Sarasota, FL

North Water Tower Park

3.535(based on 37 reviews)
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12 0
Moose33
Gold level trusted reviewer
Experience: 12.8 years 239 played 236 reviews
3.50 star(s)

Fun course with some funky aspects

Reviewed: Played on:Oct 9, 2023 Played the course:once

Pros:

Water tower seems to get played a ton and well
Loved by the locals. I actually played the back 9 first and then the front and it doesn't really batter which order you do as they both loop the park and bring you back near the parking area.

The pads are all concrete and a few of them are marked on the walking path, which is nice for the James Conrad's of the world. Baskets are Mach Vs and I actually love the way they catch for the most part but would have loved a little bit of color on a course this wooded.

For the most part it's a mid length FL woods course with winding lines, palm trees and tight gaps to be hit, but there are a few more open shots like 1,10,18 that let you test your arm and being a new angle.

I think every hole had two tee positions and some had a third shorter one, which makes this a little more accessible to newer players.

It's a good time and the locals were mostly pretty friendly. One group wished me good luck this weekend, so I must have a passing resemblance to a local player. Unfortunately for that guy I guess lol. But I'll take the encouragement either way.

Cons:

Cons are not terrible here but they do exist. From the long tees you throw from or over the walking path a lot. Be prepared to wait on walkers a few times.

It's super backhand heavy for the most part. I threw forehands here, but if you can throw a hyzerflip to mild fade shot I feel like that's the right line on about 14 holes.

Baskets are honestly good, but they need some more color the sliver in the shadows of the wooded holes isn't ideal.

Vandalism is pretty bad here and a lot of pads are tagged and most tee signs are hard to read due to tags or being sticker covered.

Other Thoughts:

I feel like this one is more fun than I'm making it sound like. It's a very solid track with some decent shot variety and a frankly very pretty park setting. The vibe is pretty good and I would play it again.
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1 8
frognuts69
Experience: 9 played 8 reviews
4.50 star(s)

WE LOVE THIS COURSE! drive by

Reviewed: Played on:Jan 9, 2023 Played the course:5+ times

Pros:

Challenging shots. Great layout with consideration for player and pedestrian safety. WILL PLAY AGAIN OFTEN! We make it a point to play it multiple times while in town.

Cons:

Layout can be confusing, we REMEMBER to play the outside loop, then go play the interior "back 9"
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10 11
Skylab
Experience: 5.4 years 9 played 7 reviews
5.00 star(s)

Sky Pirates Rule! 2+ years drive by

Reviewed: Played on:Nov 1, 2019 Played the course:once

Pros:

This bucolic, verdant course titillates your imagination with lush undergrowth and fecund smells. The forest is somewhat haunted and the trees will jump out one to two feet to block your disc as it flies towards the net.

They say a curse has been place on the course since a professional player died under mysterious circumstances and his body was found near the water tower. Many disc golfers claim to have seen a phantom throwing discs in the distant only for the phantom to disappear as they approach.

Cons:

The Sky Pilots are the Cobra Kai of the North Trail. They will gleefully mock you as they whip a destroyer past your pathetic Valkyries. Known for their hubris and cockiness, they will challenge you to a one on one throw and then laugh at you as they mercilessly destroy any vestigial sense of self worth that remains to you.

The only way to beat them is to find an eclectic mentor who teaches you how to catch flies with chop sticks. After long training montages involving painting fences and waxing cars, you will finally unlock the disc golf skills needed to compete with the Sky Pilots and face them at the tournament.

Other Thoughts:

It helps if you bring a magic charm or two to keep the forest spirits at bay. The police also have set up a mind control module at the North End of the Park.

Edit: It has been brought to my attention that some extremely evil disc golfers are downvoting my reviews. Please upvote for goodnesss. thanks
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9 0
DiscinOhio
Gold level trusted reviewer
Experience: 11.4 years 205 played 195 reviews
3.00 star(s)

Solid course that will challenge most aspects of your game 2+ years

Reviewed: Played on:Jul 5, 2019 Played the course:once

Pros:

North Watertower Park is a pretty good sized public park on the north side of Sarasota. Outside of a concrete jogging/biking trail and the course, the park doesn't have many other activities to offer.

