Pros:
A very good course; almost every hole is memorable, with a natural or manmade "feature"
1: Water along the right. Not really in play, but it's in your head. Basket up on a rise
2: Wooded slight dogleg right. South Jersey woods, like Doc or Alcyon
3: Tight trail. Basket not visible from yellow tee
4: A fair par 4. The yellow teepad is tucked against the treeline as you enter the park. The hole is long and straight with a slightly elevated basket in the corner of the woods. Chances are good you'll be throwing into a headwind off the lake (but you might not be able to feel it at the tee). The road on the right is OB, and the downslope brings it into play when your disc fades.
A: Currently marked "A", this hole is between #4 and #5 - it's a great 270' alley shot
5 - 7: mostly straight, but tight wooded lines, reminded me of Doc, Allaire, and Stafford. Hole #7 finishes with an open landing area, but the basket is guarded tightly by surrounding trees
8: A tough par 4 from the yellows because the road running tight on the left side creates the need for a flex or very straight (RH) forehand, with woods all along the right. The second half of the hole is easier though, threading through a pretty open window of trees. Very good hole!
9: Here comes the water. Like hole #1 it's all along the right side, not really in play (unless you get a terrible kick). The basket is set on a little bit of a peninsula, with drop-offs and water surrounding it. The best putt is straight on - don't be long, left or right
10: A long carry over water. The tee and basket are at roughly the same elevation, with a big (wet) valley in between. The water was particularly high and the landing area was really muddy the day I played - so I took a penalty and teed from the whites. Still a challenge because you're throwing up at a wooded basket
11: Blind left hand dogleg, but it's pretty open in the landing area, with the basket up a hill. The locals have done a nice job putting in timbers to prevent erosion (and to stop low shots)
12: Long and straight, across a valley. Difficult to make par from yellow if you don't have a big and controlled arm. CAUTION: the valley is full of little vines with razor sharp prickers. Use care when reaching down to pick up your disc
13: Short uphill par 3. This hole provides a little much-needed relief on the back 9
14: Water carry - but you need only about 180' from the yellow tees, and it's significantly downhill. This is a really pretty water hole, and it's easier than it looks from the yellow tees
15: Long walk to find the tee. You pass the basket on your right as you leave the water hole. It's a slight dogleg that makes the turn right at the white tee, which is about 200' from the yellows. The basket is in a nice open area with lots of low brush that will catch and stop your disc.
16 - 18: Open holes to finish the round, A chance to let loose. #18 is particular open - and long, at 792' par 5 - There's a cyclone fence across the fairway at about 100' short of the elevated pin, so you have to be careful with your approach and not end up against the fence throwing straight up into the air
Cons:
- Teepads are the weak link at South Vineland. Mostly rugs, and a few rubber. There's a paver beauty on the yellow tee on #18, so I'm hoping that's a sign of things to come
- Many of the reviewers talk about problems when the course is wet. I didn't experience problems (although #10 seemed really swampy), but I didn't play during a particularly wet time. But if you're coming from a distance, it's worth considering
- The uDisc map is out of date, especially on the back 9. Thankfully the signage is very good. There are a couple of long walks between the last 3 or 4 holes, and not having a map made for some extra wandering around
- The signs are temporary (paper in plastic sleeves), which I suspect indicates the current tweaking of the layout. The signs themselves are great illustrations and include OB. The only mistake I saw was on #18, which indicated the yellow as "792 FEET PAR 3." Ummm...I hope not
- Speaking of #18, the cyclone fence that crosses the fairway is probably controversial. It didn't come into play for me - my 3rd shot landed well short of it. But it seems like having a six foot fence across a fairway could rile people up
Other Thoughts:
~ South Vineland is a very good course with 10 or more excellent, memorable holes. It's clearly a work in progress: the navigation signage has improved, a new teepad on18, the layout is being tweaked. This is a solid "4" if not a "4.5" and it's definitely a much better course than the earlier reviews would indicate.
~ I drove almost two hours to play it and I wasn't disappointed. Walking up #18 and seeing hole #1 on my right across the water, I felt like my round had been a hell of a ride. The same feeling I've had a Stafford, Doc, Alcyon, Allaire, Tecumseh. South Vineland is earning its way into any conversation about the top courses in New Jersey