Jackson Park Disc Golf Course in Hendersonville, NC

Basic Information

Course Location: Jackson Park

Geographic Location: east side of Hendersonville, NC (35.31853, -82.44624)

Date Visited: August 2023

Number of Holes: 18

Course Length: 6918/5801 feet, par 59/57

Cost to Play: free
Difficulty Level: intermediate

Carts: would be difficult to use due to some stairs and some steep terrain

Potential to Lose Discs: high due to ponds/wetlands and dense woods

Park Information: https://www.hendersoncountync.gov/recreation/page/jackson-park

DG Course Review Page: https://www.dgcoursereview.com/courses/jackson-park.8082

UDisc Page: https://udisc.com/courses/jackson-park-Dbcx

Course Walkabout Video, Front 9:

Course Walkabout Video, Back 9:

Driving Directions: From I-26 and US 64 (exit 49A), head west on US 64 for 1.6 miles to Harris Street; there is a traffic light at this intersection.  Turn left on Harris St.  Drive Harris St. south 0.2 miles to 4th Avenue.  Turn left on 4th Ave. to enter the park.  Drive the main park road 0.4 miles to the asphalt hilltop parking lot for the cultural center and the disc golf course on the left.  #1 tee is to the northeast behind the course map and #4 tee.

Course Constructions:

Tees: concrete, 2 or 3 per hole; blue, white, red in order from back to front

Baskets: Discatcher, 2 on most holes; yellow "long" basket and red "short" basket.  Most holes have 2 or more possible basket positions.

Signage: course map near parking lot; hole sign on each tee; arrows pointing to next tee

Amenities: practice basket; benches on most tees; restrooms near the baseball fields; picnic tables; other amenities elsewhere in the park

Summary Review: 4.5 Stars (out of 5)

The disc golf course at Jackson Park offers a great mixture of holes: long vs. short, hilly vs. flat, wooded vs. open.  The large number of tees and baskets allows you to adjust the course to suit your ability up to a certain point.  The course route has a couple of quirks; for example, you have to walk past #4 tee to get to #1 tee.  Even with all of the signs there were a couple of times I was glad I took a photo of the course map near the parking lot.  That said, the route does form a true loop, and there are a couple of opportunities to short-cut the loop if you want to play fewer holes.  The course constructions are second to none.  The course maintenance was excellent when I came here.  The fairways in the wooded areas looked like they had been cleared recently, and the grass was recently mowed.  This course and park are popular: there were several other groups playing here when I came here on a muggy Tuesday afternoon in early August.  Some hiking and biking trails wind through the course, so you need to check for pedestrians and bicyclists before you throw on several holes.  Though not for beginners, even with the short red baskets, most players will enjoy their round here and feel challenged on most holes.

Hole-by-Hole Review 

Distances taken from hole signs are from the back/front tee to the yellow basket.  Distances and basket positions reflect the position of the yellow basket when I came here.  Picture sequence for each hole is 1) middle/white tee, 2) approach to yellow basket, 3) yellow basket to tee.

Hole #1: 369/312 feet, par 3

Comments: a downhill, very open opening hole with only 2 large trees between the tee and the basket.  A wetland area to the left is out-of-bounds (OB), and it could definitely come into play if you miss left.  This hole has no short/red basket, but it doesn't really need one.  #2 tee is behind the basket in the edge of the woods.

Hole #2: 525/390 feet, par 4/3 (Basket in C position)

Comments: the first really exciting hole.  The tee shot plays out of a chute of trees with some low-hanging branches into an open area.  So you need to keep your disc low, but you also need a good bit of distance if you want to attack the long basket with your second throw: a small pond sits 30 feet in front of the basket.  A chain-link fence just beyond the basket protects a baseball field, and maybe you could use it as a backstop if your approach throw is less than 10 feet high.  This is one of my two favorite holes on this course.  To reach #3 tee, walk back toward #2 tee and angle left around the tennis courts.

Hole #3: 441/264 feet, par 3 (Basket in B position)

Comments: this uphill hole has no obstacles, and it is easily the worst hole on this course.  Planting a few trees here would be a great idea, although this could make a good sledding hill with enough snow.  The parking lot is directly behind the basket if you wanted a quick 3 holes of practice with 1 really good hole or if your disc went scuba diving on hole #2.  #4 tee is to the right near the information board.

Hole #4: 288/231 feet, par 3

Comments: now the course heads into the dense woods, where it will stay for the next 7 holes.  This hole is a slight dogleg left that plays slightly downhill.  The fairway is generously wide for a short densely wooded hole.  (Aside: I forgot to take a picture on the tee of this hole.)  #5 tee is to the right near the #1 tee.

