South Mountain Disc Golf reviews
2
5
mheredia65
Experience:
18 years
48 played
4 reviews
2+ years drive by
Reviewed:
Played on:Jul 8, 2014
Played the course:5+ times
Pros:
Very fun course to play. Like it's neighboring course (Gardner-Webb), this course is designed for lefties. Thankfully, if you have a decent right hand forearm you will be fine.
There is a good variation of holes both long and short with different looks with each new hole. Some holes will require you to have a decent arm.
With weekly doubles, this course is great for all skills and players.
There is a good variation of holes both long and short with different looks with each new hole. Some holes will require you to have a decent arm.
With weekly doubles, this course is great for all skills and players.
Cons:
For a more seasoned player, the pars on this course seem a little off. Some Par 4's should definitely be a 3.
Other than that, this course is a solid course.
Other than that, this course is a solid course.
2
3
Warthog
Experience:
11.1 years
9 played
7 reviews
Really nice 2+ years drive by
Reviewed:
Updated:
Played on:Aug 15, 2013
Played the course:once
Pros:
Neat,clean,bathrooms,open,areas as well as wooded areas and there is a pro shop on the site. This course would be my favorite if it was closer to my home. The front tees are laid out in such a way that you can just play a 9 target game by using # 17 as # 8 and # 18 as # 9 which completes a circle back to the parking area. The targets are in new or like new condition.
Cons:
Cost is $2 to play all day but worth it. There are no concrete tee pads. There are no direction arrows to direct you to the next hole which can be confusing the first time you play the course.
Other Thoughts:
It is hard to find anything about this course that is not nice. Staff at the office even said they would notify me if I lost any disc that had my name and # on it. Then they loaned me a marker to mark them with.
11
0
DiscGolfCraig
Diamond level trusted reviewer
Premium Member
Experience:
19.9 years
588 played
543 reviews
Better than I expected
Reviewed:
Updated:
Played on:Mar 29, 2013
Played the course:2-4 times
Pros:
South Mountain Christian Camp is a very good, under-the-radar course. Perhaps due to it being out of the way, or a camp course, it's easy to overlook this course. But, it's definitely worth the drive.
- The quality of the SMCC exceeded my expectations. I've played courses at other camps/retreats (Bonclarken & Ridgecrest) that are clearly aimed at beginners/camp-goers. There are short tees here for the beginners, but the pro tees are clearly aimed at the more advanced players.
- This is a very good and challenging course, with some great hole layouts. I really enjoyed the downhill layouts for #3 & 6; #11 is a long, uphill (729 feet) hole with out of bounds running along the entire right side; #16 is a great, long dogleg right hole (I'll talk about this one more later). But, with all of that said, I think the shortest hole on the course is the most memorable. ...
- #15 is a short, nearly straight down shot. It's a 138 feet from the long tees, but basically plays as a long putt. If you don't keep your shot down or avoid the trees, you'll either have a shot sail past the basket, or be throwing from the hill. It's pretty frustrating to have a 50 foot putt on a hole this short. You feel like you should get a two, or better, on this hole every time, but it doesn't take much to end up with a three.
- Course does a wonderful job utilizing the terrain. There is a lot of good elevation throughout the course, with the parking lot on the highest level of the course. The terrain from there slopes down to the lake. Much of the front nine is pretty open, playing up and down the hills. The back nine is more wooded, and features more of the longer holes. Get your birdies on the front nine, then play smart on the back.
- There are a great variety of hole layouts throughout the course. Two thirds of the course is (mainly) open, but there's a good mix of up and down holes, doglegs, a few with mandos and the woods. Also, along those lines, the course does a decent job of offering different layouts, on some holes, playing the pro versus am tees. #8, especially gives two completely different looks from the long and short tees.
- Great nature feel. There are some spectacular views throughout the course. Stand on the tee for #3 and take in the view of the lake. You're going to get some great scenery - hills, woods, and the lake - throughout your round. In addition, because you're out in the middle of nowhere, the course is very isolated. During the summer, when there are campers here, it might be a different scenario. But, in the spring and fall, there's virtually nobody else here.
- Very good tee signs and scorecards/maps. Each tee sign includes a Bible verse, some of which were (obviously) obviously chosen for the given holes. My two favorite, for the obvious reasons were on #11, the long, uphill hole (Psalm 18:32 - the Lord gives me strength) and #16, a dogleg right (Ecclesiastes 10:2 - the heart of the wise inclines to the right, but the heart of the fool to the left). This might not be everyone's cup of tea, but still, they're pretty clever.
- On the right side of #11, there's a memorial sign dedicated to a family of four who were victims of the 1988 Pan Am Flight 103 bombing. It's a somber, but interesting, piece of history to see on a disc golf course in the middle of nowhere.
