Manor, TX

East Metro Park

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4.165(based on 38 reviews)
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11 0
Shadrach3
Gold level trusted reviewer
Experience: 5.5 years 318 played 306 reviews
4.00 star(s)

The Consummate 4.0 2+ years

Reviewed: Played on:Aug 8, 2020 Played the course:once

Pros:

A diverse challenge with both short treats and long grinds.

-Amenities: DISCatchers. Concrete tees. Full signage with maps. Good trails between holes.

-Terrain: Great diversity. Open fields with gentle hills, moderately wide wooded fairways, and tight and technical woods with a creek.

-Personality: East Metro has a lot of holes to give it special flavor. Hole (4) is a par-4 with a lot of choices to be made in moderate woods, especially with a creek bed to work around. (5) is short but terrifyingly tight with the same creek in play. (10) works woods to fields to woods, with an enchanting and steep green. Hole (12) from the long tee presents an always-turning par-4 with an early dip and low branches that require an amazing placement shot from the tee.

-Shot Shaping/Gameplay: Even holes that aren't stunning out here are good challenges. Several par-4s require accurate distance to stay on the fairways, and more tight par-3s are more traditionally shaped but fun nonetheless. A very good challenge.

-Multi-Tees: Short tees on at least most of the holes make the course more attackable for non-advanced players.

-Navigation: I did fine without consulting a course map except for one transition, to (16).

Cons:

Only small things here.

-Forgiveness: Not a great course for the rec player, at least from the longs. The length will make for tough scrambles for anyone without substantial power, and many holes have tight lines.

-Wild: Some of the rougher holes have unpleasant places to get stuck, especially since the grass in ditches is not cut back. I had multiple run-ins with cacti.

Other Thoughts:

A really great course with all the components necessary to be Excellent. I don't see it having quite the pizazz to count as a 4.5 at this point in my reviewing career--maybe because a lot of the longer holes are just out in the open without anything enchanting. Still a great place to challenge yourself and play a few fun, tricky, short holes.
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1 3
amateurmike
Experience: 5 played 5 reviews
3.50 star(s)

"We are who we thought we were" 2+ years drive by

Reviewed: Played on:Jun 21, 2020 Played the course:once

Pros:

Concrete tee boxes; well mapped holes; variety of terrain (uphill/downhill); shaded in most parts; social distance haven

Cons:

you better have tough skin if your shot ends up in the rough

Other Thoughts:

I'm an amateur, through and through. I played this course on Father's Day because I figured other courses in the area would be crowded. I had a goal score of 75-80...I scored 90. I was happy with the 4 par 3s I hit and the 1 par 4. That 800 ft was the longest hole I've ever played; what a doozy. It's a drive but the course is highly worth it.
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8 0
vikkterr
Experience: 22.8 years 14 played 2 reviews
4.00 star(s)

The Beast 2+ years drive by

Reviewed: Played on:Jul 2, 2016 Played the course:5+ times

Pros:

The course itself is laid out beautifully. A few things to keep in mind if this is your first time heading here.
1. Lots of thorns here. It may be hot, but you may want to consider wearing jeans during the spring and summer months. It will save you a lot of pain if you end up having to search for discs out of the fairway.
2. Bring a grabber if you have one. The cacti here are a plenty, as well as thorny vines. A grabber would come in handy.
3. Bring hiking shoes if you have them. Sometimes you'll get thick thorns that come right up into the sole of your shoe. Sandals would be a big mistake. I've seen people do it. Don't be one of them.
4. If you bring a dog, be sure they can handle it, or better yet save them from possibly hurting themselves and leave them at home. As said before, lots of thorns. Also have seen several venomous snakes. Rattlesnakes are around, but at least they warn you. There are also Coral snakes, but they are not aggressive and reclusive. I have also seen water moccasin by hole 18. Those can be aggressive. I have talked to the park people about those little guys and haven't seen them in the last month.
5. Bring water. There are bathrooms over by the beginning of the course with fountains, just to the left of the basketball courts. There are also some by the parking lot near the tee of hole 11 by the soccer fields. A bit of a walk but if you're thirsty or need to drop a deuce there's your chance.

