Pros:
Lewisburg Disc Golf Course is a new 18 hole park style course that sits about 11 miles off of I-65 halfway between the Alabama border and Nashville . There is plenty of parking near a ball park fence . Port O lets are on the grounds , next to #1's fairway and near #15 .
The Equipment : This course was opened this year ( 2020 ) , and no tee signs are in yet I am hoping that this is being worked on, because there is no online map and no kiosk . The cement tee pads are large and flush with the ground .They are still pouring a couple of the last ones ( 17 ) The baskets are cool dark blue Dynamic Veterans . There are a couple of mando signs , one being at #8 , #11 ( ? ) and a double mando wooden structure that is like a large open garage door that you have to throw through to get to the green .
The Landscape : The course plays out and back on what looks like a huge field 1-10 go out and away from the parking lot , then 11-18 come all the way back and end next to it . . Most of this is very flat . The only bits of elevation are throwing off a mound on #2 , thrwoing to a basket on a hill on 14 , throwing up a slight hill of 15 and a basket placement on 16 . The grass her is cut , the branches seemed cut . There are some issues where the basket was placed being overgrown a bit on #14 and some of the general area needs clearing on 17 , but it's a new course . There is a cement walking path that the locals utilize that runs through the front 9 of the course . There is a creek that comes into play on hole 6, right behind the basket . There are a few instances where you throw from the open into a grove of trees or brush .
The highlights : 1 & 2 are slow starter holes . In fact , most of the drives here are open shots to baskets with trees or brush lines protecting them .One of the exceptions is #3 where you have to drive out of a jail of smaller trees . #4's basket is in a grove of trees . #5 has a tree at the tee and has you shooting to a basket behind a group of trees . #12 is the garage door mando shot .. It is deceptively harder than it looks . It is an open air shot that might move your drive around some . #14's pad is tucked into the woods . Unless you have a monster arm and can clear the high trees , you are going to have to chance a midrange drive through small trees without a real fairway . Pinball , Anyone ? #16 tee is far to the left of the course and throws to a great basket placement on a mound with a dropoff behind it . Good risk/reward hole . #17 is a short throw around some small trees with a basket protected by a grove . #18 is a slight downhill window shot that will be too long for most to negotiate . There is a lot of heavy rough 2/3 of the way to the basket with is an open green near the lot . Pretty good finishing hole .
Signature Hole : #6 . Drive from the open to a very slight left into some green , with the basket sitting on a small hill and a creek several feet behind it . Big risk/reward here . The creek will claim your disc .
Time : It took me over an hour to play here , but I don't know how much time I spent looking around for tee pads . A foursome that knows where they are going will finish in just over 2 hours .
For only being scant months old , this course seems to be coming along okay . It must still be a secret , because I never saw another player here the whole time .
Cons:
#1 Safety . A walking path runs from the parking lot here all the way through hole 10 . This will come into play during peak times . There is also a place at #8 that requires you to throw through the walking path . If a walker or runner comes around a corner as you are letting go of a drive , you will hit them flush in the face . Look down the fairway to make sure nothing like this scenario causes the course to be uprooted . #2 fairway comes close to a fence line ( and path , Surprise ) .
#2 Navigation . I couldn't find tee pads to a couple of holes and there was No basket at #11 . Finding the tee pads for 14, 16 & 17 are a chore . I am hoping the tee signs go in , there is a kiosk that goes up , an online map goes viral , This course needs some Next Tee signs , too .
#3 The Elements . The course is flat and holds water in several spots . I had to walk over a waterlogged fairway and into 2" of water just to use the Port O Let at #1 There are plenty of water/mud spots all over the course ( #7 , 10 , 14 , 16 and 17 come to mind ) . Wear waterproof shoes if you play after or during a rain .
#4 Disc Risk : Higher than normal . Besides the creek behind hole 6, there is some unusually heavy rough on several holes . If your drive goes in , it may never come out . ( #2 #7 , #16 and #18 especially ) .
#5 no amenities . I will reserve this con for future reference and take it out if benches , a shelter, or a kiosk show up .
Other Thoughts:
For a course that shows some length and fun basket placements , my review score makes it look like I am putting it down , but it is far from the truth . The course should go up , maybe even by a point if the rough edges on the course are ironed out and signage comes in . I think that as long as you play off peak here and avoid the other park patrons , you might have a good time here . A chance to air out your drives on several holes , and some more technical throws a little later on . Wellsbranch is spot on . The last 3 holes are a really good finish to your round . It looks like they sunk some cash into this course with the large cement tee pads and the great baskets . i wonder what the signs will look like .
My Recommendation : A good enough course with a little length for the pro, Am or intermediate . Challenging enough for the local . A little too much for the 1 disc player , a newbie or a family to play here . Maybe too far off for the traveler , and not ideal for the Course Collector because of it being off the beaten path ( 20 minutes from I-65 ) and few course options to group it with ( Henry Horton ? ) . That being said , the reason I would tell you play a round or 2 now , is that you can see the progress in a year and know that you saw the course when it was barely in the ground . I like to revisit course for that reason alone . Some of you should give this course a look , both now and in 2021 .