Fayetteville, TN

Don Davidson DGC

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2.135(based on 4 reviews)
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12 0
Shadrach3
Gold level trusted reviewer
Experience: 6.1 years 339 played 322 reviews
2.50 star(s)

Simple, Mostly Open Par-3s 2+ years

Reviewed: Played on:Apr 29, 2021 Played the course:once

Pros:

A solid course on the shorter side.

-Amenities: Concrete tees, solid Prodigy baskets, tee signs with maps.

-Rec-Friendly: The course caters very well to rec-level players. The distance is mostly achievable, and the shapes aren't too complicated or tight. This would be a good place to learn the game.

-Shot Shaping/Gameplay: A collection of eighteen par-3s under 350'. There are lots of entirely open shots on the longer side of that, a couple super technical holes under 200', and then some generally open holes with sporadic trees to force a shape of some sort. I really enjoyed the technical holes, but also liked a couple of holes like (5) and (9) that used guardian trees to make a birdie a little less easy. Lots of birdie opportunities, but also enough length that many shorter throwers will get to give it a full send.

-"Friendly": The course is pretty easy to navigate. Other than a couple of spots, it should be hard to lose discs as well, and easy to play at a quick clip if desired.

Cons:

-Scope: Yeah, a lot of open par-3s of this length isn't going to be a fascinating course. Don Davidson is well put together considering the park it's in, but it's no destination. Don't expect a lot of challenge, or even a lot of interest on many holes.

-Disc Loss: Actually a couple of places to lose discs. There's a body of water next to (2) that could be an issue. Baseball field is in play on (17), and I wouldn't recommend scaling the fence. Also on (16)-(17) is some long grass where I couldn't find a driver. The woods holes shouldn't claim discs, but might be thick to get them out of.

-Safety: Baseball field, walking path, and parking lots are all in play out here, so be careful.

-Parking Lot: The gravel is not smooth or neat, so don't bring your fancy wheels.

Other Thoughts:

Don Davidson is a basic par-54 short course. It's not difficult, but it does a good job of getting you a taste of the sport, and would be somewhere I would be happy to practice at routinely. It's not hard to play if you watch out for a couple of hazards, and overall is a squarely Typical course with mostly open shots.
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8 0
MrFrosty
Diamond level trusted reviewer
Experience: 31.6 years 764 played 387 reviews
2.00 star(s)

18 Holes Now 2+ years drive by

Reviewed: Played on:Jun 27, 2020 Played the course:once

Pros:

Don Davidson Park DGC was a 9 hole converted to a 18 hole course this past year . It is typical park style with 1 hole mostly in the woods . It is a multi use park with ball fields , so there is plenty of parking available close to holes 1 and 18 .
The Equipment : There is a kiosk with no map at the parking lot . There is a large garbage can under it . There are cement tee pads that are about 4' X 8' . The signs ( not installed on the back 9 yet ) are not very good and not informative enough . The baskets are light and single chained and have red flags on the tops of them . . More in cons .
The Landscape : The course is as flat as you can make one. I have walked on outdoor patios that have more elevation than here . There is some use of the woods here . Part of the course wraps around the ball fields , which could come into play on a couple of holes . It looks like the park is trying to grow some more vegetation and trees on parts of the course . There is a good amount of rough in spots here . Track your disc or you may be looking for a while .
The highlights : Not a lot of highlights here . Some of the holes are a little more than interesting , but . There is a pond , here , but it won't come into play unless something goes terribly wrong on hole #2 on the left . #9 would have been my signature hole , but the window shot has been swallowed up by overgrowth . A tricky hole placement might have been hole #5 , which had large fir trees along with a medium tree in a line in front of you on the fairway .
The time : it took me a little over an hour to play the course , partly because of the navigation , but mostly because of no signage on the new back 9 . A group of 4 that knows the lay of the course will finish in around 2 hours . You will feel like you own the place here . I played for over an hour on a Saturday early afternoon and I didn't see another player .
I am glad that Don Davidson Park decided to take the plunge and add 9 more holes to their course . Cement tee pads , 9 more baskets and new signs do NOT come cheap .

