Pros:
Man, this Eastway disc golf course sure is amazing. It's cool to see a new course have such good quality, and I'm sure it will only get better.
-The course offers 3 basic layouts. You can play the regular 18 hole beastway layout (longs), the short 18 hole layout (use short pads when available), or the short 9 hole layout. The short 9 hole layout has a separate #8 and #9.
-Good variety and elevation. There are multiple doglegs and straight holes, and a bunch of downhill and uphill holes. I never got bored and I don't think I threw the same disc twice in a row.
-Amazing use of land. The course is mainly carved out in the woods, but there are some fairly open shots, especially on the front 9. #2 is completely open, and there are a bunch of wooded holes that have wide fairways.
-Navigation is very straight forward. Transitions from basket to tee were easy, and the longer walks had good next tee signs with arrows.
-The layout of the course is amazing. You start out with some stunning holes, and it gets you warmed up for the back half of the course, which is definitely more challenging. Finishing on par 4 #17 and par 5 #18 really just gives you a sense of satisfaction after your round.
-Course is in great shape. I know the course just opened, but it's still worth mentioning. Tee pads and baskets are nice, and there is a fair amount of benches and trash cans throughout.
-I like the height changes of the baskets. A lot of baskets were low to the ground, and some higher than normal. Also, #2 has a nice raised basket.
-#3 gets a mention of its own. From the longs, this hole is a 585 ft par 4. It starts with a fairly open wooded shot that turns to the left, and finishes with a tighter, downhill shot to a basket that is placed just in front of the pond. Other than the old #7 at Reedy, this is the best hole I have ever played.
-There is a big field with 3 practice baskets, and the first hole is just off the side of that field.
-EDIT 9/10/24: The construction for long tees on #11, 12 & 14 have been completed. #11 & 12 are long par 3's, #14 is a par 4. I think these additions are a huge benefit for the course overall, it kinda spices up an area of the course that needed it the most.
-#11 is just a slightly longer version from the original tee, however it changes the line and makes it more difficult. It makes getting a par feel very well earned here.
-#12 is an interesting one for me, because the new long tee is a completely different fairway to the same basket. The new version reminds me a lot of old #7 at Reedy, since the creek comes into play toward the back end of the hole. So while the long version of #12 is great, the original #12 is one of the best par 3's on the course. It's unfortunate having to skip one of the two layouts since they're both great.
-#14 is my least favorite of the three, albeit being a long par 4. The new fairway extension plays parallel to #13, so the walk from #13 basket to #14 long tee is incredibly dumb since you walk back the length of #13 fairway. The design of the new fairway is a split fairway, which is good, however both sides are seemingly too tight and gimmicky to throw any real shot. If you do happen to throw a perfect shot, you'll land somewhere near the original tee pad for #14, so the new hole is essentially one big dogleg left.
Cons:
-First and foremost, this course is going to be packed. It will be frequent to find groups of 4+ here, so prepare to be held up a bit.
-I feel as though there could have been better hole maps. They are pretty basic and get the job done, but they don't show much detail.
-I didn't enjoy the middle part of the course as much as the other parts (#7-11). There are a lot of par 3's that are similar in length, and I think they could've designed them a little better. A par 4 during that stretch would have been great.
-The rough is very punishing, almost too punishing for how tough some of the holes can be. You will be fighting for par with an errant throw.
-The short layout for #7 is bizarre. It is actually longer and probably more difficult than the beastway layout for that hole. You can tell that the short tees are designed for beginners, but that hole would be tough for a new player.
-I could feel that the round got slightly less fun as it went along. Don't let this fool you, the whole course is amazing. I just wish there were more holes like #2 and #3 throughout the course.
-Course can get muddy in places. I played after it had rained about 3 days prior to my round, and it was still pretty muddy.
Other Thoughts:
Eastway is a top course in Charlotte. A course that is difficult, yet fun is just what one is looking for. The area around the park isn't amazing, but the park itself and rec center are very nice. I'm not sure that the rec center allows people to use the bathroom, so I would come prepared. If you live in Charlotte or if you're just visiting, this is a must play.