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McNeill Park reviews
14
0
The Sidekick Course That Wants A Leading Role
Reviewed:
Played on:Dec 31, 2023
Played the course:once
Pros:
(2.771 Rating) A good parkstyle course that's been improved over the last few years.
- UPGRADE TO 18 HOLES - Sometime in the last few years, McNeill got expanded to 18 holes. Not only that, many of the original holes appear to have gotten tweaked as well. From looking at the old 2016 pictures, this course looks a whole lot better and the baskets have been upgraded to pro 28s as well. Two thumbs up to those involved in making this course better.
- AMENITIES - In addition to the 18 hole layout and Pro 28s, the course also has intermittent benches spaced through-out, alternate basket placements and a posted course map. Off the course there are restrooms and shelters nearby, although these are not directly along the layout. The tee signage is ok, but I think a couple signs were missing the new basket placement measurements.
- NAVIGATION - The presence of the course map here, cures many of my grievances regarding navigation. I got lost for a moment after (10), but I consulted my picture of the map and was back on track. There were a few navigational cues below baskets, but due to the open park style nature of the course, a first timer like me can and will stray in the wrong direction. First time players will need a map to limit the navigational errors.
- NATURAL BEAUTY - I scored this attribute at around 65 percentile. McNeill is generally a well-kept rolling parkstyle landscape. A few holes had a little pop to them, but some others were also a bit bland. The overall sum of the parts produced a better than average aesthetic atmosphere, but not calendar worthy nor to the level seen at nearby Eiffel Tower Park.
- CHALLENGING - The tweaked and expanded layout felt like an MA2 level course. There is good length on a bunch of holes and it had me trying to add extra juice numerous times. A few baskets are well protected, although many others are not. Overall I thought the gameplay was just good enough to be a pro.
- HOLE VARIETY - The overall variety was also just good enough to me to be a pro. As noted, there is some good length among the par 3s with a handful of them nearing 400 feet long. Also, some low 200-foot par 3s adding to some ace potential. What's missing are some multi-play par 4s. Seems like that element easily could have been intertwined a couple times. Mostly parkstyle shots, but a couple have a substantial wooded aspect to them. Some decent elevation change in the 30-foot grade change range and there are a few mini creeks to gameplan around.
- UPGRADE TO 18 HOLES - Sometime in the last few years, McNeill got expanded to 18 holes. Not only that, many of the original holes appear to have gotten tweaked as well. From looking at the old 2016 pictures, this course looks a whole lot better and the baskets have been upgraded to pro 28s as well. Two thumbs up to those involved in making this course better.
- AMENITIES - In addition to the 18 hole layout and Pro 28s, the course also has intermittent benches spaced through-out, alternate basket placements and a posted course map. Off the course there are restrooms and shelters nearby, although these are not directly along the layout. The tee signage is ok, but I think a couple signs were missing the new basket placement measurements.
- NAVIGATION - The presence of the course map here, cures many of my grievances regarding navigation. I got lost for a moment after (10), but I consulted my picture of the map and was back on track. There were a few navigational cues below baskets, but due to the open park style nature of the course, a first timer like me can and will stray in the wrong direction. First time players will need a map to limit the navigational errors.
- NATURAL BEAUTY - I scored this attribute at around 65 percentile. McNeill is generally a well-kept rolling parkstyle landscape. A few holes had a little pop to them, but some others were also a bit bland. The overall sum of the parts produced a better than average aesthetic atmosphere, but not calendar worthy nor to the level seen at nearby Eiffel Tower Park.
- CHALLENGING - The tweaked and expanded layout felt like an MA2 level course. There is good length on a bunch of holes and it had me trying to add extra juice numerous times. A few baskets are well protected, although many others are not. Overall I thought the gameplay was just good enough to be a pro.
- HOLE VARIETY - The overall variety was also just good enough to me to be a pro. As noted, there is some good length among the par 3s with a handful of them nearing 400 feet long. Also, some low 200-foot par 3s adding to some ace potential. What's missing are some multi-play par 4s. Seems like that element easily could have been intertwined a couple times. Mostly parkstyle shots, but a couple have a substantial wooded aspect to them. Some decent elevation change in the 30-foot grade change range and there are a few mini creeks to gameplan around.
Cons:
Second fiddle status
- SIDEKICK - To players coming to Paris with time to throw only one course, I think 90 percent of them will enjoy Eiffel more. The exception would be to those that unequivocally hate woods courses as Eiffel has double to triple that element. I don't think Eiffel is exponentially better than McNeill, it just seemed that that one was a nudge better in almost every attributable quality.
- NEW PLACEMENT ON 15 - The new long placement on (15) is a terrible tweener placement. MA2s thru Pros will end up scoring a three, 95 percent of the time. It's impossible to get close due to the trees, low ceiling and uphill finish. It's also too short to be a par 4. I wished the basket was in the other much better placement.
