Salisbury, NC

Ellis Park

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2.195(based on 18 reviews)
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13 0
rohlinmt
Experience: 7 played 7 reviews
1.00 star(s)

Pull up the baskets and let a designer rebuild drive by

Reviewed: Played on:Jan 8, 2023 Played the course:once

Pros:

- I had hoped that the older reviews of this course would be outdated and wrong in 2023. The biggest pro is that you can believe every word of the reviews here before me, and they make a lot more sense after playing the course.

- It's an 18-hole course, and there isn't much of that in the area

- Nobody seems to be playing this course. Zero traffic the day I came. There were other people enjoying the park, but not on the disc golf course.

- Discatcher baskets have numbers on them, and each hole has a tee sign giving the number and distance. If "this course has signs at each hole" seems like an odd thing to list as a "pro", then I think you're ready for the experience that is Ellis Park.

Cons:

- Course design is an abomination. Packed tightly into the existing park and then crossing the highway and meandering aimlessly through the land across the street. There's no flow, the 6 and 7 fairways still cross over each other, and 11 and 12 nearly do the same. There are some big walks between holes (7-8, 14-15, maybe even 4-5) where additional holes could have been placed instead of shoehorning them the way they did into the old park.

- Several front nine holes have TERRIBLE obstructions. Hole 1 is as advertised: a blind slight dogleg right along the edge of the property, which means that 6 feet left of the fairway is a 12-foot razorwire fence. SIX FEET LEFT. New players throwing RHBH NEVER finish left, right? Hole 4 goes through a series of old abandoned horseshoe pits. That means there are 4-6 old chunks of rebar sticking up out of the ground ready to mess you up. #5 goes across a volleyball court. It's the kind of safety issues that make you shake your head.

- No teepads. AKA "natural teepads". Sometimes there are small yellow stobs marking where you should throw from, but if you're playing in the rain like I did, you're in for a sloppy day.

Other Thoughts:

The word that best describes this course is "uncomfortable". There are very few holes where you have a clear vision of where you're supposed to go without elements that pose a danger to you, your discs, or to other park patrons.

Hole 13 has a ton of potential to be the iconic hole, a bizarre C-shaped hole that--if thinned out significantly--could let players go for the pin with a thumber or other overhand. However it's not thinned out, and the risk of disc loss without a spotter is too high to try the shot.

Hole 7 is a 400-foot uphill par 4 that USED to have a 10-foot gap to hit to enter the trees 100 feet into the hole. Well, those trees have grown, and that gap to get into the woods is down to just 6 feet.

My favorite hole was #11. A straightforward 274ft downhill tunnel shot due to a large tree branch. If you can keep it low, it's a great grip-and-rip hole.

In conclusion, I would love to see what a modern course designer could do with the same space if they pulled all the baskets up and started completely fresh. I don't want to come back and play here again, and I probably won't. This course made me appreciate the higher quality courses farther north towards Winston-Salem.
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14 0
dndelli
Gold level trusted reviewer
Premium Member
Experience: 16.7 years 134 played 131 reviews
1.50 star(s)

Ellis Park 2+ years

Reviewed: Updated: Played on:Aug 14, 2021 Played the course:once

Pros:

Ellis Park features an 18 hole course that has a decent mixture of wooded and open holes. The course features DISCatcher baskets, tee signs that indicate par and distance, and natural tees. This really is a tale of two courses, as there are the old holes (1 through 6, & 16 through 18) which have a completely different feel from the new holes (7 through 15).

This allows players the chance to choose a 9 hole loop that fits their time needs and course preferences, or play the full 18 holes. The new holes are actually full of some good hole designs that make great use of elevation.

The old holes were likely designed for beginners or Rec level players, while the new holes feel like they are more suited for Intermediate players.

Holes 7 & 15 both feature fun gaps & tight tunnels. Both were fair and shaped well to allow birdies, but without being must-makes.

Holes 9, 11 & 12 come in the middle of this technical section of disc golf, and allow players to see their discs fly. Hole 12 was a little short to be a Par 4, but it's nice to have an easy birdie out there to grab.

Hole 14 was probably my favorite hole on the whole course. It was an extreme uphill shot, that was just a treat to throw! I'll admit that if my drive had rolled back down the hill, I would have been frustrated, but it would still be a good hole.

Cons:

The natural tees are starting to show signs of age, through erosion, and could probably benefit from a bit of work. The tee signs would also benefit from having maps on them to designate potential OB. The only bench I remember being on the course was at the tee for Hole 11. Some of the tee pads are too close to the previous holes basket.

Unfortunately, the biggest issue with this course is the sheer amount of variance in terms of quality of Hole design. The new holes are mostly a lot better than the old holes. I think Hole 8 is hard to love due to the sheer amount of disc loss potential, but the design would be fun - if you weren't likely to lose a disc if you tried for the birdie. Hole 13 however, I am not a huge fan of. I think there is a cool hole there, and if you have a Grenade, or an overhand throw in your bag, it might be fun, but one of the benefits of downhill shots is to watch the flight of your disc. A hole that does a 90 degree turn into a tight gap, before twisting the rest of the way into a U-shape is just awkward for most players.

The old holes are just not at all the same level of quality. Too many holes play or finish close to the park's property line, with barbed-wire fences. This is terrible enough on its own, but Hole 1 playing along the 12' tall fence, with a barbed-wire ring at the top, is just blatantly asking for trouble. You can still see signs where people likely make their way onto the Fire Departments reservoir property to retrieve discs, and I just can't imagine this bodes well for anyone.
How is Hole 17 still a hole? I am not sure which came first, the disc golf hole, or the Basketball court, but why Rowan County allowed this (and the horseshoe pits) to all try to coexist in the same space is beyond me. Sadly it's not the only disc golf hole in Salisbury that throws over a basketball court either.

Hole 6 could be an okay hole, even though it's a bit boring, if the property line wasn't within 10' of the basket, and it's fairway didn't cross Hole 7's.

The rest of the holes are either bland pitch-&-putt holes, play too close to the rest of the park, or (more likely) both.

