Pros:
"Played from Paver Tee's."
-A combination of tee shots that are downhill, downslope, upslope, open, lightly wooded, large trees, and water holes.
-Approach shots downhill, downslope, upslope, and uphill.
-Some tee shots keep low due to overhanging branches.
-Holes 4, 9, and 11 are some of the highest elevated tee shots I have played. Do not find those around Virginia Beach. No punishing uphill tee shots.
-3 sets of tees, 2 natural, and middle tees paver. I highly recommend playing paver tees, do not worry about distance, most tees are downhill or sloped that should help you with distance. The skip bounce will also help, considering that the grass needed to be mowed, I was surprised how much skip I was getting.
-Arrows on basket pointing to direction of next tee.
-Challenging for Advanced and Intermediated. Beginners and Recreational will have fun.
-From tee 14 to basket 18 very scenic around creek/pond with roar of water over a dam. I rank this stretch 3rd behind Munden Point 7 thru 14 North Landing River, and Waller Mill 5 thru 10 and 18 a lake.
-Hole 9 picturesque with creek and dam in the background ranked 3rd behind Munden Point number 8, and Waller Mill number 18.
Cons:
-No tee signs also mean no map and navigation can be difficult. Forward and back tees have hole number stamped on wooden markers. Some Pavers have hole number, distance, and par, but most do not. Those that do the paint has faded that reading them is difficult.
-Even with arrows on basket, navigation is difficult no signs to help. For a first timer on course, you may not see the tee pad until you walk up on it. Number 3 basket arrow was pointed in the wrong direction. Took a few moments to realize it, and from that point on I used a course app for the majority of a round for the first time.
-Forward tees are rutted out, some so deep they could provide ground cover for an infantryman. Back tees not too bad. I will not play the forward tees the way they are now, again highly recommend the pavers.
-4 and 11 share the same hill for downhill tee shots and have a blind Criss cross. Need to keep your eyes peeled as you get ready to walk down the hill.
-With out some type of map or app you're going to have a lot of distance guessing and blind shots to basket. May find yourself out of position.
Other Thoughts:
Bryan Park was my first stage of the Greater Richmond Tour De Disc Course. Exchanging course information with those from Richmond visiting a course in my rotation, and those I know local when I asked what course should be my first in the Richmond area, Bryan Park was the first mentioned and it did not disappoint.
For a flat lander course dweller, the elevated tee shots were just epic for me, I could just launch it landing the disc about 75-100 feet past my normal landing area on flat ground. No long punishing uphill holes that I've experience at other courses with elevated tees, but some straight uphill approaches. A few tee shots with campy oak trees to keep the disc low, the elevated and down slope tee shots, and the scenic 14 to 18 part of the course elevated the fun factor to anchor my overall rating at 5. My adjusted rating is based on paver tees, those that play the forward tees may have a different experience.
Having to use a course app for navigation, and the mishap on 3's basket arrow my round took 95 minutes. Bryan Park will be at least a once or twice a year visit and is now in my top 5 for courses.
Notable Basket Placement:
No. 13 Par 3 at 290 feet down slope until about 220 feet, then drops straight to the basket. With short grass can be a roller to the street below. My drive skipped down the hill and out of sight, but ended up in a good position.
Notable Holes:
No.1 Par 3 at 300 feet elevated tee shot to a basket wedge between two thick oak trees. Fairway slopes right to left into the water. Trees on both sides of fairway. Basket about 60 feet from water including slope.
No. 4 Par 4 at 595 feet the first of an epic tee shot to let it loose. Fairway is lazy dogleg right with an up slope for the approach. Large tree on left about 300 out, on the right smaller trees. Best to keep it to the right and swing back in with the dogleg for approach.
No. 14 Par 3 at 445 feet downhill lazy left and then back up to the right. Heavy large trees all the way down the right and some canopy. Straight ahead about 320 feet are trees, heavy brush and then the creek. Slightly up hill slope to the basket.
No. 16 Par 3 at 245 feet across a pond level flight. C1 is on the edge of water, so you need at least 215 feet. Land behind basket, you have a slight roller into the water putting back to basket.
No. 18 Par 3 at 230 feet back across the water. Only need about 170 to make it across. At that point its straight uphill to the basket on a very hard pack dirt surface. Elevation up is about 20-25 feet. Some canopy to deal with if attacking the basket. Can be a roller back down to the water, the hill is about 55 degrees up. I watched my drive slide back down the hill about 30 feet giving me a putt just outside C1. My putt missed, and did a tabletop coin dance, thankfully it settles down next to the basket and not back down the hill and into the water. There was a man in the water who had already fished out more than a dozen disc.
Signature Hole:
No. 9 Par 3 at 505 feet. Straight down hill a lazy dogleg right nothing in the fairway except a tree on the left about 230 out, and trees lining the fairway on right. Very scenic background behind 9's basket with the creek and water running over the dam. The basket sits under an oak with canopy and the surface is hard pan dirt and past the green slopes across number 1 fairway and into the water beyond. A hot running disc could make the water. Gazing down from the tee was my first thought this could be a course favorite. I was thrilled to be able to putt for a par from C2 at that distance, I missed.
Trouble Hole:
No. 11 Par 4 at 740 feet is a straight down hill shot with a creek across the fairway about halfway out. From that point a lazy dogleg right straight back up hill. Large tree on the left side of fairway at about 220 feet. The creek is about 30 feet wide, and after crossing it there's heavy large trees all the way up to the basket on the right. Some large trees left center. Some large oaks protect the basket. Need to stay on left side of fairway with tee shot and find a line for the approach. Only big arms are likely to make C1. On the right side of fairway, you will block yourself out to the basket. I blocked myself out on the right and found my way to a double bogey. From the tee is when I knew that Bryan Park would be a course favorite and I still had 7 holes to play.