James Island, SC

James Island County Park DGC

2.745(based on 19 reviews)
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8 0
pmay5
Gold level trusted reviewer
Premium Member
Experience: 20.8 years 480 played 245 reviews
3.00 star(s)

Beautiful park, bring your technical game 2+ years

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

Pros:

Good DISCatcher baskets.
Good tee signs showing Par, distance and hole layout.
Pretty easy course to follow, next tee was usually in sight.
This very nice, large County park was well kept and clean. There are restrooms at the start of the course.
Good variety of holes as far as left, right, split fairway and good use of the only elevation on the course. I felt most of the lines to hit were fair, I remember only two holes where I struggled to find the fairway.

Cons:

DG course is behind fencing with the climbing wall and ropes course. If those aren't open, the course is not open.
The entire course is heavily wooded, no type of variety in that aspect.
Natural tees. They were marked pretty well, but it would be nice to have a more consistent tee pad.
No benches, probably the only place in this park where you can't find benches!

Other Thoughts:

As I mentioned above, this large County park has a ton of activities, walking and biking trails, multiple fishing spots, spray ground, dog park, cottages, campground and the Climbing wall and ropes course. Plus, when I was there in December, I got to see the Christmas lights setup. I don't know if the idea was build a completely wooded course, to compliment the mostly open Park Circle and risk/reward treasure of Trophy Lakes, but that is what they accomplished. It would have been nice if they had selected another area with some open space for a couple of holes, or routed the course to some nearby open space areas, instead of keeping it behind the fences.
You pay as you enter the park, but not at the Climbing wall and DG course area. They have you sign in and out when you play, so this may be the only public course I've played that is completely fenced in. I'm not sure if they are keeping us in, or others out!

Some of the lines may seem tight to some, but with the average hole length at 240' (minus the one Par 4), you have to have a challenge somewhere. There are a few longer holes, around 300' that are straighter, but most have a left or right turn to them, some tight, some more gradual. The number of left and right turning holes felt about equal.

There is a small pond in the middle of the course, the picture for #5 shows a partial carry over the water, but I think that has been eliminated with the hole shortened. #6 sits up on a mound, with the pond lurking behind, take an Ace run at that, at your own peril. Then #11, tees from the top of another section of that mound, through two large trees for a short, turning downhiller.

#9 is a very pretty hole, back side of the property, just 231' and turning right the whole way, ferns are prevelant down both sides and the view of the tidal marsh behind the basket is worth the walk.

I understand the course was closed for while last year, due to trees down from Hurricane damage, but everything was in great shape when I was there. The views around this park and that great shape it is in, make this a fun course to play. Just be sure to bring your technical game and get ready to be "locked up"!
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5 0
mlstivender
Experience: 6.1 years 34 played 10 reviews
2.50 star(s)

ITS OPEN.... 2+ years drive by

Reviewed: Played on:Oct 25, 2019 Played the course:once

Pros:

Great beginner course with a lot of OFF bug spray...
Minimum long distance shots...
Technical course which is what I prefer..
Course is open and playable...


Cons:

$2.00 Admission into the park itself...not a fee for the disc golf course.
No overall course map.
Not very well maintained...
A lot of trees have fallen and just left in place...
Tee box arrows need readjusting in the actual direction of the Tee itself..
I found myself hiking through the jungle during holes 5 to 6 and 9 to 10.
Mosquitoes are absolutely terrible and will eat you alive, this is even in late October.
No benches at any tee boxes throughout the course.
No trash cans located throughout the course.

Other Thoughts:

It has the potential to be a great course with a little more love from the park and recreation folks to get the down tree's and limbs cleared.
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6 0
tom12003
Experience: 30.8 years 152 played 10 reviews
3.00 star(s)

How to spell tight? 2+ years drive by

Reviewed: Played on:May 9, 2018 Played the course:once

Pros:

Great baskets, moderately good flow, beautiful park and isolated. Just bring your extreme accuracy.

Cons:

Concrete tee pads would have bumped my rating but the dirt tees were level and not a major problem.

