I'm going to be driving down to the Smoky Mountains in a few months for a family trip and I'm planning to make a course bagging adventure out of it. I don't have much time (or money) to spread out the drive any longer than necessary so I'm going to be taking 3 days down and 3 days back up, with 5 days in TN. Looking for some insight on my course plans, if I'm missing out on any hidden gems along the way, or any other relevant information anyone has to add.
Course itinerary ahead:
Day 1 out: Driving to Madison and playing both Elver Park and Heistand Park in preparation for possibly playing the Mad City Open over the summer. These two aren't really negotiable for that reason. Might need to find a way to squeeze in Vallarta-Ast for the same reason, but that's another $8 and some time I probably don't have. And, I tend to actually not play too bad when I play tournaments blind so maybe it's better I don't play it. haha.
Day 2 out: Driving all the way from Madison to Cincinnati. Playing Mt. Airy Forest that night then heading to my hotel.
Day 3 out: Playing (read, getting my ass kicked by) Idlewild in the morning then heading out on my way down to TN. Thinking about maybe stopping at Panther Creek State Park in the afternoon before I get to our cabin rental...but that seems like a long and rough day.
While in TN: I'll be very close to Gatlinburg, so I'm planning to hit the little 9-holer there just for bagging purposes. If I don't stop at Panther Creek on my way down, I'll be debating between heading up there for a Panther Creek and Morristown Kiwanis double header OR heading over to Harmon Hills. If I stop at Panther Creek on the way down, it's Harmon Hills 100%. This is that part of trip I've been debating the most on.
Day 1 return: Leaving in the morning and going over towards Knoxville to play The Claytons. Then up to Louisville to play Charlie Vettiner Park and sleep for the night. I'd be open to other suggestions in the Louisville area, for sure, as nothing in the area really stands out to me except for....
Day 2 return: Seviren Lang, which I'll be playing early in the morning out my way out of Louisville. Stopping in Madison again with no stops between Louisville and Madison to make sure I can get there early enough to return my rental car on time.
Day 3 return: Leaving Madison hitting a brand new course, Eagle Pines. Fingers crossed it's still unreviewed at this time and I can be the first one...but I'm not expecting that, haha. The heading towards Marshfield and playing North Park of Wood County to prep for a tournament I'll be playing the next weekend and maybe also hitting Braem Park in Marshfield before making the final 2 and a half hour drive home.
So, that's anywhere from 12 to 14 courses, if I can count properly, over 11 days depending how I plan it. Also, as many as 11 courses played for the first time if I get greedy, which is a good start to my very aggressive plan of getting to 150 before winter comes around again.
Course itinerary ahead:
Day 1 out: Driving to Madison and playing both Elver Park and Heistand Park in preparation for possibly playing the Mad City Open over the summer. These two aren't really negotiable for that reason. Might need to find a way to squeeze in Vallarta-Ast for the same reason, but that's another $8 and some time I probably don't have. And, I tend to actually not play too bad when I play tournaments blind so maybe it's better I don't play it. haha.
Day 2 out: Driving all the way from Madison to Cincinnati. Playing Mt. Airy Forest that night then heading to my hotel.
Day 3 out: Playing (read, getting my ass kicked by) Idlewild in the morning then heading out on my way down to TN. Thinking about maybe stopping at Panther Creek State Park in the afternoon before I get to our cabin rental...but that seems like a long and rough day.
While in TN: I'll be very close to Gatlinburg, so I'm planning to hit the little 9-holer there just for bagging purposes. If I don't stop at Panther Creek on my way down, I'll be debating between heading up there for a Panther Creek and Morristown Kiwanis double header OR heading over to Harmon Hills. If I stop at Panther Creek on the way down, it's Harmon Hills 100%. This is that part of trip I've been debating the most on.
Day 1 return: Leaving in the morning and going over towards Knoxville to play The Claytons. Then up to Louisville to play Charlie Vettiner Park and sleep for the night. I'd be open to other suggestions in the Louisville area, for sure, as nothing in the area really stands out to me except for....
Day 2 return: Seviren Lang, which I'll be playing early in the morning out my way out of Louisville. Stopping in Madison again with no stops between Louisville and Madison to make sure I can get there early enough to return my rental car on time.
Day 3 return: Leaving Madison hitting a brand new course, Eagle Pines. Fingers crossed it's still unreviewed at this time and I can be the first one...but I'm not expecting that, haha. The heading towards Marshfield and playing North Park of Wood County to prep for a tournament I'll be playing the next weekend and maybe also hitting Braem Park in Marshfield before making the final 2 and a half hour drive home.
So, that's anywhere from 12 to 14 courses, if I can count properly, over 11 days depending how I plan it. Also, as many as 11 courses played for the first time if I get greedy, which is a good start to my very aggressive plan of getting to 150 before winter comes around again.
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