- The quality of the SMCC exceeded my expectations. I've played courses at other camps/retreats (Bonclarken & Ridgecrest) that are clearly aimed at beginners/camp-goers. There are short tees here for the beginners, but the pro tees are clearly aimed at the more advanced players.
- This is a very good and challenging course, with some great hole layouts. I really enjoyed the downhill layouts for #3 & 6; #11 is a long, uphill (729 feet) hole with out of bounds running along the entire right side; #16 is a great, long dogleg right hole (I'll talk about this one more later). But, with all of that said, I think the shortest hole on the course is the most memorable. ...
- #15 is a short, nearly straight down shot. It's a 138 feet from the long tees, but basically plays as a long putt. If you don't keep your shot down or avoid the trees, you'll either have a shot sail past the basket, or be throwing from the hill. It's pretty frustrating to have a 50 foot putt on a hole this short. You feel like you should get a two, or better, on this hole every time, but it doesn't take much to end up with a three.
- Course does a wonderful job utilizing the terrain. There is a lot of good elevation throughout the course, with the parking lot on the highest level of the course. The terrain from there slopes down to the lake. Much of the front nine is pretty open, playing up and down the hills. The back nine is more wooded, and features more of the longer holes. Get your birdies on the front nine, then play smart on the back.
- There are a great variety of hole layouts throughout the course. Two thirds of the course is (mainly) open, but there's a good mix of up and down holes, doglegs, a few with mandos and the woods. Also, along those lines, the course does a decent job of offering different layouts, on some holes, playing the pro versus am tees. #8, especially gives two completely different looks from the long and short tees.
- Great nature feel. There are some spectacular views throughout the course. Stand on the tee for #3 and take in the view of the lake. You're going to get some great scenery - hills, woods, and the lake - throughout your round. In addition, because you're out in the middle of nowhere, the course is very isolated. During the summer, when there are campers here, it might be a different scenario. But, in the spring and fall, there's virtually nobody else here.
- Very good tee signs and scorecards/maps. Each tee sign includes a Bible verse, some of which were (obviously) obviously chosen for the given holes. My two favorite, for the obvious reasons were on #11, the long, uphill hole (Psalm 18:32 - the Lord gives me strength) and #16, a dogleg right (Ecclesiastes 10:2 - the heart of the wise inclines to the right, but the heart of the fool to the left). This might not be everyone's cup of tea, but still, they're pretty clever.
- On the right side of #11, there's a memorial sign dedicated to a family of four who were victims of the 1988 Pan Am Flight 103 bombing. It's a somber, but interesting, piece of history to see on a disc golf course in the middle of nowhere.
Cons:
There's only one major problem I had with the course, which ended up playing a factor in my rating for this course.
- The natural tee pads were a major issue on some holes. On short holes, you can make do. On longer ones, having to do a run up on a small dirt patch, grass or wood chips aren't ideal. The biggest issue was on the long tee for #12. It's a 408 foot, straight hole, but there's a slope right behind the tee markers, so you're either doing a shorter run-up in the dirt tee area (to stay behind the markers), or you're throwing from a grassy area. With such small dirt tee areas, I felt like they didn't want to ruin the grass.
- In a couple spots, the longer hole layouts overlap onto other holes. The most obvious example is the confluence of the tees for #3, 6 &17, which are all within 25 feet of each other. On #3, I nearly teed off from the tee for #17. #10 & 11 also share a common fairway area.
- I didn't notice many benches or trash cans throughout the course. It'd be nice to have more, especially with as much walking as one does on this course. Also, I didn't notice any restrooms or drinking fountains, so you might have to check with the building where you sign in and pay. If not there, make sure you stop in one of the nearby towns before arriving.
- At least one of the mandos was somewhat poor. On #13, there's a mando left of a tree for the longer two tees. It's a sharp, almost unnatural, curve around the tree, which eliminates a lot of possible distance you could get throwing from the tee. This one seems very forced, and doesn't serve a purpose. Some people might not like the double mando on #10. From the long tees, you have to throw between a 15 foot wide gap between two trees, approximately 160 feet from the tee. If people don't like the double mando on #14 at Nevin Charlotte, wait until you play this hole.
- The natural tee pads were a major issue on some holes. On short holes, you can make do. On longer ones, having to do a run up on a small dirt patch, grass or wood chips aren't ideal. The biggest issue was on the long tee for #12. It's a 408 foot, straight hole, but there's a slope right behind the tee markers, so you're either doing a shorter run-up in the dirt tee area (to stay behind the markers), or you're throwing from a grassy area. With such small dirt tee areas, I felt like they didn't want to ruin the grass.
- In a couple spots, the longer hole layouts overlap onto other holes. The most obvious example is the confluence of the tees for #3, 6 &17, which are all within 25 feet of each other. On #3, I nearly teed off from the tee for #17. #10 & 11 also share a common fairway area.