Other Thoughts:

Ellis Park is a strange bird. It's a course that you really need to play to fully understand the comments you hear when someone invokes its name. At the end of the day, what you really have are two separate nine hole courses that have been slapped together with tape and a glue stick to create an 18 hole course. The "wooded course" is actually a fun little 9 hole course that has one or two question marks in terms of hole design, but overall great quality! The "open course" doesn't have enough redeeming qualities to warrant existing, other than to make Ellis Park a full 18. For now I am going to give the course a 1.5 rating. I think if the original layout were just removed from the park, and some work went into fixing up what remained, this could be a beast of a 9 hole course.

Favorite Holes: 9, 12, 14, 15
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8 0
Bennybennybenny
Diamond level trusted reviewer
Experience: 13.1 years 305 played 287 reviews
1.00 star(s)

If You Play Here Without Saying the F-Word, Props to You 2+ years

Reviewed: Played on:Apr 22, 2020 Played the course:once

Pros:

-Salisbury is a pretty town. This is a nice park and the land across the street consists of nine holes. So I'm going to assume that there was plenty of money spent to make this course happen. Whether you enjoy this course or not (you won't), the walk from hole seven to fifteen is really nice. It's funner to walk this course than it is to play it.

-A couple of the locals were very friendly. A man and a woman. I think they might work here. They were really nice and we had a little bit of conversation. The woman told me where hole six as I was struggling just trying to find it.

-It's close to downtown. Spanky's Ice Cream and Deli is open during this quarantine! Seems like a great tourist attraction in Salisbury! I went there and it was great!

-There's a really good use of elevation on the part of the course across the road. My favorite hole was #10. I couldn't stand this course, but #10 is I think in all fairness a great hole. You tee off in the open and throw uphill through a gap in the woods and back out of it. Only 210' but has an elevation gain of about 18 feet. #14 was a fun steep uphill hole as well!

-Many ace opportunities. You get to air out a bigger drive on #12 as well.

-The whole "Woe is Me" feeling went away when I left!

Cons:

-It is disappointing to give a course a low rating when there are some good holes here. But I want to get my opinion out there because I don't this place is suited for 18 holes unless there is a whole lot more land available across the street. None of the holes (holes #1-5, #16-18) around the park itself are fun or well thought out. The designs for some of the holes across the street are notoriously terrible. Like REALLY terrible! I think Daffy Duck in a drunken stupor could do a far better job than this.

-Everyone mentioned the barbed wire fence on #1. It's to the left side and past the basket. Making an "L Shape." I don't know if anyone mentioned the right side though. It's jail! Right off the bat you'll see that this course is not really kept up or cared for. I supposed you could throw a cliche and unoriginal bank shot off the fence if you wanted to.

-#2-4 are all good ace opportunities but......#2's pin is dangerously close to the ball field. Just an arm's length distance away from it. Won't be playable if there's a game going on but hey! That might leave you unscathed and safe from the terror of playing here!

-#3 and #4 are both really short and are the most aceable holes here and #3 is dangerously close to #2 and the only thing separating #3 and #4 from sharing a backtracking fairway is an old wooden fence. Not to mention #4's basket is also too close to the field too.

-After #5 (which is too close to the volleyball field now) you cross the road and stumble upon crossing fairways for holes #6 and #7, supporting an "X" shape. X marks the spot. At this point I probably should've stopped digging. I should've carried my spade shovel back to the car and floored it on the gas because I didn't find any treasure here. #7 however is a real treasure to all of the terrible holes I have played. I could write a rant about bad that hole is. That rant would maybe be longer than a fictional novel. You are starting off with six consecutive short holes. AND THEN. THERE IS..............SEVEN!

-That hole is dreadful. You start off in the open crossing hole six. Then there's a small and low gap with a yellow pole in the middle of it. This hole's tee shot is as close to a replica of the infamous "Clown Hole" from Happy Gilmore as I've seen it get. The remainder of the hole is just as horrid. You're throwing down a super tight trail slightly uphill with hell or high water surrounding you on both sides. The rough is really bad! I got a five on this par four and was proud of it.

-#8: Look at this! Lots of elevation here! Look at that wooded green! That's gorgeous! This hole has many great merits. It's downhill maybe 35' in elevation and the wooded green is the best one here. The fairway is down the same narrow trail and meathooks to the right side. Damn! Can't see the basket and if you don't turn at the right time, you'll either hit an early tree on the trail in the woods or go too long and skip off down the descending hill in the open full of kudzo if you don't go right enough. I got a six on this par three. Starts off as a birdie fest from #1-6 and the next two holes completely change the skill level of this course. Both holes would have an SSE well above par. The next hole (#9) is finally a good one.

-#13 has the same issue as #8. 248' of torture. Even though it utilizes the huge elevation change. It's very steeply downhill so loses a ton of its distance. The fairway is the problem. It has a "<" shape to it. Literally! That's the "less than" symbol shape. I didn't know math symbols were a thing in disc golf. Maybe there's a square root shaped fairway somewhere that I don't know about, or even an ampersand! But anyway, starts in the open and goes to the right into the woods down a trail much more narrow than #7's trail. I flicked a lucid x getaway and even that didn't turn quick enough. I heard that some players have better luck throwing a tomahawk over the trees. If you can't tomahawk, you'll have to start saying your prayers.

-The last three holes end near the starting point. I saw the picture of #17 on the media and didn't see the basketball court. But now you are throwing over a basketball court. Why??? What were they thinking? The course has become a danger again. #18's basket is very close to #2's.

-Other stuff: No tee pads. No tee diagrams of the fairways.

-Badly kept. The rough is really long and messy. And there is a good amount of poison ivy in the woods.

-#11 is a pretty solid hole and all. Gives a good view of the neighborhood and requires an anhyzer. But just a few feet past the basket, you see a no trespassing sign. Don't go long!

-The hardest part about this course is not hole seven or eight. The hardest part is not cursing. Why isn't there a censored button on my keyboard?

Other Thoughts:

-They need to start over. Someone around here needs to say something. The "challenging" holes have your guts for garters. #10 was a great hole that was pretty challenging. #15 was another good challenging hole you'd likely see something similar to on a pro course. There are a few other good holes here but the steep downhill holes were very frustrating. Everybody loves steep downhill! But not when the fairway sets you up to fail. I think this course would be better off if it were redesigned and only nine holes.

