Kingsport, TN

Warriors Path State Park - Lakefront

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3.765(based on 53 reviews)
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18 0
2002P51
Experience: 11.8 years 46 played 3 reviews
4.00 star(s)

Warriors State Park - Lakefront

Reviewed: Played on:Apr 25, 2023 Played the course:5+ times

Pros:

This is not a review so much as it is a report. The old 27 hole layout that has been Warriors for decades has been re-configured into two 18 hole courses. The Lakefront course and the Cliffside course (Cliffside will need it's own page) Lakefront uses most of the original holes but in a slightly different order. You start with holes 1 through 3 as you always have. After three you walk across the field to what used to be hole 13 but is now 4. Then you play the rest of what used to be 14 through 27, as 5 through 18. There are new tee signs and a few directional signs and all of the baskets have been renumbered so navigation shouldn't be a problem.

Cons:

The two courses do cross each other at one point and that may cause some conflicts. Players going from Cliffside's hole 15 to 16 will have to wait for the players on Lakeside hole 4 to throw before they can proceed.

Other Thoughts:

You can still play the old layout or a mix of the two courses if you like. You'll notice that the Lakefront course has all yellow baskets while the Cliffside baskets are all white.
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13 0
dino2disc
Silver level trusted reviewer
Experience: 24.6 years 72 played 39 reviews
4.50 star(s)

Multiple signature holes! 2+ years

Reviewed: Played on:Jul 22, 2021 Played the course:once

Pros:

Add this to your list of landmark courses to play, as its old school style and wonderful variety make for a lot of fun. Here's some reasons why:
- You get 27 holes instead of the usual 18, and the last 8 include some of the best holes on the course along with a slight uptick in the challenge level.
- Good amount of parking right at where #1 begins, #18 ends, and #20 begins, so you can play partial round loops easily.
- The grounds are well maintained by the park staff. Even playing in the middle of summer you'll find the fields and fairways well mowed.
- Two basket positions on some holes, and two tee options on #16 and #26. The tee options don't vary much in length, but they do provide different angles to the basket.
- Concrete tees, though a few of them are a little short.
- EXCELLENT use of the topography to give you great variety, including a valley cross (#26), ridge cross (#21), steep uphills (#2 and 5), steep downhills (#6, 15, and 22), left doglegs (#13, 18, and 19), and right doglegs (#4, 11, 23, and 26). At the same time the fairways (other than #11) are generally wide enough to stay fair.
- Multiple signature holes you won't forget! I very rarely say that about a course, but there are three of them here: #15 is a totally-unique steep downhill hole requiring a slightly right turning dart of a tee shot onto an "island" green just on the other side of a narrow creek. Hands down one of the most unique holes I've ever played. Next is #26 (I think this was the old #25?) which from either tee involves a broad valley cross and moderate right turn from the tee, after which your approach is uphill to basket on a narrow cross slope. Cool design and it's fun flying high through the tall tree trunks. And third is #27 (old #26) which is a straight, slightly uphill dart into a narrow rocky tunnel less than 8ft wide by the basket. Gunning for the basket is worth the potential disc damage!

Cons:

- As others have said, navigation is often confusing. Took me 10 minutes to find the path to tee #3. The worst though is finding #21. It seems that the final 7 holes have changed number and/or layout a couple times over the years, and the course map uploaded here is wrong from #21 onward. To get to the 21st tee you have to walk down the hill then turn left to find the tee. Then #22 plays back down the hill to the road on your right again. Seems silly to walk this as a mini loop like that...
- The middle stretch of #7 through #12 gets repetitive and boring. Too similar in the dense wood tunnels for my taste. Even right after finishing my round I couldn't really remember most of them.
- #11 is by far the worst hole here. There's negligible fairway and you're forced into a long, slow right turn that's guaranteed to kick into really dense undergrowth on either side. Virtually impossible to keep it in the 'open' path. Just hope you can pop back out in one shot to scrounge a bogey at best.
- Seems to keep pretty busy due to its popularity, so it could make it tough if you like to play quick like I do.
- The layout crowds on top of itself in a few places, like #1 fairway and the tee for #18, and the #16 basket and #18 fairway.
- Rock dings and scrapes are likely on #27 (if you have the guts to rip it that is!)

Other Thoughts:

- I listed a decent number of negatives above, but in my book they're far outweighed by all the positives here. Yeah there's no particularly long holes and few full-out bomb opportunities, but the exceptional layout variety and ability to score low if you keep your shots under control makes for a really fun round. The shorter lengths also keep it accessible for new players. Thus I felt this course deserves a 4.5 star to help bump up its average. Solid 4 star in any book.

