North Garden, VA

Walnut Creek Park

4.125(based on 50 reviews)
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12 1
New013
Diamond level trusted reviewer
Experience: 14.3 years 179 played 120 reviews
4.00 star(s)

great course 2+ years drive by

Reviewed: Updated: Played on:Sep 23, 2012 Played the course:2-4 times

Pros:

Layout - From a strict layout perspective this course is amazing. It gives you a little bit of everything and different looks within each hole.

It starts with two permanent set of pins and two pads on almost every hole. This gives you four ways to play each hole which ranges from beginner to advanced in difficulty.

This course will really make you work the disc in a number of ways; using different shots on a variety of terrains. This course gives you everything from open to wooded, up and downhill, fast greens and more than one brush with water.

The mixture of terrain is paired with holes that really force you to combine your technical game with the ability to bomb. There's open shots here but you'll need to be accurate and when the course gets tight it gets hairy.

This course has some really awesome holes that couple layout with beauty. 16-18 is one of the best 3 hole stretches of disc golf I've seen so far.

Equipment - The pads are large and provide plenty of room. There are bathrooms on the premise.

Atmosphere - Gorgeous park, rolling hills with tons of elevation change. It's a hike to do all 18. It's relatively low traffic in terms of other park users being in your way. The course is built next to a beautiful lake.

Cons:

Layout - Not much to complain about here. A lot of the short pad to short basket holes are boring but are suited for beginners. Even with the multiple configurations there are a few holes that are solid but boring and bring down the awesomeness of the rest of the course.

The flow of the course can be confusing due to some baskets being farther from the next pad. There's a few spots where it's hard to tell which basket you are throwing to because they're all out in a field. Bring a map.

Equipment - Probably the biggest con to the course is here. The pads are large but astroturf and not in the best of shape.

Tee signs with a map showing the hole and both basket locations would be a huge help.

The baskets are older and not the best, they weren't horrible but worth mentioning. I could also see a few places where an extra bridge or set of steps can make the course safer.

Atmosphere - You do play close to a road a couple times, not that big of a problem because it's a park road. You also have to pay to get in the park at some times, also not that big of a problem cuz it's worth it.

Other Thoughts:

This course is a really good one. What stops it from being great is a few filler holes coupled with some equipment problems I mentioned. I'll say again that this place is gorgeous and 16-18 really is an amazing stretch of disc golf. I highly recommend coming here just to play those three... and try to park the 18 long basket off the short tee, I did.
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1 11
speerbolte
Experience: 1 played 1 reviews
3.50 star(s)

Beautiful DG Course 2+ years drive by

Reviewed: Played on:Oct 9, 2012 Played the course:once

Pros:

Beautiful course. A couple of really neat signature holes that make this park worth the trip.

Cons:

Multiple basket placement and lack of signage makes this a VERY difficult park to play if you're not familiar with the layout.

Other Thoughts:

Well worth the trip. Just see about hooking up with a local to show you the ropes.
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2 6
crystal haze
Experience: 30.4 years 58 played 9 reviews
4.00 star(s)

Worth the visit 2+ years drive by

Reviewed: Played on:Aug 14, 2011 Played the course:once

Pros:

Similar to others:
Nice variety, scenery, mix of woods and open, some long holes.
Great hike as well as golf round.

Cons:

Signage could be clearer and indicate where baskets are.
Sign from parking lot to tee 1.

Other Thoughts:

Great course for anyone in the C'ville area. I've taken to visiting whenever I'm down there.Looks like it would be a nice park to do other activities as well, like canoe, swim, walk.
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4 12
Stud Muffin
Experience: 18.9 years 30 played 14 reviews
4.50 star(s)

Good Night, Johnny Boy 2+ years drive by

Reviewed: Updated: Played on:Sep 11, 2011 Played the course:2-4 times

Pros:

>Challenging, mostly wooded course, with multiple tees and baskets.

>Beautiful scenery.

>A few stand out holes.

Cons:

>Confusing.
*First, without telling someone, just try to find the first basket.

*The multiple Tees were not confusing, green carpet=white, blue carpet=blue. What was confusing is 2 baskets standing on each hole, so while playing in a match, if you do not determine which basket you are playing to before you throw, you will always find yourself in a argument with which basket to play, since we always want to play with what worked best with our tee shot..

