-
Discover new ways to elevate your game with the updated DGCourseReview app!
It's entirely free and enhanced with features shaped by user feedback to ensure your best experience on the course. (App Store or Google Play)
Valparaiso Glen Argyle reviews
14
0
wellsbranch250
Diamond level trusted reviewer
Premium Member
Experience:
10.4 years
662 played
642 reviews
Flood Control Leftover Space! Let’s Put Baskets In It! 2+ years
Reviewed:
Played on:Aug 5, 2021
Played the course:once
Pros:
(1.256 Rating) A chip shot ace run course with sinking soil.
- ACEABILITY - IMO, ace addiction is the only draw this course has. The longest hole here is 233 feet according to the tee signage. Four holes are 150 feet or less. I was eyeing and listening for chains on several tee shots.
- CHAINS - DISCatcher baskets. Yea! This makes it even easier to chalk up aces out here.
- BASICS AMENITIES - The tees and signage are adequate as well. The tees aren't the largest, but they are concrete. Oddly built backward with the front side wider than the back, a common problem for this region as people copy things down here rather than look-up how to do things right. The signage is a hole number and distance, which is all that's needed for this type of course. I also saw a restroom, shelter and picnic table near tee (1).
- NAVIGATION - I had a guide, but I think that without one, one could figure it out without much trouble. The course roughly plays in a circle going clockwise.
- QUICK PLAY - A twenty minute course if one can keep it out of the hazards.
- ACEABILITY - IMO, ace addiction is the only draw this course has. The longest hole here is 233 feet according to the tee signage. Four holes are 150 feet or less. I was eyeing and listening for chains on several tee shots.
- CHAINS - DISCatcher baskets. Yea! This makes it even easier to chalk up aces out here.
- BASICS AMENITIES - The tees and signage are adequate as well. The tees aren't the largest, but they are concrete. Oddly built backward with the front side wider than the back, a common problem for this region as people copy things down here rather than look-up how to do things right. The signage is a hole number and distance, which is all that's needed for this type of course. I also saw a restroom, shelter and picnic table near tee (1).
- NAVIGATION - I had a guide, but I think that without one, one could figure it out without much trouble. The course roughly plays in a circle going clockwise.
- QUICK PLAY - A twenty minute course if one can keep it out of the hazards.
Cons:
A barely passable course with major problems.
- QUICK-MUD - There is a creek that runs down the middle of the course layout and it's apparently a waiting disaster for anyone retrieving a disc and stepping in the wrong spot. I have read and heard of people sinking into the soil knee deep and beyond. My playing partner Mr Butlertron thankfully warned me of the issue on tee (1) by telling me his own frightening tale. I stayed far away and opted to throw discs far along the opposite side of the fairway and into the high-ground overgrowth. Considering this hazard, I'd say disc lost potential is above average.
- MULTI USE HAZARDS - The spacing here is terrible. Maybe 2 or 3 groups can play here safely at one time. Zero consideration for next tee placements. Tees are constantly within striking distance of the prior basket. Roads and sidewalks are also in play numerous times. There is really no way to fix this unless holes are removed or reduced to sub 100-foot shots.
- HOLE VARIETY - Actually not too bad considering the site limitations, but still far below the average course for hole diversity. I personally only needed two discs, a mid and a putter. The longest hole is sub-250. A few holes are lightly wooded, and the rest are skill shot putter ace runs. I thought (4) was an interesting play over two short sabal palms. I rolled the dice and fired a shot to try and go over the top.
- AMENITIES AND EXTRAS - As noted in the pros, the basics are adequate. However, there are no extras like multi-tees, alt basket placements, benches or even a practice basket.
- SKILL LEVEL FRIENDLY - Too short for skilled players and too unforgiving to new players. I don't see how anyone can come here and say it's their favorite course. Anyone who says its in their top 5, has played no more than 5 courses.
- QUICK-MUD - There is a creek that runs down the middle of the course layout and it's apparently a waiting disaster for anyone retrieving a disc and stepping in the wrong spot. I have read and heard of people sinking into the soil knee deep and beyond. My playing partner Mr Butlertron thankfully warned me of the issue on tee (1) by telling me his own frightening tale. I stayed far away and opted to throw discs far along the opposite side of the fairway and into the high-ground overgrowth. Considering this hazard, I'd say disc lost potential is above average.
