This is definitely a championship level course the Triad has been needing for a while. The Patriot in Kernersville tries to be, but it has too many wide open holes. Keeley keeps you moving from heavily wooded, to partially wooded, short, then long. The most open hole on the course, #11, is probably the best hole.
After being in the woods on most of the front 9, and #10, #11 tees at the top of a hill in one of the Powerline ROWs.There is a pond down the right side of the fairway, but this ROW is wide enough to stay away from that. After your drive, you have to cross a wooded stream (you know, the kind that they let trees and weeds grow up on both sides, just itching to grab a low throw), after crossing that, then its up a small rise to the basket on a rocky slope.
Yes, I did say "one of the Powerline ROWs", where else have you seen two, large ROWs that cross each other? This is my first. Typical for a lot of DG courses, they go on land that can't be used for much else. Surprisingly though, #11 is the only hole that plays entirely in the ROW.
You do get a feeling of deja vu on this course, a few themes were repeated on other holes:
#3 and #7 both tee in the trees, cross the ROW, then into the woods, to the left and downhill.
#8 and #16 tee at the edge of the ROW, cross it, then straight into the woods.
#9 and #13 both have trees right in front of the tees, forming a double mando, to a straight, short hole. (#10 short tee also has a very early tree to avoid.)
With that being said, there are also some very unique holes at Keeley, probably none more so than the opener, #1 is a Par 3, straight through a bamboo forest. They had to cut straight through these large (maybe 20 feet tall) plants.
#14 is also a cool hole, you tee down through a small stream valley, with a narrow fairway, pretty unique layout.
#17 should definitely bring scoring separation late in the round, a Par 3 that plays longer than it's 295'. Narrow fairway off the tee, then uphill, finishing on a raised mound. #18 does not appear to be a tough finishing hole, so make your move on 17.
Keeley Park will definitely enhance the Triad, and NC, Disc Golf scene. As this course matures with more benches and the rough getting beat down, I can see players coming from Charlotte and other states to play this course, Johnson St and Pleasant Garden, then heading to the Triangle to play Diavolo, Jones Park and East Clayton. Yes, the well designed, challenging courses are increasing in this part of NC.