(2.936 Rating) A moderate to heavily wooded Intermediate level course with some moderate elevation change.
- RAW BEAUTY - The Meeman Shelby West course looks angelic in spots. Lots of modest sloping terrain and it's cut through heavy woods on fifteen holes. I've played about half of the Memphis courses as of this review and rank this one towards the top for beauty along with Bud Hill and the adjacent East course.
- ELEVATION - Like its eastern sibling, there's a surprising amount of grade change on this one. Holes (2) thru (7) go down up down up down up in succession. Hole (11) is an interesting left turning hook that dives and dives down a creek bed at least 30 and maybe even 40 feet down.
- CHALLENGING - The challenge here will very depending on which position the baskets are in. For my round, I didn't get one short placement. It felt like an Intermediate level challenge. There are a lot of tight lines on this course. A couple I would define as pinball or flawed. Being able to scramble well is going to be a big plus. If they were to ever put them back in the shorts, it probably becomes a very fun technical Rec layout.
- AMENITIES - The core equipment items are a big pro. DISCatcher baskets and concrete tees. The course has a bunch of usable, but decaying benches and a hoard of basket placements on each hole. There's a pavilion near the start of both courses and there's a big course map that was likely glorious when first installed, but is now unhelpful. See cons.

Faded signage.
- NAVIGATION AND SIGNAGE - My gps stopped working after I finished the East course. Thus I had to navigate this one with the on-site tee signs and the posted course map. What a disaster. The course map was faded and basically unreadable as of May 2022. I ended-up scouting around for 5 minutes before spotting tee (1). After teeing off and arriving at my disc within the circle, I noticed that the basket number was (5). Basket (1) was apparently a bit shorter and blind behind a tree. I decided to tap in for my safari bird and then pivoted to search for (2). After not finding it for 10 minutes, I went back to the faded course map and re-affirmed it was near impossible to read. I re-scouted the area around basket (1) and was finally able to find tee (2) which basically required a full double-back down (1s) fairway. There are a couple other tricky spots regarding transitions, but none were as bad as finding tee (2). As for the tee signage. Some were missing, some were heavily faded and a couple were good. It honestly needs a full redo.
- MAINTENANCE - The course was in pretty bad shape when I arrived. Lots of weeds and branches in fairways. Numerous benches were rotting away and looked like eyesores. This is a pretty challenging landscape to keep up. It would take multiple group efforts a year to keep this one looking good.
- DESIGN UPDATES - Like the East layout, this one has also gotten some new basket placements. Not as bad as the clown show occurring over on the East layout, but a few of the new ones here also have no line unless plinko fairways count.
- TIME PLAY - Solo first time players will need to set aside more time than they think. Because of the adventure I experienced in the beginning, this one took me over 90 minutes first-time solo. I probably could redo it in 60 on my second time.
- OVERGROWTH - Bad tree kicks are going to happen here. Some of these kicks are going to put the disc in hard to reach areas. Poison ivy, briar, ticks and snakes all have the possibility to present themselves.
- BEGINNER FRIENDLY - Please do not bring beginners to either of these two courses.

After getting on track from my beginning stumble, I actually enjoyed much of this course. It's got some neat holes and I enjoyed the surrounding tranquility. Players like me that enjoy wooded technical courses should have a good time as long as they have a guide. It'll be interesting to see how both of these two courses evolve over the next few years. It seems like there are less volunteers here now than perhaps there once was. There are a bunch of new park style courses in the Memphis area now, so perhaps many players will steer clear of here and play where no extra effort is required. As is, I'm going with a solid 3.0 with plus 3.25 potential if the course got cleaned up and got new signage. The course reminds me of Mastin Lake in Huntsville or perhaps a bit tamer and more unkempt version of Seven Oaks in Nashville. Players that live in Memphis and haven't played here yet, need to play this one. I would also recommend it to out-of-towners as well if they like wooded courses. I would advise to all the before noted groups that playing in May, like I did, is likely one of the worst months to check this course out. Considering the regional climate, the best months will likely be September through November, then skip December due to the leaves, and then it'll be good from January till mid April.

