Chattanooga, TN

Carver Recreation Center DGC

1.985(based on 22 reviews)
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14 0
Shadrach3
Gold level trusted reviewer
Experience: 5.5 years 318 played 306 reviews
2.00 star(s)

Your Basic Niner 2+ years

Reviewed: Played on:Mar 12, 2021 Played the course:once

Pros:

The standard rec-level nine-hole course with a bit of challenge and nothing fascinating.

Carver is basically a large field with some walking paths and a pond. There are different segments to the field--parts of it are wide open and flat, but others have gentle hills, a wood line, and several trees. Onto this field have been placed concrete tees and Chattanooga signature grey baskets.

It's a decent layout, especially when you consider that there are two tees per hole to customize the distance to your skill level. The long tees run in the upper 200s and low 300s, with the shorts shorter than that. The shots are basic but fine, utilizing some trees to force minimal shot shapes. You'll need a turnover, a line drive shot for a low ceiling, and either a big spike hyzer or clever roller on the final hole of the course. The pond on the left is also used on (5) to scare you into throwing a very controllable shot on an otherwise trivial hole.

Overall, Carver is a quick rec challenge. The flow makes sense, the grounds seem to be acceptably if not pristinely maintained, and there are some nice approach shot-style holes mixed with longer open bombs.

Cons:

The course could really use some signage. A very basic hole map with distance would go a long way, and help you make sure you're at the right tee and looking the right direction.

There are definitely some boring holes out here. (6) and (7) are the worst, as the only challenge is whether you can throw it 330' or not. I would say that (9) is the most interesting on the course, and that one is a little suspect for not really having a disc line (though I think there are spike hyzer and roller options if you have those shots). Don't go in expecting more than a serviceable neighborhood course.

The center is multi-use, so walkers and such could be a factor to make you wait.

You could lose a disc easily on (5) if the drainage pond is high, and the thick woods obscuring a stinky creek could conceivably be an issue for terrible throws on (6).

The course is very exposed, and when I was there the grass wasn't very short. During the peak of summer, it could well be a slog to play here.

Other Thoughts:

I think Carver is a pretty typical nine-hole course with the basics of rec-level golf done solidly but not imaginatively. It's generally open, somewhat short, but doesn't have egregious mistakes (except for the tree canopy of hole (9) that forces a shot far harder than rec difficulty). I could see locals using this for field work and putter rounds reasonably regularly.

-Neighborhood: A lot of people have commented in their reviews on the neighborhood. When I was here, I felt like the concerns were emphasized far out of proportion. I think possibly low-income has been conflated with unsafe in evaluating whether you should play at Carver. During the middle of the day, I felt entirely safe, even if there were some broken bottles in the parking lot.
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12 0
wellsbranch250
Diamond level trusted reviewer
Experience: 10.2 years 652 played 631 reviews
1.50 star(s)

Standard Issue 8 Basket Course 2+ years

Reviewed: Played on:Jun 27, 2020 Played the course:once

Pros:

(1.393 Rating) An inner city park style course needing some new investment.
- CHAINS - The Chainstar baskets are obviously not top of the line anymore, but they are still decent and in good shape as of this review.
- TEES - Roughly five foot by ten foot concrete pads. There are at least two usable pads on seven holes. I didn't check for a second pad on hole (1), and hole (4's) second pad is located in the middle of some waist high grass and aims at a missing basket.
- BEGINNER FRIENDLY - Not a true beginner's course, but close. There are three holes without a tree in play. Distances are pretty good from the short tees for newer players. The average distance comes in at just over 200 feet from those pads. The odds of losing a disc is low and searching in overgrowth is limited to a couple holes.
- QUICK PLAY - I was in and out in less than 30 minutes on an empty course

Cons:

A bunch of minor issues, which is typical of eight basket courses.
- MISSING BASKET - From reading the prior reviews, it appears that basket (4) has been missing since at least 2014. Thus people like me that need to play 9 holes are going to need to do some layout jujitsu to feel satisfied. I ended up throwing from 4's tee to 5's basket (about 230 feet). I then skipped (5) altogether and then played (9) from both tee pads.
- SIGNAGE AND NAVIGATION - There is no tee signage or course map in the park. Most baskets are not labeled. Players downloading the map on DGCR are going to need to improvise when they get to (4) and (5) due to the missing basket noted above.
- LACK OF CHALLENGE - I personally didn't play well from the back tees in wet conditions and still shot 1 down. The challenge here is almost all distance off the tee, which isn't even that much from the back tees which is around a 300 foot average. A couple of the noted distances are off from what's noted on DGCR. Holes (6) and (7) are both around 340 feet according to satellite info instead of the noted 320. Almost no technical challenge.
- MULTI USE HAZARDS - There are several walking paths in play along the layout. Not a major issue as the course is generally open to see walkers coming up.
- EXTRA AMENITIES - Beyond the core basics of baskets and tees, there really isn't much else here to coddle players. I think I saw one bench, but it was likely put there by happenstance for general park use. No alternate basket placements or practice basket. No picnic tables either to plop down at after the round conclusion.
- HOLE VARIETY - The hole to hole make-up is rather bland. Only a few trees come into play the entire round. The hole distance variation is sub-par. No multi-play holes or even big hooking shots. The course is very flat too. Maybe 10 feet of elevation change on the entire layout.
- NATURAL BEAUTY - This is just a standard park with mowed grasses and a spattering of big oak trees. I rate this category on a curve compared to all courses I've played to date and would put Carver at around the 25 percentile mark.

Other Thoughts:

Passable sums this course up in a nutshell. There are tees, there are baskets, but not much else. I think there is enough potential in the landscape to make a nice 2.0 rated 9 holer with some basket location edits and some investments. However, considering they haven't put back a ninth basket in 6 years now, I doubt that's ever going to happen. With my play of Carver, I've officially played and rated every public accessible course within a 45 minute drive of Chattanooga. Carver doesn't stack up well compared to the other courses in this range. I'd only put Carver ahead of Brainerd Church. Nearby 9 holers, such as Portland Park, Shepherd and Jack Mattox, are all far superior to this course.
- LOCATION - As alluded to on many of the previous reviews, this course is in an economically challenged area. I personally had avoided playing here for two years because of several firsthand and secondhand accounts from disc golfers in this region. One firsthand account I heard from a local while over at the Sinks involved a straight up mugging. I decided to give this one a shot in the middle of the day, directly after a brief summertime thunderstorm and had no issues.
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9 0
benwilly
Experience: 10.8 years 28 played 14 reviews
1.00 star(s)

Not a good course 2+ years drive by

Reviewed: Played on:Feb 24, 2017 Played the course:once

Pros:

-2 tee pads on each hole
-concrete tee pads
-somewhat easy to navigate
-beginner course

Cons:

-no labels on the tee pads to let you know what basket they go with
-hole 4 doesn't exist
-open field with no skill needed
-in a very questionable area of town need to keep a mind of who and whats going on
around you. Don't go alone
-short holes with only one over 200 feet
-no real left or right curves
-terrible drainage puddles up when there is rain
-Holes 2 and 3 are right by a house

Other Thoughts:

I would not recommend this course unless you just want to play every course in this city, in a very questionable area. We even saw two kids fighting at the basketball court. Also saw a guy kick his dog for barking.Would definitely not take my kids here.
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7 0
S.Cann
Gold level trusted reviewer
Experience: 14.9 years 156 played 82 reviews
2.00 star(s)

Quick Play, Fairly Open 2+ years drive by

Reviewed: Played on:Aug 31, 2014 Played the course:once

Pros:

-Plays in a circle with the parking lot located behind hole 9's basket.
-Easy to navigate
-Baskets were DISCraft and all in great shape.
-Great use of elevation!
-Concrete Tees on every hole
-Multiple Tees on some holes.
-Playground on-site.

Cons:

-Seems to be a rough area. I would be mindful of your surroundings while playing this course.
-One basket (Hole #4) is missing.
-There were no signs on this course and tee pads did not have a number indicated on them. Luckily it is fairly obvious which tee pad goes with which hole (All were stamped with CRDG at the back of the box).
-Not a ton of trees to contend with. Course was pretty open.
-Short holes, Most could be played with just a mid-range.