- It's just a few minutes drive off of I-81 so a must-add to road trips through the area!
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17 0
pmay5
Gold level trusted reviewer
Premium Member
Experience: 20.8 years 480 played 245 reviews
3.00 star(s)

The Warrior has a lot of variety, but is showing its age. 2+ years

Reviewed: Played on:Sep 18, 2021 Played the course:once

Pros:

Good variety of holes, open, partially wooded and heavily wooded. Good use of the elevation available, just about every type of elevation you can imagine.
Several of the baskets and tee pads have been replaced, but more are needed.
Located in a beautiful State Park, with no admission charge. It is located between Kingsport and I-81, so very accessible for all the activities, campground, fishing and boating lake, swimming pool, soccer, golf and horseback riding.
All of the fairways are wide enough to hit a line, even the more wooded holes. The open holes add some distance, but not overly long.
Some holes have multiple tees and multiple basket positions.
19 holes on one side of the park road and parking, then another 8 on the other side. I'm guessing these other 8 were added later, after the 1980 opening.
#27, one of the coolest finishing holes you will find, more on that later.

Cons:

Several of the baskets and tee pads need to be replaced. I lost count how many of the baskets had chains covered in rust, including #1. Although they have started replacing tee pads, several are small and have bad dropoffs.
There are 4 holes on the open hillside at the start of the course. It seemed pretty easy for errant tee shots to cross fairways and interfere with others, especially on #1, with the park road down the left side, most players are going to play away from that, toward #18 tee and #17 basket.
A long, tricky downhill walk from #1 to #2 tee, however I don't see another way to get past the playground to the other side of the course.
#4 tee is in an awkward position, in an open area, just off the main route to #13 basket. If people on both tees aren't paying attention, it would be easy to get beaned.
The Tees signs are pretty old and basic, they look like original equipment.

Other Thoughts:

One of the original Disc Golf courses in Tennessee, it was great to play this piece of history. These courses usually have a lot of short, putter or mid-range holes, while there are several, #2, #14, #15, #16, #19, #20, I've seen courses from this age with a lot more. They do allow for ace runs.
I started by mentioning the variety of vegetation and elevation, along with those, the distance is varied pretty well also. Everything from the shortys mentioned above, to several holes around 400'. I'm not sure I agree with #1, #5 and #6 all being 400' and Par 3s, the later two being the best of these. Both are valley tee shots, past partial woods (#5 toward the green and #6 off the tee), and finishing uphill. #18 is just under 400', but downhill and curving left, probably one of the best looking holes on the course, especially with the basket tucked in the edge of the woods.
The most interesting of the wooded holes is #10, straight, slightly downhill with a huge hardwood tree framing the basket. The other wooded holes are wide enough, if you miss key trees, to get close to the basket.
#15 is the most memorable and fun and the short holes. Straight downhill, just 188', once you hit the gap, there is a small creek to clear just before the basket.
Another fun downhiller is on the final 8, #22 is just under 300' and drops 30-40', the fairway is framed by a little used park road on the right and some thick rough on the left, let it fly, but keep it straight!
We've all played tight tunnel holes, maybe straight lines of pine trees, or bamboo, or just thick trees, but how many have you played down a tunnel of large rock embankments down the entire length of the hole? #27 is such a fun way to finish your round, the basket is probably normally in the 300' position, but at about 175', you have a rock outcrop blocking the right half of the fairway, get past that and you have a shot at birdie. Get stopped by that and you need a straight upshot to save Par.
It would be nice to see this course get some love and new equipment. They are certainly making other improvements to the park and the golf course appears to be in excellent shape. I'm sure this course started out with some high ratings, but I don't feel it is still at the 3.77 level. It appears to be very popular (since I have seen people playing every time I have been near the course), probably because there are holes for all types of players, but in its current condition, Winged Deer Park is a much better course.
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16 0
Par Hunter
Bronze level trusted reviewer
Experience: 2.8 years 24 played 15 reviews
4.00 star(s)

Don't miss this one! 2+ years drive by

Reviewed: Played on:Jul 21, 2021 Played the course:5+ times

Pros:

In a state park, with lots of amenities nearby. Also only a few minutes from multiple stores and restaurants if desired.
Course is well maintained for the most part. A large fallen tree on hole 11 one time was removed by the next time I played the course, which cannot have been easy. Admittedly, I am not here most of the time, but still I've been at other courses where the trees are left for a year or more.
Beautiful layout and nice elevation changes keep things interesting.
With 27 holes, even a very bad start can allow time to have some later success and feel good about it.
Course holes have been renumbered in 21-27. No longer do you have to face a monumental uphill hole on the last hole of the day, and it is easier to find your way around on these holes as well. Likewise you get to finish with a beautiful hole between some boulders for #27.
Wind isn't a major factor here in the times I have played here. You do have to own your wild throws for this reason. :)
The course has basically everything a recreational level player could want in a course: variety of holes, distances, elevation changes, varying levels of challenge, wooded areas to keep cool in the summer, etc.

