Orchard Hill, GA

The Hill

1.755(based on 2 reviews)
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Shadrach3
Gold level trusted reviewer
Experience: 6.2 years 339 played 325 reviews
1.50 star(s)

Short, Woods Beginner Course 2+ years

Reviewed: Played on:Jul 3, 2020 Played the course:once

Pros:

A perfectly pleasant and very short 9-hole course in a small city park.

The park itself is totally unobjectionable. Pavilions, parking, a walking trail and playground, and some trails wind through the reasonably thick woods. There's a creek and some elevation in play to make things more interesting. To add to this, the course designers installed wood frames and spray painted the walking path for tees, and added numbered DISCatchers.

The course is very short. If I were setting pars, holes (1)-(4) and (8) would all be par 2 in the 90'-120' range. The other holes are in the upper 100s and low 200s with trees, so still par 3's. Trees are omnipresent and require the thrower to correctly shape their shot (however short). Some are straight down a moderately tight tunnel, others turn right, others require a substantial hyzer, and a couple will require gentle fade to park it. Elevation comes into play with both uphill and downhill shots. The lines are tight enough to require decent release, but are all very recoverable due to length. There is also flexibility to choose your own shot on many of the holes.

Overall, I think it's a good course for its target market, which is players with about 5-25 rounds under their belts. They'll be frustrated at times, but at other moments will have a chance to park it. If there were another local course that were an open 9-holer, it would pair very well with The Hill to develop a beginner's game. It's easy-to-play, won't eat your discs, and is pleasant and moderately scenic.

Cons:

Limited length = limited potential. For golfers above novice level, this will be a total breeze. A rec player with a good woods game could score all deuces. As such, it won't have lasting appeal to very many players. As an example of a beginner woods course this is a 4.5-5.0, but in the continuum of all disc golf courses, I think it earns a Passable.

There were some smaller issues as well. A couple of the fairways look like they have drainage problems, leaving mud in their wake. The course doesn't loop very well, ending a long way from the first tee. The intertwining of the course with the walking trails will also necessitate waiting if it's a busy pedestrian day.

Not an issue as such, but hole (5) is disproportionately hard compared to the other holes on the course. It's the longest at 246' and requires a straight tunnel shot with gentle fade up and over a hill. An easy three, but I don't see a novice having any birdie look.

Other Thoughts:

There's not much more to say. The Hill is a nice place to learn how to play disc golf in the woods. Once you've learned, I don't know why you would come here (except as a course bagger).
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12 0
Cerealman
Diamond level trusted reviewer
Premium Member
Experience: 16.4 years 665 played 192 reviews
2.00 star(s)

Beginner's thrill at The Hill 2+ years

Reviewed: Played on:Mar 7, 2020 Played the course:2-4 times

Pros:

At first, I thought this course derived its name from the slightly hilly terrain. Upon further consideration, The Hill probably refers to Orchard Hill, a speck of a town that's little more than the Dollar General store several hundred yards away.

Leave your drivers at home! The Hill is an excellent course for introducing an absolute novice to disc golf. The course provides the opportunity to experience the joys and the frustrations of disc golf. While quite wooded, four of the nine holes are less than 120 feet. However, the childlike distances do not guarantee a nine-under-par round for more experienced players. In fact, the two longest holes are 219 and 246 feet and with their tight wooded lines, those holes would fit right in on a normal-sized disc golf course.

The teepads are mixed; several are packed gravel inside of wood planks. Other holes are marked with white lines on the paved walking trail through the park.

Though in a small area, the course is designed well enough as to not interfere with adjacent holes.

For solo disc golfers, this is a very quick play. Figure 10 to 15 minutes for a nine-hole round, especially if you carry just a putter and mid-range. The course is not difficult to navigate, though you might need to search for a couple of the painted sidewalk tees during an initial round.

Cons:

A couple holes are on lower-lying ground and have the potential to get muddy.

Hole #3 is a bit weird. It is only 81 feet, and there is a basket-high wooden wall about 15 feet in front of the basket.

There are many trees at The Hill. Inexperienced players might get frustrated at how often they strike timber.

Other Thoughts:

The Hill is an ideal family course. The lovely park includes five pavilions, restrooms and two playgrounds. While The Hill might not be a destination spot, this neat little course is perfect for its intended audience. When compared to other courses I have played designed for a younger population, The Hill is considerably better.
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