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Beech Fork - Champ reviews
10
0
West Virginia's Newest & One of its Best 2+ years
Reviewed:
Played on:Oct 6, 2021
Played the course:5+ times
Pros:
+ 18-Hole Layout Designed by 4X World Champion Johnny Sias and local Masters player Phil Bryan. Both designers have many years of experience. Fantastic design features are exceptionally fun and challenging.
+ Innova Discatcher Baskets: These targets are sturdy and catch putts well. They are brand new at the time of this review and the yellow band stands out for high visibility.
+ Tees: Two sets of tees (long & short) are marked. These are gravel with a turf covering. Tees are long enough for most run-ups. You will not need to take long strides for max power here as the course is very technical and requires precision.
+ Landscape: This may be the flattest course in West Virginia. We generally like elevation in the Mountain State but Beech Fork is a nice change of pace. There are a couple spots on the front nine where you'll encounter elevation change (namely holes 2 & 3) but the majority of the course is fairly level. This layout is very cart-friendly. The park is gorgeous and the back nine winds around a creek system that adds to the scenery and difficulty. Overall the main design feature is technical wooded fairways.
+ Location: This state park is approximately 20 minutes from Huntington and Barboursville. There are plenty of places for food, lodging, and entertainment close to the course. Once you leave Route 60 be prepared for the landscape to thin out quickly. Beech Fork State Park may be off the beaten path but that's part of the allure.
+ Amenities: With over 3,000 acres to explore visitors will have much more to do than just disc golf. The lake here is HUGE! The shore line stretches over 30 miles and provides plenty of room for boating and fishing. There are also trails for biking and hiking. Shelters are close to the course and are the perfect place to picnic. Immediately next to the disc golf course is a campground so you may want to turn this trip into a vacation and stay for the weekend.
+ Proximity to Other Courses: There is a family-friendly nine hole course across the street. I generally play it to warm up my short game before teeing off on the championship layout. If you're into course-bagging there are several other layouts in the area you may want to check out. I especially enjoy Armco, Rotary, Barboursville, and Valley Park.
+ Innova Discatcher Baskets: These targets are sturdy and catch putts well. They are brand new at the time of this review and the yellow band stands out for high visibility.
+ Tees: Two sets of tees (long & short) are marked. These are gravel with a turf covering. Tees are long enough for most run-ups. You will not need to take long strides for max power here as the course is very technical and requires precision.
+ Landscape: This may be the flattest course in West Virginia. We generally like elevation in the Mountain State but Beech Fork is a nice change of pace. There are a couple spots on the front nine where you'll encounter elevation change (namely holes 2 & 3) but the majority of the course is fairly level. This layout is very cart-friendly. The park is gorgeous and the back nine winds around a creek system that adds to the scenery and difficulty. Overall the main design feature is technical wooded fairways.
+ Location: This state park is approximately 20 minutes from Huntington and Barboursville. There are plenty of places for food, lodging, and entertainment close to the course. Once you leave Route 60 be prepared for the landscape to thin out quickly. Beech Fork State Park may be off the beaten path but that's part of the allure.
+ Amenities: With over 3,000 acres to explore visitors will have much more to do than just disc golf. The lake here is HUGE! The shore line stretches over 30 miles and provides plenty of room for boating and fishing. There are also trails for biking and hiking. Shelters are close to the course and are the perfect place to picnic. Immediately next to the disc golf course is a campground so you may want to turn this trip into a vacation and stay for the weekend.
+ Proximity to Other Courses: There is a family-friendly nine hole course across the street. I generally play it to warm up my short game before teeing off on the championship layout. If you're into course-bagging there are several other layouts in the area you may want to check out. I especially enjoy Armco, Rotary, Barboursville, and Valley Park.
Cons:
- Rough Rough: This course is very technical and demands accuracy. There is a chance to lose plastic on several holes. Getting more than 10' off the fairway can be rough (especially in the summer months). There is also a creek that comes into play on most of the back nine. If the area has seen significant rainfall discs in the creek can be gone in a hurry and fairways can be soggy. Use spotters on blind holes and keep an eye on your drives to help prevent lost plastic.
- Poison Ivy & Ticks: There are a few spots where these hazards thrive so be careful. I would strongly advise that players wear long pants any time they play this course. Check yourself for ticks after playing and proceed with caution.
