Veterans Memorial Park

A historic Alabama course so old school in its look and feel, that you'll think you arrived at the course in a DeLorean. PROS: + HISTORY + From what I've been told, this is the second oldest course still playable in Alabama after Brahan Springs. Originally an object course in 1976 which obtained baskets in 1983, the 4th perhaps to do so in Alabama. The baskets are still from 1983 and are still in great repair, which is a testament to the area's American made products at that time. + NATU ...
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A historic Alabama course so old school in its look and feel, that you'll think you arrived at the course in a DeLorean.

PROS:
+ HISTORY + From what I've been told, this is the second oldest course still playable in Alabama after Brahan Springs. Originally an object course in 1976 which obtained baskets in 1983, the 4th perhaps to do so in Alabama. The baskets are still from 1983 and are still in great repair, which is a testament to the area's American made products at that time.
+ NATURAL BEAUTY + IMO, the most beautiful of the three Florence area courses. Lots of rolling elevation in play. A few shots that play to over 20 feet down. Hole (7) plays over a gorging valley. A couple holes have views of the Tennessee, and hole (13) has an obscured view of Wilson dam. There are some really nice sized towering oak trees to weave around as well. The drawbacks are just a few. Barbed wire fence along (13) and (16) and there's a road in play along (3).
+ CHARACTER + A touch above average. Lots of extra pin placements to keep the local pleased and to entice those outside the area to make a return visit. About half of the holes have two carpet tee tads. A majority of the holes have seating and there's plenty of tee shading. Community board and practice basket by tee (1)
+ SIGNAGE + Nice hand crafted hole signage which was a treat after seeing the unsatisfactory ones at McFarland. It would have been nice to have put next tee direction arrows on them though.
+ UNIQUENESS + About average, but good for a par 54. Lots of minor elevation changes in the 10 to 25 foot range. Water comes into play a couple times with an airmailed shot or if the disc spins into death role. A few well defined right pocketing shots, unfortunately not much to the left. Perhaps there are some alternate placements left but not on my round. Adequate hole length variation, 430 to sub 200. Hole (13) also has a nice risk reward needle line to the basket, where the wider safe play will leave a 30 foot putt.
+ SKILL LEVEL FRIENDLY + Veterans should play fair for largest skill level groups in the disc golf community, intermediate and recreation. The long pads for intermediate and the shorts for rec. Rec players looking to improve their game should choose the long pads, as cakewalks won't make anyone better.
+ QUICK PLAY + For an 18 hole this one plays fairly quick. Much quicker than McFarland. My group of two finish in 75 minutes. Figure a group of four should play in about an hour and 45 minutes. Solos should be in and out in 50 minutes.

CONS:
Two minor issues and a few ticky tack callouts.
- CHAINS - The sentimental value on these baskets must be sky high to the locals because they catch nothing like modern baskets. The chains are of adequate weight but it's the wide "V" shape of the basket cage that will scoop out shots that hit the base flat with a little bit of speed. I did not enjoy throwing at these things and it messed with my head. However, the nostalgic thought of throwing at baskets 35 years old is fascinating.
- TEES - There are two or three great concrete tees out here. Why the rest are carpet is definitely a head scratcher. For the most part the carpet pads are flat but it's still far from ideal.
- LACK OF CHALLENGE - Factoring out the basket conditions, this course will be a breeze for anyone above the intermediate level, even from the back tees. I had no issue breaking par on first attempt as an intermediate level player. Figure intermediate players will average a few down. Rec players will average a few over and advanced players should average 8 - 10 down. Shot shaping overall in mild, although there are a couple holes that will need a well thought out line to run it to the basket clean. Other than hole (18) being able to bomb it is not a requirement. Players that like to admire +400 foot drives should head over to McFarland.
- LOOSE DISC OPPS - Not as bad as McFarland but leaving a disc behind here is very much a possibility on 3 holes. Missing long on (6) (8) and (14) is not advisable as the disc could enter the backwater of the Tennessee River. The odds of retrieving a disc in this water looks slim to none.
- OVERGROWTH - I played in December but it doesn't take a genius to realize that the overgrowth off fairway gets excessive during the summer months. The course probably plays a shot or two more difficult over the summer.
- NAVIGATION - I'm glad I had a guide cause I don't recall too many navigational aids in the layout. The layout jumps around a bit and the map on DGCR is not the greatest.

OTHER THOUGHTS:
A truly unique experience that was like taking a time machine back to early 80's. Although the nostalgia factor is here, I question whether it helps the overall enjoyment of the course. New baskets are greatly needed for the course. Perhaps there is a way merge the best of both worlds by keeping the originals at the short basket placement and affixing modern baskets for the long position. This is what George Ward Park did in Birmingham and it works really great there. I have Veterans scored at a border line C/C+. New baskets or fully upgraded concrete tees are all that's needed here to incline me to bump it to a C+/B- rating.
- THANK YOU - A big thanks to local Greg McAtee for joining me for my 200th course. I gave him the choice between McFarland and Veterans for my 200th, and I'm exceedingly grateful that he picked this one. It's such a great mile stone course.
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Pros: - Good Baskets and concrete tee pads. - Well maintained park grass - forgiving for beginners and short arms who land short (or just wrong, LOL). - Has a decent variety of shots and slopes. Alternative basket placements help variety as well. - Can play quickly as there's not much walking between holes. Cons: - Longer arms won't have too many opportunities to air it out (only 12,18) - Intermediate/Advanced players may not be challenged. - Parking lot is a little close on hole 3 - B ...
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Pros:
- Good Baskets and concrete tee pads.
- Well maintained park grass - forgiving for beginners and short arms who land short (or just wrong, LOL).
- Has a decent variety of shots and slopes. Alternative basket placements help variety as well.
- Can play quickly as there's not much walking between holes.
Cons:
- Longer arms won't have too many opportunities to air it out (only 12,18)
- Intermediate/Advanced players may not be challenged.
- Parking lot is a little close on hole 3 - BHRH fade.
- Park was empty for my round, but you may have picnickers to avoid on nicer days
Other Thoughts:
As a noodle armed older beginner visiting Florence, this was a great course for me. It really fills the slot in this area for a beginner to intermediate player. For those who like to bomb there are other courses nearby to fill that slot. Navigation is good, but next tee arrows on the baskets would be a low cost improvement that would help a bit. A couple of holes have nice views of the river. (Update 3/26/2023) - Storms knocked down several trees on 3/24. When cleared, holes 1, 4, 5 will be even more accessible off the tee).
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