Orlando, FL

Bill Frederick Park - T2: The Turkeynator

4.075(based on 48 reviews)
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19 0
pmay5
Gold level trusted reviewer
Premium Member
Experience: 21.4 years 568 played 261 reviews
4.00 star(s)

One of the best in Orlando 2+ years

Reviewed: Played on:Jul 22, 2022 Played the course:once

Pros:

One of 3 courses in Bill Frederick park in the heart of Orlando. There is a $5/car fee to enter the park, so if you are playing 2, or all 3, well worth the price for this beautiful, well-kept park. I had a chance to play the Original course back in 2015 and finally got to play the other 2.
From what I remember of the Original course, I liked T2 a lot more. No truly open holes (#5 is about the closest) but the variety of partially wooded, to heavily wooded holes makes this very challenging. There is even a decent amount of elevation change here, and the knuckle tightening water carry on #16.
All holes have at least 2 tees, most have 3 and several even have a 4th (Gold) tee. So you have the choice to make this course as challenging as you want. Also a good variety of distances, 4 Par 4s and even a Par 5. It felt like a couple of holes on the back 9 could have been lengthened, to add a couple more Par 4s, but not a major issue.
The DGA baskets are all in good shape, with greens cleared to a good distance around them. Most can be seen from the tee (or fairway on the multi-shot holes) but the excellent tee signs show the hole design, or intended routes very well.
The course starts near the back of the park, very close to the Original course, with plenty of parking, restrooms and water right there (there's even shade trees to park under).

Cons:

While the Blue tees and Red tees are paved, the Blues are larger then the Reds. The big disappointment with the middle, or White, tees, in most cases these were older carpet (or mat) tees, most of these were rather short and not in good shape. I really wanted to play that level, but was not going to risk injury from those tees.
#18 was a rather disappointing finishing hole, short at 215', with all tees using the same patch of concrete, with slight differences in distance. Its a tight tunnel shot to a guarded basket, I guess there could be a good chance of scoring differences, but not the final hole I was expecting.
#1 starts out in the open, then tightens to a tunnel only 20' wide, with tight brush on both sides. You really have to have your accuracy and distance ready to start on this hole.
As I mentioned above, it appearred there was extra space beyond #13 basket and behind #14 tee that could have been used to lenghten those holes. I know the Original course plays in that area, but a couple more Par 4s would be great. (Probably a little picky on this Con.)

Other Thoughts:

The Orlando area is great for multi-course parks, River City Nature Park and Gordon Barnett both have 2, along with the 3 courses at Bill Frederick. I guess its kind of like the Theme parks, have multiple attractions in one location. It must really help with running tournaments, but I like it as a course bagger, just a walk (or short drive) from one course to another. Plus, if you show up for a round, and one course is busy, you should be able to jump over to the other one.
The Turkeynator provides many challenges, just like a great course should. Some very tight holes, #4, #6 and #18, the multi-shot holes mentioned earlier, #1,#5,#7,#11 and #17 and the water carry (with bailouts) on #16. Everything else in between has some trees, so you don't have any wide open tee shots, but you don't have to thread a needle on most holes. There's also a good variety of hole shapes, many are straight but the left and rights are mixed in as well.
Some of the more interesting holes are:
#4 - 188'/294' downhill tunnel shot, with a low ceiling of tree branches puts a premium on a straight, low fast drive to get down to the basket.
#5 - 580'/876' Par 5 is the longest on the course, the mostly open tee shot needs to turn right, then scattered trees to bisect while turning left to the basket on the left.
I checked #7 as my favorite hole (there you go dgaficianado), you actually step up a rise to the tee, then a downhill tee shot, a couple of large trees to miss on either side in the middle of the fairway, then back uphill to the basket, protected by a string of large trees that you have to beat. It plays 425'/555' for a Par 4, but the trees to beat on your 2nd shot requires a well played shot.
#11 has a fairly tight tee shot to open grass, then the fairway goes into the woods, about a 20' gap and curving downhill through the woods to the basket. This wooded fairway has a wide variety of trees that you have to split to get to the basket after 431'/506'.
#12-#14 play on somewhat of a sidehill, so you have to be careful to control your landing.
#17 is one of the more unusual holes I've played and has the most elevation change on the course. The tees are in the open across grass, then as the hillside rises, the vegetation begins and you have to negotiate a 80-85 degree fairway turn to the left and up. You can throw straight and have the largest entry, but its also the longest path to the basket. There are scattered trees and palm bushes to the left, but a shorter path to the basket. Then it continues uphill through a couple of tunnels to the basket. A very unique, challenging hole.
Bill Frederick Turkeynator is definitely one of the best courses right in the Orlando area. I haven't had a chance to play any of the courses west and northwest of Orlando, but this and River City Alpha deserve their high ratings. The number of interesting holes, beautiful scenery and excellent equipment make this a must play in Orlando.
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16 0
Moose33
Gold level trusted reviewer
Experience: 12.8 years 239 played 236 reviews
4.00 star(s)

T2-Come with me if you want to par 2+ years

Reviewed: Played on:Jul 26, 2021 Played the course:once

Pros:

I played T2 directly after playing the original Turkey Lake course and I have to say in many ways it was most impressive.

You begin just 30-40 yards from the T1 course and has the same benefits of the nice parking area/bathroom and bottle filling fountain nearby.

The pads are mainly concrete and you will see Blue/White/Red/Green on almost every hole and Gold pro pads on a few. Great signs that are very detailed and have next tee signs color coded to the tee you are playing on.

