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Dillon Park - Old Layout reviews
9
0
DiscGolfCraig
Diamond level trusted reviewer
Premium Member
Experience:
20 years
604 played
549 reviews
A Work-in-Progress as of Fall 2015 2+ years
Reviewed:
Updated:
Played on:Nov 29, 2015
Played the course:once
Pros:
Dillon Park is a course with solid potential. It's pretty rough around the edges in its current state, but you can see the makings of an enjoyable layout in due time.
- The course can be broken up into three components, as least when I played it Thanksgiving Weekend 2015: solid, existing holes; holes that need a little more work; holes that need to be redone completely and/or need a TON of work to make decent.
- Focusing on the positive, there are some very good enjoyable and/or challenging layouts. Holes #2 - long, dogleg left; #3 - long, open tee shot to basket in a wooded area; and #4 - mid-range, dogleg right over water give this course a great start. These holes all fall into the first category. After a great start to the course, I was eagerly looking forward to the rest of the round. Too bad the rest of the course couldn't be as good as this stretch.
- Course has a very good mixture of layouts, ranging from distances (long holes range from 155 to 535 feet), open and wooded holes, challenging and easier/birdie-able holes, and fun layouts. The two shortest holes - #13 (gauntlet layout) and #15 (tight, artificial island layout) are going to get their share of love it/hate it reactions. IMO, #13 is good, #15 would be much better without the artificial island (plus having a fixed basket); and both would be feel better/less gimmicky if they weren't in the same three-hole stretch.
- Solid, challenging layout from the long (blue) tees. Average hole length is 326 feet, with six holes longer than 400 feet. One of the holes that I think could be great with additional work is #5. It's the course's longest at 535 feet. This hole plays as if it were a (ball) golf layout with a tight, narrow fairway for your tee shot, with trees on the left and a creek (and OB?) on the right. The second shot is over the creek to a wider portion of the fairway. From there the basket is in the edge of the woods. If the grass were cut, the rough cleared out more, and there were better signage, this hole would be great. As it was, I had to play way too cautious, still nearly lost a disc in the fairway, and wasn't sure where the basket was...yet I still liked the hole.
- I really enjoyed the creativity of some of the hole designs as well as the risk/reward factor. Holes #4 & 5, mentioned above, both have great layouts (or at least the makings of a great layout). Throw in a hole like #16, where you throw over a creek, through an opening in the trees to a sharp dogleg left layout into an open field, and back to a basket in the woods. These holes show what the course can be at its best, both in challenge and creativity. A birdie on any of these holes is well-earned and should be enjoyed.
- The course can be broken up into three components, as least when I played it Thanksgiving Weekend 2015: solid, existing holes; holes that need a little more work; holes that need to be redone completely and/or need a TON of work to make decent.
- Focusing on the positive, there are some very good enjoyable and/or challenging layouts. Holes #2 - long, dogleg left; #3 - long, open tee shot to basket in a wooded area; and #4 - mid-range, dogleg right over water give this course a great start. These holes all fall into the first category. After a great start to the course, I was eagerly looking forward to the rest of the round. Too bad the rest of the course couldn't be as good as this stretch.
- Course has a very good mixture of layouts, ranging from distances (long holes range from 155 to 535 feet), open and wooded holes, challenging and easier/birdie-able holes, and fun layouts. The two shortest holes - #13 (gauntlet layout) and #15 (tight, artificial island layout) are going to get their share of love it/hate it reactions. IMO, #13 is good, #15 would be much better without the artificial island (plus having a fixed basket); and both would be feel better/less gimmicky if they weren't in the same three-hole stretch.
- Solid, challenging layout from the long (blue) tees. Average hole length is 326 feet, with six holes longer than 400 feet. One of the holes that I think could be great with additional work is #5. It's the course's longest at 535 feet. This hole plays as if it were a (ball) golf layout with a tight, narrow fairway for your tee shot, with trees on the left and a creek (and OB?) on the right. The second shot is over the creek to a wider portion of the fairway. From there the basket is in the edge of the woods. If the grass were cut, the rough cleared out more, and there were better signage, this hole would be great. As it was, I had to play way too cautious, still nearly lost a disc in the fairway, and wasn't sure where the basket was...yet I still liked the hole.
