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North Cove - The Boulders reviews
0
5
Trilogyfour
Experience:
1 played
1 reviews
Best in NC? 2+ years drive by
Reviewed:
Played on:Jul 10, 2022
Played the course:5+ times
Pros:
*Elevation changes
*Well manicured
*pro shop
*scenic
*fun lines
*Well manicured
*pro shop
*scenic
*fun lines
Cons:
Doesn't force a wide variety of discs to be thrown. I generally use 5 total when I play here.
Other Thoughts:
Competing for best dg property in NC. Even more so now that they have golf carts for rent!
13
0
2+ years
Reviewed:
Played on:May 30, 2021
Played the course:once
Pros:
The Boulders Course at North Cove is simply spectacular. Cut green grass, spectacular views, and adequate but prevelant OB are the theme here.
I absolutely love the layout of this course. It's a bit of a hyzer and power flex shot favored track but with frequent out of bounds and elevation, there is lots of variety. Not to mention, there is a lot of variety as far as distance which makes for a good mix of midrange, fairway, and distance driver shots.
Quality tee signs and baskets made this course easy to play and navigate. UDisc provided any clarification needed on transitions but nicely mowed paths from basket to tee made for little phone checking throughout the day.
This course is really unlike anything I have played in the carolinas. Although it's quite a drive from well....everywhere, it's well worth the hours of travel and some greens fees for such a unique experience.
I love that there is a smaller beginner course that keeps entry level players off the bigger and more challenging boulders course. We had a group of 9 drive up on a Sunday and rarely found ourselves waiting on other groups and the players we did see weren't out of their league. While this isn't the most important factor, it was a pleasant surprise.
I absolutely love the layout of this course. It's a bit of a hyzer and power flex shot favored track but with frequent out of bounds and elevation, there is lots of variety. Not to mention, there is a lot of variety as far as distance which makes for a good mix of midrange, fairway, and distance driver shots.
Quality tee signs and baskets made this course easy to play and navigate. UDisc provided any clarification needed on transitions but nicely mowed paths from basket to tee made for little phone checking throughout the day.
This course is really unlike anything I have played in the carolinas. Although it's quite a drive from well....everywhere, it's well worth the hours of travel and some greens fees for such a unique experience.
I love that there is a smaller beginner course that keeps entry level players off the bigger and more challenging boulders course. We had a group of 9 drive up on a Sunday and rarely found ourselves waiting on other groups and the players we did see weren't out of their league. While this isn't the most important factor, it was a pleasant surprise.
Cons:
Teepads- while the size of the pads were more than adequate, I was not a fan of the rubberized material. The pads were slightly slick in the morning from dew and were too grippy in the afternoon which resulted in some very sore knees from not allowing for smooth rotation. While concrete may have not been an option, I do wish a better alternative existed.
Other amenities- the lack of trash cans on the course was apparent. A pack in pack out course is fine by me but a can here or there would have been nice.
Invasives- there is still some poison ivy and other invasive species that could use some killing. Wood chipped greens on a few holes would also really add a nice touch. The pro shop is very basic and would really benefit from merchandise, more snack options, and perhaps some scorecards. Staff was very friendly though and I expect these critiques will be improved upon as the new owners settle in.
Other amenities- the lack of trash cans on the course was apparent. A pack in pack out course is fine by me but a can here or there would have been nice.
Invasives- there is still some poison ivy and other invasive species that could use some killing. Wood chipped greens on a few holes would also really add a nice touch. The pro shop is very basic and would really benefit from merchandise, more snack options, and perhaps some scorecards. Staff was very friendly though and I expect these critiques will be improved upon as the new owners settle in.
Other Thoughts:
Overall I was blown away with this course. It's probably in my top 5 in the state and hands down the best golf course overlay I have played in the eastern United States. High marks to Innova for a fantastic job.
My worry with this operation is sustainability and longevity. I hope everyone will travel to play this course and help keep this business afloat. I'm sure maintenance costs aren't cheap and I mean this wholeheartedly, WE CAN NOT LOSE THIS COURSE!!! This is a special place and it's hopefully long history has just begun!
My worry with this operation is sustainability and longevity. I hope everyone will travel to play this course and help keep this business afloat. I'm sure maintenance costs aren't cheap and I mean this wholeheartedly, WE CAN NOT LOSE THIS COURSE!!! This is a special place and it's hopefully long history has just begun!
22
0
DiscGolfCraig
Diamond level trusted reviewer
Premium Member
Experience:
20.1 years
610 played
554 reviews
Bigger. Boulder. Better.
Reviewed:
Updated:
Played on:May 21, 2021
Played the course:once
Pros:
Home to two contrasting layouts, North Cove offers a fantastic day of disc golf. It's close to nothing, yet on a Friday morning, the parking lot was packed.
