Tory Hole Park sits down a descending driveway to the small but capable parking lot . A local told me that the park can become flooded at times when the river floods , so don't drive here with high expectations . There is a nice bathroom close to the parking lot and hole the Hole #1 tee . This is a 9 hole course .
The Equipment - There are 2 pink banded Discatcher putting baskets at the end of the lot . The tee pads a cement and plenty big . The tee signs are good and informative . The 9 baskets here are yellow banded Discatchers with numbers on all of them .
The Landscape - The park is flat on most of it , but there is a large slop on one side that is utilized on holes 1-3 and 8 . The front of the course was mowed and trimmed nice . The back , however , is starting to grow over some and needs some work . There are trees to contend with on all of the holes , just some more than others . #9 plays more like a woods hole . The course design cleverly inserts the trees into either the fairway or the basket . All lanes are more than fair , though . Wear hiking shoes if you have them . The flat parts of the course look to remain damp because of held water from the river .
Appearance/Atmosphere - This is kind of a tale of 2 courses . The front of the park looks nice . The kind you would picnic or play with your dog on . The back is less attractive but not an eyesore by any means .
Highlights - Nothing here will make you remember a hole for a long period of time . The longest hole is 243' and downhill . With the exception of the hardest hole #9 , you will lose your deuce opportunities if you become careless . #1 is only 171' but is straight uphill . #2 is down a slope , but the basket is placed where if you overshoot it just a few feet , you are going to drop off a steep embankment . #3 has an elevated tee . #5 forces you to cross a creek on your short midrange/putter drive . #8 is a short drive off of the middle of a hill , and #9 is a tight level pinball fairway drive to small trees encircling the basket .
Disc Risk - Low . The course is short and the overgrowth isn't too concentrated or deep . Perfect for trying out a midrange or for newbies getting some practice .
The Time - The transitions from basket to basket aren't seamless , but I was through the course here in less about 25 minutes or so . A group of 4 will be finished and eating up at one of the fast food restaurants in an hour .
The course is a fast play when dry and you will have chances for aces on most of the holes .

#1 Navigation - The holes are placed in an odd state . AQfter completing #7 , you need to proceed on the uphill path until it levels out . You will see the tee pad to #8 right off of that path . #9 tee pad is on the right side of where the #5 tee pad was , just going in the direction to the parking lot .
#2 Rainchecks - It was soggy here , and there was supposedly no rain in this area for days . That means that after a good rain or 2 will have you up to your ankles in water , and nearing flood stage will have you canoeing from tee to tee .
#3 Challenge - The course is really set up with the occasional or newbie in mind . It says that it has a total distance of 1637' for its 9 holes and it isn't very technical . The course might actually be a tiny bit longer , but not much .Most players will put up with taking deuces , but they will be going for aces . I am mediocre and shot a 23 while taking a 4 on a hole .
#4 overgrowth/undercare - The grass was way too high in the back of the course , and even had weeds and grass growing up through #6's basket . There are NO excuses for that .
There is a path that the locals use to drop down on the back of the course behind hole #7 . Not a con , You will see them in time , but it might hold you up for a short minute .
- It's only 9 holes .

The course doesn't really sit close to anything , travel-wise , but it is just what Elizabethtown area locals need to get their disc golf fix . The holes vary just enough to make it fun . I walked some of the grounds and saw where they could either lengthen existing holes ( might not after putting cement tees in ) or adding holes . Designer Andrew Duvall did a decent job making this course , and did a great job with having the parks commission sign off on grade A equipment . I'd like for him to negotiate my home improvements . With the course being unattended in the back part , I am hoping that locals will call the parks dept. and complain rather than abandoning it .
My Recommendation - Great for the into or newbie players . Good hangout for the locals to work on their game or try out a new disc . If dry , a good family or date course . Intermediates on up will likely travel up to Fayetteville to Mazarick or Castle Haynes for their disc golf fix . Kind of far away for Course Collectors or travelers unless branching out from Fayetteville or Wilmington . Don't go out of your way , but if in town or cutting through , it's a fun and recreational play .

This small-town nine-hole course was surprisingly designed by none other than Andrew Duvall, the (in)famous designer of recent Winthrop Gold USDGC layouts. For Andrew, I'm guessing that Tory Hole was like a Baby's First Disc Golf Course Design experience. And you can certainly see some thoughtful design choices that separate this course from other small-town nine-holers.
+ Large concrete tees and easy-to-spot Discatcher baskets on every hole, plus basic tee signs.
+ Two(!!) practice baskets, for players to fully warm up and prepare on, before tackling this monstrous beast of a course.
+ The longest hole here is only 243 ft. (downhill), and the semi-wooded fairways are generally wide and generous, making this a very beginner-friendly experience. More experienced players can use this for upshot practice, and fun ace runs (I nearly hit two).
+ Good use of available terrain. Hole 1 is severely uphill, and despite only being 171 ft. may actually play as the longest hole. Hole 2 is downhill and requires a soft touch to land by the basket, while hole 8 is a fun and dramatic downhill shot.
+ Trees frame the necessary shot shapes, and all fairways are wide and fair for their length. Multiple routes are often available, which is always appreciated.
+ A few holes are more wooded and technical to offer a nice contrast and a touch of challenge, in particular the closing tunnel of hole 9.

- For such a tiny course, navigation was surprisingly confusing at times. I had to closely study the course map on uDisc multiple times, especially for reaching the tee for hole 8, and especially again for hole 9.
- A very short course, with little variation in distances. Does not present much of a challenge.
- Hole 5's tee pad points in an awkward direction, away from any of the reasonable fairways, necessitating a diagonal run-up.
- Course slightly favors RHFH or LHBH shots, which may be a Duvall family signature?
- In the past few years, the park and course have frequently been closed due to flooding of the adjacent Cape Fear River. I come through Elizabethtown a few times every year, yet this is the very first time the course has ever been available to play during one of my stops.

Writing this review took more time than actually playing this course.
But for such a shorty, it's a pretty decent design. This is a good place to quickly stretch your legs and hopefully bag a fun ace, while not feeling like too much of a degenerate course bagger in the process.