-If you decide to play here, I'd recommend you walk through it first. Without your discs. I can almost assure you that you'll have more fun just walking through it than you will have playing here. The walkthrough is really nice. I will say that!

-There's a whole lot better in NC. I'm glad I got to play a few of the holes here but the rest of them I wish I didn't.
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2 0
J-swish
Experience: 8.2 years 8 played 7 reviews
2.00 star(s)

Not Worth A Drive 2+ years drive by

Reviewed: Played on:Sep 27, 2017 Played the course:once

Pros:

Variety of holes--woods and open.
Interesting elevation changes--great exercise course.
Good signage and directions.
Some nice open holes across street from ball fields.

Cons:

Woods holes were too tight and some almost un-throwable lines.
Two feet in the rough can be almost unfindable in spots--wear long pants.
Holes around ballfield too tight and invite throwing over the fence--makes it unplayable during baseball.
First hole is a terrible start with a too narrow fairway and tight 8' prison fence on left with barb wire--I just walked through it.

Other Thoughts:

I would play it if it was close by, but not worth a drive. Starts with short putter holes that cross over each other, goes over road through the woods and fields, then comes back around ballfields and playground equipment. This would be unplayable during a baseball game or with a lot of kids at the park.
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3 0
Erbgottie51
Experience: 13.7 years 3 played 2 reviews
3.50 star(s)

Review Long Over do 2+ years drive by

Reviewed: Played on:Aug 12, 2017 Played the course:2-4 times

Pros:

I've played this course 3 times, the first 2 times were the holes on the park side with my kids tagging along but this past weekend I got to experience the entire course it's about time someone wrote a better review.

I'm a very simple guy who enjoys a good, playable course and my review will reflect that.

-The front holes and I can't remember how many 7 I think are short and nothing to write home about but aren't terrible. There are two yellow poles behind the baseball field near the road that lead you to your next hole across the road. The next 8 or 9 holes wind through the woods in a very easy to follow fashion and are quite enjoyable. The areas in the woods were mowed and very good condition. there are a few tight shots that require position placement and also some nice bomb shots. After you wind through the woods you come right back out crossing between the yellow poles again and going right to shot 16-18 and finish the round.

Cons:

-Signage at last basket (7 I think) pointing you to cross road to continue then again at 15 for when you come back over.

-shortness / simplicity of holes in the beginning could be a con for some.

Other Thoughts:

This is a very good course to play. I really like the layout (especially the holes across the road) of this course and always welcome the uniqueness of any course really.

I was overall pleasantly pleased with the play if this course for such a small location and thought the last review DID NOT do it justice. Take the time to play this little course, it may just surprise you.
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6 1
nevets4433
Silver level trusted reviewer
Experience: 12.2 years 62 played 60 reviews
1.50 star(s)

A Tale of 2 Courses (It's a Tragedy) 2+ years drive by

Reviewed: Updated: Played on:Oct 23, 2015 Played the course:once

Pros:

This is basically the only 18 hole loop in the surrounding area so the course has that going for it. What was once a 9 hole loop (from what I understand) has been expanded into a demanding 18 hole loop.

There are a ton of great amenities at the park.

Course maintenance is overall pretty good.

The covered bridge between hole 8 and 9 is very pretty.

Holes 10 and 14 were really fun holes that were uphill opportunities for fun tomahawks.

The baskets at least help give navigation aids with signs to the next tees

Cons:

Buckle up...here we go.

Starting at the first hole there is a kiosk. It mentions the rules of disc golf, and what to do when a disc is OB. It also does not mention what is considered OB at this course, and there is no water. There are a ton of fences (see below), but nothing is marked specifically...so that kiosk is basically useless for anyone but a complete beginner

Hole 1 is a terrible design. A huge 10+ foot fence surrounds the hole to the left and back. It is topped with barbed wire and razor wire. It is terrifying to look at and with all the space available for the course to be placed in, it has no business being in play. I actually used the back fence to bank my upshot off of...this hole is simply poorly designed.

Hole 2 comes out of the woods and runs up to one of the baseball fields. The left field foul pole is on the green...that is not really a safe idea. If baseball is being played on this field, then part of the course is out of business.

Hole 4 sports a covered picnic area and park benches which are in play. Oh, by the way the green is in the middle of some horseshoe pits. Once again, that is not safe.

Hole 5 tees off and throws across the volleyball court. Why? There is no reason for that. The tee could have been placed many other locations and this wouldn't even be an issue. The green is also near the tennis courts so a wayward upshot could be an issue.

After that, you cross the road to a completely different section of the course. The problems don't stop however.

Holes 6 and 7 sport crossing fairways, with a necesssary backtrack from 6 green to 7 tee that is right in the line of play for both holes. 6 green also has a nasty fence to its left.

Hole 7 is a long par four up the hill. It starts in a field and goes into the woods. There really isn't an opening anymore. It was originally about the size of a SUV, but they put up a yellow pole in the middle to keep vehicles out. It is a really poor design flaw.

Hole 8 is worse. It is a 300 foot downhill snap curve to the right which is blind. There is a field of kudzu to the left. Somehow, the designer made the finish of the hole an S curve which is basically an impossible line. I really don't understand what the thought process here was. The terrain could have yielded a cool hole, but it unfortuantely ended up a mess.

The tee on hole 9 sports dangerous roots and no runup whatsoever.

Holes 11 and 12 (with twelve actually being a decent hole) sport fairways with large amounts of horse manure because of the nearby show ring for the horses. It seems this part of the course is often closed due to showing horses.

Hole 13 is one of the poorest designed holes I have ever seen. It is a U shaped hole that starts up a hill, and plays to a fairway that is literally aimed 90 degress from the eventual basket location. There is absolutely no disc or throw that can navigate that narrow 5 foot wide snapping fairway, at least not with the currently established laws of physics. That leaves the shot of choice as a blind tomahawk over the trees, into the trees, and basically off of a cliff. This hole truly has to be seen to appreciate it.

After hole 15, the course comes out of its wooded section and crosses back over the road. We now resume the series of problems that plagued the first few holes.

