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Xavier University reviews
17
0
Good beginner/practice/ace run course
Reviewed:
Played on:Dec 12, 2023
Played the course:5+ times
Pros:
Good teepads and baskets
Decent variety of basket placement
Some decision-making and shot shaping encouraged
Decent variety of basket placement
Some decision-making and shot shaping encouraged
Cons:
Many holes are very close to sidewalks and student use areas
High grass and brush in Summer can lead to lost discs
Several holes are short, open, and somewhat boring
High grass and brush in Summer can lead to lost discs
Several holes are short, open, and somewhat boring
Other Thoughts:
Full disclosure - Xavier University is my workplace and I play or practice on the course several times a week. I've rated the course slightly better than other reviewers due to a few upgrades that have been made since their reviews, specifically replacing the wood chip tee boxes with astroturf and the natural grass "hazard" that adds some challenge on several holes.
My comments are mostly directed toward beginning and intermediate players who will be most likely the play the course. More advanced players may enjoy playing for a perfect round with lots of ace runs.
A quick rundown of the course:
#1 (204') - a good starting hole with the basket very close to an OOB parking lot on the right. Shot must carry over long grass hazard that can make it difficult to get the distance right.
#2 (178') - a pretty straightford shot to the basket. Bushes to the right can cause some issues, as can an OB road about 40' past the basket.
#3 (144') - a wide open ace run, although the bushes just behind the basket can leave you with an unplayable second shot and the road on the right can be a problem on a windy day.
#4 (229') - one of the more difficult holes on the course. OB and a tree on the left and thick brush behind the basket. Can be really tough to birdie on a windy day.
#5 (154') - requires a slightly right to left shot to the basket around some tall brush that will grab any disc that gets close. Hazard tall grass on the left and a chance of a roll-away OB to the right.
#6 (230') - statistically the most difficult hole on the course. A blind shot to the basket with OB right, left, and behind. A hazard behind the basket as well can make things challenging. Unmowed grass in the fairway is NOT hazard. Standing water in the fairway is allowed casual relief.
#7 (113') - an uphill shot to a basket on the edge of a very steep hill. Hazard in front of the basket, but a friendly landing area on top of the hill. Unless you're parked, you may find yourself facing a death putt with a roll-away OB a possibility.
#8 (129') - requires touch shot over the hazard grass in front of the hole or a right to left fade into the basket. An OB sidewalk to the right can come into play.
#9 (214') - a straight shot to the basket without much to worry about. The grass behind the basket is hazard, but there is plenty of room to put the disc close to the basket.
#10 (116') - Easiest hole on the course and a good chance of an ace. There is hazard downhill behind the basket if you get too aggressive.
#11 (141') - Another fairly easy hole, although OB on three sides can punish a bad throw.
#12 (129') - The closest thing on the courst to a "hole shot" the basket is obscured by some pine trees, so the ideal shot is slightly left to right. OB long and right, as well as hazard to the left can add some challenge.
#13 (188') - Players learning how to throw right to left will love this hole. The basket is set on the side of a small wooded ridge, so taking the shot wide right avoides the trees and the ridge will knock down most stray shots.
#14 (185') - This hole starts a run of four open holes with no hazard or OB. This hole has a slightly elevated tee.
#15 (151') - More of the same... yawn. For kicks you might want to make a throw or two from the parking lot on top of the hill.
#16 (122') - Yawn... are we done yet? Somehow, this hole plays harder than #10. Maybe because of the wind?
#17 (198') - A little longer, but still pretty boring. There is an OB on the left.
#18 (202') - A better finishing hole, #18 is a fairly straight throw, but the basket is surrounded on three sides by hazard. Do you want to try to park the shot or play it safe out to the right and risk a longer putt?
My comments are mostly directed toward beginning and intermediate players who will be most likely the play the course. More advanced players may enjoy playing for a perfect round with lots of ace runs.
A quick rundown of the course:
#1 (204') - a good starting hole with the basket very close to an OOB parking lot on the right. Shot must carry over long grass hazard that can make it difficult to get the distance right.
#2 (178') - a pretty straightford shot to the basket. Bushes to the right can cause some issues, as can an OB road about 40' past the basket.
#3 (144') - a wide open ace run, although the bushes just behind the basket can leave you with an unplayable second shot and the road on the right can be a problem on a windy day.
