Lula, GA

NGCT - Original

Permanent course
4.265(based on 49 reviews)
Filter course reviews

Filter reviews

Filter reviews

NGCT - Original reviews

Filter
16 0
Moose33
Gold level trusted reviewer
Experience: 12.2 years 203 played 201 reviews
4.50 star(s)

Diverse and Beautiful Place, now 27 Holes! 2+ years

Reviewed: Played on:Apr 3, 2021 Played the course:once

Pros:

I have to say the hype was high coming into this play. It was my 100th unique course, I have heard so much about it over the years and had high expectations and those were not misplaced in coming to the NGCT course.

You turn off the highway and down a network of small mainly gravel back roads and then you see several baskets and tees as you go up the hill to the fantastic Bomb Squad pro shop to pay(now $10) for your round.

The shop is well maintained and has nice bathrooms and a great selection of new and used discs, and you very well may need some backups after playing the course(especially the new additional 9 holes).

There are 4 practice baskets at different spots as well as a net to throw some drives into a practice net that is near the outdoor seating area to get warmed up.

The course starts with some short, tightly wooded holes and the a downhill shot with a small landing area by the creek. 4 is the first of the holes that will test your distance capabilities and has the often present creek on the left, but it will not be the last.

After this you have to make a choice. Do you want to play #5 and continue on to the rest of the excellent 18 hole 4.25 rated holes, OR do you want to play the new A-I lettered holes that push it up to a full 4.5?

I am all for a challenge so we played the full 27.

The new 9 were originally a temp course addition, but is becoming a permanent addition. They are all red Chainstars instead of the Yellow banded discatchers that are found on the rest of the course. Tees are natural right now, but they are marked with orange stakes as well as laminated signs with distance and par marked. They do have short tees as well for the lettered holes just as they do for the majority of the regular course.

A is a water carry of about 275 with a landing spot up on the hill. Many of the shorter holes are wooded and fairly tight but A,C, G and H all have pond in play which adds an element that was otherwise missing on the rest of the course.

Hole F is a booming 700+ Par 4 that was one of my favorites, getting a 3 on that one felt really good. H is probably is the hardest hole on the course, it's a fairly flat 600ft par 4 with the pond on your left for the first 450 and the creek winding in and out of the course on the left hand side leaving you some fairly small landing zones to throw station to station to get par, or do a big spike hyzer around the windmill.

Then back onto the main course where you will throw some holes where you will really get to air out the arm on 5 and 6 and then get a bit shorter and more technical for holes 7-9 and another long par 3 on 10.

On 12 you get to the famous chicken coop hole, and I must have been excited because I over cooked mine and threw it right out the back door. Almost made the comeback putt but took a 3.

Got the birdie on the next hole a 450ft par 3 that is a bit downhill. The remaining holes are mainly not terribly long except for 16 and play through the hills and tight woods. And back up the hill on 18 to a pyramid green that overlooks another pond and an easy walk back to the clubhouse.

On the regular 18 there are wooden benches on most holes and two concrete tees for all but I believe 2 holes that are short and play the same length for both short and long.

Overall it is a fantastic 18 and an even better 27. I don't know when I will be back but it can't be soon enough. It is a great time and one of the best maintained courses I have played in some time.

Cons:

The cons are few and far between. If I have to pick a few, there are a couple of tough navigation points and a few spots that are hard to maintain due to them holding water and some tough spots where erosion has taken a toll on some of the hilly fairways.

The new 9 doesn't have permanent signs or pads yet, but once it does it will be fantastic.

Other Thoughts:

What a course. An overall great course that has very few flaws and a higher fun factor than most of the now 100 I have played.

It's physically challenging, beautiful and strikingly diverse. I can't wait to go back.
Was this review helpful? Yes No
20 0
Shadrach3
Gold level trusted reviewer
Experience: 5.5 years 318 played 306 reviews
4.00 star(s)

Good Play in a Great Environment 2+ years

Reviewed: Played on:May 16, 2020 Played the course:once

Pros:

A course of high quality on private acreage in North Georgia.

-Amenities: Signage, concrete or rubber-on-wood tees, DISCatchers, paths to next hole. Also fastidiously maintained by course caretaker.

-Environment: There is no single hole that made my jaw drop, but Lula is consistently a very pleasant place to play. It's also somewhat secluded, and nowadays I think disc golf is all that happens on the property, so there's an element of privacy. There's a mix of hilly and flat, woods and meadows, with a creek or two.

-Variety: Quite good. You start with terrifyingly tight (1), but by (5) you've transitioned briefly into the meadows, only to return to the woods by (7), and such changes continue throughout. The progression of the course regularly mixes in tighter and looser fairways, contributing to a nice uniform feel. The chicken coop is also definitely a piece of entertaining variety, even if I think it's a little overhyped.

-Shot Shaping/Gameplay: Very Good at the lowest. The elevation and density variety make for a compelling mix of plays. There are short but tricky shots like the massive downhill (3) and the wooded valley (8), open fairways requiring a bit of touch in the 300' range, multi-shot par-4s like open (5) and (15) and wooded (11) and (17), and of course the big par-5 (6) playing a straight meadow to a steep pocket green in the woods. I think Lula will require intense focus to score well, but it's not a scary championship monster.

Cons:

-Shape Variety: This is the category that keeps Lula from being a top-tier course. Looking at the scorecard and the beauty, it's got all you would expect a great course to need--but it's missing too many curves. (11), (14), and (18) are the only holes that have substantial curvature built into the fairway, with the pocket approach/green on (6) as well. It's not like every other hole is a tunnel shot, but the shape is some mild variation on straight. In my observation, Lula doesn't deliver chances to explore all the flight paths of discs. (For comparison, even though I have it rated lower, I enjoy playing a certain downtown Atlanta course more than I enjoyed Lula my one time.)

