Fair Haven DGC reviews
16
0
Grassy Swampland
Reviewed:
Played on:May 7, 2022
Played the course:once
Pros:
(1.455 Rating) A short prairie style course with drainage issues.
- COUNTS AS A COURSE PLAYED - I apologize to the people involved with putting this course together by having to note a ton of issues to my fellow course explorers. This site is such a tough hill to climb in being able to deliver a nice course. Unfortunately, the only redeeming pro I came up with was that I got to tally another course played. My 80th in Tennessee in fact. I do think this site can deliver a 2.5 level course, maybe even a 3.0, but it's going to take a ton of work. Things that need to be addressed include, tee signage, navigation, water crossings, fairway widths, tees and baskets. The layout that was made is decent, but it could use a couple tweaks.
- COUNTS AS A COURSE PLAYED - I apologize to the people involved with putting this course together by having to note a ton of issues to my fellow course explorers. This site is such a tough hill to climb in being able to deliver a nice course. Unfortunately, the only redeeming pro I came up with was that I got to tally another course played. My 80th in Tennessee in fact. I do think this site can deliver a 2.5 level course, maybe even a 3.0, but it's going to take a ton of work. Things that need to be addressed include, tee signage, navigation, water crossings, fairway widths, tees and baskets. The layout that was made is decent, but it could use a couple tweaks.
Cons:
Site constraints.
- LOST DISC POTENTIAL - I'm not a fan of prairie style golf. Not only does it amp up the disc loss factor, it also increases the amount of time searching for discs. These issues are greatly influenced by fairway widths and right now at Fair Haven, it isn't wide enough. Several fairways here are cut around 15 to 20 feet wide. I chickened out and threw unnecessary dialed down putters from the tee a couple times to stay on fairway. I spent over twenty minutes searching for discs, and even lost one on (5). I would recommend to them cutting every fairway 10 to 20 feet wider thru the grasses.
- DRAINAGE - I had been following the conditions here for quite some time, and it had almost always noted wet conditions. Sure enough I show up, and there is water stagnant on several fairways. It was bad generally on the front (9) and drier on the back. I think the drainage will be such an ongoing problem that I took off 1/8 of a point in rating score. This is only the second time I've taken off points for drainage. I recommend packing muck boots and I'm glad I wore them. I wonder if the mosquitos are horrible here during the summer.
- LACK OF CHALLENGE - The holes are generally short. Nine holes are currently listed at 230 feet or less in length. The fairways are nearly all dead-on straight shots. I threw a lot of controlled putters and mids off the tee. The entire challenge here is fear of losing a disc and/or having to search for one.
- NAVIGATION AND SIGNAGE - I forgave ratings wise some of this. The course was in transition to 18 permanent holes. The tee signage and basket directional cues where in disarray when I played it. I'm certain this will get ironed out soon, but be cognizant of the added adventure possibilities.
- AMENITIES AND EXTRAS - The course does not have top of the line funding. Subpar turf tees. Perhaps better than natural ground, but it's debatable. The baskets are a mix of styles. Most are ok, but a few were chintzy. The tee signage that was present was basic hole number and distance only. No benches, alt tees or alt baskets yet.
- HOLE VARIETY - Several holes have a similar "stay on the straight fairway at all costs" feel to it. No moderately wooded or heavily wooded holes. Several holes are obstacle free except for the prairie grasses, meaning the basket could be attacked from every angle. One simple par 4 which was to no surprise a straight hole cut through tall grasses. The course is generally flat. Maybe 10 feet of grade change on a hole or two. There is some water in play, although I'd wager that it's not present during the dry season or a sustained drought.
- BEGINNER FRIENDLY - Not beginner friendly due to the disc loss potential.
- NATURAL BEAUTY - I scored this aspect 25 percentile. It's a nice landscape to take in from time to time, but most parks can say that. Nothing exotic here. No monster trees, no heavily wooded fairways. The course just didn't pop to me.
- TIME PLAY - It took me over an hour to complete the 4,500 foot long course solo. I normally complete courses at this length in under 40 minutes.
- LOST DISC POTENTIAL - I'm not a fan of prairie style golf. Not only does it amp up the disc loss factor, it also increases the amount of time searching for discs. These issues are greatly influenced by fairway widths and right now at Fair Haven, it isn't wide enough. Several fairways here are cut around 15 to 20 feet wide. I chickened out and threw unnecessary dialed down putters from the tee a couple times to stay on fairway. I spent over twenty minutes searching for discs, and even lost one on (5). I would recommend to them cutting every fairway 10 to 20 feet wider thru the grasses.
- DRAINAGE - I had been following the conditions here for quite some time, and it had almost always noted wet conditions. Sure enough I show up, and there is water stagnant on several fairways. It was bad generally on the front (9) and drier on the back. I think the drainage will be such an ongoing problem that I took off 1/8 of a point in rating score. This is only the second time I've taken off points for drainage. I recommend packing muck boots and I'm glad I wore them. I wonder if the mosquitos are horrible here during the summer.
- LACK OF CHALLENGE - The holes are generally short. Nine holes are currently listed at 230 feet or less in length. The fairways are nearly all dead-on straight shots. I threw a lot of controlled putters and mids off the tee. The entire challenge here is fear of losing a disc and/or having to search for one.
- NAVIGATION AND SIGNAGE - I forgave ratings wise some of this. The course was in transition to 18 permanent holes. The tee signage and basket directional cues where in disarray when I played it. I'm certain this will get ironed out soon, but be cognizant of the added adventure possibilities.
- AMENITIES AND EXTRAS - The course does not have top of the line funding. Subpar turf tees. Perhaps better than natural ground, but it's debatable. The baskets are a mix of styles. Most are ok, but a few were chintzy. The tee signage that was present was basic hole number and distance only. No benches, alt tees or alt baskets yet.
- HOLE VARIETY - Several holes have a similar "stay on the straight fairway at all costs" feel to it. No moderately wooded or heavily wooded holes. Several holes are obstacle free except for the prairie grasses, meaning the basket could be attacked from every angle. One simple par 4 which was to no surprise a straight hole cut through tall grasses. The course is generally flat. Maybe 10 feet of grade change on a hole or two. There is some water in play, although I'd wager that it's not present during the dry season or a sustained drought.
- BEGINNER FRIENDLY - Not beginner friendly due to the disc loss potential.
- NATURAL BEAUTY - I scored this aspect 25 percentile. It's a nice landscape to take in from time to time, but most parks can say that. Nothing exotic here. No monster trees, no heavily wooded fairways. The course just didn't pop to me.
- TIME PLAY - It took me over an hour to complete the 4,500 foot long course solo. I normally complete courses at this length in under 40 minutes.
Other Thoughts:
I did not enjoy my round here. The constant walking through water and mushy ground, the constant searching, the constant fear and the lack of intrigue lead me to this feeling. I've thrown 319 courses with 18 holes or more as of this review and I'd put my experience here into my bottom ten among those 319. It's not all doom and gloom though for this course. The two biggest noted issues can be mitigated with some design tweaks and a couple extra mowing path swipes per holes. Amenities could easily get upgraded as well. I think there is potential to get to the 2.5 level with enough investment. As is, not worth traveling to unless the player lives within twenty minutes. Considering the climate, I have a feeling that late fall is the ideal time to play here, while early spring is the likely the worst time.
