-Ever seen a narrow gravel path in the woods off the side of a country road? Maybe the first little bit of it and the rest of it you cannot see? Only thing you can see are glimpses of a gray house very high up in elevation through all the trees and you can't see where the driveway goes. Well this driveway stops straight ahead and you have to walk up a narrow path and before you know it, you're in the clearer part of the woods and see a haunted looking home. The same one that you saw off the road.

-The first hole feels like the pathway to that house straight ahead. In every corner there are light posts with the largest size Westinghouse Globes with a terrifying glow. All four lights are almost too bright to even see at night. Heck, you see their luminosity from that distance off the road you drive on! But their brightness from the road doesn't compare to how bright they are when you face them up front. The hole is uphill and gently to the right side perched on the hill. Just over 300' and relatively hard. This shows that you are in for something big and scary on this piece of land.

-You tee off facing the opposite way of the first hole when you reach #2. Still throwing slightly uphill. The tee pad is further up the hill, giving another indication that this nine holer is very hilly. Hole #3 is a short and very steep downhill 185' footer that can be played as a jump putt. The fairway is rough the entire way since it isn't level at all. It slopes downward to the right, meaning if you aren't careful enough and roll to the right side, you may give the hermit another chance to spot you. This hole, like #2 is playing in the opposite direction as #1 but isn't entirely far from it. #3 is your first easier birdie opportunity but you have to play it smart. I threw a soft putter.

-The remaining six holes are a little bit further away from the hermit's house but still give one of the two possible thoughts. The first thought being that you should continue exploring this creepy place in the woods and that the hermit won't spot you. Hey, he's probably drinking some hot tea and reading the newspaper inside. The second feeling being that this place is eerie and the hermit probably sees you and is about to sneak up behind you with a lethal power tool and you need to leave immediately to never return. Anyway, the elevation reaches its peak on holes #6-8.

-#6 is an epic downhill hole maybe 60' below in elevation. 389' from the long and maybe 340' from the short. It's reachable with a putter. Putter or mid is your best option here because this hole is straight and the decline is huge enough to knock your disc far in another direction. This is without a doubt my favorite hole here. #7 is a difficult uphill dogleg right. Another hole with dual pads. The long pad is a par four that is only about 350-360' but plays close to 500' due to it being majorly uphill. Short pad is still challenging enough being steep uphill and requiring an instant anhyzer off of the pad. From the short, it's probably no more than 210' but it's tough to reach. And the basket is perched on a fast green. I missed my putt and rolled down the roll maybe 25' below the basket. The huge elevation changes continue on #8 with it being a big valley shot with a lower ceiling. Almost playing as a canopy hole. 350' or so and dangerous to the right side. The bottom of the hill, like on #6 is a long way down before going back up. It's a big enough drop to make your disc sail. I threw a midrange low and made it back up the hill but was maybe 50' left.

-There's a bonus hole after #9. You'll see two flags and the pond that's in play on the original course at the Mounds. You have that final option to throw downhill over the pond to the basket that is #9 at the Mounds. Very fun bonus shot!

-Miscellaneous: Nice tee signs, and a few holes have two tee pads.

-Carpet tee pads on a very hilly terrain. Not a good mix. They can be slick. Brings me to say, course is a hike without any mercy. No stairs. No easy walks up and down the hills, especially after a rainfall.

-It's hard to find the first tee. I knew to walk up the trail that you see beside the pond but had to wonder around a little bit. It's very hard to navigate. No next tee signs either. You know it's not a hermit's backyard without the possibility of getting lost. Advice would be to walk up the trail and back down it in order to find #1's tee pad. If your feet work faster than your brain like mine do sometimes, you will have a more difficult walk to the next hole. More advice would be after #3, take a LEFT and walk up the trail. Don't walk down the hill past the basket.

-While there is no OB, the lost disc potential is at least moderate. Course can get pretty leafy. Rollaway potential on some holes can cause your disc to roll a long way down a hill. If you kick a tree, you could sail a long way into oblivion. If you play in the summer, I'd be very wary of snakes.

-There's not a water fountain on either course. If you think you'll need water, you better plan ahead and bring some before you get here because you certainly won't be getting a glass of water from the old hermit.

-There's no telling what he looks like, or what lead him to move here, or why he has four light posts, or why his window shutters are cracked and falling off. Or why his porch is covered with old boxes of plates, brooms, newspaper, and obsolete products like that typewriter and that antique European Telephone. Just don't wander around too much!

-That being said, course is technical with some tight lines and unforgiving lies. Advanced players will probably score around even here with the capacity to shoot maybe four or five under. A few of the holes were quite hard (#1, #7, and #8) while the rest were a little less demanding or more forgiving. Elevation is superb! That made this course a blast for me to play. #6 at the Woods is the best hole that Groves Park has to offer with #8 being a runner up. Those two holes are better than any of the holes at the Mounds. I wish there was eighteen on this side of the course!