- I didn't notice many benches or trash cans throughout the course. It'd be nice to have more, especially with as much walking as one does on this course. Also, I didn't notice any restrooms or drinking fountains, so you might have to check with the building where you sign in and pay. If not there, make sure you stop in one of the nearby towns before arriving.
- At least one of the mandos was somewhat poor. On #13, there's a mando left of a tree for the longer two tees. It's a sharp, almost unnatural, curve around the tree, which eliminates a lot of possible distance you could get throwing from the tee. This one seems very forced, and doesn't serve a purpose. Some people might not like the double mando on #10. From the long tees, you have to throw between a 15 foot wide gap between two trees, approximately 160 feet from the tee. If people don't like the double mando on #14 at Nevin Charlotte, wait until you play this hole.
Other Thoughts:
Overall, South Mountain is a very, very good course. Don't let the fact it's a camp course fool you. This would be a top course wherever it was located. Let's just say, you can tell it was built by disc golfers, and is aimed for disc golfers.
- That said, SMCC does a wonderful job of reaching out, and appealing, disc golfers. It's a small gesture, but it's cool they have a loyalty card for repeat players. Play here nine times, get your card punched, and the 10th visit is free. Granted, you're only saving $2; but, it's a real sign they want disc golfers coming here to play.
- That said again, because it's a Christian camp, people should be considerate of that fact when playing here. I'd hate to see them sour on disc golf because of things such as littering or drinking (or other DG stereotypes).
- It also bears mentioning that because it is a Christian camp, there are lots of Christian references throughout the course. I already mentioned the Bible verses on every tee sign. There are also crosses throughout the property and a prayer garden alongside #16. FYI, there is a mando around said prayer garden. Some people might not like all of this, but you do know that going into your visit here.
- #16 was my favorite hole. It's a 602 foot hole, dogleg right around the prayer garden. A good tee shot will be just short, or to the right, of the gardens, leaving a long, slightly uphill second shot. It's a relatively easy four, but it does require good shot placement to get your four, or be in position for a three.
- I was teetering between a 3.5 and 4 for this course's rating. I feel it's a tad short of other courses I've rated 4.0 but better than the 3.5s.
- This is an isolated course, meaning if you're making a drive here to play (from Charlotte/Greenville/Asheville, etc.), you're probably making a long drive solely for this course. Coming from Charlotte/US74 or I-40, the closest courses are all nine-holers. This is worth the drive for anyone within an hour or so of the course. Play a couple of rounds to make the trip worthwhile.
- That said, SMCC does a wonderful job of reaching out, and appealing, disc golfers. It's a small gesture, but it's cool they have a loyalty card for repeat players. Play here nine times, get your card punched, and the 10th visit is free. Granted, you're only saving $2; but, it's a real sign they want disc golfers coming here to play.
- That said again, because it's a Christian camp, people should be considerate of that fact when playing here. I'd hate to see them sour on disc golf because of things such as littering or drinking (or other DG stereotypes).
- It also bears mentioning that because it is a Christian camp, there are lots of Christian references throughout the course. I already mentioned the Bible verses on every tee sign. There are also crosses throughout the property and a prayer garden alongside #16. FYI, there is a mando around said prayer garden. Some people might not like all of this, but you do know that going into your visit here.
- #16 was my favorite hole. It's a 602 foot hole, dogleg right around the prayer garden. A good tee shot will be just short, or to the right, of the gardens, leaving a long, slightly uphill second shot. It's a relatively easy four, but it does require good shot placement to get your four, or be in position for a three.
- I was teetering between a 3.5 and 4 for this course's rating. I feel it's a tad short of other courses I've rated 4.0 but better than the 3.5s.
- This is an isolated course, meaning if you're making a drive here to play (from Charlotte/Greenville/Asheville, etc.), you're probably making a long drive solely for this course. Coming from Charlotte/US74 or I-40, the closest courses are all nine-holers. This is worth the drive for anyone within an hour or so of the course. Play a couple of rounds to make the trip worthwhile.
4
5
JLudlam
Experience:
28 played
3 reviews
2+ years drive by
Reviewed:
Updated:
Played on:Apr 8, 2012
Played the course:2-4 times
Pros:
Excellent use of elevation changes. Course has everything, dogleg lefts & rights, wooded holes, open holes. Friendly & very enthusiastic helpful staff, small pro-shop on site.
Cons:
Pay to play
Course is over par'd, I'm a scratch player. Shot 6 under first time out.
Course is over par'd, I'm a scratch player. Shot 6 under first time out.
Other Thoughts:
Everything about SMCC DG Course is top notch! They are willing to host events/tournaments. Facility & staff are genuinely thrilled with their new course, and should be!
