Pros:
Floral City Park is your normal park style disc golf course . Or is it ? The park has ample parking space , and a bathroom near hole 1 ( or 9 ) . There is a picnic shelter area also near the lot . There are 2 large cement tee pads per hole that are painted in the back of them , blue for pro and red for ams . The signage is basic , with small metal signs that give the hole number , par and distance . The baskets are basic Chainstars , but seem to catch well . There are also color coded NEXT TEE signs hanging on the bottoms of the buckets . A nice touch . I didn't see a kiosk here ,but with the signage on the baskets , it is a very easy course to navigate . The park was mowed and seems to be well cared for . Besides disc golfers , the park is shared with joggers and dog walkers . This 19 hole course has some length to some of its holes . Disc Risk : About zero , unless one comes out of your hand in the back of the park , goes over the fence and gets squished by an oncoming car . The park is so clean and free of rough that you can play all the way up til dark . Also , , holes 9 and 18 end near the parking lot , so you can play a quick front or back 10 if you are pressed for time . The park lacks a lot of trees , but of the ones here , many are the large oaks with the Spanish moss hanging from them . Course designers here utilized the trees to whatever advantage they could . The course face page said " rolling " which normally means flat outside of Florida , but this course actually has some elevation to it . The course is still easy on your legs , because of the care of the park . These holes won't remain etched in your memory forever , but there were some pretty decent ones . #1 is a good starter hole , a 284' right to left drive that goes between 2 large oaks in the beginning . #6 is a long 573' par 4 ( 414' from the reds ) with a dip in the middle of the fairway . 7 is 318' , goes across a maintenacne road and through or over a fence to the green , which sits under a canopy of trees . 8 is 458' from the longs , goes slightly downhill , with trees protecting the fairway and basket on the left . One I liked was #12a , 320' where you had to bend your drive around some plants and a few trees to a semi protected basket . Signature Hole : #16 , 594' ( 437' from the reds ) with an elevated tee , into a wide but canopied tunnel of large oaks , to the basket out on the other end . Not a fast play , it took me just over an hour to play , but since it is so open , a group of 4 should be able to finish in 2 . An enjoyable round , it was nice to open a few drives up .
Cons:
#1 Challenge . Some will think that the holes run on with straight hard drives to the basket with little or avoidable obstruction . I don't think that the course design had championship style holes in mind . However , they still hold local tournaments here . I met the young guy that won the last one . He was throwing with his father , and easily drove 400' + , and likes the course . #2 Safety . You don't need to keep your head on a swivel , but you do need to be aware of an errant throw from a newbie that might cross a fairway here and there . Also , since there is a walking path that cuts right through and around the park , you need to be aware of walkers with dogs , or kids on bikes , etc. Wind might be a factor here . You might be confused on hole 12(s). There is a 12 , then a 12A . When they added a 19th hole , instead of rearranging the holes with new numbered signs , they frugally just added the hole in the back with 12A . Bring sunscreen . The sun can be brutal .
Other Thoughts:
This is the kind of park that I learned how to play disc golf . Rolling and open . A perfect compliment to Whispering Pines , or if you hated that course , then you will love it here . A great place to buy a to go meal in town , then eat at the park shelter before playing . It just seemed so calm here . Shot variety ? Not as much as you will see other places , but being rough free , you are playing the game of disc golf instead of playing the game of finding your disc . My Recommendation : Even though the better players might become bored , this course can serve them as far as driving , approach and putting . It is also fun enough for the newbie , the family ( there are also many other things to do in this park ) , locals , casuals , and travelers . Perfect for a Course Challenge or Trilogy Tournament . Even a Night Glow Tournament . Play It !!