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Ocala, FL

Sawmill DGC

Permanent course
4.035(based on 20 reviews)
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3 0
gatoremt
Experience: 4.2 years 10 played 8 reviews
4.00 star(s)

Very Beautiful 2+ years

Reviewed: Played on:Oct 31, 2020 Played the course:once

Pros:

What a great layout of a course. We drove 3 hours to play the course. The pro pads were really good artificial turf. Lots of benches to sit on around the course. Played greenway in the morning and really thought this course was a better lay. A lot of technical shots here.
The baskets are in good shape. The island green was really cool.
Good to see a disc return box.

Cons:

Short Pads: Let's just say they are not good at all. When you can find them. They are Poorly marked. As someone coming to play this course for the first time. We had no idea where the short pads were located on each hole. When you find them, good luck. The pads are just very bad old carpet that is not even and dangerous to throw off of. I would suggest if you are coming to play here that you throw in front of the tees on the grass. There were several times we threw from the long pads because we didn't know where the short pad was located. A good example I believe was 17. We could not find the short pads until after we teed off and made it io our throws and saw the short pad tucked up in the woods.
Basket Locations: We had no idea where the baskets were located. So we spent a lot of time walking down the fairway to locate the baskets. I would suggest that someone set up the layout in UDisc by how the baskets are set up. For example, look at Tom Brown in Tallahassee. They have 4 different setups in UDisc for each layout. Also whoever did the layout in UDisc drew them as straight lines.
Water: I did not find a water faucet anywhere. SO be sure to bring your hydration of choice.
There are several of the hole signs that need to be replaced. I would also suggest that the hole signs at the long pads show the short tees on it so everyone knows where the short tee is located.

Other Thoughts:

We will be back one day again. Even though it is a 3 hr drive. We really liked the layout.
Would also be nice to have a place to do warm-up throws.
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5 4
Discgolfbuz
Experience: 1 played 1 reviews
4.00 star(s)

Mixture of wooded/ open shots 2+ years drive by

Reviewed: Played on:Sep 27, 2019 Played the course:5+ times

Pros:

Love the natural woods atmosphere.
Wide open shots with many wooded, low canopy shots included.
Island hole is difficult and challenging
Course has been maintained by club wonderfully
Well designed for smooth flow.

Cons:

Some places give carts a rough roll, tho mostly cart friendly
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3 0
ndelnano
Experience: 10.9 years 18 played 4 reviews
4.00 star(s)

Great, challenging course 2+ years drive by

Reviewed: Played on:Nov 10, 2018 Played the course:once

Pros:

I played here while visiting a friend in Orlando.
- Course was in very good shape
- Great mix of wooded and open holes
- Internediate level shots from white tees, the blue tees looked challenging
- The scenery and nature in this course is beautiful!
- Great signs -- not once was I unsure of where the basket or next hole was

Cons:

I have nothing to complain about -- I would have more to say if I had played more than once.

Other Thoughts:

If I'm ever back in Orlando, I will be playing this course again!
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1 2
Kattrax
Experience: 7 years 4 played 1 reviews
4.00 star(s)

Sawmill 2+ years drive by

Reviewed: Played on:Jul 29, 2017 Played the course:once

Pros:

Very challenging course. Well laid out fairways. And very easy to navigate

Cons:

Just like anywhere in Florida bugs can be a problem not not enuff to make in unenjouyable

Other Thoughts:

Was completly enjoyable day of Disc golf with my son and we look forward to next week
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6 0
kevindonn1
Experience: 15 played 2 reviews
4.00 star(s)

The makings of an amazing course 2+ years drive by

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

Pros:

Diversity!
This course forces/allows you to use every shot in the bag. With holes that are long, short, tight, open, technical and bombers! The course flows nicely in and out of pine forest, open fields and back into giant shade tree wooded areas. Each hole has its own personality and challenge. And each hole gives you an opportunity to play smart or to go for the bird! Multiple basket locations allow the holes to come to new life when they are switched out.

