Idlewild has been viewed as one of the top courses in the world, and I definitely would agree with that. The course was in beautiful condition, lush green grass everywhere. With the trees and water you can just remove yourself from the world and enjoy a superb round of disc golf.

The course offers a balanced variety of open and wooded holes of all distances and uses elevation extremely well. Every hole was unique and memorable. (I love the giddy feeling you get as you approach each new tee.)

I really liked the personal touches on many of the holes (landscaping, stone/brick walls, bridges, even the signs that encourage you on the 1001' foot hole. These are all tastefully done do it doesn't interfere with the beauty of the natural setting.

What is truly amazing to me is that you would expect to pay for this (it looks and plays like a country club), but it is in a free park! (This course would be worth a few dollars to play even if there was a fee.)

As others have said, navigation is a bit confusing a couple of times (extra paths/short cuts to different holes.) But it only takes a few steps to realize you needed to go the other way.

This is a tough course mentally and physically. I was pretty tired when I got done. Totally worth it, but some may not think Idlewild is very fun because of it pro quality.

A must play. Coupled with nearby Banklick, it makes for an unbelievable day of disc golf! The N.Ky/Cincy area is an excellent disc golf destination. I have traveled to this area many times just to play disc golf. I can't wait to come back and play Idlewild again.

Flip or Idlewild as #1? Who knows, but Idlewild is the only course of the 100+ I have played worthy of the top rating. (I have yet to play Flip, but hopefully will soon.)

-Located in a community park
-Easily accessible from I-75/71 or I-275
-Within 10 minutes of the Cincinnati Airport
-Disc N' Dat Store close by
-Banklick Woods very close by
-Board at #1
-Great tee signs
-Extra long, concrete teepads
-BEAUTIFUL course
-Well groomed course
-Benches on EVERY hole
-Excellent elevation changes
-Amazing use of water hazards
-Clearly defined drop zones for water hazards
-Bridges over every single creek and ravine
-A true pro par
- Challenges a variety of shots
-Not just a single lane on holes, multiple routes to shoot into
-Long holes challenge blend power with accuracy
-Mature, wooded fairways
-Challenging but not discouraging
-Multiple pin placements and baskets
-Direction and flow is fairly smooth and easy
-Walk of fame after #4
-Hole Sponsors and adopted holes

-More trashcans?
-Not in my backyard

Overall:
This is the best course in the Greater Cincinnati Area and one of the best, if not the best, in the country. This course is the perfect mix of distance, accuracy, beauty, and strategy.

This course is very long, but it does not seem so when playing. You become too distracted with the beauty and logic placed in every single hole.

Distance isn't the only thing going for this course either. Accuracy is blended in amazingly. This course challenges a variety of shots and a diverse arsenal is need. However, there are multiple lanes on each hole. It's not as if there is just one lane to shoot into, there are several routes on every hole.

Are you ever out playing and have to walk across rocks on a creek or jump across a 3ft ravine? Well at Idlewild it is not necessary. This course seriously has a bridge over every single creek and ravine. If you need a bridge, one is there for you. There is even a hole with 4 bridges that you have to cross over.

The water hazards remind of a real golf course. They are small and shallow, but placed close to baskets. This makes the course that much more beautiful. Not only is there water, but excellent and well marked drop zones to throw from when you land in water.

The tee signs have funny and clever phrases on them such as: "Thread the needle, sow a deuce" or "Air it out....And Out"

Signature Hole:
Every hole is etched into my mind and sticks out. Every hole has plenty of flavor and is unique. But if I had to pick one hole it would be the 1001ft hole that eventually goes downhill to a beautiful green.

Final Verdict:
This course is an absolute must play. It is well worth it to make a trip out to Kentucky and play this course. Banklick is nearby so make a day of it and play 2 of the top courses in the country. Take your time and enjoy the course because there aren't that many this good. Just get ready for a day of phenomenal disc golf you won't forget.

Idlewild is truely an amazing disc golf course that is long, challenging, and very well-maintained and offers a great layout with endless amounts of visual appeal. This course uses Mach3 baskets that are in good shape, level concrete tee pads, and really nice, descriptive tee signs on each hole. There are multiple tee pads and basket locations on many of the holes throughout the course.

The course flows great from start to finish making two 9-hole loops each returning near the parking area. There is one part of the course from 16's basket walking toward 17's tee where you have to cross 11's fairway, but there are signs posted to make golfers aware of this potential hazard, so keep this in mind as you navigate this area.

