SAS Institute reviews
5
0
Fun short private course 2+ years drive by
Reviewed:
Played on:Nov 11, 2021
Played the course:2-4 times
Pros:
+ Very well maintained, with no brush to speak of.
+ Good quality tee pads and baskets.
+ Good for beginners and just enough challenge to be interesting to more experienced players.
+ SAS campus is very nice, with a mix of recreational facilities.
+ Some interesting random artwork for the aesthetically inclined.
+ Doesn't seem to be heavily played, though it is hard to judge in pandemic times.
+ Good quality tee pads and baskets.
+ Good for beginners and just enough challenge to be interesting to more experienced players.
+ SAS campus is very nice, with a mix of recreational facilities.
+ Some interesting random artwork for the aesthetically inclined.
+ Doesn't seem to be heavily played, though it is hard to judge in pandemic times.
Cons:
- Somewhat repetitive with no real signature holes.
- Supposed pars are ridiculously generous. Play all of the holes as par 3 for more of a challenge.
- Apparently it can be difficult to play when other sports are in progress.
- Baskets aren't very well marked and are hard to see.
- Supposed pars are ridiculously generous. Play all of the holes as par 3 for more of a challenge.
- Apparently it can be difficult to play when other sports are in progress.
- Baskets aren't very well marked and are hard to see.
Other Thoughts:
Fun short course. I can't see myself playing it regularly, but I have no real complaints. As long as you aren't expecting too much from the course, it is an enjoyable place to play a quick round. Does require that you have an employee ID or are the guest of an employee.
7
1
Nice corporate campus course 2+ years drive by
Reviewed:
Updated:
Played on:Jan 23, 2019
Played the course:5+ times
Pros:
I have played all of the listed corporate campus disc golf courses in the Triangle. Among those, SAS is the best 9-hole course of the bunch. IBM has a legit 18-hole course and is the best overall. But of the 9-hole tracks, SAS is #1. Here is my ranking and ratings for the RTP courses:
1. IBM - 3.0 (only 18-hole track of the bunch)
2. SAS - 2.0
3. LORD - 1.5
4. RTI - 1.5
5. Cisco - 1.0 (aka Marcom Woods)
6. Lenovo - 1.0
What makes SAS a good 9-hole course?
+ For a 9-hole campus course, it's very scenic -- with rolling hills, mature forest, and a couple park style holes. There's even a sculpture on hole 7. (Not sure what it is, but it looks artistic!) SAS is a very pretty campus...and they did a great job of selecting a piece of land to build a quality DG course. Despite being on a busy corporate campus where thousands of people work, you actually feel like you're in a suburban park, if not in a forest (at least on a few holes).
+ There's really good elevation on this course. There are a few uphill holes and some downhill holes. Nice variety.
+ While it's a little short (not uncommon at all for a 9-holer), it provides a decent challenge. There are trees to contend with. The 8th basket is on a ridge, providing a good risk/reward, death putt situation. And you do get to the distance holes on the back half of the course.
+ The concrete tee pads are great. They're long and wide enough as well as level.
+ Navigation was easy and intuitive. You just have to find the 1st tee (near the road, behind the picnic shelter). There are scorecards in a mailbox by the 1st tee, which is really nice. There's a map on the scorecard as well as OB instructions and suggested pars. It's all very well done.
+ DGA baskets are fine, although I wish there were flags or something bright on them. They're hard to spot at dusk.
+ Holes 7-9 are much longer holes and more wide open. They add a nice open/woods variety element to the track.
1. IBM - 3.0 (only 18-hole track of the bunch)
2. SAS - 2.0
3. LORD - 1.5
4. RTI - 1.5
5. Cisco - 1.0 (aka Marcom Woods)
6. Lenovo - 1.0
What makes SAS a good 9-hole course?
+ For a 9-hole campus course, it's very scenic -- with rolling hills, mature forest, and a couple park style holes. There's even a sculpture on hole 7. (Not sure what it is, but it looks artistic!) SAS is a very pretty campus...and they did a great job of selecting a piece of land to build a quality DG course. Despite being on a busy corporate campus where thousands of people work, you actually feel like you're in a suburban park, if not in a forest (at least on a few holes).
+ There's really good elevation on this course. There are a few uphill holes and some downhill holes. Nice variety.
+ While it's a little short (not uncommon at all for a 9-holer), it provides a decent challenge. There are trees to contend with. The 8th basket is on a ridge, providing a good risk/reward, death putt situation. And you do get to the distance holes on the back half of the course.
+ The concrete tee pads are great. They're long and wide enough as well as level.
+ Navigation was easy and intuitive. You just have to find the 1st tee (near the road, behind the picnic shelter). There are scorecards in a mailbox by the 1st tee, which is really nice. There's a map on the scorecard as well as OB instructions and suggested pars. It's all very well done.
+ DGA baskets are fine, although I wish there were flags or something bright on them. They're hard to spot at dusk.
+ Holes 7-9 are much longer holes and more wide open. They add a nice open/woods variety element to the track.
Cons:
Despite being a really good 9-hole course, it is, still, just a 9-hole course...
- A short course, except for the last three holes, SAS won't provide a stiff challenge for advanced-level players. Intermediate-level players should shoot under par.
- The baskets need flags or something to stand out in the woods. Some are not visible from the tees.
- I don't think this is a big problem since traffic isn't an issue on the course, but the middle holes are pretty mashed together. The 3rd and 5th baskets are very close together. (I accidentally threw to the 5th basket from the 3rd tee.) Holes 4, 5, and 6 are parallel to each other. Again, this isn't a big problem if no one else is on the course. (When I played, I was the only person there.)
