Durham, NC

Leigh Farm Park

3.235(based on 39 reviews)
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2 0
therealpursuit
Experience: 29.6 years 12 played 11 reviews
4.50 star(s)

Most improved in area

Reviewed: Played on:Oct 12, 2023 Played the course:once

Pros:

They've really fixed the signage. I played this a dozen times a decade ago and never even found all the holes but now you can easily find them all except maybe 17 but if you follow the signs to the white tees you can find it. This has by far the most variety of any course in the area. Huge thanks to whoever made the next tee signs and the descriptions at the tea pads!! It may not be the best course in the area but it's now easily my favorite! It plays fast it's challenging it's fun no holes are disparaging.

Cons:

Poison ivy, mosquitos, and copperheads 😂 I hate wearing pants to play but this course almost demands it.. also really easy to lose a disc here.
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7 0
David_George
Bronze level trusted reviewer
Experience: 3.7 years 50 played 17 reviews
3.50 star(s)

Underrated Course 2+ years drive by

Reviewed: Played on:Dec 5, 2020 Played the course:5+ times

Pros:

I am probably a bit biased since this is my home course, and where I learned to play. If I am being completely objective, it is probably a 3 instead of a 3.5. Nevertheless, this is an under-appreciated course which is worth a play.
+ Three levels of play, each of which are quite different. The more advanced courses have entirely different holes from the beginner course.
+ A legitimate beginner course of short par 3s - not terribly exciting for more advanced players, but a good place to learn to play in the woods.
+ For the intermediate and advanced courses, a mix of short and long holes, par 3, 4, and 5.
+ Great use of elevation, with opportunities to throw up and down steep hills.
+ Very historically interesting piece of property, a former plantation which also has Revolutionary War history.
+ For the most part, the holes aren't all that long, but will certainly challenge you to shape your shots and miss trees.
+ Is rarely crowded, and you often have the course to yourself if you go at an off time.

Cons:

- Navigation is a mess. The beginner and advanced courses overlap and the signage is very confusing. Expect to get lost if you haven't played it before. Bring a map or someone who knows the way.
- The rough can be pretty rough, and it is very easy to lose discs in the high grass and brambles.
- Is a bit trashy - has never been completely cleaned up after its former life as an illicit dump site.
- Can be quite muddy after it has rained. Precarious footing in places.

Other Thoughts:

Though certainly flawed, this course has a lot of character, and continues to improve thanks to the work of volunteers. If you haven't played it in a while, give it another chance.
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4 0
rwgatorfan
Experience: 3.7 years 29 played 18 reviews
2.50 star(s)

Fun but confusing (and maybe a little dangerous) 2+ years drive by

Reviewed: Updated: Played on:Oct 24, 2020 Played the course:2-4 times

Pros:

This course has some fun, unique holes, but it is super confusing to navigate, even with the UDISC app.

The wife, kids and I played over the weekend from the (VERY short) red tees. We had fun, but struggled quite a bit.

Pros:
- Some fun holes. #8 up the cliff is unique. The hole that goes around the old barn is also unique and fun.
- Turf tee pads were mostly in good shape
- Baskets were all in good shape. Some have aged a little, but all were functional
- You get a good feeling of seclusion, even right next to the Interstate.
- Color coded signage is helpful, but also confusing and easy to miss.
Plenty of parking.

Cons:

- The layout of this course is the most confusing I've ever played. Even with UDisc, it was difficult to navigate. The red and blue/white courses overlap. Some holes/baskets are shared between the courses. On one hole, discs landed right by us as if from out of nowhere. It was a shared fairway. Could be dangerous if you're not paying attention.
- Red course #8 is a short hole, but you drive up to the top of a a practical cliff. If your disc doesn't make it to the top, you're in for a treacherous climb and hunt for your disc. Footing is poor. Not beginner friendly at all.
- The next hole, #9 for the reds, has a narrow fairway, which I don't mind, but the rough is ridiculously thick. My daughter threw her disc into the rough and I came out with scratches all over my legs. Not fun.

Other Thoughts:

If I were judging by the holes alone, this would probably be a 3 or 3.5. Unfortunately, the layout is so difficult that I can't go above a 2.5 for this one.
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9 0
thumber_guy
Experience: 33.8 years 142 played 10 reviews
2.50 star(s)

Conflicted thoughts 2+ years drive by

Reviewed: Played on:Jul 28, 2020 Played the course:5+ times

Pros:

It actually has a short/rec course, which many designs neglect these days. That part is mostly wooded so it is playable in the summer and it works a creek into play very well. And you can (usually) play it solo in about 45 minutes. I haven't played the long course nearly as often - it isn't ridiculously long except when they take two par 3s on the rec course and turn them into one par 3. But you also spend much more time in the sun on the longs and it takes a lot longer to play.

They have done a lot of work in the last year or so putting in good tee pads - the old rubber ones stayed slippery all the time and I cracked my coccyx last year slipping on #17 during a standstill throw.

Cons:

The rough is too rough. It doesn't get enough foot traffic to get beaten into submission, and since there are a lot of trees in the middle of the fairway, a nearly perfect ace run can turn into a bogey if you bounce to the wrong place. That also makes it really easy to lose discs. It has been redesigned several times, so the teepad signs are all but useless. To be fair the club has been working on new signs to make it easier to navigate between holes but the original teepad signs should just be removed. Also, a lot of trees fell about a year ago (Sept 2019) but Durham won't spend any money to clear it out. The local club has applied a chainsaw in the worst places but all that stuff needs to be removed.

Don't forget your bug spray - you will get eaten up it you get off the fairway.

Other Thoughts:

I have a love/hate relationship with the rec course. I've played it hundreds of times because it is 5 minutes away, but if not for proximity I'd never go there. The course design is such that it is RIDICULOUSLY biased toward RHBH throws. 12 holes only have a right-to-left fairway, compared to 2 that are only left-to-right. It is a great piece of land and with a minor redesign it could be so much better.

The long course is much more interesting in that it has a great variety of shots, plus par 4 and par 5 holes.
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11 1
Rastnav
Bronze level trusted reviewer
Experience: 55 played 12 reviews
3.50 star(s)

A great course for noobies! 2+ years

Reviewed: Played on:Jun 14, 2020 Played the course:2-4 times

Pros:

This is a review of the rec level/red course only. I want to provide some navigational tips for it, see those in "Other Thoughts" below.

