- practice basket (particularly uncommon for a 9 hole course)
- benches at all holes, and garbage cans at many
- clean, open fairways and limited rough undergrowth in woods
- most holes have good next tee indicators
- quality baskets in good shape
- shorter but with technical challenge, a nice compliment to nearby Gator Links
- mostly good quality stone/stamped concrete tees
- course seems to generally stay dry
- tee signs have rudimentary maps, better than nothing

- practice basket is inside track, so may interfere with other activities
- virtually no elevation change
- no advanced hazards (water, etc.)
- hole 2 tee is dirt
- hole 1 to hole 2 navigation is very unclear, and hole 1 is rather disconnected from the rest of the course
- hole 9 ends very far from hole 1

Pirate's Cove is an enjoyable 9 hole round that can be played quickly. I'm not sure many people would go out of their way to come to this course with Gator Links on the same college campus - Gator Links is definitely superior, and I think the general intent would be to add this course on to play 27, not play it alone. That's what I did, and I enjoyed Pirate's Cove as well, even if it's a bit more basic.

In general, it's a well designed course with some medium technical challenge, although the holes are generally short enough that it isn't particularly difficult for any skill level. Holes 2 and 3 are pretty wide open, and for whatever reason hole 2 is the only one without a permanent tee, which is unfortunate. As many have pointed out, navigation from hole 1 to 2 is not straightforward at all. I had to use the map wellsbranch250 created to figure it out. It's also unfortunate this course doesn't make a loop like most courses and spits you out pretty far away from hole 1 at the end.

One of the biggest things lacking in this area is elevation change, which is hard to come by on the gulf coast. Many of the area courses are high quality, but just don't quite have that "something extra" you get a bit further north.

Technically, the signs for these holes say there are 2 tees per hole. DGCR only has one set of tee info, and I'll admit I didn't look too hard for a second set of tees, but they were not obvious. The permanent tees are the primaries.

All that said, the course has tee signs with maps, a practice basket, permanent tees, open and wooded shots, benches, garbage cans... it's very solid on amenities, and I had fun here. If you're around to play Gator Links, it's definitely worth extending your round. It's a little lower-key if you just want to have a good time, but I wouldn't drive out of my way for it like I think it's worth doing for Gator Links.

- free course, plenty of parking
- concrete tees
- informative tee signs listing hole number, distances, and showing fairway shape
- numbered baskets
- intuitive courses design after hole 2
- practice basket in an open field
- most of the course is shaded
- balanced, challenging design
- benches
- low traffic
- beginner friendly

- flat
- no multiple pin placements or extra tees
- mostly shorter holes
- hole #1 in general.
- hole #9 doesn't end close to hole #1
- tee pad for hole #2 is connected to the brick building?

Personally, I dislike when a course makes their first hole start short and technical. Pirates Cove feels like hole #1 was added to an already existing 8 hole design. It really doesn't flow well with the rest of the course. Starting your round threading the needle with this wet blanket of a fairway is a real downer.

After that, it gets better. Two open holes proceed it, they give throwers a chance to warm up their arms for the rest of the course that awaits them in the woods. Once in the woods, players will experience a good mix or hyzer and anhyzers on tighter fairways. The rough is punitive, yet manageable. More experienced players will tally up the birdies, while the less skilled will likely be scrambling for pars. There was enough variety to keep things from getting too repetitive.

Pirates Cove shares some similarities with NAS Whiting, however, I feel that it's more well rounded. The Cove has a better variety of fairway shapes, distances, and isn't as isolated as NAS Whiting. The finishing point of the Cove also transitions nicely into the other course across the grounds; Gator Links. Players could easily use the Pirates Cove course as a warm up, then walk 400 some odd feet to the start of hole #1 at Gator Links.