A few more directional signs would have been appreciated.

Some additional trimming would have been nice but as a course director/maintainer, I know the level of dedication this needs in a fast growing environment.

Showed up at 10 AM only to find the course locked up on a weekday until noon; was able to return in the early afternoon.

Other Thoughts:

As I am use to very tight fairways (Charlotte), James Island can be extreme. The fairways would be fair if they were a few feet wider (while maintaining the need for shot shaping and accuracy) and would reduce the "luck" factor.

I think I played this course 5-7 years ago when it was a 9-holer and may have been an object course. Right now, the current layout will bring me back (7 minutes from my uncle's house) but will definitely change my shot selection.

Course brings in a different disc golf experience than the "nearby" Trophy Lakes course. Recommend playing both in the same day for the variation.
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4 3
Sparkles
Experience: 15.2 years 22 played 18 reviews
3.50 star(s)

Very Fun wooded wonderland! 2+ years drive by

Reviewed: Played on:Jan 8, 2018 Played the course:5+ times

Pros:

*All Innova Discather baskets in great shape
*Easy to navigate with good signage.
*Great for any skill level with variety of distances
*Great layout with some very unique holes.
*Awesome Pro-Shop with great staff
*Good buffer zones between holes allowing better flow.

Cons:

*Wildlife and bugs are very bad during the hot summer months.
*This course can be very difficult for weaker players, it demands alot of control shots.

Other Thoughts:

This is a wonderful course to test your skills. I really enjoyed it! A++++ A must play.
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2 0
Geodisc25
Experience: 13 years 23 played 6 reviews
3.50 star(s)

Awesome course, awesome park 2+ years drive by

Reviewed: Played on:Aug 1, 2017 Played the course:5+ times

Pros:

James island county park is beautiful park featuring dense foliage, huge wooded areas, water features and swampy land. In the course you will find a huge variety of fun shots, difficulty tree obstacles, a pond hazard, marsh views and one cool downhill shot. There is a good variety of par 3s and 4s to keep the game changing.
Easy layout with clear maps and strategy at tees.
The park has a bathroom at the climbing wall at hole one.
2$ to get in, not bad to support such a great park.

Cons:

This course is challenging, especially in the warmer months because of growth. I could see one hole being a more suited par 4 than a 3
Lots of standing water and mosquitos during rainy months ( right on the marsh)
So many trees right in the way ( like I said its pretty challenging)
Gotta pay..
climbing wall closes around 5 after labor day

Other Thoughts:

Played so many times, great course.
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2 1
pandabud104
Experience: 8.7 years 41 played 6 reviews
3.00 star(s)

Good Technical Course 2+ years drive by

Reviewed: Played on:Feb 25, 2017 Played the course:5+ times

Pros:

- Tee signs and baskets are in great shape.

- The layout is easy to follow as there are well worn paths.

- Nice restroom at the climbing wall which is the start and end of the course

Cons:

- Tee pads are just sand marked by flags. There are some roots, so just be careful when throwing. Wish they were marked better.

- The course is more of an out and back course, so make sure you have everything you need before starting.

- There is a cannel, pond, and marsh on which you can lose a disc, but this also adds a good element to the course. You are not allowed to enter the cannel for a disc and the pond is where disc go to die as it is never cleaned.

Other Thoughts:

Great course overall, but it is lacking some in the maintenance area. The course rewards players who can hit their lines, but it is a lot of fun for a beginner. I personally love this course and have played it well over a dozen times.
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5 0
Jaysauls
Gold level trusted reviewer
Experience: 14.7 years 129 played 71 reviews
3.00 star(s)

There's Tight, then there's James Island Tight 2+ years drive by

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

Pros:

I just want to start with that there are tight courses. Then there are tiiiight courses. Then there is James Island tight. I hope you haven't eaten a big meal before you play 'cause you might not fit down what are comically described as 'fairways'. Actually I refer to what is here as 'almost unfair ways'. Honestly, a bit of an exaggeration. But these 18 links are narrow.