Other Thoughts:

While only 8 baskets at the moment, it's an easy fix to play from 4's tee pad to 5's basket and then play 5's tee pad to 5's basket as normal to make it a 9 hole round. While not the best course in the world, this course is great if you want to get a quick round in while in Chattanooga. It's also good to visit with the family as there is a playground on site and this is an ideal course to introduce younger players to the game.
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7 0
bulletproof88
Experience: 18.8 years 72 played 2 reviews
2.00 star(s)

Rough around the edges... 2+ years drive by

Reviewed: Played on:Apr 20, 2013 Played the course:once

Pros:

-Quick nine on your lunchbreak type course.
-Located in an area that could introduce new people to disc golf.
-Beginner friendly course.
-Two tee pads.
-Park setting for the little ones who burn out following dad around the course.

Cons:

-The environment is not the most pleasant. Being friendly helps. Also weekdays before noon are probably safest.
-Terrible drainage on some holes. Probably the worst part for me. Soaked...
-High grass when I went. Also an issue because it hid the fact that the ground was so wet.
-Most tee signs are damaged now.
-Weird flow after three, maybe the tall grass had me lost.

Other Thoughts:

This course could be much nicer than it is with a little work and love. It's a roughish area, where most people don't know what disc golf is. That's good and bad. Maybe an occasional tournament/expo type thing could bring more to the course and the CFDC. Could we start a movement on this one? Could be a gem for folks downtown.....
If I took the wetness when I went into account, my rating would be worse. Don't go soon after rain.
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5 1
rltballer
Experience: 2 played 2 reviews
2.00 star(s)

Do Not Take Your Own Vehicle 2+ years drive by

Reviewed: Played on:Aug 29, 2011 Played the course:2-4 times

Pros:

Easy to navigate. Fairly clean. Never crowded. Good for beginers.

Cons:

Ghetto trash in the area. Not all people, but the few bad apples killed it for me. My friends car was broken into. Smashed front window. Little kids wanting to play gangsta hangin around. Some of the tee pad signage have been damaged. A couple of the pins have been pushed until tilted.

Other Thoughts:

I would go back to play, but if i do, i will park up in front of the building. I may never take my car there again tho. It is a nice course, if it werent for the breaking into the car, i would have given a 3.5 due to it actually is a nice fun course. Pretty wide open. Short throws for the front 9, Longer for the back 9.
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7 0
chrishank
Experience: 14.9 years 33 played 11 reviews
2.00 star(s)

needs lots of work but an okay course 2+ years drive by

Reviewed: Played on:Jul 11, 2011 Played the course:5+ times

Pros:

concrete teepads on each hole as well as 2 teepads for each hole. located at a rec center so public bathrooms are available as well as a park and swimming pool. convietly located downtown. easy course so perfect for a beginer.

Cons:

2 large trees sit in the fairway of hole 3 from the recent storms. hole 4 and 5 is a water trap. damage to the signs at the teepads. about half have been damaged and you can not find out distance. it should really be better taking care of.

Other Thoughts:

i work at utc which is less than 10 blocks from this course so i play it often. i have never had a problem from anyone there. true it is not in the best location but it is safe as long as you dont judge the people there. i have only went once and not seen other people using the park for reasons other than disk golf, like the walking track pool playground etc. but none of these people were mean or rude. they were all friendly and few even ask about the game. i would give 3 or 3.5 for this course if it was better taking care of.
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3 0
RICKY BOBBY
Experience: 18 years 47 played 4 reviews
3.50 star(s)

Great Practice Course 2+ years drive by

Reviewed: Played on:Jun 30, 2010 Played the course:5+ times

Pros:

Wide open fairways and few trees make every hole an ace opportunity especially as the longest hole is just over 300'.
Lots of parking.
Never crowded. Actually, I've never seen another group of players out there.
You could probably score a lid if that's your style.

Cons:

Very few trees means very little shade. It gets HOT out there.
Some kids use the park to play in and you may have to play through/around them.

Other Thoughts:

It's really not a horrible neighborhood. This is located behind a children's rec center that has a pool, so the first and last hole are kind of noisy at times. I've never felt unsafe or worried about the locals to the area. If you're nice to them, they're nice to you and I've not met a single person there that scares me. So that's that.

