Charlotte, NC

Robert L. Smith Park

4.075(based on 61 reviews)
Filter course reviews

Filter reviews

Filter reviews

Robert L. Smith Park reviews

Filter
23 0
LLmanu10
Bronze level trusted reviewer
Experience: 2.8 years 24 played 23 reviews
3.50 star(s)

RL Smith

Reviewed: Played on:May 3, 2023 Played the course:once

Pros:

Robert L. Smith Park has been a course high up on my wish list, and I finally got to play it. But boy, was I underwhelmed.
-RL is known for its drastic elevation changes, and I can confirm that it is true. More than half of the course features holes that either go straight uphill, straight downhill, or a mix of both.
-Pretty good amount of variety here. Along with the use of elevation, RL has straight and dogleg layouts. I also enjoyed the mix of open and wooded holes.
-Accuracy over distance. The course is pretty short and tight for the most part, so keep those discs in the fairway!
-Many risk/reward holes. The course plays around a series of creeks and rivers, as well as some thick rough. If discs are not kept away from those areas, it will be a long day.
-Typically, I am a person who wants a lot of par 4's and 5's, which is not present at RL. But I enjoyed there being mostly par 3's, with some par 4's sprinkled in there. I think the walking makes it a pretty tiring day, so I was pleased to be throwing some softer, less powerful shots off the tee.
-Of the par 4's present, I think they were very good layouts. #3 and 7 were both wide open with water right. #5 was a tight, wooded shot with a creek running down the left and across the fairway.
-The course designers did an excellent job of placing baskets in good spots. Some that come to mind: #5 & 17, pin just across their respective creeks that split the fairway. #7, pin is tucked into a spot that angles toward the river. #9 & 12, their baskets are placed on/around some cool rocks.
-The back nine is an awesome stretch of holes, especially the final three holes. If the whole front nine has layouts this fun, I would be ranking RL at least a 4.0, maybe even a 4.5.
-Since #5's basket is right next to #14's tee, this creates a fun 10-hole loop if time is short.
-Course amenities are good. Baskets seem old, but they were strongly mounted and caught well. Tee pads were a mix of concrete and turf, which I thought was cool. Tee signs/maps (when available) were awesome, just like all Charlotte courses.

Cons:

-For me, the main issue at RL is the course maintenance. The grass is very irritating and overly long on the open holes, and the rough seems extremely out of control. The vibe that the course gave off was very unpleasant, especially on the front nine.
-Navigation was very frustrating at times. First off, I struggled to find the first tee, which ended up being a long walk from the parking lot. The transition from #5's basket to #6's tee was annoying, especially with #14's tee pad being the first thing you see. There were countless signs pointing to the next tee, but I still think that the navigation aids could be improved.
-Following off of the previous point, there were several long and hilly walks between holes. Transitions from #5 to #6 (as mentioned above), #7 to #8, and #12 to #13 are the biggest ones. Be prepared to hike!
-The course is prone to disc lost, mainly because of how thick and unforgiving the rough is. During my round, I found a total of 3 discs, which just goes to show.
-There were a handful of holes on the front nine that were without tee signs and/or maps (I think mainly because the front was slightly re-designed, but it's still worth mentioning). This was frustrating, and I had to pull up the UDisc map several times to view the hole layout.
-The last hole doesn't loop back directly to the parking lot, and there is a long walk. Personally, I was not effected by this, but I can see some people being annoyed about it.

Other Thoughts:

As I mentioned before, RL was very underwhelming and overrated. Ratings could be inflated because of the previous design of the course, but either way, I think a 3.5 rating is a perfect score. The park itself is small, but still has a couple of ball fields, a playground, and restrooms. I don't think that this is a must-play course, but I would advise going, especially for the fun of the last three holes.
Was this review helpful? Yes No
20 0
wolfhaley
Diamond level trusted reviewer
Premium Member
Experience: 19.9 years 970 played 542 reviews
3.00 star(s)

Reviewed: Played on:Apr 2, 2023 Played the course:once

Pros:

Robert L Smith was gone for awhile. It's back again, with what appears to be basically the same layout, which is a good thing. There's lots to like here. I'll preface this review by stating that I've never played the OG layout. That being said, the current layout is well done.

The baskets are Innova Discatchers. One basket/pin position per hole from what I could gather. These are older, but catch great. No complaints with these. All were mounted level and caught fine.

The tees, currently, are a mix of concrete and turf. Hole 1 was just gravel along the edge of the park fence. That looks to be what the original was judging by pictures on here. No issues with these. Not the best you'll see, certainly not the worst.

Lots of elevation here. Good mix of up and downhill holes throughout. Pretty evenly balanced. The balance of left, right and straight shots was pretty evenly mixed it seemed too. Just a solid balance in the design. There's some shorter holes here, though most involve some elevation change making them play trickier than the distances would indicate. There's a few longer par 4's that play along the dirt road that runs thru the lower section of the hill. The back nine plays entirely wooded along the hill.

There's a couple creeks that meander through the property and come into play at various points. Shot shaping and gap hitting are at a premium here.

There were tee signs on most of the holes. Not all however. The ones that were present are of the same design as many other Charlotte area courses. These are very well done. Basic hole overview, hole #, par, next tee arrow, distance and any applicable OB shown. No complaints with these.