+ Pretty much the entire course is shaded, making the heat and humidity a little more bearable. The heat index was 105° by the time I finished the round, so having complete tree coverage was very nice.

+ The course is pretty compact, but it offers a great variety in shot shaping and disc selection. A good Florida course requires a very good design, because there isn't really any elevation to compensate for it. The designer did a great job with the piece of land.

+ Two sets of concrete tees on almost every hole. Baskets are in perfect shape, and the tee signs are pretty nice. Above average ammentities for a course built in the 90s.

Cons:

- The tee signs are pretty solid, but they've seen some wear and tear over the years. A few are unreadable, some are getting close to that status.

- Not enough memorable holes to get a higher rating. There's many well designed, solid holes but the terrain doesn't allow for any breathtaking shots I'm used to seeing at top courses up north.

- Navigation gets tricky in a few spots, it would be nice if there were some arrows or at least colored tape to help guide the way.

- A popular path winds its way through the park, coming into play on several holes. The path is curvy, so just use caution as pedestrians can sneak up on you.

Other Thoughts:

Locals who haven't played any courses outside of the area won't see anything wrong with NWTP. It's a solid intermediate level course, and above average for the state of Florida. It doesn't have the flare of some other courses I've played, but it really is a good place to throw and have some fun.
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2 3
Pretzelb
Experience: 9.5 years 4 played 4 reviews
3.00 star(s)

Decent course 2+ years drive by

Reviewed: Played on:Dec 23, 2018 Played the course:once

Pros:

Nice Tee pads - Nice Baskets-Restrooms

Cons:

Could use some trimming

Other Thoughts:

Fun course. A couple of holes to air drives out. Neat to watch the airplanes come and go. Some well thought out holes. Watch out for the Fireants !
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2 2
Dave Straub
Experience: 9.4 years 5 played 1 reviews
4.00 star(s)

Fun course in great shape! 2+ years drive by

Reviewed: Played on:Dec 28, 2017 Played the course:once

Pros:

Well maintained, not too easy to lose discs, only saw one or two small water hazards, great beginner course all one level, no hiking necessary, great for kids or those who don't want to hike.

Cons:

A couple holes are difficult to navigate and GPS might take you to the back side where street parking may not be legal, look for the parking lot.
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9 1
The Valkyrie Kid
Diamond level trusted reviewer
Experience: 46.4 years 1562 played 1507 reviews
3.00 star(s)

Fire Ants Warning? 2+ years drive by

Reviewed: Updated: Played on:Jan 13, 2018 Played the course:once

Pros:

North Water Tower Park is a medium sized city park with ample parking, a picnic shelter, restrooms, playground and a walking path which comes into play on a regular basis. You always want to give those walkers the benefit of doubt and exercise caution when throwing. The course starts over near the restrooms by the fence. The Sarasota Pilots Disc Club has lots of information on a bulletin board located here. Unfortunately the bulletin board doesn't have a roof of any kind to shelter all this great information from the elements so much if it is pretty difficult to decipher.

The equipment here is basic standard issue. The concrete tee pads are decent sized and in good shape. I did like the way the shortest tees were marked with bright pink bricks. They were easy to spot as I walked past them. The baskets are Mach II's. They had pink tape on the inner pole making it easier to see them from the tee. # 12 has a nicely constructed raised basket. The signs are the old school fiberglass style. Shockingly, only one of them had the plexiglass broke. I would have liked to see the hole number written in bigger, brighter font. I had to walk right up to the sign before I could actually read the hole number. There were a couple of next tee signs. I would have liked to have seen more arrows but I shouldn't be complaining as navigation was fairly intuitive.

The course plays as a solid recreational level. There are enough trees that you need to miss to keep things interesting. The rough is rather forgiving as the underbrush is not that thick. A majority of the holes are straight and in the 250'-400' range. # 16 was the only real short hole but made it for it's lack of length by having the basket well guarded by 10 to 15 trees.

My favorite? I thought # 15 was kind of cool. It played 276' straight ahead but you have to hit a narrow 12' wide window some 80' to 100' feet down the fairway.

