Columbia, SC

Southeast Park

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3.65(based on 20 reviews)
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7 0
BubbaFlies
Experience: 10.2 years 15 played 10 reviews
3.00 star(s)

Where are the navigation signs?

Reviewed: Played on:Sep 24, 2022 Played the course:once

Pros:

Fun course to play. Nice open fairways on #17 and #18

Cons:

Sinage is not that great. Could not find #8. Found it is on the other side of the #13 tee. I laughed when I saw #6 from the tee. "You have to be kidding me!" Where's the basket? It's down the concrete pad, over the water like creek, over all the brush and What else and then tucked up to the left. The distance of the holes and the pdf map are not accurate. #13 is a trip too. And exactly where is the basket? Am I throwing to some unknown space in the woods?

Other Thoughts:

Need to have better signage. I would give it 4 stars if this was improved. I was from out of town and do not know the area, so this was deterrent for me to give it more than 3 stars
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16 0
Shadrach3
Gold level trusted reviewer
Experience: 5.5 years 318 played 306 reviews
3.50 star(s)

A Bit of Everything

Reviewed: Played on:May 5, 2022 Played the course:2-4 times

Pros:

A very solid park-style course with good variety and challenge.

-Amenities: Concrete tees, DISCatchers, easy next tee paths. Signs are a mix: some have all info and map, some are just info. Some holes have next tee signs, some don't.

-Flow: Two awkward transitions around the lake aside, the course runs nicely and ends near its start.

-Variety: Southeast presents a good diversity of holes for a basic piece of park land. There are tunnel par-3s, ace runs, some short par-4s, and three 640+' holes that aren't wide open. The options keep you interested the whole round despite not having any one signature hole.

-Challenge and Scorability: In my intermediate opinion, Southeast is a great combination of decent challenge (length and gaps) while also being very birdieable for good shots.

-Shot Shaping/Gameplay: The most balanced of the main Columbia courses. With a few exceptions, lines are clean and intuitive, and differ just enough to maintain interest. Length is across the board. Some holes incorporate traditional woods rough, a couple use water, and others have more sparse rough that makes it much easier to scramble. The course features a large number of two-hole loops/segments with transition holes in between, giving a regular pace to the progression of environments. Elevation is slight but present a fair bit. The course ends with a couple of bruisers, the two longest holes.

Cons:

-Water: A major disc loss hazard on (9), and an inconvenience for the (5)-(6) and (13)-(14) transitions.

-Park Uses: Definitely plenty of opportunities for walkers or picnickers to get in the way. I almost hit someone on hole (9) who was sitting next to the lake out of view from the tee.

-Tight Approaches: A couple of long par-4 positions push the tolerance for tight approaches. The long positions on (6) and (11) both require extremely precise placement on the first shot. On the longest pin of (11), the approach is basically impossible, and infuriated me on my first play.

-Backtracks: A couple of holes require backtracking a previous fairway to get to the next tee.

-Overgrowth: While not bad, some of the woods have a fine layer of scruffy overgrowth across the fairways.

Other Thoughts:

Southeast is hard to complain about, a standard city course with the kind of variety players look for. After two plays, it seems to me to be a fair test of skill, and quite a few holes are very enjoyable. I don't know that it's my favorite in Columbia, but it's a solid addition. Overall, it's a Very Good city park that generates mildly favorable feelings.

~Similar Courses: McCurry Park (Fayetteville, GA); Tyus DGC (Griffin, GA); Dickson DGC (Dickson, TN); McWilliams Park (Elberton, GA).

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2 1
squire51
Experience: 17 played 4 reviews
3.50 star(s)

Great find 2+ years

Reviewed: Played on:Sep 23, 2018 Played the course:once

Pros:

Large variety of shots
Long course for a city park
Well maintained - Small trees recently removed from fairways, grass along course was mowed.
Great location and easily accessible.

Cons:

Walking trails get close to baskets in some places
The middle holes had some real tight tunnel shots
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4 0
MakAtak3
Experience: 9 years 20 played 12 reviews
3.50 star(s)

Nice Park Course 2+ years drive by

Reviewed: Played on:Nov 10, 2017 Played the course:once

Pros:

1. Course is well maintained and flows nicely through the park.

2. Nice mix of wooded and open holes. A couple holes were good rip it holes.

3. Nice mix of par 3,4,and 5 holes.

4. Course is fair and well laid out. Good scores are possible the more you play and figure out your lines and discs.

5. Concrete tee-pads and baskets were in good shape.

6. Very scenic course.

Cons:

.
1.Tee pad signs list the par and distance, but did not have a map of the hole. Sometimes we had to search for the basket before we teed off.

