WHAT TO EXPECT: Well maintained multi-use park in the Cincinatti area. A course time capsule from Pro-Tours of yester years with a well worn feel to it. Park golf but with enough wooded holes, distance and elevation to challenge even the highest skill levels.

AMENITIES: The Nati Disc Golf pro shop on site. It's always nice when a course has a pro shop on the grounds, especially at a free to play course. Trash cans and benches present at almost every hole. Multiple modern bathrooms and port-o-johns throughout which help keep you from searching too hard to find one. Practice area with practice basket and throwing net.

TEES/SIGNAGE/BASKETS: Level concrete tee pads, small in relation to most new course installs but plenty large enough for the shots the course requires. A little worn and slick when wet and could use resurfacing but no major issues. Signage is great indicating multiple pin locations (and thankfully which position the pin is currently in). Baskets are Reddish/Orange DGA's that have seen enough sunrises to begin to fade into a rust brown color that makes them difficult to see in amongst the trees at times. They still catch well.

DESIGN: Course is very long, or at least feels that way, depending on pin locations. It feels like almost every tee shot is uphill, over a crest in the hill, to a blind basket location. If you are playing this course for the first time you can wear yourself out walking up the fairway to look over the hills and locate the pins before you throw. Course manages to snake its way through the park with some very challenging shot angles and distances and be quite beautiful in doing so, however, there is a feeling of repetitiveness as some holes do feel like mirror images of each other. This may be more of a product of where the pins were located the day I played, but there was a sense of dejavu a few times like we were playing the same hole again. Not a bad design by any means, especially considering this is a public park, more of a warning to those expecting 20 unique holes. A bit of overuse of elevation as the tee off uphill, over a rise, down a hill to a blind basket was used repeatedly throughout. Questionable sharp fish-hook style holes with mandos (like Hole #3) are gimmicky and made difficult just to be difficult. Brings the overall rating down just slightly. Distances on the upper end of skill level needed with several Par 3's over the 350 mark, paired with the uphill hole design require probably 400 feet of power to give a realistic chance at birdie. There are multiple shot angles and power levels required to score well here.

EXTRAS: Fairways, course itself, everything maintenance wise was in great upkeep. Outside of the baskets showing some age and the tee pads showing years of wear this course looks immaculately cared for. Navigation between holes is a breeze and the only hard part of navigating we found was locating where the pin was because almost all the tee shots are blind.

PARK GOERS: As a muti-use park, that is both a beloved course and nice public park this is almost unavoidable as a con. Multiple holes through along park roads, paths and trails. Playgrounds, buildings, and parking lot areas are often in the firing line of errant throws. There are even a couple holes that play directly over roads and paths, some of which can be semi-blind from the tee.

CROWDED: As a beloved course, Mt Airy is usually just as busy as the park itself. There were several large groups and a couple solo's playing when we arrived and it allowed us to catch our breath and play a little slower than normal which was a blessing as we had just played Idlewild that morning. But if you are a fast player and like to stay in a rhythm, expect a crowded course.

BASKETS: While the current orangish DGA's catch fine, they are fading and getting pretty hard to see. Would be nice to see at least a repaint to a color that stands out in the woods, or possibly an upgrade to newer style baskets.

REPETITIVENESS: As I touched on a bit above under course design, Mt Airy just crosses the line of too much of a good thing. I would love to see a little less of the same shot shape holes, a little less uphill tee shots to blind baskets. While it is certainly not bad design, it's a lot for us older guys to throw and walk uphill all day without truly knowing for sure where we are going.

DIFFICULTY: This is more of a warning than a con because several skill levels and age groups might be forced out of enjoying themselves here. One gentleman in our group was a 75 y/o who throws probably 150 feet on a full flex. Though he loves the sport and uses it to exercise, this course was entirely too much for him.

I can certainly see why this course rates so high and is so well regarded. The on site pro shop, the practice area, the well kept fairways, the difficulty, the rolling hills, the nostalgia. It's actually very hard to rate this course appropriately. Based on my personal scale this course comes in at a 3.75 but the pro-shop and difficulty for me personally push it up to a 4.0 and I feel comfortable rating it there. While not on the same level as Idlewild or Eagle's Crossing, and lacking some (in my personal opinion) on the design side due to public park limitations, this is still a very solid course and a must play if you are in the area. A couple tweaks making a very beginner/old guy friendly way to enjoy the course beyond what it currently offers, and updating the baskets would probably shoot this up to a 4.5 for me.

+ Well kept fairways

+ Good level concrete tee pads

+ Trash cans and benches at almost every hole

+ Good maps and signage

+ on-site pro shop

+ very well laid out practice area. Never been anywhere with a practice driving net before. Nice touch.

- course felt very repetitive. Almost every single hole tees off blind, uphill, and long.

- Worn, faded DGA Mach-3 baskets are hard to see against the forest backdrop.

- Several holes throw directly at roads, buildings, parking lots, and children's playgrounds.

- Course can be super busy unless you get there at the crack of dawn. I'm talking groups of 6-8 players stacked up waiting behind other groups of 6-8 players. Or maybe that was just on the day I went?

- Trash cans are buckets, which were overflowing onto the ground on almost every single hole. Also much trash tossed into the rough alongside several holes. Though this is a mixed-use park and I'm sure that a certain amount of the beer cans and soiled condoms were not left there by the disc golf community.

- It is a mixed-use park. Have to watch out for joggers, kids, dog walkers, mom's pushing strollers, old people, etc...

Hey cool kids, do you like to tee off blind? Do you like to tee off uphill? Well then look no further, have we found the course for you!

Come on down to Mt. Airy Forest DGC where you can spend all afternoon teeing off blind, uphill, and throwing your longest drives into unknown territory!

Hope you brought a spotter, cause you're going to need 'em. Once you throw over that hilltop, who knows where you'll land?

But wait, that's not all!
If you play now you can also throw blind, uphill, and directly at your fellow disc golfer's cars!
Is it a road? Is it a parking lot? Is it the fairway? Doesn't matter! It all plays!

Okay...seriously though...
I get that this is a nicely maintained course, a former Pro-Worlds course (nevermind that the pro-tour last played here well before most of the players on the course were born) with an on-site pro shop and I think that accounts for its higher than average rating. The practice area alone is a very nice touch. But I'm not reviewing the amenities particularly, I'm reviewing my experience playing the 20 holes of the course itself.

In terms of actual game play I found the course awfully repetitive. Almost every single hole tees off blind and uphill. Sure, sometimes you get a little dogleg right or left at the very end, but after four or five in a row its like, "oh look, another long, blind, and uphill tee shot. Guess I'll go walk another quarter mile to find out where the basket is.." (if you can find it. Some of those red painted DGA's are starting to turn a nice tree-bark rust brown.)

