Elberton, GA

Lake Russell

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4.065(based on 25 reviews)
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12 0
Bennybennybenny
Diamond level trusted reviewer
Experience: 13.1 years 305 played 287 reviews
3.50 star(s)

A Swimming Beach AND Hiking Trail?! 2+ years

Reviewed: Played on:Dec 15, 2020 Played the course:once

Pros:

-The park and campground has to be one of the biggest attractions in the entire state of Georgia. There's a biking trail, a swimming beach, golf course, campground, twenty cottages, and the lake is accessible for swimming. The disc golf course here is pretty well designed with some solid elevation changes, and a good mix between the woods and the open field. The walkthrough is quite nice too! The $5 day pass fee is more than generous!

-The staff was friendly at the check in. There's also a vending machine outside the hut where you check in.

-Onto the disc golf course, it's a pretty good one! It said in the description that it was mostly flat, but many holes have elevation changes past the ten foot mark and a few are past the twenty foot mark. There are some nicely downhill shots (#1, #7, #10) and some nice uphill shots with a couple of them being steep (#12, #15). #15 had the most elevation change being just over 25' up in elevation. Come to think of it, possibly right at 30'.

-The downhill holes were very pleasant holes. #1 actually has three pin positions. It was in the open when I played and was an appealing start. It was gorgeous and gave an instant indication that you are on a back side region beside a lake. Almost seems coastal, but is in the Chattahoochee Oconee Forest. The hole is over 300' and was in the straight pin when I played. One of the pin positions is to the right side in the woods. #7 was my favorite hole here. Gentle sweeping left down an open path with some trees in play. Basket is behind a tree. #10 is a more classic open downhill bomb in the open.

-Many holes have different pin positions, not all of them do, but the majority of them do. Even a few of the shorter holes in the woods (16A-16I). #16C has a 170' position and a 210' position.

-It's forgiving. Main obstacle would be the wind. None of the holes are that difficult. I didn't bogey any of them. Holes 16A-16I are all short and wooded, while the other eighteen are more open and aren't much longer. There were two par fours when I played. Holes fifteen and sixteen. Both are under 450'. #16 is very reachable for pros. #15 is tougher being uphill through some trees, still isn't difficult of a par if you are cautious of the woods on both sides.

-Nice teesigns and teepads. Navigation is made simple too. No long walks.

-Fairways are different and will have you throwing different shots. I threw a flex forehand on #2 and was 15'. I enjoyed throwing that shot. #17 is a unique uphill turnover ace run. You won't see anything "far out" or extreme with the fairways, but they do require a good amount of control, even on the holes that are open.

Cons:

-A couple of holes that were fillers. A few others that I wasn't too fond of because of their lack of distinctiveness. The main two I didn't really enjoy were #11 and #18. #11 is open, straight, and maybe 270' long. Pretty meaningless and could be better with it's used space. #18 is boring too and too close to the parking area. Flat, open, and bland. On #18's green, you'll see the woods with some appealing elevation changes. Those holes you will see down that hill are the short holes after #16.

-I thought the nine holes in the woods got repetitive and too similar, and the elevation isn't used to it's full potential. Some of it is used and other parts are not. I mean yes, there is an upside to this. It's a nice accuracy check point after being comfortable in the more open area. Honestly though, I think this course has star potential and isn't quite there. I wish there were some longer holes and more holes with more of a "wow factor." There are some holes here that I enjoyed but I think if this course were to hypothetically be redesigned by a competitive and passionate player, they would capitalize more on the space available and do something a little more interesting. I like Lake Russell, but it's not one the best courses I've played in Georgia based on my personal opinion.

-To all lake swimmers and canoers. Just wear a lifejacket or something. And don't go far underwater. The average depth of Lake Russell is 38 feet deep and hits a max of 167'. If you have adolescent kids, don't let them do anything foolish. I will get personal here even though this is a disc golf review. As a teenager, I've done some foolish things at my friend's birthday parties in NC. I would, along with a few others, see how far I can go underwater in a lake. I never thought about what could be at the bottom of the lake but a kid in my hometown passed away because he did the same thing that me and my friends did. From what I heard, he got his foot stuck in some dead branches and didn't make it up to the surface on time. Lakes are fun to swim in and all, but deep water can be a real concern. Please, wear a lifejacket if you go for a swim.

Other Thoughts:

-Lake Russell feels like a slice of Heaven when you take everything into account. You can lodge here, play golf, do some water activities, etc. The prices are more than reasonable.

