Bishop, GA

Herman C. Michael Park

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2.625(based on 26 reviews)
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1 0
lazrman778
Gold level trusted reviewer
Experience: 13.1 years 264 played 100 reviews
2.00 star(s)

Herman C. Michael Park 2+ years drive by

Reviewed: Played on:Aug 13, 2016 Played the course:once

Pros:

Has most tee signs

Short course which can be appreciated by the junior or rec player

Good mix of wooded and open fairways with slight elevations on some holes

Restrooms

Free parking

Cons:

Missing hole #16 basket

Missing a few tee signs

Some of the natural tee pads have exposed tree roots

Lots of trees where some fairways are tight and can be quite unfair

No next tee signs - can be confusing for a first-timer

Course navigation was fairly straightforward until hole #16

Pond can swallow some discs if you're not accurate on holes #5 & #7

Park seems to be popular with parkgoers on nice days especially near holes #14 & #15

Other Thoughts:

This is a nice, short course in Oconee County for the junior or rec player. The rough natural tee pads coupled with tight fairways made some holes on the course more challenging to me than it should have. I was disappointed to see basket #16 missing and hopefully the parks department will get that resolved and also replace the missing tee signs. The course is not a destination course but it does have some variety in holes for the beginner.
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2 0
threedaysmore
Experience: 13.8 years 10 played 7 reviews
2.50 star(s)

Good little practice/fun course if you're in the area. 2+ years drive by

Reviewed: Played on:Sep 28, 2015 Played the course:5+ times

Pros:

- Nice park area

- Good variety of open and wooded holes

- Beginner friendly, but still offers some fun shots for more experienced players

- Course is always in pretty good condition.

Cons:

- Can be somewhat boring if you're a better player

- Some holes in the woods are a bit of a poke and pray

- Most of the holes are kind of shorter, I only use a driver on maybe one of the holes

- There will occasionally be some people using the park that will get in your way.

Other Thoughts:

The Herm is great for what it is. I use to live 5 minutes away from it and really loved being that close to a decent course. You're not going to really grow and shape your game playing here, but you can have a good time and get in some good practice on a variety of hole styles.
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5 0
damtroll
Experience: 12.3 years 227 played 11 reviews
2.50 star(s)

Good beginner course 2+ years

Reviewed: Played on:May 11, 2015 Played the course:5+ times

Pros:

The course is set in a partly wooded course just outside of Athens. Holes 1-2, 12, and 15-18, are in the open, and 4, 6-11, and 13-14 are in the woods. Holes 3 & 5 start in the woods and transition to an open basket.

The course has a pretty good flow to it, even without next tee signs. It's not too hard to get from one hole to the next.

The course has a number of aceable holes, even for those of us who can't bomb 450+ feet.
Holes 2, 6, 7, 10, 13, 14, 17 and 18 come to mind for this noodle arm.

One thing I appreciate about the course is that the understory on the woods holes is not overgrown with thorns, vines and poison ivy (yes, I am taking to you, Fort Yargo)

Water comes into play on two holes, 5 and 7. The sloping fairway on 5 is conducive to rolling into the water, and big RHBH hyzers will invariably find the nasty pond. A tree kick on 7 may also land you in the drink.

Course is pretty well separated from the rest of park activities.

Red tees on all holes make a good opportunity for beginners not to be overwhelmed thinking about par.

Nice pavilion near 14 for coordinating tag match and league activities.

Cons:

Teepads are a combination of geogrid and dirt. They are usually OK, but the grid can be slippery when wet.

Signage on the course is not entirely accurate, with changes done to the course. For instance, hole 8's sign was not updated since the change to the hole as part of the cleanout of the retention pond. Due to the short hole length, all baskets are visible from the tee pads.

Hole 4, as others have mentioned, is a little of a throw and pray, due to the many trees present.

Restrooms are a little of a hike from the course, but not terrible. The water spigot at the pavilion by 14 was not working on my last visit.

After school programs sometimes intrude on 1 & 2, and we've had softball teams practice near 17 and 18.

Other Thoughts:

The course is not a championship level course by any means. It is, however, a good course to introduce new golfers to the sport. My wife got her first birdie playing disc golf the other day, and was quite happy.

