Roxboro, NC

Rockness Monster

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4.085(based on 30 reviews)
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11 0
DiscGolfCraig
Diamond level trusted reviewer
Premium Member
Experience: 19.8 years 584 played 536 reviews
3.50 star(s)

A(I) professional review of Rockness Monster

Reviewed: Played on:Apr 9, 2023 Played the course:once

Pros:

How good is Rockness Monster Disc Golf course?
- The Piedmont Community College Disc Golf course is located in Roxboro, North Carolina, and it has received generally positive reviews from players. The course is relatively short, and it is suitable for players of all skill levels.
- The course features a mix of wooded and open fairways, and some players have noted that it can be challenging to navigate the wooded areas due to the thick underbrush. However, the course is well-maintained and the tee pads and baskets are in good condition.
- The course does include some wooded areas where thick underbrush can make it challenging to navigate, and there are a few water hazards that players will need to avoid. However, these features are not considered to be overly difficult or daunting for players of intermediate or advanced skill levels.
- Many players appreciate the scenic setting of the course, which includes a creek and a pond, and some have commented that the course is a great place to introduce beginners to the game of disc golf.
- Overall, while the Piedmont Community College Disc Golf course may not be as challenging as some other courses in the area, it is considered to be a fun and enjoyable course for players of all skill levels.

Cons:

How tough is Rockness Monster Disc Golf course?
- The Piedmont Community College Disc Golf course in Roxboro, North Carolina is not considered to be a particularly challenging course by many players. It is relatively short and does not feature many long or technical shots that could challenge experienced players.
- Overall, the Piedmont Community College Disc Golf course is best suited for beginners or players who are looking for a casual round of disc golf. While it may not be a particularly challenging course, it can be an enjoyable and scenic place to play a round of disc golf in a relaxed setting.
- It's worth noting that the course may occasionally be closed for maintenance or other reasons, so it's a good idea to check with the college or the course website before planning your visit.
- Additionally, during the winter months, the course may be closed due to inclement weather or hazardous course conditions.

Other Thoughts:

What else can you say about Rockness Monster Disc Golf course?
- The Piedmont Community College Disc Golf course is located in Roxboro, North Carolina. While it may not be the most challenging course in the area, it is a fun and accessible course that is well-suited for players of all skill levels.
- The course features a mix of wooded and open fairways, with some holes offering the opportunity to make longer throws, while others require shorter, more technical shots. There are a few water hazards on the course, including a creek and a small pond, which can add an extra element of challenge for players.
- One unique aspect of this course is its location on the grounds of Piedmont Community College. The course is accessible to students and the general public alike, and it offers a fun and active way to enjoy the college campus.
- Overall, the Piedmont Community College Disc Golf course may not be the most challenging or high-profile course in the area, but it offers a fun and relaxed setting for players to enjoy the game of disc golf, and it is a great place for beginners to get started with the sport.
- Overall, if you are planning to visit the Piedmont Community College Disc Golf course, it's a good idea to check the course schedule or contact the college to confirm that the course will be open during your desired visit time.
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7 1
GriffinG1994
Experience: 22 played 5 reviews
4.50 star(s)

Excellent Experience 2+ years drive by

Reviewed: Played on:Sep 26, 2021 Played the course:2-4 times

Pros:

This is one of the best courses around. The course is almost completely wooded but open enough to wear shorts. The artistry and use of the natural aspects of the course make this course one of a kind. Very easy to spot a disc on this course.

Cons:

The only thing that would make this course better is if there was more hole variety being all par 3s.

Other Thoughts:

This course is about an hour away, so I do not get to go often, but when I do it is always fun. I would like to figure out the 19 A-E holes because the group in front of us told us there was nothing there so we didn't look. Easier than I remembered or maybe I am just improving ;)
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12 0
David_George
Bronze level trusted reviewer
Experience: 3.7 years 50 played 17 reviews
4.50 star(s)

Beautiful course 2+ years drive by

Reviewed: Played on:May 15, 2021 Played the course:once

Pros:

Probably the most attractive course I have ever played. Incredible natural scenery in a rolling wooded area that feels very secluded.
+ 27 holes of top quality disc golf, but set up so that it is easy to play just 9 or 18 holes.
+ Great use of elevation, going up and down steep hills, through rock outcroppings and over streams.
+ Three course levels which provide very different levels of difficulty for beginning to advanced players.
+ Good variety of challenging shots.
+ Numerous signature holes, including one that ends next to a waterfall.
+ Good signage and the course is well-maintained.
+ The rough isn't too bad considering you are in the woods almost the whole time, and the poison ivy isn't as bad as on most NC woods courses.