It's a good place for a beginner.
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5 7
disccrazy
Experience: 6 played 6 reviews
0.50 star(s)

Are you kidding me? 2+ years drive by

Reviewed: Played on:Jun 28, 2010 Played the course:2-4 times

Pros:

It's a disc golf course

Cons:

Standing water 8 inches deep 2 weeks after a rain. Used condom wrappers and broken bottles litter the fairways. Gunshots heard close by, etc etc

Other Thoughts:

To the "tough guy" who tells everyone to "suck it up" , maybe the needles, used condom wrappers and broken bottles don't scare you since you're such a tough guy but the 4 gunshots from close by did scare me. Not a family friendly place, this is the forgotten disc golf course of Chattanooga. None of the Sinks snobs would even consider playing there because they think that unless you atre throwing through a thicket of trees on every throw, then you aren't really playing disc golf.
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8 4
JSurmann
Silver level trusted reviewer
Experience: 15.6 years 76 played 28 reviews
2.00 star(s)

A decent intro course 2+ years drive by

Reviewed: Updated: Played on:Jun 24, 2010 Played the course:2-4 times

Pros:

This is a nice wide open course and I would say is a great place to bring a beginner to learn the basics.

It is mostly wide open around a walking track so trees only come into play for 2 or 3 holes. Because this is so beginner friendly, lost discs are a non-issue at this course, even if thrown badly.

Dual concrete tee pads make it good if you are taking a few newbies out for the first time.

There is adequate parking space and pretty easy to get to from downtown.

Cons:

The only cons I could think of are far and few between.

1. This is a beginners course so you will probably get bored if you are a little better.

2. Short holes. I think the longest one was a bit over 300'

3. Kids/families in the park make for even more obstacles and could be quite dangerous when the park is crowded.

Other Thoughts:

Consider that ball golf was once an elite sport, reserved for only rich people. Disc golf should not have the same stigma and by placing a course in a section of town that isn't the best of places is only going to encourage more people to play this lovely sport.

For those of you who are weary of going to neighborhoods that are below your standards, just go with a friend and have fun. I find that if someone is looking at me, if I am the first to initiate a hello/head nod, 99% will return the gesture. Remember, a lot of these people are just watching you to just figure out what the hell you're doing. Be nice and courteous and you will get the same treatment.
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13 3
craigd
Diamond level trusted reviewer
Experience: 15.7 years 179 played 118 reviews
1.50 star(s)

The ghetto 2+ years

Reviewed: Updated: Played on:Feb 26, 2010 Played the course:once

Pros:

This is a basic example of a disc golf course. While there is nothing particularly special or outstanding, it does have a few things going for it in the "pros" department. I guess what people will enjoy most are the abundant ace opportunities. Truly they are on every hole.

Amenity wise this course isn't necessarily terrible. To start, it has two very nice concrete tee pads per hole. The baskets are as good as new and it's worth noting that they have the little "next tee" arrow stickers too. Lastly, it also has nice tee signs with distances (even though they have arrows that don't point towards the basket for some unknown reason)

It's a good beginner course and/or a confidence builder. It's also convenient to other Chattanooga courses.

Cons:

This is a very open course with not much distance so there is not much difficulty. Additionally there are not many obstacles to speak of so the course can get a little repetitive. Hole five's wide open shot adds some variety with its basket sitting two feet from the shore of a swamp but the water is practically stagnant.

While I'm talking about water, it's worth mentioning that with just a moderate amount of rain the ground was extraordinarily saturated on most of the course. Hole four in particular was all but unplayable with three to four inches of water that stretched from the short tee pad to the basket.

Rough neighborhood.