As a player of only a few months experience, with a noodle arm, I heartily encourage relative new players to try this course, despite the navigational difficulties.

- Overall the course has much wider fairways than other course I have played, while simultaneously requiring definite shot shapes to get the best result. Most of the gaps you are required to hit are quite generous from the rec course. This is a big advantage when trying to learn the game.
- The first 5 holes really ease you in to the course, which then gets more challenging as the round goes on.
- There is variety in length of the holes, but the distance requirements aren't too big even for a noodle arm like me.
- As mentioned, the holes require some specific, and varied shot shapes, but many of them give you more room on the "wide" side, letting you really "go" for the shot shape, without needing a super precise line. Again, the earlier holes are more forgiving on this, and later holes start to tighten up, while not being too punitive.
- I found that the rough was punitive, but not excessively so. You usually have some sort of out or possible recovery that lets you scramble for par unless you have really gone deep.
- Unlike most other courses in the area, this one is not nearly as heavily trafficked, even on a weekend, so you can take your time without inconveniencing other players.

Cons:

- The only real negative to the course is the navigation. But see my hole-by-hole navigation below.
- If you aren't a rec level player, you might find many of the rec level holes to be boring compared to some rec level course that are a little more technical throughout.

Other Thoughts:

Navigating the rec level course, a guide (layout as of 2020-06-14):

- The rec level course sits "on top of" the advanced course, and about 12 of the holes split an advanced level hole in to two different rec level holes. You play 5 of the advanced course holes, and one stand alone rec course hole.
- All of the rec course tee pads have a wooden marker with the rec hole number painted on, with a red stripe on the top. These are currently just placed on the ground resting against something.
- On 6 of the holes you will play from an advanced tee to a rec level basket. These are either a plain steel basket, with no top band, with a red stripe on the pole OR a blue banded basket, usually with a white stripe on the pole.
- On 6 of the holes you will play from a rec level tee that is right next to one of the rec level baskets mentioned above. You will then play to a yellow banded basket with a white stripe and a red stripe on the pole. These baskets will also have a white stripe and red stripe on the bottom of the basket that points the way to the next tee.
- The 5 advanced course holes that you play are the same yellow banded holes with white and red stripes pointing the way to the next hole.
- The one stand alone hole has a blue band and white stripe.

Hole by hole navigation:
- #1 through #4 are on holes one and two of the advanced course.
- #5 Turn right from #4 and go up to the advanced course sixth tee pad. # 6 is in sight down the fairway.
- #7 is the stand alone hole. You tee off at 90 degrees to the advanced course seven tee pad, a short downhill severe fade. To get to 8 go down the obvious path, but there aren't signs currently.
- #8 and #9 are on hole 11 of the advanced course.
- #10 is the first hole where you play one of the advanced course holes (AC number twelve).
- #11 tees off from the tee pad for AC thirteen, and goes to a short basket near the tee for #9.
- #12 is the trickiest hole on the course at the moment, navigationally. Keep going down the thirteen fairway looking for stairs up to bluff on your left. Note where thirteen basket is. At the top of the bluff is just a dirt patch where you play a short putter shot down to thirteen basket, which is obscured by trees. Don't be confused by the basket you can easily see off to your left when you get to the top. You don't play that basket.
- #13 through #15 are advanced course holes fourteen through sixteen.
- #16 and #17 are on hole seventeen of the advanced course. You have to go down the left hand fairway to access the #16 basket, which is tucked even further left.
- #18 is hole eighteen on the advanced course. Don't get confused by the blue banded basket here. You are going to the short yellow banded basket that is tucked left off the tee.

As mentioned by another commenter, play this course twice and you won't be confused anymore.
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5 0
lola
Experience: 8.6 years 32 played 1 reviews
3.50 star(s)

hidden gem 2+ years drive by

Reviewed: Played on:Oct 30, 2019 Played the course:5+ times

Pros:

-Technically challenging for both righties and lucies
-Crowds, nah
-6 is a par 3 fyi and a hard one at that.
-loops right back to the parking lot
-One of the most underrated courses in the Triangle

Cons:

Placement shots all around this course--
As of lately you'll want to bring a cache of light discs as Fall is abound-
On rainy days them teepads get awfully slick.
let your voice be heard on 18 when teeing off as you are throwing blindly to another low elevated basket.
still snake season watch where you step.


Other Thoughts:

not going into detail that other reviewers have already pointed out..but for those who haven't played this course it can be confusing as far as the layout--my suggestion is to play it again. and again. Now you know the layout. Or play with a familiar golfer. Here's my take..
1) downhill, tunnel shot basket at bottom
2) let'r rip and hope you have semi clean look at basket for upshot, birdie opportunity
3) uphill, basket right there if you can slalom pesky trees
4) par 5, again place the drive in the middle and you're looking at splitting trees (twice) for birdie or once for eagle
5) for a righty flick anhyzer and hope it comes back for a good look at 2--LHBH slight hyzer
6) here's your par 3--try to get past the thick and onto the road..touch shot, putt and there's your par
7) double choice after drive-- both rewarding if you can get a three.
8) par 3, up the hill basket on left-backhanders get a good pull for a two
9) watch out you don't get caught up in the wires for this downhill touch shot
10) choices choices..huge hyzer for RHBH gets you a birdie look..nice LHFH does the same-basket hidden on left down in woods
11) tee shot key to set up into a tunnel shot (par 4)
12) downhill, two fairways good luck getting close for that 2
13) tunnel drive gets you in the open for a placement shot to get close. skip works nicely on shot #2
14) drivable par three, a little mustard so you don't finish in the creek
15) Tunnel to an elevated basket (on left)..easy for a rollaway
16) RHBH hyzer or RHFH/LHFH..birdie opp
17) par 4 two fairways to choose, definitely birdie possibility provided your disc doesn't roll too far on this descended basket
18) blind tee shot, basket placed downhill on left.
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5 3
themcmc87
Experience: 6.9 years 29 played 12 reviews
3.00 star(s)