I think the course lends itself well to doubles, since even newer and distance deprived discers can contribute to the team effort.

Note that changes to the course have been made since some reviews have been completed. The old 18 is no longer in place (the old 17 is now 18, old 16 now 17, and new 16), and 8 was changed due to the construction of an open channel leading to the retention pond. There are no par 2's on the course anymore.
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1 4
playersdiscgolf
Experience: 4 played 2 reviews
1.50 star(s)

repetitive, same shot over an over 2+ years drive by

Reviewed: Played on:Jan 16, 2015 Played the course:5+ times

Pros:

A good place for newer players in the community, I believe it serves it's purpose of introducing people to the sport.

Cons:

all holes kinda look the same, straight shots, there are a few woods holes where you close your eyes and hope for the best, poor signage, and rough natural tees.

Other Thoughts:

If you live close it is fun, with a little help most of the woods holes could be thinned out of small trees to give a fairway, this little course may led to a nicer course at another park close by.
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6 0
HelloPoodles
Experience: 11.8 years 46 played 10 reviews
2.50 star(s)

Because not every course can be Maple Hill... 2+ years

Reviewed: Played on:Dec 1, 2014 Played the course:5+ times

Pros:

There's some fun, good quality holes here - not 18, but enough to make a enjoyable place for locals. Good place to build your skills. The pictures on this site are old and at least three of the holes are completely different (and mostly better) than what's shown.

Cons:

A few of the holes are pretty cringe-worthy. Overall, I wouldn't recommend anyone drive too far for this course, but if you're already visiting Sandy Creek, this might make an enjoyable appetizer.

Other Thoughts:

I like people who leave detailed thoughts on a course, so here goes:

#1. Seems like it should be easier to birdie this sucker than it is. You gotta get it under the tree with enough momentum to carry you up the hill and near the basket.
#2. This is where you get the birdie you thought you could make on #1
#3. Can you thread the needle? The answer is...probably not. Just hope for a good shot out of the rough to save par. Be prepared for some idiot at the court to say "Hey frisbee-dude, toss me my tennis ball!"
#4 There is a birdie lane to the right of the tree with the red arrow sign, but you have around a five foot opening forty feet from the tee pad you need to hit. This is probably the most frustrating and hated hole on the course. Most just pinball if off the trees; others get it past the trees but well off to the left of the basket in the rough making birdies difficult.
#5. The sea has claimed many an inexperienced sailor on this one. Just be sure to keep you disc low and throw a mid-range, not some stupid super overstable high speed driver. Your putter may still roll down the hill and into the water, but that's just bad luck, not stupidity. I have the most success sending it through the tree to the right and letting it drift back in line with the basket.
#6. You're gonna hate yourself for hitting one of those trees forty feet from the teepad, but that's just the way it is on this one.
#7. Don't overthink this one and you'll have a shot at ace or birdie... but also hope you don't barely graze a tree, 'cause it's going in the water if you do.
#8. This is a good test of skill hole. You'll probably graze a tree to the right or send it into the rough to the left if you go all out but lack the ability to shape a line.
#9. Not sure if this technically qualifies as a tunnel shot, but it's pretty easy to hit a tree and be taking your second shot forty feet from where you started. Arguably the hardest hole on the course?
#10. Sort of like #9, but much more forgiving in that there's plenty of room off to the left to land a less than perfect shot.
#11. Keep a overstable mid low and you'll have a layup. This is one of those holes here that's kind enough to still be par-able even if you do something stupid on your first shot.
#12. Best hole here to bust out your RHFH or turnover shot. Not sure where OB is on this course, but I'd like to think anything to the left of the gravel drive is OB; that'll keep you RHBH throwers honest.
#13. You'll either land your drive five feet from the basket or be cursing the twig that came out of nowhere to block your shot.
#14. This is my favorite hole on the course. Just the right difficulty level - there is no unlucky on this hole. To quote Yoda, "Do. Or do not. There is no try."
#15. Don't overthink this one - you just gotta shoot it to the right of the dumpster and it'll curve back to the basket. Just hope some idiot that walks their dog at the park hasn't parked their SUV right at the the end of the drive. God I hate that.
#16. This is where a floppy putter really comes in handy, cause if you miss here there's a good chance it's rolling down the hill just enough to make your next putt yet another adventure.
#17. Easy birdie once you figure out the hyzer angle that'll let it drift back to the basket. RHBH it at about a 45 degree angle straight off the teepad (err, patch of dirt) and watch in amazement as it fades back to the basket.
#18. Yeah, they ran out of land, obviously.
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1 3
hallroyal
Experience: 25.8 years 19 played 3 reviews
3.00 star(s)