You start on a technical par 4 which sets the tone for the course. The map made me think it was more open after the initial gap, but that wasn't the case. It's tight all the way down and the woods claimed my Outlaw.

The course winds through the woods and grassy fields of this beautiful park taking you into contact with the lake at one point for a 300ft water carry on hole 16.

The hole shapes are greatly varied needing a lot of different shots and styles to play it optimally. I felt the original course was easily attacked with mainly a Firebird and Roc type disc, this one needs a whole bag, which I didn't have especially after hole 1.

There are a lot of thoughtful touches here that I felt like added to its mystique. The red and blue veteran baskets, easily visible from the road and through the woods as well as the color coded tee signs, and some of the colored carpets and pads and even a few colored pads it's got a cool feel.

Tons of huge and beautiful trees, amazing flora and fauna all around and an incredibly diverse mix of shot shapes.

Cons:

Cons are few but it's not perfect, pretty flat and the flow is not as easy to follow as T1. It had some long walks between holes and you cross over walks to other holes several times.

Pretty flat, even more so that T1, and only really uses the water on one hole(but uses it very well).

Not a lot of benches, which was odd to me. The white pads are mainly not concrete, usually carpet or similar. I played blue so that was not an issue for me however.

Other Thoughts:

Unless you have every shot in your bag, you end up playing for Par a lot out here and it's quite demanding. It's a physical round and took it out of me. Maybe it was because it was the second 18 in FL in July, but it seemed more demanding and I tried tee shots that I just don't do. Rollers, FH hyzerflips, it's a test, but a fun one and if I could only play one of the three Bill Fredrick courses again it would be this one.
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16 0
KenanFlagler01
Diamond level trusted reviewer
Experience: 14.6 years 198 played 192 reviews
4.00 star(s)

"I'll be back." 2+ years drive by

Reviewed: Played on:Oct 10, 2019 Played the course:once

Pros:

'T2: The Turkeynator" is located at the back of the park, right next to "T1: The Original." I think the ratings for all three courses are about right. I have the Woods Course at 2.5, T1 at 3.5, and T2 at 4.0. That has more to do with challenge than anything else. All three are well-designed and very fun, but without a doubt, T2 is the showcase course on the property. A) It's the most challenging. B) It has FIVE sets of tees. FIVE. Novice to Pro players have something to like here. C) Aesthetically, it's on par with T1, both way above average in terms of the most beautiful settings for disc golf I've played outside of the mountains.

+ I'm discovering that this is a personal pet peeve of mine: I hate it when courses label their layouts with color schemes that contradict the PDGA guidelines for Novice, Rec, Intermediate, Advanced, and Pro. Bill Frederick nails it with proper labeling for layouts on all three courses. There is a White (Intermediate) layout on each of the three courses. That's the layout I played. The Woods Course is the easiest of the three, T2 was the hardest, and T1 was in between, each one was appropriately labeled White/Intermediate and fell into the 880-930 rating range for a par round. To me, this is very helpful in comparing courses across the country and finding the best tracks to challenge you. T2 might be the best course I've ever played with multiple layouts.

Here are the layouts for each of the Bill Frederick courses:

> Woods Course: Red/Rec, White/Intermediate

> T1: Original Course: White/Intermediate, Blue/Advanced

> T2: The Turkeynator: Green/Novice, Red/Rec, White/Intermediate, Blue/Advanced, Gold/Pro

+ This is a terrifically designed course. There are par 4's, a par 5, all types of shots required and risk/reward elements. There is a water carry, other holes where the lake comes into play, and LOTS of holes where wind off the lake comes into play. Dogleg right, dogleg left, dead straight, landing zone to landing zone multi-shot holes, and even a few ace run holes. Tight and technical, long and wide open. T2 is off the charts. I brought my whole family to Orlando for a Universal vacation. We spent the last day at Turkey Lake. I would love to do the same trip again. Wouldn't change it. To quote Arnold, "I'll be back."

+ I picked up maps to all three courses at the front gate. They are helpful for navigating the courses. Without maps, there are places you can get lost, especially on T2. It has the longest walks in between holes of the three courses.

+ Good tee pads and signs marking the various layouts, with the hole layouts pictured along with the correct yardage. They did a terrific job with arrows and tee signs guiding you to the tee you're looking for. I've seen multi-layout courses done poorly where the navigational confusion isn't worth the multiple layouts. That is absolutely not the case here. It's not confusing at all, very easy to follow, and with five different layouts, if you can't find something to like here, I can't help you.

+ The challenge here is REAL. I felt beaten down at the end of the round. One word of advice: don't wait to play T2 last out of three rounds at Bill Frederick. It's a very challenging course, technically speaking in terms of the golf and physically. It will take the longest and requires the most steps. This is one of the most challenging courses I've played. Easily.

Cons:

- Hardly any elevation.

- Lots of ant hills scattered throughout the course. Watch your step.

- A few long walks in between holes (although the trade-off here is, the designers created the best disc golf holes they could...nothing is forced; I'd rather have terrifically designed holes with longer walks in between than the reverse).

- I played the White/Intermediate layout and was a little disappointed in some of the tees. A few are just tiny patches of concrete or other padding. The Red and Blue tees both seemed more consistent: full-length concrete pads. I'm guessing the White layout was added later and wasn't done quite as well.

- Beware of alligators!

