Black Mountain, NC

Black Mountain

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2.545(based on 40 reviews)
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20 0
wellsbranch250
Diamond level trusted reviewer
Experience: 10.2 years 652 played 631 reviews
2.50 star(s)

I40 Crossover

Reviewed: Played on:Nov 23, 2023 Played the course:once

Pros:

(2.404 Rating) A fun short par 3 course with several technical ace runs.
- ACEABILITY - One of my favorite things about Black Mountain, was throwing the many chipshots into the protected greens . Holes (2) thru (6) are all sub 200-foot with high risk reward factor when attacking the basket. I regrettably failed to hit metal the entire round. Anyways, I think the ace factor here is at least 3 times higher than the typical 18-hole course. MA4s and MA3s are going to love the higher than normal ace and birdie potential.
- BASIC AMENITIES - Trapezoid concrete tees are present at all the back tees. They are not Texas sized pads, but they are more than adequate. Several holes have a second short pad, generally turf, which will appeal to beginners and MA4s. The baskets are DISCatchers and they were all in good shape. One nice tee sign is present on each hole and it has all the needed info, except next tee direction. The extras include a few benches, a restroom and a shelter.
- HOLE VARIETY - I was surprised by the amount of play change-ups despite the short distances. There are up shots, down shots, right turns, left turns, tunnel shots and open shots. I liked the raised u-shaped mound in front of (17s) basket that took away all the low skip attempts. Water comes into play a few times and hole (1) is over 400 feet long. I'd rank the overall variety at around the middle on my personal course played ledger which includes a lot of niners.
- QUICK PLAY - I logged 52 minutes taking my time and I was taking pictures. I could see quick baggers knocking it out in 45 minutes or less. The course is less than 10 minutes from the interstate exit.
- NATURAL BEAUTY - I loved the backdrop views on many of the holes. The creek and butterfly fields were nice aspects as well. Drawbacks include walking paths, structures in view near constantly and the roar of I40. I scored this aspect at about 50 percentile.

Cons:

Short on complexity
- LAYOUT FLOW - The course has two distinct sections to it. The first nine is on the north side of I40 and plays along the creek for a few holes. The second nine requires walking under I40 and throwing in openish butterfly fields on the south side of I40. The gap is several hundred feet. This is not a deal breaker or anywhere close to that notion, but it will require a decent sized stroll back to the car after tapping out on 18.
- NAVIGATION - Although most hole transitions are easy, I still think first timers will need a nav app to figure out the entire course due to the gap between (9) and (10). No course map on site and I don't recall seeing one navigational cue.
- OVERGROWTH - The back nine plays through a lot of fields with minimal mowing swipes to cut out a fairway. Had it not been for late fall conditions, I would have spent some time scouring through tall grasses trying to locate a couple misfires. Seems like they should have done one or two extra passes, but it wasn't unreasonable considering the shorter hole lengths. Perhaps the butterfly habitat that the park was pushing dictated the limited mowed areas.
- LOST DISC POTENTIAL - Due to the water and overgrowth, the disc loss potential is higher than normal for a beginner friendly course. I had no problem keeping my discs, but newer players will lose plastic here from time to time.
- LACK OF ADVANCED CHALLENGE - I threw all the back tees on the holes with 2 tees and had no issue finishing well under as an MA2 level player. The backs seem most appropriate for MA3s and MA4s will enjoy the short pad layout. MA1s will not be tested and will murder the course.
- SPACING - The entire layout is somewhat crammed together. Several next tees are within 50 feet of the prior basket. There are also walking paths in play on over half of the holes.

Other Thoughts:

Black Mountain is going to work great as a local league course and be fun for newer and casual players. Not a great choice for those looking to build their skills beyond MA3 level, but not every course needs to deliver that aspect. I've thrown a lot of courses similar to this one. Some of those that come to mind include, Scout and Hope in south central Tennessee, Valley View Park near Milwaukee, Hunter Memorial near Atlanta, Grassy Creek south of Indianapolis, Magnolia near Birmingham Alabama and even my first home course of Wells Branch in Austin Texas shares many attributes. No need for the higher skilled cherry picker to show up here, but for those passing along I40 often, I say why not for MA4s and MA3s.
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8 0
The Drake
Gold level trusted reviewer
Experience: 20.8 years 126 played 60 reviews
3.00 star(s)

Great Family Oriented Course 2+ years drive by

Reviewed: Played on:Oct 9, 2020 Played the course:once

Pros:

-Fairly easy to navigate
-Both pro and Am tee pads
-Good mix of holes with essentially the front 9 and back 9 playing as almost completely separate and very different courses
-Back 9 has some great elevation changes
-Beautiful mountain views
-Benches on a few of the holes
-Though I think it was closed because of COVID there are bathrooms by the softball field.

