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I felt like this was a perfect 5.0 through 12 holes. The remaining holes are great, but the sum total of the back nine left me wondering if the designers were always going for drama at the expense of enjoyment. But that's a personal thing, and I actually dropped it to 4.5 because of signage (more on that in "Cons").


Two poured concrete tees and two excellent DGA Mach 5 baskets on every hole. Signage and baskets are color-coded: green is short; orange is long. Makes for four genuinely different layouts (I played the MKDGC Green Tee Layout, which used a blend of short tees and mostly long baskets (6152', par 59). It was plenty challenging to this intermediate player who doesn't have the arm for the back tees.


On most holes the distance between the two baskets isn't much, but the Orange adds some technical challenge, or an entirely different shot (several holes have one basket off to the left, and the other off to the right).


Some mandos, OB and marked hazards. Nothing feels artificial or forced. For example, there's a large area OB area on #4 that the sign shows as water - but it's just a very large grassy depression. You're not going to lose your disc, but you'll take a penalty and play from a marked drop zone.


Hole #5 is devilish. It has the green basket up on top of a very narrow ridge with a park bench right next to it. What you don't know the first time you play is how steep a drop off is right behind the basket. Throw a bit long and you'll be facing a 100' comebacker. The orange basket is set down off the ridge to the right - making a dogleg. Both are really good to play, requiring different shots. A really good short (250' - 350') par 3 hole 9 and a 500' par 4 if you play Orange/Orange.


Hole #9 is straight, long, and terrific (Green to Orange is 771' par 5). It starts with a split two-tiered fairway, divided by a sloping hillside that's allowed to grow very rough. The Green tee plays from the upper side of the rough, and you can place your first shot at a strategic 225' straight ahead, keeping you up above the mess. But if you're playing the shorter Green to Orange (317' par 3), you have to throw a fading shot down and across the rough. Playing to the longer basket, you'll find an ever-narrowing line between a hillside on your left and woods on the right (fade too much and you're dead). Then, the basket is tucked to the left behind some trees and behind a stream. An excellent and memorable hole.


The back nine features only one flat hole (#15). It starts with three dramatic downhills, a crazy uphill and then a downhill floater. That gets you to the one flat hole - but you're going uphill for the rest of the round. The holes themselves are fine. But it felt to me like a terrific course that loses its balance on the back nine.

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The only "Con" (but a significant one) is regarding the signage on the back nine. Some signs don't accurately show the location of the baskets. This is especially noticeable on the wooded back nine, where you've got blind shots. One example is #14: the Orange basket is way off and up a hill to the right, whereas the picture shows it slightly to the right of the Green. You'd be really angry if you threw based on the sign. 15 is another one where the basket isn't where the sign indicates. But the worst was #18, where both baskets are well off to the right compared to the sign. They're invisible from the tee (hidden by trees), and I think the green teepad was aimed well to the left of the direct line to the baskets. Granted these are first-time player problems (and they can be solved by a lot of walking ahead). For me, they are serious enough to drop the overall rating from "Best of the Best '' to merely "Phenomenal". But well worth playing!

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~ Not for beginners. Too long, too technical (even the Green/Green would bury a Novice).


~ This is a beautiful spot. The front nine is relatively open, with gorgeous views across the Schoharie River valley. And a very smart layout. I can see why a lot of people really like this course.


~ It's also a big course. It covers a lot of ground. Expect to spend several hours playing, even if there's no traffic.


~ The course requires an incredible amount of upkeep in the form of mowing. The only problem areas were on the very steep slopes of 12 and 13, where the grass was close to knee deep.


~ Navigation signage is a little sparse.There are next tee signs, but usually only one per hole. uDisc helps a lot.


~ A cart is fine on the front nine, but put it back in the car for the back nine.


~ Long uphill walk back to the parking lot from #18.

Couldn't imagine a better course. Beautifully maintained and designed. Plus a community center for bathrooms and even a public pool if you're going in-season. Couldn't have a better experience. Parking was plentiful and everything was well marked.

I can't think of a single negative. I can't wait to go back.

-two tees and baskets at each hole
-good use of elevation and various shots
-free pool and great pavilions for bbqs
-nice mountain views and a quiet setting

-some holes don't have real or fair lines, especially some of the long pads
-two holes had low hanging branches right in front of the teepad. I'm talking 5-10 feet in front of the teepad and about 4ft from the ground
-the tee for hole 6 is just a few feet from 5s basket. I understand why they put it there, because of the elevation, but it will be a problem if the course is full of players and others have to wait.
-I suppose hole 9 is the signature hole for the course, but I can't say any of them are truly special. The problem with 9 is the picnic tables for the pool line the fairway on the right side causing another safety hazard

the smell of oregano throughout the park was great. no joke, it grows naturally around the park. actually it was the most unique thing about the place. It the lines clear out a little over the years or with maintenance, then it could turn out to be a better course. Btw I shot even(par 60) on long to long layout, well mostly long layout, had to throw from the short pad on two of them because of issues mentioned above.