Other Thoughts:

This is the must-play course in Orlando. For your next Central Florida vacation, make sure you reserve a day for Turkey Lake. And plan your other rounds at the Original Course and the Woods Course around T2: The Turkeynator.
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23 1
Stardoggy
Diamond level trusted reviewer
Premium Member
Experience: 13.3 years 1038 played 214 reviews
4.50 star(s)

A great course for every skill level 2+ years

Reviewed: Played on:Nov 18, 2017 Played the course:once

Pros:

T2: Turkeynator is the beast course on the Bill Frederick Park property. The park also has a multitude of other family options, so you could easily to a family day. There are also two other 18 hole courses onsite.

Multiple tees on every hole, with the shorts (red) and longs (blue) having all concrete (from what I saw playing the blues). There is also a smattering of white, green and gold tees on many holes, but these tees are mainly old carpet or worse. The concrete tees are plenty long and grippy, and I had no issues anywhere from the blues.

Signage was really great. Every hole had signs at multiple tees, with distance, hole layout, pin positions, etc. There was also a multitude of Next Tee signs to help with navigation. This, paired with the full color map they give you when you pay at the gate, made navigation really easy.

Older DGA baskets (Mach 3's, I believe), but all were mounted well and caught like they're supposed to. Multiple pin positions on most holes, with some holes have even more options. Baskets also had large yellow number signs on them, which helped this traveling player with locating baskets.
Every hole felt different to me, with a great mix of RHBH/RHFH type lines, placement type par 4's, a legit par 5 (for us mortals), well placed mando's....I could go on and on. I don't remember a single throwaway hole.

Really nice use of the rolling elevation here. While there's nothing I'd call a huge up or down, there's almost always some slight change. For what I had heard about Florida courses, I expected this to be board flat, but it definitely was not that.

Lots of tree-defined fairways forcing you to shape shots. There wasn't anything I'd call unfair, and most of the wooded holes offered very generous fairways as long as you can throw reasonably straight or hit certain lines.

One of the stronger water carries I've played. The shape of the shoreline offers tons of bailout opportunity, but if you can throw 330ish', this offers you the chance to go for it. If you can throw a little further, it's a super fun big hyzer shot with some guardian trees on the other shore.

One of the better first holes I've played. Tough par 4 that can provide some great scoring separation.

Cons:

There are some walking trails that run through around the course (that play as OB), but you'll need to keep your eyes open before throwing to make sure you aren't putting anybody in danger.

From the longs, this isn't the course for beginners. Definitely not a pitch n putt type course.

Costs a few bucks to get in, but it also keeps out the riff raff...so maybe that's a positive.

Other Thoughts:

I honestly can't fathom some of the lower reviews on this course. Maybe they weren't playing the longs? I really don't know, but as a 930's rated player, I had an absolute blast here. The locals were very friendly and only helped to enhance the experience.

Combined with the other two courses here, this is a great spot for a day of discing. Great spot to go throw if you're in the Disney area!
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19 0
wellsbranch250
Diamond level trusted reviewer
Premium Member
Experience: 10.8 years 694 played 680 reviews
4.00 star(s)

One of Florida's Top Courses 2+ years

Reviewed: Played on:Apr 15, 2017 Played the course:once

Pros:

(4.180 Rating) "This is going to be an awesome course." My first thoughts after arriving at tee (1) and looking down fairway...
- UNIQUENESS - Other than Elevation, this course is stacked with variety. Dog legs in both directions, tunnel shots, pocket shots and blind shots. There's a wonderful water clear on (16). There's one par 5, albeit fairly easy for pro players, and a couple of placement par 4's. There are opportunities to let one rip, and yet also times you'll need to make a precision putter ace run. If I had to call out a missing item it would be a parallel water feature, ie creek play. In addition, holes (12-15) all have the same run of mill feel and were void of any major defining features amongst those four holes.
- MULTI TEES - To date, T2 has the most amount of tees that I had ever seen to on a course. Green, Red, White, Blue and a few Gold as well. I am a big fan of this because it allows every type of player to have the opportunity to play at the appropriate skill level tees.
- CHARACTER - In addition to the tees, this course has just about all the other amenities that you'd expect of an established older course. At the parking and tee (1) area, there's a community board, porta-potty, water bottle station and two practice baskets. There is seating and bag hangers at many tees and most are shaded as well. Many of the holes have multiple basket placements. I really can't think of much to add other that perhaps a pin placement location peg at the tee area so you don't have to run down fairway to locate the basket location.
- CHALLENGING - Other than mid level pros and higher, every skill level will be able to push themselves here. I think your typical advanced player (950 rating) will average even, to a couple over from the gold/blue tees. Playing this level will require a combo of both length and precision on several holes and require the use of every shot in your bag. In addition, hole (16), is about a 350 foot water clear, so if you can't clear that, I'd suggest playing the whites or shorter.
- NATURAL BEAUTY - In general, I found T2 to be above average due to the diversity of the vegetation, lake views and the subtle terrain changes. However, when comparing this course to other top courses I've played, its not on the top tier. It appears that the area is/was going thru a major drought at the time of my visit and its really affecting the look and feel. Several trees appeared dead or dying and the course was extremely dry, sandy and dusty. The course really needs a good soaking. Obviously this is not the courses fault and it did not affect my rating.
- MAINTENANCE - The grounds were in really good condition despite the drought. Very little trash, grass height was in check, the overgrowth was not running away, and only a couple dead branches littered about.
- NAVIGATION - Be sure and request a map when you pay to enter. T2 jogs around a bit, and without a physical map or one downloaded to your phone, you'll end up confused a few times on first go around. The map is solid and it got me back on track every time I questioned my next move.
- EVENTS - This course is known to hold major tournaments in the region and state. So if you're into tournaments you'll want to schedule a weekend here.
- TWO MORE COURSES ON SITE - Can you really go wrong with 54 holes at one location?

