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Curtis Memorial Park reviews
15
0
Very Tight Fairways 2+ years
Reviewed:
Played on:Oct 5, 2021
Played the course:once
Pros:
-A heavily wooded course that meanders thru a park. Elevation thru ravines with a few views of a scenic lake. A creek comes into play on a few holes. From the tee tight gaps with some hole's tight fairways and twisting. Some baskets have guardians and most hidden from tee. You'll be tested whether from the short or long tees.
-Based on skill level there are three sets of concrete tees on each hole. On a few holes the distance is short between long and middle tees, but the angle is extremely different such as #2 where only about 25 feet made a big difference of the fairway angle. Baskets catch good.
-Holes have their own unique features with an assortment of twisting doglegs that are tight, unseen elevation drops, and options to come down thru the canopy on short holes.
-The course has been realigned in the past. No indication what was done in the realignment, other than some tee signs have not been updated. It looks like the realignment started with hole 2, as with other courses this is normally for the good.
-Tee signs have hole number, par, distance, and a tee map. Some tee signs have the wrong basket number on the map post realignment.
-Navigation is counter-clockwise and has smooth flow. Tee signs on the map have next tee indicator. A longer walk from basket 13 to tee 14.
-From the tee I threw mid's, fairways, and drivers. Had thoughts of putter on a few longer holes to stay on fairway. You're likely to play a variety of your discs from the bag.
-Beginners and recreational this will be a lesson in woods golf, but fun. Intermediate and advance from the long tees skill set will be tested, but correct disc selection could lessen it.
-Based on skill level there are three sets of concrete tees on each hole. On a few holes the distance is short between long and middle tees, but the angle is extremely different such as #2 where only about 25 feet made a big difference of the fairway angle. Baskets catch good.
-Holes have their own unique features with an assortment of twisting doglegs that are tight, unseen elevation drops, and options to come down thru the canopy on short holes.
-The course has been realigned in the past. No indication what was done in the realignment, other than some tee signs have not been updated. It looks like the realignment started with hole 2, as with other courses this is normally for the good.
-Tee signs have hole number, par, distance, and a tee map. Some tee signs have the wrong basket number on the map post realignment.
-Navigation is counter-clockwise and has smooth flow. Tee signs on the map have next tee indicator. A longer walk from basket 13 to tee 14.
-From the tee I threw mid's, fairways, and drivers. Had thoughts of putter on a few longer holes to stay on fairway. You're likely to play a variety of your discs from the bag.
-Beginners and recreational this will be a lesson in woods golf, but fun. Intermediate and advance from the long tees skill set will be tested, but correct disc selection could lessen it.
Cons:
-Because this is a heavily wooded course where you're likely going to be very focused, the holes blend into together, meaning some not memorable. The holes have their own unique features, but it may take a handful of rounds to keep them memorable. On the ride home no problem remembering the 2nd course I bagged, but not this one, heck I can remember courses per hole I bagged several months ago. I've only played one other course like it, and I think its that focus on the shot only that made some holes forgettable. Also, the lack of variety gives no space to separate the holes.
-The short red tee concrete pad is only big enough for a standstill, it was a double take when I walked by it on the first hole.
-On a Tuesday morning there were walkers on fairways, most of them around the lake area. The lake shouldn't come into play.
-The 18th basket is at least a 4-minute walk back to parking, and you're finishing at a lower elevation. Without UDisc to show me where I was in the park, it would have taken some wandering to find parking.
-The lost disc factor can be high; the deeper brush is well off the fairway, theirs a creek but it was dry. I disced down and stayed around the fairway, when I was off, I walked right up to my disc. There's also the elevation drop on a few fairways, but I had no problem locating my disc.
-The short red tee concrete pad is only big enough for a standstill, it was a double take when I walked by it on the first hole.
-On a Tuesday morning there were walkers on fairways, most of them around the lake area. The lake shouldn't come into play.
-The 18th basket is at least a 4-minute walk back to parking, and you're finishing at a lower elevation. Without UDisc to show me where I was in the park, it would have taken some wandering to find parking.
-The lost disc factor can be high; the deeper brush is well off the fairway, theirs a creek but it was dry. I disced down and stayed around the fairway, when I was off, I walked right up to my disc. There's also the elevation drop on a few fairways, but I had no problem locating my disc.
