Course design: 4.5/5
Scenery: 4.75/5
Tees: 4.5/5
Signage: 3/5
Navigation: 3/5
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Average/Total: 3.95/5 rounded to 4/5
The Player's DGC at Alum Creek has evolved over the years. It started as an 18 hole course with 1 set of tees. Several holes were re-designed due to park changes that were made about 7 years ago or so. Then, about 3-5 years ago, they had a massive tree cutting due to the ash borer disease. Within the last 2-3 years, they did a bunch of add-ons and made alterations to it, really making it shine.
The property is beautifully set within mature forest that is right next to alum reservoir. You get nice views of the water from at least a 1/3 of the course (and also dangerous water holes as well). The design, woodsiness and water holes on the course make up for the lack of elevation changes.
One of the outstanding features of this course besides what I wrote above are the varieties of layouts that you can play. They installed 9 alternate permanent targets (red top band) to complement the regular 18 yellow top band targets. All are Innova discatchers which are perfect for a wooded course as they stand out with the colored band. The 9 alternate targets are located on holes 1, 2, 3, 5, 6, 9, 13, 17 and 18. These alternate targets add variety and challenge to the course. In addition, they installed extra tees on most of the holes, which also adds variety and challenge. Holes 1, 3 (long is carpet), 5, 6, 14, 15, and 16 (long is carpet) have 3 tees. Holes 2, 4, 9, 10 (long is brick), 11, 13, and 17 have 2 tees. When you combine all of these additions, you have a nice selection with very different hole shapes. A hallmark of a workhorse course that will have you sharpshooting in no time!
The holes will test all shots and unless you're shooting from the short tees to the yellow targets, I would say this is an intermediate to advanced to pro course depending on the layout that you shoot. BTW...six of the holes involve water, so beware! Many people have lost discs in the water so I highly recommend bringing a water disc (something you don't mind losing) for those holes, or bring a disc retrieval tool!
Now, there are a few negatives about the course. First, the signs are virtually non-existent. A PVC pipe with distance on it is all you get. Navigation cues are also lacking. AFA navigation goes, just remember the course is basically in two loops: 1-8 and 9-18, with both leading you back to the parking lot. There's a long walk over the road from 1-2. There's a hefty walk from 7 to 8 (recommend walking up the park road toward the entrance once you complete the hole to avoid people shooting on 2's fairway - 8's tee will be on the left side of the park road).There's also a long walk from 8 over the parking lot and past the restroom building to get to 9.
A couple more negatives, and you can't fault the designer...there's pedestrians wandering around the course all the time and fishermen like to post up where you shoot over the cove on 9, on 10 by the basket, and 11 along the right side of the fairway and at the point by the basket as well. Also be aware that many people have no idea what disc golf is. I remember one time that there were some fishermen directly in front of me on 9's fairway, fishing in the cove and I raised my disc and said, "Heads up I'm shooting that way." The response was, "Is it really worth it, man?" I ended up skipping the hole because I explained it to them and they still didn't get it.
The last negative of the course is the trash buildup. People seem to love leaving their garbage there. I know that people must think that the trash makes the park look very appealing, but rules are rules and so we must remember to pick up our trash and haul it out with us when we leave.
All in all, this is one of the best courses in central Ohio, if not all of Ohio, between the property setting, the course design and the additional targets and tees. I recommend stopping here if you are in the area. Dare I also say that it is a destination course?! Play this and the Brent Hambrick Memorial course in a day and you'll have hit the two best courses in Columbus. Kudos to us for having this great addition to the area!