- Alan Pier's Pieradise, a private course open to the public, combines open grassy expanses with moderately wooded areas. The grassy expanses are dotted with mature trees (mostly large pines) while the wooded areas force fairly tight lines through the trees. Although mostly flat, every scrap of elevation is used to its full potential. Multiple hole layouts change the look and feel of the course drastically. Some
layouts add length and technicality, while others shorten the course up a bit.
- The course is well-groomed and maintained. Concrete tees, baskets, signs, tables, benches...everything is in good shape. Tee signs denote which layout the course is in currently (A, B, C, D, or E is listed next to the hole number). The club-house/store area has a great disc selection as well as cheap cans of soda, etc. for sale.
- Alan's out-going and friendly demeanor makes playing Pieradise a fun experience. Expect Alan to talk to you about everything from the current state of disc golf to what courses were on the 1987 pro tour schedule. His welcoming attitude was greatly appreciated!

- Unfortunately, the major con in my book is the lack of elevation. One hole uses a fairly good sized hill to create a good rollaway risk, but the vast majority of the course is super flat.
- For first timers, the flow isn't necessarily obvious in one or two spots, and the lack of "next tee" signage adds a bit to that; however, the risk of getting lost for more than a minute is minimal.

- From the course to the homemade baskets and signs, Pieradise is a DYI poster child for the disc golf scene. With the first hole teeing off of Alan's back porch, it's difficult not to get at least a little caught up in the awesomeness of playing one man's private creation.
- Pay to play fee ($4) is certainly reasonable and helps Alan maintain the course.
- Assigning a rating for this course proved to be one of the most difficult times I've had since I started reviewing courses. I finally, after much consideration, settled on a 3.5 rating until I get the chance to play at least one or two different course setups before I bump it up the 0.5 disc to a 4.

Owner Allen, who spent a good deal of time talking to us about the history of DG and the courses in the local area, and the well-stocked pro shop he has on the site.

Tee areas are top notch - long benches, tables, long-n-wide teepads, and excellent signage which informs you of the distance, and current position. When the course is in the C (short) position, it can be setup in a 27=hole layout.

The front part of the course, which contains the walk from tee-10, holes 11-14, and tee-15 are a bit jammed together and can cause interference, delays, and much yelling of "fore!".

Quite flat.

The day seven of us played, the course was set in the 'A' (long) configuration. In this setup, your wood-working skills are immediately put to the test, as the first seven holes, sans #5, has you work your discs around the low canopy formed by a collection of small and mid-sized trees. Holes 8-11 offer you an opportunity to stretch your arm, although there is the odd tree to miss, and OB to avoid - simple enough, unless you griplock. Number-12 has you enter the woods and gain what little elevation the course has. Wooded-13 is followed by right-turning 14. Holes 15-17 have you alternate between entering and exiting the woods at the end/beginning, and wooded-18 requires you to hit a window early.

For the most part, straight off the tee would serve you well - required turns tended to be subtle and near the basket, other than the hard-left needed at the midpoint of number-4. Baskets within the woods would (obviously) have trees nearby, but no "unfair" locations - make quality throws, and have a fair look at the basket.

Looking at all aspects of the course, "quality" is the word that comes to mind - certainly worth a visit if in the area.