Saturday, August 9, 2025

Linville Hills Park Disc Golf Course in Spartanburg, SC

Basic Information

Course Location: Linville Hills Park
Geographic Location: Spartanburg, SC (34.90266, -81.98519)
Date Visited: August 2025
Number of Holes: 9
Course Length: 1215 feet, par 27
Cost to Play: free
Difficulty Level: beginner
Carts: should be fine
Potential to Lose Discs: low
Course Walkabout Video: (coming March 13, 2026)

Driving Directions: In Spartanburg, take I-26 to SR 296 (exit 22).  Exit and go east on SR 296.  Drive SR 296 east 0.1 miles to SR 215 and turn right on SR 215.  Drive SR 215 south 0.9 miles to Old Anderson Mill Road and turn right on Old Anderson Mill Rd.  The signed park entrance is 0.5 miles ahead on the left.  Park in the only parking lot.  #1 tee is back out the entrance road and to the left as you walk out.

Course Constructions:

Tees: 1 per hole, mixture of turf and pavement
Baskets: 1 per hole, yellow DisCatcher, in good shape on my visit
Signage: hole sign on each tee
Amenities: restrooms, playground, picnic shelters, walking trail

Summary Review: 2.5 Stars (out of 5)

The disc golf course at Linville Hills Park is an official Innova Ace Place, meaning it is designed for beginners or players who want to go on an ace run.  All holes are under 200 feet long, all elevations are very gentle, and there are only a small number of obstacles.  A couple of holes do require you to maneuver your disc, so this course is not a straight pitch-and-putt like some other beginner courses.  A walking trail winds around some of the holes, but the park is not heavily used: I only had to wait for a walker to move before I could throw 1 time.  Course maintenance seemed fine.  The tees are small and uneven, but they are adequate for this type of course.  The flow is fine: I had no trouble finding the next tee without a course map.  Overall, experienced and skilled players will not be challenged here, but that's kind of the point of this course.  If you know what to expect and are OK with playing a course designed for beginners, then there is a quick and pleasant half-round to be had here.  In fact, this is one of the better beginner courses I have ever reviewed.

Hole-by-Hole Review 

Distances taken from hole signs.  Picture sequence for each hole is 1) tee, 2) approach, 3) basket to tee.

Hole #1: 177 feet, par 3
Comments: probably the hardest hole on this course, this hole plays gradually uphill through 3 trees that form the tightest line on this course.  A few more trees guard the basket with some overhanging limbs to boot.  Dense woods and the park boundary lie just a few feet beyond the basket, so don't miss long.  #2 tee is uphill to the left on the paved walking trail.

Hole #2: 126 feet, par 3
Comments: flat and open with a single large tree guarding the front right of the basket.  #3 tee is to the right behind the restroom building.

Hole #3: 169 feet, par 3
Comments: almost as long as the first hole, but this hole plays gradually downhill.  Also, it is completely open except for some overhanging limbs.  #4 tee is to the right on the paved walking trail.

Hole #4: 114 feet, par 3
Comments: short and gradually downhill, the basket is located on a constructed pedestal, which makes putting more interesting.  #5 tee is to the left.

Hole #5: 179 feet, par 3
Comments: playing gradually back uphill, the basket on this course's longest hole is located between 2 large trees.  Keep your disc straight and low for the best approach.  #6 tee is to the left.

Hole #6: 120 feet, par 3
Comments: an interesting hole: a pair of trees directly between the tee and basket forces you to work your disc left-to-right.  The trees also create overhanging limbs, and my confidence took a hit when I hit those limbs with my disc (but I still made par).  #7 tee is behind the basket and to the left.

Hole #7: 126 feet, par 3
Comments: gradually uphill with a single tree guarding the front right of the basket.  #8 tee is behind the basket, past the swing set.

Hole #8: 123 feet, par 3
Comments: another hole with trees directly between the tee and the basket.  A right-to-left disc flight works best this time, and the variety of shot-shapes required makes this a good beginner's course.  The concrete pedestal on which the basket sits is higher than the wooden pedestal on hole #4.  #9 tee is on the walking the trail behind the basket and to the left.

Hole #9: 81 feet, par 3
Comments: very short and straight, but there are several trees right around the basket.  If your disc ends up behind one of those trees, it's a tough birdie putt.  The parking lot is to the left.