Underrated, but I get why 2+ years drive by

Reviewed: Updated: Played on:Jul 30, 2017 Played the course:5+ times

Pros:

Some of the really negative things that have been said about this course are, to my mind, undeserved. A few caveats:
1. I am a relatively new player. Been playing on and off (mostly off) for about 4 years, but I picked it up again this summer with a goal of trying to actual improve.
2.I played 4-5 times a week this summer, and Leigh Farms was the course I played more than any other. I only played the rec course, so this does not include any information about the advanced course. The one time I tried to play the advanced course, the holes were indeed very confusing to find, and I ended up resorting to the rec course halfway through.
3. I admit that perhaps some of my admiration comes from the fact that this was, for the most part, the course I attempted to teach myself to play disc golf on. I tried my damnedest to make this course my own, to play it until I knew every nook and cranny. Perhaps many of the negative things people have said about this course are things I just forced myself to get used to and play through, things that others used to more well-manicured courses would not have tolerated. I also managed to somehow score an Ace on hole 7, the only ace I have ever scored, out of freak luck. So, I'll admit I'm a bit emotionally attached.
4. The first time I tried playing this course, I didn't take one of the brochures with me, and I got lost, and frustrated, and quit. I went back months later, grabbed a brochure, learned the layout, and fell in love with the course.

But there are a bunch of things to love about this course.
Hole 1 and 2 are both short shots that are fun to shoot for ace on with a mid-range forearm and you can easily overshoot.
This course is both so frustrating and so rewarding because almost every hole can either end up as an easy birdie or a double-bogey. You are ensconced in trees the whole time, and slight deflections can send your disc into an abyss of brush and trees. But the reward for a perfectly delivered drive through the trees is oh-so-sweet. This course is an excellent course to drill if you are trying to get better at throwing through trees.
The first 3-4 holes are all pretty similar, but there is some great variation as you get into the later parts of the course.
Hole 12 is a fun shot to practice changes in elevation and shooting down hill.
Hole 13 is one of the longer holes on the course, and requires some interesting choices about which route to take to try to clear the mini-creek. The creek creates a low-risk OB type opportunity for you to practice - discs are easily retrievable, but you do have to climb down into the creekbed to get them.
Hole 14, the gulley hole, is one of my favorites.
Hole 17, around the barn, is just such an incredibly fun, tricky shot to have to drive from.
Leigh Farm takes all of the wonderful, frustrating things about NC courses and packs them all into a tiny little package. I get why some people don't like this course, but I loved learning to play disc on it.

Cons:

The key to not getting lost on this course is to grab one of the brochures at the front of the course and take it with you until you learn the course structure. As many have noted, the layout is a bit counter-intuitive, and with the two courses laid on top of one another, it's REALLY easy to get lost. Get yourself the brochure, and read the instructions carefully. For the most part, the instructions do a pretty good job of walking you from basket to basket.

You might get lost a few times, but once you learn the layout, it makes sense and is really easy to navigate. When you're done with hole 13, you'll need to cross the street to the other side of the park closer to the highway. Look for a wooden plank marking the trail from the road/sidewalk to the second part of the course.

The brush is pretty bad, as some have noted, but I think some people's reviews are exaggerating it quite a bit. This is not much different than any other heavily wooded NC course. Pretty standard fair for NC courses in terms of how bad it is if your disc gets out into the rough. The one thing that is a bit worse here than at other courses is spiderwebs. When walking through the rough to get to my disc, I definitely liked to carry another disc with me to wave in front of my face to prevent me from walking into spiderwebs ("Sorry, I'm not home right now... " Sing along if you know the words, kids).

The teeboxes could definitely be better maintained.

If you have no problem moving your disc through trees with ease, you will probably find this course very easy. There are not many holes which require much in the way of distance driving. It is almost entirely enclosed in the woods, so if you need 900 ft fairways and enormous par 5's, the rec course is definitely not the place for you.

Other Thoughts:

I get why people may not like this course. It's a bit rough around the edges. But for me, this was a great course to learn how to play disc golf on. It honed my skills in the woods, taught me to throw a variety of shots, and was a fun place to get some good disc golf muscle memory down. Don't let these reviews scare you away. But seriously, use the instructions, or go with someone who knows the layout.
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7 2
Jonjey
Experience: 10 played 10 reviews
4.00 star(s)

Fantastic Challenging & Confusing course 2+ years drive by

Reviewed: Updated: Played on:Jun 6, 2017 Played the course:5+ times

Pros:

This course is the best course in terms of challenging, unique holes in the triangle. It used to be a total mess of overgrown brush, but the maintenance team has been continuously working on the course and it has come SUCH a long way. It used to be a total mess, knee-high grass in the fairway, insanely dense thorns and angry vegetation immediately off most fairways, almost all of this has been taken care of and it is absolutely a gorgeous course now. Hole 8, straight up the hill, is an extremely unique hole. Hole 17 is probably the coolest hole in the triangle.

Cons:

As I've said that course used to be a mess, but that's no longer a con. The only con I can think of is that the course is dyslexic and there's two courses on top of eachother with rec & adv being the same course. Play with someone who knows the place, otherwise you'll get lost playing either layout.
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2 1
rvanderpool3
Experience: 18 played 2 reviews
3.50 star(s)

2+ years drive by

Reviewed: Played on:Apr 9, 2017 Played the course:5+ times

Pros:

Challenging, but fair heavily wooded holes. 15 of 18 holes are heavily wooded tunnel shots. if you are missing your lines, it's gonna be a long round. There are a lot of 'real' par 4s on this course which is somewhat unique for the area.

Cons:

The signage is a little rough/nonexistent, though this is getting better in the past few weeks. The teepads are smooth rubber. when dry they are fine. if they are the slightest bit damp, they do not provide much grip.

Other Thoughts:

This course is very much worth playing. I play here once or twice a week. Very fun course which will make you use all the shots in your tool belt.
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7 0
KenanFlagler01
Diamond level trusted reviewer
Experience: 14 years 195 played 190 reviews
2.50 star(s)

Good course if you can navigate it 2+ years drive by

Reviewed: Updated: Played on:Jun 19, 2019 Played the course:5+ times

Pros:

UPDATE: I'm giving Leigh Farm a nice update after playing the Advanced layout. It's a fun track. My original criticism about navigation still stands -- this is a massively confusing course -- but after playing it a few times, it's grown on me.