Cons:

-Not a challenge for the advanced-pro level player
-Clearly a public park area with other non-golf patron utilizing the land
-Tee pads are not consistent (A few of the short pads are hard to actually find. Only the long pads are cemented). I played from the longs which were all cement but if you're playing the shorts you might play from natural grass, dirt, turf, or cement.
-Multiple tee signs are missing or clearly inaccurate
-Many of the pins/tees are VERY close to each other which can become quite the hazard, especially on the front 9
-You literally walk through 2s fairway to get to hole 7... that's... not good design...at all...

Other Thoughts:

So I'm giving this course a 3 rating for a couple of reasons. When looking at the course from a "what it is" on the allotted property I don't think there's much more that could be done. This is a tight space, and really 2 different tight spaces. So the the ability to get 18 full holes on is actually quite impressive. All that said honestly this is a fantastic course to get a good introduction to the game. I would list this is a family oriented or junior level course. As an open level player I through driver on hole 1 (over 400ft tee to pin) and then basically threw putter on every other hole. I did break out a midrange a couple times just to mix it up but threw putter afterwards with no problem. There's not a lot of "rough" to get into and even the water holes aren't super scary so the likelihood of disc loss is very low. I happened to be in this area on vacation and had a couple hours to kill in the afternoon. I played this course because it's literally 8 minutes from where I'm staying and I honestly enjoyed it. Definitely not the most difficult but a super fun "vacation" course and if I get a chance to play another round while I'm in town I'm DEFINTELY bringing my family here as with two young kids and a wife who barely plays I know they'll enjoy it. I also saw several signs about a junior disc golf league and have seen multiple reviews regarding the local club so clearly this is a course which much local love and it shows. DO be careful on the front 9 as there are definitely a lot of non-golfers using the property. Also note, the current pictures of the course (especially the back 9) appear to be completely wrong just fyi.
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3 0
adambenson87
Experience: 23.8 years 12 played 11 reviews
3.00 star(s)

satisfies the craving to play 2+ years drive by

Reviewed: Played on:Jul 3, 2019 Played the course:once

Pros:

Good variety of open and woods (front 9 having more woods and back 9, mostly open)Incorporates water hazards on the front 9 with creekPeaceful setting and holes require a good short gameThe manicured fairways and greens are a nice touch-well done to whoever mowed the grass!Satisfying course for a very quick round

Cons:

Most holes are quite short, even for intermediate standardsHoles are often quite close together and overlap with pedestrian walkways, which can make the course feel crowded and can bring walkers into disc-flying-territoryIf you're advanced, birdies feel expected, not earned

Other Thoughts:

It's worth playing, for sure! It's a beautiful course and I like how they manicure fairwaysI wonder if they could have had 9 pro level, long, wonderful holes, where they have 18 short, tiny holes
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3 0
Geodisc25
Experience: 13 years 23 played 6 reviews
3.00 star(s)

Black mnt 2+ years drive by

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

Pros:

Really fun course, pretty lax terrain if you don't feel like doing a hike while you play. I had a lot of fun, lots of birdie holes. Some fun tricky, short shots so its not all about who can throw further. Beautiful scenery of the mountains and a sweet creek that comes into play on front nine. Blue and white tees are nice for all players

Cons:

Not many long holes, a few in the 100's.Could see back nine getting repetitive. Tunnel to back nine fills with mud after storms. lost disc on 18, faded across fence towards highway ( def avoid that haha) couldn't find it even after searching through all the throny plants on the other side of the fence.

Other Thoughts:

Called Veterans Park now
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1 1
jdborden
Experience: 11.1 years 14 played 7 reviews
1.50 star(s)

2+ years drive by

Reviewed: Played on:May 10, 2016 Played the course:once

Pros:

Front 9 has some nice looking holes that run right along a stream

Not heavily trafficked

Well maintained

Cons:

The front 9 are all way too short with the exception of maybe hole 1, which is just a basket in a big open field and not very challenging

The back 9 is the entire reason I have only played this course once. It's literally 9 baskets in about a 3 acre field with no obstacles. I felt unsafe walking to my next shot because the holes all cross over each other and are so close together that you're never really sure where you're shooting.

Other Thoughts:

The front 9 was fun aside from the fact that I played almost the entire thing with only my putter and the back 9 isn't even worth the time in my opinion
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5 1
Bennybennybenny
Diamond level trusted reviewer
Experience: 13.1 years 305 played 287 reviews
1.50 star(s)

If you bring a group, it'll be funner. 2+ years

Reviewed: Updated: Played on:Nov 18, 2016 Played the course:once

Pros:

-I like the back nine here, for the most part. It has some average length holes like 225' to 400'. The elevation changes are pretty solid and SOME of the island holes are fun.

