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Sunrise UMC reviews
10
0
DiscGolfCraig
Diamond level trusted reviewer
Premium Member
Experience:
20 years
604 played
549 reviews
Discin' at the Break of Dawn 2+ years
Reviewed:
Updated:
Played on:Dec 28, 2020
Played the course:once
Pros:
Located just minutes off 421 and I-40, Sunrise UMC isn't your typical church course. With some nice land and elevation, this is a charming 12-hole layout.
- As of December '20, this is now a 12-hole layout. Clearly the extra three holes were recently added. With this addition, the first hole now tees off alongside the main road. With a basket next to the parking lot, there may be times you need to skip this hole if there are a lot of cars here.
- After a simple, straight ahead open hole on #2, you're in the woods for the rest of the round. Prepare to throw a lot of mid-ranges and putters from here on out.
- This course is really highlighted by two quality holes, a couple more decent ones, and the rest. The two best holes - #6 & 10 - along with #7, are what players will remember about this course. As for holes such as #3, 5, and 12, those all blend together.
- #6 is a fun, multi-disc off the tee type of hole. It's a 235 foot, over a small creek, uphill shot to a basket tucked behind a couple trees. No worries about sailing long here so be as aggressive as you want off the tee. A good hole to birdie and one that players will be aiming straight for the chains.
- #7 is a good compliment to the previous one. It's a downhill, tighter fairway, 205 foot hole with a basket tucked to the right at the end. Another hole that one can have an easy birdie putt. The difference here is that an aggressive shot could sail long or in some rough, killing your birdie chances.
- The boom or bust hole on this course, and clearly its signature, is #10. It's only 222 feet, and it plays shorter with its downhill slope. The fairway, and gravity are going to push your RHBH shot back to the left while the basket to straight to slightly right. To top it off, you've got an OB creek with a decent drop off (4 - 5 feet) just behind the basket. The classic hole where you're begging for your disc to get down the instant it's off your fingers.
- Nice, basic tee signs make this an easy course to navigate blind. Tee pads are in good shape as well.
- The church has loaner discs at the kiosk. Fantastic way to introduce families to the game. Unfortunately, these discs tend to wander off over time so here's hoping locals aren't deterred and keep it stocked.
- As of December '20, this is now a 12-hole layout. Clearly the extra three holes were recently added. With this addition, the first hole now tees off alongside the main road. With a basket next to the parking lot, there may be times you need to skip this hole if there are a lot of cars here.
- After a simple, straight ahead open hole on #2, you're in the woods for the rest of the round. Prepare to throw a lot of mid-ranges and putters from here on out.
- This course is really highlighted by two quality holes, a couple more decent ones, and the rest. The two best holes - #6 & 10 - along with #7, are what players will remember about this course. As for holes such as #3, 5, and 12, those all blend together.
- #6 is a fun, multi-disc off the tee type of hole. It's a 235 foot, over a small creek, uphill shot to a basket tucked behind a couple trees. No worries about sailing long here so be as aggressive as you want off the tee. A good hole to birdie and one that players will be aiming straight for the chains.
- #7 is a good compliment to the previous one. It's a downhill, tighter fairway, 205 foot hole with a basket tucked to the right at the end. Another hole that one can have an easy birdie putt. The difference here is that an aggressive shot could sail long or in some rough, killing your birdie chances.
- The boom or bust hole on this course, and clearly its signature, is #10. It's only 222 feet, and it plays shorter with its downhill slope. The fairway, and gravity are going to push your RHBH shot back to the left while the basket to straight to slightly right. To top it off, you've got an OB creek with a decent drop off (4 - 5 feet) just behind the basket. The classic hole where you're begging for your disc to get down the instant it's off your fingers.
- Nice, basic tee signs make this an easy course to navigate blind. Tee pads are in good shape as well.
- The church has loaner discs at the kiosk. Fantastic way to introduce families to the game. Unfortunately, these discs tend to wander off over time so here's hoping locals aren't deterred and keep it stocked.
Cons:
There's not a single glaring issue with this course. It's essentially maxed out its potential. Look no further than the fact you're playing alongside someone's backyard on #10.
- The first tee isn't easily located. From the parking lot you see a kiosk and a tee, which we would assume is #1. It's actually #2 aka the old first tee. This points you back to the first tee. And that single basket by itself in an island of grass in the parking lot? It's not a practice basket. It's the first tee.
- Holes play close together in spots. One bad skip off a tree and you could be on a different fairway. It would be an issue if the course is packed as you may need to keep an eye out for stray discs.
- Stray discs may be a bit tricky to retrieve in spots. On #10, for example, anything sailing long is in or over the creek. Long and to the right and there's a downed tree to contend with. Could be a discouragement for the same beginners who are also borrowing discs from the kiosk.
- No amenities here, but you're exactly a half mile to a shopping center where you can find what you need.
- The first tee isn't easily located. From the parking lot you see a kiosk and a tee, which we would assume is #1. It's actually #2 aka the old first tee. This points you back to the first tee. And that single basket by itself in an island of grass in the parking lot? It's not a practice basket. It's the first tee.
- Holes play close together in spots. One bad skip off a tree and you could be on a different fairway. It would be an issue if the course is packed as you may need to keep an eye out for stray discs.
