Easley, SC

Foothills DGC

3.535(based on 33 reviews)
Filter course reviews

Filter reviews

Filter reviews

Foothills DGC reviews

Filter
8 0
Cerealman
Diamond level trusted reviewer
Premium Member
Experience: 15.7 years 572 played 173 reviews
2.50 star(s)

Cinnamon, onion flakes and poppy seeds 2+ years

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

Pros:

From twisting, tight wooded holes to downhill open bombers, the Foothills disc golf course in the J.B. "Red" Owens Sports Complex offers plenty of variety. However, the flavors don't always blend succinctly and while there are a few tastes of delicious design, the overall course is similar to an "everything bagel" that is tossed together.

Significant elevation is in play on about half the holes, both uphill and downhill. This was the fourth (and final) course I played on the day, and you'll definitely get your workout here. Some of the baskets, including the opener, are positioned on hills with rollaway potential, so upshot placement will be crucial. If you like holes that involve tossing your disc down a hill, you'll be pleased by the opportunities to do this several times.

The front nine features a couple of nominees for most memorable holes. Hole #3 (which use to be Hole #4) is a narrow, downhill run of about 285 feet. However, there's a swamp beyond the basket, so be careful of running the pin. Hole #9 is about 800 feet and includes throwing from an elevated pin over a wide-open athletic field and then turning back into a narrower (but fair) path to the basket.

The concrete tees were in good shape when I played.

Despite being in a public park, there aren't many areas on the course where you're likely to interfere with other park-goers.

There's definitely a high potential for score variance here. Eight of the holes are under 250 feet, including the last four. But with hills and lots of trees, your scorecard might be filled with birdies and bogeys.

Cons:

The conditions of the Foothills are so-so. There are numerous areas to avoid with bad underbrush and thorns plus wet and muddy spots, especially after rain. The course is really showing its age. A number of players have complained about Hole #12, which requires a hyzer shot over a swampy area, unless you try for a safer line through the woods to the left.

The signs are old and worn; they are full of sponsorship info and appeared to have been printed on cheap paper and are encased in a non-waterproof holder.

Navigation can be confusing in a few spots, and a number of blind baskets don't help the cause. The transition between Holes #7, 8 and 9 is frustrating for first-time navigation, especially since Hole #8 is just a filler in-the-open hole to connect a wooded section to the downhill, over-the-field bomber that is Hole #9. Also, the most densely wooded section is used by several holes on the front nine, then returns through this area for a few more holes on the back half. Adding "Next Tee" signs would help, as my foursome did a fair amount of wandering around looking for teepads and baskets during our round.

A couple of the wooded holes are "poke and hope" and while the off-the-fairway spots in the woods aren't unplayable, they will force you to invent some lines at times.

Note: The Foothills design has been tweaked since the DGCR photos were taken, so the pictures won't line up with the hole number.

Other Thoughts:

The current Foothills DGC recipe misses the mark. While there are some enjoyable throws, there are too many mediocre holes. As DiscGolfCraig mentions in his review, the course design is "scattered, like it was trying to appeal to too wide of an audience." He's spot on in his critique, especially regarding some of the unimpressive holes.

For me, the crazy combination of holes at the Foothills left an unsettling aftertaste. This day-old-bagel of a course would be greatly aided by redesigning a few holes, updating the tee signs and improving the navigation.
Was this review helpful? Yes No
3 0
MadGame32
Gold level trusted reviewer
Experience: 7.2 years 69 played 69 reviews
3.50 star(s)

Thursday Doubles! 2+ years drive by

Reviewed: Updated: Played on:Aug 16, 2018 Played the course:once

Pros:

-Concrete tee pads are in good shape.
-Most holes had tee signs.
-Nice variety of flight paths.
-Flow was logical.
-Goals in great shape.

Cons:

-Undergrowth is getting a bit thick.
-Some tee signs missing.

Other Thoughts:

I just moved to the area and have been craving a good 18 hole course with some challenge and a little length. I found it at Foothills for the first time since moving here.

I loved the wooded holes which were trimmed very well, and provided clear paths that were intended. The undergrowth from time to time was a bit thick, but overall, the course was in great shape.

Most holes had tee signs that were accurate as far as I could tell. They made judging the shot much easier (especially with the elevation changes.

I think my favorite hole was the downhill island hole on the high voltage power line. That was a fun straight/slightly anhyzer backhand for me. I wish I had been able to throw from the normal tee on the 800 foot hole, but football practice prevented this. We had to play from the alternate tee pad for safety. (I still say the kids had helmets on, and it would have been OK to drive over them....just kidding).

Overall, I really liked the course and definitely look forward to playing it again. The rating right now is held back by the undergrowth condition. If this was corrected, it would move up quite a bit in my mind. I will keep an eye on it and adjust the rating accordingly. I hope there are more around that are as good or better than this one.