-Access: It's not hard to get here, but you'll have to arrange something with the caretaker as noted on the DGCR main page. Times are limited. It's also $10 per person, which is very reasonable but not a mind-blowingly good deal.

-Disc Loss and Searching: Decent probability of losing a disc. Some areas of rough are fairly thick, as expected in a natural environment, which might very well slow down your gameplay via searching.

-Navigation: Some very slight issues in the (9)-(14) range. Just an annoyance on the first time, not a points deductor.

Other Thoughts:

Lula is an Excellent course that wants to be Phenomenal. It has no critical flaws, as attested to the fact that it has received only one review less than a 4.0 (excluding its first year when newness was a major con). It doesn't quite have sparkle, variety, or shock factor to bring it up to a 4.5 for me, but it's definitely worth playing. The only course I have rated higher than it within an hour of Atlanta is Hobbs Farm. Enjoy your surroundings and trying to beat the course here.

-Temp Holes: At times an extra nine holes are set up for tournament play. I haven't played them myself.
Was this review helpful? Yes No
26 0
wellsbranch250
Diamond level trusted reviewer
Experience: 10.2 years 652 played 631 reviews
4.50 star(s)

Oh Lula, You're Breaking My Heart 2+ years

Reviewed: Played on:May 4, 2019 Played the course:once

Pros:

(4.343 Rating) Commonly referred to as Lula from those in the Atlanta Metro area. This jewel of a course crisscrosses some amazing hilly and wooded terrain. Due to a two tee layout, it can be enjoyed by Recreational players thru Advanced level.
- RAW BEAUTY - I could hear angelic voices as I walked up to the first tee, and then again on the mulligan throw. The scenery at Lula is exquisite. One amazing hole after another. Then number of average looking holes is zero. My three favorite lines were holes (3), (15) and (17) and I'm sure this would differ greatly if a poll were taken. The environment reminded me of the IDGC and Lake Claiborne courses, all of which are courses I've scored at or above a 4.5 for beauty.
- UNIQUENESS - There's a shot on this course that I've seen nowhere else, and I've played 367 courses as of this review. The chicken coop hole. Like many before me, I unloaded all my drivers and then promptly concluded that I'm no good at this game. The variety for the remainder of the course is outstanding. Several big down shots. The tee signage elevation estimates are very much underestimated when researching the topographic information online. Online data indicates that several down shots are in the 30 to 50 foot range. There are also parallel stream plays, big doglegs in both directions, up shots and valley shots. There are a couple openish holes and also a few tight technical plays. Hole distances vary from 800 foot par 5s to sub 200 foot par 3s. I'd put the overall variety into my top 15 as of this review.
- CHALLENGING - I was 3 over par standing on tee (17) when a torrential downpour promptly ended the round. As an Intermediate player, I was more than humbled by the challenges presented by the back tees. I figure it takes about 950 rated player to average par out here. The course requires both power and technique from the back tees. Course management and taking what the course gives you is key. The Hail Mary plays will likely lead to even more punishment. For those not looking for an Advanced level beat down, there's a second set of tees set up for Recreational players.
- FACILITES - The extras away from the course are what you'd expect from a top tier course. There's a huge indoor lobby and lounge area. Large covered outdoor deck with numerous picnic tables. Pretty sure they have drinks and snacks available for purchase, although I didn't verify. Also primitive camping and zip lines.
- NAVIGATION - Excellent. Scorecard with map comes with the greens fee. Informative tee signage that even has pin placement indicators. Next tee direction on the tee signs as well. Intuitive pathways between many holes and a few navigational cues. The only time I questioned my steps was between (9) and (10), which was noted by the employee that I paid the greens fees to.
- CHARACTER - In addition to the facilities and navigation, great basics overall, and a bunch of extras. A tournament board was evident walking to tee (1). Two concrete tees on 16 holes. Tees sizes are good being 5 feet by 12 feet. Lots of tee shading and tee seating. Baskets are the perfect brand for a wooded course, DISCatchers. Lots of multiple pin placements and a practice basket.
- MAINTENANCE - I was surprised by how good of shape the course was this late in the spring. It's got to take a lot of effort to keep up this sprawling property. I applaud the owners and maintenance staff.

Cons:

The issues are basically limited to preferential things that make little to no impact on my ratings.
- FORGIVENESS - Although the shorts tees are appropriate for Recreational players, for those that can't hit 20 to 30 foot lanes consistently, the course can become very punishing. When there's a ricochet in the wrong direction, scrambling for par may take a miracle. A few of the sun-bleached fringes had intense overgrowth.
- TERRAIN - Players that have bad knees or ankles should probably avoid coming here. There are lots of undulations in the fairways. The layout does appear to be somewhat cart friendly, so a Zuca should work well out here.
- TIME PLAY - Hard to give an exact time as my twosome got delayed 30 minutes for a moderate downpour on (5) and then completely rained out on (17). Definitely much longer than normal. I figured since its similar in style and length to IDGC Warner, I'd expect a group of four will be in at around 2 1/2 to 3 hours.
- DRIVE-WAY - A near mile long dirt and gravel road to get to the clubhouse.
- BEGINNER FRIENDLY - It is not appropriate to play here without 50 to 100 rounds of disc golf in the bag.

Other Thoughts:

Lula is one of the best all around courses I've ever played and it's currently in my personal top 10. This is a no doubt destination course and it was the anchor course for GMcAtee's and I's road trip. Players that live within a 4 hour daytrip range need to plan a trip here. For those in the Atlanta area that haven't played here yet... believe the hype, it's spectacular.
- PAY TO PLAY - I want to say I paid ten dollars for me and GMcAtee to play here. 100 percent worth it for this course. If you cannot avoid to shell out $5 to play this course then you need to re-evaluate your priorities.
Was this review helpful? Yes No
16 0
blake833
Gold level trusted reviewer
Experience: 13.9 years 160 played 140 reviews
4.00 star(s)

Great place for some unique holes 2+ years drive by

Reviewed: Played on:Jul 13, 2018 Played the course:once

Pros:

It's easy to see how this course record is a hefty 13 down- this course offers a great balance of challenge with chances. You can definitely get some chances at birds, but you have to hit the challenging shots to get there.

