Disc golf in Asheville, NC -- Richmond Hill Course
I pulled into the Richmond Hill disc golf course in Asheville, NC early
Saturday morning. I could tell it was a good course because of the nice
parking lot. I had mom with me, so I walked a few holes, taking pictures,
and played three holes.
In the afternoon, mom was resting in the hotel room and I came back to
play more holes. This shot shows that there were more players in the
afternoon, and it shows how the course is nestled in the mountains.
My first surprise was that the tee boxes have real grass. That must be
some hearty grass to withstand the punishment. The first hole is in the
open with small, man-made ponds in the valley between tee and basket.
Hole number two. Holes 2 through 17 are in the woods. I parred,
somehow, the first three holes.
Nice paths between baskets and the next tees.
The pictures don't do justice to the terrain. This fairway falls down to a
bridge over a small creek and then steeply up on the other side. You can
see the log steps that help one to climb up the other side.
This image shows how a missed putt can fall into a ravine. Notice the
stump on the bottom left side of the picture and another on the right.
Some courses leave all trees in place. My opinion is that courses where
some trees are removed to provide legitimate fairways are better courses.
And this image shows a basket on a slope so if you miss a putt, it could
roll from the basket.
By hole number 5 I was sure this would rank in the top 4 courses that I
have played along with two in Oregon and one in Pennsylvania.
Steps to help players climb the hill on the other side.
Looking back from the basket down the fairway, across the valley to the
tee on top of the hill on the other side.
I played nine holes without a double bogey, until I got to this hole.
I struck up a conversation with the guy in the distance. His name is Lee
Reading and he has been playing for three or four years. His brother and
sister-in-law (also named Reading) are successful pros. (They got him
started on the game and he warned me how addictive it can be.)
Lee told me that hole number 9, pictured here, is the signature hole for
their course. The ideal shot passes through the V-shaped tree and carries
past the top of the stairs on the other side of the valley.
My drive was to the left and landed about 3/4 of the way up the stairs.
I had a reasonable but tricky second shot, pulled it to the right and ended
up with this par putt. I hit the rim of the basket and the disc flipped out.
Looking back from the basket across the valley to the hole 9 tee which
is half way up the hill on the other side.
The tee box, with benches behind it, on hole 18. I still can't believe these
grass tees are in such good shape. I should have asked Lee about them.
Players on hole one as I head back to my van. I had four pars, two double
bogeys and the rest bogies (playing every hole as a par 3).