A.K. Fraley Park Disc Golf Course in Big Stone Gap, VA

Basic Information

Course Location: A.K. Fraley Park

Geographic Location: Big Stone Gap, VA (36.86661, -82.76686)

Date Visited: April 2026

Number of Holes: 9

Course Length: 1927 feet, par 27

Cost to Play: free
Difficulty Level: recreational, low

Carts: should have no problems

Beginner Friendly? yes

Potential to Lose Discs: low, except for very errant throws into the creek

Park Information: https://bigstonegap.com/parks-trails/a-k-fraley-park/

DG Course Review Page: https://www.dgcoursereview.com/courses/big-stone-gap-dgc.9434

UDisc Page: https://udisc.com/courses/a-k-fraley-park-duck-park-AoEp

Course Walkabout Video: (coming April 9, 2027)

Driving Directions: From downtown Big Stone Gap, drive Wood Avenue east 2 blocks to Spring Street and turn right on Spring St.  Drive Spring St. southeast 0.4 miles to the perpendicular parking lot for the park on the right.  Park here.  #1 tee is at the east end of the parking lot.

Course Constructions:

Tees: concrete, 1 per hole although a few holes have 2

Baskets: Veteran, 1 per hole, although a few holes have 2

Signage: hole sign on each tee

Amenities: port-o-let, a few benches, trash can, paved walking trail

Summary Review: 2 Stars (out of 5)

There are 2 courses in Big Stone Gap, Virginia: a difficult heavily wooded 18 hole course called The Ridge and the short, flat, mostly open 9 hole course at A.K. Fraley Park, which is also known locally as "Duck Park" due to a duck crossing road sign near #8 tee.  The Ridge was hard to play due to poor maintenance when I came to this area, so I went to A.K. Fraley Park.  The park has a beautiful stream-side location, and it consists of just a smattering of trees in a mowed-grass area.  The course has no elevation of note, and all holes but 1 measure less than 300 feet.  I thought about ranking the difficulty of this course as "beginner," but the 307 and 282 foot holes together with a couple of somewhat tight lines caused me to bump it up to "recreational, low."  That said, this course is very beginner friendly.  The tees and baskets are better than you would expect for a 9 hole local park course.  A paved walking trail would be a safety hazard, but nobody was using that trail when I came here on a pleasant Monday afternoon in late April.  There was one other group playing the course.  The course maintenance was fine, but I did see quite a bit of trash laying around the course.  I had no trouble following the course route.  If you are driving through Big Stone Gap, this course is a nice place to stop, stretch your legs, and practice your putting, and this course is fine for what it is.  Beginners will enjoy this half-round, but skilled and experienced players will leave unchallenged and unsatisfied.

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: 157 feet, par 3

Comments: Short, straight, and open, this is a good hole for trying to make an ace.  #2 tee is to the right.

Hole #2: 192 feet, par 3

Comments: same as hole #1 but longer and playing the opposite direction.  The basket is located atop a stump, which is either a gimmick or good hole design that makes putting more challenging, depending on your point of view.  #3 tee is to the left and about halfway back to #2 tee.

Hole #3: 307 feet, par 3

Comments: a couple of trees guard the right side of the fairway.  Also, the creek is only a few feet beyond the basket, so don't miss long.  This is the only hole where your disc may find the creek even with a decent throw.  #4 tee is to the right, near the middle of the park.

Hole #4: 178 feet, par 3

Comments: The closest tree yet guards the right side of the fairway, plus the basket is directly underneath another tree.  A left-to-right tee shot that finishes just short and right of the basket leaves the easiest birdie putt.  #5 tee is behind the basket, near the treeline.

Hole #5: 282 feet, par 3

Comments: A single tree guards the left side of the fairway, while 2 trees guard the right side.  The fairway between those trees is plenty wide to accept a good throw.  The creek could come into play if you miss way left.  #6 tee is to the right, near the church.

Hole #6: 220 feet, par 3

Comments: A pair of trees stands directly between the tee and the basket and only about 25 feet in front of the basket.  There is room to go around those trees on either side; I chose to go right and it worked fine.  #7 tee is to the left.

Hole #7: 189 feet, par 3

Comments: The first 50 feet is the tightest line on this course, but after that this hole opens up nicely with only a couple of trees guarding the right side of the basket.  Keep your disc flying straight at first!  #8 tee is to the right, beside the road.

Hole #8: 171 feet, par 3

Comments: The gap between the trees about 50 feet in front of the tee will only be a problem for beginners, and this is a mostly open hole with a single tree guarding the long/right corner of the basket.  #9 tee is to the right, behind #7 tee.

Hole #9: 231 feet, par 3

Comments: You will need a low right-to-left throw to get around the tree and under the limbs.  #8 basket is a little too close for comfort on the left, but this is a seldom-used course plus you just played that basket.  The parking lot is behind the basket.