- The Boulders course is worth the price of admission. The tougher, longer, and more diverse of the layouts, this is the jewel. River Run is just the added bonus allowing you to enjoy some excellent layouts while ignoring a lot of so-so-ness.
- Creativity. The course is built on an old golf course. With it, you have some remnants of the old course coming into play. I've never seen sand traps on a course before. Using them as OB, especially when you place the basket just beyond one, as you see on #16 & 17. What a fantastic added challenge.
- Elevation and rolling hills are going to be your best friends on certain holes (#1, 4, 7, 14, & 17) while being your biggest adversary on others (#3, 13, 15, & 18). Throw in slopes that play along the left side of fairways on some holes, and you can find a disc ending up in no-man's land.
- I loved the use of the limited water. There's a small river (ok, it's really only a glorified creek that's not more than two to three feet deep at the most) that comes in to play for a number of holes on the front side. The best of these are #4 (one of my two favorite holes on the course) and #6, with the entire fairway running alongside the water.
- #4 is one of those holes you'll be tempted to unload a series of disc on. Even if that means you have to take your socks and shoes off and retrieve a handful of discs from the water, it's time well spent. It's a downhill, 275-footer that starts on the right side of the creek. The basket is only 20 feet or so on the opposite bank of the creek, so you're essentially throwing over top of the water for most of the disc's flight.
- Tight basket locations put a tremendous emphasis on accuracy on approach shots. You're throwing to a basket in the rocks on #7. You're throwing through a gap on #8. You're throwing to an basket in a tight opening on the right side of the fairway on #12. You've got your sand traps as factors on #16 & 17. And you've got a tough tee shot on #18 followed by an elevated basket to close out the round.
- A couple of big bomber chances. #14 is wide open and downhill at 611 feet. #17 is downhill at 556 feet. But a reminder, a disc that fades too far left is going to be in trouble, along with OB. After 30 minutes of searching, I had to abandon my lost disc in the thick stuff on the side of the hill. #17, by the way, was my other favorite hole on the course. Loving a hole, while also losing a disc, speaks to this layout's quality.
- Oh yeah, the scenery. Tons of picturesque aspects on this course. Mountains as backdrops. A gorgeous creek. Lots of rocks, hence the Boulders name. Just take in this place and realize this is a disc golf course. Not disc golf in packed city course (cough, cough, most of the Charlotte courses or Richmond Hill), but a high quality property 100% devoted to disc golf. This is the future of disc golf.
- The Boulders course is worth the price of admission. The tougher, longer, and more diverse of the layouts, this is the jewel. River Run is just the added bonus allowing you to enjoy some excellent layouts while ignoring a lot of so-so-ness.
- Creativity. The course is built on an old golf course. With it, you have some remnants of the old course coming into play. I've never seen sand traps on a course before. Using them as OB, especially when you place the basket just beyond one, as you see on #16 & 17. What a fantastic added challenge.
- Elevation and rolling hills are going to be your best friends on certain holes (#1, 4, 7, 14, & 17) while being your biggest adversary on others (#3, 13, 15, & 18). Throw in slopes that play along the left side of fairways on some holes, and you can find a disc ending up in no-man's land.
- I loved the use of the limited water. There's a small river (ok, it's really only a glorified creek that's not more than two to three feet deep at the most) that comes in to play for a number of holes on the front side. The best of these are #4 (one of my two favorite holes on the course) and #6, with the entire fairway running alongside the water.
- #4 is one of those holes you'll be tempted to unload a series of disc on. Even if that means you have to take your socks and shoes off and retrieve a handful of discs from the water, it's time well spent. It's a downhill, 275-footer that starts on the right side of the creek. The basket is only 20 feet or so on the opposite bank of the creek, so you're essentially throwing over top of the water for most of the disc's flight.
- Tight basket locations put a tremendous emphasis on accuracy on approach shots. You're throwing to a basket in the rocks on #7. You're throwing through a gap on #8. You're throwing to an basket in a tight opening on the right side of the fairway on #12. You've got your sand traps as factors on #16 & 17. And you've got a tough tee shot on #18 followed by an elevated basket to close out the round.
- A couple of big bomber chances. #14 is wide open and downhill at 611 feet. #17 is downhill at 556 feet. But a reminder, a disc that fades too far left is going to be in trouble, along with OB. After 30 minutes of searching, I had to abandon my lost disc in the thick stuff on the side of the hill. #17, by the way, was my other favorite hole on the course. Loving a hole, while also losing a disc, speaks to this layout's quality.
- Oh yeah, the scenery. Tons of picturesque aspects on this course. Mountains as backdrops. A gorgeous creek. Lots of rocks, hence the Boulders name. Just take in this place and realize this is a disc golf course. Not disc golf in packed city course (cough, cough, most of the Charlotte courses or Richmond Hill), but a high quality property 100% devoted to disc golf. This is the future of disc golf.