- I really enjoyed the creativity of some of the hole designs as well as the risk/reward factor. Holes #4 & 5, mentioned above, both have great layouts (or at least the makings of a great layout). Throw in a hole like #16, where you throw over a creek, through an opening in the trees to a sharp dogleg left layout into an open field, and back to a basket in the woods. These holes show what the course can be at its best, both in challenge and creativity. A birdie on any of these holes is well-earned and should be enjoyed.
Cons:
At best, the biggest problem is that the course is a work-in-progress. At its worst, the course is considered complete, and the design flaws won't be addressed.
- Holes #7 - 11 were a forgettable, unenjoyable hot mess. This stretch featured narrowed, or non-existent fairways, horrible transitions between holes - I've never had to duck down underneath overgrowth, hoping not to get scratched up while on the walking path - and just general 'glad I didn't lose a disc' feelings of frustration. It's bad when you can't tell where the fairway ends and the rough begins, but it's still better than not knowing if you're still on the walking trail or if you wandered off the path. This is the 'holes that need to be redone completely' portion of the course.
- Add to that, some playable holes still seem to be works in progress. Hole #12, which is a solid, challenging layout, has huge piles of branches coming into play on the fairways. As an observation, it does seem work is still being done on the course, it's just happening at a very slow pace. It wouldn't surprise me in the least that the work is being done by a handful of volunteers who are only able to tackle a little bit at a time.
- Signage is poor at best. To put it bluntly, the hand-drawn map (located at the kiosk and on this site) is completely useless. Holes aren't clearly identified; there are way too many variances of colors on the map - which makes it impossible to read on one's phone; it includes the entire park, which makes it confusing to read - why are the soccer fields on the OTHER SIDE of the park easier to spot than any single hole on the course? Why are the hole numbers written so small? Between this and the lack of consistent signage between holes, this alone marked down my rating for the course. It's bad that I threw to the wrong basket on hole #1 because the tee sign was so poor. It's also frustrating that I accidentally skipped a hole (and had to backtrack to find it), missed a tee and had to backtrack once I found the basket and had no idea where the basket was on more than one hole. If the locals are going to focus on improving one thing, it has to be signage. I'll deal with some bad holes as long as I can navigate the course without any issues.
- The course also needs better bridges/transitions over water. Amongst the things that are used to cross over water: ropes; a 4x4; a jutted rock that sticking out of the water no more than 3 inches; a piece of wood that sinks underwater as soon as you put weight on it.
- Holes #7 - 11 were a forgettable, unenjoyable hot mess. This stretch featured narrowed, or non-existent fairways, horrible transitions between holes - I've never had to duck down underneath overgrowth, hoping not to get scratched up while on the walking path - and just general 'glad I didn't lose a disc' feelings of frustration. It's bad when you can't tell where the fairway ends and the rough begins, but it's still better than not knowing if you're still on the walking trail or if you wandered off the path. This is the 'holes that need to be redone completely' portion of the course.
- Add to that, some playable holes still seem to be works in progress. Hole #12, which is a solid, challenging layout, has huge piles of branches coming into play on the fairways. As an observation, it does seem work is still being done on the course, it's just happening at a very slow pace. It wouldn't surprise me in the least that the work is being done by a handful of volunteers who are only able to tackle a little bit at a time.