-It's a nice course with it's unique atmosphere on a grassy backland. The stroll through the woods is nice too. You'll have a least a couple of opportunities to rip a driver and some opportunities to make an ace. It's a pleasant course overall that I recommend. It's isn't as great as some of the courses I have played judging from what I think, but as far as its rating on this site, it is one of the most enjoyable courses in Georgia. I can see why a lot of people love this course.
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7 0
Moose33
Gold level trusted reviewer
Experience: 12.2 years 203 played 201 reviews
3.50 star(s)

Well maintained state park course 2+ years

Reviewed: Played on:Nov 28, 2020 Played the course:2-4 times

Pros:

The Lake Russell course, as other have mentioned is a state park course that while all being on a large peninsula, doesn't actually play on the water hardly at all.

My family stayed in one of the rental cabins over thanksgiving(these are very nice and affordable as well) and played the course in some capacity every day.

When entering, the course is about a half mile into the park on the right and you see the practice basket and the 18th basket from the road.

The course begins with a downhill hole with woods in each side and that sets the tone for the course. Tree lined and wooded, though other than the optional wooded 9 holes between 16/17 I wouldn't say any hole is intensely wooded.

Any water here is casual, though if you look behind you on the 8 and 12 tees you can get a peak at the backwater of the lake.

Elevation features in most holes, as do a couple of mandos and blind baskets. Variety is solid though as you have some holes(especially in the wooded 9) that fail to crack 200ft and a couple of par 4s that allow you to air one out.

I probably threw slightly more forehands than backhands off the tee, and even did a roller on 16 to get up the hill, though the many roots and trees cut it off early.

Bring you bag of tricks, this one is just tight enough and with enough variety that throwing backhand hyzers over and over will only get you bogeys.

Baskets are Innova disc catchers and mainly in pretty good shape.

Pads on the main 18 are standard sized concrete pads that were perfectly acceptable and other than a couple that hold water nearby were quite good.

There were also benches on almost every hole.

Cons:

Not a ton of cons, the main one is navigation. The course crosses itself a lot and it's pretty easy to go to 9 from 6 instead of 7, head to 12 instead of 8 and fail to find the W3 pad if you haven't played it before.

The wooded 9 is all plank and pea gravel pads that are often leaf covered and not in super great shape, and the bridge over the deep creek bed on w7 is out and looks like it probably has been for a while.

A couple more clear next tee signs and the baskets being a touch further per could possibly push this to a 4 for me.

Other Thoughts:

This course is well designed, fairly well maintained and a pleasure to play. The park is beautiful and the hiking trails are all really nice as well.

We played in between 9 and 36 holes every day we stayed, so obviously it kept us coming back.

If I find my way over here again, I'll likely find myself back on this course.

Park entry is $5, $4 to play and they have a few discs for sale in the park office if you forgot to bring yours.
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11 0
DiscGolfCraig
Diamond level trusted reviewer
Premium Member
Experience: 19.8 years 585 played 539 reviews
4.00 star(s)

Excellent Course (not) on the Shores of Lake Russell 2+ years

Reviewed: Played on:Mar 7, 2020 Played the course:once

Pros:

A gorgeous state park on the banks of a lake. It's a great piece of land for a course. Just don't except any views of the lake.
- It didn't dawn on me until a day or two after playing here that I never once saw Lake Russell. I drove to and from the course one direction, and the course itself is a half mile from any lakefront views. I'll have to take the word of others that the lake does indeed exist.
- This course has more of a feel of a mountain/foothills course than playing alongside a lake. The comps I had for this course were all in more mountainous regions than eastern Georgia.
- Course starts immediately with an open, slightly downhill scenic shot. Another pleasant stroll through the field offers up the second hole before you enter a wooded section of the course.
- #7 is the first excellent hole. Wooded and downhill, this 338-foot layout is high on the risk/reward spectrum. Keep your shot in the fairway, and you can make a beeline for the basket. Straying off the fairway will lead to some thick rough and potential for bad scores.
- The course hits its stride on the back nine, with the stretch of #10 - 15 offering the best parts of this course. #10 was a highlight in this section. It's a fun downhill layout, with another drop-off just past the basket. It was fun with the grass low during a late Winter round. Based on the pictures showing tall grass off the fairway, that adds an even greater challenge during the growing season.
- Course puts all the emphasis on accuracy over big arms. No holes are longer than 500 feet. #16 is the longest at 435 feet. If you can throw straight, you'll see birdie putts, or at worst, even pars. This is mostly a par 3 course, so a bad tee shot makes bogey a very likely outcome.
- The extra 9-hole loop is a nice extra touch. It's basically a putter course. In fact, the only time I threw anything other than putter is when I was throwing a couple of second tee shots for fun and on #16I, as I needed something else to throw on this 260-foot hole. These nine holes are a birdie fest/ace race setup. My only nitpick is that it's weird to play this in the middle of the round, playing a different style of game, then having to hit reality and play the final two holes on the real course.

