Pros:
Pros: Plenty of variety with dual tees (Orange & Blue) and 3 pin positions (A-B-C) per fairway. This is a solid Blue level course from the Blue tees and Red level from the Orange tees. The "C" positions extend the course, bringing the # of par 4s to Seven!
14' long concrete tees, most of which are very level, will insure good footing off the tee. The course flow is fairly intuitive, but could still use a few more directional signs. Pay attention to the arrows under each bucket! And each tee sign also shows color coded arrows to the next tees. More trees, benches, trash cans and water fountains are on the approved list of future amenities.
Custom Orange DISCatchers. The flow comes back to the parking lot after #3 and again after 7, if you like. Also at #16. NINE of the fairways are 'split', or have a different look at the pin. #12 has 3 completely different pin areas.
#1 & 17's fairways are right along the shore of Tampa Bay, making the OB lines subject to the tides! If you time your round right, you'll have a beautiful sunset backdrop on holes 17 & 18 to finish!
Cons:
Cons: Only a few benches (unshaded), but there will be more soon, as well as more trash cans. The only restrooms are at the turn of #11 and south before you play #02. The restrooms at #08 are rarely open, unless the park is jammed. #01 & 17 are prone to picnic-rs and sun-bathers. Signs have been installed to let them know they are in a disc golf area, but you may need to politely remind them to make way.
#01 is a bit more of a challenge than I would like for the 1st hole, but it was the best way to flow the course so that no one would have to walk across a fairway from 18 to 01 in a tourney.
Gets VERY hot during the summer afternoons. There are mosquitoes when it's hot and 'no-see-ems' when it's cool. Bug spray is usually a necessity.
Tight fairways and heavy underbrush make it very easy to lose a disc if you get off of the fairways. Aggressive play will have to be backed up with some finesse. ALWAYS put your name on a disc you intend to throw @ P.I. And please get accustomed to helping your group find lost discs to speed up the process. Spotting and paying attention will go a long way to spend more time playing and less time searching!
Other Thoughts:
Other thoughts: This is one of those rare combinations of a terrific canvas and a park manager who is willing to do what it takes to insure that it is done RIGHT.
The canvas is a spit of limestone jutting out into Tampa Bay. PICNIC ISLAND is a 'nature park'. The manicured areas are nicely manicured grass, but other areas are left to grow however they may. Many of the 'fair-ways' are very tight and the underbrush is THICK! You will appreciate a nice breeze during the summer, but the more it blows, the greater the effect on your game! But the flags on the basket should help you 'read' the wind.
I feel as if I got about as much out of the property as one could ask. I even fought for MORE property so that we wouldn't be too cramped. (Hence, holes 1, 2, 3)
The little patch of woods northeast of the parking lot provide the perfect bufferage to allow several holes in a small area. Holes 4, 5, 6, 7, 8 & 9 all begin and/or end in or along the wooded area, but shouldn't encroach on other fairways.
I won't call this a "Championship" caliber course (we'll leave that to Cypress Point) but I think this will be a very fun and challenging course nonetheless. The "A" pins will provide some fun holes that don't require a big throw. The "B" pins will let you open it up a bit more... especially from the Blue tees. The C pins should push you a bit more to open up your arm a bit on the par 3s and make placement shots on the par 4s. There are several short holes, which is the product of cramped spaces or steering clear of protected areas (hole #03). Definitely one of my top 4 designs.
SIGNS ARE YOUR FRIENDS! Each tee sign has arrows showing the direction to the next tees, and 'pin-dicators' to let you know which position the basket is in. Each basket has an arrow under the bucket pointing to the next tee for easier navigation.
Some basic course rules: OB- Shoreline of #01 & 17. Must be surrounded by water when the waves are out. Staked & roped areas are O.B. (#1, 3, 11) Staked with RIBBONS are NOT OB. They are NO MOW areas, that may go away after trees are planted. All bodies of water (Tampa Bay, lagoon, creeks) are O.B. All MANGROVE areas are protected & O.B.! Also, the INSIDE line (course side) of the ballards (wood posts) that line all roads and parking areas are OB. In the grass between the ballards and the road or parking is OB!