There's 2 holes, 9 and 12 I believe with awesome looking pin locations on rock outcroppings. These looked fantastic as well as added a bit of startegy when deciding if to run it or even how to go about laying up.

There are numerous creek crossings here. All of these places had some kind of bridge/walkway to traverse over. There were a few brand new bridges too, which goes to show that improvements are still being done.

The course is permanent, free to play and likely not going to be too busy due to the rugged terrain and golf itself.

Cons:

The course is still pretty raw since the reinstall. Not the easiest course to navigate without a map, but still doable. Map recommended.

The turf tees were fine in the few spots they had them. It was a warm, dry day when I played here. We had no issues, not sure how these would perform when wet though.

The tee signs weren't present for numerous holes. Again the course is still in the early stages of reinstallation, so that most likely will change. As it was currently, it made it a bit tricky to diagnose where you were supposed to throw or where the basket was located. Tee signs would go a long here. My wife ended up throwing into a pretty substantial creek that was blind from the pin. I almost did the same on a different hole. The places that did have signs were a tremendous help. This will probably be addressed soon. It's a con as it stands now though.

There's a few lengthy walks between holes here. The course itself is not for thoe faint of heart or those not used to lots of hiking. The course does not loop back toward the parking lot at any point so all food/water should be accounted for pre round. The last hole doesn't end real close to the lot either. Pack what you need for the full round.

The course is not cart friendly. Not even in the slightest. It's not even going to be large bag friendly for most. Lots of roots, rocks and hills. Not a con, just a warning really.


Other Thoughts:

I didn't really know what to expect when arriving here. As a caveat, this was the 40th course I'd played in 8 days so I was pretty spent before stepping foot here. That being said, I really enjoyed my round here and would gladly play it again.

The great thing about Charlotte disc golf is that they have courses that cater to every level of skill. This course is up there with the Nevin's and Hornet's Nest's of the area. Not to be taken lightly. I enjoyed this course more than Hornet's Nest but slightly less than Nevin. One guys opinion, but that's my take. Is it a must play? Not really, but it shouldn't be overlooked either.
Was this review helpful? Yes No
9 0
pmay5
Gold level trusted reviewer
Premium Member
Experience: 20.8 years 480 played 245 reviews
2.50 star(s)

Good course, great elevation, needs some maintenance 2+ years

Reviewed: Updated: Played on:Oct 5, 2018 Played the course:once

Pros:

Good baskets, good tees and great tee signs.
Good course map at the start, you need to folow the walking path around the RR building and look for the board. The first tee is behind the board.
Good use of the elevation, up and downhill holes with several fast greens.
Good use of the rocks for pin positions on 9 and 12.
Also, a good mix of left and right holes, pretty much an even mix, plus two holes with double fairways, pick your favorite. Sadly, only a couple of Par 4s.
#18 has a pretty cool Top of the World tee shot.

Cons:

The first 4 holes are very overgrown. Not a huge issue on #1, a 75-100 foot carry, #2 hillside is very tough to climb, #3 has a longer carry to cleared ground and a tough path down, #4 has a shorter carry to cleared ground. If you miss the fairway with an errant drive or tree kick on these, that disc is probably gone.
Doesn't appear to get a lot of play as the other 4 + rated courses, so some of the tees needed cleared off and the fairways were a little rough.
#18 had a tough downhill path, have heard there is an easier path, but it wasn't obvious when I was there.

Other Thoughts:

As I mentioned in the Cons, the overgrowth on the first 4 holes is the main reason I am rating this course so low. As I was leaving Charlotte that day, I was filling the gas tank and noticed a guy at the next pump with a DG cart. We got to talking and I told him where I had played, his response?, "How overgrown was it?" So it doesn't seem like I caught it on a bad day.
I wondered why this 4.2 rated course was not used for the 2018 Am Worlds, and that was answered on the first four holes. After climbing #2 and looking at the tee shot for #3, I seriously considered leaving and hitting another course. But after checking the course map again and seeing that the course followed a creek, I figured there had to be some flat land down there and not overgrown like the hillside at the beginning. Glad I did.
There are some fun holes here, #7 - along the creek to a very fast green, #9 - a J-hook hole uphill to a basket in the rocks, kind of gimmickry, but fun, #12 - uphill to another basket on the rocks, #16 - a short downhill that I couldn't find the gap on and #18 - elevated tee, steep down then uphill to the basket, a very fun throw.
Looking at the hole pictures here on the site, I think a clear cut of the #2 hillside would make it real tough to land a shot on that hill, but any cutting short of that would be an improvement. After reading the reviews on here, I had the time and was ready for a physically demanding course. But, when that is combined with bushwacking and walking overgrowth paths, it takes on a whole new challenge. After the first 4, the hills were manageable.
Good course, just needs some upkeep.
COURSE UPDATE: I've heard from a couple of the CLT guys and there is a 2-year sewer project planned to go right through this course. So everyone is just waiting for that to get underway and complete before spending any more time on course maintenance.
Was this review helpful? Yes No
11 0
dndelli
Gold level trusted reviewer
Premium Member
Experience: 16.7 years 134 played 131 reviews
3.50 star(s)

R.L. Smith

Reviewed: Updated: Played on:Jun 13, 2018 Played the course:once

Pros:

It is mentioned in every review, but the way elevation changes are utilized by this course is phenomenal! Along with its other great strength, the way it utilizes the various creeks to create dynamic holes, with consequential OBs, this course is very memorable. It travels up-and-down and all around the woods of R.L. Smith Park, and at times you might honestly forget you are in Charlotte, NC. Especially when you consider you are likely to play a full round without running into anyone else on the course. (Definitely don't have to worry about waiting behind a small group to finish playing their hole.)