Cons:

Navigation at times is still a little strange. In particular the way from 9 to 10 isn't intuitive. There is an easily overlooked path with a view that is blocked from the basket. Sometimes there are multiple paths leading away from the basket obligating you to retrace steps to find your way.
Lots of holes in the woods means it is possible to lose your discs. At the least, you will likely spend a few minutes searching here and there.
One of the holes (15) ends near a walking path/playground where a child or adult could be easily hit by a bad throw. Even so, there is a warning sign nearby, which is more than I've seen almost anywhere else.

Other Thoughts:

If you haven't played here before, allow about 30 minutes extra for finding your way around or looking for discs.
27 holes take awhile to play. Unless you are in good shape, you'll need to allow more than 2 hours to get to the end.
I remember reading in the papers that this course hosted at least 3 disc golf national championships in the 80s, before the sport became as big as it is today. The top prize one year was $350... I haven't seen any mention of this, even in the Lakeview Club's course history.
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14 0
Bennybennybenny
Diamond level trusted reviewer
Experience: 13.1 years 305 played 287 reviews
3.50 star(s)

Maybe the Most Well Known Course in TN 2+ years

Reviewed: Played on:Jun 16, 2020 Played the course:once

Pros:

-The name "Warriors Path" seems to make more sense as this course continues to age. I worked on this analytics project months ago observing tournaments in TN since 1984. It's cool to know that tournaments have occurred at Warriors Path since then. The fact that this course is still around and valued alone is a pro, possibly making it a tourist attraction for disc golfer. It's well kept and may not even been close to its extinction date. This is one of the oldest courses (maybe the oldest) course I have ever played. I generally enjoy newer courses, but this one shows a lot of innovative design.

-Most holes have dual pin positions. Reading the previous reviews, it seems the locals and parks and rec department do a good job switching the pins around. A few are considered par fours. I saw that par was 85 in the tournament this year, meaning there were four par fours. They aren't very long considerably, but they aren't short either. The only par four I played was #5, but holes #21 and #27 and maybe a couple others have long pins tough enough to be par fours.

-Lots of elevation for holes that are relatively short. #2 is only 153' but is up maybe 20'. #8 is up near the 25' mark and #15 is straight downhill probably a little bit past the 25' mark. Some others with good elevation changes. My favorite hole was #21. Probably has the highest elevation change here. It's a super fun downhill ace run by the road. There is a long pin placement to the left back uphill. You also get to play a few fun valley holes.

-I think the fairway diversity is pretty good. #25 you'll either love or hate. I love it. The defined fairway plays pretty hard left, but the angle isn't severe. You have the option of taking a "pro route." I threw a hyzer flick through the opening to the left of the defined fairway and landed close enough to birdie this hole. Other than this, you'll be throwing different shots. Many straighter holes but plenty of right to left holes and challenging anhyzer holes.

-From the media, you see the mach pins. Warriors Path now has disCatchers that are a bit worn, but they catch very well if you putt slightly left. I made a few outside circle putts and a 75' footer. Nice to know that the pins were replaced at some time.

-#26 is iconic! Definitely the signature hole. You are throwing through a tunnel edged by giant rocks and boulders. Hole was about 300' (long pin when I played) and was a very fun challenge. If you really pure it, you'll get to see your disc fly nicely down that path. Awesome!

-Many ace opportunities along with very challenging holes that maybe average slightly over par. Pros will really try to capitalize on the shorter holes to build their confidence on the tougher holes. The shorter holes are easy enough for novice players. The variety in challenge for a primarily par three course is pretty well diversified.

-Plenty of benches to rest on. I wouldn't say the course has a TON of elevation, but the elevation movement is pretty consistent and moderate. Makes it pretty tiring.

-Nice additional challenges such as an island green on #15, an elevated basket on #23, and a mando gate on #2. All short holes that are made tougher.

-Ends in an eighteen hole loop. #1 to #18. You could simply play #19-27 if you only have time for nine holes. #27's basket isn't very far from #1's tee pad either.

-There's a campground and I don't think you even have to make a reservation. An opportunity to camp in Tennessee is always nice.

Cons:

-I think navigation is the main problem. That has been stated many other times. If you don't have U disc, you are going to need it. Many holes have missing tee signs. After #4, you'll see a tee pad, but it isn't #5's pad. #5's actual pad is perched on a small hill. There are a lack of next tee arrows. The walk from #1 to #2 is hard as well. You don't really know where to look. Walk down the path near #1's basket (the one right before it) and continue to walk down and go left.

-Plenty of fillers. Some of the ace runs such as #17, #19, #20, and #24 are all pretty boring. #17, #19, and #20 are very similar. #19 is a little longer than the other two, but same task. Throw a slight hyzer. #24 is downhill and slightly to the right. Almost plays as a jump putt through a small gap. There are more but I think that's enough.

-#22. Yep! This hole is horrible when it's it the long pin. 289' dogleg right. The landing zone is maybe 110' from the tee pad. The short pin is less excruciating but still not very fun.

