Charlotte, NC

Renaissance Park - Gold

4.215(based on 97 reviews)
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Renaissance Park - Gold reviews

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9 0
Moose33
Gold level trusted reviewer
Experience: 12.2 years 202 played 200 reviews
4.00 star(s)

Worth its weight in…well you know

Reviewed: Played on:Aug 17, 2023 Played the course:once

Pros:

When this course is spoken about it's typically with a mix of awe, ire and longing and I can certainly see why. The long and unforgiving nature mixed with fantastic design elements like tiered greens and heavily bending shots, wooded tunnel holes and mixed elevation make this a difficult challenge but one well worth tackling.

The majority of holes are in the 400-650 Ft range with many par 4s for fair scoring and a few reachable par threes as well as a could have 900+ ft par fives.

You will test a lot of shot shapes as well as how far you can throw, and it needs to have some accuracy as the OB is plentiful and sometimes tight. And to score you need to be able to throw at least 350 with good accuracy, if you can throw farther it would greatly help. Especially as on a couple of holes like 3 and 12 big wide hyzers are helpful and can help you get to a better position with 400 ft of hyzer.

Tee pads are all concrete and mostly very good, some have wooden platforms build around them.

Signage is adequate and looks pretty accurate, and the next tee signs are accurate and absolutely required.

Baskets are Innova Pro 28s and inn good shape even though they don't seem new. If they were shared between Gold and one of the other courses they usually have a portion of the band painted gold and some have different numbers and that's marked as well.

Cons:

The cons are extremely minimal, the main one is the navigation is sometimes tricky since the course is shared by two others and depending on the layout it plays across and around the others in ways that can be confusing. Especially on the 12-15 stretch where some of the paths are windy and very small.

I also think a could have the tee areas could do with a new surface when able.

You need to be in shape for this one, it's long, walks between some holes are long and in the summer heat the more open parts were a bit difficult.

Other Thoughts:

It is fantastic, and in the Charlotte area is very close to Nevin and Angry Beaver in my estimation but maybe ever so slightly below those two. Not necessarily because of quality but just a touch less fun and I'm having a hard time quantifying why.
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11 0
LLmanu10
Bronze level trusted reviewer
Experience: 2.8 years 24 played 23 reviews
4.50 star(s)

Renny Gold

Reviewed: Played on:May 17, 2023 Played the course:once

Pros:

Renaissance Park - Gold has been #1 on my wish list for quite some time now, and today I got to play it for the first time. Does the course stand up to my extremely high expectations and prove to be the best course in Charlotte? Lets see:
-One word to describe this course: TOUGH. Others may think this a total downside, but for me, this is a good thing. Charlotte is home to many great courses, however, most of them are considered by most to be "easy." It's good to have a course that will kick your butt and humble you every once in a while.
-The course has an excellent flow/variety. The course begins with some standard QC wooded holes and slowly opens up to some wide open layouts. The course finishes with holes that I consider to be both open and technical. In shorter words, Renny Gold has a little bit of everything sprinkled in.
-Some great elevation changes make this course even more enjoyable. Who knew that throwing a hyzer backhand down the hill on #8 was so majestic?
-The course is built on land that has some very beautiful terrain/landscape. If my mom was obsessed about disc golf like she is with nachos (lol), we'd be leaving the park with a full camera roll.
-Risk/reward galore at this course. Errant throws will cost you big time, but a nicely placed tee shot in the middle of the fairway will give you a sense of satisfaction, like how you've just defeated one of the million different challenges.
-Most, if not all the holes here would be considered a signature hole for any other course. #2, 10, 14, & 18 could possibly be the best 4 holes I have ever played, and to think that they are all at the same course is delusional.
-I am so thankful that the big ravine is incorporated into this course. That being said, it could've be hard to maintain the erosion, but the course designers and maintainers did an excellent job to prevent this. Very strong barriers are placed alongside #2 & 18's respective greens, and a strong, wooden bridge was built to perfection that goes down, across, and back up the ravine.
-Renaissance Park also had two other courses, named "Pro Players" and "RenSke." If you realize that Renny Gold isn't right for you, there are two other options that seem great as well. Pro Players is just the short tees/baskets for Renny Gold with a few exceptions, and Renske seems to be a fun little par 3 course that has its own layout.
-After reading reviews prior to my round, I came in knowing that navigation may be a little tricky, considering that there are the other two courses overlapping. However, I was pleasantly surprised on how easy navigation ended up being. There definitely are a few hiccups (listed in cons), but for the most part, everything was pretty straightforward. The excellent tee signs and labeled baskets definitely helped a lot, as well as gold signs pointing to the next tee.
-A couple of minor things to wrap this section up: pin locations are very neat and clever, and made the "easy" holes a little more challenging. OB is listed very clearly and seemed fair. Benches are present on, I think, all tees, which is nice considering the amount of effort it takes to play this course.

Cons:

-Because of the difficulty level this course offers, your round can (and will most likely) be very frustrating. I can see people going for putts on #2 and missing it into the ravine, same for #6. However, try to make it fun, and not let the frustration take over.
-Again, the overlapping of the three courses is probably the most noticeable con. It doesn't seem too bad with Pro Players, but this is definitely an issue with RenSke around holes #11-13. On a busy day, I can see this being very annoying, waiting around not knowing who is going to throw first.
-Rough is incredibly thick. Even though this course is demanding distance, accuracy is more important. A disc thrown into the rough will be hard to find. Luckily, I found my disc every time, but maybe not the case for others.
-Although I credited the navigation earlier, there were a couple of times where I stood clueless and needed a map. I couldn't find the tee for #1 immediately, so we ended up playing Pro Players #1 before we found it. The path from #10's basket to #11's tee was split into three directions with no sign. The next tee sign at #13's basket was wrong, telling us to walk left instead of straight. It took us a minute to find out where we actually needed to go.
-Tee pads are the worst I've ever seen. How does a course of this caliber have such poor pads? They are short and have a very rocky texture, which caused me to slip multiple times. #5's tee pad is buried by mud, making it hard to find. The tees over at RenSke seem better than this course, making me wonder if they will re-do them soon (hopefully).
-Course maintenance is pretty poor as well. The open fields on #1 & 2 has very overgrown grass, and there was a lot of litter scattered about the course, especially the front nine (Grass on #11-13 was good, most likely because of high foot traffic around the RenSke course).
-The only stretch of holes that wasn't good was #11-13. #11 & 13 are both par 5's and #12 is a long par 4. All three holes are wide open with some scattered trees, so it made throwing some bombs less enjoyable because of the repetitiveness. Also, the RenSke course overlapping with this area makes it even less fun.

Other Thoughts:

So, did Renny Gold live up to my expectations? Absolutely. Although this course totally beat me up, I still had a blast playing with @michaeldean. The park itself seems nice with lots of amenities, including volleyball, tennis, skateboarding, and ball fields. For anyone in the Charlotte area, this is a must play. The RenSke layout seems fun and worth playing one day, too.
-Now that I have played the "big 3" courses, I think that Renny Gold is the best, closely followed by Nevin. I think Hornets Nest is a level below these, unfortunately.
-I really think this course had the potential to be a 5.0. Even though it isn't perfect, its pretty darn close. A high 4.5 rated course will forever be one of my favorites!
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11 1
michaeldean
Experience: 4 years 12 played 2 reviews
4.50 star(s)

Very good course drive by

Reviewed: Played on:May 17, 2023 Played the course:once

Pros:

- Excellent course with good holes, pin locations, elevation changes, out of bounds, and distance variations.