There are a variety of shots needed to get clean drives off the tees, without ever feeling very repetitive. Some holes even have dual fairways with multiple lines. Some holes also had some fun lines to throw that might not be readily apparent to newer players. (Hole 3's amazingly fun spike hyzer line comes to mind.) Luckily this course is located almost entirely in the shaded woods, because the up-and-downs would get unbearable if left exposed during Charlotte's muggy summers.

The park features some of the cleanest bathrooms I have ever seen at a public park, water fountains, and more. The course has various benches and a couple trash cans throughout.

Cons:

The rough in the summer has a tendency to get out of control. Holes 1-4 almost become legitimate island green drives. If you miss your line, you might end up saying "goodbye" to your disc.

Despite reviews here, I found the signage between holes fairly lacking. While there are some signs, I ended up at the wrong tee on more than one occasion. This could get very frustrating due to the quick elevation changes.

The mosquitoes on some of the holes near the creeks can get pretty bad in the summer month. Make sure you wear your bug repellent or eat a banana before playing here. (Fun Fact: Mosquitos are less likely to bite you if you eat bananas.)

Hole 18 is already showing signs of erosion problems from people cutting straight down the fairway instead of taking the trail on the right side of it.

Other Thoughts:

All-in-all R.L. Smith is a great course, and definitely has a unique feel to it when compared to other Charlotte courses. It is worth noting that I have only played in the summer, but I don't see it becoming a regular course in my summer-time rotation. The course is a bit overgrown from years being close and the navigation can be a bit cryptic, but the design is still solid I still think it deserves a 4.0 rating. I miss some of the old holes, but enjoy the new holes, so I think it equals out.

Make sure you check for ticks during and after your round.

Favorite Holes: 3, 8, 12, 18
Was this review helpful? Yes No
5 0
adamwn9
Experience: 10.8 years 63 played 11 reviews
4.00 star(s)

RL Review 2+ years drive by

Reviewed: Played on:Oct 1, 2017 Played the course:2-4 times

Pros:

-Signs are great, I can't see people getting lost looking for holes.
-Seems like a solid amount of different options off the tee. I feel like I throw the same number of backhands and forehands. There is a even a hole with the teepad pointed in 2 different directions, which is pretty cool.
-There is a park area between the parking lot and the first tee box with nice bathrooms.
-Practice basket before the first tee.
-Fair amount of OB - I was happy to stay out of the creek yesterday, but I've been in it before.
-Elevation - it is used so well throughout, on multiple holes. The contrast between uphill on 2/9/12 and downhill on 3/8/16 come to mind, but elevation comes into play throughout. 18 is also a cool ending throwing downhill over a big ravine.
-I love that most holes are in the woods, very secluded. Makes those hot days a little more bearable.

Cons:

-The rough on a few holes can get pretty rough, but I guess that's the point of rough. I wish I was good enough to stay out of it.
-There are a couple of blind tee shots that can make things difficult if you play alone. I spent more time looking for a couple of errant tee shots than I'm used to (8 and 10).
-Only two par 4's. Even though it is much more difficult than a pitch and putt par 3, I wish there were a few longer holes.

Other Thoughts:

I really like this course. It is one of my favorites in the Charlotte area. I think I would bump my score up to 4.5 if there were a few more par 4's or 5's thrown in.
Was this review helpful? Yes No
10 3
Mike C
Gold level trusted reviewer
Experience: 15 years 168 played 74 reviews
3.50 star(s)

Very good, but Charlotte offers better 2+ years

Reviewed: Played on:May 17, 2017 Played the course:once

Pros:

+ Excellent use of elevation. There are elevation changes on every hole. This is RL's biggest strength. The elevation is used well, and the up and downs are frequently drastic. It helps keep the course feeling diverse hole to hole and avoid feeling repetitive.

+ Great variety of lines offered by the course. Straight shots, left turning holes, right turning holes. Excellent pin placement on many holes, e.g. #7 and #14, creates good risk / reward for a par 3.

+ The stream comes into play during many holes and adds to the risk on certain shots. #4 and #8 are much more interesting with the OB water in play.

+ Plenty of shade and benches, two things anyone golfing during summer in Charlotte will appreciate.

- Not as heavily played as other Charlotte courses. There are at least 6 or 7 more popular courses than RL, so you're more likely to go an entire round not seeing anyone.

Cons:

- Only two par 4's and no par 5's. The vast majority of these holes are drive then putt, drive then putt. This is easily RL's biggest downside to me, as courses like Nevin and Renny Gold offer more par 4's and par 5's, which make the course feel more interesting and diverse. 16 par 3's automatically disqualifies it from being Charlotte's premiere course. The elevation changes help keep the course from feeling repetitive overall, but it would have benefited from a higher par in my opinion.

- Some boring holes. #2 I've never taken a par or worse on, easy putter anhyzer. #12 is pretty but super easy. #6, #13, #15 and #17 are easy pitch and putt flicks, #11 I don't care for, #16 is a gimmie birdie if you avoid going long, #18 has cool elevation as play but its just a basic 300' straight shot.