Cons:

This is a new course and has been in development for just a couple of years. The course had only 11 holes until recently when the course was opened up using the vast wooded property in the park to make it a solid 20 holes. Those new holes are amazing but they are still being cleared and worked on. It won't be long until this becomes one of the absolute best courses in Central Florida!
The course will be upgrading from the basic carpet tee pads that are there now, which will improve things a lot. As more and more people are hearing about this course and coming out to play it, the underbrush that is native to the park is slowly getting cleared out, which is good because there are tons of vines and prickers off the fairways that make poor shots a bit sketchy to get to at times. This should be a non-issue as time passes. At this point, there is no bathroom or running water at the park, but I believe there are fundraisers and county parks and rec plans to get those in place in the future.

Other Thoughts:

The first hole which is located right near the large parking lot is a nice par 3 that can give you a nice start to the round. There is a practice basket just off to the left of hole one for warm ups.
Hole 2 is an awesome par 4 challenge. Tight and long with your first and second shots requiring clean and accurate throws. Long arms can get you close for a bird, but the average player will be more than happy with a par on this one.
Hole 3 gives forehand throwers an advantage on a really cool dogleg right that makes its way into the pine forest. Holes 4 and 5 challenge your line selection through the pines for easy birdies or painful bogeys depending on your shot selection. Hole 6 opens things up again with a nice healthy par 4 that rewards the big arms. 7 takes us back to one of the original par 4s on the course. This hole is beautiful off the tee pad, through the woods with several options on where you need to land for your second shot to give yourself a look at birdie from across a large retention area, up to a protected basket. Hole 8 is another beautiful short par 3 with your tee shot going under a a scenic fallen tree that crosses the fairway creating a unique challenge. Hole 9 takes us back to what was originally the first hole with two pin locations that offer different options for a nice scoring hole. Hole 10 is an open fairway with a few large trees to keep you honest. The fairway doglegs to the left giving a healthy drive a chance at another good score. Hole 11 is another beautiful use of this parks scenic natural layout. Another large fallen oak 100 feet in front of the tee pad forces player to decide wisely on their shot selection. A well placed bomb off to the right will sail nicely back around the trees and onto the fairway where your have a good look at the basket, or you can brave the tighter left line and rip one straight toward the pin for a shorter, but tighter opportunity at the basket. Hole 12 is short, but don't let that fool you! Those harmless looking Magnolia trees force you to make a smart decision and a well placed shot to a basket that is snuggled in nicely in the back right corner of this hole. Hole 13 looks like a piece of cake with an unimpeded straight shot across a water retention pond that is almost always dry for an easy birdie. But beware! This hole plays as an island green with OB all around the green. Shots that don't land on the green are considered in the hazard. You play from that spot but with a one stroke penalty, so you better hit that green! The winds tend to swirl on this open field as well which adds a nice challenge as the weather plays a factor on this hole. 14 takes us back over the retention area to a basket that is tucked into the woods on the left. A healthy drive that is long enough can give a nice look at the basket. But if you end up left, look out. And if there has been rain, shots that go right over the retention area can be wet, so play smart! Those retention areas are pumped out so even when if there has been a ton of rain the retention areas drain out withing a day or so. Hole 15 is a challenging par 4 with 2 pin locations, both requiring a healthy tee shot and rewarding you for smart shot placement on your up shots. Hole 16 tucks us back into the woods for a tight drive to one of three basket locations that offer different challenges while still offering opportunities to score. Hole 17 plays tight though a wooded fairway that opens up to a dogleg left. The first basket location plays as a par 3 and a smart tee shot will get you in good scoring position. The longer basket position plays as a par 4 and requires two clean shots for any chance at birdie with the basket being protected by two large palms that act as sentries in front of the basket. Hole 18 tee pad stands in the shadow of a large water tower behind the tee pad that seems to lurk over your shoulder as you tee off down a fairway that seems clear enough. But beware again, those trees on either side of the fairway like to gobble up your shots if you don't hit your lines. Hole 19 forces players out of a tight shoot into an open field with two pin locations. Each is reachable with a decent arm and this hole rewards players who make it out of the tight fairway. And last is hole 20 which is another deceivingly short hole. But where is the basket? This hole forces players to find lines either left or right, out and around thick woods that stand in front of the basket that is also hidden behind a mound of large lime rock. This hole produces plenty of birdies for accurate shots and plenty of echoing sounds of discs smashing into the trees that work real hard to protect this basket.
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5 0
thrembo
Diamond level trusted reviewer
Premium Member
Experience: 49 years 242 played 195 reviews
4.00 star(s)

