Forest Ridge Park - Old Layout reviews
8
0
OK, we've shown the interest, bring on the permanent course!! 2+ years
Reviewed:
Played on:Nov 27, 2021
Played the course:5+ times
Pros:
Nice to have a course in this part of Raleigh.
Good mix of left and right holes, only 1 open hole, the 9th.
Most days, plenty of parking, the course starts at the end of the parking lot, down the sidewalk.
Brand new DISCatcher portables were added last year (the course is only open a few months at a time), a great improvement over the mix of portables that were used originally.
Also added last year were crushed gravel tees and front toe boards, the toe boards have the Hole #, Par and Distance.
Good mix of left and right holes, only 1 open hole, the 9th.
Most days, plenty of parking, the course starts at the end of the parking lot, down the sidewalk.
Brand new DISCatcher portables were added last year (the course is only open a few months at a time), a great improvement over the mix of portables that were used originally.
Also added last year were crushed gravel tees and front toe boards, the toe boards have the Hole #, Par and Distance.
Cons:
Only a Temp course, to judge usage in the area.
A couple of the newer holes are very tight, tree clearing was minimized.
Hole #8 uses a gravel road for most of the fairway, not my favorite.
#7- a 425' Par 3 plays to a narrowing fairway, then turns left, still in the woods, toward the basket. Its a good hole, but Par 4 seems more appropriate.
A couple of the newer holes are very tight, tree clearing was minimized.
Hole #8 uses a gravel road for most of the fairway, not my favorite.
#7- a 425' Par 3 plays to a narrowing fairway, then turns left, still in the woods, toward the basket. Its a good hole, but Par 4 seems more appropriate.
Other Thoughts:
This temporary course was set up in the first phase of a new park in Raleigh. Eventually, Forest Ridge Park will be 586 acres right on Falls Lake with tons of things to do. Picnic areas, playgrounds, Mountain Bike trails, walking trails and paths, Ropes course, overnight lodge, kayak and canoe rentals, a real destination adventure park.
The DG course in the Master Plan is not in this area of the park, but I understand they wanted to judge interest at this time. This is the 3rd "season" for this course and seems to be pretty popular. The brand new, portable DISCatchers were a nice addition last year.
There are some good holes here, #1 - ample fairway that turns left to a large green, #4 - another wide fairway that turns left and drops down to the green, you have to clear a large, 4-5' wide tree in the fairway, #5 - a valley shot, wooded hole among several downed trees, #9 - a 235' Par 3, tee from a paved walking path, over 75' of high weeds to the basket on short grass, protected by low hanging branches. Fun to finish on a short, open hole.
The Park moved two holes from the initial layout away from the playground areas and added two more in the woods. So this is a short, tight wooded layout, but a pretty quick play.
I really hope a permanent course does get built in this park, it really will be a great destination park. I know CADL has been out for a site visit, so that's a good sign. Since this will be programmed as an adventure park, a DG course will be a nice amenity to those facilities.
The DG course in the Master Plan is not in this area of the park, but I understand they wanted to judge interest at this time. This is the 3rd "season" for this course and seems to be pretty popular. The brand new, portable DISCatchers were a nice addition last year.
There are some good holes here, #1 - ample fairway that turns left to a large green, #4 - another wide fairway that turns left and drops down to the green, you have to clear a large, 4-5' wide tree in the fairway, #5 - a valley shot, wooded hole among several downed trees, #9 - a 235' Par 3, tee from a paved walking path, over 75' of high weeds to the basket on short grass, protected by low hanging branches. Fun to finish on a short, open hole.
The Park moved two holes from the initial layout away from the playground areas and added two more in the woods. So this is a short, tight wooded layout, but a pretty quick play.
I really hope a permanent course does get built in this park, it really will be a great destination park. I know CADL has been out for a site visit, so that's a good sign. Since this will be programmed as an adventure park, a DG course will be a nice amenity to those facilities.