Cons:

- The navigation is somewhat confusing, mainly due to the numbering of the 19-22 and A-E holes. Make sure you look at a map if you plan on playing all 27.
- The map and tee signs only show simplified versions of the general direction of the fairway, and can be pretty misleading at times. There are many blind shots where you will need to walk quite a way to see the pin rather than relying on where you think it should be.
- The difficulty levels and pars aren't always consistent if you play the full course. Some of the par 3s are relatively easy while others are more or less impossible to birdie due to the distance, angle, and number of trees.

Other Thoughts:

I wish this course weren't an hour away, or I would play it regularly. I had heard that it was a good course, but it exceeded my expectations. It is a lot of disc golf, and with all the walking up and down hills you will be pretty tired after a full round. We had the course to ourselves, so it doesn't seem like it is very heavily played. It is a challenging course which I think would benefit from repeat play. I lost more than a few strokes because I didn't know where the basket was on a blind shot.
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19 1
aredoubles
Gold level trusted reviewer
Experience: 7.7 years 258 played 41 reviews
3.50 star(s)

2+ years

Reviewed: Played on:Jan 24, 2021 Played the course:5+ times

Pros:

A stunning course, with some of the most spectacular holes in the state. Despite the score I'm giving here, Rockness is a must-play for anyone in the area.
+ 27 wooded holes that dramatically work their way up and down hills and alongside creeks, to baskets perched on rocky outcrops. The setting for this course is awesome, and chock full of memorable holes.
+ Some of these holes are simply astonishing, breathtaking, and unforgettable. It's hard to pick a favorite - perhaps hole 21's green next to a small waterfall, or hole 11 or 14's wooded hallways and peninsula creekside greens, or hole 5's downhill drive to a basket encased within a rocky fortress, the highlights here are truly astounding.
+ Great variety of shot shapes and distances, you will likely throw every disc in your bag at some point. Though the normal 1-18 layout only includes one par 4, the loop of holes 20-22 adds two more, plus an excellent par 5.
+ The wooded fairways are all wide and well-maintained. Yellow-banded Innova Discatcher baskets are easy to spot around the many blind corners here. Holes 2 and 9 are more open and offer a welcome relief from the thick woods elsewhere, but still require technical tee shots.
+ Most holes have two, three, or even four teepad options. The middle whites are by far the most frequently played, as the course flows best in that layout, and the difficulty is reasonable for most skill levels. Short red tees are aimed at beginners. The whites, blues, and occasional orange tees are filled with fine granite that play much better than you might expect. Small colorful dragon sculptures mark the color of each tee, which is an extremely cool and unique touch.
+ Outstanding tee signs that clearly show the hole layouts, and also well-crafted descriptions to provide more color. Arrows between holes help considerably with navigation.
+ Playing the 'normal' 1-18 layout allows for two nine-hole loops that return to the parking area, which is always welcome. The additional holes (A-E, 19, and 20-22) are all found along the front 9, and can easily be looped in whenever desired. Even if short on time, I would still highly recommend playing holes 20-22 at the very least, as they introduce more par 4+ hole experiences, and hole 21 is a must-play disc golf experience for the area.
+ Quiet, peaceful, and never crowded. This is a wonderful escape from the traffic of the Triangle, and is really not that far away.

Cons:

- While the fairways are all reasonably wide, there are quite a few holes where I find the required shapes to be puzzling, strange, and borderline impossible to consistently execute on. I end up getting a par on these holes every single time, and the few times I've birdied them have been a result of lucky kicks or long putts.
- The most frustrating example to me is hole 11, which is one of the most gorgeous disc golf holes in the entire state. And yet, seemingly the only pure line is an extreme RHBH flex shot with something overstable, that must perfectly pan its way downhill through a narrow hallway of massive trees all the way to the peninsula green. Or perhaps an even more exacting hyzer flip with considerable turn and a late finish? Get the angle just slightly wrong, and you will likely kick into the rough, and likely take an instant bogey. I've yet to find any 'safe' way to reliably play this hole for par. The very few times I've managed to birdie this hole have felt like a miraculous accident. A disc golf hole this picturesque deserves better. And it's not the only example like this, which if you care about scores, can build to a frustrating experience.
- The long blue tees rarely get played, as evidenced by their much rougher fairways. The probable reason is because these tees are demanding and difficult to an unreasonable degree, and also do not flow well. No matter how good you think you are, these blue tees just aren't very fun. The orange tees, where they exist, seem to play much better as an advanced option, but don't seem to be as well-marked. I'm not even sure where to find many of them, as I don't think they're shown on the tee signs.
- In the fall and winter, the leaves on the ground are thicker than on any other course in central NC. It is treacherously easy to lose drivers that burrow deep into the leaf layer. Then in the spring and summer, the thick foliage blocks visibility of disc flights. There are quite a few blind throws on this course, and obviously kicks into the rough are always a threat, and in both cases it is often impossible to even guess at where your disc might have landed. Big elevation changes add to the uncertainty, as your disc may have glided or rolled huge distances downhill without your knowing. As a result, this course seems to swallow up lost discs, at all times of the year. For an entirely wooded course with no pond carries or thick brambles, I've lost a shocking number of discs here.
- A few fairways and hole transitions are extremely steep, and may be tough for folks with bad knees, coordination/balance issues, etc. A few of them also seem to be eroding into becoming even steeper over time. Switchbacks and/or steps would be much better solutions for these kinds of slopes. But even the steps on hole 3 have already eroded into becoming largely useless.
- Navigation is a little tricky in a few places, as there are a few places where multiple holes' tees share the same immediate space. For historical reasons, hole numbering is also weird, as the course flows best as 1-5, A-E, 19, 6-7, 20-22, then finally 8-18, which I'm sure is clear as mud to first time visitors (some of these jumps are due to mini-loops that can optionally be skipped, but letters feel like the better solution for all of them, rather than adding numbered holes in-between). And Hole 5's blue tee plays to a completely separate basket on a completely separate fairway, and is therefore in all respects a completely separate hole, and I genuinely have no idea why it's still called Hole 5.

Other Thoughts:

I typically emerge from this course feeling a little frustrated. Either because I lost a disc in the leaves or around a blind corner, or because I simply cannot figure out some of these odd fairways. Judging purely by the design of its holes, I personally feel that the 'fun factor' of this course isn't all that high.
That all sounds very negative, but I suppose it's telling that I've driven an hour and returned to this course 20+ times over the years. Some of these holes are jaw-dropping and unforgettable, and those feelings have not faded on repeat visits. Even if I didn't play disc golf, I would consider this to be one of the more scenic hikes in central NC. That we get to watch the flight of our discs past these gorgeous creeks and wooded hallways is such a special opportunity. Who cares if some of these holes can't be consistently birdied? So maybe the best way to approach this course is to not care about your scores at all, and just appreciate the surrounding landscape. Still, in the back of my mind, I wish some of these holes made a little more sense.
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13 0
KenanFlagler01
Diamond level trusted reviewer
Experience: 14 years 195 played 190 reviews
4.50 star(s)

Monstrously Good 2+ years drive by

Reviewed: Updated: Played on:Dec 3, 2018 Played the course:once

Pros:

Rockness Monster is a must-play track near Roxboro, NC, close to the Virginia line. It looks and feels like a classic NC mountains or foothills course...2+ hours east of the High Country! The elevation and natural beauty rival anything I've played. This is a legit destination course.

+ Aesthetically, it's hard to top the Rock. It's a beautiful, wooded (mature trees, not Carolina Scramble with underbrush), hilly (some steep), with boulders and a crystal clear stream winding through the back 9.

+ The tee signs here are the best I've seen. Each hole has a layout, yardage from each of the three sets of tees, a fairway picture from the perspective of each tee with an arrow pointing to the basket, elevation change from each tee, and a brief description and tip for the hole. Amazingly well done.

+ Overall, I would say the navigation -- at least for the white tees, which is what I played -- is a plus. There are Next Tee signs, arrows, painted trees directing you where to go. I did have a little navigation trouble and missed my opportunity to play the extra 9 holes. But on balance, navigation is good and the course designers and volunteers have done a terrific job.

+ I love courses with variety. Rockness has it. There's uphill, downhill, hyzer, flick, flex, very short (under 200 feet on a few white layout holes), and some longer par 3's. You'll need every (or most) shot in your game.

+ I also love fast greens and hazards around the basket. Rockness has this with baskets perched on or near boulders, hillsides, near the creek, or some combination of those factors.

+ The creativity here is amazing. I love the Dragon Mouth mando hole. Sure, it's a little gimmicky, but it's just one hole and it's a fun one at that. They do a great job with the "monster" theme throughout the course -- the tee markers, signs, "Dragon Drop Zone," etc. They used the rocks well, the stream, the topography. Top-notch design work.

