Schnecksville, PA

Neff's Valley

2.85(based on 15 reviews)
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5 0
HyooMac
Diamond level trusted reviewer
Experience: 7.3 years 447 played 414 reviews
2.50 star(s)

Has Not Aged Well 2+ years

Reviewed: Played on:May 22, 2020 Played the course:once

Pros:

Nine old baskets in an abandoned park; some efforts to revitalize the layout



+ Two sets of tees, decent signage

+ Quick play; can be mixed in with nearby courses for a good day of varied golf

+ The three holes that play along the wooded side of the park (#3 - #5) are a nice variety: short and narrow, medium hyzer, medium with basket in wooded pocket

Cons:

- Although trees come into play on a few holes (and a stream on the second), the majority of them are open. Terrain is flat (and low, so it gets muddy)

- Many of the "back nine" tees don't provide a lot of differentiation from the front; I decided to play just nine and move on to another course

- The pictures on this site are from when the layout was much newer (and maybe a bit longer?). I have uploaded a handful of new ones to provide an idea of the current state


Other Thoughts:

~ The flow of the course is pretty good, once you orient yourself (holes #1 and #2 and by themselves, and you have to head back toward the park entrance to find the first tee)

~ I feel like there's a lot of effort going in here (establishing new tee locations), but they don't have much to work with. It's a small property with nine old baskets and a limited variety of terrain. It seems like the only municipal involvement is to mow

~ Abandoned public pools = spooky


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2 0
ROTFLandmines
Experience: 14.3 years 15 played 11 reviews
3.00 star(s)

Afternoon practice 2+ years drive by

Reviewed: Updated: Played on:Dec 8, 2016 Played the course:once

Pros:

I couldn't think of a better use for this abandoned park.
9 holes played twice
Very diverse design

Cons:

Pads are not all that well maintained.
A bit confusing for first time players

Other Thoughts:

This course has 9 holes and is played from two pad locations for a total of 18. While being a fairly short course, it offers some nice fines shots with hard tree lines and tight lanes. It also has a large field that offers some big drives, so you can make up a few of those bad tree hits.

I've enjoyed playing here, but if it is your first time you may get a bit confused on correct pad locations.

Overall I would recommend it if you are looking for an afternoon throw and want something that is fairly quick.
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1 0
jbetz45453
Experience: 11.4 years 14 played 12 reviews
3.00 star(s)

My wife swam in that pool! 2+ years drive by

Reviewed: Played on:May 9, 2015 Played the course:once

Pros:

Nice use of an abandoned park.
Good course for newer players.
Nice mix of some open areas and woods and even a little water to deal with.
Half the holes are over 300 feet.
Was pretty easy to navigate the course.
2 sets of tee's for each basket.

Cons:

2 sets of tees for each basket.
Some of the holes are a little close together like the three holes that share the open field.
If it is busy when you are there it can get backed up with the shared tees. That happened to me as I finished hole 9 and there was people waiting to tee off on Hole 1 and I wanted to play hole 10 and there was also someone playing hole 2. Hole 1/10 and 2/11 share the same real estate so I just skipped 10 and 11 and played 12.
It appears that hole 7 and 16 have been flip flopped as to what is shown here on the site. Not really a big deal but at some point if you are playing all 18 you will have to walk to the further tee. Maybe they switched it as those who just want to play nine holes would be using the closer tee.

Other Thoughts:

Nice use of an old park that is down the street from where my wife grew up. Yes she spent many summers at the pool as a teen.
I say 2 sets of tees for each basket is a pro and a con.
A pro if it is not busy as you can play 18 holes and they play slightly different with the different tee spots.
A con if it is busy as you can get stuck waiting.
I like the fact that there are some longer holes so you can throw your longer distance discs.
I would play here again. Not sure how busy it gets here as I only played here one time.
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5 1
raynger27
Experience: 13.2 years 62 played 19 reviews
2.50 star(s)

Neat 9-holer 2+ years drive by

Reviewed: Played on:Aug 11, 2012 Played the course:once

Pros:

This course was better than I was expecting. The tee signs were great. The first tee was easy enough to spot, and the course started off with a bang. Nice narrow shot over a stream to an open field. Second shot was a bomb to the other side of the field near the basket. The second hole was then the exact opposite, long first (maybe second) shot in an open field to an approach/putt over the creek. Very neat. The rest of the course was in the woods and was nicely laid out with the land available and the creek coming into play here and there. I thought the variety was great (short, long, wooded, open, dogleg left, dogleg right). Overall, navigation was easy. I didn't even use the course map, the tee signs were more than adequate. Natural tees were acceptable, it doesn't appear the course gets played enough to have them get really warn down. Lawn was mowed, and you shouldn't have to worry about losing a disc here. Great course to introduce new players with. One of the older reviews mention dense foliage, but that didn't appear to be the case to me.

Cons:

Some of the baskets are located close together (6 & 9) and I found myself shooting at the wrong basket twice. Partly my fault for only half paying attention, but still somewhat confusing based off the tee sign. Only a problem the first time out. I could see holes 6, 7, & 9 be dangerous since they each use the same open field as a fairway, but I doubt this course ever gets busy enough to worry about it.

Other Thoughts:

Stopped by this course while in the area for another function. I drove past the entrance on my original pass, but soon spotted a basket and turned back. There is not parking lot, just park on the grass median between the driving/walking paths. I was the only soul around. I imagine this is what disc golf would be like in Chernobyl. There were a few abandoned buildings and an abandoned pool. Pretty creepy. The course itself was well laid out and took advantage of the land available. I really appreciate courses like this because they take what would otherwise be useless land and make it something for people to enjoy. Having alternate tee off points to turn it into an 18-hole course is also a nice touch, though I only played off the original 9 tees. All tees are marked by colored wood planks in the ground. Holes listed as par 4 are a little inflated for a pro player, they should really all be 3's based off other courses I have played. Not a destination course, but worth a visit if you are in the area visiting some of the other great courses.
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4 0
Gerry
Experience: 13.3 years 15 played 13 reviews
1.50 star(s)

2+ years drive by

Reviewed: Updated: Played on:Nov 2, 2011 Played the course:2-4 times

Pros:

A pretty even mix of open and tight holes. No trouble with navigation.

The creek comes into play nicely on several holes. No trouble with retrieval if you splash down.

IMO they did a fine job with space they had, and even though you play some holes within view of a house or three, most of the holes give enough privacy.

Cons:

A couple of the tee areas were pretty slick, and could use some tlc.

Number nine was drenched, but that's to be expected with the recent rain/snow.

Other Thoughts:

A challenging 9 holer, that hits you right out of the gate with a 417 footer though a narrow alley that opens up for the approach, then a 354 footer to a well guarded basket.

Tougher than most of nine holers that I've played. Worth a visit
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4 1
KAK3990
Experience: 15.4 years 121 played 11 reviews
2.50 star(s)

For a niner in a random park, actually not to bad 2+ years drive by

Reviewed: Played on:May 11, 2011 Played the course:5+ times

Pros:

-Surprisingly long for a 9-holer
-Close proximity to several other excellent Lehigh Valley disc golf courses. (I would recommend Jordan Creek and South Mountain)
-Relatively unused, you have a good chance of playing by yourself
-Above average signage at each teebox

Cons:

-Located in a run down, random park
-No real teepads to speak of, they vary but none are great
-No signature hole/really unique hole

Other Thoughts:

If your looking to bag some courses or play a nice leisurely round in peace, Neff's Valley is what your looking for. Its located in an unimpressive park, but the designers made good use of what was available.
The creek comes into play on the first 2 holes but it is usually low enough to ensure easy retrieval.
It is close to lots of excellent courses and wont be disappointing if not to far out of your way.
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4 1
prerube
Diamond level trusted reviewer
Premium Member
Experience: 17.4 years 275 played 236 reviews
2.50 star(s)

a quick toss around the creek 2+ years drive by

Reviewed: Played on:May 15, 2010 Played the course:once

Pros:

Isolated, easy navigation and nice signage. Small creek in play on hole 1. It is a good course for new players, but it won't bore a B or C tier player. I was surprised to have holes long enough to use my longest drivers on a course this small, but there were multiple places where I could air out some drivers. Other than the previous comment about the roads, the course is intelligently designed to make the most of such a small area and natural features.