Rustic Fun Technical 2+ years

Reviewed: Updated: Played on:Jun 30, 2018 Played the course:2-4 times

Pros:

Very cool rustic 20 hole course with generally two sets of tees and two pin placements for each hole. There are a couple of openish holes but most of the course plays tight in a scenic forest area. Very nice temp (I'm assuming) tee signs and next tee signs. Navigation is a snap and the course is in an area pretty much dedicated to disc golf. The course is clean, well maintained and is fun to play.

Cons:

The sometimes too small carpet tees are starting to show their age with several being lumpy, or uneven. Concrete tees would be a very welcome addition and hopefully, they are coming.

No restrooms or other facilities, no drinking water. Make sure you bring plenty of water as the course is a pretty good walk around. Bring bug spray as there is plenty of insect activity here.

Other Thoughts:

A fun, rustic, isolated, wooded, and dedicated course. Ocala has it going on!
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3 0
xGIRTHx
Experience: 13.3 years 39 played 15 reviews
4.00 star(s)

Ocala is great for disc golf! 2+ years

Reviewed: Played on:Nov 20, 2016 Played the course:once

Pros:

I love the courses in Ocala and this one is no exception. We drove to Ocala from the coast with a plan of playing this course followed by Greenway. Like greenway, I liked this course from the first hole. This course is every bit as scenic and dare I say professional feeling. It has minor elevation and a great variety in the shots. The routes aren't impossibly narrow and IMO walks the line perfectly for being equally rewarding and punishing which isn't an easy achievement in course design. On top of that, its only 10-15 minutes from Greenway which makes for a great day of disc golf.

Cons:

As of right now its only 11 holes and doesn't have any facilities. I'm struggling to find any other complaints because there really aren't any. Due to a rookie mistake, hole number 2 will be the final resting place for a friend's first disc unless it blows down. If you close your eyes you can hear the faint choruses from Dancing in the Dark and Born to Run as the Boss watches over you.

Other Thoughts:

Upon arrival to the parking area, you feel like you are about to play somewhere special and very few courses have given me that feeling from the get go. The use of the land is perfect and its isolation from the roads makes for a peaceful and tranquil round. Toward the end of the course you will tee off next to the Silver Springs water tower which is cool. There is also an abandoned building that is artfully decorated by some of Ocala's residents. If you're an 80's kid you'll appreciate what became known as the "Stussy S" painted on the building. All kidding aside I will give this course another half star once completed and I wouldn't hesitate to drive an hour to play this course again.
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1 0
JLethal2
Experience: 12.9 years 38 played 17 reviews
4.00 star(s)

Great Ocala Addition 2+ years drive by

Reviewed: Played on:Nov 20, 2016 Played the course:once

Pros:

This course is a great little gem conveniently located right off State Rd 40 (Coming from the East), the parking area was nice and located close to hole 1. The Course itself in terms of design is nearly perfect, it really utilized the land well and makes for some very fun throwing. Surprising changes in elevation (if only minor) make for a nice change of scenery in a FL course. I thought the signage and presentation of each hole was great, there was a great sense of fluidity in the layout. I like the fact also that this course is not in any type of public park where you sometimes get unwanted moving targets (People) to avoid, this land is devoted to the Disc Golf course. I even liked the little benches installed at each tee, nice touch there.

Cons:

I don't have many gripes about this course at all aside from the fact it is not more than just 11 holes. I know it is a work in progress and more are coming which will definately improve my overall rating of the course. I would like to see permanent tee pads eventually...but carpet pads are better than just sticking flags in the ground like some I've been to. There were no restrooms on site which wasn't an issue for us but could be for others (even a port o let would suffice) To no fault of the course, I lost the first disc I ever purchased nearly 6 years ago (Pro Boss) on hole 2..It now lays in eternal bliss 50 ft up in a tree overlooking the course. RIP Bruce

Other Thoughts:

I love this course and can't wait until it becomes the 18-20 holes it is intended to be. We drove an hour from Daytona to play it and it would certainly be one we will frequent once the full construction is complete but for being so new...it is a beautiful, fun & challenging course to play.
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2 2
Flicker55
Premium Member
Experience: 10.2 years 63 played 6 reviews
4.00 star(s)

New expanded course in Ocala 2+ years

Reviewed: Updated: Played on:Jan 1, 2017 Played the course:5+ times

Pros:

10-15 minutes to Greenway,close to bars and restaurants and has expanded to 20 baskets.