Other Thoughts:
Curtis Memorial Park from 1st tee to 18th basket is an adventure of wooded disc golf, and I found it to be intense for the most part. You get a slow introduction hole 1 thru 4, and from 5 on it takes off with tighter gaps off the tee, fairways narrow with twist and turns, and drops in elevation down fairway. A course where I pretty much disced down to stay on fairway still hitting trees on the border of the fairway and 2nd shots catching up on distance using a driver when needed, the course does gives you a chance to recover. Curtis reminds me of Northwest River a course I frequent, but Northwest is flat, just has the tight fairways and gaps. Northwest took me 5 visits to remember each hole, and I believe Curtis could take just as long. Curtis puts you through the test but will give you some fun as well. I wish I lived close enough to make frequent visits to Curtis. There's not much to grip about the course, other than on a weekend you may find a lot of walkers on the course.
With the up tempo of a wooded course from the long tees, and some unique holes my overall rating is anchored on a 5.0. I think my overall rating would increase if I played the course enough to get a better feel for it. I hope to return sometime in the future. The time to play was 65 minutes, it can be a fast-paced course staying on the fairways and no disc looking.
Notable Holes:
No. 11 Par 3 at 344 feet is a very narrow, sort of, kind of, a straight away. The fairway meanders left, back to the right, and then straightens up. It also slides downward left to right across fairway. The fairway all the way down is about 30 feet wide at the most. Trees bulge out on the left pushing long the right, and bulges from the right pushing you left. Very awkward look from the tee. I shaped a Star Leopard flying from the left to the right border and threw it again slicing right to the basket. There are these types of shots thru the course.
No. 12 Par 3 at 251 feet from the longs a dogleg right from an elevated tee. The shorts are also elevated but direct to the basket. There's a stretch of guardian trees in the middle of the fairway protecting the basket. A creek that was dry runs along the right and behind basket. It's a fun throw, from the longs threw a high arching hyzer canopy drop, after a short search found my disc in the creek bed just short of basket high, don't know how it got there.
No. 16 Par 4 at 465 feet is a brutal uphill hole with narrow gaps of 15 feet climbing to 180 feet out and starts to level out. The fairway meanders right then straightens out, and about 70 feet out hooks left to the basket with tree cover. Its narrow all the way down but opens some. From the tee it looks like you're looking straight up, and those gaps are intimating. My first impression was putter, but I didn't do it, hit a tree early with a fairway and was happy to walk away with a bogey.
Signature Hole:
No. 8 Par 4 at 501 feet is an elevated tee that is straight away until a lazy dogleg right about 125 feet from basket. Very scenic from the tee you have a choice of tracking your disc over a ditch most of the way down fairway on the left, on the right of a tree line center fairway is dry land that also has difficulty with protruding trees and bushes from the right. Your creek line is about 30 feet wide, dry line about 20 feet. There's a wooden stairway into the ditch if you play from it, a nice touch to the view from tee, and that tells me maybe the ditch stays dry most of the time. One of the most scenic holes on the course and represents the course well. Also has a crusty feel to it.
Trouble Hole:
No. 5 Par 4 at 477 feet from the longs is a downslope dogleg left at about 250 feet from the basket, the rest of the fairway straight away. From the shorts a straight away hole. Heavy tree line and brush both sides until about 200 feet from basket a gap shrinks to about 25 feet then opens back up. About 100 feet from the basket the fairway drops to an open basket that is a roller with brush within C1 and a dry creek behind it. From the long tee you have the risk of running thru the dogleg, an approach shot your disc will likely fly out of sight. From above the putting green is very scenic, but the hole had one of the biggest lost disc potentials on the course, and a possible few extra stroke. I ended up dumping a putt from the fairway drop.
With the up tempo of a wooded course from the long tees, and some unique holes my overall rating is anchored on a 5.0. I think my overall rating would increase if I played the course enough to get a better feel for it. I hope to return sometime in the future. The time to play was 65 minutes, it can be a fast-paced course staying on the fairways and no disc looking.