Cons:

I'd like to see the course have a little more length. Having the longest hole top out at 435 feet seems like a relic from days gone by.
- Signage could be better in a couple spots. After finishing #4, it's very easy to go straight to #7 and miss 5 & 6. After #7, you could easily head straight to #12. After #15, it's somewhat easy to wander to the right and end up on #16B. All these areas would benefit from a couple of next tee signs.
- Not a con against the course itself, rather an observation. Being way out in the country, wifi is a little spotty. So, if you're trying to pull up a course map to help with navigation, you may have mixed results.
- Course will be a bear in the middle of summer. The open holes are wide open with little to no shade. You're also a good 20 minutes from Elberton, 30 minutes to Hartwell so make sure you bring plenty of drinks, food, and whatever else you need.
- This course really feels like it's in the middle of nowhere. You're less than an hour from Anderson and Athens, but wow, this felt like one of the most secluded courses I played.

Other Thoughts:

Lake Russell is an excellent course in its traditional, straight-ahead layout. It's a solid course from the first hole to the last. There wasn't a single bad or below average hole on the proper 18. The extra 9 have some gimmicky layouts, but that's a separate matter.
- Park offers camping. You could do far worse than playing a couple rounds here. Plus, there's a golf course so one can really get their fill without leaving the park.
- There were times when I was playing the back nine, stepping up on the tee I realized I was surrounded by silence. No cars. No planes overhead. No people. No music. Just silence. If I wasn't playing a late afternoon round, I really would have spent more time soaking that in. As soon as the round was over, I fired up my truck and turned on the radio.
- #13 & 14 gave you a perfect taste of the park's strong points. You're essentially in a mostly open field with some trees in play while being bordered by the woods. If you want to know the best type of land for a disc golf course, study this layout.
- I've wanted to play this course for years. It always intrigued me by its lofty rating, yet it had so few reviews, course updates, or any recognition on this site. Its biggest hindrance is the location. It's just far enough away that most players can't easily combine it with another course or two and make it a day trip. I'm not most players. This was the fourth of five course I played that day, including a course in Alabama and Hobbs Farm.
- This is a solid 4.0 for me. It's a perfect, relaxing course for being in the middle of nowhere. As for comps, it has similarities to Warriors Path and Winged Deer in eastern Tennessee with elements of Lake's Edge in Reidsville, NC.
- This is worth the detour to play. Even if you only drive here to play this course, play it twice. It's well worth the time.
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11 0
markmcc
Diamond level trusted reviewer
Experience: 11.9 years 278 played 254 reviews
4.00 star(s)

18 + 9 = Great Course! 2+ years

Reviewed: Played on:Apr 24, 2019 Played the course:once

Pros:

This interesting combination of a "conventional" 18-hole state park course coupled with a short, technical 9-hole woods course results in a fine morning of disc golf.

The 18-hole course is a pleasant combination of open, partially wooded, and wooded holes. Although the course description lists it as mostly flat it is knocking at the door of "moderately hilly" as there are plenty of modest uphill and downhill fairways.

Distances on the 18-hole course are primarily in the 225 - 350 foot range, so lots of birdie opportunities available if you can land your drive. Fairway shapes vary from straight to curves to mild doglegs, though nothing extreme. Plenty of right-finishing holes so a forehand or turnover shot is useful for us righties!

The 9-hole addition has a totally different flavor, that of a short, technical woods course. Hole lengths are in the 150 - 200 foot range, with tight fairways and lines to hit. While the two parts of the course were very different they complimented each other well.

Innova DISCatcher baskets were really showing their age but still catching well. Concrete teepad and simple signs were all that was needed at this course.

Cons:

This is a old-school Par 3 course with no Par 4 or 5 offerings, and only a couple of holes over 350'.

The 9-hole woods course had an element of poke-and-pray on some holes as you neared the basket. While the initial fairways were there, often there were numerous trees spaced 4 - 8' apart near the basket. Good drives might get a late kick off line, while slightly errant drives could sneak through.

Some of the alt pin positions were very close together and at the same distance, so seemed redundant.

I was charged $5 to enter the park plus $4 to play disc golf, which seemed a little steep. But I was happy to play the course and would return if in the area again.

