Pros:
Riverbend Disc Golf Trail is kind of a question to an answer . This is supposed to be setting for the Song " Down By The Old Mill Stream " . The course neither comes into contact with a stream , nor is it part of a trail . There is plenty of parking at the beginning of the course , and bathrooms are at the parking lot .
Walk to Big Oaks 3 at the side of the lot . This first hole is right behind the building .
The Equipment : There is a nice kiosk with a map on the front of the Big Oaks 3 building .The cement tee pads are about 3 1/2 ' X 7' .Some of these holes have 2nd and longer tees . The signage is okay . A large hole # is on it , along with distance and par . The baskets are yellow banded Discatchers and in good shape . The course could use some Next Tee signs . Print or take a picture of the map .
The Landscape . The park was mowed , and in good shape when I played . The first hole is a flat 200' toss around some trees with a mound if you throw too far right . There is a mount you throw off of at hole #3 . , And that is all for the elevation . It is incredibly flat . There is a side of a pond that could come into play on the right of hole #2 , but no other water on the course . There are some baskets that are tucked into some spots with tree protection , but other than a couple of holes after #9 , where it is a tight lane shot , the course is park style and has open spots in most fairways .The course kind of goes clockwise in a nice park .
The highlights : The course plays short and was uneventful for the first several holes . It opens up a little with a 423' open fairway shot on #7 , then doubles back with 311' #8, which is a drive that is open to the left , but the basket is tucked into a tree/overgrowth line to the right . #14 is a tight 335' shot with trees growing out close to the fairway that will knock your disc out of the air if you don't throw a rope down the middle . You will cross a bridge on the left of the road to throw your last 3 shots to a more serene setting to the park #16 has a tree/brushline to your left and the basket under some trees at about 300' , #17 is a throw with rough to the right and the basket tucked behind some bushes to the left t 276' .
Signature Hole : Finishing hole #18 . 500' There is low brush on each side of the fairway , and the green is tucked into a grove of trees .
Time : It took me around an hour to play the course . A group of 4 could get through in about 2 hours .
Disc Risk : Moderate to low . Easily taking the pond out of play on 2 , you might have to look into some overgrowth if you chuck a bad drive , but I had no problems .
The course is flat , easy on the legs , and has enough variety in right and left holes to make it interesting .
Cons:
#1 Navigation : You better print a map or take a picture of the kiosk , or you will get the full walk of the park . Even the walk from #1 to 2 ( go left of the lake on the path ) can confuse . More Next Tee signs are a must if they purchase anything else for this course . The walk from 15-16 would be a crazy guess for you . A lot of walking that includes crossing a bridge and heading left on a path .
#2 Safety : People at the pond on #2 people in the park here and there , and you crossing the roads in a few spots . These are a few places that can pose a risk to both you and park users that won't even know that there is a disc golf course around .
#3 Amenities : No benches , No practice basket that I saw , maybe bigger tee pads , and Next Tee signs . A shelter after 18 and near the bridge would be great .
#4 Lack of challenge . Good players will eat this course alive Most holes are under 300' and not technical , and only 2 courses are over 400' . No elevation and lack of obstacles and water
Other Thoughts:
The course is not going to WOW you in any way , but I don't think it is going to disappoint , either . The variety might make up for the lack of challenge here , and increase the Fun Factor . The park has some nice trails, has some extras and is a nice drive after your play . The course designer did a pretty good job with what he had to work with .
My Recommendation : Riverbend is more beginner friendly . This ia a good course for the newbies and not bad for the families utilizing the park . Locals should have a good time here along with the 1 discer . Anybody intermediate and up will not be overly impressed , but maybe have some practice here . More likely , they will head up to Panther 335 20 minutes away . This course is only about 6 miles from I-75 , which is a decent stop for the traveler to stretch and a great stop for the Course Collector to grab this and Firestine Park .
Don't go much out of your way , but this is an okay stop for a weekday round or just to try a different course .