Central, SC

Grand Central Station

Permanent course
4.185(based on 38 reviews)
Filter course reviews

Filter reviews

Filter reviews

Grand Central Station reviews

Filter
15 0
Pevio
Gold level trusted reviewer
Experience: 11.9 years 188 played 120 reviews
4.00 star(s)

Central is Grand 2+ years

Reviewed: Updated: Played on:Mar 21, 2021 Played the course:2-4 times

Pros:

Grand Central is an amazing course with all the amenities you need to enjoy a fantastic round or two of Disc Golf. A cool railway theme, bathrooms, two practice baskets, great signage and course maintenance, and the course looping back pretty well are only the start. Out of Bounds is marked clearly by creek edges and property lines with flags and/or stakes. There are even signs on the roads leading to the park pointing you toward the Disc Golf course.

There are two separate layouts here: Freight Train (Yellow) and Locomotive (Blue). Roughly speaking, Freight Train is the original layout, while Locomotive is the new, probably slightly harder, layout. For your first time, I recommend Freight Train. They share some holes identically, share some fairways but use different tees and/or baskets, and have some completely separate holes. In total, there are only 23 unique holes, but the opportunity for a ton of variety. The signs show clearly the different layouts, including when both layouts share a teepad but possibly on different hole numbers, or when the path to the next tee is different for the two layouts.

The design is really good and the open and wooded areas are used to perfection. No hole is too heavily wooded; exactly the right amount of trees were cut down to make a navigable but still challenging fairway. Most of the open holes are longer but still have a variety of challenges. A few holes start in the woods and end in the open, or vice-versa. They make for some great holes, par 3, 4, or 5, where a long shot looks so cool, but poor shots are punished heavily.

Water hazards are a creek that comes into play on around four holes on both layouts. It's usually easy to grab discs out of, except possibly Y16 or B7, but is still an OB challenge, especially if you're not confident throwing over or close to the creek.

The variety of wooded holes is amazing. Some are tighter lines than others, some are slow-turning to the right or left, some have a small (or large) dogleg, some are par 3, 4, or 5, and some are up or down hills. There are opportunities for skip shots, rollaways, and sometimes difficulty in what angle you want your disc to be at so you don't skip or roll. It keeps parts of the course from becoming boring and gives a lot of replayability to nearly every hole. Coming back several times to see which line works best for your skill set will be rewarded.

I'm a big fan of several of the par 4's and 5's. Y11/B2 is probably my favorite, but Y8, B12, and Y18/B18 have some really cool challenges as well. I have mixed feelings about B8, but it's overall a good hole, rewarding distance, accuracy, and scramble ability.

Cons:

While it's great having the two layouts, they do create some issues. For first-timers, it can be confusing even with the excellent signage. If you use a map, you should be fine, although there are some minor discrepancies between the sign at the beginning of the course and the tee signs. The two layouts also make for some bunching up. Even if there are only a handful of groups on the course, they can run into each other when the layouts collide. However, having the additional holes does technically give the course a little more capacity. After 18, to get back to the parking lot, you have to cross the fairway of Y10.

A few holes are a little gimmicky. Y6/B15 plays around or under some large telephone poles, and while it's fun to play once, it quickly becomes a little dumb. Also, Y14/B5 is a really short hole with a really short island. Again, the signage is good and the area is well kept up, but it's not a very good hole. I would rather have a par 4 with the island across the creek, or a long hole with a larger island. Also, Y2/B12 plays over the road into the park. It's a really good hole, but it's a little odd. Fortunately, the road is a dead-end, so it won't get much traffic.

Several holes on both layouts are poor compared to the others, and there was certainly some missed opportunity, especially when the Locomotive layout was added. I would like to see a longer pin on Y7/B16, that would be a much more exciting hole for both layouts, or a par 3 between B11 and B12, where there was certainly some space. Even Locomotive, which is the harder layout, has several holes that won't stand up to the professional level like a better course probably wouldn't have. Holes (Blue) 1, 3-6, and 16 stand out.

Other Thoughts:

Overall, I have mixed feelings about the two layouts. I probably would rather have seen a complete redesign, with multiple pins and tees on many holes, or possibly a 27 hole layout. But the design is still good enough that the course is fantastic regardless of which layout you play. And you can even play your own layout, using elements of both courses. On Y6/B15, you can even play long teepad, long basket, with mandos through the telephone poles as an insane par 5.

A few holes on the Freight Train layout are not very good (9, 10, 16), but they aren't used in the Locomotive layout, so it's not really a con. Freight still has a lot of opportunities for lost discs that newer players might not like, but I think the awesomeness of this course makes that a non-factor.

If you're debating whether to come to play this amazing course, just do it. You will not regret it. If you're lucky, you might hear a Freight Train go by on the railway nearby, probably pulled by a Locomotive.
Was this review helpful? Yes No
19 0
wellsbranch250
Diamond level trusted reviewer
Experience: 10.2 years 652 played 631 reviews
4.00 star(s)

“I’m On The Night Train.” 2+ years

Reviewed: Played on:Nov 29, 2020 Played the course:once

Pros:

(4.219 Rating) A two layout course that plays through a wonderful large city park with rolling elevation, some heavy woods and 10 foot wide creek.
- CHALLENGING - There are two different layouts for Grand Central. The shorter gold layout is called Freight Line, and it is 7,200 feet long. The longer blue layout called Locomotive, is 7,800 feet long. I decided to load my bag up for freight and found a course loaded with challenges in all forms. There are bomb plays, technical shots, risk rewards and overall good course management gameplay. I am an Intermediate level player and I doubt I would average below par out here. Birdies can definitely be had, but bad tee throws on the longer holes will definitely have players scrambling for par. I personally threw 5 over, but no doubt enjoyed the thrill of trying to attack basket placements and fairway landing zones.
- VARIETY - Superb. Heavily wooded holes, to park style shots, to open plays. A perfect sized small creek comes into play several times and it will parallel on the left, parallel on the right, its cleared and a disc will need to stop short once or twice. There's also some modest elevation in or above the 30-foot grade change range on several holes. Great distance variations from 900-foot par 5s to sub-200-foot par 3s and everything in between.
- AMENITIES AND EXTRAS - Grand Central has just about all the creature comforts that come along with a well-loved and well-funded course. To start, large and prominent course map posted by the parking area. Restrooms and drinking fountain, although the restroom was locked for my late fall visit. There's a practice basket near tee (1) and a posting of disc golf rules and etiquette. On the course itself one will find large concrete tees and several places to sit. There are 23 DISCatchers planted here too. 13 are used for both layouts and 5 are dedicated to each of the Locomotive and Freight line layouts. There's also a shelter with picnic tables and even a raised viewing platform overlooking holes (9, 10 and 18)!
- NAVIGATION - I had few issues getting around as a first time solo. As noted above, excellent course map posted. The tees sign are color coded for each layout and are appealing and effective. There are also navigational cues between holes at tricky points. The only issue I find, will be the occasional inattentive first timer that get their bearings mixed up due to the multiple layouts.
- MAINTENANCE - The course was in superb shape. The fairways were mowed wide for my appearance and the downed tree branches were few and far between.
- NATURAL BEAUTY - I went with 80 percentile for this category. The island hole on Gold (14) was striking in appearance from the tee despite me not liking the premise of the hole. Several shots are carved through heavy woods. There's a lot of elegance derived from the winding creek that plays along a handful of holes. The detractors are minor. The large powerline feature overhead isn't ideal. A low use park road is in play once. Holes (9, 10 and 18) on the freight line layout are rather bland compared to the rest of the course.

Cons:

A couple layout issues, but otherwise a wonderful course.
- LAYOUT FLOW - I don't understand the thought process that went into putting two different layouts, with partial overlaps, on a likely high traffic course. I've seen a few courses before that have different loops for higher skill players, (for example Fairfield and Tom Brown), but I've never seen a lap issue like this for a course I've rated this high. Thankfully it's minor, but it was completely unnecessary. The two partial laps occur on Blue (12) with Gold (3), and also Blue (13) with Gold (4). There is also a new par 5 basket placement on Gold (6)/Blue (16) that puts Blue tee (17) in the path of fire. Blue (12) and Gold (2) both dangerously play across a park access road.
- HOLE GOLD 14/BLUE 5 - I generally liked the overall design of the course until this hole, which is an unnecessary fake island hole. There is literally a real OB creek, just behind the Basket. It would be like gluing a carrot to the nose of the Mona Lisa and calling it art.
- TIME PLAY - I teed off 15 minutes before sunrise and thus I had a free course to throw on. Considering the layout issues noted above, and the length, this one is going to take a while during prime times. I'd plan for 90 minutes solo and 2 and a half to 3 hours for a group on busy days.
- BEGINNER FRIENDLY - Neither layout is going to play well for newer players. I'd say freight train is upper Intermediate level and locomotive on paper looks to be lower Advanced level. I don't take off points for this.

Other Thoughts:

I really enjoyed this one. I had been playing a lot of higher quality courses recently (over a three-month span), that I rated between a 3.0 and 3.5. IMO, Grand Central Station was clearly better than all of them. To me, the course was a fascinating saga with twisting story lines and minimal plot holes. An easy 4.0 course on my scales and a 4.25 if I could score it by quarters of a point. This was my favorite new course I played in 2020. I haven't played many courses in South Carolina to date, but I would surmise that this is got to be one of the better ones. My score for it is rather maxed out as there is really nothing of substance to add. The land quality is great, but not iconic or epic enough to garner a higher score. I recommend the course to only those that are above the 850 rating level. It's a bit too complex for novices and beginners, although they may still have a good time here if they are ok with a round full of bogeys and beyond.
Was this review helpful? Yes No
1 3
jasonfallison
Experience: 1 played 1 reviews
4.00 star(s)

Great Course 2+ years drive by

Reviewed: Played on:Sep 28, 2019 Played the course:once

Pros:

Well layed out. Easy to find the next hole. Very well maintained.Challenging enough to be entertaining. Good signage to get to the course.

Cons:

Nothing really stands out as a con. I went into it with no expectations and had a great time.

Other Thoughts:

I am looking forward to going back and play both courses soon.
Was this review helpful? Yes No
8 1
MadGame32
Gold level trusted reviewer
Experience: 7.2 years 69 played 69 reviews
4.00 star(s)

Impressive 2+ years drive by

Reviewed: Updated: Played on:Nov 17, 2018 Played the course:once

Pros:

-EASY Navigation
-Great Tee signs
-Good tee boxes
-Goals are in good shape.
-No gimmick holes
-Good mix of short and long holes
-Real bathrooms on site

Cons:

-High voltage lines and substation view leave a little to be desired.
-Some walking paths may be tough for carts.

Other Thoughts:

I have been hearing a lot about Grand Central Station and I finally got a chance to play there Saturday. I have to say I was impressed!

In the parking area, there is an actual functioning bathroom that was not incredibly nasty! I literally have never seen that before. There was a great welcome sign, and hole one was easily accessible from parking lot.

We played the black course, and navigation was a piece of cake. Never did I wonder where I needed to go for the next hole. The signage and paths helped me to navigate with ease.

Holes 6 and 7 were king of ugly with the high voltage lines, but I would say it was a good use of an available resource to get the course in. Those two holes gave me a great opportunity to stretch out and chuck my distance drivers, which felt very nice.

Hole 8 in the fall colors was my favorite hole by far. The approach shot is absolutely beautiful.

There was only really one mando on the entire course and it was probably necessary to add a little pucker factor to the throw.

Hole 14 was a fun little short toss that was not hard, but the island green can be a little intimidating.

Overall, I would not say this was a highly challenging course, but it was no slouch either. This one is definitely a fun play, and will probably make my list of favorites.