Other Thoughts:

Lake Russel SP is a beautiful, peaceful park well off of the beaten path. I had the course entirely to myself on a pleasant Wednesday morning, and imagine that is the case most weekdays. And perhaps even weekends as well?
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11 1
Jaysauls
Gold level trusted reviewer
Experience: 14.8 years 129 played 71 reviews
4.00 star(s)

Peace, quiet and Frisbees! 2+ years drive by

Reviewed: Played on:Sep 11, 2016 Played the course:once

Pros:

First don't let the 'pay to play' change your mind. I'll pay $4 in a heartbeat to play this course. I even pay for folks who refuse to pay! Even when it's not tournament time the course is usually gorgeous. Also multiple pin positions on most holes

Hole #13 is one of the most picturesque holes in disc golf. When the grass is green and mown, just stunning. Makes you want to bring a tent and camp.

Long, winding fairways going up and over hills. Extremely easy to navigate. Stevie Wonder could find his way around this course! Benches on every tee, and all the tees long and wide.

Course is a lefty, or forehand friendly dream. On the main 18 (there's another 9 I'll get to later) I drove with 6 forehands (RH) and I almost never drive forehand! Just the best way to get around the links. Lots of holes finish left, so without a flick or forehand drive, it can be a bit tough.

Course has 2 nice 9 hole loops that bring you back to the parking area.

On to the nine 'wooded holes'. The are off #16, look for tee by the basket. These are 9 placement shots. Stand still and thread a needle through the pines. I use a mixture of flicks, thumbers and short shots. These 9 will eat up a new player, but are fun for the experienced. Not as easy to navigate as the original 9. There's a few places you have to spin a 360 to find the tee or path leading to the next hole. But well worth the tromp through the pines.

Not the most mentally challenging course. You can see the pin from almost every hole and it's simple execution. Big arms will crush the course. Smaller arms will do well. But almost anyone can play and enjoy. One thing I would definitely recommend - not playing alone. You will DEFINITELY want a spotter on some holes. If the ruff is high and you throw something green, it might be dark before you find it. Holes 1,9,10 & 16 are the main culprits

Cons:

My only cons are very minimal. Some of the alternate pin positions are 10' from each other, just kind of silly if you ask me and don't change the hole one iota.

The tees will get sandy after rains, so can be a bit slick.

Other Thoughts:

Lastly...put your phone on airplane mode as there is only signal near the bleachers (by parking area) and by the #1 pin. Either that or deal with a dead battery!
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1 0
DiscGolfMaster
Experience: 21.1 years 77 played 17 reviews
3.50 star(s)

Good Course 2+ years drive by

Reviewed: Played on:Nov 26, 2015 Played the course:2-4 times

Other Thoughts:

There are already a lot of good detailed reviews for this course, so I'm just going to add a few things:

The majority of the holes play to the right. So a LHBH or RHFH player would likely think this course is easier than someone who only throws RHBH. Even a lot of the relatively straight holes finish right or have dense trees really close on the right fairway and will make throwing "S" curves impossible. So just make sure you don't strictly throw RHBH when you visit this course, or be able to have your shots fade right the whole flight on 300ft+ holes. This isn't a con by any means, this is a great course and it's very fun. Just be on top of your game and be able to throw 300ft+ shots that fade and finish right and land softly.

Looking back, at least 11 holes curved or finished to the right. And a lot of the tee signs showed the pin being straight or left, were in fact to the right. Again, I don't think this is a con. In my particular situation (getting back into disc golf after years of not playing, and my forehand is crap) it did make the course less fun for me at this time. But it didn't take away from my rating at all.
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13 0
damtroll
Experience: 12.3 years 227 played 11 reviews
4.00 star(s)

An old school classic 2+ years

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

Pros:

Beyind anything else, Lake Russell is a fun course to play. And fun is good, right? (That's what Dr. Seuss says)

The aesthetic of the course is quite good. With mowed fairway and slightly higher "rough" outside, the course has a golf course feel.

The course is set in rolling hills on abandoned (or acquired through eminent domain) pasture land near Lake Russell on the Georgia-South Carolina line. Things I love about the course.

The course has a good mix of straight shots and shots which require an anyhyzer/hyzer line (depending on your throwing style)

Good signs on each hole which give a rough map, distance, and par (see cons for further details on par)

Decent concrete tee pads

Good maintenance on the fairways, with a well mowed fairway with higher rough. The higher rough is not so high you can't find your disc, though.

There is a good mix of shorter ace runs and longer holes where a strategic first and second shots leads to a 3.

Risk and reward is present on many holes with the evergreen trees (Cedars and Junipers, I think) that swallow up discs if you stray off the fairway.

The course has one of the best flows of any of the 100+ courses I have played. It just seems like a natural progression from hole to hole. There are signs after 6 that lead to 7, rather than the visible pad for 9.

Hole 9's basket loops back near the parking lot, so if you want to just play 9 (or a multiple thereof), you can.

