Pros:
Welborn Woods is a short, simplistic layout. The park isn't anything special. The sign is for 'disk golf.' And somehow, this course is way more fun than expected.
- Overlook hole #1. It's brutally horrible - straight, open 115-foot layout. At least you're starting your round with a 2.
- The course starts at #2. Simple dogleg right, 250-foot layout with the basket protected by a large tree. From here through the end of the round, great shots = ace runs/short birdie putts. Good shots = within putting range. Average tee shots = simple 3s.
- This is a scaled down version of a real course. On a normal course, each hole would be 100 feet longer. #5 & 6 would offer a true risk/reward factor playing at 258 & 320 feet respectively. Instead of eating the large bbq plate, these are the junior-sized offerings.
- For a 9-hole, 1600-foot layout, there's a decent amount of variety. There are several open holes, wooded holes, and one playing close to the water - #8.
- Course can be played with only a couple of discs. Good for a quick round. It was less than 20 minutes from the time I hopped out of my truck to when I was back in and leaving.
- Excellent tee signs. There are several blind tee shots (yes, on 200-foot holes), so helpful for less experienced players.
Cons:
#1 sticks out like a sore thumb. It's horrible. Push the tee back 75 feet and you at least bring the rough into play on both sides.
- Signage for the course could be greatly improved. Pulling into the park, there's one sign for a 'disk golf' course. Keep driving past one lot, then you end up in a wide-open field. Where's the course? Drove through the field until I saw a small sign for the course. How about one more sign, pointing to the right, towards the first hole?
- Those are the two worst issues with this course. Everything else is much smaller. No trash cans or benches. The park's bathrooms, near the ball fields, were closed when I was there.
- For being so close to the interstate, I felt like I was in the middle of nowhere. Not too close (nor that far) to gas stations - 5 minutes away. Drive in from Winston-Salem had me going through an 'interesting' part of town.
Other Thoughts:
Welborn Woods was a surprisingly fun course. It was a half-sized, scaled-down version of a typical course. For a course averaging 180-foot holes, this is about as good as you can get.
- Walking from #3, I noticed the pond behind #4's tee. I thought, what a waste of not incorporating the pond. I was semi-pleased that the course weaves back towards the pond, with #8 playing close to it. Still, there's an opportunity there.
- The park has a lot of unused space that you could expand to a full 18. A beginner-friendly, birdie-fest sub-4000-foot layout would be a fantastic addition to the Triad. Think of Elon Eager Beaver in Charlotte (3300-foot layout) and how popular that is.
- The three-hole stretch of wooded holes - #5 - 7 - are enjoyable. On #5 you can go around or over the trees to the basket. #6 - 7 have thicker rough, so just keep your disc in the fairway.
- For more advanced players, holes #1 - 8 are all ace-able. Players more skilled than me will also be making runs on #9. I was pleased to be having a long birdie putt after sort of navigating the dogleg.
- This isn't a great course. It is, however, above average by short-course standards. Stop by for an hour and play through twice.