+ Three sets of tees (red, white, and blue) allow the course to be played at different skill levels.
+ Nice, well-maintained park with a variety of activities and plenty of parking.
+ Doesn't seem to be very heavily played. A good alternative when Diavolo is over-crowded.
+ Very heavily wooded with narrow fairways that demand precision in shaping your shots. This could be a pro or a con, depending on how much you like this style of disc golf.
+ Redesign of the back 9 seems to have largely solved the ongoing problems with drainage, though I haven't played the course after a heavy rain.

- The red tees don't actually have tee pads and are often set up at weird angles. Though the holes are often quite short, there isn't always a clear path to the basket.
- On a few holes, the fairway is a bit too tight. Removing just a couple trees would make it more a matter of skill than luck in getting to the basket.
- The redesign is slightly awkward when you have to backtrack to get to the next hole on the rerouted part of the course.
- Not much use of elevation, though there is one hole where you through downhill into the woods, and a couple where you throw slightly uphill.

A solid course that is somewhat underplayed. Parts of the course had been closed for extended periods while they addressed the chronic drainage problems, so this may have reduced the crowds. Also the opening of a far superior course (Diavolo) about 15 minutes away probably played a role. If you haven't played this course in a while, give it a try. It isn't perfect, but it is fun and challenging.

This technical course plays through a 100 year old pine forest and around Beaver Creek. It is nice and shady and feels great on hot summer days, but can get muddy after it rains. There are three different tees for beginner, intermediate, and advanced players. There are nice signs located next to the intermediate (white) tees, which is where most people will play from.

The tees are made out of rubber mats attached to what looks like wooden pallets. Most are too short and some (tee 17) is soft, mushy, and uneven due to the wood rotting away underneath the rubber mats. If the town of Apex would put in longer concrete tees I'd give this course 4 stars. There are no wide open long holes; all the holes play through the woods. Since most of the trees are pine trees there is not a lot of under growth so it's pretty easy to find your disc if you bounce off a tree and into the forest.

Update: 10/13/2017 - The loose rubber mats and most importantly, the rotting wood under tee 17, have all been fixed! Good Job Apex!

This course is part of the reason why we choose Apex as our new home town. It has the nicest bathrooms I've ever seen at a public park. There is a small amphitheater near hole one that the bathrooms must have been designed for because they have excess capacity for a disc golf park. Even if you don't have to go, you should at least walk in there and wash your hands or something just to see it. There are a few picnic tables under a roof near the bathrooms as well.

Well manicured, for the most part, with generous fairways and enough schule to make you work to get up and down if you're off the fairway but not enough to make a heroic par save impossible.

Multiple teepads, appropriate to intended skill level, make it possible for players of varying skill levels playing from their skill-appropriate tees to compete head-to-head on a reasonably level playing field.

The risk-reward from each teepad is appropriate to the intended skill level for the hole. Conservative play will yield a par on every hole; birdies (and the occasional eagle) can be had by aggressive play and errorless execution, a minor error in execution will still provide a realistic look at par, while a major error in execution will leave you scrambling hard to save par (or bogey).

Tests the full array of shot-making skills (including one's ability to see (and hit) alternatives to the "obvious" lines). A number of holes test not only one's control of line and length, but disc angle and speed as well.

As several previous reviewers have noted, many of the teepads are too short. (This is especially the case for the par 4s.) Also, the rubber mats (which were great when new) are starting to tear out in spots so you need to pay attention to the line of your runup and your plant foot placement.

The course intersects with walking paths at various points, and I've encountered walkers on fairways on a fairly regular basis. A little common sense (i.e., look before you throw, and don't throw if there's even a remote chance of hitting a pedestrian) goes a long way to avoiding problems.

I'm somewhat torn on Apex Nature Park. On one hand, it's a very enjoyable and satisfying course to play; on the other hand, for a player of my temperament (conservative, "I hate bogeys more than I like birdies") and skill level (~930-940), it doesn't quite tick the boxes that induce me to take the riskier lines in search of a birdie/eagle/ace so it can feel somewhat boring. Overall, though, it's an enjoyable experience: you get typical NC disc golf ambience (wood course that tests your shotmaking skills), without the overly punitive schule, bugs, and poison ivy. A good walk NOT spoiled!

[FWIW -
I disagree with alecfalzone's assessment of several holes. As I see it, from a RHBH perspective:

Hole 4: a placement high (or spike) hyzer around the mando off the tee with a glidey midrange to set up an upshot, leading to a putt for 3. While not a great hole, it's an improvement over the previous iteration, which was basically a longer version hole 5.

Hole 5: an excellent test of one's ability to thow a straight 250-270' standstill shot with a putter or midrange through a defined gap. In that respect, it's not all that different than holes like Cedar Hills #17, Cornwallis 1 (Long) and 17, UNC 10, 16, 17, or Cedarock. Focus on hitting a window between the trees a third of the way down the fairway that define the fairway rather than on the basket.

Hole 7: a relatively simple standstill floating high anhyzer with a putter (I throw it like I'm throwing a Patent Pending): as long as you put enough juice on it to keep it from flexing out, it will end up parked.

Hole 8: a late turning anny down the right side with an understable midrange. Don't try to force the disc over: gIve it a good tug and let it do its thing.

These may not be shots one commonly throws off the teepad, but they're all common enough from the fairway.

I can see, and sympathize to an extent, with alecfalzone's critique of hole 3, and concur that it's one of the weaker holes on the course and could do with a redesign. On the other hand, in its current configuration, take away the trees "in the middle of the line you are trying to hit" and hole 3 turns into a boring "throw a shallow hyzer off the tee and drop in your deuce" hole.]