The course doesn't get much use, so there is little worry for backups. On the last 2 days I played, I did not see another disc golfer. I did see a energetic turkey and several deer, though.

Benches are scattered throughout the course.

I really like 16a - i. It is almost a different course, with dirt teepads in the woods and 9 relatively short holes. It's a good break from the rest course on a hot sunny afternoon. You have a good chance for a birdie, but also a good chance for a bogey with a bad kick off a tree. Due to the lack of vegetation on the understory, you have little chance of losing a disc unless you bury one under the leaves.

Cons:

Pars. Maybe the pars remain from when the course was first installed. They do seem rather generous. I'm not sure what others think, but if I was assigning pars, I would make 8, 15, and 16 par 4 with the rest par 3.

Some of the baskets, especially on the back nine and 16a-i, are older and in less than desired condition. I don't think it a affected my score much, but I am not a fan of the old sloped Innova baskets.

There are no restrooms. water sources, or trash baskets on the course. There is a trash basket and aluminum can recycle bin at the parking lot. Plan accordingly

Holes 9, 10, and 11 are basically straight shots in an open field. Some elevation comes into play, but these holes lack a little of the shot shaping required on the rest of the course.

Some might say the $5 vehicle entrance fee and $4/day disc golf fee is steep, but I have the annual park pass and family disc golf pass.

When I most recently played the course, the basket for 16i was missing.

Other Thoughts:

This course is one of my favorites, and I'm not exactly sure why. There are more challenging courses, longer courses, and courses with more elevation. This course has such a nice flow to it, with the scenic appeal, that I always list it among my favorites.

This may sound trite or stupid, but I love the walk from 12 to 13. After you hole out on 12, you walk downhill on a rock lined path through the trees, to the ace/birdie run that is 13.

It is off of the beaten track, which is both a plus and minus. My wife and I camped at the state park, and I was able to get in an early morning round each day before she woke up.

The course is off the beaten track, so stock up on snacks and drinks before hitting the course. There is a decent selection of newer Innova discs at the office. One of the rangers is a disc golfer. He pulled out the Innova flight chart when I checked in and some ball golfers were talking about disc golf.

Cell phone service is spotty at the park. I found the vicinity of the practice was the only place I had cell service (Verizon) in the park.

With updates to the old and rusting baskets, I could easily bump up my rating to 4.5.
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3 5
Chuck6995
Experience: 43 years 314 played 10 reviews
4.50 star(s)

2+ years drive by

Reviewed: Played on:May 26, 2013 Played the course:once

Pros:

When I played here the grass was a mowed down on the fairways and the ruff wasn't really that ruff at all, if you land in the deep grass you will find your disc quickly other than that birdies are to be had all thru out your round. The tee pads are all concrete on the 18 holes and natural on the extra 9 holes, on the extra holes 8 shots are short so get a little creative and have fun with them

Cons:

No real cons here except for the 5 dollar entry fee at the gate then 3 dollars inside the office by the gate how stupid is that

Other Thoughts:

I had a blast here and you will too ace runs are all over this course (enjoy)
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4 1
JBryant
Bronze level trusted reviewer
Experience: 15 years 107 played 46 reviews
3.50 star(s)

Love this course 2+ years drive by

Reviewed: Played on:Apr 6, 2013 Played the course:2-4 times

Pros:

Elevation, cut fairways, challenges all over.

The holes have been designed in such a way that you need to be on your game to score well.

The extra 9 is tightly wooded. You can pick up some birdies in there but there are plenty of bogies and dbl bogies if you aren't careful.

You get a private feel here. No back ups on tees or loud noises.

Cons:

None except it will wear you out!

Pay to play.

Other Thoughts:

Wish it was closer.

Bring lunch.

Watch out for ants.
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3 1
gburggolfer
Experience: 14 years 4 played 4 reviews
4.00 star(s)

Great weekend outing!! 2+ years drive by

Reviewed: Played on:Aug 10, 2012 Played the course:once

Pros:

This course is well maintained and has a good overall flow. Its nice that you can chose to play the front 18 or include the "woods" holes. The course has nice benches to sit on while waiting your turn on the tee. the mix of woods and open holes is also a great attribute.

Cons:

I think the only downfall is that many of the holes marked as par 4s should really be par 3s. I shot 7 under on my first time playing the course "as is ".

Other Thoughts:

This park makes a great weekend outing for discgolf. We stayed in one of the cottages on the lake.
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13 0
craigd
Diamond level trusted reviewer
Experience: 15.7 years 179 played 118 reviews
4.00 star(s)

Lake Russell 2+ years

Reviewed: Updated: Played on:Sep 11, 2011 Played the course:2-4 times

Pros:

This is a great course situated in the cozy and relaxing Richard B Russell State Park. Coupled with the course, ample accommodations in the park make it tough to talk yourself out of not visiting and once you do, you'll wonder why you waited. After all, the course itself makes it worthwhile and the rest is just a bonus. Surely a weekend trip won't be a disappointment for anyone.