The course offers a great variety of short and long technical holes, and long open holes that take you in and out of the woods. There is a nice creek that runs through the course, and comes into play on 8 of the 18 holes. The course is very well maintained with little to no over-growth or foilage. Idlewild uses the Adopt-A-Hole program where local volunteers step and offer there time to maintain and upkeep a hole. This is a program that many courses would greatly benefit from. There are nice, wooden bridges installed to ease navigation through the holes where the creek comes into play, and retaining walls that frame the greens built around the creek. Some of the greens use an artifical OB around the back side of the pin and the creek along the front side to make an "island" green affect which only adds to the challenge. The bridges and retaining walls add a lot to the visual appeal of the course.

Idlewild makes great use of the elevations in the park, offering a wide variety of uphill and downhill tee shots, and plenty of uphill, downhill, and sidehill lies around the course. There are numerous epic holes on Idlewild, some of my favorites are 1, 3, 5, 11, 13, 15, 16, and 18. There are to many to list details, but I assure you that many of the holes at Idlewild will be etched in your memory for a long time. The holes range from 192ft to over 1000ft, averaging nearly 500ft/hole. There are several true par4 and par5 holes, which is one of the great features of the course. Although many of the holes have plenty of length and allow a player to launch a big drive off of the box, players are rewarded with stategy and placement over length.

You will have a chance to throw just about any type of shot you prefer (hyzers, anhyzes, rollers, thumbers, tomahawks, etc...), and probably some you don't. There will be plenty of opportunities to get creative with shot-making as you progress through the course. Idlewild will challenge all skill levels. There is a parking lot specifically for disc golfers, with restrooms. There is a practice basket for warming up before your round, but at the time I was there, it wasn't in real good shape. I've only played the course once; it wasn't crowded on that particular day.

I had some trouble finding the tee box for hole 5. There is a sign, about half way up the fairway for hole 4 pointing toward the next tee, but unless you're looking for the sign, it is easy to miss. It is visible from the tee on hole 4, so keep this in mind as you go through this area. Relocating the sign to make it more obvious would be helpful so that it isn't overlooked.

I always heard the locals in my area talking about Idlewild, Idlewild this, Idlewild that. Now that I have played the course, I understand what all the talk was about. A stunningly beautiful and challenging course, a must play. Of the courses that I have played, this one is by far my favorite, I only wish it were closer so that I could play it more often. I played the course solo, it took about 2hrs to complete the round.

This course is stunningly beautiful, even this time of year (winter). The course is huge and has very nice wide defined fairways that are very well maintained. Fantastic use of obstacles and out of bounds areas (signage). Many holes have drop points if you go out of bounds. A creek meanders throughout many of the holes that are in the lower areas. It was chilly out today and there was a guy working on errosion control in the creek. The creek is really a treat, there must be more then a dozen bridges. Several greens have the creek meandering around them and are edged beautifully with cement pilings. There are maybe three holes that elevation change does not play a part. Uphill hyzer to downhill anhyzer just about every shot in your book will be used. Played in very wet conditions and had no problems getting discs that landed in the creek or mud. Tee pads have to be the largest I have ever played, many have stones around them to control errosion. Also my first 1000 footer hole, has signs that say 400' to the green. Too funny. The holes are very well signed if it is not evident where the next hole is. Whomever put in all the countless hours to make this course what it is over the years get a huge pat on the back from me. Outstanding!!!

It is an hour and fifteen minutes from my house, oh wait that's not a con...

Thanks really does need to be given to the folks who have contributed to the construction of this course. A small monument or something.

Clearly dfined fairway, good use of OB's, woods on every hole, big time risk reward course, park maintenance is excellent

Gets fairly muddy and has little to no appeal to rec or novice players (Pro caliber course that is just way to hard for beginners)

Would love to see this course expanded to 27 holes (there is obviously the land to do it). Be warry this course is very long and very tough on your body, make sure you set aside 2 or more hours to play it.

The course is the best ever. Long, short, wooded, and open holes. This is the perfect place for a course. Benches on every hole. Trashcans on most holes. Island grees are awesome. 1001 ft. hole is really awesome. Good teesigns. Excellent teepads. Incredible pin placements.

Can be frustrating for beginners. Some par on the course is ridiculus maybe even for a pro.

