Charlotte, NC

Nevin Park DGC

4.295(based on 64 reviews)
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20 0
LLmanu10
Bronze level trusted reviewer
Experience: 2.8 years 24 played 23 reviews
4.50 star(s)

Nevin

Reviewed: Updated: Played on:May 2, 2023 Played the course:once

Pros:

Nevin Park DGC is another great course within the Charlotte disc golf scene, but this one stands out a little more than the others. A brutal, yet outstanding course is calling for all DGers in the area.
-The course offers short and long tees for most holes, as well as a couple shorter basket options. For the most part, the longer tees will give you a completely different look on each hole.
-Very challenging. Most courses in the area (that I have played) are on the easier end (Reedy, Bradford, Robbins, etc) but the layout here at Nevin is much more difficult, giving you an idea of some real deal disc golf.
-Accuracy and distance are both required to score well. Since the rough is very deep and thick, discs need to stay in the fairway. The course itself averages (I'm guessing) 375ft per hole, so discs need to be flying far, too.
-Great variety of holes, which range from extremely tight and technical (#6 & 7) to wide open (#14 & 15). There is also a good variety of par 3's, 4's, and 5's, which makes the experience more enjoyable.
-Elevation change is solid. There is a good mix of uphill, flat, and downhill holes. There are also huge dropoffs on #3 & 7, and lots of roll-away opportunities.
-Risk factor comes into play. With a good amount of OB and death putts, scores will vary, in large difference, from round to round. Will you go for the birdie on #7 (read above), or will you play it safe and toss it short?
-Overall maintenance of the course is impeccable. The wooded fairways are very defined, and the grass on the open holes is cut to a perfect height. Hopefully it stays that way.
-Course amenities are good. The standard yellow DISCatchers are nice and seemed pretty new, all tee pads are good, and hole maps (when available) are helpful.

-EDIT: The purpose of this edit is to state the changes that the course has gone through with the new DGPT layout. The layout itself can be confusing, as it mixes with the normal layout, so it may be confusing reading this.
-DGPT #1 starts next to the soccer fields area, and is its own hole. The tee pad and basket for #1 are still currently available.
-After #1, you go to the tee pad for #10 on the original layout. In simpler words, #10 on the original layout is #2 on the DGPT layout. From there on, you play the course in order as normal with a few exceptions: There is no more basket on #14 original, however, its tee is used as a long tee for #15 original, #6 DGPT. The basket for this hole has been pushed back behind the creek, too, which is an awesome change. #16 original is still available, however, it is not used in the DGPT, skip to #17 original. #18 original is skipped too, after #17 original, head over to #19 original. After playing #14 DGPT, you go to #8 original tee pad, not original #7, which is also unused. #17 DGPT is its own hole, and the tee is located near #1 DGPT tee, however, the baskets have been removed on this hole. The basket for #18 DGPT has also been removed, too.
-Again, I know that may have been confusing. This should be your final conclusion to all that:
-#1, 17, 18 DGPT are all their own layout.
-#2 DGPT = #10 original, #3 DGPT = #11 original, #4 DGPT = #12 original, #5 DGPT = #13 original, #6 DGPT = #15 original, #7 DGPT = #17 original, #8 DGPT = #19 original, #9 DGPT = #1 original, #10 DGPT = #2 original, #11 DGPT = #3 original, #12 DGPT = #4 original, #13 DGPT = #5 original, #14 DGPT = #6 original, #15 DGPT = #8 original, #16 DGPT = #9 original.
-Skipped original layout holes: #7, 16, 18. #14 has no basket currently.

Cons:

-Hole maps were not at every hole. I played the short tees, and not all of them had maps next to them. This is really just an issue for first timers, though.
-The rough is really thick (especially on the front nine) and will eat your discs up. Just be very mindful for that.
-I did not like the basket positions for #12 & 13. They are pushed very far back, into an area of the forest that is overgrown and shrubby. I noticed that there were slightly shorter basket locations for both of these holes, and I would have loved for them to be there.
-No good spot to bail out early. There is a parking lot next to the transition from #13's basket to #14's tee pad, but its different than the main parking lot. Be prepared to play all 18 in one go.

Other Thoughts:

Nevin will be a top tier course in Charlotte. There is always at least one tough, expert level course in each area of town, and Nevin is Charlotte's. There are a plethora of amazing hole designs on the course, but my favorite has to be #13. A long par 4 (from the shorts) that starts in the open and finishes through a tight, wooded fairway. The park itself seems pretty good overall; many ball fields and playgrounds. There are a couple bathrooms as well. Anyone who lives in the area, or is even visiting, needs to come out and play here.
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19 0
wolfhaley
Diamond level trusted reviewer
Premium Member
Experience: 19.9 years 970 played 542 reviews
4.00 star(s)

Reviewed: Played on:Apr 1, 2023 Played the course:once

Pros:

Nevin was the most challenging, yet enjoyable, course I played in Charlotte. I played nearby Hornet's Nest the prior day and was pretty underwhelmed. At least expectationwise. Nevin delivered and then some.

The course is now 19 holes. Somewhere around hole 10, if not 10 itself, a new hole was added. The more the merrier though. This is quintessential Charlotte golf. Tight, wooded golf with lots of length and even more bite. The lines are fair and the rough is managable even. Hitting said lines though? different story. You'll need every type of shot in your bag to score well here. My lack of any kind of serviceable FH handcuffed me too many times to count.

Dual concrete tees on most if not all holes. I played from the shorts and that was plenty challenging for a mediocre player like myself. I'd love to get back and play the longs, just for laughs if anything. These were all poured nice and level and worked great. I'm not real picky on my tee pads but I don't remember having any issues at any point. The two different sets can really change up the makeup of the hole.

Innova Discatcher's on all holes. A few of them had 2 baskets on a hole. I don't recall what holes these were but they were out there. The baskets are mounted nicely and catch great.

The flow of the course is generally pretty good. A few wonky transitions but nothing major. The Udisc maps are up to date and should eleviate any confusion.

The design here is Phenomenal. It's your typical Charlotte style course but with added length to many of the others and some par 4's and 5's mixed in. There are numerous devious pin placements perched right in front of a drop off. Makes you think, and gamble. I'm not a good gambler it turns out. Or good at laying up when I do think.