I had pulled into the lot on a Sunday and realized that because the small parking lot at Meeman-Shelby was filling up , I was walking into a club or course small tournament .If traveling , these are best avoided , as foursomes will slow you up , and you feel rushed when the nice guys push you through . I played the East Side first , then came over to West , both 18 holes . The baskets are a mix of older Discatchers , and maybe Machs . The cement pads are older but has good grip . The signage is the same as East , old but informative enough with the hole # , distance and picture of tee to basket . Multiple pin positions on many holes . I did not see on the signs where to indicate which position the basket was in , though . No online map , but I had bypassed the kiosk at the left front of the shelter only to have one of the locals show me that there was info there if you looked closely . Water is at a blue faucet just left of the shelter , which houses several picnic tables and a bathroom . There are amenities throughout the course like benches and trash cans . West seems to have about the same technical lines , playing most holes short , but more elevation feels present on this side . Just like East , the course can confuse you early . West starts behind the shelter and to your left when facing the kiosk . It throws across the back yard to the basket behind the tree on the left of the tee pad . You will see several tee pads after finishing up the hole , but ignore them and walk more than back up the fairway you just threw over , and turn right . #2 is a downhill throw , throwing away from the back of the shelter , to the basket . #3 is to the right of #2's basket and throws back up the hill you just threw down . You proceed to walk close to #1's basket to throw back down a tight hill , to where you go back and forth and up and down through the first 9 . All of these holes rate a par 3 in my book because you have birdie opportunities on many of the holes and you can also recover for par for fairway miscues most of the time . The back 9 move you off to the left of the woods for 5 holes , then return you back up to where you turned left to continue your round instead of right . You have to pay attention to the course and its paths or you might miss a hole ( I almost missed 14 ) here or there . The course opens up a little at a time after 15 , eventually leaving you with 17 , a long hyzer to an opening fairway and a basket tucked back a little into the woods . #18 looked like a practice basket when you pulled into the lot . The #18 tee starts you teeing off from the edge of the woods , another slight hyzer to this basket out in the wide open . The course is yet another fast play , Many different lines to play .I know that earlier reviewers have dinged the course in the cons section for not having a set of pro tees , but I like the fact that the course tries to preserve its historical aspects . solo players once they get their bearings can complete a round in an hour . Foursome in under 2 for sure . What can go wrong with stepping out of your car and having the opportunity to play 36 holes of woods disc golf . Disc Risk , minimal but still there . The fairways and woods seem pretty clear of serious foliage , and there is literally no water throw into , so the most common way to lose a disc would be to clip a tree and go out of sight and roll down a hill . Signature hole : I kind of liked #5 , an uphill throw to a basket in a jail of small trees surrounding most of it . It's not a long throw , but there is plenty of elevation and trees are scattered in the middle of the fairway .

#1 Navigation can be frustrating in a couple of places . Especially 1-2 and I think 8-9 . 2 or 3 NEXT TEE signs would help immensely , along with an informed online map . Also , maybe a code on the sign showing which position the pin is in . #2 This course can feel a little repetitive . Even though most of the holes show you different lines , the course plays tight and short . I personally didn't mind , as I still like playing 36 holes without moving my car . #3 Bugs . In the late spring or early fall , and especially the summer , this woods is a haven for mosquito and other biting insect . Bring spray and apply generously . Make sure you complete any calls you want to make before you even get close to Meeman-Shelby . I lost service until I was about 4 miles from there .

Lots of history here , widely considered the first permanent course in Tennessee . I found out from the locals that the front 9 of East and the front 9 of West actually comprised the first course ( who knew ? ) . 36 holes of disc golf in a free Tennessee state park , Thank You Tennessee Parks and Rec for allowing me to play here . nice locals , excellent course amenities , enough to keep you entertained for at least a half a day . Make it a full day and travel to the 2 Bud Hill courses just down the road .This is certainly a destination area . My Recommendation : Since both Meeman-Shelby courses and the 2 Bud Hills were a main reason I came to Memphis , whether you are local , newbie , enthusiast , traveler , or just want to see what disc golf looked like in the late 70's , PLAY IT FOR SURE !!!!

