Pros:
(1.646 Rating) An open school course that will offer nice challenges for beginners.
- TEES - Some of nicest concrete tees that I've ever seen on a short grade school course. They are adequately long and wide. A bit of an oversight to embed the tee sign in the back of the pad, but the surface was just large enough that the sign made little to no impact on my throwing footwork.
- QUICK PLAY - My group of two "tired players: finished in under 40 minutes. I think a group of four could easily knock this one out in under an hour.
- BEGINNER FRIENDLY - Being located on school grounds for the high school threw elementary school, it was wise to keep this course simple. Every hole is under 300 feet in length. Most of the holes are wide open and a couple holes require a touch of skill. Lost disc possibilities are low and there is no water in play.
- ACEABILITY - Wow, if you want your first ace, this is the place to play. All nine tee shots under 260 feet. You are probably 5 times more likely to ace here than at a normal course. I could see a young teen getting an ace out here.
- CHAINS - The baskets are in great shape, although not the most generous variety, Mach New 2s.
- MAINTENANCE - The grounds had been well mowed prior to my round. The course appears to be constantly trimmed and manicured. Only holes (7) and (8) had tall grass in play along the fairway edges, but I think that setup was intentional.
- NAVIGATION - Chilton is not that difficult to traverse. Despite no course map, the layout is open enough and the next tees signage is visible from every prior basket except tee (7's) hole signage. I made and posted a map of my findings for a future player's benefit.
Cons:
Chilton DGC has limited appeal with the small footprint and only 9 holes.
- UNIQUENESS - Well below average, but for a 9er, not the worst out there. A few slight ups and downs, 15 feet max change. (8) is an overhead play, or an impossible 90 degree right bender. (7) on my play was a 15 foot wide lane cut threw shoulder high grass. However, after these few mentioned features, the rest of the course is an open, obstacle free field that will make skilled players wish they were still at Rollin Ridge.
- HOLE 8 - It's flawed IMO. Requires a 90 degree bend. The first leg of the "L" is shorter than the second leg of the "L" by almost a hundred feet. Really the only feasible way to get it close is to go over the top blindly. This overhead play felt to me to be greater than a 65 degree angle. This incline angle will increase every year as the trees continue to grow taller.
- LACK OF CHALLENGE - Although I didn't shoot well, this course will be a cake walk for players above the recreation level. Advanced players should shoot 7 down or better on a routine basis. Rec players should even be able to break par about 50 percent of the time. The biggest X factor here will be the wind, which was gusting up to 15/20 mph for my visit.
- OVERGROWTH - Hole (7) was really the only hole where overgrowth came into play for my round and it was thick on this hole. Obviously I found myself in it as the wind turned my disc over more than I thought it would. No worries, I found the disc in 5 minutes.
- CHARACTER - The course extras here are limited. As stated in the pros, nice tees and baskets. Simple but adequate signage for this type of layout. The is also a shelter in the woods near (9) tee. However this is where the amenities end. No extra tees or basket placements. No practice basket, community board or course map. No seating or places to stow a bag.
- NATURAL BEAUTY - Nothing remotely exotic about Chilton DGC. Hole (7) is the only hole out here that had a little charm to it with the shoulder high grass and some wild flowers blooming. The rest of the holes all have manmade objects in views. Views of roads, buildings, playground equipment and fences frequently occupied my line of site.
- WIND - It will be a factor on this very open layout.
Other Thoughts:
Chilton DGC is a simple beginners course and that's it. However, I'm glad the course exists as it brings the sport to yet another area. Skilled players from outside the area will not be impressed by this course and I would not recommend this one to them if they are looking for a unique and challenging layout. Definitely recommended for course baggers though as it is another course. If I lived in Chilton, I'd probable show up here a couple times a week and try to add a few aces a year to my totals.