- There are 3 different course options and I played the gold tees (long) and had an enjoyable time. The other 2 courses look like great par 3's to play.

- A very easy course to enjoy while still having a challenge.

- Hole 8 is one of my top 3 favorite holes with a throw downhill and a deep rough behind it.

Cons:

- Many opportunities to lose a disc, like a big ravine and, a deep, muddy, rough on majority of the holes.

- Tee pads where not good and where short and in some occasions slippery.

- Navigation at times could be hard to read/understand because there is 3 courses.

Other Thoughts:

I slipped down the ravine and it hurt but was pretty funny.
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5 1
Baysinger
Silver level trusted reviewer
Experience: 14.8 years 93 played 55 reviews
5.00 star(s)

Renaissance Park Golds

Reviewed: Played on:Dec 22, 2018 Played the course:once

Pros:

Prestigious course
Amazing elevation
VERY challenging

Cons:

Definitely not a course for beginners
Potential for other park visitors in fairways

Other Thoughts:

This course is a beast! At least the Gold layout is! My Brother and I were in the area and decided to give Renaissance Park a try. I had heard so much about it and heard if I was ever in the area to make sure to play Renaissance Gold. While this is a VERY true tip, don't expect to set your personal best on this course. We were very humbled by long distances, tight fairways, and huge elevation changes. This is a very beautiful course and quite fun to play, but I found out quickly that I had no business playing the gold layout as my game is severely lacking the skills to perform well there. Now don't get me wrong, I had an absolute blast playing this course and would love to get a chance to play it again sometime in the future, however I will not be expecting to shoot well in the least. There is a reason this course was home of a previous World Championship. Don't believe me? Go play it and find out for yourself. I definitely want to get back to this course and try out some of the shorter layouts also. As I have always played... make sure you make it out to this course if you are anywhere near the area! If you want to see this course on video check out the video below that my Brother and I filmed when we visited. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BhZoOfdIbGc
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13 0
Doofenshmirtz
Gold level trusted reviewer
Experience: 11.8 years 121 played 72 reviews
3.50 star(s)

A Backtracker's Paradise

Reviewed: Played on:Sep 11, 2022 Played the course:once

Pros:

This review is that of a traveling player playing this course for the first time. This course has some great hole designs with plenty of elevation change, precarious pin placements, natural OB and a beautiful setting.

Hole 1 starts uphill through mature trees in an open setting and is a low celing hole. Hole 2 is a par four with a tight fairway on the first shot and a throw over a deep ravine to a basket on a fair-sized ledge on the other side. Holes 3-8 or 9 (to be discussed below), are in a heavily wooded area with a creek running though it and lots of elevation change. I thought the holes here were pretty amazing. All of them were fun and the front nine is the highlight of the course before it goes into a more open area in and out of a power line right of way.

There is a good balance of shots required by the course including heavily wooded fairways that require an early turn and beg for a RHBH hyzer flip or a RHFH flex. There are uphill and downhill throws with both moderate and more significant elevation change. Several baskets are on rock outcrops near dropoffs and several baskets are on ledges on steep hillsides.

The heavily wooded holes have a very good distance to fairway width relationship that made all of the holes seem eminently fair though incredibly challenging.

About 1/2 the course is heavily shaded which will be nice on hotter summer days.

There has been a lot of work done on this course like the bridges and steps found in different areas and, if that kind of effort could be put into making the course easier to navigate for people not familar with it, it would get a higher rating from me.

Cons:

This was the most frustrating course to navigate that I have ever played. To whomever is in charge of the use of tee signs and navigational aids, you failed miserably from a navigational standpoint. Like Hornets Nest, this course has apparently had its navigation re-thought or re-designed without letting all of the tee signs know about it. Hole 1 Gold sends you to what is apparently hole 1 "gray" if you want to play the shorts. However - Surprise! - that might actually be hole 2 gray! This nonsense then propagates throughout the rest of the course until there is a 2 number difference between the two tee lengths - apparently so that it can be called two different courses - maybe.

The above nonsense then leads to the 9 and 11 basket, having the "11" facing you while you are looking for 9 (not realizing how you've just been fooled) only, after walking around looking for 9, to approach the basket from the direction that the 9 faces to realize that you've just wasted even more time (and believe me, by the time you get to this hole, you've wasted a lot of time trying to figure out where to throw from and to).

Hole 7 and 9 gray use the same fairway and tee box but just have alternate basket locations. You play, backtrack to 8, then backtrack to 9 to play a hole that you have pretty much already played, or some such nonsense.

You cross over hole 8 gold's tee box (clearly marked as such) on your way to 7. However, that isn't really 8 gold's basket - Psyche!. So when you finish 7, you know where to go, because you've already been there, right? Nope. The navigational issues are so bad in several places that my group almost quit. It took us over three hours to play a round that we would typically finish in 2-1/2 at most.

Holes 3 - 9 are crammed into an amazing piece of property with lots of elevation change and a creek running through it but are also holes that aqre basically piled on top of each other requiring the crossing of fairways, walking up fairways and crossing other tee pads to get to the next hole.

I guess if you are a local, you probably don't even look at the tee signs or next hole signs because you know your way around the course, but the confusion caused by the inconsistent signs rises to a level that is nearly comical on some holes. 7 and 9 gray are really just one hole with alternate baskets apparently.

And, lastly, I have to agree with another reviewer that the 18 Gold basket location is just silly.

Other Thoughts:

This course looks like it has three sets of tee signs and navigational aids that were put in at three different times by people who had different ideas about how the course was supposed to be played.

I don't think that I have ever been as frustrated with the navigation on a course as I was with this one. If you are traveling, I'd recommend playing with a local. The signs on this course are almost guaranteed to make you misplay it in a couple of areas unless you just ignore them.

I suppose that some people likely think that UDisc is the answer to all of this, but then why have signs at all? Updating the course signs and elimination of the shared fairway and teebox for 7/9 on the gray course are what it would take for me to rate this course higher.
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17 0
Shadrach3
Gold level trusted reviewer
Experience: 5.5 years 318 played 306 reviews
4.50 star(s)

Not Sure What to Say Except…It’s Good

Reviewed: Played on:May 11, 2022 Played the course:once

Pros:

An iconic course that mostly delivers with a range of holes.

-Amenities: Same as Renske. Yellow-banded DISCatchers, small concrete tees, thorough tee signs with good maps. Generally next tee signs, benches. Occasionally distance to pin markers. Baskets are labeled to help avoid overlap confusion with Renske or the Grey course.

-Variety: A good mix of open and woods holes. The first couple are open, followed by five thickly wooded holes. Then, it's more of a hodgepodge of holes that are partially open, partially wooded.