Hole 16's fairway is deep center field of a second baseball/softball field, and the basket is very near the left field foul pole. About 5 feet past the basket is another barbed wire fence.

Hole 17 plays down the 3rd base line, and plays to a pin tucked to the right into what seems a nice green in the trees. Again, however, the fairway plays over another set of horseshoe pits and the barbed wire fence that was on the back of 16 green runs the length of the hole on the right and is about 4 paces from the basket.

Hole 18 again has a barbed wire fence that runs the length of the right side of the fairway. Luckily for golfers, that fairway really doesn't exist as there isn't a way to feed it through those trees the way they have grown in. This does however force play to the left up the first base line of the original baseball field and around. This hole is also confusing because hole 2's basket is seen from the teebox and looks like the correct one to play, whereas the real basket is tucked into the brush on the right.

Finally, the tees are all dirt. Some of them are very slick as they are tightly packed and dusty in places. They are marked by small yellow discs, and some of them were buried by dirt and diffiicult to find. They are near the tee signs, which are present, but offer no navigational aid. Some sort of hole map would have been nice, especially on some of the more confusing holes on the woods side of the road.

Other Thoughts:

This is the tale of 2 courses. The first is the roughly nine holes on the site of the main part of the park. They are largely short, bordered by lots of barbed wire, and throw in and around basically every other park activity making this layout both dangerous for disc golfers and other park patrons.

The other side of the road, while definitely being the better wooded side, suffers from some severe design flaws, the most serious of which being holes 7,8, and 13. Those are really headscratchers, and not in a good way.

It pains me to see a course where so much work has evidently gone into the design and maintenance, but the result is so poor. There is a whole lot of untapped potential here. But when I objectively rate it, I look back at my list of pros and cons, and think back to the fun I did not have while playing it. When the pros of a course are that it has 18 nice baskets, 2 opportunities for a fun tomahawk, and a pretty bridge between 2 holes; that speaks volumes to me.
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0 12
amccarrison
Experience: 35 played 4 reviews
5.00 star(s)

Salisbury's 18 Holer 2+ years drive by

Reviewed: Played on:Mar 4, 2015 Played the course:5+ times

Pros:

Beautiful local community park outside Salisbury.
No trash throughout the park.
Hole signage detailing the number and yards for each hole.

Cons:

Back nine (other side of park) is poorly designed.
I recommend playing holes 1-6 and finishing with holes 16-18 for a solid nine hole play in a beautiful community park.
Natural tees, no concrete.

Other Thoughts:

This is Salisbury's only 18 hole course in Rowan County. This course is very close to two additional beautiful nine hole courses in downtown Salisbury; Kelsey Scott and Catawba College.
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12 1
DiscGolfCraig
Diamond level trusted reviewer
Premium Member
Experience: 19.8 years 585 played 538 reviews
1.00 star(s)

Bad original layout + slightly improved layout = no need to return

Reviewed: Updated: Played on:Jul 7, 2014 Played the course:once

Pros:

Ellis Park has a few flashes of enjoyment with some decent holes. But they are overshadowed by the majority of holes that are below average.
- This review will focus on the newer 9-hole layout - holes #7 - 15 - that are across the street. For a complete recap of the original layout - holes #1 -6 & 16 - 18 - check out my review for old course layout.
- The first two holes across the street (#7 & 8) are poor. To my surprise, five of the next 6 holes were all relatively enjoyable, even featuring one really solid layout.
- #12 is hands down the best hole, and the only one that's truly an above level/advanced layout. It's a 440 foot, mostly open hole. There can be a debate about whether this is an easy par 4 or a really challenging par 3. You can safely throw a driver here, setting up a short to mid-range second shot. Two good shots will get you in putting range for your 3.
- In addition, I enjoyed holes #9 - 11 and 14. #9 is a good mid-range slightly uphill shot. #10 is a fun, 210 foot uphill shot with a narrow fairway, forcing you to shoot the gap. #11 is a downhill, 250 foot hole with a big tree blocking the right side and all high shots. A left-to-right throw will get you in birdie range. #14 is another tight, uphill hole. It's only 170 feet, so a putter or mid-range that you can throw straight will set you up nicely. I even enjoyed the concept of what's trying to be accomplished with 13 & 15. A lot of maintenance and/or relocating the tees will be needed. At least the concept of a decent hole is present here, more so with #13 than 15.
- There are enough birdie and or ace runs on this course that allow you to be aggressive. The problem goes back to the idea that the easy holes are seemingly too easy (or not challenging/boring), while the harder holes are either horrible layouts or ridiculously challenging, or unfair.
- Totally random sighting. To the left of #11 is a really nice looking horse riding arena and tower. Much of the park has been neglected - check out condition of the tennis courts if you need proof - yet somehow, there's an awesome looking ring for equestrian events. Go figure.

Cons:

This is, for the most part, an uninspiring and uncreative, layout. It's very clear that there wasn't much input from disc golfers, or at least ones with course designing experience. The original 9 has its problems with atrocious layouts, and so does the 9 across the way. #7, 8, 13 & 15 have fairways that aren't much wider than a walking path. And actually, #13's fairway is a walking path down a hill. Narrow fairways are acceptable on a shorter hole (see #10 & 14), but not so much when the hole is 445 feet, as is #7. On that hole, you can either throw mid-range or putter, and sacrifice distance, or spend lots of time searching for discs in the woods. Even then, a shot slightly off-line, by only a couple feet, and you're in the woods.
- As bad as that is, I'd rather end up several feet into the woods, than have a shot sail deep into the kudzu, as is the case with #8. If there weren't kudzu, this hole layout might actually be fun. As it is, this is a dogleg right that will pretty much devour a disc if doesn't go right. If your disc sails straight, that kudzu is deep and thick. Who knows what else is in there, if you throw a disc in that stuff. Just glad I didn't have to find out.
- As much as I spoke (somewhat) kindly of the better holes above, if this were a good, above average course, most would quickly become some of the worst on a course of that quality. It's only by comparison do some of those holes seem good.
- There's just not a lot of flash here. Even during the four-hole stretch from #9 - 12, the stretch I called the best set of holes, I wasn't wowed. It was more of a sense that 'this isn't bad.' There aren't too many marketing slogans that center around the theme of a product not being too bad.
- Depending on other activities at the park, there will be times when parts of the course will be unplayable. It can range from ball games taking place, or something as simple as people playing horseshoes, with the pits being part of the fairway on #17.