Cons:

Tiny little 9 holer. A lot of abandon buildings look like they are falling apart around you. I was afraid to go near the building to get one of my discs, a nice hard direct hit with a driver feels like it could topple a building. My biggest pet peeve is when a course plays remotely close to roads, so I have to knock a half point for safety.

If you griplock on hole one you have to walk way past your disc to the bridge, then walk back to the disc.

Other Thoughts:

You can play all 9 holes in under a half hour and move on. I played all 9, but did not play multiple tees because the course was flooded at the time due to extreme rain, not poor drainage. Course is quick, simple and the overly generous par can make you feel good with a mediocre round.

(Sorry, not the normal prerube review: I took notes on this course, but they were all lost when my phone was destroyed)
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11 4
bcr123psu
Gold level trusted reviewer
Experience: 15.3 years 85 played 64 reviews
2.50 star(s)

Decent Course 2+ years drive by

Reviewed: Played on:Apr 30, 2010 Played the course:once

Pros:

For a nine hole course in the middle of nowhere, Neff's Valley is not a bad play. While not far from main roads, the course is fairly secluded and does a great job of factoring in numerous aspects of the natural surroundings, including woods, open spaces, Coplay Creek and some mild elevation changes. Further, the differences in hole lengths help bring some additional variety to the table.

The tee signs at Neff's Valley were great. Fairway, distance, expected flight path, and par (which appears to be inflated) were prominently displayed. The baskets were also in great shape.

The lawn in the park appeared to be fairly well maintained as were most of the paths and bridges.

With limited space available, this course attempts to make the most of it by having multiple tees for each hole, turning a basic nine-hole course into a playable 18 holes.

The first hole, while somewhat odd could be a signature hole at this course. Your drive requires a precision throw through narrow gaps between trees that border Coplay Creek, followed by an approach to an open basket.

Cons:

Some of the hole layouts didn't seem to make sense or lacked clear lanes. The second hole essentially doubles back on the first, but, unlike the first hole, there is no clear approach. Other holes bordered extremely dense foliage which makes losing a disc a distinct possibility and can create some extremely punishing recovery throws.

While being secluded is a positive aspect of the course, the abandoned pool, out buildings, picnic tables, and other dilapidated structures makes this course creepy as hell. CREEPY AS HELL.

While the tee signs are fantastic, on some of the holes the tee boxes don't appear to be present.

For a few of the holes, the proximity of the baskets and/or fairways to roads does introduce a certain amount of danger that could have been avoided when the course was being designed.

Other Thoughts:

Overall, I was pleasantly surprised with Neff's Valley. The disc golf community in the slate region has a decent course on their hands that is a much better option than nearby Victory Park. This course would be great for any player, from those new to the game that need exposure to open drives and wooded fairways, to more seasoned players that want a quick 9 or 18 with a bit of variety and a little challenge.
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4 2
jblough
Gold level trusted reviewer
Experience: 15.5 years 85 played 85 reviews
3.00 star(s)

A nifty set of nine 2+ years drive by

Reviewed: Played on:Mar 27, 2010 Played the course:once

Pros:

Even after playing several other more impressive courses in the Allentown area, I still had a good time playing here. Some of the pros include:

- water hazards (the little stream is in play for several holes)

- Nice technical shots (#3 and 4 in particular) are balanced by some open-air bombs.

- signage is good and holes are easy to find.

All in all, this little course is more difficult than meets the eye, but is still very do-able for a beginner. In fact, I think it's a great place to introduce someone to the game (see below).

Cons:

- a lot of clutter with the pavilions, pool equipment, and other miscellaneous garbage, although they don't really interfere with any holes. It's more of an eyesore than anything.

- posted signs make the place a little unfriendly. I had this feeling that the cops were going to come the whole time and I wasn't even doing anything wrong. It also makes you think twice about throwing any errant discs.

- The par fours are a little generous -- especially with number 7. I think this shot can easily be achieved in 3 tries.