(2.540 Rating) A mix of open and wooded shots along a college campus.
- FUN FACTOR - Pirates Cove has all the elements to make for a fun laid back round. Ace shots galore with two shots even under 200 feet. No water to contend with and the odds of losing a disc is very minimal. Other than (1) and (9), fairways are plenty wide.
- CHILL AREAS - Picnic table in the woods at tee (4) great middle round pit stop. In addition, other than holes (2) and (3), the entire course is in the woods.
- SPACING - The course is well spaced out like Gator Links with really no chance of running one into another fairway. The walk to the next hole is generally close by with the exceptions of (1) to (2), and hole (9) back to the parking.
- NAVIGATION - Was tricky, but should be a lot easier now with the map I uploaded. The transition from (1) to (2) was the most challenging. It appears the course went thru a minor redesign on hole (2). There is an abandoned tee south of basket (1) which can lead to confusion. The new tee (2) was located by a building adjacent to the baseball diamond. In addition, basket (5) to tee (6) has to be double backed to a small path thru the woods.
- LOCATION - Only a ten minute drive from I10. But perhaps the best part is the fact that there's another 18 hole course literally within walking distance. See Gator Links @ NLA.
- TIME PLAY - Plays fairly quick. A group of four should easily be able to play 9 holes in under an hour.

No major issues with the course, but far from the best when compared to the top panhandle courses.
- UNIQUENESS - Being only 9 holes, Pirates Cove lags a bit below average in terms of variety. All nine holes are par 3's, there are no water elements and the amount of elevation change is no more than 5 feet of change on any one hole. The course definitely favors plays right to left. Holes (4 thru 8), feel nearly all the same.
- RAW BEAUTY - I found that Pirates Cove to be somewhere in the middle in terms of beauty compared to all the courses I've played thus far. Holes (2) and (3) are very bland, but the rest of the course makes up for it.
- DIFFICULTY - Due to string of holes under 250 feet, shooting under par for intermediate players and better should routinely occur. Holes (1) and (9) are by far the most challenging of the bunch, but the rest will offer good looks at birdie for many players. In all however, the course is a great pairing partner with the tougher Gator Links.
- CHARACTER - A touch below average as a whole. Like Gator Links, there is no practice basket, multiple pin placement sleeves or bag holders that you'll see many times at the older established courses. There also isn't duel tees, which is featured at the neighboring course. There is however a fair amount of tee shading, benches, trash cans and adequate tee signage.

In all, I find Pirates Cove to be an average course. Recreational and Intermediate players will likely enjoy this one and when coupled with adjacent Gator Links, a great 27 holes to play on an extended afternoon.

Great course that is a lot of fun to play. More open fairways than Gator Links but still has challenging doglegs and holes with tight lines and trees. Practice basket is nice for warm ups.

Hole #1 is missing due to parking lot expansion. Spent 20 minutes looking for it and found the signs in the woods rotting. We ended up using the practice basket as our hole #1. As stated before, pro tees are difficult to find and the paved am tees could be a little longer.

Paired with Gator Links, makes for a great and versatile 27 holes or a great 9 holer played by itself. Unfortunate that hole #1 was removed and not replaced.

Technical 9 hole course on small, attractive community college campus. Good mix of hole lengths although 200-250 are the majority. Good mix of right and left turns from tees. Benches at all holes except the first. Decent signage with fairly accurate distances. Paired with the Gator Links across the street makes for a couple of hours of 27 hole discing.

Am tees are small but workable. Pro tees are natural and hard to find. Pro tees change holes dramatically but not in the best way. Mostly they just make the drive turn from something possibly dramatic into merely a lay up feel. Could use a few more garbage cans. There are only 2 on the course and it seems lots of folks cannot be burdened to carry their trash another few minutes to dispose of it properly. Ace grafitti on several baskets. I am not a fan. Write on your disc if need be, but don't mark on the basket. Nobody else cares about your ace and it gives a course a trashy feel. I notice lately that there is less it seems. Someone must wipe the baskets clean from time to time. Amen! Hole 2: I hate this hole as it seems to be more luck than skill.

I have played this course numerous times. I think it is a very good 9 hole course that is just challenging enough. A very good round will be rewarded. Get off track a couple of times and your score will be miserable. This course is generally in very good shape, much better than the accompanying Gator Links across the street but I believe that is mostly an accessibility issue as the other course is much deeper in the woods and it would be more difficult to get equipment there. I have aced a couple of holes here but I never seem to have a breakout round. Hole 9 is in my opinion the most challenging of all. In my opinion, this course is a definite must play if in the area. It is short but outshines many of the other courses in the area.