Other Thoughts:

I'm glad I played the complete 18 at Ellis Park. Now I know I didn't miss anything when the extra 9 holes were added.
- The standard verbiage of a course's front 9 and back 9 are somewhat different here. I referred to the original and new(er) 9 depending on what side of the road they were on. For many, I suspect the front 9 will be holes #1 - 6 & 16 - 18; with the back nine being holes #7 - 15 across the street.
- This course just feels neglected and depressing. It's less than 10 minutes from being in busy parts of Salisbury, but it's one of the most rural feeling courses of anywhere I've played. It's eerie playing on a weekend afternoon, and not hearing any sounds, whether it's cars, planes, birds, whatever.
- There are plenty of good practice holes here. There are also holes that have too much of a 'lost disc' element for a beginner/casual level targeted audience. If you plan accordingly, and live nearby, you can be efficient with your time here.
- I was overly generous with my 1.0 rating for the original 9. That layout was closer to a 0.75. The new layout would be in the ballpark of 1.25 - 1.5. Add them together, and you get a 1.0. At best, and with some work and redesigned holes, I could see this approaching a 2.0.
- As it is, anyone rating this course above average (meaning the five 3.0 ratings) needs to travel outside Salisbury to play disc golf. No way can someone try to convince others that this course is above average.
- I played the original layout once in 2011. Now, I played the entire 18-hole layout in 2014. Barring something unexpected, this will be my one and only visit to the course.
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10 1
BrotherDave
Diamond level trusted reviewer
Experience: 16.7 years 192 played 188 reviews
0.50 star(s)

Disc Golf-ul 2+ years

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

Pros:

Good Discatcher baskets. The holes across the road aren't all terrible. Tee signs tell you hole # and distance but that's it. Um, plenty of bocce ball courts?

Some signs on the holes across the road keep you from getting terribly lost.

Cons:

This is basically an 18 hole course that was squeezed into a park more suited for a 9 holer. The first 6 holes (and #s 16-18) should be surrounded by yellow caution tape. Squeezed into the business end of the park, practically every hole has a major design flaw or safety hazard. Probably the worst part is that the holes that aren't inherently awful (by being beside a ball field or barbwire fence) are made un-fun by the dumbest tee locations imaginable and/or impenetrable rough.

The course would be pretty hard to navigate if I didn't have a map or a guide. The transitions have no rhyme or reason to them sometimes. Some holes have blind baskets and some holes have only the wrong basket visible from the tee, making it pretty easy to throw to the wrong basket. A few holes have fairways that can't be navigated by a disc in flight.

Maybe my biggest critique of this course is that it isn't suitable for anybody. Good players won't like it b/c it's just short and dumb and beginners won't like it b/c it's unfair and chaotic. A tweaking of most of the holes could conceivable make it at least a fun pitch & putt for most people, would be the best case scenario.

Other Thoughts:

#1 has that infamous razor wire fence but it's actually not the worst hole on the front 9. The tee needs to be moved left IMO. Try a roller if you're scared of going over the fence.
#s 2-3 are crappy short holes using a walking path for the fairway.
#4 has some hit a bystander potential.
#5 is a crime against humanity, volleyball court directly in fairway as well as tennis courts.
#6 challenges you to avoid parking the basket without killing someone playing bocce ball or smacking a car in the parking lots.
#7 is one of the most WTF?! holes I've seen in a while. The tee asks you to hit a small doorway sized gap some 100' away with the added bonus of having a 95% chance of being in terrible rough if you make it. Then it's a driveway sized tunnel slightly uphill with the impenetrable rough on both sides. Probably one of the least fun holes you can design. At the very least the tee needs to be moved to a less FUBAR location.
#8 and 9 are decent.
#10 needs serious limb removal to provide a fairway worth trying. I opted for the spike hyzer over the top like Stallone.
#11 is fun but the basket or tee should be moved to raise the low ceiling of that nice oak tree. As it is, if you want to reach the basket you need to use a driver or be a pro.
#12 is cool but I'm not crazy about the pin placement. #13 is arguably one of the worst holes I've ever seen. It had to be designed by someone that has never played DG before. Extremely tight, sharp, downhill horseshoe. I tried a roller b/c there is no way to get anywhere down the fairway through the air.
#14 needs thinning out, isn't fun at all b/c it's straight uphill.
#15 similar to # 7 needs to have its rough thinned out and fairway widened a little but at least it's downhill unlike #7.
#16 has big potential to hyzer out and hit an outfielder. Big arms risk going past the barbwire fence directly behind the basket.
#17 dares you to kill bocce players, fitness enthusiasts or people watching the softball game. The basket is guarded by the left by a large sign advertising the Senior Games and that barbwire fence on the right.
#18 has more ball field chaos and tempts you to throw towards #2's basket.
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4 0
nalu222
Experience: 14.2 years 4 played 4 reviews
1.50 star(s)

An interesting course 2+ years drive by

Reviewed: Played on:Apr 22, 2013 Played the course:once

Pros:

I played this course on my trip through Salisbury. All in all I would say it has potential to be an ok course with a little work. The pros are most of the holes have decent length and require a lot of technical throws. The baskets are in good shape and are in decent positions. 7 - 18 shows the courses potential. The holes follow the walking trail and have alot of nice elevation changes.

Cons:

Where do I begin. The course design is horrible. The first 6 or so holes are in multi use areas. If there is any kind of gathering going on you would not be able to play them. Hole 1. Lose your disc over the fence an its gone forever. I had a difficult time finding the tees, in some cases had to walk over 100ft to find the next one, alot of needless wandering went on. Fairways are very tight through 7-18. 6ft at best.Give or take. Bees were everywhere on the back 9. If your allergic definitely bring your epipen lol.. Over all a bad experience.