Notable Holes:
No. 11 Par 3 at 344 feet is a very narrow, sort of, kind of, a straight away. The fairway meanders left, back to the right, and then straightens up. It also slides downward left to right across fairway. The fairway all the way down is about 30 feet wide at the most. Trees bulge out on the left pushing long the right, and bulges from the right pushing you left. Very awkward look from the tee. I shaped a Star Leopard flying from the left to the right border and threw it again slicing right to the basket. There are these types of shots thru the course.
No. 12 Par 3 at 251 feet from the longs a dogleg right from an elevated tee. The shorts are also elevated but direct to the basket. There's a stretch of guardian trees in the middle of the fairway protecting the basket. A creek that was dry runs along the right and behind basket. It's a fun throw, from the longs threw a high arching hyzer canopy drop, after a short search found my disc in the creek bed just short of basket high, don't know how it got there.
No. 16 Par 4 at 465 feet is a brutal uphill hole with narrow gaps of 15 feet climbing to 180 feet out and starts to level out. The fairway meanders right then straightens out, and about 70 feet out hooks left to the basket with tree cover. Its narrow all the way down but opens some. From the tee it looks like you're looking straight up, and those gaps are intimating. My first impression was putter, but I didn't do it, hit a tree early with a fairway and was happy to walk away with a bogey.
Signature Hole:
No. 8 Par 4 at 501 feet is an elevated tee that is straight away until a lazy dogleg right about 125 feet from basket. Very scenic from the tee you have a choice of tracking your disc over a ditch most of the way down fairway on the left, on the right of a tree line center fairway is dry land that also has difficulty with protruding trees and bushes from the right. Your creek line is about 30 feet wide, dry line about 20 feet. There's a wooden stairway into the ditch if you play from it, a nice touch to the view from tee, and that tells me maybe the ditch stays dry most of the time. One of the most scenic holes on the course and represents the course well. Also has a crusty feel to it.
Trouble Hole:
No. 5 Par 4 at 477 feet from the longs is a downslope dogleg left at about 250 feet from the basket, the rest of the fairway straight away. From the shorts a straight away hole. Heavy tree line and brush both sides until about 200 feet from basket a gap shrinks to about 25 feet then opens back up. About 100 feet from the basket the fairway drops to an open basket that is a roller with brush within C1 and a dry creek behind it. From the long tee you have the risk of running thru the dogleg, an approach shot your disc will likely fly out of sight. From above the putting green is very scenic, but the hole had one of the biggest lost disc potentials on the course, and a possible few extra stroke. I ended up dumping a putt from the fairway drop.
9
0
Hidden treasure 2+ years
Reviewed:
Updated:
Played on:Aug 30, 2020
Played the course:2-4 times
Pros:
Three pads (mostly) per hole. Very good signage. Never lost my way really. Lovely forest and lake. A great deal of elevation changes. Several downhill holes and a few uphill ones too. Varied obstacles for each hole. Fairways go from reasonably wide to super tight. While most are straight, that doesn't get boring (to me) because of the varying tree/creek situation. All cement teepads in excellent condition. All baskets in excellent condition as well.
Cons:
It is all woods, so you never air out a shot. Well, maybe the drive from the red tee on no. 17; there, you throw into the woods from the edge of a small meadow behind the pool area. Red tees get essentially half a pad (nearly square). Forget run-ups. Sometimes I was falling off the front of the square teepad. Occasionally, the longer tees get these square pads also but not much. Par 4 might be too generous (for red tee) on hole 1; however, it's a good way to encourage the player just starting out. If you make par out of the box, you start out with good vibes.
Other Thoughts:
I'm not sure there is a park entry fee April-October. Online information is poor on the county website. There has been no one in the booth all four times I have played the course.
When approaching the park on Hartwood Church Road, look for the Gauntlet Golf Course sign. It is in the same park. While there also is a sign for Curtis Memorial Park at the park entrance, you can easily overlook it (neutral colors). Long driveway/road up to and past the entry booth. Continue straight along to the first large parking lot behind a soccer field on the left.
Use the latter for warm up if no one there! The course starts across the street from where you enter the parking lot.
Some days, the creek is dry, and you can play your throw from the creek bed. With actual water, of course, you would be OB and taking a penalty stroke.
When you exit the course from the 18 green, you come uphill to the pool area. Turn right and follow the walkway to the large parking lot. You come back to it on the opposite side of where you started.