Those are all my tips for playing the course, now the course itself. Here are the pros:

1. Maps and tee boxes are easy to follow. The holes vary from very challenging to fun ace runs. The pro tees are truly pro tees. The am tees offer a bit more fun for us regular joes.
2. It's almost never crowded. I've played here for years and have never had to wait on a large group of people.
3. For the most part they keep the fairways clear. The rough though, is a whole other story. Over the past year park maintenance has been working to clear out dead trees and make the park more navigable.
4. You'll likely get to use just about every shot you have up your sleeve. If you're like me and like to practice a variety of shots and strategies, you'll enjoy this course. Any weakness in a players game will be exposed here.
5. Clean. I've never seen anyone disrespect the course by littering, and they have plenty of trashcans and players who care enough to keep it clean. Please don't litter folks.

Cons:

1. Not for beginners. If you're considering bringing someone new to the game you may want to consider a different course. When I say the rough is thick, I mean it's thick.
2. Needs more bridges. It's not terrible for a hike, but if you bring a rolling cart or cooler you're going to have to carry it from time to time.
3. Could use places to sit near the tees. I think there's only 1 bench in the entire course.
4. The underbrush. Off the fairways the underbrush is serious. It is a nuisance for thorns and losing discs, but more importantly it's a huge fire hazard. There a lot of dead trees and brush everywhere from the previous drought. The park people are working to clear it out, but it will be a long process.
5. No bulletin board. Sounds silly I know but it's happened more than once where I show up and there's a closed tournament going on, which is a big bummer when you take the time to drive all the way out there for nothing.

Other Thoughts:

I think it's a great course that could be used for some serious pro tournaments. Which it already has, but still needs some work to make it more player friendly.

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3 0
laurenalexDG
Experience: 11.2 years 249 played 7 reviews
4.50 star(s)

East Metro dgc 2+ years drive by

Reviewed: Played on:Apr 11, 2016 Played the course:once

Pros:

*played long tee's(Blue) Course is huge winding through the middle of old Texas woods, I found huge sprawling cactus and big old trees, creek running through lots of rough but awesome fairways and hard to hit shots it's a hard course Not for beginners and I could see a very rough round for first time group of players jumping out without spotting MAKE SURE YOU SPOT IF NEW TO COURSE
-Distance, Elevation, Pin Placement, Rough is Real, Doglegs, Forced Lines, Multiple Options
-Most holes are signature sort of holes or short placement shots
-easy to find and navigate also there's a course map on UDisc and good signs but still look to see where fairway is because these holes are set up nice
-8 was 800 some feet downhill a skinny-ish fairway with some nice pockets down fairway to set up at
-1 was about 600 feet a big dogleg right and after that you go into the woods for some 300ish easy sorta holes compared to what's coming later in the round

Cons:

-Hard to find discs in the rough but you should play the fairways
-not sure if bathrooms or water are in the first part of the park but not down by the disc course itself so bring water down cuz it got hot in those woods
-Nothing really I loved the course

Other Thoughts:

During my round I spent about 20min looking for a driver on hole 11 and found it, that's all I really had to look for but I found another disc as well so you can lose em, but if your in a group someone spot. Saw some deer and lots of flora and fauna. Awesome course Play it if your traveling in for dg or come to Austin because there's lotsa courses and this is one you should play!!
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2 0
atx lumberjack
Experience: 1 played 1 reviews
4.00 star(s)

the jungle 2+ years drive by

Reviewed: Played on:Jun 26, 2015 Played the course:5+ times

Pros:

All shots needed
challenging but fair
never crowded
good mix of lengths

Cons:

easy to lose discs and time
no facilities once on course so bring water
vegetation demands payment in skin
tee boxes too short

Other Thoughts:

With abundance of rain rough is rough. Don't be tempted to throw a second disc unless searching for discs is what you like to do. Everything will take a bite of you once you are in. Many trees have been cut down and #13 has a large oak down in front of the basket.
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2 0
lowrie4
Experience: 36 played 21 reviews
4.50 star(s)

East Metro 2+ years drive by

Reviewed: Updated: Played on:May 11, 2015 Played the course:once

Pros:

Excellent course design. Plays like a ball golf course where placement shots are key on the par 4s and it requires an extreme variety of shots in order to play well. This course was designed to be challenging for the pros but fair at the same time. If shots stay in the fairway every hole is potentially birdie-able, but if you go into the rough even by a few feet recovering is nearly impossible; you will most likely have to pitch out back into the fairway and take the stroke. The hole variety itself is also a huge plus; great mix of par 3s and 4s with some tricky pin locations, and OB coming into play with a creek running through a good portion of the holes. Navigation is also very easy as there are tee signs on every hole and most holes it is obvious where the next tee is.