Other Thoughts:

This course has potential to be fun... It needs to be redesigned to where all the holes are across the road, the land is there. The fairways need to be opened up to allow the disc to fly. And I would recommend putting in some rubber or concrete tees. Also an illustration of the holes on the signs would be very helpful.
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6 1
aggreen
Bronze level trusted reviewer
Experience: 17.9 years 264 played 19 reviews
2.00 star(s)

Drive on by... 2+ years

Reviewed: Updated: Played on:Nov 11, 2012 Played the course:once

Pros:

Great elevation variance on the back 9, which is really utilized by #8 (into a risky and protected pin position), #10 (a uphill OH or spike hyzer shot) and #11 (a smooth shorter downhill drive with some risk of a tree). A fun bunch of holes and the only highlight of this course.

Cons:

Fairways are in multi-use areas (#2 is actually a walking path, #16 along the outfield of a ballfield, #17 over a horseshoe pit and bocce court) and if activities are occurring there, it makes the hole unplayable. A dad and son were walking on #2 and I was the only other one in the park.

This course needs clearing and maintenance in the worst way - debris from fairway clearing on the back 9 is just left on the side of the fairway. Any sightly errant throws often end up in this debris (#7, #8, #13, #14 and #15 were prime examples) making footing and actual shot making difficult.

The design is awful - period. Standing on #1's tee area summarizes what is to come - barbed wire fence on left and in back of fairway. I assume the designer had some limited options in terms of clearing, since he has designed some much better courses (Creekside, North Carrabus). #7 is a disaster. A 400'+ hole that goes about 100' into a wall of trees, except for a 10' gap. Throwing over seems like the best option, only no landing zones (into debris from clearing) or a 15' wide fairway up the hill to the basket. Like another reviewer stated - looking like a Bobcat just drove through the woods and...bam...fairway. I understand that this course was expanded to 18, but sometimes is getting a full 18 in really necessary if the design and flow is greatly flawed? I walked out of here thinking "Northeast Park" - not the same type of course, but both had some similar feel to it - just thrown in and left.

Other Thoughts:

This park really has some great amenities - bocce, ballfields, playgrounds - it is really a fun park - but it seems like they tried to cram 18 holes into a park that has so much else going on. Holes in the main part of the park are almost not necessary and more attention may have been spent on making 9 good/great holes.

I didn't put the typical comments about signs being a positive, since there are many blind shots here and signs with some detail would help a first timer. Yes, after playing once or twice - it isn't an issue, but still would have been a great help.

In reading the reviews and comparing this course to others with similar ratings, there is no way this is a 3 (at the time of my rating). It is barely a 2 with about 4-5 fun holes.

From a road trip perspective (Raleigh to Charlotte), this is not worth the stop at all. Not playing Kelsey or Catawba College, I couldn't make a comparison in the immediate area.
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3 2
coachedge
Experience: 12.6 years 63 played 2 reviews
3.00 star(s)

Two courses for the price of one! 2+ years drive by

Reviewed: Updated: Played on:Apr 24, 2013 Played the course:5+ times

Pros:

With the addition of the 9 new holes, this course is now complete. It will suit the beginner and advanced player alike. The "front 9" can be played in about 30 minutes; the "back 9" offers a challenge--it can be tough to beat par sometimes.

All-in-all, a very fun, balanced course with long, short, easy, difficult, uphill, downhill, left-turn, and right-turn holes.

Cons:

The gap in the razor-wire fence down the left side of the fairway of hole #1 has been repaired--don't mis-throw anything you want to keep.

Although Poison Ivy has been contained on the fairways and greens, there is still plenty of Poison Ivy throughout the rough areas.

Other Thoughts:

Although some of the "front 9" holes border other activities, there is really no danger of being interupted/interupting others. Horseshoe pits, badminton courts, and bocce courts are rarely in use in the afternoon/evening.

Most of the holes are easy to figure out in regards to reaching par/birdie.

Mis-thrown discs on hole #1 can still be retrieved with a partner's help (you won't do it alone without damaging the fence) by scooting under a lifted fence on the back side. I prefer to birdie this hole by flicking an overstable disc over the fence on the left side and letting it fade back over the fence to the basket.

Hole #3 can be easily birdied by backhanding a putter to the right of the front tree.

Hole #7 has a new tee placement and is brutal! It runs about 80' to a tight gap then inside the gap, the fairway "tunnel" doglegs left and slightly uphill to an open green where the basket is slightly right of the opening. To par this hole, you practically have to lay up to the small gap with your tee shot.

Hole #8 can be parred by right-handers by flicking on a hyzer or by flicking an overstable disc. My buddies who backhand this rarely reach par here.

Hole #10 is an easy par/birdie by tomahawking your drive up the hill to the basket.

Hole #13 is another easy par/birdie with a strong tomahawk drive over the wooded area. Using the horseshoe-right turn is tough without lucking into a roll.

Believe it or not, hole #14--a straight, tree-filled, short, uphill hole--can be tomahawked as well. I rarely tomahawk when I don't have to, but this course has three holes where it can be used to an advantage.

Hole #15 requires much finesse to reach par. This tight, tunnel fairway esses right and then left, moving slightly downhill. Too hard, too soft, too early, or too late and you're into the treeline.

The first time I played #18, I was excited to play a great shot right to the basket pole. Unfortunately, it was the basket for hole #2--the #18 basket is off to the right another 50'. To birdie this hole, you'll need to go long and right off the tee.

The park staff has stated repeatedly that they don't mind if you play past the park's closing time. They will barricade the entry, but allow you to drive around this to exit the parking lot.
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7 1
BraveThrower43
Gold level trusted reviewer
Premium Member
Experience: 14.1 years 729 played 59 reviews
1.50 star(s)

Disappointed 2+ years

Reviewed: Updated: Played on:Jun 1, 2012 Played the course:once

Pros:

Very Nice DiscCatcher Baskets

Navigation was very easy and the teesigns were very nice.

The new holes 7-15 are well designed and have promise to be solid buuuttttt(see Cons)

I really like holes 9-12

Cons:

No Trashcans or benches.

The original 9 holes are still there and I know that there was little to work with in this part of the park but that does not make it a good course. The issues with holes 1-6 &16-18 are that they throw very close to many other activities in the park.

