Excellent use of a nice piece of property for disc golf. The course itself is very well thought out. With a fairly good balance of hyzer and anhyzer tee shots required, slightly favoring the RHBH anhyzer shot. There are plenty of risk/reward decisions available with definite penalty for errant shots. The first nine holes are all fairly short and wooded. Accuracy is must on these holes with plenty of elevation change. There are definite lines available on every hole, but banging of off a tree can really put you in trouble. Good shots will be rewarded with realistic ace runs available for the higher skilled players. The back nine begins to open up and lengthen up, however the longest hole is 480 feet so there is nothing to challenge the truly big arms as far as distance goes. Very good job with hole design and basket placement I thought. There is some kind of challenge on every hole. With baskets placed on the side of hills, behind trees, and even elevated on a mound. The course navigates fairly easily with little need for course map. There are some next tee signs to help, a few more would be great. The few locals we encountered were very friendly and helpful. The people in the office were very nice and even provided a course map for me. There are restrooms not far and all the amenities of a state park right there.
The condition of the course was very good, even considering we were there right after the big storms. Lots of little branches down but no real damage done to the course. The baskets are Innova Discatchers and are in very good shape. The tees are concrete and there are trash cans and benches at every tee. The tees seemed a little short to me but the longer holes had longer tees so the played well. For the most part you are secluded from the rest of the park and won't have to worry about pedestrians. Except for the last few holes where picnic tables can come into play. This is a shame since there is enough property here that this would not have necessary. However we did not have any issues and it was July 4 so you would think this will be a rare occurrence. Great sign at the entrance to the course and a very nice touch is the water fountain; I wish more courses had this.

The only real con here is signs, more specifically the lack of signs. As you enter the main park there is nice big sign pointing you in the right direction. Unfortunately there is no sign telling you where to turn. Look for the picnic sign. As others have pointed out there no real signs other than number at the tees. Since many of the baskets can not be seen from the tee it would be helpful to know where the doglegs are. Unfortunately the course map did not have any information either. Every hole was shown as being straight with no distance given.

This was a really fun course to play with many challenges and shot decisions to make. I would not call this a beginner friendly course. Red tees would help in that regard. I missed the alternate tee pads except for 18. This really added challenge to this hole. It appears as though there is an active disc golf community here and they are to be commended on their work. This course is definitely a fun one to play and would be worth going out of your way to do so. I hope to have the opportunity to come back some day.

-Good tees with new signs being installed.
-Wonderful views of reservoir.
-Lots of trash bins and benches.
-Never too crowded.

-Fairways on the front 9 are not very clear. All for a challenge, but this course seems to be a lot of luck rather than skill. Good throws are not always rewarded.
-Brush is thick and heavy, discs are easily lost.

This course took a big step forward with new tees and signs, but then took two steps back with the new layout. Baskets were moved to odd locations that are barely cleared and some are in low brush. Challenge is an awesome thing, but at the same time, courses should offer opportunities for good, skilled shots. Many of the revised hole locations require just as much luck as skill.

Nice layout. Very challenging. Great scenic views of lake and valleys. The course is easy to follow, it flows nicely. It can be a busy course but generally you won't have trouble getting tee times. Quiet atmosphere, lots of nature. Nice elevation usage.

There are a few concrete tee pads, the others are in horrible condition. The pads they poured are small. Trash everywhere even though there are trash cans. Lots of trimming needs to be done. Doesn't seem that anyone wants to do any work on it. It looks like a run down course. Strange looking men stare at you.

Worth the trip to throw. Overall it is a nice course, it just needs someone to put some work into it.

Good use of Trees and Elevation Changes, Very Challenging, Mostly Short holes.

Some T-boxes in bad shape, I hear this spring they will be replaced with concrete. No Distance maps or par.

Very much enjoying this course best in the area.

Challenging shots, great views, baskets still have that new smell, never been too busy, not that difficult to find next hole.

If you go right your searching for your disc, if you go left you've probably lost your disc, tee boxes are difficult for proper footing, some holes are numbered at the tee box but others have worn off, course map available at ranger station is of old course before the remodel, there are men who circle the parking lot looking for you know what.

There was a group called Springfield disc golf crew (I think that's the correct name) but they seem to be gone. I would like to start this back up. I play the last four holes as par 4 due to length and because no one is there to argue with me about it. I think it's hole 11 that I play from outside the tee box because I don't want to lose a disc. You drive from behind a huge amount of tall brush into a narrow area. If I have time I will make a new map of this place and post it where I do not know.

Excellent use of natural obstacles.

Great workout hiking in and out of the woods.

The potential for this course is definitely there.

