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St. Joseph, TN

St Joseph DGC

Permanent course
35(based on 7 reviews)
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11 0
TRoss886
Silver level trusted reviewer
Experience: 22 years 283 played 32 reviews
3.00 star(s)

Home of a very signature hole 2+ years drive by

Reviewed: Played on:Apr 9, 2021 Played the course:5+ times

Pros:

- The Big 3: The baskets, tee signs, and tee pads are all well above average. The baskets are still double chain DISCatchers in good shape. The shorter concrete pads mentioned in previous reviews and in course pictures, have been seamlessly lengthened. The simple wooden tee signs that have been mentioned and are pictured, have been replaced with more conventional nice detailed metal signs.
- Hang Out: The parking lot, hole #1 tee, and practice basket are centered with a small covered pavilion specifically for disc golf. It has a metal picnic table, kiosk, and trash can close by. There are also restrooms within a throws distance.
- Hole #9: By far the shining gem of the course. One of my favorite holes of all time. Big downhill shot following a ravine with plenty of trees. The basket is at the bottom with views of a small cave and beautiful creek. Also, a new bridge crossing the ravine and stairs to the basket have been installed. (Also a great new bridge on #4)
- Pro Tees: While there are only two of them (2 and 11), these are nice additions. 2 stretches the arm out and 11 provides more challenge while also providing a fun downhill drive compared to the normal tee.
- Beauty: After the the first 3 holes, you will think this course will be very low on the beauty scale. Then things heat up. Holes 9, 10, 11, 12 are really nice. The ravine, a cave, and a clear flowing creek make for a really nice section. There is also a small waterfall near the tee pad of 13.
- Turn: Makes a turn back at the parking lot at #8 for taking a break. Also convenient if you don't have much time and want to park and just play #9 right out of the parking lot.

Cons:

- Park Users: I have seen this park get very busy at times. This can affect play on 8 out of 18 holes or so. Especially if a big horse event is going for the early holes or birthday parties and such on the later holes. In a worst case scenario of both types of events happening (which I have experienced), it's pretty difficult and uncomfortable to get a round completed.
- Basic Holes: There are about 4 holes out of 18 that are very basic and not memorable. Fortunately 3 of these are 1-3 and good warm up holes. This leaves you with a good impression of the course since those are probably out of your mind by the good finishing hole of 18.
- Trash: There can be a some trash on this course at times. Especially on 15 and 16 from people throwing things from their car. Fortunately this probably doesn't have anything to do with disc golfers, just unfortunate that it can be a problem.

Other Thoughts:

Not pros or cons:
- Benches: There are a few benches (1, 6, 10) which is very nice, but a few more would add a lot to the amenity factor.
- Drainage: Parts of this course can hold on to water for a while after a rain. About average in this regard though compared to many courses.
- Navigation: While navigation here is 90% intuitive and easy, there are a couple spots where a next tee sign would help a very first time player of the course. Overall, no really confusing transitions.
- Alternate Pin Locations: I have noticed a couple on the times I've played this course. In my personal experience, I've only noticed one pin (16) move a couple times. A few more alternate locations might spice things up.
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6 0
bjreagh
Diamond level trusted reviewer
Experience: 27.7 years 350 played 321 reviews
3.00 star(s)

2+ years drive by

Reviewed: Updated: Played on:Jun 15, 2017 Played the course:2-4 times

Pros:

Interesting design, balanced variety, makes really good use of all the features of the land available. Flow and navigation were normal and logical, holes close in proximity (no long walks), but still did not feel cramped. Lot of different and unique holes/avoids monotony. Basket 8 ends up back by the parking lot if you need something from your vehicle mid-round.

There were excellent concrete tees (and a couple holes had 2 tees- #3 and #11). Baskets were Discatchers in great shape.

Mostly flat, but some elevation. In fact, hole 9 and pro tee 11 are memorable signature type downhill holes. Holes 9-12 play over and around a small cave-like rock structure and a small scenic stream- very nice. The creek is clear and shallow, so little to no danger of losing a disc.

Amenities at the parking area: practice basket, small covered pavilion with a picnic table, course map, and scorecards (many courses have boxes for scorecards, but very few ever have them, but this course did). And the map on it was useful for navigating the first time around.

Cons:

Not a whole lot, and nothing that affects play, just some minor things.

Tee signs are smaller wooden plaques on posts, they were fine but already starting to look aged, some were broken, and many were almost unreadable being covered in bird poo. I know some effort went in to making this handmade signs, but maybe eventually a more standard and durable set of signs could be installed. *UPDATE*- the last time I played there were decent laminated paper signs attached to the posts that looked much better. They appeared to be for a tournament but were an improvement.

9 and 11 are the signature holes, however be careful on hiking down 9 and up to the pro tee on 11, and 9 could yield some interesting disc retrievals if your disc lands in the ravine. Don't get me wrong, these are fantastic holes, but 9 may need to steps built in the hill at some point. *UPDATE*- some very nice bridges on 5 and 9 have now been built! There are some extra ladders on 9 also. Great to come back to a course and see improvements!

Even though most holes had a unique feature or challenge to them, there were a few holes that were essentially just an open field hole (1, 3, 8 entirely) and a large % of some other holes is wide open. This is fine the first time playing, or for beginners, but these holes could tend to get a little uninteresting after multiple rounds. Also most holes, both open and wooded, required just a straight shot- not many holes forced you to throw a curving shape shot.

Not a wide variety of each hole distance overall, just the pretty standard <300' for all holes except the two pro tees.

It is necessary, but some holes are close to other park features (athletic fields, picnic pavilions, playground). I played on a summer weekday and there were just a couple of other people here using the park.

Other Thoughts:

I think the design is just about as good as you could get here, and is totally appropriate considering where this course is located (isolated) and who will typically be playing it (caters to small population). Overall, I enjoyed it and I would play here again if in the area. I rate it a 3.0 [Good]. Makes for a nice pairing with another course just a few minutes away in Loretto.
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