-Elevation: Other than the (11)-(13) section, Renny uses near-constant elevation change. There are some big downhills and uphills, a gorge coming into play on several holes, and the very steep uphill (5), which probably makes my Top 5 of steepest holes I've played.

-Length: A decently long course with plenty of multi-shot holes. There are still plenty of par-3s as well.

-Challenge: Lots of difficult holes requiring a combination of full committal and good shot shaping choices.

-Shot Shaping/Gameplay: An ever-engaging circuit using all the pros listed above. Par-4s are most dominant, typically requiring a clean fairway hit on the drive to provide a birdie. Some holes are slightly forgiving, but on many the elevation is so severe that a miss will give you a dire scrambling situation. It's hard to peg one type as the dominant hole, but by and large there are reasonably wide and well defined fairways, or a mostly open hole shape with more options (but still specific shot placement important).

-Memorable Holes: I think Renny Gold is elevated by its memorable holes. (2) and (18) require crossing the gorge to precarious basket positions, an iconic thrill. (4) is a huge downhill with a steep right side dropoff. (8) and (15) are mirror images, big grassy downhills with pocket greens. Holes (7), (10), (14), and (16) were also particularly good.

-Two Loops: In the case of Renny Gold, it's a 7-11 split, rather than the traditional 9-9. Still, a good opportunity to get to the car.

Cons:

-PPC Overlap: The Grey/Pro Players course uses a lot of the same holes as the Gold course, but with different baskets, tee pads, and/or numbers. This creates a bit of a confusing flow.

-Renske Overlap: Renske runs through holes (11)-(13) of the Gold course, which is pretty maddening. Who has right of way? I had to wait on all three of these Gold holes for Renske players, sometimes playing multiple holes while I stood in the fairway.

-Navigation: The transitions (4)-(5), (10)-(11), and (13)-(14) are long or confusing.

-Slump: Holes (11)-(13), beyond the Renske issue, are just flat and long. Hole (11) felt a little bit like one of Scott Stokely's 50,000' disc golf "holes".

-Disc Loss: The super steep hills and gulch can lead to disc loss, no doubt. This one will be best played with a spotter.

Other Thoughts:

I'm not sure what I was expecting from Renny Gold, but it exceeded it. The (2)-(7) range, plus consistently very good holes thrown throughout the rest, convinced me that this is better than a typical Excellent course. It's a hard, long course that provides a great opposite to the Renske course also onsite, but it was very worth a play to me. Overall, it deserves a Phenomenal label.

-Similar Courses: There aren't a lot of comparable courses. Vaguely similar maybe are Stoney Hill (Newberry, SC) or East Metro Park (Manor, TX).
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13 0
Dan13LP
Experience: 18 years 102 played 7 reviews
5.00 star(s)

An Amazing Course with a Great Challenge 2+ years drive by

Reviewed: Played on:Aug 20, 2021 Played the course:once

Pros:

-This course will make you throw just about every type of shot in your bag in order to score well.
-A good mix of tight technical lines, wide open throws, short technical shots and just about everything in between. The variety on this course was really fun, forcing you to shape shots and play position golf to score well.
-Baskets are in great shape, tee pads are solid, and the signage is superb. As a first time player at this course, playing it solo, using the maps on each of the signs made it really easy to find where the baskets were located on blind shots.
-There are some really unique basket placements here, in rocks, around corners, tucked away in the trees, that add to the aesthetic of this course.
-The longer, more technical holes are really well designed and thought out. When you approach these holes, you have to think about, what's the best place to land for the second shot (ie. position golf), so that I can set myself to get the par or birdie.
-There's a pretty good mix of elevation found at this course as well with some uphill and downhill shots both in the woods and out in the open.
-Navigation on the majority of this course was easy to follow, with arrows pointing to the next tee pad near the majority of the baskets. This was true for all but the last 4 or 5 holes (mentioned in the cons as well).
-The course seemed to be very well maintained. On holes where there were open grass fields, the grass was mowed and manicured. On the the more wooded holes, the fairways were clear of debris and very manageable.
-The wooden bridges found in the wooded holes to help players navigate the creek that runs through some of the holes was a nice added touch.

Cons:

-Although I found the navigation to be fairly straightforward and well marked on the majority of the course, there were a few sections that caused confusion. On the front side in the woods, there were a couple of tee pads that were tough to find despite the navigational arrows, I believe this was hole 5. On the back side, after hole 13 there were no longer arrows pointing to the next tee, but I did find some yellow ribbons tied to trees which seemed to help.
-The Gold Layout seemed to share a lot of the same fairways as the shorter white layout. On a busy day, I could see the overlaps causing backups and/or confusion.
-The Gold Layout also overlaps on some of the Red Layout's holes on the back side, which again could cause backups.
-There was one hole, between 14 and 15, where you have to cross the fairway of another hole in order to get to the tee pad. A slight safety concern, but not a huge deal if you're paying attention.
-The rough on some of the holes was pretty thick, near the basket on hole 10 comes to mind. The fairway is just a thin strip of mowed grass, and everything around it was SUPER thick bushes. Spent some time looking for my up-shot that was just outside the circle of the basket.

Other Thoughts:

I felt compelled to write a review for this course because this is one of the top 5 courses I've played EVER! I like to give ratings based on purely the disc golf aspect (not scenery, how good of hike it was, amenities, etc...) and this is without a doubt a 5 Star course that will test even the best players. I personally thought the challenge at this course was amazing. It's a course that truly rewards good shots and punishes bad ones, simple as that. 18 is a bit of a gimmick hole, double mando through the electrical poles to an island green, but I found it fun and was a great way to finish an already amazing and tough course. The Pars were a bit generous in my opinion, but it definitely helped the scorecard look a bit cleaner, so no complaints there. Holes 13 and 14 stood out in my mind as being really fun, challenging holes. Got the birdie on 14! I would love to try the flick route on hole 16 next time I played. From the tee it seemed like a real low percentage shot, but once you get to the basket, you can see the line is there and would actually probably give you a better show at the 2 look than the backhand. I only wish I had courses like this one and Hornet's Nest in my hometown, I would play them as often as I could! Next time I'm in Charlotte, I will without a doubt be playing Renaissance Gold again
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6 7
Jonjey
Experience: 10 played 10 reviews
1.00 star(s)

Not a Summer course. 2+ years drive by

Reviewed: Played on:Aug 28, 2020 Played the course:once

Pros:

The pros are that this has to be one of the hardest courses ever. Some unique holes, some people would say maybe "gimmicky" in places.

Cons:

The litter on this course was horrific. I don't know if it's the local disc golfers or just local riff raff, but one teepad, I believe hole 4, literally just had a mountain of trash in front of it. The course itself was VERY overgrown and not maintained at all, knee-high grass on fairways, gaps become smaller which can at times give a feeling more akin to putt putt golf: "Hit the line through the spinning blades of the windmill." Hole 2 & hole 18 if you putt down into this little ravine behind the baskets (or come up short on the approach) you'll never get that disc back. I'm sure in the winter time someone goes through that wasteland and finds hundreds of discs. Any time you're even slightly off the fairway it's just "Hopefully this isn't my first run-in with Lyme's Disease!" or a copperhead or what have you.