Cons:

#1 Equipment : If some better signs were added , along with Next Tee signs , this course would be on its way . Some of the signs were way off in distance on the hole . Hole 9 is listed as 245' but it is closer to 400' . 6 is way longer than 180' .To put this mildly , the baskets are not good . Even donated old Mach I's from an extinct course would be better .
#2 Navigation : No recent map , no Next Tee signs . After hole 2 you are on your own . Some will follow a weird flow , while others you will play Where's Waldo with next tees . #6 is a good start . Hint; Look in the woods . Maybe an updated map will be posted now that the concrete was poured for the back 9 ( ? ) .
#3 Safety . I don't know if this will be an issue , but some spots could clog up , causing players to be hit . Playing holes 5-9 would be an example . Blind drives going out to open spaces .
#4 The Rough/overgrowth . In spots here , it is just high and bad . Also , spots need to be trimmed back . #7 in the woods . The trees and overgrowth have eaten up any chance at a window to the hole . Also , the window shot on hole 9 is pretty much closed up . #10 ,coming out of the woods needs trimming back so you can have a lane to the hole .
Variety . Not a lot here . This will keep some more skilled players away . They will catch on fast and birdie many of the holes . 15 & 16 come to mind . #17 ( ? ) has a fairway with an upward sloping hill and its vegetation to the right and an outfield fence to the immediate left .
The course lacks any noticeable scenery .
Disc Risk : will be medium to high . I clipped a tree on the short #7 and my disc went into the high brush . Don't use green or dark disc when playing some of these holes .

Other Thoughts:

This course is still a good project . You have to travel at least to City park to find another 18 hole course . Fayettville Parks dept. is pointed in the right direction . I would like the park to add some variety , maybe move the fun factor up to at least average and update some equipment , even if just a little at a time .
There is no reason that course would be empty , except for an out of town player on a nice Saturday afternoon .
My Recommendation : Okay for local newbies and locals ( not a lot of options and most holes are under 300' ) . Not enough challenge or variety for intermediates and up . A little far out for the traveler , but a new plus for the Course Collector making his way to City park , Red Hawk , The Links , and Lewisburg . Not overly ideal to go out of your way for , but at least an option for now . They are trying .
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14 0
Cerealman
Diamond level trusted reviewer
Premium Member
Experience: 16.3 years 660 played 186 reviews
1.50 star(s)

Nine more but still poor 2+ years

Reviewed: Played on:Jun 8, 2020 Played the course:once

Pros:

Miles from any other disc golf course, the Don Davidson DGC in Fayetteville has recently doubled in size but features mostly open and uninteresting designs.

The course starts out with a couple open holes just over 300 feet, which allows for warming up before the treeless fairways become a consistent configuration. Hole #2 borders a swampy pond that will punish shots that turn left. The next four holes include most of the trees you will encounter on your round.

Hole #18 is near the start of the course and is one of the nicer holes of the round. The back nine does feature a couple 300-plus-foot holes.

The new concrete teepads are a nice addition.

The course is probably low on traffic usually, though a bit of congestion could occur if multiple parties ventured off their fairways.

Cons:

The baskets are some of the most inexpensive you will play on; the chains are flimsy, the center pole is small and the lightweight baskets seems like they would tip over if not secured.

The addition of nine more baskets would seem to be a plus, but the back nine is not very interesting. Most of the holes feature straight lines along a mostly open fairway hugging the park's perimeter. The goal of the back nine is to ensure a return to the starting point.

While some holes' only offense is being open and straight, a few holes on the back nine include greater transgressions. Hole #11 plays around (or over) the corner of two outfield fences and a scoreboard. Hole #12 is one of the few holes that starts in the woods, but the tight line into the field is not more than a few discs wide. And the teepad for Hole #17 is behind an outfield fence while the fairway is the partially mowed hill between the baseball field and Wilson Parkway. Stray discs will end up in the road.

A couple holes on the front nine are not well designed either. Holes #3 and #4 include trees in front of the teepad, forcing unordinary shots. And the basket for Hole #4 is hidden directly behind a bushy tree.

The teepads on Holes #3 and #6 are close to trees/shrubbery and need some trimming.

The tee signs look nice but are not very helpful for figuring out where the next hole is. Most of the tee signs for the back nine are not in yet. No numbers on the baskets, either, so good luck navigating the middle section.

