Sparkman Park

A nice city park course playing through a light to moderate tree canopy that appears to have had a small layout tweak in the last year or two. PROS: + CHARACTER + Brand new professionally done hole signage that has all the appropriate info except next tee direction. There are lots of alternate basket placements on this layout. A majority of the holes have at least two placements. Hole (11) has three placements labeled on the signage but during my round it was located at an unmarked 4th lo ...
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A nice city park course playing through a light to moderate tree canopy that appears to have had a small layout tweak in the last year or two.

PROS:
+ CHARACTER + Brand new professionally done hole signage that has all the appropriate info except next tee direction. There are lots of alternate basket placements on this layout. A majority of the holes have at least two placements. Hole (11) has three placements labeled on the signage but during my round it was located at an unmarked 4th location on top of a tree stump. Other items include a great looking and updated course map by tee (1), lots of picnic tables, shelters and a restroom. Missing items include tee seating, extra tees (only one hole) and a practice basket.
+ TEES + Adequately sized concrete tees approximately 5 feet by12 feet that are in great condition.
+ NATURAL BEAUTY + I'm going to have to play this course again during the spring as the pictures I found on Google street view look really good. I personally scored the course above average but I wouldn't call it stunning. The park in general appears to be well taken care of and the park buildings aren't rinky-dink looking. The creek running along a few holes has an untouched natural appearance to it and has a nice bridge crossing it on (10).
+ NAVIGATION + Not flawless but I didn't find it too difficult solo and first time. As stated, great course map. I'd take a picture of it as there is one sizable layout gap after (14). Next tees are generally within sight of the prior basket and there a couple directional cues along the layout. The signs towards the end of the layout weren't to the same caliber as the rest of the layout.
+ SKILL LEVEL FRIENDLY + The one set of tees are at optimal difficultly to please the widest swath of skills levels. Beginners should be able to throw out here and learn the game without too much oppressing punishment. Advanced players in town will have just enough here for it not to be a bore fest.
+ FORGIVENESS + The odds of losing a disc due to an errant shot is very low with two exceptions. In the event that one lands in the creek, and it has rained recently, it's possible that a disc will be carried far down stream. Also, throwing in the marshy overgrowth along (17) is a poor decision.
+ QUICK PLAY + A single should easily complete an entire round in under an hour. Groups of four will probably finish in about an hour and 45 minutes.
+ MAINTENANCE + The grounds appear to be mowed weekly and the park was very clean. I didn't notice any areas that had significant overgrowth other than along the creek and on the left side of fairway (17).

CONS:
Overall a solid course but Sparkman has a few of the typical city park issues.
- SAFETY HAZARDS - Several holes on this layout play along or across walking paths. Roads come into play several times as well. I personally threw one into the street on hole (7) and had a nice car driver run over it as I was approaching to get it.
- UNIQUENESS - A touch below average. The layout lacks defined fairways. Most plays are relatively straight and with a spattering of trees. Baskets are never located in well defined pockets and overall basket guarding is mild. All of the holes are listed currently as par 3s. (17) might be able to be lengthen by a hundred feet or so if the course leadership ever wanted to include a par 4. (17) is also a good hole to throw a roller on. I did try a roller and failed epic style. Water is in play a few times in the form of a creek on holes (3), (10), (11) and (12). Elevation is minor and its only moderately apparent once, on hole (10). There's a triple mando right out the gates on (1), I'm undecided if I like it or hate it, most likely indifferent.
- LACK OF CHALLENGE - On my first play I got to experience the most difficult configuration that the course can offer as every basket was in the far position. With all back placements, the layout reads as intermediate but still very approachable for recreational players. I'm going to assume that I must have played right before or after a tourney, so this is likely not the normal configuration. With a mix match of front and back placements, I would expect an 850 rated rec player to come in at around 3 or 4 over par. Regardless of the set-up, advanced players will not be challenged by these wide lines to the baskets.
- DISCONTINUITY - A big gap separates the final four holes from the rest of the layout. Be sure to have a map or a picture of the one on site as the journey is 500 feet to the north. Once finishing (18), it's another 500 foot walk back to the parking by tee (1).
- SPACING - The holes are somewhat tightly packed together along with the other park amenities. I ended up in other fairways a couple times. I kind of wish they had put two or three more holes over with the final four holes to alleviate some of this issue.

OTHER THOUGHTS:
A really fun recreational course that can double as an intermediate course with all back placements. A good choice for road trippers on I65 looking to play one additional course before or after their intended destination.
Advanced players will be underwhelmed by this course but there are many far less challenging courses splattered across North Alabama.
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