*my disclaimer. I am well aware my reviews stink. I'm an average player(950ish rated) and have played a lot of courses around the country, so even placing a number on a review should mean something

This course, located in a New York State Park is amazing. There are two tees and two baskets on every one of the 18 holes. One of the best parts of this course is that each of the four combinations is a very different hole. Sometimes the same hole will be a technical short shot on one layout and a bomb on another. One layout is lefty-friendly and one righty-friendly. It is hard to design all 4 combinations this well so consistently.

The park is beautiful with great views of the Catskill Hills and wild oregano growing everywhere. The NY Long Path actually winds through holes 4 through 8.

The course is really two 9-hole courses back to back with a long walk between them on opposite sides of the parking area. The front 9 are mostly open shots with trees protecting the baskets. Hole 1 is a 550 foot bomb. Hole 5 is a signature hole with the short basket on top of a mound 30 foot in diameter, 15 feet off the ground, - playing 250 feet and uphill 20 feet, with a great mountain view behind the basket, a hard birdie.

The back 9 are more technical with lots of elevation holes, and thicker woods. Hole 14 is another signature hole - a stunning downhill hole through a tunnel to a basket nestled between two large trees.

It is the best course I have played in NY, and IMO one of the ten best in the USA. Wilcox State Aprk, Joralemon and Hyzer Creek are also excellent NY courses but I rank this slightly higher.

The grounds of this course are meticulously trimmed (thanks to the state of NY), and the OB and rough are clearly marked. The views are spectacular and there is public swimming pool and snack bar for kids or friends, or after the round. Excellent signage -- except for the long walk between 9 and 10.

Only the long walk between hole 9 and 10.

One of the ten best courses I have ever played.

This park almost feels like it was carved into the woods and farm fields with disc golf in mind. The scale is MASSIVE, with lots of distance, lots of terrain changes, lots of wooded tunnels, and plenty of big risk/reward situations.

The tee boxes are good, signage great, baskets very disc friendly, park amenities verrrrry nice. Good parking, good picnic spots, and other good things for the non-disc golfer to enjoy.

Every shot that you have and every disc in your bag will be tested. (case in point: I had to pull off a 270 degree forehand touch roller to escape from a pine tree less than 30 feet from a basket just to save par).

With very few exceptions, every basket/tee combo had a fair line that you could take that would lead to success. Whether or not you could actually hit that line, well... that's what practice is for, yes?

In addition to the four possible pathways, this course has two game faces. Without the wind, it's a tough drill instructor who puts your through your paces in a challenging obstacle course designed to test your confidence and fitness . With the wind, (and it can get REALLY windy here) it's an evil scientist who tortures you with unavoidable traps and pitfalls as you try to survive a trip through his lair.

The bomber holes are REALLY bomber. I think my favorite was the par 5 that ended the front 9, where you have to throw a long, accurate drive that avoids OB right and carries over a pond/marsh (or not, you can lay up), then a good second shot that avoids falling away with the slope into the woods, and finally a good approach that carries over another pond downhill into a basket that's tucked away in a little alcove. Some of the par 5's that I've played are either ridiculous (impossible windows 200+ feet away followed by more impossible windows that can't be hit unless you hit the first window, > 90 degree angles followed by similar turns, etc.) or just plain boring huck/huck/approach holes with no challenge to your shot making skills. Hole#9 at Minekill makes you feel like a 4 is an honest-to-God birdie.

This is not a course for beginners. (not a huge con, really, just an observation).

The only thing stopping me from calling this a 5 star course is that it's still a little rough on the edges. In a few more years, when the course has been "played in" and all of the trimming and such has been done enough times to solidify the pathways, I'll bump it up.

As I mentioned above, there were a few tee/basket combos that lacked a truly fair line for the average tournament disc golfer. On one it was because there were a few branches that hadn't been cleared out of the high line necessary to carry up the massive hill (#13, I think???), forcing a lay-up and pray approach, on another it was just a few too many small saplings too close to the basket, making a clean approach more a case of luck than skill.

One of the best courses I have ever played, and I only wish it were an hour closer so I could play it every week.