The DGCR map is still correct for the first six holes. The new Hole #7 starts just inside the woods, as the old Hole #7 is now the new Hole #10. The new Hole #8 is the old Hole #9. And the new Hole #9 goes to where the old Hole #8 basket was but from a different location past the previous hole's basket; a new teepad was being built when I played there.

Other Thoughts:

Don Davidson DGC fills a geographical void. Even with the unexceptional design of the back nine, it's nice that this small city now has 18 holes of disc golf available.
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10 0
wellsbranch250
Diamond level trusted reviewer
Premium Member
Experience: 10.8 years 694 played 680 reviews
2.50 star(s)

Now 18 Holes 2+ years

Reviewed: Updated: Played on:May 7, 2019 Played the course:2-4 times

Pros:

(2.284 Rating) (REVISED - replayed May 2022) A typical small park style 18.
- UPGRADES - I originally played here way too early in the development process. It was just 9 holes, cheap baskets, gravel tees, no signs and hole (9) finished in a weird spot. I gave it a 1.0. The course is basically finished now. Its 18 holes, with concrete tees, tee signs and better baskets.
- AMENITIES - Much improved. Community board with course map posted. Nice looking tee signs with some useful info, but not 100 percent accurate as it appears a couple tweaks have been made, such as hole (15) getting shorter. The alternate basket placements are also not listed on them. The artistic hole descriptions are generic and not that good. Moving on to tees, nice solid concrete surface. Not super big, but the holes are that long. Baskets have been upgraded to Prodigy, and there's a practice basket and a few benches. I assume there is a bathroom in the park somewhere considering all the baseball and soccer fields in the park.
- RECREATIONAL FRIENDLY - Don Davidson feels like a low-end Recreational level course to me. IMO, the perfect difficulty for the first course in town. I think there is room to tweak it a bit harder with a few extra long pads where space is available. Novices won't be overwhelmed, while Intermediates will still be entertained.
- QUICK PLAY - For an 18 holer it goes quick. The transitions are generally short. The course loops and only a handful of holes have terrible overgrowth in play. A first-time solo should be done in 45 minutes.
- FIRST COURSE IN TOWN - Before these baskets were installed, the nearest course to Fayetteville was a 1/2 hour away. This course fills up a big hole on the course bagger map.

Cons:

The course is nice, not a gem.
- NO ELEVATION - Almost no elevation change on this course. The following is a listing of notable elevation changes. There's a 3-foot high bluff that is teed off from on hole (3). Left of the fairway on (16) and (17) is a modest upslope to the road, but it's really not in play except on grip-locks to the right. This is one of those courses that you wish you could list the terrain as "Glass" cause "Mostly Flat" seems too generous.
- HOLE VARIETY - Nothing at Don Davidson is going to blow the mind of any player that's played 4 to 5 other courses. Mostly lightly wooded to open shots. A few baskets are lightly guarded in different ways using trees, but most courses do that. Water comes into play one time. I like that there are a few long alternate basket placements now to change the dynamics on a few holes.
- NATURAL BEAUTY - I didn't score Don Davidson on the high side. Too much of a lightly wooded park style course and too flat a landscape. Chain link fences and ball fields in view and play on a few holes. I did enjoy the scenery around tee (3) and the tee shot on (10).
- LACK OF CHALLENGE - The technical requirements on this course are on the lighter side and it's also not a long course. More than a handful of holes fell like a "I gotta deuce this," type of hole. I think Advanced players will murder this course and average over 10 down. For those that know the HV course up the road in Shelbyville, this one is only a touch more challenging. I do like the fact that they have installed some alt placements to add distance on a few holes. I hope they add some more, like a twisting pocket shot or something more wooded in general.

Other Thoughts:

Good to see that Don Davidson has evolved into a respectable course. It was a slow start, but those involved got it done and did a good job considering all the constraints they had to deal with. I think the course is nearing max-out potential. The land size and lack of interesting terrain really hold back on what was achievable. I would encourage those involved to add a couple more technical placements, perhaps add a second set of tees (mix of harder and shorter) and add some more benches. They do this, and I think the vibe and play continues to amp up, then I perhaps could see myself up it to a 2.75 in my books.
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