2. A couple of the holes are near water, but no true water hazard.

3. There were no signs directions you to the next tee. One of the rails on the basket is painted blue to point to the next basket, but a couple signs on the trees would have been most helpful for a first time player.

Other Thoughts:

i really enjoyed playing this course and look forward to playing it again. I had a couple bad holes that caused me to be over par, but it was player error and not a ding on the course. Great course that is worth a visit if you are in the area.
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3 4
Polecat-Meow
Experience: 12.6 years 44 played 11 reviews
3.50 star(s)

Fun, little of this, little of that 2+ years drive by

Reviewed: Played on:Nov 8, 2016 Played the course:once

Pros:

-Well kept
-Easy to follow
-lots of variety
-pretty park
-good pads and baskets

Cons:

-needs some work
-didn't seem to be designed super well tbh... some 3's seemed too short or too long, some 4's seemed too short or too long. It was fun but maybe if I had played when some of the baskets were in alternate settings I may have liked it more.

Other Thoughts:

i mean, it's great, but it was billed to me as very challenging and technical but it just seemed annoying...I also got covered in fire ants somehow, that may have marred my experience. Overall I enjoyed my round and I'd like to play it again, I think this is a great course for intermediate players looking to amp their game up a few notches.
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6 0
RWPretzel
Experience: 5 played 1 reviews
4.00 star(s)

Fun, challenging, fair 2+ years drive by

Reviewed: Played on:Feb 5, 2016 Played the course:5+ times

Pros:

Great variety:
-Hole lengths between low 200's and 700's
-Good mix of straight/right/left shots, flat/downhill holes
-Some holes are tight at the tee and clear out as you approach the pin; others start open and have baskets amongst the trees

Most holes have a reasonably sized fairway lined with pretty thick woods

There is plenty of opportunity to throw far, but long throws without accuracy are punished

The course and park are very well maintained, with clear tee signs that list distance. The park staff clearly take pride in what they do

Great use of the park space

Baskets are fancy and new

Cons:

Course navigation is a bit tricky the first few times out:
-Tricky walks between 5-6 and 7-8
-Long walk between 13-14

Only three holes have alternate tees. This is more of an issue when the baskets are in the long positions

Chronic mud on parts of 6 and 13 (not the fault of the course designer or park staff, who have dug trenches and built small bridges to help)

No uphill holes, if you are into that kind of thing

Other Thoughts:

Multiple basket positions, I think controlled by Columbia Disc Golf Club

Definitely worth a visit!
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3 0
JBryant
Bronze level trusted reviewer
Experience: 15 years 107 played 46 reviews
4.00 star(s)

Impressed 2+ years drive by

Reviewed: Played on:Nov 15, 2015 Played the course:once

Pros:

Great baskets.

Challenging holes/design.

Distances were accurate.

Fairways were just that..fair. Tight and technical but fun.

Accuracy and execution is a must. Stay in the fairway and you are good although most holes didn't punish too bad for errant throws. Some holes will and you'll find those quickly if you aren't accurate.

Concrete pads were nice.

Cons:

There could be some more benches and trash cans. I didn't notice a lot of trash so bravo to those who play the course frequently.

There were on overly abundant amount of plus 400 shots. Or at least it felt that way. I put this here in the cons not to slight the course, but more to warn those who don't like longer courses to tread lightly. This course will snag your ego if you aren't careful.

Low scores are tough to come by here, but that seems to be the route disc golf courses are going to these days.

Other Thoughts:

I really enjoyed this course. I don't play Columbia courses very often but I found this to be a nice change from some of the other course Columbia has to offer.

Well done, Columbia.
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12 0
DavidSauls
Gold level trusted reviewer
Premium Member
Experience: 28.8 years 131 played 65 reviews
3.50 star(s)

Columbia's Most Challenging 2+ years

Reviewed: Played on:Aug 28, 2015 Played the course:2-4 times

Pros:

Already Columbia's most challenging course, Southeast has recently had a ton of work done, greatly extending a number holes, some by an extra throw or two, and cleaning up the fairways.