-The rough is very dense on #5 and #6 and then on #12 and #13. If it's windy, good luck! I threw a culverin on #6 in a head wind and it faded right and landed in the rough. It's painful and there could potentially be copperheads since you're in the mountains. Few other holes where the rough is particularly sketchy.

-Some holes are very close together. You are throwing by greens or fairways of different holes. Probably lots of yielding in tournaments.

Other Thoughts:

-This course is definitely old, but it's far from plain. A lot of older courses I've played seem to be pretty plain and just generic. This one has a lot of cool perks to it, making it a memorable experience. It's not the best course I've played in Tennessee but it is quite fun! Winged Deer is nearby, and I think that's an awesome course. Harmon Hills isn't far either, and that's one of the greatest courses in the world! You could go on a camping trip and play all of those courses!

-I was originally going to give it a 3. I'm giving Warriors Path a 3.5. It has a high fun factor with some shock value that makes it a really good course. Has some holes that I don't consider to be fun, but many excellent holes that may be the inspiration for the cool perks you see on newer courses. Holes like #26 may have had something to do with the growth of disc golf. It's an awesome hole for sure with a lot to offer.
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2 4
samxyx
Experience: 5.8 years 31 played 30 reviews
4.00 star(s)

2+ years drive by

Reviewed: Updated: Played on:Mar 19, 2020 Played the course:once

Other Thoughts:

Course plays partly in a field, partly in the deep woods, partly in the light woods. Very hard to navigate and I got lost multiple times. I was gassed by the end. Bring lots of water. Good variety of hole type.

Played this course on a road trip as a pit stop. Didn't have time to fully appreciate it, but I was impressed by it's length and difficulty.
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4 1
Baysinger
Silver level trusted reviewer
Experience: 14.8 years 93 played 55 reviews
4.00 star(s)

Visit Warriors Path! 2+ years drive by

Reviewed: Played on:Mar 24, 2019 Played the course:5+ times

Pros:

Warriors Path DGC in Kingsport is an outstanding course. Mostly wooded holes with lots of terrain changes. There are long pins and short pins on each hole. The baskets are moved on occasion by locals so if you go there and the baskets are in the short positions, make sure you go back and check out the long positons at another time. In addition to this, you can choose between playing Holes 1-18 or all 27 holes! If you like a good mix of short/long and wooded/open holes, this is the course for you. There are some absolute tunnel shots as well as a couple moderately open bomber holes. I have also heard that the original layout of this course was designed in part by the father of disc golf, "Steady" Ed. So this course in addition to being a fun yet challenging course, has a ton of history!

Cons:

Not really a con, but I would eventually love to see 2 baskets per hole on this course so you have the option of choosing which layout you want to play, or even play both in the same day.

Other Thoughts:

If you want to see this course on video (Holes 1-18) check out my crew's video here...

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9Xk62TKSlgU
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12 0
blake833
Gold level trusted reviewer
Experience: 13.9 years 160 played 140 reviews
3.50 star(s)

Hard to pin down 2+ years drive by

Reviewed: Updated: Played on:Jul 15, 2018 Played the course:once

Pros:

Warriors Path State Park is beautiful. I loved walking through the woods of this course as I played. Situated on the slopes of an old pine forest with small hikes between a lot of the holes gave you a chance to really enjoy nature. The most uniquely beautiful hole by far was 26, a rocky valley hole where you throw through the tight valley of rock face to a basket outside the other end. The second best hole is, I think, 25 from the left tee. You have to throw into a sheer dirt wall with a basket about halfway up. I ricocheted off a tree, threw back to the fairway, then hit like 100' anny approach dead center to save par (and there was a witness!), so that hole will always be in my mind.

There is a good mix of long and short, left/right holes. A few that turn sharply, a few that are gentle. It keeps things a little fresh. Everything is a par 3, because when this course was designed (1980!) everything was a par 3. Regardless of distance. I think a few of these could be a 4, but what is par, anyways?

Cons:

When it comes to cons, there are many but they're pretty light.

The tees are concrete, but kind of small and slick. They were a little wet when I played, and I couldn't get any footing. I tried throwing next to them and usually it was too uneven, or slippery muddy, to do that either. When most of your drives need to be 300'+, throwing from a standstill, or one step is rough on your shoulder.

The signage is far overdue for an upgrade. They just aren't very helpful if you don't already know the hole.

Navigation is so-so. Half of the time it's figure-out-able, but sometimes you just need a little help. Hole 22 is especially bad, as previous reviewers have mentioned.

The up-and-downhill nature of is grueling. There were several players who said they either skipped the last hole (you have to walk all the way down a hill just to throw back up it, 26 makes a much better finish), or just skip the whole back 8, finishing on 19 and not crossing the road. When most of the locals skip a whole section of the course, with the two best looking (but not best throwing) holes, that's an issue.