Hole by hole:
#001: A challenging opener from the Blue tee that must carry around 300' of water before hyzering out onto the beach. But don't hyzer out too soon!! The Sea Oats etc to the left are also O.B. (Very punitive stake line if you are short of the A pin!) The Orange tee is very short and forgiving. O.B. from the Blue? Go to Orange. O.B. from Orange? Go to drop zone. O.B. from drop zone? Go home! ;-)
#02: A dedicated par 4 to all 3 pin positions. Mostly open drive curving right. Parking lot is O.B. (Ballard line) Pros might enjoy playing the short tee as a tough par 3. Mangrove area to the left of fairway is O.B. A couple of big trees are planned to further define the Blue fairway.
#03: Split fairway. The shortest hole on the course. Most pins pretty simple from Orange, perhaps a bit trickier from Blue. Mangrove area is protected and O.B.! (Staked & roped) Walk toward road and left to parking lot for #4.
#04: Formerly #1. Up the hill and to the right. If the park keeps up with trimming, you should be able to see the A pin from the Blue tee and the C pin from the Orange tee. Take tunnel behind C pin to 5.
#05: Punch out of the woods... A & B pins are semi-protected par 3s. C pin is short par 4. Lots of tall weeds for those who leave the fairway. Wild shots may result in lost discs. Control is key. From C pin, Right to Orange 6. Straight back & Right to Blue 6.
#06: Same as old 6... A & B are par 3... C pin has extended to a tough par 4 that is heavily guarded. 7 Blue to right. 7 Orange Left & straight.
#07: A split fairway. Orange is a short shot to a tight green. Blue is a slow-turn tunnel.
On restroom walkways and roof is O.B. (I saw it happen YESTERDAY!)
#08: (Formerly #2) Downhill from Orange. Also downhill from Blue but have to flirt with a rise by Orange tee to reach the B and set up for the C upshot. A is a hidden hyzer position. A & B = par 3. C = par 4. #08 Orange left of B. #08 Blue in woods behind.
#09: Split fairway from two different tunnels and angles. A = Right, B = Left. C = Straight.
#10 tee- Orange past Blue to left.
#10: Split fairway from two very different angles. A & B = par 3. C = par 4.
11 Blue left of C. #11 Orange straight ahead just past shell service road & gate.
#11: Par 4 from both tees. Straight shot that finishes left from Blue tee. Choice of R or L of tree to field from Orange. Pros might enjoy playing Orange as a tough par 3.
12 tees behind row of cedars. Ballard line, staked reeds and Bark Park are O.B.
#12: "Stacked" tees (one straight behind the other) but 3 distinctly different pin areas.
13 tees follow path to right.
#13: Split fairway. Orange is a bit restricted. Blue more open but longer. Open pin area. (pins are formerly #3)
14 tees behind C pin.
#14: (Formerly #5) Stacked tees. Straight to A & B positions tucked in to the right. C pin is straighter & longer. Go left of... or split the goal-post Royal palms.
Go left to Orange 15. Go right to Blue 15.
#15: Split fairway. A pin is par 3. B = a short par 4 tucked behind a 10' high mound. C is long par 4. Many trees to be added on both sides of this fairway to separate it from #05 & 18.
#16: (Formerly #7) Mostly open with a choice to left or right around palmettos. A = short of palms. B = long right of palms. C = long left of palms.
#17: (Formerly #8) The closest we'll get to a Pebble Beach hole with the fairway right along Tampa Bay. A = shorter & to right up the hill. B = medium length & close to the water. C = longer and behind some palm trees. O.B. line is subject to the tides !
#18: Blind shot from near water's edge up & over a rise to a 'horseshoe" green. A = inside horseshoe. B = on top of horseshoe. C = behind horseshoe. B pin is TOUGH putting on a windy day!
In conclusion: I understand that DGCR disc-ourages reviews from the course designer in order to reduce bias. I've never given one of my courses a perfect 5/5 rating. But this is as close as I've come to believing I should. As the course designer, I see every fault and 'con', but also recognize more potential. I knew all along that this would be one of Florida's best, if we could make certain things happen. Thanks to the tenacity of the City of Tampa's project manager, John Dellaquilla, (not a blatant suck-up) nearly all of those things have been accomplished, or are on the short list, which has been approved.
He also reads these reviews and takes them into consideration. So please review this course after playing it. And, if one of your cons has been addressed favorably, please return and change your review accordingly!