Must play courses in SC

[sjberry2017]

Upstate Fbook page showed some of the improvements they've recently made to Red Owens - old #3 by the payground is gone, so old 4 is now 3, etc. And they've re-designed 10 and 11 due to park updates in that back corner. Really nice property for DG, was tough to see it in dis-repair but looking forward to someday checking out the face-lift. :thmbup:

That sounds rather exciting; the last time I was there was last fall, so it has been a while; should hopefully get to check that out sooner rather than later.

I can't seem to find the post now, but yes, part of the reason Tyger is rated so highly is the fact that there are many more longer holes and bomber holes on it than any other course. But there's also a great fun factor to the course; I do suppose that it could be argued, and fairly so, that it isn't a "must play," but it's definitely a solid course.

I'd bump Pipeline up to the "must play" list, with bonus points for being simply beautiful.

This; it's just such a beautiful course, with so many ridiculously elevated shots.

I will hopefully be getting back to Shoally this Friday; I can't play in the Firecracker Fling at Tyger because of my work schedule now, so rather than get a couple practice rounds in on Friday, I'm heading back to Shoally, where I played my first ever tournament. I'm excited to see how I play now that I actually sort of know how to play disc golf lol.


There is one other thing about the Hippo. While it is in SC, and I do bring that up when people talk about the NCDGC, it's right on the border with Augusta and Aiken doesn't have a very strong DG scene, so the Hippo is, for all real intents and purposes, part of the Augusta DG scene rather than South Carolina. However, a guy at the IDGC said there MAY be a course going in at Langley Pond in Aiken, depending on if the guy can guarantee full tee signage etc, so hopefully that comes to pass within the next couple of years or so

 

[BennettUA]

My list, in no particular order, other than Stoney Hill is my top must-play in SC:
Stoney Hill
Shoally Creek
Foothills
Grand Central Station
Hampton Park(only available for the Charleston Classic)
Winthrop Gold every year Sunday after the USDGC while the ropes are still up
All-Terrain
Tyger River
Trophy Lakes

Foothills is probably the most underrated of the bunch. Some really great golf here, and some new improvements have made it even better. The Upstate and Hub City Disc Golf Clubs have really been doing great work lately.

 

[sjberry2017]

My list, in no particular order, other than Stoney Hill is my top must-play in SC:
Stoney Hill
Shoally Creek
Foothills
Grand Central Station
Hampton Park(only available for the Charleston Classic)
Winthrop Gold every year Sunday after the USDGC while the ropes are still up
All-Terrain
Tyger River
Trophy Lakes

Foothills is probably the most underrated of the bunch. Some really great golf here, and some new improvements have made it even better. The Upstate and Hub City Disc Golf Clubs have really been doing great work lately.

You should definitely do another trip out to SC to play the Pipeline then.

I do really need to get down to Charleston and play some of the courses there, particularly Trophy Lakes. I've also heard great things about the Hampton Park course; one of my cardmates at the IDGC Am Champs said it's a really fun play. I'll have to get down there for the Charleston Classic, hopefully this year.

 

[BennettUA]

I can't wait to play Pipeline, I've heard so many great things, but couldn't put a course I hadn't played on my list. I will play it surely before the summer is out!

 

[DavidSauls]

You should definitely do another trip out to SC to play the Pipeline then.

I do really need to get down to Charleston and play some of the courses there, particularly Trophy Lakes. I've also heard great things about the Hampton Park course; one of my cardmates at the IDGC Am Champs said it's a really fun play. I'll have to get down there for the Charleston Classic, hopefully this year.

Strike the "hopefully", get permission from work and home, and make your plans now.

 

[DavidSauls]

I can't wait to play Pipeline, I've heard so many great things, but couldn't put a course I hadn't played on my list. I will play it surely before the summer is out!

It's a very good woods course, and one of the prettiest places I've played. It also has a few lefty holes.

 

[DiscGolfCraig]

While we're on the subject of SC courses, I like whoever went through the recent reviews of Tyger and Pipeline, and gave thumbs down votes to most of the reviews. Within the past couple hours (as of Wednesday night), I noticed a bunch of reviews suddenly had a negative vote that didn't have one previously, myself included. It's kind of odd that suddenly SJBerry, JaySauls, DannyM, MattmanX and I all received our first negative votes for our Pipeline reviews.

 

[DavidSauls]

While we're on the subject of SC courses, I like whoever went through the recent reviews of Tyger and Pipeline, and gave thumbs down votes to most of the reviews. Within the past couple hours (as of Wednesday night), I noticed a bunch of reviews suddenly had a negative vote that didn't have one previously, myself included. It's kind of odd that suddenly SJBerry, JaySauls, DannyM, MattmanX and I all received our first negative votes for our Pipeline reviews.

That's funny. I glanced at Tyger River, and every review but one has at least one thumb down----and most have only one thumb down. Hmmmm.

 

[DiscGolfCraig]

That's funny. I glanced at Tyger River, and every review but one has at least one thumb down----and most have only one thumb down. Hmmmm.

I only noticed because I've gone back to those two course pages a couple times in the past several hours since I noticed this thread. They weren't there earlier this evening, but were there 15 minutes ago.

Now, lets continue our praise for Pipeline. Being a Charlotte DGer, I still say Pipeline is a much better course than R.L. Smith.

 

[DavidSauls]

I find it interesting that if you list, say, Trophy Lakes, Stoney Hill, Pipeline, Chester, and Grand Central Station, the variety in course styles involved.

Also, how they're clustered in the Upstate. Trophy Lakes is easily the best in the eastern two-thirds of the state.

