Did you know that the Lake Norman area has 8 Disc Golfing courses? With August 3rd being National Disc Golfing day, I think it’s a great idea to highlight all the courses around Lake Norman!
“Disc golf is similar to traditional golf, however, instead of using golf clubs and balls aiming for a hole, disc golf players use disc golf discs and aim for a disc golf basket which is a pole extending up from the ground with chains and a basket where the disc lands. The object of the game is to complete each hole in the fewest number of throws, starting from a tee area and finishing with the disc coming to rest in the basket. Generally, a course is made up of 9 or 18 holes. Players start at hole one and complete the course in order, playing through to the last hole. The player with the lowest total cumulative throws wins. Disc golf differs from traditional golf in important ways. Disc golf courses can use a wide variety of terrain. Often times, land not suitable for other park activities or development is the perfect terrain for a disc golf course. Disc golf is one of the best lifetime fitness sports. It is easy to learn, a healthy activity, and accessible to people of all ages and fitness levels. If you can throw a Frisbee® and you like to have fun, you can play disc golf. Today there are over 7,500 disc golf courses in the United States and millions of people who have played the game. Since 1976, there have been over 100,000 members of the Professional Disc Golf Association and players can compete in more than 3,500 sanctioned tournaments annually*. The positive experience with disc golf and the growing demand for more courses have led to the expansion of the sport all over the country, from small towns to urban areas.” – How to Play Disc Golf
Cornelius
- Robbins Park – Plays through a mature forest that is bordered on both sides by fields. A small stream runs through the middle of the course and is in play on all but 5 of the holes. There is quite a bit of elevation and a number of fast greens.
- Bailey Road Park – Short course, complete redesign in 2010; great for beginners. Hosted both the Juniors and Grandmasters during the 2012 Amateur Worlds Championships.
Davidson
- Davidson College – Short, wooded college campus course. Hole #1 and #18 are in Patterson Court (open field surrounded by student housing (Greek Life)) and are the longest holes on the course. This course requires good accuracy on holes #2 – #17 (wooded area across the street between Patterson Ct Cir, Ridge Road, and N. Main Street).
- Brackett’s Bluff – Private course, maintained by the Brackett family. Mostly wooded with tight fairways and a lot of variety and elevation change. Some of the most unique shots in the Charlotte area.
Denver
- Beatty’s Ford Park – Short but very technical course. Most holes are tight with turns through woods. An elevated basket on hole 5. Out of bounds on a few holes. Small white markers in the grass for tees. The first hole is past the parking lot and cul-de-sac, then well-marked trails to next hole.
- Rescue Squad Park – Follows a valley along the back of the park through mature and relatively clear forest. All but 2 holes utilize elevation changes. The course is still under construction but baskets are installed, fairways, cut and mostly dragged and tees marked with PVC pipes set in the ground. Some tees are framed leveled and ready for play. Signage, and stairs, and full bridges are very soon to follow.
Huntersville
- Bradford Park – A good mix of open and wooded holes with some terrain and minimal O.B. For a 9 hole loop play 1-4, 14-18. Transition is to right of 4’s basket.
Mooresville
- Stumpy Creek – Dual tees marked with 6×6 poles (short = white, long = blue). Elevation changes make this a tough course on a hot day – bring water. Long tees are a challenge. Water fountain and drink dispensing machine at the restroom on the walk between basket 14 & tee 15.
- Cornelius Road Park – Challenging – a mostly wooded course that puts great emphasis on shot placement and course management skills. Lots of OB ravines (if it goes over) and tight landing zones.