Other Thoughts:

Long story short: Play Hornet's Nest! It's nice, even in the summer time. Not an overgrown trash ridden swamp.

I love a hard, challenging course. But there's a difference between that and this filthy monster.
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3 12
rustman1
Experience: 5 played 5 reviews
5.00 star(s)

Ideal Course 2+ years drive by

Reviewed: Played on:Jan 4, 2020 Played the course:5+ times

Pros:

The longs are fair and require accuracy, the shorts are well done and also require accuracy and placement. There's a healthy mix of open, technical, OB and elevation.

Cons:

Summer can be hard to find discs on a few holes. Rainy conditions cause some serious standing water and slippery hill sides.
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12 10
douglowe
Experience: 13.8 years 48 played 10 reviews
2.50 star(s)

Front 9 is great, back 9 isn't 2+ years

Reviewed: Played on:Nov 11, 2019 Played the course:once

Pros:

The front 9. Great use of elevation and creatively designed. This was the type of course I was looking to play while in Charlotte.

Cons:

The back 9. There are a few long (as in, around 1000 feet), boring, straight holes. In my opinion, these holes are the laziest way to add difficulty to a course. The holes in the back 9 are so long that the course spans into the adjacent park/course. With the seemingly well thought out front 9, I couldn't have been more disappointed in the back.

Now, the kicker. Hole 18. This may be the first time I've ever ended a round short due to disliking a hole. If I understand correctly, you have to drive to the end of the first half, throw over a fence and gulley, then walk around to the second half of the fairway to throw over a deeper gulley to an island green. Locals, is that right? Because from what I saw, that's what you had to do and it's ridiculous. I actually left the course upset and disappointed, primarily due to the last hole.

Other Thoughts:

This course was so promising during the first half, then just let me down... hard. Maybe I should have just played the shorter layout, but I wanted the "full experience", since I was only in town for a day. If the back 9 focused more on skill and not just long bombs, it would greatly improve the course. Until then, I just can't recommend it.
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14 0
dndelli
Gold level trusted reviewer
Premium Member
Experience: 16.6 years 134 played 131 reviews
4.50 star(s)

Renaissance - Gold 2+ years

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

Pros:

When I first started playing disc golf, Renaissance was not only the hardest of the five "big" courses in Charlotte at the time, but one of the hardest in the world. It was a championship caliber course that had gained a reputation, even amongst the pros as being a great, difficult course. The only thing that has changed since back then is my ability to score "decent-ish" here, because to this day it is easily still the hardest course I have ever played.

The amount of work that went into designing and maintaining this course is incredible, and definitely apparent when you play it. Two decades after it was first built, this course still holds up. It is a beast, and a blast to play. The "less memorable/average" holes on this course would probably all be considered signature holes on almost any other course in the region. This largely comes down to the great use of the park's landscape to create dynamic holes with some interesting greens interspersed throughout the course. While I've heard some call a few of the greens gimmicky, I personally feel like its use of tricky greens isn't overused to the point where I would call them that, and adds a new element to the course which can punish those who try to play too safe. I appreciate the need to really think about my approach shots.

While challenging, this course is never unfair. It does however, reward accuracy above all else. So don't let the distances on the scorecard fool you, because those sub 400' Par 4s, earn every bit of that par. And be prepared to pull out pretty much every shot in your arsenal if you expect to shoot Par here. The start of the course is fairly technical, but slowly opens up to a few huge bomb holes right in the middle of the round. If you really want to maintain your strokes though, you definitely are going to want to consider your landings even on the long holes, so you have the right angle for your next shot.

A lot of work has been done here over the past few years to improve the layout. If the basket has a gold band (or even half of the basket has a gold band), then it is a basket for Renny Gold. When you reach Hole 11, you're gonna need to throw past a couple red baskets before you reach your target. So the color coordination here is really nice!

UPDATE: I was just out at Renaissance again (it had been about a month), and the amount of work that is going into this course is incredible! I noticed new erosion bars on several holes, but more importantly a new wooden staircase leads you down, across, and up the ravine on Hole 18. The ravine was also cut back around this area for the people who were building this amazing walkway, which is a most welcome bonus, but the walkway itself should really help cut down on erosion and prevent injuries in this area.

Cons:

There used to be a short layout that was referred to as Renny - Grey, but that layout was removed/revamped so that two separate courses could be built into the two halves of Renny Gold. And while they are decent courses in their own right, they can cause a lot of confusion and delays for people playing Renny - Gold. If it's your first time and you aren't with someone who knows the course, you would do well to download a map of the layout to bring with you. I think it would be nice if there were painted bands around the tee sign posts to indicate which course the tee belongs to, and if it is a shared tee.

At times the rough on this course goes from being punishing, to downright abusive. If you tend to play with a risk/reward style, either plan on backing off some here or be okay with the possibility of losing a disc. I have a love/hate relationship with this aspect of the course. Obviously, I hate searching for and/or losing discs, and hate when other people lose discs, but every fairway hit feels super rewarding when you know how hard it is to scramble on this course. Errant shots on this course almost never go unpunished.

The length of this course, and its difficulty probably make it less appealing to a significant portion of the disc golf community. I remember this course chewing me up and spitting me out my first time out here.

Other Thoughts:

Even though this course might lack the aesthetics of Hornets Nest or Nevin, it has its own charm. Simply put, I believe anyone who manages to not let their ego get the best of them out here, they will realize that Renny - Gold manages to create the perfect blend of a challenging with fun.

I am going to give this course a 4.5 rating, because of the truly inspired course design that manages to eek out the absolute full potential of the land being used. And I am very pleased that it appears work is being done around this course, to give it a much needed face lift. While navigation still might be an issue for first timers, I would feel wrong giving this course a lower rating. Hopefully, further improvements aid with navigation as well. This is a course I could realistically see myself giving a perfect rating if all of it's signage issues were addressed and it were tournament ready.

Favorite Holes: 2, 3, 10, 13, 14, & 18
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20 0
DiscGolfCraig
Diamond level trusted reviewer
Premium Member
Experience: 19.8 years 584 played 536 reviews
4.50 star(s)

A Gold Standard 2+ years

Reviewed: Updated: Played on:Aug 27, 2019 Played the course:5+ times

Pros:

I've played better courses, nicer courses, more scenic course, and more fun courses. But 15 years in and 300+ played courses, I still haven't played one that's tougher than the one that's 15 minutes from my house.
- When I first started playing disc golf, I cut my teeth on some of the more 'forgiving' Charlotte courses such as Reedy Creek, Kilborne, Sugaw Creek, Veterans Park (RIP), and even Hornets Nest. It took a while before I felt I was ready to challenge Renny. First the grey layout, then even a while later before Renny Gold.
- What is a tough course will always be up for debate? You could make a 5,000-foot hole, and make it a par 18, but is that truly tough? Renny Gold is the only course where time and again I'm satisfied making a 4; although, there are usually 5s and 6s sprinkled in.
- Ah, the dreaded ravine that comes into play on #2, (potentially) 6, and 18. In 2019, it's actually tame by the standards of a decade ago when a brave soul could find a dozen or more discs should he brave the climb down. If you play #2 & 18 smartly by playing smart station-to-station throws, they are two of the best holes one will see anywhere. #2 is also one of the few holes where throwing in the thick stuff (to the left of the ravine) is a good shot.
- Bring your patience. There are realistically only four holes where most players may see a 2 on their scorecards: #6 (257 feet), 8 (323 feet), 9 (285 feet), and 16 (302 feet). #8 and #15, both downhill layouts, also present the only holes players may want to throw more than one disc. Notice how three of the shorter holes are in a four-hole stretch. That is the only 'easy' stretch of the course.
- There are multiple holes that would be the signature hole on most courses. In addition to #2 & 18, #7, 10, & 14 are two of the best in Charlotte. #7 is one of the greatest tee shots around in that if by simply landing your disc in the fairway, it, by default, is a great shot.
- #14 is the first layout I was ever awed by. It showed me what an elite disc golf layout could look like. The tee shot on this 564-foot layout is heavily protected by thick growth and underbrush on both sides of the fairway until you reach the gap, with the hole sloping down to the left. Depending on how far you throw, you're probably looking at a 150 to 250-foot second shot that, 1., starts in the open, 2. plays downhill, 3. Into the woods, 4. to a slightly raised basket, 5. that's on a quasi-island, 6. with drop-offs all around it. Other than that, it's an average layout. To this day, whether I'm playing Gold or (now, the lame titled) Pro Players layout, I feel cheated if I don't get to experience this approach shot to it's fullest. Sure, I could throw a disc for fun, but it just doesn't mean anything. This right here, is one of my all-time favorite shots in all of disc golf.
- Yes, there are three long open holes on the back 9. If you're a big bomber, you'll love this stretch. If not, you're just throwing driver, driver, driver, approach, and putt on your 1,000 foot hole.
- Course just has a certain character to it. Whether you're a first- time visitor or a frequent player, there's often a sense somewhere around hole six or seven that one wonders how you are still only on the front nine. Between a lot of elevation factors, multi-shot holes, and possibly, multiple searches in the woods for a disc, or five, your round goes by slow. That's why the 'easy' stretch is such a relief. There's a fair chance you'll play #6 - 9 faster than you'll play #4 & 5.

Cons:

I hate this course. It is tough. I'll freely admit this course is undefeated against me as I am not skilled enough. On many holes there is seemingly little margin for error. #8 can be birdie chance, but if your throw hyzers too soon or too hot you could be 50-75 feet from the basket and be lucky to salvage par.
- A round can blow up real fast. Land in the ravine on #2, and you may be getting a bogey or double bogey. Then, you've got a ridiculous tough stretch of #3 - 5 where all three holes could be blow up scores. Suddenly, you get to #6 and feel you must birdie this hole....but, remember the ravine is just to the right of the fairway. You overthrow this hole and suddenly, if this were an Xbox, you're hitting the reset button.
- The obvious problem with Renny is that three courses overlap. Pro Player is essentially the shorter version of Gold. Renske overlaps with holes #11 - 13. On a busy day, players are going to be popping up from all over the place. Who has the right of way? That's for you to decide.
- Navigation needs to be improved. It's always been a problem. Even with improved signage, it's still not where it should be. With three courses overlapping, you'll want to make sure you're following the correct path and/or arrows. At times, the same basket will play for different hole numbers for the different layouts. Multiple times I've come across first time players who were completely lost.
- Course is not for the faint of heart or arm. There are more holes longer than 800 feet (3) than there are holes shorter than 300 feet (2); more holes longer than 500 feet (10) than shorter than 400 feet (7). Point being, if you're not good enough to play here, you probably won't enjoy the round. You'll be sore, you'll be tired, you may be scratched up searching for discs; you'll be humbled; and you will probably blame the course instead of yourself.
- Not a fault of the course itself, but an issue to be addressed, nonetheless. At the furthest point (around #11 & 12), you're close to a half mile from the parking lot by hole #1 (if you follow the fairways vs as-the-crow-flies). If you park by the first tee, you won't see your vehicle again until after finishing your round. Over the years, there has been issue with car break-ins from time-to-time. Keep that in mind. You don't want a bad day worsened, or a great round ruined because you didn't lock up your car and/or valuables.
- As this is a long walking course, there aren't a lot of amenities throughout, mainly water fountains & restrooms. There are some near the tennis courts and again the second parking lot near Renske/hole #12.
- Also, there are areas of the course where there is little or no shade. Keep that in mind, especially when you're here in the summer. Gatorade is a much better choice that beer on this course on a hot summer day.

Other Thoughts:

Renny Gold sets up as if its 18 different challenges. Each one seems different than others...apart from #11 - 13. The good news is that if you struggle here, you're not the first one to have a bad round. Just look at the course's SSA and take comfort in the idea your round might not have been THAT bad.
- This may not be a popular opinion, but I do not like the idea/design of holes #11 - 13. Three open holes with lengths, in order, of 1042, 617, and 974 feet. Basically, you play 1,000 feet one direction to turn around a squeeze in two more holes 1,000 feet plus the opposite direction. Ideally, one or two of those holes would be eliminated and a shorter, wooded hole would be incorporated into the round. This is the most boring, unimaginative portion of the course.
- Conversely, #16 & 17 have fun looks on two of the more overlooked layouts. #16 is a split fairway, shorter hole, listed at 302 feet. Having played the two dogleg routes, both seem a fair bit longer than 302 feet (probably 30 - 60 feet longer). This is your last chance to catch your breath as you should be having a possible birdie chance, or at least, a relatively simple par 3. #17 is interesting with the fairway's 90-degree turn to the right halfway down. If your tee shot is on the wrong side of the fairway, you may not have an angle to the bend. Once you hit the turn, it's an uphill shot to the basket. Solid station-to-station play.
- I stand by the belief this is the toughest course I've played. I've played all three IDGC courses in less than 5 hours, zipped through Idlewild in 90 minutes after a nearly 4-hour car ride from Knoxville, and played some tough, private NC mountain courses. None of those, or the other 300+ courses are as tough as Renny Gold. This is the second closest 18-hole course to my house, and I hardly play it because I'd rather have fun than be beaten down when playing.
- I think Renny was far ahead of its time. There's a wave of newer, longer, tougher championship level courses. Think about playing this course when it first opened in 1998 and how far different the equipment was at that time compared to present day.
- The course is an absolute must-play for the appropriately skilled and disciplined player. Of people who give the course a low rating there is a common theme among those reviewers. Hint: there isn't a lot of objectivity in their reviews.
- I'm giving this an easy 4.5 rating. It's just rough enough around the edges that it's overall presentation is less than the IDGC or Idlewild. At it's current rating in the 4.2 - 4.3 range, you're not going to see another course of this caliber.
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1 26
BrewCrewJake
Experience: 12.9 years 14 played 3 reviews
2.00 star(s)

super confusing 2+ years drive by

Reviewed: Played on:Mar 16, 2019 Played the course:once

Pros:

Number of baskets and move the change of elevation through out the course. It pretty much becomes unplayable after heavy rains.