3/29/21 Update:

Out of the 68 courses I have reviewed, this is where this course ranks along with similarly rated courses:
Rank-Course, Location
7-Shaver Recreation Center Championship, Seneca, SC
8-Tyger River DGC, Reidville, SC
9-N.E. Lions Park, Norman, OK
10-Grand Central Station, Central, SC
11-Chauga Rapids, Westminster, SC
12-Stoney Hill DGC, Newberry, SC
13-Mekusukey DGC, Seminole, OK
14-Regional DGC, Ardmore, OK
15-Dolly Cooper Park DGC, Powdersville, SC
16-Woodruff Leisure Center DGC, Woodruff, SC
Was this review helpful? Yes No
8 0
adamwn9
Experience: 10.8 years 63 played 11 reviews
4.00 star(s)

Great Course 2+ years drive by

Reviewed: Updated: Played on:Oct 21, 2018 Played the course:5+ times

Pros:

-Practice basket, trash cans, indoor restrooms near the parking lot.
-I have now played both layouts and they are both great. I prefer the Freight because I've played it more, but I was impressed with Locomotive both times I played it.
-Clear/informative tee signs, concrete tee pads, new baskets, enough benches.
-Transitions between holes are pretty short and there are 'next stop' signs to point you in the right direction.
-Trash cans - not on every tee, but enough of them.
-OB - a creek is in play on at least 5 holes, rough creates some natural OB if you end up too far off the fairway, the island on 14 is a pretty cool feature (I like that it has a drop zone and rules explained on the sign).
-Land - huge piece of land that is devoted to disc golf, no other distractions that are commonly found in public parks.
-Elevation - the tee shots on 4, 6, 7, 14, and 17 are very unique thanks to the extreme elevation changes throughout the course.
-Most of the holes have Circle 1 marked with what my dad said looks like fishing lure feathers sticking out of the ground.

Cons:

-No par 5s - it seems like there is enough land, so I think the lack of a decent par 5 is a glaring omission.
-Trash - my mom walked along with me this weekend and she picked up at least 10 empty cans/bottles. There are trash cans, so this shouldn't be an issue.

Other Thoughts:

This is a great course that I play every time I come home to visit my parents. I grew up in Clemson and discovered disc golf after leaving for college, so I was very happy when I played this course for the first time a few years ago. I usually shoot between -1 and +5. I live in Charlotte now, and I would put this course up there with my favorite NC courses. I knocked it down from a 4.5 to a 4.0 simply because of the lack of a long par 5. I think a phenomenal (4.5) course has to have at least two par 5 holes. I still love this course and highly recommend it. I even got my retired dad to join me for a round this weekend and he didn't hate it.
Was this review helpful? Yes No
4 0
sjberry2017
Bronze level trusted reviewer
Experience: 10.8 years 51 played 19 reviews
4.50 star(s)

One of the Upstate's Finest 2+ years drive by

Reviewed: Played on:Sep 18, 2017 Played the course:5+ times

Pros:

Championship-level discatchers for all holes

Mix of concrete and gravel teepads, slowly upgrading to all concrete

Fantastic variety of holes, wooded and open, wooded to open, open to wooded, short and long, technical and bomber, forehand and backhand. While not testing every possible shot, will require a great variety of shots.

Many true golf holes, where thought must be applied to landing zones and angles to the pin.

Most holes have two teepads or two pin locations, providing for great variety.

Five new but rough holes which will replace most of the easy birdie holes. As I understand it, the holes which the new ones are meant to replace will remain in the ground, providing for one complex which can cater to a wide variety of skill sets.

Fully functional bathrooms with plumbing and water fountains.

Course signage overall is good, could be improved though (see cons)

Several holes which could be considered "signature" holes

Next tee signs at awkward transitions

Kiosk in parking area with course map

Benches on most holes

Many holes have bag hangers on the tee sign post

Creek used creatively without much danger of losing a disc to it.

Cons:

Some vandalism occurred on the course and has not been fully remedied, so some signs are difficult to read.

Additionally, one tee sign has been removed because of the dual use of the teepad (hoe 17's teepad is played backward for new layout hole 7).

Grass can get high, especially in the rough areas.

Some of the wooded areas are incredibly dense, making it difficult to find discs and can result in some lost discs.

Some of the gravel teepads will buckle and not be fixed right away; this is part of the course moving towards concrete teepads.

Newer players will struggle on some holes, even when playing from the short tees.

New holes are very difficult to play, with one teepad unmarked and no mowing having occurred since the beginning of the summer. Because they are still somewhat playable and are a bonus to the original 18, I am not removing any rating points because of the overgrown state.

Other Thoughts:

Grand Central Station is one of the best courses in the Upstate, bar none. With a fantastic mix of holes types and required shots, you will use almost every disc in your bag while playing. Most holes have two teepads or two pins, with each tee or pin offering a significant variation from the other. The course is also being added to, with five new holes which will replace most of the shorter "must get" birdie holes and make the course significantly more difficult. While they are not currently in the most playable state, it is possible to play them and see the potential.

Some of the only detractors from this course are the thick woods and tall grass, which make finding errant shots difficult and can sometimes result in a lost disc. However, the fairways are wide enough to where this should not occur too often in a round, and the fairways are fairly regularly mowed. Additionally, some holes are not as accessible for a new player, as they often do not have the distance or control to throw the required shots. However, some other holes are still birdieable for a somewhat new player, and can help improve a player's game.

Favorite holes:

Hole 2: a tight gap about 125' off the tee requires a fairly accurate drive to get the birdie on the left pin, while there is enough of a landing area for slightly missed drives to have a chance to save a 3. The right pin can still be reached from the landing area, but if the tee shot makes it across the row it is a much easier upshot.

Hole 6: Super fun bomber shot down a power line easement. From the long tee, a power line tower is in the way, requiring a huge anhyzer around the right side or straight to fade shot to the left for a RHBH player, with the second shot to a pin at the center of the next power line tower. The fairway slopes downhill the whole way, making distance somewhat easy to get and the tee shot extremely fun to throw. The short pad is just a wide open bomber shot to the same pin. A longer pin brings the second tower into play on the second or third shot, but is rarely played.

Hole 7: Fantastic bomber shot to a pin 500' away and about 65-80' lower in elevation. A creek about 385' away requires the golfer to decide whether to lay up and play an upshot around the guardian trees for a three, or a bombing distance drive to try for the 2.

Hole 11: The hardest hole on the course, the teeshot plays as a placement shot across an open fairway to a wooded fairway around 100' away. Take whatever line you want, just place your shot accurately to get down the wooded fairway to a plateau green with a steep drop at the back. If you miss any shot slightly, saving par will require smart, accurate golf.

Hole 14: two trees off the tee frame an island green at the bottom of the hill. Miss the island, proceed to a rock framed drop zone about 40' from the pin to try to save three.

