We drove over from Apex yesterday and were pleasantly surprised. This is a typical tight North Carolina course, mostly in the woods. Only holes 1 and 9 are somewhat open. That being said, I very much liked the layout.

We played the white basket layout which is the spring/fall layout. It is the middle distance layout. There are many tight fairways, but pretty much every one is fair, with an opportunity to make it through if you hit your line.

The area around the first green was very wet and muddy. We were afraid we were in for a long day. Happily, that's the only place we were bothered by mud.

We arrived at about 9:30 on a Saturday morning and the course was completely empty. We might have seen one other group playing the whole time we were there.

Bring your hiking boots as there are a lot of roots and fairly challenging hikes up/down some of the fairways. It didn't really bother us too much, but I could see it being an issue if you're not a hiker.

Most of the holes had markers for the next hole, but a couple didn't. Be sure to use UDisc to navigate the course.

Overall, this was an enjoyable course. We'll definitely make the drive again sometime. I like that it is essentially a different course depending on the time of year you visit.

Finally got to play the Blue Basket layout. If this course was always set up in the Blues, with short tees for beginners, it would be considered so much better by the community. Lots of holes over 300' with relatively generous fairways to throw, as far as NC woods golf goes.

I'm mostly here to complain about the tee pads, which are too short by a few feet. I'm 6' and physically cannot execute an X step on these things, and many have a step up on to the pad or drop off after it, so extending the tee is tough and you feel like you'll fall if you follow thru on some holes. Suffered a muscle injury from navigating the crappy tees that put a damper on the round.

Should be played if you can catch the Blue Layout if you are in the Triangle, not sure if there is a scheduled rotation between the 3 pin positions. The course turns into a very dinky woods course if you catch it in the short pin position.

Wish James Conrad would give me a hug & tell me he understands my frustration with the tees.

Southern Community is the third leg of the Chapelboro disc golf scene. It's a winding voyage through the woods, one short hole at a time.
- This review is based upon playing the short, A-pin basket location.
- If you enjoy short, technical courses, you will like this course. There are many similarities to Anderson Park 10 minutes away. So many in fact, that if you play them back-to-back, it'll feel like one 36-hole layout.
- The good news is you get the worst hole out of the way first. Yes, #1 is uninspiring and overly simplistic. It's essentially your only chance to get the kinks out of your throw before accuracy becomes important.
- Each hole has 3 pins positions. Based on their variances, the course will look and play different in each layout. Take hole #4, for example. The short, A basket is 198 feet. The longest position is 300 feet. That's a different set of discs you're throwing.
- One of the best navigational markers I've seen on any course. Between each hole there is a metal, park sign with an arrow and hole number pointing you to the next basket. I haven't seen another park with metal, park signs. Metal signs = permanence. There is also a metal sign warning walker of flying discs on hole #14. It's nice seeing disc golfers get the right of way and a higher priority for once.
- #9 is an evil hole. It's rather inauspicious on the tee but gets nasty real fast. It's 231 feet to the A basket, with a little bit of thick rough to the left of the basket. What you can't see is just past the rough is an algae-covered pond, maybe 40 feet from the basket. I had no clue standing on the tee. I ended up 25 feet from the basket and 15 feet from the pond. Let's just say I putted fast.
- #15 gave me happy thoughts about the classic/retired Hornets Nest #11. It's a 183-foot, dogleg left layout. I played the same high arcing shot that sweeps back to the basket. I still have that same touch, landing my shot 10 feet from the basket. Good memories.
- Good tee signs that highlight the multiple basket locales. For a first timer such as I was, it's needed with the multiple layouts.
- In the short, A-basket layout, the course plays much longer and tougher than its listed length. It's a sub-4,000-foot layout, averaging 220-feet per hole. There are many tight layouts, hello #17 & 18, where you're dodging and weaving discs in and around trees. It presents some fun layouts...but it does boarder on frustrating when you're smacking one tree after another.
- Course is almost exclusively isolated from the rest of the park. That said, I wouldn't be surprised to see a walker take a detour off the walking trails and use the fairways, especially on the back 9, as their own paths.

