First for starters, the amenities here are impecable. Great park atmosphere, a wonderful memorial for NC's fallen soldiers, wonderful picnic shelters and restroom facilities. 2 kiosks at first tee area with course map and distances, a pristine practice basket. Great hole signs on every hole, multiple park benches, and bag hangers on every hole. Great tee pads and navigational signs.

Now onto the course. Both blue and red tees offer very different course layouts. Reds are much more forgiving. Mostly all par 3s with usually fairly achievable lines. This layout is great for beginners as it offers a lot of birdie looks and easy pars, and could definitely serve to draw new golfers into the flock.

Blue tees are a different animal. Much longer course, and with that comes a lot of difficult lines. Some requiring severe S curves and others stretching par 3's well over 400 ft. Though it is not the hardest course, it is certainly one that can give you a lot of trouble if you either don't know the layout or miss in the wrong direction. But with that challenge comes again some fair opportunities at par and birdie.

Great mix of holes. The park terrain mixes a ton of wooded holes with some huge open fields for bombs. But this course plays more than just a bombing course on the open holes as the baskets are often protected by a few trees or tucked just into the woods. There is a great variety of both up and downhill approaches, as well as right to left and left to right doglegs. This course asks a golfer to have a mastery of a lot of different shots and seems to be a fairly good test of disc golf.

Hole 6 is really fun. It is a huge L-R downhill hole off of a cliff and tucked into the woods on the R. Its really awesome to have to plan for a disc to be in the air for that long, and the line is beautiful

Only a few things that I definitely noticed could be improved here. The blue tees on a few of the holes are headscratchers, requiring almost extreme curves on the disc. Hole 2 comes to mind, but there were a few others that fit that bill.

A few of the open holes definitely needed some grass cutting as it was at least shin high on the day we played on a few holes. Along that line, there is a ton of poison ivy in the woods. I realize it is a wooded course, and some of that is to be expected, but it is very dense in spots here. It would be nice to see some of that sprayed.

I really enjoyed this course after having played both the reds and the blues. I think if I were a local, I would play a mix of red and blues. I think it would be cool to add a third set of tees here, the whites, to go with the whole red, white, and blue theme of the memorial park. Plus it would be nice to have a set that had a bit more distance than the red, but a little less difficulty than some of the blues expect.

Overall, again, this was a very nice course that I would recommend any in the area come to play. The reds are great for beginners, and the blues would be a great competitive course.

Layout: Two Pads per hole which usually changes the angle a bit and adds distance, some have unique looks from each pad.

Mixes up open and wooded holes throughout (although mostly open), and serves up some holes that go from one to the other.

It's a NC rarity to have so much bombing capability, plenty of chances to get out a driver and let it fly.

There's some rolling hill elevation changes in parts although nothing drastic or memorable.

There's one good par 4, it's the last hole on the course.

I thought the first hole was a good starter and I did like a couple others.

Equipment: This course should be the standard for how P&R departments install public courses.

Great level concrete tees. Amazing signage not only on each hole but guiding you around the course. Bag holders on each hole and park benches spread throughout. There's a big ole map and info board along with a practice basket by #1.

Atmosphere: This park is new and really awesome. It's not only beautiful but you can tell a lot of money and hours went in to making this expansive chunk of land an attractive place to enjoy for all.

Whoever installed the course did an incredible of job of manicuring it. It has that broken in course feel right out of the gate, there's no limbs laying around the fairways or any of the other new course hangups you typically see. Props to those guys for doing such an amazing job of making this course shine.

This is my warning that the rest of this review will not follow my usual outline. I'm about to explain to you why this course is completely *expletive* and why Russell should be banned from ever designing another course on this planet or any other planet with beings capable of feeling the frustration I felt while playing another one of his gems.

It's going to be a rant and I have no clue how long it will last or where it will go, so take this time to prepare and get refreshments and possibly record that program you were about to watch after reading this.

The Patriot is a trophy wife, sexy on the outside with lackluster emptiness oozing from within. She's going to marry you and make you look good hanging on your arm but in the end she'll cut your brakes to collect on your life insurance policy.

The Patriot is the Earl Manigault of disc golf courses. If you don't know who that is my point has been made.

