Pros:
At the church grounds drive the front driveway closest to the road til it ends . There is plenty of parking and you will see the baskets . I am not sure of bathrooms here . Maybe if the church grounds are open ? Hole 1 is near the main road and nearest the parking lot .
THE EQUIPMENT - There is a kiosk w/map near hole #1 . The tee pads here are natural but mostly worn enough so that you have an idea where to tee off . Some of pads are used twice , as the course presents itself as 18 holes . The tee signs are okay and descriptive enough . They all sit on posts . . The baskets are Chainstars but are not numbered . Some are used multiple times .
THE HIGHLIGHTS - None here . #3is 466' but in a wide open area .
THE TERRAIN - The course is as flat as the parking lot . There was a couple of places where water has gathere , but it may have been because of the heavy rains the few days before . The course follows the clockwise area of the grounds . There are a few obstacles to force you to shape your disc some . A couple of holes like #6 make you either throw over or around a utility shed . #7 forces a throw with a 90 degree immediate right turn or chance a toss over a roof to the basket wedged between that and a neighbors yard .
THE TIME - I played this a 9 hole course . since it basically repeats itself . It took me 30 minutes , but part of that time was walking around looking for tees or #2's basket .
Cons:
#1 SAFETY - If any more than 2 groups play this at a time , someone could get blindsided . #3 and 4 cross lanes .The course comes dangerously close to yards . If #2 had a basket , I could prove my point . #6 and 7 are blind shots . #7 could easily land in a yard . Be careful near the basket at #6 and walking the fairway at #7 . There are tree roots that can cause ankle turns .
#2 NAVIGATION - Print the map or take a picture of the kiosk You will still have to walk around looking at the signs to figure out where you are . #' 7 is wedged between the yard and part of the church grounds , and #'s 8 & 9 are the the yard where the 7 basket is leading you .
#3 EQUIPMENT - I'm okay with the natural tee pads and the signage here , but if you are advertising an 18 hole course , and you are missing basket #2 ( and 11 ) you are losing 11% of your course . I am guessing the basket was removed because of complaining neighbors that discs are landing in their yard .
#4 Disc Risk - #2 if played , and #s 7 and I guess accompanying 16 The roof is metal and has ridges . If your disc hits the roof , you could easily lose it . There is only about 20' total between a church office and the next fenced in yard . Good chance that if you throw over and clear the roof , you could land in that yard .
#5 CHALLENGE - Hey , this course isn't for everyone . It may have been made for the community in mind , and some of the church staff and parishioners to have some social time .
If that was the target group , I am all for it .Still , it is flat with odd obstacles in fairways , if at all .
Other Thoughts:
St Andrews United Methodist Church has extended itself to make a course for the local community to enjoy and maybe introduce the staff and ministers to the locals . What better way to do it than disc golf . I didn't have a chance to meet anyone from the church , but I want to thank them for their interest in disc golf . I don't think it has the total area to support 18 holes, but it has maybe enough for the 9 , if you continue to use the area behind the dumpster where #8 & 9 lie .
MY RECOMMENDATION - Good for the church to have an activity that most members can do as a group . This is okay for newbies and 1 discers , and local families , as long as they skip 2 & 7 , maybe playing middle or the last 2 holes twice . Anything above that , and this is just putting practice and a nice area to try out new discs . This is an easy course for the bagger , going towards or away from New Orleans , and combining it with nearby Broadmoor or Highland Road Park , to add to your collection . If out of town and not bagging , you may want to pass this one up and drive to Highland Road .