Mix of throws with a good use of obstacles
Nice scenery

Navigation can be confusing in places
Busy park

This is a community course built in an established park with natural topography that works very well for disc golf. It's definitely a rec-level course, with many holes in the 250 foot range, up to a few in the 400 foot range.The holes take advantage of terrain, mature trees, and few holes work around a decent-sized lake. There's a nice variety of throws--a great place for rec-level players, but still interesting enough for experts. The course starts with the front nine winding along the back side of the pond, then throwing across until you reach the floodwall near the Scioto river, where several holes play up, down, and along the floodwall, before heading back to the main part of the park. I especially liked the floodwall holes.

And the scenery is pleasant, as well, and very well used. Over the last century and a half, the park has been used for a wide variety of things, starting with a floodwater pump house (now an art gallery), and armory, and more recently they've added in a mini water park, tennis and basketball courts, and there's the remnants of a rail terminus that was, I think, used for unloading grain cars or something along those lines--what's left of the rail line is suspended through the second level of a large building with lots of "private property, don't even think about stepping onto these premises" signs.

Or, in other words, the course is packed in around a lot of other stuff, and the layout was questionable in a few areas. They did mostly keep away from the larger buildings (and the private property), but you still, in addition to the usual city park issue of holes running near streets, have to watch out for pedestrians on walking paths, a small memorial area, telephone guy wires, dumpsters, port-a-potties, crossing fairways, baskets from other holes directly in your throwing path, parking lots with cars in them, and geese. Lots and lots of geese.

Thanks to a large number of locals here aggressively feeding them, they're essentially tame. To the point that when I accidentally hit one with a low drive, it only ruffled its feathers a bit, waddled ten feet away, and sat right back down in the grass. And when I went to retrieve said disk, a few of the gaggle slowly walked away from me, but most of them just watched me. Or ignored me. Whether this is a good thing or a bad thing, I'll leave to your own judgement.

Also in keeping with the crowded theme, tee pads are either astroturf in slightly raised boxes, or whatever sidewalk or parking lot they happened to start the hole at. If there was a sidewalk near where they wanted a tee, they just put up a tee sign nearby, painted a few stripes on the sidewalk to designate the tee box, and called it good. Which is practical and efficient, I suppose, but still a bit awkward when a large group of non-players is gathered around your next tee.

As a rec-level player, I enjoyed playing the course... but I think they shouldn't have built it where they did. The park is just too busy: I came on a quiet time, and I was still playing around lots of people. I can only picture what a busy Saturday morning is like. At the very least, they should have laid out the holes differently--if they had put in a couple fewer holes in the front of the course and added a few to the back part of the course, they could have avoided many of the odd features (crossing fairways, the busier pedestrian paths, the port-a-potties), as well as cut down on some of the longer walks between holes. And no matter what the course looked like, they needed to avoid any holes going across parking lots, because I don't care how empty they usually are, someone's going to be parked there just when you're getting into your groove.

The first time through, take a picture of the course map. There are a few holes where navigation isn't obvious, and that's the only way you're going to figure out where to go. Someone local should take an afternoon to make up some "next tee" signs for the course; it could really use them.

This new park style course presents fun, challenge, some unique lines, and a really decent tour of the entire Youctangee Park property. From an opening ace run across the small end of the large pond (no real challenge of losing a disc here), to the puzzler (am I supposed to throw over top?) of fruit trees (yum!) on hole 4, to the empty your bag down to the open, pedestal basket on 14, there are some memories to be made. There is variety in hole distance, with 7 holes 235' & under, and 4 holes over 400'. There is very little rough to contend with anywhere in the park (well, an upslope wall of weeds and grasses to throw over on 13: could use a path, rough steps here on the fairway), and as much use of the limited elevation as they could incorporate.

Tees are large and level, consisting of either Astro-turf, or clearly marked out on paths and sidewalks. Signage at the tees is informative and clear, and the Prodigy baskets are generally visible and decent at catching your shots. Even as an intermediate level, older player, I enjoyed the level of challenge, and it should be a course that beginners to mid-level players can play and improve their skills. Oh, and be prepared: this is one of the most lefty-friendly designs I've ever played: about 80% of the holes play 'best' (cleanest, at least) left to right.

I was initially thinking I was going to rate the course at 3.5 or so, as the first three holes grabbed my interest. But… I rate on 1) safety, 2) fun, 3) challenge, and I ran into a number of places where I had to question the safety, and the navigation issues reduced the fun a little. It seemed weird to have so many well-designed holes, and plenty of space to work with, then to find yourself throwing over the previous basket on hole 6, or throwing too close to paths, a stage, or a 'curtained' chain link fence (on 11) that could block your view off the tee if a bicycle or jogger quickly appeared from your right on the path you throw over. Then to have the 400+' hole 12 cross the 300+' fairway on 11, is just …strange.

