Embshoff Woods reviews
7
0
Old and Fun 2+ years drive by
Reviewed:
Played on:Jul 22, 2012
Played the course:2-4 times
Pros:
A lot of fun in just a little space. The course is in a nice looking park with some other amenities. There are picnic tables, pavilions, a playground, bathrooms, etc. And it's just a short drive from downtown Cincinnati and Northern KY.
The course starts and ends right beside the parking lot. It makes a nice circuit around and across a small valley. The valley is made up mainly of nice grass and mature trees. The outer edges are made up of thick shrubs and brush. The fairways are defined by a shorter cut of grass. The day that I played, the grass and rough was very nicely manicured.
Course navigation is very easy, even without a map, as you can basically see each of the next tees from the previous basket. If you have a map, then there's no reason to have any trouble.
The tees are blacktop. They're close enough to grade and big enough for the length of the course. (However, there are cons listed below, too.)
I appreciate that several holes really require you to shape your shots. The length is relatively short, (I throw level drives about 325' consistently to give an idea of my perspective.) but I wasn't just throwing simple RHBH hyzers the whole time. I enjoyed the opportunity to shape S-Curves, Anhyzers, Hyzer-Flips and dead straight line drives with my mid-ranges and putters. Actually, I only threw one Hyzer off of the tee.
The holes are excellent practice for mid-range and putter drives for me. And I think that it would play well for beginners, too (with one major exception listed in the cons below). Since the holes play more across the slopes, than up and down them, the walk isn't too strenuous either, as long as you take it easy. So if you're not in good shape, you could still probably play the course without too much trouble.
The course starts and ends right beside the parking lot. It makes a nice circuit around and across a small valley. The valley is made up mainly of nice grass and mature trees. The outer edges are made up of thick shrubs and brush. The fairways are defined by a shorter cut of grass. The day that I played, the grass and rough was very nicely manicured.
Course navigation is very easy, even without a map, as you can basically see each of the next tees from the previous basket. If you have a map, then there's no reason to have any trouble.
The tees are blacktop. They're close enough to grade and big enough for the length of the course. (However, there are cons listed below, too.)
I appreciate that several holes really require you to shape your shots. The length is relatively short, (I throw level drives about 325' consistently to give an idea of my perspective.) but I wasn't just throwing simple RHBH hyzers the whole time. I enjoyed the opportunity to shape S-Curves, Anhyzers, Hyzer-Flips and dead straight line drives with my mid-ranges and putters. Actually, I only threw one Hyzer off of the tee.
The holes are excellent practice for mid-range and putter drives for me. And I think that it would play well for beginners, too (with one major exception listed in the cons below). Since the holes play more across the slopes, than up and down them, the walk isn't too strenuous either, as long as you take it easy. So if you're not in good shape, you could still probably play the course without too much trouble.
Cons:
The age of the course is clearly showing in the baskets and tees. The baskets could be the biggest drawback for beginners. I would hate to have people turned away from the game due to the inconsistency in the baskets.
Some baskets are low, almost sitting on the ground. Others are at normal height. They all have single chains that don't take to hard putts very well. And the #5 basket is coming apart at the welds and the chain assembly is bent. The hole #2 basket is also labeled with #9 on it, which was a bit confusing as the hole #9 basket is labeled properly.
A couple tees are splitting apart, leaving bad gaps in the blacktop. And most aren't level, with a couple on pretty steep downhill grades.
And then there's the subject of the weird 6' circles of blacktop around the pins. Not even counting the toll that this could take on your plastic, it creates weird skips and roll aways. I understand not wanting to have to weed-whack around baskets, but mulch can take care of this without the drawbacks.
If you require bomb holes, this course isn't for you. There wasn't a single hole that I couldn't reach with a mid or putter. Since the course plays over grassy fairways and just around big trees, it's not very technical (or difficult). While the holes playing across the slopes, vs. up and down them, makes the course easier to traverse it also left me wanting a downhill bomb to throw. I don't feel that the layout takes great advantage of the on site elevation change available. There's no water in play... except that the holes in the lowest part of the valley probably get very wet & sloppy when it rains.