- Signage is poor at best. To put it bluntly, the hand-drawn map (located at the kiosk and on this site) is completely useless. Holes aren't clearly identified; there are way too many variances of colors on the map - which makes it impossible to read on one's phone; it includes the entire park, which makes it confusing to read - why are the soccer fields on the OTHER SIDE of the park easier to spot than any single hole on the course? Why are the hole numbers written so small? Between this and the lack of consistent signage between holes, this alone marked down my rating for the course. It's bad that I threw to the wrong basket on hole #1 because the tee sign was so poor. It's also frustrating that I accidentally skipped a hole (and had to backtrack to find it), missed a tee and had to backtrack once I found the basket and had no idea where the basket was on more than one hole. If the locals are going to focus on improving one thing, it has to be signage. I'll deal with some bad holes as long as I can navigate the course without any issues.
- The course also needs better bridges/transitions over water. Amongst the things that are used to cross over water: ropes; a 4x4; a jutted rock that sticking out of the water no more than 3 inches; a piece of wood that sinks underwater as soon as you put weight on it.
Other Thoughts:
I had a bi-polar experience playing at Dillon. The good parts of this course are really, really good. The bad parts are completely dreadful. An 18-hole version of the best portions of the course would equate to a 3.5 - 4.0 rated course. An 18-hole version of the bad portions would make this a 1.0 - 1.5 rated course - basically an even worse version of Woodward Park in Camden.
- I'm optimistic this course will continue to improve, slowly but surely. A clear vision of what needs to be worked on, while prioritizing those issues will help the locals improve this course quite quickly.
- This course has more potential than others in the region. With the terrain alone, it's better than Woodward, Edisto Memorial (Orangeburg) and a couple others closer to Columbia. Throw in the existing positives, and this course should be much better a year from now than it is today.
- I'm giving this course a very shaky 3.0 rating. In its current state, with the existing issues, I could have easily justified a 2.5 rating. In the end, I probably played this course at its nadir, so I can see the room for growth. Once it's complete, I suspect my 3.0 rating will be viewed as too low. You're off to a solid start here. Keep up the good work!
- I'm optimistic this course will continue to improve, slowly but surely. A clear vision of what needs to be worked on, while prioritizing those issues will help the locals improve this course quite quickly.
- This course has more potential than others in the region. With the terrain alone, it's better than Woodward, Edisto Memorial (Orangeburg) and a couple others closer to Columbia. Throw in the existing positives, and this course should be much better a year from now than it is today.
- I'm giving this course a very shaky 3.0 rating. In its current state, with the existing issues, I could have easily justified a 2.5 rating. In the end, I probably played this course at its nadir, so I can see the room for growth. Once it's complete, I suspect my 3.0 rating will be viewed as too low. You're off to a solid start here. Keep up the good work!
6
1
Could be a diamond in the ROUGH! 2+ years
Reviewed:
Played on:Aug 22, 2015
Played the course:5+ times
Pros:
* First disclaimer...I walked this course with Kelly when it was still just a dream, so I will admit to being a bit bias in my review!
** Second disclaimer...Course is rough, please review with the knowledge that Kelly and his students carved this course through the woods using Hatchet, Axe and Saw (RUSH fans appreciate that!)
Anyhoo,here we go...
One thing that makes me want to play a course is a cool, inviting 1st tee. If the 1st is good, it's usually a good indication that the rest will be solid as well. And I think the first tee is unique. The front of the box is marked by an 18" diameter water oak branch that sweeps down low (knee high), then the row of oaks that following the outside edge of the fairway as it sweeps left. Basket on a knoll, perfectly positions for missed putts to roll away...a long way away..
Holes #2 & #3 lead you to believe that this course is a grip-n-rip kinda course. Nothing can be farther from the truth. With a small swamp to throw over on #4, then a creek that comes into place on holes #5, #8 and another on #14 & #15, you need accuracy and control.
Most holes are placement shots...#6 has the basket hidden to the left of the fairway, 20' into the trees. Drive has to be straight, then turn at the right point to park this basket. Years from now the trees/brush will be stomped down and the lines will be better.
#7 is a anyhyzer-forehand shot that needs to slowly turn for 275' to hit the green. Come in short (right) lots of trouble
#8 is unique. The basket is on a peninsula with water on 3 sides. Not a long hole, but tight. Too hard and you're wet. Hit a tree and you're in trouble.