Though there is a map of the course by hole 1 (copied here, but note it has some changes, such as 15 NOT crossing the fairway for 14, as shown), it would be easy to get lost in several places until somebody makes some 'next tee' indicators: after 8, walk WAY to the left and throw back on hole 9, then cross the bridge and go to the left side of the parking lot for hole 10, and walk a couple hundred feet angling to your right, across the drive and to the other side of the shelter (by the fence) to throw 11. Hole 12 tee is by the bathroom, left. 13 plays up the floodwall, 14 throws from on top, down the other side (the tee you see t your right, by the stairs is 16). 17 is a long, long walk to the corner of the park, up on top of the flood wall again, and throws over the little parking lot. Walk left of the fenced maintenance building to the finishing 18th tee, and back toward where you parked.

The aviary wildlife is plentiful here (might be good or bad: do you like geese and ducks …and their byproducts?), and the lake is really pretty (though they need to run all the fountains, not just one, to keep the water from getting a bit stagnant in August). Oh, and be prepared to fish your disc out of that pond on 2: the green gives you a 50/50 chance of rolling!

Final thought: I may have listed some negatives (that are fixable), but I did enjoy this loop! Chillicothe now has three really decent quality courses to be proud of, each with a unique twist or feel, making the town worth a day trip into the region!

In the last few years , the city of Chillicothe has undergone a restoration project . During this , they also added the 18 hole Project Bad Apple Disc Golf Course across the street in Yoctangee Park at Water St .. The multi use park is beautiful , with a lake , a playground , ball field , and walking trails .
There is a large parking lot at the entrance to the park ( park on the immediate right ) , and a couple of bathrooms during your round on the course .
THE EQUIPMENT -- A short way down the hill at the entrance to the park and on your left is a small kiosk , more like a metal sign , with some general rules of disc golf and a complete map of the course .Make sure you take a picture of the kiosk . There is no online map and direction can be confusing . The tee pads are either cement , using sidewalks with lines on them , or spacious turf ones , 5' X 9' The tee signs are informative , showing hole # , distance , par and flight path . The baskets are new blue Prodigy models that catch well .
THE LANDSCAPE -- This park isn't large , but it's wonderful looking . The majority of it sits in a large stadium shaped bowl . It was mowed and landscaped well when I was there . The course goes sort of clockwise around the bowl.
Lots of small animals and birds here . A mother duck and her 10 chicks in tow were near the #1 tee pad when I played . The holes incorporate canopies and mature trees on some of the holes . Newly planted bushes and trees dot some of the fairways . They aren't a huge factor yet , but will be in a few years . There is a small orchard the you will have to shoot through on hole #4 ( more on that hole later ) . There are 2 holes that shoot out of the bowl ( 14 & 15 ) , but the other 16 are either in it or on the rim . You cross a nice stone bridge to go from 9 to #10 .
ELEVATION -- The course designers did a great job by incorporating the slopes of the park bowl ( 1, 2 , 3 ,18 ) with the uphill/downhill holes of the rim ( 6 , 8 , 13 , 14 , ) Elevation changes possible rival 25-50' .
HIGHLIGHTS -- The course is short , so there weren't a lot of Highlight Holes . #3 ( 295' ) is a downhill drive , left to right , on a sloping section , where the basket hides from the tee .
#4 is an unusual hole . At only 235' , the hole is surrounded and covered by low hanging small apple trees . It is difficult to even drive into the 2nd section of them .your 2nd shot has to clear to the immediate right or left of the basket to have a putt . Low hanging branches cover the front of the green . If you can throw a roller over a dirt mound about 50' in front of you , you might better your chances . #18 is a solid finishing hole . The longest at 470' , It is a down-sloping fairway that can level off at the bottom and to the right . The basket is slightly up on the hill . telephone wires holding up the poles also create a challenge .
SIGNATURE HOLE -- #14 ( 310' ) . A top-of-the-world shot to an open green . The basket is elevated and perched on a pyramid of steps .
DISC RISK - Low . If you are inexperienced and left handed you might lose one in the lake on #2 , and I guess you could catch one up in the orchard trees on #4 ( maybe ) , but the park is clean , there is vary little overgrowth .
THE TIME - It will take the average person that figures out the course flow a shade over an hour . It will take a foursome maybe an hour and fifty minutes .
The park is popular . Be prepared to wait in a couple of places for park patrons to go by . It's not an inconvenience , though , because the park always has great views .

