Pros:
As a companion to the classic North Georgia Canopy Tours (NGCT – Original) course, the Red Hawk version combines heavier woodiness and shorter holes to provide an enjoyable layout that ensures Lula is a day-trip-worthy destination.
There are two concrete teepads on every hole. From the short teepads, the course offers 12 holes that are under 260 feet, meaning that a plethora of birdies can be found here. The variety on those holes is solid as significant elevation is in play frequently and there are several holes where missing the fairway can result in finding the bottom of a chasm or being 50 feet deep in the woods. And while the shorter version features plenty of birdie-or-die options, the longer version adds an average of nearly 100 feet of distance per hole and will make most disc golfers work for their scoring opportunities.
The signage is simple: wooded stakes in the ground but the handwritten info is legible and sufficient to know the hole number, distance and par.
Water is visible on several of the last holes. On Holes #15 and #18, the drive goes over the water, and on Hole #17, the pond is on the left side, but it shouldn't be a threat for decent throws from the short teepads.
The views at Red Hawk are above average. There are some picturesque wooded holes, some lovely looks around the ponds, and Hole #8 is a gorgeous downhill bomber on a grassy canvas.
Cons:
Navigation without a map can be a bit tricky in a few spots and there's a significant walk between Holes #7 and #8 in which you might question if you're going the right direction. For most of the wooded holes, the next teepad or path can usually be spotted from the previous basket.
The short teepads feature enough design deviation with the birdie-or-die holes to not blur together, but there is a touch of repetition on a few of the fairly straight holes.
The five holes that aren't par-3s feel a bit like "tweeners" from the short teepads and are definitely an opportunity to snag some more birdies.
Hole #6 is weirdly shaped. It's marked as a par-4, 300-foot hole but the drive requires a short and accurate throw into the uphill fairway that is obscured from the teepad.
The course still feels a bit green and needs some more beating in and cleaning up, but no points off for this.
Other Thoughts:
My playing partner and I didn't make any reservations on our recent visit to NGCT. It seems that you can just show up and play. There's a $10 fee/day that covers playing both courses. If the clubhouse isn't open, you can pay at the front door. The clubhouse has very nice bathrooms and cold drinks inside. My buddy and I took a break in between our two rounds and enjoyed the air conditioning while chatting with a couple of the guys who run the course.
While the Original NGCT has more teeth, the Red Hawk version was a fun round to play afterward. That said, there is plenty of elevation, both on the fairways and the walking paths between holes. Granted, we picked a hot July day to tackle Red Hawk and were thankful for the mostly shaded course. Perhaps the blame falls more on the shoulders of the humidity, hilliness and three courses we played earlier in the day, but Red Hawk was one of the most exhausting rounds I've played. We only saw three other disc golfers during our two rounds at NGCT, so we were able to choose our pace and take breaks when necessary. After climbing the hill following Hole #16, we found the bench next to the Hole #17 teepad to be a welcomed sight, allowing a much-needed respite.
The Red Hawk course is just over a year old and still needs a bit of work. For now, it's a solid 3.75 course with potential to go higher by adding benches, better signage and a few navigational aids.