Fountain Inn, SC

The Firecracker DGC

3.065(based on 17 reviews)
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The Firecracker DGC reviews

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DiscGolfCraig
Diamond level trusted reviewer
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Experience: 20.4 years 622 played 569 reviews
2.00 star(s)

Boom Goes the Dynamic (Disc) 2+ years

Reviewed: Updated: Played on:Aug 3, 2019 Played the course:once

Pros:

One of the more interesting layouts I've played. A nine-basket layouts that has players going around an elementary school three times for a so-called 27-hole layout. You know what? This actually is a solid layout.
- Let's be clear. This should be a 9-hole, or at best, 18-hole, layout. If you picked the best layout for each basket, you'd have an excellent 9-hole layout, in the same class as Gower or Holmes.
- Some very fun and/or clever layouts. On hole #7/16 you're teeing off from under the covered walkway between two campus buildings. Each time round, the layout is seemingly longer/harder, yet you get to #26 (basket #8) and it's significantly shorter than #8 or 17. The reason being? This time around, it's an island green. And, I thought all three tees for #9 (9, 18, & 27) gave different looks, the best variety on the entire course.
- Course has a solid flow through the campus. Holes #1, 2, 4, 5, & 8 have varying degrees of tree coverage. Holes #3, 6, 7, & 9 are open assuming you can hit wide gaps. Point being, your round has a good flow to it.
- There's a good elevation factor here. #1 & 5 are the only flat layouts. #2, 6, 8, & 9 play downhill. #3, 4, & 7 play uphill. Throw in the multiple tee pads and the elevation varies from tee to tee.
- Easy navigation. Easy as flowing from one hole to the next. Finding the correct next tee (#1 to #2, #24 to 25, etc.), a little less so. Now, if you're casual and looking for a very quick round and looking for any tee, you've got three to choose from.
- A good course for a casual round and/or to introduce new players to. Other than a couple dumb throws right into trees, this course offered relatively easy par chances. On the easier holes, the risk/reward factor tips heavily into the reward side of things. I easily shot under par, and my round rating still wasn't that impressive. Blame it on the early wake-up call, two-hour drive, bum shoulder, or whatever. Course hits its intended target audience.
- Depending on one's perspective, this is either the first course you come across (if you're coming from the south), or your last chance to play a round before leaving the upstate (if you're coming from the north).

Cons:

Yes, this is a casual-friendly course. Is it elementary-school age friendly? I'd lean towards no. For a middle or high-school course, this would be a fantastic course. For younger kids, they're not throwing 200-250 feet tee shots.
- The conundrum of three tee pads per hole can't go unmentioned. It's a cluster. Multiple times through my round, I'd finish one hole, find one or two tee markers, but it isn't the correct one.
- Or worse, I'd find multiple tee pads way too close that it seems as if the course didn't need 27 tee pads. I mean, honestly, how much different do the tees for #1, 10, 19 truly play? My evidence? I threw from all three tee pads at once and used the same throw/disc make from all three. #2, 3 & 4 aren't much better. I ended up making the loop around the campus only twice, playing duel tees one time through. Way too many similarities. Just admit that Canadian bacon and ham are the same topping on your pizza or in your egg McMuffin.
- Houses, at times seemed extremely close to the course. I understand this entire area isn't solely the school campus. There's a rec center and recycling area. On #2, 3, & 5, I felt as if I were approaching people's backyards.
- No amenities throughout the course proper - trashcans, benches, water fountains, or restrooms. Depending on how long you plan on spending here, that may be a factor? I guess that's a con?

Other Thoughts:

I enjoyed Firecracker more than I expected. It was part of a quick, half-day trip to the Greenville area to play a couple of courses. This was an excellent warm-up round to my day, bum-shoulder included.
- If every 9-hole course I've ever played were as good as this, I'd be satisfied. Translation: this is better than the normal 9-hole course. Caveat: This course had three tries to find the ideal tee location.
- Following that thought, pick the best tee pad and you've got yourself a good course. You want to make it kid friendly? Add a second, shorter layout, with holes in the 125 - 175-foot range. This course did not need a third set of tees. And yet, I didn't hold it against them.
- Yes, unfortunately the first 4 holes are the most boring and basic layouts. #2 is solid. From #5 - 9, I enjoyed each hole and how it complimented both the prior and following hole. These holes didn't have any repetitiveness or redundancy. Irony.
- There are some good ace-runs/holes that encourage multiple shots. #5 is one. #26 with its island layout is another. And, #9 with all three layouts is a third. I think I had a combined 30-feet of putts for all three layouts on #9 (9, 18, & 27).
- If course's have doppelgangers, this one's is Dandrige Elementary School just outside of Knoxville. You didn't know I reviewed that course? It's ok. I can tell by the lack of votes for that course too.
- I'm giving this course a 2.0 rating. Perhaps this course cheats to earn that rating. When you get two mulligans per each hole, you're bound to have one good shot.
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