Hole 15: The prettiest hole on the course, and a dealer's choice shot from the tee. Backhand, forehand, or overhand, just navigate the trees and get to the pin. For added difficulty, go to the long tee (past the short tee and to the left) where a gap 30' off the tee frames the access to the fairway.

Hole 18: A snaking left to right to straight fairway in the woods opens up to an uphill fairway with several shorter trees. Play a layup to the landing zone or get aggressive and try to work an anhyzer to the mouth of the fairway, a two will be very rare on the hole. Extremely fun and one final kick in the teeth from a fantastic course.

While not an extreme destination course in and of itself like the IDGC, Grand Central is definitely a must play for any Upstate roadtrip, and is one of the jewels of the Upstate.
Was this review helpful? Yes No
8 0
lazrman778
Gold level trusted reviewer
Experience: 13.1 years 264 played 100 reviews
4.00 star(s)

Grand Central Station 2+ years drive by

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

Pros:

Has multiple practice baskets

Has kiosk and course map posted

Has concrete tee pads for most tees

Has tee signs

Has many benches throughout course

Has "next stop" signs posted throughout - easy to navigate

Good mix of open and wooded fairways with doglegs and elevations

Water comes into play on several holes but they aren't really a factor in losing a disc

Has two loops of the front and back nines

Park is exclusive for disc golf and you won't see other parkgoers

Well-maintained

Free parking

Restrooms

Water fountain

Cons:

Has some gravel tee pads that are not flat

Has some tee signs that are vandalized and not readable and I believe a couple of holes are missing tee signs

Safety issue on hole #2 where driveway bisects the fairway

Grass is tall outside of the fairways on the open holes - watch where your drives land

Course design and flow could use improvement as there is an awkward transition between holes #15 & #16

Some holes have fairly long walks in between such as #5 & #6 and #8 & #9 - not really a con in my book but some may not like the additional walking on top of it being a fairly long course

Course can get crowded at times as it's popular with players

Other Thoughts:

This a nice, challenging 18 hole course in Central that I enjoyed playing on a sunny Sunday afternoon. I have to admit that I had some doubts when I was driving through a neighborhood to reach the course for the first time. The course is impressive and welcoming as there is a kiosk with course map, observation deck with spiral staircase, new restrooms and water fountains, multiple practice baskets - kudos to the locals here! By any means, this course isn't phenomenal as it does have some shortcomings. It would be nice if all the gravel tee pads can be replaced with concrete ones and the vandalized and missing tee signs can be replaced. I think the course has some minor design issues where the course driveway divides the fairway of hole #2. I have to be thankful of the driver for not running over my driver that was lying in the driveway that seemed to be one lane. The transition from hole 15 to hole 16 is awkward as there is backtracking. It might be better to have hole #16 tee on the same side as hole #15 basket to throw over creek and move hole #16 basket out further and closer to hole #17 tee. Maybe install a second bridge to improve flow? Besides those minor cons, the course has some great thoughtful holes. Holes 4-8 are a good stretch that I enjoyed playing. Hole #14 is my favorite - island hole ace run with a creek behind it! I drove two hours to play this excellent course and did not regret it.
Was this review helpful? Yes No
3 0
pandabud104
Experience: 8.7 years 41 played 6 reviews
4.00 star(s)

Very nice course that is great for distance 2+ years drive by

Reviewed: Played on:May 7, 2017 Played the course:5+ times

Pros:

- Easy to follow layout with maintained fairways. It is nice that you go near the parking lot several times, so easy to grab something or run to the bathroom

-Great mix of holes that play over creeks, up hills, down hills and everything in between. Love the island hole (14)

- There are several open holes where you can just let it rip so great if you want to see how far you can throw.

- They are building a bath house for even nicer bathrooms. They also have a few picnic tables and a nice little cover.

Cons:

- There are a few tee pads that need maintenance. A few of the gravel ones need to be re-leveled and the concrete pad on 13 needs to be redone as it very uneven.

-A lot of the tee signs are messed up where they can't be read. This course is near some apartments and neighborhoods and graffiti is an issue. They have tried to clean the signs, but they just become unreadable.

Other Thoughts:

Overall it is a really nice course, but there is a lot of walking to play this course. I like that there is a good mix of holes and I feel comfortable enough to play this course solo as there is a lot of other people who are out there. This course is also the host for several tournaments each year, so I would check out their Facebook page before making a drive just to play this course.
Was this review helpful? Yes No
8 0
BrotherDave
Diamond level trusted reviewer
Experience: 16.7 years 192 played 188 reviews
3.50 star(s)

I Hear the Train A-Comin'... 2+ years

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

Pros:

So you end up driving through this neighborhood that is frankly not exactly the most upscale to put it kindly and right as you're about to curse your GPS for sending you on a wild goose chase you come to the end of the road and voila, a disc golf course magically appears, like stepping through the wardrobe into Narnia. Not just any run of the mill course, mind you, but a dedicated mamma-jamma all doo-dadded out with fancy railroad themed signs and multiple practice baskets, some weird shelter with an upper deck for observation and apparently more to come. It doesn't feel like a park insomuch as discovering an uncharted territory that was settled by a colony of disc golfers, staking out a claim and raising a village. I fully expect a small fort the next time I come, with some sort of disc golf flag flying from it.

So this is disc golf exclusive (sweet!) and meticulously designed and maintained by guys that clearly know what they're doing. It's like playing a private course except it's public and you can show up and play for free about anytime. It's courses like this that spoil me and make me thumb my nose at the "Pay to Play is so superior" crowd.

Amenities galore as far as disc golf goes. Great tee signs, lots of well-made tees, next tee signs make navigation none too difficult, shiny Innova baskets with flags on them, even orange whiskers stuck in the ground to denote the 10 m circle. It's a serious tournament disc golfer's dream course.

The course itself is top-notch. Design-wise you can't complain much. GCS mixes in short, medium and long holes, fairways of various shapes, a little elevation change, and a great balance of wooded and open holes. Most of the holes are a great test of skill and rarely is luck rewarded, a testament of great design. Attacking each hole is fairly straight-forward and it's up to you to execute. Multiple tees for most holes I think as well as alternate pin placements should assure that players never get bored.