-Hole #15 is by far the signature hole here. It's a hole you don't want to miss out on. It's a super fun, long downhill shot. You have to be left of the road and right of the fence on this hole. If you stand on the long pad, savor this hole. Take a picture because it is pretty great.

-If you play this course at Friday singles, or in a tournament. It's anyone's game. To me, that is a con. But to some people, that is a pro. The OB's really amp up this course. If you were to set up a scatterplot of a random sample of scores, chances are you would run out of room on a piece of paper. I had a VERY terrible round (57) because of three holes, in which one of them I got a 10 on. But there are scores here in the low forties.

-Dual sets of tees, I would just play the blues. They are hardly any longer. The short pads are used as drop zones when you go OB. The blue pads are much more interesting.

-Has some benches here. Which is more than enough because this course isn't really hilly.

-Ends well with a great hole 18! I hit chains for an ace and it would've been my longest one, but oh well. It's a fun open hole at 329' long that plays slightly downhill. The rough to the left is OB, but to me it's relatively fair because it isn't an island, so if you want to play it safe you could just throw it further to the right.

Cons:

-Okay. The island green rule about being inside the berm on #17 is well, a terrible idea. Sorry, but if you are new to the game or just play to have fun. HAVE FUN, and forget about it. #17 is a newly added hole that was put in because the old #13 was taken out. #17 is 240' from the long, so you need throw at least 210' to get it to the berm, but the road is no more than 15' past the basket. I threw from the long, went past the road, re-teed from the short, missed it THREE more times. I was playing at Friday Singles, so after that I really wanted to leave just because of one hole. I don't mind island greens but after missing it four times, it's just not funny; it takes the fun out of the game. I'm strongly against the "re-tee until you make it" rule, because it sucks! I mean, if you think it's a good idea then I would say you're crazy. Re-teeing from the short didn't make any matters better because it only made it tougher for me to avoid the road. This is how the hole is played and the idea pissed me off so badly. Either establish a drop zone maybe 120' from the pin, or just do without the island green.

-Another ridiculous island hole is 10. You have to cross the road, but the creek is so close to the basket. If you don't cross, or if you go into the creek like I did. You have to re-tee from the short pad if you play the OB's. I think this hole would be better if it was straight, where you don't play it as an island, because if you cross over the road, you might as well take a provisional because chances are, you're OB. And re-teeing just makes it even more irritating because the chances of you hitting the water don't get anymore slim. You still will probably hit it. Want my advice, forget the islands on 10 and 17.

-Front nine isn't all that fun. It starts off well with a long par 3 and continues to be fun on the second hole. But holes 4 thru 6 are awfully short, and don't really have a challenge to them. But if you play singles here, you will love this three hole stretch. Hole 9 in my opinion is just too weak of a hole as well. The basket was moved, it used to be over the road but now the road and beyond is OB. It's like 130' and doesn't really offer a challenge unless you really want an ace.

Other Thoughts:

-If you exclude two holes, the back nine is pretty good. Especially holes 12-15. They are all excellent holes with good elevation changes. Hole 12 is a great uphill ace run that plays as an island, but it isn't so hard to hit. #13 is back downhill and over a fence! #14 is steep uphill onto a slightly wooded green, and #15! Oh my gosh #15 is a fun downhill bomb! If you play for fun, I promise you will love this hole.

-If you play holes 12-15, and 18 multiple times, you'll have more fun than you will playing the whole course. Some ideas that the WNC disc golf club have for OB rules are just over the top, and idiotic. Not that I don't like OB, but I don't like stupid and not needed OB, and holes 10 and 17 are like that. Both are really stupid holes. Overall, I don't recommend. Design a new course in the Asheville area because I don't like this course and based on the rating, you probably won't either. Unless you just play 12-15 and 18 several times.
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7 0
KenanFlagler01
Diamond level trusted reviewer
Experience: 14 years 195 played 190 reviews
2.50 star(s)

Nice pit stop! 2+ years drive by

Reviewed: Played on:Sep 5, 2016 Played the course:once

Pros:

I debated a long time with this rating between a 2.0 and a 2.5. I feel like 2.5 is pretty generous, but when I stack it up against the courses I've played, I decided that a 2.5 is deserved. I try not to give points for convenience to major roads. I feel like courses should be graded on their own merits, then you should decide if it's worth the drive, long or short, to get to it. But with that said, I ultimately gave Black Mountain a 2.5 because of the convenience to I-40 -- a plus the designers obviously took into account when imagining and installing this course.