- Upkeep: This can be a complete non-issue depending on the availability of park staff. Areas that are not regularly trimmed in the late spring and summer seasons can take over fairways. In my experience this has only been a minor issue on a hole or two but know that some areas can be affected depending on the workflow at the park.
- Navigation: There are a few areas near the middle of the layout that are confusing for a first-time player. It is easy to miss a turn or play the wrong tee pad if you're not careful. Use a map your first time out or play with a local to get the best experience.
- Poison Ivy & Ticks: There are a few spots where these hazards thrive so be careful. I would strongly advise that players wear long pants any time they play this course. Check yourself for ticks after playing and proceed with caution.
- Upkeep: This can be a complete non-issue depending on the availability of park staff. Areas that are not regularly trimmed in the late spring and summer seasons can take over fairways. In my experience this has only been a minor issue on a hole or two but know that some areas can be affected depending on the workflow at the park.
- Navigation: There are a few areas near the middle of the layout that are confusing for a first-time player. It is easy to miss a turn or play the wrong tee pad if you're not careful. Use a map your first time out or play with a local to get the best experience.
Other Thoughts:
At the time of this review Beech Fork State Park is one of the newest additions to West Virginia. It is also one of the best. If you like technical woods golf this is the course for you. I would not advise new players to try out the championship 18 because of the difficulty.
The park staff is very proud of this course and have done exceptionally well in steadily developing the layout. Every time I play the course gets a little better. It will only improve with time as players gradually trample fairways.
There are several "signature" holes out here that will stick with you well after your round has ended.
#2 - A fair par 4 with a bottle-necked fairway. A solid placement shot is needed off the tee for you to advance towards the elevated green in hopes of a birdie putt.
#3 - The only real downhill pull on the course. A longer par 3 that will require you to hit a gap off the tee towards a more open fairway.
#10 - This is my personal favorite! Your first look at the creek is a picturesque par 4. Players must evaluate the risk-reward associated with going big for a birdie chance or staying safe and playing for par.
#17 - This is a gently sloping downhill hole that forces players to decide on whether or not they would like to carry a water hazard off the tee box. There is room to lay up and play for par with a measured approach or to go big and get to the green with a well-placed drive.
#18 - The course finishes out with its only par 5: A tightly wooded tee shot with OB left (by a road) and right (by the creek). Players can go as big as they want but an errant drive or penalty stroke takes birdie (or even par) out of the equation.
Conclusion: While it looks like big distance is a must Beech Fork State Park will test your accuracy and patience more than anything. Players will need to measure risk versus reward, shape lines through the woods, control distance, stay in-bounds, and sink a few putts to score well here. I would encourage any intermediate to advanced player to give Beech Fork a try. It's an absolute gem of a course!
The park staff is very proud of this course and have done exceptionally well in steadily developing the layout. Every time I play the course gets a little better. It will only improve with time as players gradually trample fairways.
There are several "signature" holes out here that will stick with you well after your round has ended.
#2 - A fair par 4 with a bottle-necked fairway. A solid placement shot is needed off the tee for you to advance towards the elevated green in hopes of a birdie putt.
#3 - The only real downhill pull on the course. A longer par 3 that will require you to hit a gap off the tee towards a more open fairway.
#10 - This is my personal favorite! Your first look at the creek is a picturesque par 4. Players must evaluate the risk-reward associated with going big for a birdie chance or staying safe and playing for par.
#17 - This is a gently sloping downhill hole that forces players to decide on whether or not they would like to carry a water hazard off the tee box. There is room to lay up and play for par with a measured approach or to go big and get to the green with a well-placed drive.
#18 - The course finishes out with its only par 5: A tightly wooded tee shot with OB left (by a road) and right (by the creek). Players can go as big as they want but an errant drive or penalty stroke takes birdie (or even par) out of the equation.
Conclusion: While it looks like big distance is a must Beech Fork State Park will test your accuracy and patience more than anything. Players will need to measure risk versus reward, shape lines through the woods, control distance, stay in-bounds, and sink a few putts to score well here. I would encourage any intermediate to advanced player to give Beech Fork a try. It's an absolute gem of a course!