4- Over a Horseshoe pit

6- over bocce courts and close to a parking lot.

17- the basket is right next to a fitness center and there is a sign for that center only 5-10 feet away.

There is a large razerwire fence that means a stray shot on hole 1 can lead to a non retrievable disc. Also while on the topic of barbed wire there is more that is right behind the basket of 16 and to the right side of the fairways on 17 and 18.

Now for the new holes 7-15. Most of these holes look like someone took a bulldozer and ran it through the woods and didnt follow up with trimming or anything. The holes need Major trimming because limbs are now encroaching many of the gaps and fairways.

The rough is very bad and there are very large drag piles practically on the fairways in many places.

Hole 8's entire green is covered in what I believe was poisen Ivy.

Other Thoughts:

I had been told about all of the improvements that the new 9 had made to the course and that it was sooooo much better(including one claim that it was better than Charlotte courses) however I was VERY disappointed.

The course has been shown little love and is in a very poor state. I had very little if any fun due to the fact that the lines on the new holes were nonexistant and I had to search for my discs forever in the nasty rough. The original 9 wasnt that great in the first place and it is still a part of the course.

The Design of the new part of the course has lots of potential but the course needs major work

This course is in my opinion the second worse Complete 18 hole course I have played thus far(behind Fun Junktion.) I would not recommend that anyone go out of there way to play this course unless they are a courses played junky.
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2 1
jcphenom
Experience: 18.7 years 10 played 5 reviews
3.00 star(s)

A slow afternoon 2+ years drive by

Reviewed: Played on:Apr 28, 2012 Played the course:once

Pros:

A beginner course: with the exception of a few tight fairways and doglegs through the woods, this course is a simple yet fun way to spend an afternoon. A good mix of open, obstacle, and wooded fairway shots.

Cons:

Lack of next tee signage. The course tends to cross near (or through) a lot of park attractions: fields, horseshoe pits, bocce courts, picnic sheleters, etc... I agree with jedwards that this feels like two distinct courses, an entirely amateur intro and outro with a 9-hole tough intermediate thrown in the middle.

Other Thoughts:

Overall, this course keeps things relaxed with a few twists and turns through the middle section. A few more signs for navigation would be nice, but it's a pretty easy place to get around. Just make sure to go when the park isn't crowded.
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2 2
chefjeff315
Experience: 12.1 years 8 played 5 reviews
3.00 star(s)

WOW! 2+ years drive by

Reviewed: Played on:Mar 1, 2012 Played the course:once

Pros:

I like the mix of the easier holes in the beginning and end of the course, and the much tougher ones in the middle. This course, with it's elevation changes, will give your legs a good workout on the newer holes. Benches throughout the course are a great idea, especially for catching your breath after scaling the ups and downs the new holes have to offer.

Cons:

Navigation could be better throughout the entire course. We almost could not find the 15th tee; there were 2 different directional arrows guiding us and there was a fairly long trek through the woods to find it.You have to cross the road to find the middle holes but this isn't much trouble as it's on a fairly straight road and easy to see approaching vehicles. Almost lost a disc on 1st toss from #1 tee, wind caught it and over the fence it went. Staff in office were no help, so my gf/playing partner called the Dept. of Parks and got in touch with a very nice man, also a disc player, named Jeff who was very helpful. He called the State dept. responsible for the reservoir and got a guy to come out and retrieve our brand new disc for us. This only cost us about 30 minutes of playing time and we were very grateful.

Other Thoughts:

We will be playing this course again. It has a lot to offer a beginner; you'll warm up on 1-6, go mad on 7-15 and then calm down and cool off on the final holes. Some of the first and last holes go around the softball parks and bocce courts so there was a fair amount of other users to lookout for in close proximity, but that's not really a big deal for me. You really do feel as if there is nothing else in the world when you are on those damned wooded hills on the newer holes, which I like.
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3 0
scottlarson
Experience: 14.8 years 38 played 5 reviews
3.00 star(s)

9+9=18 2+ years drive by

Reviewed: Updated: Played on:Nov 7, 2011 Played the course:5+ times

Pros:

Feels like two, 9 hole courses. Beginners will enjoy 1-6, and 16-19 and experts will enjoy the middle 9. Ams will get a good warm up, get trashed, and then try to salvage their score at the end. Well maintained. Good variety in hole type - each hole is fairly distinct. #7-16 are secluded. Map is accurate - use it!

Cons:

No pads. Holes #11 and #12 are next to an equestrian center and the field can be a minefield. Try putting with a fresh pile behind the basket if you miss. Very difficult to find the next tee on several holes; I printed out jedwards' review (excellent) and took it with me so this wasn't really a con for me. The fairway/walkability of #13 is a joke (still fun). I don't want too reiterate some of the other "Cons" that are frequently mentioned because for all of them I think, "YES, BUT..." (see "other thoughts")

Other Thoughts:

YES, hole 1 has a big scary fence, BUT nobody I've been with has ever permanently lost one (there may/may not be a gap to slide under 3/4 or the way down). YES, hole #4 has a horseshoe pit in the middle, BUT they look like nobody ever plays there. YES, hole #6 plays through boccee courts, BUT I've never seen anyone over there. If you like courses that loop back the the parking lot in the middle, drive past the park entrance and use the gravel lot on the left. That way you can start on #16 and have a easy front 9 and cross the road to the hard back 9.
When you are standing on the tee for #18 you cannot see the basket on the far right of the field; the basket for #2 is in plain sight and first timers will think it is #18.
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1 1
ABFutrell
Experience: 8 played 8 reviews
3.00 star(s)

2+ years drive by

Reviewed: Played on:Aug 17, 2011 Played the course:5+ times

Pros:

The new holes #7 - #15 add quite some challenge to this course. #7 and #12 are par 4's.
#8 is listed as par 3, but it is a tough 3 if you are RHBH. The hole is a dogleg right downhill with a narrow window from the pad. Come out wide/early trees, cut in early/griplock trees, get it through the gap but fade out, KUDZU! There is a landing area but it is not easy to find throwing backhand. I put this is pros because it adds to the challenge.