This course is cool. Who ever created the course has a good mind and should create a lot more courses. Banklick and Boone are a few minutes away. If within an hour and 30 min. or 2 hours, they should DEFINATLY play this course. It is for someone who wants a challenge. 12/6/09 I nailed a 140+ shot on hole 10.

Signature hole: Hole 15. Wide open 1000 ft par 5 very hilly hole with and OB creek and island green.

Idlewild is one of the only true par 72 courses in existence as far as I know. The layout of the course is about as good as it gets. Every hole is different from the previous one, no two are alike here. Want to crush drives as far as possible? Want to play the ultimate risk vs reward course? This is it.

You will find well defined fairways, with tight gaps in places. None of the shots are unfair, but there are a few where luck comes into play. Many of the holes play through rugged terrain that goes around creeks, up hill sides and over ravines.

The directions and signage on the courses are awesome. I can't say enough about the maintenance... bridges, trails, teepads and baskets are all in top notch shape.

To really score well at this course you will need to have accurate drives and an excellent mid-range game. Many of the most challenging shots require throwing on a tight line and will punish shots that stray off the fairway.

I don't live close enough to it!

This is not a course for people new to the sport. I wouldn't recommend this course to someone who had been playing a year or less. Even professional caliber players could come to this course and struggle - be prepared to take some 5's and 6's.

On the majority of the holes here, you will be grateful to take a 4... sometimes elated because it took a 300 foot approach to do it.

This is a great destination course for any serious disc golfer. Also, Banklick is just right down the road, you can play two amazing courses in 1 day.

To anyone interested in playing a tournament at Idlewild: The Bluegrass Open is a tremendous tournament that happens every year, with rounds at Idlewild and Banklick.

When busy it takes 2.5 hours or more to complete a round. Bring water/snacks.

Best kept course I have ever played, For a course to be in the woods as much as this one an be taken care of in the manner it is in incredible. Big Thanks to the guys that do this.

Greens are defined beautifully and many have some extras added in to add to the appearance (and increase the difficulty).

It has everything. Extremely long open holes(well... mostly open), Short tight holes where you can't afford to miss your line. Even the long holes seem to bring something into play other than raw distance before you are done. Double-doglegs, 90 Degree turns and incredible pin placements. You will be forced to use shots that you might not normally throw. This place will teach you that a layup isn't always a bad thing.

This is a true beauty and shows what challenging disc golf should be like.

6 new holes added bringing the total to 24. Most of them are reachable but each brings an elements of danger into play.

The layout offers all levels of play. Some holes have short & long tees, and many have varying levels of OB that can be used for tourney play or ignored in casual play changing the difficulty level considerably.

I have no true cons but there are a few things to remember:

Don't go looking for a quick round - It won't happen, this course takes time to play.

Don't get frustrated - this is not like the par 3 courses that most are used to. A 4 or 5 (or more) on many of these holes is not a bad thing - It's to be expected at times.

Everyone should try this course and look at the care put into it. For disc golf to move forward courses like this are needed to present a true challenge to the upper level players. For newer player - If you approach this course with an open mind it will do wonders for your game.

This course is as eye pleaseing as it is challenging. You must hit your spots to score well here. The placements are structured to make you think beyond your tee shot.

The basket on 18 is a pretty decent way from where you park.

The prettiest course I have ever seen. Lots of planning and resources went into Idlewild. If you are ever near the N. Ky./Cincy area you owe it to yourself to find this course.

Anything and everything you want. No paying, not all that crowded. Groomed like a golf course. Hard as hell. Every hole is a possible to birdie (though some harder than others).

I wish on 1, 9 and 17 had the optional pin thats shown on the tee map.

My best score playing on all the tough tee boxes and right pars is plus 3, My brother, our buddy and I played a total of around 50 rounds together this summer and our average I would guess is around +8.
#1 Launch
#2 in the lake is where we lost the most discs.
#3 eagleable
#4 we never once birdied some how
#5 Its all about where you sit after the drive
#6 is ridiculous
#7 Land a gimmie off the tee and I tip my hat to you friend
#8 A fan of this years woods clearing
#9 Easiest
#10 a beauty
#11 play it right no better feeling
# 12 2nd easiest
#13 Unless your a left I have to say is the most crazy tough add some strokes to your round triple bogey hole.
#14 Its never rained that hard while I was outside.
#15 An eagle, .02% chance my friend
#16 If you play outofbounds look out
#17 Might be the easiest par 4
#18 missed a gimmie for bird, wow, I've seen a great player shoot 11 on the hole.
If you shot under par let me know!