Nit-picky: A few of the wooded holes need some trees removed to create fair lines, and not luck lines. It's annoying to make a good throw and hit a tree just before the basket, turning your bird into a par, or a bogey if you can't miss the trees again.

It would also be nice if their lake was in view or in play in some sections. It's a huge tease to drive past it on the way to the course and then never see it again until you leave.

Other Thoughts:

Deciding between a 3.5 and a 4.0 was super hard on this course for me. It definitely has some good features, as well as beauty, but it also frustrates you at times. I decided that when looking at the group of other courses I've rated a 4, this really belongs at 3.5 for me for the time being, to be consistent with my other reviews.

Warriors Path is one of the highest rated courses in the Tri-Cities area, and it deserves it, but I think Winged Deer is a pretty close second, especially in winter when all the leaves are down. Of course Harmon Hills is only 30-45 minutes away, but locally Warrior's Path is just the prettiest one around and nudges Winged Deer for the top spot
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7 1
jjtwinnova
Gold level trusted reviewer
Experience: 8.7 years 246 played 97 reviews
2.50 star(s)

A True Warrior 2+ years drive by

Reviewed: Played on:Mar 30, 2018 Played the course:2-4 times

Pros:

I first played this course in 2016. I had playing the sport for only a couple of months, and I was excited to play a new course that was unfamiliar to me.

Fast forward 2 full years, and I turn into a full-on course snob. I have travelled across many states, seen the best of them and the worst of them. I come here for old time's sake, and to finally review a course that I held off reviewing two years prior.

------------------------------------------------------------------

The definition of a warrior: a brave or experienced soldier or fighter.

Warrior's Path is exactly that, a warrior. This course has taken the test of time, being put into the park in 1980, it has taken over 30 years of abuse. There are hundreds of people who play this course every day, and every day, Warrior's Path continues to thrive.

Each hole has a single concrete tee pad. It's short, it has cracks. It does it's job though, holding the weight as people trample all over it, never getting discouraged.

Each hole has an older Innova Discatcher, rusted chains and all. Sure, they aren't brand new Mach X's, but they are doing what they can, and doing it well.

Most of the holes have, albeit dated, tee signs, that can help a little bit. However, some soldiers have been lost over the years, and the metal pole that once held them remains as a tombstone.

Playing as a par 3 course, the shot-shaping and control are the emphasis, and putting is the key to gaining strokes on competitors.

Cons:

As much of a warrior that this course is, the course shows wear and tear. As mentioned, the tees are short and cracked, the baskets are fading, and tee signs are missing.

The par 3 nature of the course leaves a lot for you to hope for. You won't be throwing long driver shots through the woods, or airing out over a grassy field. There isn't a signature hole. A lot of fun holes to play, but no holes to consider signature.

This course is in a large park, with lots of people playing disc golf, walking around, and doing God knows what, but you might have to wait around, letting people play through or letting walkers pick up after their dog.

Navigation was kindof intuitive, but some holes had multiple paths, or overlapping holes, leading to some confusion, especially if the hole in question dies not have a tee sign. A map is helpful.

Other Thoughts:

I gave this course a 2.5 rating, which, by the written standards, means Decent/Typical.

However, this course is not typical. This course is history. One of the oldest courses in the country, come out and learn the fairways of a Tennessee classic.
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10 0
Upshawt1979
Diamond level trusted reviewer
Premium Member
Experience: 20.8 years 548 played 429 reviews
4.00 star(s)

Path of Least Resistance 2+ years

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

Pros:

Warriors Path State Park disc golf course is 27 holes, majority of them are pretty fun, and not a lot of them are excessively difficult. This is the kind of course that can get a new player addicted, but still be entertaining to an experienced disc golfer as well.

There are concrete tees, and well used baskets that are in fair condition. Tee signs are primitive and weathered, but they are there. One or two directional signs along the way also.

My favorite aspects of this one are the big elevation changes and low scoring potential, a combination that usually leaves me smiling. There are not any super long holes, and a few are nearly wide open, but most have significant numbers of trees, and some have water as well.

Fun factor is my biggest consideration in rating this course. It could be better perhaps, but I enjoyed the current layout and would play here regularly if I lived nearby. Holes like 6, 15, 21 and 25 give me the big downhill looks from the tee, with varying degrees of woods and distances. Of course elevation changes almost always mean some of the holes will be uphill. Those are ok with me too. 26 and 27 illustrate this description. I also thought some of the wooded holes were tricky fun. Lacking length but plenty of obstacles to keep it interesting. Examples of those are plentiful in the stretch from hole 7-14.

Cons:

The layout is a little crazy, printing the map is advisable if you are new here. After hole 1 you have to walk past the playground and across the creek to find hole 2. I also threw to the wrong basket at first on hole 5, and of course I parked it. The final 8 holes are across the street from the first 19. I lost my way after one of the later holes, I think it was 22.

So, a little extra signage could be helpful. Upgrading all signs and adding a few navigational pointers would be great.

