Pros:
UNC Pembroke's course is a decently average layout. Just know that the course was squeezed into the furthest recesses of the campus.
- Turning onto campus, to get to the course, you drive past the campus buildings, then past apartments, then the last semblances of the campus before turning on a dirt road. And viola, here's your disc golf course. Instead of feeling as if it's a part of campus, I felt I was in someone's backyard as the residents were out and about.
- Course is seemingly broken into two parts. Holes #1 - 4 are in one small section of field. #5 is a transition hole, then #6 - 9 play in another field. This portion feels more like campus, and more enjoyable.
- With the exception of #5, the holes all seemingly have the same vibe - essentially wide open layouts with a degree of trees serving as obstacles. Not one hole is challenging in terms of having to scramble or being penalized for a bad shot. But, to earn birdies, you will have to throw well. I had nine straight 3s. I threw nine straight decent tee shots, none outstanding. As such I didn't see any easy birdie chances, but did have easy par putts.
- #5 is the only variety. Starting on one side of a creek, you tee off from one field, through a path in the woods, to a basket on the other side. It's only 195 feet, but it does change the look and feel of the course.
- #6 is probably the course's best hole. At 420 feet (every course needs one), it's an open fairway to a basket semi-protected by trees on the right side.
- The pine tree lined driveway lining up to the Pine Cottage is the signature feature of the course. In all reality this course would look and feel better were all nine holes based in this area. Maybe only squeeze two holes on the other side, then add other holes beyond the house.
- #7 does a nice job incorporating the row of pine trees along the driveway. This is the nicest walk on the course.
Cons:
A tale of two halves. One portion of the course is on a maintained, scenic property. The other side has nearly knee high grass with piles of downed branches. Guess which side is which?
- Yes, #1 - 4 need a little attention too. How about every second or third time the lawn is cut on the other side the field gets cut too?
- A slight concern is the leap over the creek on #5. There should be a bridge here for safety reasons, especially given there's a bridge 20 feet later over nothing.
- A slight nitpick. On the nice side (holes #6 - 9), it'd be much nicer ending on #6 than the current #9. A slight rearrangement of the layout, with only one slight redesign and you're ending with the best hole.
- It was weird playing essentially in someone's backyard on hole #3. I can hear their conversations. It's weird driving on a small dirt road to park here. Maybe the school is trying to keep us disc golfers away from the campus. Otherwise, it would make total sense to drive through campus, through the parking lots, and park on the cottage side of the barricade.
- None of the holes was memorable. #6 is the only I'd expect to see on your typical 18-hole layout with one of the other non-descript layouts possible showing up too. The rest are forgetful.
Other Thoughts:
Pembroke's course is perfectly suitable. There are chances to loosen the arm and unleash some big drives before heading down the road to other courses within a 30-minute drive.
- My impression of the course would be a little better were the grass cut down on 1 - 4. I was essentially throwing in the rough the entire time, keeping eyes on the ground the entire time to make sure I didn't step on anything living.
- Driving into town, I really liked the welcome to Pembroke sign: 'Town. Tribe. University.' Let's you know everything about the town while giving a sense of local pride.
- Don't know what the rules are about playing the course if there's an event going on at the Pine Cottage.
- #9 is the big arm hole. At 540 feet and a very generous fairway, let 'er fly.
- The course tilts heavily to the reward side of the risk/reward scale. Other than possibly going into the rough on the right sides of #1 & 6, or getting a bad bounce off a tree on #5, you can be aggressive throughout the course with little penalty. Any random tree you hit on #1 - 4 or 7 should still be salvageable for an easy 3.
- All told, a quality nine hole course in my book. I wish this course had that one true signature hole. As is, it's a nice round.