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New Hope DGC reviews
11
0
From the Rec Player Perspective 2+ years
Reviewed:
Played on:Feb 25, 2022
Played the course:5+ times
Pros:
-Nice town park, with picnic shelters, restrooms, plenty of parking. Has a nice family-friendly feel.
-Interesting 18 hole layout. This is a mostly wide-open and flat park, but the design takes advantage of existing trees, whatever elevation changes exist, and using the walking paths as "rivers" to create some challenge. The holes have a variety of distances and shapes.
-Recently installed cement tee boxes provide solid footing. They are not huge but are adequate for the length of the holes. No large drop-offs, so you can get a bit of a run-up and follow-through.
-Baskets are solid, well mounted DiscCatchers. Yellow color stands out nicely. Greens are straight-forward and not gimmicky, though on a couple of holes the "out-of-bounds" walking paths were a bit close.
-The park is well-maintained. Fairly low risk of losing discs. Not a bad place to expose beginners to the game of disc golf.
-Hole signs are accurate, and course navigation mostly good
-Interesting 18 hole layout. This is a mostly wide-open and flat park, but the design takes advantage of existing trees, whatever elevation changes exist, and using the walking paths as "rivers" to create some challenge. The holes have a variety of distances and shapes.
-Recently installed cement tee boxes provide solid footing. They are not huge but are adequate for the length of the holes. No large drop-offs, so you can get a bit of a run-up and follow-through.
-Baskets are solid, well mounted DiscCatchers. Yellow color stands out nicely. Greens are straight-forward and not gimmicky, though on a couple of holes the "out-of-bounds" walking paths were a bit close.
-The park is well-maintained. Fairly low risk of losing discs. Not a bad place to expose beginners to the game of disc golf.
-Hole signs are accurate, and course navigation mostly good
Cons:
-Only one tee box and basket per hole. The course is probably a blast for someone who throws 350', it will generate birdie opportunities all around. Advanced players and Pros will find it a bit too easy, and those of use that struggle to throw 200' will find a few holes frustratingly difficult. The course measures in right at right about a mile (5,163') and has all par 3's. I played in a tournament here and the TD did flag some short tees from the grassy fairways for some of the am divisions, nice touch.
-A bit of a walk from hole 13 to the 14th tee, around the big baseball field. UDisc map helped the first time I played here.
-A bench here and there would be nice.
-It's a public park: walkers, joggers, moms pushing baby carriages will be using the same area of the park. There aren't any "blind throws" that would cause huge safety risks, but it's the responsibility of the players to throw safely. There's not much separation between some of the fairways, be aware and courteous to other groups out there.
-A bit of a walk from hole 13 to the 14th tee, around the big baseball field. UDisc map helped the first time I played here.
-A bench here and there would be nice.
-It's a public park: walkers, joggers, moms pushing baby carriages will be using the same area of the park. There aren't any "blind throws" that would cause huge safety risks, but it's the responsibility of the players to throw safely. There's not much separation between some of the fairways, be aware and courteous to other groups out there.
Other Thoughts:
My first round here was on a chilly gray winter morning and initial impressions of this course weren't great. The more I played it and got to understand the risk/rewards of the walking path OBs, the more I respected what the designer had achieved. As a rag arm 'old guy', sure I'd like to see some short cement tees on some of the longer holes, but it's still a fun place for a quick round if you are in the area.
8
1
jstower
Experience:
10.2 years
13 played
3 reviews
!st time playing the course 2+ years drive by
Reviewed:
Played on:Oct 31, 2021
Played the course:once
Pros:
>The grounds are well kept. It had been raining the 2 days prior but the course drained well making play enjoyable.
> The hole layout was easy to understand except when going from 13 to 14, it was hard to find.
> Hole distances were for the novice and all holes played as par 3s.
> Holes are well marked and also the mando's
> Great course to teach up and coming players
> The hole layout was easy to understand except when going from 13 to 14, it was hard to find.
> Hole distances were for the novice and all holes played as par 3s.
> Holes are well marked and also the mando's
> Great course to teach up and coming players
Cons:
> This was my first time playing the course and the only con I can say is there needs to be a course layout put on the information board.
22
0
wellsbranch250
Diamond level trusted reviewer
Premium Member
Experience:
10.3 years
658 played
638 reviews
The Perfect Everyday MA3 Level Course
Reviewed:
Updated:
Played on:Mar 11, 2023
Played the course:5+ times
Pros:
(2.294 Rating) (REVISED - replayed March 2023) A lightly wooded park style course where newer players can work on developing length off the tee without worrying about losing discs.