The parking lot is way too small for what the park offers. This isn't the disc golf course's fault, but it does affect the course, nonetheless. On the Saturday morning I played, there were youth soccer games across the street. So, this parking lot, with 50 or so spots, was overflowing to the point I had to back my truck up because one entrance was blocked by parked cars. If a course can't be accessed, that is an issue.
- This course has a few too many poke-n-hope type layouts. I'd see previous reviews for Anderson that say those fairways are too tight. I felt there were several here that were bordering on excessive. #3 has all the makings of a fun, ace-run, 180-foot (slight) downhill layouts that tempt players to throw multiple discs. Instead, you've got a fairway with trees that left me, and I suspect plenty others, a simple up-and-down from 50-75 feet, after hitting one of those trees.
- Course lacks flare. Other than #1, there isn't a bad layout. There also aren't many memorable ones either. Oh, how a longer, par 4 or 5 would be fantastic in the rolling terrain on the front 9. I kept imagining how a Nevin-esque (Charlotte) long hole could exist in this area.
- I don't remember seeing a single bench or trash can on the bench. The only restrooms also appear to be in the far side of the park, near the other entrance off 15/501. Just saying, it's a bit of a hike.

Southern Community is a nice short-length layout, in the A basket design. I do not know how it looks or plays in the other layouts. Based on a local saying this is the summer layout, there are plenty of players who can use my review. For the other layouts, a lot of my review won't be pertinent.
- In the short layout, there are other nearby courses that play similar: Anderson (Carrboro), Cornwallis (Durham), Wellspring (Burlington), and Kentwood (Raleigh). If you need practice on your mid-range game and you're in the Triangle area, there's no excuse no to practice.
- This is a good stop for a quick round. I was done in under an hour, and that includes the challenges of trying to find a spot in the parking lot. You can also play a quick 9, as the course is two separate 9-hole loops.
- If you can throw a straight shot 200 - 250 feet, you're going to nail this course. On a couple holes, I couldn't spot the basket from the tee, #12 comes to mind. So, instead of playing to a side, I played to the hole length, and ended up with an easy up-and-down for my par 3.
- I liked Anderson Park slightly more than Southern Community. They're essentially on the same skill-level. Southern may get the nod because of the multiple pin placements, or simply because it's in Chapel Hill.
- This is a solid, mid-length course. I fully understand the ratings and perception of this course will vary when the course is in the short vs long tees. Some people will have a clear preference for one layout vs the other. Looking forward to playing the long tees next time.

Southern Community is a nice wooded course located a few miles south of Chapel Hill.

+ There was a lot more elevation than I was expecting. There are some fun downhills and uphill fairways.

+ This is a very challenging course with tight fairways and lines to hit. Despite being a technical, wooded course, it's also pretty long (especially when the baskets are in the seasonal long position in the winter).

+ The tee pads were in good shape, but I thought they were just a hair too short.

+ Nice, clean, well maintained course in a scenic nature park. Also, easy to get to off of 15-501.

+ I really like the concept of short, medium, and long pin positions based on the seasons. In the winter, when the leaves are off the trees, the pins are in the long positions. In the summer, when more leaves and vegetation hinder shot-making ability, the baskets are in the short position. In the spring and fall, the baskets are in the medium position. I've played the course in different seasons and the rotating pin placements are really nice for keeping the course fresh while adjusting to the environment and making the course playable all year.

A few cons to mention:

- The major con for me on this course is the "fairness" of it -- or lack thereof. The fairways are a little too narrow for the lengths of the holes (although I remove this criticism when the baskets are in the short position). Also, there are several holes where the basket is behind guardian trees, so even with a perfect drive up the fairway, you may have little to no shot at a birdie because of guardian trees right in front of the basket. There's just too much of a luck factor for me on this course. It can be pinball/plinko golf in spots.

- I mentioned the tee pads above as a pro. I'd say they're slightly more of a pro than a con, but I wish they were just a couple feet longer to allow for a longer run-up and x-step.

- Drainage can be bad here. The open field areas on hole 1 and 9 can turn into pure mud.

- Navigation is so-so and probably nit-picky to count as a con, but I must have missed a next tee sign after hole 5 and wandered around looking for #6. Also, there wasn't a next tee sign after the front 9. You need to pull up a course map to know where to go.

I feel like this could be a 3.5 course with some minor tree removal. As it is, Southern Community is a solid 3.0 course and a very good compliment to the more open-style course at UNC.

Great pads and baskets. Fairways are mostly fair. Nothing too long or short.

A bit repetitive. Not a ton of elevation or features to the course, so you're basically just throwing through the woods for 18 holes. Not bad, not great.

Apparently they've made some improvements to the course over the last year or two so that it's a playable course now. Just don't expect anything too unique.