+ First and foremost, this is a fantastic pit stop off of I-40. I've driven past this course dozens and dozens of times and never made the stop. Mistake! Usually, when I look for pit stop courses to break up long trips, I look for 9-holers right off the interstate. (That's why I've never stopped here: it's an 18-hole course and I assumed it was too much of a time investment.) Black Mountain is essentially two 9-hole courses with similar, but slightly different feels, one on one side of the interstate and one on the other. Yes, this course is bisected by I-40 (has to be a one of a kind). You can play one 9-holer or both without spending too much time. I played fast and finished the whole 18 in 30 minutes. So, if you're a road traveler -- the target demo for this course -- don't assume this is an hour-long stop. You can do 9 holes in under 15 minutes or 18 holes in a half hour. It's worth the stop.

+ I was also expecting a pitch and putt style course. While that's true for many holes, there are blue tees for added distance on the back nine. Also, while there are a lot of short holes, there are some obstacles you don't normally see on a pitch and putt -- namely, water. A picturesque creek borders several holes on the front 9 and one on the back 9. Probably my favorite hole on the course is the 150-foot hole #2 (184 from the blues) that looks easy enough, but you play a RHBH hyzer over the creek to a peninsula green. Under-shoot the hzyer or put too much distance on it and you'll be swimming in a cool, refreshing mountain stream!

+ Navigation is straight-forward. Park in the lot by the first tee. Start there or play the back 9 first, if you choose. To get to the back 9, use the walking path tunnel under I-40.

+ Black Mountain is a well-maintained, aesthetically pleasing public park. It has a beautiful mountain stream, a vegetable garden and a butterfly garden on the campus. There are also athletic fields. The road noise takes away a good bit of the peaceful ambiance, but it still looks nice and the surrounding mountains are also picturesque.

+ There are very good concrete tee pads for the blue tees (and tees shared with the whites). The white tees are just grass.

+ Good baskets with good visibility from the tees.

+ Porto-john on site, if you need it.

+ For what little land is available for the course, I feel like they used it well. Several fairways are quite close together, especially on the back 9, but there actually are not any crossing fairways. You still need to be aware of walkers and other golfers. For a "pitch and putt" course, there is some elevation on a few holes, man-made obstacles (a berm guarding the 17th basket, telephone poles near the 11th and 18th tees), natural obstacles (the stream, trees). Yes, it's a short course, but it gives you things to think about. The front 9 is shorter and has 8 wooded holes (some with just a couple trees guarding the basket, like #2, or the tee, like #9, but wooded nonetheless). The back 9 is longer, has more elevation, and is almost completely open, except for the berm on 17, the telephone poles, and a few scattered trees, mostly defining the wide fairways. This isn't the most challenging course in the world, but right around average in terms of the fun factor.

Cons:

If you're looking for a championship-level course, this isn't what you're after. These cons come more with the territory of what the course was designed to be, as opposed to flaws. It's a quick, beginner-friendly course to lure travelers to exit and spend a little time in Black Mountain, nothing more, nothing less.

- Not very challenging. Many of the holes are wide open and somewhat redundant.

- Foot traffic was my biggest issue. There were a number of other golfers on the course when I played, plus some others just walking the foot paths. Be aware before you throw, especially on #8, which is a blind shot around the trees bordering the creek, and #11, which essentially has the walking path as a fairway.

- This is a nit-pick, but based on the challenge offered at this course, instead of white and blue tees, I think they should be red and white tees (or even green and red tees).

- Again, this comes with the territory of this course, but one con is the noise from I-40.

Other Thoughts:

When I read DGCR reviews, what I'm essentially trying to determine is, "Is this course worth the time investment to play?" For Black Mountain, especially because it's so easy to get to as you drive through Western North Carolina, I say the answer is Yes!
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1 0
johngarcia79
Experience: 9.8 years 35 played 11 reviews
3.50 star(s)

Local course 2+ years drive by

Reviewed: Played on:Mar 3, 2015 Played the course:5+ times

Pros:

I like that you can run through a round in under and hour and a half. It has just about every style of shot under 400 feet. There is water in play on a few hole making you sweat a few shots. The locals rock. Monday rd dubs is fun. Overall fun course. Every hole is birdie potential and a bunch of ace runs.

Cons:

I wish every hole was 100-200 feet longer. It would really be great then. Signage could be way better. Some of the pads are done for. The new concrete pads are slowly getting installed which is great. Hole 9 long is washed away, so short is about 150 ft. A map and score card would be nice(with distances). There's also a walking path through the entire course so watch out for walkers.