There is a very nice tribute at # 4 to James Widick, the course's founder.

Cons:

found the signs to be difficult to read. They're too busy with lots of information. There was also up to four basket placement lengths and positions. Not being familiar with the course, I often had no idea which position the basket was in. I am happy that these signs have not all been beat to hell and had all the fiberglass broken to pieces by marauding teens in the midnight hours.

Navigation was OK but could be improved with a few next tee arrows. I realize that this is made more difficult with the multiple basket placements.

A first for me. A sign by # 5 informed me I was entering A Fire Ant Zone. I was half expecting to be carried off and eaten while still in my putting stance.

The sidewalk is often in play or in two cases, you're actually throwing down it. Be patient and respectful of other park patrons.

Other Thoughts:

The course description states that the course was carved from thick woods and that the back 9 is very tight. I think the amount of trees here is just right and only on the shortie hole, # 16, did I feel the trees might be excessive but I liked it anyway.

After playing three Florida courses so far, North Water Tower Park DGC felt "Most Florida" to me. Except maybe for the lack of water and the absence of alligators. I enjoyed it and would be happy to call it my home course.
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12 0
wellsbranch250
Diamond level trusted reviewer
Premium Member
Experience: 10.8 years 694 played 680 reviews
3.50 star(s)

A good test for Advanced palyers 2+ years

Reviewed: Played on:Jan 2, 2017 Played the course:once

Pros:

(3.377 Rating) A challenging and heavily wooded layout.
- CHALLENGING - North Water Tower is one of those courses that demands your accuracy. There are a bunch of tight tunnel fairways. The fairway widths are generally fair with the exception of holes (4) and (16). Those two holes are more or less poke and hope shots. Advanced players should be happy with the challenge, unless they are the type that prefers hole length to be the challenge factor instead of accuracy. Advanced players should typically finish a couple under par from the back tees.
- TEE PADS - Adequately sized concrete tee pads that are in good shape. There should be no footing issues on a typical day.
- CHARACTER - In addition to the multiple concrete tee pads per hole, the course character resembles that of a well established course with a great club following. Most of the tees are shaded well and several also have seating. There is hole signage throughout the course (also see cons) and most of the holes have two basket placements. There are a good amount of trash cans and a few bag holders. There is a practice basket, picnic tables, shelter and restroom facility as well. I also very much appreciated the memorial located on hole (3) regarding one of courses founding club members. It's touches like this, that make a course very special to play.
- CHILL AREAS - Lots of secluded areas to sit and take a break at.
- SKILL LEVEL FRIENDLY - Although probably not the best course for beginners, as nearby Payne Park and Pinebrook would be better choices, the multiple tees do allow for a range of skill and arm strength levels. In addition to the pro and am tees, there are also junior tees on many holes as well.
- NATURAL BEAUTY - The raw beauty was above average IMO. The foliage was vibrant the day I played, and the ditch along holes (6 and 7) looked better than what one would expect it to look, with birds and butterflies zipping around. Not 5 star beauty, but I'd give it 3 1/2 stars.
- QUICK PLAY - The tight layout and resulting short transition between holes allows for a quicker round than one would expect when solely looking at the course length. A single with an empty course should easily complete a full 18 in under 75 minutes. Groups of 4 probably would finish in under an two and a half hours. In addition, if you happen to know your way, you can easily skip around holes to avoid big groups.

Cons:

No major complaints about North Water Tower but... the course is not for every taste.
- NAVIGATION - I struggled to work my way along the layout here. I had a map of the front 9 and had to reference it on several occasions. There are a bunch of blind baskets so I found myself running up the fairways several times to see where to shoot to. In addition, with the layout being as tight as it is, I found myself standing on the wrong tee a couple of times and asking other groups on where to go.
- HOLE SIGNAGE - Not a major Issue, but the hole signage needs an update. They are all fading away and some are very hard to read. Hole (9's) signage has completely fallen apart. The signage however, does give what appears to be an adequate description and distance of the hole.
- FORGIVENESS - For those that like well spaced fairways, you won't find it here as there are lots of tight fairways. It will be quite frustrating to have a sub-par accuracy day. In addition, there are lots of palmetto bushes lining the fairway, so when you ping a tree you'll often spend some time searching for your disc.
- ELEVATION - Really none to speak of. I know that this is typically for Florida, but this course is flat for even Florida standards. no more than 5 feet of elevation change throughout the entire course layout.
- UNIQUENESS - The holes themselves in terms of variety, are about average. In addition to no elevation, there are also no par 4's or 5's (some may play (9) as a par 4) and there are no open or true dogleg holes. As stated above, just about every drive has to hit a tight gap and also stay low. Several times it will seem that a run of holes are a bit repetitive. There are a couple of raised basket elements on holes (8) and (12).
- SHOT SELECTION - The day I played, the course was definitely favoring right backhand players. Only two of the basket placements pocketed right. Keep in mind though that there are multiple pin placements, so perhaps a few more may run right as well if it's in the other basket position.
- SPACING - Slightly below average. Although the fairways are mostly well defined by the trees and bushes, the bordering spaces are narrow. I found myself in an adjacent fairway a couple times due to ricocheting off a tree.

Other Thoughts:

I very much enjoyed this course. The locals were very friendly to me and helped me navigate the tricky spots of the course. Having played all 3 three Sarasota courses, my metrics place North Water Tower just a little ahead of Lakeview as the top course. I have a feeling that there is much disagreement over which is better among the locals.
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5 2
reposado
Diamond level trusted reviewer
Experience: 13.3 years 278 played 276 reviews
3.00 star(s)

2+ years drive by

Reviewed: Played on:Oct 8, 2015 Played the course:once

Pros:

Over half of the holes occupy a patch of scattered palms. It is a pretty cool vibe and it produces an effect that is fairly rare in Florida, that of tree lines, but it does it with a uniquely Florida twist. That is, the line is comprised of palms. Pretty solid holes for an intermediate level player. It's perfectly flat and no real water but there is solid variety with different lines and distances across the course. A few of the holes do occupy the "park" section of the park, but the good stuff is all under the palms. Be prepared to place shots well if you want to score here: going off line will certainly result in hitting a tree. However, the trees are sparse enough that recovery is easy and you only cost yourself an attempt at birdie. It really should be fin for almost any skill level.

Cons:

This is kind of a course of good and bad and while the good holes are fun, there enough meh holes to drag down the experience. These typically include the holes that run along the perimeter of the park, so they are basically straight with a fence on one side and on one occasion, a murky channel of water. They are just a little on the boring side. Additionally, the few holes that play through the open park area aren't great. They have a lot of walker potential and they detract from the vibe. There are two or three that pretty much play down the paved walking/biking path.
Navigation is iffy in a lot of places. Tons of intersecting paths means that there are places where you have multiple routes to take after a basket. Some non-intuitive transitions among the best part of the course.
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8 0
forehandfranz
Gold level trusted reviewer
Experience: 32.4 years 226 played 128 reviews
3.50 star(s)

When in Sarasota.... 2+ years drive by

Reviewed: Played on:Mar 31, 2015 Played the course:2-4 times

Pros:

Nice Florida foliage covers a well maintained park. Much of the course is a mix of Bermuda grass, palmettos and palm trees with a few small water canals for good measure. There is a nice mix of open and tight fairways and that are lined with palm trees and palmettos with a few trees mixed in to make you shape your line. A couple are so thick with trees, you will be asking "is this a fairway?"

The course is well-signed so you will have a good idea what lies ahead - and the signs will point you to the next tee pad.

Two tee pads and multiple pin positions per hole allow for a variety of challenges and skill levels.

This course rewards accuracy over power as most of the holes aren't terribly long, and hitting an early tree can make the recovery challenging. I would say the course is good for all levels of play, but is a perfect intermediate course. Beginners shouldn't get too frustrated, but pros might find it s bit easy. It's a fun course because it keeps you thinking because there's enough places to get in trouble if you don't execute well.

Cons:

The course seems to favor the RHBH hyzer shot and the RHBH flex shot. It really lacks one single shot that is hard left to right turn (though this is more of an observation than a negative).