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
15-Dolly Cooper Park DGC, Powdersville, SC
16-Woodruff Leisure Center DGC, Woodruff, SC
17-Shaver Recreation Center Original, Seneca, SC
18-Foothills DGC, Easley, SC
19-Langley Pond DGC, Burnettown, SC
20-Century Park DGC, Greer, SC
21-Pipeline DGC, Spartanburg, SC
22-Zube Park DGC, Hockley, TX
23-Duncan Lake - East, Duncan, OK
24-Lindsey Park - Red Course, Tyler, TX
Was this review helpful? Yes No
1 2
Kcjohnson87
Experience: 8 played 3 reviews
3.50 star(s)

Intermediate course, hard to find pin locations 2+ years drive by

Reviewed: Played on:Jan 13, 2018 Played the course:2-4 times

Pros:

Lots of variety of holes, challenging pin locations, great location (safe/clean).

Cons:

Finding parking is tough in my opinion. The couple times I've gone the parking lot has been absolutely slammed. The hole maps (at tee pads) aren't very accurate so you can't let yourself get upset.

Other Thoughts:

Hard to figure out where each hole is located-- definitely take a picture of the map at the start of the course to keep on your phone.
Was this review helpful? Yes No
3 0
sjberry2017
Bronze level trusted reviewer
Experience: 10.8 years 51 played 19 reviews
3.50 star(s)

Moments 2+ years drive by

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

Pros:

18 Discatcher baskets

Concrete tees

Signs on every hole

Some holes have two pin positions

Good mix of shots: up and downhill, short and long, right, left, straight, etc etc

Because of the shot variety, no two holes feel identical. Some are very similar, but are spaced far enough and have enough distinct features that it doesn't feel repetitive.

There's a bomber hole, and bonus, it's a good golf hole

Par 4's are true, multishot par 4's, rather than just throw far and throw another 120-200 feet.

Benches on some holes

Elevation usage requires some shot planning and good control of your throws.

OB is used well and does not represent a huge chance of losing a disc.

Course map at disc golf noteboard.

Cons:

Not a con, just a note: Old hole 3 was removed, with a new hole being cut in between the soccer field hole (new hole 9) and hole 11. After 11 it flows like normal.

A few long transitions between some holes

Some of the mandos are either pointless or in annoying spots. My thoughts on them:
- Hole 10: this mando should be a few trees behind the initial gap, and I really wish it wasn't on a metal stake; I hit it with my disc and now it's marked up. Yes, I should have thrown a better shot, but still, a tree wouldn't have done the same, and had it been a DX/Pro or equivalent disc, it would have had a nice chunk taken out of it.

- Hole 16: this mando could be pushed back a bit as well, as the gap it defines is really the only gap and I'm 95% sure it's there so you don't throw up through 15's fairway. Pushing it back towards 15 a little more would let the hole play more naturally (if you don't think this way then that's fine)

- Hole 17: Not quite sure why they take away the RHFH gap, it's just as challenging off the tee and just as difficult to get into position for a good birdie. My guess is they just don't want you throwing at the ball field.
A couple holes are blind shots with the possibility of your disc rolling down the hill (looking at you hole 8), so definitely be vigilant on the tee shot.

A few holes play up and along a walking path, with a few of those shots being blind. Definitely a safety hazard.

Holes 1, 2, and 18 play near a playground, and kids will sometimes go and play in the fairway area. As long as you're vigilant, it's not a huge deal, and kids will usually move, but still it's definitely a con.

No practice basket.

The hill 5 and 15 throw from is extremely steep and can be tiring to walk up. Fortunately both tees have benches to catch your breath.

Hole 6's teepad can easily be reached by a short, errant shot from Hole 5; keep your wits about you, and don't lose your head.

On hole 9, if the field is being used for other sports, you can't throw over it. However, there is no short teepad, you just have to make one up to use.

Several of the holes (1,2,18 and 15,16) play right next to each other, so there can be some interference from adjacent fairways.

Other Thoughts:

Foothills DGC in Easley, SC, is a great microcosm of South Carolina disc golf. There are tight, short, technical throws with lots of elevation, with several longer, more open holes where distance and shot selection is key. While it may not be the most polished course, and has several safety issues which hold it back from being the best, it is a solid, fun course with lots of replay value. Some of the highlights of the course:

Hole 1: really fun starting hole. From the tee, you travel down an adequately wide fairway to three trees about fifty feet from the pin. Navigate these, and you're pretty much home free to attack the pin, which is located on a near vertical hillside.