Other Thoughts:

Quite honestly this course is not absolutely horrendous, just close to it. I actually had a little bit of fun. Just be aware of what it is before you go. As mentioned by other reviewers don't play alone, keep your eyes peeled and know what to expect before playing here. To sum it up, this is a recreational course in a bad neighborhood with a significant drainage problem. After all it's still a disc golf course. A park with baskets is always better than a park with no baskets. Come out, go for some aces and most importantly, Enjoy!
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11 2
Fender088
Silver level trusted reviewer
Experience: 16.8 years 25 played 25 reviews
0.50 star(s)

Why? 2+ years drive by

Reviewed: Played on:Mar 26, 2010 Played the course:once

Pros:

This is the only inner city course in the Chattanooga area. It's not too far away from UTC, but definitely not walking distance. The course plays around the recreation center that also has a playground and walking track.
The course has two concrete tee pads for every hole and signs indicating hole number, distance, and direction (although the direction arrows were often wrong). Not much selection as far as distance and elevation goes. Everything plays so short that elevation doesn't really come into play. Every hole is basically an ace run, even the long tees. I'll be nice and say that the atmosphere added something a little different to the course.

Cons:

As far as structural flaws go, this course has a few too many. Most of the course is completely flooded with no drainage, so water remains in the fairways until the sun dries it up. A few of the holes were completely unplayable and resembled a swamp more than a park. The grass was also pretty high in these areas. The dual tees are pointless because they're essentially the same shot, plus ten feet.
Not the most welcoming environment for a disc golf course either. The course is located in a high crime area and you feel it from the second you leave your vehicle.

Other Thoughts:

Overall, this was probably the worst course I've ever played. I'm not saying this to bad mouth the designer because I can appreciate the effort it took to build it, but one has to wonder why? I was playing host to some guys from out of town, and I was completely embarrassed by this course. Despite the structural flaws, we also had to worry about the drug dealers around the corner that were constantly eying my car. I'm not sure what the CFDC was thinking, but these baskets need to get pulled and placed in a location where you can enjoy a round without the fear of being shanked.
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10 1
ShopTom.com
Experience: 15.8 years 33 played 14 reviews
1.50 star(s)

Bums, and beggers, and swamp land oh my! 2+ years

Reviewed: Played on:Aug 8, 2009 Played the course:2-4 times

Pros:

Easy and short 9 hole course for beginners, multiple tees can be used to handicap mixed groups.

Cons:

I'll be polite and list the location as "undesirable." Don't go alone, or near sundown, or for a week after it rains.

Other Thoughts:

Drive about 10 minutes to Jack Mattox instead and you can actually relax while playing.
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7 1
nygfaninva
Silver level trusted reviewer
Experience: 16.1 years 38 played 36 reviews
1.00 star(s)

Not much to offer 2+ years drive by

Reviewed: Updated: Played on:Jul 23, 2009 Played the course:once

Pros:

Nice Concrete Tee pads. Two pads, Pro and Am. Easy to follow course, very first time friendly. Many (if not all holes) Ace opportunities.

Cons:

Not much to offer and challenge anyone beyond a beginner. Simple basket out in front of tee pad setup. Nothing in the form of woods or water. Plays like a practice course. And of course the dreaded...'Only nine holes'. Have to add that in.

Other Thoughts:

Easy course for beginners or to be used to introduce new players to the game for the first time, but if you have any skill at all it just doesn't have anything to offer. Also take note, It is located in a rather....seedy part of town. We played in the early afternoon with the sun blazing and we still felt uncomfortable with the attention we were getting from some locals. I wouldn't say not to play here, but I have to mention the safety factor if couples or families are reading this and planning an outing.
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6 1
wi2ny05
Experience: 26.8 years 200 played 13 reviews
2.50 star(s)

Open and easy 2+ years drive by

Reviewed: Played on:Mar 11, 2009 Played the course:once

Pros:

Mostly open dual tees. Not too many trees and not all that technical. Good for beginners. The "river" could make it interesting on some missed throws.

Cons:

Trash on the course like others have noted. The neighborhood was slightly less than savory so just play it in the daylight.

Other Thoughts:

Pretty well marked and not too hard to follow. Some of the tee signs had fallen down but were laying by the tee instead.
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7 0
Ryan P.
Bronze level trusted reviewer
Experience: 18 years 64 played 20 reviews
2.00 star(s)

Nice lunch break course. 2+ years drive by

Reviewed: Played on:Oct 25, 2008 Played the course:2-4 times

Pros:

It's a nice easy course with two sets of tees. It's in the open, and it's a great place to just get in a quick round. It's a nice course, well-designed considering the plot of land it's on. The land it's on is a rec center for inner-city youth, so it's in a safer place considering what part of town it's in, and there's water fountains (at least inside).

