Hunter Park reviews
7
0
DiscGolfCraig
Diamond level trusted reviewer
Premium Member
Experience:
20.4 years
622 played
569 reviews
Timmons Light
Reviewed:
Updated:
Played on:Aug 19, 2018
Played the course:once
Pros:
Hunter Park is a fun, fast-paced course. Some solid, challenging hole layouts makes for a nice round. That said...
- This is an excellent 12-hole, mid-range course. Average hole length is just under 240 feet meaning players can throw mid-range or putter on most holes.
- Course centers in and around the valley leading down to the creek. This slope and elevation variance comes into play on every single hole on the course! On one hand, that creates a lot of upshots and downshots. On the other, it makes this a cramped layout. More on that later.
- Even the short holes have a challenge factor involved. #1 is the shortest hole at 141 feet. It's a downhill, low ceiling shot. Can easily have your disc roll or sail 50 feet past the basket.
- To make up for a lack of distance, course puts a tremendous premium on accuracy. #3 has a tight window to throw to. You hit the gap, you've parked your tee shot. I hit the branch instead and had my disc fall straight down. As is the case with the entire course, it was a simple up and down from 75 - 100 feet out. Barring wicked bounces or penalty strokes, be aggressive on the tee because you should be easily salvaging par.
- The downhill holes towards the creek are all really good/fun. I think #4 is the course's best designed hole. It's only 225 feet, but you've got the creek on the right side the entire length of the fairway. You've got a shelter on the left, several trees to carve your throw around and a slight dip down to the basket. A simple 3 if you choose to go conservative, which is a weird proposition for a short layout.
- #5 plays uphill to an open field basket. That's needed so you can turn around and throw back down towards the creek. It's a slight downhill shot for the first 80% of this 316-foot layout. The basket is hidden from the tee because there's a bigger drop-off the last 50 feet of the hole. Basically, you want your disc barely clearing the ground before the final drop. Anything too high is going in or past the creek and OB. This is a fun, throw several discs type of hole.
- #9 is on the other side of the creek, 237-foot downhill, dogleg right shot. You can play this hole several ways: straight through the trees, hugging the trees, or out wide with a big sweeping L-to-R fade. This adds distance to the hole but also gives players the most control over the hole. I opted this route, thought I threw an excellent shot, and landed 25 feet from the basket with a giant tree in the way.
- This is an excellent 12-hole, mid-range course. Average hole length is just under 240 feet meaning players can throw mid-range or putter on most holes.
- Course centers in and around the valley leading down to the creek. This slope and elevation variance comes into play on every single hole on the course! On one hand, that creates a lot of upshots and downshots. On the other, it makes this a cramped layout. More on that later.
- Even the short holes have a challenge factor involved. #1 is the shortest hole at 141 feet. It's a downhill, low ceiling shot. Can easily have your disc roll or sail 50 feet past the basket.
- To make up for a lack of distance, course puts a tremendous premium on accuracy. #3 has a tight window to throw to. You hit the gap, you've parked your tee shot. I hit the branch instead and had my disc fall straight down. As is the case with the entire course, it was a simple up and down from 75 - 100 feet out. Barring wicked bounces or penalty strokes, be aggressive on the tee because you should be easily salvaging par.
- The downhill holes towards the creek are all really good/fun. I think #4 is the course's best designed hole. It's only 225 feet, but you've got the creek on the right side the entire length of the fairway. You've got a shelter on the left, several trees to carve your throw around and a slight dip down to the basket. A simple 3 if you choose to go conservative, which is a weird proposition for a short layout.
- #5 plays uphill to an open field basket. That's needed so you can turn around and throw back down towards the creek. It's a slight downhill shot for the first 80% of this 316-foot layout. The basket is hidden from the tee because there's a bigger drop-off the last 50 feet of the hole. Basically, you want your disc barely clearing the ground before the final drop. Anything too high is going in or past the creek and OB. This is a fun, throw several discs type of hole.
- #9 is on the other side of the creek, 237-foot downhill, dogleg right shot. You can play this hole several ways: straight through the trees, hugging the trees, or out wide with a big sweeping L-to-R fade. This adds distance to the hole but also gives players the most control over the hole. I opted this route, thought I threw an excellent shot, and landed 25 feet from the basket with a giant tree in the way.
Cons:
One major flaw and it's going to make or break a player's experience. The layout is too cramped. I mean several tees are only steps from the prior hole's basket.
- Don't know how crowded this course ever gets, especially with the college next door. I played on an August Sunday afternoon and had the course to myself. If the course were crowded, I'd be much more cautious and hesitant, negatively impacting my affinity for the course. For example, if the course was crowded, you'd have to be careful with the overlapping on #2 & 3; you'd be waiting to tee off on #4 until #5 teed off. You would have to wait to tee off on #6 until #7 teed off; and on #11 for #12. You get the point.
- Holes also overlap, in addition to playing too close. #2 & 3 was the worst offender. Shoot, even if you were walking up #2's fairway to scout, you might turn right into a disc flying your way. Or if you're walking down #3's fairway after teeing off, you may have a disc coming around the bend on #2.