Anyone shot below par?

Many courses are constrained by the available topography. In so many cases, the available plot of land is either overwooded, or underwooded, or too small to give you the freedom to design some longer holes.

Idlewild isn't limited in any such way. It sits on a perfect site for a disc golf course. Wooded but not too wooded. Some open rolling hills. Doesn't feel cramped by plot size.

So right off the bat, Idlewild starts with many advantages that other courses lack. But that's only half of the equation.

The other half of the equation is the upkeep and maintenance. I can't say enough about this. It's the most manicured disc golf course I've ever played. Just top notch. Great signage, wonderful huge teepads that a sasquatch like me can appreciate. I really have to tip my cap to the people who keep this course up. They do the sport proud.

The only possible negative I could give this course is that it's difficulty could be such than newer players may find it frustrating.

I'd been playing disc golf for less than a year when I first played Idlewild. It was tough. "Too tough", according to my playing partner. Fast forward 3 years, and now he and I both have a bit more seasoning and some new shots in our arsenals. We played Idlewild for the second time last weekend. We both enjoyed it immensely. We'll definitely be making an annual trip from this point onward.

The more courses you play, the more you will appreciate what they have done at Idlewild. It is a special course.

This is one of the best courses in the world. It is very challenging and will punish mistakes. While the difficulty can be frustrating, it also forces you to improve your game. Also, your opponents will be facing the same challeneges so you can suffer together!

One of the coolest aspects of Idlewild is the "island" holes. Several of the holes have baskets strategically placed on penninsulas in the middle of an OB stream. Place your putts perfectly or pay!

Can't list anything here. Idlewild is God's playground.

Thank you to the Greater Cincinnati Flying Disc Association for this gem!

Great mix of holes. Very well maintained. 1000 foot hole with landscaped green is sweet. Will definitely challenge anybody.

Not for beginners. Don't forget to bring huge bottle of water.

I came in hoping it would be worthy of the hype. It is and then some. Between this, Banklick, and Mt. Airy the Cincinnati area is THE best destination for a disc golf road trip.

Landscaping with what nature gives you is one of the best pros about this course. Its topography is outstanding. Fairways are kept very nicely, and I applaud the volunteers for thier work. Courses don't get too much better than this in the East/Midwest.
I love it when a course it mentally challenging enough to get me talking to myself.

I can't find a printable course card to take with me, and I can't remember if one is provided at the first tee. I remember getting lost last year several times and finally found someone to play the course with.

I think #2 should probably be a Par 3. At least I would get that false sense of security going on around to 4. HA. I have played courses from Maine to texas to Florida and rate this course in my top 10. It would probably make the top 5 if there was a nice, professional looking scorecard to be picked up at the first hole(maybe this has changed...if so, welcome to the top 5). I come to Cinci once a year and look forward to the trip for at least 5 weeks before because of this course. Also some notes...Dang I was thirsty by the time the course was finished with me!

Excellent hole variety, elevation changes, length and basket placements. Informative tee signs and benches at just about every tee.

Many holes have multiple tees and the layout is pretty straight forward and easy to follow even without a map.

The course is also extremely well maintained

Cons? What cons?

This course beat me up quite a few times and I still came out with a smile. Every hole presented a new challenge and there were very few, if any, "gimmes" as far as easy holes.

Hole #1 lulls you into a false sense of security with an open field shot and then they throw you to the lions. The combination of woods, water and length make for an exhilarating round that will run you through a gamut of emotions as you birdie, par and bogey your way through this course.

Holes #15 and #16 stand out in my mind. Hole #15 clocks in at 1000+ ft. over rolling hills. You know a hole is long when you find a sign midway through letting you know that there is another 400ft to the pin! Hole #16 has you throwing over a creek that snakes its way through the trees at one of two baskets. Placement on this hole is pretty important to say the least.

Idlewild has easily secured a spot in my top 10 course list and I'm sure it will make your list if you get a chance to play a round here.

There is no question that you should play this course if you are in Cincinnati or anywhere nearby. You would be doing yourself a huge disservice by not making the trip to play it as it is truly a magnificent course.

Tee pads are in good shape.
Open fairways are well mowed and wooded fairways are well-defined.
Baskets are in good condition. Restrooms are available in park.
Great piece of land that is specifically set apart for disc golf.