This course has lots going for it and you'll probably notice it before you even get the first hole behind you. After parking you'll approach the roomy practice area with its own basket and scenic view from the top of the hill that overlooks the course. It's a perfect introduction of what lies ahead. Moving to hole one's downhill shot quickly introduces you to some of the varied elevation changes that pepper the course. It's a nice shot that'll demand a right fade at the end. Hole two is flat, tight, and you'll need a left turning shot this time. Of course there is a big "local route" for the big arms over the trees coming in from left to right.

And so it goes for the rest of the round. There's variety galore with plenty of ups and downs, left and (maybe a majority of) right turning shots. As you might imagine, there's varied shot lengths too. All the way from hole three's 211' must make birdie shot to 16's 450' par 4 there is a hole for everyone. Not once can I imagine someone getting the feeling of repetitive holes. Over all, this is a well thought out course and just a pleasure to play.

The second highlight beyond the scenery would be the course maintenance. Neatly cut fairways meander their way through the course. Pressure to place your disc accurately is punctuated by the rough intentionally left long outside of the fairways and at times is waist high. Beyond that you're sure to notice the unforgiving cedar trees scattered throughout the course that seem to reach out and slap your disc strait to the ground.

The course itself is marked well with tee signs with plenty of info to lead the way. Widespread benches are available as you wait for your turn to tee off. Concrete tees pads are the icing on the cake. The main course does two 9 hole loops with holes 1, 9,10, and 18 bringing you right back to the parking lot.

A big bonus for those interested is the "woods course". It has 9 short, optional, and very wooded holes spurring off of hole 16, hence the numbered holes 16-A through 16-I. Sufficient tee signs lead the way as you play across gravel tee pads and traipse across the forest floor. These holes have a completely different feel the main 18 holes and for me offered a fun way to warm up for a tournament round. Overall, most of the holes will frustrate you if you don't get a birdie on each one. The ninth hole (16-I) is the exception as it's a 260' shot that I think plays a little longer and is heavily wooded and is a satisfying three.

Cons:

Although the taller rough outside the fairways adds a nice look and challenge, errant shots can be difficult to locate. It also impedes a clean run up if needed for a good upshot. There's a few fussy, older baskets mixed in but you might not even notice unless you get one of those nasty spit outs.

The course/state park is off the beaten path and will likely require a decent drive to visit for most. Others will complain about the fee to play. The consolation is that it's well worth the time and money.

Ignore the posted pars.

Other Thoughts:

This was a very fun course that I could probably find room for on my top 5 course list and could easily stick it in my top 10. I played 4 rounds on my visit with the later three being tournament rounds. This course is an ideal for causal rounds and tournament rounds alike. By the way, the legendary Lake Russell Open is all it's said to be.

The state park has lot's to do with its lake, bike and hiking trails, canoe rentals, and what I've been told is a very good "traditional" golf course. It's perfect for a guy's weekend or a family outing. Of course, the disc golf is the real reason you'd want to visit. Enjoy!
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5 0
MDAS
Experience: 5 played 1 reviews
4.00 star(s)

Very Nice... With an update 2+ years drive by

Reviewed: Played on:Jul 11, 2011 Played the course:once

Pros:

This course has a nice layout with multiple types of challenges. There are some narrow fairways that challenge a beginner such as me, but there are some that you can really let it sail. There are enough woods, elevation changes, and right and left hand turns to keep everyone honest. Overall a very nice course that I will play again.

Cons:

On the day I played, the fairways were in desperate need of having the grass cut. On a couple holes, the baskets had been relocated and weren't very close to what was indicated on the map.
The biggest thing to be aware of is the fact that while it only costs $5 per carload to enter the park, if you tell them you are entering to play disc golf, they will charge you an additional $3 per person. I questioned this and was told that is policy. The person at the gate even inquired at the check-in station and that was confirmed. However, if someone enters to go swimming or visit a camper, there is no additional fee. Go figure. You be the judge as to how to use this information.
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5 0
bombasm
Experience: 13.9 years 24 played 1 reviews
4.00 star(s)

Beautiful Course 2+ years drive by

Reviewed: Played on:May 6, 2011 Played the course:once

Pros:

Course is well maintained. Wide open holes that will give you a chance to really open up your throws. Variety in the layout of the course makes it a challenge for both left-handed and right-handed players. All tees clearly marked for easy navigation.