It's mostly a wooded course, but within one park it runs through a variety of terrains---somewhat open woods where you can create a save from off the fairway, holes cut through dense woods where a bad throw may mean a pitchout, open ground under sprawling live oaks, along with a few open areas where you can let it rip. There's a large pond, in play on 2 holes. All well-used, so that there's a great variety of hole styles and shots required, some of which are pretty creative and unique. In addition to being tough. Except for the last two holes, no 2 holes resemble each other.

Aesthetically it's fairly scenic, with a huge pond and nice woods, but near a major highway so not exactly peaceful. It's a suburban park, not open to surrounding neighborhoods, but the course does share land with walking trails.

Cons:

Among the variety of holes and throws required are a few quirky ones. Especially the last 5, which seem a bit of a letdown after what came before. The park road comes into play on 1 or 2 (depending on pin placements), and #14 weaves through the woods with barely a fairway. #17 and #18 are fine, but almost identical, shots.

Navigation is also quirky. The course starts in a separate parking area from the main one (the kiosk you see is at hole 6). It's a long walk from 5 to 6, and 13 to 14. The walk from 7 to 8 goes right past the 13 tee.

It can be a tough place for weak arms. Not just for the pure length, but a lot of holes require a decent throw to get to a landing area for the next dogleg.

Other Thoughts:

I'd give this a 3.75 if I could. It's not quite a 4.0, due to the number of minor quirks. But the good parts are very good, and there are a lot of them.

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11 0
Bennybennybenny
Diamond level trusted reviewer
Experience: 13.1 years 305 played 287 reviews
3.50 star(s)

Beast at Southeast! 2+ years

Reviewed: Played on:Aug 1, 2015 Played the course:once

Pros:

-As a challenging blue level course with many par 4s, Southeast is a beast! It's heavily wooded, somewhat long with four holes over 600', and has many trees that will sabotage shots! Just you wait! Anyway, it's also pretty and has a great view of the pond on some of the holes. My father grew up in Columbia and has a picture of him and his youth baseball team in 79'. I didn't know the picture was taken on what would be #9's fairway.
-Course is well maintained. Fairways are well defined, baskets are in good shape (however, I had a suspicious number of spit outs.), there are also nice concrete pads and signs.
-I love the open bomb par 4s! Notably #13, #17 (my fav) and #18! Ends grand for me because I have a big arm. Signature hole(s) would be 13. It's like 627' and plays a good bit downhill and is placed onto a slightly elevated green. My bomber hole here, where I can crack up to 500'!!!!
-#17 is my favorite. It's the longest at 744'. Tee shot starts off in the woods and it takes a clean shot maybe 220' to clear and goes into the open field. I had maybe 280' left on my second shot. It goes back into the woods for the last maybe 80'. Pretty easy 4 for me but a 3 will leave you smilin' the whole way back! I missed a 30 footer for 3.
-#18 ends well! It is maybe 100' shorter than 17. Teeshot is rather open. It's better to be a bit more left than right unless your forehand is lights out if you are a righty. Basket is a ways away into the woods.
-This course came in late 2012. First time I played in Columbia, this course wasn't out yet. My point being is that I love how there is a much tougher course out there in Columbia. This is well suited for players at least 900 rated.
-Length variety is outstanding here. #16 is barely 200' along with #9 and there are 3 holes over 600' and one over 700'! Oh, and I think #13 has a long pad that plays 827 feet!
-Bathrooms fairly close to the parking lot. Just walk down the road a little, you should walk past #14's tee pad.
-One of those places where there should be a legit PDGA Sanctioned tourney!

Cons:

-My main problem is with #6. As pretty and unique as it may be, it's really close to the pond and a big gust of wind would be a severe frustration. There are also holes where love/hate relationships will occur. #6 is without a doubt one of them. #14 was also strange. It's very tight but makes a significant left turn. Kind of hard to decide what to throw on this hole. There are a few more confusing holes but those two stand out the most to me.
-Navigation is very tricky. It took a while to find #8 and #14. After you play #7, the first tee pad you will see is #13. #8's pad is down in the woods beside #13. Those two are a little too close. A bad kick on #8 could go on #13's fairway.
-Some fairways could be cut a little better. I don't know much about snakes but I know they are out there. Just ask my dad!
-I wish there were diagrams on the tee signs but they just give the hole number and distance. Few baskets were tough to find. Particularly #6.
-I love #16! "Road Hole." But not everyone does due to it being an island green or "Island Fairway", but as long as there isn't a car, this hole is fun for me as it is just a toss.