The open holes aren't too wide open and the wooded holes aren't too wooded so golfers that like ball golf style courses and those that like really wooded courses should both be well-satisfied. Many of the holes are pretty unique, like hole 6 with its length and metal towers, hole 7's picturesque downhill bomb over a creek and hole 14's mini-gauntlet with its island green made of large stones and red wood chips. The par 4's are legitimate 4's, especially hole 11 with its fiendish wooded approach and quick green.

Cons:

The use of available elevation is terrific but the course still suffers a bit from flatness, it reminded me of Castle Hayne a lot in this regard. Hole 1 and 10 are meh, hole 2 throws over the entrance road blindly and hole 16 seems like a filler hole. Hole 18 was a mildly disappointing way to finish. Some of the par 4's seemed a little soft or at least they weren't super-sized par 4's like at a lot of Charlotte courses where you have to crush shots back to back to score a birdie.

Navigation was a little confusing because the course overlaps itself in places but the "Next stop" signs cleared up confusion quickly. Unfortunately some punk graffiti'd a few of the tee signs and made them illegible. There's also nothing else to do but play disc golf basically so someone with kids in tow might not have a good time.

This is a preference thing but the wooded holes were mostly too much like the corridor variety where there's nothing really in between the tree-lines to serve as obstacles. A lot of the greens weren't terribly hard to approach either.

Other Thoughts:

This is a very good course but it's not quite an excellent course. It's close, like a very, very good course so I'd give it a 3.75 if I could. The lack of geological features to "wow" you, the relative flatness and a few handful of slightly underwhelming holes hold it back a tad for me. Still though, this absolutely a must play and deserving of its high ranking. The designer and all the helpers have done a great job, the Upstate SC crew really seem on the ball and I've really enjoyed their work so far.
Was this review helpful? Yes No
6 1
Sawyerh
Experience: 9.2 years 24 played 1 reviews
4.50 star(s)

One of South Carolina's Best DGC's 2+ years drive by

Reviewed: Played on:Feb 4, 2017 Played the course:5+ times

Pros:

This is my favorite course to play. It is a beautiful place to play and is kept up with very well. Very well laid out and has many different hole types and they change hole layouts from time to time which makes it diverse and enjoyable. There are not really any long walks between holes and there are benches at certain holes so players can rest if needed. Signs are made well letting players know all of the information that is necessary about the course and each hole. It is easy to locate the holes due to the signs. Overall a great course to play.

Cons:

Hole number 2 is somewhat dangerous since you have to cross the road that is coming into the course. Hole number 6 which is the longest hole is in between two power lines which have a high potential to tear up your discs if they are struck. They have a Porto potty but an actual restroom would be nice but I realize it is expensive. Overall there is not much I would change about this course.

Other Thoughts:

I would say this course is more geared towards more advanced players but is still very fun for beginners. I will definitely keep playing at this course.
Was this review helpful? Yes No
7 0
bjreagh
Diamond level trusted reviewer
Experience: 27.6 years 350 played 317 reviews
4.00 star(s)

2+ years drive by

Reviewed: Played on:Apr 2, 2016 Played the course:once

Pros:

Very nice 18-hole course tastefully spread out on beautiful land that is just perfect for disc golf and is only used for disc (no walking trails, playgrounds, etc.) I liked that each hole has its own space and is not crowded with the others, yet there is still only a short walk from hole to hole. The course is very well maintained, and it is evident that much time and effort has been put in to it, to the point of having hidden security cameras throughout the course to ensure it stays that way.

GCS has a little bit of everything with no two holes the same and no repetition on consecutive holes: 1) open and tight woods with lots of degrees in between; 2)flat holes and others with enough elevation to add interest and variety; 3) hole distances from the regular tees range from 180' to 760' and cover just about everything in between , with some legit par 4's ; 4) the wooded fairways contained forced shots going both left and right plus straight, and the more open holes give you options; 5) there is water on a few holes in the form of large creeks.

I like that each hole has something that makes it challenging (shape, distance, elevation, narrow, or water), yet nothing is insanely difficult just for the sake of being cruel.

The fancy and sturdy tee signs are proof of the thought, planning, and work put in here. Hole number, distance, and map are there of course, but also ad space which I am sure helps finance the course. The course has a train theme throughout and each hole has a signature nickname/motto. Navigation was easy with all the "next stop" signs pointing the way to the next hole. It makes two loops of 9's coming back near the parking lot between #9 and #10.

Tees are your usual material, but worked the same as concrete. All baskets in great shape, numbered, and easy to find even if hidden off the tee.

Great setting for tournaments, and not just the course, but with the added amenities of the covered picnic area with the lookout tower on top allowing for a view of about half the course.

Cons:

Not a lot of anything major, mostly just some opinion things.

A couple holes had below average hole locations in my opinion of just being in the wide open middle of nowhere and are relatively easy to approach with lots of room for error and easy recovery. I am not saying all baskets need to be tucked tight in a grove somewhere, but maybe beside a single tree on one side or something to add just a bit of thought on the upshot. (it is possible that there are smaller trees planted that will eventually grow bigger and take care of this.) #1 is ok as a starting hole, #7 could have put the creek more into play as a risk/reward vs play-it-safe option, #9 , #10, and #18 all have open area baskets. (Now it was windy when I played, and if it is usually windy here, then that obviously makes these shots tougher.)

I was disappointed with #6 in the lack of the use of the electric towers on what is just a long and mostly wide open hole. Since there is nothing that can be done about the large metal man-made towers being there, and they are kind of an ugly feature on what is an otherwise beautiful course, I like the philosophy of "if you can't move them, then use them." The map and pic on DGCR showed the basket in the tower, but in reality the basket was further down taking the two towers practically out of play.

Hole 2 is great, just a minor unfortunate detail in that it does have to play across the road coming into the course. It is only disc golf traffic, but still you have to be aware of cars coming and going.

Not sure if it is possible here because of having to run plumbing/sewer lines and such, but one amenity bonus would be nice restrooms since this course is not near much of anything, however there was a port-a-potty on site.

What keeps me from rating this higher than a 4.0 is there are about 14 great holes and about 4 that are just average, which is what puts GCS just one notch lower than the best of the best in the country.

