Haw River Nature Trail

Location: Browns Summit, North Carolina

Status: Open

Haw River Nature Trail is one of the most scenic, albeit relatively short, disc golf courses I've played in North Carolina. Set above a beautiful lake and surrounded by rolling hills, the course offers outstanding views near the end of the round. Several holes overlook the water, while others climb or descend the steep terrain, making elevation one of the course's defining features.

The course features mulch tee pads and informative tee signs, making navigation straightforward. The baskets are in good condition, although they have fewer than 24 chains, allowing some putts to pass through. The layout makes excellent use of the natural landscape rather than relying on artificial obstacles.

This is not an easy course. The constant elevation changes, sloped fairways, and challenging basket placements demand good shot selection and solid footing. Hole 7 is particularly memorable, with the fairway running alongside a drop of roughly 30 feet where an errant shot can quickly become a difficult scramble. Hole 8 immediately follows with a demanding climb straight up a very steep hillside that rewards both power and accuracy.

Maintenance is generally good, although the course can become somewhat overgrown during the peak growing season. Some fairways may feel a bit cluttered with brush or taller vegetation, but the course remains very playable. Keeping your disc in the fairway is especially important, as the steep slopes can turn a small mistake into a long roll-away.

The combination of beautiful lake views, dramatic elevation, technical fairways, and quality infrastructure makes Haw River Nature Trail one of the more memorable courses in the region. While beginners can enjoy the scenery, intermediate and advanced players will appreciate the strategic challenges created by the terrain.

Course Features

• 18 holes
• Mulch tee pads
• Tee signs installed
• Scenic lake views
• Significant elevation changes
• Technical layout
• Free to play
• Good use of the natural terrain

Challenges

• Steep climbs throughout the course
• Roll-away potential on sloped fairways and greens
• Seasonal overgrowth on some holes
• Physically demanding terrain
• Baskets with fewer than 24 chains may allow occasional spit-throughs

Legacy

Haw River Nature Trail offers a unique blend of scenic beauty and challenging terrain. Although short by modern standards, the elevation changes and technical fairways create a much more demanding round than the total distance suggests. With quality signage, enjoyable views, and memorable hillside holes, it remains a worthwhile destination for players looking for a rewarding round in central North Carolina.

Why I'm Ambassador?

Orphan course.

What has been done?

• Mapped the course.
• Updated hole distances. They may not match every tee sign exactly, but they're far more accurate than the previous map, which had major errors (such as Hole 5 measuring 20 ft and Hole 9 nearly 600 ft).
• Converted both the 9-hole and 18-hole layouts to Smart Layouts.

Notes

Because UDisc no longer allows editing Classic layouts, converting them to Smart Layouts removed the old leaderboards. As more players record rounds on the new layouts, round ratings will become available.

Last Updated: July 2026