Other Thoughts:

-My cons will never keep me from playing here again! My personal enjoyment holewise was really high! I mean higher than Earlewood but this course has got to be difficult to maintain! Earlewood doesn't have as many minor problems because it has been around longer. Play both courses if you stop by in Columbia! It is mostly wooded and is overall kind of flat but it does have surprises here and there.
-If you enjoy various fairways, you will like this course. If you like hilly, I think you will still like this course because I love hilly and I will be back here! There is so much fun available here! Give it a shot!
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10 1
Pbmercil
Experience: 18.7 years 50 played 6 reviews
3.50 star(s)

Quality Disc 2+ years drive by

Reviewed: Played on:Dec 9, 2014 Played the course:5+ times

Pros:

Hands down the best course in Columbia. The park is very well maintained by both the disc golf club and the parks department. Its a very pretty park and makes for a great backdrop to the course. Park rangers are always around, and very friendly and helpful to the disc golfers. More then once a park ranger has helped me look for a lost disc. Being a mixed use park means that their will be some other park user around certain holes, but that is to be expected at this kind of property. A good mix of different length and styles of holes. I particularly enjoy the par 4s (there are 6), as all of them can be attacked off the tee conservatively or aggressively, making for real decision making during the round. Hole 6 long is the signature par 4 to me. Big hyzer bomb tee shot over a damn and across a creek to a protected landing area. Fun hole with lots of opportunities to make mistakes and get punished for it. #8's green is under a massive and old tree, which is really neat. One of the prettier greens you'll see in disc golf. Several holes have fairway splitters or multiple gaps, allowing for different lines to the same basket. I also really like the island green on #16. Without the island green it would be a boring short filler hole, the island is a nice touch to keep it interesting. As others have said 17 and 18 do basically play as mirrors to each other, but I actually like those holes a lot. There isn't a ton of length on this course, so 17 and 18 are the best chance to really air out the arm and try and crush a big drive.

Cons:

If your a first time player definitely take the time to print out the course map provided here, the layout is rather confusing the first time through due to constraints from the park as to where the holes could go. With the map navigation is pretty simple
No benches on the course at all. Sometimes I bring my stool along for this reason. Even just 2 or 3 benches spread out along the course would make a big difference.
My only real con is that the pin/green placement is just a bit off on some of the par 3s. A lot of holes are designed, and at first glance appear to play, as a hyzer or anhyzer tee shot, but actually play pretty straight. On a lot of these holes a straight shot will put you inside the circle for a birdie putt. On many of these holes I actually feel like the straight shot and make your putt is a better approach then trying to turn the corners and bringing trees into play. Specifically I'm talking about holes 1,2,5,8, and 11. I feel like where the pin is should be the edge of the 10 m circle, and the basket needs to be tucked farther in along the hyzer/anhyzer line an additional 10 meters. This would make the course play like a completely different animal without changing the par or length at all. It would force players to commit to turning the corners, which is a good thing.

Other Thoughts:

Overall this is a very nice course. As a new resident to the Columbia area Southeast stands out as the best course of the 3 local options. I find myself almost always playing here over the other courses because I think its just better.
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6 9
JHCourtney
Experience: 11.4 years 62 played 2 reviews
4.00 star(s)

Southeast 2+ years drive by

Reviewed: Played on:Sep 19, 2014 Played the course:5+ times

Pros:

This now the best course in columbia. It is starting to get worn in a little bit and make for a great time. Hole 13 is the signature hole and requires 2 massive shots to give yourself a look at a 3

Cons:

Course still needs some work and cutting in but overall a great course
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3 3
Will_S
Experience: 13.7 years 66 played 7 reviews
3.50 star(s)

One of the best in Columbia 2+ years drive by

Reviewed: Played on:Aug 6, 2014 Played the course:5+ times

Pros:

- Great mix of distance

- Mix of wooded/open, but not punishingly wooded. Some courses have so many trees that even a good shot can get knocked down. This courses was laid out very well in that if you execute your shot you will be rewarded

- Tons of different shot types. You'll have to throw long and short hyzers, straight, and anhyzer shots off the tee. You'll be using most, if not all of the discs in your bag.

- Nice concrete pads and clean baskets

Cons:

- Everyone's complaint is the layout. It obviously could have been better in a couple of spots, but if you have a course map it's easy to get to. Plus, I'd rather walk an extra five minutes if it allows the course to have better basket layouts instead of a few "filler" holes that most courses seem to have.