Practice basket near the first tee at the end of the parking lot. For the most part, this course was separate from the rest of this well-done, multi-purpose park. A natural surface trail and paved walkway were crossed on a couple of holes, but you only had to throw over them on one hole, #12.

The hole signs are posted on each hole and are very well done. It looked like #2 was inaccurate but all the others were accurate.

Great mats for Blue and White tees, natural surface for Red (Rec) tees., so, three separate tees for all experience levels. In most cases the Blue tees were just longer than the Whites, but there were some holes where they required different lines.

For a new course the fairways are in great shape, well-defined and recently mulched. The brand new baskets were easy to spot through this wooded course.

The restrooms at the first tee really are the Taj Mahal of course restrooms. Well, they aren't there JUST for the DG course, there is also a decent sized amphitheatre right there, but we can act like they are there for DG!

Trying to think of any major cons and can't come up with any. If you like RHBH friendly courses, this would be a con for you. I play RHBH but didn't mind this course, it forced me to work on my forehand and anny drives.

The first few holes after #1 are a little repetitious, but then variety starts on 6 and 7 and continues through the back nine. Not a lot of distance on any of the holes, I was really hoping #14 would use the open space behind the tennis courts, but few chances to let one fly.

The original 19 or 21 or 22 hole layout is gone. They have made this a solid 18 hole layout that's pretty fun to play. Without the mulching I could see how it could get soggy, especially on the back nine, but there were no issues the day I was there.

Some of my favorite holes were: #8 - a drive that has to bend right through an opening, then back left to the pin. #10 - tee from the paved walkway on the pond dam, tight tunnel shot to the pin protected by a huge, leaning tree. #12 - elevated tee, across the walkway, down a tunnel to the pin protected by a bend in the creek. #15 - long par 4 that starts right, then goes left to an elevated basket. #18 - the most open tee shot on the entire course, back in the central part of the park to a wide fairway, one lone light pole in the middle of the fairway that might just assist with finishing a round late in the day.

This new course was a lot of fun to play, well defined fairways, lots of shaping of shots required, secluded but never too far from anything in this large park, that also has a playground, dog park, tennis courts and soccer fields.

Good to see the Raleigh area has another quality course, hopefully there will be more on the way.

The course has multiple tees for different experience levels. Runs through the woods with differing elevation levels and obstacles. Signage is good and work continues to be done. New course that will only improve as time goes on. Fun to play.

Not fully 'finished' but this is no surprise as the park itself is brand new.
No signs for beginning of course at playground parking lot - didn't realize until getting to hole #1 that there was another (and better) lot to park in which to park.

Can't wait to play this again in about a year when visiting again and see how the course and the park have both progressed.

They've spread a zillion yards of mulch, and made a park-like atmosphere under the trees. Nice signage (not yet complete on later holes), and easy flow means you never get lost. Very pleasant to play.

Not a huge variety of layouts, but enough to keep it interesting.

Nice to see a course that favors LHBH (slightly) - need to get my lefty son out here to give it a whirl.

I like having to reach into my bag of tricks to reach many of the baskets - this course is especially nice if you prefer precision to power.

Good tee pads at white and blue (update: many have worn out, #13 is gone), and clearly marked red tees for beginners. Placed where most users can have fun. It would be great if Apex took the next step and made this course like Valley Springs : 3 (well, 2, when blue and white are combined) sets of good concrete tees on every hole.

There are a few spots where you have to throw over a walking path. It's a busy park. And it does get muddy.

Apex Nature Park surprised me when I entered the parking lot. It's a beautiful course situated in a park that does not involve a lot of city noise. One thing I really dig about Apex and Cary area is they really do care about the presentation of their parks.

Pros:

-I liked that even a hole under 300 feet still felt challenging for par. There are gaps you need to hit and fairways to keep in. Fairways are pretty definitive for being such a new course.

-Brand new DISCatcher targets line the newly sculpted fairways.

-Easy navigation. You finish out and can clearly see where the next tee is.

-Course is active. It might be a con for some but I didn't run into any bottlenecks or long waits.

-High quality signage installed throughout.

-Excellent facilities/restrooms near Hole 1. Food and Drink machines under the shelter with picnic tables. I will have to admit, some of the nicest bathrooms you will see at a disc golf course.

- A few holes that require the use of walking paths or discs to be thrown over them near the tee. I've seen other courses in the area use this method for tee's but this course is getting lots of foot traffic, so I noticed a few times I needed to slow up on the tee as kids were riding their bikes in front of the throwing zones. "Be aware of flying discs" signs positioned around the main walking paths would help park pedestrians be a little more aware of the throwing areas, Especially up near Hole 13 where the baseball field walkway turns down toward the walkway bridge.

-Right now the layout won't challenge the most experience player. I could see Pro's shooting 8 to 10 down fairly easily from the Blue Position where the course currently stands.

-Briars are still present in the fairways so be aware as they will cut your legs up. As soon as all the mulch is laid out, It will greatly decrease the amount in the walking areas.

The course is getting better and improving every month. Hole 15 was completely redesigned with an elevated pin and ALL the drainage issues have been addressed.

Everyone expects to encounter some growing pains with a new course that goes in the ground. I had a fun few outings playing the new course. The back 9 seemed to be the holes I remember the most, especially the holes playing around the creek (Holes 12-15). The designers and workers on the course are listening to feedback and making the necessary changes that are imperative. I think the speaks for itself when you get out to play Apex Nature Park.