Personal Background:
#55620, current pdga rating 923, 10 years playing. Age 35.
Designed 2 permanent courses, and 2 temporary courses.
At least 80 courses played now in I think 17 states.
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Course rating prior to this review 3.67
Design- 3.5
Baskets/Tees- 3.5 (Tees 3, Baskets 4)
Signage- 3
Replayability- 3
Beauty- 3

16/5 = 3.2 ... round down to 3.0.
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Design-this is an 18-hole course designed by local favorite pro the 5 time world champ Johnny Sias. This course is unlike most in the area that it is at least three fourths wide open. Even though surrounded by Mountainsides, most of this course is played in the flat. It plays around a large pond, however water does not really come into play in this course. There are only a few holes where there are worries about getting off of the Fairway. Do not let the first 12 or so holes for you, eventually you do have to climb up the Mountainside. However, there is an option of skipping those holes and walking back to the car if you only want to walk and play the more open park style holes. Not very many of the holes standout as unique or super memorable. There is one hole that plays over essentially a Dry Creek and is very uphill. That is probably the hardest hole in the course and likely the only hole that will take more than 30 seconds to find your disc.
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Baskets/Tees: Tees are adequate if not a little short. Believe that they were 4 foot by 8 foot concrete. 2 tees per hole. In the age of bigger and better courses, no real attention paid to the Tee area. There were maybe a couple pinches/swings around the pond. Baskets are innova and very well kept.
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Signage: Tee signs as expected. There is some information on the signs regarding distance. No signs from hole to hole, however layout is mostly commonsense.
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Replayability: From the short tees, this course is an ego boost if not a little boring given the multiple 200 foot open putter shots. The longs are slightly more interesting. Not a course that I would play over and over. Especially when there are other great local courses such as rotary and ARMCO.
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Beauty: This course is much flatter than other local courses. It does get a chance to show off some of the local hills. There is a small stream that runs through a couple of the holes. Large pond in the center of the course that unfortunately was not able to be utilized. Would not say that this is as beautiful as a rotary park. Still a great place to take your family whether they play or not. Plan things to do in this very large park. Something for everyone.

As noted above.

This is a really nice addition to the other local courses. Great way to get families and lower rated casual players involved. Ultimately, believe that this will increase the numbers of players in the area with time as this is so much easier than rotary park or armco park. Would not make this a destination course, however worth the play if you are bagging courses along 64, or if you are trying to get the family out of the house.

Would like to thank the local club for getting another course on the ground locally and maintaining the area, as well as Johnny Sias for spreading the love of Disc Golf to the tristate area!

Great mix of open and wooded holes.

No OB's (not including when the tournament setup is there) help to keep your scores down.

Always kept in good shape by the parks department; good signs and teepads.

Good uphill and downhill throws. Long tee on #17 is really fun.

Some unforgiving sections one you reach the top of the hill. (14-16). If you fall too far left, you may end up high in a tree or walking through brush.

#13 could use a better bridge over the creek.

Love this course. It's one of the best in the Huntington area. The second course here will be longer and more difficult. But this course is plenty fun and still a good challenge.