The Patriot is Nigerian mail fraud, poisoned Halloween candy and every touched up photo gracing a magazine cover.

It had all the ingredients for greatness, the supporting cast to grow up right and cure cancer and then...... and then it was Schwarzed.

Schwarzed is a wooded fairway that belongs in any new Shamalylan flick. The twist is dumb and leaves you puzzled.

Schwarzed is a par 3 where the only option is getting a 3; anything else means you screwed up your short wide open upshot.

Schwarzed is so wide open even though he thinks he made an obstacle... or so impossible because he figured hey its wide open.

Schwarzed is an engima wrapped in a steaming pile of dog... you get the picture.

(All references to shots in this portion are in accordance with my right handed bias) (I'm also assuming for references to blue pads that blue level players and up can throw around 400'.)

Hole 1: Like I said this is a good starting hole, it's open but not too open. Makes you choose a line and gives you one to warm up on while starting your round off with a bird... or not starting off with a bird and falling behind the pack.

Hole 2: It's nearly Imdingdongpossible to get your disc all the way to the basket down the intended fairway from the blue tees. You'd have to throw the most perfect flipup hyzer of your life executed so perfectly it would make your prom dates panties fall off in the past on prom night.

There is a completely unintended more pure hyzer possibility if you go through a tiny Y gap and then thread a needle. Good Luck.

The red tee is a little putter anny, decent hole.

Hole 3: From the blues you can try to punch a 380' slightly downhill laser beam with a slight fade under a low overhang and risk hitting it, or getting caught up on the left, in the name of maybe hitting the gap in the woods 350' down and having a look at bird. OR... you can just throw a hyzer around that and maybe get through the trees for a look and hey if you don't there's no risk you're definitely getting a 3.

Hole 4: OMG look at that daunting giant gap I'll definitely hit as I throw out in to a wide open field where I'll then crest a little hill pick up my disc and throw an almost completely lackluster challenge-less approach shot another 100' or so to a basket so barely tucked in the woods it might as well be out here in the wide open as well.

Russellvision: 'Hmm I could back this pad up in the woods more to make the drive more challenging and I could push the basket in to the woods more to make the approach halfway somewhat possibly interesting but screw that I don't get paid by the hour.'

Hole 5: I think he thinks those trees on the right of the blue tee actually prevent you from hyzering.... they don't. Feel free to throw whatever shot you desire 400' because it's wide open.

....to be fair they planted some trees near the basket so in the future you might hit one and have to make like a 40' putt. Woe is you.

The red tee on this hole is also wide open and 243'. Wake me up when Schwarzember ends.

Hole 6: ... yes I'm going to do this for every crappy hole; quit now if you want this is more for me than for you anyway.

Hole 6: This is where it gets special, this is where all those years of design experience shine through. The blue is a 438' (plays around 380') downhill shot where at about 400' you're asked to hit a tiny little gap that cuts diagonally to the right inside of a treeline. Not only is hitting that gap unlikely on a consistent basis, if you do happen to kick off a tree or fade left you're going farther down-in to an ethereal abyss of briar and swampnasty. Somebody on your card will end up there and you'll probably be called to go help him find his disc in that muck and at that point you'll know you've been Schwarzed.

Russellvision: 'Hey I can cut the gap earlier in to the treeline and make the hole 50/50 wooded/open thus taking the swampnasty out of the picture, or even possibly just cutting a notch in the woods and not making you hit a ridiculous gap but insert whatever insanity he uses as logic'

Hole 7: http://rs1268.pbsrc.com/album...b843.jpg~c200

it's cute enough to keep you going and also lets you know how dumb this hole is.

the red tee is at least possible but equally as (reclick link if neccesary)

Hole 8: I actually think this is a good hole. Throw uphill, maneuver an overhang, hit a gap and fade in to the basket. Solid hole here Russ.

Hole 9: .... annnnnnnnnddddddd she gone. This could be one of the best holes in NC. You COULD be sitting on the tee tucked 100' down in the woods looking up a rolling hill out of a gap that goes out in to the open. You COULD be pureing that gap with a shot that flies just over 300' to crest the hill and you COULD be following that shot up with a now downhill shot that goes another 100' before you have to hit another gap going back in to the woods down and over a small valley where the basket could sit on the far side on what appears to be a really sweet possible green area....