- Continuing from above, basically almost half the holes here are simple pitch and putt birdie holes. The other half feature awesome elevation changes, fun pin placements and interesting OB usage, but that's only half the course.

Other Thoughts:

I think RL Smith is overrated. When I think of the top courses Charlotte offers within the 485 loop, three courses come to mind. Renaissance Gold, Nevin, and Hornets Nest. I've always found RL Smith to be a notch below those courses, although it would be towards the top of my list of "Charlottes second-tier courses"

That's not to say this is a bad course by any stretch of imagination. Charlotte is an area you have to view within context - it has an abnormally high concentration of disc golf courses, and many of them are very good. Charlotte's 6th or 7th best course would easily be a destination course in a normal city that has 1-3 18 hole courses courses.

There is a lot of difference of opinion of which ones are the best, but if I had to list my favorite Charlotte 18 hole course down to RL, it would look like this:

1. Renny Gold
2. Hornets Nest Web
3. Nevin
4. Angry Beaver
5. Scrapyard
6. RL

So its surprising seeing RL within .05 to .10 of courses that to me are clearly a cut above it. I don't see how RL and Renny Gold could essentially share the same rating. Renny Gold has much more epic holes (#2, #13, #14, #18), more par 4's, two par 5's, is a more diverse and challenging course overall and has two other courses on site. RL offers more shade and to me that's the only thing it has over Renny.

But, like I said, none of that is to take anything away from this being a great course. It just so happens to be situated next to a handful of better courses. I think RL is loved because it offers a diverse wooded course with that signature Charlotte feel, but isn't quite as intimidating as the toughest courses in the area. If that's your speed, you'll love RL, but if you truly want to be tested, you're better off at Nevin / Renny Gold / Angry Beaver / Hornets Nest Web.

If I could rate it a 3.75 I would. I'm going with 3.5 instead of 4 because I think the courses rating is slightly inflated as it currently stands.
Was this review helpful? Yes No
4 4
negate
Experience: 25 played 2 reviews
4.50 star(s)

Course in the Charlotte Mountains 2+ years drive by

Reviewed: Played on:May 17, 2017 Played the course:once

Pros:

-great layout
-some of the best elevation in the Charlotte area
-unique
-beautiful in the summer
-less rough in the winter
-Charlottes best course that is easier than gold level
-18 is an epic finishing hole
-great walk
-no hole feels the same
-never crowded (play every week and only seen three people in the last 4 months)
-ace run and difficult birdies

Cons:

-summer bugs can be pretty bad
-rough is very rough
-sometimes the sewer that runs along a few holes can smell (very rarely)
-18 needs stairs
-Teepads could be bigger

Other Thoughts:

This might be overrating this course a little bit. Its a 4 star course but it's the best 4 star course in the area. I just wouldn't feel right giving this 4. My home course Bradford is a definite 4 but, I much prefer this course over that one. There are just more epic and unique holes here.
Was this review helpful? Yes No
14 0
bdupree
Experience: 7.5 years 22 played 7 reviews
4.00 star(s)

Beautiful, hilly and challenging layout 2+ years drive by

Reviewed: Played on:Jan 14, 2017 Played the course:once

Pros:

I've only been playing for a few months, so this one is from the perspective of a real beginner. I am a lifelong "regular" golfer, trying out disc golf now as an alternative.

I've played about half a dozen courses in the Charlotte area lately, and this one is by far my favorite. One great aspect of this course location is proximity to downtown. It only takes about 15-18 minutes from the center of Charlotte to get here. The park itself is really nice, with good restrooms and water fountains. I didn't feel at all like this one was in a sketchy neighborhood. I believe this is close to where the old Pawtuckett golf course used to be.

I'd say this layout is 95% through wooded areas, with a small portion on #2 basket and #3 tee that pops out into an open area. That being said, it makes for a major challenge for beginners. There is no shortage to variety on the holes, right from the beginning. Very few are actually flat, too. You will face a great deal of elevation gain and loss on this layout. It feels like you are playing and/or hiking through a mountain area.

Course designers did a fantastic job weaving this around Paw Creek and some of its tributaries. You get up close and personal very quickly at the basket on #4, perched fairly close to the edge on two sides. #5 is a really nice hole as well, with a fairly wide fairway gradually climbing uphill and to the right. There's a great bend in the creek with big rocks just below the basket here.

Hole #12 was by far one of my favorites. Tee pad is built into a square deck with benches that overlooks Paw Creek. The hole goes straight uphill with a basket perched in the middle of a big outcrop of granite boulders. Excellent hole!

One of the other back nine holes has has two fairway routes with dual tee pad. The most drastic of all elevation changes comes on #18. What a finish! From the tee pad I think the hole drops about 40-50 feet down to the creek and then slightly back uphill to the basket. Let one go off this tee pad and watch it sail forever.

Cons:

I honestly can't think of any drawbacks of this course. I'd say it isn't the easiest track to throw on if you are a real beginner, but I had a blast. You also need to be in fairly good shape to be ready to trek up and down some steep hills. Also, be prepared if you chuck some wayward shots to walk across some rocks to pull a disc out of the creek.