Other Thoughts:

A enjoyable experience.
Could be a 5 rated course (in my book) with a few simple little corrections like:

*Put up a sign on a tree near the Pavilion that says "Tee #1 This Way".
*Only have 1 basket up at a time, rotate their positions.
*Signs to next tees when it is not obvious.

But the biggest downfall to this course is it's location. You have to be either a toothless, or buck tooth hillbilly to live near this course.

...hope you like curvy roads. :D
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12 1
prerube
Diamond level trusted reviewer
Premium Member
Experience: 17.4 years 275 played 236 reviews
4.00 star(s)

Superb course for all levels of play 2+ years drive by

Reviewed: Played on:Jul 17, 2011 Played the course:once

Pros:

Great course with a variety of elevation, distances, and directions. Multiple tee locations were often very different. Some holes played like 4 unique holes.
Magnet system in the kiosk to show which pin locations are in.
Course is set up in 2 nine hole loops incase you need to take a break or refill your water bottle.
clear gravel boxed in tees with tee signs.
Bathroom under the large pavilion by the pool.
Water in play on a few holes, but little risk of disc loss if you choose the safer basket. Hole 18 far pin was really the only hole were I thought I could lose a disc. I suppose you could shank it in the water on hole 17 and flub a shot on hole 2, but the risk is really not high.
This is an attractive tournament quality course and is a must play for anyone in the area. It ranks up with many of Virginia's finest courses.

Cons:

Some tee pads were overgrown and in rough shape, many others were uneven and tough to throw from.
No sign to find hole 1.
Some navigational issues. Hole 3's tee looks up the hill to 6, but the real basket is in the woods. Hole 13's map appears as if you play striaght through the tight trees, when the baskets are really a sharp right.
Baskets were tough to see in the woods, yellow number plates like White Bank has installed would be perfect.
You have to write down which holes had long baskets, some had 2 baskets, others only had one in place.

Other Thoughts:

This course is physically tough. The elevation combined with lack of shade gave this course a spot in the top 10 physically demanding courses I have played.
If every hole had both baskets in position I would have stayed all day taking occasional breaks to cool off in the water.

If you arrive before the pool opens up they do not charge. They began charging at 11 the day I played.
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6 1
bnbanbury
Experience: 80 played 17 reviews
4.00 star(s)

walnut creek 2+ years drive by

Reviewed: Updated: Played on:Jun 26, 2011 Played the course:5+ times

Pros:

-Multiple tees and pins keep the course fresh, and the longs make for a challenging round.
-well designed pin locations require a full range of shots
-beautiful woooded setting, it would be a nice walk in the woods here even if you weren't throwing discs
-great use of water and elevation to add challenge and wow factor to several tees
-finishes with a bang, as 16, 17, and 18 are three awesome and memorable holes
-good signs at every tee box

Cons:

-signage between tees could be improved as the trails can be a little confusing
- i personally didnt have a problem with the crushed gravel tees, but concrete would still be an improvement

Other Thoughts:

what a great day of disc golf! while the case can certaily be made for some other VA courses like the grange and new quarter being more technically demanding, i have never had a more enjoyable overall experience playing a round of golf. both the course and park are beautiful and well maintained and the layout it challenging without being laborious. worth making a trip to play here for sure.
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6 2
forehandfranz
Gold level trusted reviewer
Experience: 32.4 years 226 played 128 reviews
3.50 star(s)

A Nice Drive in the Country 2+ years drive by

Reviewed: Updated: Played on:May 29, 2011 Played the course:2-4 times

Pros:

Set out in the rolling wooded hills along a lakeside beach, this course is 15 minutes from the college town of Charlottesville. You can play a round and then go swimmIng in the lake when you are finished.

Many options are afforded as you have two permanent tees per hole and 2 (alternating) pins per hole (there are a few missing short pins due to theft). You will be working through grassy fields and thick woods, uphill, downhill and over water in a couple of occasions.

You will quickly arrive at a signature hole on #2, which is an elevated pin that goes over water to a pin out in the open grass. This is a great way to start, and you will find yourself finishing in this fashion on hole 17!
This course with be most suitable to most player skills, though some pros may find the lack of really long (par 4 & 5) holes a bit below their level. The woodsy holes are more about finesse and skill than power.
The course is really challenging and enjoyable, but I found the beauty and seclusion a big part of my experience.

Watch for the signs on the white (short) tees, this will confirm which hole you're and show the layout.