INSTEAD you're 30' in the woods with a gap that makes it pointless to even be in the woods because you can throw a soft hyzer/fade shot right out of it to a basket 350' away in the complete wide open.

This is where I knew he blew it on a scale I didn't even know was possible. This is where I knew Innova must not even care what he puts up in their name because he's done it for years and this backalley columbian nip/tuck is his magnum opus.

Hole 10: Hey there's some woods with some sweet elevation change maybe throw in a wooded ho.... NO GIANT 400' HYZER AROUND THE CORNER GO!

Hole 11: Hey there's some other awesome elevation change and woah is that water? NO POINTLESS WIDE OPEN PAR 4. THROW IT ANYWHERE ABOUT 400' OUT AND THEN APPROACH ANOTHER 100' TO A BASKET THAT COULD BE TUCKED IN THE WOODS WITH A DROP-OFF BEHIND IT BUT INSTEAD ITS JUST ON THE EDGE OF THE WOODS AND ITS TIME FOR MY MEDICATION.

Hole 12: This is where he figured every lefty ever should get revenge for 5 holes straight. Now I'm not saying this particular hole is a lefty hole, I'm just saying it doesn't hurt to be lefty on this 480' straight shot with a gap a little over halfway in which if you fade left you go in to the shit and if you fade right you're in the wide wide open. Unless you throw 450' daggers good luck getting inside the circle.

The red tee actually isn't that bad all things considered.

Hole 13: Hey see this 10' wide gap with an overhang. Hit it from about 280' away and then fade right for another 60'. Or just throw a dumb hyzer in to the trees and even if you don't get through you'll have a pretty easy 3... I feel like I said that before.

Hole 14: HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA.. cough cough hack hack HAHAHAHAHAHAHHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA

Hole 15: 400' slight anny. I actually like this hole in a vacuum, especially if they can plant some more trees on the back end. However on this course it's one more shot most people can't accomplish which means most people will end up with a boring wide open short approach and a 3.

Hole 16: It's the exact same shot except 60' longer and this time you can only have a wide open boring short approach shot if you land anywhere on the left side of the basket.

Hole 17: Yes this is almost over and yes that's exactly how I felt when I got to this hole. Again in a vacuum this could be a good hole. It just needs some more obstacles near the tee. Basically the only challenge is hitting a gap 20' from the pin on a 366' wide open hole.

Hole 18: Holy Cow a good wooded hole... and it's a par 4... throw down a defined fairway fade just a bit then approach through more tunnel with OB looming on the left if you fade out to early or kick off that way.... IT'S A GOOD HOLE HALLELUJAH1111... why doesn't caps lock make numbers caps?

The entire time you're dealing with all of that nonsense you see just absolute potential all around you. You see where each amazing hole could of gone and then you play what is there. It's almost like ball golf hired Russell to discourage us.

It's an epic failure in a time when the term epic is overused. If I lived near here I'd be asking for a redesign asap. This place has 4.5 potential and if you play a mixed tee layout it's a 3 tops. I'm not even going to give a 3 because of how awful it made me feel inside. He made it hard to enjoy the beautiful atmosphere of this park the design was so terrible. I should of just checked out the war memorial and left.....

but those signs... and those pads... they're great. 5 STARS!!!!!!

Somebody stop him, he's ruining NC disc golf, especially in the Triad. At what point do you Triad people say no thanks Russ we got it? I know you probably don't have a lot of control over it but start writing your P&R departments now, tell them to kick this guy, literally. This could be the crown jewel of the area and instead you got curb stomped.

Drops Mic.... rushes over to see if Mic is okay because I'll probably review a Russ gem again.

May the Schwarzed never be with you.



PS... if you do go play it I recommend the following mixed layout in an attempt to help you not want to punch something.

1B, 2R, 3R, 4B, 5B, 6R, 7R, 8B, 9B, 10R, 11R, 12R, 13B, 14R, 15B, 16R, 17B, 18B.

Top notch tee pads, facilities, benches, bag holders, signs, everything!