Tee boxes are gravel-ish and not in good condition.

Course markers are hard to find and not very helpful. Without a map, you could easily miss a couple holes.

Wooded areas are not clear of debris and grassy areas were almost three feet high with very narrow 'fairways' cut through the middle.

Spent more time hunting for discs in the grass then we did actually playing the round.

If the park maintains the course a bit more and keeps the grass trimmed, this course could be very nice. It is by far the most difficult course I have played.

Great baskets, they have a yellow band around the top making them very visible. Mostly wooded so you seem like your in the shade most of the time. Large parking lot.

Tees are terrible! Almost no hole direction on the course. Some signs or arrows would be helpful. Grass is very high. Maintenance seems nonexistent!

A lot of potential here with a little work. I'm sure the weather conditions have effected the maintenance such as grass mowing and tees. Be aware that you could easily loose discs playing this course.

Setting:
The front nine is mostly set in relatively dense woods. Success here requires some finesse and a good shot placement strategy. The fairways are tight, but they're there if you look hard enough.

The back nine opens up onto a large hill with a picturesque view of the lake. The holes here are more straightforward, but are considerably longer than on the front. The elevation is used well as you trek up and down the hill. An errant shot could spell disaster on several holes as OBs come into play and as the hill drops off steeply in some areas (i.e. Hole 13).

Equipment:
All holes are equipped with Discatcher baskets that are in good shape. There is also one practice basket near the parking lot with plenty of room for putts.

Course Design:
The course tends to flow well from one hole to the next though it could be improved with better signage (see cons). The variety of holes and the shots needed to play them are a fun challenge. The fairways are tight, but they're there if you look hard enough. The course requires every shot in the bag -- touchy flicks, big hyzers, tommies/thumbers, gentle annys, you name it. The front nine requires some thought into shot selection and placement. Some out-of-the-(tee)box thinking could pay dividends. The back nine will test your wind management skills.

Setting:
The lake is beautiful, especially near sundown, unfortunately you don't get to see much of it since the front is in the woods and the back works mostly away from it.

Equipment:
And the reason I gave Buck Creek a 3 instead of a 4 should be obvious from all the other reviews: The Gravel Tees. There's so much going for this course, but the tees are an obvious black eye. It's oftentimes too deep and moves too much for good, solid footing. Maybe it's just in my head, but the tees do no instill confidence and that's a recipe for disaster on the box.

Signage is also a big problem. There are posts at each tee, but there's no other descriptors. No hole map. No distances. No par. Getting from one hole to the next can sometimes be a problem. There are some signs pointing out where to go, but they weren't the most noticeable.

All that being said, I understand that tees and signs cost time, effort, and money. I don't mean to knock anyone for their efforts and I'm grateful to have this course, but few could deny that the tees and signage are in need of some major upgrades. If and when that happens, I'd rate Buck Creek at a 4.

UPDATE -- Concrete tees were recently installed on all 18 holes! As promised, I've updated my rating for Buck Creek and now give it a 4. This is probably my favorite course in the Dayton/Springfield area.

Overall, this is a beautiful, challenging, and enjoyable course to play. I highly recommend you give it a visit!

After playing my first back-to-back games here at Buck Creek, I'd have to say this course rates in my top 5 or even 3 courses in the area. This course has it all. Tunnel shots, open shots, right, left, up down, water, etc. The course is challenging, without punishing you. You'll find yourself using most of the discs in your bag as you navigate through the woods, into the fields, and by the lake.

Gravel tee pads and poor signs. From what I've heard, concrete tee pads are being installed this year. If that is true, and they also ad decent tee signs (with at least hole number, distance, and par info) then this course would be a 5 disc rating for me.

EDIT: Concrete tees have been installed! This course is now one of top courses I've played. It really has a little bit of everything.

After playing another very long course in the Dayton area, Buck Creek didn't seem nearly long as I remembered. I played a game here with a friend in under 2 hours. May have been closer to 1 1/2 hours. If you are anywhere within 30+ miles from Buck Creek it's worth the drive. If you come early on a nice summer day, pack a cooler and stay for swimming at the lake.

Great views of the lake. Wish it was used more. Good mix of "types" of holes. Open, tight, elevation. Has good flow through the woods. Like what they did with the redesign. Good facilities and also a practice basket!

Tee pads. I was told they are trying to get them in sometime this or next year. Also no tee signs.

Would have rated it higher, but without tee pads or signs, i could only give it a 3.5. This is a solid course with a solid challenge for all skill levels. Can't wait to play it once tee pads are installed

The course plays through a corner of a nice state park with a large lake. Several of the holes have great views out over the marina and lake from the top of a hill. The first half of the course plays through tight woods with some elevation changes. There is enough underbrush to punish errant shots but not enough to really eat discs. The second half of the course opens up and uses more elevation and wider fairways with brushy rough. This makes for a really fun variety with lots of different types of holes.