- MULTI USE HAZARDS - The spacing here is terrible. Maybe 2 or 3 groups can play here safely at one time. Zero consideration for next tee placements. Tees are constantly within striking distance of the prior basket. Roads and sidewalks are also in play numerous times. There is really no way to fix this unless holes are removed or reduced to sub 100-foot shots.
- HOLE VARIETY - Actually not too bad considering the site limitations, but still far below the average course for hole diversity. I personally only needed two discs, a mid and a putter. The longest hole is sub-250. A few holes are lightly wooded, and the rest are skill shot putter ace runs. I thought (4) was an interesting play over two short sabal palms. I rolled the dice and fired a shot to try and go over the top.
- AMENITIES AND EXTRAS - As noted in the pros, the basics are adequate. However, there are no extras like multi-tees, alt basket placements, benches or even a practice basket.
- SKILL LEVEL FRIENDLY - Too short for skilled players and too unforgiving to new players. I don't see how anyone can come here and say it's their favorite course. Anyone who says its in their top 5, has played no more than 5 courses.
Other Thoughts:
I have a hard time comprehending how this course is rated is high as it is. This is a basic short niner with colossal site issues. I could see other trusted reviewers coming here and scoring it lower than I have. It's not that this course is a horrible design, it's the fact that the extreme site issues greatly impacted what was achievable. Only 2.5 acres and a third of this acreage is a mud bog! Hole (1) at Idlewild has more usable land than all of Argyle. There is no reason for typical players outside of the area to come here. For vacationers down at the beaches, I recommend checking out Ferry Park, ChainDragon or Anderson Pond. Other than Osprey, I'd rather replay every other course in the region before here. There should not be a course here. The land quality and size was too much to overcome.
- NATURAL BEAUTY - I scored this aspect a touch below average. The best aspect in my opinion, are the large live oaks with majestic winding limbs. There are also moments where one will feel a brief escape of the manmade environment. The detractors are generally the encroaching hardscapes from every direction, and also the cramped feeling.
- THANK YOU - DGCR members Mr. Butlertron and Hello Kitty joined me for this quickie round. A great time as always. They don't live far from here (less than 30 minutes) so I asked them how often they come here. Apparently, this was their first return since it opened in 2019. If that's not telling on how bad this course is, I don't know what is.
- NATURAL BEAUTY - I scored this aspect a touch below average. The best aspect in my opinion, are the large live oaks with majestic winding limbs. There are also moments where one will feel a brief escape of the manmade environment. The detractors are generally the encroaching hardscapes from every direction, and also the cramped feeling.
- THANK YOU - DGCR members Mr. Butlertron and Hello Kitty joined me for this quickie round. A great time as always. They don't live far from here (less than 30 minutes) so I asked them how often they come here. Apparently, this was their first return since it opened in 2019. If that's not telling on how bad this course is, I don't know what is.
6
0
It's not very long, but it sure is skinny 2+ years
Reviewed:
Played on:Oct 19, 2019
Played the course:2-4 times
Pros:
- Ace runs galore
- New Innova Pro baskets
- Modest variations in elevation
- Concrete tees
- Bathroom on site
- Benches throughout park
- Intuitive layout that's easy to follow
- Located in a nice neighborhood
- New Innova Pro baskets
- Modest variations in elevation
- Concrete tees
- Bathroom on site
- Benches throughout park
- Intuitive layout that's easy to follow
- Located in a nice neighborhood
Cons:
- Course located along a pedestrian walking path
- Overlap between baskets and tees
- Short course, not much fairway length variation
- Course located in a narrow park
- Overlap between baskets and tees
- Short course, not much fairway length variation
- Course located in a narrow park
Other Thoughts:
This course is just days old. One tee pad has to be repoured, baskets have yet to be numbered by decals, and it is missing directional aids. My understanding is that these features will be addressed as the finishing touches are added to the course. As is, Argyle Glen's layout is limited to "casual pitch n putt" status because of the park's meager size. Still, the designed layout maximizes the landscape's potential and I enjoyed the park tranquility. I believe it fills a beginner/entry level course niche of the immediate area.