NGCT is a great disc golf course, because they really didn't hesitate to use some of their best yet unused land. Some of the holes are long, some are short, and there's two sets of tees that really change the nature of the hole so you can change it up whenever you get tired of one tee.

The obviously most unique hole on this course: the CHICKEN COOP hole! You just throw from one end of an old chicken shack to the other, indoors. It's a little weird, but it's definitely memorable!

Despite some steep slopes and forest, it's pretty hard to lose a disc out here. All 18 are on land that's either pretty open, or the rough isn't that bad. Or indoors (just hole 12 though).

Cons:

Two tees and two pins makes so many options. But there's only baskets in one pin at a time, so you just have to know where the basket is. It's tough.

Some of the uphill holes are pretty steep, but really what can you expect?

There's nothing really notable to complain about here, if it's not already obvious. What's holding me back from giving it a higher review? I think it's just a great course, but nothing amazing. They did a great job designing it, and maybe this is just the best that can be yielded from the land without bringing in a Houck.

Other Thoughts:

Playing through a large piece of land and up and down some steep hills, be ready for some hiking. Bring some water with you, especially if its hot outside.

Make sure you go into the main building to sign the waiver if you've never been there before. They have a good trilogy line up to if you need to restock on anything, or bring a friend and convince them to buy their own disc!

I stopped on my way from Atlanta to Johnson City, and loved this course. It's not too far from the city, easy to navigate, and a quick round if you play the short tees. Good luck!
Was this review helpful? Yes No
10 0
Bennybennybenny
Diamond level trusted reviewer
Experience: 13.1 years 305 played 287 reviews
4.50 star(s)

Joys of disc golf <3 2+ years

Reviewed: Played on:Apr 14, 2018 Played the course:once

Pros:

-This is hands down, not up for discussion, the best course in the area. By a long shot. Not only is there a disc golf course, but you can go zip lining and there is camping nearby if not on site. The course design is spectacular.

-The staff is very friendly. The front desk woman was extremely polite and after the round, the guys at the desk were very polite as well. The clubhouse is really neat. It has some discs, t-shirts, and other souvenirs. There are scorecards and pencils at the desk.

-The practice basket is near the pond on the way to hole 1. The course starts on a high note. A steep downhill 310' footer from the long pad that plays like 200'. The elevation drop is much more than 15 ft. I think most of the elevation changes stated on the signs are understated. The short pad is a straight downhill ace run. The short pads here are more friendly for recreational players.

-Tee-pads are nice. You get to tee off on a few decks as well.

-It continues to be good with #2, a mid-range shot around a tree. The woods are very dangerous to the right so it's better to be left. Hole 3 is incredible from the long tee. A very straight and steep downhill that can be played as a putter drop shot. Easily one of the signature holes here. The hole after that is very picturesque. It has a small creek in front of the pad.

-Distance comes into play. Holes 5 and 6 are both long holes. #5 is about 600' from the long pad. It's a bomber hole down an open fairway. The basket is over the gravel road and is very close to the OB creek. #6 is probably the "monster." It's over 800' from the long. It's about 450' from the short. The hole is open about three fourths of the way from the long pad, but pine trees play all along the right side. The fairway goes left into the woods and very steep uphill. I had maybe a 460' drive off the pad and threw a hyzer and I landed into a bush. An easy birdie turned into a lucky par save. Course continues to be difficult with a technical hole 7, but is followed by a 170' downhill ace run.

#12. Oh yes!! The infamous "Chicken Coop" hole. The ultimate low ceiling shot. I freaking love this hole! It's so original and creative. There is a lot of dirt on the ground so skip shots don't happen on this hole, so you'll need to have the perfect height. This hole is much harder than it looks, but it's a true gem. Hole is followed by two fun downhill holes.

-Some cool basket placements. The guarded green on #11 is nice. The steep hill on #15 is neat. #18's green is probably my favorite green. It's slightly elevated but if you land short and then miss the putt, you could roll if you are unlucky.

-There is a mini-golf course across the parking lot. Fun for the whole family!

Cons:

-Not many at all. Just too much debris in the woods on #13. The hole is downhill at least 30' in elevation and the zipline course is above the fairway. I had a perfect straight shot that hit the zip line and I landed right. Luckily, I was pin high but I thought I was shorter and further into the woods. This course is not easy on first timers because there are parts of the rough that are forgiving, and parts that are brutal.

-The driveway is long and rather bumpy.

Other Thoughts:

-I've wanted to play here since the year 2012. I'm just about certain you'll love this course. There are dual sets of pads and alt pins, which maximize variety. This course just about has it all. Elevation, short holes, long holes, woods, open holes, doglegs, straight holes, etc. There was even a windmill beside #5's pad.

-I didn't mention this in the pros, but #17 was another awesome hole. It's a very difficult par 4 from the long pad. It's downhill and fades a bit to the right. The fairway is tight the whole way, so par is a great score on this hole. It's a beautiful hole that's very technical. Placement is key here. This was a signature hole in my book along with many others.

-Don't forget that this is a pay to play course. It's $5 to play and there is a minimum $5 purchase for visa. But you'll be glad you paid that $5. This course is a true gem and I can't wait to go back.
Was this review helpful? Yes No
8 0
thrembo
Diamond level trusted reviewer
Premium Member
Experience: 48.9 years 242 played 194 reviews
4.50 star(s)

Extreme Disc Golfing 2+ years

Reviewed: Updated: Played on:Sep 3, 2017 Played the course:once

Pros:

A private pay to play course ($5.00 per person per day, well worth it) set in the beautiful Georgia high country. Hole 1 lets you know right out of the gate what you are getting yourself into with a gorgeous over the valley shot through the woods. My friend's fancy phone said that we went up and down the equivalent of 12+ staircases on our playthrough, although it felt more like 20. Great selection of hole types and lengths,

There is a hole completely inside of an old chicken coup. (imagine playing inside of a 400' long airplane hanger and you get the idea).