If there is a day fee during the warm months, other stuff you can do here include tennis, ball golf (regulation course), skateboarding, swimming (pool), soccer, hiking, picnicking, fishing . Latter requires a permit and done on the opposite side of the lake where there is a small marina.
The tiny red tee pads work well with 1- and no-step drives and perhaps are what the designers intended: for red tee folks to do 1-step drives versus run-up X-steps and 360 spinning drives. On this wooded course from the red tees, the only place you might try the more powerful drive is on the 17 tee. But you don't need it there either.
On most of my outings here, there has been a portable practice basket in the field near the large parking lot on the side nearest to hole 1. I use it before and after playing the course. Bravo, Curtis Memorial Park maintenance staff!
When approaching the park on Hartwood Church Road, look for the Gauntlet Golf Course sign. It is in the same park. While there also is a sign for Curtis Memorial Park at the park entrance, you can easily overlook it (neutral colors). Long driveway/road up to and past the entry booth. Continue straight along to the first large parking lot behind a soccer field on the left.
Use the latter for warm up if no one there! The course starts across the street from where you enter the parking lot.
Some days, the creek is dry, and you can play your throw from the creek bed. With actual water, of course, you would be OB and taking a penalty stroke.
When you exit the course from the 18 green, you come uphill to the pool area. Turn right and follow the walkway to the large parking lot. You come back to it on the opposite side of where you started.
If there is a day fee during the warm months, other stuff you can do here include tennis, ball golf (regulation course), skateboarding, swimming (pool), soccer, hiking, picnicking, fishing . Latter requires a permit and done on the opposite side of the lake where there is a small marina.
The tiny red tee pads work well with 1- and no-step drives and perhaps are what the designers intended: for red tee folks to do 1-step drives versus run-up X-steps and 360 spinning drives. On this wooded course from the red tees, the only place you might try the more powerful drive is on the 17 tee. But you don't need it there either.
On most of my outings here, there has been a portable practice basket in the field near the large parking lot on the side nearest to hole 1. I use it before and after playing the course. Bravo, Curtis Memorial Park maintenance staff!
6
0
beardlikeabe
Experience:
8.9 years
45 played
10 reviews
New Course Will Age With Beauty 2+ years drive by
Reviewed:
Played on:Jan 1, 2017
Played the course:5+ times
Pros:
Huge Parking Lot right near hole #1
Three different tee boxes
Pretty diverse layout
Some differing elevation. (5 is a fun little downhill ace run, then 6 is an uphill beast that is pretty challenging to birdie)
Navigation is fairly easy. Follow the chopped logs with paint and you will be fine.
Three different tee boxes
Pretty diverse layout
Some differing elevation. (5 is a fun little downhill ace run, then 6 is an uphill beast that is pretty challenging to birdie)
Navigation is fairly easy. Follow the chopped logs with paint and you will be fine.
Cons:
Only the first 2 holes have non-natural tee boxes and they are pavers. I hope they do not put pavers in the entire way through
(I don't mind natural tee pads but right now 6 and 9 are at a pretty steep incline for teeing off)
It's a young course so that means there are still some small trees scattered throughout that probably could be trimmed up
Between 14 and 15 can be tough to navigate. Same with 16 to 17.
Walking paths for non-golfers cross the fairways in several locations (there are signs posted but since most people have never heard of disc golf they are not looking out. Guess you could say that this is one way to grow the sport)
(I don't mind natural tee pads but right now 6 and 9 are at a pretty steep incline for teeing off)
It's a young course so that means there are still some small trees scattered throughout that probably could be trimmed up
Between 14 and 15 can be tough to navigate. Same with 16 to 17.
Walking paths for non-golfers cross the fairways in several locations (there are signs posted but since most people have never heard of disc golf they are not looking out. Guess you could say that this is one way to grow the sport)
Other Thoughts:
Ive played this course about 10 times since installation of baskets and have experienced its improvements along the way. It's a new course obviously, however I see great potential here and think it will age beautifully. I envision tournaments in the near future here and hope this will continue to grow the sport and provide exposure to those in Stamford County/Fredericksburg. A big arm really wont be tested here (maybe on 9) but If you are looking for a fun course to test your accuracy this is a great choice.
