Pros:
An interesting layout, to say the least. You're constantly playing in different sections of the park, playing in six different plots of land (seven if you count the island hole on #7). Prepare to cross roads, tee off on roads, throw alongside roads, and have to keep an eye on cars before throwing.
- Not an overly challenging layout, which means big arms are going to have a big advantage here. The toughest shots on the course: hitting the gap on #5 (after passing #6's basket) and the tee shot on #11. That's not to say you're going to be better landing tee shots on certain sides of fairways on particular holes. Make sure approach shots on #4 and #15 are placed on the correct sides of fairways, or you're going to have awkward angles approaching an otherwise significantly easier birdie chance.
- Course finishes right alongside the first tee. After looping around, back and forth, standing on #18's tee, I was thinking I might have a decent walk back to the first tee. It wasn't until I got around an area of thicket, when I finally saw the basket, did I realize I was right across the street. So, there is a method to the madness with this weaving layout.
- The general theme of the course seemed to be, "find big tree or row of trees. place a basket behind said tree/row of trees." #3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, and 18 definitely fit in that category. Other 3 holes probably do as well. They're simply more open so I'm excluding them from this argument.
- The two longest holes (#5 & 8) also require players to hit a gap with a particular shot. I did like, on #5 especially, that the amount of caution vs risk on second, third, fourth shots is based on placement of the prior shot. Throwing your tee shot too far on #5 actually can backfire.
- #3 and 6 were the most enjoyable holes, IMO. #3 was a nice tee shot while also being the most scenic. #6, simply for the island green layout, added a level of fun. Safe to say this is the hole players are throwing a second shot on most often.
- How big is this park? Holes #10 is several blocks back to the first tee. The course is mostly removed from the rest of the park. The playground/picnic area is several blocks from the main park building, where the carousel and other park activities are located.
Cons:
Don't let the city's name fool you. This course has zero elevation. You're also playing throughout fields and wooded areas.
- I don't know how a first timer would play this course without a course guide or map. Multiple times through the round, you're walking past a different hole to get to your current one (going from #6, 8 seems like the logical next tee; going from #10, you walk right past 13 first.)
- Add to that, the gold and original layouts overlap with contrasting hole numbers throughout. Coming from Charlotte, I'm used to the Renny (both layouts) and Renske 3-in-1 overlapping layout fun. Gold #3's tee is original 4; Gold #8 is original #10; Gold #10 is original #13, etc.
- As echoed above, watch for cars. Lots of throws over roads, alongside roads, or teeing off from roads. I can't remember another course that has three holes throwing over roads.
- Lots of areas with thick underbrush, ivy, and whatnot. Be prepared for potential long searches for discs. I purposely threw a lot of pink discs during my round.
- Other than next tee arrows on tee signs, zero navigational assistance. Even an arrow or two on the long layouts (I'm looking at you hole #5), would help let us know around which blind corner we're supposed to throw.
- #9 is a long walk back to the first tee. If you're trying to play a quick 9, Gold isn't the layout. That SHOULD be apparent however when you're playing a layout that's 3K feet longer than the original.
- Rocky Mount might be in the running for most 18-hole courses in a small city. Put it this way: the seven 18-hole courses are in a more compacted setting than any seven courses in Charlotte. You could do some serious bagging here.
Other Thoughts:
Sunset Park ended up being almost exactly as expected. The reactions I had heard from other players essentially was 'it's alright' or 'it's pretty decent.' Never heard anyone rave about it nor did I hear any negative comments. Now, after playing, put me in that same category.
- The holes that are exclusive to the Gold layout generally seemed more open than the ones split with the original layout. Having only played the Gold, can't tell what the enjoyment factor of the other layout would be in comparison.
- I tend to notice little quirks when playing. Or, I'm just odd. But the course felt most enjoyable, most park-like on holes #2, 3, 7, & 15. The road to the left of #2 and 7 felt like a regular park road. Playing alongside a four-lane road on #4 & 5, or walking past an abandoned warehouse or houses on other holes takes away from the disc golf experience. I do think this exact same course in a different setting (think a large, county park) would feel much better.
- This is a place where having knowledge of the course will significantly help players. I can easily count three to four strokes I left on the course because I placed a disc in the wrong spot because I didn't a particular hole's layout. On #15, for example, it's a dogleg right. Standing on the tee, I thought I could tell the gap/area I needed to land my disc. Wrong! Was aiming for the wrong spot. Would have been much better landing further out left, so I had a better angle to actually approach the basket.
- I think the worst hole on the course is #18. I didn't get what the designers were going for. From the tee, it looks like your target is to throw right at the thicket/shule. If you land short, it's a blind tee shot to the basket. It seemed forced. It seemed unnatural. It was a bad way to end the round. A major disappointment.
- There were strong vibes of Socastee (Myrtle Beach) and Park Circle (North Charleston) as regional comparisons. Even courses I've played that are much closer (Halifax County, for example), have a different topographical setting.
- Two of the coolest aspects of the area were driving right by a large brewery area (Rocky Mount Mills) next to the course and a gorgeous, scenic looking greenway. The brewery(-ies?) overlook the river, making a great post round destination.
- Glad I played here. Next time I'm making a pit stop on the way to the Outer Banks, I know I can get a decent round of disc golf here.