- some holes are very short (< 200 feet)

Other Thoughts:

All things considered, this is a very nice nine hole course. I would kill for a course like this near my hometown for a quick round.

I recommend playing here after a day of rounds at Little Lehigh Parkway and Jordan Creek as a way of relaxing and restoring your ego. This is also a great place to introduce someone to disc golf since it contains, in my opinion, many of the elements needed for a true disc golf experience: water hazards, open air bombs, tight wooded technical shots, and doglegs -- all without being too terribly challenging!
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3 2
Daumer
Experience: 1 played 1 reviews
3.50 star(s)

Hole lengths / pars 2+ years drive by

Reviewed: Played on:Nov 14, 2009 Played the course:5+ times

Other Thoughts:

#1 - 417' - Pro 3 - Am 4
#2 - 354' - Pro 3 - Am 4
#3 - 190' - Pro 3 - Am 3
#4 - 280' - Pro 3 - Am 3
#5 - 265' - Pro 3 - Am 3
#6 - 290' - Pro 3 - Am 3
#7 - 438' - Pro 3 - Am 4
#8 - 354' - Pro 3 - Am 3
#9 - 340' - Pro 3 - Am 3
If someone knows how to update the hole stats with these numbers, I'd appreciate it. - Thanks
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8 0
adlacro
Gold level trusted reviewer
Experience: 18.4 years 152 played 127 reviews
3.50 star(s)

Much better than Levans... 2+ years

Reviewed: Played on:Nov 9, 2009 Played the course:2-4 times

Pros:

9 holes with the baskets from Levans still in great shape. Nice mix of shorter, tighter holes with some longer, tougher holes. The Coplay Creek comes into play with the tee shot on one, the approach shot (or putt, for those with bigger arms) on two, the tee and part of the fairway on four, and it runs beyond the basket of hole 5. Seven of the nine holes have alternate tees. Nice tee signs with pictures, well done. Course has two loops with 3 being a short, deuceable filler hole. Not your typical nine hole course for sure. Despite the water holes, the creek is usually shallow enough to get discs without too much of a hassle.

Cons:

Not much in the way of elevation (hole 7 goes up maybe 15 feet or so but otherwise this course is flatter than a pancake. I'm sure the natural tees will be muddy after rain, and the area is probably prone to flooding.

Other Thoughts:

I can't complain though. For as many flaws and complaints that Levans had is as many positives and complements that Neffs has and will continue to get. The hope is for more holes eventually, but some issues need to be discussed. Great job by all who had their hands in the building and design of this course. I enjoyed it and can't wait to get up there again.
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1 4
aklimbing
Experience: 16 years 4 played 4 reviews
3.50 star(s)

nice 9 hole 2+ years drive by

Reviewed: Played on:Nov 6, 2009 Played the course:2-4 times

Pros:

The people who designed the course and take care of it are proud of there accomplishment and they should be. Its a nice course with some longer holes and some challenging holes for both backhand throwers and flick throwers.

Cons:

The park is run down, but needs people like disc golf players to utilize the area. The course also seems like it can be wet for several days after a good rain.

Other Thoughts:

Its really close to LCCC and will get better if people go play. I would recommend playing this course.
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3 2
Ckppr76
Experience: 17.3 years 1 played 1 reviews
3.50 star(s)

Nice new course 2+ years drive by

Reviewed: Played on:Nov 6, 2009 Played the course:once

Pros:

The course is nice and quite there was nobody there when we played. The have alternate tee so you can play it as an 18 hole course. The tee signs are up and are very nice. This is a nice place to go and play a few rounds and not have to worry about losing discs.

Cons:

The park is run down.