+ While the navigation is terribly confusing, it's a huge plus to have so many options here. I've played the Rec layout and the Advanced layout. Rec is appropriate for beginners and rec-level players. The Advanced layout, especially at par 62, is really an intermediate-level course.

+ Lots of par 4's (some of them questionable) set up for approach shots to landing zones and upshots to the green. You don't see too many courses like this (yet) in the Triangle (although this is likely the wave of the future.)

+ Good baskets, color-coded to match the course you're playing.

+ I love the elevation they used here on the Advanced course. There are a few slight uphills and downhills, along with a legit uphill, reachable and aceable, and a fun downhill on holes 9 and 10.

+ I like it when courses take advantage of unique features. Leigh Farm does this with a barn on hole 17. It's a par 4 and you have to decide to go for a right or left fairway, setting you up to go around the barn on your approach shot to a downhill green. Fun hole.

+ The most interesting green on the course is hole 15, also the shortest hole on the course. The basket is on a steep hill. Lots of hills and ravines surrounding the basket. This will force a tester put for your birdie try.

+ There's good variety and a high fun-factor here on the Advanced course. Lots of different shots required and varied hole layouts.

Cons:

- The navigation here really is a mess. But if you just stick with a layout and play it a few times, you can look past this one glaring weakness. I recommend following the Rec signs and playing to the blue baskets for beginners. For intermediate to advanced, follow the Advanced signs and play to the plain yellow baskets. There's also a Gold layout, which I *think* is the same as Advanced, but playing the longer tee where an alternate tee is available. (If I'm wrong on that, which is quite possible, please correct me.) The confusing part is this is really two distinct courses sharing some fairways and tees. The numbering is off after hole 1, so, for example, you'll see signs for Advanced hole 14 next to Rec hole 13. Anyway, if you can figure the signs out, you're halfway there.

- There are some "poke and hope" holes here where luck is more of a factor than the skill of finding a gap to hit. The hole that comes to mind here is the par 5 (for the Advanced course). I could discern a fairway anywhere. You're forced to just throw it as far as you can and hope for it to get through.

Other Thoughts:

Leigh Farm has improved in recent years. I wish they could start over with new tee signs and next tee signs to fix the navigation. Still, this course is a fun one and worth playing.
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4 7
DrFurious
Experience: 3 played 3 reviews
1.00 star(s)

Lame Farm 2+ years drive by

Reviewed: Played on:Apr 30, 2013 Played the course:5+ times

Pros:

Another course in Chapel Hill to draw players away from cool courses like UNC and Dogwood.

Cons:

This course has so much potential, but the dyslexic awkwardly designed fairways and the trash everywhere makes for a frustrating day. Before the course was designed, several of us were invited to check out the proposed lay-out. The land had a lot of potential, but for some reason the final design included dumb placement holes, shots around barns, ridiculous long holes that could easily be cut into three holes, missed opportunities where awesome holes could be (huge mound), etc. etc.
I got lost and missed several holes even though I've played the course (and saw it get designed/built!!)

Other Thoughts:

If you like strange placement shots where an amazing ace-run could be, this is the course for you.
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4 1
adambenson87
Experience: 23.7 years 12 played 11 reviews
3.50 star(s)

Tournament Potential 2+ years drive by

Reviewed: Played on:Jan 18, 2015 Played the course:5+ times

Pros:

A good mix of long and short holes: par 3's, 4's and two 5's.

A variety of shots and elevation, open and wooded holes.

The wooded holes are open enough for there to be a discernible route, which makes these holes more like UNC's course and less like Southern Community course. Some holes start in the open and end in the woods and some start in the woods and end in the open, which makes for fun variety and shot making.

The par 4's are pretty interesting holes. You don't have to be a power player to reach them. A lot of doing well here is placement.

Cons:

When it rains, you can hurt yourself slipping on the rubber tee pads if you're not careful. I noticed that many people have moved the tee pads off of the tees.

In the summer time, you have to worry about ants near the tee pads. Plenty of people have been turned away by this course, because they got ants all over them at some point.

If you're a visitor without a course map, it'll be hard to find the tee pads on some holes. So, visitors, print a map or use your phone.

Other Thoughts:

Next Tee signage, new tee boxes, and getting rid of the ant problem would improve the course.

#15 is a strange hole. I'm not sure that this hole is a con, but I think the gold tee is.

This course mostly has Innova Disccatchers, but now they have silver metal baskets (DGA?) on some of the long placements. I think they'll end up changing them around, but if you want to play the long version, look for the DGA baskets on a few (5?) of the holes.
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2 3
VinnyB
Experience: 8 played 4 reviews
2.50 star(s)

Course is now open, but I suggest waiting. 2+ years drive by

Reviewed: Played on:Mar 9, 2014 Played the course:once

Other Thoughts:

Lots of potential, but after all the construction, lots left to do. Signs need to be changed for hole number and for distance, signs for next tee pad are either small and bare wood (making them nearly impossible to see) or nonexistant. Some holes are being worked on still and if combined holes are upposed to have yellow-only baskets, they need to get the blue band off of them. My party met two guys that gave up (a little too easily, IMHO) after playing only 4 holes. When they get this right, it should be really nice. As it is, it's still fun, and I shot 4 birdies on my first time playing the course. So, if you want a little adventure, I say, go for it!
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9 0
reposado
Diamond level trusted reviewer
Experience: 12.7 years 278 played 273 reviews
3.00 star(s)

2+ years drive by

Reviewed: Played on:Mar 6, 2014 Played the course:once

Pros:

The rec course at Leigh Farm is a decent play. It would probably earn a 2.5 on it's own merit. There are some interesting holes. There are a lot of short holes, fourteen of them under two-hundred feet, but a bunch of those are fairly interesting. (Particular 17, which passes one of the park's historic structures and finishes in a tunnelish area) They're pretty much all wooded and while tight, they aren't too tight for the intended audience. It it called a rec course. It certainly gets more interesting towards the end where many of the holes are just shortened versions of those on the longer layout. 10 and 13 stand out. Two of the longer holes on the layout at 277 and 334 feet respectively, they both shoot down hill and 10 finishes nicely to the right while 13 crosses a creek just before the basket. On average, it plays with a similar difficulty to the nearby Cornwallis except some of these holes are far easier than anything at Cornwallis and some of them are far tougher. It's much less consistent in it's level of challenge.

