Pros:
-nice park with lots of mature trees
-discatchers, concrete tees, new tee signs
-older design with nearly half the holes under 250', one over 400' and one more at 550'; a good AM2-AM3 level course
-alternate dirt tees that are sometimes longer and sometimes shorter
-kiosk with a course map
-easy navigation, even with baskets missing (see next)
-there is an alternate layout for the course
Cons:
-there is an alternate layout for the course; as a traveling player it sucked. 9 of the baskets are across the road on this layout
-some of the concrete tees have become slick
-walking path that is in play on a number of holes
-will probably be boring for advanced players
Other Thoughts:
In some ways, it is unfair for me to review this course. I played the regular layout on a day when the alternate layout was in effect. A sign at hole 1 indicated that the "combo layout", as they call it, was in use and to check UDisc for the course map. I don't have a smartphone or use UDisc so I thought "I'll just figure it out". That didn't work out so well as 9 of the baskets get moved across the street to a different area of the park, which I didn't know at the time. So I followed the concrete tees and brand-new-looking tee signs and ended up just throwing to baskets that weren't there for half the holes. Along the way I started to see flags for temp tees and finally got the scoop from a few locals. Since this was the 4th course of the day for me with plans to hit 2 more, I just continued on through the regular layout for the sake of time. Finally, I noticed on my way out that the alternate course is actually listed on the course map at the kiosk. Nobody but myself to blame, I guess.
The layout was easy to follow and the detailed maps on the new signs allowed me to "play" the holes that had relocated baskets. The holes make their way through natural lanes of mature trees on most holes, with most of those lanes being pretty generous but at least a handful that get a little tighter. The walking path through the park ends up in play in a few places but it's usually the tees that are next to the path rather than the baskets. You can tell it's an older course, most of the holes are on the shorter side. It's in good shape for a course built in 1992, especially with the new signs. I wasn't looking for the alternate tees but it's always nice to have that option.
This is the oldest course in Wichita Falls and seems like the kind of course that still gets the most play. It's close to downtown, has the most trees (except for the private River's Edge course), and is accessible to a wide range of players. I was annoyed about the alternate layout but that was my bad and probably not an issue 90% of the time. I was pretty hot about it that day though and I really do think it's not reasonable to require people to use UDisc just to play a course that has been around for 32 years (I know, I know, it's on the course map!) I think we should let our older, shorter courses be what they are and let new locations house the championship layouts that club members want. To be fair, that's easy to say about someone else's community. I'm just a visitor, thanks for the courses!
For visitors, this is the obvious place to catch a round in Wichita Falls. Classic, park-style disc golf that's easy to get to and easy to follow. Course connoisseurs should look into the private River's Edge course or the Wind Creek course on the AFB but for most players, Lucy Park will suffice.
**Like this review? Hate it? Message me and let me know why! I want to make them better!**