-
Discover new ways to elevate your game with the updated DGCourseReview app!
It's entirely free and enhanced with features shaped by user feedback to ensure your best experience on the course. (App Store or Google Play)
Chapman Pines DGC reviews
17
0
wellsbranch250
Diamond level trusted reviewer
Premium Member
Experience:
10.4 years
662 played
642 reviews
Threading The Pine Needle
Reviewed:
Updated:
Played on:Mar 2, 2023
Played the course:5+ times
Pros:
(2.564 Rating) (REVISED - replayed March 2023) A pines layout that requires mastery precision.
- CHALLENGING - I was not expecting this course to be as tough as it was on my first play. Chapman is shorter than the average 18 holer, but it has a lot of constricted throwing lanes and it is now perhaps the tightest layout in the Huntsville area. There are a few holes with less than an 8-foot-wide discernible gap to the basket. Some will argue that many holes are too luck based. Those that scramble well from 150-feet will do well here. I'll go out and fathom a guess, that even par would draw around a 900 rated round from the back tees and all far basket placements.
- SHOT SHAPING - Magicians will love this course. At the tee I'll sometimes pause and envision a glorious gauntlet ace run to the basket. Then I'll walk up and execute a short flawless tree ace. Locals that don't like the tighter lines at Brahan, Mastin Lake or Monte Sano, won't like this course either. It's the definition of a heavily wooded course.
- CHAINS - 28 chain DISCatchers, the best baskets on the market imo.
- NAVIGATION - Everything you need is here to have an easy to follow course. Newish artistic tee signs. There are arrows below most of the baskets and sometimes there's even a numbered sign in the distance leading from that arrow. Course map is posted adjacent to the parking lot as well.
- QUICK PLAY - A quick first time solo should be able to play it in about 50 minutes.
- UPDATES - Over the first 2 years of the courses existence, a few holes had some evolving fairway lines. 6 extra basket placements were put in and 4 holes got extra tees. It seems as though with the signage install in 2021 that the course is finally set... or at least for awhile it seems. Benches keep getting added as well. Seems like more than half of the holes now have a place to sit or to set a bag. There's also a driving range net.
- CHALLENGING - I was not expecting this course to be as tough as it was on my first play. Chapman is shorter than the average 18 holer, but it has a lot of constricted throwing lanes and it is now perhaps the tightest layout in the Huntsville area. There are a few holes with less than an 8-foot-wide discernible gap to the basket. Some will argue that many holes are too luck based. Those that scramble well from 150-feet will do well here. I'll go out and fathom a guess, that even par would draw around a 900 rated round from the back tees and all far basket placements.
- SHOT SHAPING - Magicians will love this course. At the tee I'll sometimes pause and envision a glorious gauntlet ace run to the basket. Then I'll walk up and execute a short flawless tree ace. Locals that don't like the tighter lines at Brahan, Mastin Lake or Monte Sano, won't like this course either. It's the definition of a heavily wooded course.
- CHAINS - 28 chain DISCatchers, the best baskets on the market imo.
- NAVIGATION - Everything you need is here to have an easy to follow course. Newish artistic tee signs. There are arrows below most of the baskets and sometimes there's even a numbered sign in the distance leading from that arrow. Course map is posted adjacent to the parking lot as well.
- QUICK PLAY - A quick first time solo should be able to play it in about 50 minutes.
- UPDATES - Over the first 2 years of the courses existence, a few holes had some evolving fairway lines. 6 extra basket placements were put in and 4 holes got extra tees. It seems as though with the signage install in 2021 that the course is finally set... or at least for awhile it seems. Benches keep getting added as well. Seems like more than half of the holes now have a place to sit or to set a bag. There's also a driving range net.
Cons:
A newer course cut thru heavy woods. Expect a raw environment for a couple more years.
- BRIER - During the summer, the brier can get awful off fairway. I could see some one-play reviewers shaving off some significant score for just this issue. Inaccurate throwers that play in shorts could leave blood trails behind. The course during the fall and winter consistently offers much better conditions.
- LOCATION - The course can only be accessed from westbound U.S. 72, and finding the turn-in on the first try is not the easiest either. There is a park entrance sign for the turn-in spot, but it sneaks up on drivers not paying attention. In addition, getting back onto 72 westbound could get dicey in heavy traffic.
- BEGINNER FRIENDLY - The fairways are too tight and too raw for newer throwers. I recommend taking newer players to Brahan Springs, Dublin or Lil-Calhoun.
- POKE AND HOPE - This aspect got better over time as the worst two offenders, (10) and (12), got there tee location tweaked in late October 2020. However, those with a low pin ball tolerance will argue that there are no fairways on many holes. Overall, I am personally not bothered too much as the density is just below my threshold level.
- HOLE VARIETY - Chapman Pines has a lot of similarities to nearby Brahan Springs. This course was built almost entirely in a planted pine enclave. The backdrop is very repetitive. The holes blended together in my memory soon after my first play and I still can't decipher them all in my memory after 10 plays now. In addition, this is an all par 3 layout. There are no water features and elevation maxes out at 10 feet on any one hole. There are definitely a few neat looking tunnel fairway lines, but again, it's a similar look through-out.