Other Thoughts:

Talk to the locals, they are friendly and always down to throw.
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1 0
Patton82
Experience: 10.8 years 11 played 6 reviews
3.50 star(s)

Great ace run course! 2+ years drive by

Reviewed: Played on:Jun 26, 2014 Played the course:once

Pros:

Great ace run course! I used my Innova Leopard on the entire course...good putt and approach baskets. Front 9 is layed ouy around the outer edge of some ball feilds, while the back 9 is tucked into a hill side with some very obvious fairways cut into the grass.

Cons:

The back 9 is a bit akward...you feel as if a little old man is going to come yell, "get out of my yard!" Kind of hard to tell where the next tee box is since the last 9 basket zig-zag over a small rolling hill

Other Thoughts:

All in all....i liked this course! I would definately play it again just for the chance to sink an Ace!!
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3 0
pandabaer6496
Experience: 16.8 years 818 played 7 reviews
2.00 star(s)

2+ years

Reviewed: Played on:Jul 16, 2014 Played the course:2-4 times

Pros:

course is set in a nice little park. there are a couple longer holes to mix in with the shorter ones. fun deuce or die course
the front nine is especially short but does add some woodsy holes requiring some technical shots

Cons:

tee signs are terrible, really need to be replaced.
course is super repetative, the entire back 9 consists of the same straight uphill or downhill shot, which makes it really dull
also, youre right below the highway while playing this course, which takes away from the experience for me

Other Thoughts:

this is a decent begginer level course. the park does have a nice walking trail if you want something to do before or after a round. if looking for more challenging courses, there are plenty closeby (Richmond Hill, an excellent course in Asheville, is about 20 minutes away). Nonetheless, if you want to work on your short game or introduce yourself to disc golf, Black Mtn is not a bad option
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1 1
jeffboi
Experience: 9.9 years 14 played 14 reviews
2.50 star(s)

Fun Pitch and Putt Style Course 2+ years drive by

Reviewed: Updated: Played on:Jul 12, 2014 Played the course:once

Pros:

Pretty open and a lot of fun. Not too challenging - very short. Some use of elevation ...overall, straight forward and great for beginners.

Cons:

Long grass on back 9 is a nuisance - you will eventually find your disc and still will have a wide open second shot.
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2 1
lohroffc
Experience: 10 years 38 played 3 reviews
1.50 star(s)

Not enjoyable 2+ years drive by

Reviewed: Played on:Jun 29, 2014 Played the course:once

Pros:

mixed layout (wooded front, open back)
Easy to get to
Easy to navigate (back nine is through the tunnel)

Cons:

inconsistent tee boxes
seemingly randomly placed tees and pins
Front 9 includes several high risk shots along the creek, often without realizing your flirting with the creek with very little reward. Except for hole 1 you could play the the entire front with your putter... with an exception or 2 where you might use your midrange.

The back 9 has virtually no challenging shots at all. It is simply a field with tees and pins placed without much thought. If others are on the course you have to be wary of them as they are likely in your line of flight or vice versa. Again the back is very short so there is very little need for a driver.

Most holes have a second set of tees but they are virtually pointless as they only typically add 10-30 feet to the length.

Tee turf mats are very small, but that isn't a huge deal as there is virtually no need for a run up tee shot on any hole. Some are uneven so make sure you have a good footing for your release.

Other Thoughts:

I think this could have been an interesting 9 hole course rather than cramming 18 holes in. Holes 2-5 are virtually unplayable due to block lines of flight and pin placement along the creek. Having 4-5 holes on the front side of the highway and 4-5 on the back side (longer) would have made for an interesting course. Add second tees (with more variability than just length) and you could have had 18 playable holes.
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4 0
FlyingSouthDG
Bronze level trusted reviewer
Experience: 13.9 years 49 played 26 reviews
2.50 star(s)

Fun Beginner-Intermediate Course 2+ years

Reviewed: Updated: Played on:May 24, 2014 Played the course:once

Pros:

- The variety is fantastic; the front nine are mostly lightly wooded while the back nine are very open.
- Great for making birdie runs, especially in the back nine with accuracy. Intermediate players can certainly finish under par.
- Quick course, by oneself all 18 holes can be played in under an hour.
- Every hole is a par 3, makes score-keeping easy.
- Navigation through the course is easy with plenty of trails from pin to tee.

Cons:

- As aforementioned, this course can be a birdie run for the experienced player, so it doesn't pose the biggest challenge to those looking to test their skills.
- The holes are located rather close to one another throughout the entire course; you must be aware of players around you.
- Although the tees on the back nine are nice turf pads, the front nine do not have any tee pads.

