Pros:
I had zero intention of playing East Henderson High. I was sitting in traffic 40 minutes away, pulling up the disc golf course I was intending to go to, and saw a new course that hadn't been on an unnamed app days early. So, I made a detour.
- Course was BRAND NEW when I played it in July '22. To the point, the designers, who were installing tee pads, were surprised to see someone playing, especially someone who was from out of town.
- This is a generally basic flow around this high school campus. For the limited amount of space involved, the designers got extremely creative to fit in a full 9 holes. Whether that's a good or bad thing is up for interpretation.
- Course uses every single available obstacle in the limited space to create as much challenge and variance.
- The stretch of holes #2 - 4 is varied and fun. #2 starts out with trees in play, then bends left around a baseball/softball field outfield fence. If both the road on the right and fence on the left are played as OB, you do have a narrower fairway. The approach shot has a very nice backdrop too.
- #3 is a simple, straight ahead, 356 foot uphill hole that plays between a property fence on the right and more of the ballfield fence on the left. You're only going to see trouble here if you try to get too cute, for example, by throwing a big bomber or high fade shot. Sacrifice distance for accuracy and it's an easy 3.
- #4 is the fun downhill hole. Playing much shorter than its listed 323 feet, it's a chance to throw multiple tee shots.
- #6 is the first of the island greens as you're throwing over a portion of the parking lot to the basket. #7 is the second hole that plays over the parking lot.
- The best part of #7, and I think the best thing at the course, is the approach shot and backdrop on this hole. 150 feet past the basket is an old, small-town gas station. Between the brick building and the tall trees around the basket, I loved this scene. Plus, you can run across the street, grab a snack and drink, and be back to the basket in 3 minutes. This was one of my favorite views on a course recently, especially for a hole/basket that doesn't involve water or elevation.
- Course has tee pads and tee signs. Great for a school course.
Cons:
The biggest cons are going to be the parking lot holes - #6 & 7. Many people aren't fans of having discs hit and/or skid along roads. #6 is a tough shot to hit the small island green as the hole is 276 feet.
- I do think #7 would have been better if it was a shorter carry over the parking lot. It's a good 300ish foot carry. Not a hard throw for more experienced players. But for the intended, targeted audience of high schoolers/casual players, maybe shorten that distance to increase the appeal of this hole.
- Course will be unavailable during school events. If there are cars in the parking lot, you're not playing here.
- Too many potential unnecessary efforts needed to retrieve discs on some holes. If your disc clears a ball field fence on #2, 3, 7, or 8, you're either climbing the chain link fence or having to walk around to an opening in the fence. The underbrush/thicket on #2 might not be fun to wade into, especially if you're a student playing on lunch break.
- Course overlaps with other activities a lot. Between ball fields, parking lots, and roads, close proximity to the school building (on #4 & 5) and to the main 4 lane road, there's not a lot of seclusion or quietness.
Other Thoughts:
EHHS is a perfectly suitable 9 hole course. I got spoiled playing Flat Rock Middle School before this course as that one is a clear step above.
- Talking with one of the course designers, he mentioned there are plans to expand this to a full 18 at a later date.
- #8 & 9 are perfectly suitable holes. #8 is the longest on the course, playing around the main baseball field. Get around there and you've got a shot to a wide-open basket with just enough of an elevation dip to mess with judging the distance.
- #9 is fun in that the basket is completely hidden until the end. It's on the far side of a brick wall so you're throwing blind until you're 75 feet from it. It's a good challenge to an otherwise wide-open layout.
- The best part of this course? You are only 5 minutes away from Jackson Park, which is the best course is the general Asheville/I-26 area. Give me Jackson over Richmond Hill any day.
- This is a good, not great, layout. I've played many, many worse school courses than this. It's good for a 20 - 30 minute round. It's only 3 minutes off I-26, so a good excuse to stretch the legs while passing through.