Cons:

The rough is really rough. It is very easy to lose a disc if you do not keep your shot in the fairway and even playing with good players there will be some times where you have to stop playing to hunt for a disc for a few minutes. Only other con I have is that a hole or two with a little more space would be a nice way to break up the challenging nature of this course. But I really am nitpicking here, this course is wonderful.

Other Thoughts:

If you are new to disc golf this is the last course you should play in the Austin area. This course is very very challenging and any bad shot will be punished. That being said it is fair and if you are up for the challenge this is the best course you will find in the Austin area. I will mention again, it is not an easy course, but if you have the skill to play it, it is well worth the trip.
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3 0
garrettfreberg
Experience: 29.2 years 57 played 5 reviews
4.00 star(s)

Tight Fairways 2+ years drive by

Reviewed: Played on:Jan 15, 2014 Played the course:5+ times

Pros:

Beautiful park.
Clearly marked paths and great signage. Even the first time I played, I did not get lost once. Hole 16 was a little challenge to find, but they did/do a great job of keeping the course in good condition. Pay attention to the signs at the tee boxes and they will give you a good idea of where to find the next hole.

The fairways are tight.
You have to stay on them or your score can go way way up.
The baskets are in great shape.
Tee pads (2) per hole are in good condition. Some are in the need of some "shoring" up as erosion is taking its course on a few.
Good range of shots.
The short holes are very short, but very very tight and there is almost 2 ways to each pin placement for lefty's or right handed players.
Wilderness adventure.

Cons:

Super tight fairways.
Short holes are almost too short and too wooded. You don't get rewarded for all the long holes you have to struggle through.
It is a great place though and if you are a beginner you will enjoy the beauty. The course will beat you up a bit.
Not many con's here.

Other Thoughts:

Bring Plenty of Water.
Pack out your trash.
Unlike Roy G, there are garbage cans along the course. Probably close to half the holes have a trash near by and you NEED to use them. There is no excuse to see beer cans and garbage laying around, but I ended up picking up lots of crap the first time I played and simply carried it to a garbage can close by.
Please help keep the course clean and do your part.
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3 0
Dale W
Experience: 23.2 years 104 played 10 reviews
4.00 star(s)

Challenge awaits 2+ years drive by

Reviewed: Played on:Jun 2, 2013 Played the course:once

Pros:

Very nice park complex. With 2 pads on most holes, it will challenge your accuracy and control as much as you want. Every type of shot needed - RHBH, RHFH, thumber, roller, etc. Even the technical holes are relatively long, but there are multiple options for each hole instead of "throw and pray". IF you are reasonably accurate, you wont be punished too badly by the THICK growths bordering the hole....and EVERYTHING there (and some in the fairways) has thorns. Tee signs by the longer tee pads give good directions and distances. Most (if not all) holes had benches either at the pad or close by (I didn't notice all of them as I was trying to beat sundown).

Cons:

Only one hole is REALLY hard to find....16 (from 15 basket continue to the walking path and take a left...it will curve around and eventually 16 is on the left of the path...with any luck they will have mowed recently and that will help locate it). Pay attention to the signage to help with the other ones and you wont get lost.

Other Thoughts:

I was playing it quickly (had a difficult time finding the park initially and didn't start until around 7) in order to finish. Somewhat difficult to find the park if you aren't familiar with the area. I will probably go back and play the long tees to experience the complete challenge before I leave the area even though there are plenty of courses to choose to play in the Austin area. Very nice layout for the most part. If you don't like thorns, make sure you stay in the fairway or else wear long pants and sleeves. Didn't see any of the "wildlife" mentioned in previous reviews, but no doubt it is there....I just got lucky I guess. Park closes at dark so plan at least 90 min if playing by yourself and more as needed to finish before that.
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0 3
bullit
Experience: 1 played 1 reviews
4.00 star(s)

East Metro 2+ years drive by

Reviewed: Played on:Apr 29, 2013 Played the course:once

Pros:

Large, mixed course with many interesting and challenging approaches.

