Pros:
Course is around some of the finest pines I have seen! This used to be the course's main idiosyncrasy because they are everywhere to be seen throughout the course. They are mature pines! No telling how old they are, but some of them are over 80' tall and they play as fair obstacles.
-I love that they replaced those kingpin baskets. They couldn't catch, even in the center. The new baskets are similar looking, I don't know exactly what they are, but they catch better and don't have those habitual pop ups. And the upside down hanging baskets on #6 and #16 are tests of your putting skills.
-The mix of open/wooded, and in between is great. There are bomber holes, a few really wooded holes, and a lot of holes in between. Like a box of chocolates, you don't know what you are going to get!
-It's an easier course from the whites. Every hole except #2 has a more challenging long pad. There are still some challenging pro par threes (#8, 17, #22) to be had to go with the easy birdie holes (#3, #6, #12). The mix of easy and challenging is just about perfect from the shorts. I usually don't enjoy playing shorts, but I do enjoy them a lot here. Just about as much as I enjoy the longs! Rolling Pines used to be a gold level course, but that was primarily due to a few holes being marked down as par threes when they should've been par fours. Those holes have since been lengthened and are now legitimate par fours. They aren't as hard as they were as par threes, since they are only slightly longer, but they are all still pretty challenging and par rates around 960 from the longs here.
-It's a serious hike here, whether you play the longs or shorts! It's going to make you tired. It starts off easy with the elevation on the first three holes, but then hole 4 comes and really shows you what this course is about! The elevation is even more severe on the back twelve, starting with the roundabout edition.
-The newest editions to Rolling Pines make this, in my opinion, one of the greatest courses in the world. The roundabout adds six new holes that play first down the mountain after #12, (R1 & R2) and then make the way back up (R5 & R6). R1, The first hole on the roundabout (now #13) has a larger elevation change than any of the holes on the first half from the gold tee. Basket is on a small dropoff nearly 50' below your shoes when you are standing on the tee pad. The elevation decline is not as quick, so it's hard to reach this one with a putter. R2 (#14) is maybe the signature hole. Extreme downhill out of the woods under a canopy. Basket is out in the open near the river on the right side. The white tee is 317' and left of the long tee. The long tee is 375' with an 80' elevation drop. The white tee is 317' with a 61' elevation drop. The drop isn't as huge from the white (even though 61' is still a huge drop) but it gives a clear view of the river and makes it play more as a water hazard since it isn't far past the basket. R5 and R6 make the way back up the mountain and bring you to #19 (what used to be hole 13).
Holes #19 through #22 utilize the greatest elevation changes. #19 is an awesome downhill par 3 that's 345' from the gold and 221' from the white but it's a hole where you don't want to throw more than a putter on. It's just as fun on the short pad which isn't as far #20 is slightly wooded. It's a fair par 3 from the short that goes uphill and has great potential for rollaways back down! The long is a real pro par three, even so in the new position. 387' and over 40' up in elevation. This hole used to be a 455' even further up the hill, which was listed as a par three. But was clearly a par four, being an extreme uphill dogleg. The new pin is about 75' shorter and 15' below where the old pin was. #21 long is absolutely breathtaking! It's a long downhill par 4. Elevation drop of 100 feet from the long pad to new pin!! There is a low ceiling, so it's difficult to bite off all the possible distance you can hit, but this par four could potentially be reached! The short pad is a real joy! 65' drop, 492' long with some pine trees to avoid, but more room to work with. You'll feel like emptying your bag here! One of my all time favorite holes in disc golf!!
-#22 from the long is a spectacular par four. Big dogleg left toward the road. You want to throw a hyzer bomb, since there is a gravel lot a few feet ahead of the short pad around the corner. The second shot is up a huge hill around the road and past the bathhouse. A birdie is a bonus one here. 610' and plays over 750'!
-Nice clay tee pads here. They are well marked and even have the hole # written on them and they are either in white or gold depending on which tee you play.
-Course is its own place. It's pretty seldom for people to camp out here but it is available here. The main thing here is the course. I figure that this place used to be a small neighborhood because of the gravel roads and street signs. There is a large bath house on #16 and a treatment plant but it's still more of a hangout place to camp or to just enjoy the heck out of the course. Which I did!! I pulled in and was so happy to see the sign that said "Rolling Pines." Immediately when you pull in, you will see #1 gold's tee pad.
-Intensity: Hole #9 is very treacherous because you don't want to go down the huge rolling hill left. As a 95-99% backhand thrower, this hole was intimidating. Oh, and about 300' past the long pad, there are woods that are very dense and go all the way down the hill. #12 plays along the top of a mountain! It just may be the most scary hole I have played on the long pad. You better throw straight.
Cons:
-Said this many times but #12 is dangerous! I LOVE this hole. It's not a con to me but if your disc goes right and past the rope. Do NOT try to get it. It's insanely steep down there and it's a long way down! A $17 disc isn't worth a serious injury. I'm terribly surprised that no one brought this up in the previous reviews.
-Tee signs need an upgrade with all the additions.
-No biggie to me but #18's tee pad is 20' behind #8's pad and slightly left. They almost face each other.
Other Thoughts:
-Many holes are epic, not solid! There are so many standout holes here in my book!
There is a gas station close by on Wilkesboro Blvd. Unless you brought something from home, I would advise you to go there to stay hydrated. This place is a hike, but I loved the hike! Not every hole is a signature hole but there are some out here! The main one in my book would be #21. It's beautiful!! It plays along a road and around so many grown pine trees. It's a huge downhill par 4 that just tempts you to rip it. Some of you will probably enjoy #22 because if you want, can throw a driver and get it to skip off the side of the huge hill to the left.
-Course starts off pretty straightforward but interesting enough to excite you with hole 1. It's a good warm up on the short pad, but you go straight to business if you play the gold pads. Those holes are well designed and still very fun to play.
-I've played many rounds here since 2016. I absolutely loved it. I didn't enjoy it quite as much as I used to throughout the years mostly because of holes #5 and #7. They are tweeners. The last two are pretty anticlimactic, but at least they are reachable with different shot shaping options. With the new baskets, new pin locations, new holes, AND additional elevation changes, Rolling Pines is back to a 5/5 for me! It's back to being one of my all time favorite courses! It's absolutely fantastic! This should be in the top 20 courses here on DGCR! So glad that they finally made these changes!!