Normally you have to pay $3. It's not big deal to me. But I know that some people frown upon pay courses/parks. When I was there, a maintenance guy told me that if there was no ranger in the park station, then you didn't have to pay. So I didn't have to pay (at 6:45 in the morning).
Some baskets are low, almost sitting on the ground. Others are at normal height. They all have single chains that don't take to hard putts very well. And the #5 basket is coming apart at the welds and the chain assembly is bent. The hole #2 basket is also labeled with #9 on it, which was a bit confusing as the hole #9 basket is labeled properly.
A couple tees are splitting apart, leaving bad gaps in the blacktop. And most aren't level, with a couple on pretty steep downhill grades.
And then there's the subject of the weird 6' circles of blacktop around the pins. Not even counting the toll that this could take on your plastic, it creates weird skips and roll aways. I understand not wanting to have to weed-whack around baskets, but mulch can take care of this without the drawbacks.
If you require bomb holes, this course isn't for you. There wasn't a single hole that I couldn't reach with a mid or putter. Since the course plays over grassy fairways and just around big trees, it's not very technical (or difficult). While the holes playing across the slopes, vs. up and down them, makes the course easier to traverse it also left me wanting a downhill bomb to throw. I don't feel that the layout takes great advantage of the on site elevation change available. There's no water in play... except that the holes in the lowest part of the valley probably get very wet & sloppy when it rains.
Normally you have to pay $3. It's not big deal to me. But I know that some people frown upon pay courses/parks. When I was there, a maintenance guy told me that if there was no ranger in the park station, then you didn't have to pay. So I didn't have to pay (at 6:45 in the morning).
Other Thoughts:
I can't believe that this course was installed in 1981. I was playing target golf with a Frisbee in the early 80s and didn't even know that there was such thing as "real" Disc Golf. If I had played this course then, I would have been totally blown away.
Still, I found the course very enjoyable. It was a quick, simple, relaxing play for me. As I mentioned before, it was good practice for mids and putters. I really liked that I only got to throw one Hyzer off of the tee. I've played courses where every hole was a Hyzer, so this course was very refreshing in that sense.
If the baskets could be upgraded, it would immediately raise my rating of the course by half a point. And I don't mean replacing the baskets. If they could simply all be set to the same height that would help. And if #5 could be welded back together it would be nice. If they wanted to add a set of inner chains, that would be icing on the cake. I do appreciate the old baskets in the context of this old course.
Highlight holes for me include: Hole #5, possibly the simplest hole on the course. It's just a simple, basically level, dead straight shot at 248' that plays across a small depression. It's lined by trees on the right and to the back and is more or less open on the left. It looks like a ball golf hole to me. Sometimes I don't know why a hole is a favorite. This is one of those holes. I just really liked it.
And hole #8... There's a nice, reasonably tight, gap between two large trees midway down the fairway. The pin sits over a little hump and down a little hill. Unfortunately, the gap is obscured by a bunch of dead branches hanging from the right tree in the middle of the gap. There is an alternate route to the hole, a Hyzer line that you can get to, but the obvious line just needs to be cleaned up.
I was only in the area for two days. I got to play Idlewild in KY once and then this course. I could have played Idlewild twice instead, but don't regret going around Embshoff at all. I genuinely appreciate this "classic."
Would I go a long way out of my way to play the course... no. But that doesn't mean that it wasn't fun. I would hope that any disc golfer could enjoy the course for what it is, just a simple, old course.
Still, I found the course very enjoyable. It was a quick, simple, relaxing play for me. As I mentioned before, it was good practice for mids and putters. I really liked that I only got to throw one Hyzer off of the tee. I've played courses where every hole was a Hyzer, so this course was very refreshing in that sense.
If the baskets could be upgraded, it would immediately raise my rating of the course by half a point. And I don't mean replacing the baskets. If they could simply all be set to the same height that would help. And if #5 could be welded back together it would be nice. If they wanted to add a set of inner chains, that would be icing on the cake. I do appreciate the old baskets in the context of this old course.
Highlight holes for me include: Hole #5, possibly the simplest hole on the course. It's just a simple, basically level, dead straight shot at 248' that plays across a small depression. It's lined by trees on the right and to the back and is more or less open on the left. It looks like a ball golf hole to me. Sometimes I don't know why a hole is a favorite. This is one of those holes. I just really liked it.