The tee pads are a bit short to my liking, but are grippy nonetheless. The signs are nice, as I mentioned and even have pictures of pin placements, but a picture of the pin unfortunately does not indicate accurately where the pin is. I wish they had a system for telling you which position the pin was in.

Hole 4 is a wall of trees (a poke and hope hole).
Hole 5 is a nice hole except that the entire right side is lined by one of the many paved pathways that pedestrians and bikers use. I like that it's OB over the right of the path, but it's just dangerous, because it's a bit blind about 250' up the path.

Other Thoughts:

The memorial at the #3 tee pad is beautiful and commemorates a fallen club member. I was moved by the club presence in that they have 3 or 4 weekly events (one which was happening when I was there - a putting league which is intended to get people out putting and have fun doing it. Otherwise, who likes to practice putting, unless we have an excuse to?!
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7 1
topcide
Experience: 6 played 6 reviews
3.00 star(s)

2+ years drive by

Reviewed: Updated: Played on:Apr 17, 2015 Played the course:2-4 times

Pros:

Good mix of shots.

The long and short pads change the holes dramatically.

Hard to lose a disc.

Water in play on a few holes.

Lots of challenge.





Cons:

While I never felt unsafe, and I don't think that the neighborhood was sketchy, there were multiple groups of sketchy looking people hanging around the park. None of them gave me a hard time, and most of them appeared to be harmless folk just hanging around, I did see one group that were doing drugs. I played 2 rounds, and they were friendly to me both times, and it wouldn't keep me from coming back, but it does have to be said.

Hard to navigate- it was obvious the designers of the course worked with the space they had and made the most of it. After my first round though it was much easier.

Lots of non disc traffic- some of the holes teed off on sidewalks, have to pay attention to make sure it is safe to throw.

Other Thoughts:

I am an out of towner, and overall I thought it was a great course. I ranked it at a 3 instead of 4 for the navigation, some tees being on sidewalks and other issues noted. If i had to rank the holes themselves, I would solidly give this course a 4

Being a non local, I ran into and teed off with a member of the Sarasota Sky Pilots Disc Golf Club for my first round. I can't remember his name, but top notch dude, and obviously top notch club.

Overall good course, I will play it again when I am in the area which is about once a year.

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3 2
Rich.Carrozza
Experience: 14.4 years 22 played 8 reviews
4.00 star(s)

NWTP 2+ years drive by

Reviewed: Played on:Jun 17, 2014 Played the course:2-4 times

Pros:

Beautiful beautiful beautiful course. Signs were great. Baskets were in good shape. Just enough trees and open shots. Some low canopy. This course makes you bring a big arm with precision. Technical and a lot of fun.

Cons:

Tee pads were a little short, but other than that I have no complaints.

Other Thoughts:

Loved it. I'm from out of town and my home courses have a lot of changes in elevation. It was a nice change of pace. Bring your distance drivers and mids. Some fairways are tight so you have to be accurate.
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7 1
S.Cann
Gold level trusted reviewer
Experience: 15.5 years 158 played 83 reviews
3.50 star(s)

Quintessential Florida Course 2+ years

Reviewed: Updated: Played on:Mar 3, 2014 Played the course:once

Pros:

-This is your quintessential Florida course. Plenty of palm trees, Spanish moss, and very flat.
-Course is easy to locate.
-Hole 1 is easy to find. Right by the parking lot.
-Park benches, picnic tables, and trash cans are all over the place.
-The course is moderately wooded and uses the woods very well. Most holes require skill rather than luck.
-The creek that comes into play on several holes provides an added challenge.
-Great mix of long and short holes!
-Each hole has several pin placements and tee pads.
-NWTP plays well for both the experienced and inexperienced player.
-This course was established in the early 90s and was one of the first in the SW Florida area.
-The elevated basket was a nice touch!

Cons:

-Despite there being an abundance of trash cans, there was still trash in several spots on the course.
-The transition from hole 12 to hole 13 is pretty difficult.
-The course was fairly busy. We were there on a weekday morning and there were several other groups. Course traffic picked up as we played.
-Older baskets, some rusted
-No elevation to speak of.
-Walkers delayed us on many holes.