The only con.....if you are a newbie, and have played 5 or less different courses: think very carefully before you tee off at hole 1...unless you are a massochist.

This is disc golf at its finest. Placement off the tee is crucial...but so is distance. Both are needed to score well here. You may have both and still not score well here. Par is generally accepted at 66...but it should probably be higher for most players. Most courses are "driver-putt" or maybe "driver-midrange-putt". If you pull into Idlewild expecting this layout, my friend you are in for a long day. I gave this a 5. It is only the 2nd 5 I have doled out with the other being for Winthrop. They both have lots in common: great variety, fantastic design, imacculate groundskeeping, and rich tradition. If you love disc golf, and you travel to play: if you miss out on Idlewild, you have made a grievous mistake. This course kicked my butt. I left angry (lost by 1, after being up 1 at the #17 tee) but I would do it all over again anytime. Definitely worth the trip from any part of the country. Banklick Woods is within 30 minutes as well and is a fantastic compliment to Idlewild.

This is the hardest 18 holes of disc golf I've ever played. Not only is it the hardest but also the best. Elevation, water, distance, accuracy, scenic, clean, well marked this course has it all. Countless hours of maintenance go in here.

None

Thank you to all who put in the effort to keep this course the best on my list.

This is an update of a previous review that most people deemed as too short and just a 5.0 rated HBB review. So...I'll go into extreme detail now.

There is much debate on whether this course is the best course in the Universe. No matter my individual preference, others can look at the same thing as you and have a completely different opinion based on their individual tastes....but I believe if you come and play...you will agree that it is one of the best courses to ever grace this planet.

When you first arrive at Idlewild you come to Hole #1 which is a beautiful 640ft open hole with light woodage on the right and heavy woods on the left. At approximately 50 yards wide it allows you to do a full run up 360 spin and come out of your shoes throw as far as you can. If you have a big arm you can land near the two large oak trees some 500 feet away. It's a dangerous hole not because you have a cedar guarding the right side of the basket or a hill behind the basket for a run away roller...but because you just unloaded on the first hole and we are about to get into some tight woods.

Hole #2 has two basket placements that are in the ground full time. Most every hole on the course has multiple pin placements but a few like #2 have two baskets permanently in both a long and short placement. The short basket is a 380 ft shot that most people will throw a turn over shot like a road runner at. There is a creek to the left that is OB and the wood lined fairway gives a distinct view down the heart. However, the shot here is a back hand roller. For the long pin across the pond on the other side of the short pin...simply park the short pin, throw a putter....or mid across and hope you can walk away with a 3. I've seen a few long arm pros go high off the tee....fly the trees...fly the pond..and park the long pin at around 561 feet...amazing.

Hole 3 has two tee pads. Long is around 560 feet to the downhill pin that sits on what some call an island green...it is technically a peninsula. Leading up to the green is the same creek OB it shares with #2's fairway. The right to left sloping fairway with the OB on the left has confused many a golfer. A well executed back hand roller is the preferred shot by top pros but I've seen some in practice lace a back hand stable disc hard down the gut...thru some trees and somehow park the green. Some may just want to throw a Buzzz about 275 feet then lead into the narrowed wooded opening with a putter or something stable like a drone.

#4 is a breather hole. So you just introduced yourself to the longness and some of the technical holes of Idlewild...and you need a breather before you get into the heart of Idlewild. #4 is a moderately difficult slightly up hill turnover or sidearm shot at 235 feet. It is somewhat a blind shot...just walk 30 feet down the fairway and spot the basket. A Comet is a great disc here that can give you a nice ace run...watch out for the first 50 feet though as it is tight and if you elevate too much your disc will get slapped down hard by the over hang 20 feet above your head.

#5 is where it gets really...and i mean really interesting. This is where you stop laughing at the local rumor that 'Idlewild' is an ancient American Indian word that loosely translates into "F'ing Trees". As you stand on the teepad and look forward 100 feet to a wall of trees....you can see a nice round grassy place with a line of concrete cores in the ground where the 'drop zone' is located for people that hit said wall of trees and go into the winding creek between the teepad and this first 'landing area'. Many people will choose a putter and simply throw to the drop zone and set themselves up for a very long uphill shot that is tightly wooded but a picturesque fairway. I however throw a power forehand off the tee and try to get 1/3rd of the way up the hill...or a backhand Comet...depending on the wind. I don't care where I land because most likely I'll be throwing a forehand roller uphill for my next shot. Top Pros will amaze you with an over the trees shot from the tee...throwing basically straight up with a big hyzer or anny...depending on the wind..and landing atleast halfway up the hillside thru the trees and sometimes in the middle of the fairway. They will trade distance for accurancy since they can toss out to the fairway if they miss and still card a pretty easy four while others may get unluckly and find a way to take an 8 coming up the middle.