#9...Gotta be changed, just...dang. Kelly, we gott fix this one!
#10 Another tight placement shot, not long, but fairway is narrow. Little S-turn with a buzz/rock etc and you're parked
#11...trouble, trouble everywhere. Lots of trees, very tight lines, tweaking the tee pads would help a ton.
#12. Nice uphill, right-turn shot. Great place to crank a RH forehand shot. The approach get's tricky. Once again, years from now the lines will open up and it'll be a much hole.
#13 is a double mando, TIGHT, but short uphill shot. Nice thumber hole
#14, finally a hole you can open up on! Basket on cliff edge. Go long, go OB in creek
#15 Fun little island hole, no long, just need precise FH or BH shot onto island along creek
#16 Another hole you can step back and rip. Hole is dogleg left, approach is controlled into a gap in the woods.
#17 Nice 400'+ driving range to open up on.
#18 Back to tight and control. Throw from out of the woods and hit the gap. If you hit it, you're golden.
#19 - Could be hard to play with walkers. Fairway is actually a walking path. Might have to skip
** Second disclaimer...Course is rough, please review with the knowledge that Kelly and his students carved this course through the woods using Hatchet, Axe and Saw (RUSH fans appreciate that!)
Anyhoo,here we go...
One thing that makes me want to play a course is a cool, inviting 1st tee. If the 1st is good, it's usually a good indication that the rest will be solid as well. And I think the first tee is unique. The front of the box is marked by an 18" diameter water oak branch that sweeps down low (knee high), then the row of oaks that following the outside edge of the fairway as it sweeps left. Basket on a knoll, perfectly positions for missed putts to roll away...a long way away..
Holes #2 & #3 lead you to believe that this course is a grip-n-rip kinda course. Nothing can be farther from the truth. With a small swamp to throw over on #4, then a creek that comes into place on holes #5, #8 and another on #14 & #15, you need accuracy and control.
Most holes are placement shots...#6 has the basket hidden to the left of the fairway, 20' into the trees. Drive has to be straight, then turn at the right point to park this basket. Years from now the trees/brush will be stomped down and the lines will be better.
#7 is a anyhyzer-forehand shot that needs to slowly turn for 275' to hit the green. Come in short (right) lots of trouble
#8 is unique. The basket is on a peninsula with water on 3 sides. Not a long hole, but tight. Too hard and you're wet. Hit a tree and you're in trouble.
#9...Gotta be changed, just...dang. Kelly, we gott fix this one!
#10 Another tight placement shot, not long, but fairway is narrow. Little S-turn with a buzz/rock etc and you're parked
#11...trouble, trouble everywhere. Lots of trees, very tight lines, tweaking the tee pads would help a ton.
#12. Nice uphill, right-turn shot. Great place to crank a RH forehand shot. The approach get's tricky. Once again, years from now the lines will open up and it'll be a much hole.
#13 is a double mando, TIGHT, but short uphill shot. Nice thumber hole
#14, finally a hole you can open up on! Basket on cliff edge. Go long, go OB in creek
#15 Fun little island hole, no long, just need precise FH or BH shot onto island along creek
#16 Another hole you can step back and rip. Hole is dogleg left, approach is controlled into a gap in the woods.
#17 Nice 400'+ driving range to open up on.
#18 Back to tight and control. Throw from out of the woods and hit the gap. If you hit it, you're golden.
#19 - Could be hard to play with walkers. Fairway is actually a walking path. Might have to skip
Cons:
Course is rough and over grown in places currently. But keep in mind that this course is new and there's not an established disc golf community to help with maintenance and beat down the underbrush. Just Kelly with is loppers!
Other Thoughts:
Next year this course is going to be much better, fairways trimmed back, brush stomped down. Currently no benches or garbage cans. Tee signs are basic, but accurate. Painted spokes on cages point to next tee. Navigation is fairly easy.