Random Draw Review 2+ years drive by

Reviewed: Updated: Played on:May 13, 2013 Played the course:5+ times

Pros:

Good time meeting other disc golfers! Holes are layed out well. Short course but not easy with wooded fairways! Bring the mid-ranges and putters

Cons:

Natural tee boxes but watch out for roots and drop offs. OB is not marked on in any signage, so had to go on what another player said.

Other Thoughts:

Great course for the price (free). Enjoyed meeting other disc golfers.
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1 1
BillyChipp
Experience: 13.6 years 4 played 2 reviews
2.00 star(s)

Watch Out For Trees! 2+ years drive by

Reviewed: Played on:Mar 14, 2013 Played the course:5+ times

Pros:

-Good tee marker locations at the end of holes
-Decent mix of wooded and open area holes
-Open area holes seem like they were just plopped down wherever there was space

Cons:

-Can get VERY crowded, expect to be waiting at the tee box
-Holes are packed into a very small area
-No defined fairways, frequently tough to find a decent throwing path from the tee box
-Tee box condition can be poor
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1 2
St0rmbringer
Experience: 12.7 years 44 played 6 reviews
3.00 star(s)

Good Course for Beginners/Tune-Ups 2+ years drive by

Reviewed: Played on:Dec 26, 2012 Played the course:once

Pros:

Well marked
Good use of space and elevation
Wooded holes not obscenely tight
Free (coming from NC where free is a given to GA where it's not, free is good)
Tee pads are improved from bare ground

Cons:

GOOD tee pads not on every tee.
A bit short but would be nearly impossible to go longer.

Other Thoughts:

Check the weather. Quite a few holes throw into the prevailing winds. If it's windy, you'll be well wide.
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5 0
Upshawt1979
Diamond level trusted reviewer
Premium Member
Experience: 20.8 years 548 played 429 reviews
2.50 star(s)

'Sallright 2+ years

Reviewed: Played on:Jan 1, 2011 Played the course:once

Pros:

Easy to follow course with good tee signs and markers guiding between holes. Nice use of limited available space. Short tees provide a nice alternate course to Sandy Creek for novice players. There are several shots required to negotiate the fairways here.

Cons:

Tee pads were sort of muddy due to light rain, but not terrible. A couple of fairways were packed with trees to the point of unplayable, and a couple were void of any obstacles at all and far to easy. An experienced/highly skilled player might think this course is a bit lame.

Other Thoughts:

I enjoyed the round I played at "the Herm" and was glad I stopped there. It was a fast round, with some nice holes. Not a tournament caliber course, but not a total pushover. I had 5 birdies, and was still +3 my first time through (very disappointed). Did the tee sign on hole 17 actually say par 2?
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1 2
wwwhank
Experience: 13.7 years 2 played 1 reviews
3.00 star(s)

Review was deleted - 2nd review shorter 2+ years drive by

Reviewed: Played on:Sep 16, 2010 Played the course:5+ times

Pros:

Good signage. Challenging without being super long.
Great nature, clean park. Nice Innova Disc Catchers on every hole. Reflective markers lead to each hole, nice touch!

Cons:

Tee Pads need work. Wood Markers. Roots are growing in and disrupts throws at times.

Other Thoughts:

Local enthusiasm for this course seems to have gone down. Online information regarding events is a couple of years old. I hope people in the area will begin to play this course more and and to repair it some.
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3 3
hyzerfool
Experience: 30.8 years 168 played 6 reviews
2.00 star(s)

Most of a fun little course 2+ years

Reviewed: Played on:Feb 15, 2010 Played the course:5+ times

Pros:

Many of the holes in the woods are fun in a short, cute sort of way.

