(2.994 Rating) A moderately wooded course for 20 straight holes.
- SHADED FUN FACTOR - I think the best aspect at Deerfield is the somewhat easy going play under the shade. I played here during the summer, and to no surprise, it was hot and sticky out. Being under the tall canopy really made the play here a bit more bearable despite the uncomfortable conditions outside. In addition to the constant shade, there is going to be relatively few chances to get into trouble. Nearly all the undergrowth has been removed and losing a disc is going to be rare. Perhaps if they ever stopped mowing this would not be the case, but for now, it seems like the park staff keeps the landscape mostly in check.
- BONUS HOLES - I think this was only the second time I've ever played a 20-hole course. Hole (18) ends fairly close to the parking area, and I could see a few jetting out early. Hole (19) however, is a really fun challenging hole. It requires some good power to run towards the basket as there is a large low lying OB area between the tee and safe area. It seemed like a good 300-foot clear, maybe even 325, when taking dead aim at the basket 390 feet away. Hole (20), is not quite as good, but still a fun skip ace attempt play to finish the full 20-hole layout.
- CHALLENGING - This one felt like a tweener between Rec level and Intermediate level. 18 holes are par 3s and they average just over 275-feet long. Both par 4s are over 500-feet long and are moderately wooded. I played well and finished 5-down as an Intermediate level player myself. There is a lot of OB on this course and it will take smart play and control to avoid tacking on unnecessary extra shots.
- RAW BEAUTY - I scored this aspect a hair above average. As noted, moderately wooded through-out. A few holes like (16) and (17) have a little extra charm to them. The lack of differential elements keeps me from scoring this aspect any higher.
- NAVIGATION - One of the easiest courses to follow that I've ever played. There are taped yellow spokes on every basket. Why aren't all one basket placement courses doing this? There is a nice course map posted as well, but I never had to reference it. I just looked for the yellow spoke on the basket, and boom, I easily found the next tee in that direction.
- TIME PLAY - I was playing blind and solo on a somewhat busy day and finished in 48 minutes. The hole transitions are generally short and as noted above, the navigation was a breeze.

Playing 20 holes that basically all look the same.
- HOLE VARIETY - The play variety is probably about average here, but man did this course feel nearly the same hole after hole from beginning to end. Nearly every hole is under a tall aging tree canopy with wider than normal lines for a course that is completely under the shade. Within hours of playing the course, the first 13 holes had basically blended together in my memory. The course is extremely flat and there are no shots out in the open. As noted in the pros, 18 par 3s and 2 par 4s. Water is limited to a small creek which parallels a few holes. I thought holes (16) and (17) were the only ones that had a slightly different feel to them. The course is very monotonous.
- BOGGY? - I didn't take off any points for this. I played here after a string of rainy days. All of the low lying OB white staked areas had standing water and even a few areas outside the stakes did as well. As noted, this course is very flat. It likely doesn't drain the best. I asked a local about this and he concurred that if it does rain a bunch, it will be marshy for a couple days. I would recommend checking the course conditions before playing here.

Deerfield Park DGC is a solid everyday course. Perfect for leagues, small tourneys and bagger hits as well. There are very few weak spots regarding this course and the weak spots it does have, are basically all site related constraints. If I lived in the area, I would play here all the time during dry periods. For those that live in the Alanta area and haven't checked it out yet, it looks most similar to area course Frog Rock. Courses like Brahan Springs in Alabama and War Memorial in Tennessee also come to mind. I do think it's worth a look see at least one time for those in the metro area, but there are just too many great courses in the area for it to be a destination course to those coming in from out of town. Both Etowah and Gatewood are not too far from here and are both far more worthy of the destination label over this one.

An exceedingly pleasant-to-play labor of love from the Cartersville DG community.

-Amenities: Concrete tees, DISCatchers, stylish tee signs with everything except map, practice basket, some next tee cues. A basic, fully-stocked track.

-Environment: A single-biome course, where old hardwoods provide a complete canopy but plenty of breathing space at ground-level. Very reminiscent of older-style courses like Brahan or Henry Horton that are exceedingly pleasant but in no way stunning.

-Shot Shaping/Gameplay: A basic challenge, but done right. Shots range from about 200'-400' (plus two longer par-4s) through the pines. Gaps generally aren't particularly tight, and there tend to be multiple shot options. There isn't a lot of elevation or variety in terrain, but the choices of length, angle, and basket placement were excellent, and the course feels like it has variety as you play it. If you've played old courses, imagine Brahan Springs but better. Some water features (formed mainly by heavy rains, so I don't know how permanent they are) make a couple of holes more interesting. Mixed into this steady diet of solid holes are a couple of extra fun ones. I love basket (4)'s placement on a little elevated peninsula, and I want to say congratulations to an eminent DGCR member for designing a truly special tribute hole on (16).

-"Friendly": Easy to play, hard to lose discs, well kept up. Neither the trees nor the sun will beat you down. Highly recommend for beginning players.

-Atmosphere: From my experience, and from what I've seen on Atlanta disc golf on Facebook, the intangibles at this course are incredible. The amount of volunteer labor put in here was high, and whenever I've been there are groups of players in the parking lot enjoying each other's company. It's just a pleasant place to be.