Cons:

Wooded holes are a little short, most of them are under 200 ft. This is possible due to the fact that it is in a state park. Wooded holes not shown on the course map so, you really have to know about it to find them.

Other Thoughts:

Great course, but I feel that the most of the hole should have been rated par 3's than, par 4's. Camping in the park makes it easy to make a trip out of the experience, since this course can be a bit out of the way for most players. If you are in the area it is worth checking out.
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14 0
Bakenstine
Experience: 17.8 years 106 played 18 reviews
4.50 star(s)

And now for the whole story... 2+ years drive by

Reviewed: Played on:Nov 13, 2010 Played the course:2-4 times

Pros:

-27 Premium Holes with enough variation to keep it fresh throughout
-Very forgiving pars for the front 18, and the back back nine has a really good use of very tight woods, making up for distances under 200 ft by creating very specific lines for each hole
-The abundance of benches was impressive, at least every other hole if memory serves.
-I personally LOVE seeing nicely mowed fairways with really tall rough, similar to Chattooga Belle Farm or Central Park in Cumming.
-The Athens crowd seems to travel here often and made great company
-The park maintenance people were very nice and welcoming
-This State Park is a great place to visit with an apparently world class Ball Golf Course

Cons:

-Number 1 flaw would have to be the confusion at Hole 6's basket. The natural way to exit is to 9's tee, and of the 3 groups I saw out there all of us missed the 'Next Tee' sign pointing at 7. I suggest repositioning the sign and/or basket to make the flow better
-The pars are forgiving, yet I felt that there were entirely too many 4's for the distances given. I would like to see longer holes or lowered pars on at least 5 of the main 18 holes
-I prefer 27 hole courses to be either 18 and 9 or 3 individual nines, as opposed to a 9 hole 'growth' or 'detour' between 16 and 17 using letters... Cumming has the same concept between 11 and 12 and it just leaves a sour taste behind no matter how premium the holes are!
-Though the mowed fairways are interesting and rare to see, I would like to see a few more basket options mowed into the fairways

Other Thoughts:

Walking into this PREMIUM course I had little to no accurate information. There were few pictures anywhere online, incorrect and misleading par/distance to pin numbers, and ABSOLUTELY no word on the layout of the 'back back nine.' Not a flaw with this site, as the info was absent everywhere I looked, even though nothing about the course seemed newer than 2 years old. I guess I was the first person to give enough of a schule! Now with the pictures, par and distance info, and this review, hopefully more people will make it out to this excellent example of Southern State Parkery, and perhaps the course will continue to evolve and thrive (as there appear to be few if any truely 'local' players)
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10 0
S.Cann
Gold level trusted reviewer
Experience: 14.9 years 156 played 82 reviews
4.50 star(s)

2+ years drive by

Reviewed: Updated: Played on:Oct 14, 2010 Played the course:once

Pros:

- Amazing views of the surrounding countryside
-A few "Top of the World" shots. Hole 10 is incredible. It's 385' down a rolling slope.
-Fairways are regularly mowed with true "rough" (knee high grass) to either side.
-Long concrete tees
-The old barn/farm house on hole 3 adds a lot of character to this hole and the course
-Brilliant balance of field/trees. The course is very well planned out.
-Variety of shots. The course forces you to use every disc and use it well.
-Secluded

Cons:

-Some of the baskets are the old style with one chain and the low basket which makes spit-outs more likely.
-Evergreen trees on most holes eat discs as does the rough
-This course was moderately windy when I played which greatly affected all of the "Top of the World" shots.I hesitate to put the weather as a con, but wind affecting those shots appears to be a common occurrence no matter what time of year.

Other Thoughts:

This course is well worth the $5 parking fee and hour drive to get there! I will definitely be back and will invite people to come and experience this course.

This is a course I would describe as a hidden gem and a must-play if you're in the South
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12 0
BennettUA
Bronze level trusted reviewer
Experience: 20.1 years 134 played 23 reviews
4.00 star(s)

2+ years drive by

Reviewed: Played on:Sep 12, 2010 Played the course:once

Pros:

This is a true gem to the disc golfing community in northeast Georgia!
The course is far away from any highways or even main roads in a wildlife/ camping ground. No traffic noises, lots of wildlife to see(the deer don't seem to be afraid of discs or disc golfers at all!).
Lots of different shots to try. Great variety. Some shots are downhill, some are up, some are dogleg left, some right.
The elevation changes, while not steep, will challenge you, largely due to the wind differences. Really explore your bag and what your discs can do with the wind, even on a light wind day.
Tee signs are excellent, with hole layouts and o.b./ obstacles clearly marked.
The extra 9 holes play deep in the woods, and are a nice break into the shade and seclusion of the forest. The lines for these holes are very tight, but it's a great addition, and your choice to play them or skip them.
The fairways are well maintained, and we didn't see much trash/ debri at all. Park is very nice!