6
0
Ready for a permanent 18...or 36! 2+ years drive by
Reviewed:
Updated:
Played on:Feb 2, 2019
Played the course:5+ times
Pros:
UPDATE: The Forest Ridge temp course is open again for a few months, winter 2019 to spring 2020. And it's improved! Check it out...
This is a temporary course in the Wake Forest / Wakefield area, along Falls Lake. This course was set up by P&R to gauge interest in disc golf and to, hopefully, build momentum for a permanent track (or maybe even more!). If you play this 9-holer, be sure to stop by the park office/visitor center to thank them for installing the course. This has all the potential to be the North Wake version of Buckhorn, if they put in a full 18. As far as this 9-hole temp course goes, here are the pros...
+ For a 9-hole course, it is very technical and challenging. Most holes are very tight and require accuracy. Some variety in distances, ranging from a couple holes at or under 200 feet to hole 7 at 425 feet. Also a little elevation on a few holes.
+ Easy navigation. Once you find the starting hole, it's very easy to follow. The new starting hole is old hole #3. It is right off the round-about near the playground.
+ Very narrow fairways on the extremely short holes, wider ones for the longer holes (for the most part). The fairways are very challenging: intermediate to even advanced level on a few.
+ This is a fair course and appropriate for beginners to advanced players. Advanced players will have no trouble breaking par. Intermediate players will be right at to slightly over par. It's a good layout for beginners, but all skill levels will enjoy it.
+ The new layout has brand new DISCatcher baskets -- upgrade from the temp baskets last time the course was in.
+ The new layout also takes out the problematic holes in the busy section of the park. The disc golf course is now completely private and only for disc golf. Holes 1 and 9 tee off from the greenway path, but you're not throwing towards people.
+ New tee areas (sand/gravel) with hole numbers and yardage marked.
This is a temporary course in the Wake Forest / Wakefield area, along Falls Lake. This course was set up by P&R to gauge interest in disc golf and to, hopefully, build momentum for a permanent track (or maybe even more!). If you play this 9-holer, be sure to stop by the park office/visitor center to thank them for installing the course. This has all the potential to be the North Wake version of Buckhorn, if they put in a full 18. As far as this 9-hole temp course goes, here are the pros...
+ For a 9-hole course, it is very technical and challenging. Most holes are very tight and require accuracy. Some variety in distances, ranging from a couple holes at or under 200 feet to hole 7 at 425 feet. Also a little elevation on a few holes.
+ Easy navigation. Once you find the starting hole, it's very easy to follow. The new starting hole is old hole #3. It is right off the round-about near the playground.
+ Very narrow fairways on the extremely short holes, wider ones for the longer holes (for the most part). The fairways are very challenging: intermediate to even advanced level on a few.
+ This is a fair course and appropriate for beginners to advanced players. Advanced players will have no trouble breaking par. Intermediate players will be right at to slightly over par. It's a good layout for beginners, but all skill levels will enjoy it.
+ The new layout has brand new DISCatcher baskets -- upgrade from the temp baskets last time the course was in.
+ The new layout also takes out the problematic holes in the busy section of the park. The disc golf course is now completely private and only for disc golf. Holes 1 and 9 tee off from the greenway path, but you're not throwing towards people.
+ New tee areas (sand/gravel) with hole numbers and yardage marked.
Cons:
Again, this is a rating of the temp 9-hole course. I'm not rating it on potential or what an amazing 18- or 36-hole course along the lake could look like. Hopefully, that opportunity will come soon enough!
- The course gets extremely muddy after rain. I mean *extremely* muddy.
- The course is a little too lefty- and flick-friendly for my taste, but a great challenge if you need to work on your RHFH (like me).
- The course gets extremely muddy after rain. I mean *extremely* muddy.
- The course is a little too lefty- and flick-friendly for my taste, but a great challenge if you need to work on your RHFH (like me).
Other Thoughts:
Go try out Forest Ridge and remember to talk to the staff there and tell them you enjoy the course!