#6..at first you will call this hole the devil. You will complain about how unfair it is....how there are no lines..but as you play this course more and more the fairways open up for you...you can see the lines. #6 strategy: Throw a putter off the tee about 100 feet to the top of the hill...then pound a stable mid down the middle of the narrow fairway taking notice of the Mando on the left side just before the 'mouth' leading to the basket. The 'mouth' is a narrower tree lined fairway that is simply a forehand shot of about 250 feet. Hit your putt and you walk away with a 4 while the rest of your card pounds bark and gets anywhere from a 6 to a 10 on the hole.

#7 is a very tricky short hole. It is slightly downhill with a 10ft wide fairway that gently curves to the right. Just before the basket it opens up but the basket is protected on all sides by 4 rather large cedar trees. This is my Adopt-A-Hole and I have the limbs trimmed to my eye level...I'm 5'6". This is a Comet or my preferred..forehand shot. For a hole of 261 feet....I've seen my share of 5's by Pros on this hole trying to muscle a putter down the middle and ending up in no man's land deep in the woods. Disc up...throw with finesse and remember....a 3 at Idlewild is a Birdie.

#8 in my opinion is one of the hardest short holes you will play. Short being 336 feet but it appears shorter than that at first glance. You must thread a Buzzz or some throw a low driver that must go 275 feet and then fade left at the end to set you up for the upshot up a decent little incline. If you can thread the gap, layup under the basket that is guarded both on the left and right by 8" thick trees...then you have a drop in boring 3...or you can take a 6 on this hole if you like...your choice.

#9 is my second favorite hole of all time...with the #1 hole at the temp course at Hoover in Columbus Ohio being the first where you shoot straight down off the top of the Dam to a postage stamp....it is simply disc golf crack...anyway...back to #9. It is a 192 foot hole framed by trees on both sides and you must keep the disc low or get slapped down by over hang. The tee is about even with the basket but the fairway drops off quickly and then rises again toward the basket. Many Pros try to throw a putter here...which is great if you are sliding it up to the basket for a two..but most of the time they over torque it going for the ace and hit something early. I prefer to slow toss a Buzzz and then do the body jerk trying to alter the flight path of the disc for an ace. Hitting basket here and rolling 60feet down the hill can be an evil tournament roll that you knew was going to be an ace.

#10 is back to the big bad evil holes. The first few times you play this hole you will see some large scores..but as you learn how to play it you will eventually get a 3 and try to average 4's here. At about 672 total feet it is really broken down into two perfect shots and a putt. The first shot is either a putter out to about 230 feet down a wooded fairway to a 90 degree turn to the right. Or you can try to turn the corner with a forehand or Comet. Which ever way puts you in the next fairway is the right shot for you...however..many people mess this shot up and can't see to toss straight out of the woods and this is where the next few shots start adding up on the score card. The next shot after the turn is a 300 foot or more driver shot that allows you to hit your gap..that opens up a lot on the right side..and then hyzer into a green that is heavily guarded by small trees..but with a distinctive gap to the basket. Most of the time I throw a 300ft forehand roller for this second shot and get a stunned look on everyone on my card when I'm parked.

#11 is simply a beautiful signature hole. From an elevated tee you shoot downhill thru a large tree that stands as a Y. You place your disc thru this Y and you miss all the trees to the left and right of the fairway...fly over the winding creek, hit the open field...hyzer sharply at the end..and skip down into a landing zone that has you looking 100feet or more at one of the smallest island greens you may ever see. Recently this hole was deuced by a Rec rated local golfer..and it was one hell of a teeshot and long putt...you will see triple circle 10's on this hole though if you aren't careful. A 4 is fairly easy as long as you hit the Y and play it safe.

#12 is a breather hole..a very short..but very technical 142 foot shot. If you aren't in the Ace Pool...WHY NOT!!! this hole gets hit almost every tournament. It is simply a breather between the tough holes you just completed..and the spectacular evil that is about to confront you.