Other Thoughts:

- I've played this course many times because I work in Columbia frequently. The complaints people have about hole 6 over the dam are valid at certain times of the year. The first time I played this course hole 6 was beautifully mowed and maintained. The last time I played it it was severely overgrown with weeds. You can't even see the basket from the tee box because they are so high. Not sure why no one has gone and cleared that area.
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10 0
DiscGolfCraig
Diamond level trusted reviewer
Premium Member
Experience: 19.8 years 585 played 539 reviews
3.50 star(s)

2+ years

Reviewed: Updated: Played on:Aug 6, 2014 Played the course:once

Pros:

Southeast Park is a good addition to the Columbia disc golf scene. The course has tons of potential, there just needs to be some serious efforts on improving this layout in order for it to achieve that level.
- The course has some really good holes. It's clear this course should be amongst the best in this region, along with Stoney Hill and Crooked Creek.
- #13 is an example of what this course can be. This is a great long hole at 627 feet from the shorts, or 827, from the longs. Or 687 feet, according to the map. The fairway is wider for your tee shot, with some tall stuff to the right. Accuracy isn't crucial for your first shot. From there, the fairway gets narrower for your second and/or approach shots, at which point you want to be on the correct side of the fairway in order to reach the pin in an opening in the woods to the right. This is a perfectly executed, strategy-driven, classic hole layout. Unfortunately, it's one of the few that are this good.
- Solid mix of wooded and open holes. Holes range from 217 feet up three longer than 600 feet. The course is aimed to reach to a higher skill set, with very few 'easy' birdie chances.
- The course winds throughout the park. Yes, there's a way too much walking at times, from #5 to 6 and #13 to 14 (when you walk the entire length of the #6 plus some more), but you do get to take in some nice sights. And with the course being so spread out, you're pretty isolated from the rest of the park's activities.
- Course allows for a lot of chances to pull out the big drives. On a fair number of the wooded holes, the fairways are wide enough to allow you to be aggressive. You see this playing out on #4, 7 & 11.

Cons:

In too many ways, and on too many holes, it seems the execution came up just short. With so many holes having just a little something wrong with them, that's when problems and frustrations arise. Listing the hole problems:
- Hole #5 is the first of the close, but not quite right designs. It's a tight fairway off the tee to a widening fairway towards a basket back to the right. This is close to being a great hole, except for the fact the rough is way too thick and unforgiving. You're either on the fairway or you're really going to be searching. In a scenario like this, is it worth risking a lost disc or a lot of time searching for a disc for some extra distance? If the rough was scaled down, the risk/reward factor would be optimized.
- Hole #6 is a failure. In concept, this could be a fun, really good layout. Instead you get this. The hole throws over a dam, with water running the entire right side of the fairway. The problem is that there is NO fairway. The entire 'landing zone' and green area is rough. On any other course, and any other hole, if you landed in thick foliage as this, you would be in the rough. Here, you're in putting range. For anyone in the Columbia area, it reminded me of the 'green' area on hole #5 at Woodward Park in Camden.
- Hole #9 is another hole that's great in concept, but not in reality. It's a 219-foot, not-overly difficult, slightly downhill shot. The problem is that the basket is 15 - 20 feet from the water. If you go slightly long or to the right, your disc is probably lost. Look at the picture on this site. The one with the goose in the water. Notice how close the basket is to the edge. Why not move the basket further to the left, penalizing only bad shots? You shouldn't be losing a disc that's still within the 10m putting circle.
- #16 could be laid out better. It's another solid birdie chance, a 217-foot hole that starts in the open, and doglegs to the left. The problem is that the open 'fairway' is the park road. Solid concept for a hole, just move it away from the road.
- #17 & 18 are the same hole twice in a row. Both are 600 feet+ holes, starting in the woods, playing in an open field before ending in the woods again. Basically you walk one way across the field on #17, turn right back around to where you just were for #18. One hole like this would be ok. Still not ideal for a closing hole, but whatever. Having both like this seems like a wasted opportunity.
- The hole distances aren't consistent between the tee signs, online maps and hole info on this site. On certain holes, it's not a big deal because you can tell if a hole is 322 feet (or 325) or 493 feet, as is the case on #5. It's more of a frustration when the hole is reachable and the listed distances vary by 30 - 40 feet.
- Also, there was no consistency if the baskets were in the longs or shorts, or how they were marked. Some holes had a check mark next to the correct positions. Others did not.

