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Research Triangle Park, NC

IBM Research Triangle

Permanent course
3.755(based on 8 reviews)
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7 2
turbohonky
Experience: 6 years 3 played 3 reviews
4.50 star(s)

Great for Variety 2+ years drive by

Reviewed: Updated: Played on:Jan 10, 2017 Played the course:5+ times

Pros:

* Golf course feel to several of the holes.
* Different than most of the local courses, in that it's not through the woods.
* 2 water holes (with a third hole for which there is an over water shortcut). Update: Even when I'm taking the overland/hyzer approach I've ended up in the water a few times on 17. There are definitely 3 water holes.
* Some of the holes are absolutely gorgeous
* There are 3.5-4 versions fo the course to play.
- Blue (primary)
- Red (basically beginner version of blue)
- Black (same baskets, played 18->1. The tee locations make the holes completely different to the blue course - apart from blue 4/black 15, which is very similar.)
- Safari (in U-disc - much longer version of the course, with several par 4s and a couple of par 5s. This is the best version of the course, but some baskets are reused and some aren't used at all. It's definitely not a version that would support more than two groups at a time.)

Cons:

* Temporary baskets / natural tees. Update: Actual baskets! Still natural tees though, which can be slippery. Update update: Now the blue course has tee boxes or concrete for all but one hole (14). I've upgraded my rating based on the two biggest strikes being addressed.
* Congestion for holes 3-5. If the course is crowded this could become an issue, but it's not often crowded.
* The holes have a clear intended shape for how each hole should be played (which is good), but a particularly awful first shot generally just means that your second shot is longer. A bad shot isn't punished as hard as it could be if more obstruction were available.

* Update: Discs started disappearing from the pond recently. It used to be the case that I'd eventually get a call that my disc had been retrieved. I don't know if shittier people are now pulling out discs and not returning them, or if I've just gotten worse about throwing deeper into the pond.)

Other Thoughts:

The front side has more elevation changes than the backside (though it's generally a gradual and consistent slope, apart from the hole 7 which is varied and steep in some places). The backside has more variety, but there are groupings of similar holes.

It's my favorite course to play in the area, by a wide margin. This is largely because of how most of the courses have been carved through woods whereas this course was planned around a park. It's very beginner friendly because of the openness, but it's also got enough distance and danger to challenge an experienced and capable player.
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7 18
Ricardo Macho
Experience: 7.7 years 19 played 2 reviews
4.50 star(s)

Great course 2+ years drive by

Reviewed: Updated: Played on:Dec 26, 2017 Played the course:5+ times

Pros:

There are enough straight, left and right tee shots of varying lengths here to give you plenty of variety.
Most local courses are much more heavily wooded which makes the course different than the local normal.
We've recently installed new tee pads so there is no more throwing off the bare ground.
The holes around the pond are beautiful holes and hole 17 has an elevated basket making it easier to see over the sawgrass.

Cons:

The geese here don't bother you, but they do make a mess.
A few of the holes on the front are a little tight to each other.
There are a few holes with elevation, but not very many.
Ants can be a problem during the warmer months.
There are briers and poison ivy on a few of the holes.

Other Thoughts:

As one of the creators of this course, it is certainly one of my favorites in the area. I've logged a ton of rounds here
and I never get tired of it. With layout options (playing forward, reverse and safari), we feel like we have several pretty
distinct courses to choose from at all times.

Technically, the course is only open to IBM employees, but contact us if you're interested in playing it.

Timeline of the course
Summer 2016: PVC object poles installed
Winter 2017: Innova Discatcher baskets installed
Fall 2018: New tee pads
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