Some work is still going on here, but if you download the map before you go, you won't have any trouble following the rec course. It's fairly intuitive and as long as you have the map letting you know which general direction to go from the basket, you should be fine. Remember, the signs are inaccurate. (Sometimes they depict the hole correctly but the numbers are still wrong.) Don't use them. Use the map, and look for the blue numbers on the tee pad. Those indicate you are at the right place. It was recently closed for a good time and a lot of work has been done. There is nearby construction where an apartment complex is going in but the construction at the park is mostly done and it's a good looking clean park now that should provide a quick, fun round.

Cons:

A bunch of the holes are less interesting. In particular, those pairs of holes which are combined into one hole for the advanced layout. I'm speaking of 1 and 2, as well as 3 and 4. They very much feel like hole segments. It's tricky putting two layouts into the same area and some of the holes of the rec course suffer that. Even beyond that, the experienced player will find little challenging here. Too many of the holes are just short pitches, as described above. I'm not really knocking it for the incomplete nature of the course as that will be finished soon enough and there are really only a few transitions that need much in the way of aid. (13 to 4, 15 to 16 and 11 to 12) That said, I'd recommend playing the rec course once before playing the advanced layout. It will help you understand how the course is built and it will make navigating much easier. Because right now, the advanced course is not the easiest to follow.

Other Thoughts:

Now to Leigh's Lair. The advanced course here has a ton of potential. I think when it's all done, it will be a 3.5-level course on it's own. It's a nice design that boasts some real challenge while remaining playable by all but the most inexperienced players. It's got some long, curving holes with real distance for wooded holes and I doubt many will complain about the throws that the layout allows. Three of the holes combine two fairways from the easier layout, typically resulting in a one solid bend as you transition from one to the other. Six of the holes are on their own and this includes some of the best holes on the course, specifically the ones around the mound complex. 6 throws form ground level essentially up a ramp to a high placed tee on the edge of a sharp drop-off. 7 plays from the top of that mound to the top of a another smaller mound and 8 throws off that one. It's a nice sequence and it's made better when you come back that small mound and climb the back steps to throw once more from a ledge half-way up. The other holes are more like long pads for the regular course. In some cases, much longer pads.


As of now, it's one of the tougher courses to follow, even with the map, which as linked to here is hand-drawn and thus vague. Additionally it seems to be inaccurate in a few places, so I'll guide you through a few instances of trickyness, at least for now as I assume there will eventually be signs to help with this. (At least numbers on the pads, for most of the round I had no idea what number I was on and it took playing the rec course to better understand Leigh's Lair.) The first tee is the same as the rec course first tee. That confused me at first. 1 plays from the rec 1 tee to the rec 2 basket. Likewise, 2 plays from the rec 3 tee to the rec 4 basket. Both pretty nice holes. Then the layouts separate and there is a sign that indicates this. 4 does not tee off near the pump station as the map would indicate. Walk down the road to the bend and you well see the short pad in front of you. Turn around and find the long pad imbedded on the hillside. 5 is along the service road but it is much shorter than the map makes it look. The basket is tucked to the right of the road. From that basket, cross the road and you'll find a tee pointing straight at the mound. (This is labeled 7 on the map but I'm pretty sure it's 6 now as I couldn't find what was 6) From there the map is mostly accurate other than the numbers being one off. Most of the holes down the end stretch are matched up with short course holes. You just need to find the long pads.

Honestly, if you can wait until the course is finished being worked on, it would be advisable. Save yourself from the navigation nightmare. But even now, there's great golf to be played here with some of the toughest holes in Durham.
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10 0
nyrblue2
Bronze level trusted reviewer
Experience: 14 years 28 played 23 reviews
3.50 star(s)

Long and Grueling 2+ years drive by

Reviewed: Played on:May 23, 2012 Played the course:once

Pros:

"Pro Level" 18 hole course, mixed with "Rec Level" 18 hole course (courses share some tees, fairways and baskets) in a quiet, mostly wooded section of a "nature-y" area

***I played the pro course from the long tees while I was here so my review will be mostly based on that, but I'll touch on a few rec course things I noticed

- Grueling - this course (the pro/advanced course) is long and challenging - it's both an endurance challenge and a disc golf challenge and will test your skills
- Parking right near hole 1 - bulletin board/kiosk with rec course map, pro course "sketch", basket position for pro course and a few flyers
- 2 tees for the pro course (white and gold - shared on some of the holes) and 2 basket positions
- Tees are rubber flypads for uniform surface
- Baskets are DisCatchers (some wear/age) with yellow band to help to pick out of the wooded backgrounds (rec course has blue ribbon over the yellow band to differentiate from the gold course)
- Very nice tee signs showing an accurate hole map, distances and par for each tee and basket position combination - these were some of the best I've come across (but surprisingly not the best during my visist - nod to Middle Creek for theirs)
- Good variety of hole types - numerous tightly wooded holes and numerous open holes - some long playing as true par 4 or more and some short ace runs
- Good elevation changes - from soft wooded downhill (#1), to a big bomb off the top of a hill (#8), to an uphill drive to a blind basket up over the lip of a grassy hill (#7), to a gradual uphill through trees (#4)
- Some real nice views in the middle of the course - basket #7 and tee #8 are up on a big hill giving you a nice look at the fields and trees around you
- Cool elevated basket (built up on some sort of step pyramid thing) on hole #8 (I think) - made for a challenging putt (which I probably missed)
- I thought some of the woods holes were really cool - hole #14 stood out to me as my favorite - precise drive needed through the trees with the basket perched on the other side of a mostly dry creek bed protecting from lazy layups - hole #17 was also very fun with the unique obstacle of a big, old barn smack right in the middle of the fairway, given you lines around both the left and right, but more trees await behind it between you and the basket

Cons:

- Navigation "within" a hole - this course may be the most confusing one I've played yet in terms of some of the holes, in and of themselves (once a hole was figured out and completed, navigation from basket to next tee actually wasn't horrible, even without a map) - the interwoven rec course made for a head-scratching walk up and down some fairways - for instance, on hole 1, from the gold tee you can see the rec basket with the blue ribbon around the chastity belt, but the gold basket is beyond it hidden from sight - there is a rec tee up and left a bit, in between your tee and the visible basket, but I think that is actually the tee for rec hole #2 (so you backtrack uphill if you're playing the rec course) - I think rec hole #2 plays to gold hole #1's basket? Then I think gold hole #2 plays along the same fairway as rec hole #3? Very confusing - this needs to be explained better online, at the bulletin board or somewhere, probably with better maps for both courses, maybe overlaid on top of each other
- No overall course map for the pro course (the sketch online and on the bulletin board don't quite cut it) - to me, this is a must for any top-level course - even though hole to hole navigation wasn't too bad overall, I had to hunt a bit for some pro tees (holes 5 and 16, I think, come to mind)
- Parking lot was in pretty rough shape (potholes and muddy)
- A few of the fairways and areas around baskets were a bit mucky (I think behind basket 10 and the area around 16/17/18 and the walk back to the parking lot)
- Fairly high chance for lost discs, especially if playing solo - I know this is an inherent risk playing solo, but the many blind shots enhance this issue - spent a while looking for my disc in the tall grass at the bend on hole 3 and partway down the fairways on holes 5 and 9
- I admittedly don't have a huge arm and don't prefer super-long holes, but I've come to accept them and deal - however, holes 4 and 5 here I thought were annoying since they each almost played like 2 different holes - start with a big, wide open drive and then you have to play into a precise wooded entrance only to be greeted with more hundreds of feet of wooded golf - I dunno, maybe others will view this differently (as a cool, good feature), but it seemed like a "cheap" way to have a super-long hole or two on your course - maybe this could be a way to add more holes to the complex? I'm not sure how much additional un-used land there is to work with
- Hole #3 - doglegs are fine, but u-turns are annoying
- The rough was pretty abusive and I walked away with less blood than I came in with (starting on hole 1 on a RHBH that turned too much, too early into a big thorny bush)

Other Thoughts:

- Course was overall pretty dry when I played, so I can't really say how the tees fare in wet weather
- Benches on a few holes, but probably not the majority
- Tight, gravel entrance road - don't bring your fancy, newly-washed car
- For the relative "remoteness" and isolation, it was interesting to climb the hill on hole 7 and see a modern office complex and parking lot out off the edge of the property
- Could have been an anomoly, so I don't want to list it as a "con", but when I finally found my drive on hole 5, my disc was covered...I mean covered...in ants - put my bag down in what I thought was a clear area maybe 20 feet away to clean the disc and take my second shot, but come back to find that my bag was now covered - not a fun way to spend the rest of the round, picking ants off you, your bag and your disc

This course was...unique. It was challenging and had variety, but was fairly unpolished. It seemed like a cross between an educational nature center, a rustic farm and a backwoods moonshine complex. The confusion over the first few holes was mostly an afterthought once the sign guided you to the rest of the pro course (except for the few other holes where they co-mingle again with multiple tees and baskets). This was probably the toughest course out of the 6 I played on my visit to the area. Normally that doesn't deter me, but in this case, it wasn't for the right reasons (confusing navigation, high chance for lost discs in abusive rough/foliage, etc.) - I'd rather play other tough courses that are in better shape and more refined (Buckhorn in this area, for instance). I think there is a lot of room for improvement and I think there is a lot of potential. If some things get fixed up (clarity on navigation, trim up the firways/rough a bit), I'd be interested to try it again and seeing some of the other reviews from frequent players mentioning improvements gives me hope that it will become even more spectacular over time. However, given my one-time fly-by (even considering the navigation issues that I know would be less of a issue playing a second time), I probably wouldn't go out of my way to play this one again if I'm only in town for a short visit again, given the many other solid course options in the Triangle. However, I give a lot respect to whoever built these courses. Installation of 2 courses over a wide spread of land, however rough they may be, is no small feat - hats off to you.
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8 2
sloppydisc
Diamond level trusted reviewer
Experience: 15.3 years 201 played 147 reviews
3.50 star(s)

This isn't going to be pretty 2+ years drive by

Reviewed: Played on:Sep 8, 2012 Played the course:5+ times

Pros:

18 challenging holes set in a wooded property right of I40 in Durham. Multiple tee pads. There are an Advanced and Gold position as well as Rec positions marked with red rocks.

Blue baskets for Rec layout and Yellow for Advanced and Gold. Signs at each pad showing positions and lengths.

Technical wooded course with a little bit of everything. Woods, hills, creeks, ups, downs, and many tough lines to hit.

Good variety of hole lengths. There are a few short ace run type holes and there are some long tough holes that wander through the woods. Don't expect to come out and play your typical Par 3 round of golf.

Long basket positions are significantly tougher than the shorts and add a whole new challenge to this course. Gold layout can crush you if that's what you're in to.

Seldom crowded as this course doesn't seem to be a favorite of local players. I played on a Saturday afternoon, and was the only person there.

Challenging. Arguably the toughest course in the Raleigh area.

Cons:

Layout and navigation can be difficult. I would advise a guide your first time. I suspect there are still some lost souls out there from when it first opened.

Rubber tee pads. They are functional, but get muddy and washed out with debris at times.

Some would say that a few holes have 'unfairways'. Scattered trees in a few fairways can lead to some shots that are as much luck as skill.

A scenic beauty Leigh Farm is definitely not. Think of this as a reclaimed redneck garbage dump and you get the idea. There is garbage on some of the fairways and rough. This can include a lot of broken glass so wear good shoes.

During summer there are some kid's camps at the nature center. I have had to skip holes 16-18 at times due to dozens of kids near the baskets. It's rare, but possible.

Other Thoughts:

The key to playing Leigh Farm is attitude. It isn't particularly scenic, nor does it offer any memorable holes. Just know that your round won't be a thing of beauty. Chances are you'll have to pull some creative get of trouble shots, and you'll nail a random tree or two. The over/under on eaten spiders is also about 3. As you wander through the woods, you'll most likely encounter a few of our friends that live in webs. It's just part of playing here.