Hard to see some chains from the blue tees because of the length. Challenging.

Wonderful addition to the Triad area. Great location right off business 40 and will have even quicker access once the new interchange is done at Macy Grove Rd/Business 40.

Has all the luster and doo-dads of a professional course but the actual design leaves a bit to be desired. Here are the positives:

Tees are concrete, spacious and about perfect. You like signage, you got signage, Stevie Wonder couldn't get lost here. There's even a sign pointing you towards the parking lot that you can actually see, great for those golfers with alzheimers or short term memory loss I guess. We've even got bag hangers, yeah man. Great benches and trash cans are available every few holes.

The course is 3/4 open but for the most part you're still asked to shape some sort of line instead of just schlepping across an empty field like your tasked to destroy the ring at Mordor. The wooded holes generally have defined fairways and a couple have some nice pin locations. There's not a ton of elevation change but there is some. There's some nice in & out of woods on a few holes which is always nice.

The Red tees are a bit long overall for Red players but not too bad, a fun, birdie-filled round. The Blues have some more drastic fairway lines like U-shaped and big L's. It's a nice park and although no real Appalachian beauty it's a pleasant round aesthetically.

Subjective Con: Too many hump holes (the opposite of valley holes). I hate them. They obscure the basket and suck 90% of the fun out of long holes. I think every time Schwartz puts a tee on top of a hill he loses time off his lifespan due to an old gypsy curse or something.

More objective Con: I also don't think Schwartz quite 'gets' wooded holes. If you can reach hole 2's basket from the blue tee, through the air, you are a wizard and you are wasting your magic on disc golf. Cure cancer or prevent future Nicholas Cage movies, something, anything. Another example is hole 13 where you are asked to hit a ~20' gap from 200'+ away. Getting a deuce on this hole is like Bugs Bunny diving from the high dive into a shot glass.

Pars for the Blue layout is sketchy. A few holes felt like 3/4 tweeners. It was really windy though and I've only played the course a couple of times so don't take this for gospel. Hole 2 seems too wooded to be a 3, hole 10 seems more like an easy 4 than a 3 (might change my mind on this one), and no way can a Blue player birdie hole 14 without some act of God. They don't make boomerang discs yet.

Minor safety quibbles: The 'safe' line for hole one is basically a hyzer over the entrance to the parking lot. Hole 17 crosses over a gravel park road. And of course with all the hump holes you have to walk uphill a lot to see if the hole is cleared out, lame.

I like hole 3's pin placement but I think it will get washed out pretty quickly during heavy rains. There are a few other holes where they could be proactive and put up some erosion barriers to keep time and foot traffic from exposing tree roots.

Update: Holes 13 and 14 are out due to pipeline construction so you're gonna wanna play 12>16, then play new hole A which is due left of 16's basket. Then hole B is the only other visible hole in the field, it's a dogleg right that bends after the gap in the tree line. Then play 17 and 18. Also, I noticed that the scorecards don't add up right.

If you've played the open holes at Yadkin park then you have a pretty good idea of how this course plays (minus the scenic views of course). It's very solid and worth driving over the endless speed bumps to get to. The best thing about this course is that it's already looking to be popular so hopefully it reduces the amount of traffic nearby Johnson St. gets.

One of Schwartz's better designs.

Placed in a marvelous multi-purpose park, largely dedicated to our Veterans, The Patriot features 36 large, perfectly uniform tee pads, 19 brand new Discatchers, including a well placed practice basket, bag hangers and superb signage at every tee, along with an excellent course overview sign and aesthetic and informative score cards and great grounding for the baskets. Layout offers good variety of open and tight, with many holes offering both. My favorite feature is the real,live sand trap on #3, I believe it is.

Can't really name any flaws, beyond maybe not utiizing the open lane along the utility run in the area of #13/14 to have a long, open Par 5. It is rather long and trying for a Red level layout from the short tees. It might be appropriate to redesignate the Reds to White and add a third set of truly Red level pads, so that it would be a Red, White, and Blue layout, which would be very appropriate relative to the course name and the theme of the park, with its centerpiece attraction of the Field of Honor.

A superb addition to the Triad's disc golf scene. Definitely one of Russell's best that I've played.