Cons:

A great course with only ticky tack issues
- ELEVATION - Unless you only play Florida courses, you won't find the elevation changes here notable at all. Perhaps hole (11) drops 20 feet, but that's about it. However, for what elevation is available, Greg Hosfeld the course designer, did an excellent job incorporating it. I personally loved the ridge use on (17) and hole (4) is a wonderful sweeping slight 10 - 15 foot downward angle shot. Other than these noted holes, the rest change by less than 10 feet.
- DISCONTINUITY - It appears that ideal tee shots took precedence over adjacency. OK in my book, but expect several walks between holes over 200 feet. This is why I stress the importance of having a course map. There are numerous directional ques along the layout, but not enough for the clouded minds of many disc golfers.
- OPEN HOURS - The park closes at 7pm April thru October and closes at 5 pm the rest of the year. This makes after work rounds real tough to complete and there'd be no night golf.
- TIME PLAY - It took my friend and I well over 2 hours to complete this course and we never had to wait for other groups. So don't expect some quickie airport layover round here. If you are going for the angle, I'll suggest Airport Lakes.
- PAY TO PLAY - If you can't afford $2 to play this course, then you need to re-evaluate your priorities.

Other Thoughts:

One of the best courses I've ever played. It will put a smile on just about every player's face and I highly recommend checking it out if you're in the Orlando area. T2 briefly held the top spot on my personal list of top rated Florida courses, but it was dethroned by Tom Brown in Tallahassee 8 day later.
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2 3
galluni
Experience: 73 played 13 reviews
4.00 star(s)

Great Course 2+ years drive by

Reviewed: Played on:Sep 13, 2016 Played the course:2-4 times

Pros:

I played this course when visiting Florida, and I loved it. Great variety of holes and shots. Beautiful forests and fields. Challenging without being unfair.

Cons:

Some inconsistency with tee boxes -- not all holes have all colors.

Other Thoughts:

I hope to play it again someday.
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9 0
dreadlock86
Diamond level trusted reviewer
Experience: 17.5 years 388 played 318 reviews
3.50 star(s)

big brother 2+ years

Reviewed: Played on:Feb 24, 2016 Played the course:once

Pros:

-beautiful park next to Turkey Lake
-lots of challenging shots, par 4's, and a good water carry
-long and short tee pads, plus some rec and gold tees
-tee signs and bag holders
-subtle rolling hills giving minor elevation changes on several holes
-scorecards w/ map
-navigational aids (next tee signs) periodically
-practice basket
-pay to enter the park, no hoodrats
-locals and parks dept seem to get along and have the best for the courses in mind. a few people were out there managing changes and improvements being made to the courses when i started my round.

Cons:

-some of the tees are natural and uneven
-some of the tee signs are missing
-more next tee signs would be great but navigation is actually pretty clear, tape on the baskets is really helpful
-many of the holes are very similar, especially 12-15
-there are some tight holes where luck seems a large factor
-when the two courses are done renovating they need a new map and signs

Other Thoughts:

T-2: The Turkeynator is set in the pay-to-enter Bill Frederick Park alongside the original Turkey Lake course, the oldest extant course in Florida. The two courses complement each other well and make for a nice full day of golf. At $2 to enter the park, it is well worth the price of admission.

I have to quote Nevets4433 whose review below perfectly describes the course: "This is a very nice compliment to the original course on site. But whereas the original defaults to a lot of player's choice and wider lines, T2 requires a very different set of shots. Most holes have a very reasonable but narrowly defined shotline. Lots of scrub bushes and lowlying palms along with old-growth trees make for a lot of challenging tunnel shots."

T-2 is a more modern course design than its older brother but this younger brother is the big boy. It has lots of distance and lots of obstacles. There are legit par 4 holes that require a placement shot off the tee (1, 11, 17), a big par 5 (pretty easy for a 5), and a great water carry on hole 16 (with bail out options and shorter tees). The variety of tee choices makes it a pretty fair challenge for almost any level player.

It seems that new pin positions, new tee locations, and all kinds of things have been happening here, which is cool to see. However, until it is all finalize with a new map and tee signs the course is sometimes unfriendly to the first time player.

The course is very challenging but like it's companion course, I thought it felt a bit repetitive and unmemorable. I really liked holes 1, 16, 17 but the rest of it either ran together (2-3, 9-10, 12-15) or just kind of seemed to be there because that was where the flow leads the course (6-8). Hole 18 feels like an afterthought and still leaves you a good ways from the parking area.

Despite my grievances, T-2 is a fun course and makes for a great day of golf with it's companion course. It's a great place to take a break from the magic kingdom for the vacationing disc golfer and with all the other stuff in the park you can bring the family too.