I wouldn't have said that this course offers a lot of variety or opportunity for shot shaping, risk-vs-reward decision making, or many of the other features that more diverse courses have to offer. Unless you want to count obstacles like parking lots, roads, playgrounds, or your fellow disc golfers as part of what makes throwing on this course "challenging?" (I don't)

At the end of the day this course was like 5% strategy, 95% grip it and rip it.

Is this good? Yes. Do I like throwing this style. Yes.
Do I want to throw this same drive all afternoon for almost 20 holes in a row? No.

But anyway, if you haven't played here, come down and check it out. Buy something in the pro shop. This course is a Cincinnati disc golf landmark. Its never going to be my favorite course in the world, but its well worth giving it a shot. Come early, beat the crowds, bring your big arms drivers and a spotter. You'll probably want both.

The Nati Disc Golf pro shop! There are lots of pros to this course, but this is what pushed it up to a 4.5 for me.

Decent variety of shots needed to succeed.

Solid, concrete teepads that are appropriately long for the holes

Good to decent tee signs. They do tend to exaggerate HOW much a hole will move, but they're good enough to allow new players to not walk up on every hole and will provide a good reminder once you've played here a couple times.

Multiple restroom opportunities throughout the course. Always a nice bonus.

Trash buckets and benches at every hole, and larger trashcans throughout the course.

Multiple pin positions ensure you won't get bored.

The damn Nati! I leave broke every time!

Crowded. I've never been here when it wasn't busy. When a course is good, accessible and has a pro shop that's to be expected, but it doesn't mean it's not something to be aware of.

Yes, it's always busy and yes the tees and baskets could use some refurbishing, but I'm honestly not sure how you develop a reputation as a top notch, classic course and also look like you were freshly installed. TBH, a $2 greens fee that went into making improvements would be a great solution to both problems.

It's southern Ohio. Be ready for elevation. This will not be a nice flat walk in the park.

Be cautious and courteous. If you're in a rush, this isn't the course for you. It's busy and plays near park roads. Plan on delays for disc golfers and other park goers.

This is a long course, even with pins in the shortest positions new players will be highly challenged here. Not saying you shouldn't play here if you're newer, but be ready to allow people to play through.

The pins aren't all in the same position, but they are all accurately indicated on the course sign. It's sad how uncommon this is. Columbus Flyers/Brett Hambrick Memorial, take note, it can be done!

This is roughly a 60 minute drive for me to play and I feel like it's worth it (especially given my other options or lack thereof). Everyone I've met in the park seems to be there for a good time and seems to share the space well. Again, this is uncommon enough in my experience that it's worth mentioning.

Objectively, this course is closer to a 4 than a 4.5, but top notch amenities throughout push it over the top and make it a nice place to spend some time.

The Nati disc golf hub, a land of personality and upper-intermediate golf.

-Personality: The only course I can think of with this level of disc golf personality is Sedgley Woods in downtown Philadelphia. With the pro shop, swarms of golfers, and lots of banter, this seems to the HQ of Cincinnati's scene. If I were a new player, this would probably be where I'd go if I wanted to have someone teach me the game.

-Amenities: A few cons are noted below, but overall Airy has everything needed. Mach IIIs are in good shape, concrete tees, and very good tee signs that are accurate and detailed. Multiple pin placements add excellent variety and are well-marked with an indicator system.

-Par-4s: The inclusion of several par-4s distinguishes Mt. Airy to the next level. These par-4s are, generally, the most interesting holes, mixing shot shapes to create a more interesting and varied style of play.

-Shot Shaping/Gameplay: A very solid sequence that is only part forest. The course is predominantly park-style holes that are moderately open, which are fine but not amazing. The most interesting ones use low ceilings and treelines to play a smart shot shape. However, the more forest-like holes are very good, and interspersed throughout the course. These include substantial hills, narrowing fairways, a creek, and miscellaneous other challenges. The course finishes with four of its stronger hole, making it a satisfying conclusion.

-Bonus Holes: I believe some more wooded holes connect (3) and (4). I didn't get the chance to run them myself.

A course that may be a little overhyped.

-Park Roads: The majority of the course plays parallel to park roads. This poses a safety hazard, but also detracts from the gameplay and the beauty.

-Park Style: The open holes aren't particularly interesting. A couple have tunnels, elevation, or bends that are interesting, but as a whole the middle of the course is vanilla and full of straight shots.

-Overlap: Due to the openness, it's not uncommon to have bad shots end up on other fairways. Not a disaster, but another safety hazard.

-Crowds: Two aspects. First, lots of groups play that can slow down a solo traveler. Second, the erosion at the baskets is pretty bad, again reminiscent of the trampled earth at Sedgley.

-Navigation: A couple of awkward places, mainly (3)-(4), (4)-(5), and (6)-(7).

-Tees: The concrete was quite slippery when wet.

Mt. Airy is an enjoyable course, and the life of the Nati disc golf party. However, it has quite a few cons that limit its appeal. It solidly joins the ranks of the Very Good, but in terms of gameplay, it's not the finest option around. Consider it an asset, but not a jewel.

1) The atmosphere and amenities at Mt. Airy are top notch. Walking out of the parking lot towards the practice area and first tee you can already tell you are in for a good time. The practice area has two baskets spaced pretty far apart so you can warm up on putting and approaches as well as a net with a few tees to throw into to warmup on drives. There is also a full scale pro shop that carries everything you would expect and a shaded area with tables out front to rest and/or just hang out before or after your round. The post with arrows and distances to a bunch of other top courses is really cool, too, and this all makes the whole experience at Mt. Airy extremely unique before you even start your round.

2) Multiple pin locations on every single hole. Nearly all of the holes only have one permanent location, but from what I can tell they keep the pins moving around relatively frequently to keep the layout fresh.

3) Quality, grippy, and plenty large enough concrete tee pads on every hole. Though, there is only one pad per hole. But, with the plethora of pin placements that isn't a very big deal. Tee signs are also detailed, accurate, and have markers that indicate the current pin location on the hole so you don't have to guess or walk down the fairway on the blind holes. The signs also include 'next tee' indicators to help first timers with navigation.

4) Baskets are brightly painted red Mach IIIs and are in great shape. They are easy to spot in the woods and they catch like you would expect Mach IIIs to catch.

5) Benches and trash bins at nearly every (if not every, I can't recall exactly) tee so plenty of places to rest if you need it and very little litter around.

6) The layout here strikes a very good balance between challenging and fair. There is a great mix of technical, open, wooded, left, right, up, and down holes. The hole shapes play pretty evenly for lefties and righties and the elevation is used to great effect everywhere on the course; you'll need your whole bag to score well here. Depending on pin locations, the par 3s range from must get bridies (like hole 8) to challenging holes that require great shots to get into the circle (like hole 16) and everything in between. The par 4s (with the exception of hole 5 which is probably the hardest hole on the course) are all pretty short and should be in range for most players to get birdie looks with good shots but still technical enough to keep them from being 'gimmies' for most higher level players as being out of position or getting off the fairway very easily takes bridie (or even par) out of play. Other than the awkward mando on hole 3 I have zero complaints and only good things to say about the layout. My favorites were holes 1 and 15.