Hole 2 and 3: a pair of downhill throws, hole two is nice and open, with trees and a little wall around the green presenting the basket nicely. Hole 3, however, plays down a tight gap through the forest with plenty of danger either side of the fairway. Go long, and your comeback putt will be hampered by the ceiling.

Hole 5: A downhill island hole, with a spray painted DZ on the walking path, this hole is a chance to really test your accuracy.

Hole 8: plays along the side of a hill, with a blind green. Any shots which hit an awkward angle will roll down into guardian bushes. Getting the disc to land and settle is a great feeling.

Hole 9: huge bomber hole out over a multi-use field, then plays along a right of way to a basket nestled next to the woods. Really fun, two shot par 4. If the field is being used, do not throw from the tee. They really ought to make it a permanent short tee, but go down to the edge of the field nearest the basket (by the two trees) and throw from there. It's still a fun hole, just now it's a par 3.

Hole 11: really great two shot par 4 as well. The tee shot is a straight to fade hyzer, with the second shot being either a RHFH to a pin by the creek or a tunnel shot to a pin up by the road.

Hole 13: Just a note, watch out for the drop off behind the basket, it's a good 6-8 feet.

Hole 14: Just a note of caution; there is a walking path just past the gap, so be aware of that. But it's a very fun hole, with a woods gap shot to the open off the tee, with placement being key to navigate down the fairway and with the hill to a pin where shot placement and disc angle is key.

Hole 15: fun little downhill run, very tight.

Hole 18: Pretty much a Goldilocks version between Holes 2 and 3; more trees than 2, but not as tight as 3. The forehand is a good play here, and it is a fun finishing hole.

Overall, while it is not a destination course, Foothills DGC is a course which is definitely worth inclusion in any Upstate SC disc golf trip. With tight, technical woods holes balanced with somewhat open bomber holes and true two shot golf, your round will be entertaining from start to finish!
Was this review helpful? Yes No
6 0
Bennybennybenny
Diamond level trusted reviewer
Experience: 13.1 years 305 played 287 reviews
3.00 star(s)

Easley down the mountain. 2+ years

Reviewed: Updated: Played on:Jan 16, 2017 Played the course:once

Pros:

-I like the Foothills course in Easley. This is not a "Championship Course" or an "Amazingly thought out design." But it is pretty fun.

-Family friendly park, also close to a few grocery stores and gas stations.

-Speaking of fun, the first few holes all standard par threes, but utilize great elevation changes. #1 is very tight and has a few trees straight in the fairway and the basket is up on a ledge. Holes #2 & #3 are both gradually downhill. #2 was a more of a fun, slightly wooded hole that gives many different opportunities to throw a disc 270'. #3 had more of a decrease. It reminded me of #16 at Ashe County. Just very tight and a long way downhill (over 30'). The hole even had some of the similar attributes of #16 at Ashe. There were mature rhododendron bushes along the fairway and past the basket. The elevation amps up with hole #4 (steep uphill when the long pin position is in play), and hole #5, a STEEP downhill ace run over the road and onto a green marked with OB stakes. However, the greatest hole in my opinion is hole 9. It is the toughest hole on the course because it's an 800' par 4. But the tee shot is one of the funnest ones I've ever played. It's a top of the world shot over the football field and plays as a dogleg right into the woods.

-Course utilizes a TON of variety. Good mix between open and wooded. There are some serious elevation changes here, the range between the hole distances is 650', so there are holes that are below 200' and one that is 800'.

-While I don't always support the idea of artificial OB's on a course, I think the ones used here are utilized quite brillantly. You could go OB on #5 if you go outside the stakes on the green. I'm not sure if it is an island green or not. #12 is also a cool hole that plays over a shallow swamp that is marked by stakes. I also thought the use of mandos was fair. There were two pointing to the right.

-There is a course kiosk, course isn't that easy to navigate so the kiosk makes up for that.

-Love how there is Heaven and Hell. There are some really tough holes out here. Most of the tough holes are hard to get frustrated on, but some are difficult because of the fairways and the tightness. Such as #11, and #16. #11 is hole you will hate if you are a beginner. It's a par 4, 570' long and wooded. I love the hole because I can birdie it, but players at my rating will still mess up on it. #16 is a frightening ace run that plays as a hyzer around a mando tree. Definitely one of the hardest short holes I have played. But there are also some very easy holes such as #15. #15 is 158' and straight downhill drop shot. Most holes here can redeem you, or leave you. That's pretty much how the whole course is.

-Plenty of benches and trash cans.

