Pros:
Hagood Mill is a surprisingly high quality 9-hole course. With plenty of unused land, this feels like it has all the makings of a high-quality 18-hole layout.
- As it is, this is one of the better 9-hole courses I've played. Immediately, this course is akin to Fuller Park in Barnwell, perhaps one of the best out-of-the-way, in-the-middle-of-nowhere courses I've played.
- Most holes have their own personality and unique feel. #1 is your only wide-open layout. #9 is similar with just one tree to the right of the green playing as an obstacle.
- #8 is the signature hole, the hole everyone will remember. You're throwing from the top of a hill (25 feet up, I'd surmise) to a basket down below. Hole is probably in the 325-foot range. The basket has a small, babbling brook along the right side of the basket and putting zone, and several trees to the left. The creek and trees in play do create enough of a challenge that make the fun and aggressiveness even more appealing. If you're not throwing multiple discs on this hole, you're not having fun. This is the type of hole you also stop and watch the next group throw their tee shots.
- There are other fun, quality holes. #2 is around 270 feet, a straight ahead shot. The basket is protected by a cluster of trees, so players must throw high, wide left or right, or really trust your feel in carving a shot through the trees if you're wanting a 2. If you smack the cluster, you'll most likely be up and down for your par.
- #4 is the only uphill shot. It's flat for 80% of the hole, then the basket is on an upslope. #5 has a split fairway. The direct line is a narrower, tougher route, crossing a 'ravine'. If you sail left, you're back down in the flat area by #3 & 4. If you take the wider, right line, it's a wide, sweeping shot. Just make a run at the basket and play the tighter line.
- Course has a simple flow to it. Once you find the first tee (it is the only one near the parking lot), it's easy to find everything else. There are flags marking the transitions from #5 to 6, #6 to 7, and the goat path on #8.
- Course has a great, small mountain town feel. Honestly, I feel I'm closer to Asheville (or anywhere in the mountains) than 25 minutes to Greenville.
Cons:
Better signage, better tee pads. Really, if you just improve the dirt tee pads, I'd keep everything else in its rustic state.
- Course could use the wooded area better to squeeze in one more hole. If the top-of-the-hill hole was the closing hole, this course would feel even better. #9 is a mundane layout, so nobody would be upset if this hole were gone.
- Not a con, just an observation. Course is out of the way. For most players, you'll have to be intentional to play this course. Because of that, it won't get the attention & love that it deserves. Short courses like Gower & Holmes will get 5x, 10x the play this course does. This course is superior to both of those.
- Creek bordering #2, 3, & 8 is just deep & wide enough that it can be a pain retrieving a disc.
- No basic amenities on the course itself. You are, however, only a couple minutes from town (gas stations, restaurants, etc.) so that's not a big deal.
- With the name Hagood, we're bound to see uncreative puns centering around 'good.' Ugh, a bunch of dullards await.
Other Thoughts:
- There something very calming about this course. Perhaps it has to do with all the local signage about the historical Hagood Mills area. It is peaceful here. And it is fun.
- I think the course comes close to completely nailing its goal. Yes, improve the tee pads and signage/hole markings. Even as is, the rustic feel just seems to fit the area.
- I've always had a soft spot for holes that play parallel to creeks, especially if there's very little chance of losing a disc. As such, #3 is a fun layout. You can start to the left and let your disc fade back towards the basket & creek. You can play right-to-left and choose how close to the water you want to start your throw.
- Course has just enough length that you're needing to use a good portion of your bag. Nothing is longer than 350 feet so if you're a noodle arm like me, you will be throwing driver on several holes. If you must unleash some big drives, you've got plenty of room in the open fields.
- I could find fault with some aspects of the course, mainly it's not overly difficult. Other than an unlucky kick off a tree deep into the rough on #2 (how do you hit a tree in the middle of the fairway and end up 50 feet to the right, in the deep stuff?), every hole was a simple par 3 at worst.
- This is one of the best 9-hole courses I've played. Local Upstate and Asheville/western NC disc golfers would all be wise to make a visit here at least once.