Cons:
(1.194 Rating) A nine basket course that plays around a college campus.
- NAVIGATION AND SIGNAGE - That's right, I'm beginning this review with the cons. There are a lot of them, and they are substantial. Carson-Newman's game-play is at least 1.75 rating worthy, but the navigation and signage aspect is so bad right now, it'll be hard for many reviewers to justify that high of rating. Are there tee signs here? Nope. How about a course map? Nope and I'll add that the one on DGCR is incorrect. So how does one navigate this course? I have no idea. I relied on a navigational app to follow a supposed layout, but tomorrow someone could post an alternate layout as there are no markings on this course other than the numbers on the baskets. I constantly looked for markings flush with the ground and for tape residue along a paved areas. Nothing.
- SAFETY HAZARDS - Players will have ample opportunities to hit people on this layout. I played during summer break and I had to pause a few times. Buildings, sidewalks and/or roads are in play on every hole. Players need to be smart to play this one safely.
- AMENITIES AND EXTRAS - No other amenities other than numbered baskets.
- HOLE VARIETY - I didn't think the play variety here was above average or anywhere close. All straight park style shots. There is some modest length, but nothing over 400 feet long. Probably all par 3s (no tee signage), only modest elevation and no water elements.
- SIGNATURE HOLE - In my opinion, hole (4) is the best hole and also the worst hole on the course. First off, this was the first time a tee shot ever required me to throw through a college building. Very unique indeed. On the flipside however, I was throwing through (pause) A Building! I found it strangely exhilarating to play this hole. For those that are able to find the alt tees, they'll be able to run it through twice.
- NATURAL BEAUTY - Nice looking campus buildings, but I far prefer natural landscapes over bricks and mortar any day. I scored this aspect about 25 percentile.
- PARKING - Street parking only.
- NOT 18 - I don't see how this can be labeled as an 18 hole course. As noted, 9 baskets and zero tee markings. Someone could just as easily claim its 99 holes and be no less right than the 18 hole figure claim.
Pros: It's playable
- MODEST GAMEPLAY CHALLENGES - I really struggled to come up with pros for this one. Carson-Newman is one of those courses where a review could have done just fine without a section of pros, but I feel obligated to note something. I did like the fact that most of the shots required a bit of skill, namely the ability to chuck 275 feet to rack up birds. A couple trees and light-posts have to be avoided here and there and there is some slight elevation on a couple shots.
- CHAINS - 24 chain DISCatchers. Not as good as the 28s, but still a decent older model. A couple were in bad shape.
- BEGINNER FRIENDLY - Perhaps too long for many new players but it'll be hard for them to get into trouble. Carson-Newman is like many college campus courses where the layout plays around buildings. The grass will likely always be mowed and there's little chance to throw it into a hard to reach area, unless it ends up on top of a building. New players won't be scared away here.
Other Thoughts:
Weird course. Part of it felt like disc golf, but the frustration on not observing one frigg'n tee marking left a lot to be desired. I could not recommend this course to anyone other than to those that attend the school and to hardcore course baggers. It reminded me of other university courses that play in the heart of a campus like Saint Leo University, the old Kennesaw State University course and Athens State University. As is, I'm going with a 1.0 with potential to make a 1.5 if they marked tees and installed tee signs.
- TIME PLAY - I tried to run this one super fast and it still took me thirty minutes to complete this one. The poor navigation is mostly to blame.