Cons:

-Course has a few holes that didn't go near my level of enjoyment. #7 is one of those holes that is just irritating. It's the shortest hole on the course at 150' but you have to throw through a very small gap that is bound to kick you right into such under brush. If you kick right, you'll most likely end up taking a bogey because the thorns are so bad that they leave you with no actual window. Just a lame hole. Seems like they wanted to make this hole fun by the standards of the player that just likes to have fun. #8 is dangerous to the parking lot, and it's also a disc eater. The sloping hill is so steep that if you are a backhand thrower, you'll likely be looking in the bushes (others call it the retaining wall) to the left of the sloping fairway, or throwing beside the bushes with a stroke penalty because you rolled OB. Annoying golf to me is lame, while others may find it fun, those particular players would certainly think holes such as hole 9 are much funner than holes #7 and #8.

-The tee signs on holes #15, #16, and #18 are missing.

-Holes that play along the road don't bother me, but because of the road, there may be pedestrians.

-There is a shed on the bottom of #9's hill. It had a shattered window, and I did hit the shed, so I think I shattered the window, so if you do the same thing I did, you might lie IN the shed. That would really suck.

-Some fairways are very close to each other, and are a bit of a hindrance. After you are done with #6, the first tee-pad you'll see is #14, and holes #2 and #18 are very close to each other that #18 could be an alt. pin position for #2 and #2 could be an alt. pin for #18.

Other Thoughts:

-I liked this course. It's definitely special because it is not far from the mountains so it has the elevation you'd expect at a mountain course. It has more elevation than Richmond Hill up an Asheville so that really says something about it being fun. None of the holes here except maybe #9 and #11 are what you'd expect to see on a temp. course or a top level course but they are still mostly fun.

-Other info: Hole 4 was in the short pin. when I played here. It's a decent hole from the short but I really wish it was in the long pin. That hole looks extremely fun because of the approach shot up the giant hill.

-Park is huge, at the entrance, go left not straight.

-While the hole distances may be very reachable, this course is tricky.

-Came back in July of 2020 and didn't enjoy it as much. Has some letdown holes. #6-8 really annoy me. #16 and #17 aren't fun at all either. Despite this, I still thoroughly enjoy the big downhill holes.
Was this review helpful? Yes No
3 0
Streetcar
Experience: 13.1 years 14 played 5 reviews
3.00 star(s)

Upon Further Review 2+ years drive by

Reviewed: Played on:Jun 27, 2015 Played the course:5+ times

Pros:

1. Good variety of holes. Great place to work on control and technical game.
2. Elevation changes, wide open spaces and tight holes along trails makes this an interesting course.
3. Concrete tee pads. Nicely sized.
4. Course has had some work done recently to prepare for an upcoming tournament.
5. Got rid of that ridiculous hole 3 and replaced it with a new hole 10 that is much better.
6. Little green arrows on most baskets pointing to next tee.
7. Trails to next tee are mostly marked, with some exceptions.
8. Finally moved the two tee pads away from the bathroom facility sidewalk and replaced them with dedicated concrete tee pads.

Cons:

1. All tee signs are missing.
2. Player seeing the course for the first time will most likely get lost.
3. The transition from hole 6 to 7 (new hole numbers with old 3 now gone) is confusing without the tee markers.
4. New hole 10 needs a tee pad.
5. Steps on the steep ball field slopes are deteriorating so watch the exposed rebar when you use these steps.
6. Does not look like the City is committed to the overall care of this course. The steps are a safety issue.

Other Thoughts:

I played this course a few times when I was learning to play. I found it difficult and unenjoyable. I could barely navigate the slopes and didn't have a game to support playing this course. Upon further review, three years later, a few pounds lighter and armed with better skill sets, I played the course again and found it enjoyable, yet still challenging and interesting. It is course that has some length to it and trouble is still easy to find. But the hole mix is good. The new hole 10 is a worthy improvement. The course is a fair test of skill offering opportunities to emphasize control shotmaking over open long throws. You will need to think about your shots and getting off the tee reasonably well is a must. Wish the City was more committed to this course. It will not take much in funds to provide new tee markers and maintain signs pointing the way to the next hole. Navigation from hole to hole is now the biggest issue at this course. An updated map posted to this site and perhaps the City's website would be nice.
Was this review helpful? Yes No
3 4
pask2155
Experience: 1 played 1 reviews
5.00 star(s)

Great course 2+ years drive by

Reviewed: Played on:Jul 12, 2013 Played the course:once

Pros:

Great mix of shots, big open, big tight, short technical. Just all around a great course. You will use all you different discs in your bag.

Cons:

Only con is it's a big confusing navigating from hole to hole

Other Thoughts:

Don't know why people rated this 3.5 stars or less. It has open tight holes. Big long holes and shorter technical holes. Elevation changes like crazy!
Was this review helpful? Yes No
0 6
gatorfan8807
Experience: 12.1 years 5 played 2 reviews
2.00 star(s)

Lost 2+ years drive by

Reviewed: Played on:Jul 2, 2012 Played the course:once

Pros:

Good course, with wonderfully different holes at every turn. Makes you think long and hard about which throws to make. Once you know where you're going the course if fun.