And hole #8... There's a nice, reasonably tight, gap between two large trees midway down the fairway. The pin sits over a little hump and down a little hill. Unfortunately, the gap is obscured by a bunch of dead branches hanging from the right tree in the middle of the gap. There is an alternate route to the hole, a Hyzer line that you can get to, but the obvious line just needs to be cleaned up.
I was only in the area for two days. I got to play Idlewild in KY once and then this course. I could have played Idlewild twice instead, but don't regret going around Embshoff at all. I genuinely appreciate this "classic."
Would I go a long way out of my way to play the course... no. But that doesn't mean that it wasn't fun. I would hope that any disc golfer could enjoy the course for what it is, just a simple, old course.
4
2
Jason Kerl
Experience:
37.8 years
56 played
4 reviews
Old and it shows 2+ years drive by
Reviewed:
Played on:May 19, 2005
Played the course:5+ times
Pros:
Good practice course for your mids and putters. Course is usually pretty empty.
Also a good course for beginners.
Also a good course for beginners.
Cons:
If you are an experienced player by any means, this course is not worth the drive. However if you live near the course go practices your approach shots.
Other Thoughts:
I do however remember when this course was pretty good in Cincinnati. Now with over 30 courses in the area it is now in the bottom 5
12
0
Old School 2+ years
Reviewed:
Played on:Oct 26, 2010
Played the course:once
Pros:
The Embshoff course is located in a nice little park that has a lot of amenities and tons of other stuff to do. The course itself has baskets and paved tees for every hole and there are clearly defined fairways that look to be regularly mowed. Even though this is an extremely dated and easy 9 hole course a couple of holes were not just straight easy shots and at least a little thought went into protecting a couple pins. There is also a little bit of elevation that is used most of the holes of this course. Another pro is that this course does not appear to get much play so you can have it all to your self. Layout is easy to follow and would be great for beginners to learn on.
Cons:
First off this course is outrageously easy, you could go nine down (playing them all as par threes) with just a buzzz and a putter. Every basket has a 6 ft asphalt circle around it that will rip your discs to shreds if you land on it on your drive. I have no idea why this asphalt seemed like a good idea but it is terrible. It can even chunk up premium plastic. The baskets themselves are very run down and are put in at strange heights. There are a couple at around normal height but others are pretty much sitting on the ground or a foot off the ground. The park itself is two dollars per car to enter or a 10 annual membership and I cannot decide if this was worth paying to play this course.
Other Thoughts:
This course is old. I think it was designed in 1981 or somewhere around then, and it definitely shows. There are holes that are under 200 ft that are listed as par fours and all the holes are scrunched in together. It is a nice course to work on accurate putter driving or to take a beginner to. This is a very fast play. My friend and I knocked out 18 holes without rushing in about 35 minutes. I appreciate that the course upkeep continues and I think it would be a good course to bring my young nephews to but I cannot see myself making a return trip otherwise.
6
0
tbird888
Experience:
19.2 years
226 played
5 reviews
Trick Shot Practice 2+ years drive by
Reviewed:
Played on:Jul 4, 2009
Played the course:5+ times
Pros:
• Short little nine holer that plays different lines than most courses in area
• Well-placed trees reward finesse shots over brute force (RHBH hyzer lines are non-existent for the most part)
• Easy to navigate
• Well-placed trees reward finesse shots over brute force (RHBH hyzer lines are non-existent for the most part)
• Easy to navigate
Cons:
• Generally very easy
• Baskets are in poor shape - this course is more practice over competition, though
• The high grass that shares space with the well-trimmed fairways can swallow discs, even when you see them hit the ground.
• Baskets are in poor shape - this course is more practice over competition, though
• The high grass that shares space with the well-trimmed fairways can swallow discs, even when you see them hit the ground.
Other Thoughts:
There really isn't much to say about this course. It's nice to approach a local course differently, but it's pretty much suffering from an identity crisis. It's a fun course but way too easy for the intermediate player. It's not a beginner course either because of the high grass that punishes errant shots. It does manage to entertain while allowing me to squeeze thirty-six holes into three hours. If it weren't so close to my home, I wouldn't have given it a chance.