Shot shaping off the tee is well balanced, though it probably slightly favors a RHBH. Most course do though. The thing I liked best is that distance isn't key, placement is. All the holes are fair if played wisely. Not easy, but fair.

The tee signs are kind of your standard Charlotte fare. All the pertinent info available and even some next tee arrows. The hole maps are well done and they have hole #, par, distances and any applicable OB and/or mandos.

The course is free to play and was, shockingly, not crowded the beautiful saturday afternoon we played it. The course starts and ends by the parking area where there's a practice basket as well.


Cons:

A couple not quite obvious transitions. Nothing major, and with a good map it's not even really a concern.

The addition of the random hole (hole 10?) in the middle really jacked up the scorecard on DGCR for me. I'm all for more holes, especially at a course of this caliber. Just kind of annoying that they add a hole for the pros to play 4 or so days out of the year and that screws up the signage of the course for everyone else the rest of the time. More a DGPT complaint I guess.

Not a con, more a warning. This course is a brute. Expect to take a couple hours or so to play the full thing for the average player. A group willl obviously take longer. The course doesn't loop back to the parking lot either so you'll want to pack in everything you're going to need for the full round.

Other Thoughts:

Nevin lived up to alll my expectations. I enjoyed this course exponentially more than the nearby Hornet's Nest course. I was pretty underwhelmed by Hornet's Nest unfortunately. That was not the case at Nevin.

This is a must hit course if you're in the area. Short on time? put this one up at the top of the list, if not the tippy top. Must play. The only thing really holding it back is the sameness of the course overall. LOTS of tight wooded fairways. Really that's about all it is. I'll play this again next time I'm back though. Top of the list. It'd be nice to try the longs with fresher legs. And arm for that matter. Highly recommend this one.
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16 0
SneakyJedi
Gold level trusted reviewer
Experience: 14.8 years 143 played 83 reviews
4.50 star(s)

Nevin Nightmare: A Disc Golf Dream

Reviewed: Played on:Nov 22, 2022 Played the course:once

Pros:

- Great variety for a course that is almost entirely tightly wooded.

- Rolling elevation is used to great effect with most holes having interesting topology along the fairway or at the green.

- Two sets of tees provide all the challenge you could want for players from intermediate skill level all the way up to touring pros.

- Located in a well maintained park, but largely isolated from other amenities or park users

Cons:

- No real break from the onslaught of tight, wooded fairways can quickly leave even experienced players frustrated on an off day.

- Even with some of the best directional signage I've seen, routing is occasionally confusing.

- Tee signs are a mixed bag, especially from the short tees. A few had just the hole number and distance, a few seemed to be missing, some had incorrect or corrected distances.

Other Thoughts:

I only had time to play two courses during my all too brief initial visit to Charlotte and Nevin made the cut as number two, just behind Hornet's Nest. As it turns out, I think I might have (unexpectedly) preferred my round at Nevin. As with Hornet's Nest I played mostly from the short tees, and I found the increased elevation change and higher ratio of par 4s and 5s to 3s to make for a slightly more compelling round.

As one of the welcome signs forewarn as you make your way to the tee for Hole 1, the "Nevin Nightmare" plays up, down, and along tightly wooded ridges for the majority of its duration. The tight, wooded fairways are relentless for all but two or three holes, but are always "fair", and the rough is (usually) forgiving enough to allow for effective scramble back to, and up, the fairway after errant drives. I utilized straight, hyzer, and turnover forehand and backhand shots off of the tee on this course. The par 4's and 5's require well placed tee shots to earn birdie, but par was still manageable after a less than stellar drive. The short tees felt well suited to my skill level (~930 rated) and the long tees are clearly challenging enough for even the touring pros. This is not a course to bring newer or lower skilled players to. My wife accompanied me to Hornet's Nest and had a good time, I doubt she would have enjoyed a round at Nevin as much. There are several signature holes at Nevin (4, 14 and 18 were among my favorites), and just about every fairway provides a unique and exciting challenge.

The equipment is a bit of a mixed bag at Nevin. The DISCatchers are nice, currently with the DGPT wraps on the bands of most baskets, and the tee pads are serviceable, if slightly smaller than preferable. The tee signs were a little all over the place, generally fine, but a number had issues with accuracy or were missing and there were a few different types. I played Diavolo in Cary the next day, and a similar quality of signage as what they have there would be very welcome and go a long way to improving the feel of the course. Benches at just about every tee is a nice touch (though occasionally odd when they are in the middle of the fairway for longer tees). One of my favorite bits of course equipment was the plethora of next tee signs and indicators, including signs to the bathrooms from the nearest fairways. One possible source of confusion: The numbered bands on the baskets correspond to the DGPT course layout that starts on normal Hole 15, and not the standard course layout.

You get a lovely sense of isolation playing this course. I probably experienced a heightened level of this, playing on a cool weekday morning in November, but it was a serene round with the course to myself and multiple encounters with deer. Nevin is easily one of the best pure woods courses I have played, and earns its place as one of the jewels in the crown of the Queen City.
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14 0
Shadrach3
Gold level trusted reviewer
Experience: 5.5 years 318 played 306 reviews
4.00 star(s)

Phenomenal Challenge

Reviewed: Played on:May 11, 2022 Played the course:once

Pros:

Another Charlotte gem that improves as the round goes on.

-Amenities: Long concrete pads, Charlotte-style signs with maps and info, distance markers, next tee signs, clear paths, practice basket.

-Lush: Nevin is arguably the most beautiful of the Charlotte metro courses I've been to. The woods section of the course feels secluded and uninterrupted, and even more park-style sections of the course aren't slouchy with plenty of trees and great grass.

-Challenge: This one's easily advanced level. Solid distance will help, and brilliant ability to navigate technical fairways is the only way to go under par. The upshot is that good shots will feel especially rewarding here, and it shouldn't get old for any level of disc golfer.

-Rough: Nevin strikes a really good balance of heavily wooded while still having rough that is scrambleable and easy to find your disc in. I imagine there's a big kudos owed to locals for keeping it under control.