- TERRAIN - It's beating in day by day. Players will kick into old buried dead branches from time to time. Not epic terrible conditions by any means, just not ideal yet. Zucas will do just fine out here.
- PARKING - A gravel access road and gravel parking lot.
- BRIER - During the summer, the brier can get awful off fairway. I could see some one-play reviewers shaving off some significant score for just this issue. Inaccurate throwers that play in shorts could leave blood trails behind. The course during the fall and winter consistently offers much better conditions.
- LOCATION - The course can only be accessed from westbound U.S. 72, and finding the turn-in on the first try is not the easiest either. There is a park entrance sign for the turn-in spot, but it sneaks up on drivers not paying attention. In addition, getting back onto 72 westbound could get dicey in heavy traffic.
- BEGINNER FRIENDLY - The fairways are too tight and too raw for newer throwers. I recommend taking newer players to Brahan Springs, Dublin or Lil-Calhoun.
- POKE AND HOPE - This aspect got better over time as the worst two offenders, (10) and (12), got there tee location tweaked in late October 2020. However, those with a low pin ball tolerance will argue that there are no fairways on many holes. Overall, I am personally not bothered too much as the density is just below my threshold level.
- HOLE VARIETY - Chapman Pines has a lot of similarities to nearby Brahan Springs. This course was built almost entirely in a planted pine enclave. The backdrop is very repetitive. The holes blended together in my memory soon after my first play and I still can't decipher them all in my memory after 10 plays now. In addition, this is an all par 3 layout. There are no water features and elevation maxes out at 10 feet on any one hole. There are definitely a few neat looking tunnel fairway lines, but again, it's a similar look through-out.
- TERRAIN - It's beating in day by day. Players will kick into old buried dead branches from time to time. Not epic terrible conditions by any means, just not ideal yet. Zucas will do just fine out here.
- PARKING - A gravel access road and gravel parking lot.
Other Thoughts:
I think this is going to be a nice local course in a couple years as it continues to beat in. I've upped my score a half point since opening and could see even more improvement coming in the next couple years or so. This course will be enjoyed by those that prefer heavily wooded courses. Local bombers may surrender before the end of the round and won't ever return.
- VOLUNTEERS - Chapman was built by and paid for, entirely by volunteers.
I personally need to give a shout out to five individuals that poured a lot of time and money into this course. Tim McNeil, Aaron Barnes, Mickey, Ben Payment and most especially course designer Billy Drake made this course possible. If you run into them, please thank them for their volunteer efforts.
- RAW BEAUTY - Chapman is nearly 100 percent detached from the built environment. There's been a noticeable sense of tranquility for me when I walk around these woods. There's even a seven foot tall Bigfoot that can be spotted behind tee (1). I think he has been given the name Darrell. Yet with all this stated, the course lacks exotic features like massive rocks, ponds and elevation change. Anyways, overall I scored Chapman a 2.625 out of 5 for beauty.
- VOLUNTEERS - Chapman was built by and paid for, entirely by volunteers.
I personally need to give a shout out to five individuals that poured a lot of time and money into this course. Tim McNeil, Aaron Barnes, Mickey, Ben Payment and most especially course designer Billy Drake made this course possible. If you run into them, please thank them for their volunteer efforts.
- RAW BEAUTY - Chapman is nearly 100 percent detached from the built environment. There's been a noticeable sense of tranquility for me when I walk around these woods. There's even a seven foot tall Bigfoot that can be spotted behind tee (1). I think he has been given the name Darrell. Yet with all this stated, the course lacks exotic features like massive rocks, ponds and elevation change. Anyways, overall I scored Chapman a 2.625 out of 5 for beauty.
8
0
The three most important things in real estate are... 2+ years
Reviewed:
Played on:Jan 12, 2020
Played the course:once
Pros:
It is very technical. Can't argue that. Chances of disc loss are pretty slim - there is rough in play, but it's not thick enough to really eat plastic.
Baskets are brand new Discatchers, carpet tees are in good shape, and next tee signage is present and generally clear.
Baskets are brand new Discatchers, carpet tees are in good shape, and next tee signage is present and generally clear.
Cons:
Variety is lacking - it felt like I took the same four shots with the same three discs all day. Elevation is nonexistent - yes, Huntsville now has another board-flat mountain course. Some holes are too constrained (often early; the mandate from the land trust was no lumberjacking), to the point where they're poke and hope at the overall level of play this course aims at.
For some reason, it actually holds water really well. As far as Huntsville courses, it's not as bad as Southside, and it doesn't flood flood like Indian, but it seems to stay soggy/muddy in some inexplicable places - definitely more so than Brahan, which is overall similar to this course but better across the board.
For some reason, it actually holds water really well. As far as Huntsville courses, it's not as bad as Southside, and it doesn't flood flood like Indian, but it seems to stay soggy/muddy in some inexplicable places - definitely more so than Brahan, which is overall similar to this course but better across the board.
Other Thoughts:
As mentioned in the title, location, location, and location seem to be a big hit - not much disc golf on this side of town, so it's nice to have around, and busier so far than might be expected.