Cons:

I still do not like tee placement on hole #1. I'm only 5' 7" and after playing this hole the other day with guys taller than myself I see a big disadvantage for disc golfers my height or shorter. I have to throw the disc up high and let it fall out before getting close to the fence or cutting into the tree line. While the hill in front of the tee-pad adds challenge to the hole, it seems a bit unfair since shorter players are forced to release at a positive angle while taller players can release at a negative angle (which is ideal for using the back fence as a backstop.

Other Thoughts:

In all I believe this course serves the community surrounding it well.

Perhaps signage for the pseudo-beginner loop for those just starting to know to go from hole #6 to hole #16?
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6 0
jedwards
Experience: 33.8 years 26 played 9 reviews
2.50 star(s)

Multiple Personality Disorder 2+ years drive by

Reviewed: Played on:Aug 17, 2011 Played the course:once

Pros:

Brand new baskets in a well maintained park. Several of the new holes provide for a welcomed challenge from the previous layout (see detailed hole description below).

Cons:

While I totally understand the reasoning for changing the hole numbering for holes 7, 8 & 9 (course flow - so you can still start and end at the parking lot) it kind of leaves you with a feeling of despair. There are plenty of courses where the front 9 holes are more beginner friendly, then the back 9 are more challenging thus providing the option of either playing the 9 "easier" holes or the 9 "challenging" holes. This is not the case with the new Ellis Park layout. What they have done is given you 6 starting holes at a Rec. level (at best), then hit you with holes 7-15 that require a totally different skill set, then take you back on the Rec. course for holes 16-18 leaving you with the same feeling you had when playing the old layout. I feel that the quality of some of the new holes are tarnished by the lack-luster original 9 holes (holes 1-6 & 16-18). I think a complete redesign of the original 9 holes would have made a huge difference, but I understand that might not have been possible. The lack of tee pads becomes even more of a con with the additional holes. Some are very difficult to find. I never found the tee for hole #12 (I have since discovered it is to the right of the basket for #11 on the far side of the small covered picnic area).

Other Thoughts:

The new holes will have the same style tee signs as the previous layout (hole #, distance & par). A new map is in the works and I will upload it as soon as it becomes available. It is still best to park in the lot closest to first tee - it is to the left and behind the park office. The park office allegedly has starter sets available for around $20. I raised my rating because of the addition of the new holes. Some are actually pretty good, however, those original 9 holes will forever keep me from rating this any higher. I enjoyed playing the course and will come back but I still don't know how to categorize this course since it has multiple personality disorder. Do I recommend it to beginners? They will find the new holes too challenging. Do I recommend it to experienced players? They will find the original 9 holes too easy.


Detailed Hole Description:
Hole #1: Remains the same as original layout. A 10-15 foot fence topped with razor wire lines the left side of the fairway, so beware. The same fence is also behind the basket to the left. Hole plays slightly downhill to the right.

Hole #2: Remains the same as original layout. A short dogleg left hole in the opening just after the tree line. No danger here.

Hole #3: Remains the same as original layout. Hard to find a "good" route for this short hole, that said just pitch one up and pray since it is only 140ish feet. No real danger here either.

Hole #4: Remains the same as original layout. Another very short slight dogleg left hole. Beware of the horseshoe pits.

Hole #5: Remains the same as original layout. Open hole next to the tennis courts.

Hole #6: This hole is hard to find without a map. After finishing #5 go left and walk toward the small building. The tee is behind the building. There are some sort of bocce ball "courts" or something directly in front of the basket but I have never seen them in use. Hole plays fairly straight ahead.

Hole #7: To find the tee - walk across the street (beware of traffic as the speed limit is 45 mph on this road and people tend to add 10 or so mph to that). Look for the "Nature Trail" sign and walk down the gravel path - the tee will be on your left. This is the first of the new holes and is a dramatic difference from the 6 you just played. Hole plays dogleg right and there are a few good-sized landing zones mid fairway. Basket is in a pretty big clearing.

Hole #8: After finishing #7 go right and walk down the gravel road a good 200-300 feet, the tee will be on your left. Hole starts dogleg right (very similar to the previous hole) then makes a slight left downward turn to a tree-protected basket. Watch out for rollaways behind the basket if you want to par this hole.

Hole #9: After finishing #8 walk across the covered bridge and go left. The tee is behind the kudzu. Hole plays dead ahead. Easy par.

Hole #10: Tee is currently behind and to the left of the basket for #9. Hole plays over the gravel road and uphill, slight dogleg left. The hill is a little more steep than it looks.

Hole #11: After finishing #10 walk left in to the clearing. Allegedly there will be a mando (or so I've heard) but not sure which tree you have to stay left/right of. Basket is straight and slightly left of the tee.

Hole #12: After finishing #11 walk right and go toward the small covered picnic area to find the tee. Aim between the two large trees and the basket is dead ahead. Hole plays slightly downhill, then back up.

Hole #13: After finishing #12 go left in to the small clearing in the woods. Hole plays dogleg right down a very steep hill. If you play this hole after or during a good rain just "Pete Rose" slide headfirst down the hill because you will not stay on your feet and you might as well go down with style.

Hole #14: After finishing #13 go left to find the tee. Hole plays fairly straight ahead up a very steep hill. If you are lucky enough to park this hole I advise that you walk around and to the right of the fairway up the gravel path to get to the basket as the hill is pretty steep. However, since avoiding the two small trees in front of the tee is no easy task prepare to brave the hill.

Hole #15: Currently you have to go back out to the gravel road and walk a good 400-500 feet to get to the tee on the left. A trail will be cut from #14 basket to #15 tee in the near future. Hole plays dogleg right then left with fair landing zones along the way.

Hole #16: After finishing #15 walk back across the street and go right to find the tee for #16. Hole plays straight ahead, right side of fairway lined with trees, left side lined with softball fields. This hole might not be playable during a softball game so beware. This used to be hole #7 in the old layout.

Hole #17: After finishing #16 go left. Hole plays straight ahead, right side of fairway lined with barbed wire fence. This used to be hole #8 in the old layout.

Hole #18: After finishing #17 walk left and toward the parking lot. Tee is a little past the covered picnic area. Hole plays fairly straight ahead. Most will choose the anhyzer route (right handers) along the left side.
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