But there are a bunch of challenging holes that will force you to use a ton of different shots. There are some elevated baskets, hillside shots, creeks to cross and many dog legs to navigate. This isn't my favorite course in the area, but playing it on occasion will show you where your game lacks.

The other nice thing about this course is that it does continue to get better. Every time I play Leigh Farm I can see the results of the work being done by volunteers. When this course first opened it was virtually unplayable. Now it is a good course that can offer one of the better challenges in the area.

The parking lot by Hole 1 is fairly small and can be muddy. I usually park behind the office building you'll see when you first pull in. Walk down the gravel driveway and you'll see the pad for Hole 5 on your left. This is usually the best place to start.
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11 0
Olorin
Diamond level trusted reviewer
Experience: 44.9 years 966 played 116 reviews
3.50 star(s)

Variety Show 2+ years

Reviewed: Updated: Played on:May 1, 2012 Played the course:5+ times

Pros:

<span class="italic"><span class="bold"><span class="underline">NOTE:</span></span></span> This review is for the old layout. Construction forced some holes to be redesigned, and the newest (2014) layout has not been reviewed yet.

Gary Rains was the mad scientist who cooked this one up in his laboratory and he did a great job. He deserves a great deal of praise. But Carl Shumacher was Gary's tireless henchman who has put in countless hundreds of hours and an incredible amount of work building this course; without him the course wouldn't be where it is today! Please make sure to thank Gary and Carl for all of their very hard work!

*Variety and more variety! By my count there are 12 different layouts. The Advanced course has 2 sets of tees and 4 layouts for each tee (baskets in A, B, A&B, or B&A positions). Then the Rec course has 4 more layouts. If you want to frequently play something different then Leigh Farms is the place to go!
*2 basket positions on all holes!
*2 sets of tees- White and Gold. 11 holes have 2 tees while the rest have one shared tee.
*Length variety is excellent. For example, in the White-Short layout: 3<199/ 8 of 200-299/ 5 of 300-399/ 2 of 500-510. In the Gold-Long layout: 3 of 255-295/ 10 of 300-399/ and 425, 455, 525, 735, 800. By contrast, the Rec-Short course has 14<199/ 3 of 200-265/ 1 of 335.
*Elevation changes on most holes, but most are moderate
*Fairway shape variety is quite good
*Terrain variety is pretty good. Most layouts have about 9-10 wooded holes, 6-7 mixed foliage, and 2 open grassy holes.
*The Rec course would be a good place to bring beginners (if you help them navigate it).
*Tee signs are top quality! They may be the best in the Triangle.

Cons:

-For first timers the course takes a lot of mental effort (and some time) to fully grok how all of the Rec and Adv holes fit together and how to navigate your way on the two courses.
-You can't see 9 baskets from the tee, so first timers will need to do some scouting, but there are excellent maps on every tee sign.
-Map: The Rec course map has a few holes that are inaccurate and need to be redone. The Advanced course needs a better map. Both maps need to have both basket placements marked.

Other Thoughts:

While the course was being built I heard some grumbling (but many disc golfers grumble anyway). I think the problem was that the designers had a vision for the finished course that they could see in their minds, but most others couldn't look at the current state of construction and see or understand where they were going. Then the work to produce the vision proceeded in an unusual way that appeared haphazard, so some people got frustrated trying to figure out what was going on, and they gave the course a bad rap. Now that the course is finished I think we can all see more clearly what the designers were envisioning. The course has turned out very nicely especially as it has gotten more amenities and navigational aids. I only hope that some of the bad vibes don't linger because I really like this course.

~My favorite hole- Advanced 14. A straight slightly downhill wooded hole that requires you to hit your line. The basket is guarded by a small creek bed in front.
~Course beauty is above average overall. Some holes are very scenic while others are merely average.
~Tee material: concrete is not allowed so they have large rubber mats. They work well, but may not be everyone's favorite.
~Location: the course is 3 minutes off of I-40 so it's very easy to get to if you're in that area.

Overall this is a really good, solid course that offers tons of variety. Pros and Advanced players will enjoy the long tees, Intermediate players will enjoy the white tees, and beginners will like the Rec layout. Leigh Farms is well worth a visit to play!

<span class="underline">A note about my rating:</span> My rating is a subjective measure of my <span class="italic">enjoyment</span> of the course, on the day I played it, and it is NOT intended to be a measure of the <span class="italic">quality</span> of the course. My Enjoyment Ratings are given "on the curve" in relation to all other courses I've played.

Look in the "Links/Files" section for my files with Hole-by-hole ratings and a more detailed Overall review. You can also read more of my review philosophy and rating notes at Disc Golf Course Reviews
----------
I'm always trying to improve my reviews, so if you mark this review unhelpful or you find a mistake, please send me a Personal Message to tell me what is wrong with it. I'll be grateful for the feedback.
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6 0
mx23ang
Experience: 13.2 years 75 played 23 reviews
3.50 star(s)

Lost in 'Leighs Lair' 2+ years drive by

Reviewed: Updated: Played on:Apr 1, 2012 Played the course:2-4 times

Pros:

Starting off I like to let everyone know what Im personally looking for in a course. I love the scenic aspect of disc golf (this includes boulders, lakes, wildlife, and plantlife- I do study horticulture). With that being stated, I rate a course based on a combination of the scenic factor and the overall course aspects (this includes layout, fairway lines, divesity of holes, and amenities)
Diversity, diversity, diversity! I found myself throwing every shot in my bag the two rounds I endured on the lair. This includes flicks through super tight lines, backhands throughout several open bomber holes, and some overhanded shots trying to scramble to save par.
Super challenging fairways lined with all sorts of native shrubs, grasses, and geophytes.
Several elevated baskets that most certainly provides for the risk/reward shot.

