Pros:
Moccasin Creek DGC at St. Johns Fairgrounds sits conveniently just off of I-95 and a short distance from St. Augustine . It only took me 23 minutes to drive from my vacation condo to there .
This is a 26 hole course .
There is plenty of parking near hole #1 , and additional parking in the back of the course at the fairgrounds . There is a Port O Let that is accessible near hole #1 , and near the hole 12 basket .
THE EQUIPMENT -- At the disc golf lot there is a kiosk with both information and a map of the course . the kiosk also has a lost disc box attached to the back of it , and a basket in the front of it with loaner discs in case you didn't bring or have one . That was a classy touch . There is also a practice basket near hole 1 .
There are 2 tee pads on pretty much all of the holes . The long tees are cement and 8' X 3 1/2 ' , and the short tees are shorter turf pads , maybe 6' X 3' . Great signage here . Blue signs on posts for the long pads and red signs for the shorts . Both describe hole #, par , flight path and distance from both pads to both baskets .There are hooks behind the sign posts where you can hang your bag while throwing from the tee . With the 2 tees , there are also 2 , sometimes 3 baskets for the holes . The extra baskets only appear on the front 12 of the course . The baskets are yellow Discatchers for the long positions and white Discatchers for the shorts . Also included on the course are at least 2 long poles to use if your disc is caught in a tree . I remember 1 resting on a tree limb on hole #8 .
THE LANDSCAPE -- Okay , the course is dry and flat . Other than throwing off a hill on hole 26 , a ridge to throw over on hole 13 , and a man made hill with the basket perched on it on holes 1 and maybe 4 , the elevation never breaks about 2' on a hole . Moccasin Creek is divided into 2 parts . The first 12 holes are set in a chunk of the park that looks exclusively made for disc golf . The 2nd part is made up of 14 holes that tour around the fairgrounds . I can see where playing this back part can be a problem if something like a fair, festival or other extracurricular activity is going on ( more in cons ) The course is mostly park style , with some basket placements that utilize the different types of trees on the course and more wide open for bombs on the back part . There are some brush lines on parts of this course , but most of it is outside of the rectangular 12 hole section of the first 12 , and on the right of you for holes 13 , 14 and 15 . There is a high fence on the right of the fairway of maybe hole 16 that could come into play on a windy day . Throwing over it would cause a long walk .
The course was mowed , trimmed up and very clean when I played it . There were trash cans here , throughout . I have to mention the Spanish moss that covers a lot of the trees here . It just adds something nice to the course for me .
THE HIGHLIGHTS -- Moccasin Creek will not blow you away with crazy and difficult holes , but it will entertain you, and has some length to some of the holes . Right off the bat , #1s fairway is a tunnel shot ( 354' from the longs ? not sure about that ) , One of the baskets sits on a mound at the end .
#4 is a tight mando shot bending left to a hanging basket .
#8 is one of the longer holes on the course . 560' , it is an open blaster hole , but hides the baskets behind trees and bushes at the end .
#16 ( over 500' ) is a long bending drive that works its way to the basket placed in a small grove .
#25 is the longest hole on the course ( 880' ) working its way eventually right and over a small service road , to the basket flanked by a couple of trees .
#26 is an open bomber hole that starts from an elevated tee on a hill , along a completely open fairway , to a basket protected by trees on all sides , and a fence with brush right behind it .
Signature Hole -- Not long or complicated , this wide open 274' shot ends with the elevated basket that sits on a replica of the St. Augustine Lighthouse . The basket is at least 8 or 9' high , but your disc drops down into the lighthouse where you can retrieve it in the front window of it . Its worth taking a picture of it .
DISC RISK -- Low . With no water on the course and it being so clean , plus the poles helping you knock your disc out of a tree , I would think it would be hard to lose your disc . I may be wrong , though . The course has a locked lost disc box ( even though it was empty when I was there ) .
THE TIME -- The course can be deceptively long in spots , and I had to reroute my holes because of a police dog exhibition , so it took me almost an hour and forty five minutes to complete . Maybe a solo , depending on playing the longs or shorts , could get through in an hour and 30 . A group of 4 could take 2 1/2 to play all 26 .
I was told that the course can be crowded during the weekends . Plan accordingly .
Hey , Moccasin Creek is 26 holes !
Cons:
#1 SAFETY -- There might be some safety issue , mostly in the first 12 holes , because some fairways run next to each other , and the course might be populated at times . You don't have to keep your head on a swivel , but you need to be aware , if crowded .
#2 AVAILABILITY -- The back 14 holes might not be playable if a fair or festival is going on . I had to avoid some type of police dog training that was taking a few of the holes away for a while . Be considerate and skip holes if you have to .
#3 REPETITION -- Some of the holes here seem alike . Straight ahead to the basket . I guess you might have to do that in spots in order to fit 26 holes .
The course is flat and has no water holes . Still 26 holes .
Bring bug spray . It can be bad in spots .
Other Thoughts:
Lots of things that I personally liked about this course . The designer , Harvey Barnes , and others didn't put some 200' extra hole in order to make it 27 . They have added a hole ( 26 ) because they wanted to . The course is a great place to pass the time , and it's split at hole 12 where you can cross the road if you want to play the other 14 . If you are pressed for time , you can be done in 45 minutes just playing the first part .
Please be aware that since the course is popular with the locals , that they have Friday evening doubles , and Sunday 1:00 bagtag challenges , so you may want to plan around those times .
Thanks to the St Johns Fairgrounds people , City of Elkton Parks and Rec , and local disc golf club for allowing me to enjoy your course for the day .
MY RECOMMENDATION -- A great course for intros and newbies . The first 12 holes can be a fun after dinner round for families . There were a lot of locals here on the Tuesday night that I was here , so it is popular with them . There is some length and good design on some short holes that would cause some intermediated to pros coming for round here and there . This course is perfect for the St. Augustine or local beach vacationer to grab a round or 3 . Travelers on I-95 will ike the proximity for a leg stretch that is easy on the knees . The course sits away from a lot of other courses , but the course collector will like it here , anyway . I guess this sum it up . Moccasin Creek is a MUST PLAY for anyone on the Northeast side of Florida . PLAY IT !!!!