Other Thoughts:

Southeast Park has so much potential, I think that's why I, and others, may be so frustrated. The holes I listed under the 'cons' section all could, and should, be good-to-great layouts. Imagine standing on #6, with a true fairway, and having to risk going for it or possibly losing the disc in the water. That's better than the current options of landing in the water, the thick rough 'fairway' or on the dam itself.
- I'd like to see the locals put more attention into this course, and take the input and advice from others to optimize its potential. I know Columbia has a solid disc golf club, so there's no reason to have problems linger. Being so close to three interstates, this course could get so much play by so many people passing by. Everyone from Ohio, and Quebec, drive right on by on their way to Florida. I know, I see all their cars on I-77 every day.
- The course has a lot of solid, if not spectacular, layouts. Take a hole like #8. It is 375 feet with a semi-wide fairway. The basket is protected by a huge tree, making for some potentially trick putts. And #15, is a 335 foot hole, with the fairway getting narrower at times, and opening back up close to the basket. A great shot will leave you in birdie range. A bad one will leave you with a bogey, or worse, on your scorecard.
- I think that my assessment of this course was tough but fair. Even with an extensive 'cons' section, this course is still slightly above average. Rather than settling for an underachieving 3.0, this course could be close to 4.0-level status if issues were addressed. Columbia, don't agree with my review? I'd love to hear from you locals and show me what I'm missing.
- I want to check this course out in the future, seeing how things have (hopefully) changed and improved. As it is, the course is a slightly better and newer version of Owens.
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9 3
Nemmers
Silver level trusted reviewer
Experience: 10.7 years 89 played 33 reviews
2.00 star(s)

Over-rated 2+ years drive by

Reviewed: Played on:Jul 22, 2014 Played the course:once

Pros:

- Good equipment. Quality DisCatchers and concrete tee-pads.

- Convenient location in Columbia at a very nice park.

- Plenty of parking.

- Friendly locals.

Cons:

- Inconsistent layout.

- Ambiguous signage.

- Garbage strewn throughout the course. It's not a dirty course per se, but there was more than "just a few" cans, bottles, and random refuse littered about. One trashcan on the entire course - located prominently on the horizon of the most picturesque hole the course offers, by the way - obviously contributes to this.

- Few benches. There are a few (nice wrought iron ones too) but they're few and far-between.

- No topless Hooters girls frolicking along the #8 fairway.

Other Thoughts:

Let me begin by saying that Southeast Park could be much better. I only played it because of what was said here and the current ratings were apparently done by locals who are excited about their new course. I wish the rating would've been less biased; I would've skipped it and come back later.

That said and with the perspective of an outsider looking in, Southeast Park DGC ratings here (thus far) are very over-inflated. As of this writing the course is a 3.92 that it does not deserve. Now, your 3.92 may be my 2.65 and my 4.53 may be your 1.47, but that's the great thing about DGCR: everything's subjective. My subjective (objective?) opinion of this course is that it has a lot of potential, but it doesn't come anywhere NEAR a 3.92 at present condition if DGCR ratings are to be taken seriously. And I think we can all agree that the reviews here (whether positive or negative) greatly influence whether or not you choose to play a particular course.

The layout is my biggest gripe and at best it's sporadic. The first few holes make a certain amount of sense and have a true disc golf feel to them, but by the time you get to #6, with its "unique" choice of pin placement on a hill, the fairway over a dam, and ridiculously overgrown green it borders on insanity. Following the signage is also a chore in that it makes you feel like you're playing Tomb Raider or Myst: Looking for clues to the next tee in the form of wooden white arrows nailed to trees a la The Blair Witch Project or an M. Night Shyamalan movie. (Pick one.)

The final two holes are a mirror image of one another as well, which makes them appear to have been placed almost as an afterthought. Starting in the woods and playing through the same wide-open field, they're long seemingly for the sake of being long. Like an old Tracy Lords movie, it doesn't leave a good taste in your mouth and, again, like a more recent Tracy Lords movie, Southeast Park leaves you finishing dissatisfied.

