Pros:
This is the strangest setting for a community park that I have seen in some time . The little park is in a brand new subdivision and is so obscure , you may never see the entrance . If you can find a small bridge to park on or around , there is a cement path that slopes down and eventually takes you over a wooden bridge ( Union Bridge ) built in 1930 , which is cool . The path snakes around until you come to a kiosk with a course map on it . You want to take a picture of it ,or you might miss the turn . There is a path directly behind the kiosk that leads to a small bridge to cross the creek . There were no bathrooms that I saw at this park . Trace Creek is a 2 year old 9 hole disc golf course .
-- THE EQUIPMENT -- There are large level 4 1/2 ' X 9' turf tees on each hole . There were tall posts in the ground to post tee signs on , and originally said there were none , until I came to hole 5 . From holes 5-9 there are nice informative tee signs . I am not sure why there aren't any for 1-4 . ( ? ) . Yellow banded prodigy baskets are used . The kiosk at the beginning of the course shows a nice map . There are benches near the kiosk , and some half cut wood logs are about 50 yards down a cement path .
-- THE LANDSCAPE -- A creek runs alongside of the front 4 holes of Trace Creek , but it shouldn't come into play . This is a flat course . The most elevation you'll see on any hole is a basket perched on a man made hill about 3 or 4 feet high . The fairways were mowed and trees cut back when I was here . The rough is very punishing , so if you go off the fairway on a bad drive , you might have to look around a while . The overgrowth near the tree lines aren't much better . I would recommend using your brightest discs , or ones you don't care a lot about . The fairways are a good width .
-- THE HIGHLIGHTS -- Hole #1 starts you off with a straight drive ( 360' ) to a basket tucked just off to the right . #5 ( 467' ) is a doorway drive across a small creek to a fairway that opens up some . #3 is worth mentioning . It is a double dogleg right that makes you throw through a doorway over a small gravel hill to the basket sitting on the right .
-- SIGNATURE HOLE -- #4 ( 516' ) .A dogleg left , it takes you through a narrowing fairway where you have to throw enough past the hole to be able to come back to the basket which is sitting behind you on the right and on a small hill .
There were a couple of groups here on a Sunday morning . It's a nice park and the locals are cordial . It's a nice secluded section of a subdivision that gives you an area to relax after a round .
Cons:
#1 -- Wish Listed --The elements that make a strong course are lacking or underutilized . The creek wasn't ever really in the design , there is no elevation , and no woods .
#2 DISC RISK -- Medium to higher . The rough sits high here . Far too many courses are going with the idea that you should suffer while struggling to find your prized disc in large sections of overgrowth . It can be just as bad if you chuck a drive in the trees while trying to make a dogleg . Your game will be more of just trying to keep it in the fairway , than going for a good score . That being said , I hope that the Rec Department doesn't let this overgrowth take over .
#3 Target Audience -- Trace Creek has some length at 3095' total . Set up as something appealing to the community , I don't see a lot of newbies or locals playing here and spending half the time looking for a driver just off the fairway . I would have thought the course would have been designed with families and casual players in mind .
#4 Discovery And Walks -- Not much in the way of signs pointing you to this park . Just a cement path . And it is a long walk to tee one . Bring water .
I hope they add the tee signs for 1 thru 4 . Missing signs or baskets detract from a course and make it bush league . The existing signs look great .
Other Thoughts:
There are some residents that choose to run the cement paths that are outside the course boundaries , but the course sits by itself and shouldn't attract anyone besides players . I could see someone hosting a Community Challenge with local families . The length might attract a ringer like " Aunt Paige " ( Pierce ) , who happened to come for a visit . Might want to play this challenge in early spring or late fall . This 9 hole course is one of several courses that have filled the void of not having disc golf in West Nashville . What a way for a brand new neighborhood to introduce disc golf .
MY RECOMMENDATION -- Its a nice park and the park board seems like they are really trying . The fairways are wide enough , and a large family with short armed drives might be okay with the course . Newbies , intros and 1 disc players might want to go to a more open course down the road . Locals and residents will think this course is fine . Intermediates and AMS might not like long drives being stuck in high grass . This would be practice for a pro , and only if they live down the road . Not far off of I-40 , and a good leg stretch for a traveler that doesn't want to exert much energy . A great pickup of a course for the Bagger . Short courses like Cottonwood , Liberty and Fellowship Bible Church make for grabbing up to 4 courses in the span of a long morning or afternoon . If In The Area , It Might Be Worth Checking Out . If not , YOU CAN PASS THIS ONE UP