#4 (229') - one of the more difficult holes on the course. OB and a tree on the left and thick brush behind the basket. Can be really tough to birdie on a windy day.
#5 (154') - requires a slightly right to left shot to the basket around some tall brush that will grab any disc that gets close. Hazard tall grass on the left and a chance of a roll-away OB to the right.
#6 (230') - statistically the most difficult hole on the course. A blind shot to the basket with OB right, left, and behind. A hazard behind the basket as well can make things challenging. Unmowed grass in the fairway is NOT hazard. Standing water in the fairway is allowed casual relief.
#7 (113') - an uphill shot to a basket on the edge of a very steep hill. Hazard in front of the basket, but a friendly landing area on top of the hill. Unless you're parked, you may find yourself facing a death putt with a roll-away OB a possibility.
#8 (129') - requires touch shot over the hazard grass in front of the hole or a right to left fade into the basket. An OB sidewalk to the right can come into play.
#9 (214') - a straight shot to the basket without much to worry about. The grass behind the basket is hazard, but there is plenty of room to put the disc close to the basket.
#10 (116') - Easiest hole on the course and a good chance of an ace. There is hazard downhill behind the basket if you get too aggressive.
#11 (141') - Another fairly easy hole, although OB on three sides can punish a bad throw.
#12 (129') - The closest thing on the courst to a "hole shot" the basket is obscured by some pine trees, so the ideal shot is slightly left to right. OB long and right, as well as hazard to the left can add some challenge.
#13 (188') - Players learning how to throw right to left will love this hole. The basket is set on the side of a small wooded ridge, so taking the shot wide right avoides the trees and the ridge will knock down most stray shots.
#14 (185') - This hole starts a run of four open holes with no hazard or OB. This hole has a slightly elevated tee.
#15 (151') - More of the same... yawn. For kicks you might want to make a throw or two from the parking lot on top of the hill.
#16 (122') - Yawn... are we done yet? Somehow, this hole plays harder than #10. Maybe because of the wind?
#17 (198') - A little longer, but still pretty boring. There is an OB on the left.
#18 (202') - A better finishing hole, #18 is a fairly straight throw, but the basket is surrounded on three sides by hazard. Do you want to try to park the shot or play it safe out to the right and risk a longer putt?
14
0
Not Really Worth the Time
Reviewed:
Played on:May 25, 2022
Played the course:once
Pros:
Finding myself with a few extra hours I decided to make the drive into Cincinnati to try the new 18 hole (well, currently 16 holes due to construction) course on Xavier's campus.
Pros: Plenty of parking-There's a huge lot across from the Cintas center with ample parking, just avoid it if there's an event going on.
-Most Teepads were turf on top of wooden platforms built for the purpose. They were in good condition.
-Ace runs on basically every hole
-If you're playing with kids you could likely manage the whole course with a stroller. 1-4 might be a bit tricky but there were sidewalks near nearly every tee.
-Baskets had a little sign pointing to the next tee, which could be hard to spot in the tall-ish grass I experienced throughout the course.
-A couple holes have bushes in the fairway forcing some mild shot shaping
Pros: Plenty of parking-There's a huge lot across from the Cintas center with ample parking, just avoid it if there's an event going on.
-Most Teepads were turf on top of wooden platforms built for the purpose. They were in good condition.
-Ace runs on basically every hole
-If you're playing with kids you could likely manage the whole course with a stroller. 1-4 might be a bit tricky but there were sidewalks near nearly every tee.
-Baskets had a little sign pointing to the next tee, which could be hard to spot in the tall-ish grass I experienced throughout the course.
-A couple holes have bushes in the fairway forcing some mild shot shaping
Cons:
-No distance, the average length is around 170'
-No variety, nearly every hole blends in with the prior hole. A short, straight throw in a field.
-Baskets 13-17 all occupy the same small field and some are within 50' of each other. This means that even a slightly errant shot flies into other fairways or teepads
-The course is linear, not circular. Hole 18 finishes off nearly a quarter mile from where hole 1 starts.
-Hole 4 plays beside a parking lot for an apartment complex. It would not take much of a RHBH griplock to send a disc into a car, of which there were several along the fairway.
-Basket 7 is near a few beekeeper hive boxes. It would be a bad shot to end up near them, but something to watch out for if the kids wander that way.
-Walking path that is near the course could definitely come into play, especially for the new player this course seems best suited for.
