I echo your thoughts.. when I took a few discs out and threw at the pin locations, I noticed I was throwing at near-max power on most of my throws. I've got a pretty decent arm, averaging around 400 on flat land with no obstacles.
I like a lot of the hole designs, but have some concerns about a few. I'm wondering if you'd share your thoughts...
All of this is from the long pads and let's remember... no baskets...so, grain of salt, OK?
1 is a good starter hole. Not too difficult, but hard enough.
2 seems a bit difficult to navigate currently and a bit of throw and pray, but I sometimes feel like that the first few times I play a course.
3 feels like it will force a lot of NAGS (Not a golf shot) 2nd throws... the basket seems too far into the woods to be worth going for off the pad given its distance.
4 I think is a pretty standard average hole. I never found the pin, so I'm not positive. I think there COULD be some clever approach to the pin that could take it from average to excellent
5 I couldn't find the pin, so no comment
6 I suspect is going to be a love it or hate it hole. It definitely smacks of a Russell hole style. It's one of the few options the course provides to utilize elevation change, so... my issue with the hole is this: I have two options from the teepad(that I see currently). 1) Throw a bomb of a forehand that hopefully makes it through the trees and parks for a 2 and if it doesn't, I sneak a shot through a gap in the trees to get under the basket for 3... or 2) I throw a boring approach to the gap and throw a boring approach shot down the hole for a boring 3.
The next batch of holes I sorta stumbled around and couldn't quite tell the hole numbers, so I'll just bring up a few...
Whichever hole (14 maybe?) is near the entrance drive into the parking lot and the basket sits in a 80' tunnel into the woods... seems a bit like an accident waiting to happen. RHBH anhyzer seems to be the preferred throw if you're going for the basket... if that baby hangs up and hyzers, it's going straight at the road. I don't love the hole design as is anyway and hope the gap is widened because currently it would be insane to try for a 2 (and going for 3 on that hole is pretty boring). I took 5 attempts at a 2 and spent half an hour looking for discs (with help and a spotter).
Hole 17 is about as simple of a "how much do I want to go for it" hole. The risk reward is obvious and straightforward. I love risk-reward offerings, so, I like it.
Overall, I'm very optimistic about the course. I think there will need to be some tweaks along the way, but what course is perfect before any baskets are put in? I am not a fan of a few of Russell's design philosophies (If a hole is 320' or less, I should not be forced to pitch and putt twice) and there are a few holes that might be that style (3,5,13,14)... to be assessed when there are actually baskets... The long pads are definitely not beginner friendly and I was very happy to see the short pads being added. Also, the location is probably the best news of it all. Triad Park does an outstanding job of maintaining their grounds and have continued to keep a high level of quality throughout the park.