Cons:

Very confusing layout and very unclear route.
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20 0
jjtwinnova
Gold level trusted reviewer
Experience: 8.7 years 246 played 97 reviews
4.00 star(s)

Rejuvenate Renny! 2+ years drive by

Reviewed: Played on:Dec 1, 2018 Played the course:once

Pros:

Renaissance Gold has been on my "Must Play" list for a while. A few courses in Charlotte have been on that list. So when I found out that I would be in Charlotte for a couple days, I was ecstatic.

Renaissance Gold is not flashy. It doesn't have brand new Discatchers, pristine tee pads, exquisite tee signs. However, it makes up for this with exhilarating golf.

This course has some of the most extreme holes I have ever played, mostly due to the crazy terrain, especially around the green. For example, hole two seems harmless enough on paper. Under 600 feet, par 4. Pretty open, no extreme elevation changes overall. However, the approach shot is over a DEEP ravine, which is terrifying to traverse. Leave an approach five feet short, you are throwing 80 degrees up the hill. Go long, and you have a horrifying death putt.

This theme continues through the course. Holes that should be easy, but then you have one non-perfectly executed shot, and somehow you're 500 feet from the basket, shooting for double bogey. That's what I really love about this course. From start to finish, you can't take a single shot for granted.

I could go on and on about the brilliant hole designs, and fun shots, but it's impossible to do some of it justice. However, know that a course without water can still make discs disappear.

There is a great variety of shots needed to execute a great round. The front nine is shorter, but much more technical and has more substantial elevation changes. The back nine requires more distance, while still having different lines to throw on each hole.

A lot of courses that have a total distance like that of Renaissance Gold are reliant on distance. However, this is not the case here. I believe that if you can throw 350 feet with a good bit of accuracy, you can shoot par at this course. They put a lot of emphasis on landing zones, giving a more experienced player an edge.

Cons:

Renaissance Gold is one of the best course designs I have played, it's hard to believe it's twenty years old. That's older than I am! However, it's far from perfect.

The baskets are no longer a shiny gold, but rather a dull, pale yellow. The tee signs are worn, not as descriptive as they should be at a beast of a course like this, and small. This course is showing a lot of age, and could use some new equipment to match the golf. The best courses deserve the best amenities!

Navigation at this course is not intuitive. There are signs to guide you to the next tee, but with the overlapping layouts, the multiple baskets, and not-so-great tee signs, there was definitely an advantage to having a map and a spotter to show us the way.

On a dreary December morning, the course was very wet in a few places, and, combined with the extreme elevation changes, it got a little slippery on the muddy areas. I would recommend wearing shoes with a lot of traction, and clothes that you don't mind getting dirty.

The rough at Renaissance Gold is dense and unforgiving. I said that you could never see a disc again without throwing it into the water, and I mean it. Steep drop offs, Thick underbrush. Overall, a lot of places you don't want to end up.

Design-wise, a few holes were lackluster compared to the other holes, that are definitely signature. The wide open bomber holes on the back that are in a row are a little frustrating. Plus, the first hole does not match the rest of the course at all.

There are overlapping layouts, holes that play near roads, and more possible safety hazards that could arise on a busy day in the summer. I ran into a few people on the RenSke course that played across the Gold fairway. I can not see how this would work during a busy day, as I imagine it would cause a lot of backups.

This course is not for the weak-minded and weak-armed. Bring water and your game face. There is no short layout. That's at the other courses. This course is for the strong. If you play your hardest, its not hard to conquer.

Other Thoughts:

I wrote a long review, because I have strong feelings regarding this course. I love the design, but there are issues with how it is laid out. While not a huge problem I imagine in the '90s, the disc golf scene continues to boom, and courses like this need to be cherished. Make it look like the Championship course that it is.

I will return to Renny Gold in the future, and I will definitely love it like I did the first time. I don't know what will change, but I hope it's for the better.
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18 0
Qikly
Diamond level trusted reviewer
Experience: 11.7 years 181 played 148 reviews
4.50 star(s)

2+ years drive by

Reviewed: Played on:Jun 11, 2018 Played the course:once

Pros:

Renaissance Park's storied Gold course is impressively ambitious. Sprawling across rolling hills, working its way into and out of the woods at several points, it earns every throw of its stated par 70. Hole design stresses complete playthroughs, testing your ability to chain shots together and recover from the inevitable missteps. Risk abounds, but it's smartly done, and the longer layouts, well-worn fairways, and fair landing zones all allow you to control your level of exposure. If there's a course that requires a "complete game," this is it, with the maximum amount of shot variation created from all manner of elevation changes, distances, lines, and levels of tree cover. Renny Gold is a challenge, no doubt about it, but it's a well-designed one, and it effectively mixes things up to keep the round fresh.

The first 10 holes in particular stood out to me as one of the best stretches I've ever played. The hillside baskets on 2, the tight downhill fairway on 4, the dramatic uphill shot on 10 are just a few of the daunting shots etched in my minds eye. The bold design choices and skilled execution make Renny Gold an imaginative and memorable challenge.

Navigation isn't the most intuitive I've seen given the overlap with other layouts, but effective signage helps mitigate most of the potential issues. Friendly locals helped us at the few points we did get off track.

Cons:

The length (~9500 ft) and level of difficulty lend this course a narrower appeal than most. Just walking the layout will tire you out. I personally wouldn't try to play any of the other significant courses in the area in the same day as I played this one, at least not with any hope of effectively playing throughout.

The rough can be really bad and deter aggressive play at a few points. It's a shame to be worried off interesting shots due to black hole levels of rough.

Due to elevation changes and fairway curvatures, many of the landing zones here are hard or impossible to see in your first play through. Because of this, Renny Gold is the kind of course that really benefits from familiarity; the right shot or accurate degrees of fairness aren't always evident from the tee or at first glance. There are a fair few shots that require you to actively distrust your eyesight.

After the first in my opinion stellar ten holes the course hits a stretch of duds. 11-13 are all pretty much grip it and rip it, fine enough individually especially after the preceding tight confines but awful back to back to back. The need to begin playing back to the course's in is partly to blame here but nonetheless having three holes totalling over 2500' feet after ten of the most challenging holes I've played is a bit of a tone deaf play for what is otherwise thoughtful design. Beyond that critique though, these holes are themselves just not very interesting. The back 9 are generally more open than the front half and don't boast quite the same level of nuanced play: holes are a bit more focused exclusively on shots off the tee or distance for the sake of it. Most are solid, a few are great, but they don't collectively attain the bucket list level of quality that the front half does.

Other Thoughts:

Renny Gold is a beast worthy of its storied reputation and an absolute must-visit. As stated, I'd be wary pairing it with a Nevin or a Hornets Nest in the same day. It was my personal favorite of those three Charlotte stalwarts, although admittedly a bit of an acquired taste due to the length and challenge level. If that sounds like your bag, though, I can't recommend it enough.
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15 0
BigAl724
Diamond level trusted reviewer
Experience: 11.6 years 178 played 144 reviews
4.50 star(s)

2+ years drive by

Reviewed: Played on:Jun 11, 2018 Played the course:once

Pros:

If Hornets Nest knows how to be cool and popular while still keeping its morals, and if Nevin is the straight-edge overachiever, then Renny Gold is the misunderstood wild child.

