Clover, SC

Clover Park

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2.255(based on 6 reviews)
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5 0
DiscGolfCraig
Diamond level trusted reviewer
Premium Member
Experience: 19.8 years 585 played 539 reviews
2.00 star(s)

Throwin' Sideways in Clover

Reviewed: Updated: Played on:Apr 18, 2015 Played the course:5+ times

Pros:

Clover Park is a nice, short 9-hole disc golf course. The course is aimed at beginners while still offering a little bit of challenge. Just don't get turned sideways.
- There's a very nice mix of holes here, especially for a shorter, lower-level course. There are a couple open holes (#1, 7 & 8), tight, wooded layouts (#2 & 6), wooded holes that have wider fairways (#3 & 5), and holes that are doglegs (9) or ace runs (#4). Throw in the challenge of very birdie-able/beginner friendly to more advanced layouts, a course like this can get beginners hooked.
- This course is all about accuracy. I'm far from a pro, but I'm also not a beginner, and I was hitting trees in the fairway of #2 & 9. The holes, for the most part, are short enough that players should be able to recover for 3s. That said, if you can put a disc where you want up to 250 feet or so, you should see plenty of 2s on this course.
- Good flow to the course. Once I found hole #1 (more on that below), the course was very easy to navigate after that. There is very little walking between holes, with the exception of the long walk from #9 to the parking lot, and the semi-long walk from the parking lot to #1.
- Good course (mostly) for beginners. For eight of the nine holes, this is an outstanding course to bring beginners and casual players to. There's enough here to get first-timers into the game. The problem (as I'll mention below) is the problem with the design of #6. A little too much challenge, bad-luck factor and lost disc potential that can negate all the positives the rest of the course offers with just one throw.
- #5 is a really good hole, especially for a course of this ilk. It's a slightly uphill, 192-foot, slight dogleg left hole. The hole starts out over a small creek, presenting a nice tee shot. It's a wooded hole, but there's enough of a fairway for your shot if it holds its line. A good shot will leave you with a birdie putt. Fun hole, even if it's not overly challenging.

Cons:

There are two major issues with this course. One is simple stupidity/something to laugh at. The other could impact your round.
- The rubber tee mats were installed sideways!!! If you're standing on the tee pad, and were to follow the correct direction of the tee pad, you'd be throwing at a 90-degree angle to the basket. This was an issue for me when it came to the first hole. I pull up to the course, see one basket, and assume it's the practice basket. After walking around, I see a sign pointing towards the second hole. I backtrack and find the first tee. From there I follow the correct direction of the tee pad (at least to everyone outside Clover), and see it's pointed toward the playground, a shelter, and most important, not toward a basket. So, I take it this must be a mistake, throw towards the basket that I thought was the practice basket and proceed on to hole #2. From there, I see that rubber tee pad was also installed sideways, and find out they were all this way. It's more amusing because you don't need much of a run-up on any hole, and because nobody noticed while the course was being installed. I guess they thought it made sense to have tee pads that are really wide and narrow. Got to love Clover!!!
- As for the course itself, beginners need to be careful on #6. There's a pond running the entire left side of the fairway, just on the other side of the trees. The problem is that even if a player, aims to the right side of the fairway, the 'hit a tree and kick back to the left towards the water' factor is high. On a more advanced course, I understand the challenge. On a course aimed at beginners, I don't like the lost-disc factor because a player either A. has his throws tailing off left as he's still learning to throw, or B. aims right to avoid the water, hits a tree and has his shot still go left. In concept, this is a very good hole. In execution, it makes me nervous.
- The signage towards the first hole needs to be better. If I hadn't seen the basket for hole one. I would have had no idea where to go. There's only a small kiosk at hole #1, the generic 'welcome to disc golf' intro and rules explanation sign. Maybe have a sign from the parking lot to hole #1 similar to the sign pointing to hole #2. Speaking of, the sign for hole #2 is backwards. It should be visible from #1's basket rather than solely from #1's tee pad.