Most of the course is isolated from other users of the park.

Holes are generally fair.

Cons:

Very short.

Several of the holes that aren't in the woods are as boring as you're going to find anywhere.

Tee pads are inconsistent (as natural pads usually are).

A couple of the holes in the woods have a bit of throw and hope to them.

Other Thoughts:

Overall, it's a fun little course and I think it's worth playing. Sure, it's unlikely you'll be telling your grandchildren about the course, but if you're in the area, bring out the roc and the putter and play a round.

That said, it's not a course you want to drive far out of your way to play.
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2 0
bhuff
Experience: 14.1 years 27 played 4 reviews
3.00 star(s)

Short but Fun 2+ years drive by

Reviewed: Played on:May 10, 2010 Played the course:5+ times

Pros:

Fun course to play. Good course to learn the sport on. Short holes so its fun for the whole family. Half of the holes are open and half are wooded. Challenging on some holes because trees are smack in the middle of the fairway. Clean well maintained park.

Cons:

Hole 4 and 9 are the toughest holes here because there isn't really a clear path to the basket. Every hole is within driving distance (if you don't smack a tree). Tees need to be moved way back. But there isn't to much room for lengthening.

Other Thoughts:

This course is fun to come out with only a mid and putter. Makes it a little tougher when you play it that way. Good course to bring your friends to introduce to the sport.
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2 0
3OrangeWhips
Bronze level trusted reviewer
Experience: 14.7 years 96 played 40 reviews
3.00 star(s)

Herman C. Michael Park 2+ years drive by

Reviewed: Played on:Apr 28, 2010 Played the course:once

Pros:

• Clean, well-maintained multi-use county park
• Compact layout makes good use of available park land
• Good mix of open & wooded holes
• Multiple tee pads (dirt) on all holes
• Good tee signs on every hole
• Navigational signs throughout the course
• Can get a round in pretty quick
• Start/finish very close to parking lot

Cons:

• Very short--only a few holes in the 300' range
• Possible conflicts with walkers/joggers, tennis & baseball on a few holes
• A few of the dirt tee pads are a little rough/uneven making them unusable

Other Thoughts:

I was pleasantly surprised by "The Herm" when I recently played a round. The park is in a quiet rural area surrounded by open farmland, a resource that is rapidly disappearing from north Georgia. It seems like you are in the middle of nowhere even though Athens is just about five miles away. The course itself is pretty short, with only a few of the open holes in the 300' range. The short (red) tees were too short even for my beginner skills, but would be perfect for getting kids/family involved. The shortness of the wooded holes is made up for by the presence of lots of trees, although I felt just one or two approached the "throw & pray" variety. The course played so fast that one other player and I almost got in two complete weekday rounds after work before dark set in. There is nothing fancy about this course, but it is a good place to have some fun while throwing a quick round or two. Solid "3 Disc" rating that I will visit again when in the area.
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4 0
ChrisWoj
Silver level trusted reviewer
Experience: 19.1 years 158 played 26 reviews
2.50 star(s)

Enjoyable little course. 2+ years

Reviewed: Played on:Apr 16, 2010 Played the course:5+ times

Pros:

The Herm isn't a bad course at all. To the contrary - it does everything it can with the property allotted. It is a great place to work on your forehand game, with forehand holes definitely dominant. Additionally it works in a little bit of variety in terms of distance with holes ranging from the mid-100s up to the mid-300s. Finally - all of the baskets are nice, relatively new, and in good condition. They catch great, love the heavy chains on the Discatchers.

Cons:

The cons do outweigh the pros, unfortunately. The teepads are below substandard. I understand not every course can afford concrete teepads, or even rubber fly pads. But work needs to be done to make sure all the teepads lack roots and stumps and are on level ground. A little time with a shovel and a mattock over the course of a single day can fix that.

Additionally there's no real room to open up your arm and work on distance. Not only are there no bomber holes, forgivable, there's really no unused space to just open up in a field and work. I understand that part of this is because the course is maximizing its use of the property - but it is still a quibble.

Finally - there are a few "unfairways" on the course. Holes 4 and 9 are not good disc golf holes. I throw a forehand roller on the both of them because there simply is no favorable route through the air. Hole 6 is almost an unfairway, very borderline. It is definitely spray-and-pray.

