Sparkman Park - Lakeside reviews
14
0
A nice alternative to the original. 2+ years drive by
Reviewed:
Played on:Apr 17, 2021
Played the course:2-4 times
Pros:
- The Big 3: The biggest pro is that every hole has concrete tee pads that are just long enough, metal tee pad signage, and Mach 5 baskets that are in good shape. The bare minimums are well covered for an enjoyably round.
- 2 Courses: Although this is a review for the Lakeside course, it is definitely a perk to have two 18 hole courses begin in the same parking lot.
- Grooming: The few times I have played this course, it has been as well groomed as possible (minus the swampy areas where I imagine mowers would get stuck). There are also a couple nice bridges.
- Parking Area: Large course map, trash cans, picnic tables, and #1 tee all right where you park.
- Benches: A good number of benches at tee pads. About 50% of the holes had one. Always a nice feature.
- Specific Hole Features: #1 has a fun triple mando. #7 has a new elevated tee option. #17 is a pretty shot over the lake. #18 is a fun shot throwing downhill and over a creek.
- Wooded Holes: The wooded holes (which are few) have nice, defined tall pine fairways. This allows for very specific shot shaping which is challenging and fun.
- 2 Courses: Although this is a review for the Lakeside course, it is definitely a perk to have two 18 hole courses begin in the same parking lot.
- Grooming: The few times I have played this course, it has been as well groomed as possible (minus the swampy areas where I imagine mowers would get stuck). There are also a couple nice bridges.
- Parking Area: Large course map, trash cans, picnic tables, and #1 tee all right where you park.
- Benches: A good number of benches at tee pads. About 50% of the holes had one. Always a nice feature.
- Specific Hole Features: #1 has a fun triple mando. #7 has a new elevated tee option. #17 is a pretty shot over the lake. #18 is a fun shot throwing downhill and over a creek.
- Wooded Holes: The wooded holes (which are few) have nice, defined tall pine fairways. This allows for very specific shot shaping which is challenging and fun.
Cons:
- Basic Holes: I think the biggest con is that a number of holes are about as basic as a disc golf hole can get. #15 is the biggest culprit but a few others aren't far off. However, there are also some great holes.
- Swampy: This course has a tendency to retain a good bit of water in a few spots. This is just my experience in the few times I've played here.
- Signage Detail: The signs here are good (as I mentioned in the pros) however, they forgot to include the par on each hole. This was made even more confusing by some temporary tournament signage(?) that labeled some clearly par 3s as par 5s. Very strange. The course essentially made sense but the numbering system was totally thrown off. Seems like an easy fix for whoever is in charge. Also see basket flags below.
- No Turn: This course is an out and back. Unless you are playing both courses and consider it a turn to play the other course. Could use a trash can around hole 9 or so for this reason.
- Navigation: This course could use some next tee signs. It wasn't too bad, but a few would certainly help out. Also, you have to walk back through #6 to get to #9 which is unfortunate on a busy day (unless I missed something or the holes are mislabeled).
- Swampy: This course has a tendency to retain a good bit of water in a few spots. This is just my experience in the few times I've played here.
- Signage Detail: The signs here are good (as I mentioned in the pros) however, they forgot to include the par on each hole. This was made even more confusing by some temporary tournament signage(?) that labeled some clearly par 3s as par 5s. Very strange. The course essentially made sense but the numbering system was totally thrown off. Seems like an easy fix for whoever is in charge. Also see basket flags below.
- No Turn: This course is an out and back. Unless you are playing both courses and consider it a turn to play the other course. Could use a trash can around hole 9 or so for this reason.
- Navigation: This course could use some next tee signs. It wasn't too bad, but a few would certainly help out. Also, you have to walk back through #6 to get to #9 which is unfortunate on a busy day (unless I missed something or the holes are mislabeled).
Other Thoughts:
Not pros or cons:
- Basket Flags: This would normally be a pro for sure, but the numbers did not correspond with the hole? This might also have something to do with the (what appeared to be) temporary tournament signage.
- Island Holes: There are two short "island holes" that are very basic other than the fact that they have an imaginary island. This is a could way to spruce up a basic hole, but it still doesn't make it very exciting.
- Elevation: They didn't have much to work with on this side of the park, but at least they did what they could with it.
- Basket Flags: This would normally be a pro for sure, but the numbers did not correspond with the hole? This might also have something to do with the (what appeared to be) temporary tournament signage.
- Island Holes: There are two short "island holes" that are very basic other than the fact that they have an imaginary island. This is a could way to spruce up a basic hole, but it still doesn't make it very exciting.
- Elevation: They didn't have much to work with on this side of the park, but at least they did what they could with it.