There is a nice balance of tight shorter holes and open longer holes with a few that let you open up a little more. The wooded holes call for a great variety of shot shapes, with enough trouble to make you hit your lines if you want to score well. The elevation on the property s used very well to make some fun downhill shots and some tough uphill holes.

The course feels like it's still a work in progress, and definitely has some room to improve. The wooded holes still need a little clearing and cleaning up, they feel a little unfinished at the moment. The open holes have some tall grass rough, not my favorite kind of obstacle on a course when it eats discs and doesn't do a good job of making your next shot harder after an errant drive.

The tees are terrible. They are loose piles of gravel that shift under your feet and make for really awful footing. They are even poor for stand and deliver shots because they are so uneven and loose. The signage is pretty poor, and doesn't do a great job of showing where to throw or where to go next.

The design of this course is really solid, with lots of fun and challenging holes and enough variety to keep it really interesting. With a little work on the amenities, this could be a great course in a cool state park with lots of other fun things to do. Beginners might find it a little tough and punishing. More experienced players will find some really good challenges here, it's not a championship level course but it has enough variety to make it a lot of fun. Definitely worth a stop if you're in the area.

-great looking course
-large variety of shots
-great use of natural landscape
-great use of elevation changes
-no wait to throw
-very advanced course play
-good local dg scene

-gravel tee pads
-lots of blind shots
-no signs
-high weeds
-not beginner friendly

a very enjoyable course! very technical , i have never had to scramble so hard to get 3's on some of the holes. the gravel tee pads kind of kill it for me, they are ok in the shorter wooded holes but on several of the longer open holes i couldn't get the power i would normally use because i was sinking in to the stones. i read at the course that they are planning to add rubber tee pads and this will be a great improvement. when the pads are installed i will likely give this course a better rating. i will definatly be back to this course for future rounds

Beautiful State Park. Good mixture of tight wooded holes and open fairways that makes you hit your shots. Good use of elevation and well manicured holes. The first 9 holes have been redesigned again since 2009 and I love the changes. Before those holes were mostly luck if you made it down the non existant "fairway" in the woods now there are like 5 to 10 feet wide gaps that gives you a chance if your shot holds it anhyzer or hyzer line or s-curve.

Wish there were accurate tee pad maps and concrete tee pads vesus rubber or natural because the tee pad areas don't drain well from the rain. The fairways are well defined but if your off course just a touch there is thick overgrowth to contend with.

Because of the redesign of the first 9 holes (they added 2 holes on completely different acres of land than before and cleared out some brush on the other front nine) I now have this course at 3 1/2 rating. They could improve the signage a bit and put in better tee pads but this is a pretty great play on a sunny day as is. Very challenging fun holes in a beautiful State Park. Worth the drive out to play it for sure. After playing this course a couple more times, I think its just so important they fix the gravel tee pads because it really affects the type of game you have to throw for the holes designed here. If they do, watch out this course will really become premier.

Wide range of shots

Ranges from heavily wooded to wide open

Great elevation changes

No tee signs

Gravel "pads"

A couple wooded holes with no defined fairway

The course starts off in dense woods. Tight shots throughout the front 9. I like tunnel shots, but a couple of these holes have no defined fairway at all. I've never liked "luck" holes like these.

The back nine opens up wide. There were mild elevation changes in the front but in the back 9, you begin shooting up and down significant slopes. The distance lengthens as well here.

I love the diversity of this course. You will need a balanced game to score well. Right, left, long, short, open, tight. Its all here.

With a few more amenities (pads and signage) along with getting in the front nine with a chain saw and making a few more defined fairways - this could be a much improved course. It has the potential to be excellent.

Forces you to use every shot in the bag, backhand, forehand, overhand. There is a generous amount of uphill and downhill holes that make the course more interesting. Hole 17 is one of the most interesting holes in central Ohio and surrounding areas.

The biggest con is the GRAVEL TEES! These tees make it next to impossible to have consistent footwork. If I really stretched I could say that the course could be more clearly marked and the old tees taken out..

The first nine holes are extreme skill shots and force pinpoint placement. Even though they are difficult they are balanced with the open holes, making them a great mesh.

Good Variety
Lots of Elevation Changes
Beautiful Scenery

Poorly Marked
Loose Gravel Tee Pads

The first part of the course goes through the woods and visually it's excellent. The second part is more open with some very fun elevation changes

The problem is the signs. It is not labeled well and it's easy to get lost. Also the tees are loose gravel and it's tough to get footing in. I have bad knees and I was in pain by the end and had to move off and throw from the side of the tee. Also there was and old guy playing in front of me wearing spandex. Saw much more than I wanted to when he bent over to pick up his disc bag.