All in all, Southeast Park is decent and has a TON of potential. With a little TLC and a few layout modifications it could really be a great course. However, if you're planning a trip to Columbia you're better off playing Earlewood and driving to Chapin to play Crooked Creek and skipping Southeast Park altogether. It could eventually earn the 3.92 rating it sports as I write this, but right now it does not cut the mustard. Yes, there are 18 more holes to play in Columbia - and that's a great thing - but until more non-Columbians play and review this course I suspect you may end up disappointed by the course and leave feeling duped into playing it because the course rating was that high. Just my two cents....your mileage may vary.
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4 2
DGLobo999
Experience: 11.8 years 13 played 13 reviews
3.50 star(s)

Almost Great! 2+ years drive by

Reviewed: Played on:Jul 8, 2014 Played the course:once

Pros:

Really good design and very pretty course overall. Some REALLY scenic holes and clever layouts/pin placements.Good use of elevation, area, and natural obstacles. Tees and baskets are good. Really good design with a couple of exceptions noted below. Next tee taping worked well. Fairly easy to navigate until the holes noted on the map and by all in their reviews.

Cons:

Message board with map neeeds to be at #1 tee. The map is critical to avoid getting lost. The course does not flow smoothly in a couple of areas. Tee signs need distances. This is a major oversight for travelers. Course needs benches. No restrooms. Limited trash cans.

#6 is a disaster of a hole because there is no good place to land the disc. I threw it 30 feet short of the basket and was still in overgrown, snakey jungle!.Shorten it to end at the parking lot (or something) and then walk across the dam to play #7. Crossing #13 at basket and tee is not good and was confusing as well. Had it not been for the map, I would have never found the back side of the course.

Other Thoughts:

Seemed to be a new and well maintained park. Very enjoyable. Would recommend stopping in to play this course if in the area. Were it not for the design issues listed above, would have given a very high rating.
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3 1
ShortBusDiscGolf
Experience: 28.9 years 182 played 9 reviews
4.00 star(s)

Every Shot In The Bag 2+ years drive by

Reviewed: Played on:Jun 25, 2014 Played the course:5+ times

Pros:

This course has a little bit of just about everything. Short touch shots (both left and right). Big boomers. Controlled distance. Placement shots. Water hazards. A bit of elevation. You can tell that this course was NOT designed over-night. It has nice LEVEL cement tee pads that play well even when wet. It has a second set of pin placements that are currently being trimmed and installed. This course is probably the best in Columbia when it comes to a fair test of skill. 900+ rated players will love it. It is pretty easy to find your way around as well (there is only one tricky spot to navigate,.....and that is being fixed). And to top it all off, they have a very friendly group of park Rangers that do a good job of taking care of the land and are more than happy to hold onto lost discs until they can be returned to the owner.

Cons:

As a relatively new course, it still needs to be 'played in' a bit. If your disc goes into the pond you can't go in after it (against park rules)......Use a stick or pole. Needs some benches.

Other Thoughts:

This course has QUICKLY become one of my favorites!!
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2 1
ricklev
Experience: 30 played 30 reviews
4.00 star(s)

Beautiful park and disc golf 2+ years drive by

Reviewed: Played on:May 19, 2014 Played the course:once

Pros:

This ranks among the top 10% of beautiful courses I've played. It was a pleasure to walk this course, let alone play it.

-Very nice concrete tees
-Signage is very good
-Park is clean
-Good shade for hot days, but not so heavily forested that you hit trees everywhere
-Discs thrown astray are likely to be found
-Long holes are a blast, even for an older and average player like me
-A few potential birdie holes for even average players if you can make it through the trees
-Lots of wildlife to see

Cons:

It was a little had to find, since i thought Kangaroo was the name of the street. It's not. The turn is at the Kangaroo gas station. Not much else negative to report.

Other Thoughts:

Hole #6 isn't the longest, but I feel it's the signature hole since it has a small concrete dam in the middle you have to go over. The dam is exactly where many average players will end up unless they make one of their better or best drives off the tee. I walked down the grass rather than the steep sloping dam, and that made it easier for me to get to my disc for my second shot. It's not only a fun and challenging hole, the view from the tee of the lake is fantastic.

The blue tape (someone else mentioned orange, but I saw blue) on baskets is a great idea for leading you towards the next tee. I had a problem getting to #6, though. The tape points in the right direction, but there is no path through the trees. You go around the trees to get to #6.

I'm in my 60's and I birdied #9 and #16. It's always nice to have some holes where it's possible even if you don't drive it over 300 feet from the tee. I almost went in the lake, though, on #9. Fortunately a small bush stopped it right about 10 feet from the basket.
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5 1
jonathanwaldo
Experience: 30 played 6 reviews
4.00 star(s)

Great free course 2+ years drive by

Reviewed: Played on:Dec 29, 2013 Played the course:2-4 times

Pros:

I'm from St. Paul, MN so when I came down to Columbia to visit family over the holidays, I was dead set on getting some disc in that didn't involve trudging through snow. I had heard that this was a new course in the area so I thought I'd check out what Columbia had to offer. The course is free, but it looks like it's got some great folks supporting it which is important for a free course. I liked to see the course map in the parking lot, and a note about found discs.

