This course to me was an unexpected pleasure to play. For someone who lives in Central FL (as I do) it is rare to find many courses with much of any elevation changes in the course layout. Being that this course is constructed in a natural sinkhole it has the feel of a northern course and nothing like your typical FL course which was a very refreshing change of scenery and characteristics.

I liked the challenging array of uphill/downhill tee locations as well as emphasis on accuracy as the course definitely demands it with it's close quarters fairways.

I am also a big fan of any course that is used primarily as a golf course and does not share the property (as a public park) with other people....while I know a portion of this land is used by people who walk the trails we did not see anyone that was in any way a hindrance to the golfers...which is always a plus.

The course definitely lacked some key features which lowered my overall rating...poor parking accomodations (pretty much had to park on the side of a busy roadway).

The course was lacking much needed signage...we pretty much had to guess on a few holes which way to go. Luckily we guessed right each time but one bad guess could have taken us way off the beaten path.

There were no benches and/or bag holders which was a bummer because you are doing some climbing up hills and so a bench would have been nice to see for a quick breather or water refill.

I would have liked to see a little more up keep of the property in terms of tee pads, fairways (clear some of the brush) and landscaping.

Overall, my initial thoughts on the course are very positive. the biggest thing for me was the elevation...it made for some really fun golf and was a very welcomed change of scenery from the other flat Florida courses most of us are used to. I have heard they are removing the course from the property which sticks because it is definitely a course we would frequent quite oftet especially in the cooler months.

Long tight fairways, solid teepads

had potential to be a decent

Elevation is a problem. many times I slipped on leaves etc coming down or going up. If effort were put into the walkways as they were to the teepads, it would be much better.

Just too long. Having to hit a 400ft fairway the entire length is just not whatsoever, sorry, but I've played a lot of places and having better fairways is just something this place needs.

No pets
not many benches to rest (which would be needed for so much elevation etc,
No water
no meeting area/pavilion
no restrooms
no trashcans
no "local" routes... the canopy is so thick, trying a "simon/eagle" route is impossible.
signage to next hole was next to nothing.

Overall, this could have been a nice course if those that planned had planned more than just the teepads and fairways. There's more to a course then just this.

When you design a course, many things need to be designed as well to go along with it. To be honest, with all that it's lacking, I am truly amazed that it has such a high ranking. Many other courses are much nicer, but lack elevation, I guess Floridians really wanna throw up and down fairways.

As far as I know, the course will be removed at the end of June 2017.

Come to Eustis Florida, and play Hidden Waters disc golf course in a 90 acre sinkhole. Most holes are under tall trees, so very shaded which is great in Florida. Both left & right lanes on most holes with elevation creates a challenging course. You are rewarded when hitting your lines and penalized with strokes when you miss. Several holes remind me of NC golf with beautiful elevated pads, long downhill shots, and some difficult uphill putts, which is rare in Florida. This course calls for many different shots, and will test all levels of players. Take a photo of the course map found on the back side of the Kiosk near the main entrance to help you find Hole #1, then good signage from there makes it easy to navigate.

Single tee pads do not offer an easier shot for beginners, but they will be rewarded as they improve their accuracy. Not too cart friendly, but it can be done. No bathrooms, or water fountains, so bring it with you.

I heard this course was being pulled which is disappointing, and just plain wrong. The level of effort to install this course is massive, hats off to all those involved. Hidden Waters DG Course is a truly unique Florida gem, experience it before it's gone.

The use of the land and course design was very well thought out.
This course has some great lines and there is real elevation for Florida. The only course in FL that has more is the Throw Down the Mountain Course ( not an actual course you can play)
Several holes could be signature holes- extreme elevation and beautiful lines.
Multiple approach lines for left or right handed players.
Reminded me of some of the courses in NC with baskets perched on hill sides that bring in risk / reward putts- rare in FL.
I found myself using discs I rarely throw in my bag becasue of the uniqueness of every hole.
The course is challenging but very fair. If you hit your line you are rewarded, miss and you are taking strokes.
There is good signage and multiple pin placements.
Plays in the woods for the most part which offers some nice shade on hot days.
Each hole brought its own personality to the course. There was a nice mix of short and longer holes.
Most holes that make you traverse up hills and around trees. A few holes made me feel like I was playing disc golf in Jamaica with the hills , greenery , and sense of being pretty isolated from anyone else .

For a new player this course would be difficult due to some tight fairways.
The hills could tire some people that are out of shape. I dont remember seeing trash cans out there or bathrooms.