#13 has two permanent locations. A short that doesn't move that is only a 234ft forehand shot...or a long that is seldom moved..but tournament play is always the 586 ft shoot on the other side of the creek. It is a tight crush with an understable driver probably thrown on a hyzer flip and let it ride down the hillside to a landing area at about 350-400 feet from the tee...if you get it thru the gap..it will float down this hill rather easily. An upshot across the creek should give you a drop in 3...unless you take a 7 by hitting a tree off the tee and shooting into the deep stuff early.

#14 has two tee pads. The short is located off a walkway leading off the #13 short basket. The long is across the creek from #13 long basket. The short is simply an uphill Comet or forehand shot thru a wooded fairway at around 234 feet. It is a fun shot but you just have to play 14 long. #14 long is one of the toughest holes around. The tee shot is uphill from a level tee pad. You have a 15ft gap a mere 30 feet in front of you that draws your eyes to it. I've seen the best of the best pound bark here. You need to get some distance up hill here off the tee. There is a gulley with a bridge about 200 feet up the fairway that dips down and it makes a very difficult 2nd shot from here...you need to be 80-100 feet further up the fairway to set you up for a long forehand approach to the basket. A 4 is a blessing here and this hole..due to the uphill nature can really cause scoring seperation.

#15 is the legendary 1001 foot wide open, give it everything you got and then some shot. We even installed a small triangle wing on the teepad for those that like to do the 360 drive. You can see some signs way out...that's 600 feet with 400 more to go for the green. If you can only throw 300feet then your third shot will be down hill 400 feet to an island green protected on the front by a creek and the back by paver stones with the woods beyond OB. You can rip a Buzzz down this hill and it will glide...and glide..and glide the 400 feet. Try to lay it up before the green and take your chances with the long putt. A 5 here is nothing to be embarrassed about...I'd take it any day and just move on.

#16 has a creek winding back and forth and back and forth thru the fairway. It has two pins. The short pin is about 300 feet. You must lace a straight shot down the middle, stay out of the creeks..and keep this from going long OB. The long Pin is about 100ft further and now plays as an island green. This is a tough shot mainly because you just unloaded on #15 and now you are asked to show some finesse.

#17 is about 219 feet straight up hill...and tightly wooded. It has some late trees guarding the basket. It gets aced from time to time but I've seen more 5's than deuces here. You have to disc up here. A strong Buzzz throw may not be enough for some people that would throw a putter this distance on a flat hole.

#18 is a very long, very tight 651 ft wooded hole that seems to stab you in the heart when you come this far...survived this much...and you let the final hole beat your good score down. It is a completely fair hole...just use my prescribed method of Buzzz, Buzzz, Buzzz, putt and quit trying to be a hero. You've just walked 2.5 miles...don't throw it all away when you are physically beat and try to make up a stroke here....a 5 here is great..a 4 here is wonderful...a 3 here happens sometimes....actually 47 pro men at KY States..there was one 3 on #18...the average for pro men with many 1000 rated golfers was over 5.

This course was designed for the professional level player. If you are new to the sport you may want to play a year or more before you visit. The holes are long, the shots are advanced, you may see unfair holes where others see high risk..high reward shots. There is no swimming pool to wash the smell of failure from you after the round. There is no pro shop to sell you more discs when you lose them.

The teepads are large. 6x15 minimum. There is a large contingent of Adopt-A-Hole'ers that constantly do upkeep on this course. Designer Fred Salaz is always building new retaining walls, bridges, or other course improvements. We have a great Boone County employee, Kevin Brasher that does the mowing and trash removal...and also TD's the tournaments held here. Boone County Parks and Recreation is always happy to give us anything from gravel, mulch, railroad timbers, concrete cores, lumber for bridges, telephone poles and anything else we need for course improvements.

Recently we redid all the tee signs at Idlewild. They were designed by Houck Design and look beautiful The platinum level signs look almost like a video game and really stand out as professional quality.

professional feel, lot of effort to keep course beautiful, every day OB's and very helpful directions to next holes, creates an atmosphere to work on new shots and get better

w/o proper preperation (water, food, company) course can be really frustrating

better bring it! long long long. woods, woods, woods, multi placements

sleep well, eat a good breakfast, drink plenty of water, and keep you cool or this thing will destroy you.