Hole #5: 378/326 feet, par 3

Comments: a tougher hole, longer and with a tighter fairway, than the previous hole.  This hole is more sidehill than downhill, and a disc missing right could roll a long way.  #6 tee is behind the basket.

Hole #6: 345/312 feet, par 3 (Basket in C position)

Comments: another tight, tough sidehill hole.  When the basket is in the C position the approach plays slightly uphill, but putting the basket in the D position makes the hole play longer and more downhill.  #7 tee is uphill to the left.

Hole #7: 459/339 feet, par 3

Comments: similar to the previous 2 holes, but this hole plays the opposite direction across the hillside.  Also, a hiking trail goes in front of the tee, so check for foot traffic before you throw.  #8 tee is uphill to the right.

Hole #8: 546/493 feet, par 4 (Basket in C position)

Comments: another monster of a hole, i.e. long and tight, this hole starts fairly flat before heading downhill as you approach the basket.  This hole completes the stretch of long brutal holes that started with hole #5.  #9 tee is downhill behind the basket and to the right.

Hole #9: 195/165 feet, par 3 (Basket in A position)

Comments: this course's shortest hole is also its signature hole.  This hole plays directly across the ravine with the basket a little higher than the tee.  A rock outcrop behind the A basket position adds to the scenery (and difficulty if the basket is in the longer B position), and some wooden steps are welcome to help you ascend the very steep hillside.  #10 tee is around the ridge behind the basket.

Hole #10: 309/268 feet, par 3 (Basket in B position)

Comments: this sidehill to slightly downhill hole might be the tightest hole on this course, but it is also shorter than some of the previous sidehill holes.  The basket is actually in a fairly open area...after you get through the large number of trees between the tee and basket.  There was also a decent bit of underbrush in the rough when I came here.  To get to #11 tee, walk down the wooden steps behind the basket, then turn left and walk across the main park road.  #11 tee is near the paved bike trail.

Hole #11: 381/310 feet, par 3

Comments: now back out in an open parkland setting, only 2 medium-sized trees stand between the tee and the basket.  While definitely not the best hole on this course, this hole is a nice change from the densely wooded holes before and after it.  2 paved bike paths pass through this area, and I had to wait a couple of minutes before I could throw.  The parking lot is uphill behind the basket if you wanted to stop after 11 holes.  #12 tee is behind the basket near the paved bike trail.

Hole #12: 264/228 feet, par 3

Comments: back into the dense woods we go for this tight and gradually uphill hole.  A dogleg right within 50 feet of the basket encourages a slight left-to-right disc flight, and a good first throw will set up a birdie opportunity.  #13 tee is behind the basket and to the left.

Hole #13: 345/345 feet, par 3

Comments: another tight densely wooded hole, but this hole is fairly flat and straight.  Holes #11 through #13 give you a nice little respite to prepare for what comes next.  To get to #14 tee, walk downhill and out of the woods to the right to reach the paved bike path, then turn right on the paved bike path.  #14 tee is on either side of the bike path in about 100 feet.

Hole #14: 474/456 feet, par 4 (Basket in C position)

Comments: with the basket in the A or B positions, this is a simple fairly open hole with only some overhanging limbs and a wetland to the right to worry about.  With the basket in the C position, this hole becomes a daunting par 4 that plays back into the dense woods and over a small creek.  This is a very clever hole.  The same bike path that came into play on hole #11 also rears its ugly head here, so check for other park users before you throw.  To get to #15 tee, walk to the left, cross the bike path, and then walk uphill.

Hole #15: 477/285 feet, par 4/3 (Basket in B position)

Comments: From the blue tee this hole is a sweeping dogleg right; from the white tee it is almost straight.  It is densely wooded with a decently wide fairway from either tee, and it makes for a doable challenge.  #16 tee is behind the basket; exit the woods and cross the bike path.  The parking lot is across the main park road beyond #16 tee.

Hole #16: 309/309 feet, par 3 (Basket in B position)

Comments: this is the last of the open parkland holes, but a dense cluster of tall pine trees between the tee and the basket needs to be negotiated.  This hole plays slightly downhill, and it is a nice change-of-pace from the densely wooded holes.  #17 tee is uphill to the right and across the main park road.

Hole #17: 321/276 feet, par 3 (Basket in B position)

Comments: a moderately tight hole that plays gradually uphill with a slight dogleg right.  A good throw with a slight left-to-right disc flight is needed to set-up a birdie opportunity.  #18 tee is behind the basket and to the right.

Hole #18: 492/492 feet, par 4 (Basket in C position)

Comments: the finishing hole is one of the longest holes on this course.  A slight dogleg left, the hole starts in dense woods but breaks into the open about 180 feet in front of the yellow basket.  It is a nice varied finishing hole on a nice varied course.  The parking lot is directly behind the basket.