Basic Information
Course Location: Richmond Hill Park
Geographic Location: north side of Asheville, NC (35.61836, -82.58863)
Date Visited: September 2024
Number of Holes: 18
Course Length: 5773/4710 feet, par 59/54
Cost to Play: free
Difficulty Level: intermediate
Difficulty Level: intermediate
Carts: not advisable due to many stairs and steep areas
Potential to Lose Discs: medium due to dense woods
Park Information: https://www.asheville.com/directory/richmond-hill-park/
DG Course Review Page: https://www.dgcoursereview.com/courses/richmond-hill.453
UDisc Page: https://udisc.com/courses/richmond-hill-ngYh
Course Walkabout Video (Front 9): (coming May 23, 2025)
Course Walkabout Video (Back 9): (coming May 30, 2025)
Driving Directions: On the north side of Asheville, take I-26 to SR 251 (exit 25). Exit and head south on Riverside Drive; accomplish this by taking 2 quick left turns if you are coming I-26 west or by going straight at the end of the exit ramp if you are coming I-26 east. Drive Riverside Dr. south 0.5 miles to Pearson Bridge Road and turn right on Pearson Bridge Rd. Drive Pearson Bridge Rd. west 0.3 miles and take a sharp right on Richmond Hill Drive. Drive Richmond Hill Dr., a narrow and winding residential street, 1 mile to the park entrance at a traffic circle. Take the first exit from the traffic circle to enter the park, and park in the only parking lot. #1 tee is at the rear of the parking lot.
Course Constructions:
Tees: concrete, 1 per hole
Baskets: Discatcher, 1 per hole, but most holes have 2 possible basket positions
Signage: course map at picnic shelter near parking lot; hole sign on each tee
Amenities: practice basket, benches on most holes, picnic shelter, hiking/mountain biking trails
Summary Review: 5 Stars (out of 5)
The disc golf course at Richmond Hill Park is widely regarded as the best course in western North Carolina (i.e. the part of the state west of Charlotte), and for good reason. The course occupies a very hilly and heavily wooded plot of land. 17 holes play through the woods; only hole #16 is fairly open. You will need to be skillful and accurate in order to score well even though the course is not particularly long. A hiking trail does cut through the course, but it does so mostly at places that do not pose safety hazards. The course constructions and course maintenance are flawless. The thought did occur to me that a set of shorter tees would make the course more beginner-friendly. There are no signs pointing to the next tee, but the trail through the woods leading to the next tee is obvious. I never had to use my photo of the course map to assist with navigation. The course is heavily used: I came here on a beautiful Saturday afternoon and there was at least 1 group on almost every hole. In spite of the long round with long waiting times on several tees, I had a great time here. It is worth making a trip to Asheville to play here.
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: 248/180 feet, par 3 (Basket in long position)
Comments: a gentle gradually downhill opening hole, reasonably short with a reasonably wide fairway. Aiming at the tree directly ahead with a slight left-to-right disc flight should lead to a birdie opportunity. #2 tee is behind the basket.
Hole #2: 294/219 feet, par 3 (Basket in short position)
Comments: similar to the previous hole but a little tighter, and now you need to work your disc right-to-left to get close to the basket. If your first 2 drives are good, you should be 2 under par at this point. #3 tee is behind the basket and to the right.
Hole #3: 230/193 feet, par 3 (Basket in short position)
Comments: another short and gradually downhill hole, but this hole is much tighter than the first 2. The direct line is the most obvious line, and a long straight throw will lead to a 3rd straight birdie opportunity. #4 tee is down the wooden stairs to the left.
Hole #4: 257/211 feet, par 3 (Basket in short position)
Comments: For the first time the elevation this course is famous for becomes apparent: this hole plays straight up a steep hill. Nevertheless, the fairway is tight but not super tight, and the hole is reasonably short. Thus, another good throw will lead to another birdie opportunity. I sure hope you are under par at this point. #5 tee is uphill behind the basket.
Hole #5: 420/343 feet, par 4/3 (Basket in long position)
Comments: now the real excitement begins. This long hole plays directly across a steep ravine, but the basket is higher than the tee. Any line you choose is super tight, and which line is best depends on how aggressive you care to be. While this hole is do-able, it will take a very good throw. #6 tee is uphill behind the basket.