Cons:

Tee pads are astro turf which I find to be decent, but are uneven. They are certainly an improvement from the natural tee pads that I played last time.

There was one spot where it was uncertain as to where the next tee pad was. You must backtrack up part of the 14th fairway to get to the 15th tee.

The pins were really hard to see, even when I knew the general area in which to look - flags, flourescent ribbons or bright paint on the baskets would help indeed.

Other Thoughts:

The short tees to the short pins seemed as if almost half of them were right- turning from the tee. I am a RHFH thrower, and this is my strength, so why complain? Well, variety is important.

Most of the park-goers were picnicking and NOT playing disc on a gorgeous Sunday on Memorial Day weekend. I only saw two others playing besides myself, so I was amazed to find this place so quiet!
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5 1
Kent18
Experience: 15.6 years 193 played 17 reviews
4.00 star(s)

Walnut Creek 2+ years drive by

Reviewed: Played on:Apr 29, 2011 Played the course:once

Pros:

1) Great flow to the course when you figure out where it goes.
2) Beautiful park setting with lake
3) All baskets were in great condition
4) Most holes have two pins and two teepads for variety
5) Good mix of anhyzer and hyzer holes
6) Lots of elevation use
7) Loved hole 17 and 18

Cons:

1) No firm teepads, they are all made of loose gravel
2) Some signage missing on holes and in traversing to the next hole
3) Ticks are present
4) Can be hard to find the next teepad due to lack of sinage

Other Thoughts:

This course was so much fun to play but at the same time I was sad that a course of this caliber has not invested in concrete or rubber tee pads yet. By adding a more stable tee pad solution here and fixing some signage issues this course could be a top 25 course. This course would make my top 3 if it had a better tee pad situation. There are alot of blind shots here if its your first time so allow more time if you want to shoot well. The longer tee pads present a much harder challenge to reach par which I like, its almost a completely different course. Definitely worth the trip but be prepared for teepads that could be wet and are warped. In terms of natural beauty this course is near the top and stands alone among many other courses out there as is.
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2 9
Senorpinchy
Experience: 35.6 years 117 played 4 reviews
3.50 star(s)

walnut creek oh my!! :) 2+ years drive by

Reviewed: Played on:Apr 11, 2011 Played the course:once

Pros:

Layout challenge and diversity of throws

Cons:

poor marking and addressing direction to hole or next hole

Other Thoughts:

spent too much time trying to find how to get to next hole...played 17,18 then 15,16 in that order. due to poor direction
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15 3
DiscGolfCraig
Diamond level trusted reviewer
Premium Member
Experience: 20.4 years 622 played 569 reviews
4.50 star(s)

One of Virginia's best 2+ years

Reviewed: Updated: Played on:Oct 16, 2010 Played the course:2-4 times

Pros:

Fun, hilly course that epitomizes the beauty and terrain of central Virginia. Some challenging holes and amazing views.
- Walnut Creek is mainly a wooded course, but there's even variety that everyone should holes they both love & hate. Course features some extreme elevations, both up & down. some holes with not-so much elevation, or none at all. Some doglegs, open holes, and, of course, plenty of wooded holes.
- Dual tee pads and/or baskets on just about every hole. With the long tees, you get some layouts that are completely different layouts that the short tees. #2 & 7, for example, play different depending on which tee you're throwing from.
- Every hole also has a long & short basket location. The kiosk in the parking lot lets you know which position the baskets are in. This is very helpful with so many blind tee shots.
- Major love for the tee signs showing the distance to clear the water (on water holes, obviously.) It's one thing to guess the distance (it looks like 200 - 250 to throw over the water); it's another to have it on a sign and remove the doubt.
- The park itself is amazing. Huge plot of land (enough for a second 18 maybe??) that really puts you out in nature. There are vey few courses I've played when you don't hear cars/traffic in the distance. I loved the views of the lake from holes #2,3 & 5.
- This is a great course for all skill levels. I saw many people carrying 1 or 2 discs and other casual players on the course when I played.
- Plenty of benches throughout course. You'll need them as you walk up and down the hills.