Cons:

The course is very swampy, with a local who lost his disc and we spent close to an hour looking for it. The course map at the begining did not help, after the first several holes me and my buddy got lost, luckly we ran into a local who knew his way around. If we didn't run into him we would have play maybe 5 holes and left. No markers at many of the tee pad, some holes had no tee pad! This course is great if you know where you're going but if you don't it is a waste of time. If you go pray you run into a local.
Was this review helpful? Yes No
2 0
jcphenom
Experience: 18.7 years 10 played 5 reviews
4.00 star(s)

Ready for next year 2+ years drive by

Reviewed: Played on:Apr 12, 2012 Played the course:5+ times

Pros:

Lots of variety.
- Long distances vs. short technicality
- Open air vs. tight woods
- Up vs. Down

Great use of the property.

Little to no interference with the many ball fields in the park, though a home run ball could interfere with your head on a few holes (the Big League World Series is played there each year).

Cons:

Many of the signs are destroyed or completely gone.

Missing tees due to field house fence.

#10 is out of play during most of soccer season.

Skewed a bit toward LHBH (I am a lefty)

Other Thoughts:

If you have a hard time with accurate drives, stay away from Foothills. The swamp holes will drive you insane.

I think there are several places where an added short tee would be nice (5,7,10,14) and some where a long tee would be great (3,9,11).

I usually play this course once a year and I look forward to it every time.

My favorite shots are #2 (straight shot down the hill from the field house), #5 (straight shot up the hill to the basket on the slope), #6 (slight left back down to the edge of the swamp), #10 (long bomb over the soccer field and down the right turn fairway), and #16 (left hook across the bridge and up the hill).
Was this review helpful? Yes No
2 0
BobStutts
Experience: 19 played 18 reviews
3.00 star(s)

Easley 2+ years drive by

Reviewed: Played on:Apr 17, 2012 Played the course:once

Pros:

Great mix of hole types. Located in a good recreational park and easy to get to. Really good use of elevation changes. Baskets do good job of holding disc. A few holes really challenge you to throw so disc does not land on edge or you could get a long roll away from the basket. Hole 10 is up high on a hill throwing down 800' across a field. What an opportunity to unwind your best distance effort. The potential for an absolutely great course is enormous.

Cons:

Signs are just terrible and pads are mostly in poor shape. You need a map to find area of some holes. A couple of holes have lost their pads to other park activity. Not a single good hole info like most courses have.

Other Thoughts:

Hole 2 could use just a new pad since the old one is gone. This could be a real tough place to play for a day or so after a heavy rain. On Hole 9 throw flat to stay on hill. Leave 9 basket and go straight up hill to fence and then walk around to your left to 10 pad. After basket on 6 turn around and go back to path on left.
Was this review helpful? Yes No
2 1
tiger5
Experience: 13.8 years 23 played 23 reviews
4.50 star(s)

2+ years

Reviewed: Played on:Dec 22, 2011 Played the course:2-4 times

Pros:

One of the better courses in SC. Great mix of technical/tight wooded holes, open shots with tons of elevation changes on almost every hole. And a freakin BOMBER hole 10 that we almost thought was missing until we walked over and saw how far away it was. Great use of terrain throughout the entire course, seriously one of the best courses I've played that incorporates elevation as well as this course.

Cons:

A lot of the tee signs are broken or missing altogether. It's a shame because you can tell that a lot of work has gone into this course and it sucks that some freakin idiots will destroy stuff just because they can. I think maybe two of the holes have tee areas that are fenced off now, and a lot of the rubber tee pads are started to get weathered.

Other Thoughts:

Obviously signage is an issue, but I can't blame them for it because it was there and the effort was clearly made. I thought it was a good challenge and I can't wait to go back and play next time I'm in town.
Was this review helpful? Yes No
1 2
Angus2053
Experience: 20.5 years 9 played 3 reviews
4.00 star(s)

Tough Course but fun! 2+ years drive by

Reviewed: Played on:Dec 10, 2011 Played the course:once

Pros:

Use of terrain, challenging basket location, many benches at tees. Epic hole on number 10!

Cons:

Flow of holes and course information.

Other Thoughts:

The tight fairways make you throw a good shot and a good use of shot and long holes.
Was this review helpful? Yes No
1 0
DiscChainBasket18
Silver level trusted reviewer
Experience: 19.8 years 98 played 60 reviews
3.50 star(s)

Great course worth the drive! 2+ years drive by

Reviewed: Played on:Oct 15, 2011 Played the course:5+ times

Pros:

Green grass & clean park setting. Great mix of shots. OK I say this a lot but this course really has it all! Short & long. Tightly wooded & wide open. Wooded to open. Open to wooded. OB's, Mandos, water in play. Up & downhill throws including a true "Top of the World" shot. Practice basket, bathrooms & covered picnic areas with ample paved parking. Benches on most holes. Descriptive tee signs.