- The suggested pars on the scorecards and tee signs are kind of a joke. Hole 3 is a 225-foot par 4, hole 5 is a 250-foot par 4, hole 8 is a 360-foot par 5, and hole 9 is a 299-foot par 4. Hole 8 is pretty long and hole 9 is 300 feet and uphill, but they should all be par 3's.
- It gets extremely muddy here when it rains. The early holes are basically in a mud pit.
- A short course, except for the last three holes, SAS won't provide a stiff challenge for advanced-level players. Intermediate-level players should shoot under par.
- The baskets need flags or something to stand out in the woods. Some are not visible from the tees.
- I don't think this is a big problem since traffic isn't an issue on the course, but the middle holes are pretty mashed together. The 3rd and 5th baskets are very close together. (I accidentally threw to the 5th basket from the 3rd tee.) Holes 4, 5, and 6 are parallel to each other. Again, this isn't a big problem if no one else is on the course. (When I played, I was the only person there.)
- The suggested pars on the scorecards and tee signs are kind of a joke. Hole 3 is a 225-foot par 4, hole 5 is a 250-foot par 4, hole 8 is a 360-foot par 5, and hole 9 is a 299-foot par 4. Hole 8 is pretty long and hole 9 is 300 feet and uphill, but they should all be par 3's.
- It gets extremely muddy here when it rains. The early holes are basically in a mud pit.
Other Thoughts:
This course is on private property, so you have to get a SAS employee to play with you or take you to it. There's a security gate to even get on the SAS campus, so don't show up and expect to play.
Overall, this is a very nice 9-hole course. If you have a SAS connection or work there, check it out!
Overall, this is a very nice 9-hole course. If you have a SAS connection or work there, check it out!
1
0
jmpavlec
Experience:
78 played
13 reviews
Nice practice course 2+ years drive by
Reviewed:
Played on:Oct 6, 2014
Played the course:once
Pros:
-Nice tee pads and baskets
-Easy navigation
-Usually not many people playing
-Easy navigation
-Usually not many people playing
Cons:
-Only 9 holes (not really room for anymore though)
-Hole 8 and 9 can be tricky to play sometimes. Hole 8 can be obstructed by Ultimate Frisbee and Hole 9 by walkers.
-Some holes play with parallel fairways (4,5,6) so you have to be careful.
-All holes are reachable off the tee (except maybe 8 or 9 if you don't have a big enough arm)
-Private but thats understandable given it is on a company's campus
-Hole 8 and 9 can be tricky to play sometimes. Hole 8 can be obstructed by Ultimate Frisbee and Hole 9 by walkers.
-Some holes play with parallel fairways (4,5,6) so you have to be careful.
-All holes are reachable off the tee (except maybe 8 or 9 if you don't have a big enough arm)
-Private but thats understandable given it is on a company's campus
Other Thoughts:
I'd give it a 2.25 if it let me. It's better than a 2, but not quite a 2.5.
On a hot day, you can't beat playing hole 1-6 for a quick few rounds. It is almost entirely shaded and offers quite a few ace runs.
Hole 1 plays a nice RHBH slow hyzer around some trees. The basket is fairly well guarded from the tee pad.
Hole 2 is one of the few of the first 6 that would be difficult to ace. There is a road behind the basket so getting it there without risking hitting walkers can be difficult.
Hole 3 plays uphill back toward the first basket. You'll also see hole #5 basket in the background.
Hole 4 plays along a slope, you'll want to stay away from the left side unless you want to slide down the hill.
Hole 5 plays back into the woods despite the tee sign seemingly pointing you out towards hole #7. It splits the fairway between 3 and 6 so it can be dangerous if crowded.
Hole 6 is the best ace run, dead straight without anything in the way.
Hole 7 is an right to left shot out through some trees with the parking lot on the right side. It becomes slightly harder during the spring/fall as the trees take away the easy line.
Hole 8 plays out in the open and shares the outfield of a baseball field. There is frequently a game of ultimate frisbee going on during lunch time so watch out for the players.
Hole 9 plays up over a little hill then down and up again with some trees in play on both sides. You can play the pine straw as out of bounds for extra challenge.
On a hot day, you can't beat playing hole 1-6 for a quick few rounds. It is almost entirely shaded and offers quite a few ace runs.
Hole 1 plays a nice RHBH slow hyzer around some trees. The basket is fairly well guarded from the tee pad.
Hole 2 is one of the few of the first 6 that would be difficult to ace. There is a road behind the basket so getting it there without risking hitting walkers can be difficult.
Hole 3 plays uphill back toward the first basket. You'll also see hole #5 basket in the background.
Hole 4 plays along a slope, you'll want to stay away from the left side unless you want to slide down the hill.
Hole 5 plays back into the woods despite the tee sign seemingly pointing you out towards hole #7. It splits the fairway between 3 and 6 so it can be dangerous if crowded.
Hole 6 is the best ace run, dead straight without anything in the way.
Hole 7 is an right to left shot out through some trees with the parking lot on the right side. It becomes slightly harder during the spring/fall as the trees take away the easy line.
Hole 8 plays out in the open and shares the outfield of a baseball field. There is frequently a game of ultimate frisbee going on during lunch time so watch out for the players.
Hole 9 plays up over a little hill then down and up again with some trees in play on both sides. You can play the pine straw as out of bounds for extra challenge.