-This was a metaphoric review with the use of imagery.

As either an addition to the Groves Park - Mounds course or as a rugged, standalone nine-hole challenge, the Woods section of Groves Park in Oak Ridge can hold its own.

The descriptor "very hilly and heavily wooded" is absolutely accurate.

There is definitely some tremendous mountainous disc golf here. The opener starts with a gradual uphill climb that is more pronounced than you might realize. The second hole goes uphill before flattening out; take a minute to appreciate the plateau-like area because it's rare here. The third hole is a steep descent; the fourth hole introduces a valley that's blind from the teepad; the fifth hole involves throwing over or around a steeper valley … you get the picture. The amount of pure woods disc golf crammed into just nine holes is impressive.

Hole #6 might be the signature hole of the Woods. In the long position, the basket is nearly 400 feet away, but this hole offers a tremendous view and a fairway that's all downhill. That is, if you can navigate the narrow gaps between the trees and avoid turning your disc into a pinball.

Also, note that Hole #7 offers a couple of teepad options. The sign is next to a natural teepad carved into the side of a hill, but there's a turf teepad on level ground that is at least 100 feet back. This hole features the most uphill throw on the course. The basket is in a tough spot on the right side of the fairway; plus, there's a significant drop-off to the right of the basket.

The signs are nice and match the design of other disc golf teepad signs in the Greater Knoxville area.

Finding the Woods section of the course is the first challenge you will face. In fact, having played the Mounds version several times back in the day, I endeavored to locate the Woods edition during a trip to Greater Knoxville about two years ago. Unfortunately, my directions were inaccurate and had me searching unsuccessfully in the woods west of what is now the Hole #3 basket on the Mounds. The easiest way to locate the Woods section is to find the Hole #5 basket of the Mounds, and while facing the basket with the pond behind it, turn directly right and enter the woods.

Once you locate the first hole, you're not home free. Navigation is a pain, especially without a map. Even with a map, you'll likely have to do the ol' head-swivel to figure out where's the next hole in a few spots.

I played the course in November, which meant that leaf cover was likely at its peak. Nearly all of the teepads were partially concealed by the leaves, and I had to use my foot as a makeshift broom to clear enough room to throw. The "traversability" of this course is extremely difficult due to steep hills and precariously placed baskets. And if you depart from the fairway, your ability to maintain footing will be more challenging. When conditions are wet and muddy, this course will border on dangerous in a few spots.

The teepads are mostly just green artificial turf; the teepad for Hole #5 looked like worn carpet. They're in so-so condition and aren't exactly level.

As MrFrosty mentioned in his review, the parking lot isn't great and you'll have to climb the hill just to begin to see part of the course. Reaching the Woods' entrance requires a few-minute hike if you're not playing the entire 27 holes.

The classification of the Woods section of Groves Parks as a separate course is a bit strange, but I get it. The original 18-hole Mounds course was created in 2008, three years before its tree-loving companion. It's like the weird cousin who comes for holiday dinner; sure, he's different, but he's definitely part of the family.

For a first-timer seeking the overall Groves Park experience, playing the entire 27 holes should be mandatory.

The Woods addition is one of the most enjoyable nine-hole courses I've played. I loved the ruggedness and variety and beauty. If it received more love and care in the form of better teepads and navigational cues, this could rival some of the best wooded courses in Tennessee, even with just nine holes.