Cons:

I noticed several reasonable issues during my time at the course that could pose problems.
- Course signage could be improved. During a stretch on the front 9, you can see 5 baskets (for 4 different holes), along with several tee pads. On other holes, you see the basket for a different hole than the one your playing. On multiple holes, I had to walk almost the entire way to the basket before I could spot it. I understand doing that on blind tee shots, but on #7, it's almost a straight shot, but the basket blends into the shadows. A big help for both of these problems would be yellow baskets with numbers on them.
- A bigger issue with signage is the transition between holes. The problem here is the bike trails that wind through the woods, often near, and/or crossing holes. On at least one occasion I started walking down a path only to realize I'd been on a bike trail. Even with a map, it's easy to get lost. There was only signage on several holes, such as from #16 basket to #17 tee. More of these signs would be extremely helpful for first-time players.
- The course intertwines a little too closely with the bike trails at times. Not only did I get confused between disc golf fairways/paths & bike trails, but so did bikers. I had some pedal up a fairway just as I was about to tee off, at which time they realized they'd gotten lost. You really need to use extreme caution when throwing.
- I was surprised at the lack of restrooms & water fountains. It appeared (from my out-of-town perspective) that the real bathrooms are only open during the summer, when the waterfront is open. Playing in October, when the waterfront was closed, I only saw 1 port-a-jon for the entire park.
- This course has huge "lost disc potential." In a weird way, the biggest risk for losing a disc in the water, isn't on a true water hole (#2, 17 & 18), but on #1. This is a dogleg right, with the fairway sloping down to the left, to the water. It'd be easy to have a disc sail or roll right into the water if you're not careful, or unlucky.
- The other, bigger threat for losing discs is the combination of blind tee shots, and elevation changes. Throwing around a corner with a steep drop-off equals problems if you're not careful. My buddy & I passed a group of 3 guys on #16 (a blind tee shot, dogleg right hole) who were searching for a lost disc. Nothing out of the ordinary there. The problem was the disc had sailed off to the left, down the slope, and they were searching from about a third of the way down the fairway to about 100 feet past the basket, about a 300 foot-span going up and down the hill. I felt that easily could have been us, on about half a dozen holes.

Other Thoughts:

I think the several negatives about the course were more prevalent than normal because Walnut Creek is so close to being great. Even with the concern of losing a disc, or walking around an extra 30 minutes, this course is in "must play" list.
- Be prepared for a slow round your first time here. Between find the holes & baskets and taking in all the sights and sounds, it's a slow go. The first time we played, it took two of us more than 2 hours to finish a round. The second time through, we knocked off about 45 minutes, finishing in less than an hour and a half.
- I was a let down by #17, by most accounts, the course's signature hole. The scenery is great, watching your disc sail forever is cool, but it's actually a relatively easy hole. The first time through I missed an easy putt for 3, the second time I had a longer putt for 2, and had a tap-in 3. The lake on the right should never come in to play. You're much more likely to land in the small creek near the basket than the lake. At least you get your exercise walking up the hills.
- For natural course beauty, this ranks right up there with High Country in Jefferson, NC as the best I've played. The view from the fairway of #5 to the tee, with the lake in the background is simply amazing. Playing the hole with the leaves changing colors was picturesque. Trust me, the pics on here don't do justice for the view. And there are other great views throughout the course as well.
- This is definitely a must play for anyone within several hours. If you live in Virginia and don't make a trip here, you're doing an injustice. It'd be nice if there were another course within 30 minutes, but it's good enough by itself.
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5 2
stsiler
Experience: 19.2 years 31 played 10 reviews
4.50 star(s)

2+ years drive by

Reviewed: Played on:Sep 18, 2010 Played the course:once

Pros:

- Very beautiful, very scenic course. A quiet, serene experience.
- A must-visit for anyone playing in Virginia. Centrally located in the state, it is well worth even a two or three hour drive.
- Four different tee/basket combinations available, on most holes.
- Tee/basket combinations range from moderately difficult to very difficult.
- Course has a wide variety of hole types including wooded and open with varying elevation changes.
- Great use of water hazards on several holes.

Cons:

- Course can be difficult to navigate without a map, at least for first-timers.
- Not all of the holes have the long baskets in place. This can be very confusing for those trying to play the long baskets, but who are unfamiliar with the course.

Other Thoughts:

Score Breakdown:
Variety:5 Balance:4 Strategy:5 Character:5 Fun:4 Avg: 4.6
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5 3
VTPharaoh
Experience: 1 played 1 reviews
5.00 star(s)

My Favorite 2+ years drive by

Reviewed: Played on:Aug 9, 2010 Played the course:5+ times

Pros:

-Beautiful views and scenery. Especially around sunset.
-Challenging
-Great layout. Starts and ends near parking area, but you never throw over another fairway.
-Well maintained and kept clean.
-Multiple baskets on some holes, and they move the others regularly to change it up.