+ Courses with good water holes get an added bump from me. I just think they're fun, picturesque, and the way golf is meant to be played. I wasn't expecting that at all from this track, but the back 9 uses a creek beautifully on several holes.

+ Elevation. Did I mention elevation? I think Rockness Monster lives up to its monster billing with elevation. I thought the course was challenging from the white tees, but not overly so. I've played many tougher courses. The challenge here is physical. It's a demanding hike.

+ Extra 9 holes (which I didn't get to play)

+ It's fun, it's challenging, and it's fair. Can't ask for much more than that.

Cons:

These are some nit-picks and may be more user error than actual flaws. As such, Rockness Monster gets a near-perfect rating from me. Certainly in my top 5 to date.

- Gravel/sand/natural tees

- I wish the navigation was a little more explicit if you want to play the full 27 holes. Halfway through my round, after not noticing any signs to direct me to the extra holes, I looked at the DGCR course page and realized I'd missed the first handful of extra holes. In hindsight, I wish I'd gone back to find them and play them, but alas, I was already whipped from hiking up and down the hills and wussed out.

Other Thoughts:

I don't know how to say it any better: even if you have to drive an hour or two out of your way to play Rockness Monster, it's worth it. Tremendous course.
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6 0
hycard
Experience: 15.5 years 97 played 12 reviews
4.50 star(s)

My first PDGA win 2+ years drive by

Reviewed: Played on:Apr 21, 2018 Played the course:once

Pros:

Everything has already been stated in previous reviews regarding the care taken to make this course a destination for disc golf.
It's all spot on!
Layout, signage, tee areas, added hazards, use of topography, amenities, all top-notch.
Extra holes add distance and variety.
Multiple tee choices for every ability.
Cool mandos.

Cons:

Have to really nitpick to find anything negative here, but be careful of footing; loose rocks and roots can be a tripping hazard.
With so much variation in tee and pin placement there could be some confusion, however the professional tee signage keeps this to a minimum.

Other Thoughts:

Memorable course for sure!
The waterfalls and winding creek features are enough to make the trip to play here. Using the frequent rock formations in the course design is brilliantly done.
Looking forward to trying other area courses by same designers!
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2 1
J-swish
Experience: 8.2 years 8 played 7 reviews
4.50 star(s)

Worth a Drive--Great Woods Course 2+ years drive by

Reviewed: Played on:Sep 2, 2017 Played the course:once

Pros:

Super wood course.
Interesting basket placements in boulders.
Great Tee pads.
Fair throwing lines for a wood course--challenging but throwable.
Good elevation changes.
Fun features like statues on tees and "jaws" in the woods.
Rough is clear and not scary--you can still lose some strokes on the trees, but easy to find your disc.

Cons:

Very few...
One hole had a low window to a meadow--roller would be great option...if the grass were not 2' high.
No trash cans.

Other Thoughts:

My favorite woods course so far. Not sure how to make it much better without free refreshments on every tee. My brothers and I played all 3 Person County "Monsters" in one day, and Rockness was definitely my favorite--but all 3 were fun.
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0 6
krumb
Experience: 15 years 17 played 1 reviews
4.50 star(s)

Hidden gem in Roxboro 2+ years drive by

Reviewed: Played on:Jun 3, 2017 Played the course:once

Pros:

This course is a ton of fun to play. Its in excellent condition with lots of variation that keeps it interesting. The Dragon theme is pretty cool and they did a good job of incorporating this into several holes. The best course I've played in NC yet.

Cons:

Roxboro
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4 12
thumber_guy
Experience: 33.8 years 142 played 10 reviews
5.00 star(s)

One of the best courses in Central NC 2+ years drive by

Reviewed: Updated: Played on:Dec 1, 2018 Played the course:once

Pros:

First off, the course is just plain beautiful. The use of landscape and terrain is perfect. There isn't a really easy hole as all of them have at least one PITA obstacle to overcome, but they are still all "fair" holes that will reward good shots. The white tees feel like they are the natural flow of the course - the blues are some extra walking and they are for pros. It also drains very well. The signage is the best you'll ever see, and the variety of tee placements means that almost every skill level is accommodated. There is a lot of elevation change on this course so it is a great workout too. Every time I come here it seems like someone has just recently been by with a leaf blower to clear the fairways, so it is clearly very well maintained.

