There is a lot to like and dislike on this course which makes it difficult to rate. It's definitely not "typical" in any sense but there are too many flaws that need not be to rate it beyond "Good". Some of these flaws (like navigation) are just first-timer complaints, others like dense brush, #9, or the dirt "stairway" after #14 won't get better with repeat visits as long as they linger unchanged.

Sweet Arrow Park truly had some beautiful views, like the Waterfall crossing to #8, teeing off from #8 over the stream below and the steep embankment of rocks --probably not high risk but definitely creates the sensation that it is-- the return stream shot on #15, or the lake on #16. They were all scenic taken in singularly and made the trip worthwhile, an unexpected highlight in central PA.

It also has a lot of replay value, there is ample variety and elevation here, it should be at least 4 stars if they ever erase the issues. Signature holes would include #6, #8, #15, and #16.

The park amenities by #13/14 (another parking lot) were absolutely top notch. It gave me a much needed a break from a day of playing multiple rounds on multiple courses.

The boardwalk by the waterfall and coming back from #14 is also great and adds to the experience as did the benches on the course have a fairly unique and minimalist construction and it fits in with everything else here. Kudos.

The big letdown is that it sometimes feels like several sets of disparate holes married into one frankencourse. Ordinarily, I would just call it variety, but the apparent neglect and the way the holes simply don't flow from one to the other makes it a disjointed mish mash instead.

Bring bright discs you don't mind losing. Much of #1-5 are very typical forest fare but have tight, not quite narrow, fairways, unsuitable for beginners. The edges consist entirely of dense brush and need a severe cleaning. The front half of #3 is marsh and basically a large water hazard. #9 is similarly brush-heavy. There are also about five water hazards (#6, 8, 15, 16, 17), three of them avoidable with layups for newcomers. These are all disc loss spots.

It needs more directional signs along the way. Navigation is a PITA and unintuitive at times, especially without UDISC. My phone saw more use than my discs. Right off the bat I had problems locating #1, there is no signs anywhere pointing "This way!" Instead of a map upfront, it only lists sponsors on the bulletin board. Tee #7 was quite obscure, as were tees #11, #13 and 15. #14 was just too distant to be found stumbled upon from the last tee. On a previous course that day -- also forested and far longer -- I never once had to pull out my phone to find where to go next. The baskets guided me to the next tee, without fail, and signs along the way if more direction was needed.

Teepost signs, sometimes missing, often felt just wrong, like they were accurate long ago but too many tweaks had taken place since then. The distances often didn't seem correct and the way basket are labeled with the dashed line, made them seem they were way further on the one side or another than reality. #6 needs a better sign, I threw to the wrong basket (#15) up on the hill. #14's sign makes the basket appear way closer to the forest entrance than it is.

On #3 and #9, you have to backtrack along the entire length of the holes.

#9. It's a fairly typical forest hyzer, overgrown as well, but its fairway is also a main walking trail and you're throwing around a blind curve. I was only 30 seconds early from hitting a couple walking their dog. They passed me on my way to the basket. #9 & #10 tee off in the same basic spot, they really should make a hole between existing #10 and the long walk to #11 instead. It's off the beaten path for park patrons, unlike the current #9.

#12-13 desperately need a clearout of dead wood and some next basket signs.

Tee#15 was fairly difficult to find. First, the dirt walk down from #14 wasn't marked clearly and took some locating, but it also needs a proper handrail on the decline and/or better step-shaping, far too rocky and rundown. For a while, I thought the #15's tee-off point might be one of the lookout points on the boardwalk but no.

After 117 holes of DG that day, my ankles absolutely hated walking sidewise along the steep incline for the entire length of #18. #16 and parts of #17 have this problem too, with bad throws. Those abused body parts have filed for divorce and I miss them.

On return trips, I'll going to play this course as a 12-holer, #6-7-8 & #10 thru 18 (skipping 1-5, 9) to get the best of the experience and avoid 90% of the hassle. I can get my flatground forest fix elsewhere, hold the rough.

Terrain Potential: XXXXx - Phenomenal. Waterfalls, water, hills, forest, swamp, and the kitchen sink.
Actual Execution: XXx - Decent. Layout needs work and other major issues.
Upkeep: Xx - Passable. Too many problem areas and issues linger on.
Difficulty: XXXx - Firmly in intermediate territory.
Fun Factor: XXx - Decent. Lots of fun followed by unneeded aggravation.
Overall: XXX - Good but course could easily be 4 star with fixes.

Starting Point: Tee 1 is at 40.568350, -76.367326 (on google maps). Park near the newly built pavilion and walk behind it down the hill into the break in the forest, tee will be on left.

Amenities: Not much but a portapotty in the DG parking lot. In the other parking lot at #13/14 are proper facilities if you go down all the steps.

Layout: #1-5 basically loop. You need to backtrack on #3 the entire length of the hole. #6 is uphill at end of the parking lot with a shot over the reservoir drainage, the basket by the wooden fence along the path. #7 is right of the asphalt path shooting a short but steep uphill over the path. #8 takes the metal bridge over and then makes a right. 8-11 loop. Take the trail to #9/10 which tee off in the same spot. After #10, you can take the forest path or backtrack to #8. Tee #11 is just uphill of Tee#8. #11 is an uphill. #12-14 loop. #12 is another uphill into the forest. Tee #13 is downhill left of basket, continues in the same direction but downhill. Cross the entire parking lot to the utility shed. #14 is an uphill back into the same forest. Make it to the boardwalk towards river and go back to bridge. The dirt trail at end of bridge, opposite direction of #8, goes to tee #15. Throw over river and cross bridge. #16 - 17 are along the lake. #18's basket is near beginning of parking lot.

Sweet Arrow Lake is a really, really cool course with scenic shots and a great view of the lake. They have about 3 "epic" shots that are some of my favorites: 7, 8, and 15 (8 and 15 you shoot across the creek and have views of the waterfall). You have about 2 holes where you can really rip it for a bomb shot.

A lot of the holes have around the same length, so you don't get much variety in distance.
Hole 1 was absolutely swamped and unmaintained.
The fairways are really tight on some holes and the rough is very rough.
Lacked benches.

This park is really nice and peaceful, so definitely carve out enough to to chill and enjoy the park!