I love a course that has a unique character to it, and this course surely has that. I knew going in that it was going to be a grueling round, but I was surprised by its many amazing holes and crazy variety of terrain. I've heard about how 2 and 18 are epic holes, but I'm surprised I hadn't heard more about its other monster holes - particularly the entire front 9.

Of the courses I've played, the pin positions are second only to Sugaree. There were many scary putts and approaches, all in a variety of creative ways. Of course, you don't want to come up a little bit short on your approaches for 2 and 18. But there are also many other interesting basket positions on steep slopes and among rock outcroppings.

There is a fun emphasis on landing zones, but used in unique ways. It could be with a drive to a blind pin like 9, 15, or 16, staying within a wider part of the fairway on 10 and 18, or just fun downhill approaches like 14. You'll have space to air it out, but you really want to hit you landing zones. Again, just a really interesting variety of holes and settings within the park that the course offers.

Having all three layouts share some baskets and tees is ambitious, but I didn't find it to be very confusing. It's super helpful that they painted the baskets two colors when shared and it had fantastic signage throughout all three courses. You just had to pay attention to the signs pointing you in the right direction. They're there.

Cons:

However, playing and navigating the separate layouts can lead to some issues. We didn't experience any, but at peak times, there could be some safety concerns. From 4-5 you have to walk back up the fairway a little bit. To get to 14 you cross 10's Fairway. You throw across the park road on 18.

Ambience and setting isn't typical of a highly rated course. A main road plays near a good portion of holes, even close to some of the front nine in the woods. There are towers that you play through on a few holes, and just not much in terms of being aesthetically pleasing. Just my personal preference. If strictly the hole design is all you care about then you shouldn't be bothered by it too much here.

Disc swallowing rough on a few holes, some with tight fairways and blind shots too.

Other Thoughts:

This was one of my most exhausting rounds ever, mentally and physically. But Renny Gold has one of the most unique feels to it and some of the craziest holes that I've ever played. I didn't have the highest expectations entering the park, but man was I wrong. While the park doesn't appear to be anything too special, the course is incredible, hole after hole. I can't imagine what people first thought playing this in 1998.

Renny Gold has probably some of the most eclectic mix of reviews and ratings. I'm sure a lot of that is because of it being one of the most difficult courses out there, as well as changes to the layout over the years. If you haven't played here, don't overlook the true beauty of this course. It's one of the best out there!
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8 0
JKieb704
Experience: 14.6 years 43 played 5 reviews
4.00 star(s)

#RP_Death 2+ years drive by

Reviewed: Played on:Aug 17, 2017 Played the course:once

Pros:

You can't go wrong with Renaissance Gold. Actually, a lot can go wrong if your game isn't up to snuff. This is a challenging course that will test every aspect of your game. You'll see tight-technical shots in the woods, long open shots across fields, and everything in between. The course takes our usual group of 3 people about 4 hours. We're intermediate amateurs and struggle a little bit here and there. The 1,000' hole on the back 9 is a doozy...

Cons:

As mentioned in a lot of reviews, there is a giant ditch that is in play primarily on holes 2 and 18. If you're risky enough to throw over it during the Spring and Summer months (when this ditch is overgrown) be ready to potentially lose your disc. The ditch is very deep. Getting down to the bottom is challenging enough, but searching through the thicket of overgrown thorns and brush is nearly impossible. There is more growth, that can cause similar results on the back 9. The growth dies down in the Winter, which takes the risk down a bit. I speak from experience, but most of you are probably better than me. Overall, the course doesn't have the best maintenance, but the foot traffic from people playing the course helps keep most of it clear. The course is certainly playable, but overgrown bush, dirty tees, down trees and the occasional bits of trash can get annoying. The course is so great; I just want it to be perfect.

Other Thoughts:

It's always a special occasion when the crew gets together for a round at Renaissance. It's a little out of the way for us when we play it; so, when we do go, we make the most out of our time. That being said, we have never tried the Silver course. However, it seems just as challenging. The two courses move through the park in tandem. Some holes share the same basket with different tee locations. At some point on the front 9, the two courses split and play separate holes entirely, then later come back together. Sometimes you have to be careful when you tee off on Gold. There may be others playing Silver at the same time, on another tee, which you can't see from your tee. Just keep a courteous eye down the course and have fun!
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12 0
Mike C
Gold level trusted reviewer
Experience: 15 years 168 played 74 reviews
4.50 star(s)

The best course in Disc Golfs Mecca

Reviewed: Updated: Played on:Jun 15, 2017 Played the course:once

Pros:

+ Multiple epic, signature holes. #18 is one of the most memorable holes I've ever played, a long par 5 with a do or die second drive over a steep drop-off if you want to shoot for an eagle. #2 has great risk / reward on the upshot, having you throw over a steep drop-off to a basket placed precariously on the other side. Complete death putt from certain angles. #11 was the first hole over 1000' I played, and #13 is one of the more interesting true par 5's I've experienced. It begs you to gun it, but you will pay if you stray off the narrow fairway. #13 is one of the only par 5's I've played I've yet to eagle, and I've thrown this course for years. #14's longer pin placement is genius, turning a fairly standard hyzer line into a more complicated affair.

+ Incredibly long, and very demanding. If length and challenge excite you, this is a must play. At 9407' long and a Par of 70, this is one of the longer 18 hole courses I've had the pleasure to experience. The challenge feels fair 100% of the time. There is not a single hole that feels like it has 1 or 2 too many trees, not a single hole that feels more luck based than skill based. Renny is an absolute beast, but its a fair, conquerable beast.

+ Incredible variety. Bring all your shots to Renny, you'll be throwing uphill, downhill, left, right, short holes, long holes, Par 3's, 4's and true par 5's. Multiple pin placements ensure things remain interesting over repeated plays.

+ The lines here are just superb, it cannot be emphasized enough. The variety is remarkable. In terms of raw golf, I've only played one course I think is clearly above it, and only 1 or 2 others that are of comparable quality (Moraine State Park is my pick for #1 if you're curious).

+ Long, paved tees, nice signage and plenty of benches.

+ Water fountains and restrooms on site.

+ An absurd amount of amenities. This is a destination park even without disc golf. You have an incredibly nice Tennis course complex, rugged mountain bike trails, multiple baseball fields, multiple volley ball courts, ball golf right across the street, an indoor rock climbing gym 2 miles up the road, breweries and restaurants nearby, etc. This is the stuff an active city dweller dreams of.

Cons:

- Crossing fairways are a concern here. There are three courses at Renaissance Park, and while most days this isn't much of an issue, on a busy weekend you might have to wait 20 minutes to tee off on #11. There are multiple holes that intersect the fairway from Renske. #12 and #13 suffer from the same issue. #1 intersects the Pro Players course first hole as well. The trade-off is worth it, as Renske is a fun course that caters to a different skill level, but its unfortunate for people who prefer the Gold course.