7) For the most part, very cart friendly. The stairs between 16 and 17 certainly gave me some grief and I had to carry my cart for a short bit, but other than that it's all smooth sailing as long as you don't mind pushing/pulling up and down hills.

1) The biggest con here is the possible safety issues with the rest of the park activities in the area. A few holes play very close to or over roads in the park. Hole 2 plays across the road and is blind off the tee. Hole 3 plays alongside the road and a parking area and despite the mando it's still very possibly to end up over there with a kick or if players ignore the mando. Hole 4, 5, 7, 8, and 14 all play along side the road and any errant shots have a good chance of landing on or going across it. Holes 5, 6, and 8 all have parking lots in play that are pretty close to the baskets/fairways, hole 5 long pin is by far the worst offender here and could possibly make the hole unplayable if there were people using the parking area. Holes 1, 13, and maybe 17 also bring the road/parking areas into play but it would take a substantial mistake to find yourself on/across them. Lastly, hole 18 in the longer pin placements brings the pro shop into play where anything pushed left is probably hitting the building. When I played there was also quite a bit of other park users around the park but, with the exception of the road, the other uses do stay relatively separated form the disc golf course. While unlikely, you may also be at risk of getting hit from adjacent holes when on the pads for 3, 13, and 15. 3 and 15 would take a pretty big shank to get near you, but it is possible, and there is a large tree next to 13s tee that does a pretty good job of catching anything coming towards you but I heard the tree get hit no less than 4 times from people driving off 7s tee when I was trying to tee off on 13 so it's certainly worth paying attention to.

The rest of the cons below are all relatively minor, but worth mentioning.

2) Navigation can be tricky in some spots, even with the 'next tee' indicators on the tee signs as there aren't (that I saw at least) markers anywhere except the tee signs for indication of where to go on the less intuitive walks. The walk from 3 to 4 tripped me up my first round (just go left down the road). I could see the walks from 4 to 5 (same as 3 to 4, go left down the road) and 6 to 7 (again, left, down back past 5s dogleg and across the road) potentially causing issues for some people as well. The long pin placement on 11 also requires substantial backtracking down the fairway to get to 12s tee.

3) The rough is very rough. Many holes have thorny bushes and/or steep hillsides along the right side (almost none have this trouble on the left sides) so despite the distribution of hole shapes, the course plays quite a bit less treacherous for RHBH/LHFH players who don't have to worry as much about finding themselves in the super thick stuff. I did cut up my arm a little bit on hole 11 getting a disc out of the right side rough, so long pants and maybe long sleeves are highly recommended here.

4) Parking is quite limited. The course didn't seem all that busy once I got on the course and started playing but the parking lot near hole 1/the pro shop was completely full and people were parking at the lot near hole 3. I could imagine on very busy days that parking in the small lot by holes 8/9 and starting on 9 might be better than trying to find a spot near hole 1.

The Mt. Airy Forest Disc Golf Course is one of the 'big 3' in Cincinnati, along with Idlewild and Lincoln Ridge, and after having it on my wish list for almost a decade I can say it certainly lived up to my expectations. When I played the grass was very long (nearly unacceptably long) in many spots but a local I talked to said it was the longest he had ever seen it in over a decade of playing the course, saying it's usually kept up pretty well, so I didn't consider it a con as it didn't seem like it's the norm. But if you are hitting the course in the spring like I did, I'd keep that in mind if it's something that may bother you.

Overall, Mt. Airy is a very solid course. The 'excellent' descriptor of the 4.0 rating hits the nail right on the head. The potential safety issues are definitely concerning, but I played on an absolutely beautiful evening and the course/park wasn't busy enough to cause any real issues. Though, on a day where the park was really busy you may need to skip a hole or two if you don't want to risk hitting some cars. Considering the whole course, it's certainly not enough to knock the rating down, but even the complete removal of the safety issues wouldn't make me push the rating up to a 4.5 either.

Either way, Mt. Airy is certainly worth your time to play. But, if you are looking for the best of the best I wouldn't recommend a stop here over Idlewild if you only have time for one course in the area. If you've got time for two courses it's a toss up between adding here or Lincoln Ridge to your plans depending on the style of golf you personally enjoy more.

Update on Rating in "Other Thoughts"

Mt. Airy Forest is an expansive, 1,459 acre-park located less than 15 minutes from downtown Cincinnati. This park was the first municipal reforestation in country, and has plenty of picturesque trails and locations for park goers to enjoy. Among the many amenities in this park is the 18-hole disc golf course, which in my opinion provides a fine example of what makes a disc golf course a top tier experience.

Mt. Airy's location is hard to miss if you are looking at Cincinnati on Google Maps. The disc golf course is located in the northern half of the park, and can be located using the signage found all around the park. Interstate 74 bisects the forest, so your route to the disc golf course will depend on what direction you are coming from. Outside of the park, you will be able to find restaurant and gas station options for whatever drink, snack, or gas needs you may have before or after your time at the course. Being so centralized, this course is close to a lot of the other courses in the Cincinnati region; if you are hitting the big 3 in Cincinnati, it's not hard to get to Mt. Airy, Idlewild, and Lincoln Ridge all in one day if you start early enough. Mt. Airy is also close to plenty of other attractions and hotels in Cincinnati, which is convenient if you are making a disc golf only trip to the area, or if you are in town with family or business and want to get a round in.

Park amenities are plentiful in Mt. Airy. There are miles upon miles of hiking trails for folks to enjoy, as well as trails for mountain biking and horseback riding. These different trails are mapped out and are accessible on the park website. This park is also home to Everybody's Treehouse, a whimsical, fully wheelchair accessible treehouse that is free to the public. The park has 3 reservable shelters, along with almost two dozen picnic areas. There are also 3 different reservable wedding venues to choose from for your special day. Just north of the disc golf course is the Mt. Airy Arboretum, which houses specialty gardens, gazebos, and picturesque lakeside views. To the south of the interstate, you will also find a dog park that has separate zones for large or small furry friends. Then you add in the restroom facilities and playground areas, calling Mt. Airy's amenities plentiful may sell the park short. You could easily spend a full day at Mt. Airy, whether or not that day includes to disc golf course.

Speaking of the disc golf course, let's talk about course amenities. Coming down Lodge Road past the playground area, you will come across a small parking lot and building. This building houses The Nati, a disc golf pro shop located on property. Its not every day the closest pro shop to a given course is on-site. With the selection of discs and unique setting in the older building, The Nati is a great place to check out before or after your round. Next to the parking lot, you'll also find a fun directional sign that shows distances to many notable courses around the country and globe, including Flip City, DeLaveaga, Winthrop, and even Pomiena Reserve in Tasmania. Beyond the parking lot, you will find what is the best warm up area I have seen on any disc golf course thus far. There's a long patio area with a large net at the end that will allow you to warm up with some power throws that won't require you to walk hundreds of feet to get your disc. There are also two DISCatcher practice baskets located in a large open area behind the pro shop. These baskets provide not only large spaces to practice putts, but approaches as well. At Mt. Airy, you have plenty of options with your warm up routine to make sure you're set for your round.