Other Thoughts:

The course is improving. With a tournament coming up - a few new "long" teepads have been added to the course. Two of them are fantastic, one of them creates an "unfairway" - but it is clear that an effort is being made to improve the course.

Level the teepads, add a few more "long" pads where room exists... it's being done, and so far I enjoy it. And that IS what is important - regardless of the pros/cons, I do enjoy The Herm.
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1 1
Gerow
Experience: 17.1 years 70 played 1 reviews
3.00 star(s)

Great hometown course 2+ years drive by

Reviewed: Updated: Played on:Apr 21, 2010 Played the course:5+ times

Pros:

Great for beginners and working on different aspects of your game. approach and putting more. utilizes many different shots.

Cons:

it is an after school center so come early or after 6 unless you want to hit a little kid. short holes but thats because a lack of space.

Other Thoughts:

they just moved some tees back for a tournament they hold in May and that makes it better and a bit more challenging. I live close and recommend it to anyone who lives close or just passing through. a great afternoon get outside time killer.
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2 0
ProOffense
Experience: 14.9 years 25 played 13 reviews
3.00 star(s)

You need some practice! 2+ years drive by

Reviewed: Played on:Apr 6, 2010 Played the course:once

Pros:

Ok... My resume of courses include some GREATS and some NO DICE courses. I was skeptical about this course when I saw it was a staright par 54 course. (all par threes, if you don't want to do the math) Well needless to say, i had a good time out in Bishop GA. I ended up finishing under par, but realized this could be a good course to play and get my putting and approaching honed in. (Lets just say it was one of those days putting) Its about the equivalent to a PGA Pro playing an all par three course. It was actually nice keeping the drivers off the course and only using my fairway drivers and mid-range off the tee pad. Which by the way was dirt. I'll get to that in the cons. This course for begginers, and children is prime to get a feel for the sport and not getting discouraged by crumby scores. Or overwhelming yardage off the tee pad for that matter. I will be back and look forward to better tight shots, layups, and jump putts. ( I think i putted on about 90% of my second shots. )

Cons:

Ok... I am a real advocate for concrete or just flat tee pads. At "Herman C" the tee pads are at best, less than par. Some where even polluted by tree stumps and uneven sufaces. Also, A couple holes are so crammed together, a first timer can EASILY get backtracked. Oh yeah, I went to the front office and picked up a scorecard/map and lets just say, i thought quantum physics was hard to decypher!! It was just a bunch of lines and one letter markings. Definately can improve on that without a chunk of park revenue! HA

Other Thoughts:

If you live close, this is a great course to go with friends and just relaxing and enjoy nature. If not, not recommended. Unless you want to bring your kids, or just bought a set of discs. More advanced players will find it a little redundant.
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6 1
MrFixIt
Experience: 17.1 years 40 played 6 reviews
3.00 star(s)

Some clarifications 2+ years drive by

Reviewed: Played on:Sep 22, 2009 Played the course:5+ times

Pros:

Beginner friendly.
Wood holes require shot placement.
Good signage.
Very popular.
Well maintained.

Cons:

Very active park, lots of people, pets, and vehicles at times.

Other Thoughts:

This course was designed as a rec course from the beginning. The last 4 holes had to be re-designed because people were throwing over the adjacent property fence, climbing said fence, and tearing it down. The owner has bison, llamas, and cows that were getting loose.
Given that the park had only a small amount of space available, that is the only place that we could set the baskets.
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6 1
craigd
Diamond level trusted reviewer
Experience: 15.7 years 179 played 118 reviews
2.50 star(s)

Herman C. Michael Park 2+ years

Reviewed: Played on:Sep 12, 2009 Played the course:once

Pros:

This is a fun little course hosting a nice mix of completely open to tightly wooded holes. There is a decent mix of elevation changes considering the land available. Water comes in to play on hole number five but it is far enough away not to really be a risk unless you have a particularly bad shot or a unusually bad roll. Still it adds to the personality of the course and is a nice feature. Shule and poison ivy is virtually non existent and the clean forest floor is just another plus to the course. The flow of the course is easy enough to follow and "next tee" arrows in their respective colors were helpful enough that there is no chance of getting lost. Blocks of wood painted blue (long) or red (short) mark the natural tees which are in surprisingly good shape. The tee signs are also very nice and map out the holes perfectly and also indicate the distances of both tees.

