Pros:
I normally get a little aggravated when I see a 9 hole course with alternate tees passing itself off as an 18 holer , but this course is one of the exceptions . The places you have to park here aren't the greatest , but as you look over the landscape for the disc golf course , it gets better .The course was mowed okay and it was clean when I played . Bathrooms are near the ball fields . There is a nice kiosk near hole #1's tee pad . Take a picture of it or download the map . The large cement tee pads grip well . The signage is good , with hole # par distance and flight path . The blue Mach 5 baskets catch okay and are nice to look at ( harder for me to see at dusk ) . The course flows okay . After the long hole #1 and/or 10 , you make a hard left and play down the right side of the course until #6/ #15 which throws upward , then you go down the opposite side of the course for the last 3 holes . Instead of putting a smaller more open 18 hole course here , they put a dual tee 9 hole course with a lot more length . At 7132' for all 18 , this has to be one of the longest of the Tamps area . #1 is one of the longest holes in the Tampa area at 976' . The tee kind of points you in the direction of a large group of bushes and rough , with a little doorway in it . Aim slightly to the left of this area . The area is flat , but it will slope slightly downhill to the basket behind all of this . There is nothing here that is short ( #6 and #15 go in at 260' and 262' but are slightly uphill with obstacles like a gully on the left and brush in the fairway ) , with par 3's like 7 ( 428' ) and 18 ( 430' ) on the longer side . After teeing off at #1 , you drift away from other park activities , so you have to share the course with anyone other than some disc golfers . Popular ? I don't know , but on a Thursday evening there were some players out on the course when I was there . It's a good fit for most players . Disc Risk : minimal , since the course part of this park is so well clean and cared for . With no water hazards , as long as you watch your disc land , ( only a couple of spots where the basket might be blind ) and don't throw it up in a tree , your discs will return home with you . Once you start your disc round here , you will find that this course has a nice feel to it and is nice looking , with its large canopied trees , and 9 well placed blue baskets . Several good holes worth mentioning . #2/11 both give you different looks , but the basket is tucked in to the right of the course with sets brush on the right . #5/14 sends you from canopied tree to a cove of them with low hanging branches with Spanish moss on them . #6 & 15 are shorted uphills to a basket guarded by trees with a gully on the left . #18 is a great finishing hole , straightaway and flat , it has trees in the fairway and is 430' to a basket tucked in just behind a huge oak with a low hanging branch . This took me about an hour to play , and I was going at a good clip . It is going to take 2 1/2 + hours for a foursome . Signature Hole : #8/17 . These attack the basket from different angles to the right and the left , and the basket sits tightly against giant shrubs . Attacking it from 17's tee is a little more challenging because the giant shrubs create a tunnel to throw through from the left .
Cons:
#1 Safety . Not from discs but the general area . The course isn't in the best neighborhood of Tampa , so make sure you lock up your electronics or valuables in the trunk BEFORE you get to the park . I was told break-ins occur here . Also , park as far away from the ball fields as you can . Even if teams aren't playing when you get there , they might when you leave . A softball through your windshield will ruin your day . #2 Crowds . This didn't affect my play , but since the course shares baskets , many people playing will jam this course up big time . #3 Distance . Not the course , but the walk from #9/#18's basket back to the parking lot is a few hundred yards . I finished my round in the dark , and walking out of the canopy and to your car could be eerie for some in pitch black and just suck for everyone else in the daylight . This course plays fairly flat , but the design made some good use of some of the slopes here , especially on the left side of the course . Not much in the way of amenities , no benches , or places to chill after or during your round , so nothing keeping you here after playing . No trash cans , so carry out what you carry in .
Other Thoughts:
This course deserves some respect . Nothing here will stick in your memory bank forever , but it IS a well constructed course and gives you a scenic walk through the back of the park . I was brought up to date that this course has steadily improved over the last several years . If you like gearing up your arm for some lengthy throws and mixing it up with a few technical aspects in a typical park style course then this might be a place of interest for you . Thanks , Taylor Park Disc Golf Club and Tampa Rec Dept for letting me play here . My Recommendation : Even though long for newbies , little disc risk , good for the locals here . long enough for pros or ams , and a good leg stretching play for travelers , right off of I-75 . Play The Course !!