The course equipment at Mt. Airy also includes some great features. The tee pads are long concrete pads that felt nice and grippy on my round. The tee signs provide a graphic of each hole, pin locations and distances, the direction to the next tee, and which pin is in use. The baskets on course are DGA Mach 3s that are in great shape. The baskets at red, and stand out very well among the woods and greenery, making them easy to spot from a distance. Each hole also has a bucket for trash, so don't be a litter bug.

Mt. Airy's course design has a largely park-style vibe to it, which may be surprising considering it's in a forest. The course makes its way around tree lines of a more open area of the park, with only a few holes truly traversing the wooded environment that surrounds the course. While there is a playground area that the park goes near and other roads that the course runs along, the disc golf course largely uses land not shared by other amenities given the dead-end road that the course start and end resides at.

Variety is plentiful at Mt. Airy when considering multiple factors. While this is not the longest course you will find by any means, the pin distances throughout the course can range from 200 to 700 feet. There's a nice mix of longer and shorter holes on site, with different distances peppered throughout your round. The course also has some good elevation changes throughout. While there are a good number of largely flat holes, there are other holes that will require shots uphill, downhill, over small valleys, and over hills. In terms of shot shaping, there's a mix of fairways that go straight, left, and right, making for a course that both fit and challenge disc golfers dominant in either hand and favoring either forehand or backhand throws. While some holes on site are pretty straight, others offer either multiple shot options or force you to throw a particular shape. This course may slightly favor players whose go-to drive fades right, but as an almost solely RHBH player, I didn't have any issues on this course.

Course difficulty at Mt. Airy is very accessible to a variety of players. As other folks have said, this course feels like a nice balance between Lincoln Ridge and Idlewild in Kentucky. Lincoln Ridge is seen as providing a fun, relatively easier round of golf, while Idlewild is one of the harder courses you will find and is full of challenging risk/reward situations. I agree with the sentiment that Mt. Airy is a nice balance of the two. Newer players will be challenged by Mt. Airy, but will be able to bite off as much as they are comfortable with without punishment here. The park style holes mean that it's pretty easy to see where your disc lands on most holes, which is a nice plus for those who are looking for a most stress-free round. Intermediate players will find this course to have a good level of challenge, with longer pin placements providing challenging situations that will test both distance and accuracy for your birdie or par. While many of the shorter pin placements will likely be very easy for upper-tier players, the longer placements on this course are nothing to scoff at. The C placements on site provide plenty of distance and more extreme angles, which will challenge the vast majority of players. It looks like pin placements are changed often on this course, and you will find a mix of long and short placements on any given non-tournament round, making the replay factor at Mt. Airy high for all skill levels.

Course highlights, for me, would be holes 1, 5, and 15. Hole 1 is a beautiful opening drive over a hill to pin placements guarded within a wooded area - an exciting start to the round. Hole 5 is a long and tight hole that wraps to the right for a difficult par. On my round, there were two baskets to choose from on this hole, so if you want to harder pin placement, keep going along the street to the right to find the far placement. Hole 15 is probably the prettiest hole on site, with a long downhill drive to a B placement that is in an open spot of land surrounded by downhill slopes from the basket, making for risk-reward situations on every throw you make on this hole.

This course can get pretty crowded given its popularity and location. I finished my round before 9am, and the parking lot was pretty full when I left. I think having other disc golfers playing when you are is a positive, but keep in mind that this course gets busy enough on weekends that you may be waiting to play a hole at times.

I played after a period of snow melt and rainier days, and I was overall very impressed with drainage on this course. That being aid, two spots stuck out to me as areas that were still fairly muddy. One spot is in front of Hole 1's tee pad, and that other is around Hole 15's tee pad. This didn't negatively affect my view of the course, but be careful of these spots and other lower lying areas on course after rainy periods.

In terms of variety between woods and park-style holes, those who are looking for more wooded holes may leave Mt. Airy a little disappointed, as most of the holes are more open with more mature trees and tree lines making up the shape of fairways and shot angles needed. Some RHBH players also may not appreciate the course design here given the amount of right turning holes. Again, as a RHBH player, I didn't have any issues on this course, but there is a noticeable percentage of the course that seems to favor right-ending shots.

Safety may be a negative for some on this course. Some holes play pretty close to the road used to access the disc golf course, and some other holes play near a busier road as well. With the number of trails in the park, you may find hikers around the course area as well. I personally didn't find any of the areas on the course to be problematic, as you can see down the road or fairway on all of the holes that are impacted the most by other park uses. Just be careful and look before you throw.

Keep in mind that the rough around some of the holes can get pretty dense, especially when the vegetation on site is in season. Risk/reward is nice to have, but if you see your disc going towards the woods, make sure you watch closely to see where it is landing.

Others have noted navigation as being a issue, with some of these issues perhaps coming from earlier designs. Hole 5 to 6 and then hole 6 to 7 could be a little weird the first time you play, but I can't think of any other spots that had awkward transitions. I didn't have any issues navigating this course on my round, but I believe The Nati has maps available if you want one. Udisc will also get you through a round here easily if you are having any navigation issues.

I have been trying to think of how to properly describe what makes this course work so well, and the right words are failing to come to mind. I think the easiest way to describe this course, in my opinion, is that it's greater than the sum of its parts. At first glance, it doesn't look like a 5-disc experience. It is primarily open park-style holes. It's not exceptionally long. Holes 7 through 9 can come off as a bland section of the course. What's here to put the course above most others?

I think of the climactic sequence in the film Ratatouille when I think about this course (spoilers, sorry). When cooking for the extremely critical Anton Ego, Remo chooses, well, Ratatouille as the dish he serves the critic. This dish doesn't have any uniquely spectacular ingredients; it's made of a mix of tomato, eggplant, squash, and zucchini, with a sauce made of very typical and common ingredients. But when Ego tried the dish, he's left dazzled and humbled by the dish, which takes him back to his memories of growing up and eating his mom's cooking.

This course, to me, is the disc golf equivalent to that ratatouille. The course design has a lot of more simple attributes to it that you can find on many other courses, but I think it executes those attributes better than most other course that I have played. Many of the holes on this course may not immediately come off as exceptional on their own, but when all 18 holes are combined, they add up to a very enjoyable round of golf that results in a truly exceptional experience.