This course is perfect for younger or new players. I think it is great to have some courses like this available for that purpose. My 11 year old son played from the short tees and had a great time. He is hungry for an ace and went for it every time. He pointed out that most courses are too long to reach the baskets for younger players but he had a chance on every hole from the red tees. Additionally, new players will like the shortness of the course as well. Also the woods/open mix will be helpful in teaching them different throws too.

This is a great course for working on your short game and finesse shots. While I don't see top pro players longing to play this course I do think below average to even above average players can thoroughly enjoy this course.

Cons:

Well, this course lacks the length or general challenge that most serious players will be looking for. Most of the challenge comes from some of the tight fairways that have not really been designed that well. While you will find a few really good holes, some are lacking. There are a couple of identifiable lines on a few of the wooded holes but they don't seem to be there by design, rather they are just gaps that happen to be in the woods. Others have no line at all. I remember one hole in particular where this was really pronounced. I just stood there looking for a route and finally thought, "Well, I guess I will just throw it and see what happens". I could have done just as well by closing my eyes and throwing. With that said it does help keep the challenge flowing on what could be a repetitive and even boring course otherwise. The worst holes on the course happen to be the last open ones and they can leave you driving home a little disappointed.

Other Thoughts:

Don't let the cons scare you away. This really is a fun little course, especially if you are just going to work on your short game or honing your finesse shots. As long as you know what to expect you should be pleased with the course. As I mentioned, this is a pretty fun course and I had a great time. I hope you like it too. Enjoy!
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2 1
Alan.D
Experience: 16.9 years 6 played 6 reviews
3.00 star(s)

A notch above 2+ years drive by

Reviewed: Played on:Mar 17, 2009 Played the course:2-4 times

Pros:

-Good use of land
-Mostly wooded with a few wide open holes
-Water can come in play
-Tee "pads" are actually not bad
-Shots needed vary
-A fun course

Cons:

-Mostly just par 3 (with a par 2) for the most part lacks different approaches
-Can be repetitive
-Water can come in play
-While most fairways are fair a few are too small or undefined

Other Thoughts:

Overall a fun course worth playing. It is quite active, with a good community.

A fun although forgettable course.
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4 1
billnchristy
Gold level trusted reviewer
Experience: 15.1 years 64 played 56 reviews
2.50 star(s)

This course is fun 2+ years drive by

Reviewed: Updated: Played on:May 22, 2011 Played the course:5+ times

Pros:

Great signs...each hole has a tee sign and little red and blue arrows that direct you towards the next tee. They are generally just a few steps away though.
2 tee pads...we basically called them child/adult. A couple holes had an intermediate that was painted red and blue.
Nice and short. This is the first course our daughter (6) played completely through.
Nice park, the worst crime that happens here is probably raccoons stealing things.
New grid style teepads on some holes are probably the best hybrid natural terrain pads I have seen.

Cons:

Some poor design elements...several holes fairways run opposite of each other (8 and 9 I think mainly). 10's tee is also almost directly behind 9s basket...I know because I overshot and landed straight on it.
We had to skip 14 because there was a large family gathering in the pavilion that is really too close to the basket.
There is a big, beautiful hilly grass field next to 16...it really seemed that the basket could be put further towards the fence line and have 17 be a decent hole.
I personally did not like 18s tee being right behind a giant light pole which more or less forces you to shoot out over the parking lot to get a good run at the basket.

Other Thoughts:

The herm is what disc golf should be, fun, challenging, frustrating and rewarding. You don't have to be a big arm to play here but you better be accurate. I would bet that this course breeds better players than some of the "better" courses in the area that never teach you how to shape lines.

If you are looking for a good time, call Herman C. If you are looking for some whiz-bang new par 3.5 million mega plex, go elsewhere or play 4 rounds and call it one.

The new grid pads are awesome, when they get installed on all 18 this sucker will be a 3 all day in my book.
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