Cons:

Many of the pins are one-chain, with no looping a second chain. This isn't really a big con, but it's something to consider when going for it as there are less chains to hit than a two-chain pin.
The course is a good bit off the highways. Not hard to find with today's technology though. Be sure to plan the day for this course, or at least a road trip.
Pay to access the park, but well worth it.

Other Thoughts:

We played through the break of a Georgia DG tourney, and we made it through playing doubles in just over an hour, and we played even the 9-hole extra in the middle. I would have prefered to play slower, but it was fun nonetheless, and will definitely be back to conquer this gem in Georgia!
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13 1
DavidSauls
Gold level trusted reviewer
Premium Member
Experience: 28.8 years 131 played 65 reviews
4.00 star(s)

You Can't Just Play It Once 2+ years

Reviewed: Played on:Sep 10, 2002 Played the course:5+ times

Pros:

The basic 18-hole course is on rolling hills of reclaimed pastureland in a state park. The hilltop holes catch some pretty good winds; holes further down wind among disc-catching cedars and other trees, and the odd old farm building. Elevation is a factor, but mostly gentle changes, not a grueling climb.

The hole design is great, with many different flight paths and no redundant holes, nor any holes that seem to be "fillers".

The extra-9 is a tight wooded loop. It's out of character with the main 18 but a bonus if you like that sort of thing.

Aethetics and amenities are great. The course is on beautiful land, with long views of the countryside from the highest point. The grass is often mown short on the main fairway and a higher off it, but not so that you'd lose a disc, a great visual appeal. It's in a very remote state park, so there's peace & quiet & no non-disc-golfers to contend with.

The park also offers campground, cabin rentals, picnic areas, and a swimming area on the beautiful, and undeveloped, lake. (The course is not on the lake, nor particularly near the other park features).

Cons:

Remote. Bring your lunch. Stay if you can.

It's not free, but it's well worth the fee, plus it's insignificant compared to the cost of gas to get there.

Other Thoughts:

With the remoteness, make it a day and plan to play the course twice.
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11 7
Dave242
Gold level trusted reviewer
Experience: 29.8 years 393 played 271 reviews
3.50 star(s)

B+ = You Be Feelin' Positive After Playing This 2+ years

Reviewed: Played on:May 18, 2004 Played the course:2-4 times

Pros:

What I personally like and how this course stacks up:
1) Holes with good risk/reward -- B
2) Holes that have rewarding birdie opportunities -- A
3) More wooded than open - lots of variety of shots required caused by hole shape and topography -- A
4) Natural beauty (Appalachian beauty preferred) and seclusion -- A
5) Multi-shot holes with defined landing zones, good risk/reward and multiple options to play them -- NA

Other Thoughts:

I ranked this course subjectively based on my own personal enjoyment factor...more accurately my "personal addiction factor". Since I have played a decent number of courses (115 18-hole, 50 9-hole as of early 2009), my hope is that players/explorers who have similar tastes will find my ratings list helpful as they chose courses to play and explore.

Over time, I expect to fill some of my reviews in with more descriptive verbiage...if what I say adds anything to what has already been written. For now, my list is more important to me than the verbiage of my reviews.

I fully expect others with different tastes/philosophies to disagree with me. See my profile for my rating philosophy.
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4 7
sdecker
Experience: 31.9 years 27 played 16 reviews
4.00 star(s)

2+ years drive by

Reviewed: Played on:Jun 15, 2007 Played the course:once

Pros:

Great scenery. The mowed fairways with 'real' rough are very cool. Lots of elevation changes and holes to challenge both lefties and righties.

Cons:

None that I can remember -- it's been a couple of years since I played it but nothing sticks out as negative in my mind.

Other Thoughts:

Played one round here with some friends who were passing thru the area. It's at least an hour away from me but I will definitely play it again in the future. Really nice course overall.
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3 5
Marc B.
Experience: 19.8 years 28 played 14 reviews
4.00 star(s)

2+ years drive by

Reviewed: Updated: Played on:Feb 4, 2009 Played the course:once

Pros:

Well manicured, sweet state park course. Well worth the fee. Tournaments here are a blast with camping,cabins, good amenities and a beautiful lake encompassing it all. The lake does not come into play. Good variety of shots.
I can't express how well kept the course is. Pay to play seems to be a good thing here!

Cons:

If you are not camping or staying in a cabin, there are not many choices for nearby hotels or food.
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