(1.545 Rating) A moderate technical course with no need for drivers.
- NATURAL BEAUTY - This is clearly the Johnston Woods course's best aspect. The layout plays threw an undulating forested terrain the entire time. There are no featureless or lightly wooded flat plays. Man made features are generally in fringe view or not at all. Overall I scored the course a 3.375 out of 5 for beauty.
- ACEABILITY - Chain music was playing in my head before several shots. Hole (3) is 96 feet, so short that many will be conflicted to even count it in their ace totals. Five other shots are sub 175 feet. Players are going ace here 4 or 5 times more often than normal even despite the single chain baskets.
- SHOT SHAPING - Even though this is a very short layout, most shots have to be planned prior to gently releasing a disc.
- NAVIGATION - Passable. I did not see a course map. My group did however start on (5), so perhaps I missed it somewhere between the parking and tee (1). Tees are only marked with a simple numbered post, of which several are getting ready to fall apart. Basket are numbered with a placard on top. Transitions were extremely short. sometimes less than 30 feet. See cons.
- QUICK PLAY - My twosome was in and out in 40 minutes.

There are some substantial flaws with Johnston Woods.
- BASKET AND TEE SEPERATION - Several tees are way too close to the prior basket. Having multiple groups on the course is going to cause issues. There was plenty of park room to avoid this.
- LACK OF CHALLENGE - Moderately spaced wooded lines, but so short that I never reached back for full power on any tee shot. I finished 6 down over 9 holes as an Intermediate level player with no bogeys. I did use a dialed back driver on two holes as the sweeping nature on a these tee shots needed significant movement.
- BASICS - The pavered tees and baskets are showing their age. In addition, the pavered tees are roughly 3 feet by 7 feet. The baskets are single chain and a couple are leaning. The basket on (8) appears to be a retrofit.
- MAINTENANCE - A few tees had a touch of overgrowth beginning to engulf the edges. Several fairways were raw. I'll fathom a guess that this course is only beat back once or twice each summer. Likely best played during the winter months and early spring
- NO EXTRAS - No multi-tees, practice basket, alt placements or benches. There is one picnic table near tee (1).
- GATES CLOSURE - Apparently not open on weekends during the summer. My group had to park at the gates and walk to the nearest tee, which is tee (5).
- UNIQUENESS - The variety is probably the second best aspect of the course. However it's just so short that the putter came out way too many times. As for positive aspects, heavy to moderately wooded technical shots. 30 to 40 feet in elevation change occurs on a couple holes. A couple tree gaps to thread and pockets to hit.

The fifth niner I've played in the Chattanooga Metro area and my lowest rated of the bunch (Shepherd, Mattox, Portland, 9 on Top, and here) I liked the fun factor aspect due to the ace run potential and the beauty. However those two elements could not overcome the slew of other problems. No need for those outside the Chattanooga area to check this course out unless they are a course bagger like me.

- Perfect for beginners. With short holes but plenty of trees, this is an excellent course for youngsters to learn the beautiful game of disc golf.
- Quiet and not crowded.
- Only need a mid-range and putter to play this course as the longest hole appears to be about 220 feet.

- Teepads are short and not level; on several holes, your run-up will be uphill or downhill.
- Single chain baskets.
- Since it's a private course, it's not open on the weekends (though it's great that Johnston Woods opens the course to the public during the week).

This is a course suited for beginners and youngsters. If you're an experienced player, you might not enjoy this course as much, though it's a nice place to work on throwing your putter longer distances.