Mount Carmel City Park Disc Golf Course near Kingsport, TN

Basic Information

Course Location: Mount Carmel City Park

Geographic Location: Mount Carmel, TN (36.55027, -82.66338)

Date Visited: April 2026

Number of Holes: 9

Course Length: 2160 feet, par 27

Cost to Play: free
Difficulty Level: recreational, low

Carts: probably fine, but expect some steep areas

Beginner Friendly? yes, if you can tolerate some steep areas

Potential to Lose Discs: low to medium: some dense woods

Park Information: https://mountcarmeltn.gov/business_detail_T4_R12.php

DG Course Review Page: https://www.dgcoursereview.com/courses/mount-carmel-park.12977

UDisc Page: https://udisc.com/courses/mt-carmel-city-park-cHTu

Course Walkabout Video: (coming June 4, 2027)

Driving Directions: In extreme northeast Tennessee, take I-26 to US 11W (exit 1).  Exit and go west on US 11W.  Drive US 11W west 4.1 miles to Hammond Avenue and turn right on Hammond Ave.  Drive Hammond Ave. north 0.6 miles to Oak Street and turn left on Oak St.  Drive Oak St. west 1 block to Park Lane and turn left on Park Ln., which deadends in the park.  Pass Willow Street, then turn right to park in the parking lot in front of the picnic shelter and restroom building.  #1 tee is beside the restroom building.

Course Constructions:

Tees: concrete or asphalt, 1 per hole

Baskets: Veteran, 1 per hole

Signage: hole sign on each tee

Amenities: restrooms in season, some benches, Veterans memorial, playground, picnic shelter, paved walking trail, pickleball and basketball courts

Summary Review: 2 Stars (out of 5)

The disc golf course at Mount Carmel City Park is a short 9-holer that consists of 6 good holes, 1 potentially problem hole, and 2 semi-filler holes, in that order.  The course has more elevation than you would expect for a small city park, and the designers got about as much out of that elevation as possible.  Every hole but 1 measures less than 300 feet, and there are no particularly tight holes.  Thus, this course could be considered a beginners' course were it not for the elevation.  Some of that elevation is close to some baskets, so putting may be the most challenging part of this course.  The real weakness of this course is the last 3 holes (see the hole-by-hole review below), but with the land the designer had to work with there is no obvious other way to lay out 9 holes.  The course route crosses itself once, but the flow is not too bad all things considered.  There were a few other people walking around the park or using the playground when I came here on a warm late April afternoon, but I was the only player on the course.  Course maintenance is passable: the fairways through the wooded areas could use some clearing.  Overall, nobody will go out of their way to play here, but this course works as an add-on if you come to this area to play one of the fantastic courses (Cliffside or Lakefront) at nearby Warriors Path State Park.

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: 199 feet, par 3

Comments: The tightest hole on this course, this hole plays down and up across a gradual ravine.  There are a couple of possible lines through the trees, but the straight line is as wide as any.  This hole is short enough that a straight throw should yield a birdie putt.  #2 tee is to the left.

Hole #2: 209 feet, par 3

Comments: steeply downhill; a few trees stand between the tee and the basket.  Throwing down the paved walking path with a slight right-to-left disc flight worked for me.  #3 tee is behind the basket.

Hole #3: 228 feet, par 3

Comments: This hole plays the opposite direction, and therefore it plays steeply back up the hill.  A single large tree stands directly between the tee and the basket.  There is room to go either way around that tree, but if you hit that tree you will be scrambling for par.  Pick a line and execute a throw.  #4 tee is to the right near the picnic shelter.

Hole #4: 296 feet, par 3

Comments: gradually downhill, the fairway has a left-to-right cross slope, and there is a steep ravine to the right.  Thus, you want to favor the left side: if your disc gets rolling to the right, it could roll a long way.  This hole is more or less completely open except for the slope.  #5 tee is around the rim of the hill to the right, behind #7 tee.

Hole #5: 207 feet, par 3

Comments: similar to hole #2 but much tighter and with overhanging limbs creating a low ceiling.  A low straight throw will yield a birdie putt.  #6 tee is behind the basket and to the right.

Hole #6: 343 feet, par 3

Comments: The longest and by far the hardest hole on this course, this hole plays steeply uphill.  The fairway is reasonably wide, but there are plenty of trees on either side.  Even though you'll need all of the distance you can muster, you'll still need some accuracy.  This hole is a great and fair test.  Part of me wishes this course ended here because this is the last good hole.  #7 tee is to the right, behind #5 tee.

Hole #7: 272 feet, par 3

Comments: Now we get to the (potentially) problem hole.  This hole plays moderately uphill, but it plays directly over a bench with a concert area too close to the left.  Of course you can't play this hole if there are people in either of those places.  There are also some overhanging branches, so that bench is very much in play even if it is empty.  The basket is on a steep upslope with the fence around the tennis courts just behind the basket.  The putting challenge may be the best thing about this hole.  #8 tee is behind the basket diagonally across the tennis courts.

Hole #8: 198 feet, par 3

Comments: This course closes with 2 very open holes that play back and forth across a wide open field.  This hole's tee is depressed about 5 feet below the fairway, but otherwise there are no obstacles on this hole.  #9 tee is to the left.

Hole #9: 208 feet, par 3

Comments: same in spirit as the previous hole.  The basket is in a tricky position: right beside a tree and with a steep dropoff to the right.  At least the putt is interesting.  The parking lot is behind the basket and behind the Veterans memorial.