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Smith Lake Recreation Area DGC reviews
9
0
DiscGolfCraig
Diamond level trusted reviewer
Premium Member
Experience:
20.2 years
610 played
555 reviews
Smith
Reviewed:
Updated:
Played on:Dec 30, 2023
Played the course:once
Pros:
I wanted to check out Smith Lake from the time it was installed. Seeing it was a Russell Schwarz design, I was hoping it was one of his hits.
- Memorable experience playing here. Teed off 7:30 on the last Saturday morning of December. Cold and cloudy skies in a field with occasional gunfire from the military base in the distance gave it a surreal vibe.
- Course has a quality, simplistic feel. Playing in said open field, course relies on a minimalistic approach. Some holes rely only a single tree or two to block the basket. Some are more heavily tree lined. It's not until hole #13 that you're playing in the woods.
- Highlights from the open portion of the course include: #4: a split fairway, 269 foot birdie chance; #6: a 537-foot par 4, curving fairway layout; #10: a 969-foot par 5 open fairway to a basket protected by several trees. Picture the frustration of taking advantage of a couple big throws only to have your approach smacked by a tree, costing you a stroke.
- Probably the two best of this stretch are #11 & 12. #10 starts in the open (surprise) to a basket on the edge of a wooded section. It's protected by a couple pines PLUS the added bonus of having the basket on the edge of a slight drop-off. I watched one disc roll 30 feet away. Going to see a fair number of birdies and bogeys due to both skill and bad luck.
- As for #12, it's the most picturesque hole on the course. Split the gap between a pair of pines, tall rough on both sides of the fairway. A fun walk down this fairway even if the layout is just ok.
- On the wooded portion of the course, #13 & 16 are the highlights for me. #13 also introduces the concept of elevation to this course, albeit a slight amount. Dogleg right over a slight ridge back downhill towards the basket. It's a blind tee shot, so if your disc hits at an angle, be prepared for it to roll. I threw a pink disc, and even I had to search every direction trying to find which way it rolled. Hint: it rolled the complete opposite direction I was expecting.
- I'll admit I didn't like #16 at first. It's a blind tee shot, sharp dogleg left, 639-foot par 4. Because of this, I didn't walk the hole to see the basket. I just thew (cautiously). After my tee shot, still couldn't see the basket, so I threw (cautiously) again. Finally, saw the basket for my approach shot. Realized how much more aggressive I could have played this hole and realized the dogleg is a great feature on this hole. Really loved this long, wooded hole.
- Tee signs are outstanding. Some of the best around. The only thing they missed of importance was arrows towards the next hole. That said, navigation here was relatively easily even with so many places hiking trails crossed.
- Memorable experience playing here. Teed off 7:30 on the last Saturday morning of December. Cold and cloudy skies in a field with occasional gunfire from the military base in the distance gave it a surreal vibe.
- Course has a quality, simplistic feel. Playing in said open field, course relies on a minimalistic approach. Some holes rely only a single tree or two to block the basket. Some are more heavily tree lined. It's not until hole #13 that you're playing in the woods.
- Highlights from the open portion of the course include: #4: a split fairway, 269 foot birdie chance; #6: a 537-foot par 4, curving fairway layout; #10: a 969-foot par 5 open fairway to a basket protected by several trees. Picture the frustration of taking advantage of a couple big throws only to have your approach smacked by a tree, costing you a stroke.
- Probably the two best of this stretch are #11 & 12. #10 starts in the open (surprise) to a basket on the edge of a wooded section. It's protected by a couple pines PLUS the added bonus of having the basket on the edge of a slight drop-off. I watched one disc roll 30 feet away. Going to see a fair number of birdies and bogeys due to both skill and bad luck.
- As for #12, it's the most picturesque hole on the course. Split the gap between a pair of pines, tall rough on both sides of the fairway. A fun walk down this fairway even if the layout is just ok.
- On the wooded portion of the course, #13 & 16 are the highlights for me. #13 also introduces the concept of elevation to this course, albeit a slight amount. Dogleg right over a slight ridge back downhill towards the basket. It's a blind tee shot, so if your disc hits at an angle, be prepared for it to roll. I threw a pink disc, and even I had to search every direction trying to find which way it rolled. Hint: it rolled the complete opposite direction I was expecting.