I think another thing about this course that relates to that pasta dish is how accessible it is. Mt. Airy is a course that a very wide range of players can play and enjoy. Newer players will not be overwhelmed by the majority of the holes here, but intermediate players will also enjoy the challenges of this course. No part of this course is overwhelming in its challenge, nor does it have to be. A course doesn't have to necessarily be difficult to be exceptional, and Mt. Airy is a great example of this. This isn't the course that comes to mind when you're looking for a pro-level tournament; Idlewild is just down the highway for that. But if I'm going to recommend a course for the average disc golfer to have a fun round, Mt. Airy is hard to beat.

Mt. Airy resides in the greatest setting for a course I have come across to date. The pro shop on site is such an amazing thing to have on any course, and Mt. Airy's is truly fantastic. There's plenty of seating around the pro shop to converse and chill before or after your round or rounds here. The practice and warm up area is the best I have seen on any course so far. And the forest setting makes for a truly sublime background for a round, far away from the noise and business of the city this park is surrounded by. I started my day of golf at Mt. Airy at the crack of dawn around 7:30am, and I went on to have what was the peaceful and relaxed feeling round of golf I remember having in my almost 14 years of playing this fine sport. This part of Mt. Airy Forest truly feels sperate from other park uses, something most other park courses can't say. That comes with having almost 1,500 acres of land to play with in this park, and this course takes full advantage, truly feeling like a slice of disc golf tranquility separate from other activities.

I know I'm in the minority with how high of regard I hold this course, but one thing most can agree on is that Mt. Airy is a fun course that lives up to it's play and favorite count on this site. This is a well-known course that is beloved by many, and it more than lives up to its reputation.

I chose Cincinnati for my first solo disc golf road trip because of Idlewild. The biggest reason I want to go back is Mt. Airy Forest. This course has stuck in my mind and will continue to do so for a long time, and I recommend that you add it to your bucket list. You won't regret it.

July 2024 Update: Based on other courses I have reviewed, and additional courses I will be reviewing soon, I have to bump Mt. Airy to a 4.5, as this course from a course design standpoint does not match up with the top 5 courses I have played and doesn't really make as strong of an argument to maintain a 5/5 rating for me.

I maintain that my round at Mt. Airy is among my favorite rounds I have ever played out of over 150 courses and hundred upon hundred of rounds during my time as a disc golfer. Few things top my 7am round at the crack of dawn and this course to myself. I think this is a very, very solid course, and punches above its weight in many ways. I maintain that you won't be disappointed coming here, and I look forward to my local disc golf buds bringing me along to Cincinnati again to play Idlewild, so that I can also show them Mt. Airy.

- Beautiful 18 hole course especially in fall
- Great variety makes sure you have numerous shots not only available but also perfected
- Incredibly challenging but also fair. In other words, if you hit your lines, you'll do great, but if you miss them, good luck with scrambling; however, it is not so terribly punishing that a slightly missed line will result in a scramble from the middle of the woods. Only if you completely miss your lines or shank a shot will you have a bad time.
- Holes 1, 15, and 17 are definitely the highlights of this course for me as all are huge bomb shots, though they are all very different. Hole 1 starts in the open but you then must shoot into the woods. Hole 15 is all open and all downhill (very risk/reward heavy). Hole 17 is all open with a few clusters of guardian trees by the basket, all over 3 rolling hills. All are some of my favorite holes of any course and I can't decide which of them is my favorite!
- Multiple basket locations allow for different experience almost every time you play. On top of that, this is one course that actually uses the multiple locations instead of just listing them and keeping the basket at one spot permanently!
- Baskets are high quality; spitouts are rare.
- Multiple putting baskets, a driving range (into a net), and an amazing disc golf store round out why this course is a must for anyone within an hour drive!

- There are two spots where you have to backtrack to go to the next tee which is not only confusing but hurts the flow of the course as well.
- Course is grueling and extremely tiring as all holes are long. In addition, there is quite a bit of walking between many baskets and the following teepad, though this is more of a minor critique.
- Course is often incredibly busy and the roads next to multiple fairways are well traveled, so be careful! (This is awesome for the sport though!)
- Very easy to lose discs, so make sure to hit your lines!

Yet another great course near Cincinnati, Mt. Airy is a must play for anyone that is into disc golf, though beginners beware as it is brutal. It is incredibly beautiful and very well maintained. You can definitely see that a lot of care is put into keeping this course upkept to the highest quality. While I personally prefer Lincoln Ridge for the fun factor, Mt. Airy is, in my opinion, a better course overall. If you're prepared for a brutally long and hard course, you should have a good amount of fun. If you go in expecting an easy, short 18 though, it'll be rough. Still though, Mt. Airy is clearly one of the best courses in the Cincinnati area, and anyone coming to play Idlewild (or any other course here for that matter) needs to make some time to check out this amazing course. Who knows, you might even end up buying a few more discs!

What I can point to first when thinking about my review for Mt. Airy is the variety offered by this course. There are several shots that can easily be considered as signature holes by most courses' standard. Lots of long, open scenic shots that let you air out some big shots - also some shorter, technical par 3's that feel even more like "must-gets" among some of the massive adjacent holes.

While the course is what most would rightly consider "challenging," I think the golf at Mt. Airy is fair. With several holes reachable by all skill levels, a conservative, lightly skilled player can enjoy a great round here. Just the same -- an overzealous rookie or an over confident veteran will be quickly reminded that the picturesque views at Mt. Airy come with the cost of punishing rough and difficult scrambles. Risk V. Reward is something that is often mentioned in our sport and Mt. Airy is a great example of that phrase in many cases.

Mt. Airy Forest as a park, disc golf aside, is definitely not lacking in the amenities department. Several bathrooms throughout the course, a couple places to fill your water, multiple playgrounds, walking paths, hiking trails, etc.

Talking disc golf amenities? Its hard to beat Mt. Airy Forest, given its accompaniment by The Nati Disc Golf, a quality pro shop that is situated strategically between hole 1's tee pad and hole 18's basket. Multiple DisCATCHER practice baskets, along with an XL teepad pointed into a large net. I really enjoyed having the net - it let me warm up my arm and rip a few shots without having to spend time tracking down discs, I wish more courses had this!

There's great use and variety of elevation at this course. I played in the middle of summer, but I've heard the course drains well thanks to its use of elevation.

Mt. Airy Forest is a huge, multi-use park, so the issue of pedestrians or non-golfers potentially getting in the way is obviously present. This never stuck out to me as a glaring "con," but something I thought could be problematic, given how much the course interacts with the road that runs throughout the park.

A couple of teepads were less than level and that can make for a difficult run-up on a drive. Only a couple examples of this and it is most likely due to erosion over time.

It's hard to point to many flaws at Mt. Airy. The course has basically everything that a disc golfer could want at their disposal. Sweet Pro Shop with all the fixin's? Check. An unrivaled practice area, containing a hugely oversized teepad into a net? (My favorite bit) Check. A great, challenging, diverse round of golf through a beautiful landscape? Check.

