Pros:
Stokesdale Park is a nice open 9-hole layout. A couple of fun holes makes this a nice play.
- The course gets progressively better. The wide open, simple holes are at the beginning of the round. The best hole is #9 with a nice downhill, shooting through or around the treeline tee shot.
- Course plays throughout a rolling layout. Most holes have some elevation factor involved. This gives some added challenge and/or fun factor to some layouts.
- Course has a little length. No holes shorter than 200 feet. #5 is the shortest at 246 feet. All nine are between 246 and 358, so you're throwing mid-ranges, fairway drivers, or drivers off most tees depending on your distance.
- Course uses the limited obstacles to create varied layouts. On #6, for example, you have the drainage rocks protecting the front side of the green. On other holes - #5 & 7 - 9, limited trees offer some challenge.
- Course is spaced out. Your round will take you through the entire park. Granted it's a small park, but still. You are navigating the entire park.
- Course allows players to be aggressive. Unless you sail far right and into the woods on #3 or 4, your biggest threat is smacking a tree.
- A good course for casual players. Maybe a tad too much length for kids. If you can throw 150 feet and somewhat straight, you'll do ok here. Get that first taste of disc golf, then head to any of the Triad's 18-hole layouts for your next challenge.
- Excellent practice course. Plenty of room to practice all aspects of your game. Tee off on #6 and aim towards #9's basket if you have a big arm. There are plenty of different angles and looks you can create for working on approach and mid-range shots.
Cons:
Hole distances on tee signs are all wrong. At some point the tees were all relocated. The signs were moved to the new locales, but they were not updated to reflect the new distances. UDisc's online distances are the most accurate.
- Grass tee pads. I didn't have issues with run-ups as all were fairly flat.
- Several awkward transitions/hole layouts. Holes #4 & 5 are parallel to each other, both facing the same direction. So, you play #4, turn around walk back to essentially where you just came from, turn around and play #5. I saw this layout, teed off on #4, walked to my left, teed off on #5, and killed two holes at once.
- After playing #5, the only visible tee sign is #7. You have to walk up the path, past a cluster of trees to #6. Also, #6's basket is essentially on #7's fairway.
- Some holes play close to and/or over the park's walking trail. You may have to wait for walkers before throwing. Also, #8 plays over the park road.
- Not the most challenging of courses. You know that coming in, so that's not a surprise.
Other Thoughts:
For a relatively simplistic layout, I enjoyed my round at Stokesdale. Granted, there were only two other cars in the parking lot when I played. Trying to play here when the park was busier, and my first impression would have been different.
- On most holes, if not every hole, there are poles in the ground where the old tees were located. That allows players to play both tees if you want to play twice.
- I liked the layout on #8. You're throwing on a slightly raised hill (hill used loosely), over the park road, s-curving around a couple of trees. It's right around 300 feet, so easy to make a run at the basket.
- I don't see a lot of scoring separation on a course like this. For intermediate or above, you'll really have to do something wrong to easy risk seeing a bogey here. Think running your birdie putt 20 - 30 feet past the basket and missing the comeback putt. Due in part to breezy conditions, I didn't see a lot of birdie putts, but I essentially had gimmie par putts.
- I'd have liked seeing the tee lengthened on at least one hole. I don't understand why #3 was shortened, when you're already walking that distance. Pushing the tee back on #3 makes the most sense, with #6 a good second option.
- This is slightly above average for a 9-hole layout. The other reviews have it right, putting this course in the 1.5 - 2.0 range. Worth a play. Not too far from better layouts.