I also feel that on person with a chain saw and about an hour to kill could open this course just a wee bit and make it a stone-cold blast to play. As it is, its fun and not fun. I'm a strong player and can wind my way down the tightest of fairways, but the newer player going to get frustrated. Several holes out here could have a mime cursing.

Let's get to some specifics...

#1 has a weak line to the basket with a clump of trees right where you want to throw. Hardly an angle at all for lefties and I only saw a few righties park it with high hyzer shots around the trees.

#2 is a good hole, totally dig it. but Anhyzer/forehand shot finishing left.

#3 is 296' tight shot that if you hit anything and kick right, its at best trouble. At worst 'see ya later, hello alligators' as you are 10' down in a canal.

#4 is hole three but finish right.. Oh, they leave a nice fat tree right where you want to throw, and not that far off the tee.

#5 is a good hole, short with a BLACK water pond before the basket, Throwing the 229' shot it is easy. Not hitting the trees by the pond and splashing in is not easy. I throw an 'S' curve shot around with a stable fairway driver to stay out of danger

#6 is a cool hole. Some how they found a hill and put basket on top. It backs up to the pond on #5 Throw too hard and it's history. Land on top and roll and you're fighting the gator for your putter...oh yeah, short enough for a putter.

#7 really not a fan favorite. Tight shot off a small knoll to a basket finishing right. I haven't seen it parked - ever.

#8 a good, midrange shot with a tough of hyzer

#9 straight at it with a midrange

#10 is your first crank. 462' feet dogleg left. But hit ANYTHING for first 275' and you have nothing but trouble. Lots of 5-6-7's

#11 where this hole came from I have no idea! But a decent down hill shot finishing slightly right. But can't go at it due to some massive pines that almost make you 'S' turn to it.

#12 is a fairly straight hole but with a phalanx of guardian trees around the basket. Almost a poke and hope at 220' feet!

13# is fairly straight shot, just got to throw very straight!

14# is a cool 'lefty hating' shot. HARD left turn, but not a tough hole

15# is a short par 4 - for me that is. A clump of trees 100' down range take up 90% of the fairway. Gotta to right/left and not hit ANYTHING. Otherwise you're kicked into never never land. Not a big fan of the hole.

16#...can't remember much except it being tight ;-)

#17 is a repeat of #15. More freaking trees in the middle of the fairway, but this time almost 300 feet.

#18 is a lazer beam 266' (seems longer) shot. Hit anything earlier and...do I need to go on?? Sigh.

Cons:

i really dislike sandy tee pads and that's ALL you get here. For me to throw with the accuracy needed on this course, I need concrete, something my feet won't slip on. If you're a stand-still thrower, or have little movement, you'll probably be okay.

Also...no benches...period. Would like a place to sit after I've spent 20 minutes looking for an errant shot.

Other Thoughts:

Now, I criticized this course for being tight, but I tell you this, if you can play here, you can play anywhere! These lines can be merciless, but if you want to play a course that will truly make you a better player, James Island will.

I gave this course a '3' on the hope that one day it will have concrete tees.
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1 1
kohldad
Experience: 8.2 years 53 played 10 reviews
3.00 star(s)

2+ years drive by

Reviewed: Played on:Mar 19, 2016 Played the course:2-4 times

Pros:

The sign posts are excellent shape and clearly identify the typical path. A challenging course where you shots must be controlled. Easy to follow the course thanks to "Tee" signs which point you to the next tee.

Cons:

Lots of stubs and roots so you have to watch your step and skips are hard to come by.

Other Thoughts:

After reading the reviews, didn't really want to go play this course but my daughter wanted to play in the JI League so I agreed. Very glad I did as it is a very fun yet technical course. Even when you have a bad shot and get off the course into the woods, it is usually easy to find a line at least back out.
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3 4
nicklee56
Experience: 3 played 1 reviews
3.50 star(s)

A promising course 2+ years drive by

Reviewed: Played on:Nov 26, 2015 Played the course:once

Pros:

Great designed course. Love the lay out of the course and the flow of it. Almost all the holes end near the beginning of the next hole. Love the fact it is in woods and not alot has been cut away. Helps you learning to control high and technical throws

Cons:

First do not forget your bug spray. Mosquitoes where awful. They have had a lot of rain and in a swampy area but a staff member did say they are bad normally but worse recently because of the rain. Second, would be nice for concrete pads. I slipped a few times during my throw. Last a little maintenance would be nice.