I think this course fits great within what is known as "The Big Three," in the Cincinnati area, along with Lincoln Ridge and Idlewild. I think Mt. Airy falls into a sweet spot that makes it a unique, challenging, and really fun course to play. Not as challenging as Idlewild, but tougher than Lincoln Ridge - Mt. Airy was just right.

- Every hole presents its own challenge. Great mix of uphill, downhill, left hook, right hook, blind, and open shots.

- Park was clean, grass was cut for the most part.

-Decent parking near the shop.

-Signs are in great shape and give clear directions.

-It's tough. There is a reason it's on the Cincy Big Three.

- Definitely some thick brush areas. And the open lines can entice you to chuck one.....then it's gone.

- Park is not just for disc, and some of the holes cross areas where people are using the shelters, when busy, it can present some hazards. (cars parked at the shelter on the grass right in the throwing zones)

I thought this park was a lot of fun. My score reflects the difficulty of this course too. However, I enjoyed it (minus the rain). I did make a huge mistake on #18; When you come up the hill the first basket you see in a practice basket. And if you're already upset from throwing a bad game, you (like me) will not even realize it and throw to the practice basket, only to find out is the wrong direction. lol.

Great park!

Absolutely fantastic use of elevation on this course. It feels like almost every hole has one, and often times two, changes in elevation.

There is a good mix of length here. Some holes max out in the 280' range, while a couple others get up to 600' and beyond. There are also multiple pin placements on every hole, often times dramatically changing the difficulty of the hole.

Players with big, powerful drives will love this course. The fairways are not very tight and the trees remaining on the course are not too dense, allowing for maximum bomber potential. However, this course also requires some technical throws, especially when close to the dense woods. There are even a couple tantalizing ace runs, and plenty of opportunities for getting a long-distance make. The many high-reward throws here are extremely fun for both amateur players and advanced players alike.

This course is incredibly well-kept. The tee-pads are big and in good condition. The tee-signs are easy to read, adequately show the hole layout, and always mark which pin placement is being used. The wooded holes have clear fairways, and the brush isn't too thick or overgrown.

Hole 15, specifically in the B pin placement, is definitely the standout hole of this course and one of the best holes in the area. It is picturesque and begs that you throw a booming downhill bomb to get close to it. Other holes that appeal to me include 1, 10, and 14; in my mind, there are no holes that seriously detract from the experience.

The biggest con of this course -- and it is somewhat ironic considering the name -- is that there are actually few wooded holes. The course itself is great, but there probably could have been a better effort to incorporate the forest a bit better.

There are some roadways and walking trails that can come into play on this course, and also a couple shelters where people may be. For the most part, they are far enough from the course to not be an issue, but it is definitely something to watch out for while playing.

The Ohio portion of the "Nati Big Three" -- Idlewild, Mt. Airy, and Lincoln Ridge -- is a great course to visit. It is not as intimidating as Idlewild and not as casual as Lincoln Ridge, but falls nicely in the middle. It has excellent amenities, including an on-site pro shop, a couple putting baskets for warm-ups, and even a "driving range" to get loose on some of the big rips. It is definitely worth a visit, whether you are local, nearby, or visiting from anywhere in the country.

- The facilities here really are incredible! Having a pro shop, practice driving area, and two practice baskets goes way above and beyond what I've experienced at any other course.
- All of the holes are unique and offer a variety of shot shapes and distances. There is also a good balance between open shots, where you have to control where the disc lands, and tight shots, where you have to control how the disc flies.
- All of the baskets are in excellent shape and the tee signs on each hole are very helpful, as they show par, distance, and the preferred line. The tee signs also show you which pin position you're throwing at so you don't have to run up and check every time.

As a preface, these are both minor complaints about an otherwise phenomenal course.
- The concrete tee pads seem to be losing their grip as I had a couple of slips on the tee during my round today.
- I wish there were next tee arrows below every basket.

The park that surrounds this course is so beautiful! This course is just a slightly bigger, slightly better, and way more consistent version of my home course. (I mean this as a huge compliment btw.) To have a course this good be in the middle of a big city like Cincinnati is just mind blowing to me.

Pro caliber course.
A decent mix of shot variety. Can showcase many skills.
Nice tee pads and solid baskets.

Since it is a local park, the course interacts with the roads and dog walkers, etc.
Perhaps a bit to many right turn fairways, so favors LHBH and RHFH players.

Bring your A game.
One of Cincinnati's best.

Baskets are really nice out at Mt. Airy, one of my favorite things about the course.

Tee pads are kept in great shape. Much needed for a course like this.

The maps out here are phenomenal. Such a great thing to have at this pro style course.

General course design is good. You will start and end right by your car.

Lots of benches and trash cans around keeps this course very clean.

Major elevation changes at Mt. Airy. For sure one of my favorite aspects of this course. #15 is probably the best downhill hole I have played other than #12 at Buck.

There are plenty of epic holes at Mt. Airy. I mentioned #15 above. I really like #1, #16, #18 and #10. All have different aspects that I really find epic and enjoyable.

Restrooms are around the course.

Running water around the course is great for Summer play. We ran out of water after #11 it was so hot out and right next to the next tee box was a water (fountain, spicket, pump? not sure the correct word here) but it was perfectly usable.

I wouldnt say there is a good variety of hole distances at Mt. Airy because all the holes seem to play pretty long but there are a couple of birdable holes.

You will use a variety of shots in your bag. Some holes may require you to drive it twice, some may put you on a hyzer line, some might require a downhill midrange and of course a well used putter will give you a good score. I learned after my first round at Mt. Airy do not try to challenge this course or think that you are going to shoot low. Take what this course gives you, get out with your pars when you can and at the end of the day you can come out in the low 60's.

Mt. Airy is absolutely a challenge. Possibly the hardest course I have played. Handyman might be the only other course that can challenge Airy on toughness that I have played.

Parking is right by Hole #1 and the course has its own pro shop, how can you beat that!

Tons of events to participate in at this course.

Locals are very nice and welcoming.

I hate to give foliage maintenance a con because I am sure they do every thing they can. The grass was cut both times I have been here. We just all lost a couple of discs each in areas I wish they would trim back a little further.

Not sure about camping?

I wish there were more tight and technical than open bombs at this course but I understand the distances for a pro style course.

This course was extremely crowded both times I have went.

Mt. Airy is a really great course. I would not want to play it all the time because of its difficulty level but this is a must visit course in Ohio possibly the country. It has some really fun holes. The elevation changes can make for a taxing day on the course. Highly recommend visiting this course and seeing what all the hype is about.

