Landscape, signage, teepads

Only nine holes, no bathrooms or water

River City Nature Park is nice nine-holer that offers a true Florida disc golfing experience and a worthy outing for beginners and serious players alike. Not particularly long but offering excellent signage and teepads, and a nice variety of open and woods, this is the sort of course that is worth hitting whether you're just getting started, or just looking for a fun outing. The location and signature live oaks give it that true Florida feel.

While the course does feature two sets of teepads, it's still pretty much so a par 3 course; the white tees lengthen things out a bit, but not extensively. However, with good signage and other wayfinding aids, it's an easy course to follow. The course also seems like one that would be good for building a game, as it has a bit of open, but a bit of control is needed too, and shot-shaping and recovery are going to be needed skills. What's most distinctive about this course beyond the signage and teepads is the landscape; this course was obviously laid out with a great deal of consideration, and in concert with the landscape, rather than on top of or through the landscape. This feature is what really stands out about the River City Nature Park disc golf experience.

Overall, I rate this course Good, and certainly worth checking out if you're anywhere in the area. It's only nine holes, and not particularly long, but it's a fun outing nonetheless, with nice playing amenities (though no bathrooms or water), interesting holes with no let downs, and an excellent landscape overall. One caveat - and I should probably add this to all of the Central Florida courses I've reviewed - timing could make a big difference in your experience. On breezy Sunday in March the course was well mown, dry, and looking good. In the middle of August your experience may involve standing water, high grass, and a lot of bugs. It is Florida, after all.

Layout is great well thought out. Majestic Oaks engulf many of the fairways creating some interesting shot choices.

kinda short a few longer holes however most are on the shorter side,

very nice, enjoyed my time there and will be back,

Great flow to the course with plenty of available space to make a full 18 or even more.

Great tee pads, good signage, baskets easily located.

No rr facilities, Off the beaten path but close enough to I-4 that it is not really a con.

For those of you reading and rating my reviews, this is Billy Adams not Buddy if that makes a difference, and please msg me and let me know what is lacking in my reviews.
Can't wait for more holes to be added!


Even though this is a nine hole course I found it to be very enjoyable and demanded various types of shots. I made it an 18 hole course by playing 1,3,5,7,9 from the long pads and 2,4,6,8 from the shorts, then reversing that the second time through. Although the distance between most of the pads is not dramatic there is enough of a separation to require different shots from each pad.

1. straight ahead from both pads roc long, classic roc short or equivalent, there are open hyzer and anhyzer as well.

2. Anhyzer works best from both pads although the short pad provides a straight run at it as well

3. hyzer or spike hyzer from both pads or a straight run from the short

4.The long pad is a true risk reward, a straight shot if you can miss the early trees, otherwise it is short turnover (rhbh).
Straight at it from tthe short pad.

5. straight and hyzer are possibilities from both pads, well gaurded by trees and bushline but open enough to bang the chains with a good shot.

6. Huge difference between the long and short pads, different shots are required but from either pad it is about positioning yourself for your second shot. Par feels good here.

7. The tendency is to go straigh at it but there is a great hyzer route that opens the hole for an ace run from either pad.

8. My favorite hole on the course, and easy birdy if you can thow it straight thick brush on the right will grab your disc and brush on the right late can present a problem. with the low hanging branches and vegitation just make this a pretty hole.

9. The other hole on the course where you can let your arm out a little, easy birdy if you can throw at least 320' and hit your line.

Nine holes with a chance of birdie at every one is always a good thing.

The park itself is a very pleasant one, with a nice drive in and lots of scenery to take in. The power plant near by leads to a couple of interesting sights on the course, as well, as industrial features pop up in the middle of the grass fields. Nothing that should interfere with a shot, of course.

A mix of open and treed holes allows for some easy and challenging shots, making sure that play stays a bit varied. Multiple tees also help with this, as well as varying length holes. The sixth may be the only spot where a long range drive is really needed, but the rest of the course is still enjoyable to throw.

Unlike most nine hole courses, I never felt like this one was cramped or shoehorned in. Everything felt nice and open, spread nicely over the available land.

The signage is excellent and the layout intuitive. Even without the helpful signs, the course would be easily navigable. The course was well groomed and maintained, with few chances to lose a disc.

The first negative aspect I noticed was the fire ant hills. There are many and they are large. If a disk lands on one, you would have a hard time regaining it without paying dearly.

The land the course is on is vast for a nine hole... they could have easily fit in another three holes and not crowded it up too much. A practice basket would have been a nice touch as well.

The shortness of most of the course is a minor issue. Nine holes are not usually known for many holes over three hundred feet, but it would have been nice to have more than one that was.

Speaking of that hole... from the red tee, the sixth is a very managable par three at 380 feet. However, from the white tee, the sixth jumps up to 535 feet and remains a par three according to the signage. For many people, myself included, that extra length is the better part of one full drive. Perhaps that should be re-marked as a part four instead. Though it does tend to balance out the birdie opportunities on other holes...

Overall, this course is strong and well laid out. There are some areas that could use tweaking, as with almost all courses. Despite the shortness of the holes, there was never a point where I felt bored or particularly un-challenged, though it isn't a punishing course by a long shot.

I would definitely put this course on a list of those to play in Florida, but it likely won't be considered a favorite.

1. Good variety for distances (short and long tee pads - 165' up to 555' depending on basket placement)
2. Multiple basket positions for each hole
3. Course not overly technical (this could also be a con, depending on your skill level)
4. Offers fun for most skill levels (short tees are very good for beginners, while long tees will give more advanced players slightly more challenge)
5. Good use of space in park (some smaller parks will try to cram in holes and make things very crowded - not so at River City
6. Easy to navigate (next hole signs and tee box signs are more than adequate)
7. Easy to see baskets (the yellow upper rims help, and baskets are numbered)
8. Concrete tee pads for both short and long tee boxes
9. Benches located throughout the park

1. Only 9 holes
2. Basket positions were all short (easy) positions when I played (would be best if things were mixed up a bit more!)
3. No facilities on site
4. Lacks degree of difficulty to really challenge highly skilled players (at least it did when the baskets were placed as they were the one opportunity I had to play the course)
5. Tee pads are a little short/small
6. Would like to see more garbage cans, but overall the park was very clean

I played this course (from the long tees) with my wife (from the short tees), and we both found it to be a fun and well put together course. There were plenty of open spaces, opportunities to throw multiple shots (tight s-curves, big hyzers, anhyzers, hammer throws, thumbers, etc...), and a few technical spots [approach on Hole #6 (wooded tight fairway bending from right to left), tee shots on #7 and #8]. While we were there, we had no problems with bugs (and the bugs do love the Mrs...)
Overall, the combination of space and some technical aspects make the course entertaining for most skill levels, though it may leave the very skilled players wanting. If I was in the area (or lived close by), I'd definitely play the course again.

If you're in North Orlando, and your playing time is limited, play River City Nature Park!
If you're looking for more of a challenge and more holes, I'd recommend Turkey Lake and Barnett Park courses (two 18 hole courses at each park), as they are a slight step up from River City Nature Park.

The Local Club has been working on this Course. They have mainatined Greg Hosfeld's orginal design. There are now 18 baskets for 18 holes. Repeat......................................
River City Nature Park in Debary Florida is no longer a nine hole but it is an 18 hole course.

There still is no bathrooms.
Club is currently working on getting concrete tee pads for the other nine holes.

The Club plays Handicaps on Saturday and
Best shot Doubles on Monday. Please visist DiscGolfersRUs to see updates and additional information regarding the Club, it's progress, and the Course.