Dual concrete tees and dual powder coated bright green and orange Mach V baskets providing four varieties of playing each hole. The course design maximized all the different natural terrain features flawlessly throughout the park. Excellent mixing up the challenges and pars and distances from hole to hole for the most part(only somewhat repetitive part was holes 2 and 3, and holes 11 and 12). No underbrush in the woods, and the grass fairways are well groomed. Park is clean!

The tee signage is good for the most part although can be deceptive. Two loops of nine holes back to main parking lots/pool. Navigational signage is great, didn't even need the map available at the main office along with other interesting info. Restrooms at office(all year) and parking lot(seasonal).

The whole park is fantastic and beautiful, and park staff is top notch, friendly, and knowledgeable! Can't say enough good things about this destination!

Very minor things. IMO some of the juxtaposing tees and baskets are a little too close to each other for speed of play or potential safety. Couple holes play close soccer fields, that are apparently only used in August for soccer camp/tournament. Not much food/gas wise in the area, come prepared and beware of bears. Also might want to check park hours, closes at 4pm in "winter season" although part of spring is still considered winter when sunset is after 7pm.

Muddy in places - Texas style clay mud(mostly hole 13) really sticks to shoes and people will be wiping shoes on concrete and muddying up tees. The park is in the process of studying and addressing drainage issues.

The electrical boxes and restroom building structure as obstacles in the fairways of a couple holes detracts from the natural the beauty a little bit.

Course might be rough for rank beginners. Hole 1 is the longest hole from the short to short and the wind can whip through the mostly open front 9 on the top side of the mountain. The back 9 is a bit tighter with some extreme elevation to hike. I imagine in the summer some of the rough can be thick tall grass just off the fairways and discs will be lost and make the course play even tougher. I lost a disc on 6 already.

The course and setting is almost perfection at Mine Kill. For most people the experience begins with the drive to the park as you roll through picturesque Catskills mountain landscapes lined with stone walls and stone filled kills and waterfalls and bodies of water. I highly recommend checking out the Mine Kill Falls across from the course.

Mine Kill DG course is one of the best more open style epic courses I've played. The front nine is a little more open with moderate elevation changes with a large shallow pond and small pond coming into play as well as a large mound and the wind and sun(bring sunblock). There are a couple mandos and sparse trees cleverly define fairways. The two basket placements typically make the holes play quite different. I'd advise you to check the blind pond on hole 4 before you drive. Hole 6's elevated tee is fun and the tee shot has to be more daunting in the summer when the tall grass is growing. Hole 9 long to long par 5 might be my favorite on the course with its long sloping downhill elevation to the basket protected behind the tree line and a small pond.

The back nine takes you down into some of the Forrest and more extreme elevation changes providing a more technical and physical challenge and some cover from the wind and sun. This was my favorite loop on the course for those reasons although hole 10 is probably my least favorite hole. Hole 13 is a beast uphill shot and hole 14 is a tempting dangerous downhill beauty while hole 15 is a flat-ish bomb, then hole 16 takes you up, over, and around huge rolling elevation providing nice contrast to end the course all the way to hole 18.

Overall I highly recommend Mine Kill DGC to any intermediate to top pro level player, it's one of the best destinations you will find for a phenomenal and scenic disc golf getaway.

What can be better than discovering a new course and a beautiful Christmas Day ? So after 1.45h drive we saw the baskets - it was absolutely worth it ! We played the orange to orange layout and every whole was different and interesting, the second 9 have a few really amazing shots. We liked #10 and #14 most. Very well marked and concrete tees easy to find and play.

Nothing really, bring good shows, since it is a nice up and down in the woods and can be wet after rainy days.

we will come back, for sure

It has everything. Wide open bomb holes, tight technical shots, monster mountain shots (up & down), shots over water, etc. Whatever you're looking for, it is at Mine Kill. The course has two tees and two baskets on every hole; allowing for 4 unique layouts. Most of the holes offer multiple routes to the green, making the experience even more fun. The course was installed and is maintained by a team of well-equipped and well-experienced park staff who understand disc golf. The fairways are trimmed low and the course is kept in the utmost condition. The course overlooks the Schoharie Valley and the Gilboa-Blenheim Dam. The views of the mountains & valley are spectacular and the foliage in the fall is breathtaking.

It's in a remote location; away from "civilization". Most players will have to travel relatively far to experience this course.

The course is long and brutal. It will beat you up if you're not in shape.

Carry in / Carry out Park. Please take your trash with you.

Bathrooms, pool and park amenities are seasonal.

The park's pool and amenities are only open during their summer hours. The course is open all year round but the gates close at different times during the year. Check their website or call the park for info. During summer hours, there is a small fee to enter the park (like $3+/- or so) Waived with Empire Passport.