The Meeman-Shelby courses both play through some nice disc golf terrain consisting largely of woods with mild to moderate elevation changes throughout. Both courses focus on par 3s with tight windows and lanes, and are overall similar in style and quality, which I found to be quite solid. I felt the West course was a bit more technical than the East, owing largely to its slightly more exaggerated elevation changes. These add wrinkles to an otherwise often-straightforward see-line-throw-line design. There are also a handful of more open holes that allow you to throw more freely: 18's 425' in a largely open field was a welcome, relaxed ending to my two rounds here where I could happily uncork a bit of distance after mostly throwing midranges.

The courses are technical enough to test more capable players while being short enough to not beat down newer players. A decently technical game is needed to play Meeman-Shelby effectively, but there are few courses better to cultivate such skills in owing to the modest distance and par 3 focus.

The courses have a well-worn feel that makes navigation easy and minimizes the chance of losing a disc off the fairway. They play quickly, and I didn't find them to be particularly demanding physically.

The biggest con of the Meeman-Shelby courses in my eyes is simply their unremarkable design. The holes are all pretty straightforward par 3s, with a single shot necessary to hit to play the hole successfully, and no distinguishing features. There is nothing creative about the layout or use of the quality terrain, and only one set of tees limits one's ability to jazz things up. The two courses run together both with each other and many other such wooded par 3 courses. This is hardly a fatal flaw: Meeman-Shelby offers enjoyably solid wooded par 3 disc golf. I just didn't come away with any distinctive impression.

While I think this course is a good trainer for one's technical short game, I can see true beginners or players used to more open spaces getting frustrated by the tight confines here. Come prepared to throw into some tighter windows and lanes.

The Meeman-Shelby courses are fun, technical par 3 courses that are worth a visit but also don't offer much that a well-traveled player hasn't already seen. They're definitely worth a play through if you're visiting the excellent Bud Hill and have the extra time.

Really a great course. Many tight wooded fairways with a variety of shots required. Many holes have two or more possible lines, some with higher risk/reward which makes the course very fun to play. Many of the holes require very tight technical shots in order to have an opportunity for par, which is great for more experienced players to work on hitting their lines. The elevation changes here also serve as an added challenge for the course. Navigation and course flow was also a huge plus. My group was easily able to find the next tee box even though it was our first time playing the course.

Navigation was great with the exception of hole 1. The tee sign was a little misleading and there were three baskets that could have been hole one's none of which were labeled. While playing we also ran into two snakes, neither were poisonous, but still worth noting. Also, there were one or two holes with little to no fairways. You basically just had to throw into a cluster of trees and hope that you get through.

Overall I really enjoyed this course. Looking at the reviews for the West and the East I got the impression that the East was the much better side, but I actually didn't think so playing through the West side. I think both are great courses and the West has a few more open holes without losing any of the difficulty of navigating tight fairways. Meeman-Shelby is my personal favorite disc golf location in Memphis, and I highly suggest playing both sides if you have the time.

2 course (east and west)
36 holes
some tee pads are in good shape (some are not)
Great baskets.
Beautiful wooded course with HUGE mature trees
distances vary as do shot selections.
some tight with technique needed to hit the right lines
some open for big arms

the tee pads and signs could use updated in certain locations.

I lived in Bartlett (Memphis area) for almost 5 years and always loved playing the forest.
If you play it, make sure to stop by the General store close by for a burger. Best I've ever had!

Nice layout and the tee boxes and holes are easy to locate. If you are a lefty or prefer throwing side-armed, then you will love this course. Many of the holes appear to have multiple hole options, but it was geared toward a player with right hook finish. I enjoyed working on that part of my game on this 18 hole course.

The layout wasn't diverse enough for my taste. These holes are shorter than the "East" course and not as creative. The elevation changes created a positive element though.

Nice pair of courses here and I'd love to play them more often. If I knew more people would be on the course, I'd be even more likely to drive the 15-20 minutes from downtown Memphis to play them when I am back in town.

Nice short wooded course adjacent to Meeman-Shelby State Park - East. The course is great for both beginners and more advanced players.

-You don't need a bag full of discs to shoot well and most players can get by using only a mid-range and a putter.

