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Waxhaw, NC

JAARS DGC

2.55(based on 7 reviews)
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10 1
Mission Team Manager
Experience: 9 years 1 played 1 reviews
4.00 star(s)

A course designed to make your game better

Reviewed: Updated: Played on:Aug 26, 2022 Played the course:5+ times

Pros:

This course was begun in 2019. The front nine definitely feel more established than the back nine. It is laid out in two 9-hole loops, allowing you begin and end both at the parking lot. The teepads are all concrete surfaces.
The course is not long, with an average hole length of 255 on the front and 277 on the back. The first two holes follow the edge of the lake and present some risk to those whose discs tend to drift right. Keep your disc low on the first hole, unless you play wide to the left and drift back.
Beginning with hole 3, you're in the woods. The fairways are narrow and require accuracy. Carelessness and overachievement will be punished. The rough is truly rough, with undergrowth, including briars, present. There is a good amount of altitude change, and being in the woods and playing along both sides of a rivulet/creek, you can expect the ground to be soft at times, especially after rain. Plan accordingly.
The holes play to the left and right, up and down hill, and offer shots that will challenge or reward left and right-hand throwing, as well as forehand and backhand. Again, plan your shots carefully; the fairways are narrow, at 10-20ft.
Hole 6 starts with an overlook and a throw across the corner of the lake. This par 4 hole has been extended to 407ft with a mando to the left of the water tank. The basket is elevated on a platform, about 3ft above the ground. Hole 7 is also a raised basket, 6ft off the ground with a pretty severe drop-off behind it. What's 6ft on the front is easily 12 -20 feet up from the back. Hole 8 is a psychological hole: the view from the tee box looks like you're throwing through heavy trees straight into the lake,.The basket is left and close to the edge. Avoiding the trees will make you tend to drift right (where you will go in the lake) and throwing timidly leaves you with a long approach (with the lake still looming behind the basket.
The back 9 are newer, and as such the undergrowth feels a little more intimidating. Holes 12 and 15 are long and narrow, so keep your throws accurate and straight. 13 is a tight uphill right turn. The hill will stop your disc from rolling and gaining any distance. 16 is an uphill left turn--not long but you have to choose which side of the fairway to use as it's divided by a row of trees. Yes, there are a lot of trees--but this course, as a reminder, was designed to use this area with minimal impact on the woods. It has the advantage of forcing more accuracy and improving the game of those who learn from it.
Other helpful additions include several trashcans along the course, and foot bridges back and forth across the wettest areas. There are also directional arrows on the few holes on which it may not be obvious where the next tee box is.

Cons:

Some of the holes can get muddy, for reasons mentioned above. Holes 9, 15, 17, and 18 cross or are near the creek, and are most affected here.
Another potential challenge is the lack of bathrooms readily available. While there are some in the main building, the Townsend Building, it's kind of a long walk to get up there (and it's only open 8-5).
Five benches are now installed on the course, at holes 1,3,6,9, and 15.
Along the lake you may have to share some space with picnickers or fishers. Be aware, especially on holes 2 and 6, that some people may park on the grass, which means their car may be in the fairway. Hole 6 is the most likely place to have a person fishing right where you want to throw your tee shot.

Other Thoughts:

There are parking curbs for at least 8 cars, and room for more than that on the graveled areas. Signage at each tee gives a general map, distance, par and the name of the group who installed the holes. Volunteers from a lot of churches and schools have helped with this course.
There are other signs through the course that you can QR more information about JAARS itself, if you're unfamiliar with their purpose.
There are a number of young players on the course who live in the area. They regularly mine the lake for discs. Take the time to put your name and contact information on your discs. If they find them, they have a reputation of trying to reach the owner.
Again, this is a technical course with the goal of improving accuracy for players who want that. It's short enough that you can play for fun, and doesn't have long walks between holes. Those trees that seem to be in the way will provide great shade in the summer, and make this a cooler place to play. As it all greens out, it's easy to feel like you've got the whole course to yourself, also!
All in all, while every course has things some people won't like, this one has a good balance of challenge and reward. You can usually see the baskets from the tee, but that doesn't make it easy to get there! Play this course, and you'll discover it makes your game better!
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