The baskets are in good shape; highly visible.

Concrete tees on every hole.

The fairways are challenging; lots of obstacles.

Some legitimate ace runs; some holes you'll be doing well with a 3.

The park has a dog park, tennis courts, soccer field, hiking trails.

The course is not usually very crowded. You probably won't have to wait for other groups to finish a hole.

Dedicated volunteers working hard on improvements (in addition to park employees).

Nice natural scenery. Pretty forest.

Well-maintained field in play on 1 and 9.

Bridges built on the fairways for crossing creeks and swampy areas.

The course is divided into front 9 and back 9. It's simple to start on 10.

The tee for hole 1 is right next to the parking lot.

There are a lot of right doglegs. (Put this into the cons if you find it more appropriate there.)

If you don't have good control on your throws (and emotions) you might want to find a less wooded course. I hit several trees on a good day there.

The tee signs show very little information, and even that is not always accurate. There's no indication of alternate pins, and when the basket is moved, the sign still says the same distance and par as before.

Lots of poison ivy in the summer and spring. I mean lots of it. If you're extremely allergic, you should just go somewhere else during ivy season.

It can get swampy in places sometimes.

Lots of undergrowth in the summer in those areas that get swampy.

There's no shade in the parking lot in the afternoons. And no other reasonable place to park.

When you finish 9, you could get lost looking for 10. you have to go across the main road and cut onto a little path in the woods; watch for little tiny signs with little frisbees drawn on them.

The pond isn't advertised on 9, and it isn't visible from the tee. It's lining the left of the fairway just after you come out of the woods.

I'd prefer tees a little bit longer, or at least level with the ground so I can run-up from behind. However, the concrete tees were built by volunteers, not by park employees, so maybe I should have helped; then my 2 cents might have been worth a couple of bucks.

You've been warned about the trees, right? Just want to make sure.

Ace potential depends on your ability, and other things. I wouldn't be surprised to learn of aces on a lot of the holes here. I've played this course about 20 to 25 times, and no dice so far, but I've come very close on hole 1 (short position), 3 (short), 3 (long), 6, 7 (long), and 15.

1 (short) is the only hole that is completely open, and even there, you're in the woods if you overthrow at all. On every other hole I've hit trees from time to time.

3 is one of the easiest holes here, IMO.

2 and 4 are both tight uphill drives.
Some people have mentioned yellow jackets on hole 4. I saw no sign of them today. Maybe they're gone or maybe they let me play through.

I would make hole 4 a par 4 when it's in the long position. It's well over 300 feet, probably the steepest uphill you'll find in this area, with a winding tight fairway, and huge dead trees to dodge in addition to the live ones.

5 and 6 are very similar to one another. Level, tight, short.

7 is a little longer, but downhill.

8 gives you a little room in the fairway.

9 is the longest of the course. 100 ft or so and you're out of the woods, but make sure you hit the gap. Then all you have to watch out for is the pond on the left.

10, 11, 12 are moderately short, tight fairways with undergrowth.

13 is a long one, and there's a tight gap about halfway down the fairway.

14 and 15 are reasonable, if you stay in the fairway.

16 is very tight; you almost have to throw a sharp left turn, rather than go straight down the path.

17 is another tight, winding, uphill fairway, and there's a poison ivy plantation to the right.

18 reminds me of the very tight fairways on the last 16 holes. No mercy here either.

I need to start by saying that when I played this course (June 2011) everything seemed well maintained, in contrast to earlier reviews. The grass in the field that #1 and #9 play through was cut, paths were clear, and the baskets were in excellent shape.

The course has good use of the elevation available, with both down- and uphill shots. It is a wooded, technical course, which I like but is not going to be everyone's cup of tea. Despite the woods, the trails are clear and obvious and signs pointing the direction to tees guide you on every hole. The woods are fairly clear, you're mostly just competing with trees, there is very little undergrowth on the course as a whole. There is a good variety of long an short holes here, though you don't get any chances to really let a big drive rip on a fully open hole.

There are many enjoyable holes here. #9 is a great close to the front nine, with a narrow tee shot through woods out into a field. If your drive gets out of the woods a 3 should be well within reach. #18 follows a similar pattern of opening up after a narrow tee shot, but then has a basket guarded by a few trees. #13 is a a fun throw-over-the-valley shot where a good sidearm or turnover shot (again, RHBH) will set you up with a great chance at a birdie or even eagle.

