Darwin H. Wright Park in Anderson, SC

Basic Information

Course Location: Darwin H. Wright Park

Geographic Location: north side of Anderson, SC (34.57386, -82.68551)

Dates Visited: many, most recently August 2022

Number of Holes: 18

Course Length: 2497 feet, par 54

Cost to Play: free, but park is open only in the summer

Difficulty Level: beginner

Carts: should work fine here

Potential to Lose Discs: low to medium; 2 holes border a lake, 2 holes border a densely wooded ravine, and 2 holes border a boundary fence

Park Information: https://www.cityofandersonsc.com/parks/

DG Course Review Page: https://www.dgcoursereview.com/course.php?id=1119

UDisc Page: https://udisc.com/courses/city-beach-at-darwin-wright-park-LQrq

Driving Directions: Near Anderson, take I-85 to US 178 (exit 21).  Exit and drive south on US 178 less than 1 mile to Manse Jolly Road.  Turn left on Manse Jolly Rd., then immediately turn right to enter the park.  Park in the spaces on the right just past enclosed Shelter #1; the #1 tee is across the entrance road from Shelter #1 (to the left as you drive in).

Course Constructions:

Tees: black turf tees, 1 per hole

Baskets: yellow Innova disccatcher baskets, 1 per hole, in good shape on my visit

Signage: tee sign on every hole, course map near #1 tee

Amenities: restrooms, picnic tables, picnic shelters, trash cans, beach, playground, fishing pier

Summary Review: 2 Stars (out of 5)

Located on a side arm of Lake Hartwell, the disc golf course at Darwin H. Wright Park is a short beginners course or putter park.  The park and course are owned and maintained by the City of Anderson.  Only 1 hole is over 200 feet long.  I felt I had a chance at par on every hole, and I even managed a couple of rare-for-me birdies.  A more skilled player than myself would have a chance at birdie or even ace on every hole.  The course routing makes sense given the moderately wooded area they had to work with, and I never had any trouble finding the next tee.  In a few areas people and/or vehicles can get in the line of play.  The course can be windy due to the lakeside location.  Course maintenance is not terrible but could be better: I encountered some poison ivy and fire ants on this course.  Also, the area around holes #9 and #10 tends to stay muddy for long periods of time.  Overall, this course is OK for what it is, but it has little to offer experienced disc golfers unless they want to practice their putting.

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: 102 feet, par 3

Comments: fairly tight but also one of the shortest holes on the course, an accurate first throw will yield a chance at birdie or even ace.   The basket in the above pics IS in fact the #1 basket: this course was redesigned a few years ago from a 9 hole "regulation" course to an 18 hole putter park, and the old basket number still shows through on the basket's back side.  #2 tee is to the left and back toward #1 tee.

Hole #2: 127 feet, par 3

Comments: another short hole with strategically-placed trees, the ravine on the right is very densely wooded.  Missing right will mean a tough recovery or even a lost disc.  #3 tee is behind the basket just past the small picnic shelter.

Hole #3: 138 feet, par 3

Comments: the densely wooded ravine now gets tighter on the right, so more caution is warranted than on #2.  Still, a good first throw will yield a chance at birdie.  #4 tee is across the road to the left.

Hole #4: 143 feet, par 3

Comments: another short hole that winds through strategically-placed trees, this hole plays the opposite direction as #3.  Watch for people near the restroom building and vehicles on the road to the left before you throw.  #5 tee is to the right beside the restroom building.

Hole #5: 132 feet, par 3

Comments: similar to hole #4 but plays the opposite direction.  I had my first run-in with fire ants on this hole.  #6 tee is behind the basket.

Hole #6: 140 feet, par 3

Comments: this hole plays through a chute with trees tight on each side.  Your first throw will need to be accurate to have a birdie chance here.  #7 tee is back toward the tee and to the right.

Hole #7: 175 feet, par 3

Comments: at last we reach the first fairly open hole, and fittingly it is also the 3rd longest hole on the course.  Some power as well as accuracy will be needed to make birdie here.  Watch for vehicles on the road to the right: it probably should be OB but is not marked as such.  #8 tee is behind the basket flush against the boundary fence.

Hole #8: 114 feet, par 3

Comments: private property sits across the boundary fence immediately to the right, and some barbed wire on top of the fence discourages you from trying to sneak over and retrieve your disk should your first throw get away from you.  The basket sits in the trees to the left, so a well-controlled hyzer will be necessary to get close in one throw.  #9 tee is to the right and (again) flush against the boundary fence.

Hole #9: 123 feet, par 3

Comments: very similar in spirit to #8, this hole is more downhill and features a sharper dogleg left.  This is a sneaky hard hole, especially if your first throw is poor.  #10 tee is behind the basket and to the left.

Hole #10: 218 feet, par 3

Comments: the longest hole on the course, this hole is also fairly tight and somewhat uphill.  Therefore, this is the hardest hole on the course.  I also found the largest patch of poison ivy on the left side of this fairway.  #11 tee is to the right.

Hole #11: 140 feet, par 3

Comments: the first basket you might see (straight ahead) is actually #13 basket; the one for this hole is kind of around the corner of the woods to the right.  So a good anhyzer throw between trees is needed to get close to the basket in 1 throw.  The fact that the hole plays slightly downhill helps.  #12 tee is to the right.

Hole #12: 133 feet, par 3

Comments: another tight, slightly downhill throw between trees.  #13 tee is to the left and back toward the tee.

Hole #13: 129 feet, par 3

       

Comments: this hole plays back uphill parallel to #12.  You have to pick your line carefully between the trees.  #14 tee is behind the basket.

Hole #14: 101 feet, par 3

Comments: the shortest hole on the course, but 3 trees guard the basket.  An accurate throw through the trees is required to have a chance at an ace.  This might be my favorite hole on this course.  #15 tee is behind the basket near the restroom building.

Hole #15: 196 feet, par 3

Comments: after the shortest hole on the course comes the second longest, but a gradual downslope means this hole does not play as long as the distance.  Also, the gaps between the trees are wider than on some other holes.  The lake sits just behind the basket, and thus this hole provides your first broad lake view.  #16 tee is to the left.

Hole #16: 149 feet, par 3

Comments: this hole plays right beside the lake, and therefore it is the sunniest and most scenic hole on this course.  A tee shot that misses right could go for a swim.  Also, the picnic and swimming areas are not far behind the basket, so look for people near the basket before you throw.  #17 tee is back toward #16 tee but slightly uphill.

Hole #17: 126 feet, par 3

Comments: this hole plays back uphill away from the lake.  A cluster of trees directly between the tee and the basket force a shaped throw if you want to get close for a birdie.  #18 tee is on the right side of the restroom building.

Hole #18: 111 feet, par 3

Comments: this hole is similar to #14 but with fewer trees around the basket, and thus it is an easy birdie with a good first throw.  Mind the parking lot behind the basket when throwing here.