Basic Information
Course Location: River Street Park
Geographic Location: Mount Holly, NC (35.30101, -81.00703)
Date Visited: December 2021
Number of Holes: 9
Course Length: 2174 feet, par 27
Cost to Play: free
Difficulty Level: recreational, medium
Carts: should be fine here
Potential to Lose Discs: low, but there is a large creek on the course's north boundary
Park Information: https://www.mtholly.us/community_snapshot/parks___facilities.php
DG Course Review Page: https://www.dgcoursereview.com/course.php?id=6071
UDisc Page: https://udisc.com/courses/river-street-park-MNnp
Driving Directions: On the west side of Charlotte, take I-85 to SR 273 (exit 27). Exit and go north on SR 273. Drive SR 273 north 3.7 miles to SR 27 and turn right on SR 27. In quick succession turn left on Lee Street, right on Elm Avenue, and left on River Street, which deadends at the park. The #1 tee is near the park's restroom building. If you park in the main parking lot, walk uphill and to the right on the gravel trail that exits the rear of the parking lot to reach the restroom building.
Course Constructions:
Tees: 1 per hole; firmly packed fine gravel in a wood frame. The gravel was uneven and provided poor footing on my visit.
Baskets: Innova disccatcher; 1 per hole. Older but in good shape on my visit.
Signage: numbered wooden post to mark each tee.
Amenities: restrooms, basketball court, sand volleyball court, picnic shelters, softball field
Summary Review: 2 Stars (out of 5)
The disc golf course at River Street Park is a short recreational course that plays around and among the park's other facilities. Perhaps the course's best aspect is its setting: the course plays over rolling terrain with sparse large, old trees and beside tranquil and scenic Dutchman's Creek. The disc golf aspects leave somewhat to be desired. The packed fine gravel tees had been compacted in the center by use, thereby making the tee surface uneven. I could get better footing on the course's regular dirt/grass areas than on these tees. Also, there are some routing issues. I had to do some searching to find #4 and #7 tees, and no course map is provided to help. As is typical for this type of course, the route winds among the park's other amenities, so you have to check for pedestrians and cars before each throw. Finally, crime may be an issue here. I saw signs warning against leaving valuables in your car, which is good advice at any park. Overall, if you play disc golf as a way to get some exercise and enjoy a walk through the park (as I do), then this course is a nice option. If you play disc golf for the disc golf, then this course leaves somewhat to be desired.
Hole-by-Hole Review
Distances taken from dgcoursereview website; link provided above. Picture sequence for each hole is 1) tee, 2) approach, 3) basket to tee.
Hole #1: 287 feet, par 3
Comments: a completely flat hole across an open mowed-grass field; enough said. #2 tee is to the right.
Hole #2: 252 feet, par 3
Comments: a replica of hole #1 but playing in the opposite direction. These first 2 holes are easily the two worst holes on this course. #3 tee is behind the basket near the left side of the restroom building.
Hole #3: 253 feet, par 3
Comments: the tee shot is a blind throw over the left side of the hill; the basket you see on top of the hill is #7 basket. The smattering of large trees force an accurate throw, and the steep hill can punish a miss to the left or long. #4 tee is several hundred feet behind the basket downhill beside the creek; follow the gravel access road toward the creek.
Hole #4: 206 feet, par 3
Comments: a single tree stands directly between the tee and basket on this flat creekside hole. I chose to go right of the tree to take advantage of my natural right-to-left disc flight. Scenic Dutchman's Creek is far enough left that only a very bad throw will find it. (Note: the pictures above are tee and approach; I forgot to take a picture from behind the basket on this hole.) #5 tee is to the right behind the sand volleyball court.
Hole #5: 272 feet, par 3
Comments: this hole plays slightly downhill through a narrow corridor with the sand volleyball court to the left and a picnic shelter to the right. The basket is about 10 feet from Dutchman's Creek, so don't overshoot. #6 tee is to the right between the gravel road and the creek.
Hole #6: 215 feet, par 3
Comments: a mostly open hole that is flat at first, but the basket sits on a steep upslope. Moving the basket to the left would bring more trees into play. #7 tee is at the far right corner of the main parking lot; look for the painted lines marking the tee box on the asphalt.
Hole #7: 203 feet, par 3
Comments: the shortest hole on this course plays straight uphill (and straight into a headwind on my visit) through a narrow gap between two trees. Thus, this hole demands an accurate throw to have a birdie opportunity. The wind will be more of a factor at the top of the hill than elsewhere on the course. #8 tee is to the left but still on top of the hill.
Hole #8: 240 feet, par 3
Comments: this downhill hole plays through a couple of gaps in a "fence" of trees. Trains use the railroad behind the basket; they disrupt your mind but not your arm when you throw. #9 tee is to the left along the park boundary.
Hole #9: 246 feet, par 3
Comments: this downhill dogleg right closing hole might be my favorite hole on the course. The tee shot is blind, and a left-to-right disc flight around some trees will be required to attack the basket on the first throw. Dutchman's Creek awaits just beyond the basket to swallow up overthrows. This is a clever and scenic finishing hole on a clever and scenic course.