-Shot Shaping/Gameplay: Great variety throughout incorporating plenty of shapes and lots of fascinating multi-shot holes. The first half is all claustrophobic woods that offer a fair opportunity for anything from birdie to bogey. The second half is where the course really shines, with seven multi-shot holes playing through woods, over fields, from one biome to another, with all kinds of enjoyable shapes and greens. Low ceilings are the norm. The sharpness of shots varies from gentle curves to specific doglegs requiring a scary amount of commitment. On the whole, it's extremely excellent gameplay.

Cons:

It's really hard to say much bad about Nevin. I thought the first half was pretty meh, but the design of the second half was about as good as I've seen anywhere. Perhaps it's still too much of a park-style setting, but otherwise there are only a couple of things I can pinpoint.

-Beatup: Be prepared to take a whipping out here. Bad days will only get worse, most likely.

-Distance Inconsistency: The signs are definitely not labeled correctly by my estimation. The mid-fairway distance markers are pretty good though.

Other Thoughts:

Nevin is right on the 4.0-4.25 border. The first half lacks variety through the thick woods, but the second half really notches things up for a gripping experience. It's really at the top of heap as far as city courses, and I'd recommend a stop from any serious player.

~Similar Courses: A slightly flatter, more wooded Renaissance Gold (Charlotte, NC); a more wooded Perkerson Park (Atlanta, GA); Elon Park - Angry Beaver (Charlotte, NC).
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18 0
Moose33
Gold level trusted reviewer
Experience: 12.2 years 202 played 200 reviews
4.00 star(s)

Nice tight wooded course 2+ years

Reviewed: Played on:Oct 13, 2021 Played the course:once

Pros:

I ended up playing Nevin driving though Charlotte because Hornets Nest was closed for the pro tour event. I was bummed at first, but Nevin was nearby and I was actually pretty happy that I played it.

It's a nice long wooded course with tight but manageable lines and some gradual elevation changes.

A good mix of super tight shorter holes(and a few long holes in the 400-600 range) and some that are more open but still require specific shot shapes and a lot different shot types.

Baskets are nice Innova baskets and in good shape, teepads aren't huge but in good shape and have some nice texture that made footing feel sure.

Signage is good and on both long and short teepads, and there are minis on a ton of trees to help you navigate.

It's a very nice course overall and I'm glad I got to play it.

Cons:

Most of the cons are pretty soft overall, but it doesn't have a ton of wow holes, and though it's certainly excellent it doesn't have the special factors needed to make the cut much above a 4.

Navigation is a bit tricky on a couple of holes, which is odd because the vast majority of holes are either super intuitive or marked, but two of them were hard to figure out at first.

Other Thoughts:

Really great wooded course, and it's heavily played so the locals must agree that it's pretty cool.
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1 10
rustman1
Experience: 5 played 5 reviews
5.00 star(s)

Hard to beat the Longs 2+ years drive by

Reviewed: Played on:Jan 3, 2020 Played the course:5+ times

Pros:

There's a good mix of long holes that are technical and bomber friendly. It's both fun and hard. It's demanding and requires many shot types. The fairways are fair and picturesque. Since I played there last, a garbage of a hole was replaced by one that I'd say is now a favorite!

Cons:

none really to speak of. Erosion is always an issue in Charlotte. Other than that, it's sooo good.

Other Thoughts:

Top 3 Favorites
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15 0
Qikly
Diamond level trusted reviewer
Experience: 11.7 years 181 played 148 reviews
4.50 star(s)

2+ years drive by

Reviewed: Played on:Jun 12, 2018 Played the course:once

Pros:

Nevin is a highly technical woods-focused course that epitomizes everything I expected to find in the Charlotte disc golf scene: demanding and uncompromising lines, smartly-used elevation, and long multi-stage holes where careful placement from shot to shot to shot are all crucial for success. At the same time, there's some welcome variety here: a few more open holes on the back 9 give you the opportunity to breath a bit, while still requiring technically precise placy to succeed. The course lets up just enough to prevent the kind of grueling (but rewarding) experience I had at say Renaissance Park, while still maintaining a focus on advanced-level play in the woods.

The best holes here combine elevation changes with tight but reasonable lines that allow for some flexibility in how they're approached. Shot versatility like forehand/backhand flexibility can be hugely helpful but is not strictly necessary owing to smart design. 16 was a highlight for me: it requires hitting a tight window that opens into a downhill slope with a landing zone bordered by OB on the left and treeline on the light. It's a well-conceived and challenging hole with a rewardingly technical shot off the tee that still requires a strong finish to capitalize on. Not all of the holes here are so well-rounded, but many have such wrinkles that elevate the course beyond it's-good-because-it's-long-and-tight.

The two sets of tees do a nice job of maximizing playability while maintaining the core experience of technical wooded golf.

Cons:

Nevin is a bit more one-note than Renny Gold and Hornets Nest owing to its more exhaustive focus on tightly-laned longer holes in the woods. This is noticeable especially from the long tees, which are every bit the par 70 ascribed to them, and more often than not focus on particular shots from drive to approach that are at best modestly adaptable to one's game. This stylistic consistency could become repetitious for some, especially as a slightly off day can lead you to be scrambling from the woods for the majority of your round. The rough is far from the worst I've ever seen, but it's unforgiving and not especially conducive to recovery shots.

Beyond this critique, the most I can say is that Nevin's style is a bit more lunch pail than HH or Renny: it's beautiful and exceptionally strong but not quite consistently spectacular. It doesn't reinvent itself as consistently as those or other such best of the best courses that I've played do. Still, this is hardly a complaint: it's a darn good course as long as you don't mind playing in more confined spaces.

Other Thoughts:

Of the three big Charlotte courses I've played, I would rank them Renaissance Gold > Hornest Nest > Nevin. But that's hardly to say that Nevin is a consolation prize: it's a destination course in its own right, if not quite as flashy as some of the best out there. I envy these Charlotte disc golfers and the options they have at their disposal on a daily basis.
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10 0
Chained Evil
Gold level trusted reviewer
Experience: 13.8 years 1088 played 227 reviews
4.50 star(s)

Not for the timid 2+ years

Reviewed: Played on:Oct 9, 2018 Played the course:2-4 times

Pros:

This course has a nice mix of short, moderate, and longer holes in which elevation is present. Its a wooded technical course but there are a few holes where you will need to throw a driver to maximize distance potential.
Nevin is a course where you will want to place your shots and be accurate as well. This is a course that will test your physical abilities as well as your mental capacities. There are a few holes in which roll aways are present, hole 3 comes to mind here, so running that putt adds a nice extra bit of pucker factor.
Dog leg left and right playing holes are accounted for here and the lines on this course are super sweet. As stated you will want to stay in the fairway as much as possible because this course is pretty tight and pitching out can sometimes provide its own set of challenges.