Other Thoughts:

Overall, a fantastic course that is suitable for just about any level of disc golfer, especially with some of the holes having some shorter alt. tees. I would play here all the time if I lived here. And I totally recommend it to others if traveling to the area. In fact, this part of South Carolina (Clemson, Greenville, Spartanburg) makes for a pretty nice disc golf destination with a good set of very nice courses of all different varieties.

The designers, caretakers, and local players should be proud of this course (I know they are). Well done, and I would like to come back here and give it another shot!
Was this review helpful? Yes No
2 5
lukehamrick5
Experience: 1 played 1 reviews
4.50 star(s)

Grand Central 2+ years drive by

Reviewed: Played on:Nov 7, 2015 Played the course:5+ times

Pros:

Wide open course for about 10 holes and the other 8 are wooded and technical.
Good number of holes have benches/seating
Will test your long driving ability and short technical game.
Whoever tends to the course does a great job of switching some pin positions every month or so.

Cons:

Honestly can't think of many cons for this course. Play this course.
Was this review helpful? Yes No
3 7
trotline32
Experience: 10.1 years 13 played 4 reviews
4.50 star(s)

Great Course 2+ years drive by

Reviewed: Played on:Aug 5, 2015 Played the course:5+ times

Pros:

Layout
Variety of Holes
Course Upkeep

Other Thoughts:

This is an excellent course. It is maintained by the town of Central. This means the grass is always cut, trash taken out, and the course is clean. The layout rivals that of any professional course. You have to be good at every aspect of the game to have a great score here. The are a few opportunities for Aces but they're few and far in between. Some holes are really long and you'll need distance to par out on these. There are a few short holes but basket layout adds to the challenge. There are some open holes and some wooded holes. Just an all around excellent mixture of hole layouts and settings. Overall this is an excellent course that will challenge every aspect of your game.
Was this review helpful? Yes No
7 0
Streetcar
Experience: 13.1 years 14 played 5 reviews
4.00 star(s)

A Must Play 2+ years drive by

Reviewed: Played on:Jun 14, 2015 Played the course:5+ times

Pros:

1. A very well designed course. Great use of elevation and land features.
2. Great mix of holes, long and short, tight and open.
3. Exclusive for disc golf. Don't have to share the fairways with trail walkers.
4. Nice tee pads for not being concrete, tee signs and posts in place directing you to next tee.
5. Will challenge all parts of your game. Wind can be a huge factor.
6. Alternate tee pads bring even more variety to this course.

Cons:

There are very few cons for this course, so,
1. If you are a beginner, this course may not be for you.
2. The No. 18 tee pad needs repair. The pad grid support has buckled.
3. Stray shots are punished severely.

Other Thoughts:

Us upstate players have a jewel of a course to play at Central. Coming in at 6,600 feet, you will need a long game and accuracy. There are technical holes and several holes that will give you the opportunity to just air it out. Trouble abounds for errant shots especially on 8, 11, 12 and 13. If you are beginner and you want to play a course that the big boys play, this is the place! It is a tournament grade layout. My game is not quite up to the level it needs to be to play this course well, but I absolutely love playing it. It tests every part of my game and I'm better for it.

If you are not from here, and you are in the upstate SC to play, put this course on your itinerary.
Was this review helpful? Yes No
12 0
DavidSauls
Gold level trusted reviewer
Premium Member
Experience: 28.8 years 131 played 65 reviews
4.00 star(s)

A sweet spot 2+ years

Reviewed: Played on:May 3, 2015 Played the course:2-4 times

Pros:

I finally got to play this course I'd heard so much about, and it was a delight from beginning to end. It's cleverly designed, full of fun and challenging holes, with not a single bad hole among them, and lots of variety. It should provide enough challenge for better players, and at the same time be accessible to newer players, which is quite a trick.

The course covers 3 or 4 types of terrain. An open grassy hilltop, dotted with small trees (destined to become greater hazards in the coming years). A steep wooded hillside. A low, level creekside area with huge, and I mean huge, trees. And long, sloping powerline right-of-way.

Many of the par-4s, or even long par--3s, place an emphasis on shot placement---not just hitting the fairways but hitting the right spot in them to line up the next shot.

With the possible exception of the open area, there's not a bit of redundancy. After 1 round, I could remember every hole; no two seemed alike.

There are multiple tees on some holes, multiple pin placements on others. I played in a tournament, so don't know how often baskets are moved.

And this is a disc-golf-only public park, not sharing the land with other park activities. That's always a pleasure.

Cons:

There are a handful of fairly open holes on the grassy hilltop, and how challenging they are depends greatly on your arm. If you've too little arm, they're routine 3s. I would imagine if you've got a big arm, they're routine 2s, at least when it's not windy.

On the wooded holes, the areas off the fairways are pretty dense. "Jail" is the word that comes to mind, and if you don't control your shots, you may be pitching back to the fairway a lot. Sometimes, even that is challenging.

Other Thoughts:

The place is beautiful, and a joy to play.

It has a railway theme, with the excellent tee signs and even the "next stop" directions between holes. And railway lines on the hill in the far distance, so that a half-dozen times a day trains come cruising by, whistles blaring. You don't get ambience like that very often!
Was this review helpful? Yes No
0 3
chadwaters
Experience: 8 played 1 reviews
4.00 star(s)

Great and challenging course 2+ years drive by

Reviewed: Played on:Mar 6, 2015 Played the course:2-4 times

Pros:

Great course because it has a tremendous mix of holes that tests all parts of your game. The first few holes give you a chance at a couple of birdies because you will need them if you mess up on hole 8. After hole 8 there is a great mix of shots that require you to make a distance shot through a tight corridor. Several of the holes on the back 9 are shots that beg for you to "go for it" but if you miss, you are gonna have a hard time getting out of the woods...lay up and play safe and you lose your birdie chance. Great risk/reward holes on the back 9.
Was this review helpful? Yes No
5 3
Hearin Chains
Experience: 25 played 3 reviews
3.50 star(s)

Great front 9 2+ years drive by

Reviewed: Played on:Jun 27, 2014 Played the course:once

Pros:

Excellent, excellent front 9!

Hole 2 is a lot of fun and really begs you to go for it in two, but if you miss right off the tee your going to work for a four. Nice risk / reward.