Other Thoughts:

I would certainly recommend this course to any beginner or intermediate disc golfer in the area or just passing through. Also, with the variety, one could practice throws in slightly wooded areas by playing the front nine a couple times through and practice throwing for distance in the back nine. The course is very well maintained, so depending on the weather, this course makes for a fun afternoon all year long.
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6 0
reposado
Diamond level trusted reviewer
Experience: 12.8 years 278 played 273 reviews
2.00 star(s)

Just off, and under, the highway 2+ years drive by

Reviewed: Played on:Nov 1, 2013 Played the course:once

Pros:

For a travel-stop course, Black Mountain is not too shabby. It's just off the highway, it can be played quickly, it has a few nice shots, and it boasts some epic scenery.

The course is literally a step from the interstate. I've played disc golf north if I40, and I've played south of it, but this was the first time I've done that on a single course. This little slice of land is completely surrounded by mountains. I40 slightly ruins the effect, but you hear the cars more than you see the high way. Views of the peaks are largely unimpeded. It's a great place to stop, stretch legs and throw a few discs around.

It's a short course. It even labels itself as par three disc golf. But it has a few memorable holes. Mostly two and three. They aren't long holes, but they wind along the river, adding some needed danger, and you can hang one out over the river before fading left to the bank. The river itself is great, its not deep enough or fast enough to be a disc-loss threat, but it moves along nicely and adds great effect to the front nine.

The back nine is across the highway in an open field, but a field on an hill, giving many of the holes here some interest based on elevation alone. It also boasts tees, nice turf tees at that, which have held up far better than the teesigns. Many of them also had a second teepad. Maybe, they all did, it's tough to tell without signs. But the hill allows many of the otherwise unremarkable holes to stand out, at least from each other. One is along the river. Another sharply uuphill. One downhill down the middle and another downhill along the edge. For the space the nine was scrammed into it's a pretty nice design.

Cons:

The extra stuff at Black Mountain is in pretty bad shape. The signs are mostly missing, with only the post that held them remaining. The signs that are there have seen better days. And it is often (perplexingly so at such a small course) difficult to locate the next tee. Even with the map I ended up skipping 13 and going from 12 to 14. It may also be advisable to skip 18, as there is no basket there.

Beyond that, half the course is just in an open field and one without a ton of distance. There has been an attempt to mow it into fairway and rough, but none of that affects flight path and most holes can be easily parked anyways.

Even on the first nine, 4-6 are pretty weak and a disappointment after the previous holes. While the other are short, these are incredibly short. When I realized at the 4 basket that I had to backtrack and play parallel to 2 and 3 I was fairly stunned. They're really just upshots and require walking back across where someone could be throwing. Of the nine, I'd say four are pure filler.

Other Thoughts:

It's fun, but it might have been more fun as a nine. Playing 2,3,7,8 and some combination of the back nine could be a great nine with a lot more challenge. I think a great safari nine could be easily be made up with what is there and if I was local, I would have definitely done this.

If it isn't too crowded, just use the 11 basket from the 18 tee.
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4 0
pfpro
Silver level trusted reviewer
Experience: 55 played 41 reviews
2.50 star(s)

Convenient, easy, quick 2+ years

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

Pros:

- Great location - right off 40 (you have to walk under 40 to get to back 9).
- Right at the base of the mountains - some nice views as you are playing.
- Multiple tees on most baskets.
- Back nine makes good use of gentle elevation changes.
- Decent amount of benches
- If you play quickly (with no one else on the course), you could probably get a round done in 30 minutes.

Cons:

- Probably ace runs on 15+ of the 18 holes, so the course is very short (and those who throw them feel obligated to sign them).
- Teepads are pretty bad. Non-existent on most of the front nine. Back 9 has astroturf which is kind of "lumpy".
- Signs need to be redone. They are kind of weathered. The ones that are there are adequate.
- The course is pretty tight. The only reason why it would not be dangerous if several groups were playing is because they should be playing with blunt-nosed putters (or maybe that's why it is dangerous because those throwing drivers may not quite be as accurate as needed).
- Minimal variation in holes - it's OK, but not great.

