeline, rocks, or OB. Sometimes, more than one. Its one thing to have the elevation change and terrain, its another to use it as well as Renny.

Signature Hole - Wow, so hard to choose. For Black, I'll go with the par 4 #14. It has a narrow but uncluttered fairway up to a clearing. From there, its a dogleg left, downhill shot to a pin tucked onto a peninsula settled back in the woods. Spectacular!

For Gold, it has to be #18. This long par 5 traverses the hilly left side of the gorge and crosses the deep gully cut out like a fairway bunker in front of the Black basket. From there, its a short approach across the gorge to a peninsula basket that is as unique as anything I've seen on a disc golf course. Even though I only played the Black course, I had to take a couple shots across to see if my nerves could handle it!

Some of the holes on the back 9 didn't have maps on the tee signs, and navigation was occasionally an issue (though the may be a temporary issue caused by the redesign). I recommend printing out the map. It wasn't clear where the first tee pad was, and it took us a few minutes to find the tee for 16. Really, a couple more 'next tee' signs would make all the difference.

The walk between 14 and 15 crosses the fairway of 10 and is a bit blind, though I'm not sure how else this could be done without removing 15. 11-13 are long 600'+ par 4's, and while its nice to see some long open holes, having them all in a row was a bit boring.

This course has everything one could want. Tight woods, constant elevation change, wide open holes, and true par 4's. I can't give it a perfect 5, as it had some navigation/signage issues, and didn't quite have that magical, hallowed ground feel (e.g. Flip City).

FYI, some of the hole numbers listed on the pictures of the back 9 are a little off because of the redesign, and I used the hole numbers as they were when I played.

I know there are a lot of great courses in Charlotte, but don't miss out on this gem.

This course has almost everything that an experienced player as well as a newcomer could ask for.

First of all, there are really two courses in one, allowing both a green player as well as a seasoned vet to pick their flavor. Gold has some of the longest, most wooded and precariously placed pins that I have ever seen.

I found myself needing to drive with nearly every possible shot in my arsenal, which is to say that there is a great mix of uphill, downhill, left, right, long and short holes. The short holes are a select few, however, on the Gold course, but interestingly enough they are among the most enjoyable to play.

The local club puts a lot of time and effort into the tee pads and general upkeep around the park, much less could be said about Hornet's Nest in my opinion. I have always been a fan of your plain old concrete pad, which they have. I would say the ratio of wooded to mostly open holes would be around 1.5:1.

As previously stated, they really were creative with pin placements as some were teetered precariously on boulders while others on a sheer cliff face. Those holes, although sometimes frustrating, prove to be memorable and always add to the enjoyment of the round.

They make great use of the "unnatural obstructions" , most importantly of which would be the high tension cable towers. Hole 18 requires you to play with those guys as well as a rather annoying ravine. Side note: Bracket's bluff (RIP) pulled off something similar with similar towers.

There are only a couple of negative aspects about this course in my mind.

First of all, navigation would have been a huge issue had i not printed off the map which is available on this site. You probably want to remember to do that!

Secondly, I can never say that a course was absolutely perfect if it does not somehow incorporate a water hazard into the design. Sure thick woods can be taunting, but there is no risk/reward setup quite like throwing over a large body of water. Had they utilized this in the design (I don't recall any being readily available so they would have had to construct said water hazard), this course would have been awarded a 5/5, joining Bud Hill as the only perfect score I have reviewed thus far. Keep in mind, my reviews may be slim, however I have played a fair share of courses and none that I have not currently reviewed are better than Renaissance.

I enjoyed the location, as civilization was literally out of the parking lot if one needed to grab lunch or some more liquids.

There are facilities other than disc golf at the park, which brings in sometimes unwanted patrons who sunbathe on the fairway, however, this also means there are water fountains and restrooms nearby!

This course (GOLD) is quite simply the hardest course I have played as of yet. When I played it for the first time (had been playing DG for 2 months at the time) it almost made me score my only triple digit score as well almost making me score my only double digit hole. Thankfully, in all my green glory, I was able to save myself from said heartaches, but I am sure others have not been so fortunate!

-There are two tee pads and two baskets on several of the holes so that players of all skill levels can enjoy the course.
-This course has a nice mix of holes that go through the woods that require an accurate tee-shot placement and open holes that require a decent roller shot.
-This course has several elevated greens including ones at 2, 8, 14, and 16.
-Course is located in a park that has full facilities such as a restroom and a water fountain.

-Erosion problem along the ravine near the 18th fairway.
-Some of the holes border a parking lot and a road that can create a safety issue.
-Some of the walks between the basket of one hole and the tee of the next are a little lengthy.
-The walk to the 15th tee crosses the 10th fairway.