This is a course to get a fun round in and test your skills a bit. I would not take someone who is new to this course because they will not have the precision and shot selection necessary to play this course well.

No tee pads is a big drawback and no course these days should go without good pads, and the same goes for tee signs that lack hole maps (you only get hole # and distance). For instance #9 has a pond to the left of the landing area for your throw off the tee, so a RHBH shot is going to fade towards it, but you cannot see the pond from the tee and without a hole diagram a new player may throw a disc in unwittingly.

I also think the course is a little too tight at times. I enjoy a nice tunnel shot, but at times I felt the course was overly punishing without offering much risk/reward. There appear to be trees marked for removal so once these are out I think the course will improve considerably. The shots tend to favor straight or left-to-right shots, so there is not as much variety as I would like, I found myself doing a lot of sidearm shots.

Nice park accompanying the disc golf course.

Nice technical layout in a huge park. Restrooms and water near the dog park, large soccer fields and playground near back nine.

Cool layout with true front and back nines, both looping back to the same parking area. Great use of elevation change and available land. There are uphill, downhill, L-R and R-L sloping, and flat shots. Water in play on #9 as well as a small creek that runs through the fairways of #13-#17.

New alt pin placements on most holes.

Tee boxes - although there are new concrete pads, they are fairly small and raised above grade on most holes making them a tripping hazard on full run-ups

Overgrowth - The back nine still needs a lot cleanup, but it's coming around. Front nine is in much better shape, except for #7. Poison ivy is everywhere, most places a disc could land are within 3' of it.

Signage - Tee signs are hole # and distance only, and the distances on most signs are off b/c of the two pin placements. No direction from front to back nine, which is across the street and to the left.

Few trashcans and no benches except b/w #9 and #10.

Best Hole - #9, 492' Par 4, uphill slightly with water in play on the left. Basket will eventually be protected by a grove of recently planted trees. Brutal, but a three is well earned. New alt/short position brings the basket closer to the water and a steep hill.

Most Fun Hole - #15. Downhill around an old uprooted tree with a creek cutting across the fairway and down the right side.

Course is really coming around. The front nine, especially, is a lot of fun to play.

There is a nice mix of long and short holes, as well as a good mix of straight to right shots.
Very scenic and in a nice section of Chapel Hill. Dog park next to hole 1 and there is a ton of wildlife running through the park - although that could be a con
Updated...
The course now has 18 tee pads, while a little on the shorter side, it is something that was needed for this course..
All 18 holes (including #18 - yay) have been cleared of the unrealistically tight fairways - while still very wooded - they are now very fair and solid and forces you to use more shots in your arsenal.
The signs were a con, but they are being updated with the actual distances.
Multiple pin placements - on a number of holes, there will be multiple pin placements - this really makes the course have some variety that is sorely needed.

Mentioned in the Pros - the tee pads are slightly short - at least for myself - and raised, so those who might use a run up on the longer 2 holes might have an issue. On holes #15 and #16 there is a small plant type covering the entire ground along the fairways and near the tees. It is VERY easy to lose a disc here.

Big kudos to Andrew George who has headed up all the work out here - from installing pads, heading up the clearing and making multiple pin placements. This course has went from an afterthought to a decent option. No, it is not an epic course, but definitely one to play when in the Chapel Hill area.

After playing with a friend who throws RHFH, I realize that many of the lines favor this shot (or LHBH). New bridges have been built to cross gulleys, including a nice new one on #13. Aesthetics and functionality keep it down from the others.
I always walk out of here with numerous thorn scratches, seemingly more than other courses. Although, this is likely from my straying from the fairways often . That said, long pants are helpful - when the weather allows.

Challenging course that requires accuracy, but still has some distance to it. Mostly a good course for RHFH players or LHBH players, but not so much as to give them a huge advantage. Not heavily played so it's easy top get a round in. Good typical NC narrow wooded fairways. Distance and Par signs at tees.

Raw. Still fairly new with fallen trees and brush in some fairways and near some baskets. Not sure about accuracy of some of the distance signs. No tee pads. Still just has flags in the ground. Uneven and heavily rooted natural tee pads suck. A few chuck and pray holes with an overly narrow fairway.

I first played this course early last summer. It is better in the winter without leaves, but it is still tight and tough. But it is getting better. Tee pads would be a huge addition. Back 9 has signs directing you to the next hole so hopefully the front nine will get some soon. With a few more signs and some tee pads this could be a really good course. Still worth playing if you are nearby, but not quite up to snuff yet with some of the other close by.

