(2.428 Rating) A lightly wooded course where local MA2 players can go double digits down.
- FUN FACTOR - Hunter Memorial's most redeeming aspect is its feel good nature. MA3 players are going to pile-up the birdies and have several chances to run for an ace. Very little overgrowth and the chances to lose a disc is low, except on probably hole (8). On the right of (8), the weeds are 10 feet tall and thick. According to my guide, there is an ongoing league here and it's a popular course among those that live nearby.
- BASIC AMENITIES - Concrete tees of average size and DISCatcher baskets. The tee signage is simple, being just a number and distance. The signage will generally work as the baskets can be seen a vast majority of the time. There are also benches on several holes and there are shelters and restrooms in the park. There used to be a practice basket, but it's now being used as a temporary hole.
- QUICK PLAY - I had a guide and our twosome finished in 45 minutes. First timers without a nav app or guide might never figure it out.


So-Sos:
- HOLE VARIETY - The play variety is ok I guess, but probably a hair subpar compared to the average course. It seems like most shots were generally straight ahead or hooked to the right. There is no longer a par 4, as noted above, and the rest of the holes are generally short. The first hole is actually the longest play being uphill a bit and nearly 400 feet long. Mostly park style shots with a few moderately wooded holes. Although simplistic, the train car shot was fun to see.
- NATURAL BEAUTY - About average. I found the maintenance of the park to be the most redeeming beauty aspect quality. Perhaps I weighed this quality too greatly as I had just come from the overgrown jungles at Deer Lick. The tee view from (5) throwing over the mini creek falls was neat. The pocket on (11) had a unique feel to it and a few others had some modest charm. On the flipside, there are lots of man-made features in view the entire time. The construction fence along (2) and (3) is a temporary misfortune. I also noticed a bit more trash than normal.

The course jumps around and it had an unfortunate amputation.
- HOLE 4 IS GONE - It's unfortunate that I have to report some bad news. The previous consensus best hole on the course is gone. Hole (4) was the one par 4 on this course and it was also a wooded tunnel shot with some charm. The hole was built on the edge of the park property and the adjacent adjoining property is now being developed. All the woods along the right of the fairway were clean cut, a fence was installed, and the basket for the hole disappeared soon after. There was a replacement temp hole in place for my summer 2022 appearance. It's tee is right after hole (18) marked with a flag up by the road. So it's good that I was still able to play 18 and subdue my OCD.
- LACK OF CHALLENGE - I threw ok as an MA2 level player and shot 6 down. I'm pretty sure I would average 6 to 10 down if I played here regularly. My playing partner noted that the top players need to post 14 to 15 down to have any shot of securing the low round during league. There are a lot of simple lines on this course. A few of them like holes (5), (7), (9), (12) and (14) are all rather cupcake plays in my opinion. Overall, it felt like MA4 and low end MA3 rated players are the ideal target audience.
- LAYOUT FLOW - I am so glad I had a guide as this course has several significant gaps. The first three holes are fairly easy to follow, but missing hole (4) is going to confuse a lot of players. For those that make it past this hopefully temporary gaff, there will be some pondering after (8) as the basket sits in a depression and it's a modest walk. For the few map-less first timers that do make it to (9) without issue, the journey to (10) will end the perfect streak. The gap between (12) and (13) is big too and there are a couple other non-intuitive transitions. Those that don't have a guide or nav app won't be able to figure this layout out.

A nice little course that is going to appeal to the local everyday MA3 and MA4 level player. Great for leagues and for those looking for a feel good round. Not a destination course and also not a must play for those that live across town unless a player feels the need to play every 18 hole course in the metro area. I think the loss of (4) may knock off an eight of a point from every prior review. Hopefully there will be a new hole built in the same general area soon. Overall, I'm going with a middle 2.5 rating. It reminded me of Tennessee courses such as Porter Park and Don Davidson, Georgia courses Shannon Park and Jack Mattox and Alabama courses Magnolia and Clanton. I could have named more. This is a typical park style course after all in my opinion.
- THANK YOU - Local Pro player Josh, whom I had just met at Deer Lick, was kind enough to throw a second round with me and be my guide here at Hunter Memorial. It made running this layout that jumps around go really quick and I was also easily able to find the temp hole that's currently replacing hole (4). Thanks Josh!