- SKILL LEVEL FRIENDLY - This course is going to work well for a wide variety of skill levels, as it's the perfect middle ground between too easy and too hard. The challenges are generally a mix of MA4 and MA3 level game-play, but there is some MA2 level distance on a handful of holes. Hole (18) to finish, I could argue is most ideal for MA1 level players. It's one of only three holes I haven't birdied over the ten rounds I've thrown out here. For reference, I am a MA2 level player.
- BEGINNER FRIENDLY - Although not perfect for beginners due to the length, most new players won't be scared away. The odds of losing a disc here is extremely low. Heavy overgrowth is limited to just a couple of spots. Errant discs are likely going to land in an adjacent fairway more than anywhere else. So, although it may be a bit too long for new players, it's friendly enough to encourage them to develop a more powerful throw and a timed release.
- CHAINS, TEES AND SIGNAGE - Pro 28 DISCatcher baskets. The pads were converted to concrete in January 2022. They are about average in size. A couple of the longer holes have bigger pads than the others. Also, adequate large conspicuous tee signs. It's just a distance and large number on them, but that's all that's needed for this type of layout.
- QUICK PLAY - I've done solo rounds out here in under 45 minutes and two person rounds in under an hour.
- MAINTENANCE - I've been here numerous times now over the first 2 years and never saw the park in bad shape. Grass has never been longer than ankle length and the one wooded pocket shot on hole (11) has always been cleaned up too.
- DESIGN - The amount of available land and the quality of it is below average. An average designer would have likely produced a 2.0 course here. The main reason this one is scoring above that rating threshold, is because the layout maximizes what was achievable. Recently unfortunately, the park's department trimmed up several design features and succeeded in shaving off about one tenth of a point on my updated rating score.
- SKILL LEVEL FRIENDLY - This course is going to work well for a wide variety of skill levels, as it's the perfect middle ground between too easy and too hard. The challenges are generally a mix of MA4 and MA3 level game-play, but there is some MA2 level distance on a handful of holes. Hole (18) to finish, I could argue is most ideal for MA1 level players. It's one of only three holes I haven't birdied over the ten rounds I've thrown out here. For reference, I am a MA2 level player.
- BEGINNER FRIENDLY - Although not perfect for beginners due to the length, most new players won't be scared away. The odds of losing a disc here is extremely low. Heavy overgrowth is limited to just a couple of spots. Errant discs are likely going to land in an adjacent fairway more than anywhere else. So, although it may be a bit too long for new players, it's friendly enough to encourage them to develop a more powerful throw and a timed release.
- CHAINS, TEES AND SIGNAGE - Pro 28 DISCatcher baskets. The pads were converted to concrete in January 2022. They are about average in size. A couple of the longer holes have bigger pads than the others. Also, adequate large conspicuous tee signs. It's just a distance and large number on them, but that's all that's needed for this type of layout.
- QUICK PLAY - I've done solo rounds out here in under 45 minutes and two person rounds in under an hour.
- MAINTENANCE - I've been here numerous times now over the first 2 years and never saw the park in bad shape. Grass has never been longer than ankle length and the one wooded pocket shot on hole (11) has always been cleaned up too.
- DESIGN - The amount of available land and the quality of it is below average. An average designer would have likely produced a 2.0 course here. The main reason this one is scoring above that rating threshold, is because the layout maximizes what was achievable. Recently unfortunately, the park's department trimmed up several design features and succeeded in shaving off about one tenth of a point on my updated rating score.
Cons:
A little young yet and a layout without epic land to work with.
- THE QUEST TO 14 - There's a huge flow gap between (13) and (14). Players are going to need to pull out the map the first time to seamlessly make it there. A few locals have argued that (14) should be (1), but I like it that (18) and (1) are next to each other. I don't see how the space over by (14) could have been utilized without making this one long journey. It is what it is.
- HOLE VARIETY - It's great when considering the site limitations. The course is mostly lightly wooded with 250 to 350 foot shots. There are a couple short mild technical throws and a few plus 350-foot bomber holes. Not much in the way of elevation, although (8) is a solid 25-foot down shot and (11) plays up about that amount. Generally no water other than casual areas during the wet season or after a big rain. No par 4s and no monster benders. Overall, I would rate the hole variety a touch below average due to the limitations.
