Pros:
+ 18 fresh baskets.
+ Excellent tee pads.
+ Very informative, accurate tee signs that do a great job of differentiating between the Renske holes and Renny Gold holes.
+ Good variety as far as direction of play is concerned. Left, right and straight lines in a fairly even mix, with a nice mixture of short to medium lengths utilized.
+ Certain holes offer a variety of routes to the pin. #2, #4 and #9 in particular come to mind.
+ Superb flow, very quick and easy to play. I typically bring a starter sized bag with a few putters and mids, and knock this course out in 30 minutes assuming I don't have to wait on any groups a head of me. This and Winget have some of the shortest transitions between holes, something golfers of any skill level can appreciate.
+ Minimal areas to lose a disc. There are patches of thick rough here and there, but they are situated in areas you're unlikely to land, far away from the putting greens.
+ Plenty of benches between holes, and lots of shade.
+ Two highly regarded 18 hole courses located in the same park, along with a wealth of amenities not limited to a skate park, tennis, volleyball, mountain bike trails, water fountains and restrooms.
Cons:
- Has crossing fairway issues with Renaissance Gold. Renny Gold has a 1000'+ Par 5, 600'+ Par 4, and a 975' Par 5 that intersect roughly half the holes on Renske. This is a significant issue on busy weekends, and I've been forced to wait up to 20 minutes at times to complete the Gold course holes as I wait for back to back groups to clear the fairway.
- Does not offer any long holes. Only three holes are above 300', the rest are in the 175'-275' range. Yes, you can play the Gold course if you want long holes, but there is a fairly wide gap between the skill level required to throw Renske's longest holes and the Pro Players Course or Gold Courses easier holes. I feel one or two holes in the ~350' ballpark would have diversified the shot selection at Renske better. As it is I never bring drivers with me when I play this course, and I still expect to shoot very well.
- One of the easier 18 hole courses I've played. If challenge is something you look for in a course like I do, Renske will leave you wanting.
- Minimal elevation at play.
- No holes stand out to me as being particularly clever or memorable.
- Various holes play next to the park road or nearby parking lots. #1, #2, #15 and #16 are the worst offenders. Exercise caution on these holes when vehicles are approaching.
- Certain holes feel rather uninspired. The first hole is a wide open 320' straight shot, with the only interesting feature being an OB road to the left. The last couple of holes are very plain. Some of the shortest holes give off a bit of a filler vibe, such as #7 and #9
Other Thoughts:
My score for this course is on the lower end of the typical scores given to Renske. This is not to imply Renske is a bad course, but rather I feel there are numerous other 18 hole courses in the area that offer more length, a little more variety, par 4's and more interesting elevation. If I would rate courses like Winget, Reedy Creek, Sugaw and Kilborne around 3.5, then I have to give Renske a 2.5-3 as I feel it's a step below those courses.
To me the biggest drawbacks of Renske are the lack of challenge and the interference it causes with my preferred Renaissance layout, the Gold course. Not much to be done about the former issue at this point, and the crossing fairways I can accept as I feel the benefits of having a course catering to a different skill level outweighs the inconvenience this issue causes.
In terms of raw golf I'd rate it 2.5, but with excellent tees, informative tee signs and two other courses in the same park, I'm giving it a 3.
I think Renske is a solid course for beginners to intermediate players, though I could see players on the more skilled end of the intermediate category feeling a little bored with repeat play throughs.
I think anyone, regardless of skill level, can enjoy themselves out here as long as they don't expect to have their skills significantly tested. Not every round needs to be punishing. There is something to be said for a quick to play 18 hole course that is easy on the legs and offers a good mixture of lines.
I rarely play Renske as I prefer Winget, Goat Island, RL, Sugaw etc., when I'm in the mood for an easier course, and with Renny Gold being my favorite Charlotte course it's tough to pass up when I visit this property.
That being said I would recommend golfers of all skill give Renske a go, because I think you will have fun. At the end of the day, fun is why 99% of golfers play the game. Those of us who pursue a greater challenge should keep that in our perspective, and appreciate what courses like this offer the disc golf community.
In itself I do not consider it a destination level course, but combined with the other courses and amenities of Renaissance Park it adds to what was already one of Charlotte's premiere destinations. It adds balance and variety to a location known for beating players down, and serves an important function.
I updated this review in 2023 FYI.