There were quite a few players on the course when I got there, spaced well. I only played through one group, but it may be more crowded at times.

Other Thoughts:

My one and only round on this course was played after visiting The Claytons, and getting in most of Harmon Hills the same day. So I was pleased to reduce the amount of agro by 20-30%. This was the perfect cap to a great day of new courses.

I see how there could be benefits to redesigning this course, and it might be a killer 18. However, I also like the old school courses, and appreciate seeing them for historical reasons. I was in diapers when they were installing this course. I like to imagine what it would be like playing back then, and what I would look like with massive sideburns.

Wish I had more in the tank, or better luck, I wound up 5 over par. Everything is par 3, and with good mojo it could yield birds in bunches. I had 4 birdies on the first 8 holes, but unfortunately I made a mess of several others. 3 double bogeys, and 3 bogeys along with the 17 pars.

If there weren't an incredible, top notch course also with 27 holes very close to Warriors Path, I would say go ahead and mix it up for a fresh look. Since there is I think leaving this one as is makes for a really good contrast. I will say Tennessee has some great disc golf from one end of the state to the other. While not the best of them, WPSP holds up well.
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9 5
BrotherDave
Diamond level trusted reviewer
Experience: 16.7 years 192 played 188 reviews
2.00 star(s)

Warriors...Come Out and Get Lost? 2+ years

Reviewed: Played on:Jun 26, 2016 Played the course:once

Pros:

27 holes if you're a quantity over quality type. Concrete tees scattered around nice woods in a nice park with functional baskets. Some longer, open holes are sprinkled into the mix to break up the wooded monotony. You'll be throwing your mids and putters a lot out here as distances aren't very long and the lines are usually straight and tight through the woods. If you can do work with a straight putter or mid you'll bag a lot of birdies here. If you struggle with straight shots off the tee you'll get roughed up a bit but this is an old course so the rough isn't too punitive. There's a pinch of elevation change and a creek comes a bit into play to pretty up the round and give it a little character, a raised basket too. The third nine has some really nice, Harmon-esque terrain with big rocks and such.

Cons:

Really showing its age. If you can find a tee sign, its info is sparse and old. I mean look at the pics of the tee signs on here, that is like minimalist art at its finest. Little trails run all over the place, maybe they take you to the next hole, maybe they don't. The baskets have seen better days but are well functional. The flow is rather goofy at times, especially with the third nine holes considered. Navigating the first 18 isn't terrible since it's mostly in the woods and intuitive (there will be a path, just maybe not the right one but a path nonetheless). The third nine seems newer and way less intuitive on transitions and is more open so you'll be trekking around the property a bit to find the next hole.

Design-wise there is a lot of repetitiveness with the woods golf. I can't remember if I played any doglegs except for hole 5 which I possibly played from the wrong tee due to lack of signs. Just a lot of straight holes, sometimes ending a bit to the right (you'll mop up if you can FH a mid). The holes aren't bad per se, it's just that their challenge is mostly mitigated by newer disc technology surpassing the design.

Other Thoughts:

I think this course could use a face lift. It might be better off starting with the third nine and then combining the original 18 into a more versatile nine holes that gets rid of a lot of straight, blah holes, annoying walks, and adds some doglegs and maybe a legitimate par 4 or two.

Overall it's a fun course, just a bear to navigate the first time around. I don't know if I'd recommend it to someone on a roadtrip unless they bring a map, otherwise they'd spend as much time hole finding as playing disc golf and that eats up a lot of time, time you could be spending at Harmon HIlls or even Sugar Hollow. But it's a deuce-or-die romp through some nice woods and mowed lawns so bring your Viper, Cyclone, Stingray and Aviars and enjoy the time warp.
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1 2
MaxZero1496
Experience: 4 played 3 reviews
4.00 star(s)

Great course, needs directions 2+ years drive by

Reviewed: Played on:May 26, 2016 Played the course:5+ times

Pros:

Challenging holes
Good mixture
Tee-offs are in good repair
Baskets are highly visible

Cons:

No signs or directions and lots of random paths...extremely easy to skip holes or get lost completely

Other Thoughts:

The first 18 holes are fun, but the last 9 are my favorite.
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6 0
BigAl724
Diamond level trusted reviewer
Experience: 11.6 years 178 played 144 reviews
3.50 star(s)

Fun and technical without being too demanding 2+ years drive by

Reviewed: Played on:Jun 4, 2015 Played the course:once

Pros:

Warriors Path is a classic old-school course that offers a diverse set of 27 holes spread throughout the park. You get the opportunity to play both tight, technical holes in the woods as well as chances to open up your arm. It's for this reason that I think the course appeals to a wide range of players, evident by the large crowd that we saw on a Thursday evening. What keeps things fresh throughout the round is that you are constantly traversing in and out of the woods, hitting up various patches of forest among the expanse of the park in between open sections.