I have played this course 3 times since my original review. They have added some nice signs and the fariways are a little bit more playable. Still a work in progress, but it is getting better. If they ever get concrete pads this course will be another Triangle gem. It is coming along nicely. If UNC is busy thi sis close and worth playing.

August 2012 Update - New basket positions have been added. There are some tough new long positions as well as some short beginner type positions. Depending on the set up this can be a very nice course now. Signs are now in need of improvement to keep up with all the changes, but this is definitely a course to check out.

Good variety of holes, nice use of elevation, no interference from other park users, signs marking the holes (although the lengths are a bit suspect). A couple of open holes as a nice change from the woods. Hole 9 is right by the parking lot where you start, so mid-round trips to the car are easy. Much less crowded than UNC. Less than 15 minutes from at least 2 other courses, and probably less than 30 to 5 others. Located in a big, nice park with all the expected park facilities, including a dog area.

No teepads, can be a little confusing, no real signature hole, although 18 is close.

Very tight, I'll let you decide for yourself if this is a pro or con. The duck flies at midnight.

Park features plenty of amenities (Tennis, Fields, Dog Park, etc...). Extra long holes on the back nine. Definitely a challenge with tight fairways, and moderate to hilly terrain.

Unfinished Course. Heavily Wooded Course. No Signage (as of currently). No Benches (as of currently). Difficult to find markers/tees. Too many paths which don't always lead to the next tee. Tees have not been poured (assuming they plan to have concrete tees).

It is important to note that the Southern Village DGC has not officially been completed. The baskets have been installed, but the tee pads and fairways have yet to be fully completed. In fact, the tees are marked only by a rectangular patch of open dirt, and two small orange marker flags. This review will be extremely detailed, only because there is no signage, no maps, and there are various paths that run through the course. I spend much of my time yesterday lost on the course. My hope, is that this review will help you navigate this unfinished course...

Please use caution, as the heavy leaf coverage, downed trees, and cleared trees have been left as is, and this makes this course quite dangerous for those whom don't pay attention to where they are going. I personally finished this course with a injured ankle, a bloddy wrist, and the frustration of not knowing where the next tee was... Please play this course with caution!

When you first arrive at Southern Village, you'll be turning into Dogwood Acres Road from 15-501. You'll want to park in the parking lot on your immediate RIGHT, otherwise the road continues into a neighborhood, and you'll no longer be in the park.

Tee #1 is to the left toward the dog park, and you'll see the first basket just inside of the wooded area to the right of the furthest part of the dog park. Again, remember that the tees are simple dirt patches with two small orange construction marker flags.

After hole #6, follow the path to the left of the "Oak Datum" an indention of Earth surrounded by cut wood logs, arranged in a circular pattern.

Hole #7 is heavily wooded, and only allows for a 6' wide window of a fairway, with a sharp drop off to the right. After Hole #7, the path hits an abrupt T-intersection, you'll want to go right.

Hole #9 is the only open field hole on the entire course, and is right near the parking lot, opposite of where Tee #1 is located. After you finish Hole #9, you'll need to follow the sidewalk path across Dogwood Acres Road. Follow the sidewalk to the left, and look for a dirt path on the right for Tee #10.

After Hole #13, don't cross the street. Stay on the path to the right to find the next Tee.

After Hole #15, follow the path to the right.

After Hole #16, the path hits a fork and you'll need to go right at the fork.

After Hole #17, follow the path behind the basket to the right which parallels the bottom of the tennis courts to find the Tee for Hole #18.


Overall, I think that the Southern Villahe Disc Golf Course has the potential to be Chapel Hill's version of Buckhorn DGC (New Hill, NC). The terrain is well mixed, but with no water hazards like Buckhorn DGC has. Therefore, the scenery is much more like Cornwallis DGC in Durham, NC or Kentwood DGC in Raleigh, NC - just on much more land, and segmented.

There are currently no benches on the course, I would assume they simply haven't been purchased yet. This makes sense, as the fairways have barely been outlined by the cutting of trees, but not the removal of them.

I would definitelty not classify this course as a beginner's course, regardless of what state the course is in. The heavy woods will have a tendancy to eat up discs, while the heavy leaf coverage will also conceal your discs, so keep a keen eye on them. You'll also want to bring comfortable shoes that will support your feet on rought terrain, as part of the course require going up and down fairly graded hills.