Pros:
This is the little course that nobody knows about. But, based on home prices, you know the park isn't lacking for funds.
- Short, beginner friendly layout. It's an AcePlace layout, and one of the better ones I've seen.
- Course weaves between open and wooded layouts. There is not a single hole where trees don't come in to play. And there's not a single layout where the trees are too much of a deterrent for kids and new players.
- Course weaves through parts of the park that aren't interfering with other activities. The closet issue you'll find might be teeing off on #9, but you're throwing away from the stable and playground.
- Plenty of parking. The two times I've played, there has been a total of two other cars in the disc golf parking lot.
- Great park for the family. An excellent playground, lot of trails, and a pond. It's a very nature-centric park, which is why disc golf fits right in here.
- Lots of ace runs. For such a short course, they'll still have to be earned. You've got low ceilings (#4 & 8) or sharp doglegs (#5 & 6) that will make these well earned short aces. Think Dorton Park (sans #3) with a hint more challenge.
- #8 is my favorite hole. I like the low ceiling tee shot aiming at a basket on the edge of another wooded area.
- #9 is the fun, throw multiple discs, layout. It's slightly downhill, so an ace run can easily sail 40 feet past as I've discovered both times I've played.
Cons:
This is close to its apex. There's little to nothing to complain about.
- Signage should be better. There needs to be a clearer sign to let players know which parking lot is for disc golf. Granted, if you park in the wrong one, you're starting at #8 or 9.
- Signage between holes. There could be a couple more arrows on the longer transitions when you cross over the park road (from #3 to 4 and #8 to 9).
- Grass tees. Again it's part of the course's minimalist footprint. And no holes are longer than 200 feet, so no run ups are needed.
- Obligatory course will be too easy for more experienced players. Blah, blah. You shot nine down. I get it.
Other Thoughts:
The first time I played here the baskets had just been put in the ground. There was no signage. I was frustrated with the layout, thinking this might be a dud. I was pleasantly surprised how much nicer the course played once it was completed.
- This might now be the best course in the Charlotte area to bring kids, families, and first time players. The course has so much working in its favor.
- For a course with an average hole length of 134 feet, you are going to be hard pressed to find another course with as much variety as this one.
- This is an excellent course for practice. The sharp doglegs or low ceiling layouts reminded of throwing second shots after a less than ideal tee shot on a typical, longer hole. We've all had to throw a sharp, 110 foot dogleg hugging the tree line to get up and down to salvage par. Very few holes offer practice like this.
- I'm giving this a 1.5 rating. It earns a half point bump for being an outstanding beginner-friendly layout. Had I reviewed after my first round last Fall, it would have earned a 0.5 rating.
- You can easily play through three times in an hour. I would be here a lot for practice work if I lived close by.