* Tee pads were great and marked with hole numbered signs and distances, but not pin locations.
* Creative and scenic usage of the land, although the walk from 13-14 is a bit of a haul.
* The pin under the live oak on hole 8 is great.
* Some decent challenging shots and holes longer than 400', which is nice!
* Signature hole for me was probably 13 which is an 800'+ hole down a gulch which is just a blast to throw down if you can flex it out nice and long.
* Course was very clean.

Cons:

* This being a new course, the path ways to the next hole were not always evident, but I eventually noticed the orange tape marking the path.
* Would have been nice to have hole maps on the signs. Some of the alternate tees I didn't see anywhere if they exist yet.

Other Thoughts:

Was just a blast to play out on this course and I think they've done a great job with making the most out of the land and the terrain. It achieved one of my favorite things about playing disc golf which is that I felt like I had gone on a hike afterward, not just walked around aimlessly in the woods. Highly recommended if you are in the Columbia area.
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4 1
DNewq
Experience: 23.5 years 383 played 15 reviews
4.00 star(s)

Great new course 2+ years drive by

Reviewed: Played on:May 10, 2013 Played the course:once

Pros:

- great addition to a neat neighborhood park.
- challenging course with creative holes and plenty of variation
- seems like it would be a great location to host a tournament

Cons:

- As it is new it is tough to figure out the sequencing of holes on this course until you have played it once. Be patient your first time.
- Several of the tee signs show multiple distances to the basket. Could only find a 2nd teepad on Hole 4.
- Seems as though regular users of the park arent yet familar with disc golf so there were a few holes that I had to warn folks to watch for my throws.
- I imagine that it would get hot here in the summer months, but a plus is that most of the course is well shaded.

Other Thoughts:

This course is going to be exciting for the intermediate to advanced players, definitely bring your A game for this one.
Would have given this course a 4.5 rating, but downrated it slightly because they still need to orient visitors a little better. Overall it is a stellar course.
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8 2
Upshawt1979
Diamond level trusted reviewer
Premium Member
Experience: 20.8 years 548 played 429 reviews
4.00 star(s)

Southeast Splendor 2+ years

Reviewed: Updated: Played on:Aug 11, 2013 Played the course:2-4 times

Pros:

I liked Southeast Park. As is, a quality course. Loved the brand new DiscCatchers with deep baskets. One spoke is wrapped with tape in each of the baskets, pointing in the direction of the next tee. There are white arrows occasionally, also helping to find the next tee. the Park staff was very friendly, and I saw one police car checking the parking lot shortly after we arrived. There are a couple of shorter holes at first, some nice fairways with manageable distance. At the third hole distance begins increasing, and the challenge picks up a level. Six is a cool hole along the slope of a levy, with an interesting pin placement. Eight is a good drive with a low ceiling and a large tree defending the basket location. The water comes into play near the pin on nine as well. Twelve is a shortish hole with a tough line, that I was able to birdie. Thirteen is one of several long par 4s, and takes great placement to make par. Fourteen is another par 4, not as long and reachable in 2 throws. Sixteen is a short ace run next to the road, then the seventeenth and eighteenth holes are the super long distance shots across a large grass field. The course is mostly flat, with moderate elevation change on a couple of holes. I thought the fairways were nicely sculpted with reasonable lines on every hole. The back 9 plays very long.

Cons:

The amenities were solid, concrete tees and signs have now been installed. Tees large and level. A few benches and trash cans thrown in would be nice (ideally, not at all imperative). The flow of the course is not super smooth, with some tricky transitions after holes 5, 6, and 13. Park doesn't have restroom facilities, picnic tables and trashcans are near the parking lots.

Other Thoughts:

The map under the parking lot kiosk is helpful, but it is closer the the fifth tee than the first. Pay attention to the basket location of hole thirteen as you walk between 6 and 7, because it is not visible from the tee. The grassy clearing is the fairway. A few of the holes are a bit repetitive, but overall fun and challenging. Long, accurate drives are a must to score on this one. This course kicked my butt first time through. Managed to shoot a 2 over, 61 on the third round. A nice addition to the area, and great contrast to Earlewood Park. As it has become more established and better equipped it has really become an excellent course, in my opinion.
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