Other Thoughts:

For a beginner friendly course, and for a course that has a 94-foot hole, I enjoyed Clover Park. It's not great, nor is it meant to be. What it is meant to be is appeal to casual players, and for that it's a success.
- This is a course that can be played with only a couple discs. I carried three with me, and only used two of them. This is also a course that, mostly, could be an ace-race course. With the exception of #1 (maybe, especially if you're only throwing mid-range) and #9, the other seven holes are all tempting enough that you can make runs at the basket.
- For a beginner-friendly course, this course does offer some risk/reward holes. #2, with the wooded fairway; #6, with the problems I spelled out above; #7, with the chance of a shot sailing into the water (40 feet past the basket); and #9, the toughest on the course, being a wooded, dogleg-left; all could see birdie chances or an embarrassing bogey. Ending with a bogey on #9, after getting a bad bounce off a tree, was a frustrating way to end my round here. That's what one gets for being overly aggressive.
- Overall, this is a fun and solid course. I really admired how the course felt broken-in rather than still feeling like a simple, new course. It almost feels like a disc golfer was involved in designing this course....then I take a look at the tee pads. For a course that only averages 211 feet per hole, this is an enjoyable play.
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2 1
iha8it4u
Experience: 21.9 years 20 played 2 reviews
2.00 star(s)

Winter Disc Golf 2+ years drive by

Reviewed: Played on:Jan 18, 2015 Played the course:once

Pros:

Shorter, technical 9 hole course. While some of the holes we quite short, the tight fairways and OB areas made for some serious finesse to score well.

Cons:

There are orange ribbons tied the trees around the baskets. I took this to be OB markers. Very difficult to determine what is OB. We just shrugged our shoulders, but someone playing a serious round will surely be arguing weather a disc is OB or not.
Some of the tee boxes could use improvement, quite muddy/slippery.

Other Thoughts:

This course is pretty new, glad to see courses open in areas that have few courses. I understand there are plans to add more holes, I look forward to returning regularly.
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4 0
Bennybennybenny
Diamond level trusted reviewer
Experience: 13.1 years 305 played 287 reviews
2.00 star(s)

You can't spell Clover without L-O-V-E 2+ years

Reviewed: Played on:Jan 5, 2015 Played the course:2-4 times

Pros:

-This is a good start for Clover. This is a good 9 hole par 3 course that his very technical. This course is short with an average length of 211'. That means every hole is reachable at least with a mid range. However, some holes are very tight and difficult if you do not hit the fairway.
-Nice new tee signs. There are signs with arrows that tell you where the next hole is, even though this course is extremely easy to navigate. Most holes are right beside each other. Nice new discCatchers too!
-Many cool fairways. There are only two holes that allow straight shots. Hole 6 stands out as a hole! It plays beside the pond in the woods. This hole plays as an anhyzer that goes slightly downhill into the more wooded area on a slightly elevated green. This is just overall a very well designed hole.
-To make it more interesting, there are some really good greens, even hole 4! The 93' downhill hole that plays as a long putt. It has a fast green that takes away an easy 2 very quickly! I also love #5's basket elevated on the hill. This is a tough turnover hole, even if it's less than 200'. The rough is really wooded and punishing. #7 is also really nice beside the pond. This is probably the most majestic hole on the course.
-Course offers a couple of nice open holes (#1) and (#8). #1 maybe the longest but it's really ace able! It's just a simple anhyzer shot around the tree and with a little force. #8 however is much more difficult. It's just a little shorter than #1. This hole is wide open until you get to the basket that is tucked into the woods. If you don't get into the mouth of the woods where the basket is, you are in the thick woods! Very difficult to even tap out of.
-Creek comes into play on a couple of holes.
-Ends great with a fun and challenging hole 9!

Cons:

-It's new so it has problems like being a little messy. Some trees need to be chopped down and the woods are a little too tight! We know it isn't the fairway if you land in the rough but I was maybe 30' from #8 to the right and I literally turned a common 3 into a 4. This also had nothing to do with my putting. There are also some logs laying around here and there but there are also some thorns. Very irritating and sometimes even in my way when I throw my approach.
-I'll be the first to say that (#2) is horrible at the moment. This is disc golf, not pinball. There is no lane to the basket. However, if we just move the tee a few feet to the right, we have a decent fairway. But there is a tree right in front leaving a few plinko lanes. This hole makes #14 at Hornet's Nest look like an open bomb. However, I doubt it will be like this in a year or two. It's just a new course issue. #5 could also use some chopped down trees.
#4 and #5 are way too close and #5 has a bad tree that I kept hitting and I landed on #4's fairway.
-Take it or leave it: #4. Only 93' and very ace able with a stable putter. You can either be very close or rather far from the basket. If you hit a tree, you probably won't be close, and if you don't, you'll probably go long and into the cluster of trees down the hill. There are many ways to get close here, you can try to hyzer and hope it works its way through, you can throw a stable putter (focus) and keep it a little low and it could even go in! Try a skip shot or something similar to that, etc. I think this hole is a bit of a joke but at least it can be risky.
-2' by 4' pads that are carpet. Hole 5's pad is in the wrong spot on the road because the road is narrow and the course can get muddy. I think it would be awesome if 4's basket was pushed back and slightly further down the hill (maybe 140') from the tee and 5 could be past the creek a little and further down right making a nice anhyzer. Just a recommendation.
-#7 has some overhead limbs straight ahead from the tee.