When playing this course you may want to bring hiking boots because they will come in handy when you climb on the boulder greens at 8 and 16 and if you need to go into the ravine to retrieve a disc. This course is also one of the most popular in Charlotte and is well worth the drive to play it. Despite a couple of minor issues this course is one of the best in the world.

Great for experienced players. Very difficult and will give the average player a run for their money. This course is far from boring. It has great basket locations and fun terrain. It is very long. I hit a 120 footer across the gulley on hole 18. It was sick. Fun course!

Some spots could be a little more well kept. There are opportunities to unintentionally hit cars on the hole near hr parking lot. This course is very difficult so not great for beginners.

Great to bring large groups because of size. Plenty of driving practice.

So many signature holes. Hole 2 white would be a cherished hole in most courses, her it is just one of many nice holes. Holes 8 and 10's use of rocks made the holes interesting and attractive.
Hole 9 had a spotters stand to watch the discs over the hill on a blind shot.

Hole 14 broke the monotony of holes 11-13 with it's long left turn to an elevated basket.
Hole 15 had a nice elevated tee and hole 16 had a double mando that some people will hate, others will think it is an interesting hole. (I thought it was interesting).
Hole 17 was an interesting uphill shot with the basket on rocks

Several very risky shots that can reward you or destroy you.

2 holes had distance markers to tell you how far you had left to get to the basket.

Good use of elevation and terrain features.

Concrete tee pads and multiple baskets.

Course easy to find with typical blue and grey sign all of the charlotte parks had.

After hole 10 the signature holes stopped and safety issues started: 11 had the road on left, 12 was a wide open hole towards cars. After hole 14 you have to walk through 10's fairway. Hole 18's approach was right at cars in the parking lot. I had to purposely blow one of my shots to avoid hitting the cars and I ended up in a dangerous drop off that was OB. It was a shame to end such a great course on it's worst hole.

I did not see any maps., but they were not needed.

CROWDED!, but can you fault the course for being too good? Do not plan on making a quick stop to Renny, you will be there for over 2 hours.

Play the shorts the first time, then progress to the longs if you need more of a challenge.
If you can play both there are some holes that the white basket is more fun, but others where I preferred the shorter yellow.

78% (14/18) of this course was absolutely amazing the makings of a 5 star course.
16% (3/18) of the course I was ambivalent about and I was truly upset with only one hole.

This is a must play, but get in shape and stretch (sounds stupid, but do it). I saw people limping all over the course and using sticks as makeshift crutches.

If you are a newer player or are not ready for a challenge,but want a great course try Reedy and North Cabarrus, but if you want a one of a kind experience give Renny a try.

Fantastic diversity

Challenging yet fair

Multiple pads and baskets

Technically 2 courses on site

Concrete pads and plenty of amenities

Sexy terrain and landscaping

Flows well

This course was very close to a 5 for me. I found no glaring faults.

This is easily in my top five. Its up with Flip City and Deer Lakes.

I had heard many times how punishing this course is. I half expected to just play disc plinko through the woods. This was not at all the case. I found the fairways to be very fair. Sure, your not gonna park your disc where you want every time, but I never felt like I just needed luck to get through to the pin.

In addition to the long tight holes, there are several open holes. This was unexpected. I loved it. You wind in and out of the woods throughout the round. Also, even though there are more tight than open holes, not all of the tight holes were long. There were some deuce opportunities.

There are a few open holes in the middle that are true bombers. I believe the first of the three was just shy of 1100 feet. So yea, you get some reprieve from the density, but you will fall behind if you have a weak arm.

This course exposes weakness. You have to be able to bomb as well as carve very technical lines. I used pretty much every shot in my arsenal to get through.

The landscape is super sexy. There are many wooden bridges and staircases throughout the course. Ravine beds run through the park. I can't recall water playing a role but the beds provide some nice elevation changes. Many of the pins are perched on boulders or built upon logs to provide picturesque and challenging putting. The only drawback to the scenery are the electrical lines. Hell, the structures that hold them even come into play. There is a mando on one for hole 18.

This course had everything I hoped for and more. If you want to chill, play the original course. If you want to test your skills, play the gold. Renny gold will challenge you in every way.

before i played flyboy aviation, this was my favorite course. it changed what i thought a disc golf course could be the first time i played it. hole 18 is still one of my all time fave holes. you know you have played a round of disc golf when you finish a full 18 of the gold course.

it's not flyboy aviation. and that's the only one.

