Saraland, AL

The Path

1.15(based on 5 reviews)
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29 0
wellsbranch250
Diamond level trusted reviewer
Experience: 10.2 years 652 played 631 reviews
0.00 star(s)

Not A Train Wreck, Chernobyl 2+ years

Reviewed: Played on:Feb 7, 2019 Played the course:once

Pros:

Reserved for when they pull the baskets.

Cons:

(0.052 Rating) A forgotten course.
- ABANDONED - I didn't know what to expect upon arriving. The last review was from over two years ago, saying it was completely overgrown and unplayable. Would there be a renaissance? Or would it be more of the same? Well unfortunately, it's more of the same and likely worse. After parking, I happened to catch a glance of a wooden board sticking out of the ground near the road. So I grabbed one disc and headed that way. Sure enough, it was labeled (1). My Hooray moment was short lived as there was no basket in sight. I pulled up the photos on DGCR and fired a shot towards the distance woods. Surprisingly, when I got within 50 feet of the woods, I spotted basket (1), which was engulfed in vines. Awesome, an easy par I thought, but I vined out. At this point my quest pivoted into searching for tee (2), and sure enough I found the marker after a couple minutes. Unfortunately, again, no basket in sight. So I pulled up the photos and concluded that my next throw was a 6 foot wide mostly overgrown lane over a 100 wide bog. No thank you. So I packed up my disc and went around the bog to see what I could find. In this journey not only did I find what I surmised was basket (2), but I also spotted basket (4), the only labeled one left on the course and another basket, which I later concluded was (8). I played (2) starting from the far side of the bog and scored myself a bogey. Hole (3) was probably the best hole left, and was only moderately overgrown. Hole (4) I could not locate the tees, but based on the photos taken by Martin Dewgarita, I was able to discern approximately which tree to throw from. Hole (5), also no signage, but I found (14), which is the alternate tee (5) location. Both lines had complete impenetrable fairway lane overgrowth. The basket on (5) also had a tree growing in it. That's not a joke. It was the most unique tree guarding I had ever seen. Ok, that was joke. Hole (6) also no tee marker. But like all the holes, I was able to pick up the approximate tee location due to the DGCR pictures. The basket on (6) also had a tree growing in it and it was much larger than the one on (5). Based on the photo I took... and shared with everyone, it was 2 inches in diameter, the size of the pole. There were at least 6 or 7 smaller trees also growing into this basket. This was the first time I ever missed a slam dunk tap in. Treenied. (7) was somewhat playable but I could not find the markers and it also had smaller trees growing in the basket. (8) was easy to locate having spotted the vine engulfed basket earlier in the round. The last hole was partially playable with only a moderately overgrown line, but it unfortunately played over the same bog from hole (2). No thank you.

Other Thoughts:

If there was ever a disc golf course in Pripyat USSR, the location of the Chernobyl nuclear accident in what is now Ukraine, I would image a course like this one. The 2 inch diameter tree noted above, has actually absorbed wires of the basket grill into its trunk. By judging the course conditions, I would say that no upkeep, other than mowing, has been done in 3 or 4 years. When I read enragedmullet's zero rating review, I knew I had to find a way to schedule a round here. It had been awhile since my last train wreck course experience and my gosh did this course deliver. I sent photos to several friends and posted images on several social media sites and got a great reaction. Any player that enjoys seeking out a disaster, will likely be entertained. The memories of this course will forever be etched into my mind.
- WHAT COULD BE - This course could easily get turned around. With 200 volunteer hours, a sawzall, a lopper, a shovel, 18 bricks, a few 8 foot pressure treated 4x4, spray-paint and a sharpie could get this course back to a 1.5 rated course. The baskets, arguable the most important part to any course, are still in ok shape.
- ALTERNATE REVIEW TITLES - Don't Skip Course Work Day, The Path To Nowhere, I'm On A Pathway To Hell, Baskets Do Grow On Trees, Rubbernecking, Vineally Found It, Tree Guarding Gone Wild, Looking for Vaults In The Fallout Zone.
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10 0
enragedmullet
Gold level trusted reviewer
Premium Member
Experience: 12.4 years 115 played 79 reviews
0.00 star(s)

On its way out. 2+ years

Reviewed: Played on:Oct 28, 2016 Played the course:once

Other Thoughts:

I have never foregone the pros/cons sections. I stopped by this course a couple years ago and found it in disrepair. Against better judgement I didn't mention anything on this site, just "forgot" about it. Today I went by for a cursory glance. I grabbed one disc out of my bag and went to tee 1. Surprisingly, I was able to play 1 and 2 w/ no real issue other than vine-heavy undergrowth, grabbing toes wherever I stepped. Tee 3 said 12, and as this "is a 9 holer" I assumed that was incorrect. Afterwards I found tee/basket 4 no problem. Not much to mention in terms of hole variety for these 4 holes. The whole area is overgrown and neglected. As stated, after this I couldn't even find a sign of the rest of the course. Giving it the benefit of the doubt, I'll leave it at that. Hoping the church or whoever owns it takes care of it soon, otherwise, it's totally qualified for being removed from the map.
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7 4
magictenor1
Gold level trusted reviewer
Experience: 23.8 years 347 played 90 reviews
1.00 star(s)

neglected 2+ years

Reviewed: Played on:Oct 9, 2010 Played the course:once

Pros:

not crowded. alternate tees could create 18 holes.

Cons:

course was totally overgrown. navigation very difficult. tee pads hard to find. on church property with no facilities of any kind.

Other Thoughts:

this course is bad. It looked like no one takes care of it at all. The course does have some potential however. if someone did some work there it could be a decent place to play. At present time really not worth the trip to play there especially with several excellent courses in the area.
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2 0
Nathanbr2
Experience: 16.2 years 83 played 26 reviews
2.50 star(s)

OK course 2+ years drive by

Reviewed: Played on:Apr 27, 2010 Played the course:once

Pros:

1) Some interesting wooded shots
2)Course did not seem overly muddy
3) Nice, New baskets
4) A good mix of woods and open fields
5) Trash cans available on most holes
6) Good Flowing course, with excellent markings

Cons:

1) Grass was knee high in a few places, but they we're mowing those areas while I was there

2)Some of the wooded sots we're rather insane.

3)Not well cleared, watch for briars

4)Near impossible to get a running throw in most places

5) Natural tees, which can be muddy
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5 0
thebeast175
Experience: 15.1 years 47 played 12 reviews
2.00 star(s)

Needs A Path 2+ years drive by

Reviewed: Played on:Feb 18, 2010 Played the course:once

Pros:

If you find the first tee (southside of the Church next to the road) then the navigation is pretty simple. The Baskets are brand new. There isn't a lot of room so the fact that they were able to get 9 holes with alternate tees was impressive. Most of the alt. tees do change the hole up enough to where you really do feel like you are playing a completely different hole and this of course helps to get the 18 hole feel.

Cons:

It was really wet and there needs to be a path built in the woods to get over the water run. All grass tees, some of them were muddy. There are some trees down that helps with this but it could be alot better. Although the wooded shots seem to be thought out a couple of them are kind of crazy. You'll see what I'm talking about when you play there. The grass in the field needs fairways cut out (this would really help the overall feel of the course). The biggest thing that would help would be to cut out much of the underbrsh in the woods. There are so many briars and thorns that it become kind of annoying even in th lanes.

Other Thoughts:

Great Potential. I think this could be a really fun course it just needs a little tlc and more people to play on it. It can become a challenge in the wodded areas. Don't under estimate this course it just might kick you butt.
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