This course is very unique to FL. I would make it a regular in my rotation of courses that i play even though I live 45 min away, its worth the drive. The design is a great use of the property. Elevation, dog legs, lefty and righty mix is nice, I heard it may be closing soon, which is heartbreaking due to all the work that was put in, It is a gem. Play it while you can.

Variety of shots, elevation changes on almost every hole, 7 par 4's that are really par 4's (I have seen an eagle on 3, but I think player skill + some luck was above average). Finesse shots will be rewarded. Rubber tee pads are easily prepared. And you never have to throw over water (huge plus for me).

No water, no pets, no restrooms so plan accordingly! Not the most cart friendly course. Not necessarily beginner friendly (but there is a perfect beginner course less than 5 miles away). Oh, KEEP YOUR EYES ON YOUR DISC! When (not if) you get in the junk it can take a moment to find your disc.

For being in Florida the elevation changes alone make this a favorite for me. #6 (nicknamed 'the flying squirrel') is a huge down hill shot, this hole alone will bring you back for more! Plus the fact that your in a preserve surrounded by nature is sometimes mind numbing with tranquility! A huge thumbs up to the course designer on this GEM!

Good elevation change on almost all holes. Course is well laid out. As improvements to pads and signage are made this could be a really nice course.

Markings on the tee pads have all washed away. Some new signage is needed. Course follows well but for the inexperienced could be very difficult.

One of those few courses that is worth checking out maintains a lot of every-day playability. The first hole starts off with a long, mostly open throw across a field dotted with pines before taking a sharp turn down and to the left. That is the last bit of flat space you will see for the next 7 holes. (9 is again back on the flat space near the lot.) Everything else is going to be up or down and frequently, holes will feature a left or right slant. There are some relatively open holes but mostly these are going to wooded holes, tight but not overly tight and accessible to most players.
Mostly targeting intermediate to advanced players, this is a course that I would play again and again If local but a destination course. If you haven't played outside of the state, this will make a real impact as the elevation is truly different. (When you do see elevation in Florida, it I soften more jagged, like Medard or Gran Canyon. Hidden Waters features the natural slopes often found in North Carolina or New England.) The design takes account of this and uses the terrain to provide unique holes at every opportunity. Clean lines through the woods will force you to make a variety of throws and the gentle curves will allow you to watch plenty of pretty flights.

Navigation could be difficult for the inexperienced. Tee signs are somewhat vague but most fairways are easy to read. There a few trails that are near to the area so sometimes, the route from the basket may be mistaken.
Tees are mostly decent but a few of them are at an angle which makes throwing difficult. Part of the course's signature is that the holes typically slant to the left or right

One of the top few nine-holers I've played and well worth a play if you are in the area.

Very challenging, will test your skill level and make you become a better player. Very scenic, it is like going on a hike with disc golf thrown in. Mostly shaded, but a couple of open holes will make you want your water.

Young course, still developing.

Luckily I have played with a group of experienced disc golfers and they have helped me navigate the course. I would recommend doing the same.

- The terrain & topography can't be found anywhere else in this area. You'll get a workout.
- If you are like me and not a "big arm" thrower, You can still score well here. Precision and placement are key elements to a lower score here. Finesse is where it's at... Not raw power
- The scenery is beautiful. Wildlife all around.

- The course is still new and needs more directional signage for those who aren't familiar with it.
- The yellow jacket nests can be anywhere off of the fairway. They live in underground hives. I was unfortunate enough to set my bag down on one about a year ago when the course was just 10 holes. That was a bad experience! This is where that finesse and placement come into play!
- More trash cans would be helpful. If they were spread throughout the course, I think people would be more inclined to pick up trash and throw it away.

The more I play here, the more I like it. It's definitely not a beginner course, but practice makes perfect.

Once this course has some of the fine tuning (directional signs, tee signs, etc...) I will gladly revise and bump this up to a 5 star rating!

Keep up the great work Lake County Disc Golf Club!

Great elevation changes.
Wonderful scenery on a county owned preserve.
Demanding of exection and precision needed on a lot of shots.

Florida bugs! Mosquitoes and horse flies are a bother when under oak canopy holes from 2-7. Bring some repellent.

Course is young and like most of us need a good beating. Watch your step when trekking through the brush.

A couple tricky transitions from hole #1-#2 and from hole #6-#7

Only 9 holes, can't wait for a full 18!

This course is quickly becoming my favorite in the area. It's very demanding. iI requires a well thought out shot selection on almost every hole. Great elevation changes throughout the layout make it a nice hike through some very scenic terrain. A must play if you're in the Central Florida area.