Very nice tee pads, generally two per hole, and nice signage. Navigation flows fairly well (see negs) and there are enough benches, many strategically placed after rough climbs. The course is well maintained and has a very chill vibe to it. There is a nice clubhouse that sells discs etc and a restroom facility with a shower.

Cons:

Not many problems here. The navigation gets a little weird in the middle of the course including a strange transition from hole 9 to hole 10. Make sure you get the map/scorecard when you pay and with that and your intuition you should be fine.

Other Thoughts:

This course will test you. There is a brutal uphill climb between holes 6 and 7. Every hole here has elevation changes on it and the terrain ranges from nice grass to rocky clay. I strongly recommend sturdy hiking shoes for this one. A must play if in the area, provided you have the constitution for it!
Was this review helpful? Yes No
6 0
Studog
Experience: 23 played 5 reviews
4.50 star(s)

One of the best in GA 2+ years drive by

Reviewed: Played on:Sep 4, 2016 Played the course:once

Pros:

This was a great hike through the mountains and valley. There is some nice elevation changes, where you throw high up, or way down low. The hole where you throw inside an old chicken coup makes the course worth the drive by itself, as I have never seen any other course with one of these yet. It has decent signs, cement tee pads, and small signs pointing to the next holes. The scorecard also has a small map of the course on the back, which actually did help a couple of times. Driving from the main highway to this place puts you on to a gravel road for a bit into the mountains, but I highly recommend the course. I hope to go back and play it again soon.

Cons:

There were a few holes where they should probably build some stairs. One in particular is near the beginning, where you throw way down and over the gravel road, walking down to the road. I agree with one other reviewer that said it could use a couple of holes where it turns left or right immediately off the tee pad. I think this course would be quite difficult for newbies.

Other Thoughts:

I lost my PDGA logo disc toward the end, near the creek. :( Maybe it will find its way back one day. If you find it, I'll pay for the shipping, and add a few extra bucks as well.
Was this review helpful? Yes No
7 0
DiscGolfMaster
Experience: 21.1 years 77 played 17 reviews
4.00 star(s)

Very Fun Course 2+ years drive by

Reviewed: Played on:Aug 27, 2016 Played the course:once

Pros:

Finally a long course that doesn't focus on making you throw 400ft bomb drives to score well and get birdies. You can score well here with accurate drives and upshots and smart golf. Nice shot variety. Some easy birdies here without being total gimmies. But those holes are offset by much more difficult holes. Some long par threes, but most play shorter than their numbers. The chicken house hole was phenomenal. It plays shorter than 350ft since your disc skips easily on the flat dirt floor. Just keep it low. I can easily remember each hole after the round since they are all very different. Course was well maintained. Lots of benches and cloth trash bags on several holes. Brooms on most holes, which I see being more handy when the leaves start falling. Next tee signs everywhere. Nice amenities. We even took a shower after playing since the bathhouse for the camp was right there.

Cons:

Even though shot variety was good, I feel it could be a little better. Thinking back, most holes are pretty straight and I don't recall ever having to throw a hyzer off the tee. If a few of the holes curved left or right off the tee then this course would be perfect. I don't like writing cons for this course because it really is amazing and very fun to play. Definitely one of my favorites.

Other Thoughts:

Highly recommend checking this course out. We will be going back soon for sure. The 5 dollar fee is totally worth it. I managed a 58 playing every lie by the book and I will be very hard pressed to manage that again next time. Definitely a hard course to come out under par on for the majority of players. But playing challenging courses is what helps your game evolve to the next level. Playing this course will test all your skills and will make you a better golfer for sure.
Was this review helpful? Yes No
7 2
lazrman778
Gold level trusted reviewer
Experience: 13.1 years 264 played 100 reviews
4.50 star(s)

North Georgia Canopy Tours 2+ years drive by

Reviewed: Played on:Apr 9, 2016 Played the course:once

Pros:

Has practice basket

Has concrete tee pads for both pro and rec tees

Has tee signs with current basket placements

Has many benches throughout course which can be appreciated given the elevation changes

Good mix of open/wooded fairways with doglegs and elevations

Water comes into play on some of the holes but the creek is shallow and narrow enough where it shouldn't be a factor in losing a disc

Had whole course mostly to myself on a Saturday afternoon (one other group that I saw)

Scorecard with course map reveals an easy way to play 9 holes here (1-6, 16-18)

Free parking

Restrooms

Cons:

I'm hard-pressed to come up with any but here it goes:

$5 fee for all day play (well worth it in my opinion and it includes a scorecard)

NGCT requires you to sign a waiver to play

Other Thoughts:

This is a very nice course and probably one of the best that I have ever played. I probably would have enjoyed it more if there weren't 20mph gusts on the day I played. Much of the course have tight fairways here so I had to sacrifice distance for control on many drives. The course is pretty challenging and will expose any of your weaknesses (if you have any). You can also zipline here if you have any leftover energy after playing. I will definitely play here again.
Was this review helpful? Yes No
12 0
dad_of_dg_junkies
Bronze level trusted reviewer
Experience: 11.7 years 50 played 22 reviews
4.50 star(s)

Lula is a lulu... 2+ years drive by

Reviewed: Played on:Mar 16, 2016 Played the course:2-4 times

Pros:

North Georgia Canopy is a beautiful piece of property in the rural setting of Lula Georgia.

This pay for play site had plenty of parking, restrooms, and a place to get beverages. The staff was extremely nice.

