McFarland Park

An abandoned golf course layout that's lightly wooded and very long from the back tees. PROS: + RAW BEAUTY + I wouldn't quite use words like charming or elegant to describe this one, but words lik ... show more ›

An abandoned golf course layout that's lightly wooded and very long from the back tees.

PROS:
+ RAW BEAUTY + I wouldn't quite use words like charming or elegant to describe this one, but words like nice and pleasing seem appropriate. Lots of waters features in view from ponds to the backdrop of the Tennessee river. A really good stretch of wooded holes towards the end of the front nine. There are some elevated features using the mounds from the old ball golf course greens and tees, but IMO these features just aren't as appealing as natural elevation.
+ SKILL LEVEL FRIENDLY + This course should be able to appeal to a wide swath of players as there are two tees on a vast majority of the holes. The back tees are more than long enough for advanced players and the short tees are open enough for rec players.
+ LENGTH + From the back tees, one of the longest courses in the state, pushing just beyond 9,500 feet if using all back basket placements. There are a few 500 foot par 3s and several par 4s. Players that like to grip-it and rip-it will really like this course.
+ UNIQUENESS + The overall hole variety was a touch above average. As already stated, a few par 4s and several longer par 3s. I loved all the water usage. Several water clears and a couple parallel water plays makes for some really exhilarating action. I'd bring a floater here. Good use of the old ball golf courses elevated mounds for both tees and hole placements. There are also a few moderate to mild tunnel plays on (6) (7) and (8). I wish more holes were placed in this general area as there is room to do so.
+ CHALLENGING + The back tees at McFarland are well above average difficulty due to the length. I think advanced players above a 950 rating could be able to average below par from the backs. However, a few lower rated players with a big arm (+425) may be able to do so as well. Rec players should be thoroughly challenged from the short tees.
+ MAINTENANCE + With the ball golf course now being abandoned, it still appears that they keep the fairways in check.

CONS:
A solid course with its greatest issues related mostly to site problems.
- DISC LOST OPPORTUNITY - If you decide to play tees above your skill level, you're going to risk leaving behind some plastic. There are a couple of 400 foot plus water clears from the back tees and the front tee requires at least one clear at around 275 feet.
- NAVIGATION - To be fair, I had a guide for this one so I probably wasn't the most observant. I don't recall much in the way of directional cues along the layout Holes signage is sub-par and no course map was on site. The map on DGCR is very diagrammatic. The openish layout looks fairly traversable with an additional 10 to 15 minutes of recon for a first timer, but that's far from ideal.
- TEES - They are carpet but thankfully about the smoothest surface you could hope for on this material and there are in good repair. Still no match compared to concrete and some of the rubber mats I've played on.
- CHARACTER - In addition to sub-par tees, McFarland is lacking the amenities compared to established courses on everything but the 2 sets of tees and alternate basket locations. As stated, no on site course map, sub-par hole signage, no seating and no practice basket.
- LACK OF ELEVATION - McFarland is listed on DGCR as moderately hilly. I've played courses in other parts of the county that are listed as mostly flat and have almost twice as much elevation as this course. No hole varies by more than 20 feet. All the elevation on this course is derived from the abandoned tees and greens. Obviously better than nothing but this course has less elevation than neighboring courses, Veterans and Gattman.
- LACK OF SHOT SHAPING - Like every ball golf course conversion I've played on, you can expect a round with less than typical thought process on the tee. There were several holes out here where I just looked at the hole distance posted on the tee sign, and then quickly grabbed a disc and threw. Way too many holes can be attacked from a multitude of angles.
- TIME PLAY - A longer course that will eat up your day. A group of four players playing the back tees could easily be here for three hours.

OTHER THOUGHTS:
I had the privilege playing my first round out here with two locals, Greg and Walker. As for the course, McFarland is sort of a mixed bag of some really good things, some meh and some thoughts of what could be. Old ball golf course conversions always seem to be a mixed bag of sorts.

Pros: -Camping nearby in primitive sites right on the beautiful Tennessee river is awesome and cheap. -Tons of tall pines and a few good wooded holes. -Well marked next tees. Cons: -Way too ... show more ›

Pros: -Camping nearby in primitive sites right on the beautiful Tennessee river is awesome and cheap.
-Tons of tall pines and a few good wooded holes.
-Well marked next tees.

Cons: -Way too many water hazards, would have been fine if they whern't nasty. Had to climb in waist deep stinking water multiple times to retrieve discs of mine and companions, though did find one long long lost disc in the process. The root masses and murky water make it almost impossible to see meaning you just have to feel around and hope for the best. This would have been a great destination if not for water hazards on nearly every hole.
-Carpeted or dirt tees.

This course is a long course. Holes are placed really far apart. Some holes in the woods but most are wide open. A few holes have the risk of losing a disk to water. I should know... I've lost 3 there ... show more ›

This course is a long course. Holes are placed really far apart. Some holes in the woods but most are wide open. A few holes have the risk of losing a disk to water. I should know... I've lost 3 there. Hole 18 is for the big guns to test out their maximum distance drive on. Such a fun course to play on