**Like this review? Hate it? Message me and let me know why! I want to make them better!**
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3 2
RJRendleman
Experience: 13.8 years 59 played 2 reviews
3.50 star(s)

Almost great 2+ years drive by

Reviewed: Played on:Mar 21, 2016 Played the course:once

Pros:

-Great park
-Ample parking
-multiple tees
-clean/no trash

Cons:

-outdated signage/needs more directional signage(on hole 5 I had to walk 250' up the fairway to short tee to figure out where the basket was
-no basket variation (non elevated, no roll away potential etc)
-most holes too easy to par with a bad drive

Other Thoughts:

This course provided a fun round that could have been a GREAT round. I played the blues and for the most part left feeling like it could have been so much better. I thought the holes didn't offer much score separation. Most birdies required great shots but pars were extremely easy to attain even with bad drives and during my round I par'd 14 holes and birdied 4 (1,8,11,17). There were some excellent holes like 5,9,16 but holes like 1, 17, 18 left me scratching my head. Where's the mando on hole 1? The RHBH hyzer kills the cool tight fairway it has. 17-18 was a huge letdown to finish off the course with after coming off hole 16. I just felt like it ended with 2 dud holes. Enough with the negative part though. This course provided a woods golf feel in Florida. I like the added difficulty of low ceiling shots and the requirement to hit your lines. Sidearm, backhand and thumber are all needed to successfully play this course. New signage and some redesigned holes could take this course to a 4.5 easily.
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3 3
Jparker230814
Experience: 18.7 years 80 played 3 reviews
3.50 star(s)

Family vacation Dad and Son DG day 2+ years drive by

Reviewed: Played on:Aug 10, 2015 Played the course:once

Pros:

-Shaded almost the entire play of the course.
-Variety of T boxes to suit many levels.
-Nice park setting w/ lake, trails, restrooms.
-An updated map should be posted on the site.
-Challenging but not overly difficult.

Cons:

I usually do not bother throwing out cons because everyone has an opinion. The course plays well so enjoy DG.
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1 2
freddysez
Experience: 16 played 16 reviews
4.00 star(s)

A Great Add on and Compliment 2+ years drive by

Reviewed: Played on:May 23, 2015 Played the course:once

Pros:

This course has it all; skillful holes in the woods that reward placement without being impossible, some length, the par 5 may be the toughest length hole I've ever played, and the wind can change holes and shots in the blink of an eye

Cons:

We played the wrong hole on 5 and ended up playing 8 twice, but fixed it and replayed. I think stating other cons is a stretch.

Other Thoughts:

The designers did it right and didn't try to over analyze their vision and kept this a true destination course just like the original
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6 1
nevets4433
Silver level trusted reviewer
Experience: 12.8 years 62 played 60 reviews
3.50 star(s)

A Good Compliment to the Original 2+ years drive by

Reviewed: Updated: Played on:Apr 25, 2015 Played the course:once

Pros:

This is a very nice compliment to the original course on site. But whereas the original defaults to a lot of player's choice and wider lines, T2 requires a very different set of shots. Most holes have a very reasonable but narrowly defined shotline. Lots of scrub bushes and lowlying palms along with old-growth trees make for a lot of challenging tunnel shots.

I felt challenged by this course. It seemed to require a very wide variety of shots. Right to left, left to right, up and down. All through some difficult foliage. I really appreciated the tight lines expected by this course, but also the reward offered by a good throw. All of the lines were navigable by a good throw and could reward a birdie. Bad throws could leave a tough but fair scramble for par.

A very good effort at signage (although unfortunately a few are missing). I really appreciate all the extra signs that direct players from hole to hole, and the tape on the baskets that points you in the right direction. Many of the signs have tee pegs to show which one of the basket locations is being used that day

As with the original course, this park offers great amenities. Bathrooms on site. Kiosk shows the layout with a very nice map and suggests the proper tee for a player based upon player rating.

Holes 13-15 along the lake are really picturesque and alone are worth a visit.

It is really nice to see a bit more length variety on this course with some nice par 4s and even a fun par 5.

Cons:

Pay to enter the park (the $2 is well worth it).

A seemingly disproportionate part of this layout is not very RHFH friendly.

Tee boxes are a bit inconsistent. Most reds and blues are concrete, but others are very uneven. Navigation to the other layouts is a bit inconsistent.

Hole 17 is a bit odd, it goes about 200 feet out to the right, then goes about 90 degrees up to the left. All of the other holes have a clear layout, this one is just a bit goofy.

Unfortunately a few of the tee signs are missing.

Other Thoughts:

This is a great compliment to the original course on site. Longer at times, often more narrow, and usually a bit more technical. Both courses are unique and have a very different feel to them. Whereas the original is open, this is tight and technical, almost akin to a Lowcountry course. Come play and enjoy both!
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7 1
Sorg67
Experience: 5 played 3 reviews
5.00 star(s)

Novice First Impression 2+ years drive by

Reviewed: Played on:Feb 1, 2015 Played the course:once

Pros:

I am a novice player and have avoided T2 based on my impression that my game is not ready for this course. That is probably true, but I was surprised at how much I enjoyed the course despite not having the shots necessary to play it well. I played from the shortest tees (Green where available, Red for the others). These tees were more playable than I expected. Many of the holes are very short, but interesting nonetheless. I three a lot of putters and mid-ranges from the tees. This course requires precision, something I could use more of. Playing this course will make me better. I think I will stick with the short tees for now. This is a nice complement to the original. I played both today and they provided completely different experiences.

Novices who want to improve their shot making and course management should give this course a try. Novices who just want drive and putt should stick with the original.

I am looking forward to playing this course again.

Cons:

Navigation requires paying attention, but is not difficult as long as you understand that the tape on the basket directs you to the next tee. Head in that direction and you will find the next tee.