I agree that it plays best as a 21 hole course, as holes 20-22 (in between holes 7 and 8) are some of the best on the course and you get to see the waterfall.

Cons:

I honestly can't think of anything bad to say about this challenging and fun course.

Other Thoughts:

I wish it was closer. And screw you to everyong that downvoted this review. It is a 5 star course.
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7 0
Orioles_Lefty
Experience: 8.7 years 60 played 5 reviews
4.00 star(s)

Fair, Enjoyable Wooded Challenge 2+ years drive by

Reviewed: Played on:Mar 20, 2017 Played the course:once

Pros:

I took the advice of other reviewers and played from the white tees. Course flows well from these tees.

If you enjoy being able to see the expected line and enjoy the challenge of hitting this line, then this is a course for you. I am sure there are some "local" lines that would come out when playing multiple rounds, but a first-time visitor, like myself, should feel comfortable on nearly every tee box.

The course starts off with three decent holes, and then a clunker (at least the short pin), before moving into its best stretch. Hole 5 plays as two completely different options. If the course is not busy, I'd recommend playing both tee shots and then finishing the white pin (left) before finishing the blue pin (right). Hole 19 follows the blue pin, out of numerical order but easy to locate. Hole 6, an uphill hole like 5, follows and then an ace run, especially for a LHBH player like me.

Following 7, the very best stretch of holes -- 20 through 22 -- is an available option. Play these holes. 20 and 22 are plenty good, but 21 is the star. This is a par 5 with a fast green backed by a creek and waterfalls. Very beautiful, and you will be rewarded if you keep your first two shots in the fairway. I threw two Leopards in a row and had a long-ish look for eagle.

8 and 9 did very little for me. A big group of new players followed me from 7 to 8 (skipping the added holes), so I felt a little rushed on 8.

The back nine is a little more consistently up and down than the front 9. I played the back nine twice, as I had that big group behind me the first time around (I was playing multiple discs) and wanted to enjoy the holes with less noise in the air.

Favorite holes included 5 (both uphill options are great), 21, and 16, a touch downhill shot with a fast green that slopes down the hill.

As others have pointed out, the tee box signs are some of the best out there. The orange tees, which struck me as an option closer to Blue than to white, are not included on these signs.

Cons:

Not so much cons, but just thoughts on some of the lesser holes.

The Mando to the short basket on 4 makes for a bad hole; it's like they were trying to solve one problem and then created another. The LHBH shot is comparable to how people throw frisbees on beach vacations. 4 to the long basket is a nice hole.

As a LH player, I couldn't really find a line on 10 -- tried BH and FH. And the fairway on 17 disappears, with a decent likelihood that you might be putting out of the creek (mostly dry when I played). I guess that's why the creek is not considered OB.

Other Thoughts:

The course is easy to navigate, especially white-to-white. You need to play blue 5 to get to the first extra hole. 19. Like I said above, if the course is not busy, I'd recommend playing both options on 5.

I'm trying to imagine the course flow without the 20-22 added holes. 6 is a short uphill shot (from white). 7 is an ace run. I rushed through 8, so I don't have a good memory of it, but it was short as well. 9 is a shot into a field, meant to get you back to the parking lot. 10, as I mentioned above, doesn't seem to have a line. So, it seems my conclusion here is that 20-22 aren't just great holes but they also very much improve hole variation and the player's experience. More a 3.5star course without those holes.

It's obvious, given hole and sign design and course upkeep, that this course is a labor of love for a particular person or persons. Great to see a well kept course on a CC campus.

The attention given to hole design and shot shaping really came through more once I began to play Edmunds in Southern VA later the same day.
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2 4
Bombarde16
Experience: 10 years 44 played 4 reviews
3.50 star(s)

Pinball in the woods 2+ years drive by

Reviewed: Played on:Mar 30, 2016 Played the course:once

Pros:

There's clearly a lot of work that went into this course. Every hole shows a tremendous amount of thought on the part of the designer. It's a challenging course that demands you throw your best. If you enjoy finding lines and can throw a disc on exactly the line you want, this course will put a big smile on your face. I could play hole 11 again and again. It's that good.

Cons:

It got tiresome slogging up and down through the woods. IIRC, only two of the holes cross an open field. Every other shot you throw is hemmed in by trees on all sides. If you can't hit a straight line, brace yourself for one demoralizing *thwack* after another as your disc ricochets off to God knows where.