- AMENITIES AND EXTRAS - Other than nice tees and baskets, the amenities and extras are not here. There are no benches by the tees and shading is spotty. No multi-tees, no practice basket and no alternate basket placements yet. There is one picnic table next to tee (6) and (9). Off the course there are shelters with picnic tables, restrooms and a water fountain. There is also an awesome playground fortress.
- SPACING - The park is not much more than 20 acres and there is other stuff in the park, such as a baseball diamond and huge playground area. Kind-of shocking to see this long of a layout in the remaining left-over space. Anyways, the fairways stack next to each other numerous times. Players will be in other fairways from time to time. Players need to be aware of their surroundings.
- TIME WAITING - Walking paths flank fairways on many holes. Players will need to wait at the tees on occasion. This is only a minor con due to the fact that the layout is mostly open and walkers can be seen well before it becomes an issue.
- THE QUEST TO 14 - There's a huge flow gap between (13) and (14). Players are going to need to pull out the map the first time to seamlessly make it there. A few locals have argued that (14) should be (1), but I like it that (18) and (1) are next to each other. I don't see how the space over by (14) could have been utilized without making this one long journey. It is what it is.
- HOLE VARIETY - It's great when considering the site limitations. The course is mostly lightly wooded with 250 to 350 foot shots. There are a couple short mild technical throws and a few plus 350-foot bomber holes. Not much in the way of elevation, although (8) is a solid 25-foot down shot and (11) plays up about that amount. Generally no water other than casual areas during the wet season or after a big rain. No par 4s and no monster benders. Overall, I would rate the hole variety a touch below average due to the limitations.
- AMENITIES AND EXTRAS - Other than nice tees and baskets, the amenities and extras are not here. There are no benches by the tees and shading is spotty. No multi-tees, no practice basket and no alternate basket placements yet. There is one picnic table next to tee (6) and (9). Off the course there are shelters with picnic tables, restrooms and a water fountain. There is also an awesome playground fortress.
- SPACING - The park is not much more than 20 acres and there is other stuff in the park, such as a baseball diamond and huge playground area. Kind-of shocking to see this long of a layout in the remaining left-over space. Anyways, the fairways stack next to each other numerous times. Players will be in other fairways from time to time. Players need to be aware of their surroundings.
- TIME WAITING - Walking paths flank fairways on many holes. Players will need to wait at the tees on occasion. This is only a minor con due to the fact that the layout is mostly open and walkers can be seen well before it becomes an issue.
Other Thoughts:
This is the second closest course to my house and thus I've had the opportunity to play this one several times now. New Hope DGC is the complete opposite of my backyard course, and thus its nice to play here for me to experience a little change of pace. This is typically not my style of course, but for what it is, it was really done well considering all the limitations that Lavone had to consider to be able to deliver 18 holes. For those that live in Huntsville, I recommend checking it out at least once. It reminds me mostly of local course Southside, but with a skew towards a more openish and dryer element to it. For those outside the area, this is not a destination course. I recommend Kudzu to the south or Indian Creek, Sharon Johnston, Redstone or Monte Sano all to the north in Huntsville.
- NAVIGATION - No posted course map on site as of this review. The one on DGCR is accurate though. I've played New Hope too many times now to comment on whether it's easy or hard to follow. I don't recall it being hard, other than the transition to (14) as noted above. Baskets and preceding tees are generally close by. I can't imagine anyone getting lost more than a couple of minutes out here other than on the quest to (14).
- NATURAL BEAUTY - I scored this aspect 40 percentile. The best aspect is the general maintenance of the place. There are also some monster plus 100 year old oaks sprinkled in the park. No creeks and tranquil ponds. Manmade objects are in view the entire time. It's a nice park, just nothing extra special.
- NAVIGATION - No posted course map on site as of this review. The one on DGCR is accurate though. I've played New Hope too many times now to comment on whether it's easy or hard to follow. I don't recall it being hard, other than the transition to (14) as noted above. Baskets and preceding tees are generally close by. I can't imagine anyone getting lost more than a couple of minutes out here other than on the quest to (14).
- NATURAL BEAUTY - I scored this aspect 40 percentile. The best aspect is the general maintenance of the place. There are also some monster plus 100 year old oaks sprinkled in the park. No creeks and tranquil ponds. Manmade objects are in view the entire time. It's a nice park, just nothing extra special.