Other Thoughts:

Read the signs about keeping in bounds. There are allegaters and snakes there and they are not nice.
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7 0
BigAl724
Diamond level trusted reviewer
Experience: 11.6 years 178 played 144 reviews
2.50 star(s)

Secluded, technical round 2+ years drive by

Reviewed: Played on:Jun 8, 2015 Played the course:once

Pros:

James Island County Park DGC is located in a huge park with many different activities and is a shorter par 3 course that plays through woodsy and sandy terrain. You are in tight woods throughout the entire round, so the course forces you to be technical and concentrates on your approach game more than anything. Off the tee, many holes require you to hit tight windows, so I found myself starting out with my midrange discs more than usual.

You get some interesting shots that provide shot selection. Hole 5 gives you the choice of either throwing left to right over a water carry, which is a more open shot to the basket. Or, you can throw a RHBH hyzer through a tight gap. Being 244' and on a more recreational course, getting wet is a possibility for some players who come here, so this hole gives you a nice risk/reward option. Hole 12 offers two distinct lines on either side of a patch of trees, so it also provides some nice shot selection. They holes highlight the course as they require more thinking for how you approach the hole.

The tee signs and baskets are in great shape. Navigation is very straight-forward and you mostly have very short walks to the next tee. Next tee signs are provided when needed.

The course is very secluded from other park activities, even playing near a marsh on a few holes. This is a nice peaceful and natural environment. The thick woods and jungle-y feel of the course was a pleasant surprise and not what I expected for the area.

The thick tree cover keeps you out of the hot South Carolina sun.

Cons:

A few efforts have been made to provide elevation - like 11's elevated tee pad and 6's basket on top of a slope - but it is pretty much dead flat here. Playing through the same type of environment/terrain throughout the entire round, the course would improve with more variety of lengths and hole types. Being a tighter and shorter course, there are not many chances to let your arm go. Only two holes are over 300'.

It's pretty rugged in terms of terrain. Lots of long, skinny branches and vines hang throughout and many roots sticking out of the ground keep you watching your steps as you walk. There was never any disc-swallowing rough but you constantly need to keep an eye on the flight of your disc. Discs are easy to find if you have an idea of where you land, but are sometimes hard to follow the flight of your disc within the thickness of the woods.

The sandy tee pads were often loosely packed and didn't always offer good footing.

Finding the course can be difficult. It is in a secluded section of the park and starts near a rock climbing wall. Look for signs or ask to be directed to the climbing wall, as that probably gets more traffic.

Other Thoughts:

A few things to make note of before playing here: though we were able to play the course on a Monday, it's said to be closed on Mondays on this site. I'm not sure if you'll have the same luck as us or not. Before playing, you have to sign in and then sign out after you are done. They seem to be somewhat strict about keeping the curfew, which I believe was 8 pm. The $1 park entry fee is obviously not steep, but keep that in mind as you pull in.
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7 0
Qikly
Diamond level trusted reviewer
Experience: 11.7 years 181 played 148 reviews
2.50 star(s)

2+ years drive by

Reviewed: Played on:Jun 8, 2015 Played the course:once

Pros:

James Island County Park's DGC is set in a patch of woods behind the park's climbing wall, pleasantly secluded from other park activities. The woods lend the course a technical nature, with precise lines to fly and windows to hit. There are a few holes with landing zone considerations, and one risk/reward shot with water in play. Elevation is scant but there is one basket positioned atop a modest hill and one raised tee. The course's main focus is hitting narrow windows and corridors at shorter distances. Lots of putter and midrange throws off the tee, even for modest arms. There is a variety of left, right, and straight lines.