Roughly 2/3 of the holes are in the woods, so the course emphasizes technicality a little more than distance. Still, you'll get plenty of chances to air it out with the other 1/3 playing more in the open. With 27 holes, you really get a wide spectrum of hole types.

The designers did a nice job of making sure no holes felt too similar. The design offers different kinds of shots with the use of elevation changes and levels of woodenness. If downhill holes excite you, you'll be plenty satisfied here with different looks for this type of shot. There are some fun downhill wooded shots in 4 and 15, while 6 and 22 give you a chance to really let loose being more in the open.

A few holes do a good job of changing appearance/terrain from tee to basket. 25 is a fun valley shot that plays down through a tight fairway, out over an open section, and up and to the left through another set of trees. 18 is another one that uses a combination of terrain, playing from in the open into a patch of trees.

The fairways were very well maintained and the grass cut short.

The course loops back near the parking lot before 19-27.

Plenty of benches help this long round to be less grueling.

Cons:

The wear and tear is showing on this 35-year-old course. The baskets are rusting (though still performed up to standard) and some of the tees are cracked. There were a few tee signs missing.

It truly has an old-school design, which means it's entirely set up in par 3 format. The layout is well-varied within this type of design, but it would appeal to even more players if it had a few par 4's. Because of the par 3 layout, the course leans on the shorter side.

Some of the holes play too close together, added by the busyness of the course. My brother got hit with someone's drive on 6 when he was standing at the tee on 5.

The navigation isn't too hard, but gets confusing in a few spots with other holes close by. Bringing a map can't hurt.

Other Thoughts:

This is a great casual course, one to play with friends for a relaxed round because it offers a good balance of difficulty: plenty of technical challenge without being too demanding or punishing. This I didn't mind, coming directly from Harmon Hills to play here. Definitely worth stopping at if you are in the area to play HH and it makes a nice three-course combo with Winged Deer Park also nearby.
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7 1
Qikly
Diamond level trusted reviewer
Experience: 11.7 years 181 played 148 reviews
3.50 star(s)

Come lick your wounds here after Harmon. 2+ years drive by

Reviewed: Played on:Jun 4, 2015 Played the course:once

Pros:

Warriors Path State Park DGC offers a lot of bang for your hypothetical buck. It's not just a matter of sheer quantity, though that is here too: Warriors Path's 27 holes feature a lot of variety in distance, line, and woodedness. The emphasis is on technical par 3s that feature well-defined, challenging but fair lines. These run the gamut from ace runs to challenging birdies to tough pars. Distance covers a range of lengths, though for the most part stays within the comfort level of a decently skilled rec player.

The elevation at Warrior's Path is significant and varied, and helps distinguish the course. Fairways run across hillsides, approach dangerous slopes, or move directly with the terrain for uphill and downhill shots. There are in particular a few nice downhill holes, including one with a shallow creek in play. The elevation here can equally play spoiler or act as an aid, helping to keep you on your toes and jazzing up otherwise conventional shots: a few shorter holes become challenging with the accompanying elevation, and a few longer ones become less daunting if still interesting.

Overall, the challenge factor occupies a sweet spot, accommodating a broad range of skill levels. Beginners will find enough inroads to enjoy the course via shorter holes and friendly elevation, while more experienced players will appreciate the variety, with enough trees, distance, and elevation to keep their game engaged.

As a long established course, Warrior's Path is well-worn in a comfortable way. The nearby Winged Deer Park makes for a nice one-two punch of courses.

Cons:

The real limitation of Warriors Path is simply its solid but unspectacular design. The strictly par 3 layout isn't deviated from, and although there are a diversity of approaches to this general hole type, the emphasis is almost always on a single shot or hazard. Par 4s and their emphasis on placement and chaining shots together would do a lot to mix up the feel. The varied terrain could certainly accommodate holes with more internal variation.

Some of the final 9 holes seem a bit of an afterthought. They plan in and around a smaller patch of woods than the front 18, and some of the lesser wooded holes seem like transitions rather than being there for their own sake.

The course seems to be popular, and has the potential to get backed up: our Thursday afternoon round was surprisingly busy.

Only one set of tees.

Other Thoughts:

Warrior's Path DGC offers a solid round and I'd be more than happy to have it as my home course. The par 3 focus limits it a bit for me, but it offers enough challenge and some great terrain to more than justify a visit. It's nearby the fantastic Harmon Hills, too, so that alone makes it worth a visit.
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1 1
bigegan18
Experience: 6 played 3 reviews
4.00 star(s)

Nice Course 2+ years drive by

Reviewed: Played on:Apr 10, 2015 Played the course:5+ times

Pros:

Challenging course with some open shots, narrow technical shots and everything in between.
Good for practicing driving and mid-range shots.

Cons:

Some tee signs were missing.
Foliage is rough on some holes.
Navigation can be hard for visiting players.