Hole 4 is a down hill 450ish , id say it plays more like 350 so its also a lot of fun to really let one go.

Hole 6 plays down the power line, Very cool! I've always wanted to do that. 760' that's going down hill a bit, very nice par 4 but Im sure some rocket arms get it in three.

Hole 7 continues down the same lines, but shorter at 500' with a creek to contend with. I did not realize how deep it was before I got to it, Im glad I didnt go in!

Hole 8 was my favorite. First part of the hole before you go back over the creek felt very "park" like, would be a nice spot for a picnic. Then its a nice uphill blast to the pin. Doable it in 3 with 2 well executed shots, but not a easy bird either.

Park was pretty much empty at 530 on a Friday night, was nice to have the run of the place.

Good signage at tees. Cool pavilion with a observation deck, would be really cool during a tournament to hang out up there.

Plenty of benches

Land is just for disc golf, very cool private feel. Wonderful space, pretty clean area, felt safe.

Cons:

Holes 14, 15, 16 and 17 did not live up to the rest of the course, and felt like the belonged on a different track. There not "bad" holes, the rest of the course however set the bar much above the difficultly of these 4.

Hole 13 was a great par 4, then coming down to 14 as a gimme was OK, but then backtracking back 15 to play 16 was odd. Would be great to see 15 extended and 16 come back towards 17's box, but play across the creek.

Next tee signs please! I finally realized the next tee info is on the teesigns, but I never got to looking till i was putting out. The transition to 9 was especially difficult to figure out as a first timer and solo. I found the box for 18 so I turned around!

Other Thoughts:

I gave this course a 3.5, overall its a great course, and if your in the area, its well worth the time. I will come back for sure!

To make me revisit and raise my rating I would like to see some redesign on 14,15,16. A raised basket on 14 might be something easy to implement to increase the difficultly there, as well as taking another look at the flow from 15/16/17.
Was this review helpful? Yes No
12 0
DiscGolfCraig
Diamond level trusted reviewer
Premium Member
Experience: 19.8 years 585 played 538 reviews
4.00 star(s)

The center of the upstate SC disc golf scene 2+ years

Reviewed: Played on:May 17, 2014 Played the course:once

Pros:

Grand Central Station is simply fantastic. The course offers some great holes, lots of challenge, plenty of fun and just enough birdie chances to keep you wanting to come back for more.
- No doubt about it, this is the best course in the entire upstate of South Carolina. There are some other good ones in the region, but Grand Central is a step or two above every other that it's not even close. This course should be on the short list for the best courses in the entire state.
- The course has everything. I all acknowledge courses that have great variety, which this one most sure has, but it's the level of, and type of, variety that really stands out for me. There are tight wooded holes, where if you're on the wrong side of the fairway, you almost have no chance to advance or take direct aim at the basket. The best examples of this are #11 and 13. On #13, I threw what I thought was the perfect tee shot, I thought it was my shot of the round. That perfect tee shot ended up being too long and to the right, (I know, the story of my life), that I couldn't get a good shot around the bend. If my tee shot landed 20 feet to the left, I'd have had an easy up and down for a birdie 3; rather, I have to settle for a frustrating 4.
- On the flip side, I love how the open holes present multiple ways to play the layout. On #6 & 7, the fairways are wide open, meaning you'll have approach shots from wherever your tee shot lands. The biggest hindrances on these holes will be the lack of big arms, plus the surprisingly wider and deeper creek on #7.
- Now to the obligatory push for the course's variety. That said, this course really does give you that feel. Just take a quick stroll through the first five holes. #1 is a 290 foot, open hole; the perfect warm-up for a birdie chance or an easy 3. #2 is 444 feet, with a fairway that narrows in the middle, leading to a dogleg right approach shot for your basket. #3 is a slight downhill, dogleg right, shorter hole at 209. Another potential birdie chance or easy par. #4 is 442 foot hole that starts narrow and opens up near the hole. And #5 starts in the open to dogleg left as the hole enters the trees. It's only 313 feet, but will take a great tee shot for a birdie chance. So, just on the first five holes, you get birdie chances; longer, multi-shot layouts; wooded and open layouts; and a little bit of elevation. That trend goes on for the following 13 holes.
- It can't be understated how awesome it is that this huge piece of land is dedicated solely to disc golf. It takes so much land to be able to have big holes like #7, and the fact disc golfers don't have to worry about other park goers means it one less thing you'll have to worry about. That said, the drive into the park, down an old, narrow, country road makes you wonder if this isn't some cruel joke. But, once you get there, it's just you and the course.
- I thought it was a great move that the course designers didn't try to trick up every hole. There were definitely parts of the course where length could be added simply for making holes longer (I'm thinking of #4 & 16), but I feel that would have taken away from the course. The worst offender for a hole seeming to be overthought is #11 with a long tee shot to an opening into the woods, followed by a narrower fairway to the basket. I hope the designers resist the urge to constantly tinker with the course. Don't mess with a great thing. We get enough of that in Charlotte.

Cons:

Very little to complain about here. These are more observations that out and out faults.
- I think the course would flow and/or play better if the front and back 9s were reversed. As it is, the course's best three hole stretch is #6 - 8; whereas the current stretch of #14 - 17 are all shorter, birdie chances. I've always felt you want to end your course with the toughest holes/ending on a high note. You flip the front and back 9s, the tough stretch of holes become #15 - 17, and the birdie stretch becomes holes #5 - 8. You want to get your birdies early on, then hold on for dear life on the back 9. More than anything else, this brings up the debate of hole placement and whether the place in a round holes are placed has any impact on the course's flow and feel.
- Be careful on hole #2 as you're throwing over the entrance road. I didn't realize this until I actually threw. The only people driving here are disc golfers, so they should also be aware of this layout as they either just played the hole or are about to.
- The course has nothing in terms of amenities. There's a porta potty by the parking lot (at least there's lots of privacy and wooded holes throughout the course). No water fountains and also a lack of benches and trash cans throughout the course. That said, there's something enjoyable about the primitive feel. Disc golfers don't need to be pampered with luxuries such as benches.
- On #15, you play the hole, then have to turn around and walk back down the fairway to get to the bridge. This is more important for the group behind you to know, so you don't get thrown upon.
- Better signage is needed in a couple spots on the course. After #8, the closest two holes are #14 & 18. You actually have to walk past #18 to get to #9. Transition from #12 to 13 and better signage to indicate you cross #10's fairway after finishing #18 would also be helpful.