Other Thoughts:

Minimal risk of losing discs except for the 16th hole. I played it from the Green tees which avoids playing over the water. I spent almost no time looking for discs, my least favorite activity.
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3 1
Apsey
Experience: 66 played 11 reviews
4.00 star(s)

Love this park 2+ years drive by

Reviewed: Played on:Mar 20, 2014 Played the course:5+ times

Pros:

-Beautiful park
-Offers par 4's and a par 5
-Requires placement shots
-Some elevation Changes
-Park works with club to keep the courses in great shape
-Camping and cabins available on site
-Two different courses to play on site
-Great tee pads
-Nice Baskets
-Offers variety of short and long pads

Cons:

-Gets pretty crazy stagnant hot in the summer time
-If you're a beginner this course may beat you up pretty good
-Costs a couple bucks to get into the park (only like a dollar or two I think)

Other Thoughts:

Always enjoy playing this course as well as T1. If you play this course a lot you will become a better player for sure. Looking forward to my next round there.
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16 0
The Miniac
Silver level trusted reviewer
Experience: 48.4 years 383 played 35 reviews
4.50 star(s)

Constantly improving ! 2+ years drive by

Reviewed: Played on:May 4, 2014 Played the course:5+ times

Pros:

Bill Frederick Park at Turkey Lake is the home of TWO wonderful disc golf courses. (4 loops of 9 !) The "Original" is now Florida's longest-standing disc golf course and goes off to the left of the parking area. T2 is one of Florida's most challenging courses and goes off to the Right of the parking area.
Since Disc Golf Course Review disc-ourages reviews by a course's designer, I will attempt to provide factual and/or helpful information with a bit of history, which might serve to explain certain features or qualities of the course.

Pros: Multiple tees.
Green = Beginner/Junior.
Red = Amateur
White = (in progress) Advanced
Blue = Pro
Gold = Championship

There are dedicated Red & Blue tees on EVERY fairway of T2.
The shorter Green tees are on the multi-shot, par 4 or 5 holes and par 3 water hole (#1,5, 7, 11, 16, 17). Otherwise, Green-level players should throw from the red tees on the rest.
No Bones about it, T2 was designed around the Blue-level tees.

At the time of the T2 design phase, the Original course played (mostly) to the "White" level. So T2 was designed to play tougher from the Blues and easier from the Reds, in order to address all levels of play at the park. I've noticed that the bulk of avid players at BFP@TL are 'White-level' (Advanced) players. Which is why several of the existing tees will share designation as "White" and a few new tees, specifically geared toward White level are in the works.

Gold level tees were designed into a select few holes on the course, but are not widely advertised, since they cater to a very small demographic in the game.

Multiple pin positions: Alternate pin positions were added to BOTH courses in April of 2014. Some shorter (A position), some longer (B position), some roughly the same length (varies according to difficulty)
The A's & B's on the front 9 end up being very balanced. The back 9 can favor the lefty or flick, but not overtly. Sprinkler Valve Covers were added to all 72 pin locations to protect the locks when in use and the sleeves when not in use.

Tee signs: In 2013, The "Original" replaced the archaic DGA signs with top-of-the-line 'green' signs, made from 100% recycled materials. The plans are to do the same with T2 after the alternates and new tees are firmly in place.

Navigation: Unlike the "Original", T2 traverses several different patches of land, which can make navigation tricky. There are quite a few "Nex-T" signs along the way, and each basket has color-coded tape on the bucket spokes to point you in the right direction. It's fairly easy to navigate, if one pays attention to these indicators. Navigational arrows under each basket are also under-way.

Restrooms & water: The Carter Center provides restrooms and water for the beginning of BOTH courses, as well as holes 9 & 10 for BOTH courses. T2 also has restrooms & water fountains left of basket #4 & left of the #16 fairway.

Variety: Aside from the ability to mix & match loops of 9 from the "Original" & "T2", there is the option to play different tees. (Green tees play closer to par 3, on par 4s, for advanced & above players.) There are some shorter holes (but no 'gimme's) and longer holes (but pretty fair for the for the intended color-coded user). There are quite a few tunnel shots that don't give the power-player an advantage, but other holes that allow them to air-it-out.

Challenge: This is NOT a course you will figure out on your first round. T2 was designed to 'force' a player to demonstrate control and employ strategically placed shots to set up for their upshots. Care was taken to provide "fair-ways" on EVERY fairway, many with multiple flight-line options. I feel that the Blue, Red and Green tees adequately address the length & difficulty level for THOSE levels of play. White tees are being added on some holes in order to provide commensurate challenges for Advanced-level players.

Cons:

Cons:
Limited hours. Despite being a pay-to-play venue, the park closes at 7pm during Daylight Savings Time and 5pm in Standard Time. Only campers and pre-arranged groups can stay beyond closing time. Blowin' Birdies disc golf club runs a Friday night Flights glow golf league during standard-time months.

NO ALCOHOL! This is a SERIOUS issue. People caught drinking alcohol (without a permit) will be asked to leave the park immediately! Several years ago, all disc golf related activities were banned for EIGHT YEARS due to ALCOHOL consumption.
DON'T BE THAT GUY! And don't allow anyone else to spoil it for the rest of us.
The parks people have been incredibly tolerant, knowing that it is primarily the recreational player (not the club members & active movers & shakers) that drink beer & litter.
If you must... pack out the container (no GLASS...PLEASE) or put it in a water bottle.

Walking paths CAN come into play on errant throws but care was taken to provide fairways that do not cross ANY walkways.

