Eastgate Park

A bombers delight. PROS: + BEGINNER FRIENDLY + Due to only a few overgrowth areas and also just a few water hazards, this would be an ideal course to bring beginners to. The course is probably also great for recreational thru intermediate players and beyond depending on personal tastes. + QUICK PLAY + For its length, it plays fairly quick. I did my round here solo in just over an hour. I think this will translate to 2 hours for a group of 4 seasoned players. + FUN FACTOR + I think the ...
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A bombers delight.

PROS:
+ BEGINNER FRIENDLY + Due to only a few overgrowth areas and also just a few water hazards, this would be an ideal course to bring beginners to. The course is probably also great for recreational thru intermediate players and beyond depending on personal tastes.
+ QUICK PLAY + For its length, it plays fairly quick. I did my round here solo in just over an hour. I think this will translate to 2 hours for a group of 4 seasoned players.
+ FUN FACTOR + I think the best aspect of Eastgate Park is the easy going feel. As mentioned, few hazards and little overgrowth. There are also birdie opportunities for rec players and eagle opportunities for skilled players. A few ace runs. and lots of opportunity to air one out if that's your thing.
+ CHARACTER + Slightly above average. First ill mention the tees which are concrete, adequately sized and built well. There is well done hole signage each hole, but unfortunately no next tee indicator on them. The baskets are MachX, so you'll save 1 or more shots a round on these generous baskets. There is a practice area near tee (1), along with porta-potty and rules of the game sign. No course map on site as of my visit, but thats ok considering the pro comment a line below.
+ NAVIGATION + I downloaded the course map before coming here and just about had no issues navigating this course. Download it, you'll be glad you had it first go around.
+ RAW BEAUTY + Not 5 star beauty but I'd give it a 2.75 to 3. The upkeep on the place appear to be solid. The gentle slope of the open fields and a few large oak trees along the layout adds to some of the appeal. Hope (17), probably the signature hole, has a play along a pond and then raises 10 feet or so with the basket guarded straight ahead and to the left with a large grouping of trees.
+ ROOM TO GROW + This park has lots of available land left. I would not be surprised to hear rumors in a few years about a proposal to add 2nd more technical wooded course.

CONS:
No major playability issues with Eastgate, but definitely lacking shot imagination and challenge.
- ELEVATION - The site has way more available than is currently used. Perhaps there are a couple of "tee to basket" grade differences at around 20 feet. The site has the potential to perhaps work in a 40 - 50 elevation tee shot if there was a 400 to 500 foot shot from the north part of the park property down to the lake.
- UNIQUENESS - Way too many open plays. There are six holes without a tree in play. Eleven of the remaining twelve holes I'd classify as lightly wooded, and only one hole, number (11), I'd label as a moderately wooded hole. There is water in play on a couple shots, but it would take a major error to drop one in.
- SHOT SHAPING - With the extent of the openness you can expect a round with very little thought process on the tee. Most holes I just looked at the hole distance, and then quickly grabbed a disk and threw. Way too many holes can be attacked from every angle.
- DIFFICULTY - Intermediate players who are able to throw 300 feet should have no problem breaking par on this course. Advanced players should probable play them all 3's. There's a 655 foot par 5 (hole 6). As open as this course is, most advanced players will get an easy look at eagle from time to time. I'll also note that hole (14) which is an open hole at just over 400 feet, is too short to be a par 4.
- PARK HOURS - This park closes at 7pm or 6pm depending on the season. I feel this could have been an ideal night golf course but it's not possible with the park hours.
- WIND - I lucked out, hardly any wind the day I came out here. But considering the openness , I'd bet that it's not an uncommon occurrence.

OTHER THOUGHTS:
If you're the type of player that likes to grip-it and rip it, you'll probably really like this course. If you prefer technical courses, you'll have to go elsewhere. As of this review, the only 18 hole course that I'm aware of in Dothan area. You'll have to travel quite a distance to find another solid course this size.
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