-Compared to the East course elevation comes into play a bit more with a mix of throwing uphill and downhill.

-There is a natural creek bed about 12 feet deep which acts as a nice natural rough (no water in the summer).

-Signage is good. Most holes have benches & trash cans (I ran into two locals installing more benches while I was playing).

Not so much a reflection on the course itself--but--make sure to bring bug spray! Even with spray I had gnats circling my head often which got annoying real fast.

-The tee pads were a little short compared to what I am used to and a few are carpet with lumps

-You can tell some of the holes are newer as the fairways are not as well defined as the East course.

-Course does not flow as smoothly as the East course (this is probably due to the course being newer and having less wear). I got confused a few times trying to find the next hole.

Players who enjoy wooded courses will not be disappointed. This is a fun stop where you can play 36 wooded holes (West & East). I think most would agree East is the better course--if you only have a limited amount of time make sure to play East. If you have the time go ahead and play both!

***note: the ball field mentioned in the directions is no longer there. You will see a large flat area where the field used to be but there is nothing left to indicate it was a once a ball field. I stopped at the park's Visitor's Center and was able to get a map and good directions to the first hole. There is a covered pavilion and restrooms on site.

A challenging, technical course with punishing rough and tricky elevation shots.
Some unique shots are required of a player. Low-ceiling spike hyzers to an elevated green, uphill turnover S-curve shots, low-ceiling line-drives over a ravine, touch sidearms, etc.

On-site bathrooms and shelter, as well as chairs and benches on a number of the holes.

I'm a fan of tight, wooded courses. I like to have to think about the line I can take, and I enjoy being presented with the risk/reward go-for-it temptation shots. Having said that, I really hate rinky-dink throw-and-pray holes. And there are a couple of them on this course. Hole 11 for example, is a touch hyzer shot with a downhill finish. After the initial hole, there is a random smattering of trees guarding the pin. Hole 15 presents a crazy tight line, with the teepad pointing 30' off to the left. One or two swipes with a chainsaw would do the course a lot of good. I don't need a 50' fairway; but I would like to actually have a line at the basket.

Some of the other teepads are carpet. This creates some surface bumps on some of them, and makes for a slippery surface after a decent rain.

Bring your bug juice and your grippiest shoes -- especially after rain.

Meeman-Shelby has a nice shelter with bathrooms by the start of the two courses. Water is available and there's a large bulletin board with a map of the two courses inside. Most of the holes have concrete tee pads and tee signs. Some of signs indicate there are multiple pin placements on the course.

The West course is wooded and short but rather technical. Even though it's short there are no gimmes here; you definitely have to hit your lines to get the birdies. There's a little variety of hyzer and anhyzer shots and some holes have multiple routes to the basket. There's elevation changes here on most holes, more so that the East course, which really added to the fun and challenge of this course.

This a very old course and back in the day there was only one course in this park. There are still some of the old tee signs from the original course which gives it a nostalgic feel.

Some tee signs are missing and some of the tee pads are carpet rather than concrete.

Navigating the course is mostly easy, but you can get turned around between holes 1 & 2, 9 & 10, and 14 & 15. It's just enough to wish you had a map your first time, but isn't an issue once you've played here a few times. Next tee signs would be a nice addition and could easily fix this.

I was a little disappointed some of the baskets weren't closer to the steep slopes of the creek bed near a few of the holes. It's a nice drop off and would really add to the challenge here.

Overall this is a short, fun nostalgic course. With two courses in one location it's definitely worth stopping here to play. West is definitely the less challenging of the two courses here. I'm glad I played West first, I probably would have felt let down if I played here after East.

Benches/chairs @ many holes, garbage cans @ each hole. Some concrete tee pads, others flat and covered with carpeting. many short holes. Multiple pin positions. Signs on every hole

REALLY hilly!! Slick and dangerous when wet, needs more benches, easy to lose a disc.

All players are rewarded for good shots, and penalized for not so good shots. Bring every kind of disc you have! Every shot is needed on this course. Not too long and not too technical. It is an excellent blend of ease and challenge for players of every level and of both genders.