- I'll admit I didn't like #16 at first. It's a blind tee shot, sharp dogleg left, 639-foot par 4. Because of this, I didn't walk the hole to see the basket. I just thew (cautiously). After my tee shot, still couldn't see the basket, so I threw (cautiously) again. Finally, saw the basket for my approach shot. Realized how much more aggressive I could have played this hole and realized the dogleg is a great feature on this hole. Really loved this long, wooded hole.
- Tee signs are outstanding. Some of the best around. The only thing they missed of importance was arrows towards the next hole. That said, navigation here was relatively easily even with so many places hiking trails crossed.
Cons:
The course begins feeling repetitive. I forgot a lot of the open holes because they felt similar. I had to refresh my memory looking at my pictures. This wasn't due to poor quality; rather, it's due to the same general feel for so many holes.
- With a lack of trees, the course relies on tall, thick, rough. Think links style golf. If you stay in the fairway, you can score well. If you get in the rough, your penalty may be long searches for your disc (especially if it's a color that blends in), encounters with animals (ticks, insects, snakes), or things to scratch up your legs. I played in Winter when things were dormant, so the rough was virtually a non-issue. In the summer, it's a different matter.
- Add to that, this course will be physically grueling in the summer with no shade for large portions of the round.
- A lack of a lot of obstacles, whether trees, elevation, or water. If you can throw with distance AND accuracy, you're going to score extremely well here.
- Course is a singular big loop. You're furthest from the parking lot around holes #11 & 12. If you came here thinking you can get in a quick round and/or cut out early, this is the wrong course for that. I play extremely fast and it took me right at one hour to complete. Figure a foursome round will be in the 2:30 – 3:00 range.
- The course could have played more into the wooded areas. There are hundreds, if not thousands, of acres here with lots of available space further into the woods. Even replacing just 3 of the open holes with 3 more holes slightly further into the woods would have helped this course's flow.
- With a lack of trees, the course relies on tall, thick, rough. Think links style golf. If you stay in the fairway, you can score well. If you get in the rough, your penalty may be long searches for your disc (especially if it's a color that blends in), encounters with animals (ticks, insects, snakes), or things to scratch up your legs. I played in Winter when things were dormant, so the rough was virtually a non-issue. In the summer, it's a different matter.
- Add to that, this course will be physically grueling in the summer with no shade for large portions of the round.
- A lack of a lot of obstacles, whether trees, elevation, or water. If you can throw with distance AND accuracy, you're going to score extremely well here.
- Course is a singular big loop. You're furthest from the parking lot around holes #11 & 12. If you came here thinking you can get in a quick round and/or cut out early, this is the wrong course for that. I play extremely fast and it took me right at one hour to complete. Figure a foursome round will be in the 2:30 – 3:00 range.
- The course could have played more into the wooded areas. There are hundreds, if not thousands, of acres here with lots of available space further into the woods. Even replacing just 3 of the open holes with 3 more holes slightly further into the woods would have helped this course's flow.
Other Thoughts:
Based on other reviews and comments on this course, it seemed some people had concerns with this course. This could have been a better layout if Schwarz was allowed to building even just a little bit further into the wooded area.
- That said, I generally liked Smith Lake. Key word is 'liked' as is it was good, not great.
- You can't help but notice the lake and more hilly terrain further into the park, near the camping area here. If only some of that terrain was afforded to the course.
- I could play here multiple times and have scores all over the place. For someone of my skill and noodle-ish arm, there weren't a lot of easy birdie holes. Most of the par 3s were easy 3s as in I was in no danger of a 4. The par 4s afforded more chances for birdies, which is more appealing.
- There's a giant ropes course that you can see in the distance for almost the entire first 11 holes. It's a legit course, more than your normal corporate team building course.
- This is easily the best course in the Fayetteville area, and it's not close. It's not quite a 'make a detour to play', but it'll be the first course people will recommend for this area.
- With its open layout, it had a lot of feel of Dry Creek in Monroe, 2 hours to the east of here.
- Teeing off with temps in the low 30s (cold enough for us NC people), my body took a long time to loosen up. I could have used that extra 25-50 feet on some holes. Still, I was glad I played here as the first stop in my day of bagging the Fayetteville area courses, 8 in all.