HMP is a very accessible, beginner-friendly course that's not afraid to mix in some longer holes.

It's got all the basics of amenities. Tee signs show everything. Concrete tees. DISCatchers. Some baskets have colored spokes for next tee indication. Plenty of benches in the multi-use park. The park atmosphere is totally unobjectionable, as HMP has a little bit of everything: baseball, walking trails, picnic spots, horseshoes, pavilions, and a couple of interesting exhibitions (one train car and one fighter jet).

In terms of the gameplay, HMP is a great example of a short, friendly course that still leaves challenges for the non-beginner. There are some short, technical holes (like the ~200' doglegs with woods on (10)-(11)), some longer, moderately wooded holes (I enjoyed (2) and (18)), open holes, and tunnels. Length ranges from about 150' on the treacherous (9) to about 450' through a tunnel on the course's par 4, hole (4). Considering the space he had to work with, Johnson did a very good job at introducing variety of terrain, rough, scenery, and shot choice. You'll battle it out with trees sometimes; other times you'll need to just avoid that OB on the side; and once or twice you can enjoy a solid 300' midrange drive.

Thinking back over my round, the hole-by-hole variety is impressive. I'll pick four random holes to illustrate: (3) lies straight ahead, but trees will force you to go with a FH hyzer/BH annie over a retention pond. (8) is no gimme at 375' with dense shrubbery and a ditch on the right and a hill and walking path on the left. (11) plays at just 195', but it's a dogleg right with the basket on top of a hill in a 30-foot tunnel. (18) closes with a 260' straight shot through a small gap or a big forehand hyzer around everything.

This is also a great park for beginner or recreational players. The rough is mostly not too bad (except in the (5)-(8) range where the drainage ditch has become terribly overgrown), the distance is achievable if you can throw 200 feet, and the lines are clear and hittable without too much experience.

We've got a few issues due to the park being jammed in too tight, and there just isn't that much super memorable here.

Let's start with the navigation and flow. Holes (1)-(9) are pretty straightforward. However, then we have to walk probably a quarter of a mile around two ball fields to get to (10). No navigational cues--you'll absolutely need a course map or UDisc. Then from (12)-(13) we have another transition over 1,000 feet that may have you wondering if you're on the right track. (15)-(16) is also a sketchy transition requiring a lengthy walk along the road. On the bright side, (18) ends near (1). HMP would benefit greatly from navigation cues.

Safety is a big issue at HMP. Roads and paths come into play on the first couple and last few holes, and even some in between.

There's also a very high risk of losing discs for a rec-level course. Fenced off areas such as retention ponds play right along the prime flight path on (3), (6), and especially the very tight putter shot on (9). The rough gets pretty scary in parts of (5)-(8) and could swallow a disc that went deep.

Lastly, HMP just lacks anything particularly memorable or special. There are a few nice park-style holes like (2), (4), the hillside basket (7), (8), and (16). However, the rec-level player should be a bit embarrassed to take bogey on any of these holes, as it would require two terrible throws (or a throw OB). As a course for new players, HMP scores 4.0 or higher. In the scheme of all disc golf courses' offerings in terms of fresh and interesting gameplay, not so great. This is especially pronounced in the (10)-(14) region of the course. These holes are all under 250' with no special challenge, and many feel like they've been crammed in beside roads and along ballfields.

HMP is a nice rec-level course. Good variety (even that par 4!) makes it entertaining to play. Its pleasant situation in the park doesn't hurt either, and it would be a wonderful place to learn the game.

So why the 2.5? The safety issues, egregious flow from (9)-(13), lack of enduring challenge, and dull stretch of too-short holes on the back nine definitely detract. With the trend for newer courses seeming to me to be very high quality, I think HMP takes a very solid Decent/Typical. It's lacking the return appeal that my other 3.0 courses offer. Is it fun to golf here? Absolutely. A 2.5 for HMP shouldn't be taken as an insult, for a Typical disc golf course means everything is in place to have great fun.