Navigation is smooth with lots of helpful signage; the wooded scenery is pleasant. The underbrush is relatively cleared out given the environment, so there's not much chance of losing a disc in the undergrowth. Some nice views of the marsh at the course's edge further enhance the seclusion.

My favorite holes were the tight and straight hole 3, the 462' hole 10 with its emphasis on hitting the landing zones, and what I believe was hole 12, offering two tight lines to the basket around a patch of trees in the fairway's middle. The presence of choice made for a nice hole.

Cons:

JICP DGC plays relatively short, with most holes in the 200'-250' range, and no option of multiple tees or pins to adjust the challenge level. While the woods offer a pleasant challenge, the lines themselves are straightforward to the point of redundancy by the round's end, with lots of straight or straight-to-fade shots, especially if you have a decent forehand. I threw a straight-flying putter or a straight-to-fade mid up the gut on most holes. The course is great for a three disc round, but only challenges a narrow albeit important part of your game with its emphasis on straight and tight lines. Not a lot of lineshaping or variety in feel; the drivers hardly come out.

On courses like this one where space seems to be an issue - the wooded patch allotted to the course seems a tight space for 18 holes - I always wonder why 9 or 12 holes wasn't considered. The terrain offers enough technicality that some more challenging par 3s and even a few par 4s are definitely possible, beyond the few already given. With the course already too tight for a beginner, a greater variation in distances, pars, and lines would have really improved it.

There are a few spots where the course is fenced off from other areas of the park; one wrong tree kick or griplocked drive could very well cost you a disc.

The sand-filled natural tees provide pretty poor footing, even if run ups aren't needed given the short distances.

Other Thoughts:

JICP DGC is tight and technical enough to offer an engaging round, but its relentless preoccupation with short tight holes caps its offering. It's a great course to play if you're in the immediate area and has some appeal, but it isn't a must-play by any stretch.
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2 6
spaghetti
Experience: 14.7 years 35 played 1 reviews
4.00 star(s)

Getting Better 2+ years drive by

Reviewed: Played on:Jul 5, 2014 Played the course:5+ times

Pros:

Challenging
Technical
Variety of different shots/approaches
True test of skill
Shade from the sun
Nice wildlife

Cons:

Can be draining if having a bad day
Bugs
Fence on the right during the first few holes

Other Thoughts:

The course is getting broken in nicely as more ppl get out there.
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4 5
EWSdiscgolf
Experience: 10.6 years 89 played 28 reviews
1.00 star(s)

Unfair 2+ years drive by

Reviewed: Updated: Played on:Apr 9, 2014 Played the course:once

Pros:

*Shiny new baskets!
*Scenic overall

Cons:

*This might sound annoying, but this course is plain UNFAIR. Every hole there are no lines to the basket. It seems like the designer just put a bunch of baskets into a woods.
*Every hole you couldn't see the basket
*The baskets of other hole were near the regular baskets (you can get mistaken)
*Too many tree stumps in the ground; tripped over at least 6 or 7
*So narrow!!
*They have silver tee signs, but they don't have info on them!

Other Thoughts:

This course was extremely unfair, but at least I had fun playing it.
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8 2
reposado
Diamond level trusted reviewer
Experience: 12.7 years 278 played 273 reviews
3.00 star(s)

Winter Park 2+ years drive by

Reviewed: Played on:Nov 24, 2013 Played the course:once

Pros:

This course was a bit of North Carolina tucked down south in Charleston. I walked aways from the parking lot back past a small climbing establishment and down a trail to find the first tee. The vegetation was different, a lot more scrub palms, but I was struck immediately by how tight I was. At the same time, the line immediately presented itself. I played fast, needing to make up the time I spent finding the place(see below) but it was fine, because no time was lost looking for discs or standing at tees puzzled about what I was supposed to do. These are some tight, tree-lined fairways, but the lines are there, with some straight shots and some well-crafted doglegs.

The flow of the course is very well done. Navigation aids are present when needed and the paths that lead from hole to hole are obvious and pleasant. I don't think there was a single head-scratching moment and that really makes for a fast and fun round.