Other Thoughts:

I will definitely make this a regular stop for me, because it is such a short drive from downtown Charlotte. If you are a disc golfer flying in/out of Charlotte-Douglas and you do have some time to spare, this is very close by the airport. I'd highly recommend it to anybody.
Was this review helpful? Yes No
4 2
EROPPER
Experience: 26 played 7 reviews
4.50 star(s)

2+ years drive by

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

Pros:

-Good signage
-Excellent variety of terrain with elevation as well as water hazards
-adequate tee pads
-Challenging but Fair
-multiple fairways on some of the holes
-interesting use of rock formations to tuck baskets into the hillside

Cons:

May be a little too tough for beginners, multiple teepads would be nice on some holes

The course could use a few more "to the next tee" arrows/signs for non-locals

Tough/slippery terrain may not be suitable for some people

Other Thoughts:

I had a ton of fun playing this wooded course, on my way through Charlotte,
had 1 birdie on 12, putting up into the rocks/basket from below- a lot of pars and a few bogeys/double boges :(
It's not a course for the faint of heart, or beginners, or non athletic people, the terrain/footing is hazardous especially with the wet leaves, and rather extreme elevation changes
Overall- a very nice and well built/designed course
Was this review helpful? Yes No
10 0
bosoxbrent
Experience: 13.7 years 36 played 12 reviews
4.50 star(s)

Extremely Fun, Challenging Course 2+ years drive by

Reviewed: Played on:Nov 30, 2016 Played the course:once

Pros:

- The signage at this course is outstanding. The signs are very detailed, have not been vandalized, and are easy to read.
- There is a great mix of long holes and short holes on this course which make it fun. A few holes are even aceable.
- There is a lot of elevation changes on the course. I had fun trying to navigate the steep hills with my throws.
- The course is very well maintained and is pretty clean for a public course.
- I loved that 3 holes (3, 11, and 13) had a right track and left track to throw down. I've never seen this on any of the courses I've played and it is a a great idea to let players mix it up.
- Although there is a creek and river bed that go through the course, there really isn't much in the way of water hazards. The only holes you really need to watch yourself on are 4, 8, and possibly 7
- I loved the U-turn hole (#9). That was just a fun hole made challenging by the U-turn and mando.
- My favorite hole of the course was probably #12. There is a very nice, elevated tee box and you throw towards a basket up on a pile of rocks.
- The location is real close to the airport. So for those traveling, it is really easy to get to via taxi or rental car.

Cons:

- This is not a good course for younger players or those with mobility issues due to the steep terrain.

Other Thoughts:

This is one of the best courses I've ever played. It had everything...short holes, long holes, elevation, lots of trees (some with openings, some with a tight fairway). Most importantly, it was a lot of fun. I'll definitely come back to this course next time I'm in Charlotte.
Was this review helpful? Yes No
10 0
KenanFlagler01
Diamond level trusted reviewer
Experience: 14 years 195 played 190 reviews
4.00 star(s)

Super elevation 2+ years drive by

Reviewed: Played on:Aug 23, 2016 Played the course:once

Pros:

RL Smith is a BEAST. I always compare courses to other similar ones I've played. I've never played anything quite like RL Smith. The best way to describe it, again, compared to what I've played, is this: "If Rock Ridge and Highland Hills had a baby, it would be RL Smith." Explanation: Rock Ridge is an exceptionally fun, well-designed wooded course with some great par 4's, variety, and everything you could want in a challenging course. That is RL Smith. On the other hand, Highland Hills has crazy elevation--huge downhills, uphills, boulders, and death putts. That is also RL Smith!

+ Terific variety. This course will test every shot in your arsenal.

+ The elevation is off the charts. Some holes are incredibly steep, but if you like watching the flight of the disc, you'll love this course.

+ Fast greens! That may not be a pro as you watch your putt sail past the basket and roll 100 feet away, but if you like the challenge and risk/reward, again, you'll love RL Smith.

+ Multiple ways to play some holes (hyzer and anhyzer routes).

+ I liked the use of the creek running through several holes in the course.

+ The fairways are beaten in pretty good, and there's some erosion, but overall it's a very pretty and peaceful wooded park.

+ Playground, bathroom, fields at the entrance.

Cons:

Not much that I could think of, but a few cons knocked it down slightly:

- Missing tee signs on about 2-3 holes, forcing you to walk up the fairway and figure out where the basket is.

- As with any course with serious elevation, you've got to be a little caustious that you don't slip or wipe out. That's not a knock. But the walk from tee to basket on hole 18 is especially steep and slippery. You're forced to run down the hill and hope for the best. Stairs would be nice here!

Other Thoughts:

This course will kick your butt and you will like it! I had 1 hour to play it. Some locals at the first tee told me there would be no way to finish in an hour. I'd say that's right if you play at a normal pace. I'd plan for 2 hours. However, in my case, I jogged it and, amazingly, did finish in an hour. BUT it nearly killed me. Don't try that, but do try this course!
Was this review helpful? Yes No
2 1
PurpleBrad
Experience: 8.8 years 30 played 3 reviews
4.00 star(s)

First Impressions: Not easy! 2+ years drive by

Reviewed: Played on:Mar 5, 2016 Played the course:once

Pros:

Beautiful course, challenging, uphill, downhill, tight shots, very fun course to play. Really a nice walk through the woods, kind of felt like going on a little hike while playing, the wife had a good time just walking around.

Some holes here presented some very interesting shots I haven't experienced before, Looking at you #2!

The tee box areas and greens were pretty well maintained, it was good to see trash cans around I just wish people would use them.

