Williston Pond DGC reviews
7
1
MakAtak3
Experience:
9.1 years
20 played
12 reviews
Great Short Park Course drive by
Reviewed:
Played on:Oct 10, 2022
Played the course:once
Pros:
- 18 hole course with a great mix of open and wooded hole
- Course has four water holes that add to the fun and aesthetics of the course
- Course has tight, but fair lines
- Course has two elevated baskets that add to the difficulty of the holes
- Course has a couple signature holes with bambo lining the fairways
- Course makes great use of small space
- Tee signs and pads are well designed
- Innova baskets are in great shape
- Park and course are well maintained
- Course has four water holes that add to the fun and aesthetics of the course
- Course has tight, but fair lines
- Course has two elevated baskets that add to the difficulty of the holes
- Course has a couple signature holes with bambo lining the fairways
- Course makes great use of small space
- Tee signs and pads are well designed
- Innova baskets are in great shape
- Park and course are well maintained
Cons:
Not really a con, but course is short and can be played entirely with a putter and midrange. Only two holes are over 300 ft.
Other Thoughts:
Fun park course well worth playing if in the area. Some of the tee signs show alternate pin placements, so course is still evolving.
11
1
DiscGolfCraig
Diamond level trusted reviewer
Premium Member
Experience:
19.9 years
588 played
543 reviews
Water Makes Everything Better
Reviewed:
Updated:
Played on:Jun 11, 2020
Played the course:once
Pros:
A picturesque short 9-hole layout.
Short 9-hole courses tend to run together. So when you get one with some great views, it makes a simple round memorable.
- This course is all flash and very little substance. The 9 holes average 211 feet. Take away #1 at 348 feet, and you're at under 200 for the other eight. What makes this course stand out is the for the way the course plays around the pond.
- #1 could be found at many higher quality courses and nobody would bat an eyelash. At 348 feet, it's an open field layout with the pond running the entire left side of the fairway. It's enough to give you a slight pause as you soak in the layout.
- From there, the water is a factor on three other holes - #2, 3, & 6 - as well as #7 if you let it get away to the left. #3 looks imposing with water within the circle to the left of the basket. The hole however is only 146 feet, and slightly downhill, so you shouldn't be sailing offline.
- Plenty of birdie chances. With this being a short course, you can make runs at the pin hole after hole.
- Outside of the water, the only other obstacles are several strategically located trees, with the ones on #4 & 5 seemingly being the most detrimental to your ace runs / birdie chances.
- Very quick play. From the time I was standing on the first tee to when I was back at my truck was less than 25 minutes. That even included stopping to take pictures on every hole and searching for #6's tee.
- If a beginner can generally throw a disc in the direction they're aiming, this is a good course for them. If it's a newbie/kid who has no idea where their disc is going when they throw, the pond will come into play. Luckily each water hole has a generous bail out area (aka a large field) if one chooses to avoid water altogether.
Short 9-hole courses tend to run together. So when you get one with some great views, it makes a simple round memorable.
- This course is all flash and very little substance. The 9 holes average 211 feet. Take away #1 at 348 feet, and you're at under 200 for the other eight. What makes this course stand out is the for the way the course plays around the pond.
- #1 could be found at many higher quality courses and nobody would bat an eyelash. At 348 feet, it's an open field layout with the pond running the entire left side of the fairway. It's enough to give you a slight pause as you soak in the layout.
- From there, the water is a factor on three other holes - #2, 3, & 6 - as well as #7 if you let it get away to the left. #3 looks imposing with water within the circle to the left of the basket. The hole however is only 146 feet, and slightly downhill, so you shouldn't be sailing offline.
- Plenty of birdie chances. With this being a short course, you can make runs at the pin hole after hole.
- Outside of the water, the only other obstacles are several strategically located trees, with the ones on #4 & 5 seemingly being the most detrimental to your ace runs / birdie chances.
- Very quick play. From the time I was standing on the first tee to when I was back at my truck was less than 25 minutes. That even included stopping to take pictures on every hole and searching for #6's tee.
- If a beginner can generally throw a disc in the direction they're aiming, this is a good course for them. If it's a newbie/kid who has no idea where their disc is going when they throw, the pond will come into play. Luckily each water hole has a generous bail out area (aka a large field) if one chooses to avoid water altogether.