Cons:

Needs some more attention to grounds keeping, especially ant control. Also distance for me is a little far.

Other Thoughts:

Same designer as the Circle C course and you can see the influence.
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0 3
invidious
Experience: 18.9 years 11 played 11 reviews
4.00 star(s)

Great unique course 2+ years drive by

Reviewed: Played on:Sep 1, 2012 Played the course:once

Pros:

Unique landscape, you get in a good all terrain hike in as part of your play. Most holes are very dynamic and interesting.

Cons:

The rough terrain could be too much for some. A few holes are dissapointingly short and straight forward and seem out of place compared to the rest.

Other Thoughts:

Didn't get to finish because my friend's bailed on me due to the heat, but I loved the first 10 holes. Looking foward to playing again next time I am in TX.
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10 0
nathantrafford
Experience: 5 played 5 reviews
4.00 star(s)

Wear your pants!! 2+ years drive by

Reviewed: Played on:Jun 19, 2012 Played the course:5+ times

Pros:

Holy crap. If you want a challenge, this course is for you. But be warned, this course is punishing.

The things I loved:
The whole park. Get done early or whatever, there are some awesome covered basketball courts, some very nice soccer fields, playgrounds, etc. to enjoy. Really nice complex.

It's quiet. It's a little bit of a drive to get out there, but worth it because you don't get the cluster F that you do at searight or the new Roy G.

It's beautiful. I wish the water was stream fed so it was always running, but it is really pretty regardless.

It's challenging. I played it yesterday and my buddy lost a disc on his first throw, then lost a disc on his second throw, and lost another later in the course. He's a good player, just had some bad luck that day. However, this is in my pro's list. Being a challenge is a good thing. It makes it much more fun.

Variety. One hole you will be going from a looping bomb to the next hole being an insanely accurate laser beam through 12 trees. You will be throwing flicks, regulars, tomahawks, rollers, hyaers, anhyzers, the whole shebang. I kid you not, the first time I played this course, there was a moment when I considered throwing lefty (it probably would have turned out better if i did!).

Hills. Many courses in the Austin area (and texas in general) lack this variety in elevation. Here it is a good amount. There aren't really any massive cliff shots (like 15 at searight), but it is a good variety on each hole.

Exercise. This goes with the hills thing. Bring your hiking shoes. If you stay on the fairway the whole time, then it won't be so bad, but you will inevitably roll into a creek bed that is a 10ft drop that you have to climb to.

The holes are thoughtfully created, with the players in mind.

Cons:

The rough. You will be cursing if you have a bad shot, and it probably won't be because you can't find your disk. It will be because of the absolutely enormous amount of stickers and brambles everywhere. Without any exaggerating, it seems that every single plant out there has giant thorns on them. See a harmless bush that you want to peer into? DONT DO IT! Some of them literally have 2 or 3 inch thorns. Not to mention the massive amount of thriving cacti. And not the kind that are worn down and don't have their thorns anymore. There are a ton of them.

The tee boxes are pretty short and the ground is eroded around most of them, making them especially easy to trip over/fall off.

While the layout is great overall, there are no signs leading to hole 16, which is pretty far away from 15 with multiple paths leading different directions. When you finish 15, follow the treeline to the left. It will curl around and you'll reach a concrete path. Go left on it towards the lake. About 50-75 feet down you'll see a dirt path off to the left. Take that, and then follow the grass area to the right for another 150-200 feet. It will dip down and to the right where you will find the tee box for 16.

Other Thoughts:

Pick up after yourself! Seriously, it's not hard.

14 will be tough for many. It's overwhelming when you're standing on the box. You have two options: You can either bomb it straight forward and pray you don't hit anything (If you are VERY accurate, I'd say you still only have a 30% chance of getting through. Not kidding). OR you can play it safe, lay it up at the base of the bridge, then bend it around for a nice par. I usually play it safe, then throw another one just for fun, and every time I'm happy that I threw the safe option first.

If it's not the middle of the summer, WEAR PANTS AND LONG SLEEVES! You probably thing I'm kidding about the amount of briars and stickers, etc. but I'm not. I am covered in cuts and scratches today from looking for my buddy's discs yesterday. I'd seriously suggest saving this course for the cooler months, and if you do decide to play in the summer, PLAY SAFE! you will thank yourself later.