Cons:

-Pay to play before 6 pm Memorial to Labor Day
-Some people complain about gravel T-Pads but I like them. They can get soggy after a hard rain though.
- You will have to wait for the occasional biker to get out of the way.

Other Thoughts:

I've played quite a few courses around the country including the one in Connifer, CO which is rated one of the highest on this site and I think Walnut Creek is just as good if not better. It's is a difficult course for beginners, but you only get better by playing harder courses. My game has improved dramatically playing here.

It has an excellent layout with a nice mix of open and wooded, distance and technical, and just all around fun holes. There is nothing I would change about this course. I know we're not supposed to comment on other people's posts, but svens06 post has a lot of exaggeration. There are only 3 holes (2 17 and 18) that you could possibly hit water unless you have HORRIBLE throws on other ones. I play around 2-3 times a week here and I rarely loose a disc anymore. The majority of holes are NOT on a hillside, however if you overshoot some there may be a hill behind it...make your puts and you shouldn't have a problem!

All in all I think this should be one of the top courses on this site. That's why I gave it a 5. It's not easy, so don't be discouraged if you don't shoot well. That doesn't mean it deserves a lower rating.

I hope to see you out there! I'm usually one of the only ones wearing a VT hat at a park in Charlottesville!
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10 4
zapplayer12
Gold level trusted reviewer
Experience: 26.5 years 149 played 40 reviews
4.50 star(s)

Phenomenal Fun Factor 2+ years drive by

Reviewed: Played on:May 30, 2010 Played the course:once

Pros:

Large, scenic and located off the beaten path in the Blue Mountains, Walnut Creek Park is the quintessential destination course. The park itself is multi-use, has amenities and is well maintained.

The World Class layout includes:

Pro/Am tees (labeled blue/white respectively) for each hole with multiple baskets on some and alternate pin positions on others which equates to a variety of options for multiple skill levels.

Elevation change on practically every hole - from the gradually mild to the greatly extreme!

A well balanced mix of right/left/straight throws, open, semi-open and woods holes, uphill/downhill, risk/reward, fast greens, elevated tees, blind holes, water hazards, etc - basically most of the characteristics found in top rated, championship quality courses.

The tee signs are descriptive, the gravel tee boxes presented no footing issues and the baskets were in good shape. The course is well broken in and devoid of excessively thick, disc eating brush which reduces frustrating searches and disc loss possibilities (with the exception of the water hazards of course!).

The design and flow was flawless - while most certainly created with physical and mental challenge in mind, it registers highest on what I feel is the most important aspect of a course: Fun Factor!

Cons:

Since its pay-to-play, I'll nit-pick here a bit.

While I did not have difficulty with the gravel/natural tee pads, some players may and honestly, rubber or concrete would be ideal but not necessary. Additionally, some of the blue tees were only marked with blue blocks rather than being carved out boxes with a wood defined border (as the majority were). I'd prefer there were tee signs at all the tee boxes as well. Navigation could be improved some with more directional arrows, etc (I had a map, did not have an issue but sense it could be a concern). In a perfect world this would be a disc golf only area. However it is not and DGers should be aware and mindful as there are mountain bikers, fisherman, and other park goers nearby/passing through the course (not a problem when I played).

Other Thoughts:

I played from the Blue Tees; while it was tough both mentally & physically and challenged my game, I felt it was extraordinarily fair. None of the annoyances to detract from enjoying a round were to be found here (such as tedious navigation issues, excessively long walks between holes, flow or design flaws, overcrowding, etc). Therefore I could concentrate on my game which is a necessity if you want to play well here.

The flow was just perfect. It felt like the balance and sequence of hole types was always kept 'in check' and never seemed repetitive. The anticipation grew on each hole as the course unfolded which is a tell tale sign of a top notch course.

Most reviewers mention the last two holes as some of the best finishing holes anywhere. While that's true, I felt as if #16 (from the blue tee) needs to be included in this sequence. It's an elevated tee through a nearly 400 ft, tight wooded fairway sloping down into a ravine with the basket uphill at the edge of the woods. After playing this hole and stepping out to the majestic view of the lake, all I can say is 'wow, these may be the best THREE finishing holes I've ever played'.