DisCatcher baskets were in good shape, and the placements were in some very difficult locations.

Tee pads were adequate in length and grippy. Most were concrete and a couple were wooden platforms.

2 sets of tees on most holes.

The course flow and navigation was fantastic. It was a first visit to the property and we had NO issues at all finding the baskets and the next tee.

The course is VERY difficult from the back tees. Even though I felt it to be difficult, not once did I feel that it was unfair.
Elevation changes on are severe on some holes and you will need to be able to control your disc to score well. The pictures on this site are nice, but the slope seemed to be more severe than in the pictures.

I found putting to be difficult on this course. Several of the pin locations are in prime spots for a roll away.

Hole 12 is a one of a kind hole.

The property was exceptionally maintained. Benches on most holes and no trash to be found.

You will need your entire game to get around this track. You obviously will have to work the disc off the tees, but shots with poor lines will require ALL your skill to recover from.

Cons:

None worth mentioning!!

Other Thoughts:

This is a beautiful test of disc golf. There is a $5 a day green fee. You will also need to sign a waiver and give your health condition. This course will require a very good effort to play. The hills are severe and you will need to be able to gather yourself to play a quality shot after walking up and down them. If you enjoy grassroots disc golf then you will love this place. I would recommend it to any serious player. Don't be afraid to play the short tees if you think it will be too difficult for you. I played both tees and found the front tees to allow rec players to enjoy the site.
Was this review helpful? Yes No
2 7
JBoggus75
Experience: 11.1 years 37 played 4 reviews
4.50 star(s)

Must Play! 2+ years drive by

Reviewed: Played on:Jul 4, 2015 Played the course:once

Pros:

Good layout
Multiple Tee Pads
Multiple Pin Locations
Mix of Shots
Hole 12

Other Thoughts:

The best part of NGCT is it challenges your game in every single way. A lot of courses are very repetitive, but not this one. I loved the mix of wooded and open holes, the mix of long and short, and the great variety of shots needed. Hole 12 is one of my favorite holes ever just because it is so unique. If you're from Atlanta or in the area, you have to come out and play here. It's worth every bit of the $5 they charge as well!
Was this review helpful? Yes No
7 1
RobbieRob14
Experience: 11 years 18 played 4 reviews
4.50 star(s)

Best I've played so far. 2+ years

Reviewed: Played on:Jul 4, 2015 Played the course:once

Pros:

-Great baskets
-Nice mix of long and short holes
-Beautiful scenery
-Great layout
-Very well maintained
-2 tee pads on almost every hole
-Multiple pin locations
-Plenty of benches
-Next tee signs
-Chicken coop hole is one-of-a-kind

Cons:

Make sure you are in shape. Not really a negative for myself, but I could assume it would cause some problems for some. Just be ready to do a lot of hiking!

As mentioned by others, there are a couple of "filler" holes, but they are all still challenging and fun!

Other Thoughts:

Overall, this is the best course I've ever played, and I would HIGHLY recommend it! It is definitely worth the drive up from Atlanta to play! It has a nice mix of open and wooded, long and short, hyzer and anhyzer, whatever you are looking for!

I live 2 hours away, and I'm already looking forward to making it back down to play!
Was this review helpful? Yes No
4 4
kasonmoody
Experience: 9 played 7 reviews
5.00 star(s)

Doesn't Get Much Better 2+ years drive by

Reviewed: Played on:Oct 23, 2014 Played the course:2-4 times

Pros:

- GREAT mix of both wooded and open.
- Super challenging.
- Super hilly, and it uses it to it's advantage. You have to know how your discs work uphill or downhill.
- Great mix of left and right dogleg type holes, you'll need an arsenal of throws to do well here.
- Well thought-out "greens," a ton of risk on many of the putts.

Cons:

- Make sure you are in shape if you're gonna play this course. Wear hiking or train running shoes, or you will be miserable! SUPER hilly.

Other Thoughts:

It doesn't get much better than this. The absolute best course I have ever played. So much variety, so many hills, so many good times.
Was this review helpful? Yes No
15 0
S.Cann
Gold level trusted reviewer
Experience: 14.9 years 156 played 82 reviews
4.50 star(s)

Adventure Awaits 2+ years drive by

Reviewed: Played on:Mar 15, 2014 Played the course:once

Pros:

-Every hole shape imaginable is present at this course. Almost every hole forces you to sculpt a different line and requires you to be smart and skillful.
-Extremely challenging course and challenging hike to boot.
-Variety of tee types. Most are concrete, but a few are wooden slats that have surprisingly good grip.
-Innova DISCatcher baskets with double chains.
-The raised tees on several holes really helps to add an elevation challenge and "Top-of-the-world" type shots.
-The chicken coop hole is one of the most unique holes I have played.
-This course is not short on amenities as there are bathrooms at the office and custom wooden benches on almost every hole. There are also feed bags tied to trees next to several tee pads for you to put your trash.
-Navigation is pretty easy, especially with the course map on the back of the score card.
-Metal tee signs with maps are nice and informative.

Cons:

-$5 Pay-to-play will be a deterrent for some.
-Distances marked on several holes seemed off (Some felt longer or shorter).
-I really felt like Hole 6 and 16 were both filler holes with their only purpose being to guide you to more interesting holes. Hole 6 is a long hole with an open field on the right and woods to your left. At 500 ft it turns sharply into the woods and up the hill. It just felt very bland and unnecessarily long. Hole 16 is a short uphill hole with wooden slat tee pads that point you straight at the hillside and seemed to be just a way to fill the space between hole 15's picturesque throw over the creek and through a semi-wooded field to an elevated pin and hole 17's tight, wooded, par 4 s-curve to a guarded pin.