Other Thoughts:

Clover park is well worth your time. My grandparents live in Clover so I always wondered what it would be like if Clover had a course. It has a very good 9 holer, very good start to Clover disc golf!! Here at Clover, you will just need a few mid ranges and putters that will help with your approach game. This may be a short course but I can see #9 being a signature hole on a real advanced course! This hole is very tight but yet fair of a par 3. You have to throw a disc with a decent turn to clear a thin fairway and to clear a small gap. Very possible to birdie but still a hole to work just for par on.
Course starts easy with a more open hole 1 but gets hard with an unclear hole 2 (should be cleared out soon.) and gets easier with a short hole 3 that goes uphill and to the left and then Clover gives a chance for an ace on 4 that plays downhill and only 93'. Then the course gets serious with holes 5 to 9.
-Favorite hole (#6). Very fun anhyzer with the basket being downhill and to the right on a nice little hill!
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4 0
Dickie B
Experience: 10 played 10 reviews
2.00 star(s)

Worth a visit! 2+ years drive by

Reviewed: Played on:Dec 28, 2014 Played the course:5+ times

Pros:

Bhadella's review is spot on.
My thoughts:
After finding #1 tee, everything is very well marked. Nice "tray" signs. I would like to see the bird's eye view of the hole at each tee, but the distances are shown and according to my foot-wheel, each hole is marked pretty close to the advertised distance. Plenty of benches. Could use a couple more trash cans, but I have to say that the course is very clean. I only picked up 1 cup and 1 can on the entire round.
Hole play:
#1 lets you air out a driver or mid because it is open.
#2 is picturesque with the little stream on the right side.
#3 is "ace-able" using my Firebird. I skipped a hyzer and chained out twice.
The short hole, #4, was my 2nd ace using my Dart.
#5 was an S-shot (right to left) until I found a gap to the left. I forehanded my Firebird 5' from the pin. Now that's my shot for #5.
Same for #6. This is a dogleg right off of a dirt road. The basket is across a dip and elevated on a dirt berm. A forehanded Firebird tombstones into the berm by the basket every time.
For #7, I now throw a Tern that goes right and finishes left near the green. This is a lovely basket placement under a big tree by the pond. Don't go overstable here!
#8 is a straight-on, open fairway shot that is protected well by the trees at the green. If you use a FH instead of a BH (for righties), there's a gap on the left that lets you get right into the green.
#9 is really tight. The tee is dog legged to the left at the end of the shot, so a late finishing hyzer is the way to go.

Cons:

Over stable off of #1 will leave you in the parking lot, so don't park in the far corner of the lot near this hole.
Yes, #4 is short and the layout seems like an afterthought, but it is a "touch" shot that tests your skill.
I like the intent of the #5 tee placement (across the creek), but it is right on the walking path and you have to back-track after your shot. I ended up throwing from this side of the creek instead and the shot was more challenging, but safer.
If you go right early on #6, you better wear chaps when you go to your disc. The right side is simply a huge briar patch that should be cleaned out.
Don't hit the tree on the right on #7 just before leaving the woods or your disc will fly right into Murphy's pond. It is now the eternal resting place of my Gazelle (hence why I now use my Tern :). The basket sits right beside the pond under the big tree.
The tee placement for #8 is on the other side of the big tree and can be a danger spot for incoming discs to the #7 basket and is blind to the people on the #7 tee. Careful here!

