Pros:
[Update: I've seen the latest review, and I'm looking forward to revisiting this course. I'm extremely glad to hear they've updated it. When I am able to return, I will update my review at that time]
In all of my reviews, I ALWAYS try to find the positive in a course! Regardless of how small, or insignificant, because my philosophy is that someone put effort into installing a course to try and introduce the sport to the neighborhood or city. Sometimes it is a grassroots effort, and comes from raising money and starting out with used or sub-par equipment. For that, they should be rewarded for their initiative.
At this point in my Disc Golf journey, I have played 116 courses, and this will be my 103rd review. I've always manged to find a silver lining, to at least say that I've had a positive experience or a reason why a course is advantageous. It's not always easy, but I feel it was built because someone put the effort into bringing a course into existence. So no matter how big or small, it's there because someone cared enough to put it in. A labor of love, if you will.
However, with this course, I can honestly say, I have no Pros to list for this course. Perhaps it was installed with good intentions in 2005, but the condition of the course shows that the caretakers have no interest in developing and improving the course, let alone taking care of it.
Cons:
-Basket 1 is standing inside the treeline smashed to the ground. No one has even taken the initiative to remove it and dispose of the basket. It just stands there, looking like a sad mess heap that no one wants to clean up.
-The baskets are homemade. I'm guessing someone went and said, "Why pay for those, when I can just make them" So what you have is the bottom of a blue barrel, with backyard swingset chains to catch. (I'm using the word "Catch" loosely in this context) From 2ft, I lobbed it in to the basket. The chains didn't even begin to stop my disc and it flopped out the other side.
-They put effort into building and installing tee signs. However, there is nothing on the sign!! Nothing, not even a fairway number. Which as this course progresses, makes it even more confusing, Surprisingly enough, the baskets are numbered, but they are all close together so any tee could go to any basket. This is where I said screw it and left!
-From the amount of trash in the baskets, apparently park goers think these are trash cans.
-As I mentioned, basket one is a smashed heap and two is nowhere to be found. According to the previous review #8's basket was M.I.A. I didn't stick around long enough to confirm, but I think I can safely say it's gone, given the condition of the rest of the course.
Other Thoughts:
This course is not worth the drive. ...even if it's across town! In the condition that it's in, it would be better to pull the course all together. Now, there is the caveat to this. If this was a neighborhood that was small, perhaps it was one man that built these, because there was no funding. That would be a different story. I would credit him for going above and beyond. That is not the case. (perhaps it was at one time)
This course is in an extremely nice park! There is a large recreation facility housed on this property!! There is a trail system in this park! Nice playground equipment! Money has been spent here! There is even an Ampitheather!! These baskets make a very nice park look trashy! They look like garbage cans! ...and unsightly garbage cans, at that, with broken chains hanging down over the sides!!
If there is a course upgrade in the works, then I will gladly return and rewrite this review!! ...HAPPILY!! This course, in the condition that it is in, is a very poor representation of our sport. Baskets can be upgraded at a very affordable price!
They are missing out on what could be a very beneficial investment to the sport of Disc Golf in the town of Wellman. Upgrading this facilities baskets and possibly improving their fairways can go along away in bringing this sport to life in this town. I've seen many a small course, have a large following of people in towns similar to Wellman.
If, by chance a member of the city or that rec center in the park comes across this review. (It's happened before) Here's how you can make this a better course:
-Upgrade the baskets
-Utilize the tee signs! (The Teesigns were actually nice! Okay, I just found one pro!) Put the holes information on them! Don't leave them blank! You could even upgrade the course by having local businesses sponsor a hole and put their name next to the information on each tee.
-Consult with Disc Golfers on how to better improve the fairways. Washington, Mount Pleasant and Fairfield all have players and League Presidents that you can consult!
-Even if it's small course, you could still have a course that you would be proud to have in your park!!
-You'd be surprised what revenue a disc golf course could bring your city. Do not underestimate this! I drove up from Mount Pleasant!
Disc Golfers will drive from other towns to play your course! Gflap (Previous reviewer) and I drove from our respective towns. How many more have stopped in to visit? What would you like them to see? I hope that I will one day write an improved review from this course!