Other Thoughts:

For being one of the oldest courses in the area, this is still a great course! It was well worth the visit. The neighborhood surrounding the park may have been rougher in the past, but seems to be cleaning up. If you are south of the Tampa area definitely make a trip down here and partner this course with Payne Park.
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6 1
jjw4ucm
Silver level trusted reviewer
Experience: 11.3 years 42 played 36 reviews
3.00 star(s)

Stop by Sarasota! 2+ years

Reviewed: Played on:Oct 8, 2013 Played the course:once

Pros:

This is a gorgeous park in the north end of Sarasota. There was ample parking available and restrooms, gazebos, and benches throughout. Beautifully landscaped park, loved playing under the palm trees and Spanish moss.

Good variety of shots; I really dislike tunnel shots and excessively wooded courses, but this one uses its woods and trees very well without feeling overwhelming. There's also a couple holes where the bigger arms can open up and let it air out a bit, which was impressive for a park this size.

Concrete tee pads, benches, and trash bins everywhere. Signs were very informative and help significantly with the navigation; the photos of approaches and baskets are particularly helpful.

Nicely used water hazards; enough to keep play interesting, but not deep enough to lose a disc in really. I didn't notice them causing a problem with bugs while I was there, by the way.

Few opportunities to lose a disc; the park seemed well-manicured and tidy when we were there, with minimal underbrush.

This park is very clean and well-maintained. Kudos on whoever helps keep this place clean, we appreciate it.

Cons:

As has been stated multiple times, this is a park first, DG course second. You do have to keep an eye out for off-leash dogs, walkers, and people just milling about in general.

Holes 1 and 9 both are perilously close to people's fenced yards; throw a nice drive and this won't be a problem, but just be aware of it.

The course is very compact and contained in a relatively small area; while a gorgeous park, it felt a bit constrained and like we were looping around a lot in the same terrian. Which we were. No big deal at all, but I personally prefer more spread out courses.

I thought navigation was a bit tricky on several holes, especially from 12-13 and 17-18. Thank you to the friendly locals that helped us out!

Some of the back 9 did start to feel a bit repetitive, possibly just because of the current pin placements. Also, it would have been nice to have some way to mark which pin position was active, since almost all holes have multiples.

Other Thoughts:

This course is a few minutes north of downtown Sarasota. If you're coming by on I-75, take the University Blvd exit, head West towards the Gulf, turn left on the Tamiami trail, and then look for the signs for the park.

I was surprised to see the majority of reviewers commenting on the neighborhood; we didn't even think twice about getting out of the car here. It looked perfectly fine; however, I did notice a couple of bike cops rolling through while we were there. I'm not too familiar with the Sarasota area, so I could just be ignorant on this one; I was also here at 3PM on a weekday.

I really felt this course was on the verge between a 3 and a 3.5. A bit more variety in the lay of the land (which I understand is just part of the area) and slightly better navigation, and it'd be a solid 3.5. I'll be happy to re-rate and edit after I play a few more courses to get an idea of what the area courses are like. While there aren't the hills like in the courses around my native Kansas City, there were palm trees and Spanish moss galore, which was really just amazing. Happy discing!
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6 2
fictionfree
Experience: 16.3 years 13 played 9 reviews
3.00 star(s)

Nice course with some flaws 2+ years drive by

Reviewed: Played on:Apr 1, 2013 Played the course:once

Pros:

-Friendly course design in a friendly park
-Variety of shots - medium-tight wooded balanced by long open holes, right and left, rollers and air shots
-Concrete tees, bathrooms, water fountains, covered picnic tables
-Water hazards are there, but when I played in early spring, water was non-existent or very shallow
-Good use of trees to create protected baskets, protected greens and tight tee shots on many holes
-Benches, trash cans throughout and I saw very little trash - nice clean course
-Ideal introductory/beginner course that won't be a total bore for more experienced players

Cons:

-Traffic - this is a park first and DG course second - you'll run into a lot of pedestrians, cyclists, children, dogs off-leash, etc. and nobody yielded to disc golfers (which is fine by me, but makes for a slow round)
-Signage was not clear - many showed multiple pins, but in fact only one pin was installed (the short one) and I found it a little challenging to find my way from hole to hole - paper course maps would be nice
-Nearby airport causes some loud airplane noise which can be distracting
-Pros and experienced players may be disappointed - only one truly long hole, a couple medium long - most holes were drive and long putt/approach for me (and my drive is pretty weak)
-Typical of FL, but there is zero elevation change here - some elevated pins or better use of what little elevation there is here (if that is even possible - entire course is bounded by backyards) would help

Other Thoughts:

I have ZERO clue why so many reviewers suggested this neighborhood is sketchy - looks like your average middle class neighborhood to me. Had no problems - everyone was either aloof or friendly - don't let those comments turn you away from playing this course. I had fun playing and relaxing while my wife took the kids to the beaches that aren't too far away - would recommend to others. Good beginner/introductory course, too.
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8 1
davmer2303
Bronze level trusted reviewer
Experience: 12.1 years 25 played 24 reviews
4.00 star(s)

Jungle in the City 2+ years

Reviewed: Played on:Dec 2, 2012 Played the course:once

Pros:

1. There is a good variety of shots to be had. You'll use many different discs and many different lines...
2. Signs are clear and Teepads are of good size.
3. there are multiple tee positions and some multiple pads. There really is a lot going on here.
4. Holes go from around 200 ft. to over 500 ft. and, it seems like there is something new around every corner.
5. It really does look like a jungle near the parking lot on the first few holes. There are a couple of Banyan trees as well.
6. Good variety between tight and open holes. It's a nice shotmakers course.

Cons:

1. The neighborhood seems a bit sketchy. Lot of trash not in cans, although the park itself is really beautiful.
2. Homeless people potentially sleeping in the rough. (Almost fell over one!)
3. You're never sure what the basket position is until you actually find it...

Other Thoughts:

This was pure fun! Although its flat, the scenery was wonderful with tons of trees of different types. The park really did a great job winding in and out of the forest. Each hole was a treat. Even if you hit a tree, there was usually a chance to recover for par. The local players were helpful, and it seems well supported. This is really a fun, moderately challenging course. Good shots are rewarded, and it is technical at times while never being unfair. I will definitely play again.
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3 1
stoltzjl77
Experience: 30.6 years 179 played 13 reviews
3.00 star(s)

Very busy 2+ years

Reviewed: Played on:Nov 22, 2012 Played the course:once

Pros:

Nicely-shaped fairways
Multiple pin positions
Some alternate tees
Clean, and fairly well marked
Nice signs
Well-groomed

Cons:

BUSY. Several fairways cross bike paths, baskets are too close to the next tees in several cases. Back half of the course has a couple of basket-to-tee paths that are not intuitive and are not marked. Scorecard or arrows at baskets would help a lot.
Except for 9 and 10, you can pretty much play this course with a Buzzz and that's it. Not much reason to dig into the rest of the bag.

Other Thoughts:

Okay - so I wouldn't call this heavily-wooded, but I guess it is all relative. There isn't much undergrowth, just a bunch of palm groves that shape fairways providing 1 or maybe 2 lines per hole. I believe most of the pins were in the front positions the day I played. It was windy which added some fun to the 3 or 4 holes which were out in the open.
The park is busy and there were quite a few bikers and walkers out along with many other disc golfers, most of whom seemed to be recreational as far as skill level. That, or they were stoned (the group in front of me that finally let us play through on hole 10) or drunk (the 5-some behind me on the back nine, who were actually quite pleasant but who apparently skipped holes 9 and 10 for whatever reason).
All in all, worth playing if you are in the area. Not sure this deserves the four-star ratings I'm seeing - there isn't anything about this course that stands out in my mind. I contrast that with Gordon Barnett and Turkey Lake in Orlando, both of which I played 15 years ago - I can still remember specific holes that were just awesome. This course - I'll remember the palms, but there's no signature hole and nothing to merit more than a "good" rating.
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4 1
jam6157
Experience: 14.6 years 15 played 1 reviews
4.00 star(s)

very fun course 2+ years drive by

Reviewed: Played on:Jul 5, 2012 Played the course:once

Pros:

- very fun and challenging course to play for all types of players.