Other Thoughts:

It's a lovely trip and I'm glad I made the trip. That said, it's a far drive and not a course I see myself going back to again and again.
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5 0
Upshawt1979
Diamond level trusted reviewer
Premium Member
Experience: 20.8 years 548 played 429 reviews
4.00 star(s)

Beware of the Blue Tees 2+ years

Reviewed: Played on:Aug 1, 2015 Played the course:once

Pros:

Rockness Monster has serious elevation change, wooded fairways, some water, multiple tees, multiple baskets on a few holes, a few bonus holes and decent signs at the white tees. All of these are frequently the features of my favorite disc golf courses. When I tried my luck from the blue tees, it was not good. While they did offer a much more challenging and different look than the whites, I often threw the drive with despair in my heart, knowing that my disc didn't stand a chance. Forget birdies, just getting par seemed like a victory. I know advanced tees are supposed to be tough, but this was ludicrous. Other reviews make it out to be a thing of desire, but I really wish I had played the white tees instead. I had to stop at them to note the distances on my scorecard, and they appeared to still be tough but fair. The short red tees were doing everything they could to remove a lot of the teeth, but calling this monster beginner friendly may be a stretch. I am putting this under pros because it is a really good course, but first time through you may want to make it easy on yourself. Frustrated the hell out of me. As far as equipment goes, baskets were in nice condition, and the signs at the white tees were pretty good. The folks that installed this one really got into the Rockness theme. Dragon like statues are often guarding the tees, and there is a Lockness statue on one hole. Also, be sure to read the tale of Rockness, and watch out for the dragon's mouth.

Cons:

The tee pads themselves were usually natural, sometimes not level, and a few were smaller than I would like. I felt many of the blue tee positions didn't really offer a fair shot. The holes that had two baskets were not evident, especially from the blues. Layout was not hard to follow, but holes 19-22 are not in sequence, and only had white tees. Very much worth playing, they were some of my favorite holes. Such awesome land for disc golf, I was slightly disappointed with the experience of my first round.

Other Thoughts:

I played two other courses that morning prior to the Rockness monster, on a fairly hot summer day. If I had known what I was in for I would have had a much more hearty breakfast, and played the white tees for sure. Walked out of there just glad I made it out. There are so many good holes, wish I could have played them better. If there is a next time, I will be better prepared to slay that monster.
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5 0
pmay5
Gold level trusted reviewer
Premium Member
Experience: 20.8 years 480 played 245 reviews
4.50 star(s)

Rockness Heaven 2+ years

Reviewed: Played on:Apr 24, 2015 Played the course:once

Pros:

This course is very well taken care of, multiple concrete tees on each hole, great signs at the tees, next tee signs, baskets are in great shape also. The tee signs are probably the best I've seen, layout of the hole, next tee direction, distance and elevation change for each tee, pictures of the hole AND a well written description of each hole. Very well done.
The course flows very well, nice use of the elevation on the site, front side makes use of the rocks, back side makes use of a creek. The baskets for 3 and 5 were set into piles of boulders, great use of those. Baskets for 11, 13, 14 and 17 were very close to the creek winding through the back side. Really gives both nines their own personalities.
The one open space on the property is used for both 2 and 9, they got the most use out of that they could.
While this is a heavily wooded property, the fairways are cleared to not make it a throw and pray, pinball type course. 8 has the tightest fairway, but it is straight and designed that way.

Cons:

Very tough to find any cons at Rockness. The transition from 14 to 15 was a little tough, but didn't cause any delay. Course is on the back of Piedmont Comm College and it didn't appear there were any restrooms or drinks available.

Other Thoughts:

Got a chance to meet course designer David Wehrenberg before I started. He was very helpful showing me the first tee and providing any tips possible. Really is cool the way he used the natural features on the site, plus he added some sea monster rock sculptures, and plays over a stone foundation. Couple of nice, fast greens with rollaway potential (yes, 16 cost me a stroke!).
With the fair fairways, great tees, unique pin locations and use of elevation and the creek, this is truly Rockness Heaven.
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9 0
hoppedup
Bronze level trusted reviewer
Experience: 10 years 104 played 27 reviews
4.50 star(s)

2+ years drive by

Reviewed: Updated: Played on:Aug 13, 2019 Played the course:5+ times

Pros:

Signage is important to me. Rockness Monster has possibly the best signage I have ever seen. The tees are clearly marked and each basket has a hanging tag pointing to the next tee. You can not get lost here.