- Stray discs may be a bit tricky to retrieve in spots. On #10, for example, anything sailing long is in or over the creek. Long and to the right and there's a downed tree to contend with. Could be a discouragement for the same beginners who are also borrowing discs from the kiosk.
- No amenities here, but you're exactly a half mile to a shopping center where you can find what you need.
Other Thoughts:
Sunrise is a quality beginner-friendly course. It hits the mark in achieving its goal.
- #4 is another nice short downhill tee shot. #8 & 11 offer good challenge as uphill holes. #8 especially has a tight, s-curved fairway.
- This is a quick round. It took me 33 minutes to play and that includes searching for a disc buried under the leaves on #10. Thanks to my fellow disc golfer who came from #6 to help me find it.
- Looking at the Google Map of the course, I was shocked how little wooded area this course actually uses. Looking at the woods, there are neighborhoods on all sides. With the exception of the right side of #10, you feel like you're further out in the woods than you actually are.
- I couldn't tell you if the extra holes add much to this layout. Other than #1, I don't have a clue what other two holes are new.
- If you're a local, this is good for a quick round or two. You've got some solid choices for other courses nearby between Winston-Salem and Yadkinville. Get introduced to the game at this church, and when you're ready for more, try your hand somewhere else.
- #4 is another nice short downhill tee shot. #8 & 11 offer good challenge as uphill holes. #8 especially has a tight, s-curved fairway.
- This is a quick round. It took me 33 minutes to play and that includes searching for a disc buried under the leaves on #10. Thanks to my fellow disc golfer who came from #6 to help me find it.
- Looking at the Google Map of the course, I was shocked how little wooded area this course actually uses. Looking at the woods, there are neighborhoods on all sides. With the exception of the right side of #10, you feel like you're further out in the woods than you actually are.
- I couldn't tell you if the extra holes add much to this layout. Other than #1, I don't have a clue what other two holes are new.
- If you're a local, this is good for a quick round or two. You've got some solid choices for other courses nearby between Winston-Salem and Yadkinville. Get introduced to the game at this church, and when you're ready for more, try your hand somewhere else.
12
0
Nice 9-hole track 2+ years
Reviewed:
Played on:Jul 10, 2020
Played the course:once
Pros:
Sunrise UMC is a fun little 9-hole track that plays in the woods behind the church (except for hole #1, which is smack dab in the front yard -- and major props to the church for putting the course bulletin board, tee, and basket in the front yard; let your light shine!). This is designed as a beginners' course. Advanced players won't find it challenging. Intermediate-level players, like me, will find enough challenge to make it enjoyable, plus numerous ace runs and birdie opportunities.
+ As 9-hole courses go, Sunrise is really very good. There is good course design, flow, and hole variety. Most non-beginners won't throw many (or maybe any) drivers, only putters and a few mids, but most holes are technical and there's good variety of the types of angles and flight paths needed.
+ I was surprised to find some good elevation on a couple of holes here. By far my favorite hole is #8, which is steeply downhill, a blind tee shot, to a green surrounded by a creek. (I didn't notice if this was officially an OB creek, but it should be, giving the hole a great risk/reward element).
+ Easy navigation and flow
+ Brand new baskets
+ Good course bulletin board and info center with scorecards
+ This is an excellent beginner-level course. New players will find it fun, challenging (but not too oppressive), and it's a quick play. This is a great track to introduce new players to the game.
+ Very strong fun factor here and numerous ace runs
+ As 9-hole courses go, Sunrise is really very good. There is good course design, flow, and hole variety. Most non-beginners won't throw many (or maybe any) drivers, only putters and a few mids, but most holes are technical and there's good variety of the types of angles and flight paths needed.
+ I was surprised to find some good elevation on a couple of holes here. By far my favorite hole is #8, which is steeply downhill, a blind tee shot, to a green surrounded by a creek. (I didn't notice if this was officially an OB creek, but it should be, giving the hole a great risk/reward element).
+ Easy navigation and flow
+ Brand new baskets
+ Good course bulletin board and info center with scorecards
+ This is an excellent beginner-level course. New players will find it fun, challenging (but not too oppressive), and it's a quick play. This is a great track to introduce new players to the game.
+ Very strong fun factor here and numerous ace runs
Cons:
This course delivers for its target audience: beginners. As such, it's not that challenging (which to me is the most important element in getting a high course rating). But as a beginner-friendly, 9-hole track, it's probably going to top out at around a 2.5 rating for me -- *maybe* 3.0 or 3.5 if it's super special. Sunrise UMC doesn't have a "wow factor" that bumps it above a 2.5, but it doesn't have any real flaws to knock it down from there either. Hole #8 is a signature hole and not something you'd expect to find on a 9-hole track. Props for that.
- Not very challenging for Intermediate+ players (and not designed to be). The 9th hole is the only hole with real distance for a wooded track.
- Natural tees: I had no issues with them and they're fine for a short course like this (and I'm not docking points here), but if you're a concrete- or permanent-tee only type of person, Sunrise doesn't offer that.
- Only 9 holes
- Not very challenging for Intermediate+ players (and not designed to be). The 9th hole is the only hole with real distance for a wooded track.
- Natural tees: I had no issues with them and they're fine for a short course like this (and I'm not docking points here), but if you're a concrete- or permanent-tee only type of person, Sunrise doesn't offer that.
- Only 9 holes
Other Thoughts:
This is one to check out.
