Pros:
Warriors Run is a well-designed, extremely enjoyable nine-hole layout. It's has a rough, wilderness feel while not actually being in the wilderness.
- This is an excellent nine-hole course. One of the better ones I've played. It has some creative layouts (#1, 2, 8, & 9), some challenging ones (#2, 5, & 7), and some easier, birdie/ace run chances (#3, 4, 6 & 9). All told, it's an excellent layout.
- This has all the makings and feel of the low country's scenery and nature. There are elements of creeks & ponds, sand, slight hills/dunes, and coastal grasses and foliage. Throw in the wooded layouts on #8 & 9, and you know you're playing a South Carolina coastal course.
- Two holes stand out above the rest. #2 is outstanding in terms of its intimidation factor standing on the tee. It's only 270 feet from the tee; however, you're either throwing over a pond, (throwing right to left) or having your disc come back towards the water (throwing left to right). Several live oaks, including one in front of the tee force players to keep their tee shots low (at least off the bat) and/or far enough right to avoid smacking the tree near the basket. With wildlife around, I would be using extreme caution thinking about fishing out a disc from Spring to Fall. In Winter, go crazy.
- #7 is the other excellent memorable layout on this course. A 315-foot layout with a second retention pond running the length of the left side of the fairway and a series of live oak trees in the middle and right of the fairway. Look at the picture on this website and you'll see the tight fairway and lack of good landing spots. From there, two more live oaks protect the basket. It will take a great tee shot to see a birdie putt. Par on both #2 & 7, without having a disc near the water, is a good, safe feeling.
- #3 & 4 are fun, short holes. #3 is 213 feet, with water past the basket. Makes a simple tee shot just that much more nerve-wracking. #4 is 237 feet. Open tee shot to a basket protected by trees along with a drop-off just past the basket. An aggressive tee shot could leave you 40 feet past the basket.
- Course has a nice, easy loop to it. If you follow this line, it's easy finding the tee marker for the next hole.
- Course is seemingly isolated from everything else. That said, I did notice markers for a running trail (hence the Warriors Run title perhaps?), and while playing, I came across more walkers than disc golfers. Maybe the locals just use this as a walking trail.
Cons:
The biggest setback is the turf tee pads. It would be nice seeing concrete ones here.
- Tee signs are rather basic, only showing hole number, par, and length. On the few blind tee shots, mainly #5, it would be nice showing where the basket is located, rather than needing to walk the hole first to spot it.
- Wildlife risks? In the summer, I'd be keeping on eye on the ground the entire time I'm walking. There are many reptiles I wouldn't want to come across in their natural environment.
- There were small dips in the ground throughout the course. I had one misstep catching my foot in one of these dips.
- Here's the quirk about this course. Coming off 17, it feels like you're bordering on wilderness. It's a beautiful sports park, then there's a disc golf course in the 'less upkept' portion of the park. Turns out this is the complete opposite of that feeling. Just beyond the trees on all sides is more neighborhoods. As such, that would explain the walkers coming and going from the surrounding neighborhoods. So, instead of being an escape to nature, you're in a natural area surrounded by residential sprawl surrounded by natural areas. Got it?
- This course has a higher lost disc factor than many nine holers. As stated above, I'd use extreme caution trying to retrieve a disc from the water.
Other Thoughts:
courses. I think this is the best overall of the lot.
- On DGCR and the PDGA site, the course is listed as Warriors Run. On UDisc, it's named Stables Park. The park is called Stables Park. The disc golf course, at least according to the giant sign by the first tee, is Warriors Run. I suspect people call the course by both names.
- This course feels close to being out of the way. It's only 30 minutes from both Socastee and Splinter City in Myrtle Beach, but it feels like two different locales. I guess getting away from the tourist traps of the Redneck Riviera have a lot to do with that.
- This course does a solid job of requiring multiple shots to score well. I also appreciate how most holes allow you to pull out multiple shots/angles to the basket. Even on #2, you can throw a high sweeping RHBH or a low stinger, on-a-rope shot.
- Being a coastal course, I suspect a lot of tourists/first-time players. This will be a good introduction to low country disc golf.
- I had a blast playing here. I knocked out Splinter City, here, and East Bay all in under 3 & ½ hours. Between that and having played the other Myrtle Beach courses two months earlier, this one most exceeded my expectations. That said, I'm giving this course a 2.5 rating, one of the highest marks I've give to a nine-hole layout.