Other Thoughts:

Adventure awaits at North Georgia Canopy tours this course is off the beaten path and feels like it. Besides the hum of people doing the zip line course it is just you and nature. The positives here WAY outweigh the cons listed above and I consider this course in the top 3 of courses I have played (as indicated by my rating). So, if you're looking for a unique and challenging disc golf experience look no further than NGCT.
Was this review helpful? Yes No
21 0
BogeyNoMore
Diamond level trusted reviewer
Premium Member
Experience: 19.8 years 479 played 183 reviews
4.50 star(s)

I left Lula with Georgia on my mind 2+ years

Reviewed: Played on:Dec 31, 2013 Played the course:once

Pros:

Outstanding private course on a charming, out of the way resort that features zip lines, disc golf, and camping as the main attractions. Everything was well-maintained and in good shape.
• Well thought out holes - challenging, but completely fair.
• Elevation: Changes ranging from subtle to spectacular are used brilliantly to make this a particularly fun course to play. Comes into play off the tee, mid fairway, and on approaches/putts to keep you on your toes the entire round.
• Variety: Encompasses all facets of the game, encouraging use of your entire shot-making repertoire. Mostly well-wooded with plenty of twists and turns over hill and dale, with a few where Big D is required for any hope of scoring well. Splendid combination of fairway shapes, tight lines, not so tight, a couple fairly open, creek in play, drop-offs, sloped greens, terrain changes, well-tucked and blind pin placements over nice mix of distances keeps you engaged on every single hole. Many holes have at least a couple of obvious lines and challenge decision making as much as shot making.
• Fairly rewards shots which hold the fairway and punishes those that don't.
• True par 4's and 5's, and well-placed pins that make you earn a par 3. No filler - every hole was interesting, and the course never felt repetitive.
• Aesthetics: Picturesque fairways ramble up, down and all around this gorgeous property. Even if they don't like disc golf, your sig other will enjoy walking this course.
• Memorable holes: Several... I loved 6, with the big open bomb off the tee to a well-guarded pin that's way uphill to the left of the fairway. Hole 3's a downhill Ace Run with the creek looming behind it. The Chicken Shack: the very definition of a tunnel shot receives bonus points for offering two different recipes for the Skip Ace: Original (off the ground) and Extra Crispy (off the ceiling)!
• Equipment: some tees are grippy concrete, others are wooden platforms, but all were good. Good signage shows hole layout with distance, par, and use a clip or magnet to indicate current pin position. Yellow Discatchers are easy to see in the woods, and one or two blind placements use a flag to make them visible from the tee.
• Dual tees to accommodate different skills levels go even further when combined with dual pin placements.
• Camping onsite with a clean and modern bathhouse.

Cons:

I'm struggling here. Most of what I've got are more FYI's than cons that actually detract from the course.
• A couple of tees where a normal follow-through could be dangerous.
• Rough: I played in winter when trees and shrubbery were naked, but there's no doubt in my mind the rough on some holes would be brutal in late spring or summer.
• Not beginner friendly - most novices will likely get too frustrated to enjoy this gem.
• Navigation: lucky enough to receive a guided tour from the course designer and paid far more attention to the scenery than how to get to the next hole. Overall flow was good, but I recall a several spots where getting to the next hole didn't seem obvious, and have a feeling I'd have spent more time than I wanted looking for the next tee. That said, I seen far, far worse. Map seems pretty accurate and I'm certain unguided visitors will be happy they printed it.

Other Thoughts:

This is what happens when a good designer gets to work with a great piece of property. I defy you to play here and not think it's great. Everything is well-run from start to finish by an ownership/management that's socially and environmentally conscientious about doing the right things and providing a great experience for their clientele.

Interesting holes and varied terrain create a fun factor that's only enhanced by a vibe that's chill and secluded.

Playing any course for the first time, I typically walk away with a rating in mind. As I spent the night in my tent after playing here, I admit thinking briefly about a 5 (and can't fault anyone for doing so), but in my mind, if I have to think about it, then it ain't a 5. I try to be objective and focus on tangible items, but ultimately can't completely shake what comes down to a subjective, or "gut" feel when I finally land on a number. That said, I'd put this up with Moraine, the Jackson course at IDGC, and a few others that IMO fell just short for reasons I can't exactly put my finger on. Call it a 4.75, if you will.

Stay in your own tent for $20/night or bring some friends and rent a TeePee - either way you'll be glad you came.
Was this review helpful? Yes No
17 0
hyzerfool
Experience: 30.8 years 168 played 6 reviews
4.00 star(s)

Meaningless Title 2+ years

Reviewed: Updated: Played on:Dec 8, 2013 Played the course:once

Pros:

Pretty course
Lots of elevation change
Consistently fair fairways
Good tee pads
Course in near perfect shape when I played it

Cons:

A few basket placements I didn't like
Lack of depth / subtlety

Other Thoughts:

In general, I liked it. It was fun. Course was pretty. Fairways were fair. A couple places I thought green access was not very good, but in general not a big deal.

I played in December when the leaves were off the trees and rough was not a big deal.

My biggest issue was there were few (if any) holes where I had to make a choice. Overwhelmingly, it was, here's one shot, see if you can throw it. So it had a lot of moderately good holes.

I LOVE par 4's and 5's in general, but I don't think any of the ones out here were particularly special. None of them really made me evaluate different routes and tradeoffs (the old, "risk / reward"). It's possible that 5 & 6 will play that way when the trees grow up - I didn't look at the layout of the young trees to see if I thought I'd like it or not.

There are 2, 90-degree turn par 4's (holes 6 and 11, I believe). I inherently really dislike 90's, but these weren't terrible. On 6 we have a mainly mindless crush towards an invisible turn in the fairway. In both cases I would like to have a little bit more gradual of an angle into the approach to the basket. Opening the mouths of the gap up a bit would probably make me like them more. Both 6 and 11 have reasonably interesting approaches and greens.