Cons:

I am not a fan of the rubber tee pads, I feel like they get slick with just the slighest amount of moisture and mud/dirt/particles. On many of the holes when it has been raining a day before you should stand and deliver, or risk busting your bottoms.
I enjoy woods golf, and will not complain or view tight fairways as a con.. There were just a few scraggly trees that I may cut down if it were my course, it is good to keep a course tough tho.. Eventually some of the fairways may open up and if it does look for some high calibur tournaments here..
Me and my buddy played first day of April and the inchworms/silkworms(not sure of the species of lepidoptera) were really bad. Like we played singles first round and then doubles the second round and by the time we came back through the main fairways were once agian covered in these larvae

Other Thoughts:

Overall I really enjoyed my experience at Leigh Farm. Personally I think some of the other reviewers were to harsh on this place, and their review probably reflected on hitting many trees and becoming frustrating with tight line after tight line. It seems I am running into alot of courses that stack up in between the numbers, I would call this one a 3.75 in its current state. Trying to be optimistic I will vote up and give it a 4
My Score first round +5 course par and I'll take it and run
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1 8
vegthura
Experience: 25.8 years 7 played 5 reviews
3.00 star(s)

Hidden change of pace 2+ years drive by

Reviewed: Played on:Feb 4, 2012 Played the course:once

Pros:

Challenging and well laid out. Two courses in one, with beginner and adv tees.

Cons:

Can be confusing first time through, heavily wooded. Little parking.

Other Thoughts:

Pay attention to the board at the front as to what configuration the holes are in. The maps show two holes but there are only one set of baskets out there... if you've not played a course that moves baskets around this will confuse you.
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9 1
grains36
Experience: 34.6 years 82 played 2 reviews
4.00 star(s)

Teaches you to Play Smart Golf 2+ years drive by

Reviewed: Updated: Played on:Jan 25, 2012 Played the course:5+ times

Pros:

The Leigh Farm disc golf course is located on City, County, State, and private land. Parts of the course border US Corp of Engineer property and other fairways border Historical property. Because of the many issues with putting a course in this park, the design had to be carefully planned with regards to tree removal, erosion, and the protected wildlife. The result is a very technical and challenging course.

Leigh Farm is not for the technically challenged player. This course will demand an ability to throw any and all types of shots. You cannot simply throw as far as you want to from the tee. Stay in control of your discs and manage the fairway.

My suggestion to new visitors to the Farm is that you just walk the course on your first trip and take some notes. Document the following: Where are the landing zones?, How much risk is involved with getting to the landing areas? , and Is it worth trying to throw further?

Fact 1- Leigh Farm was designed so that the long tees would be played for the long baskets and the short tees for the short baskets.

Fact 2- There are many elevated baskets and one is in the side of a manmade hill.

Fact3- Leigh Farm has blind shots.
Remember this quote- A fairway is only a blind-shot the first time you play it. Play Leigh Farm at least twice and you will see what I mean. You might even improve your game.

Notes for the Advanced Course- white tee pads to short baskets. Par 61 (my best score on this layout is 54, my average is around 59, and my worst round is 65. I have played the different layouts at Leigh Farm around 200 times)
Hole 1- Good hole for learning to throw low. Remember that hyzer shots are easier to keep low and to control. I would just throw a putter.
Hole 2- Safest shot is to throw 225 to 250 to the area near the rec 4 tee pad. Use your putter for an approach shot through the gauntlet of trees for your birdie on this Par4 hole. Green rolls to the left.
Hole 3-Three narrow fairways. Take your pick for this 250 foot par 3. Drop off behind basket.
Hole 4- Keep your wits for this tough par 5. Unless you are lefty or can throw a sidearm with control for 250 feet, I would throw a putter 150 to 200 feet to play it safe. You can make up some distance on your second shot. Do not try to overthrow this 600 foot hole.
Hole 5- Open par 4 hole that allows you to throw 400 plus feet off of the tee but remember that your second shot may be easier if you can keep your first one in the road.
Hole 6- Keep your drive to the right on this par 4 to a good landing zone at 250 feet. Now you will need to throw your Roc or putter to a basket that sits on top of a little mound.
Hole 7- Open ace run. You may want to check the wind conditions at the top of the big mound. Often there is a head wind. If so then I recommend throwing a TL. Major drop offs on left and right of basket.
Hole 8- Another ace run. Wind is always a factor and always different. This is a great hole for practicing your shots in the wind. There are two baskets on this hole with the long shot being to a pyramid.
Hole 9- Wide open or is it. Don't just throw it as far as you can. Think about where you want to be for your next shot. Where are my strengths? Do I want to be on the left, right, or middle? Elevated basket.
Hole 10- Short technical hole so take your time and get a birdie. If you go for the ace then there is a good chance that your disc will fly far past the basket. The alternative is to go for the area just in front of the basket. I said it earlier but don't forget the drop off behind basket.
Hole 11. Par 4 L-shot. Placement is more important on this hole than any of the others. Right-handed sidearm or lefty is easier so learn these throws or throw a putter to the top of the hill.
Hole 12. Challenges Hole 1 for toughest par 3's on course. This one is a bit easier because you do not have a low ceiling to work with off the tee. Drop off behind basket.
Hole 13. Right handed player has a chance to work on that 300 foot sidearm shot. There is plenty of room to just throw a straight shot for a 20 to 25 foot putt.
Hole 14. Trees break this hole into two fairway options. Watch out for the creek/ditch that runs in front and behind the basket.
Hole 15. Throw a tight short-shot for 200 feet and you will be rewarded with a chance to make a challenging putt to a basket on top of mound. I suggest leaving your drive on the left side of the mound because it is easier to putt from there.
Hole 16. Teaches players how to get height on your drive. Another elevated basket.
Hole 17. There are two fairways but the left one is the best one for the short basket. (Fairway on the right is an old historic road used in the 1700's by Cornwallis) Statistics show that this hole is the easiest par 4 on the course. I recommend walking down the fairway to test the wind. If you are with someone just pretend that you cannot remember where the basket is located.
Hole 18. Keep your shot low because there are some unfriendly trees. You can still make your birdie with a bad kick if your drive is low. A low skip shot is good.
The farm house and the property around is on the National Register of Historic Places. Enjoy the fact that you can play another challenging disc golf course while touring an historic piece of property.

Cons:

The blind trees on Hole 18 are too close together thus making it more of a guess and crapshoot from the tee. I believe that a couple of smaller trees should be removed.
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