Hole #6: 289/239 feet, par 3 (Basket in long position)
Comments: Next comes a hole of the more "normal" variety that is more akin to the first 3 holes that to the previous one. This slight dogleg left is tight but not super tight, and the gradual downhill makes it fairly short. This is a nice relaxing hole after a tough one. #7 tee is downhill behind the basket and across the hiking trail.
Hole #7: 320/285 feet, par 3 (Basket in long position)
Comments: Much tighter than the previous hole, this fairway has a moderate right-to-left cross slope and 2 medium-sized trees directly in front of the basket to boot. This is one of the hardest par 3's on this course. #8 tee is uphill to the right.
Hole #8: 434/278 feet, par 4/3 (Basket in long position)
Comments: moderately uphill but not as steep as some other holes, the tightness is the real issue on this long gradual dogleg right. The fairway also has a right-to-left cross slope similar to the previous hole. This is another very challenging hole. #9 tee is behind the basket and to the right over the ridge.
Hole #9: 267 feet, par 3
Comments: similar to the tee shot on hole #5: very tight and directly across a very steep and very deep ravine. Due to the deepness of the ravine, a bad ricochet off of one of the many trees will send your disc way off line. Nevertheless, a very good throw will lead to a birdie opportunity. #10 tee is to the left.
Hole #10: 349/265 feet, par 4/3 (Basket in long position)
Comments: playing the opposite direction across the same ravine, this long hole is tight with plenty of trees, but there are tighter holes on this course. The basket is higher than the tee, and it will take accurate throws to make a birdie here. #11 tee is uphill behind the basket.
Hole #11: 420/298 feet, par 4/3 (Basket in long position)
Comments: slightly downhill and very tight, this is yet another fairway with a right-to-left cross slope. A seemingly uncountable number of trees stand to ricochet your disc; pick your line and throw accurately. #12 tee is to the right.
Hole #12: 231/211 feet, par 3 (Basket in short position)
Comments: After 2 long and hard holes comes a short and easy hole, which gives this course more variety than you would expect for an entirely heavily wooded course. A slight right-to-left disc flight should set up a birdie opportunity. #13 tee is behind the basket.
Hole #13: 340/280 feet, par 3
Comments: The holes in the tree canopy make this hole seem more open, but the lines are very tight with multiple large trees to navigate. The rough features dense shrubbery, so it is very rough. This is a tough par 3. #14 tee is behind the basket and to the right, at the bottom of the ravine.
Hole #14: 246/188 feet, par 3 (Basket in short position)
Comments: The last 5 holes were redesigned a few years ago, and this hole was turned into a ravine-bottom hole that heads gradually uphill up the ravine. There is a direct line to the basket, but using a left-to-right disc flight gives a wider line and thus more room for error, especially if the basket is in the short position. It's nice to have this short hole between 2 long hard holes. #15 tee is behind the basket.
Hole #15: 370/330 feet, par 3
Comments: This hole continues up the ravine. The fairway is tight, but there are tighter on this course; the dogleg demands a left-to-right disc flight. The real challenge is the super-steep dirt hill in front of the basket that acts like a fort guarding the front of the basket. So even if you get within 50 feet of the basket with your tee shot, you'll need to make the toughest putt on this course to make a birdie. 3 is a good score here. #16 tee is at the edge of the woods to the right.
Hole #16: 363/303 feet, par 3
Comments: By far the most open hole on this course, this hole is routed parallel to the park entrance road, and the basket is within sight of the parking lot. There are 2 possible lines: a tight direct line and a wider line that will require a sweeping left-to-right disc flight. With this hole's length, you will probably need to risk the direct line if you want a birdie here. #17 tee is behind the basket.
Hole #17: 326/302 feet, par 4/3
Comments: On a course with lots of elevation, the last 2 holes play back and forth across the steep and deep ravine one final time. This hole heads steeply downhill, which makes the distance seem too short for a par 4. Yet the hole is also super tight, and you will need a very straight throw to set up an eagle opportunity. This is a fun and exciting hole. #18 tee is behind the basket and to the left, part way up the hill.
Hole #18: 369/318 feet, par 3
Comments: The fairway on the closing hole is reasonably wide, and the uphill is not super steep. Both of those things make this hole a notch easier than it could possibly be. It's still plenty hard, and you will need a long straight throw to have any chance at a closing birdie. The parking lot is behind the basket.