Mt Airy is a big armed course. It's got a couple of bumps in the road before finding its stride. This is no Mayberry.
- The most important thing, there are some fantastic holes here. The top couple holes are close to as good as anything at Idlewild. The difference is Idlewild has mostly outstanding holes; Mt Airy has only a handful.
- The best holes also take best advantage of the elevation. You get a sense of that right off the bat on #1. 540-footer that's uphill the entire way, starting in a field, ending in the woods. #2 is a relatively simply par 3. Side note: how did anyone pick #2 as his favorite? Then #3 gives you a long dogleg right.
- I loved that everyone hole (correctly) listed which pin location was in play. With so many blind tee shots, it's vital.
- Course gets significantly better throughout. There's an insufferable stretch that's called holes #5 & 6. The course picks up from there. The three best holes are all on the back nine - #13, 15, & 17.
- #15 is fantastically great. 580-feet of downhill dogleg right play. Hit the gap, or put your tee shot in good position for a downhill approach to the basket. Hitting my 20-footer putt for a 3 was the most satisfying shot I made my entire round. This piece of land was created for a disc golf course.
- For so much going on at the park, this area is almost exclusively for disc golf. You may come across walkers, or people by the playground near #2's basket; otherwise, it's all disc golf.
- The signs highlighting big name courses and their distances was a fantastic touch. You want to know what are the big named courses? Check the sign. I loved seeing two courses within 20 minutes of my house listed on the sign - Winthrop and Renaissance.
- Based on antidotal evidence, this course gets the most play of the big 3 locals - Idlewild and Lincoln Ridge. Makes sense given its location. Oh, and there's a pro shop here. That always brings in the disc golfers.

The biggest negative is the repetitiveness, (somewhat) lack of variety, and repetitiveness. When you've got a wide-open course, there's only so much you can do. There's truly only two wooded holes on the course - #3 & 16. The rest are in the field, with trees and rough lining the sides.
- #5 & 6. They could be good, but something is off about them. Both have sharp dogleg right factors to them. #5 basically hugs the side of two park streets. #6 starts away from the road, then pulls an obtuse angle turn to the right. In both cases, you're better playing out to the left. Too far right and you're in thick, unforgiveable rough.
- What adds to the annoyance is the transition to #7. After finishing #6, you turn right back whence you came, walking the majority of #5's fairway backwards. How about we eliminate #6, put another hole in all the other space in the rest of the course, and reduce long walks?
- A few too many holes are simple par 3s. They're in the 300 - 400-foot range, with little challenge. If you're not throwing 400, you're not seeing birdie putts. For us noodle arms, I was repeatedly getting up and down from 50 - 75 feet away for my 3s.
- After a fantastic five hole stretch of #13 - 17, #18 is a letdown for the closing hole. It's perfectly alright, just would prefer one of the elites to end on.
- Didn't see many, if any, trash cans on the course. Throw in a couple more benches throughout the course too while I'm making requests.

Mt. Airy is a very good course. It's not going to be confused with Idlewild, but it's a good compliment. Big arms and more experienced players are going to eat up this course.
- The longer, station-to-station holes are the course's strongest feature. Both #16 & 17 reward players who land a perfectly placed shot over big arms. I had a tap-in 4 on #16 thanks to two strong mid-range shots. I suffered the consequences of not getting far enough away from the trees on #17. My next two shots would have only required one if my tee shot was 20 feet further left.
- Lots to like here. It's easy to pick nits on a course this caliber. It's a good course, but its flaws keep it from being great.
- From the long tees, the course plays just over 8000 feet - just under 450 feet per hole. Only one hole is under 300 feet, and only six more are under 400.
- Come prepared with plenty to drink. Bring your patience as well, both for a longer round and the possible lack of birdie chances.
- I think 4.0 is an appropriate score. The best parts of this course are excellent. The course designers do confuse length with excellence at times. That said it's worth playing.

This course is super challenging and fun. Not for the beginners unless you plan on getting beat down a bit but it will definitely improve your game in the long run. Same for advanced players and variety of pin placements keeps the course interesting.

not sure, it's a pretty nice course

The Nati pro shop is fantastic. There are practice holes by the shop and hole one. Bring your A game or else this course can bite you. If you are coming to the area to visit, this is probably a top 3 to top 5 course.

Showcasing some of the most thoughtful design in park disc golf, Mt. Airy Forest earns its title as Cincinnati's most iconic course. As one of the Cincinnati metro's "Big 3" alongside Lincoln Ridge/Banklick and Idlewild, Airy serves as the fulcrum of the local scene and offers some pretty good golf to boot. The layouts range from challenging to downright Idlewild-esque, and the holes are primarily long Par 3's with organically difficult pin positions. Most visibly, every shot features some degree of elevation change, and miscalculating even a subtle slope can lead to thick rough or OB. For example, Holes 2, 4, and 6 sport gently upsloping fairways that don't seem obvious from the tee, but become painfully apparent when your drive leaves you maddeningly short of where you'd like to be. It's the little annoyances like these that make Airy such a delight. It's not an unconquerable beast, but it stays in your head on every hole, requiring a level of focus and situational awareness rarely found in park-style courses.

Overall design highlights include Hole 1, where the elevation change is obvious and an obstacle in itself, playing to a wooded approach/green that offers as much challenge from a bomb as a layup. Placement is rewarded more than pure distance, setting the tone for the remainder of the round. Hole 15 is another favorite, where a long, sweeping downhill RHBH anhyzer drive plays to a green on a grassy ridge with trouble beyond. The downslope narrows the margin for error on all shots, and it's easy to lace one long into the challenging rough.

The course's namesake forest is nearly 1500 acres of urban greenspace, so there's a lot to look at both along the routing and elsewhere in the park. Wildlife is plentiful, including birds, deer, rabbits, and snakes to keep you company. Hole 16 is especially pretty as one of two fully wooded holes on the course, serving as a pleasant place to cool off and take a drink of water in the final stretch.

As the home course of the GCFDA (Greater Cincinnati Flying Disc Association), both course essentials and amenities here are top notch. Although many holes are blind, the tee signs are very descriptive and accurate, with pin position indicators saving the day. The concrete pads are in excellent repair, and the bright red DGA baskets catch well. Always very well maintained, trash cans and benches can be found everywhere. The Nati, Mt. Airy's on-site pro shop, is a major plus, offering a full selection of discs from many manufacturers. By the time you get to the outdoor driving net, it's apparent that nearly every perk and extra you could want can be found here.

As a nearly exclusive RHFH player, I welcome the prevalence of right-turning fairways, but acknowledge that they are the overwhelming majority. A good forehand is a major asset, especially on the significant number of holes with the OB park road to the left. Just a couple more right-finishing fairways or even pin positions would've made the course feel a lot more varied.

Airy is definitely an open course on the whole, especially when compared with Lincoln Ridge and Idlewild. This leads to a twinge of repetition, most apparent in the comparatively forgettable Holes 7-9. All three are shorter and feature excellent elevation play, but present little line shaping challenge.

Because of its geographic and emotional centrality to Cincinnati golfers, Airy has a tendency to get pretty busy on nice days. You won't see too much mob golf, but it's pretty typical to see foursomes on every hole. Playing solo doesn't necessarily equate to a quick round.