This course is a little shorter and a little hillier than the east course. It plays mostly through rolling hills in dense woods with a couple open holes to start and end the course. Many holes have nice elevation changes, which definitely adds to the fun factor and the variety. The woods are thick enough that you'll find some pretty good punishment for errant shots.

There are some nice left and right turning holes mixed in on this course, and lots of holes that challenge you to hit a narrow straight line to stay out of trouble. There are a few longer holes mixed in to the mostly shorter layout. The tees are mostly concrete and are in good shape. The course is pretty easy to follow and has good flow.

The signage is lacking here, some holes have nice signs, some have two signs for the new layout and for the original 18 which is now split between the two courses, and some holes had no signage at all. There were a couple spots where it took a second to figure out which tee was next, though these weren't too bad. You might want to take a picture of the course map by the parking lot just in case.

The course gets a little repetitive at times, with lots of short straight shots through the woods. The elevation changes help, but not enough to keep many holes from feeling really similar. There are some erosion issues on some of the hilly areas that seemed like they would be really slick after a rain. The alternate pin placements add some nice minor changes to many holes, but there isn't any marking to show what position is in use.

This is a fun wooded course, and I definitely enjoyed playing here. A little more variety in length and hole shapes would bump up the challenge and fun factor here quite a bit. It's more beginner friendly than the East course, but it could still be frustrating for a beginner who struggles to keep it on the narrow fairways. Top players won't be really challenged here, but the rest of us have to work to hit the lines here, and will find enough trouble on errant shots to keep it interesting.

MS- West is a solid technical wooded course. The first 2 holes are more open (but not gimmes) and then from #3-#15 you are in the woods, the fairways widen a bit for #16-#17, and #18 is very open. This set up gives it a little more variety of wooded vs. open than the East course. There are a lot of trees waiting to deflect your disc the wrong direction as you would expect, but there is always a reasonable fairway. Many of the holes also involve the extra challenge of elevation. The course is an older one, but this actually helps it as it has had plenty of time to mature.

Tees, baskets, and signs were adequate. Navigation was not a problem.

This is a nice, secluded course that is challenging yet fun. The disc golf courses are their own area of the park, so there is no interference with other park activities. There is the added bonus of 2 courses that begin from the same parking area (for36 total holes). Also at the parking lot is a detailed course map of the complex, a covered picnic pavilion, and nice restrooms.

I put as a Pro that #18 added contrast to the woods holes, but for me personally this hole just does not fit in the with the other 35 holes here as it is just wide open. It had little challenge other than length and is really more of a filler just to get you back to the parking lot. It was just a disappointing way to finish 36 holes. The road can be a factor on #15 for RHBHers so watch for cars and road rash.

The wooded holes did not offer as much variety as the East course, many of the holes in the middle are fairly straight (not as much hyzer and anhyzer like the East course).

I also remember being amazed at how the mosquitoes would not go away, even in the pouring rain, so be sure to bring your bug spray!

The Meeman-Shelby courses are solid courses that will challenge players of all skill levels, but aren't too difficult for casual players and families who also come to the park for other things like camping, hiking, and fishing. It is also really nice that there are 36 holes all in one spot, and these courses are not too far from one of the best courses anywhere- Bud Hill, which complement each other very well.

I preferred the East course over the West, if you have to pick one. But I recommend both if you have the time.

Short old school wooded course, but not silly short. Hole 1 is beautiful with lush green grass and played under a canopy of trees for most of the shot which is about 380, with the basket on a decline, so watch out for roll off. Most of the front 9 plays along the side of a hill which is wooded yet has defined fairways. You play 3 up and 3 down and all are cool and challenging shots for us rec players. Many hyzers and about 3 annys. Feels secluded, just not quite as much as the east, which isn't a con as the east is 1 of the most secluded feeling courses that I have played so far. Most pins were visible from the t pad. Shady as any course that I have played with lots of places to rest and many trash cans. No trash. Very well manicured with short green grass on the few open type holes. A scenic and peaceful round engulfed in the woods.

Too short for today's standards. Too easy for pro level players. Favors right handed traditional style golfers, which for me was great. Some of the baskets were old and there were many types, but I had no spit outs and it's an old course that has all of it's baskets so LAY OFF MAN!! LOL.