- OUTDATED TEE SIGNS - As noted above, the signs are outdated on several holes if not a majority. Hopefully new signs are in the works.
- TIME PLAY - It took longer than I was expecting. I got unlucky and played on a day when the gate wasn't open yet. But even if it had been, the parking is still several hundred feet from basket (18) and tee (1). The course has also been lengthened considerably.
- SIDEKICK - To players coming to Paris with time to throw only one course, I think 90 percent of them will enjoy Eiffel more. The exception would be to those that unequivocally hate woods courses as Eiffel has double to triple that element. I don't think Eiffel is exponentially better than McNeill, it just seemed that that one was a nudge better in almost every attributable quality.
- NEW PLACEMENT ON 15 - The new long placement on (15) is a terrible tweener placement. MA2s thru Pros will end up scoring a three, 95 percent of the time. It's impossible to get close due to the trees, low ceiling and uphill finish. It's also too short to be a par 4. I wished the basket was in the other much better placement.
- OUTDATED TEE SIGNS - As noted above, the signs are outdated on several holes if not a majority. Hopefully new signs are in the works.
- TIME PLAY - It took longer than I was expecting. I got unlucky and played on a day when the gate wasn't open yet. But even if it had been, the parking is still several hundred feet from basket (18) and tee (1). The course has also been lengthened considerably.
Other Thoughts:
I liked this one, but was not blown away. It'll work just fine as a local league course and pair well as a second course for city tournaments. No need for players to travel more than an hour out of the way to play here. I realize I did this, but I came here on a vacation to visit the Land Between The Lakes, and McNeill is nearby. Anyways, a weak 3.0 "Good" course to me. Other similar courses I've played include Lover's Lane in Bowling Green, Freeman Lake south of Louisville, Crockett in Nashville, Katherine Legge in Chicago and Dallas Island near Chattanooga.
5
0
2+ years drive by
Reviewed:
Played on:Jun 26, 2018
Played the course:once
Pros:
Course that appears to be trending upwards based on the previous reviews. There are indeed 9 nice yellow Discatchers now. The tees are modest, but do consist of a defined area of framed gravel mostly flush with the ground- most tee boxes were trapezoid shaped helping to show the direction in which to throw. Tee signs are a small orange post in the ground, but give hole # + distance and draw your eye to where the tee is located.
Design made good use of available land and its features. On the more open side, but the grass appears to be regularly mowed. There are enough trees, hills, and a creek to make the holes interesting and non-repetitive. Every hole has some element to make you earn a short putt.
The land is only for disc golf and is pretty isolated in the back of the park once you get past hole #1.
The map near hole leaves a lot to be desired, and it was not very helpful to me (use the 2016 map on DGCR instead), but without it I was able to use some common sense and a small amount of scouting and found all 9 tees and baskets with little trouble.
Design made good use of available land and its features. On the more open side, but the grass appears to be regularly mowed. There are enough trees, hills, and a creek to make the holes interesting and non-repetitive. Every hole has some element to make you earn a short putt.
The land is only for disc golf and is pretty isolated in the back of the park once you get past hole #1.
The map near hole leaves a lot to be desired, and it was not very helpful to me (use the 2016 map on DGCR instead), but without it I was able to use some common sense and a small amount of scouting and found all 9 tees and baskets with little trouble.
Cons:
Baskets (most important thing) are updated now! So next on the list should be updating signs, tees, and course map/kiosk.
Finding hole #1 was the toughest. You can't really park at hole 1, you have to walk between the last two baseball fields on your right as you enter the park. Walking is fine, just makes finding it tough for a new person.
Only 9 holes, which is too bad because the land is ideal for disc golf and would be sweet if there was enough room for 9 more.
Finding hole #1 was the toughest. You can't really park at hole 1, you have to walk between the last two baseball fields on your right as you enter the park. Walking is fine, just makes finding it tough for a new person.
Only 9 holes, which is too bad because the land is ideal for disc golf and would be sweet if there was enough room for 9 more.
Other Thoughts:
The current pics on DGCR look way worse than the course in its current state. If I had known I would have taken some newer pics. So very nice to see a course getting the attention it needs for maintenance and updating.
Great that locals now have 27 decent holes of disc golf in Paris.
I have no proof, but I would guess that the park itself can get crowded, but that the course does not. Looks to be a great place to practice in a bit more of a remote setting.
Rating- The actual playing part of the holes is a 2.5-3.0, but only being 9 holes, a bit on the easy side, and lacking great tees and signs, I have to give it a 2.0 overall (reasonable) and apparently way better than it used to be!
Great that locals now have 27 decent holes of disc golf in Paris.
I have no proof, but I would guess that the park itself can get crowded, but that the course does not. Looks to be a great place to practice in a bit more of a remote setting.