I was not able to get onto a couple of courses in the area , had nothing printed at the time , but took a chance at finding the Barbourville City Park . I was given directions into the park which is a long winding road and mistakenly went to the right and up the hill . Mistake ! I saw a couple of baskets and a wooden tee pad box , so I spent 25 minutes looking for a course that wasn't there . Not sure what those black topped baskets were there for . I got back in my car and drove further into the park . Driving all the way to the end . I saw the red topped discatcher baskets and parked next to the lake . What immediately impressed me was the kiosk that held a scorecard/map with pencils , an especially welcome sight for out of towners . The park has Baskets in good shape , 2 cement tees per hole and great signage , The first tee , sitting off to the side and behind shelter 8 , to the right of where you hopefully parked is a good warmup hole , a little over 300' from the longs with no obstructions . You shouldn't be able to hit your first tree until maybe 6 , unless your disc is taken by a high wind . or you throw a riser on 3 . The baskets still have some good placements and a couple of small foot bridges let you know that the park is paying attention to detail . Some of these wide open throws on the first 11 holes or so won't wow you with length , but the will let you air it out and experiment with that new driver or 2 . By the way , 10 & 11 are downhill 300 + throws that will make you feel like a bomber thrower . Then the holes start to change drastically . #12 takes you around and through a creek bed , making a tight throw carrying you slightly left to right , maybe 300' to a pin tucked in to the left , a pretty tight and difficult lie , especially since the canopy above makes it feel like you are throwing in a tight tunnel . #13 is probably my signature hole . A straight up mountain throw . The elevation is crazy and the placement tells you that if you err at all , make it slightly left so you can throw at the basket . Once you are up on the hill , you are there to stay for a while . 14 is a tight fairway shot where you have fir trees and trouble pushing you to your left , and if you list your drive slightly and carry left , you will go into the fir trees on a steep downsloping hillside ( like I did , and lost one of my drivers ) . The basket is tucked behind some small trees and easy to bounce off of and add a stroke to your score . #15 is a short straight shot that you are going to have to heave your putter over some higher bushes in the way or throw a flat approach disc . #16 is another hole that could qualify as signature . You throw off a hill down and make sure you break it right after 100' or so , . Too early will put you in the brush and if it doesn't break enough or at all will send you down the rough in the hill ,. And the rough is ROUGH . The basket awaits up part of a hill guarded by some high brush and rough on either side . The fairway is well cut , though . #17 comes down off the hill and back into the park , kind of a well place left to right throw , avoiding the big tree and its branches between you and the basket ( 318' ) . #18 , another very good hole it is listed as 488' . You can see the basket straight ahead , but getting to it is another matter . You have 2 avenues ; the chancier left , with rough and a declining hillside all the way to the basket . or the more open left where you will throw down into the open flat and avoid some trees that are guarding the basket straightaway . Unfortunately , your next throw will have to go uphill into the side of the hill which will add distance onto the already long 488' . Be careful if you choose this line , because if you overthrow your second shot you will go back over the embankment ( this basket is place on a narrow strip ) . A great finishing hole . The park is busy , but non disc golfer should ever be between you and a throw . The course is set up for disc golf only . It wraps counter clockwise around the lake and grounds fnishing up about where you parked . Johnny Sias , the renowned course designer , did the best he could with what the park gave him to work with . The park has some nice amenities , you can picnic after you play . bathrooms are near the first tee . Easy to navigate , with or without a map .

Little to pick on here . Maybe trash receptacles at the holes , along with benches . I don't know if disc traffic warrants it yet , though . Carry in and carry out . The wind could be a factor , since it is in the wide open . Some may have preferred more woodsy tighter holes , but again , a matter of what you like/dislike . Getting up to your disc at #13 was a trip , climbing over and through a cement structure , then flat up a hill .

This is what I call a fun course . It won't blow you away or challenge you until late . Newbies and families can play the course from the shorts , and even quit after hole 12 to avoid the climb up the hill . Better players can bomb the early holes , then settle down to shot shaping and creativity for the last 6 . Locals within 30 minutes should play it , and if your are in town and checking out the courses in Charleston , or some of Johnny Sias's own courses in Lavalette or Armco park you should stop by for a round here . You won't be disappointed . PLAY It !

Just as the title says this course does its job. Its not great but its not bad either. It was designed with beginner players in mind and it suits them to a tee. The course has great baskets and signage. While the first several holes are pretty boring it does get more interesting as the round proceeds. The course does have 2 tees per hole although in most cases it doesnt change the hole very much. The park is immaculate and the course does a good job of staying out of the way of other park goers.

As for cons I just find the course very average, which isn't a bad thing because it does fulfill its purpose. It doesnt have any holes that really stand out. At times the grass gets really tall and the bugs can get brutal. There is some bad drainage problems on the first 4 holes while also throwing towards an in use railroad track. The crush tee pads are really dug out in the middle of the tee.

I'm not sure how this course is getting 4 and 4.5 ratings. Maybe they are from locals who are biased and have not played on a true 4-4.5 course. Right now the course is ranked top 10 in the state of WV and in reality it probably is barely in the top 20. But if you are a beginner or have your family in the area it is definitely worth a stop and play. You will enjoy this course more than the courses at Rotary. But if you are an experienced player get over to Rotary.

This course has a great variety, beautiful scenery, and very nice equipment. I always love getting to play here. Multiple tee pads on each hole is great, the signage is very nice, and I love the baskets that goes with the Barboursville theme. This course is very good for beginners or more experienced players. I love the layout and design of the course. It has always been well maintained and clean when I have gone. I would recommend to anyone.