*** EDIT ***
Keith made a good point to me the other day regarding the previous paragraph. When I say that I inherently really dislike 90's, I wasn't being clear. What I dislike are holes where the fairway turns 90 degrees and, to have a reasonable shot down the turned fairway, the disc must be exactly in a precise, small, landing area. I have no problem with faiways that turn 90 as long as there are shades of gray. As long as there are chances to get down it if the previous shot is less than perfect (though, ideally, the farther out of perfect you are, the harder the shot gets).

Holes 6 and 11 at Canopy are adequate in this regard, I think, though not spectacular. I would prefer a bit more angled opening into #6, if I remember right (though it's been 6 months since I played the course, now), especially since it's so hard to tell, from the tee, where the gap to the basket is. That said, you have the chance to throw your drive farther from the treeline and, thus, give yourself more of a chance at a good angle. If I remember right, #11 has some leeway on the angle if your first shot is long, which is nice.
*** END EDIT ***

I guess my best summary is that there weren't any holes that I loved, but I don't think there were any that I really disliked. For pin placements, I disliked #4's right side placement (on the hill) quite a bit and #16's right-side placement with the teeny tiny gap through the trees to it was annoying. But these are small things.

Most of the holes were average to above average holes and I enjoyed the course. I'm always happy to pay $5 for a course that's nicely maintained and I'll definitely be back to play it again.
Was this review helpful? Yes No
5 0
ldtrainman
Experience: 13.8 years 11 played 10 reviews
4.00 star(s)

I'll be back 2+ years drive by

Reviewed: Played on:Sep 29, 2013 Played the course:once

Pros:

Nice course that is well maintained as has been said by others. Some fairways are very open and some are very tight. Others are in between. Signage is good. People are friendly. There are uphill throws, level throws, and downhill throws. Playing the red Tees is a good intermediate to beginner course. Several of the holes are aceable for those that only throw 200 ft. Some of the holes are very long. For short throwers you may be over par before you ever see the basket. All in all a nice pleasant place to play and not too demanding or too easy. Water is mostly a non issue. It's a small shallow stream that won't sweep your disc into the Atlantic.

Cons:

Signage is good but could be better. More signs directing players to the next T and numbers on the direction signs would help so players know they are walking to the correct T pad. This course does not require every throw in your bag. You can mostly get by with a straight throw or slight curve. Those fairways that do require a big curve are such that you will throw to the curve and then throw to the basket. Rarely will you curve it to the basket. If you have an errant throw you may end up in the "rough". The rough here can be very "rough". Underbrush is very thick and sometimes you have no choice but to just throw 15 ft. back into the fairway. It would be nice if the underbrush were cleared out somewhat but I know that would be a major undertaking as underbrush grows faster than one can clean it up. Finally, I think, #14 needs to have some trees cleared. It is just too narrow an S turn to not rely on a lot of luck.

Other Thoughts:

Well worth the $5. I will return. Wear long pants as there is lots of poison ivy. Bug spray may be mandatory certain times of the year. That's not a knock on this course, that's just Georgia. I almost aced #8.
Was this review helpful? Yes No
8 6
rphancock1
Experience: 11.3 years 34 played 8 reviews
3.50 star(s)

Good 2+ years drive by

Reviewed: Updated: Played on:Jul 1, 2013 Played the course:once

Pros:

-well maintained
-nice clean multiple tees, often with brooms handy
-good intermediate course, with many holes being friendly to natural disc fade and pretty wide fairways on the wooded holes.
-very pretty, and quiet.. Except for kids on the zip line, which sounds fun. I was the only person playing on the Monday morning that I went.

Cons:

-though I think this course is great for beginners/intermediate players, do be prepared to thrash through some heavy underbrush when you get off the fairway. Not a flaw in the course, but unpleasant..
-though there were some really fun holes to throw, but there were more that were unremarkable. I played from the longs and felt that a course considered to be a championship course should be more challenging and varied.

Other Thoughts:

I did like the chicken shack hole way more than I thought I would. The sound of a disc flying inside a room is really interesting, and its a harder hole to birdie than I expected.

I was disappointed that the small pond behind hole 5 wasn't in play.. It's a perfect size for an easily clearable hazard that would totally change the feel of this part of the course. It would be great to tee off on hole 5 from behind the pond.. Much better than throwing across an open (for now, trees have been planted) field.

I did enjoy playing here, and the $5 fee is totally worth it. It just didn't really make me want to play a second round though, which is too bad, considering that it's pretty far out from the city.

*update*
Keith emailed me after my review and challenged me to play the course again as he felt I must have missed something by being a newer player. I was back in Atlanta visiting family and played the course twice more. I raised my rating because having played more courses in the past year I do appreciate the care given to the course. However, I definitely stand by my opinion that there is very little variety of shot required... Many other reviewers felt differently, but I don't see it. I threw a -3 from the long tees, and on 1,2,3,4,5,7,8,9,10,12,13,15,16,18 I threw a straight drive with the only variable being whether it was a putter (1,2,8) or a distance hyper flip (4,5,9,10,12,13,15,18) or a hyper flip that would fade a bit at the end (3,7). There's also elevation change on some of those holes, but the shots aren't remotely different enough to feel varied. Holes 6,11, and 17 stand out so much because they require precise disc placement and are more like putting golf shots together than throwing the obvious shot through the obvious clearing.

I did enjoy the course again, and will certainly be back.
Was this review helpful? Yes No
13 0
mullethead326
Bronze level trusted reviewer
Experience: 11.6 years 377 played 13 reviews
4.50 star(s)

And It Will Only Improve... 2+ years

Reviewed: Updated: Played on:Jun 16, 2013 Played the course:5+ times

Pros:

I have played this course several times on my own as well as in tournament and monthly doubles rounds. What impresses me the most is how fairly it plays. Although there are some long shots, control and placement, especially on the par 4/5s, is much more important.