- I would absolutely play here again if I'm in the area.
- That said, I generally liked Smith Lake. Key word is 'liked' as is it was good, not great.
- You can't help but notice the lake and more hilly terrain further into the park, near the camping area here. If only some of that terrain was afforded to the course.
- I could play here multiple times and have scores all over the place. For someone of my skill and noodle-ish arm, there weren't a lot of easy birdie holes. Most of the par 3s were easy 3s as in I was in no danger of a 4. The par 4s afforded more chances for birdies, which is more appealing.
- There's a giant ropes course that you can see in the distance for almost the entire first 11 holes. It's a legit course, more than your normal corporate team building course.
- This is easily the best course in the Fayetteville area, and it's not close. It's not quite a 'make a detour to play', but it'll be the first course people will recommend for this area.
- With its open layout, it had a lot of feel of Dry Creek in Monroe, 2 hours to the east of here.
- Teeing off with temps in the low 30s (cold enough for us NC people), my body took a long time to loosen up. I could have used that extra 25-50 feet on some holes. Still, I was glad I played here as the first stop in my day of bagging the Fayetteville area courses, 8 in all.
- I would absolutely play here again if I'm in the area.
16
0
GoldWinger
Experience:
12.1 years
66 played
1 reviews
Great Course - Tragic Tees drive by
Reviewed:
Played on:Mar 1, 2023
Played the course:once
Pros:
Outstanding layout. Not the typical Carolina course with short wooded holes and straight and skinny fairways. The first 11 holes are mostly open and the remaining holes cut through the woods. This course forces you to shape shots in every direction. Even on the longer and more open holes on the front side the designer has managed to make use of the sparse vegetation to create a challenge.
There are several par 5 holes and par 4 holes, making it one of the longer courses in the area at almost 7,900 feet. All pins were in the long position when I played. The course tends to start easy and get more challenging as you progress. Hole 10 is a long and open par 5. Hole 11 is a par 4 with a basket on a mound. Hole 12 is a par 4 with a straight and skinny path to the basket. This is the only straight and skinny hole on the course. Hole 16 bends to the left off the tee and then again to the basket which is guarded by large pines.
Overall, one of the best layouts in the region and a lot of fun to play.
There are several par 5 holes and par 4 holes, making it one of the longer courses in the area at almost 7,900 feet. All pins were in the long position when I played. The course tends to start easy and get more challenging as you progress. Hole 10 is a long and open par 5. Hole 11 is a par 4 with a basket on a mound. Hole 12 is a par 4 with a straight and skinny path to the basket. This is the only straight and skinny hole on the course. Hole 16 bends to the left off the tee and then again to the basket which is guarded by large pines.
Overall, one of the best layouts in the region and a lot of fun to play.
Cons:
Tees are tragic! The course was apparently designed and installed by Innova so I can't understand the tees. While they are ample in size and well placed, they have not been smoothed at all. They are the roughest tees I have ever encountered. Rocks stick up from the surface. It is impossible to spin on your heel. Soft sole shoes will take a beating after 1 round. I will play from the side on future trips.
The course is new, there are no signs directing you to the next hole and the rough is really rough on the wooded holes. There are no benches or trash cans. However, I played it the opening day and expect these issues to be taken care of shortly.
The course is new, there are no signs directing you to the next hole and the rough is really rough on the wooded holes. There are no benches or trash cans. However, I played it the opening day and expect these issues to be taken care of shortly.
Other Thoughts:
The course is out and back, it does not come back to the parking area until hole 18. It is mostly level until hole 13, then you have a few hilly holes to the finish. I pulled a cart with no problems.
Parking is ample and there are restrooms available. There are several open shelters with picnic tables and grills nearby.
In my opinion, this course could be better than Diavlo or Rock Ridge if the tee pads were adequate. This is the only course I have reviewed, although I have played courses all across the US. It is easily one of the best designs I have ever played and certainly has the worst tee pads I have ever seen.
Parking is ample and there are restrooms available. There are several open shelters with picnic tables and grills nearby.
In my opinion, this course could be better than Diavlo or Rock Ridge if the tee pads were adequate. This is the only course I have reviewed, although I have played courses all across the US. It is easily one of the best designs I have ever played and certainly has the worst tee pads I have ever seen.