Not many at all but I have seen snakes before so I have just been careful and avoided them

Starting behind shelter #8 and right beside the really pretty Lake William in Barboursville, Johnny Sias' well-done design begins with a DisCatcher practice basket and course kiosk (with map), and some relatively simple holes to loosen up your arm. The first (and long second) tees are concrete, and the rest of the course currently has boxed gravel. Signage is good, including next tee indictors, while navigation is very straightforward, proceeding counter-clockwise around the lake, utilizing the little woods on the far side, then really nicely using the uphill, sunny side above the lake as you complete the loop.

We had fun noting that many of the early basket placements were on the edge of a slope, or used the slope to good effect. Many of the long tees posed a significantly different challenge than mere distance: hole 3 had an interesting mando, holes 5 & 6 force completely different lines, even though the 'long' and 'short' tees are only steps apart, 7 long is a challenging anny line for right handers, and 8: wow! That branch!

But at this point, you've only played a little bit of elevation. You'll get to 11, and think it's a nice, safe glide down to the pin, but if you misjudge it, there's a cliff dropping a good 20 feet to the creek if you glide long. Then, after a blind right to left hole 12, you have the nasty, uphill hole 13 to remind you that you ARE still in West Virginia. The hillside holes are a fun challenge from either tee, and you come back out to a terrace with a really slope-topped basket position on 17. Even hole 18 employs a safe design, with the basket up on the slope left, by a gravel path that could be declared OB if you're in the mood. Mainly, it is one of the very few holes that really have any chance at all of interacting with other park patrons. I respect a safe course design.

But in all, we felt the course was FUN. Playing from the short tees, you're going for a lot of deuce opportunities at even intermediate skill levels, and beginners can enjoy those holes just as much. Advanced players will find challenges from the longs. And it really felt like the course has a lot of 'replay' potential. If you're traveling to the region to play the challenging tournament courses in Ashland or Huntington, don't overlook this relaxing, fun park course.

It's a new course, so I really hope concrete is planned for the rest of the tees. Folks are playing this fun course a lot, and the gravel has really dug out about where a right hander's x-step pivot foot goes (sometimes hollowing out a bowl several inches deep). The course plays fairly accessibly until you get to hole 12, which catches enough of the creek/rill over there to stay really muddy, and then you face the 'wall' of the hill on 13. We had a backpack and a cart between us, and really could've used a Sherpa to help us climb down the concrete storm drain walls and up the face of the fairway. It needs a bridge and some steps up to the green. Then several of the hillside slopes need better mud drainage and steps, as well.

Finally, I was joking with my buddy, but I think it's worth noting that even hearing when the DO go with concrete tees would tempt me to raise my rating another half a point. Nice course!

Reviewer Background as of this writing: flirting with Intermediate skill levels and grandmaster age, I've now had the pleasure of being able to review 273 courses. Thanks to all who build 'em!

Ease of access
Good for all ability levels
Course layout
facilities

Drainage is poor
tee pads not finished yet

This is a fun, short course that is easy to get to and navigate. There are a few diverse holes, but the majority are wide open. Great beginner course. If it has rained recently be careful, it does not drain well. Tee pads should hopefully be in by summer of '17.

Set in a beautiful park that is very well-maintained, this course has a good mix of open and wooded shots. The course plays even a little harder than it looks. For what it is, it is an Excellent course.

You're not going to get any super-long holes here, as the longest long placement is 488'.

Come prepared to climb as hole #13 is a steep ascent toward the final five holes.

Set in a very well maintained park, with minimal interference from the other non-disc golf patrons. Long tees aren't a serious challenge, but not so easy that it's boring. Short tees would be great for beginners looking to build their skills and not be punished for ever errant throw. The tee signs are well made and informative. Course loops back to the parking lot nicely.

Tee pads should be concrete in my opinion, the gravel is too loose under foot, and causes some footing concerns. The long tees could've been made longer. Would like to see more par 4's and maybe a par 5.

Overall a fun course. Wish it was a little longer, making use of the open space available. Would definitely recommend it to beginners or anyone wanting a relaxing weekend round.

Short course that is great for newer players and families

Tee boxes need time to pack in

Great course layout designed by 3 time World Champion Johnny Sias. Set in a very clean park this beautiful course was designed to encourage new players to get involved with the sport. Course starts out with some wide open holes and progressively gets harder through out the round. This is a great learning experience for new players to also learn the rules to the game having a mando on hole 3 long and an occasional OB. Course is well maintained and has went above and beyond to provide good signage, including a message board, for the appearance of the course. Park has chosen to match tee pads with the crush and run walking track surrounding the lake...should prove to provide good footing during the winter. Overall one of my favorites by far!