- There are some minor safety concerns aside from what I listed above. #18 plays along the parking lot and on a terrible drive there is potential to hit a car. #2 plays over the edge of the parking lot and if you turn over a RHBH shot it could easily hit a car or pedestrian. The crossing fairways issue. #18 has a huge cliff 2/3's down the fairway that could be a serious concern if you have dogs or kids with you.

- This course can by physically intimidating. Located in a very warm climate, with numerous hills, and plenty of spots where you'll be exposed to the sun. For this reason, I do not recommend this course if you consider yourself very out of shape. It's a bit of a hike at times for a city course.

- Too much for beginners. This course will often beat down experienced players. Stick to Renske if you're new to the game.

- Certain holes are a bit too open for my liking. #8 is wide open, and would be boring if not for its pin being perched on a steep rock hill. #9 is pretty wide open and very straight forward, one of the weaker holes on the course. #12 is a fairly boring hole that is dependent on raw length more than anything to be interesting. It's very plain compared to the hole that follows.

- The rough on #18 can be absolutely abysmal at times. I've watched people miss a putt and never see their putter again. When the rough is really overgrown on this hole, you might as well consider it a water hazard where you don't expect to get your disc back. It's amazing how effective this spot can be at eating discs.

- Navigation can be very difficult for a first time. With three courses playing on the same property, and multiple baskets often visible from each tee, it can be a challenge working out where to throw your first time playing a hole.

Other Thoughts:

This is one of my top 3 courses out of ~155 played. It is a phenomenal, must-play course for anyone who enjoys a rugged, challenging experience. I cannot recommend it enough.

Charlotte is one of the premiere locations for disc golf on the entire planet. Being the best course in an area like this is really saying something. I think an argument could be made for Nevin or Hornet's Nest to be considered #1, but to me they're all amazing, top-tier courses and which one you think is the best, or most enjoyable, will come down to personal preference. The fact that Renny Gold is in the top 3 in an area like Charlotte speaks volumes in itself.

I think Renny balances open and wooded shots very well, has the most memorable holes, and has the most consistently "fair" feeling challenge. Nevin offers few opportunities to really open up, and feels less balanced as a result, while Hornets Nest has less memorable open holes compared to Renny Gold. That being said, I would give all three courses a similar rating, and consider them all top-tier, must-play, destination level courses.

If you enjoy disc golf and you're above the rec level, you owe it to yourself to go far out of your way to enjoy this gem.

This is a course I feel very wrong not giving a 5 to because I enjoy it so much, but as much as I love it I have to admit its not perfect.
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3 5
jsemales
Experience: 19.8 years 91 played 39 reviews
5.00 star(s)

Love/Hate 2+ years drive by

Reviewed: Played on:Oct 11, 2016 Played the course:2-4 times

Pros:

Without question, an absolute must play for anyone in the area. This course is consistently one of the most insanely difficult and challenging courses in the area. The best of the best will find this course challenging but fair. Intermediate and beginner players will get eaten alive. This course is the truest testament of professional level tournament play that I have ever seen. Every hole will challenge your precision, your power, your consistency, your approach, and your putts. Keep in mind that this course was designed to be a pro stop. Don't let your score get frustrated. The first time I played, I stopped keeping score after hole 7. The last time I played, I had a great round and finished +8... Read the reviews, get an understanding of the hole by hole breakdown, prepare yourself for a very challenging afternoon.

Cons:

I can't think of anything negative to say. Getting off the fairway is disastrous.
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14 0
nevets4433
Silver level trusted reviewer
Experience: 12.1 years 62 played 60 reviews
4.50 star(s)

A Beautiful Beast 2+ years drive by

Reviewed: Updated: Played on:Aug 2, 2015 Played the course:once

Pros:

Rennaissance gold is probably one of the most consistently difficult, but consistently fun and fair courses I have played. Especially from the gold tees, this monster is a true test of tournament calibre disc golf. The local club was blessed with a beautiful piece of terrain with which to make a course. Wooded ravines, deep gorges, gigantic boulders, and even a few small sneaky creeks come into play. Elevation changes here can be very drastic and require shots that simply are unique. The variety of shots required on this course is absolutely intense. This is not a course where one dimensional throwers are going to score well. Holes dogleg left and right, and pins are tucked into some devilish places that really require a ton of precision.

Hole length variety is also really great here. There are some definite birdie opportunities on reachable par 3s, and also some really fun par 4s and 5 that keep the course from being at all monotonous.

On the subject of unique would also be some of the green complexes which are amongst the most scenic, and also most difficult that I have seen. Some of them are nestled atop of large boulder complexes which really test short approaches and putts. I would say my favorite was #2 though, which sits on a wooden embankment overllooking a huge, deep gorge. The throw up to the basket (and the penalty for missing that green) is incredible, and a nightmare for the golfer who finds himself at the bottom. That, combined with the basket being on an elevated gangplank forcing a deathputt back down the ravine, creates probably one of the toughest greens I have ever played, and also probably my favorite.

All of the baskets are nicely kept discatchers (for both the gold and grey baskets) and tees are ample concrete. There is a fair attempt at signage here, though as below I do think it could do with some improvement.

One of the coolest parts of this course is that the golds and greys play as almost completely different courses. Different baskets, tees, sometimes even fairways or even completely different holes. Different chalenges make the replay value for this course very high.

Also the obvious, great facilities on site in this well maintained park. Practice basket by the parking lot. Plus another full course on site the RenSke makes this a truly great disc golf facility

Cons:

Only a few cons here. The most significant one is the navigation which has been noted by some other reviewers. Though there are a ton of signs on the course that attempt to help with the navigation, this place can be quite confusing. Unfortunately the hole signs aren't completely accurate sometimes when showing both basket positions, and a few are old signs that show possibly old basket and tee locations. Sometimes the hole numbers on the basket don't match the hole being played, which was a bit troublesome as well from a navigational perspective. (update, as of 11/16/15 I have heard this has been improved significantly but I haven't had a chance to see it for myself yet)

One of the mandos in the woods was simply a stick on the tree, which was a bit diffiult to see from the teebox.

Finding the first tee was a bit difficult as it is all the way around the tennis courts on the corner of a walkway that doesn't necessarily look like a teepad.

I wasn't a huge fan of the gold teebox on #2. It seemed to call for a sweeping RHBH hyzer over the parking lot back to the fairway. It is not an overly dififcult shot, but it brings cars and people potentially into play. The green complex on this hole is difficult enough, I didn't feel the danger of that teebox was necessary

Other Thoughts:

Overall this was a very good course. I really enjoyed taking my beating on this one, and I would really love to come back and try the grey layout as well.

I think part of my frustration with the navigation was that some of the layout for the course has been slightly altered currently for the upcoming US Masters. That means that some baskets are moved, a few holes are re-routed, and there are spraypainted hole numbers on a few holes that don't match the hole's usual number. There are a few temporary grass tees. As a first time player, this got me a bit confused but I understand that this is a temporary issue that doesn't reflect the normal state of the course.

Make sure you pick which layout you are playing before you start, because there are different courses and sometimes the layout can be a bit confusing
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