Cons:

When rains canals can fill with water and will need to walk around water which can add a lot more walking. Bridges will be put in eventually. Wooded areas full on thorny vines. Getting knocked down now that course is being used.

Other Thoughts:

Will need a club house with toilets cold, water fountain and bar and restaurant.:) Great course with good signage. If you played here with the original 11 holes you need to try it out with 20. It was amazing what these guys have done in such a short time. This course will only improve with time.
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4 0
mjudy
Experience: 13.3 years 53 played 1 reviews
4.00 star(s)

Great course with room to improve 2+ years drive by

Reviewed: Played on:Feb 18, 2016 Played the course:5+ times

Pros:

*course flow- obvious flow mostly with "next tee" signs on nearly every hole, easy to navigate.
*good mixture of open and woods- demanding drives use mostly natural fairways in and out of trees
*scenic- nice views and informational signs tell you about the history of the property
*challenge/reward- drives down the fairway are rewarded and hitting trees is punished
*par 4s/long holes- play golf
*Informative signage

Cons:

*carpet pads
*temp signs
*no bathrooms
*small parking lot
*thorns- just off the fairway many holes have tall rough and/or thorns
*retention area may flood during storms

Other Thoughts:

New course with great potential. Adds something new to the area with par 4s and a great mix of shots. Parking lot to be expanded soon and plans to add 8-10 more holes and bridges to cross the areas that flood. Fun course that can be played in about an hour.
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4 0
JCone
Experience: 11.3 years 37 played 5 reviews
4.00 star(s)

A Diamond in the rough 2+ years drive by

Reviewed: Updated: Played on:Feb 7, 2016 Played the course:5+ times

Pros:

Great views on an extremely underutilized piece of property.
Ingenious course design
Sick holes utilizing both natural features and found objects on property
Playing disc golf on a piece of history
Cool signage, play golf and learn something at the same time
Convenient location, the urban area of Ocala now has 3 courses within 3 quadrants of the urban core (NE, SE, NW)
Different landscape/foliage from other courses in area
Lines are obvious, but alternate routes to the basket are available.
Plays to different strengths of players (bombers have advantages on some holes, while accurate, smarter players are given advantage on other holes)
Slight elevation changes combined with found objects require smarter golf
Many holes require a solid upshot even for more advanced players
Course is located near many hotels, restaurants, and attractions; yet somehow you still feel as though you're deep in the woods while playing. Solid cell service.
Course flow is darn near perfect, Hole #11 ends near the parking lot; get a quick round in or play 22.
Although there is the occasional walker or person just enjoying the property, property is primarily dedicated to disc golf.
Keeping disc in the fairway is rewarded. Very few patches of silly rough in fairway.
Best baskets in the area.

Cons:

Work in progress.
Some areas of "rough" are rough, although most are nowhere near what many of us have experienced playing disc golf throughout the state. Needs some players to trample and/or additional maintenance.
Drainage issues (being addressed by course developers)
Lack of bathrooms
Lack of trash cans (pack it in, pack it out)
May be difficult to locate if you're unfamiliar with the area.
Temporary signage (but informative)
Carpet pads (not permanent)

Other Thoughts:

Without a doubt, my favorite holes are (currently) 3, 4, 6, 8, 9, & 11. Nearly all of the holes are unique and many players will find that they enjoy different holes. The non-profit has done an amazing job building a course with very little funding and a lot of (continued) hard work by volunteers & sponsors. It shall be quite a fun ride to see what happens to the course over the next few years. Can't wait to see the bridges, the additional build-out of the course, and tee pads. Been great to see the local disc golf community get behind the project,
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