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Union Academy reviews
6
0
Union Academy
Reviewed:
Updated:
Played on:Aug 18, 2019
Played the course:once
Pros:
Usually when I hear about a school course, I picture a course that is comprised of 9 holes (or less) that are relatively short, open, straight shots. Where the only real disc required is a putter, and you're realistically just jump putting from every tee. If there are tees, and when they do exist, it is usually just a sign with no actual designated tee markers. That is not how I would describe Union Academy.
This is a full 18 hole course, with nice gravel tees that are doing a good job of staying flat. Each hole also has a tee sign, and navigation throughout the course is very straightforward. The course plays through some tight technical fairways that will definitely do a good job helping players learn how to control the angle of the disc's flight as they weave it through the woods. It is nice to see a school course that is not a simple dink & dunk course.
One of the bigger surprises for me was just how in play the water is on Holes #4 and #18. They create an interesting dynamic that I doubt would be seen on almost any other school course ever. Even if you decide to play the "short" basket on Hole #4, the water is still in play as it runs alongside the vast majority of the fairway.
A few of the holes have very interesting designs, which were very fun to play. This course has a lot of potential to grow into an excellent place to play and hone your technical skills. I had a fun time shaping shots with my midrange here.
This is a full 18 hole course, with nice gravel tees that are doing a good job of staying flat. Each hole also has a tee sign, and navigation throughout the course is very straightforward. The course plays through some tight technical fairways that will definitely do a good job helping players learn how to control the angle of the disc's flight as they weave it through the woods. It is nice to see a school course that is not a simple dink & dunk course.
One of the bigger surprises for me was just how in play the water is on Holes #4 and #18. They create an interesting dynamic that I doubt would be seen on almost any other school course ever. Even if you decide to play the "short" basket on Hole #4, the water is still in play as it runs alongside the vast majority of the fairway.
A few of the holes have very interesting designs, which were very fun to play. This course has a lot of potential to grow into an excellent place to play and hone your technical skills. I had a fun time shaping shots with my midrange here.
Cons:
This is a newer course, and with any newer course there are going to be growing pains. The rough around this course is really bad. However, I've played many new tight, wooded courses before that suffered from the same issue. If this course can get some TLC and maintain some foot traffic, I expect this issue will mostly be resolved. Though the holes with the wetlands probably will continue to be great places to lose a disc. The other new course issue I see is that some of the distances listed on the tee signs seem very inaccurate.
Some of the holes had really interesting concepts behind their design, but left me feeling like the execution of that design had fallen a little short. One of the worst offenders (Hole #9 I believe) was a really interesting looking downhill shot over a creek, that had a split fairway on the tee sign. But when I looked up, the only way I could reasonably discern to park the green was to throw out my disc and pray that I plinko through the trees. I recognized one or two trees, that if removed would open up the fairway and create a spectacular hole. There were quite a few holes that left me feeling this, or something similar.
On a day when Dry Creek was bone dry, this course was still suffering from a couple soggy fairways. So I am guessing it has a propensity to hold water, since I have occasionally compared Dry Creek to a sponge.
There is what appears to be a walking path that weaves through the course. Since this is not a packed city park full of joggers and dog walkers I doubt this is an actual concern, but feel like it is worth noting so people can be aware.
Being a school campus, please be aware that there aren't really any benches, trash cans, or water fountains. So plan accordingly, and avoid school hours.
Some of the holes had really interesting concepts behind their design, but left me feeling like the execution of that design had fallen a little short. One of the worst offenders (Hole #9 I believe) was a really interesting looking downhill shot over a creek, that had a split fairway on the tee sign. But when I looked up, the only way I could reasonably discern to park the green was to throw out my disc and pray that I plinko through the trees. I recognized one or two trees, that if removed would open up the fairway and create a spectacular hole. There were quite a few holes that left me feeling this, or something similar.
On a day when Dry Creek was bone dry, this course was still suffering from a couple soggy fairways. So I am guessing it has a propensity to hold water, since I have occasionally compared Dry Creek to a sponge.
There is what appears to be a walking path that weaves through the course. Since this is not a packed city park full of joggers and dog walkers I doubt this is an actual concern, but feel like it is worth noting so people can be aware.
Being a school campus, please be aware that there aren't really any benches, trash cans, or water fountains. So plan accordingly, and avoid school hours.
Other Thoughts:
For now I am going to rate this course at 2.5. It is a good course that has a lot of growth potential, but currently is suffering from the same growing pain issues that a lot of new, wooded courses suffer from. Some of the fairways felt a bit too cluttered, some of the dogleg ceilings felt a bit too low, and all of the rough is way too rough. That being said, those were my issues with Squirrel Lake when it was first built, and I love that course now. So if this course can manage to get similar traction and foot traffic, it should grow into a great, technical course. If this should happen, it would be a great resource to hook students of the school into the sport.
This course offers something different than Dry Creek and Bearskin Creek and will provide a change of pace when tossing plastic in Union County. Definitely worth checking out, with the added benefit of being in close proximity to other courses (built in a different style) for a fun day out.
Favorite Holes: 4, 6, 13, 16, 17
This course offers something different than Dry Creek and Bearskin Creek and will provide a change of pace when tossing plastic in Union County. Definitely worth checking out, with the added benefit of being in close proximity to other courses (built in a different style) for a fun day out.
Favorite Holes: 4, 6, 13, 16, 17
