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Snow Hill, MD

John Walter Smith Park

Permanent course
2.925(based on 6 reviews)
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12 0
HyooMac
Diamond level trusted reviewer
Experience: 6.9 years 426 played 394 reviews
3.00 star(s)

The Perfect Beginner Course? 2+ years

Reviewed: Played on:Apr 9, 2022 Played the course:once

Pros:

A beautifully maintained 18 adjacent to multiple fields at a large athletic complex



+ Very flat field course with two raised rubber tees for each of the eighteen DisCatcher baskets. Excellent large signage illustrating both "holes" (red tees are front, blue tees are back). The wood frames around the bases are painted red or blue. The signs on the par 4's even show how to play the landing areas, making them a very good teaching tool for newbies and short throwers


+ Hazards on the front nine are created by maintenance: grasses bordering the fairways are allowed to grow a bit high, there are clumps of tall grasses scattered around the greens to create obstacles, and small trees have been planted that will someday be large enough to shape throwing lines. The back nine uses a treeline bordering farming fields, and incorporates some artificial OB created by the outfield fences and other features of the athletic facility


+ The two nines play very differently from one another: the front nine is one of the best beginner courses I've ever played: it's short and there's little danger, but it feels like a "real" course. The back nine requires more precise throws, and could be something beginners "graduate" to. The pars are pretty soft throughout


+ The front nine sprawls around the back of the complex, there's very little contact with other park users. This is less the case with the back nine which runs much closer to various ballfields



Cons:

- Tees are raised, but since they're rubber, they pool with water as the platforms have sagged and worn a bit over the years. They're a bit too short for full run up.


- Playing in early April, I'm not sure how deep the rough is allowed to grow. It's the kind of thick grass that swallows up discs if it gets anywhere near knee high. Given the amount of care that goes into the facility, I'm guessing it's kept under control - but it can be a problem on open field courses that use natural grasses to define the fairways


Other Thoughts:

~ If they were to add a raised basket on one of the shorter par 3's (like hole #9, right at the parking lot), this place would be even more fun for beginners and experienced players


~ Family-friendly with generous pars. One example is the #8: a par 5 that's only around 500' from either tee, playing in a long arc to the right. I just cut the arc in Circle 2 after 2 mediocre throws


~ The layout is surrounded by open space (ballfields and farms) - there's gonna be wind (the baskets catch fine, but they're pretty weathered)


~ Notable is the remarkable amount of care that went into creating and maintaining this addition to the sports complex. It's great for beginners and it's a perfect place to get in a 9 or 18 while your kids are playing their sports



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6 1
FunkyDung
Experience: 23 played 12 reviews
3.00 star(s)

Front 9 review 2+ years drive by

Reviewed: Played on:Jul 22, 2021 Played the course:once

Pros:

Very well maintained

Cons:

Probably too easy for veterans, the tees are raised rubber, and mostly not flat and too short. After nearly twisting my ankle after stepping in a hole on the pad, I gave up and teed off from the grass.

Other Thoughts:

I only played the front 9, didn't have time nor did I even see the back 9. The beginner in me enjoyed this one. The fairways were short grass, and was being mowed as I played even though it really didn't need it. Go astray off the fairway and you're in at least ankle deep grass. Hardly any trees in play, but some of the rough is tree lined. Porta potty near the parking lot, but that might have been there for the softball tournament going on. Not sure.
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2 4
PWaggoner
Experience: 11.5 years 29 played 7 reviews
3.00 star(s)

2+ years drive by

Reviewed: Played on:Nov 26, 2014 Played the course:once

Pros:

Challenging course. All the tall grass is OB. Every shot has to be near perfect. It was windy the day I played and It was very tough to land in the islands at times.

Cons:

Tall grass eats discs.

Other Thoughts:

Pretty neat course overall. It is unlike anything I've played before.
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