Friday, August 1, 2025

Gracely Park Disc Golf Course in Simpsonville, SC

Basic Information

Course Location: Gracely Park
Geographic Location: Simpsonville, SC (34.74038, -82.25166)
Date Visited: July 2025
Number of Holes: 9
Course Length: 1562 feet, par 27
Cost to Play: free
Difficulty Level: beginner
Carts: should be fine
Potential to Lose Discs: low
Course Walkabout Video: (coming February 13, 2026)

Driving Directions: On the south side of Greenville, take I-385 to SR 417 (exit 31A).  Exit and go south on SR 417.  Drive SR 417 south 2.4 miles to Curtis Street and turn left on Curtis St.  Drive Curtis St. east 3 blocks to Academy Street and turn left on Academy St.  The park entrance is 1 block ahead on the right.  #1 tee is behind the basketball court near the rear of the parking lot.

Course Constructions:

Tees: concrete, 1 per hole
Baskets: DisCatcher, 1 per hole, like new on my visit
Signage: a few temporary tee markers, otherwise none
Amenities: basketball court, tennis courts, turf athletic field, splash pad, restrooms

Summary Review: 1.5 Stars (out of 5)

Formerly known as Simpsonville City Park, the park got downsized and renamed with the construction of a new city hall...and so did the disc golf course: an 18-hole recreational course got replaced by a 9 hole beginner's course.  Most holes measure less than 200 feet, and experienced players will feel bad making more than 2 on most of these holes.  Many of the holes are wedged in around the park's other facilities and walking trails.  The land has only subtle elevation changes.  The flow is somewhat disjoint, partly because most tee pads and baskets are unnumbered and unsigned, at least for now.  I actually started on hole #4, and it took me until hole #8 before I realized what hole I was on.  I think I got the hole numbers right in my detailed review below.  Other than the signage, the constructions are quite good for this kind of course.  Due to an adjacent farmers' market, people and therefore safety hazards were everywhere when I came here on a hot Saturday morning in late July.  The crowdedness of this park is one of the main down sides to playing here.  Overall, this course is OK for the beginner's course that it is, but most players won't like what it is.  Also, there are better beginner's courses in upstate South Carolina.

Hole-by-Hole Review 

Distances taken from dgcoursereview.com; link provided above.  Picture sequence for each hole is 1) tee, 2) approach, 3) basket to tee.

Hole #1: 154 feet, par 3
Comments: a single large tree stands directly between the tee and the basket.  You could go either way around that tree, but going right might bring the basketball court into play.  This is one of the few holes on this course that requires you to maneuver your disc.  #2 tee is on the concrete walking trail behind the basket.

Hole #2: 160 feet, par 3
Comments: the upper stormwater collection basin is to the left; otherwise this is a completely open hole. #3 tee is on the concrete plaza uphill and to the right.

Hole #3: 161 feet, par 3
Comments: gradually downhill and very open.  #4 tee is to the right and behind the restroom building.

Hole #4: 174 feet, par 3
Comments: a very open hole except for the lower stormwater collection basin to the left.  A concrete walking path crosses directly in front of the basket, so watch for walkers.  #5 tee is to the left beside the football practice turf.

Hole #5: 154 feet, par 3
Comments: an open hole except for a pair of large trees near the basket.  This hole feels wedged in between the football practice turf to the right and the lower stormwater collection basin to the left.  #6 tee is to the right.

Hole #6: 197 feet, par 3
Comments: another very open, very flat hole.  At least it's a little longer.  #7 tee is behind the basket.

Hole #7: 152 feet, par 3
Comments: an open hole with the basket just over the brow of a hill.  Maybe this hole will be more interesting when those newly planted trees grow bigger.  #8 tee is back up the hill and to the left.

Hole #8: 246 feet, par 3
Comments: the longest hole on this course, several small trees and one large tree guard the line of play.  Wait to throw if you see walkers on the walking path to the right or if players are on the 9th tee.  #9 tee is in the 8th fairway.

Hole #9: 164 feet, par 3
Comments: the tightest and most heavily wooded hole on this course.  A straight throw will still lead to a birdie opportunity.  The parking lot is behind the basket, around the lower stormwater collection basin, and behind the picnic shelter.