Rating- The actual playing part of the holes is a 2.5-3.0, but only being 9 holes, a bit on the easy side, and lacking great tees and signs, I have to give it a 2.0 overall (reasonable) and apparently way better than it used to be!
4
0
turnbow99
Experience:
1 played
1 reviews
Much better. 2+ years drive by
Reviewed:
Played on:Nov 20, 2017
Played the course:5+ times
Pros:
Brand new Innova baskets installed this summer. A lot of trimming has been done and a doubles tourney has been hosted there. Rearrangement of the layout has happened and was much needed. The course flows much smoother now.Anew course sign has been added on hole 1. The distances are not too long and other than #2 are either a good throw or technical. A lot of work has been put in here, and it shows.
Cons:
Need concrete teepads. Currently has boxed in gravel. Useable, but not optimal. Tee signs only show hole number and distance. You can see the basket on most holes, so it's not a huge problem, but to get to that next level, they need to be replaced.
Other Thoughts:
If you have never thrown here, give it a try now. It is a much better course today than even a year ago. If you have thrown it, try it again. You will see a vast improvement.
5
0
Hawgman
Experience:
15.9 years
161 played
14 reviews
New Innova Baskets drive by
Reviewed:
Updated:
Played on:Sep 5, 2022
Played the course:5+ times
Pros:
Parks guys have done a ton of work improving the course. Now has 18 baskets!! the flow is good lots of new challenges. They kept 7-8 of the old holes and added 10 new ones. More distance, Anny or FH lines two new bridges lots of fun. On hole 3 be wary of the left of the basket its a jungle. stay right. Everything is clearly marked Parks crew mentioned to continue improving Im looking forward to playing this new layout. and maybe hosting a tournament there later this year.
Cons:
New Layout needs time for grass to grow and dirt to dry out. But very playable as is.
Other Thoughts:
Its possible to park on Ball field side and start on hole 2 and end on hole one to avoid driving around.
4
1
murf1087
Experience:
14.1 years
368 played
17 reviews
Pft, LOL 2+ years
Reviewed:
Updated:
Played on:May 23, 2016
Played the course:once
Pros:
From the other review it seems the course will improve. Missed putts make a unique and fun noise, hah. It's nice to see someone spent time on making all the baskets and putting this kind of effort into getting a course in the ground.
Cons:
There are few holes with reasonable lines to take. If you are parking hole 3, 4, 5, 8, 9 you are getting lucky after fighting through low hanging branches. Poison ivy on most holes. The rusty chains will mark up your cheap plastic discs. Non-existent tee pad on hole five, uneven ground. No next tee signs, and no sign indicating the park even has a course.
Other Thoughts:
Hole 1 - wide open, slightly downhill. Putting surface is sloped.
2 - mostly open from pad to basket, downhill hyzer, basket tucked into wooded area (hanging branch in front of pad needs to go).
3 - flat and plays across ephemeral stream. Too many branches that eliminate any reasonable line to the basket.
4 - slightly uphill, huge hyzer. Too many low branches.
5 - chuck and pray uphill through the branches
6 - downhill guarded by large trees, birdieable
7 - downhill anny guarded by a large tree. If you have a massive arm you might be able to get a hyzer there.
8 - flat with branches
9 - flat with no line because of branches
This course needs help and the gravel tee pads are a step in the right direction. I wasn't impressed and I won't be going back. Go ahead and dislike my review if you're a local and you're butt hurt I didn't like your crappy course.
2 - mostly open from pad to basket, downhill hyzer, basket tucked into wooded area (hanging branch in front of pad needs to go).
3 - flat and plays across ephemeral stream. Too many branches that eliminate any reasonable line to the basket.
4 - slightly uphill, huge hyzer. Too many low branches.
5 - chuck and pray uphill through the branches
6 - downhill guarded by large trees, birdieable
7 - downhill anny guarded by a large tree. If you have a massive arm you might be able to get a hyzer there.
8 - flat with branches
9 - flat with no line because of branches
This course needs help and the gravel tee pads are a step in the right direction. I wasn't impressed and I won't be going back. Go ahead and dislike my review if you're a local and you're butt hurt I didn't like your crappy course.
3
1
Wood Chuk
Experience:
43.9 years
372 played
34 reviews
Coming back from the dead 2+ years drive by
Reviewed:
Updated:
Played on:Mar 7, 2016
Played the course:5+ times
Pros:
-Homemade baskets are very putt friendly.
-Park is pretty
-No crowds
-Interesting throws
-Park is pretty
-No crowds
-Interesting throws
Cons:
-Only 9 holes
Other Thoughts:
When I first wrote about this course, it was in sad shape, but now this course is becoming a wow! The potential is present for some very fun disc golf. Three local disc golf clubs and the City of Paris are working together to bring the course back, Over time the course will receive upgraded tee pads. As the course improves, so will the rating.