 

[HelloPoodles]

I've only played one course in SC, The Sarge, and that'll hold me for awhile. I think I lost more discs in three rounds there than I've lost in total everywhere else. The first time my buddy and I played there - we'd only been playing a few months - we found five discs, which seemed a little weird. Kinda felt like the gators were trying to lure us further back into the swamp with x-outs and DX Sharks.

 

[ToddL]

One opinion I have that's sure to be disliked: I don't like Hampton Park as much as everyone else. Going strictly by hole layout, it's merely pretty good. The allure for me is playing through a pretty park, but there are several holes out there that don't exactly float my boat. (and going from a 3 stroke lead after 2 rounds at Trophy to a 10 stroke deficit after the 3rd round last year doesn't have a large effect on my opinion. 1005, 990, 860 I hate you island hole in the wind.)

 

[TheOtherBill]

One opinion I have that's sure to be disliked: I don't like Hampton Park as much as everyone else.

Yet due to its short 'lifespan' each year, its a must play in the state...

SO... top tens aren't necessarily must plays, and the opposite can be true too. :doh:

 

[DavidSauls]

One opinion I have that's sure to be disliked: I don't like Hampton Park as much as everyone else. Going strictly by hole layout, it's merely pretty good. The allure for me is playing through a pretty park, but there are several holes out there that don't exactly float my boat. (and going from a 3 stroke lead after 2 rounds at Trophy to a 10 stroke deficit after the 3rd round last year doesn't have a large effect on my opinion. 1005, 990, 860 I hate you island hole in the wind.)

I neither dislike nor share that opinion, but I understand it. I agree that, from a pure hole design and test of disc golf viewpoint, it has its weaknesses. On the other hand, I find it more than a "pretty park", but an incredible setting; and it has many fun, cool, and unique holes. Including the thrill of the water holes in the wind.

 

[billtvshow]

I'm trying to make my way around to the SC highlights in time and I just played Pipeline and Tyger this last weekend and Pipeline was definitely my fave between those two. There were several areas where it had the "feel" of (old) Brackett's Bluff. It was running rampant with potential signature holes and I literally saw one small patch of poison ivy walking up the hill from 12 to 13 and that was it for the entire course, which is amazing.
Otherwise, Stoney Hill is a no-brainer. I've been there twice and it is spectacular through and through.
I'm really liking this thread, it has given me a lot to think about for future forays into SC.

 

[sjberry2017]

Another course that doesn't get much love at all from Parks and Rec people is Shaver Rec in Seneca. It plays along a Mud Run course, but there are some fantastic holes, great fairways, and hole 11 is just an insane drop-off. If they put some thought and care into the course, it has the potential to become a must-play as well.

 

[filobedo]

One opinion I have that's sure to be disliked: I don't like Hampton Park as much as everyone else. Going strictly by hole layout, it's merely pretty good. The allure for me is playing through a pretty park, but there are several holes out there that don't exactly float my boat. (and going from a 3 stroke lead after 2 rounds at Trophy to a 10 stroke deficit after the 3rd round last year doesn't have a large effect on my opinion. 1005, 990, 860 I hate you island hole in the wind.)

I agree Todd. It is a fun course to play but and I recommend everyone play the tournament at least once but playing Hampton during the annually monthly or the week it is set up in December is less stressfull. Playing the sanctioned tournament on the weekend can be frustrating do to the heavy volume of traffic in the park which is a positive for the city but I do know many people do not like being told to move by the bridge at the pond or in the Gazebo. Until about twenty five years ago, we were told never to go near Hampton Park when in Charleston due to the crime and danger but it is now one of the best parks and areas in the city thanks to Mayor Riley and others. The only hole I dislike is #20. I think if the island hole was the finishing hole it would make the flow much better as many people walk into the park across #20 and every year it seems someone hits one of the geese and many times someone has to tell people to move which occasionally causes backups. Also, if there were more local volunteers (not Innova employees as Innova does enough and should not be responsible for this. Charleston has a BOD that should be able to take care of this as many casual players are running and playing in the club now) for the tournament around the pond the tournament would go more smoothly.

 

[filobedo]

You should definitely do another trip out to SC to play the Pipeline then.

I do really need to get down to Charleston and play some of the courses there, particularly Trophy Lakes. I've also heard great things about the Hampton Park course; one of my cardmates at the IDGC Am Champs said it's a really fun play. I'll have to get down there for the Charleston Classic, hopefully this year.

Bring those orange discs with the tiger paws and Dabo's signature on them to Trophy Lakes to throw. If they end up in the water you will definately get them back, no question.

 

[TheOtherBill]

Another course that doesn't get much love at all from Parks and Rec people is Shaver Rec in Seneca. It plays along a Mud Run course, but there are some fantastic holes, great fairways, and hole 11 is just an insane drop-off. If they put some thought and care into the course, it has the potential to become a must-play as well.

Shaver used to be in really great shape, but time and that mud run course have really taken a toll. I used to think the back 9 would hold its own with any stretch of holes in the state but not for the last 4 years or so. Grand Central has taken away a lot of the traffic but also removed the focus on keeping it up. I think. Used to be a pretty strong Shaver-specific club but Weirda moved to AZ, Joe and Robbie found jobs and girls (congrats on the engagement Joe!)

 

[filobedo]

Another course that doesn't get much love at all from Parks and Rec people is Shaver Rec in Seneca. It plays along a Mud Run course, but there are some fantastic holes, great fairways, and hole 11 is just an insane drop-off. If they put some thought and care into the course, it has the potential to become a must-play as well.

I really like Shaver but I still think Camden would be considered in the top 15 in the state if it was in good shape. I only played it once but I like the Trails Course in Anderson and have caught hell for liking it. I may get banned from SC but I think it could be as good as Timmons and Earlewood due to the elevation if it was trimmed up in some areas.