Cons:

As previous reviewers have stated any cons for this course are a bit nit picky:
The walk from hole 18's basket to the parking lot, depending on where you park obviously, can be a tad long.
Also some holes can get a bit sloppy with the elevation so footing might be an issue for some players.
There is a walking path that is present on a couple of holes but on 15 especially you need to pay attention and make sure walkers aren't coming around the corner before you throw.

Other Thoughts:

was lucky enough to finally make it to the Charlotte area for 2018 Am Worlds this summer. I've known that the Charlotte area has many stellar courses to play and Nevin didn't disappoint. The course was in phenomenal shape for Worlds and this is a course that I would highly recommend to anyone while there were in the Charlotte area.
I really love this course, even though it got the better of me during competitive play at 2018 Worlds. However I can give a courses its props for being an outstanding course that offers a great technical challenge. I would come play this course again in a heartbeat if I'm ever lucky enough to get back to the Charlotte area. There are holes here to air drives out like 12 and 14 but for the most part this course will improve your mid and putter game. I can't say enough good things about this course. If you are ever in the Charlotte area and you enjoy playing quality golf then Nevin is the place for you. As time goes by I'm certain Nevin will age nicely. Charlotte is lucky to have such a quality gem like Nevin for their and the disc golf community's enjoyment.
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Designer response by 1978
Thanks for your review.
We parked by hole 9 for Am Worlds because of the shelter and practice fields for warmup. The normal parking lot for hole 1 AND 18 is about 150ft from hole 1 barely more than a turbo putt away.
12 0
dndelli
Gold level trusted reviewer
Premium Member
Experience: 16.6 years 134 played 131 reviews
4.50 star(s)

Nevin 2+ years

Reviewed: Updated: Played on:Jun 29, 2018 Played the course:once

Pros:

I remember first hearing about Nevin around the time it was established, but I avoided it because for the years in that time I wasn't living in Greensboro it's been on the other side of town and its reputation as a soul crusher. This past Friday i finally heading out there with a buddy, after work, to check it out and I must say I am both upset and happy I waited so long to play there. I'd like to think I've matured as a player who knows when to show restraint and play accurately these days, but I missed years of playing at this incredible course! Stan really outdid himself this time, and all the effort that has gone in to fine tuning the course to make it have better flow and consistency since then was clearly visible. While I wish I could check out the original product, I'm glad my first experience was what it was.

For years, two of my all time favorite courses we're Angry Beaver and Hornets Nest. If those two courses could have a baby together, it would probably look a lot like Nevin. Like AB, players who focus more on accurate placement shots, instead of throwing a crush towards the green, will be rewarded and you tend to feel more secluded than many other Charlotte courses. But like HN, you're playing through an incredibly beautiful park, with a few nice open shots around thick trees.

None of the holes felt repetitive and a variety of shots are seemingly forced here. The elevation the course had to offer was all used really well, and the rough never seemed to be all that bad. Even when I launched my drive well past the basket on Hole 7, I didn't feel like I was getting torn up looking for my disc the way I would at Eastway or RL Smith. I also found a sewage cover back there, and really appreciated the fact that the course wasn't built with then in the fairway the way many, many courses around the state tend to do. Happy ending, I found my disc!

Overall, the course is really just an example of wooded golf at it's finest. Varying width of fairways, length, shapes with just a couple of open holes in the middle to keep you sane. I loved how Hole 16 played up against an OB Creek, giving the course just enough water in play to keep things interesting.

The course features Innova baskets on every hole, a practice basket, great tee signs, distance markers on the longer fairways, and nice and long concrete tees for both the short and long tee positions. Both tee positions seem like they will provide a challenge, but neither of them seem like they are ever unfair. Since we played after work, we only had time to play from the Reds, so I was happy that the short tees were there. Fortunately, like other Charlotte juggernauts, there is no lack of benches or trash cans. Giving plenty of room for respite on this beast.

This course had some truly memorable holes the whole way through. Not a single one felt like filler, and the course managed to continue to top itself as it played on. Hole 18 was truly a masterpiece, and is an epic way to capstone an incredible course!

Cons:

Any cons that can be found with this course are really nitpicking, but I will mention them here anyway:

There should probably be a sign that directs players towards hole 13 near 12's basket. That was the only time I got turned around, at all. I'm sure there was an arrow at the tee sign, but until then navigation had been a snap so I wasn't paying attention for this.

To me a perfect, ideal layout would be able to incorporate a figure eight so there is a resting/exit point at hole 9, near your starting point - Nevin doesn't have this, but I believe the correct choice was made when prioritizing quality hole design and course flow over this. Plus there seemed to be restrooms around Hole 13, which is fine!

I would love to see the tee signs have painted rings on them. Red or blue bands to signify which tee you are at, both on the shared tees. This is something Patriot DGC in Kernersville did along with bag holders, and I think it was a very nice touch. (I told you I was going to be nitpicking!)

Other Thoughts:

After taking a two year break from playing disc golf, I have been playing a lot of courses lately, many of which I am playing for the first time - some I am playing after they've received small redesigns. I had high expectations when I made my way to Nevin because of its high rating here on DGCR - and I was still blown away!

I am going to rate Nevin at a 4.5, for now. This is the first time I will be rating a course on DGCR this high, and I think it's definitely warranted. After playing a few more courses, I may even decide it's too low of a score. But for now what I can say, is that it is crazy for me to think that Renaissance, Hornets Nest, and Nevin all exist in the same city. There are even neighborhoods in Charlotte where all three courses are within a 6 mile radius, which is insane. Any of those three courses would be a destination course in their own right! There are many quality courses in the Queen City, but it sure must be nice to live on the west side of Charlotte as a Disc Golf fan!