-Teepad 15 is on a down-slope
-No tee signs
-Not a long term issue, but currently 2 baskets are out due to construction of a new water fountain and garden area. No idea when that will be completed.
-No variety, nearly every hole blends in with the prior hole. A short, straight throw in a field.
-Baskets 13-17 all occupy the same small field and some are within 50' of each other. This means that even a slightly errant shot flies into other fairways or teepads
-The course is linear, not circular. Hole 18 finishes off nearly a quarter mile from where hole 1 starts.
-Hole 4 plays beside a parking lot for an apartment complex. It would not take much of a RHBH griplock to send a disc into a car, of which there were several along the fairway.
-Basket 7 is near a few beekeeper hive boxes. It would be a bad shot to end up near them, but something to watch out for if the kids wander that way.
-Walking path that is near the course could definitely come into play, especially for the new player this course seems best suited for.
-Teepad 15 is on a down-slope
-No tee signs
-Not a long term issue, but currently 2 baskets are out due to construction of a new water fountain and garden area. No idea when that will be completed.
Other Thoughts:
I think the 1.5 Passable rating describes this course perfectly. It's not that it shouldn't exist, it's just that it doesn't really add anything of value to the area unless you happen to live close or go to the college. Otherwise, if you're looking for a short pitch and putt, there are better options in the area.
23
0
Winton Woods now has a contender… for the par 2 crown! 2+ years
Reviewed:
Played on:Aug 28, 2021
Played the course:2-4 times
Pros:
The new course on Xavier University's campus is a fun putter / ace run 18 for all players at and above the Recreational level, and is now a contender for the area's crown jewel of par 2 courses. Beginning at the cross section of nice paved paths in the green space just east of the Cintas Center, there's enough parking available to bring a few thousand of your friends (off campus: stay on Montgomery Road & park behind Joseph VW at the back of that enormous lot). There are currently boxed mulch tees and new Discatcher baskets, each with a laminated next tee arrow under the cage.
In the summer, the challenge here is that the lines of flight are sometimes blind over the natural grasses, shrubs, and built-in Out of Bounds edges of sidewalks and pavement. But even playing strict OB, a 900 rated player should expect to shoot 40 or under for the full course (which can be fun…)
In the summer, the challenge here is that the lines of flight are sometimes blind over the natural grasses, shrubs, and built-in Out of Bounds edges of sidewalks and pavement. But even playing strict OB, a 900 rated player should expect to shoot 40 or under for the full course (which can be fun…)
Cons:
…providing you come in anticipation of a "deuce or die" type of course. If you prefer throwing over 150' to 220'… ever, then this is not going to be your cup of tea. It's intended for absolute beginners, students, couples, etc. Even then, the chance of someone newer to the sport losing a disc in the grasses may be a bit high, and without a map, the fact that you might see as many as six baskets at a time might lead to some real confusion (I drew up a map here).
Furthermore, there will be times when you may throw over the edges of parking lots (where the Norwood Police do seem to hang out keeping an eye on those strange guys going to the back of this massive parking area), sidewalks, and around said shrubs and rough. I suspect the winter will make the course even easier (who will be first to shoot under 36?).
I wasn't a huge fan of the mulch tees, as the mulch felt like it grabs your plant foot, impeding the heel spin out and follow through, meaning my other joints tended to take up the torque too much. If they look to make any improvements from here, I'd say try a gravel boxed tee where it's missing on hole 5, or step on up to concrete. Next: signage.
Furthermore, there will be times when you may throw over the edges of parking lots (where the Norwood Police do seem to hang out keeping an eye on those strange guys going to the back of this massive parking area), sidewalks, and around said shrubs and rough. I suspect the winter will make the course even easier (who will be first to shoot under 36?).
I wasn't a huge fan of the mulch tees, as the mulch felt like it grabs your plant foot, impeding the heel spin out and follow through, meaning my other joints tended to take up the torque too much. If they look to make any improvements from here, I'd say try a gravel boxed tee where it's missing on hole 5, or step on up to concrete. Next: signage.
Other Thoughts:
In all, this is not a bad course at all. There is a tiny bit of elevation to create some variety, and they grabbed all they could get. If you're just a beginner, and you come after the weeds die back (the cooler half of the year), this might be a lot of fun. But you veterans: I mean fun, like a day at a putt-putt is fun. Even though they have enough parking to host an A-Tier or a Major, it's NOT going to be on that circuit!