- A little clearing is needed at points on the course. The gap on #3 seems like it's smaller than should be due to overgrowth. #2 is also extremely thick on the left side of the fairway. If you hug the edge, trying to cut the corner tight, you may end up in the thick stuff.
- Signage could be better. On most holes, multiple baskets are visible from the tee. It's always fun trying to guess which one to throw to. The online course map isn't very helpful on an iPhone, so just be prepared for a little scouting on your first visit.
- Don't know how crowded this course ever gets, especially with the college next door. I played on an August Sunday afternoon and had the course to myself. If the course were crowded, I'd be much more cautious and hesitant, negatively impacting my affinity for the course. For example, if the course was crowded, you'd have to be careful with the overlapping on #2 & 3; you'd be waiting to tee off on #4 until #5 teed off. You would have to wait to tee off on #6 until #7 teed off; and on #11 for #12. You get the point.
- Holes also overlap, in addition to playing too close. #2 & 3 was the worst offender. Shoot, even if you were walking up #2's fairway to scout, you might turn right into a disc flying your way. Or if you're walking down #3's fairway after teeing off, you may have a disc coming around the bend on #2.
- A little clearing is needed at points on the course. The gap on #3 seems like it's smaller than should be due to overgrowth. #2 is also extremely thick on the left side of the fairway. If you hug the edge, trying to cut the corner tight, you may end up in the thick stuff.
- Signage could be better. On most holes, multiple baskets are visible from the tee. It's always fun trying to guess which one to throw to. The online course map isn't very helpful on an iPhone, so just be prepared for a little scouting on your first visit.
Other Thoughts:
Hunter Park is excellent in hitting its target. I don't know what more you could do in terms of building a 12-hole course in such a small space. Sure, several holes could be extended 50 feet, but that's not making a difference in its play.
- Honestly, I was surprised how much I enjoyed the course. This is essentially a 12-hole light version of Timmons in Greenville. That's my ultimate fun-factor short course. This felt like an extension of that.
- You could play this course safe and get 12 straight pars. You could play aggressive, also shooting even par - 6 birdies and 6 bogeys with a bunch of OB penalties. Which round sounds more fun?
- The variety and flow of the course needs to be appreciated. Just look at the first part of the course: short, downhill (#1); short, dogleg uphill (#2); downhill, tight fairway (#3); short, protected basket (#4); wide-open, uphill (#5); open, downhill, protected basket (#6); uphill, dogleg right, longest hole (#7). You're having to throw a different shot on each hole and can't just settle into a rhythm of throwing the same shot on every hole. Well, you could, if you're playing boring.
- I'd play here a lot if I lived close by. Besides just a normal round, you can practice all sorts of shots and/or create your own safari layout. Want to practice long downhill putts with a creek in play? Several baskets options, want to throw blind shots to a Creekside basket? Good course for that. Want to bomb 600 feet from the parking lot to hole #5? Check.
- You're in a good spot for playing other courses: 15 minutes to Stoney Hill. That should be enough. If it's not, it's 30 minutes to Crooke Creek; 45 minutes to Columbia (Earlewood); one hour to Greenville, Spartanburg. Start your day here, pack up the cooler and head out for an excellent round of South Carolina disc golf.
- Honestly, I was surprised how much I enjoyed the course. This is essentially a 12-hole light version of Timmons in Greenville. That's my ultimate fun-factor short course. This felt like an extension of that.
- You could play this course safe and get 12 straight pars. You could play aggressive, also shooting even par - 6 birdies and 6 bogeys with a bunch of OB penalties. Which round sounds more fun?
- The variety and flow of the course needs to be appreciated. Just look at the first part of the course: short, downhill (#1); short, dogleg uphill (#2); downhill, tight fairway (#3); short, protected basket (#4); wide-open, uphill (#5); open, downhill, protected basket (#6); uphill, dogleg right, longest hole (#7). You're having to throw a different shot on each hole and can't just settle into a rhythm of throwing the same shot on every hole. Well, you could, if you're playing boring.
- I'd play here a lot if I lived close by. Besides just a normal round, you can practice all sorts of shots and/or create your own safari layout. Want to practice long downhill putts with a creek in play? Several baskets options, want to throw blind shots to a Creekside basket? Good course for that. Want to bomb 600 feet from the parking lot to hole #5? Check.
- You're in a good spot for playing other courses: 15 minutes to Stoney Hill. That should be enough. If it's not, it's 30 minutes to Crooke Creek; 45 minutes to Columbia (Earlewood); one hour to Greenville, Spartanburg. Start your day here, pack up the cooler and head out for an excellent round of South Carolina disc golf.
3
3
Newberry7
Experience:
2 played
2 reviews
Kinda my home course 2+ years drive by
Reviewed:
Played on:Apr 23, 2008
Played the course:never
Pros:
Its a good starting course for people who are just getting the feel of the game, its short and compact with not a lot of hills coming into play, has a creek that runs through the course and comes into play on a few holes.
Cons:
Its short, not a lot of times to pull out the drivers and let one air out, not worth driving to go play.
Other Thoughts:
I got to college at Newberry College so me and my buddies play this course many times during the week and the school year. Its a fun course for you and your friends to go out and cut up and have a great time.