The Links at Lockhart Ryan Park is a fun and challenging municipal course. The front 9 play through more open areas of the park while the back 9 get a little woodsy. There are a few fun elevation changes throughout. Good mix of shots.

- Natural tee pads
- Fairways 3 and 4 contend with each other, 5 crosses 4. While this might be a bigger issue on some other courses, it is not with the volume of play that this course gets. The affected tees are easy to see and play is not affected by the log jam, even during tournaments (again - number of players is small).

Full disclosure - I designed this course with two others and currently run the rec department that oversees it's use and maintenance. This was one of the first permanent 18 hole courses in the Maritimes and greatly contributed to the rapid growth of the sport in Atlantic Canada, so there's some history here - be it fairly recent. The course makes good use of underused areas of the park, and has seen some changes due to park usage and changes in park facilities (ex: New splash pad diverted the original hole #5). The beach volleyball court (#14 & 16) is almost never in use (much to my dismay as a rec guy) so the interference that you would assume would come into play seldom does (if ever). Also, we're experimenting with alternate basket positions, so that may be a thing on some holes from time to time. If you visit here during the week, stop by the Recreation office at the Louis Millett Community Complex beside the course and I'll happily play a round.

Lockhart & Ryan Park is a nice city park with softball fields, beach volleyball, children's play area, walking trail, soccer fields, skate board area and more. The course starts right beside the skate board area which is inside of an old basketball court. There is a nice colored course map which you can take a picture of it if you've neglected to bring the downloaded one. The course would be pretty tricky to follow without maps. There was also an information notice for a weekly league tacked on a pole here.

There are nice metal tee signs giving distances for both the longs (white) and the shorter (reds). The signs can be a little bit hard to find as sometimes they might be attached to a tree or a squirrel or something. You have to look around a bit. The tee pads are natural. They were OK here in late July. How about in November?

The course plays at kind of an advanced recreational difficulty. The front 9 is easier and more open. The back 9 has 4-5 holes that play down walking paths, my least favorite hole type. Their sometimes ultra tight technical nature will provide challenge for most players.

Favorite hole? Actually, my favorite was # 17. It's a "Throw it down the path with a very tight anhyser" and if you can keep it out of the brush, you'll have a look for a birdie as it's only 196' from the Longs.

The dirt tee pads will not hold up well to heavy use or to the harsh Nova Scotia climate.

I despise holes playing down walking paths such as #12. 280' down a 12' wide path. Only advanced type players will enjoy this hole. On the other hand, I actually enjoyed both 17 & 18, both of which employ walking paths.

#16 plays directly over the volleyball court. This hole would have to be passed over if the VB court was in use.

#14-Beware of the misleading sign here. The basket is actually a big hyzer in the woods on the left. The basket you see straight down in front of you is #15.

The course has nice variety of holes. Too many down the path holes toward the end, however. It's basically your typical city park 18. I liked it. If I lived near, I'd be happy to return time and time again.

I was fortunate enough to randomly meet up with one of DGCR's legends here at Links DGC. Deke Goff, from Fort Laurerdale, Florida, he of over 1140 courses played in 48 states. I'm not happy to report that not only has Tim (Deke) played about 400 more courses than me, he's also almost 20 years younger and to make matters worse, he probably whipped me by about 10 strokes. Helluva nice guy! Interesting too! And now my lovely wife thinks Deke Goff, from Ft, Laurerdale, Florida, is nuttier than than her husband.

12-17. Deke now has played 1500 courses.

Baskets are A-1. Bringing printout of map from online site was quite sufficient.
The tee markings are rudimentary but sufficient. Some of the laminated printouts that are supposed to be at each tee are missing but the course route and target basket locations was not hard to figure out regardless. Except going from 10 to 11 (take a hard left launch is to the left of the red maintenance bldg.). Natural launch pad sites I personally have no problem with so I was aok with an absence of concrete pads.
I liked the flow of the course. I did not feel any cross over. Facilities available in non-winter months. Not in winter.
Lots of parking. Free parking! Free course!! Love that part. Was deserted in winter. Liked some of the tightness of the holes to give a bit of technical challenge. Very scenic. Not crowded (at all). The maintenance guys are friendly. My favourite hole hands down is #7. Throwing from elevation across the road with an option to choose either anny or hyzer and the basket tucked slightly under a tree. Runner up is actually #8 because while it seems obvious a few trees should be cut, it feels like you're in Las Vegas - getting through to the basket is a crap shoot. And fun trying.

The 3rd hole could be improved - it's up a hill in the wide wide open. There is an extensive stand of trees and a walking pathway to the down and to the left of the current basket position. If a small spot were made just into those trees and the basket plunked down in there so it was blind from the tee - it would drive you exceptionally mad. Which would be awesome. And it would still require the challenge of the uphill throw. Just a thought. Heads up: The idea of getting you and your car locked into the park if you missed the 4:00pm cutoff to leave is not uncool. It almost happened to me. Don't do that. Or you'll spend a night in Kentville! I fluked out that my round happened to finish at 3:50pm. There are no trash bins (just pack it out) but the absence of any seating throughpout the 18 holes is an easy solve. Liked the technical shots but in fact some of the curved holes were a bit small/short so it felt a little limited. There was not much of a true challenge of a combination of arm strength with manouevering if you know what I mean. More careful placement. Maybe I need to be a more patient Jedi warrior. The course is broken down to similar sections with each having a similar required approach. Having said that there is variety between these sections. Some holes that require some selected trees be cut down (Perhaps 1,2,5,9 and very especially 8) to allow for a realistic drive and approach strategy. I suspect the village's parks department does not want to cut any mature trees and I get that. Maybe I just need more practise or a better eye.

I would say I was thrilled and stunned at this course being where it was and that so much time and effort put into its development and its quality signage, the top knotch baskets, the no pay to play and hassle free aspects (except for that gate of death). I would go back in a heartbeat as it's a quality course not just "for the area" but somebody put some effort into this project and it has resulted in there being a solid opportunity to throw a really fun 18 or 36 or 54 holes in on trip. New Minas can be proud that they are ahead of the curve including ahead of HRM with this awesome spot one hour and eleven minutes drive from Fall River. Well done.

Disc golf is growing in popularity in NS and this course will help grow the sport. There is a great group of regulars that play and promote the sport. Having the course at the rec center allows new players to borrow or buy discs on site. There are some longer open holes, some very tight and technical holes and everything in between. Maybe not at first but after a couple rounds holes 7 and 11 are possible "ace" holes.

for new players the back 9 can make you crazy. There are plenty of chances to loose discs. BUGS!

this course plays completely different in the spring/fall than in the summer.

Good variety of open and wooded shots, as well as variety in length. Quality baskets and basket location. Loved hole 6 and 13.

Hole 8 is a crab shoot, but I think there are a few chicot's on the first row that should probably come down in the spring anyhow, which would open up some defined path to the basket. Seemed the back 9 had a few holes with fairways that near each other.

Fantastic course for learning the sport and developing a complete skill set. It won't be long till some locals have this course locked down, but hopefully will be a catalyst for further growth in the province. Yeah Acadia U. I'm looking at you guys.