Walnut Creek Park is pure disc golf delight which I'd recommend as a must play destination for any serious disc golfer.
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17 3
optidiscic
Diamond level trusted reviewer
Experience: 22.4 years 156 played 149 reviews
4.50 star(s)

Fantasic Finish 2+ years drive by

Reviewed: Updated: Played on:Mar 19, 2010 Played the course:once

Pros:

World Class layout employs every element to test your game...employs elevation, fast greens, tight woods, open air wind holes, doglegs,water , and length to challenge your game and your psyche. Plenty of treats here that you will remember:
#1 has a constructed elevated basket
#2 is a reachable throw across the pond if you can negotiate the tight off the tee trouble
#3,5,6 are elevation shift open bombs
#7 is a down and up over a ravine dogleg L that is quite fun finishes uphill to a fast green
#8 is quite a thrill..it's a downhill tight drive that L Hyzers back uphill like a J but all along the R side of the fairway theres a drop into steeper woods and stream...misplay here and you are in all kinds of trouble...challenging fun.
#11 has a crazy fast clay green that can cause havoc
#15 is another down and up dogleg but this one fades R uphill.
This all brings you to the greatest Tri-fecta of holes I have encountered in Disc Golf:
#16 shoots from atop a wooded hillside and you must throw straight a great distance through a fair but punishing gauntlet of trees over a valley to a basket perched on a hillside across the valley. Just pure wooded perfection here..the view of the lake from the basket and the lookback to the tee are amazing. (did I really just make that drive)
#17 is the funnest hole I have played to date...the signature hole that tees from 45 feet above the dam and the lake and then drops another 40 to the basket..which is placed just 10 feet from a 20 by 30 ft healthy deep pond. Oh it is a glorious view and best of all it's a glorious drive...you have to actually throw over the dam..often my discs would turn over the water in a terrifying way before fading hard down the steep sloped green grass of the dam. I parked my drive and missed the putt for birdie here...damn! Has got to be amongst the best holes ever made..makes a great course elite and a must play.
#18 Got balls how about a tee that shoots 250ish over water to a peninsula and then from that placement it's another 250ish to the basket over the lake again..oh and the basket is tucked on a hillside guarded by trees that might doink you into the drink. It's possible 4 here but also possible to double circle triple bogey as well. It's also a very pretty hole that will scare the hell out of you at the same time your taking in the view.
Overall not a bad hole here....not one bad hole..just some more epic than others. Multiple tees and a few multiple baskets here and there. Immediately makes my top 20. Water available near hole 1 and 9. Kiosk and plenty of parking.

Cons:

Natural tees...not a problem for me but many want perfection and the luxury of perfect tees. Lots of sunbathers and mountain bikers for such a secluded park. I doubt they ever get too overwhelming but the public was nearby.

Other Thoughts:

I love this place and the anticipation builds as you come to the finish...Play the long tees for a bigger thrill...many of the pics and video are from the shorts and these are not nearly as dramatic. Designed for the serious DGer and not for families and newcomers. Simply an amazing and beautiful while challenging and unique experience.
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4 14
svens06
Experience: 17.5 years 2 played 2 reviews
2.50 star(s)

nice park 2+ years drive by

Reviewed: Played on:Mar 29, 2010 Played the course:once

Pros:

the park is VERY nice and clean.

baskets are in good shape, Tee boxes are much better than most.

two tee boxes on most holes, they have not just a longer throw, but they provide different angles to the hole.

on a few holes you will be able to throw ur disc without being nervous where its going to end up.

If you keep ur eyes open you will find discs b/c they will be lost here.

Lynchburg rd is worth the drive, very cool rd with a fun car.

Cons:

layout: when a disc hits the side of a hill they will roll far far away. Call me old fashion, but i dont think a bike path cut out on the side of a hill is a fairway.

This course is challenging, but when you have to worry about your disc either flying/rolling into the water on just about every hole it takes the fun out of chucking a disc.

The one hole is +150' throw over water to get to a basket (which isnt the bad part), the clearing however, after the tee box is a joke, you are basically guaranteeing a lost disc.

every single hole is on the side of a hill, so even when you have a good throw its going to roll uncontrollably to some far brush or like i mentioned, water.