Cons:

Some of the Tee signs are damaged/vandalized or missing. Some navigation issues if you dont have a course map. The tee pads for hole #2 & #18 have been completely fenced off because of new development at the baseball diamonds. I dont know the situation but it would've been nice if somebody from the D.G. club could've colaborated with the builder to have these tee pad areas left open.

Other Thoughts:

This course is a lot of fun to play. I think it would entertain Pro & intermediate players. I would highly recommend it to anyone. It is fair if you play the right shot. If you stray offline, you may pay a heavy price.
Was this review helpful? Yes No
5 0
zud00
Silver level trusted reviewer
Experience: 15.8 years 199 played 47 reviews
4.00 star(s)

Easley is Easily Sweet 2+ years drive by

Reviewed: Played on:Aug 29, 2011 Played the course:once

Pros:

*Well maintained park, fairways were well mowed, steps have been added to hillsides, stumps from cut trees have been painted to make them more visible
*Baskets are all discatchers and in good condition
*Variety! I love the variety this course offers. There is a good mix of long/short holes, uphill/downhill holes, open/wooded holes. It seemed as though there were more holes favoring righties, but not a substantial amount.
*The facility the course is located at is very nice, there is a nice pavilion near the start of the course with a coke machine, porta-potty, and a nice playground.
*Benches and trashcans available at nearly all tee stations
*Nice kiosk located at the parking lot, there was a slot for scorecards, but it was empty. Other information regarding discgolf at nearby courses was also displayed
*Concrete (not all pads) pads were large and level

Cons:

*Signs-many were missing, down, broken, not to be found. Also, some had the hole information on it including hole number, distance, and a hole layout (laminated paper), but most did not.
*Navigation can be tricky, especially with the missing signs. A solution? Print off a map or what I did was take a picture of the course map at the kiosk board with my camera and refer to it to navigate throughout the round.
*Teepads were mixed, some concrete, some dirt, others rubber mats. I believe the teepads for holes 2 and 18 were origianally on the concrete next to the pavilion, but that has been fenced off so you'll have to tee of from the gravel.

Other Thoughts:

The thing that I liked most about this course is the variety. I loved the elevation changes. There are quite a few downhill holes, 2, 4, 6, 10, 15, and 18. 6 was the most dramatic, 10 was a blast just launching a disc into an open field from the elevated tee pad, and a short steep ace run at 15. Uphill holes added to the challenge, specifically number 5 comes to mind being a longer hole with the basket on a steep slope. Holes 9 and 14 used a side hill to throw in the mix, 9 had a retaining wall at the bottom of the hilll of the basket to keep discs from rolling to far. The wooded holes were tight to test your aim, but not overly tight by any means. You will be rewarded if you can throw straight and stay on the fairway, otherwise you might have trouble taking a 4.
These things really make me feel like this course deserves a 4 rating, with a few changes, it could definitely be a 4.5 in my opinion: tee signs need to be repaired with hole number and distance as well as a map of the hole. It'd be nice if all pads were concrete, and a few navigation signs wouldn't hurt.
I really enjoyed this course and will play again when I'm back in the area. There are many other nice courses in the Greenville area, but I'd say this one is EASELY the best:)
Was this review helpful? Yes No
1 3
jtedsto
Experience: 14.8 years 23 played 1 reviews
2.50 star(s)

2+ years drive by

Reviewed: Played on:Apr 15, 2011 Played the course:once

Pros:

- A moderately difficult course with a lot of elevation and tee shot variety. I've never seen a course with more creative use of elevation and slope. Number 6 is an absolutely fantastic downhill tee shot.
- A beginner will consider this a con - one bad shot could lead to another. This course will force you to be wise and stay on the fairway rather than going for a longer, harder shot, because, if not, sometimes your only shot is to throw 20 feet back onto the fairway.

Cons:

- Number 3 is missing a tee pad and there are problems with the tee signs - some are partially or fully destroyed and it's hard to find your way around without a map. We spent an extra half hour searching for the holes (so bring a map!) as the holes are organized in an odd way.
- There is a swamp. I went in to get my friend's disc (for I was wearing Chaco's and he, shoes) and found out that it is quicksand. Don't throw your disc in there and don't step in the swamp to get it - use a stick.
- We could not play the long hole across the field because kids were practicing soccer on it. This was really annoying because I was looking forward to that tee shot all day.