The tee boxes each are at least laid with crushed stone and a rubber mat nailed on top, albeit a 3x5 mat that has the wide edge facing you. The mats are better than nothing, but should be upgraded in the future.
It's a long walk back to #1 after #9, but I think 9 more holes are planned for this course, so I can endure.

Other Thoughts:

Glad to see Clover entering the disc golf community. The course is 6 miles from my house, so I can get there, play 9-18 holes and be back at the house in about an hour and 15 min. It is a fun course, but is by no means a competition level course, yet. It is a good place for beginners and someone like me who can't go a day without throwing a disc.
I would recommend this course to anyone who wants a "change", but I don't think you will come back unless you live close. After 8 rounds, I was bored. I began to birdie every hole, and I am not a great player by any stretch.
I would like to give this course a higher rating, but with some unsafe tee box placements, and the relative ease, I think the course needs some improvements to get to Decent/Typical rating.
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5 0
bhadella
Experience: 25.7 years 175 played 5 reviews
2.00 star(s)

Clover: A four leaf clover, not with hole #4 2+ years

Reviewed: Played on:Dec 12, 2014 Played the course:once

Pros:

Design is well suited for beginner/rec course that is still fun enough to challenge more advanced players. Outside of hole #4 and #9, the difficulty and feel of the course is consistent.
#1 (270ft) is the only open hole with a teepad set so a tree blocks a dead straight throw forcing the player to shape the shot in.
#2 (213') is a nifty little straight (tightly wooded) shot with a finish to the left along a babbling creek.
#3 (189ft) is a hyzer shape hole finishing to the left strongly.
#4 (93') is a very short downhill hole with a pinchpoint in fairway 30 ft from basket.
#5 (192') is a uphill S shot requiring the disc to work right and then left up fairway.
#6 (186') is a straight shot along the top of a berm to a basket tucked right off of the berm. This is the most interesting/challenging green on the course.
#7 (228') comes out of the trees and the tucks in to the left along the bank of the pond.
#8 (258') throws across a open field into a moderately protected green.
#9 (273') is the most challenging hole requiring a very good drive along a tight fairway and then finishing to a tight green on the left.

Outside of #6 playing down a walking path (that doubles as a berm), the course is relatively safe to non-DGers. The rest of the park appears well maintained and safe.

The land is well suited for disc golf. Nice elevation changes and the right kind of woods density that makes for disc golf.

Cons:

Equipment: The rubber teepads are 2'x4' sections staked into the ground. They were ran so they are wide but very short (2'). The are trip hazards and are worse than if they would have left the teepads natural. These should be replaced but larger (4'x8') pads set with correct orientation would be best.
Baskets are new Discatchers but were set at incorrect heights. #1 basket was set high (locking collar is probably 10" in air) while the rest of the baskets are set low (locking collar is below grade).

#2 teepad was set 5' left of the proper line of play, it needs to be moved or the first tree in front of teepad needs cut.

#4 is just awful. 93 foot downhill hole wedged in between two decent holes. It's like the degsigner was walking the transition from #3 to #5 and said "Hey, might as well throw a hole in here so we have a 9 hole course". Teepad is way to close to #3 basket making for a safety hazard. Lazy design. This hole is just awful .
#5 and #6 both have a few stray trees that need to be cut to clean up the line of play.
Most of the green areas require additional bushhogging to remove thorny, thistly, little stuff that was left behind. #3 most notably has a drag pile 10' from the basket.

#9 is a very tight line and requires a odd shot shape. Additional cutting would make this hole more in character with the rest.

The courese favors left to right shot shapes a bit. Not terribly inbalanced; but noticable.

Other Thoughts:

Locals should be happy to get a course. A few resonable changes and this could be a legit 3* course given the pretty woods and useful elevations changes.
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1 2
ovrthrow
Experience: 30.2 years 36 played 2 reviews
3.50 star(s)

2+ years drive by

Reviewed: Played on:Nov 30, 2014 Played the course:5+ times

Pros:

well marked ( after you find the first tee) brand new 9 hole short course,
Good variety of shots, tunnel, wooded, to open field.
Also some water on hole 6 and 7 come into play
# 4 is only 93 feet and aceable!

Cons:

You have to look hard to find the first tee.
Located at picnic shelter behind the playground.

Other Thoughts:

This is a good beginner course as well as challenging for an advanced player.
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