Columbia's disc golf scene has offered a variety of layouts. The city has some nice courses. Now it seems that it finally has a signature course, at least for the time being.
- The existing layout is considered temporary as of February '22. A pipeline project will start in the near future disrupting part of the course. It's not know how much of the course will be impacted. Once the project is done, a permanent layout is will be installed.
- As such, there are some frustrations you won't see on most courses of this caliber. The first one for me is that I started on hole #6 because that was the first hole I spotted. It took me a couple holes, and a lot of walking around after #7, to figure out the signage. Things got much easier from there.
- This is a longer, tougher layout than the other Columbia courses. Six holes are listed as longer than 500 feet. Listed because #3 is probably 200 feet shorter than its listed 571 length. In addition to that, the fairways on holes #4, 5, and part of 11 are tight. Compared to the fairways at Diavolo, which seem like they're 6 lane interstate, these are closer to two, maybe 3, lane highways.
- The back 9 has some excellent variety. The front nine offers the most scenic hole - #2 with the basket along the banks of the Saluda River - and a couple other nice holes. But not much else. On the back 9, holes #11 - 18 all look and play differently from each other. Technically, #10 is different from them as well, by default. HOT TAKE ALERT!!! So yes, I'll make the claim all nine holes on the back nine play different from each other.
- My favorites are #12, 13, 16 & 17. #12 starts in the open, to a wooded final 1/3 that dips down then back up to a dogleg left basket. And, there's a drop-off to a creek just beyond the basket.
- #13 is an excellent, short risk/reward hole. Listed at 208 feet, it's an uphill layout with plenty of room to the right and thick rough to the left. If you didn't notice while standing on the tee, there is a steep, big drop-off down to the creek. Next to the basket, it's 20 - 30 feet down meaning you're probably not getting that disc back unless you get creative. You can play it safe, aim 30 feet right and guarantee your par. Or you make a run for the basket and risk going 20 feet left and losing your frisbee.
- #17 is the pond hole. It's 240 feet throwing over the pond. Thickish rough long. It's an easy 3, but it's a water hole. And we like those.
- #16 is the best designed hole on the course. 411 footer that starts out doglegging it left, only for the fairway to break back and up to the right. Land right in the middle of the fairway at the bend, and you should be having an easy 3. Land a little too long, short, right, or too far left, and it's a much more challenging hole. This second shot reminds me of #12 at Hornets Nest where you need to judge the distance to hit the gap in the woods.
- Overall, an excellent park. Miles of running trails along the river. Two different boat ramps, ball fields, playgrounds, picnic shelters. This is a well-laid out park. And yet my hometown of Charlotte STILL doesn't understand why river-front property should be used for parks/green spaces.

The biggest issues all center around the temporary aspect of the course - signage and tee areas.
- Tees are marked by two pink flags. One has the hole number, the other the distance. Don't think the pinks flags are just for tees. Rather, the pink flags are also marking lines throughout the park, for the construction work perhaps?
- Navigation between holes is indicated by wooden posts with blue paint on top. At first I thought those were trail markers. Once I figured out what they were, it did help tremendously. That said, there's no consistency of how far apart they are, how many are between holes, or how close they are to the tee. Plus, you cross transitions more than once, so just be aware.
- Just finding the first tee can be a challenge. I started on #6 because I didn't know the blue-topped posts were directing me into the woods to the first tee.
- Tees are dirt. Most are relatively flat. Some are not.
- No amenities on the course itself. Restrooms, water fountains, trash cans are in other parts of the park, just not on the course.
- There are a couple of longer transitions. I only got lost between #13 and 14 simply due to construction work being done on the playground. I ran into the course designer who helped point me in the right direction. At least I got the satisfaction my navigational skills were initially correct.
- There is a decent amount of lost disc aspects on the course. Between steep drop-offs and true water factors (river on #2 & 9, pond on #17 and I guess far right on #11) and some extremely thick underbrush on certain portions, just come prepared.

Let's say this current layout became permanent. Let's say that means proper tee signs, tee pads, navigational signs, and benches were added and a few more fairways were cleared out better. This would be an excellent course. It would easily be the best in Columbia, and top 10 - 15 in the state.
- Alas, we must wait and see what becomes of this layout.
- #2 is a sneaky great hole. It looks pretty straight forward from the tee. It is one of the state's most picturesque baskets with the river in the background. However, a tee shot that's a little too aggressive or a putt that sails a little too far, and you're in the river. How pleasant is the hole now?
- There were a couple of 'eh' holes on the front side. #3 & 4 were repetitive, and in turn take away from the excellence that is #5. I wasn't a far of the sharp 90 degree turn on #8. #9 is pretty, but man is it a long, straight, tight fairway.
- One small 'issue' I noticed. With people walking the trails, they quickly interpret anything cleared as a new trail. I had to wait several times for people to get off fairways before throwing. Other than that, the course is pretty much removed from the rest of the park activities.
- I'm a fan of the $5 entry fee. It removes most of the casual, one-disc carrying players. They can hack away at Earlewood or Owens.
- Based on the current conditions, I'm giving the course a 3.5. It's an easy 4.0 with tee signs and better pads. Time will tell what becomes of this course. As it was, I had a blast playing this layout.