- there is a sign at the beginning of each hole that shows you where the basket is and where the next t box is.

- easy to navigate from hole to hole.

- water is not really a problem. i went the day after it rained pretty hard and there were only a couple of holes that had a little bit of water.

- concrete t pads.

Cons:

- although it was mainly disc golfers in the park, there were some people walking around next to the holes. not really that big of a deal but you still need to watch out for people.

- kind of seemed like a shady neighborhood but everyone i talked to seemed pretty nice.

Other Thoughts:

- definitely play this course if you are in the area!
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2 2
tedy4444
Experience: 15.5 years 13 played 13 reviews
3.50 star(s)

water tower 2+ years drive by

Reviewed: Played on:Sep 27, 2011 Played the course:once

Pros:

very fun course for any player. easy to get from hole to hole. good variety of tight, open, long and short holes. nice facilities.

Cons:

this course is made for righty backhanders or lefty flickers. if you are a lefty backhander or a righty flicker you better have some experience. i brought a lefty backhander with me and he strugled a lot as he is fairly new to the sport.
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10 1
RussMB
Diamond level trusted reviewer
Experience: 20 years 131 played 110 reviews
3.50 star(s)

Sarasota Gem 2+ years

Reviewed: Played on:May 10, 2011 Played the course:once

Pros:

-Water Tower Park is located in a beautiful park in Sarasota. The ambience from the Spanish moss hanging from the Live Oaks will make this experience memorable.

-Multiple concrete tees, signs (w/map, lines, and distance). As well as Alternate pin locations.

-This course is one of the early courses in Florida; there is a nostalgic feeling about playing there.

-DG Billboard with map of the course

-Beginner friendly, fun for all skill levels.

-Plays in and around the wooded area of the park.

-Good fun factor, well designed, and they maximized the use of this park.

-Lines vary from hole to hole. You'll be required to work your line around trees that are scattered throughout the fairway. You will also need to be mindful of the low ceiling formed by the canopy of trees.

-Good Distances for a wooded course. Range from 250 to 325 avg. There are a couple of holes that are 400+

-The trees are spacious enough, and the brush isn't thick. The risk of losing your disc here is low.

-Each fairway comes with its own challenge.

-The park was very clean, and well taken care of.

-Restrooms are available, as well as picnic tables, shelters and garbage cans. Also benches are available in case you need a break.

-Fairly easy to navigate, but a map will help you on a few of the holes. We did have to look around a couple of times, but it wasn't too bad.

-This course is a popular course, so finding someone to hook up with shouldn't be a problem.

Cons:

-The main one would be all of the walking paths that meander throughout the course. The park goers, for the most part, seem to be fairly aware of Disc Golf.

- (This is an "is what it is" factor, not held against it) The terrain was fairly flat. Then again, this is coastal region so that's the way it is.

-The course isn't in the worst neighborhood, but I was told that it's not the best neighborhood either. However, I was also told that nothing major has ever happened here, and there aren't many issues with the park. There are, however, a number of disc golfers out there. So if you feel leery, you'll be in good company. It wouldn't stop me from playing here.

Other Thoughts:

I really had a good time here. The fun factor was terrific, and the park itself is very enjoyable to walk through. As has been said before, this is a must play course. There is a nice stretch of Disc Golf courses to be played in this area, this isn't one to miss. No special footwear is needed; my Nike's did just fine. I played in May, so I can't really say how the bug situation is. If you come from 75, you'll pass plenty of places to grab a bite before/after you play here. Nothing in the immediate vicinity of Water Tower Park though.
If memory serves correctly, it appeared to be fairly balanced between right/left-handed shots. It's tight, but not to frustrating. Some of my frustration came from a low branch that I wasn't paying attention to, or playing too close to the edge. But it wasn't enough to take away from the fun I was having. Even if you get deflected, you can still salvage your shot with a good approach shot. Go, and have fun here. You'll be glad you did.
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