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Lenoir, NC

T. Henry Wilson Athletic Park

0.255(based on 2 reviews)
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dndelli
Gold level trusted reviewer
Premium Member
Experience: 16.8 years 134 played 131 reviews
0.00 star(s)

T. Henry Wilson Athletic Park 2+ years

Reviewed: Updated: Played on:Jul 24, 2021 Played the course:once

Pros:

T. Henry Wilson Athletic Park was designed with three holes, and I was really just expecting three baskets strewn around a large field - as I have seen before. I was surprised to find that there seemed to be actual thought into the design of these holes in the attempt to make a very bite sized course. The course featured nice DISCatcher baskets, and each hole had concrete tees and a tee sign. The course is designed along one of the edges of the fields, with a paved greenway connecting everything together.

The field seemed like it was kept in pretty good condition, and was mowed for the other athletics that go on here. While there are only three holes, if the fields are empty, one could theoretically create their own safari layout to the baskets and play more than what was originally designed. The large field here is a great place to air out some discs and practice your field work. The baskets would allow you to have targets to aim at.

Cons:

It is hard to figure out who this course was designed for, as there are only three holes listed, and when I went out there to play, it seems that a new paved walking path has been installed right where Hole 3's basket used to be. Which means out of the three holes, only two are playable. There is definitely room by the trees on the right side of this path, where the basket could be reinstalled, but then you'd still be throwing over a walking/jogging path. Hole 2 also parallels a road, which could end in disaster if someone missed their line, especially if they are a lefty.

Out of the two holes that remain, walking from the basket of Hole 1, along the greenway, to the tee of Hole 2 - takes longer than it takes to play the whole course. And I am including Hole 3 here, because I still "played" the hole as best I could - by choosing a "basket" near the original location.

Holes 1 & 3 are wide open, and while Hole 2 has trees in the middle of the fairway, every hole is a stock hyzer shot for whatever distance is on the Tee Sign.

The concrete tees are a bit short, and uneven to the ground. Though they weren't that bad because none of the holes were too long, but Hole 1's tee was overgrown by the low hanging trees surrounding it.

The best part of the course was walking along the Greenway. It would have been nice if there had been a hole or two, in order to break up the walk, but it would be hard to do without messing up the rest of the athletics that likely take place here.

Other Thoughts:

I feel a bit weird about rating this place, because as it stands right now it's two holes on the opposite ends of a field, with no flow between the two of them. I am going to rate it at a 0.0 for now, since it is missing Hole 3. Truth be told, the best use for this "course" is as a place to do field work, with a few baskets around to practice putts or have a target to aim at.
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DiscGolfCraig
Diamond level trusted reviewer
Premium Member
Experience: 19.9 years 597 played 544 reviews
0.50 star(s)

More Walking Than Playing 2+ years

Reviewed: Updated: Played on:Aug 9, 2019 Played the course:once

Pros:

Unlike most practice areas, Wilson Park has a real course feel, in a 3-hole bite. Unlike a real course, Wilson Park's design was given about 2 minutes of thought.
- Each of the three holes has all aspects of an actual layout: tee pad, tee sign, well designed fairway, putting green, and numbered basket. Essentially, it's as if you played the first three holes then walked off the course.
- Holes #1 & 3 are open fairways with nary a tree or obstacle between tee and basket. Hole #2 has several trees that could come into play. And, now you're ready to play here.
- Holes have room around them to make good practice areas. All the large field between #1 & 2 is perfect for driver practice.
- Field was recently mowed. Only other park amenity here is a simple, neighborhood ball field. There's also a portion of the greenway that winds through the park. Not sure why this course couldn't turn into a full 9-hole layout.
- Baskets are in good shape. That's probably a sign the park & rec department hasn't hit them with mowers. And, more likely, the baskets get very little usage.
- Tee pads are suitable for run ups. For only three holes, a fair amount of resources went into the course.

Cons:

Only three holes. This is less a practice area and more an incomplete course. That's especially obvious when you're making long walks between holes.
- For a 3-hole course, why in the world is there a 1,000-foot walk between two holes? The walk between #1 & 2 is longer than all three holes combined. You could easily put multiple holes in between #1 & 2, if for no other reason than to break up the walk. And, if you opt to walk on the path instead of a straight line across the field, your walk is even longer.
- Why have one hole on one side of the field and the other two on the complete other side? It really does feel as it these are the last remaining holes of a now defunct course.
- Who is this course appealing to? Meaning who is going to come here with the layout in its format? As mentioned, even having 3 holes in the wide-open field would be better options than simply having a long walk between 1 & 2. There's just no reason for this to happen.
- Not a lot of variety or challenge. I mean, with two wide open holes you could alternate between forehand and backhand. Grass was thick when I played, eliminating any skips, so rollers would probably be out of the equation.

Other Thoughts:

If you didn't have a long walk between holes #1 & 2, rather you had all three holes lumped together, this would be a solid 3-hole loop. As is, it's just a waste of anyone's time.
- Course bagging visit only. I knew driving away I'd never be back to play disc golf here. Maybe one day would use the greenway. As is, I'll just come within a mile or so of it when driving on 321.
- I go back to the idea that there's enough room here for a passable 9-holer. Nothing great but when the holes are spread out as much as they are, make the best of bad situation.
- Very scenic, quite park. Throw in the Foothills locale, 30 minutes from the mountains and life is good here. Consider this 15-minutes of serenity.
- Course can't be rated properly as there's nothing to rate. I'm begrudgingly giving this a 0.5 as to avoid giving it a zero. Give me 9-holes of this quality and it's a good practice course.
- Heading north on 321 or west on 40, and you're heading towards true bliss and the great outdoors. Enough said.
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