That being said, it's also a good idea to leave your dog at home IF: He isn't 100% disciplined, especially if he has long hair. I have a husky like the one in the photos, and while he's a good puppy, he IS a puppy and I don't trust him enough yet to not go investigate some wildlife that is all over the park. He would soon learn his lesson not to jump into the wooded area, but you will be cursing when you have to spend an hour or two pulling stickers out of his fur.

WILDLIFE: we ran across a very large rattlesnake right under the cage at hole 10. It's the right time of year for it (beginning of the summer), so just be careful and respectful. We tossed a couple discs near him and he moved, but if we hadn't seen him who knows what would have happened.

Take care y'all and play smart!
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4 0
denny ritner
Gold level trusted reviewer
Experience: 25.9 years 170 played 113 reviews
4.00 star(s)

This beast has got teeth! AKA "Old Painless" 2+ years

Reviewed: Updated: Played on:May 21, 2012 Played the course:once

Pros:

East Metro Park provides a very complete challenge of golf. Any weaknesses in a player's game will be made apparent. The course requires power, shot-shaping, accuracy, strategy, escaping from trouble, and putting on risky greens. The tee signs indicate blue and red for the skill levels, but I believe that gold and white are more accurate.

The signage and tee pads are top notch. The course is separate from the rest of the park, with minimal pedestrian traffic. Much of the walk is picturesque. The holes are mostly separated from each other visually. Many of the holes are uniquely appealing aesthetically (the pictures on this site don't do them justice). Many of the holes provide unique challenges. A few of the holes are candidates for a short list of the best holes in disc golf.

All of the holes provide fair challenges. I particularly enjoyed the short par 3's that have tight, but fair routes. On paper, the par 4's don't look super-long (except hole 8), but with the technical requirements and elevation changes, they are very demanding. The extreme challenge of East Metro is addictive. I'm looking forward to my next opportunity to battle this beast.

Some of the highlights include:

Hole 1 is a gorgeous opening hole. The tee shot is moderately tight and well framed. The fairway doglegs 45 degrees to the right past the initial gap and climbs sharply uphill. This hole requires two powerful, accurate shots to earn a birdie 3.

Hole 3 is a medium length par 3 that requires a drive be thrown within a tight vertical window with a gentle left-to-right turn. The creek is tight on the right side of the basket.

Hole 4 isn't a long par 4 at 564 ft downhill, but it is extremely challenging. There is a choice between a long-straight shot off the tee to a small target that will leave a 225 ft straight shot to the basket or a shorter, hyzer off the tee to a decent landing area that will leave a slightly longer, more technical second shot.

Hole 8 is a long, straight, downhill par 4 with a fairly tight fairway. Missing the fairway on this hole can be brutal. To make a birdie 3 on this hole requires a lot of guts and excellent execution.

Hole 10 is a par 4 that appears as a "should get" 3 on paper, but proves to be more difficult in practice. The tee shot is moderately tight. The difficulty really comes into play on the second shot, with the basket tucked into the opening in the woods with steep drop-offs on three sides.

Hole 11 is a very unique, challenging, short par 3. There are three distinct, tight routes, all of which present their own challenges. The green drops off sharply behind the basket.

Hole 12 is a short 492 ft par 4, but once again, it is no easy 3. To have a legit chance at birdie 3 the drive must be thrown precisely with power. The second shot is uphill and then downhill and bends sharply to the left. Without a very well thrown drive the dogleg proves to be too sharp. A par 4 is fairly easy to make by playing relatively safe, but making a 3 requires an aggressive, risky drive.

Hole 14 Is a nice 170 ft head scratcher. There are several shots that can be played, but they all involve very tight lines. The deuce is there for the taking, but requires commitment and execution.

Hole 15 is another par 4 that appears to be a "should get" 3 on paper, but proves to be very difficult. The tee shot is tight and intimidating and the hole plays very much uphill with a bend to the right halfway down. The hole is straight-forward, all the player has to do is execute.

Hole 17 is an uphill, dogleg par 4 that's listed at 640 ft, but plays more like 800 ft. The gap off the tee is moderately tight. The hole will tempt power players to bomb off the tee to have the chance for 3 that most players won't have, but missing the initial gap can prove to be very costly.

Cons:

The extreme challenge and brutal rough found at East Metro make this a course that is extremely unfriendly to beginners. 90% of players should play the shorter tees here.