-Drainage: Probably the top con across reviewers will be that rainwater accumulates. On most holes, this just provides an additional hazard that will leave your shoes muddy if you drop in, but on a couple, most notably (14), it is a real nuisance to have large, deep puddles in the fairway. This is a good one to check course conditions on before arriving.

-Tee Signs: I'm not sure why there aren't maps on the tee signs. On some holes, it's not important, but on the longer holes a diagram would be very helpful in choosing your tee shot and spotting the basket. On the flip side, the posts with their pared-down plaques are very homey (rustic, if you will).

-Property: Every inch of elevation was used in the design, but it accumulates to only a few feet total. Additionally, the property doesn't have very many exciting features. This is a decidedly solid course that would be a no-brainer Typical under most designers'/clubs' hands.

If you switched out the shiny DISCatchers for Mach IIIs, I would believe this course was designed in the 80s. It has the homey vibe that old courses good enough to survive have. The golf is great rec-level par-3s mostly. I suspect this Good course will win the hearts of many players.

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.

Let's face it, most of the time public disc golf courses in city parks are installed on less than prime property. Often, it's just not suitable for other recreational purposes like ballfields or courts. This is sometimes a good thing as it's usually great for disc golf opportunities. Normally, course installers can overcome design obstacles or poor land conditions, but it is rarely without penalty. Deerfield is not immune. While it is almost perfect landscape for a course, it happens to be smack dab in the middle of a flood plain/quasi detention pond. Chances are, at least in much of the year, you will find a dry course. But if you play during a wet season or after significant rain, you will find water, and potentially lots of it. As noted in the "pros" section above, this can be a plus. But it should be noted that after significant rain (say a couple of inches within a 24-hr period), it can flood the surrounding area enough where it could be rendered unplayable for all but the most diehard players. There can even be enough to submerge a tee pad or two with some unseasonably heavy rain. Be sure to check social media outlets for up-to-date conditions if you think there is a chance excess water may be present.

If you do happen upon the course during a time where significant "Big Water" is present, be prepared just in case. Most often, retrieval can be quite manageable, but there are lots of places where wayward shots and/or bad tree kicks could send you to some areas where disc retrievals will be aggravating or irksome. This is pronounced during the heaviest of rain where murky water can cause a disc to vanish beyond the edge of the banks.

As a backseat driver, and with some first-hand knowledge of the thought process of the designer, I could point out a series of misjudgments when it comes to out of bounds areas. First, the course being prone to flooding might have been better left as a scenario where the course simply wasn't in the best shape to play after heavy rains and floods. To try to make lemonade from lemons, the designer chose to make unpredictable flash flood water out of bounds. This left so many loopholes and undefined OB lines leading to misplay opportunities that the course just wasn't valid for tourneys or leagues. Instead of going back to square one, a compromise of lining the entire flood zone with white 4x4 posts, indicating what is the high-water mark of seasonal flooding, was installed. This is known by locals as "big water". I whole-heartily agree that it is the best solution with all things considered, especially since random puddles, many hidden in shin deep grass that may or may not be present on any given day, were going to be considered OB. At the end of the day though, I tend to view this as having to create a solution to a problem that perhaps never needed to exist in the first place. It is what it is.

The white posts are easy to spot off the tee but do detract from the setting of the park. They may be more reminiscent of a civil war mass cemetery than an escape to the natural outdoor landscapes we tend to enjoy while playing golf. While they do offer a challenge, they are a departure from traditional and what I would consider conventional course design. They admittedly add some diversity comparatively speaking but overall, they will take a toll on the general rating and enjoyment of the otherwise natural scenery.

There's a hint of repetitiveness with a few underwhelming holes of similar length and design, particularly in the heart of the course. This is pointed out more for the folks who struggle with wooded holes and/or prefer to play on longer open courses. Folks who like to show off the big guns and long drives may feel the trees render them somewhat impotent. Meanwhile, the wooded course fans like myself probably won't even notice.

At the risk of wading into a hotly debated issue, the designer continues to cling to the conceits that ragged branches hanging in the middle of a fairway is a good thing. Some pruning is needed in a spot or two, not necessarily to change the course or to make it easier, but to make it better for playability, aesthetics, and validity. My thoughts can be corroborated by reviewing Deerfield tourney data found on the PDGA results page (check out hole 14 for example).

Overall, I really like this course a lot. Although I have enjoyed playing this course with the "big water" area marked, I think the course presents much better golf and offers a much better overall experience without them when the course is dry. That said, I hope the comments about the "Big Water" area and gratuitous OB lines in the cons don't weigh too much on the overall impressions given by the review. I mention them because being that this is a local course for me, I want to take pride in it. I care about this course, and I want it to be the best it can be. I realize others are not bothered by these issues and perhaps they even like them. Despite how it may sound, this is not criticism. I'm just sharing my personal preferences and opinions. You'll have to judge for yourself if these noted areas are a positive or negative (or neither for that matter). I'm looking forward to reading more reviews and perspectives on the topic.

The course was installed by a collaborative effort from the disc golf community. The design was by Sam Barfield and the installation was guided under his leadership and obstinate direction. The funding came from individuals or disc golf related groups by way of tiered sponsorship levels which amazingly covered the baskets, concrete pads, kiosk, some of the benches, and all the other hardscaping items. Thanks to the City of Cartersville in helping bring yet another disc golf course to the area.