Other Thoughts:

NOT FOR BEGINNERS
You will lose discs (in the quicksand swamp) and be frustrated at the harder holes. And the difficulty in finding holes and getting to some of them will make you madder if you are already annoyed at the course.
Was this review helpful? Yes No
8 1
DiscGolfCraig
Diamond level trusted reviewer
Premium Member
Experience: 19.8 years 585 played 539 reviews
3.00 star(s)

As of May 2014, Foothills is going downhill.

Reviewed: Updated: Played on:May 17, 2014 Played the course:2-4 times

Pros:

The name says it all - course has a lot of elevation, presenting some good uphill & downhill holes. The problems seem to be with the other holes.
- Course offers some very good & challenging holes. If you take the six best holes, and make and had a full 18 of that quality, you'd have a 4.0+ level course.
- Wonderful use of elevation, and the hills throughout the course. Six legitimate downhill holes (2, 4, 6, 10, 15 & 18) and 4 legit uphill holes (5, 8, 14 & 16.) Yes, I know other holes have slight elevation changes, but I'm only referring to dramatic, foothill-esque changes.
- For the downhillers, #2, 4 & 18 all are enjoyable while also presenting challenge. Side note that #10 is WAY overrated. Throwing from a small mound to and open soccer field is the course's best hole, really? For the uphillers, #5 & 14 were both quality holes made difficult simply because of the added length. Both place a premium on accurate tee shots, in order to set up aggressive second shots. If you have a solid tee shot, a 3 on both holes is possible. A bad tee shot means you might be scrambling just to make 4.
- Good flow to the holes. You never feel like you're playing the same type of shot, or layout, too often. Good flow from wooded to open holes, from flat to up & down holes throughout the course.
- Good variety of holes. There are plenty of shorter, birdie 2 chances. Plus, there are some longer, multi-shot holes where there's a higher risk/reward factor. Even the two holes that run along the creek (#7 & 12) force you to throw smart or you'll be wet, or in the mud/swamp, as is the case for #12.
- My favorite holes are #5 and #11. Two great holes that offer really challenge and a real chance for solid shot making. I had a tap-in 3 on #5, a well-earned effort after two great shots. I scrambled for a 4 on #11, which still didn't seem all that bad. These are clearly two of the highlights on this course.

Cons:

Prior to playing in May 2014, I had last played in spring of 2011. In the three years since, it was clear this course had gotten very little attention. Broken or missing tee pads. Most tee signs were missing. Broken stairs, lots of trash, lack of signage and just a general sense of being ignored. All the $$$ at this park went to the baseball fields, clearly none was left over for the disc golf community.
- And the worst part was the abomination of how they ruined, in my opinion, the course's best hole - #6. As part of the baseball field overhaul, they destroyed the fair for #6, paving a path that leads to nowhere - well, actually the swamp - and moved the basket. What was a fun, downhill, potential ace run, risk/reward hole, was now a hole blocked by trees that had no fun-factor whatsoever.
- Also, in three years' time, how has this course not added a tee pad for #3? Is it that worn dirt patch? If so, the distance is incorrect. If the tee pad is elsewhere, why is there still no signage? Other spots on the course the distances on the map seem wrong. On #11, the distance is listed at 458 feet. There are two tees on this hole, the long seems to be in the 550 - 600 foot range. The short is in the 350 - 400 foot range. Are we just split the difference for our hole length?
- Holes #15 - 17 are a poor way to close this course. All are short and relatively uninspiring. The only saving grace is that #18 is a solid way to end your round.
- Spacing could be improved. There are a lot of holes cramped together in some areas, while there's a ton of room in the back of the course (#9 - 11). Seems there's enough area to add another hole or two there, which could open up, or toughen, a couple of the holes near the front.
- The swamp/mud pit along the right of #12 needs to be cleaned up. That hole has amazing risk/reward potential all over it if it were a clean body of water. But, knowing you're going to land in the mud kills some of the desire to be aggressive. Having had to retrieve a disc from it, I can attest to the unpleasantness of dealing with the mud/swamp. If you want to tempt people, you have to at least make it appealing.
- Very few amenities in the DG-portion of the park. There are restrooms in the pavilion near holes #2 & 18, but there are none on the course, nor any water fountains. At least there are a fair amount of benches, especially on the back 9, when you might need them after all that walking.

