Having first played an earlier configuration of McDade in 2017 and 2018, I wrote my first review here in 2017. After the redesign, I played in 2020, and now returned to the area in 2023 to play again and update the review. This course continues to get the most play in the immediate Conroe area, and attracts the crowds because it's well scaled for intermediate skill levels and above, and has variety galore from the big field shots to short ace-deuce runs (9 & 10, especially), to increasingly challenging, technical finishing holes (on 17 & 18). It is a park course that gets good maintenance and has very little underbrush in which to lose a disc. In fact, the only place I could see as a disc lost would be an overzealous shot on hole 13 going into the drink.

Fantastic, level, concrete tees and good signage clearly leads you to good DGA baskets, and forces you to control your throws into wooded gaps, along reasonable fairways, and under some low-ceiling branches. There's a lot to like about McDade. I liked the fact that there's a port-o-let by the 15th tee, that there are trash receptacles throughout the course, and that the course seems to be well-maintained. There are even gully crossing bridges for flash flood season.

The most challenging holes appeared to me to be hole 3, with a tight window to hit if you want to get very far down the way toward the basket (396' from the tee), and holes 11 & 16, which both require two really good control shots to get to the end of the lane greens for a three. They're appropriately listed as true par four holes for this intended target audience. Finally, it's nice to have a practice basket right by the parking area.

The lack of elevation in the region means they didn't have any to work with here, but it seems a little regrettable that they weren't able to incorporate the nearby river just a little more to make up for it (like Stonebridge Church nearby uses the pond for three gut-check shots). Only hole 13 here has the river a mere 40' past the basket to give you pause. The lack of next tee signage definitely would make this course a navigational challenge for the newcomer who forgets to bring a copy of the course map (I did see a faint arrow to 12 on a stone after 11, so you don't go right up to 15 directly). They are definitely needed after 1,6,7,11& 15.

Personally, I'm not a fan of long walks between holes (1 to 2) and doubling back fairways (2 to 3, 9 to 10), or holes that appear to play into the mouth of a path use by (possibly 'ignorant') 'civilians' (hole 2), so…

…I think it's interesting that this redesign (and particularly the relisting here on DGCR) used almost all the existing fairways, but did not address the issues of course flow. Like almost all courses, 'improvements' here were clearly added to lengthen the course, so hopefully that's your thing, and you'll enjoy this newer McDade.

Good baskets and teepads
Good tee signs with accurate distances
Some distances variety including 2 par 4's
Not many places to lose a disc
Good for beginners with some shots that will push distance but nothing too punishing

Not a ton of variety in shot shapes
For me there were too many low ceiling shots
A few tweener par 3's that don't offer a ton of scoring separation

I played this course in a tournament and the people on my card were familiar with the course so I didn't get a good feel for how clear the flow of the course was.

This course has something for everyone, I love to have a course nearby with Par 4's. Also, you will find Hole 3(Old 18) is still probably the most demanding Par 3 I've ever played(only 29 courses played) and holes 14 and 15 are also very challenging as Par 3's. This course makes up for lack in elevation with these challenging holes. I love that there are so many tempting shots, that it really can draw you in to trouble, rather than just playing it safe. Open holes to Heavily wooded(looking at you hole 3). Tee signs are great, and like the new putting area better. It always felt more natural to start from old 16 anyways.

Baskets are not getting any younger, but still fine. As said before in Pros, lack of elevation, but some of the hole's distance will make up for it. Mainly a RHBH course imo. Only time I break out my RHFH from the tee is on 17(old 14), I used to use it on old 5(now combined with old 6 for par 4, so I throw flex BH) and 10.

They took out hyper-"ACE"-able hole 12, and made hole 3(Now 9) not nearly as easy to Ace. Super fun course to play with a group, Layout is well thought-out, cart friendly for you cart folks.

Ever since its inception, McDade Park has been one of the better courses in the Houston-area especially on the northside of town. In my opinion, this new layout cements itself as the top course on the northside and top three in the Houston area.

I read my review on the old layout from seven years ago, and the new design addresses some of the cons -- the course uses a new part of the park that has a little bit of elevation, still not a whole lot, but more than it used to be.

I enjoyed the variety of distances from the shorter 200' holes to the holes that need two solid drives for a chance at a 3. I also felt the shot variety is much more improved on.

The new layout is roughly 1000' longer than the older one, and it shows. There is a high level of difficulty here (especially if you're hungover like I was when I played here)

The concrete tees that were used previously are still in the ground, which can lead to some confusion. Though, a good way to navigate is only use teepads with the tee signs (duh)

Speaking of tee signs, I felt that they did not accurately show the flight path needed. Hole 11' tee sign, the longest hole on the course, shows on its sign that the basket should be straight with a slight finish to the left, and the basket is blind from the tee. I threw and ended up throwing to the wrong basket, because the actual basket had a right turn from the tee pad. It was frustrating being there for my first time.

One note is the target player attracted to a course like this has shifted to more experienced players. New players will get frustrated here as it's long and tough.

I really enjoyed my round here. I applaud Andi and the City of Conroe for all the work they did in redesigning this course. Every time this course is mentioned, everyone always has great things to say about it.

Brand new course design. Great variety of shots. Good level of difficulty. Easy to follow with a minimap of each hole at every tee pad. Good mix of open holes and holes with narrow tunnel shots. Located in very popular McDade Park. Good atmosphere and fun to play. There are always people playing this course. Most popular one in town.

Very few cons. Lots of people play It so sometimes it can get crowded.

Great course for intermediate to advanced players. Even some beginners can learn to play this course well after a few rounds. I've been playing a few months and I have yet to shoot below par. Still an awesome course.

Cement tee pads
new tee signs with maps of the hole
Kiosk with map of the course
new parking lot mostly for Disc Golf
Decent flow
Permanent Port a Potty on site
course has hole 9 loop back near the parking area.

Honestly, I can't think of any

HUGE improvement with this latest redesign. The old course was more "rec" friendly, this redesign made the course more of a challenge by adding over 1000 ft to the total distance.

They moved the "Disc Golf" parking to a different parking lot, while others may still use this lot, it will mostly be disc golfers only now.

Very few of the holes went unchanged. Some had tee boxes moved, some had baskets moved, some were combined and new holes were added.

The course is moderately to heavy wooded in some spots with only a couple of more open holes. Several holes that I would consider par 4's now. At least I feel like I did good getting a 3 on them.

Would I play here again? I enjoyed my round on the old layout last year, I shot several under, it was a mostly pitch and putt course with a few longer holes thrown in. Now it is a much better rounded course, more of a challenge. Yes, I look forward to playing this course again someday.