Cons:

Not entirely a con, but while the course is absolutely playable by anyone, it can be rough on a beginner. Some of the water hazards are HAZARDS for sure, and there are a couple of pretty difficult holes. If you're a beginner just expect that you're going to double bogey a handful and have a good time. :)

Also, my legs hurt!

Other Thoughts:

I was born and raised up in New Hampshire, the woodsy setting of this course really reminded me of back home, great course to play just for the walk in the woods. Definitely a favorite.
Was this review helpful? Yes No
5 0
ajbova
Gold level trusted reviewer
Experience: 18 years 112 played 94 reviews
4.50 star(s)

Intimidating but fun 2+ years

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

Pros:

Very challenging championship level course that would aimed for intermediate to pro level players.

Baskets - 18 Innova Discatchers that were in perfect shape. No issues at all. A practice basket on site with markers to get warmed up.

Tees - One large concrete tee per hole. Very grippy and easy to find.

Signs - Signs were great. Billboard at the start with info. Signs at each hole had a map, distance, par, etc. Arrows throughout the course pointing you to where you need to go. Some were painted on trees. Really helped with navigation.

Variety - Right from the get go, this course is intimidating. Course is extremely wooded and extremely hilly. Many tight gaps that will make or break your day. Elevation on every hole expect for 4. Several uphill and downhill wooded shots as well as some longer holes through the woods requiring accuracy. A few chances for aces on the back 9. Multiple holes had a shallow creek running through or along them. Multiple blind shots due to elevation, woods, rocks, or all of the above. Course requires extreme accuracy as well as the ability to launch one. The rough is rough so if you get off the path, you will spend plenty of time locating it.

Elevation - Elevation is a major factor at this course. Not only do you need to be able to place your throw through the woods, but you need to be able to throw it up and down moderate to extreme changes in elevation.

Course gets easier after hole 3. Survive those and you are in the clear.

The paths in between the holes added to this beauty of this course. Even if you just walked the course without throwing, you would enjoy it.

Restrooms and water fountain on site. Also a playground for kids if they join in.

Large rocks on 9 and 12 with the basket on top of them. Very cool and unique feature.

Benches and trash bags at every hole. Helps to keep it clean.

Cons:

Course is not beginner or intermediate friendly. An added set of amateur concrete tees on every hole (especially on 1 and 3) would take this course from a 4.5 to a 5.

Some of the holes need to be cleared a little more. Starting to grow in more than it appears it was intended to be. Can spend a lot of time looking for discs.

Trash along holes 2-4.

Poison ivy.

Long walk from hole 18 to parking lot. Room to expand and add a few holes to make more of a complete loop.

Other Thoughts:

I absolutely loved this course. My second favorite in Charlotte behind Nevin. It was easy to navigate, it was very scenic and peaceful, it was challenging, and it was very enjoyable even though it was intimidating. What more can you ask for in a course?

I would recommend this course to any intermediate or pro level player in the area or traveling through. It was tough but it was worth it. The only way not to like it is if you find yourself off of the fairway.
Was this review helpful? Yes No
8 0
Notverygood
Silver level trusted reviewer
Experience: 14.7 years 76 played 34 reviews
4.00 star(s)

Fun, tough, unique, scenic 2+ years drive by

Reviewed: Played on:Mar 15, 2015 Played the course:5+ times

Pros:

The biggest Pro for me is some of the unique holes found here. I think it's hole #2 that is a steep uphill shot with the basket on the side of a slope. A hard to explain hole, but I haven't played anything else like it.

The course uses the river/creek/stream running through the park for OB, which makes for some scenic fairways, and risky greens around the baskets. A drive gone wrong, or missed put can result in a swim and some serious OB penalty strokes

The park/course is beautiful. The course takes you on a very nice hike through the woods, and it seems like you're covering a lot of area. The surroundings of a course can really add or take away, and for me the park's scenery really adds to the experience of playing this course.

The layout of the course, and adequate signage (not perfect) makes it easy to follow. One basket generally leads easily to the next tee box. It would be hard to get lost!

Cons:

The OB on some holes can be a bit much. Overall for the course it's not un-fair, but it can be a bit daunting/frustrating. For some, maybe not a con, and it didn't hinder my rating much, but I had to find some cons didn't I?

There aren't many holes outside of the woods if any. It makes for a pretty walk, but there's little opportunity to really open up and let one rip! You could I suppose, but it may not end well. This can be a good exercise in patience and disc control however.

The course, being a beautiful and long walk through the woods can take a while to play. Again, hardly a con, but this course wouldn't be great for a "quick" 18 holes. Be prepared to spend a few hours to take your time and really enjoy the park.

Other Thoughts:

This course is probably one of my favorites (so far) in the Charlotte area. The unique holes and basket placement really adds to the fun factor. There's plenty of challenging OB, tight fairways, and lots of trees to keep you on your toes!
Strap on your comfortable shoes, bring your dog and enjoy a great hike through the woods....maybe throw a disc or two along the way if that's your thing
Was this review helpful? Yes No
4 4
lexxerd
Experience: 9.7 years 32 played 6 reviews
4.00 star(s)

Beginners Prospective 2+ years drive by

Reviewed: Updated: Played on:Aug 23, 2014 Played the course:once

Pros:

COURSE PLAY:
Robert L. Smith Park is one of the more difficult courses I've been to in Charlotte. The course has an excellent layout with many left and right shot holes. After the first 3 holes you'll primarily be in the shaded woods which is great for escaping that Charlotte heat! The terrain is a hike, Be prepared. There are several up hill and down hill shots with some very unique basket placements up on rocks, on the edge of a creek, etc. There are some water hazards throughout the course. The water hazard is a relatively large creek but really adds to the great scenery of the course. There are several blind holes and and a few mandos. Hole 3 is alot of fun but is extremely overgrown and if you are not careful you could lose a disc into the brier patches below. Dont forget to bring some bug spray and watch out for spider webs in the woods.