I'm sure that The Woods was added and is intended to compliment The Mounds . I will just tell you from the beginning , what I said about trying to find Groves Park , with the small gravel parking space ( I am NOT going to call it a parking lot ) and the disc golf sign down at the entrance . There is nothing telling you in the front of this park to indicating you are at Groves park , and there is an embankment you have to climb before you see any of the baskets . Anyway , this is supposed to be the section for the PROS , but I had to vent . The Woods is a 9 hole course that will give you something that the Mounds doesn't ( except for maybe hole #4's blue tee ) , which are complete woods related holes . I can't imagine that you would drive to Groves Park just to play 9 holes of The Woods . This is best attempted for players to play 27 holes of disc golf ( a plus ) while here . Accessing the course ? There are 2 ways . You can play 1 through 9 in order after hole 5 of the Mounds . Take a hard right after taking your putt out of the basket and walk along the lake and towards a small shed . Pass the shed and walk straight on to a path in front of you . Don't go to your left and up the hill or you will be at the basket for #9 . Go right and down and you will go to a spot which dead ends . Once you go on this path you will keep your eyes out for the sign for #1 . It will be just off the path but you will tee off on the path itself for #1 . , which is a good hole . , a long drive with the creek to your right and hillside to your left . The basket is raised and protected on a flat small green protected by the hill in the back and a dropoff on the right . The baskets are in good shape and pretty easy to see in the woods , very important in early morning or dusk rounds . There is some very worn carpet for a tee pads or natural , but there are 2 sets of tees per hole like The Mounds , a red or shorter tee and the blue which are longer or placed at a more difficult angle. I am not a fan of natural or worn out carpet tee pads on a course with a lot of elevation as this one . The course goes up and down a good part of this woods . I don't think I ever threw a level drive . The tee signs are identical to The Mounds , those wraparound or right angle tee signs that you see all over the better Knoxville area courses , giving a description of the hole , hole # and distance , which I like . The second way to enter the course is the one I would do if I ever play this course again . If you are playing the Mounds and start towards the #4 Blue tee , and look straight up into the woods , look for a red spray painted tree with a 9 and an arrow pointing up . If you follow the path , you will come to hole #4 on the Woods course . You can the move counter clockwise around the perimeter , making sure when you descend #9's basket , to turn left before you reach the lake and take the path to #1 . Someone took a lot of time and effort to clear this course . The design is what saves it . There are a lot of fun holes to this course . The holes are not near as long but much more technical than The Mounds .Trees abound on this course . Remember as you fish your putt out of the basket on #1 to go up the path to the hill to your right (when facing the basket ) also make sure when you finish the #3 hole ( it will finish down by the #4 basket for The Mounds ) to either go back up towards the spray painted tree if you are playing the Woods holes in order , or if you started on #4 in the woods , go to the #4 tee for the Mounds and finish your 27 hole round . Many good holes are here in the woods . You will not be bothered by non disc golfers during your round , and probably not bothered by disc golfers , either . I don't think that too many play this 9 , so you will likely have it all to yourself . You will have a great workout , because you are normally walking up when you aren't walking down . My signature hole : either #1 , the long straight drive to an elevated green , or #6 ? a long downhill control blast , about 280' to the basket with trees and foliage to the right and left .

Where do I start . #1 Finding the park . A gravel area with no signs for the park , no real parking lot , and an embankment covering up the course ? I wonder how many disc golfers just gave up trying to find the park . It looks like the big disc golf sign that was at the entrance to the park was laying on it's back and broken when I was there . #2 Navigation . No online map and no map at the course . If I didn't have a local tell me how to enter it , I would have looked a long time to even FIND the Woods 9 . The course has a couple of tricky spots to watch where you go or you can be looking for the next tee . Some NEXT TEE signs would help a lot , especially towards #2 , #4 , and I think #8 . Please add a map , even a crude one , online for this course #3 Tee pads . I can understand if Groves Park doesn't want to lug and pour concrete pads way up in this woods , but some gravel or turf tees would help a lot . #4 Footing . There are no steps or railings , etc It was dry when I was here , but this should be unplayable after a rain . #5 Bugs . There were some out when I was here , but it could be worse in hot muggy weather . Spray on some deet if you are tacking this course , especially in the summer . No amenities , so once you make the climb into the course , don't expect , benches , toilets , water , trash cans , etc .

While I am glad that Groves Park added an additional 9 holes , The Woods , a tight tree filled control course , to compliment it's more open and popular brother , The Mounds . But it , much like The Mounds , leaves you somewhat unfulfilled . So much untapped potential . Very good course design saves the Woods . Plus , how can you argue that once you find Groves Park , you can park and play 27 holes instead of 18 ! . Since the kiosk is down at the entrance , if a map can be added online ,,,,, . After all of my cons , I don't want you to give up on playing these 9 holes . I thought it was worth the effort and now that I feel comfortable with the layout ,, if I was local and it way dry , I would play the course as a 27 hole layout a lot . My recommendation : ONLY IF PLAYING ALL 27 HOLES AND ALREADY HERE , PLAY IT !

While The Mounds at Groves Park is one of the better courses in East Tennessee, it's Sister course, The Woods, just doesn't quite live up to the same level. Don't get me wrong, this is nowhere near a bad course, it just needs lots of improvements which I am sure will come in time. The Woods part of Groves Park is a 9 hole layout with a VERY properly named layout as it is very wooded! Every single hole on this 9 hole layout is either tightly wooded, or a wider fairway with tight woods on both sides. Either way, you better make sure you hit your lines on this course! It's actually a very fun layout but quite the hike as you are going up and down lots of hills. As far as the land they were able to use to design this 9 hole... they absolutely nailed it. As I said, in no way is this a bad course... The Mounds is just on a level of its own for the area it is located in. If you are playing The Mounds and want more, definitely make sure you hit The Woods back 9 course! Playing all 27 together is an absolute blast! If you want to see this course on video, check out my crew playing the course in the video below...
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QWqv1EGFToE