Airy may not be a 4.5 in its short layout, but the standard and especially long layouts deserve this score. This is big-time golf that remains accessible for the masses, and its wide-ranging appeal and superior amenities nudge it up the extra half disc. Very few could come away from here disappointed.

Mt. Airy DGC sits on some great terrain, with rolling, tree-dotted hills and some denser woods. The latter are entered for a few holes but for the most part the course runs along the woods' edge, with them acting as a boundary or occasionally as an obstacle for approaches etc. Most holes feature sloping fairways with multiple obstacles that don't form a single, definite window or lane to hit, meaning shot choice is left to the player and you can tailor your play through to your game. Road OB often factors in, further complicating. The best holes (16!) weave these many factors together into enjoyable challenges that are best suited for players with some skill and experience. At the same time the course is no beat down, and won't leave a bad taste in the mouth of a newer player as long as they're cautious about not ending up too deep in the rough. Hole pars and distances are well-mixed, though there's a penchant for challenging par 3s.

Course is well-groomed, parking is plentiful. Many other courses nearby (Idlewild, duh). Awesome, well-stocked and fair-priced pro shop on site. Support the locals!

Despite the varied terrain there's a bit of repetitiveness, mostly owing to the way the layout loops around the park. The woods are often bordering to the righthand side with the road to the left; combined with the lack of definitive lanes, you can throw forehand hyzers for days and skirt many of the obstacles. In other spots open fairways allow you to easily steer wide of the rough in play quite easily, limiting challenge on terrain that is filled with potential. I am in general a big fan of holes that allow for choice, but here the choices aren't well-defined and wind up tempting you to take the easy way out, especially if you have FH/BH versatility. This ability to play it safe in several spots waters down the course somewhat. A few more technical holes in the woods, or that play through them in a greater variety of ways, would have broken up the rhythm and shot variety more.

The par 4s are often more a matter of distance than of added wrinkles.

Running so close to the road so regularly is a bit of a concern, even if it isn't well-trafficked.

Mt. Airy is a solid course that offers an enjoyable round. Any sane disc golfer would be happy to have it as their home course. Its proximity to Idlewild is a definite plus; the Cincinnati area offers great road trip material.

That said I feel as though Mt. Airy itself is slightly overrated on this site; it isn't itself a must-play for me. But as part of a larger road trip that includes Idlewild? Absolutely worth a visit.

Well drained, mostly grassy, rolling terrain. Many mature and smaller trees, defining a balance of wide and narrow fairways. Located in the largest City of Cincinnati Park, easily accessed from multiple directions/roads. Very nice condition, multiple pin sleeve/location baskets, ample sized concrete tees, good signage, easy to follow flow of holes, lots of trash cans, and 2 permanent building bathrooms.
The club house, in an old, unique farmhouse building, sells almost every disc manufactured, clothing, food, drinks, disc golf bags, and just about any supply a golfer could use. There is a flat, paved area with a net to throw drives into, and a practice basket with artificial turf, near the first hole.
There is a variety of up-hill and downhill holes, most holes are moderately open, just a few are what I would consider tightly wooded. There are 6 holes which have the potential OB road coming into play.
The hardwood trees planted by the park board over 10 years ago, have grown up nicely, and made many of the holes much more challenging, to the point where some of the par 3 holes are borderline par 4's now. Power throwers have a substantial advantage at Mt. Airy.
The recently added, longer pin positions, have added some interesting variation.

Mt. Airy is a challenging and much better than average course with true par 4's and a par 5 hole mixed in with many challenging par 3's.
This is not a recommended course for novice players. The clubhouse may be the best you have ever seen on a course property.

Beautiful State Park look and feel with some awesome amenities. There is a nice/well priced pro shop right by hole 1, a driving/putting practice area and did I mention it's located in a forest?

Tee pads are nice (although a little muddy considering the time of year), the signs are even better with pin locations marked. Although I am slightly red/green color blind, I thought the red baskets were a nice touch and helped when looking for the basket. Well maintained and well respected, it shows.

Slightly muddy and a lot of leaves on the ground but that is expected this time of year.

I'm glad I was finally able to get down to Cincy to play this awesome course. It was challenging but had a great mix of everything. I am sure it is much nicer (but probably also harder) when the trees and grass are green come spring/summer.

Making my way to the Nati, Mt. Airy certainly had the feel of an 'established' course. You can tell that a lot of hours have been put in caring for the course, and that a lot of players have passed through over the years. One major sign of that is of course the Nati, which is probably the best pro shop I've seen. Multiple practice baskets and a driving warm-up area also accommodate players.

Mt. Airy is at its best when it combines multiple elements on its holes. I really enjoyed the multi-shot holes that started out in the open and ended up in the woods or vice versa. Holes 1, 3, 11, 15, 16, and 17 did a great job with this while emphasizing placement. Errant shots are punished but still recoverable. Combining these type of holes with more straight-forward park-style holes gives the entire round a nice variety. It's not just a city park feel or woods golf, you get both here.

I really enjoy playing in a setting with rolling hills and scattered trees, so I enjoyed the holes here that offered that. It isn't quite as extreme as, say, Waterworks, but it does that aspect pretty well. These two combined aspects allow you to play different lines on many of the holes. Again, this is where Mt. Airy shines.

Despite playing in the afternoon and it being one of the most played courses on DGCR, traffic was never really an issue. You may see the same group of players a couple times throughout the round, but fairways are well spread out from each other for the most part.

The course is beautiful and the fairways are in great shape. Unless you land in the thickest patches of rough, disc searches should be rare. The tees and tee signs are also nicely done, while the red baskets are a nice touch to make easier to spot.

For being a highly heralded course, it had a couple holes that definitely didn't live up to the standard. In particular, 7-9 is a somewhat bland stretch IMO. I also wasn't a big fan of 5 which combined thick rough on one side and the road on the other side of a narrowing fairway.

I'm sure this isn't news to those who are familiar to the course, but it is the most lefty-focused course I've ever played. Playing here and Idlewild the next day helped me realized more than ever the need for me to start throwing forehands, but it still would've been nice to have a variety. Mt. Airy screams, "Lefty's revenge!"

There are a few awkward transitions from hole to hole. Sometimes you have a take a less-obvious path to the next hole, and sometimes, there are multiple paths by a basket but it's not clear which one to take. Sometimes I felt like we simply had to guess where the next hole was.

The course plays along, adjacent, or across the park roads a good bit, probably over half of the course.

The rough is very thick and borders a good bit of the fairways.

Mt. Airy has been on my radar since I've been playing, so I enjoyed finally getting to play here. It has a unique feel to it with a combination of park-style play but also has holes that feel like they're in the deep woods. I enjoyed that variety and appreciate the work that has gone into the course. I haven't played Osage Grove yet, but this is easily the third best course in the region. Cincinnati is a great place to take a road trip to with all kinds of courses littered near each other. I'm stating the obvious, but make sure you play this Cincy staple if in the area.