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Pisgah Park reviews
16
0
Sandy Pine Eccentricity 2+ years
Reviewed:
Played on:Feb 9, 2022
Played the course:once
Pros:
A one-of-a-kind course that presents some fun stretches and some puzzlingly disastrous choices.
To be honest, I have no idea how to write this review. Pisgah is a strange and unusual mix of good and bad, and it's impossible to separate the two elements at times. It's as if the unique elements that make this a fun divergence from the ordinary also make it taste just a little too weird for comfort.
I'll start by saying that this is a homemade course that feels like it's gotten a lot of work. Though the amenities are flawed, they've all been accounted for. The fairways are mostly pretty well cleared, if weirdly shaped. The course has a flow, if a twisting one. There are occasional nets and purposefully added obstacles to give more of a manicured appearance.
However, this course is anything but manicured. It's quirky. There's a far-reaching mind behind the shapes, flow, features, and fit of the course. You'll see hole shapes here that you may never see again - weird high turnovers, tunnel shots running through an X shape of branches, and par-4s with short layups leading to longer tunnel shots. Many of these ambitious shapes are constructed with enough room for them to be viable.
A strong feature of Pisgah's unusual mix is its varying hole concepts. There are basic kinds of birdieable par-3s right there, but almost as frequently are two-shot holes that range from placement shots to big drives to short layups. A couple of my favorites of each type were (9), a right-turning shot leading to a very low ceiling approach that will favor far right placement, and (14), a high turnover or forehand with a bushy tree dead ahead to catch uncommitted shots. This mix of par-3s and -4s was the factor that appealed to me most.
To be honest, I have no idea how to write this review. Pisgah is a strange and unusual mix of good and bad, and it's impossible to separate the two elements at times. It's as if the unique elements that make this a fun divergence from the ordinary also make it taste just a little too weird for comfort.
I'll start by saying that this is a homemade course that feels like it's gotten a lot of work. Though the amenities are flawed, they've all been accounted for. The fairways are mostly pretty well cleared, if weirdly shaped. The course has a flow, if a twisting one. There are occasional nets and purposefully added obstacles to give more of a manicured appearance.
However, this course is anything but manicured. It's quirky. There's a far-reaching mind behind the shapes, flow, features, and fit of the course. You'll see hole shapes here that you may never see again - weird high turnovers, tunnel shots running through an X shape of branches, and par-4s with short layups leading to longer tunnel shots. Many of these ambitious shapes are constructed with enough room for them to be viable.
A strong feature of Pisgah's unusual mix is its varying hole concepts. There are basic kinds of birdieable par-3s right there, but almost as frequently are two-shot holes that range from placement shots to big drives to short layups. A couple of my favorites of each type were (9), a right-turning shot leading to a very low ceiling approach that will favor far right placement, and (14), a high turnover or forehand with a bushy tree dead ahead to catch uncommitted shots. This mix of par-3s and -4s was the factor that appealed to me most.
Cons:
A bit easier to itemize than the pros.
-Overlapping Fairways: The fairways are so well nestled that there are often signs on trees indicating which fairway you're playing. On several holes I found it expedient to play another hole's fairway either off the tee or after a ricochet. Should multiple groups be out, this is a recipe for injury by plastic.
-Bizarre Shapes: Most of the shapes are weird, but some of them are downright bad. Hole (4) travels so far right after a short opening that it is impossible to consistently birdie, and difficult to salvage if you go off the fairway at all. Hole (10) is solidly over 300' with a low ceiling, traveling uphill, and an incredibly touchy shape. Other holes are very unlikely, and can provoke anger or confusion.
-Maze Qualities: Because of overlapping fairways, it's hard to know which tunnel you're supposed to follow. Then, you have to find the right basket (which is often aided by color-coding, but still difficult). Then, you have to figure out which path away from the basket leads to the next tee. You cross your own steps so many times you'll feel like a Greek teen confined to the Minotaur's labyrinth. The course literally ends with signs pointing towards the exit, as if it was a corn maze.
-Overlapping Fairways: The fairways are so well nestled that there are often signs on trees indicating which fairway you're playing. On several holes I found it expedient to play another hole's fairway either off the tee or after a ricochet. Should multiple groups be out, this is a recipe for injury by plastic.
-Bizarre Shapes: Most of the shapes are weird, but some of them are downright bad. Hole (4) travels so far right after a short opening that it is impossible to consistently birdie, and difficult to salvage if you go off the fairway at all. Hole (10) is solidly over 300' with a low ceiling, traveling uphill, and an incredibly touchy shape. Other holes are very unlikely, and can provoke anger or confusion.
-Maze Qualities: Because of overlapping fairways, it's hard to know which tunnel you're supposed to follow. Then, you have to find the right basket (which is often aided by color-coding, but still difficult). Then, you have to figure out which path away from the basket leads to the next tee. You cross your own steps so many times you'll feel like a Greek teen confined to the Minotaur's labyrinth. The course literally ends with signs pointing towards the exit, as if it was a corn maze.
Other Thoughts:
I've tried to review the course, but really you have no idea what to expect of Pisgah until you're there. It's a sea of baskets, tees, fairways, and trees, but despite all of that, many of the holes are lots of fun. You'll likely come away with emotions thoroughly mixed, as if put in a KitchenAid stand mixer running its top setting. This is a course that is Decent but very far from Typical. If you're in a good mood, I would recommend giving it a shot.
-Amenities: Concrete tees, but they're uneven. Tee signs with all info and maps, but the distances are badly off. Thin, wiry baskets, but they have many chains. There are copious benches and brooms, but some are broken.
-Amenities: Concrete tees, but they're uneven. Tee signs with all info and maps, but the distances are badly off. Thin, wiry baskets, but they have many chains. There are copious benches and brooms, but some are broken.