There are some longer walks, due to segmented chunks of land. I opted for more interesting holes, rather than extremely easy navigation. If one pays attention to the tape on the buckets and Nex-T signs, navigation isn't nearly as challenging as playing the course.

Entrance Fee: Actually, I see this as a +, because it allows to the park to track disc golf usage and gives them incentive to invest back into the courses to provide a quality venue. Aaaand, it also helps to keep out some of the 'riff-raff' who fail to respect the courses and those who labor so hard to continually improve upon them.

Other Thoughts:

Absolutely Ha-Yuge Kudos go to Bill Girard (pk mgr) and the park staff for their constant attention to keeping this park pristine. Big thanks to the locals who go out of their way to pick up trash, fallen branches, etc. Your entry park entry fees have shown the park system that disc golf IS a viable park activity. "Disc golf is the #1 revenue generating activity in the park."

T2 #01 is one of my favorite holes on the course, but it probably plays as the most difficult, to set the tone for the round. Welcome to T2!
Due to the difficulty level of this (and #11...both par 4s), plans are to make the current Red tees the White tees and the Red will move forward.

#05 is the only par 5 on the course, which provides a chance to bomb an opening bid, but requires more finesse on the latter half of the fairway.
Advanced level players call the Red tee a par 4. But, since it's not designed for their level of play... they are getting a White-level tee on that hole.

#07 I refer to this as a 'gift' par 4, because all tee placements require a couple of fairly easy throws to get the birdie-3. In order to provide the correct challenge level on this (AND #17), the Blue tee will become the White tee and a new, longer Blue tee will be placed.

#16 is the only hole where water comes fully into play. Depending on the flight angle, the water carry is 300'-320' from the Blue tee. Less so if one chooses to bail out left early.
Blue tee drop zone is the Red tee. Red tee drop zone is the Green tee.

If you haven't played T2 in a couple of years, I invite you back to see the progress that has been made. If you've reviewed the course in the past, I invite you to re-assess T2 and EDIT your previous review accordingly. I firmly believe that Bill Frederick park at Turkey Lake is Florida's premier multi-course facility.
But, don't believe me !! Come see for yourself!!
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1 2
edwardnaylon
Experience: 9 played 9 reviews
4.50 star(s)

Amazing 2+ years drive by

Reviewed: Played on:May 6, 2014 Played the course:5+ times

Pros:

Great variety of holes.
It has a bit of everything.
Some tough tunnel shots, some nice open shots. Signature hole 16 is over the lake. Challenging, but can bail out if you dont want to go for the hole

Cons:

Only con i can think of is getting from a few holes to another, you must cross the roads , but if you have a map, not an issue

Other Thoughts:

This is a must play if your in the orlando area. One of the best i have played
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5 4
Peter S
Bronze level trusted reviewer
Experience: 30.4 years 165 played 32 reviews
4.00 star(s)

I love T2! 2+ years drive by

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

Pros:

Like T1, T2 has some long distance holes to air it out. However, also has a more diverse mix of lightly wooded holes. A few holes such as 17 play up while 4 and 5 plays down some hills for a bit of elevation which is rare on most Florida courses. Great water carry on 16 "Crusher Cove" is challenging and scenic and sure to be a signature hole. Another signature hole has got to be #5 called The Long and Winding Road. With a name like that I have to try a roller.

Not as busy as the free Gordon Barnett park due to the small enterance fee.

Cement tee pads for all skill levels red - gold, bag holders, benches on a number of holes and tee signs at most tees.

Restrooms close by parking area.

Cons:

Sometimes other park users in your way but that's not the courses fault.

Beer drinking is not permitted in the park to try and cut down on litter. If you decide to go on the down low, please do not litter and pack out all empty beer cans.

Other Thoughts:

All holes have numbers but also names which makes the holes very memorable for me. With T1 and T2 together this park has a lot to offer and I would say a excellent 2 course punch.
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11 1
thrembo
Diamond level trusted reviewer
Premium Member
Experience: 49.5 years 245 played 198 reviews
4.00 star(s)

Buckle Up! 2+ years

Reviewed: Updated: Played on:Mar 1, 2014 Played the course:once

Pros:

This is a truly fun and scenic course, with old trees, a large lake and featuring central Florida style rolling hills.

Two sets of tee pads (three if you count the green set) that are large and grippy. Signs at each tee that show hole layout and distance. Very nice bag hangers.

Nice baskets.

Plenty of picnic tables, pavilions, benches, garbage cans, and restrooms.

Very clean, and highly maintained course.

A well-established league, that hosts some of the biggest tournaments in FL. Very friendly locals that I'm guessing are used to seeing out-of-towners on their courses.

A good mix of hole lengths, with some bombs for the big guns!

Cons:

The navigation can be a little tricky. GET THE MAP/scorecard when you pay to enter the park. There are some long walks between some of the holes.

Watch out for non-DGers wandering around and through the course.

Other Thoughts:

This course is set in a spectacular park, that features another 18 hole DG course on site, with camping, fishing, events, a children's farm area, etc.