Cons:
I felt it needed a little more punch. I wanted one beg-for-mercy, take-no-prisoner par 5. Most of the longer holes were easy 4s. The only tough spots were the OB factors on #17 and the need for a quality tee shot on #18. Contrast the long downhill holes with a tough, uphill, winding layout.
- For as great as this place is, they did have to create a lot of the challenge. Being an old golf course, there are wide, cleared fairways. To combat this, there are baskets in unusual places, such as in tucked-away spots or hugging water. You see this some on this course, even more so on the River Run course.
- A couple hole distances seemed off on the tee signs. #3 was off by a good 150 feet unless I found the wrong layout (tourney tee perhaps)?
- Course could use a couple more amenities throughout. Trash cans and benches would be nice. As would a couple more next tee signs on the long/blind transitions from one hole to the next.
- You're not close to much, so come prepared. The clubhouse has basic drink and snack options. Otherwise, you're several miles to the nearest gas station and 30 minutes to the closest town, Marion.
- For as great as this place is, they did have to create a lot of the challenge. Being an old golf course, there are wide, cleared fairways. To combat this, there are baskets in unusual places, such as in tucked-away spots or hugging water. You see this some on this course, even more so on the River Run course.
- A couple hole distances seemed off on the tee signs. #3 was off by a good 150 feet unless I found the wrong layout (tourney tee perhaps)?
- Course could use a couple more amenities throughout. Trash cans and benches would be nice. As would a couple more next tee signs on the long/blind transitions from one hole to the next.
- You're not close to much, so come prepared. The clubhouse has basic drink and snack options. Otherwise, you're several miles to the nearest gas station and 30 minutes to the closest town, Marion.
Other Thoughts:
It should come as no surprise that Boulder does feel more like a round of (ball) golf than disc golf. This is a much more varied layout than most courses. Layouts overwhelmingly make sense and are well-designed.
- A subtle touch to this course is that the toughest stretch is the final set of holes. Get your birdies when you can then be pleased with your pars.
- That said, there are plenty of birdie chances. I thought I played ok. I didn't think I had a bad round. Then I saw my estimated round rating on DGCR, and realized I actually played poorly. Perhaps I should have been more aggressive at times instead of settling for pars.
- The course flowed seamlessly. It never felt repetitive from one hole to the next. You're never going to get in a comfort zone. If you're off on one part of your game, it will be exposed before long - i.e. discs soaring too high, discs fading too much, big skips on approach shots, etc.
- Almost no filler holes. Sure, pars aren't too difficult, especially the par 4s. But, as mentioned above, if you're only getting pars, you're falling behind. You have to be aggressive
- #1 might be one of the best holes in terms of all positive aspects of this course: scenery, challenge, and elevation factor. If you're going to judge a course by first impression (in this case, your first throw), this tee shot captures the course. If this were a Dave Portnoy One Bite Pizza Review, he'd love this course.
- Getting crazy, I can picture the course holding a 24 or 27 hole mega tourney capturing the best of both courses.
- This is so, so, so close to being a 4.5. It's right in that 4.25 range. The only thing holding it down is that it's a bit too easy to be in the same category of other 4.5 rated courses such as Ashe County, Sugaree, Nevin, Rolling Pines, etc. Consider me too harsh for 'ONLY' giving this course a 4.0. It's a must play for all players in the western half of the state.
- A subtle touch to this course is that the toughest stretch is the final set of holes. Get your birdies when you can then be pleased with your pars.
- That said, there are plenty of birdie chances. I thought I played ok. I didn't think I had a bad round. Then I saw my estimated round rating on DGCR, and realized I actually played poorly. Perhaps I should have been more aggressive at times instead of settling for pars.
- The course flowed seamlessly. It never felt repetitive from one hole to the next. You're never going to get in a comfort zone. If you're off on one part of your game, it will be exposed before long - i.e. discs soaring too high, discs fading too much, big skips on approach shots, etc.
- Almost no filler holes. Sure, pars aren't too difficult, especially the par 4s. But, as mentioned above, if you're only getting pars, you're falling behind. You have to be aggressive
- #1 might be one of the best holes in terms of all positive aspects of this course: scenery, challenge, and elevation factor. If you're going to judge a course by first impression (in this case, your first throw), this tee shot captures the course. If this were a Dave Portnoy One Bite Pizza Review, he'd love this course.
- Getting crazy, I can picture the course holding a 24 or 27 hole mega tourney capturing the best of both courses.
- This is so, so, so close to being a 4.5. It's right in that 4.25 range. The only thing holding it down is that it's a bit too easy to be in the same category of other 4.5 rated courses such as Ashe County, Sugaree, Nevin, Rolling Pines, etc. Consider me too harsh for 'ONLY' giving this course a 4.0. It's a must play for all players in the western half of the state.
