Pros:
Calhoun Rec Center is a multi use park with ball fields and even a pool .This park also supports the 10 hole Calhoun disc golf course . There is some parking near the first tee and 10th basket . There is a decent bathroom in the shelter house close to the lot . The first tee is hard to spot , but it is on the left side of the foot bridge that you will never cross .
THE EQUIPMENT -- The tee pads are a nice Astro Turf with a wood base surrounding it . They are level and look new , probably 5' X 9' in size . There were no signs at the tee boxes , just the hole number on a piece of wood on the back left on the tee pad . The baskets are a brand new green banded Prodigy . There are small but new and sturdy benches at the tee pads .
THE LANDSCAPE -- The grass was mowed when I was here . It looks like the park is well cared for . This course is very flat . The first 7 holes travel along fairways that keep a pretty deep creek line on your right . Newbies and casuals need to try to keep the creek out of play , as a ricochet could cause you to lose your approach/driver . The last 3 holes play on the other side of the park road , working your way back to the lot . The course plays park style , with a few tree obstacles and a couple of well placed baskets . Even without trash cans everywhere , this park was clean and almost overgrowth-free.
THE HIGHLIGHTS -- #6 was a nice hole , a medium length one with a few trees in play . Nice basket placement . NOTE : if you overshoot the basket by just a little , you will lose your disc in the creek .
#8 was the longest hole on the course , and the only dogleg . With a ball field on the right side , but mostly out of play , the fairway bends to the right , going up just a slight 2' ridge , to a basket sits behind a large tree . I estimate the hole to be maybe 550' ?
SIGNATURE HOLE -- I liked #2 . It has a large overhanging tree between the tee pad and the basket . If you choose to drive left to right , you have to travel over the park road and hope to avoid the branches of a tree line . Throwing from right to left , you have to bend a driver over the width of the creek to avoid the branches of the tree , in order to land safely in the fairway .
DISC RISK -- Low . If you don't take chances , like on 2 , or overshoot the #6 basket , you will leave with the same number of discs that you came with . The park has very little overgrowth to it .
THE TIME -- It took me a little less than 40 minutes to play the course solo . A foursome will finish in less than an hour and ten minutes .
There was no other disc golfers here on a Sunday morning at 9:30 - 10:15 , so you might have this course to yourself during rounds .
Cons:
SAFETY -- This looked to be a popular place for walkers using the road that stays on your left . I had to hold up a couple of times to let them pass . Add the fact that #8 , the longest hole , plays somewhat close to a ball filed , where bored younger brothers and sisters may walk the outside areas during a game or practice , and picnic areas around the beginning and end of the course ( #1 , #10 ) , and you could have issues .
SAME 'OL - SAME 'OL -- Almost all of the holes are straight ahead . Other than having to bend your drive on #2 and the dogleg on 8 , everything else is a drawn line from tee to basket . The prior reviewer , Moose33 , mentioned unused land across the bridge . There looks to be some space to either make existing holes longer and more challenging , or adding up to 7 more holes to make it a full 18 . Just a thought ,,,
NAVIGATION -- No kiosk , no online map , and nothing to show the distances to the baskets . Even though you aren't going to spend large amounts of time looking for pads, knowing where you are going , and what the distances of the course holes are , might mean the difference whether players stop and try a course , or bypass it .
LACK OF EQUIPMENT -- The course is brand new , and I hate reviewing them when they are less than a year old ( 2021 ) , because additions might occur even while I am reviewing . The course needs a kiosk with a map , and signs at the holes . Longer 2nd tee pads would really add to it , or adding more holes , but that may come at a later date .
Only 10 holes : ( . And almost no elevation .
Other Thoughts:
I appreciate that the city has promoted disc golf in an area that needed a course bad . Calhoun sits 20 minutes away from any other courses and is one of few north of Atlanta that is just off of I-75 . I only stopped at this course because I was breaking up a return from Florida to home and stayed just a couple of miles from the exit . I would like to visit here a couple of years from now to see the progress .
MY RECOMMENDATION -- I don't like creeks that you can't fish your disc out for first timers , families , or newbies , but this creek can be avoided if careful and throwing wide of the creek , A good course for the locals to socialize and hang out and chill at the shelter after a couple of rounds . Not challenging enough for intermediates on up , but a good place for them to practice , or try out new discs . A good leg stretching course for the traveler , as it's close to the expressway and flat ( easy on tight legs ) and short . The course collector will also like the fact that you will only take up an hour of time driving to/from , and playing the course .
Normally, I might tell you to skip this course unless local , but since it's new and you may see something much better in the year or even months to come , Give The Course Some Support !!