Pirate's Cove is a small technical nine holer on the Milton campus of Pensacola State College that plays along and through the wood line at the back of the baseball fields and track. It provides a round with a mix of left and right breaking drives, some tight lines, two holes to air it out a little, and a possible ace run or three. The short tees are level concrete tile with signs and there are benches at every hole except the first. It's easy to find and very easy to navigate. There are long tees for every hole that create additional challenges and make the round a much more difficult play. Plenty of parking on the weekend right next to the first tee.

The long tees are designated by blue painted markers, set flush with the ground, and can be very difficult to find if you don't know where they are.
The parking can get a little tight during school hours, and I've occasionally run into cars parked in the way on the first hole, but the course starts at the far end of the parking lot furthest away from class buildings and therefore is generally the last part of the lot to fill up.
The ninth hole ends at the far side of the track from the parking lot, which can be a little bit of a walk back to the car, but there is a practice basket in the field at the parking end which can be played as an informal hole 10.

This is a good looking nine hole course that has enough substance to provide some challenge to most players without being so much as to overwhelm beginners. It is paired with the 18 hole Gator Links Course to make for a fun 27 hole round when played together. The Gator Links is across the street from hole number 8 and down a short service road. Play the links and then come back to finish out holes 8 and 9 of the Cove. Parking anywhere on campus other than the end of the lot by the track requires a student parking pass.

The course is mostly short and technical, with dense woods on mostly flat ground. There is a great practice area with a basket at one end of a football field, so there is room to practice approaches and even shorter drives. The course has mostly tighter shots with a couple more open holes that still have some rough if you miss your line. You're not going to lose discs here, but the rough on most holes is enough to cost you strokes for an errant drive.

There is a good mix of hole shapes, especially for a 9 hole course. you'll need to shape some lines through the trees to score well here. Every hole is deuceable for experienced players, but it's easy to mess up and take a 4 on lots of holes too. It's at a great level for college players trying out the sport, with enough challenge to make it interesting, but not too much length or difficulty to frustrate most new players. The baskets are in decent shape, and catch fine. The tees are concrete, and are also in pretty good shape. The signs are basic, but plenty informative with hole distance and layout.

There are pro tees shown on the hole signs, but they are natural and hard to find. The concrete tees are nicely poured, but are a little small. Some of the baskets are showing a little wear and some rust. There's a long walk from the 9th hole back to the parking lot. A couple holes are a little pinbally, not a huge deal for a recreational course like this but it could make competition a little fluky.

This is a great course for college players to have on campus to try out the course. It has enough variety to encourage beginners to try out different shots, but not so much difficulty that it will scare away new players. More experienced throwers won't find it all that challenging, but it's a fun little course to work on your short game. I love seeing courses on college campuses to introduce players to the sport, especially when they're designed well for the intended players.

Great variety of shots needed to play round. Has 27 holes. Nice signs at the tee pads with par and distance. Front 9 are great for beginners.

Confusing the first time played. Actually 9 front holes and 18 in the woods. Front nine nice and open while wooded 18 can be very tight at times with numerous trees. Sign shows pro and am tees for each hole but both do not exist at numerous times. More directional signs are needed.

Front 9 great for beginners but wooded 18 are not. A nice course but get used to the big thud off a tree even for advance players in the trees.

A nice variety of wooded shots with different lengths and shot types. Nice, but smallish tee pads amazingly for the rec-tees, pro tees are dirt and hard to find. Nice nex-t signs will keep you from getting lost.
Awesome enormous practice field, basically there is a practice basket at one end of a soccer + sized field so if it is empty you could practice drives, approaches, and putting.

Longish walk from 9 to parking lot.
One basket had cross brace missing which discs could fall out from.

A nice variety of shots, and tight wooded fairways. Being from GA we felt at home in the wooded areas and actually did worse on one field shot.
The course loops around several sports fields and winds through the woods.

Well marked, good tees, free, has another 18 holes across the parking lot. Nice woods. A few nice holes.

Gets a bit too tight, a few holes without a real fairway.