Cons:

This part of town is rough. be careful when you go there. i think it's hole 3 or 4 where you come pretty close to some houses or a road or something. However, the part of town it's in is not enough reason to avoid the course altogether, but just be careful when you go.

Other Thoughts:

Good course for beginners. most of the holes are from 230-300, so it'll stretch out a beginner's drive a little. fairly flat. good, quick stop when you are there. the holes are somewhat varied. The few obstacles that are there are used quite well. (a few trees, very slight elevation changes, a jungle gym). I liked playing the course, but it's not good enough to drive more than 30 minutes to play. There are better courses in the area, but any course is better than no course.
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6 1
discchik
Experience: 4 played 4 reviews
2.50 star(s)

Discin' In Da Hood! 2+ years drive by

Reviewed: Played on:Sep 29, 2008 Played the course:once

Pros:

It has concrete tee pads. Wide open holes abound. Fun, simple easy course. Great course to play after work, as long as it's daylight savings time.

Cons:

Trash and debris on the course, As mentioned by the other reviewer, I too saw a few liquor bottles and used condoms on the course. The slightest rain causes standing water to form in a short time and takes days of no rain to disappear. Park users may pick up any discs gone astray.

Other Thoughts:

Nice to have a course in this part of town! Now if we could just get one in the Hamilton Place Mall/East Brainerd Rd. area!
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6 0
Dan_Dizzle
Experience: 18.2 years 13 played 8 reviews
3.50 star(s)

Open Course 2+ years drive by

Reviewed: Played on:Sep 20, 2008 Played the course:once

Pros:

Wide open. Concrete Tee pads. Very manageable distances. Not too technical. Good course if you just want to go have some fun and not worry about playing badly.

Cons:

When I last went they were working on finishing the tee pads and hadn't put up signs yet. I ended up playing safari golf before I saw the arrows on the baskets.

Other Thoughts:

I'm sure they have the tee pads marked and signs up now. It is a really good course to play if you don't have a whole lot of time to play. Numerous Ace opportunities await you!
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9 0
bjreagh
Diamond level trusted reviewer
Experience: 27.6 years 350 played 317 reviews
2.00 star(s)

2+ years drive by

Reviewed: Updated: Played on:Feb 16, 2009 Played the course:once

Pros:

Mostly open 9 hole course. Two sets of tees means you could play it twice for 18 holes with a little variety on the 2nd 9. Pretty good variety in hole length. Many birdie and ace opportunities. Water on a couple of holes, but it should not come into play.

Cons:

About half the holes were just a tee and basket in an open field, no obstacles.

2 sets of tees can be a good thing, but there is not a lot of distance separating the short and long tees on several of the holes.

There is a walking trail throughout park near the holes, but there was only one person using it when I played. During peak times this could be a factor.

The area of town may not be the best, but we saw few people and everyone was nice and/or kept to themselves.

Other Thoughts:

This would be a good course for beginners/novices, etc.
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10 3
insane4chains
Experience: 3 played 3 reviews
2.00 star(s)

BYOG (gun) 2+ years drive by

Reviewed: Played on:Sep 27, 2008 Played the course:2-4 times

Pros:

It's a disc golf course. It has baskets,

Cons:

Broken glass, used condom wrappers and beer cans litter the fairways. Sideways glances from the other users of the park. At times it can be scary. Do not let the sun set on you at Carver!

Other Thoughts:

If you like people aimlessly walking/wandering across the fairway just as you are getting ready to throw that driver, this is the course for you! If one of your discs lands near a kid, most likely he will pick it up with a "HEY LOOK WHAT I FOUND" look on his face. Make sure you don't say anything even slightly negative about this though...cause then you will most likely get a beat down by his posse or worse... his 6ft3 340lb mom! Gotta love that hole where just behind the basket is a menacing barking dog reminding you that if you miss... the disc is his. And if you miss badly enough and hit the pimp van, things could get ugly.
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