The rough is thick and full of cactus, other thorns, and snakes (some of which are poisonous). Players will spend a lot of time looking for discs and will likely lose one or more. The round is an extreme workout between the challenge, hills, and battling the rough. The course does not loop back to the parking lot after 9, even though the property could have accommodated two loops.

The tee pads for holes 13 and 15 are only about 35 ft from each other.

There are a few places which could use "next tee" signs. This is particularly important from hole 15 to 16 and then from 17 to 18. There's a very long walk from 15 to 16. It appears that hole 16 could have been a nice par 4 with a downhill tee shot to a defined landing area.

There isn't a basket near the parking lot for putting warm ups.

The tees could use some sort of frames. Some of them collect wash-outs, which make for slippery pads and some have gotten eroded underneath, which will lead to cracking on the corners.

This course will likely break in over time to become a 4.5 rating, but it will take several years for that to happen.

Other Thoughts:

Don't be a dirty discer; leave the course cleaner than the way you found it.

To read about my review philosophy check out the other info section on my profile.
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3 0
bogeymanjr
Bronze level trusted reviewer
Experience: 12.6 years 35 played 24 reviews
4.00 star(s)

Solid Eastern Course 2+ years drive by

Reviewed: Played on:May 16, 2012 Played the course:once

Pros:

Mike Olse does it again! I went out to play this course because I heard so much about it and this thing is fantastic. It reminds me so much of Brushy Creek Sports Park except this more open and a longer course. Easier to navigate as well. Holes 1 through 4 start you off as a warm-up for the rest of the course. Number 1 being the longest. Number 2 and three are short par 3 holes and pretty much straight shots to the basket. Hole 4 is a little longer being a double crossing of the creek that runs through this course and demands a very accurate shot or the disker gets in trouble quick. Hole 5 is a short 190 foot par 3 hole but also demands an accurate throw or it is fishing time in the creek again. Hole 6 is a short throw by the creek par three, but once again, a chance to lose a disc. I lost one on this one. I still managed to bogey this hole even with the penalty throw. Hole 7 is a straight-away par 3 or four depending which tee you are throwing from. Hole 8 is a long 805 par 4 or 5 depending on whether you are pro or am. Hole 9 was my showcase hole. This one was deuce all the way. Loved the throw between two trees over the creek. Then a straight shot at the basket. Ching! Hole 10 pretty much is a wide open straight shot par 4 until you get to the basket. It sits on a jut out over water. You have to be accurate with your putter or it will miss and roll down into the creek like mine did. I did hit with the second one though. Holes 11 through 15 play in the woods and are relatively short. Holes 16 through 18 are longer and play you right back to where you parked to start play. This course was a good challenge overall and well worth the stopover to play.

Cons:

Only one that I saw was the transition from holes 15 to 16. A wrong turn and you wind up back at hole 8. Otherwise I find nothing else to say that I could find wrong with this course.

Other Thoughts:

This is a good, solid 18-hole challenge of a disc golf course. Mike Olse did an excellent job with this one. The only other course I could see where he might have topped himself so far was the gold course down in Ingleside, Tx. Otherwise this is a fun course to play and has many good challenges to it.
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1 9
hefalump
Experience: 23 played 19 reviews
3.00 star(s)

Holey Moley! 2+ years drive by

Reviewed: Played on:Mar 15, 2012 Played the course:once

Pros:

This is a course many a disc golfer can get their chops and throws into! That is, if it is dry. I was there on a day that it was very wet and muddy and this course is at best a 3 on a day like that. Otherwise, an excellent course for testing your mettle and very deserving of a 4 on a dry course. Too many throws into the creek for me. When I came across hole 5 and saw it was mostly creek for fairway, I didn't bother. Best hole here? The long one. 805 for hole 8 from tee to basket. 9 gives a good gap throw challenge.

Cons:

I imagine this course stays messy pretty much throughout the year, unless there is a drought. Too wet, too messy, and way too difficult.