The course itself is on a beautiful, wooded piece of property. There are only two holes that are open. The tee baskets in the rock formations on 3,4 and 5 make for a neat putting experience. With four tee pads on most holes, there really is something here for everyone. We played the whites and the flow was really nice. There are holes for every shot in your repertoire here. While the course is mostly wooded, the fairways are tough but fair.

The drainage here must be pretty good. I played a couple of days after some heavy rain and the course was not muddy at all.

The elevation change gives you a good workout here. A few of the downhill throws let you air it out and the uphills are a good challenge.

I have been to this course twice and didn't see another person either time. If a course of this quality were near a population center it would be crowded all the time. This is probably my favorite of the courses I've played.

The nearby Sasquatch and Kraken courses can be added for a nice day of disc golf

Cons:

For me, the only ding is that it is so far from where I live.

Other Thoughts:

8-13-2019 edit: I have now played 89 courses in 4 states and Rockness Monster is still my favorite. Played the newest 5 holes today. They are an excellent addition to an already great course.
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10 0
reposado
Diamond level trusted reviewer
Experience: 12.7 years 278 played 273 reviews
4.00 star(s)

A Friendly Monster 2+ years drive by

Reviewed: Played on:Nov 2, 2013 Played the course:once

Pros:

It's tempting to describe this course as a monster. If it is, it's a friendly monster. It's not that kind of good course that drags you through the mud, spits you out and maybe you feel the better for it. Rockness is the kind of good course in which every hole is just a joy to throw. Great lines carved through a beautiful forest. Narrow paths lead pleasurably from basket to tee.

It all starts with the tees. While there are three sets, (and wow. These three provide more vastly different looks than any course I've seen to date.) the whites are the best, if only for the flow. From white tee to basket to white tee, this course flows seamlessly. (In contrast, playing blues will require some backtracking) You'd be hard-pressed to make a navigation error here.

The holes themselves, I can't even do justice. You're better off scrolling through the pictures of the tee signs on here. There is just a whole mess of interesting shapes and designs. The course is wooded, but not excessively so. It's one of those landscapes that does not feature a lot of underbrush. Just trees, hills and well, rock.

Oh, yeah, the rock. The course's namesake feature is ever-present. The exposed rock really adds that identity to the course. Sometimes it's used to add difficulty to a green but often it's just there for aesthetics. Still, it's what you'll likely remember the course for.

Strangely, the rocks do not feature much in the two most memorable holes. 11 and 14 are the creek holes. 11 doesn't encounter water until the green, where the basket sits surrounded by a bend. The shallow tributary winds back and forth across 14, requiring precise distance control to ensure that you avoid a disc bath.

Really, this is a course that should appeal to all players. It's a course that screams out for a 4.25. It's a course cries for multiple rounds. Honestly, just get out there. I saw no other humans on a Saturday, which is preposterous. Maybe, people don't know: it's a friendly monster.

Cons:

The only way this course could be improved is if the blue and red tees were made to be as intriguing as the whites are. I hate to say that a layout is perfect but the white here comes pretty close. Even just improving the blue would bump this to a 4.5 for certain.

Other Thoughts:

I'd definitely recommend the white tees for newcomers of all ability levels. It's the full Rockness experience. It's got the detailed tee signs, the perfectly-sized, cement tees and of course the small white statuettes guarding each tee box. The course is definitely designed to be played from here. Experienced players can always play a second round from the blues.
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2 0
Ferris
Experience: 6 played 1 reviews
4.00 star(s)

Great course for beginners and others 2+ years drive by

Reviewed: Played on:Oct 5, 2013 Played the course:once

Pros:

Great signs at each hole give you a feel for the shot. While a wooded course, the fairways were wide and offered several approaches. Can't say enough about how well marked the course is. Played it blind without a map and had no problems finding the next tee. Great use of elevation and terrain (pins surrounded by boulders, two holes surrounded by a creek). This course lived up to the descriptions I had read in previous reviews.

Cons:

Can't really think of any. As a novice player I thought it was great. White tees were just the right length to be challenging. Course is very hilly. I am a heavy set person, but active, and I got a great workout just walking the course. Only negative was hole 17 because I could not find the basket from the tee or the fairway. Barely saw it when I was 25 yards away walking past it.