The course is largely carved out of the woods, but the fairways are more than wide enough. If you do make a mistake, you're liable to pay for it, as the rough is thick in many places. Although there is a creek running through or by 4 holes, it's not a hazard so much as an accent to add to the mountain scenery.

Basket placements are thoughtful and challenging, with many on slopes or in a position where running a long putt could cost you.

The stories and obvious actions of how the course designer and property owners have worked together to improve elements of the course are nearly unheard of, like going from design to install in just a couple of months. When the creek (headwaters of the Oconee River) started to undercut hole 4, they put in a rubble wall to reinforce the bank, and built a solid bridge on hole 15 to eliminate a sketchy stream crossing. That kind of attention to the course should keep it in top shape for a long time.

The different pads and reasonable fairways accommodate a wide range of player skills and talents. The 5 wooden pads with a grippy coating were a really good decision and implementation. Signage is professional and adequate, especially if you have a map (on the scorecards) to accompany them.

Cons:

I've never been thrilled with hole 3 from the short pad, as played during doubles and tournaments--it's really not much of a golf shot, and for players blue and above, isn't going to elicit a good scoring spread.

$5 greens fee/day, but I think this is offset by never having to wait on fairways to clear, the safety of a private course, and the responsiveness of NGCT to DG.

It's a haul to get there, and a ways from any other solid courses, so it's worth it to invest the whole day and play it multiple times instead of trying to fit in Toccoa or Central.

Now that the course is getting worked in, some of the steeper sections could use erosion control methods to slow down water flow and direct foot traffic to a particular path (perhaps steps or enhancing some switchbacks).

I don't have a problem with the thick brush off of fairways, since it encourages me to be inside the fairway, but there are numerous baskets where even inside of 20 feet there isn't a putt.

Other Thoughts:

I haven't yet done the full teepee/zipline experience, but I can't imagine anything but a great time.

Highlight holes: 1 is a great starting hole, with the tee elevated above the basket into a tunnel shot. When the leaves are fully out, it's a great introduction to the course.

5/6: Back to back par 4 and 5s, in which you really get a chance to test your arm, then finesse your next shot or three. I really look forward to playing these when the newly planted trees and "river of mulch" are mature and separate the holes a little more. These two holes often play downwind/upwind.

11 is a tough par 4, in which the ideal landing zone is only about 20 feet in diameter, and the upshot isn't a gimme either. I would like to see the first LZ adjusted a little bit, such that it rewards a good first shot (instead of only perfect ones). This would be achieved by widening the entrance a little bit, but keeping the rest of the tunnel the same.

12, the Chicken Shack, is appropriately billed as the only one of its kind. It really reminds the thrower that a low, flat throw is a much more useful shot than flailing a high S-turn.

17. It took me 7-8 times through to find a good strategy for this hole, and it still requires great execution.

I learn something new to improve about my game every time I play this course, and it's one of only a few for which I'll rearrange a day to play. The rumored possibility of an additional 9 holes is about the only way I could improve it. Although this is a spectacular property for disc golf, DG isn't their primary activity or income--but I'd encourage you to visit to demonstrate our collective interest to the owners.

05/20/2014: I amended my rating from a 5 to a 4.5. The course hasn't really changed, but as I've played it more, I've grown disenchanted by the thick brush on some pin positions on several greens (7, 11, 16, 17 especially) within 15 feet of the basket. I feel that having privet and other immature growth that close to baskets is capricious and doesn't differentiate punishment between good and bad shots.
Was this review helpful? Yes No
29 1
Connor Jones
Silver level trusted reviewer
Experience: 13.8 years 76 played 34 reviews
4.50 star(s)

Luscious Lula. 2+ years drive by

Reviewed: Updated: Played on:Mar 20, 2013 Played the course:2-4 times

Pros:

Variety, so much of it. Lefts and rights and ups and downs, excellent course flow that never feels monotonous in design, I can't recall anything I would consider a filler hole.

Amazing teepads that set up perfectly for two very fitting levels of challenge. The longs will fully test your abilities while the shorts will allow you to maybe have a slightly less frustrating time, if you're off your game, while still enjoying the astounding beauty this property has to offer!

The lodge has an incredibly friendly staff that remembered me by name after only encountering me in one previous interaction, that was awesome. Vending machines inside with nice tables to relax at and cool down, and the always great bonus of having a real bathroom.

Everything out here is fair, I never felt as if a hole had punished me on a good throw, all of my mistakes were my own, everything about this course is a true test of what you've learned, it's definitely not anywhere near the most punishing courses i've played, but it's also far, far from the easiest, amazingly balanced for all throwing styles.

A beautiful blend of open and wooded, including a couple that feel open while your throwing in the woods, which is an absolutely awesome feeling, one of my favorite hole types.

Cons:

I honestly can't think of any real cons. This isn't the best course I've ever played, which may lead you to ask why I'm giving it a five.

I've had the opportunity to play two courses prior to this one that I consider a five, both extremely private and incredible, this course manages to achieve the same type of vibe and course feel that usually only comes in complete seclusion, which is definitely not an easy task. It does lack some of what I will call the "cool factor" that a Flyboy or Brackett's Bluff(OG layout) has but just barely, as far as the course goes, this is a 5 in my book.

Other Thoughts:

I had been wanting to play this track for a long time. Keith Johnson had mentioned that he thought I may like it...many times. He was right. Keith did an absolutely amazing job on this property and a shoutout to anyone who helped him accomplish anything. This is a perfect example of what I think of when I think of Georgia Disc Golf. Please come play this course, after you play it once I'm relatively certain you'll be begging them to snap that Lincoln out of your hand.

I had to think on this for a bit as to what I was going to give it, as I was hovering in between a 4.5 and a 5, but the amount of fun you will have out here on this absolutely beautiful property deserves nothing but the highest marks in my eyes.
Was this review helpful? Yes No

Latest posts

Top