You hear about this course being worth the trip, but I have heard that many times and thought, "yeah, that was pretty good". This course is like Idlewild in that it is ridiculously hard, but you have to admit that there was a fair route (you just didn't hit it). Don't go off the fairway; if you want to beat this course then you have to know when to take a par and when to go for the bird.
I'm not going to give you hole-by-hole descriptions; I feel that takes away from the surprise. I will tell you that for two above-average players, expect to take 2-2.5 hours, and hit this course twice on your trip. I only gave it a 4.5 because the signs were kind of lacking, and there was once or twice when I wasn't 100% sure which way to go after a hole (a perfect course has to cover the basics, right?). In fact, Charlotte did so much on all of their courses except signage! That's the part that should be free, if you looked for sponsors. All in all, Stan McDaniel does it up, and what makes Charlotte a mecca is that they have so many high caliber courses in one area. I mean, there is no where else in the world that I would make a disc golf trip to for three days and NOT be able to make it to Winthrop Gold....

- Focus. If you don't focus (and play "golf") on every shot, you will pay with strokes on your scorecard. Punishment for anything less than perfect shots is everywhere. Of the 100 course I've played, maybe only three others required as much focus as Renny Gold.
- Accuracy Required. 13 holes are dictated by "forced" landing zones (or multiple forced landing zones - par 4's and 5's) in that missing the landing zone will require some expert finagling (which will probably get you into more trouble) or a pitch out to the zone so that you can have a decent next shot.
- Par 70. Thank God they didn't try to call it "Pro-Par". The Par 4's are hard 4's... and the Par 5's are even harder 5's. With the aforementioned "forced" landing zones on these holes, you have to link several PERFECT throws just for the opportunity to get a birdie.
- Maintenance. The disc golf club has really done a fantastic job with the infrastructure: stairs, numerous bridges, elevated pin positions, OB markings, mandies, benches,...
- "Yardage" Poles. (I say "yardage" because it's actually "feet")... On the long holes, just like on Ball Golf courses, they have installed "yardage" poles mid-fairway that tell you how much further the pin is. Excellent touch!
- Overall Course Design. EPIC shots... Risk/Reward pin positions... Landing zones... OB... Need for perfection... "Golf"... Dual layouts... Etc...

- Signage. For a course of this caliber and prestige, the signage was Atrocious! Some were legit, however most were painted on wood, or were little engraved plaques, or were laminated pieces of paper... others were non-existent. With holes as complex as Renny Golds are, it would be nice to see professional tee-signs that show an overview of the hole, with OB's, distances to major features, pin positions, Par, elevation, etc... labeled.
- Consistency. From various forms of signage to various numbering techniques (plastic house numbers, metallic mailbox stickers, tiny plaques), to the size, shape and placement of the OB stakes, or the materials the retaining walled pin locations were built out of... there didn't seem to be any consistency in any way, besides great golf shots.
- Clutter = Ugly. At several points on the course it seems cluttered with stuff: multiple tees, crappy tee-signs, multiple labels on one post that say the same thing (?), unsightly OB stakes, yardage poles, extra baskets... I know I'm going to get ripped for this, but some of the "stuff" was Ugly.

- Local Routes. You need to have played this Renny Gold more than once to shoot well (and even then???). There are soooo many local routes and precise layup zones where the next shot should ideally be played from, that it is impossible to figure out in one try. Therefore, if it's your first time....
- Walk the Holes. It's hard to do sometimes because the holes are so long and the doglegs (on many) so severe that walking the holes becomes impractical. However, if you don't (like me), you will pay for it on the scorecard (like me). There are just too many spots where you need to throw a perfect 300-350' shot to a landing zone so that you are able to throw your next shot 90* (left/right) through the window another 200'+... or else be forced to pitch-out and bogey (bogey+).
- My 100th. I purposely saved Renny Gold for my 100th course and I'm glad I did. This course was fantastic and lived up to the hype. An EPIC day.
- My Charlotte Rankings. If you're planning a road trip to Charlotte, here are my rankings (of the courses I've played): Renny, Hornetts, Sugaw, Kilborne, Reedy, .....................Veterans.
- My Score: +8

this course will test you. every hole is a challenge. there are birdie opportunities, but only if you play often.most hole have a "risk-reward" quality to them. some other reveiws have been harsh to the fact that you need to be a decent player to score well on this course.

it can get messy after a rain. the course is built on a old land fill. elevation and mud dont mix well. bring lots of water in the summer, cause it is a hike.

probably the best course in charlotte. has good use of elevation, open holes, wooded holes , up hill shots, downhill shots, a challenge to make par on every hole. ive played here over 30 times and still have have not broken par. if you feel like you are playing well, come here to bring yourself back down to reality. i love this course for its challenge, it is a top notch course worthy of at least 3hours drive to play. stan mcdaniel is a mastermind of chaos

Tough, most difficult course in Charlotte, by far. Both layouts are very challenging. You will be hard pressed to find a course more difficult than the Gold Layout. Distance and accuracy are required here. Wooded, open, multi-shot, elevation changes this course has it all. Design is spectacular with awesome hole locations. All shots are required to shot anything near par. Take advantage of the front nine as there a few birdie chances as they will not come easy on the back nine. Bring water, this course requires severe endurance.

