Holston Creek Park reviews
10
10
garryj
Experience:
9.7 years
73 played
10 reviews
A Minority Report 2+ years drive by
Reviewed:
Updated:
Played on:May 3, 2016
Played the course:once
Pros:
-great signs
-separate gravel parking added for disc golfers
-nice big tee pads (even thought they were very muddy after a rain)
-litter cans placed around the course (let's keep it clean)
-several holes with hanging baskets and sand traps(nice touch)
-benches on some of the holes (more would be good, and a few under a shade tree would be even better
-herculean effort by the Spartanburg Parks & Recreation Department in carving the course out of a wilderness and getting it ready for the scheduled opening day (kudos)
-separate gravel parking added for disc golfers
-nice big tee pads (even thought they were very muddy after a rain)
-litter cans placed around the course (let's keep it clean)
-several holes with hanging baskets and sand traps(nice touch)
-benches on some of the holes (more would be good, and a few under a shade tree would be even better
-herculean effort by the Spartanburg Parks & Recreation Department in carving the course out of a wilderness and getting it ready for the scheduled opening day (kudos)
Cons:
-very bad layout design (Want to play only 9? You'll have a long walk back to your car. Want to play 18? You'll have an even longer walk back to your car.) The layout almost forces you to play the full 27!
-most of the holes are too long for junior, senior, recreational, or newbies (5 out of 9 of the so called "short" holes are over 300 feet, 2 of those are over 400 feet! Only 1 of the 27 is under 200 feet, and it involves water)
-several long throws over murky ponds, with no alternate routes. (unless you're Ricky Wysocki, you'll be feeding a few of Innova's best to the fishes)
-more uphill throws than downhill (but then, everybody loves a good uphill throw, right?)
-many of the long closing holes have out of bounds stakes for no apparent reason (other than to make the hole more difficult) Come on now, everyone is dead tired by then, the holes are difficult enough without the OB
-biting flies (hopefully, only seasonal), I had to keep a disc in my hand the entire round for swatting (didn't see any mosquitos, I think they were afraid of the flies)
-most of the holes are too long for junior, senior, recreational, or newbies (5 out of 9 of the so called "short" holes are over 300 feet, 2 of those are over 400 feet! Only 1 of the 27 is under 200 feet, and it involves water)
-several long throws over murky ponds, with no alternate routes. (unless you're Ricky Wysocki, you'll be feeding a few of Innova's best to the fishes)
-more uphill throws than downhill (but then, everybody loves a good uphill throw, right?)
-many of the long closing holes have out of bounds stakes for no apparent reason (other than to make the hole more difficult) Come on now, everyone is dead tired by then, the holes are difficult enough without the OB
-biting flies (hopefully, only seasonal), I had to keep a disc in my hand the entire round for swatting (didn't see any mosquitos, I think they were afraid of the flies)
Other Thoughts:
The vast majority of the reviews for Holston Creek will be positive, hence my tagline. For me it was exhausting, with very little fun factor. When the course was first announced it was planned as two separate courses, an easy 9 holes, and a championship18. (http://www.spartanburgcounty.....aspx?AID=17)
Unfortunately, it didn't turn out that way. Holston Creek follows Spartanburg County's pattern of building only challenging championship courses, designed for upper intermediates and advanced players. Since that covers about 75% of the people playing disc golf, I completely understand the reasoning behind Tyger River, Pipeline, and Holston Creek. If you're in that group (throws 300 to 450 feet) then, by all means, give the course a try, you'll probably love it. On the other hand, if you're a recreational player living in Spartanburg County, and you're looking for a fun, relaxing round of disc golf, you'll probably be better served at Shoally Creek, Century Park, or even USC Upstate. Sadly, we're never going to grow the sport if designers continue to ignore juniors, newbies, and recreation players. I can't even image taking a new player to Holston Creek and telling him/her "this is what playing disc golf is all about". My wife would have lasted only two or three holes before heading back to the car and searching for the nearest QT. And, did they really expect a 9 or 10 year old junior to be able to throw over the lake on #27, even on the "shorter" tee?
So, what could be done to improve the course? First and foremost (not going to happen), change the layout. Designer's should take a hint from the way most ball golf courses are laid out. The 1st and 10th tees, and the 9th and 18th greens are always located reasonably near the clubhouse/parking lot. (Did Innova really come up with the Holston design?) Even if you're an advanced player, you're not always going to have time to play 27 holes. I've tried to come up with a 9 or 18 hole loop that would start and end reasonably near parking, but so far nothing. (maybe some "safari" holes?) When I finally rattled the chains on #27, after spending half a day on the course, I half expected someone to hand me a tee shirt which said, "I survived Holston Creek". Second suggestion (not going to happen), take some of those white ob stakes and delineate a third set of tees for those of us that throw less than 300 feet.
Sorry for the negative review, I'm sure it will result in some "hate" emails. I just wanted to make the point that Holston Creek is definitely not for everyone!
Unfortunately, it didn't turn out that way. Holston Creek follows Spartanburg County's pattern of building only challenging championship courses, designed for upper intermediates and advanced players. Since that covers about 75% of the people playing disc golf, I completely understand the reasoning behind Tyger River, Pipeline, and Holston Creek. If you're in that group (throws 300 to 450 feet) then, by all means, give the course a try, you'll probably love it. On the other hand, if you're a recreational player living in Spartanburg County, and you're looking for a fun, relaxing round of disc golf, you'll probably be better served at Shoally Creek, Century Park, or even USC Upstate. Sadly, we're never going to grow the sport if designers continue to ignore juniors, newbies, and recreation players. I can't even image taking a new player to Holston Creek and telling him/her "this is what playing disc golf is all about". My wife would have lasted only two or three holes before heading back to the car and searching for the nearest QT. And, did they really expect a 9 or 10 year old junior to be able to throw over the lake on #27, even on the "shorter" tee?
So, what could be done to improve the course? First and foremost (not going to happen), change the layout. Designer's should take a hint from the way most ball golf courses are laid out. The 1st and 10th tees, and the 9th and 18th greens are always located reasonably near the clubhouse/parking lot. (Did Innova really come up with the Holston design?) Even if you're an advanced player, you're not always going to have time to play 27 holes. I've tried to come up with a 9 or 18 hole loop that would start and end reasonably near parking, but so far nothing. (maybe some "safari" holes?) When I finally rattled the chains on #27, after spending half a day on the course, I half expected someone to hand me a tee shirt which said, "I survived Holston Creek". Second suggestion (not going to happen), take some of those white ob stakes and delineate a third set of tees for those of us that throw less than 300 feet.
Sorry for the negative review, I'm sure it will result in some "hate" emails. I just wanted to make the point that Holston Creek is definitely not for everyone!
