Deerfield Park features a fun little course wedged into the crowded landscape that seems ideal for disc golf. Large hardwood and pine trees are watchful guardians that will have you lacing yourself and your discs through twists and turns along the layout. Unlike some other wooded courses, you won't find many thick and overgrown areas off the fairways. Instead, you will find small woodland glades mixed with natural mulch, pine needles, and grassy meadow areas complimented by a scattering of a few smaller and ornamental trees. Later, on the north side of the course, a few holes speak for themselves with a little more personality and variety. You happen to catch a ray of sunshine while you duck out from under the trees a time or two during your round. During the summer though, you'll really appreciate a reprieve from the sun under an umbrella of shade from the tall canopy of trees.
Although the holes are shoehorned into a small footprint, the course itself is mostly intuitive and the compact design is appropriate for all skill levels, including beginners. On the other hand, it can still be challenging enough to keep the attention of most seasoned and competitive players.
Together, there's 20 holes ringing up at about 5978' and will have you playing for what the designer has indicated as par 62 (holes 14 and 18 are par 4's). While the average hole length is nearly 300', there is some diversity. The longest hole, number 14, comes in at 601' and in my view is one of the toughest birdies on the course. Meanwhile, the finishing hole, number 20, is a measly 190' shot. It's not a complete "gimme" with its well protected basket, but anything more than a birdie will surely make your lunch taste bad.
You may be asking yourself why there's 20 holes here. Why not just the standard 18? Well, it's not immediately clear, but if you cross paths with the often-present designer, he will happily tell you all about it. If you know Sam, you know he is as much a part of this course as the trees and the baskets. And not unlike Deerfield's sister course, Etowah, you can't adequately describe the course with making mention of him. If he happens to be there, you can't miss him. He's the feral haired and playfully impertinent man who is never content to let a stranger pass. The chatty and loquacious leader of Etowah Disc Golf needs no introduction. He'll welcome you to the course with a hearty handshake, a witty way of mentioning he is the designer, and a knack for fishing for compliments. If you enjoy the course, make sure you let him know! He is the reason the course is there.
As wooded as this course is, you'll find it has what I'd consider to be more than fair lines and often multiple routes to the baskets, save for a few dangling limbs here and there. Meanwhile, some holes can effectively urge you to use both left and/or right turning shots. Hole one's triple mando for starters may not sound appealing on paper (they rarely are), but it is not a terrible offender. With the hanging Deerfield sign as part of the design, it will definitely make sense once you see it. Hole 18 also employs a mando to aid in keeping unruly or daredevil shots from interfering with hole 19. Quite frankly, I don't really see it coming into play often. Besides, it doesn't necessarily force you into an otherwise less than ideal or tougher throw from the tee anyway. Both mando positions have clearly marked drop zones.
A reasonable amount of birdie opportunities present themselves for the average arms. Overall, I think those who can controllably reach the 300' mark accurately and consistently will have an edge when it comes to staying off the par train and will likely shoot well below par on this course. To fight what some may consider repetitive holes, some have been permanently marked with OB lines and will punish any half-hearted drives and upshots. More about that later. A few holes (if not an overdose), have baskets within a few feet of OB lines. They offer some challenge and will certainly have you taking your foot off the gas on a few shots.
Although the course is prone to flooding, the consolation is its designed in such a way that the holes themselves play on the high ground and will be dry. It should be noted that the intention of the design is that this water play as out-of-bounds, no matter how little of it is there. These areas are affectionately referred to by the locals as "Big Water" (see the overhead course map for a visual definition). Because of some technical issues mentioned below, these areas are now permanently marked with white 4x4 posts along the flood prone areas. Except those with the biggest risk appetite, there will be several tee shots, approaches, or even putts that you might have otherwise taken had they not been in place. If nothing else, it added a change of pace and/or personality to the otherwise straightforward course. On a side note, even with moderately heavy rain, the course dries within a few days with some dry weather.
The course has a sufficient supply of bells and whistles. It's outfitted with the familiar and reliable yellow banded Innova DISCatcher Pro targets. You'll find sufficiently sized concrete tee pads situated on every hole furnished with ample sized and sturdy benches. Small and unassuming tee signs greet you at each hole and provide the hole number, distance, and par. There are no maps of the holes but with the baskets visible from the tee, the designer figured that available resources would be better spent on other do-dads around the course. If you need it, there is a large overhead view course map at the start of the track. Along with the map, you can find other useful info sure as park rules at the kiosk complete with a bench and a lost and found disc return box. The kiosk is just off the parking area and between the two you will find a practice putting green (look for the red basket). When not in use by other park users, there is a huge open field that can serve as a driving range.
One of the biggest things this course has going for it is the fun factor. All things considered, unless you just dislike wooded courses, you are bound to have a good time. Given that the holes are so close and compact, you can run through the course quickly. Moderately disc golf thirsty folks can just about play two consecutive rounds and not feel any more fatigued than a full 18 at some of the other sprawling Atlanta courses. And with Etowah just a few miles away, it will be worth your while to plan a trip and play the pair while in the area.