There are even a few memorable holes. 6 doglegs left to find the basket on a large embankment, offering a steeply upwards putt. The 11 tee sees discers climbing a curving ramp to an elevated tee that sticks out over the surrounding landscape like an all-too-welcome thumb.

Cons:

What the course does need is tee signs. The small posts that mark the tees are wood-covered, which makes them tough to spot. The flow keeps you headed right for them, but something more visible would be good. It's possible that in summer they would be even tougher to spot.

There is also a complete lack of information about the hole. Most holes I deduced where to throw based on the fairway, but sometimes I was wrong. It's a nice course and it deserves tee signs. Knowing the distance and fairway curvature would be very helpful here as most baskets are not visible from the tee. Again, this didn't affect my round but this is a problem that will likely be worse in summer.

I would also say that this course is on the easier side of the balance. There's not a ton of distance and the lines are all hittable. I'd also admit that it possible that this course swings too far the other way in the summer months. With a ton of growth, those lines could be swallowed up. With a bunch of underbrush, the speed and ease of the course could disappear.

I found a course that was in great condition but this is Charleston and I'm aware of what Charleston vegetation looks like in the summer. So my pristine November experience has to be balanced somewhat with what it will look like in the other half of the year.

Other Thoughts:

I'll make no claims for how this course plays in the summer, but I couldn't recommend it enough in the winter.

The worst part of my experience at James Island had nothing to do with the course but with finding the course within the massive park. I understand that disc golf is not their most popular activity, but neither it nor the climbing wall were easily found. (and more than one employee was unaware of the course's existence. I'd say that the directions here could be more specific as well. (I'd rewrite them myself but at this point I have no idea what I did, and "drive around aimlessly asking everyone you see" would probably not be too helpful.)
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8 0
bbobsuek
Experience: 31.7 years 88 played 18 reviews
3.00 star(s)

on the way up 2+ years drive by

Reviewed: Updated: Played on:Jan 19, 2014 Played the course:2-4 times

Pros:

The property where the course is located has awesome potential.
The flow is pretty decent.
18 New Disc Catchers.
Course is technical in nature and accuracy is at a premium.
Numbers 6 and 11 have fun factor and are unique to Low Country environment.
Navigation was fairly easy from hole to hole, not always intuitive, but there were signs.
Beautiful surrounding park.
The course is set behind the climbing wall area and is well separated from other park activities providing a unique feel of solitude in the woods.

Cons:

Tee pads are natural and could be improved. As play increases they will erode.

Many baskets not visible from tee and no signs indicating location of basket

Other Thoughts:

Update Jan 2014: Wow! The improvements are huge. I realize that winter helps, but there has been a massive cleanup. 18 shiny new baskets and it hardly resembles the course i originally reviewed.


This course is similar to Tidal Creek in West Ashley. I realize that the course is new, but it makes me sad to see the wasted potential of such a dynamic piece of land. I understand not mowing down the forest, but some strategic cleanup would improve things dramatically. In the hands of a competent designer this course has the potential to be really good. It would be money well spent to bring in a competent design firm to create a technical challenging course. Maybe it is just my preference but a course can require technical shots without being an overgrown mess. I hope that the reviews given here might spur some action.
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11 0
DiscGolfCraig
Diamond level trusted reviewer
Premium Member
Experience: 19.8 years 585 played 538 reviews
3.00 star(s)

Better version of Tidal Creek. 2+ years

Reviewed: Updated: Played on:May 25, 2013 Played the course:2-4 times

Pros:

James Island County Park features an interesting course. It's very similar to Tidal Creek, but has potential to be even better than that course.
- There are some fun and/or challenging hole layouts here. The course has some shorter holes that offer a chance to be more aggressive (#5, 6, 11 & 12 are good examples), while there are some challenging ones that require pinpoint accuracy. #10 is the only long hole on the course (462 feet), and it's pretty close to being a really good hole. Make the fairway a little wider so people can be aggressive off the tee, and this hole will be really good.
- The course offered a first for me in the Charleston area: a true hole with elevation. #11 has a drop-off of around 20 feet from the tee down to the basket. The basket is on a raised hill (apparently they do exist in the low country), down to a basket deep in the woods. The hole could be even better if a little more length was involved, requiring more than just a putter or mid-range disc off the tee.
- Course does an adequate job of flowing easily through the woods. There are some next tee signs, which help. After several holes, I discovered that the course map didn't provide much help. But, if you follow the walking path (which sometimes doubles as a fairway, but more on that later) and the next tee signs, it's pretty easy to navigate your way through the course. Things could be better, mainly having better tee signs, and more next tee signs, especially on the long walks.
- The course is isolate from the rest of the park activities. You start behind climbing wall, but after that, the course has the land all to itself. There's also some great scenery throughout the course, with water to the left of #5, the hills on #6 &11, and the water behind #9. #10 had the best nature/wooded feel of any hole on the course. I wished there some more holes like that on the course.
- The course has a better natural environment than Tidal Creek. By that, there were less swampy areas than Tidal Creek; although; mud is still an issue days after a rain. That's still better than the standing water you get at TC. There were also less spider webs, large spiders, and less wildlife (mainly snakes). I'm guessing a lot of that has to do with being further from water than TC, but it's still an advantage.

Cons:

The course still appears to be a work in progress, so some of these problems should be fixed. They're what are separating a so-so course from being a pretty good one.
- There's a definite lack of true fairways throughout the course. It's one of the same problems that have hampered Tidal Creek. Too many holes were built based on existing paths, making the fairways as wide the walking trail. You can tell there's a resistance to cutting down trees, but it results in an unnatural feel. That also poses another major problem:
- A lack of variety of shot-making is required to play the course. The first time I played, I threw a used, mid-range disc I found years ago for 80% of the round. I didn't want to search for discs in the woods, so I played something I could throw straight. Basically, I was throwing 180 - 220 off the tee on most holes. And regardless of the hole layout, if I stayed in the fairway, I was ensured of an easy 3. The only hole I needed more disc was on #10.
- Because of the narrow/unnatural fairways, there's way too much luck involved in this course. On too many holes, you cannot see the basket from the tee. After hole #6, I quick walking the hole, searching for the basket. My goal was just to throw it straight down the fairway. Well, the rest of the round, I had 4 blind shots (two tee shots, two long approach shots) land within 6 - 8 feet of the basket. There's something unsettling when you get tap-in birdies without ever seeing the basket.
- Of all the narrow/'not really a fairway' fairways, #16 was by far the worst. It's a straight fairway for the first 100 feet, makes a sharp right for the next 40 feet through a 10 foot opening, and then straightens out/goes back to the left the last 50 - 60 feet to the basket. I'm far from a pro, but I don't know how many people are going to make that shot on a consistent basis.
- In addition to the narrow fairways, some holes have low ceilings because of the trees/branches. After a bunch of narrow fairways, getting to a relatively open fairway on #5, throwing a straight shot, only to have it knocked down because of the low ceiling. So basically, on every hole, you're either having to make sure not to go left or right, or too high, or both. Oh, and keep an eye on the ground so you don't trip on roots/stumps, or step in mud.

Other Thoughts:

The James Island course grew on me as the round went on. I think it's because I saw all the possibilities this course could offer is the designers were given the opportunity.
- The course starts out frustrating with bad/no fairway holes, and ends with a couple holes like that (#16 & 18); but, from #5 - 15, I really enjoyed the round.
- It's not like I'm even calling for a ton of trees to be knocked down. For example, if only two or three were cleared on #6, you'd have a real fairway and the makings of a great hole. It's a dogleg left, to a basket on a slight (maybe 8 - 10 feet tall) hill. There's too much luck involved to clear the trees. Or just a whole lot of skill, which the average player at this course probably doesn't have.
- Also, by making the fairways, well, actually fair, you increase the risk/reward factor. Throwing a mid-range tee shot on every hole isn't the answer for making a good course. You want to give players a reason to be aggressive.
- All that said, if given the opportunity, this could be one of the better courses in the Charleston area. Instead, you're presently left with just a slightly better version of Tidal Creek. Oh, but the possibilities of what could be.
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2 1
Steelo
Experience: 16.8 years 103 played 8 reviews
1.00 star(s)

isthis disc golf 2+ years drive by

Reviewed: Played on:Jul 9, 2012 Played the course:once

Pros:

Scenic and beautiful park.

