Pros:
This course is a great example of why it's important to check out a course for yourself rather than relying on other people's opinions. Based on the course's ratings, I had low(er) expectations when I came to Garden Grove. What I got instead, of a very good, challenging, wooded course that's better than advertised.
- New reviews are crucial. They offer different perspectives and reflect how a course is playing at a certain time. And they also reflect people's opinions, no matter how objective we try to be.
- A classic North Carolina wooded course. Felt like I was still in Charlotte throwing at Nevin, Hornets Nest, Scrapyard, or any other tight, pine-tree laden fairway. When you're on your game, you don't notice the fairway size. Every time you hit a tree, the fairway suddenly seems three feet wide, so tight you have to turn sideways to squeeze between the trees.
- A mental challenge. There's a huge risk vs reward aspect to this course. There are some quality, varied layouts. For a large swath of the course however, it feels as if you're having to decide on the tee whether you want to be aggressive and try for a birdie (pulling out a bigger disc), or play it safe, keep it in the fairway, and play for par. After smacking a tree, ending up way off the fairway on #7, I was only able to salvage a bogey because it was January and there wasn't any growth in the rough. The paths between the trees were just forgiving enough that I felt good carding a 5.
- Ah, #7. This hole along with #13, which share a small swath of grass, are the two most enjoyable, most picturesque holes on the entire course. #7, at 464 feet, tees off from the grassy area back to a wide tunneled fairway on a relatively straight hole. A solid tee shot will put players in position for a birdie 3. If you're like me, smack a tree, and end up in the rough to the right side of the fairway, you miss the fun this hole offers.
- #13 is the bookend to #7. At 486 feet, you've got an s-curved fairway to navigate. From there, the fairway opens up to a grassy putting circle and a slightly raised basket. With a backdrop of rolling fields serving as a backdrop, this is easily the best approach shot on the course.
- I liked the colored discs on top of each basket. I'm not sure if they're there to help identify the baskets or just to be. Either way, they serve as nice targets as I experienced first hand when my approach shot shattered the one on #3. So, I can't make 15 foot putts, but I can nail a target on top of the cage from 80 - 100 feet away. Seems about right.
- Very nice park overall. From where you park for the course, it seems like a small, nothing park. Suddenly, when you're on #10 & 11, you see a larger, nice portion of the park. It's as if they don't want the disc golfers associating with the rest of the park. Hmmmm.
Cons:
Tee pads. Apparently the work order for tee pads was wrong. How do you build a new course with pads that are half as long as they should be? It stands out like a sore thumb and I sense it may mess with people's impression of the course.
- There is a walking trail that weaves throughout the course. It can be easy for a walker to end up strolling down a fairway, or a discer ending up on a trail instead of a transition between holes. In certain areas, it would be nice if the signage was clearer to identify what's what.
- There are a tad few too many non-descript holes and a repetitive sense of repetitiveness. Your closing four holes are all essentially dogleg lefts. On #15 - 17, if you can throw a disc 250 feet and straight to slightly faded left, you're seeing easy par 3s on #15 & 16, and an easy par 4, with a potential birdie three on #17. DISCLAIMER: I played in January when there are no leaves on trees. For nine months a year, these holes may play different due to the foliage factor.
- I think #12 was an ambitious, adventurous design. There are multiple cleared out fairways, all with funky/awkward transitions at some point. If it was smoothed out, this would be a much better hole. Sure, on Pretzel Day, you can ask about getting all 18 toppings on your pretzel. Unless you're Michael Scott, you probably don't want the works.
- If you don't like wooded layouts, you will be frustrated here. There's grass on #1, 7, 13, & 18. Otherwise, your fairways are covered with dirt, tree roots, and pine needles.
- #1's tee shot can be a bit testy. You have a city building to the right side of the fairway. It's really not in play, but imagine if your arm isn't loose, you're slightly concerned about accuracy, and you don't want to sail left before the fairway's bend, and you know you're unleashing a drive on a 500-foot layout, that building may seem a bit closer. More of a mental block than anything else.
- I didn't notice many, if any, benches throughout the course. I don't use them, but on a hot summer day, plenty of people will notice the lack of benches.
Other Thoughts:
Garden Grove is a really good course. I felt right at home with this layout. It does feel as if you could drop it right in Charlotte and you'd feel right at home.
- Hats off to the course designer. Whoever this unknown person is, he (or she) did an excellent job.
- The first hole ended up being one of the top two or three on the course. At 503 feet, you're playing the first 60% in the 'open' before the fairway breaks left into the woods. It's a split fairway, so two chances to hit your gap. You don't want to end up in the woods before your gap. That stuff is thick. A solid second shot, and I had a easy birdie three putt. Overall, one of the better opening holes you'll see.
- #6 is one of the potentially easier birdie chances. It's the tightest fairway on the course. It's also the shortest hole on the course as it's the only one shorter than 200 feet. In case you've had a rough start to your round, this can right the course. Or it can feel like a lost opportunity if you smack one of the many trees.
- Other than the walking trails, this course is removed from other park activities. There's a dog park (I think that's what the fenced in area is for) just beyond #18's basket. Otherwise, the parking lot will probably be mostly disc golfers.
- As for the repetitive repetitiveness, you have split fairways on both #10 & 11. I like both layouts. I just wish they were spaced out so both felt a like more distinct.
- This is an easy 3.5 rating for me. There are enough positive elements that I was thinking about a higher rating. A couple of aspects keep this course from that. Still, I like this course more than Patriot or Davie Park. A solid addition to the Triad disc golf scene.