-
Discover new ways to elevate your game with the updated DGCourseReview app!
It's entirely free and enhanced with features shaped by user feedback to ensure your best experience on the course. (App Store or Google Play)
Sharon Johnston Park reviews
17
0
wellsbranch250
Diamond level trusted reviewer
Premium Member
Experience:
10.4 years
662 played
642 reviews
Do Go Chasing Waterfalls.
Reviewed:
Played on:Feb 22, 2023
Played the course:once
Pros:
(3.734 Rating) A big rural park style course, with a big city budget.
- GAMEPLAY - Parts of the Sharon Johnston course is just wowza. The gameplay starts off rather slow and open compared to the later holes, but those that can bomb, will have the opportunity too launch. Starting on hole (5), the gameplay begins to traverse some woods. Placement and accuracy is needed on this hole and many others as well. Hole (9) is awesome. A raised tee location that will require throwing over a valley and trying to hit a gap in a well-spaced tree line. (10) is rocking as well, which is a nice hooking downshot over a small creek. There are a bunch of adrenaline pumping lines here overall and some multi-play cerebral elements that really elevate the experience.
- HOLE 17 - I intentionally skipped noting this hole in the gameplay pro above because it's so marvelous, that it needed its own line. A valley shot over a picturesque waterfall. I've played over 8000 unique holes now and would put this one into my top 50 all-time favorites. It's reason enough to come play this course.
- CHALLENGING - MA1s are going to love the distance here. Lots of plus 400 foot holes and a couple are even over 600. There are a couple of mindless holes in the beginning 3 hole loop but the overall some of the parts will require elite skills to routinely break par. At the first tourney out here, even par netted a 929 rated round when playing all the back placements in the winter. It'll probably be a touch tougher once the leaves fill in.
- NATURAL BEAUTY - IMO, among the most beautiful tracks in North Alabama. Several high ground tee shots with views across the countryside. Obviously having a waterfall intertwined into the layout helps. Those that are a sucker for gorgeous landscapes are going to love the walk here regardless of skill level.
- HOLE VARIETY - The hole play type variety here is fantastic. Up, down, left, right, long and longer. A mix of tree coverages from open to moderately wooded. There are a couple water clears and there are multi-play holes. Personally, my only wish is that there were less open holes.
- AMENITIES - Big tees with foul line extensions and Pro 28 baskets. 6 holes have two pro 28s planted. There is a practice basket near tee (1) and there are benches behind many of the tees.
- NAVIGATION - High quality tee signs and a big course map. If I recall correctly, I believe the baskets had directional arrows affixed to them. There are a couple modest gaps that could be tricky, like after (9), but I just don't see how anyone is getting lost. Note, I did have a guide here for my first play, so perhaps I wasn't able to key in on the trouble spots.
- GAMEPLAY - Parts of the Sharon Johnston course is just wowza. The gameplay starts off rather slow and open compared to the later holes, but those that can bomb, will have the opportunity too launch. Starting on hole (5), the gameplay begins to traverse some woods. Placement and accuracy is needed on this hole and many others as well. Hole (9) is awesome. A raised tee location that will require throwing over a valley and trying to hit a gap in a well-spaced tree line. (10) is rocking as well, which is a nice hooking downshot over a small creek. There are a bunch of adrenaline pumping lines here overall and some multi-play cerebral elements that really elevate the experience.
- HOLE 17 - I intentionally skipped noting this hole in the gameplay pro above because it's so marvelous, that it needed its own line. A valley shot over a picturesque waterfall. I've played over 8000 unique holes now and would put this one into my top 50 all-time favorites. It's reason enough to come play this course.
- CHALLENGING - MA1s are going to love the distance here. Lots of plus 400 foot holes and a couple are even over 600. There are a couple of mindless holes in the beginning 3 hole loop but the overall some of the parts will require elite skills to routinely break par. At the first tourney out here, even par netted a 929 rated round when playing all the back placements in the winter. It'll probably be a touch tougher once the leaves fill in.
- NATURAL BEAUTY - IMO, among the most beautiful tracks in North Alabama. Several high ground tee shots with views across the countryside. Obviously having a waterfall intertwined into the layout helps. Those that are a sucker for gorgeous landscapes are going to love the walk here regardless of skill level.
- HOLE VARIETY - The hole play type variety here is fantastic. Up, down, left, right, long and longer. A mix of tree coverages from open to moderately wooded. There are a couple water clears and there are multi-play holes. Personally, my only wish is that there were less open holes.
- AMENITIES - Big tees with foul line extensions and Pro 28 baskets. 6 holes have two pro 28s planted. There is a practice basket near tee (1) and there are benches behind many of the tees.
- NAVIGATION - High quality tee signs and a big course map. If I recall correctly, I believe the baskets had directional arrows affixed to them. There are a couple modest gaps that could be tricky, like after (9), but I just don't see how anyone is getting lost. Note, I did have a guide here for my first play, so perhaps I wasn't able to key in on the trouble spots.
Cons:
No short option.
- ONE TEE- For those without big arms, there is no short tee option here. The shortest hole here is 260 feet and only one other is under 300. Those with sub 250 foot arms with rarely birdie. MA4s will be carding lots of bogeys and likely finish 10 over or so. This might be a tough pill to swallow for some, but I think there are enough other positive aspects here that most of these players will generally enjoy the course overall.
- THE FIRST THREE HOLES- The only other weak link on the course is the beginning stretch. the first three holes are open or very lightly wooded. My initial rating projections for the course standing on (4) was sitting at a lousy 2.75 and hole (4) didn't help much. Thankfully it kept getting better after that. The only other mediocre hole, is hole (13).
- TIME PLAY - My first round here I played with two other quick players and it took over 90 minutes.
- ONE TEE- For those without big arms, there is no short tee option here. The shortest hole here is 260 feet and only one other is under 300. Those with sub 250 foot arms with rarely birdie. MA4s will be carding lots of bogeys and likely finish 10 over or so. This might be a tough pill to swallow for some, but I think there are enough other positive aspects here that most of these players will generally enjoy the course overall.
- THE FIRST THREE HOLES- The only other weak link on the course is the beginning stretch. the first three holes are open or very lightly wooded. My initial rating projections for the course standing on (4) was sitting at a lousy 2.75 and hole (4) didn't help much. Thankfully it kept getting better after that. The only other mediocre hole, is hole (13).
- TIME PLAY - My first round here I played with two other quick players and it took over 90 minutes.
Other Thoughts:
Sharon Johnston is a very well-done park style course. It's been getting lots of positive local feeback with several even claiming it's the best course in the Huntsville Metro. I also think it's towards the top for the area. I have it somewhat neck and neck with Indian Creek in town. There are some things that Indian does slightly better and there are some things that Sharon Johnston does slightly better. Other courses that the gameplay here sort-of reminds me of are; Tyus in the Atlanta metro, Jefferson Barracks in St. Louis, Katherine Legge in Chicago, Sugar Hollow in Bristol, Morningside in Knoxville and Crockett in Nashville. Overall, a 3.75 course to me and worthy of being discussed as a fringe top ten Alabama course. I think most trusted reviewers would grade it at either a 3.5 or 4.0.