Favorite Holes: 7, 12, 16, & 18
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Designer response by 1978
Thanks for the review. Get out and play the longs. It was designed long and shorts added to speed up open pace of play for 2012 worlds. -Mark
10 0
bdupree
Experience: 7.5 years 22 played 7 reviews
4.50 star(s)

One of the top courses in Charlotte 2+ years drive by

Reviewed: Played on:Mar 18, 2018 Played the course:once

Pros:

I've only been playing now for just shy of 2 years, so I'm really still a beginner. I use DGCR to pick out new courses on good weather weekends around the Charlotte area. Reading about Nevin here, I shied away from it for a long time. It was less than 20 minutes from my house, but I played at all of the others near be more regularly. Robert L. Smith is probably the one I've played the most. Within just the first four holes at Nevin, I was already blown away. This is both the nicest condition and the best layout I've played in the area.

This course is very well signed. I think I can only remember maybe 2 or 3 baskets where I finished that I was not completely sure of where the next hole was. You can usually find the foot path rather easily for those next tee pads. Trust me, I know the best advice is to carry some kind of map... either have a PDF image available on your phone or go old school and print it out. The holes have plenty of trash cans and benches.

I hardly saw any stray trash throughout the course. That is a pet peeve of mine. I could tell quickly that someone has been doing a great deal of course maintenance (most likely CDGC), because the fairway areas were extremely clear of debris and downed limbs. All of the baskets were in good shape, too.

By far the best aspects of this course have to be the flow of the hole layouts and the absolute challenge it poses for a beginner. Sometimes, you have to challenge yourself. If you're looking for that, play Nevin! There is a great variety of left and right doglegs (and double-doglegs), many uphill and a few downhill. There are a handful of dangerous basket locations, perched on the side of a hill with high potential for roll-away putts. I had my share of those. I've actually played a lot of Charlotte area courses, and this may be the first time I have seen yardage markers along the fairway. This reminds me a lot of all the regular golf courses I play which have 200/150/100 yard markers on holes. Nevin has them mostly on the longer par 4 and par 5 holes, and you will find them on trees as small white signs.

The par 4 and 5 holes are pretty long and challenging, but I would still say they are very fair from the short tees. I was able to par #5, which truly gave me some hope on this round that ended up being a train wreck. I had so many doubles and triples, it was really humbling for a beginner. The funny thing is, I can't wait to go back and play it again.

I think this course layout has a great balance between having longer holes but yet some wider fairways. On the shorter holes, the fairway narrows down a lot on some of them. I can really appreciate the thought that went into the layout. My hat is off to Stan McDaniel, Mark Huether & Matt Keatts. Great job, guys.

Cons:

I struggle a bit to come up with any cons, but I did find the routing for the last 3 holes a bit confusing. I was playing the short tees, so when I got to #16 I really never figured out where the short tee pad was located. I walked to the right from the long tee pad as signage said, and then I hit the paved walking path. There was a tee marker sign post there, but it looked like somebody made off with the short tee hole marker and map. I took a left and went down the walking path and found a sign on the path itself on a wooden fence showing the hole number and yardage, but also saying this was NOT the location of the short tee. I just went ahead and played from there, which was OK. The #17 long tee was marked well, but there was no signage from that point leading me to the short tee. I did figure out where it was up the hill on the right, and then at the same time I found the #16 short tee basket. It was all white, unlike all of the others on the course. From the #17 basket, signage leading to #18 was missing. It wasn't too hard to spot it across the park road and up a hill.

Other Thoughts:

This course is simply challenging, and it is a good workout on top of that. If you are new to the game and want to push yourself, definitely go play here. Regardless of that, I have to say this is a MUST play in the Charlotte area.
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5 0
lazrman778
Gold level trusted reviewer
Experience: 13.1 years 264 played 100 reviews
4.50 star(s)

Nevin Park DGC 2+ years drive by

Reviewed: Played on:Apr 22, 2017 Played the course:once

Pros:

Has practice basket

Has concrete tee pads for all tees

Has excellent tee signs

Has distance to pin markers throughout

Has many benches throughout course

Has next tee signs posted throughout - easy to navigate

More wooded than open fairways with doglegs and elevations - which will be challenging to the casual player

Water comes into play on some of the holes but they aren't really a factor in losing a disc

Challenging, long course with variety of pars

Nice scenery

Well-maintained

Quiet - had whole course to myself on a Saturday morning

Free parking at multiple locations

Restrooms

Cons:

Walking path cuts through on a couple of holes - one can expect some delays on a nice day

Aside from the course already being long, some may find the long walks between holes as a con but I feel that there's good separation between them as the layout makes most of the terrain

Long course can be demanding and intimidating to those not ready for a challenge

Parking can be limited if ball games are playing

Other Thoughts:

This a nice, challenging tournament-quality multi-use 18 hole course in Charlotte that I enjoyed playing on a Saturday morning while vacationing out here. After locating a parking spot near the practice basket, I was quite surprised that I had the whole course pretty much to myself that day as I didn't see any other players throughout my round. This course is probably one of the hardest that I've ever played. It's not a course you want to bring a novice to. The woods can wreck your score if you don't have the control. I believe hole #7 has a gap of about 4 feet to drive through. Hole #8 gives you the lefty or righty line to take afterwards. There are a few open holes where you can rip the drives out. Hole #15 is strange in that I almost threw into a couple of walkers coming around the bend on the path. Hole #18 is a nice finishing hole with the valley and a creek at the bottom that can change a player's standing at the end of a round. This is a long course that has good separation between the holes and I didn't mind the additional walking on top. This is a phenomenal course and definitely a destination course that made my day after I played here.
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10 0
KenanFlagler01
Diamond level trusted reviewer
Experience: 14 years 195 played 190 reviews
4.50 star(s)

2+ years drive by

Reviewed: Updated: Played on:Mar 17, 2017 Played the course:once

Pros:

Nevin is one of the best courses I've played. It's a true must-play, destination course if you are visiting Charlotte. I imagine if I lived in Charlotte, I'd play it often. I've only played 7 or 8 Charlotte courses so far, but I can say that if you have time for only one course in Charlotte, I would recommend Nevin (with RL Smith being my back-up).

