Pros:
Tucked behind Wright State University , a brand new 18 hole course was formed . The parking lot holds a decent amount of cars . I did not see a bathroom while here .
THE EQUIPMENT -- The college must have opened up the budget a bit on this . 14 of the tee pads have 5' X 9' spacious level turf . The 4 holes in the woods are natural so far , but it's a brand new course . The tee signs are metal , about the size of a No Parking sign .It displays just a large hole number and the Wright State University Logo . The new white banded Prodigy baskets catch well . There is a practice basket up by the parking lot .
THE LANDSCAPE -- The course was mowed and branches manicured when I played . There is even a light mowed path between baskets , the next tee , and following to the basket again .There is some surprising elevation on this course . #2 is a top of the world type shot down to a level part of the course and the basket on the right . I guess part of the green was marked by yellow markers . after 2 , you walk behind and onto a path for 4 woods holes . The fairways are actual on paths The walk from 3-4 is confusing ( more in cons ) . 7 & 8 are semi wooded and 9-18 play park-style . There are enough trees to force some shot shaping in spots . the course rolls most of the time , with a steep uphill drive on 15 . and a fighting uphill drive into some light woods on 17 .
THE HIGHLIGHTS -- Not epic holes , but some solid ones . #1 basket placement on the right , downhill and behind the last set of bushes set the tone . It's short but technical for a fairway that's wide open on the left and middle .
#2 is a top of the world 337' drive over large bushes to the fairway on the right . A brush line is on the right of the green . #3 is a nice woods hole ( 353' ) . The fairway follows a tight path , eventually turning slowly left .
#7 is a 358' hole that climbs a hill left to a basket perched on the right . The fairway is more than fair , but a misstep puts you in heavy brush on either side .
#8 ( 341' )will break downhill midway , to a dogleg right , to a basket and green protected by thick brush if you thought about taking a shortcut to the basket .
#10 ( 552' ) travels between a few fairway trees , over a small hill , and down to the basket , which , for the final 120' has large tree lines on both sides .
#15 is only 243' but straight uphill and the fairway slopes to the right .
SIGNATURE HOLE -- #17 . The fence line on the right all the way to the hole forces you to throw uphill into a small woodsy area . The scorecard said it was only 256' , but I thought it was longer . The basket is protected in the front of and along the sides of the whole green . The green affords just small openings in the front and on a part of the left , to allow you to get close enough for a realistic putt .
DISC RISK -- I played the course at the end of December , so I could spot my discs right away . It may be closer to medium when the overgrowth fill in on parts of the course . Not sure .
THE TIME -- It took me almost 2 hours to play the course , but mostly because I was lost for almost 30 minutes in the woods and had a wrong turn after 2 . It should take someone maybe and hour and 20 minutes solo , and a foursome 2 hours to play the course .
There is a nice CHILL ZONE on the hill , overlooking the practice basket . A shelter with several picnic tables in it .
This course is solid in most every aspect of the game , and will empty a lot of your bag .
Cons:
Equipment -- The course is brand new , so it gets a pass on a lot , but Next Tee signs are a must here . I had to turn a guy around after he played #2 because he was following the course straight , Only Because I Did The Same Thing 11 Holes Ago . There are a bunch of walking paths in a good sized amount of woods . After playing #3 , remember to take a left at the first fork , go uphill , and take a right , still going uphill . I was lost for a while going from path to path . The tee signs for 3-6 are set on trees and the tees are natural and can be muddy .
The rest of the cons might be picky for a new course .
SOGGY -- There is some elevation , and the woods holes , plus some of the later holes can hold some wet and slippery spots . Course designers have done a pretty good job of surrounding the pads with wood chips , and laying down some gravel on the most extreme parts of the course .
While this college course brags some length ( 6311' ) a few of the holes were straight with no obstacles . #s 12-16 come to mind . I'm sure in time that some items can be planted to help this .
#s 6 & 11 ? Worth mentioning , #6 is your last woods hole and more of a poke and pray downhill 216' shot . #11 has plenty of length at 403' but has 2 giant transformer towers in the fairway with some growth under each . This will make for some interesting 2nd shots on a windy day .
For such a nice course , I was hoping the tee signs were more descriptive , maybe a kiosk with a course map near hole 1 , and a few benches . It's a new course and still worth a high score for a college course .
Would wish listing some alternate tee pads be too over-the-top ?
Other Thoughts:
For a brand new course , it seems to get a lot of play . I noticed no fewer than 20 people out here on the day after Christmas . I'm not sure any of them were even Wright State students . John Cox did a fine job of course design . Most college course don't reach over 5000' . This one featuring woods and bomber holes . And it's only 10 minutes away from the famous and ultra competitive Handyman course . The course ranks high for a college course . Thanks , Wright State for allowing me to play your course . There is enough potential here to host a tournament sometime soon .
I have played many college courses throughout the years , and I only hope that the students here take advantage of this opportunity . I have always said that a good college course can reintroduce the college to the community , and provide free advertisement to locals and out of towners who can sample the grounds of Wright State .
MY RECOMMENDATION -- Almost a must for the students here to take advantage of an extra curricular activity in the back of its campus . Even maybe challenging another college to a friendly round . Newbies or nearby families might want to play an easier nearby course than here . This is a great addition for the locals living on the east side of Dayton . Intermediates and Ams will find plenty here to keep them interested . Local pros can even work on their game a little here . Not too far off the I-675 , and close to Wright Patterson Air Force Base and Museum , this is a great stop-off for travelers looking for interesting fun courses . Course collectors will spend some time here , but they can pick up a fast 9 from the Wright Field 9 hole ( .3 ) and can grab a quality course like Handy Man a short drive away .
PLAY THIS COURSE !!!