I cant tell you how many times i would hit the disc RIGHT next to a basket and i would literally roll to where i had to use a fairway driver.

trying to find your way around for the first time is a scavenger hunt for sure. I think i would be able to navigate it easily a second time though.



Other Thoughts:

i wish i brought my mountain bike b/c i would have had more fun than bringing discs on this course

I might try this course again, maybe it'll change my mind.

Kiwanis DGC in Staunton is definitely better.
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5 5
sloppydisc
Diamond level trusted reviewer
Experience: 15.9 years 201 played 147 reviews
4.00 star(s)

Wow... 2+ years drive by

Reviewed: Updated: Played on:Jun 10, 2010 Played the course:2-4 times

Pros:

The best piece of land I have seen for disc golf. A bunch of wooded hills on the side of a cool little lake. All set in a nice little park. There is also some some creeks running through the course. A perfect location for a course. Multiple tees and basket positions. Signs indicating basket positions, distances and next tee pad. Great variety. Course does not favor forehand or backhand players. I had to use a little bit of everything to complete a round. Great use of the available land. Not one basket position that I didn't like. The few straight shots had either trees guarding the basket or elevation so the shot played to a blind basket. Both woods and water are used to add difficulty on almost every shot. Several shots that must go over or near the lake. Great risk/reward opportunities. Hole #2 is the first chance to go over the lake. You must throw out of the woods and over a small bay. Fairly easy from the white tees, but the blues add distance and more water. Hole #17 has got to be the signature hole. A beautiful bomb of 460' off of a hill overlooking the lake. The throw must go over the dam and end up down the hill on the baskside. But a turnover would go right into the lake and a poorly placed shot could go down the hill and into the dam overflow pool. The basket sits right next to the overflow and creek. Just a great hole. Bring your camera. Hole 18 plays back across the dam or over the lake. Basket is located on a small hill side next to a small point of the water.

Cons:

Gravel tee pads. No concrete. Uneven and not great for winter play. Hate to sound old but almost a safety hazard when they have some snow and ice on them. It just about makes it not worth playing in bad weather. Navigation and signage could use some improvement. Either there were some baskets I couldn't find, or some in the long positions were missing. I am not realy sure. Hard to tell from tee pad where the basket was. Some holes had 1 basket and some had 2. Or I missed something. Either way, it could use a tweak. There are also trails throughout the course that are for bikers, hikers or walkers. Make sure it is clear before you throw.
UPDATE
After playing for the second time I still had some issues understanding which baskets are for what holes, but it was a little more clear. After a few rounds this probably becomes a non-issue. Bette signs and some indication on the baskets would really help.

Other Thoughts:

This is the toughest review I have done. I absolutely love the course, but disliked the tee pads so much I had to downgrade the overall grade. Right now I'd really give it a 3.75 if that was an option. It is just a great place for a course. It is almost a crime that it doesn't have concrete pads. If they add that and make the navigation a little better I could easily give this course a 4.5. Add a pro shop, restaurant and bar and it would be my first 5. In good weather I would definitely consider this a destination course, worthy of a good road trip. In the winter it's probably not worth it.
UPDATE
After playing this course in good weather, if 95+ is considered good, I still like this course a lot for it's good qualities, and the natural pads play much better in the summer. Without ice and snow I had no issues with footing. Scenery and basket positions are so good at this course, that they overshadow the few faults that exist. With a little more work this course would be one of the very best. Just a real fun and challenging place to play a round.

I also saw one of the largest snakes I've ever seen outside of a zoo. It had to be about an 8' black snake working its way down a creek bed. Scared the hell out of me!

It's a little out of the way, but if you're anywhere close make sure you get to this course. You'll be happy you did.
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3 2
jkdisc
Gold level trusted reviewer
Experience: 16.1 years 117 played 110 reviews
4.50 star(s)

2+ years

Reviewed: Updated: Played on:Oct 20, 2009 Played the course:5+ times

Pros:

Scenic! Great for experienced players but less experienced players will still have a good time.
There is a nice variety of holes using elevation, water hazards, and obstacles. Multiple tee and basket placements are always a plus. Course wasn't crowded while I was there.

*Edit (4/12): The natural tees are gone and turf tees are in. Green turf for short tees and blue turf for long tees.

Cons:

Navigation can be an issue for first timers.
The first tee is tricky to find, from the parking area go towards the beach then to the right.

Bringing a map will help.