Pros:

+ Very long, technical course that will challenge players of all skill levels.

+ Excellent variety in hole layout, elevation, green areas (many death putts), and types of shots.

+ Several par 4's and 5's. These holes were not just "longer par 3's," but true par 4's and 5's with tricky lines to ideal landing areas, then tricky lines to the greens. Just outstanding long hole layouts.

+ The park is very peaceful, wooded, aesthetically nice. This is what disc golf is all about.

+ Excellent navigation with next tee signs, flags marking hidden baskets, etc.

+ Good baskets.

+ The tees were the proper size and no issues with cracks in the concrete, uneven ground, slick spots, etc.

+ Despite being a very wooded, technical course, there are a few open holes. Obviously, being a big arm is extremely helpful on this course, but even noodle arms like me will love it and have the opportunity to shoot close to par IF you're able to throw accurately.

+ Despite the challenge this course throws at you, I thought it was very fair. The only hole that I thought was over the top was the 900+ foot par 5. *However*, the close tee on that one is about 400 feet closer, making it a par 4.

Cons:

- I can't say I have any cons, to be honest with you. This is what disc golf courses aspire to. I'm not giving it a 5.0 because I don't think it was as memorable as the 5.0 course or a few of the other 4.5 courses I've played, but it truly is an outstanding course and I don't think I would change anything about it.

Other Thoughts:

Make plans to bag this course. You won't be disappointed.
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Designer response by 1978
Thank you for your review. I believe that you must have played shorts. Next time in Charlotte play the full course for max enjoyment. There are 3 par 5s on that layout!
3 6
jsemales
Experience: 19.8 years 91 played 39 reviews
4.50 star(s)

Beastly, but addicting 2+ years drive by

Reviewed: Played on:Oct 10, 2012 Played the course:5+ times

Pros:

This is another one of Charlotte's best courses. This course is an intimidating monster. It requires a lot of powerful yet elegant throws that really test the precision of your game. The course is carved out of the woods and getting off the fairway can be dangerous, but I'll be damned if this course isn't one of the better courses I've played. It's an extremely well balanced course that really requires you to focus and buckle down on your shots. Good drives allow for conservative approach shots, but bad drives require incredible recovery shots. Take your time, be patient, and definitely don't let the discs air out.

Cons:

Bring a towel and some really grippy shoes. If it's rained recently, the course can get sticky and the tee pads can get slippery. Beginner players will find this course to be extremely difficult, but perseverance is key.
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10 2
Notverygood
Silver level trusted reviewer
Experience: 14.6 years 76 played 34 reviews
4.00 star(s)

A beast of a course. 2+ years drive by

Reviewed: Played on:Oct 24, 2015 Played the course:5+ times

Pros:

I've waited quite some time to review this course, playing it many times before finally writing a review. Most times I've left this course frustrated, and didn't want that to reflect in my review, but as my skill has improved, and my appreciation for this course has grown, I"m finally getting around to reviewing it after a successful, rewarding (but tough and frustrating..such is Nevin) round.

This course has it all. Long and winding Par 4's and a 5. Tough narrow winding holes, open long bomb shots, a double Mando hole, and the shorter painfully narrow wooded holes that reward an accurate drive. Several holes have multiple routes to the pin, which give the thrower a chance to choose between high risk/reward or the safer alternative.
Even a few fast greens that can ruin a nice approach with a quickness. This course will test every shot in your arsenal, and can really highlight any weaknesses.

The beginning of the course (from the shorts) starts out "easy" and is a nice way to warm up for what comes with the rest of the course, allowing you to hopefully get a few strokes down on the impending difficulty of the remaining holes. Although the rest of the course is often a challenge, it is absolutely fair, and not overly impossible. Accurate, well thought out shots should yield a par with no problem.

Although the course is longer than most courses, the variety in distances and pars is a refreshing change from the common all par 3 courses.

The signage is in great condition thanks to the recent Masters tournament. Color printed signs show the hole number, par, distance and layout. A nice touch, greatly enchancing the overall rating of the course for me. Once you've reached the basket, most holes have adequate "next" signs leading the way to the next tee pad. Navigation, for the most part, is a breeze!

Trash cans, or bags at most tees

Concrete tee pads are all a uniform and adequate length, and all in decent shape. No cracked pads, or too short lengths. No worrying about your run up.

The practice basket is nice! In the shade with a variety of different "in the circle" shots to warm up with. Around trees, some elevation, and again, in the shade. A perfect place to wait for the rest of your group to show up.

Cons:

It's hard to find many obvious major cons for this course.

The biggest thing keeping this course from being higher than a 4* to me is the creature comforts or amenities here. Although there are benches and trash options at most holes, the benches are often a bit rough around the edges, or have graffitti, and the trash cans lack some visual appeal. The bags hanging from trees at the tee pad, although convenient for trash, aren't a flattering option.

The new hole 16 layout can be confusing. There are TWO short 16's. One plays to the same basket as the long pad and is a proper hole, on the same level of the rest of the course. The other short 16 is it's own separate fairway and basket, and is an easy chip shot dogleg left, not of the same caliber as the rest of the course.
Confusing, but I do have to give credit. Both options have the beautiful, color Tee signs, accurately depicting the hole...

There's plenty of parking, but it can get crowded quickly as the parking lot is close to the ball fields. On weekends, there are often games going on in the fields, and plenty of people filling up the parking lot.

The bathrooms are a bit far from the course, except hole 12,13 (I believe)

Other Thoughts:

Bring your A game, every shot in your repertoire, and your walking shoes! This course can chew you up and spit you out if you're not careful. But when played well, it is one of the most rewarding and challenging disc golf courses I've every played. You need short accuracy, long accuracy and everything in between.

Although a fantastic, championship caliber course, I would not recommend it for newer inexperienced players, or introducing someone to the game, as it can be discouraging instead of inspiring.