Other Thoughts:

The course, while thoroughly enjoying, seemed somewhat scattered, like it was trying to appeal to too wide of an audience. There were too many short, easy holes to be considered elite, but there were also too many challenging holes to be considered beginner friendly. IMO, advanced players are going to rack up too many birdies to consider the overall course challenging, and newbies are going to get frustrated with the harder holes.
- You will definitely get a workout just walking the course. Between all the elevation changes, and how spaced out the course is, you're going to be struggling by the end if you're not in shape.
- Simply put, #3 needs to go. It's a simple transition from #2 to #4. Add another hole in between #9 & 10 (a simple uphiller) or shorten #10, and add another hole back where #10's basket is currently located. Anything would be better than that. It would also be nice to see one of #15 - 17 eliminated and another hole added somewhere else.
- Between #3 and #15 - 17, you have such a weak group of holes, especially for a course that is otherwise pretty decent. #8 & 9 leave something to be desired as well, but when others are worse, it's easy to forget about these.
- Back in 2011, I gave this course a 3.5 rating. I've since downgrade my rating to a 3.0 to reflect these negative changes. It was such a letdown playing again three years later. The overall quality of the course was so much worse, and it wasn't helped by the amount of time, attention and money given to other parts of the park.
Was this review helpful? Yes No
1 3
CaroTex
Experience: 14.2 years 16 played 1 reviews
4.00 star(s)

Rook Review 2+ years drive by

Reviewed: Played on:Mar 13, 2011 Played the course:once

Pros:

This is the most challenging course I have played yet. There were plenty playing out here today, but I never felt crowded or rushed here, really good game flow. The paths are in great shape and every tee has a map of the fairway.

Cons:

Still hard to find a few holes without a map for the first timer (me).

Other Thoughts:

The course is in great shape and I can't wait to play there again soon!
Was this review helpful? Yes No
4 2
Jaysauls
Gold level trusted reviewer
Experience: 14.8 years 129 played 71 reviews
3.00 star(s)

2+ years drive by

Reviewed: Played on:Feb 18, 2011 Played the course:once

Pros:

This place was mostly pretty cool and challenging, without being so difficult that I couldn't enjoy it. Some courses pride themselves on making the course almost unplayable for novice or even intermediate players, but not here. As one who doesn't have a great arm keeping discs in narrow fairways, these were even and fair. There was a also a lot of 'dive bomb' shots where you cranked it hard down hill which is always fun.

And the variety of holes was decent.

Cons:

As everyone said...Signs, Signs, Signs! I almost quit playing due to getting so freakin' aggravated trying to find the next hole! The first 4 will drive you nuts.

Other Thoughts:

This could be a truly great hole with consistent tee pads and signage. I'll definitely play this one some more, but for the new player, it will definitely be a challenge to find your way around
Was this review helpful? Yes No
5 0
dg_hack
Experience: 14.8 years 21 played 1 reviews
4.00 star(s)

2+ years drive by

Reviewed: Updated: Played on:Jul 17, 2010 Played the course:once

Pros:

Great variety of long/short, tight/open fairways, up/down hills. Benches at most tees. Beautiful walk through the woods and great use of a lot space. Many holes make you think about how you will throw to reach the basket even on the open fairways rather than simply spotting the basket and throwing towards it and being able to play from wherever it lands. Distance is needed to make par on a couple of the holes but shot placement is key on all of the holes. Many of the baskets are on hillsides so you must be careful about your approach to ensure you disc does not roll farther away from the basket than you threw from originally. There is a lot of up and down hills but all of the stairs I used were in at least good repair.

Cons:

Many of the signs at the tees are vandalized / broken / faded / missing which sometimes makes it hard to know where you are throwing to. This is especially a problem on longer holes or those with a dogleg making the basket hard or impossible to see from the tee. Also, between holes where it is not immediately apparent where the next hole is a little help by way of a sign would be nice. If it is your first time playing this course and you are not going with someone who has played before chances are you will need a map to find some of the tees.

Other Thoughts:

This course has a lot of walking up and down some pretty steep hills so make sure you are in shape before you play.
Was this review helpful? Yes No
9 1
billnchristy
Gold level trusted reviewer
Experience: 15.1 years 64 played 56 reviews
3.50 star(s)

Up, down and side to side 2+ years drive by

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

Pros:

So many holes that make you say WOAH the first time you play...shear beauty and a lot of "how the ... can I get up that?"
A ton of up and down...this course has more "top of the world" shots than I have ever seen at one time.
Lots of baskets placed in precarious places that force you to play wise or watch your disc roll into the next time zone.
Large mix of hole lengths.
Stairs on most of the rough ups and downs.

Cons:

As stated before, a lot of the signs and poles are in poor shape, it would be nice to have concrete tees on all holes but the natural and rubber ones aren't horrible.
Some of the fairways were in pretty dire need of a mowing.

Other Thoughts:

This is an amazing course that could be one of the best. A little bit of work and effort is all that is needed. The variety is there, the terrain is frankly almost evil and perfect for a sadistic round of disc.

New signs, some maintenance and this is a 4.5.
Was this review helpful? Yes No
Top