Other Thoughts:

The fee is to get into the park during the summer season. Bring the family because there is plenty for them to do if they aren't disc golfers. I enjoyed a swim after my round. You get a great view on #17 where you may want to slow down and take it all in, maybe bring a camera too. This is one of my favorites to play!
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10 2
swatso
Diamond level trusted reviewer
Experience: 16.3 years 776 played 417 reviews
4.50 star(s)

Relentless Challenge 2+ years

Reviewed: Played on:Oct 12, 2009 Played the course:once

Pros:

Two tee positions, two basket positions per hole. Some holes - 4,7,16,18 come to mind - had two baskets. The map and scorecard available online made the course easy to follow/play. Beautiful park, an especially good play during the middle of October-November when the foliage is at its colourful peak.

Cons:

Stone/gravel teepads less than ideal. No current basket position indicator at teepad. (There was a current-location list at the welcome sign, but half of them were wrong).

Other Thoughts:

This course had tremendous variety. Some holes have very significant elevation changes, both downhill and uphill, a few are flat, but most have some minor change in elevation. A few wide open holes, a few completely wooded holes with challenging-but-fair throwing lanes, a few holes where you start in the open/woods finishing in the other, a few with broad fairways defined by woods/brush, a few across-the-meadow holes. A couple dead-straight initial drives, but most require some type of turn, with left/right in relatively equal balance. The sharpness of the turns vary - some near 90-degrees, others short-n-shallow, others requiring very long, continuous arcing shots, some fishhook/J-shaped!. Many tough pin positions - some elevated on mounds, others with sharp drop-offs or water nearby. Water potentially comes into play on four holes, with #18 requiring the player to make an accurate assessment of his abilities - throwing, or swimming, as the case may be! :)

Favourite hole: #17-long, the obvious choice. Long, major downhill bomb with water on the right (R.I.P. Destroyer), with a left-turn and more downhill to reach the basket - with a small amount of water near the basket, too.

To-date, I've played 81 courses, 17 of them in Virginia, and this course easily makes it into my top five - certainly a must-play if anywhere near the area. The variety of the holes is fantastic, and playing from the long tees could pose a tremendous challenge - my round from the short tees was plenty tough for me.
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3 2
Hearty Discus
Experience: 15.1 years 11 played 1 reviews
4.50 star(s)

A great welcome back! 2+ years drive by

Reviewed: Played on:Oct 8, 2009 Played the course:once

Pros:

Very challenging, even from the the whites. Tons of elevation changes. Beautiful scenery all around. Interesting basket placements. A lot of thought went into the design of the course.

Cons:

Tee boxes could be a little better. Course can be a bit confusing for someone who has never played it. Signage could be improved. Cement pads and improved signage would make this course just about perfect.

Other Thoughts:

Just a great course to play after a 10-year hiatus from disc golf. It's really a shame there aren't more courses in the area, but I doubt I'll get tired of this Walnut Creek for a while.
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7 3
DaKineSurfer32
Gold level trusted reviewer
Experience: 23.5 years 577 played 57 reviews
4.00 star(s)

its not missin' much 2+ years drive by

Reviewed: Played on:Apr 9, 2008 Played the course:2-4 times

Pros:

-dual tees
-lots of elevation
-very well kept park
-easy to follow
-very challenging
-not crowded
-nice restroom facilities nearby
-maps & scorecards available on the billboard near tee 1
-lots of water and very pretty views, and the course is on a lake, so if you play on a hot day you can take a dip afterwards (hopefully its not to get a disc back!)
-all types of hole imaginable
-its a very pretty drive to get to the course on curvy Shenandoah mountain roads
-pretty easy to follow because the paths are well worn in

Cons:

-dirt tees. a course of this caliber should have cement pads.
-poor tee signs
-many of the fairways in the woods have lots of little pieces of debris and roots and twigs that will affect the flight path of what you think should be a well thrown disc. these should be cleaned up.
-tees are only marked with colored blocks and aren't always labeled well on the signs, so they can occasionally be a little hard to find your first time here

Other Thoughts:

its only an hour drive from Richmond, so its not that far away from anything major, just make a day trip out of it. Its also very close to UVA, so I'm surprised that more college students don't come here to play. Someone from the Charlottesville area should do some recruiting on campus and get some more people into the sport. Walnut Creek would be a great place for someone to learn and their skills would develop very fast.

This course is easily in my top 50, and is the best course in Western Virginia
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