Other Thoughts:

Nice course to work on driving and mid-range shots. And you are able to use all kinds of shots, back hand, sidearm, roller etc. Some tee signs were missing, so if hole had different pin locations, we had to walk and see where the pin was.
Have also been told by local pros that hole 1, 5, 18 and 21 are par 4 according to pdga standards when in long positions.
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1 13
bigwin321
Experience: 20.8 years 25 played 2 reviews
1.50 star(s)

disappointment 2+ years drive by

Reviewed: Played on:Dec 30, 2014 Played the course:once

Pros:

Good place to practice your mid range game and putting. Cool looks and good use of mandos

Cons:

SHORT. Not well marked. Way over rated.

Other Thoughts:

If you are thinking of traveling to this course just drive by and say you've seen it and continue on to Harmon Hills. You will be glad you did.
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1 3
SikMonkey
Experience: 18 played 3 reviews
3.50 star(s)

Great course! 2+ years drive by

Reviewed: Played on:May 17, 2014 Played the course:once

Pros:

Overall nice design and layout. Large park set in the beautiful TN mountains. Good mix of shots and a nice challenge.

Cons:

Could use better directions between holes and some of the tee pads could use some maintenance. Hole 1 basket was missing.

Other Thoughts:

Great park but I like Winged Deer better.
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1 0
FlyingSouthDG
Bronze level trusted reviewer
Experience: 13.9 years 49 played 26 reviews
3.50 star(s)

A Fun Course for the Experienced Player 2+ years

Reviewed: Updated: Played on:May 20, 2014 Played the course:5+ times

Pros:

- Challenging course, tests driving and mid-range abilities.
- Hole maps located at the tee of every hole.
- Variety of hole types; some in narrow wooded areas while others are for distance in open fields.
- Two pin locations for multiple holes.
- Grass and obstacles are well maintained.

Cons:

- In my most recent play, one basket had been stolen and litter was found throughout the course.
- Somewhat difficult to navigate, some holes end with two or three trails around the pin and visiting players may be unsure of where to go next.
- Surrounding foliage can be fairly dense, be weary of bushes with pricks and of poison ivy.

Other Thoughts:

All holes are either par 3 or 4's, depending on the location of the pin. This course can be very fun as long as the challenges of narrow holes lined with trees don't get in your head. I would certainly recommend playing this course if you ever find yourself in the tri-cities area.
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4 0
lammersk
Experience: 10.8 years 37 played 12 reviews
3.50 star(s)

Good and Varied 2+ years drive by

Reviewed: Played on:Mar 13, 2014 Played the course:5+ times

Pros:

This course has a little bit of something for everyone. Long straight shots over grass for pins 1, 18, and 27 with a lot woods and hills in between. Pins 23 through 26 are some of the funnest on the course and it is a shame that they are in the less played back nine.

The course has a number of deceptive fairways that look easier than they actually are (5) and some look harder than they really are (15). All in all, you will have to use skill more than power or you will be one of the people I hear thunking into trees (and, yes, I hit them too, but I'm usually cursing too loud to hear my own thunks).

Cons:

You don't know where the baskets are. Most have two possible positions and there's no way of knowing which unless you walk out to look.

Crowded. When the weather is good you will be waiting for the guys in front of you to clear and feel pushed because there is a group right behind you. Last weekend, the park was so full I couldn't find a place to park (I left and went to Winged Deer instead). I recommend trying to play in mornings or off times.

Basket 9 is the worst on the course. After a little bit of fairway, it's just buried in a bunch of trees. Some people try skip shots, some just throw and pray. My personal best ricocheted off three trees before coming to rest behind a fourth.

Does anyone par 21? I personally detest this hole, but I think better players than I may find it an appropriate challenge. Still, it should at least be a par 4.

27 is a terrible way to end a course. And it's a shame because 26 is so good. On 27 first you walk down a steep hill to get to the tee. Then you throw back up the same steep hill. Then you trudge up it to see where your disc has gone once you've thrown over its crest. It's not really technically challenging; it's just a pain and saps some fun out of your day right at the very end.

This course badly needs signs telling people where to go to get to the next tee. This is especially bad going from 22 to 23, 23 to 24, and one of the baskets in the first eighteen (can never remember which) that has three paths leading away from it.

Other Thoughts:

Over the winter this was the course I played the most. I prefer Winged Deer, but this one is closer to home and I really like quite a few of the holes. I only really have issues with three of the pins and really like most of the rest.

I like the fact that there are 27 pins. Personally, I find this to be just about the perfect length.

It's worth making the trip to play here and worth returning.
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2 5
kungfubear
Experience: 12.1 years 14 played 3 reviews
4.00 star(s)

best course so far 2+ years drive by

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

Pros:

very challenging for newer players retygjuklhgferyjkuihlkj;<:kjgh

Cons:

the garbage cans on the course were over flowing and the back nine could use more upkeep.

Other Thoughts:

By far this is the most fun course I've ever played.
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