Other Thoughts:

This is close to where our church does a retreat, so I have been able to play this course a few times. It's actually a fun little course. 2 is a great hole over water (that you can fish your disc out of if you hit the tree branch). They changed 9 so it's not over the bike path anymore. That was a quirky, cool hole, but no longer....:( The back nine are similar in the open field - they actually do a decent job mixing them up, and it seems like the field is mowed and fairways maintained, so you feel like you're playing on a course rather then in a field. Navigation is a little tricky the first time since you can see all these baskets. The first time I played was early in my DG "career" and I found the course very challenging. When I played a few years later, it really was a putter and mids course. I think it would be a good course for beginners to learn on, but I will say it again, it is very, very short. If it weren't for the convenient location and mountain views, I would have given a 2.
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11 0
New013
Diamond level trusted reviewer
Experience: 13.7 years 179 played 120 reviews
2.00 star(s)

Mountain Birdie Time 2+ years drive by

Reviewed: Played on:May 16, 2012 Played the course:once

Pros:

Layout - A good short par 3 course that gives you two different looks. The front nine goes from open to wooded to a mixture and then you hit the back nine and end up in an open field.

The front nine does offer up some technical shorter shots that you'll have to do some shot shaping to get close. It uses the river very well to add difficulty to some holes and makes you think about your route. The wooded part has some nice basket locations that add difficulty to some putts. It also gives you the longest open hole (#1) on the course where you can really rip it.

The back nine is in a big open field which is usually a sign of boredom but I can honestly say I've never seen open done so well. They use the elevation and the edges of the field to give you some unique looks. The fairways and greens are mowed while the rough is left tall which adds another aspect that makes you feel like you're not just out in the open.

The entire course is a birdie fest and you can really shoot low out there and feel good about yourself. There's two sets of tees and even the longer ones are casual player level. I also think the course flows well and you're never left wondering where to go next.

Equipment - The baskets are in good shape. The tees are large and astroturf and worked surprisingly well. It was dry when I played so I could see them being a problem if wet but i had no complaints. There's benches everywhere which helped in the open area when the sun was blazing.

Atmosphere - The aura of the course is hit and miss. On one hand you have anice wooded area, a river, a nice open field and a community garden with an Appalachian backdrop. On the other hand I-40 is running right through the middle of it all. The park also has some ball fields but the course keeps you away from that for the most part.

Cons:

Layout - Although the front nine does well with a limited space it's crammed in there and the layout suffers from that. You probably won't need more than a putter for everything from 2-9. I also didn't like how many simple hyzers were thrown in on the first part as you went along the edge of the woods towards the back nine.

I liked #1 because it's long and open but it just doesn't jive with how the course really begins, it would be much better if it was the last hole you played.

The open back nine is done superbly for what it is but... if they planted some trees to mix it up a bit and create some separation from other holes it would be a huge step in the right direction.

Equipment - I didn't mind the astroturf tees but I know that's a con for some. The hole signs are broken in a lot of places and need to be redone.

Atmosphere - As I said before I-40 runs right through the middle of the park and ruins what would be a beautiful place in a way.

Other Thoughts:

I played this course with friends of all ages, from a couple with a baby to an older women. It's that kind of place, a great place to bring your family or people starting out.

#2 is an awesome disc golf hole. It's a hyzer over a bend in the river, around a tree and on to the bank where the basket sits right in the bend.

This is a fun course and if you're going past it on I-40 you should definitely stop. If they get some trees on the back part the course it would be one of the more solid ones in the area. The designers did a good job of taking the area and making it fun and interesting. If they get some trees on the back nine I'll bump it up.
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2 2
skottyb
Experience: 24.9 years 54 played 26 reviews
2.50 star(s)

Nice pitch and putt 2+ years drive by

Reviewed: Played on:May 14, 2012 Played the course:2-4 times

Pros:

Nice location, Good flow to the course, creek runs along the front nine and can play some degree of difficulty. Can play a fast round, put in 2 solo rounds in 2 hours and took my time, I think the put it together well for the amount of land available, I dont think there is any other way it could have flowed that well

Cons:

Front 9 tees are terrible, puddles of water in the middle of each one, didn't have to use any other discs other than a roc and a sole, did use a teebird on the first hole, the longest by far on the course. Back 9 is good to work on your putter driving game, definitely lacked obstacles though.

Other Thoughts:

Easy to get too, i was wanting to get in rounds quick so it did the job, in town visiting and will check Richmond Hill for more of a challenge.
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9 0
roadtrip
Bronze level trusted reviewer
Experience: 28.8 years 200 played 22 reviews
3.00 star(s)

2+ years drive by

Reviewed: Played on:Oct 31, 2011 Played the course:2-4 times

Pros:

Close to the highway, easy to navigate, very quick rounds. Fun layout. Front 9 are all shortie holes with obstacles (trees, a river), Back 9 (walk under the hwy to get there) are all open. Nice variety on all of these (rights, lefts, skippers, tight shots, open shots, etc). Very scenic and serene. This is a great course to stop and warm-up on when you're headed to Richmond Hill. The back 9 seems uninspired but it's well maintained and it's good use of such a small area. Fairways were mowed short when I played, and the rough is manageable - no lost discs in this tall-grass. There are two tees for most holes and the back 9 at least plays up/down hills and incorporates the mtn/hwy wind.