Other Thoughts:

I do not relish going on a disc hunt every time I play a course. I don't mind looking for some, but when I have to on every hole or have to go "fishing" for a disc, that gets tiring! You people that like these so-called "fun" courses can have them. If I want to go hunt for something, I will regress and go hunt for Easter Eggs.
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1 3
cfmack
Experience: 24.3 years 61 played 8 reviews
5.00 star(s)

Top 3 in Austin 2+ years drive by

Reviewed: Played on:Nov 26, 2011 Played the course:once

Pros:

This course is definitely in my top 3 in the Austin area (other two probably being Circle C and MetroCenter ). We decided to play this course over Falcon Pointe because it was a windy day. I am extremely happy with this decision.

1. Signs were well posted and insightful.

2. Course has an excellent variety of shots: lefts, rights, narrow, open, long short

3. Tee boxes are concrete and wide. They are provided for both the Amateur and Pro shots.

Cons:

Manor is a bit far for me 17 miles but given the time, I would gladly drive out there again.

Other Thoughts:

I went after it rained and the field was quite muddy. Therefore, I can't speak to the park's drainage.
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0 17
Team Epic
Experience: 1 played 1 reviews
3.50 star(s)

Challenging course 2+ years drive by

Reviewed: Played on:Jun 12, 2010 Played the course:5+ times

Pros:

This course contains a bit of everything, making it a pretty good challenge for any level.

Cons:

A little overgrown in the spring/summer. Make sure to throw accurately.

Other Thoughts:

I wish Emma Long City Park had a course.
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23 1
Olorin
Diamond level trusted reviewer
Experience: 44.9 years 966 played 116 reviews
4.50 star(s)

A new Top Favorite 2+ years

Reviewed: Played on:Apr 15, 2010 Played the course:once

Pros:

My Enjoyment: 9.1 (out of 10)

<span class="italic">Design</span>
*From the Long tees this is a Gold level course, so it will test even the most highly skilled players. Even though my skill level is much lower (White level) I especially enjoy occasionally playing such high caliber courses as a way to gauge my game against what the best players would play.
*Fairways- have great shape variety and a very good mix of terrain. Some holes are fairly open and you can air it out, some have nice grass with scattered trees, some are classic tight woods holes needing lots of accuracy.
*Ideal Length variety- There's a smattering of lengths in every range! Blue tees: 2 <199/ 5 of 200-299/ 2 of 300-399/ 2 of 400-499/ 3 of 500-599/ 3 of 600-699/ 1 of 805. (Notice that 10 holes are over 400 ft.) The long holes are legitimate par 4s, so that adds variety too.
*Creek beds and water- There are creek beds on 15 holes! Not every creek had water in it, but these add to the beauty and when they have water in them they add to the challenge. It appears that the water levels vary throughout the year. You can also find a description of the water holes at my East Metro Course notes page.
*Beauty- I think the course is really beautiful in a rugged, Texas kind of way. Cacti mix with blue bonnets and old trees.
*Challenging greens- lots of protected baskets and risk vs. reward with stream beds or possible roll aways.

<span class="italic">Basics</span>
*Signs- Fantastic colorful Houck signs with good maps and everything you'd want on a sign.
*Tees- 2 sets of cements tees on 10 holes. 8 holes have 1 tee.

Cons:

<span class="italic">Basics</span>
-Maintenance. It was Spring, but quite a few fairways had knee deep grass covering the whole fairway. Even with good throws you could lose a disc right in the middle of the fairway if you didn't track it closely. This took a good deal of extra energy and added unnecessary tension. This is the biggest factor that lowered my enjoyment of the course.
-Navigation. Some baskets are hard to see, so the maps on the tee signs help a lot.
-Rough. It can be very thick and thorny in places.

<span class="italic">Design</span>
-Navigation. There are a few long walks to the next tees, most notably tee 16, but tees 9 and 2 were a hike too.

<span class="italic">Amenities</span>
-Course map. The online map needs improvement. It doesn't have any hole numbers, so it's a bit confusing to figure out. Plus it's rather drab.

Other Thoughts:

Blue tees Course Level = Gold (most suitable for Pro players rated >975)

~The course is new, but in time it would be good if they could add some more amenities like score cards, a practice basket, trash cans, and some benches.

East Metro is now in my Top Favorites category, so I can't wait to get back there again! My thanks go to the designer, Mike Olse, the builders, and everyone who works on it. I consider this a destination course and a "must play" in the Austin area, so it's worth making a long drive to play. If you have the chance, don't miss this course!