Cons:

No navigation or indication where to tee off. Baskets are not permanently in place and are in poor positions

Other Thoughts:

REDESIGN. Hole nines basket is next to a picinic table and I couldnt throw at it because people were eating there
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5 0
nevets4433
Silver level trusted reviewer
Experience: 12.2 years 62 played 60 reviews
2.00 star(s)

Totally New Layout 2+ years drive by

Reviewed: Updated: Played on:May 18, 2013 Played the course:5+ times

Pros:

Beautiful surrounding park.

Brand new layout that is now a permanent course as opposed to the movable, temporary course that existed in the park before.

The baskets are brand new Innova discatchers which replaced the original cloth temporary baskets.

A few of the holes are very scenic and border the canal and the tidal plains.

Holes 6 and 11 are worth the trek alone. Really great use of terrain for a cool uphill approach on 6 and a really nice elevated tee on 11.

There appeared to be some discs at the Climbing Wall shop that could probably be rented or purchased, not sure which.

Course appears to continue to have good continuing updates. The first few holes seem to have been cleared of some of the trees making play a bit more realistic. Now there are also some (mediocre) navigation signs between the holes.

Update 3/28/14 - back nine narrowness is slowly improving with a few strategically cut trees. Hope they keep up the good work and give every hole a fairway.

Cons:

Insanely narrow. Course got very monotonous as every hole was a tiny chute through the trees. Some trees have been pruned on the first few holes, but 16-18 remain epically narrow and borderline not even worth playing

Tee markers now have numbers on them, it would be nice to see a distance on them. Plus navigation is still really tough, so hole signs would be nice. Currently, the navigation (and the one mando on the course) are flimsy signs tacked to trees.

Dangerous plants/animals. The course is literally lined with poison ivy. Plus the staff warned of gators...but I didn't see any. Some of the walks between the holes need to be clarified and better cut through the woods.

Course is only open during times when the climbing wall complex is open.

edit 11/3/14 - New Tee boxes are very dangerous. Loose cinders that cause slippage and are extremely uneven, combined with leftover posts and a few hole signs that are placed so close to the tee that they risk being hazardous on the followthrough.

Other Thoughts:

The course has moved location. It is now located by the climbing wall complex. It is nice to have a permanent location for disc golf in the park. Hopefully with some more foot traffic and maintenance this course will improve with time. Right now, it is in its infancy, needs traffic, and needs a bit more tree cutting.

The location still makes you think disc golf is a bit of an afterthought at this park. The wooded area of the course is suitable for little else. Course largely has the feel of 18 baskets plopped down in the heavy woods. Once again though, with some more maintenance and a little bit more tree pruning, this could actually be a really nice layout.
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5 0
Carolina Crushers
Bronze level trusted reviewer
Experience: 15 years 25 played 25 reviews
2.00 star(s)

Hard 18! 2+ years drive by

Reviewed: Updated: Played on:Apr 12, 2014 Played the course:5+ times

Pros:

*All Innova Discatcher baskets.

*Easy navigation, utilizing tee signs pointing to the next hole and all 18 tee boxes have wooden 4x4 post with numbers.

*Very challenging to a player of any skill level. Alot of trees and very tight fairways the width of a 1 lane road on some holes.

*Although the course in placed right into the woods, the maintance is fairly good, it was easy to navigate because of the trails being designed with chopped wood and branchs to guide you.

Cons:

*Wildlife may be a turn-off for some. Even with the park maintance being good, snakes, gators, spiders, and nats are still present. Bug spray is a must and would not recommend bring little children.

*Newer Players WILL become overwhelmed with the tight wooded fairways here. This course is the most extremely tight wooded course in the Charleston area.

Other Thoughts:

Alot of untapped potenial waiting to be unleashed....
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