Other Thoughts:

This is
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6 0
zapplayer12
Gold level trusted reviewer
Experience: 26.5 years 149 played 40 reviews
2.50 star(s)

Swap-a-Course...for the better 2+ years drive by

Reviewed: Played on:Nov 1, 2009 Played the course:once

Pros:

• Creepy, abandoned feel - reminds me of the late 90's when area courses weren't as heavily used
• Gets the Coplay Creek involved on holes 1, 2, 4 & 5
• Good length on a few holes (400+ ft. on 1, 2 & 7)
• Decent mix of wooded/open/water holes
• Very manageable rough, disc loss highly improbable
• Baskets in good shape
• Easily navigated (even w/o tee signs, arrows, etc)
• For newer players, good introduction to challenging disc golf
• Favorite Hole: #5, it's the tightest wooded hole with decent length culminating at a smartly placed basket on the edge of the Coplay Creek

Cons:

• Brand new course (which will certainly change over time)
• Just 9 holes (so play it twice!)
• Some holes play too close to one another (1 & 2 especially although I like both holes)
• Natural tees which are marked with white flags
• Signs are wooden stakes with the hole #
• Really limited space (but land allocated is used well)
• Seems a bit right hand biased
• A couple holes near the road (#2 but especially 7)
• Weakest hole is #3; it just feels more like a 'transition'

Other Thoughts:

I was perplexed when I heard this new 9 holer was recently installed...and right up the road from Levens Rec. Park (another 9 hole course...and not at all good). Why would we need another nine hole course in that area? The Greater Lehigh Valley has plenty of excellent courses to offer...it just didn't make sense. Until I read a posting on the lvdiscgolf.org message board that this course is REPLACING the 'not good' nearby Levens Rec. Park (the baskets from there were used at this course)!

This revelation has certainly altered my initial view about this course. I could go on and on about the many improvements this course needs. But it's a brand new course and will develop. The variety, length and risk factor elevates it above your typical nine hole park pitch/putt. But of course, this is the Lehigh Valley and I wouldn't expect anything less. They know they're disc golf 'round here and will squeeze everything possible out of an allocated piece of land - even if that land (and it's subsequent disc golf yield) isn't the optimal choice.

Neff's Valley Park replaces a nearby (inferior) course and re-uses the resources (baskets) on a neglected piece of land in an efficient way. All this while offering a degree of variety and challenge not readily seen in a nine hole course. Hopefully the local players can stop by, give it a play, review it and share their perspective. I enjoyed it and will stop by every now and again when I'm close by to see how it evolves.
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10 0
optidiscic
Diamond level trusted reviewer
Experience: 22.4 years 156 played 149 reviews
2.50 star(s)

Discing by the Pool! 2+ years drive by

Reviewed: Updated: Played on:Jan 16, 2010 Played the course:once

Pros:

This course surprised me. I was expecting a simple nine hole course set on the grounds of an abandoned public pool. I figured I would bring my midranges and a token driver. To my pleasant surprise I could bring my full bag as there are real holes here. The first 2 holes are long open field shots over 400 ft each with #1 starting over a healthy creek and #2 finishing over the same creek. The stream comes into play 2 more times in the next 3 wooded holes before the course finishes utilizing an open field in an uncramped manner. #7 is over 400 ft with a 20 ft elevation gain over an open field. The finisher is a solid rhbh anhyzer. For added challenge you can play the access road as OOB on holes 6&7. The park is eerily set on the grounds of an abandoned Public Pool so there is zero traffic here. With 4 stream holes, 3 woodsy holes, and 6 more open holes there is ample variety here to keep you interested. It's definetely worth playing twice. Plenty of parking. Great tee signs in place and theres dual tees on 7 of the 9 baskets making an 18 hole day possible. Alternate tees change the holes enough to make it interesting often going from lefty to righty hole etc.

Cons:

Ample Parking and port-o-potty available (even in winter). The course is set on the dilapidated grounds of an old public pool and disc golf seems to be the first use the land has seen in years,however grass is mowed and fairways are clear.Nothing truly special here to draw you back. Natural Tees can get sloppy. Outside of the gradual elevation gain on 7 there is no elevation in play. Holes 1 & 2, 10 &11 utilize the same huge field as a fairway and might intersect one another if course is ever busy.(improbable)

Other Thoughts:

Another worthy nine holer for the region. With Upper Macungie, Angelica, Unami, and Eurana this area has a plethora of quality 9 hole courses.When entering lot, holes #1 & #2 are to the left and #3 is straight ahead and shoots from the lot.
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