NOTE: Look in the "Links/Files" section for my files with Hole-by-hole evaluations, and a more detailed Overall review. You can also read more of my reviews and rating notes at the Yahoo Group, DG Course Reviews
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17 0
ERicJ
Diamond level trusted reviewer
Experience: 16.3 years 286 played 154 reviews
4.50 star(s)

In the running for best TX course 2+ years

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

Pros:

This is <span class="italic">not</span> your father's disc golf course. This is <span class="italic">not</span> a simple Sunday stroll though the park. This <span class="italic">is</span> a course that will challenge your ability to throw a disc. Distances range from under 200' to over 800'. Lefty holes, righty holes, uphill and downhill... the balance of shots is just fantastic. To conquer this course you'll need a full repertoire of shots. The fairways are fair and the rough is rough. Realistic par 4's are sprinkled throughout this course. The tee signs are top notch HouckDesign quality. The park is beautifully maintained. There are restrooms in the park (though not near the course). Top quality DISCatcher baskets in good shape. Concrete tee pads that are large enough for a standard 3 step x-step run up. Long and short tees available (both concrete) make this course applicable to a wider range of players. Course is located away from other park activities so interference from non-disc golfers should be at a minimum. There are several trash cans along the course.

Cons:

If you throw a disc more than a few feet off the fairway into the rough prepare yourself for a Safari adventure through sharp/thorny/prickly fauna.

A few navigation issues will hinder first timers: we had issues going from #5 to #6 and then #15 to #16. Could use some next tee markers along the way. A printed map will help you but the one on DGCR right now could use some numbers instead of the color coding. Make note of the "Next Tee" arrows on the tee signs before you leave the box.

Other Thoughts:

This is a multi-use park with boatloads of other amenities (see the park website). Read the directions on DGCR for getting to the first tee once you enter the park.

Adding to the aesthetics of the course were several holes with creative hole numbers marked out, e.g. #5 has a large "5" built out of rocks; #9 has a "9" made from old fence wire hanging in the tree. How they got concrete back to some of the tee locations is really an impressive feat. We saw several small furry animals and a roadrunner, but luckily no snakes.

Definitely a destination course despite being off the beaten path in Austin.
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15 1
Scoot_er
Experience: 24.1 years 123 played 9 reviews
4.00 star(s)

Manor-Mania 2+ years drive by

Reviewed: Played on:May 27, 2010 Played the course:once

Pros:

Course is very challenging and quite long but playing conservative is also a good game plan for those looking to remain "in the hunt". Trying to be aggressive can lead to amazing scores like the designer, Mike Olse's 55 or it could lead to MANY MANY 5s,6s, and even the possibility of 8s and more,

Good shots are rewarded by better looks to the pin on the par 4 and 5s and on the shorter holes a accurate smooth throw will leave you with a birdie putt.

One thing I like about this course is the different mindset the designer had when it came to the par 3s. Most of the par 3s are 260 or under with 3 or so being <220ft but these holes bring very definite lines into play that you either hit or kick off leaving a tough upshot.

Every shot in the bag is needed and no one shot is constantly repeated with the course favoring neither a righty or lefty but the player who plays the smartest, chooses the right time to attack, and executes their shots.

Cons:

The terrain if somewhat rough with small rocks and such that are common to the Texas Hill Country along with prickly trees and underbrush that can leave you bloodied and you discs missing.

Other Thoughts:

This is a great course for competitive golf but I don't think I would make it my casual course of choice (especially in the hot Texas summer) but if you do it will only improve your game
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6 1
dustingrodriguez
Experience: 14.8 years 29 played 1 reviews
4.00 star(s)

Top ten! 2+ years drive by

Reviewed: Played on:May 15, 2010 Played the course:once

Pros:

Excelent layout with good elevation change. Accuracy and distance a must if you want to shoot near par. Great scenery and challenging holes made this course one of my top 10! In my opinion, one of the best maintained courses outside of pay to play courses. Nice trimmed fairways, clear walking paths, clean t boxes, and nice hole signs. Fun and technical course!

Cons:

FIRE ANTS!!!! watch out for ant hills, they are nasty! and a small bee hive on 17! they dont mess with you if you dont mess with them. LOTS of nature so be carefull around brush and in the woods. Wear shoes with good grip after rain because some of the banks are kind of muddy.

Other Thoughts:

Will deffinately play this course many more times! Love to play all over the state, this is one of the best so far!
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