A true gem of the Charlotte DG scene. Championship quality. Highly highly recommended advanced level course and oh so close to 5*
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2 7
shinbone11
Experience: 12.6 years 28 played 4 reviews
4.00 star(s)

great course to play 2+ years drive by

Reviewed: Played on:Aug 30, 2015 Played the course:2-4 times

Pros:

this course will test your mental game. You better bring your A game to this course. Great lines that work great with choice of your disc( just find that disc that works with the lines) You have a couple holes that you get to open your arm up as well as Hyzer shots, Anhyzer shots. there are a lot of birdies out there on this course just make sure that your shots are on place and on a good line and you are rewarded well. get off your line or pick the wrong disc, than fight for par really enjoyed this course not only would I play it again, but would recommended it to friends

Cons:

Not for a first time player, get some experience before heading to this course but this course will make you a better Disc Golfer the more you play it.

Other Thoughts:

I enjoyed playing this course disc used most was my Buzzz as it was a lot of placement shots for me. as I said before I could see me out on this course once or more a week,It could only build up your game as a disc golfer.
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6 0
LastPageDG
Experience: 10.6 years 78 played 5 reviews
4.50 star(s)

The King of Charlotte 2+ years drive by

Reviewed: Played on:Jul 26, 2015 Played the course:5+ times

Pros:

This is my absolute favorite Charlotte area course. Nevin will bring out your best and worst qualities of your game. You get somewhat buttered up on holes 1 through 3 and then the survival game starts on holes 4 through 9. Holes 4 and 5 are designed for players who can bomb with accuracy or place a mid or fairway driver in the middle of the fairway. Pretty much the whole front 9 focuses on accuracy and smart play. Hole 7 is one of the most intimidating par 3's you'll encounter with a TIGHT gap off the box and a super death drop directly behind the basket.

The back starts with a decent birdie opportunity and on holes 11 and 12 you get to stretch the arm out with a few big pulls. 12 is an absolute beauty with a tee shot that takes you from a wide open bomb to a left turn in the woods. Hole 14 also gives you a chance to rip one but you'll be throwing through a double MANDO. Finishing out 15 though 18 gives you birdie and a couple of eagle chances as well.

You have a nice putting green to warm up on and parking is plentiful. There's no bathroom by the practice green but this is a huge complex and there are bathrooms throughout the park.

Nice sized concrete pads provide plenty of room to tee off and they are all in decent shape.

One more added bonus is the courses proximity to other amazing courses in the area such as RL Smith, Hornets Nest, Sugaw, Eastway and it's not too far from Renny.

Cons:

Very few I noticed. The drop zone pad on hole 14 is pretty rough as far as pivoting on your throw and it's a little short.

The signage is a bit old and a little deceiving on some holes but it's not terrible.

Crime CAN be an issue although I've personally never had an incident, but hey, that can by anywhere you go.

Other Thoughts:

The park itself is a beauty and you get some good scenery on holes 13 through 15 as you pass by. There are plenty of food options close by with it being close to I85 it makes it an awesome course to plan for any Charlotte trip.
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Designer response by 1978
Thanks for the review! Just noting that you seem to be commenting on the short layout since 16 is like one of the hardest holes and 1 long is difficult as well. Either way, thanks again.
6 0
ajbova
Gold level trusted reviewer
Experience: 18 years 112 played 94 reviews
4.50 star(s)

Very Impressive 2+ years

Reviewed: Played on:Jul 2, 2015 Played the course:once

Pros:

Extremely challenging championship level course that is aimed towards advanced players. Requires not only power but accuracy. Beginners will struggle here as well as most intermediate level players.

From the start to the finish, this course is intimidating. Do not question yourself here or you will be in trouble.

Baskets - 18 grippy innova baskets that catch great. There is also a practice basket at the start of the course near the parking lot.

Tees - Each hole had at least one very long and grippy concrete tee. A few of the holes had a short tee: 1, 2, 3, 10, 12, 16, 17.

Variety: The entirety of this course was in the woods. Accuracy is required on every hole. The widest fairway was no wider than 25 feet (hole 18). The shortest hole was 202 feet while the longest was 970. There were elevation changes on almost every hole including several blind shots due to distance, woods, or a mix of all 3. No two holes here were the same. A few of the holes (3,7) had immediate drop offs so if you overshoot, you would be down hill.

Elevation: Being from Indiana, the elevation of this course really stood out to me.

Signs: There was a course board with info on the sport as well as a map at the start. Throughout the course there were arrows pointing you towards the next tee or tees if the hole had 2. Each tee sign included distance, par, and hole number (no map).

Course was very clean and well maintained. Trash cans/bags and benches at every hole allowed you to take a break. The course is long so it was a nice touch.

Very scenic and peaceful course. The paths through the woods from hole to hole were a plus in my opinion. Had no idea which direction I was facing while playing which was a plus.

Hard to save par meaning if you do not bring your A game, you will not have a good time.

Several signature holes.

Start and finish were near other. Looped around. Very spread out course. No two holes had bordering fairways.

Easy to navigate and easy to get to from the highway. Several nearby food options.

Markers along the fairways listing distance from the basket.

Cons:

My biggest con for this course was the lack of a map on each tee sign. Several of the holes were 500+ feet and you could not see the basket from the tee. Signs would greatly enhance the course and would help for first time players who had no idea where the basket was. I felt as if I was blindly throwing down a tunnel in the woods and didn't know where the basket would be.

Each hole here should have a second tee. If you are going to have 7 alternate tees, might as well put them in on every hole. This would make the course more playable for intermediate level players.

A few signs pointing towards the basket would be a nice addition as well.

Poison ivy throughout course.

Other Thoughts:

This was the first course I played on my trip to Charlotte and by far my favorite. I was definitely blown away. I would give it a 5 out of 5 if maps were added to the signs for each hole and if each hole got an alternate tee.

I would recommend this course to anyone looking for a challenge. It requires the best throw on every throw. Definitely a championship level course and the best course I have played to this day.

I would not recommend it to someone new to the sport. It would be way too challenging for them. There are several nearby options to build your game before coming here.
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Designer response by 1978
Thank you for the thoughtful review. Signage is in the works. This course will not get short tees. There are 5 intermediate level courses within 10 minutes. Nevin is for those people looking to challenge themselves. Unfortunately, we had to install a few short teepads for speed of play in major events. The course was designed for the long layout, if I were king, I would remove the shorts. With short tees comes rec players and trash, there are other more appropriate courses for them. Sugaw, Kilborne, RL Smith, Eastway, Bailey, Robbins are all close.
14 0
chainedwraith
Experience: 17.6 years 156 played 19 reviews
4.00 star(s)

Just the challenge I was looking for.. 2+ years drive by

Reviewed: Played on:Jul 20, 2014 Played the course:once

Pros:

I did my homework before arriving in Charlotte and knew this was going to be a tough challenge and it certainly delivered. The park/scenery/course was beautiful. I played solo, from long tees, late afternoon after the rain had passed and the pads were wet but still grippy, no issues there.