Both of the courses at Turkey Lake are must plays and some of the best in Florida, but I prefer the original course here myself. It's more scenic, funner to play, and is more refined IMO.
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13 0
Charbachuk
Premium Member
Experience: 16.3 years 212 played 16 reviews
4.50 star(s)

One of the best courses in Florida. 2+ years

Reviewed: Played on:Oct 10, 2013 Played the course:5+ times

Pros:

- Located in a beautiful neighborhood and inside of Bill Fredrick Park in Orlando.
- Brand new Tee-signs really make each hole pop.
- Brand new baskets.
- Tee-pads are all brand new and in pristine condition.
- Plenty of shot variation. There will be some holes that will allow many types of throws to the basket, but each shot in your bag will be used.
- Beautiful scenery; located in Bill Fredrick Park and on the banks of Turkey Lake this is one of the more beautiful parks you will play in.
- Course is extremely difficult if played from the long pads; there are a few par 4's out there that are difficult to get a Birdie 3 on.
- The course is totally different from the short pads; most courses short pads are just shorter, the short pads here actually make it a completely different course.
- Course is very easy to follow with signage all over to prevent you from getting lost.
- Signature hole is most definitely #16; 350 feet over a section of Turkey Lake to a basket perched just feet away from the water, not a lefty friendly hole.

Cons:

- Hole #18; I am really big on signature finishing holes, and for me this is probably one of the worst finishing holes out there. You get worked up on how awesome the course is from Hole #1- Hole #15, then Hole #16 is a beautiful shot across the water, Hole #17 is a huge uphill par 4 and then 18 is a 215 foot putter shot with almost no fairway? Very disappointing.
- There is a lot of walking on this course; I normally do not put this as a con but the distances between some holes is pretty large and when you are walking in mid-summer Orlando heat, not fun.

Other Thoughts:

- This ranks in the Top 5 for difficulty and Top 5 overall in the state of Florida. This is the end all be all course. Couple that with the fact that The Original Course is right there and the Gordon Barnett Park Courses are a short drive away; it doesn't get any better than this.

- I would highly recommend taking a day trip to just play this one course. Play it from the longs in the morning, eat lunch, play it from the shorts in the Afternoon or play any of the other courses in the area.
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14 0
reposado
Diamond level trusted reviewer
Experience: 13.3 years 278 played 276 reviews
4.50 star(s)

A Test of Play 2+ years drive by

Reviewed: Played on:Aug 24, 2013 Played the course:5+ times

Pros:

The original Turkey Lake course should give you an idea of what to expect on the sequel. The terrain is the same. The same river flows on the perimeter. The same types of trees provide ceilings for your shots. But it won't truly prepare you for T2.

Shrink those fairways down to a quarter, a sixth or even a tenth of the size. Bring those trees in close, creating dense canopies. And lengthen, good lord lengthen. While there is variety in distance on T2, the shortest holes are the equivalent of he long holes on Turkey Lake.

The sequel also eliminates some of the problems that plague the original. Those holes that cross roadways and pathways? Non-existent. Fairways through potentially busy multi-use fields? Not here. Short, easy holes? Nope.

This is the big boy and while it doesn't use long holes just to add length, you are going to walk. You are going to walk fairways and you are going to walk between holes. It may not be immediately obvious where the next tees are, but if you follow the arrows, you will get there.

While I'm a huge fan of a lot of the holes here, I'll generalize about most of them. What you will see for the most part is a series of fairways carved through woods with light brush on either side. There is a really good mix of lines, with just about every angle and direction used at some point. For most of them you have to keep it low. Real low. Tree canopies keep you from reliably going over the top. Especially on 7 (ok fine, I'll mention a few holes) The tee is raised above most of the fairway, so you have to shoot lower than the branches that are about level with the tee.

The hole that I most dread/anticipate is 16. That's the water hole. The tricky thing about is that it presents three options, any of which can be appealing. A big arm can send it all the way across towards the pin. Risky but possibly rewarding. The most common method may be to cut across the shorter section of water, but that can leave you with a tough path to the pin. In the winter,(low foliage) the option to bomb it straight left to avoid both water and get a clear path to the pin is also available. What's a disc golfer to do?

Ok, anyways, the best part about T2 may be its ability to appeal to all ability levels. Unlike many difficult courses, it shouldn't be frustrating to beginners. They will rack up strokes, but they should still have fun. And it is difficult. Especially from the blue tees. They did an excellent job of making the two sets of tees represent a sizable gap in difficulty.

Cons:

The tee colors can be confusing. There is a complete set of blue and red tees. Then occasionally there may be a gold, black, white or green tee. I've played blue here and I've played red. I will never play "the blues, with the gold on that one hole and the back on the other." This is really only a problem for newcomers who may decide to play white at the beginning and then realize there are no more white tees. Weird but easily ignorable feature.

The only other con is some of the long walks from basket to tee. Necessary to make for better holes, but I can see this frustrating people.

Other Thoughts:

This is by far the superior of the two courses on site, but if you are planning on playing both, play the other one first. Turkey Lake is like an appetizer for T2: it's not a desert.

T2 is a long, grueling course, and after playing it, especially in the summer, (which is most of the year here) you will be exhausted. The original course will feel tacked on, if you're even up for it.
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1 6
blueblur
Experience: 36.3 years 196 played 11 reviews
4.00 star(s)

One of the best courses in Orlando 2+ years drive by

Reviewed: Updated: Played on:Jun 15, 2016 Played the course:5+ times

Pros:

Challenging course with multiple pin positions and pads. Great tee signs. Designed by Gregg Hosfeld, one of the best designers in the country. Uses water, trees and the limited elevation changes available, to great effect. Bring your A game, especially from the long pads.

Cons:

Lots of walking near low mph park roads with speed bumps. Throwing near some of these roads also, but not a major factor and low traffic. Pay to get into park. Due to very limited space, alternate pin positions are usually not very different from each other, but still a plus overall.

Other Thoughts:

Most challenging course in the Orlando area.
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