Cons:

Signs and tee pads could be better.
There are walking trails throughout the course, so please beware of dog-walkers and families.

Other Thoughts:

The last reviewer summed it up pretty well - this course is between a 2.5 and a 3; I chose 3 because I wanted to improve the rating instead of hurting it. The best way to look at this course is a very easy, quick, scenic walk. No huge drives, just a bunch of shortie woods holes on the front 9 and open holes on the back. Hole 9 is unique to look at but a relatively easy throw over a bridge.

There are tons of shortie courses close to highways, this is one I'd actually recommend. Not a destination course, but a really nice warm-up course. If you're with buddies, it's mostly ace runs and then making your putts. Also a good course if you're traveling with non-golfers (significant others, kids, dogs, etc)
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4 0
mikeyg
Experience: 22.9 years 42 played 3 reviews
3.00 star(s)

Surprisingly fun 2+ years drive by

Reviewed: Played on:Oct 20, 2011 Played the course:once

Pros:

I was pleasantly surprised by how fun this course was to play. The front 9 was basically like a pitch and putt but was technical enough to require a variety of throws. The holes had clever designs and used the creek that came into play well. The back 9 was basically wide open but added some elvation changes.

Cons:

Over all the back 9 was a littel bit lacking but from what I understand it was added afterwards. There really weren't any signs to help with navigation but it was relatively easy for the most part. The recently changed the layout of the back 9 a bit and after I think it was hole 13 the numbers on the tees don't match the numbers on the baskets. If I remember correctly, tee 14 throws at pin 15 and so on. the course was very windy, which i am told is the norm. Also, the close proximity to the highway took a little away from the experience.

Other Thoughts:

I was trying to decide whether to give this course a 2.5 or a 3. Ultimately, because I had fun playing the course I wanted to improve its overall rating a little rather than make it worse. While I only threw an even round, I attribute that to it being my first time and wind blown putts. Overall I think just about every hole is a possible birdie.
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7 0
ashevillain
Experience: 11 played 11 reviews
3.00 star(s)

Love it! 2+ years drive by

Reviewed: Updated: Played on:Dec 2, 2011 Played the course:5+ times

Pros:

- I love the front 9 although I loved the old original 9 even more (see other thoughts). The carpeted tees here seem to not be nearly as slick as the the ones at Richmond Hill. Easy flow to the course for the most part and the signage is plentiful enough.

- One of my favorite holes ever is #2 (old #5) where you have to throw over the Swannanoa River. Also I like the way they did #9 so you can see the basket through the culvert. If they really wanted to making this hole challenging it could be made into a mando under the bridge.

- I'm conflicted on how to address the back 9. On one hand I'm glad there are 18 holes now but on the other hand the back 9 holes aren't the best or most creative.

- I recently played the white tees for the first time using only a putter and playing them as par 2's. I have to recommend you to do this if you are getting burned out on the blue tees. It's a nice change of pace throwing slightly different shots. It's still challenging if you make them par 2's plus almost every hole is a potential ace.

Cons:

- It's kind of awkward how the course doubles back on itself after #5 and #18

- You have to walk back across #2. I always find myself peeking around the opening in trees so I don't get hit with a disc coming from the #2 tee since they can't see you either and some people will throw to the left of that big tree instead of throwing to the right of it and over the river.

- After you finish #18 you walk back under the interstate and past the basket for #9 and you can't really see if anyone is throwing from the #9 tee so you need to be aware!

- I wish the back 9 played downstream on the opposite side of the river (starting on the other side of the footbridge...parallel to the front 9).

- As of 12/26/11 some of the carpeted tees have started to settle or warp or something. Most of them are really bumpy...a couple of them (#10 comes to mind) are pretty dangerous as far as rolling/twisting/breaking and ankle. Also, IMO almost all of the tees on the back 9 are too short.

- There's lots of idiotic ace tagging of the baskets. Seriously, please stop this. It looks trashy. And, no, I do not believe that "Ramrod" has aced every hole out there.

Other Thoughts:

My favorite was the old configuration. The tee for #1 used to be under the bridge between current #9 and #10 and the course followed the river downstream. The original #9 ended on the opposite side of the baseball fields (near the entrance to the park). If you continue to follow the river after #4 you can still see where the old tees (little blue concrete circles) and baskets were. The new #1, #2, #3, #4 correspond to the old #4, #5, #6, #7. The other 5 holes on the front 9 are totally different. The front 9 had to be redone following flooding which washed away some of the river banks.

[/waxing nostalgic]
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