Cons:
- There isn't any challenge here. The course is an extremely simple layout. The only holes I didn't birdie were tap-in 3s. #1 & 6 were the only quality holes you'd see on a lot of other courses.
- As much as the pond factor was the course's redeeming value, it does seem to muddy the waters as to who the intended skill level is for this course. A newbie with a 3-disc starter pack could end up with a disc in the water on any of the first three holes, thereby sullying their impression of the game. And anyone with a semblance of skill is shooting well under par.
- Nitpicking here: no signage for #6's tee. No benches on the course. Only spotted one trash can in parking lot.
- And my biggest con is the course's biggest missed potential. There's a small path between the two sides of the pond. Look at the course map to see it. Why isn't there a tee from here throwing over water? Even if it's only a 100 foot carry, this course could have a layout that no other course I've played (330+ and counting) has the ability to offer. Why not have a signature water feature akin to #17 at TPC Sawgrass on the PGA Tour? Looking at the course map, all that's needed is to move the tee for #8 here and move the basket in the general vicinity of the current tee pad. It's still an easy hole, but it would make this course have an identity.
- As much as the pond factor was the course's redeeming value, it does seem to muddy the waters as to who the intended skill level is for this course. A newbie with a 3-disc starter pack could end up with a disc in the water on any of the first three holes, thereby sullying their impression of the game. And anyone with a semblance of skill is shooting well under par.
- Nitpicking here: no signage for #6's tee. No benches on the course. Only spotted one trash can in parking lot.
- And my biggest con is the course's biggest missed potential. There's a small path between the two sides of the pond. Look at the course map to see it. Why isn't there a tee from here throwing over water? Even if it's only a 100 foot carry, this course could have a layout that no other course I've played (330+ and counting) has the ability to offer. Why not have a signature water feature akin to #17 at TPC Sawgrass on the PGA Tour? Looking at the course map, all that's needed is to move the tee for #8 here and move the basket in the general vicinity of the current tee pad. It's still an easy hole, but it would make this course have an identity.
Other Thoughts:
Williston is another quirky/interesting 9-hole course in the western portion of South Carolina. There's Fuller, Odell Weeks, and USC Aiken all within an hour of here. Each has its own distinct feel.
- If you took away the water feature from the course, this would be a rough play. As it is, the water washes away the simplicity of this layout. Shoot, there are plenty of quality 18-holers that don't have an opening hole as good as Williston.
- #6 is the other fun layout. The water comes in to play especially for any disc coming in hot and heavy from a RHBH thrower. It's a slight downhill, 213-foot layout. Over shoot the basket by 30 feet and your asking for a wet disc.
- The pond has no swimming signs around it. The pond is also ankle deep along the banks of #2 & 3. If a disc does end up in there, you most likely won't be violating a 'no swimming' rule.
- There is some excellent safari golf / longer layout potential here. Lots of extra space to work with. If every hole was extended by 100 feet, you're now looking at a much different layout. Suddenly holes #1 - 7 are all decent, with only the final two still being wide open, basic layouts.
- Without the water, the course is significantly worse. After all, it's an 1800-foot, mostly open layout. It's worth playing if you're in the area, or you're sadistic like me and will drive two hours out of your way to bag.
- If you took away the water feature from the course, this would be a rough play. As it is, the water washes away the simplicity of this layout. Shoot, there are plenty of quality 18-holers that don't have an opening hole as good as Williston.
- #6 is the other fun layout. The water comes in to play especially for any disc coming in hot and heavy from a RHBH thrower. It's a slight downhill, 213-foot layout. Over shoot the basket by 30 feet and your asking for a wet disc.
- The pond has no swimming signs around it. The pond is also ankle deep along the banks of #2 & 3. If a disc does end up in there, you most likely won't be violating a 'no swimming' rule.
- There is some excellent safari golf / longer layout potential here. Lots of extra space to work with. If every hole was extended by 100 feet, you're now looking at a much different layout. Suddenly holes #1 - 7 are all decent, with only the final two still being wide open, basic layouts.
- Without the water, the course is significantly worse. After all, it's an 1800-foot, mostly open layout. It's worth playing if you're in the area, or you're sadistic like me and will drive two hours out of your way to bag.
