Pros:
(1.938 Rating) A lightly wooded college niner with big distance plays.
- CHALLENGING - It rained the entire time I was baggin this one so I doubt I would average over par like I did on my round here as an Intermediate level player. Overall I feel it's a tweener Intermediate/Recreational course where distance will be the biggest factor in going low. The distance noted on the current tee signs and DGCR are no longer accurate. Just about every hole seemed to be in a configuration that was increased by 30 to 40 feet.
- BOMBERS - I think players that can chuck plus 350 are going to like this one more than others. I would estimate that seven of the nine holes are plus 300 now. Three of them seemed to be plus 400 and hole (3) is likely a 500 foot slightly downhill par 3.
- FORGIVENESS - Gripp'n and ripp'n here and having a modest misfire will rarely result in a lost disc. This course is open open, on the first four holes. There's a little overgrowth on holes (5), (6) and (8), but it's not a jungle. Expect very little searching here and the odds of losing one is low.
- BASIC AMENITIES - DISCatcher baskets and turf tees. The tees felt a little short considering how much the distances tempted me to rip the arm out of my socket. Anyways, the core items are good for a niner.
- QUICK PLAY - For a plus 3,000 footer, it goes quick. My rainy day solo round took 25 minutes.
Cons:
It needs more refinement.
- MULTI USE HAZARDS - Just a couple minor things of note. The road along the left on (3), will be in play on the epic bad launches. There's 50 feet of open buffer, but I've seen how things sometimes go terribly wrong for the trajectory on long holes. There's a similar issue on hole (4), and hole (7) has a school building in play. Overall, this is a minor factor.
- NAVIGATION AND SIGNAGE - Passable. Navigation may be tricky first go around if you don't have an app. No course map posted. There were two missing tee signs when I played and there were no directional cues on site. Most of the tee signs are outdated regarding the distance figure.
- HOLE VARIETY - I found the course to be one-dimensional requiring big drives and little finesse. Holes (1), (3) and (4) do not have a tree in play. The other six would all probably be defined as lightly wooded. I liked the big RHBH hyzer on (5) and then the reverse play big flick shot on (8). (6) was a fun slanted fairway shot with a pocket green in the distance. Overall around average variety among the niners I've played.
- NATURAL BEAUTY - I grade this on a curve and its well on the lower half. Too open, maintenance was not satisfactory, lots of buildings and other man-made features in view and play.
- WIND - I would avoid this place on blustery days.
Other Thoughts:
I predict that if a poll were done in Cookeville, on the best local course, that this one would score a couple votes, but probably less than 5 percent of them. TTU is a nice course and all, it's just not in the same league as nearby Cane Creek Park. For those from out of town straying this way along I40, it's a worthy bag bonus to tack on to a Cane Creek visit if time is available. For those only looking for the cream of the crop, stick with Cane Creek.