Other Thoughts:

I had a great time playing this course by myself. The maps and directional markers were great. The course is in the back of the campus. Keep going back and left around the buildings until you see Building S and a sign off in the left corner of that parking lot. The college is behind Northern Middle School. There are signs but it takes some guesswork if coming from Carver Drive. All around great course. The designer should be applauded.
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7 0
Tenacious EJ
Experience: 30.6 years 72 played 13 reviews
4.00 star(s)

Not so much a monster as it is a sexy beast! 2+ years drive by

Reviewed: Played on:Sep 12, 2013 Played the course:once

Pros:

-A challenging but fair wooded course that makes wonderful use of elevation changes, creekbeds, and large rocky formations
-Multiple tees and multiple baskets (red, white, blue, and orange)
-Incredibly beautiful and informative tee signs as well as ample signage to help navigate
-Very well-thought out and cleverly executed
-Starts and ends at the same place, and 9 ends and 10 starts there too, allowing for 9 holes if time doesn't allow for the full 19 holes
-Very nice gravel tees for the blue and white tees

Cons:

-No trash cans
-No pads for red and orange tees, and the orange tees aren't on the signs at all
-Spiders and mosquitoes are plentiful
-Could use a little more variation

Other Thoughts:

This may be the best course around, especially for an average golfer. From the white tees this course plays like a dream. My only complaints are the lack of trash cans and the abundance of spider webs. Seriously, I wish I lived closer to it. The care, design, and thought that went into this course are second to none, and I expect the designers will continue to improve it. The little touches, the whimsical touches, the layout- from beginning to end its clear that this course was and is loved. Its not the hardest course out there, but I enjoyed every hole. In terms of playability, I'd probably boost this to a 4.5, and if there were more variation (an open hole or two) I'd feel confident doing so, but really the Rockness Monster taken as a whole doesn't suffer much from this. Its a beautiful course, well-maintained, challenging but fair, and above all else, fun. What's there not to like?
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4 0
Jawa
Experience: 11.6 years 42 played 8 reviews
4.00 star(s)

Awesome first impression 2+ years drive by

Reviewed: Played on:Apr 6, 2013 Played the course:once

Pros:

I played this course with 2 others. New baskets with tags on them showing the next tee, amazing tee signs showing accurate map. 3 different tees. Reds are natural, white and blue are gravel and are in immaculate conditon. New benches on all holes. Very easy to navigate. Great use of elevation and terrain. Even has steps installed on hills for safer walking. Bridges are new and in great shape. Loops back to parking lot on hole 9 and 18.

Cons:

Not much. Only a issue is if you are out of shape your gonna have a bad time. Some major hills to climb so be warned. Woods are a little tight but it should be for a challenge. Lots of leaves so keep an eye on your disc.

Other Thoughts:

Someone took their time planning this course. I enjoyed playing this. We were the only ones out there on a weekend. IDK where everyone was at. If it wasnt an hour away I'd be playing this more often.
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2 0
Kent18
Experience: 15 years 193 played 17 reviews
4.00 star(s)

Great course from the whites 2+ years drive by

Reviewed: Played on:Jan 21, 2013 Played the course:once

Pros:

This course is awesome if played from the white tee pads. I played this course by myself and had a great time. New baskets, amazing tee signs with detail (Only on the front 9). Some of the best natural tee pads I have ever seen with new tee boxes being constructed as I was playing it. Great layout and use of OB. Course navigation was intuitive and signs were posted everywhere. Benches were on most if not all of the holes.

Cons:

The blue tee pads and overall design from the blues was average. Some blue tee pads had to be doubled back on and really hunted for while you watched your footing on those trails with the overgrowth and two inch stumps that littered those paths. The fairways from the blues were raw in some cases and didn't have that worn feel to them as did the whites. The back nine holes would be great to have the tee signs afforded to the front nine. No bathrooms.

Other Thoughts:

You can tell someone or some club has put in a lot of time here with all the little touches made to the holes. Either I had beginners luck or the white tee pads may be too easy for some especially the advanced player all the more important to see this same care given to the course as it relates from the blue tee pads that the whites have been given. I would be happy to bump this score up when the blue tee pads become more established and thought out. All in all for a course being so new it has come so far in that time. Really can't wait to see this course fully developed.
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1 9
psantos
Experience: 12.6 years 7 played 1 reviews
3.50 star(s)

Rockness 2+ years drive by

Reviewed: Played on:Nov 23, 2012 Played the course:once

Pros:

Good course. It has some technical shots through the woods. Make sure to check out the secret dragon hole off of hole 5.

Cons:

Long, hilly course. You will get a workout playing all 18.

Other Thoughts:

I lost a disc on hole 2 in the woods on the right. Let me know if you find it in your travels.
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