I'm one of the disc golfers that really appreciates that feeling of isolation and remoteness with nature, and for a busy park course, it does still retain some of that "I'm the only one out here" kinda feel which I really enjoy. That, to me, also illustrates great separation of holes and good flow.

The course appears to drain well as I don't recall stepping into too much mud or standing water as I would expect on my usual Florida courses.

The fairways were definitely fair, you simply gotta hit your lines and use discs with little to no fade. I never felt that "poke 'n pray" feeling on any of the holes.

The use of elevation was excellent. Although most holes were tightly wooded there were a few holes that tease you with some openness but you still have to hit your lines (or make a mando) on those too.

Navigation was adequate. I arrived without a map but found hole 1 short tee then walked back to hole 1 long tee and never really got off track too bad after that except for a little confusion after I finished hole 12 I walked up to the left before realizing I needed to go down to the right to find 13.

Cons:

Not really many cons.. just a few notes. Although extremely challenging, it wasn't a course where I felt I had to do a lot of thinking on the tee pad and/or use a lot of different shots or discs. I probably only used 3-4 discs the entire round. Most of the true shot shaping seemed to come from those critical upshots. I used my TL or Roc on probably 80-90% of my drives throwing mostly flat or close to flat right down the middle. I realize that straight long shots are difficult for most players so I took this as part of the overall challenge and not so much a true "con". I wouldn't change a thing, but I know this might bother some players who can't wait to bust out their high speed overstable drivers. This is not a course for those folks.

The risk of going off fairway from the tee was a little intense for my tastes which forces me to play way more conservative than usual. That probably makes me a better player but takes a notch off the fun factor if you are hunting for lots of birdies. This could also be largely attributed to the fact that it was my first time here so no real point deduction on that note. I'm sure if I played here often as a local I would grow a pair of "Nevin balls" and start pretending the trees weren't there. ;-)

The shule on the left side of hole 12 is brutal. I lost one in there trying to LHBH hyzer flip a glo-Tern up and over the trees.. it was a decent crush and made it over but it never came back to the fairway and several minutes of searching turned up nothing.

Spiders are everywhere and although I despise them.. I'm used to playing courses that have them and I'll take a nature-oriented course over most open park courses anyday.

Other Thoughts:

I really enjoyed my round here. The long straight shots with tight lines are tough, but extremely rewarding if you hit them. I parked hole 3 from long pads with a sweet TL shot and it felt REALLY good (it was the only hole I deuced)! You really gotta earn those birdies here. This course will punish your every error. Holes 9 - 12 were the toughest stretch for me (went 5,6,5,7) and those type of bad runs can be demoralizing but I managed to finish bogey free after that and it felt like a solid accomplishment overall. This is one of those courses that is such a challenge that I can't wait to comeback again someday and truly see how much my game has improved. This course will exploit problems with your technique and accuracy and punish you for them which is what I believe the designer was wanting to do. Kudos on a great advanced level course!
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Designer response by 1978
Sorry for your confusion on 12, to get to the left you have to walk through some pretty mean poison ivy. There is a next tee marker, I wish you had seen it or the well worn path right.
3 10
luckless_pedestrian
Experience: 11 years 40 played 14 reviews
4.50 star(s)

Left-hander bias? 2+ years drive by

Reviewed: Played on:Apr 29, 2014 Played the course:once

Pros:

Flat out awesome course. Like all good courses you need to be able to hit a variety of shots. It's long and beautiful and most of the time you're not aware of the other people in the park.

Cons:

Playing with someone who can throw a decent forehand (I can't) I felt like Nevin set up a little better for him. Sour grapes? Probably.

Other Thoughts:

You do have to hit the gaps. Missing can mean ping-ponging from one side of the fairway to the other. That's not really a con, just a fact. I can't wait to play there again.
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11 12
sidewinder22
Diamond level trusted reviewer
Experience: 17.6 years 297 played 197 reviews
4.50 star(s)

My Friend Nevin is a Must Play! 2+ years

Reviewed: Played on:Apr 20, 2014 Played the course:once

Pros:

Cooly was sportin' black denim shoes, with 18 challenging holes, Discatcher baskets, multiple concrete tees, practice basket, nice tee signs, benches, trash cans and restrooms.
Dealing he was looking for something to use with par 3, 4, and 5's through long wooded fairways over some great terrain and elevation.
With a pistol in his pocket and a bottle of booze, he will take all shots in the bag and leave you feeling a bit light headed.
Well, it could be me or it could be you, he was fairly secluded from the rest of the park and easy to navigate.
Oh feels like my whole life is rearranged.
Oh Nevin you rule,
Nevin, Nevin, Nevin, Nevin you...
Oh how you rule,
Oh you rule,
Oh how you rule

Cons:

Oh Nevin, I give you a hard time. Got out of jail just the very next day, you got Poison Ivy in the rough and that's about all.

Other Thoughts:

Hooked on Nevin just the other day
Now he's down with the CIA
We got covert operation in Vietnam
Making hits and assasination he's long gone

He went down to protect his country
Eat Mexican food and makes lots o' money
Come back a God and drive a big white car
And take himself a plane down to Nicaragua
Well it feels like I'm the only one to blame.

Oh Nevin you rule
Nevin, Nevin, Nevin, Nevin you
Oh you rule,
Oh you rule,
Oh how you rule.

I give you a hard time, did want to stay
Got outta jail just the very next day
It's plain to see my friend Nevin is a Must Play!
He was a Must Play yeah, yeah, yeah!

Out my window cool and bright
Day so slowly into night
Funny how other things look the same
Now that my friend Nevin rules!
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Designer response by 1978
Thanks for your review...but on its format I'll have to stew. :-)
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