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Melba Doyle DGC reviews
15
0
great starter course!
Reviewed:
Updated:
Played on:Feb 10, 2015
Played the course:once
Pros:
-nice park with lots of trees but not too much brush
-ravine surrounds two sides of the park, brings a couple of drop-offs into play
-ample sized concrete tees, two on each hole; alternate tees give a different look, often with additional mandos or OB
-new discatchers
-well marked mandos, OB marked with poles
-easy to get to, right off 380
-trash cans and logs for benches
-really easy to get a quick round
-ravine surrounds two sides of the park, brings a couple of drop-offs into play
-ample sized concrete tees, two on each hole; alternate tees give a different look, often with additional mandos or OB
-new discatchers
-well marked mandos, OB marked with poles
-easy to get to, right off 380
-trash cans and logs for benches
-really easy to get a quick round
Cons:
-the park is small, no room for growth
-no tee signs (yet?)
-the parking lot is very small
-the mandos increase the difficulty but there is one on every single alternate tee, some may find it gimmicky
-no tee signs (yet?)
-the parking lot is very small
-the mandos increase the difficulty but there is one on every single alternate tee, some may find it gimmicky
Other Thoughts:
**Update** Feb '24
There are signs now. The basket position down in the ravine on hole 3 is gone. I think all the mando signs are missing now. There were two basket positions on each hole but at least hole 3 was missing one (aforementioned), possibly more. I squeezed in a quick round before dark so I didn't get a good look around.
*****
This is a great course for what it is. The park is really small and 6 holes is definitely all that you could fit here. I'm really glad they didn't try to cram 9 holes into the space.
There are two well-sized concrete tees on each hole. The A tees are either shorter or have an easier line. The B tees are sometimes longer but always have a harder line and also a mando. And I do mean all of them! All the B tees have a mando except 6 but it does have a narrow, uphill tunnel with OB just off the fairway. Incidentally, tee 6A does have a mando: right in front of the basket! You have to approach the basket and make your putt from the right side. Drive too far to the left and you have to lay up back behind the mando.
For some players, all of this might sound really cheesy. I didn't mind at all and I thought it was a good way to make the alternate tees more demanding. Considering the small space and what was available, I think it works well. Also, the layout plays clockwise around the park and most holes are righty hyzer shots. Definitely a righty bias.
Hole 3 is a sharp dogleg left that plays down into the ravine. There is a steep drop but a hose is tied to a tree at the top to give you a line to hold on the way down. There is a small creek behind the basket so going for it can cost you a stroke. I liked this hole a lot but I thought the mando off the B tee was unnecessary (it's a horizontal branch in front of the tee that you must go under, preventing the high hyzer).
Hole 2 is the one longer hole where you can rip it but there are still trees with which to contend. The elevated basket on hole 4 is a nice touch. The tunnel shot on 6B is a challenge and a good change of pace from the rest of the course. 6A has a righty hyzer off the tee but 6B plays from the other side so you go right at the end of the tunnel, and the mando does not apply.
The locals play three times through for 18 holes, either ABA or BAB, depending on how challenging you want your round to be. There was already an opening tournament and minis are getting started. The Parks Dept did a great job and were out checking on things the day I was there. Some of the guys learned the game and went to go play other courses to get a better idea of how to plan this course. Great effort and well done!
There is an 18 hole course currently being developed at Decatur High School. Between that and Melba Doyle, Decatur disc golf is off to a great start!
**Like this review? Hate it? Message me and let me know why! I want to make them better!**
There are signs now. The basket position down in the ravine on hole 3 is gone. I think all the mando signs are missing now. There were two basket positions on each hole but at least hole 3 was missing one (aforementioned), possibly more. I squeezed in a quick round before dark so I didn't get a good look around.
*****
This is a great course for what it is. The park is really small and 6 holes is definitely all that you could fit here. I'm really glad they didn't try to cram 9 holes into the space.
There are two well-sized concrete tees on each hole. The A tees are either shorter or have an easier line. The B tees are sometimes longer but always have a harder line and also a mando. And I do mean all of them! All the B tees have a mando except 6 but it does have a narrow, uphill tunnel with OB just off the fairway. Incidentally, tee 6A does have a mando: right in front of the basket! You have to approach the basket and make your putt from the right side. Drive too far to the left and you have to lay up back behind the mando.
For some players, all of this might sound really cheesy. I didn't mind at all and I thought it was a good way to make the alternate tees more demanding. Considering the small space and what was available, I think it works well. Also, the layout plays clockwise around the park and most holes are righty hyzer shots. Definitely a righty bias.
Hole 3 is a sharp dogleg left that plays down into the ravine. There is a steep drop but a hose is tied to a tree at the top to give you a line to hold on the way down. There is a small creek behind the basket so going for it can cost you a stroke. I liked this hole a lot but I thought the mando off the B tee was unnecessary (it's a horizontal branch in front of the tee that you must go under, preventing the high hyzer).
Hole 2 is the one longer hole where you can rip it but there are still trees with which to contend. The elevated basket on hole 4 is a nice touch. The tunnel shot on 6B is a challenge and a good change of pace from the rest of the course. 6A has a righty hyzer off the tee but 6B plays from the other side so you go right at the end of the tunnel, and the mando does not apply.
The locals play three times through for 18 holes, either ABA or BAB, depending on how challenging you want your round to be. There was already an opening tournament and minis are getting started. The Parks Dept did a great job and were out checking on things the day I was there. Some of the guys learned the game and went to go play other courses to get a better idea of how to plan this course. Great effort and well done!
There is an 18 hole course currently being developed at Decatur High School. Between that and Melba Doyle, Decatur disc golf is off to a great start!
**Like this review? Hate it? Message me and let me know why! I want to make them better!**