I was told that the city doesn't service the park, volunteers do it. I was told that the owner of Bud Hill has something to do with the upkeep, by the can lady. You locals know who I am talking about. I fully endorse these courses to any woods lover. If you are a pro just enjoy it for what it is, a slice of disc golf history and old school course design.

Starts out with some open shots then straight into the woods for some hard short up and down shots. Benches and waste baskets and mostly concrete pads and some fairly good tee signs make this a challenging little course. Of course the bathroom is always a plus.

The front nine was a bit boring with a lot of up and down type similar shots. Really a letdown from the East course.
Some of the next tees were hard to find.

Tight and technical on most holes and the back nine was a pleasure and a pain!
An area just for disc golf with no nature trails or bike trails or playground equipment make these two courses a real pleasure.

Very challenging and fun. Superb signs. Nice tees and decent baskets. Good course flow and design. Decent variety. Nice restrooms. Plenty of trash cans and benches. Multiple pin locations.

Mainly wooded, not many open holes. Less challenge than the east.

It's a nice course that's heavily wooded. The west side does have a few more open holes which are a good break. It also has a few more ace runs. Even though it's very wooded, there is still lots of variety within the woods. There is lots of elevation, blind baskets, bends to the right, bends to the left, etc. Find the pavilion and there will be a very intricate, large course map. Plan to play both courses.

I'm used to playing the Red course at
Burns Park in Little Rock. For those of you familiar, this is like that... on steroids. The course is well laid out, and once i got started, it was very intuitive to find the next hole (the one exception is noted above about going behind the 9th hole to find 10). Check out the entire course layout on the big board by the bathroom. Someone put a lot of work into this, and if you have a decent memory, it can really help you as you walk the course through all the trees. This is a very tight, short course with loads of trees. I think the front 9 have pretty good lanes that lend themselves well to beginners and gripandrippers. There are also some alternate lanes for those that are looking to throw more finesse shots with some good placement. I felt like there was a good balance of left-to-right and right-to-left shots with a couple of dead-on shots for good measure. EVERY SINGLE HOLE was well marked for pin placement and distance (even on holes that had multiple pin placements).

Holes10-14 are a little more wooded/rustic than I like, with little to no lane and more of spray and pray mentality involved.

Some of the signs depict multiple pin placements and yardage.,,, but having never played the course before, i usually had no idea which place the pin was in, therefore negating the yardage info the sign gave me. (i know that this is ridiculous to bitch about, since there were signs on EVERY SINGLE HOLE)

If you love technical (albeit a little shorter) courses, then this is a must-play in the area. The fact that it has an 18 sister course that ties in is reason enough to stop by. I really enjoyed myself today on this course (despite a couple of doubles) and definitely plan to play it again next time i'm in town.

This is the shorter, but tighter course in Shelby Forest. It generally plays easier for most pro level players, but if you can not hit the many small gaps, then this course can play tougher than the East course. Most holes have good concrete tee pads and benches, the rest have carpet tee pads.

Design wise, this course is challenging but straight forward: you simply have to hit your gaps. If you can hit your gaps, then you will shoot well here. Although mostly short, this course contains a lot of variety in shot selection, with good elevation changes, and plenty of trees. There are multiple pin placements on a lot of the holes.

At the start of the course is a pavilion and bathrooms. The park has cabins and also allows camping. The also wooded East course is right next door.

Strangely, several holes have good tee signs, while some other holes seem to be missing signs, which can make navigation difficult for first timers. There are no next tee markers, but there is usually a worn path leading to the next tee pad. The reason this is a major con, is there can be a lot of worn paths being it is an old course, and several holes were part of the original 18. After hole 9, you will go back behind the basket for holes 10-14, before returning back to hole 15.

Also, remember to bring bug spray and cover yourself with it, and even then, I wish you luck.

Overall, this course is fun to play for players of all skill levels. There are a lot of unique and challenging shots. Both courses in this park are heavily wooded, so if you like wooded course, then you will really enjoy your visit to Shelby Forest State Park. The general store down the road has food, drinks, sells discs, and loves disc golfers.