Pros:
(0.901 Rating) An HOA open six holer over spongy ground.
- COUNTS AS A COURSE PLAYED - I had to really think hard to identify a pro regarding Williams Park. Hey, there are 6 baskets here with decent chains on them. There are also supposably six "flush with the ground" marked tees here as well, if you can find them. I found three of them. To me, that's a course… but barely.
Cons:
Far too many flaws.
- DESIGN - I don't get the design objective here. This is a very small sub-division park in a new development where the likely clientele is going to be families within a 2-minute drive. Why is there a 275-foot clear over a storm water retention pond? Why is the hole length average 325 feet? Players that enjoy these noted elements aren't driving across town to play an open six-basket course. The course, imo, has no target audience. A smart designer would have bought cheaper and better baskets, got 9 of them and would have had money left over for 4x4 posts and basic signs. Then they would have laid out a 9-hole novice level course with holes in the 150 to 200-foot length range average and would have achieved a 1.5 rated course that families could enjoy.
- STORMWATER BASINS - This course likely exists because houses couldn't be built on it. The entire layout plays on top of four dry retention ponds. When I played, one of the retention ponds along holes (1) and (4) was filled with water and it hadn't rained recently. This course is going to be miserable to play after a rainy day. Mowing will likely be spotty when the retention flats are swampy.
- TEES - The tees are natural with flush bricks defining the tee edge. I only found three of them on holes (1), (5) and (6). Hole (2's) bricks appear to have been removed as I found a gorged line supposedly where the tee was. There are no throwing scars at any of the tees. I doubt many are playing here.
- NAVIGATION AND SIGNAGE - Considering the flush brick tee lines and absence of other tee markings, this one is going to be hard to follow. There is an arrow below each basket to get players going in the right direction after basket (1), but they'll still have to scour the ground to try and find the tee location.
- AMENITIES AND EXTRAS - No amenities or extras other than baskets. This was the first time I've seen Prodigy baskets in a home-owners association park. What a waste of funds.
- HOLE VARIETY - Generally an open layout. Hole (2) has the only tree in direct play. There is some decent length on a couple holes, including a 400-footer. Water will be in play if the retention areas are filled. I scored the variety roughly 10 percentile. It's hard to achieve substantial variety on a six-basket course, and Williams Park is no exception.
- SKILL LEVEL FRIENDLY - Too easy for veteran players, too difficult for noobs. I'll state again, who is the target audience?
- NATURAL BEAUTY - I scored this aspect 20 percentile. It actually brought my overall rating up a touch. The park was clean and the neighborhood looks nice. Most basic parks can claim this.
- PARKING - 10 parking spots.
- TIME PLAY - I spent 30 minutes playing and looking for tees. That's way too much time for a bland 6-hole course.
Other Thoughts:
With 534 courses played as of this review, this one falls just outside my top 500. Just too many issues, from usable land, to amenity investment, to proper design when considering the skill level of the likely users. For regular players in the Nashville area who have considered checking it out. Please don't. I could only recommend this course to those looking to be disappointed. Not even a good baggers course as the navigation is poor and it takes longer than one would think. Among the Nashville area courses I've played, this one is roughly at the bottom. I personally only rated Jones Family Bark Park lower. I'd rather replay courses like Cottonwood, Mundy and Willow Grove before here.