It's a fun course, nothing wrong with it but it's not memorable.

Challenging. Front nine is wooded but very playable.

Back nine is a long, hard walk up and down a very large hill. Poor signage on the entire course.

At times there is water in play. One hole on the front nine appeared to be in the process of a redesign and we played what we thought was the right teebox only to find out it was not the right teebox. Back nine should probably have a few more par fours and the 480' hole should probably be a par five for amateurs.

Layed out pretty well. Course is well maintained and challenging to play. First 6-8 holes are all wooded. Challenging placements make for some great risk/reward shots.

No Signs. If you're not looking, you will miss the "next tee" signs. No real indication as to where the Baskets are so plan some time to "walk around the tee" to find where you're throwing.

Distances Vary
All Shot Types Required
Never Crowded
Park Staff is Friendly and Helpful
Great Elevation Changes
Camping in Park (Very Close to Course)
Plenty of Parking
New Baskets
Restrooms On-Site
Trash Cans On Every Hole
Practice Basket
Great Views of the Reservoir
Other Amenities in Park (Boating, Fishing, Hiking)

Hard to Navigate
Gravel Tee Pads Need Work
Rough Can Eat Discs
No Real Tee signs (Wooded Posts with the Hole Number)
No Distances Marked
Course/First Tee Can Be Hard to Find
Could Use More Benches

The course can be hard to locate. From Route 40, take Bird Road north. Once you go through the light at Old Columbus Road you will be on Buck Creek Lane which leads into the park. Once you are in the park you will want to turn right on Merritt Road, just past the park office. From there you will take the 4th left. Park in the second parking lot that you come to, just past the restrooms, and the first tee is just at the edge of the woods on the backside of the lot, look for the bulletin board.

Course layout is really good, front 9 are short, technical, and heavily wooded. The back nine are more open, there are still a few mature trees in some of the fairways, and the holes are much longer.

Once you start playing navigating can be difficult. After Hole 1, face the tee pad for 1 and you will see a path heading off to the left. The tee pad for 2 will be visibly as soon as you are on the path.

To get to hole 3 continue past the basket for 2, over the downed tree/log, and you will see the tee pad just up the hill. Hole three plays up the large hill, and the basket is between the pine trees near the top of the hill.

From there the front nine gets a little easier to navigate, paths have been worn and lead you from the basket of the previous hole to the next hole's tee pad. There are a couple blind shots that will give first-timers some trouble. The first really hard to see basket is hole 6, and extreme anhyzer (RHBH), that is heavily wooded. If you head down the fairway to the turn you will easily spot the basket. Nine is also blind, another anhyzer, but more of a sweeping anhyzer around the side of the hill.

The back nine are a lot easier to navigate, they are pretty open, making the tee pad and baskets a lot easier to spot.

Hole 10 is easy to find, but you can't see the basket. The fairway is unmistakable and the basket is down the fairway and to the left, about 35 to 40 feet from the turn. HOle 11 should be fairly straight forward with the great elevation changes starting to come into play.

Hole 12 and 13 play up and down the side of a big hill. Over shoot 12 and you could end up in the lake, the only time it could really come into play.

Hole 14 is my favorite of the course. Its a long hyzer shot down a very steep hill (A top of the world shot). Wind can also be a big factor here, and not airing it out can be difficult. Make sure to keep an eye on your disc on this one, the rough at the bottom of the hill is, a little over knee high, grass and once you are down there it can be hard to spot your discs.

Hole 15 is pretty straight forward, nothing too tricky, with a great tee pad placement.

Hole 16 is a long shot, up a big hill.

The course flattens back out on hole 17, a big right turn onto an island green. Hole 18 is long and flat. It does play next to a fairly large, and often occupied picnic area adding some challenge to this wide open hole. Try to be accurate on this one and try not to hit some unsuspecting picnic go-ers, or kids playing.

If you are in the area definitely give this course a go. If you can get some one to navigate for you, you will be a lot better off, but even if you don't try to tough it out. The course itself plays well and can be very challenging. I'm hoping for some new tee pads, and something to mark the distances and the course rating would go up tremendously, but even with the cons the layout is good enough to keep me coming back.

Great land, good mix of wooded and open holes, need a plethora of shots to get under par (pro par)

Raw course, needs a lot of beautification efforts. Course is going to have changes made which should create a better overall experience. No tee pads, no signs, but all of which will be taken care of later this spring