Navigation can be a bit tricky especially on the gold layout. Print a map from the Charlotte DG website.

Not for beginners. Everyone else don't be afraid.
Favorite hole -- #9. Downhill 300'+ feet. Basket on top of huge bolder surrounded by other large bolders.
Hardest Hole -- Most.

There is nothing I can add that has not already been said repeatedly, so here is an overview of what I personally like and how this course stacks up:
1) Holes with good risk/reward -- A+ (This course is the pinnacle of decision making combined with execution....and harsh but fair penalty for sins in either area....gotta love it!)
2) Holes that have rewarding birdie opportunities -- A (Original is ideal for me = A+. Lots of the Gold holes are too long for me to score birdies, par often feels routine/boring and a bogey is a downer = B. I lose accuracy over 300' and that is not enough to score really well on Gold.)
3) More wooded than open - lots of variety of shots required caused by hole shape and topography -- A- (Use of topography on both is outstanding! Original forces much more touchy/finessey shaped shots, but are still demanding in length = A+. Gold is more about length/accuracy and less about shot shaping = B)
4) Natural beauty (Appalachian beauty preferred) and seclusion -- B- (This is the only area Renny hurts in. There are a few pretty spots to breathe in some beauty, but overall it is pretty rough feeling - under a powerline for most of the front, and brambles, sludge and scrubby trees on the back. Renny's holes on Idlewild's KY land = heaven!)
5) Bonus amount for multi-shot holes with defined landing zones, good risk/reward and multiple options to play them -- A (I would give an A+, but my opinion is that some of the OB rubs salt in the wound too much. For example the OB on the creek left of 8O/7G's fairway adds an unneccessary stroke to a lie that will already take you 1 and probably 2 strokes to recover from. And, as stated before, some landing zones on Gold are too long for me to reach......but, it is a Gold course and I am not a Gold player.)

It's all about feeding the addiction, so I ranked this course subjectively based on my own "personal addiction factor". The grades above tell how well the course will draw me back to itself again and again and again. Since I have played a decent number of courses (115 18-hole, 50 9-hole as of early 2009), my hope is that players/explorers who have similar addiction tastes will find my ratings list helpful as they choose courses to play and explore.

I fully expect others with different tastes/philosophies to disagree with me....that's the fun of things here. See my profile for my rating philosophy.

Oh....and a PS: I love the online "Be the Disc!" narrated fly-by videos!

Elevation, Elevation and Elevation! Gorgeous scenery, extremely challenging. Park office on-sight that offers course map and score card. Bridges and stairs provided. Course is laid out extremely well and it is obvious that allot of time and work went into this course. The course is convenient to uptown Charlotte and is not far off the interstate. Benches or sitting area's at nearly every hole and you will need it!

Well these are minor as this course is a masterpiece! However the back 9 can get EXTREMELY muddy after a rain and will take a few weeks to dry out. (However the park has laid out carpet on some of the really bad parts but it is still very muddy). Their is allot of traffic noise coming from the road that hurts the beautiful scenery. The course lay out can be very confusing - GET A MAP!!! There are quite a few blind shots - but I like those as they make the game a bit more challenging.

I have to admit this course was bit much for me. I am nowhere near the caliber of player that should play this course, but the course is a masterpiece. You will be challenged to throw over creeks and ravines like you have never imagined! Make an errant shot and you will pay for it dearly!!! This is worth a long drive to see this course!. I highly recommend this course to any players who are experienced or advanced!!

Original course: Great variety of shots. Elevation changes. Short & long holes. Open & wooded. Clean with animal proof trash cans & nice concrete tee pads. Mando's, OB's & creeks. Great benches. Nice tee signs. Wood bridge crossings, beautiful landscaping, & tee box/pin supports, directional markers all show that the Charlotte DG club has made a large commitment. Aug '09- Played the 'Gold' course. The 'gold' layout adds length & complexity. The grass was high so lost discs were a problem. Throwing my disc into the fairway would help in most cases. Keep it out of the shule!

Some muddy spots.

After having seen this course showcased on a number of videos I couldn't wait to actually play it. This course seems bigger than life in person.

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.

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!

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.

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.