This course is NOT for beginners it is very technical and challenging but on a positive note it has some of the most scenic views in the area.

The trails are not marked well it may be hard to find the next tee pad

The terrain is very diverse, prepare yourself for a good hike.
P.S. This is a preserve not a park keep it clean!

A unique tract of land with 100'+ of elevation change on a 90 acre sinkhole.
Substantial elevation changes on 14 of the 18 holes.
The emphasis is on accuracy and placement shots and does not require a big arm to score well.
A "jungle" setting that is convenient to downtown Mt Dora or Eustis.
All but 1 fairway is well-shaded.
7 par 4s that require a variety of shots.
3 fairways provide multiple routes from the tee, and 7 have split fairways to different pin positions.

No drinkable water or permanent restrooms on site. Plan accordingly.
There are few, if any, fairways where a big arm can 'open-up'.
No concrete tee pads, but the rubber mats are grippy, if not a bit short, at 8' long.
NO PETS or bicycles allowed.
Beware yellow jackets! (Though we've removed several nests thus far)
Several of the fairways are brand new and still have vines, roots and sticks in the fairway. ALL of the equipment and course maintenance is performed by the Lake County Disc Golf Club.
(Course rule: Throw at least TWO sticks off (way off) of each fairway as you play !!)
Only ONE garbage can, which is at the entrance to the preserve. Pack it ALL out... PLEASE!

If you enjoy North Carolina-style disc golf, but are stuck in Central Florida, Hidden Waters Preserve Disc Golf Course will fill that void. Set in a nature preserve on a 90 acre sinkhole, HWP's disc golf course winds through the lower areas, which are adorned with copious mature live oaks, cherry laurels and the occasional camphor and palm tree.

The course was designed through dense forest in order to steer clear of the previously existing hiking trails that wind through the preserve. The earlier 9-hole version of HWPdgc had 3 holes in the more open upper areas, but were relocated, in order to be more gopher tortoise friendly.

As of this writing, 10 of the 18 holes have alternate pin positions. Given that the land is designated as a nature preserve, this designer felt the need to reign-in the tree cutting. As a result, many of the fairways are quite tight flights, which will only reward those who demonstrate control & accuracy.

The topography can be a bit of a calf-burner at times, particularly on the walk to the 7th tee. Holes 6 & 8 are FUN downhill shots that will temp you to empty your bag. But it is easy to lose a disc in the dense underbrush, if you aren't paying attention to each flight. Some of the par 4s have low distances... 310'... 410'... but the uphill placement shots and subsequent upshots can be tricky.

Most hikers have been accepting of disc golf. Some have taken to walking the disc golf fairways, because they find them "more-interesting", though we've attempted to let them know that this could be tempting fate. The course also has the occasional 'green-vigilante' who has stolen O.B. string lines & ribbons.
Hole #14's B pin will ONLY be played during league and tournament play. The approach to the right is a steep drop off, where a creek seeps out of the side of the hill... and is O.B.!

Every item on the disc golf course (tee mats, lumber, signage & baskets) had to be walked in, as we've never been given permission to drive into the preserve. All of the materials were donated. As a result, HWP's dgc is a rustic, bare bones track that may, in certain places, look 'thrown-together', despite quite a lot of planning and work. Several of the tees were built on the side of a hill. More directional signage is needed, and was planned. Additional tees were approved, but were not implemented.

The Florida summer months can be brutal on this course. Be sure to bring PLENTY of water & bug spray. You will be closest to the parking area after hole 11. Sorry about the uphill climb!

Hidden Waters Preserve disc golf course is a wonderful departure from the Florida 'norm" and will test your ability to hit your intended line, while giving you the impression that you are miles from civilization.

When playing hole #18, take a moment to look up when standing at your lie off the tee. We named this hole "The Cathedral' because the spacious oak canopy has the feel of a cathedral and it definitely makes you want to practice Frisbeterianism. We are all DISC-iples!

Last thought: Permissions for this course were hard fought and are not actually over. Which means that disc golf is still AUDITIONING. PLEASE be on your best possible behavior. Be polite. Quiet when near the parking area. Smoking & alcohol are strictly forbidden. And, as always, LEAVE IT CLEANER THAN YOU FOUND IT. Thanks!
It is with a heavy heart, that I must say that the permissions for this course will not be renewed in mid 2017. The local N.I.M.B.Y. crowd waged a campaign of fabricated complaints, and they gained the support of some local heavy hitters to sign their petition. Frankly, it was a disgusting display of treachery and ignorance. But, to continue to fight it would have endangered a much larger project in Lake County.