AMENITIES:
Concrete tees with benches and trash cans at most of the holes. The course is very clean, and free of debris on the greens. Tee signs at every hole with accurate distances and basket placement which is great for first timers on the blind holes. There are some next tee signs but some seem to be missing or non existent. Plenty of parky, with bathrooms and water fountains available. Hole 1 starts to right of the practice tee next to a information kiosk.

Cons:

After the first few holes there is no signage to point you in the direction to the next hole. Typically you can just follow the path but a few times I ended up at the wrong tee because of all the alternate paths that people have made to skip holes.

Other Thoughts:

If you are looking for a challenge Robert L. Smith should be a good challenge and a lot of fun for you.
Was this review helpful? Yes No
12 1
JohtoVillage
Gold level trusted reviewer
Experience: 24 years 160 played 73 reviews
4.00 star(s)

2+ years drive by

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

Pros:

RL Smith is a true gem in the Charlotte disc golf scene. Here are my pros:

1) This park is absolutely gorgeous! Even taking out the awesome course this park has a lot going for it and is visually pleasing.

2) This course, save for a few holes, is just an awesome design. Playing this course tournament style offers a great challenge because of the out of bounds found on the course. Hole 5 is an awesome par 4 that really makes you think about the shots you have to throw to make a good score.

3) The course has some of the most interesting greens you will find. Hole 2 is on such a huge slope and really can offer some 70 foot rollaways with a bad putt. 7 has a neat elevated basket that is right on a hill as well. The greens for holes 9 and 12 feature some awesome rock formations that add a lot of character. Interesting greens make for an interesting course!

4) The course actually has some nice elevation for a wooded course, which really adds some nice value. Hole 2 plays WAY uphill while hole 3 plays back downhill. Hole 18 is an awesome downhill finishing hole while 16 is a tricky little downhill shot. The designers did a great job of incorporating the elevation into this course and in my opinion this made a 3.5 star course into an Excellent 4.0 course.

5) Typically when you have a wooded course you are going to have holes that seem "pokey" and have unfair routes. After playing this course a few times that is not the case here. The course is challenging but every hole has a fair line to hit. The luck factor is low here which is a huge plus for me.

6) The creek comes into play on a few holes and I love water hazards. Hole 4 was an awesome hole with the creek guarding the right side of the fairway and the pin tucked right up next to the creek.

7) Navigation was SIMPLE. I was never lost and finding the next hole was never a problem. This is a huge plus for someone who travels a lot to play courses.

8) The "deck" tee on hole 12 was quite a treat. It really reminded me of Maple Hill number 9. That took a lot of effort and you can tell the course really has great caretakers.

Cons:

Honestly I didn't have a lot of cons here. I am rating this course "Excellent" but there were a few things that bothered me:

1) I am not a huge fan of what I would call artificial par 4's. Hole 9 is a 394 foot hole with a mando. Its a dogleg left hole that has an awesome green. However, I don't like courses that force the issue on par 4's. To me this course was a very challenging par 3 course with one par 4. It seems the issue was forced to try to create a second par 4 and anytime you have to use OB or mando's to do it the hole just feels out of place for me. It wasn't a bad hole but just didn't feel right. I am not just a huge fan of a hole that comes backward at the end (horseshoe shaped) but that's just my preference. This was not a huge deal for me as it was just one hole.

2) The rough is VERY rough. I know its probably because it's that time of the year and I didn't knock the course because of it but just be prepared for some thick rough.

3) This is essentially par 3 golf with one long hole thrown in there. Only two holes are over 400 feet so there are no opportunities to air out a drive. This course wasn't intended to be open or a bomber course, obviously, but its important to point out that this is a wooded course with little opportunity for long drives.

Don't take my cons the wrong way - this is one of the best courses in Charlotte!

Other Thoughts:

Quite simply this is one of my favorite courses in Charlotte. I actually preferred this course to Hornet's Nest. While it may not be as well known as some of the more famous Charlotte courses it should be! This is a highly recommended course!
Was this review helpful? Yes No
5 2
jdawg24
Gold level trusted reviewer
Experience: 25.8 years 103 played 58 reviews
4.00 star(s)

Great Wooded Course 2+ years drive by

Reviewed: Played on:Jul 20, 2014 Played the course:once

Pros:

Challenging, thoughtful, valid FAIRways. It's always refreshing to see a wooded course with sufficiently wide fairway lines and no luck trees in the fairway. This is an interesting mix of up, down, left, right, etc. Secluded setting in scenic, hilly terrain. Very good benches, woodworking and stairs throughout. The course is only 1 mile off I-85, making it a great road trip stop.

