A QUICK NOTE ABOUT THE SETH BURTON MEMORIAL DISC GOLF COMPLEX: The funding behind the courses is provided in memory of Seth Burton, a young local who passed tragically but whose memory is alive and well. The courses have been around for years, but they are still loved and benefit from locals' (including Seth's dad, Phil Burton) tender loving care. These are courses that the local community takes pride in, and this shows at every visit. Course condition is always good, whether in the peak of summer growth or immediately before the annual A-tier. I've recently moved to the Morgantown area, and I've adopted these as my home courses. Each course has its particular character, and I've enjoyed the distinction of one manicured and more open (SBM DGC) and one wild and super tight (OC).
Orange Crush seems to have earned recognition even outside the region, explained by its inimitable and enviable combination of extreme woods and extreme elevation changes. Seth Burton Memorial DGC, the original and central course, is less well known but is no less formidable and respectable. I think the only real knock on the course is that it feels less special because it plays largely along the park road. It is, nonetheless, a great design; and this Johnny Sias masterpiece was here well before its famous neighbor. It's far from open, but seems incredibly so simply because of the unavoidable comparison to Orange Crush. Actually, the need for decision making on this course is probably better than that on Orange Crush, since there are often more lines to the basket. On Orange Crush, you usually have a line you need to hit, so it's all about execution. Here, I find there's more choice between two or more options (often with plenty of risk) before executing said shots.
As I mentioned, the park road is always close to the course. Whereas your curses of frustration and celebratory shouts will be heard only by trees and animals on Orange Crush, they will be on full display for park users here. (I still feel bad for a walker who was startled by my loud exclamation after I threw a shot straight OB on #6 a few weeks ago!) Even though the park road is ever present, the park is far from busy. You will still enjoy a relaxed and refreshing round, and you will rarely need to wait for vehicles or pedestrians to pass.
Road OB really only comes into play on half of the holes (especially on holes #2, #5-#7, #9-#11, #13-#14, and #18). That OB makes you think and pay a price for missing shots, but the real challenge is provided by trees and elevation (though milder than Orange Crush). When playing the "championship layout" of long tees to long baskets, there are very few opportunities for two. I still haven't figured out what par is on most holes, but there are really only two holes I have a chance at two (#9 and #10, maybe #14 and #18). I enjoy that challenge, but ask me again after the 8th annual Seth Burton Memorial tournament this weekend. That championship layout definitely adds difficulty to the course, whether it's the longer gold basket (6 holes are 100-200' longer, often farther up or down a hill) or the tee placement (especially #4's steep uphill). Even the short to short layout provides precious few easy shots, so anyone will have to work to score here no matter what layout.
One interesting course feature is the particularly challenging tee "situation" on several holes. Many of these holes present challenges that are good for the golf, but simply aren't comfortable to throw. On #3, an initial tree corridor isn't lined up toward the basket and makes for difficult shot selection. On #6, the road embankment to the left of the tee makes the tempting but risky line over OB even more challenging. On #17, the straight and narrow fairway runs along a fence (tennis courts) with a sloping cliff on the other side of the fairway. All in all, I appreciate the decisions this course forces me to make, but it's just a tad less aesthetically pleasing than Orange Crush.
The course is very beautiful, and a few of these holes are just as unique and memorable as Orange Crush. E.g. hole 4's steep uphill and basket placement (probably the signature), hole 9's blind downhill, the beautiful and long hole 11. But overall this course is challenging and long, without the plethora of signature holes present on Orange Crush. My hunch is that Seth Burton is as good or better at separating the best players than is Orange Crush, but I haven't gathered evidence to back that up. It's fun and challenging, as I've said, but following the park road means it's simply not as beautiful or rugged as OC.
Rating: Excellent (4.0). It gets less recognition than Orange Crush, but it's a well-designed, challenging, and fun course. Let's be honest: you came for Orange Crush. Play this one, too, and you won't be disappointed!