#1 SAFETY -- The park was in heavy use when I played on a Sunday morning . Peak park hours will bring park goers out in droves . only 1 or 2 holes play close to a shelter , and #18 throws down close to a parking lot , but lots of people unfamiliar with disc golf will walk right across the fairway that a foursome is standing . Please share the park . Also , I think 10 and 11 criss-cross fairways
#2 NAVIGATION -- If you didn't take a picture of the kiosk , and you aren't following a local , you are going to have trouble in spots . There is no online map , not sure why . Most of the times , you can see the next tee signs . Toughest spots are 3-4 , the tee is behind you and at the bottom of the hill on the large concrete circle . 8-9 . You will see the basket to #9 on your left after completing hole #8 , but the tee pad and fairway are on the far end of where you are standing and hard to see . 9-10 . You have to cross the bridge and walk up and left . 10-11 is hidden by a small building . #16-17 , walk straight ahead on the rim until you almost reach the end of the park . The tee is on a pathway above and behind the tee sign . Next Tee Signs here dangling from the bottom of the baskets are a must , here . If not in the budget , then some electrical tape on the basket rungs pointing to the next pad .
CHALLENGE -- Some players will eat this course up . At only 5300' , the course plays short , and there will be birdie opportunities , just in case you bogie a hole like #4 . Bigger challenges might lie in playing Great Seal , or Paint Creek .
Here , you are trading challenge for fun .
THE WEATHER -- Playing on some of these slopes , and especially trying the descent to the #14 green and ascend the hill after completing #15 are going to be difficult . Going down the slope on #18 is going to be slippery , too . Wearing hiking boots or sturdy shoes might be a good idea .
I don't count off for amenities , but it would be nice to have the turf tee pads at every hole , some benches and some trash cans at the tees . Maybe a shelter for the disc golfers .
Make sure to use some bug spray before starting . You won't be back by your car after hole #1 until finishing your round .

This course is just what the city of Chillicothe needed . An 18 hole course to give you a relaxing round . Although I would have liked to see a water carry or 2 , I am also a realist and know that it would pose as a risk to hurting the duck and geese population that frequent the lake . I still thought the Fun Factor was high here . The park patrons and disc golfer were nice , and the park is clean and sets the tome for the rest of the city . A fine play for the locals , and a good side trip for the out of towners . You or family can explore the shops across the street before or after rounds . Thanks , city of Chillicothe for taking an interest in disc golf and installing this 18 hole course . If I was a resident here , I would be in Yoctangee Park every week and would have no problem calling this my home course .
MY RECOMMENDATION -- a good intro or beginner course . Short enough for families and they can skip holes 14 & 15 . Locals and the 1 disc player will like the convenience of a quick play and a fun round . I can't see intermediates and up playing the course , unless working on a specific aspect of their game ( unless out of town ) . Out of towners will like the location of the course being in a rehabbed section of town , and it's well kept grounds . Also , it is a great extra option , if in town to eat at the many restaurants , or seeing the great outdoor drama " TECUMSEH " . Course baggers will like that the course is just off of Routes 35 and 23 . If near the Chillicothe area , take advantage of a stopover and
PLAY IT !!

-Fantastic Beginner Friendly Course. The course offers a great balance of being totally accessible to new people and offering veterans a good challenge on quite a few holes if they want to nab a birdie.
-Well Maintained. Last time I played it was in great shape. Nothing I noted that needed cleaned up really other than maybe a grass mow. They cleared out the hole on the flood wall a while ago and it is my favorite because it's right there but is deceptively far and hard to get a birdie on. I've yet to.
-Decent Hole Variety. It has the ups and downs of the flood wall holes as well as the low ceiling of the park center holes.
-Awesome signs and pads. The signs are probably my favorite of any course. Nice metal ones locked in the ground.

-Hole Crossover and Backtrack on just 1. There are just a couple spots where some holes crossover. Usually it's not a problem, but it was a bit busy when I last played and we accidentally played through the people in front of us on one of the holes. So that increases the wait time a bit just twice. Then one of the holes kinda back tracks a bit, but totally worth it because it flows great after that.
-Busy Park. The park is gorgeous but of course that means it has lots of people who come to relax and have picnics. Of course be courteous because they often don't know about the course and could be strolling down the fairway through no fault of their own. Just have to be careful. It is also busy with aquatic fauna so be careful not to hit a baby duck or goose!
-Flow. There are some breaks in the flow where you have to walk a little bit, but I think they did an awesome job with the busy park they had to work with!

I don't know why no one has reviewed this gem yet! It may because it was just finished within the past couple years I think. Anyway, overall this course is wonderful. Set in a beautiful park with ample aquatic birds, Bad Apple has never been a bad experience. I highly recommend it for beginners and vets alike. Just watch out for people and ducks/geese/swans!