Cons:

The biggest con was definitely a factor of when I played it (mid-July). The first few holes are overgrown to the point of making a lost disc a strong possibility, especially #3 where an errant drive will land you in 4' high weeds. If I played it regularly I would spend a lot of time looking for discs on #3 in its current condition. I'm not giving this much weight in my rating since it's a temporary curable thing. Once you get in the woods, the fairways were generally very clear.

Other thoughts: the teepads are too small and I thought the course felt unbalanced with the back 9 playing much shorter/easier than the front and without any par 4 holes. As a final con, it seemed like there were a ton of blind holes, especially on the front 9, and many for no apparent reason.

Other Thoughts:

I played this course while on a road trip to the beach and would definitely play here again. It's very close to I-85, seemed like a safe place to park, and has a playground for kids to play on. I really enjoyed this course and went back and forth between rating it a 4 and 4.5. It gets the big things right -- great mix of holes, valid fairways, good signage and very good stairs/trails/benches. Better maintenance - especially more cutting on the first few holes to reduce lost discs - gets this to 4.5 for me.
Was this review helpful? Yes No
0 10
thedogatesoup
Experience: 10.2 years 8 played 3 reviews
3.00 star(s)

Not Great for a Beginner 2+ years drive by

Reviewed: Played on:May 13, 2014 Played the course:once

Pros:

It's a beautiful place to play. There are a lot of cool holes around the creek and it's a really challenging course if you're wanting to really test your skill.

Cons:

There are lots of places to lose discs if you're not an extremely accurate thrower. I lost my favorite disc on the second hole. The first 4 holes have some big areas that are really overgrown, so be super careful. The course does open up some after that though. Then your game becomes more about not putting your disc in the creek.

Other Thoughts:

If you're not a beginner, this course might be cool. I loved walking around the course. Lots of cool stuff all around and this is a great place to challenge yourself if you think you're good enough.
Was this review helpful? Yes No
12 1
sidewinder22
Diamond level trusted reviewer
Experience: 17.7 years 297 played 197 reviews
3.50 star(s)

RoLL-a-way Smith 2+ years

Reviewed: Played on:Apr 19, 2014 Played the course:once

Pros:

18 concrete tees with tee signs and Discatcher baskets over scenic rolling elevation, rock formations, mostly playing par 3 golf through the woods with two creeks coming into play on many holes. Navigation is pretty simple and is basically one loop around to the parking. Nice bridges to cross the creek and other would be dangerous areas. Great variety of hole shaping through the woods and unique and interesting holes and rock greens, playing uphill, downhill, across slopes, over the creek, next to the creek, and down to the creek, straight shots and some hard turning shots. Bathrooms by parking lot.

Cons:

The ever present roll-a-way greens and high disc loss potential in the creeks(at least when I played it was also raining). Some fairways were under inches standing water, and especially near the tees.

Other Thoughts:

RL Smith is a great course in it's own right, it's got some of the best elevation in Charlotte and a fantastic layout overall. It's not a long course like some of the more notorious courses in the area, but it's got some of it's own teeth to gnash with the creek and tricky greens around the baskets, and of course some heavy Carolina woods. I wasn't thrilled about losing two discs in the creek early in the round, and made me think twice often during the rest of the round. It's not a gold level course, but it is a very solid and enjoyable intermediate to advanced course that I would recommend to anyone.
Was this review helpful? Yes No
12 0
Hector Chain
Diamond level trusted reviewer
Experience: 15.8 years 222 played 189 reviews
3.50 star(s)

Over the river and through the woods... 2+ years

Reviewed: Played on:Dec 17, 2013 Played the course:once

Pros:

The course is set entirely in the woods. Fairways are pretty fair, and several times I was tempted to pull out my driver but knew the rough would make me pay (and it did).

Elevation comes into play on nearly every hole, particularly in the beginning and end. Hole #2 is a fun, short shot up a steep grassy hill (the kind you'd probably sled down if it had snow), and I can only imagine the groans when someone parks their drive and watches their shot roll back down.

There is a creek alongside several of the holes. It is only an issue on one hole (#7), when it becomes a 25-foot wide body with murky water. I lost my River there, appropriately enough, but fortunately someone found it later.

Many of the holes are short and possible ace runs, but there is adequate punishment for missing your line. Several holes have multiple lines, and one even has a V-shaped tee pad to accommodate either line. I've never seen that before.

Hole 18 was a satisfying finish with a straight valley shot, another hole that feels like an potential ace run but that isn't an easy shot.

Navigation was pretty easy, and I didn't really use the map. "Next tee" signs are on most holes, and I don't remember any long walks between holes.

Cons:

The tee signs are just okay. Many of them show what looks like a fairly straight fairway with the basket slightly offset, when the true line to the basket is a definite dogleg.

I have mixed feelings about horseshoe-shaped holes, and I didn't think (#9) had a big enough landing area or path to the basket once on the green.

Rough was pretty rough, lots of tangly stuff.

Other Thoughts:

Travel tip: if you love wooded courses with big elevation changes like this, check out Pyramids and Devens in Massachusetts, Hummel in Omaha, and Conifer in Colorado, to name a few. Same idea but with even bigger elevation changes.

RL Smith is pretty close to the airport so it was the first I hit when I landed. The elevation changes are among the bigger in Charlotte. This is definitely a great option for combining a good challenge, some thrilling shots, and still being friendly for rec and intermediate players. It's these kind of courses that get new players addicted and keep seasoned players interested.
Was this review helpful? Yes No
Top