Other Thoughts:

It's been a long time since I had so much anticipation for a course. Grand Central Station was everything I was hoping, and then some. One of the best, new courses I've played in a long time.
- Whether you enjoy the idea, or think it's a little overdone, you have to commend the idea that the designers buy into the GCS theme. You see the railroad logo on every course sign. Now, if they really wanted to go the whole 9 yards, we'll need to see the railroad crossing gates and lights set up at the front of the course.
- Also, what's up with the spiral staircase at one of the picnic shelters at the front of the course? What do we need to be looking for that we need a spotter?
- It'll be interesting to see what improvements are made to this course. The best thing that could be done is adding a permanent restroom and water fountains by the parking lot. The problem, I guess, is the issue of having all of that maintained. You're only 5 minutes from gas stations and restaurants, so it's not like you're really roughing it.
- There's just so much to like here. It was a thoroughly enjoyable round from start to (mostly) finish. Maybe I was just worn down by the end, or that the hole really is simple, but #18 felt like a hole that was a mundane, straight ahead 4. The energy wasn't there to try for getting a 3, so maybe I missed the intended challenge.
- I couldn't spot a true doppelganger for this course. I could sense elements of Hornets Nest and Renaissance in Charlotte and New Quarter in Williamsburg, VA. That's a compliment that this course has its own feel, it means you'll have to check it out.
- The course is a solid 4. I easily could go higher, and see why people are giving the course a 5. If a 4.0 rating is on the low end, that's all you need to know. This is a must play for anyone in the region, or driving along I-85. This is now a course I'm looking forward to visiting again in the future.
Was this review helpful? Yes No
1 6
rwe366
Experience: 14 played 3 reviews
5.00 star(s)

2+ years drive by

Reviewed: Played on:Apr 4, 2014 Played the course:once

Pros:

-Best course in South Carolina hands down
- Great looking park
- Best signs I have ever seen
- Kept clean nice little viewing area for tournaments
- Great Mix of tight open holes, elevation
- There a few holes that you can really air it out
- Loved the Tee Pads, best I have ever seen.

Cons:

- only one porta potty

Other Thoughts:

- Will come again
Was this review helpful? Yes No
11 0
filobedo
Experience: 18.8 years 289 played 21 reviews
5.00 star(s)

Great course that will only get better 2+ years

Reviewed: Updated: Played on:Jun 1, 2015 Played the course:5+ times

Pros:

In the conversation for best course in SC and part of what I think is the trilogy of great new courses (2011 - present) in SC which includes GCC, Chester State Park and Socastee Recreation Park. Teepads are mats similar to what you would see in a restaurant kitchen and they are very large with sand beneath and framed. I really like these type of teepads ever since seeing them at Kure Beach in early 2011 and several courses in the South now have them as well as they are used at Hampton Park for the Charleston Classic. The signage is also spectacular. There are several holes that could qualify as the signature hole as noted below for rhbh,

#2 - Great tweener hole (par 3 or 4) where 2 is rare for an average player and possible signature hole. Low shot through a tunnel of trees to road and then anhyzer or thumber to basket.

#3 - Very tight downhill to short basket to right or longer basket uphill to left with small green.

#4 - Two basket locations and I prefer the original up the hill to the right. The original plays as an anhyzer downhill and then up hill. A 2 is phenominal.

#5 - Fun open downhill shot to tree guarded tunnel with basket tucked in the back.

#8 - Possibly the signature hole with a tight tunnel shot and low ceiling to a creek then over the creek up a hill in narrow gap.

#11 - Possibly the signature hole with a wide open downhill shot to a very narrow gap in the woods then another 200' downhill around a corner with the basket sitting atop a drop off behind. A 3 is spectacular on this difficult hole but I did see a youtube video of Schweb making a 3 with a fantastic tee shot and then blind thumber to the basket.

#13 - Two difficult teepads and possibly the signature hole with narrow downhill tunnel shot down to basket on right side of small green. Both teepads make it difficult to get close for a 2.

#14 - Fun downhill ace run depending on basket placement with creek behind

#15 - Great hole across the creek and fun hyzer or anhyzer from short tee to a tree guarded green. The long teepad makes this very challenging.

#17 - Frustrating hole for me but very challenging. I have made 2on it and taken a 6 in both tournaments I have played there and seen others take 4 more often than 3. Elevated hyzer uphill on a tight tree lined fairway. Better to be right than left off the fairway for a chance at 3. I have seen several people get in the trees on the left and had no chance at 3.

Cons:

#2 playing across the entrance road is a little dangerous unless someone is spotting. #3 long basket placement green needs more attention due to brush impeding on the basket as well as low lying limbs. When I played in Sept 2013, it appeared The course can also get slick in spots such as #8 and #14 - #17 teepad so be careful if rain has been present in the area recently.

Other Thoughts:

If you vote less than 4 stars for this course, you need to have a serious argument to back it up. I think it is between GCC and Stoney Hill for best course in SC and both are 4.5 if not 5 star courses. For #2, I think it would be interesting to see another teepad added 50' in front of the current pad or put another basket placement to the left the current basket and a little further back behind the large tree to have the option of playing a variation of the hole like on #3. The only throwaway hole appears to be #1 which is a straight forward shot for a 2 or 3 unless you throw in tree line on the right which is comprised of an old barbwire fence. I also wish great courses with this type of length would not only show the distance from the tee but also the length into the basket when in a fairway like in traditional golf. I only recall seeing this at Nevin on a few holes when you are about 150' from the basket. #6, #8 and #11 are good examples of where this could definitely help with disc selection in tournaments. Also, bring water if you plan to play this course in the heat because it is long and lots walking with some elevation. With it being so close to Clemson, football game weekends may interfere with hotels. I played a tournament there during homecoming weekend and rooms nearby were $350 and sold out immediately. If you plan to play a tournament, check accommodation availability before registering or plan to stay with friends or in Greenville. Also, check the wind if playing out of the woods into open areas.
Was this review helpful? Yes No
Top