1) Short and long concrete tees with some middle tees as well
2) 9 alternate targets that are permanent
3) Beautiful scenery
4) Solid course design

1) Tee signs are minimalistic
2) Trash
3) People fishing on the course and walking around on the course
4) Long walks between some holes (1-2, 7-8, 8-9)

Course design: 4.5/5
Scenery: 4.75/5
Tees: 4.5/5
Signage: 3/5
Navigation: 3/5
_______________
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!

Variety. It is, after all, the spice of life, and The Player's has it. Long holes where you can let it rip, short holes where you'd better hit your line -- heck, even the in between holes are a lot of fun. Variety includes shot selection, too - and I used every disc in my bag and pretty much every shot I have (or think I have).

Challenging: The variety would be nothing if the course was a yawner. It didn't kill me (I shot +2 first time playing it, so I was kinda happy), but it DID punish wayward shots. Even on the longer holes, you'd best hit that line, or you're going to be in a bit of trouble.

Scenic: This is an absolutely beautiful setting for disc golf. #7 especially is worth a picture or two (BEFORE you throw that disc into the water, not after lol).

Navigation was kinda hard in spots, but that's probably the newb in me. I usually like to follow people when I play a new course, but the locals were courteous and let me play through, so I couldn't follow them to see where the next tee was. Not usually a problem, since there are markings on the baskets to point you in the right direction, but I could have used a little more help heading to 8's tee pad.

I don't like to mention tight fairways as a con, since I don't really view them that way, but I will warn you here -- the back nine is TIGHT. There are lines there, but they are narrow, and if you miss them you're losing a stroke or two to par. I left plenty of strokes behind the day I played (and a couple of discs, too!), just because I missed my line by even a TINY bit. While there are some long holes here, throwing for power isn't going to give you a good score if you're not accurate. Throw it where you want it to go, and you'll be fine.

Scenic
Good Variety (Distance, Location)
Clearly Labled Tee and Pin Locations
"Next Tee -->" signs

Very dangerous water hazards (not for beginners or the un-"clutch")
Too many small trees and obstacles to hit

Very enjoyable, but it can easily discourage

This was a great course. There was a great variety of holes in length, complexity, and variation of dogleg right and left. The course flowed pretty easily too. The pin of one hole is close to the teepad of the next one, and if they aren't obvious there are signs. This is a huge positive.

The fairways might be considered slim by some, but I really liked the challenge. The growth on sides of the fairways weren't overcrowded or thick with weeds of shrubs, so if you miss the fairways you should be able to find the disc pretty easily.

I also really enjoyed the course layout at the park. Others mentioned this, but it is really great to have the course designed in a figure eight pattern. Also, it is great to have open plains, deeper woods, and water coming into play all on the same course. You'll have both skill shots and ones you can grip and rip.

Finally, the environment was great. It was a pretty crowded park, but it never hindered my play on the course. Good to see a lot of people out on the lake on Saturday afternoon. Also, since the water comes into play it is nice to play alongside.

There are a few cons here that kept this from a 4.5 rating.

- No benches and trash cans along the course with and consistency.
- Bathroom facilities are not well maintained and the one at the beginning of the course could literally be the grossest bathroom I have ever used.
- No maps or scorecards available. Each hole has a map, but there was no big map at Hole 1 showing the course layout.

Overall, this is a nice course. Good layout, nice scenery, concrete teepads, professional baskets, and no fee to play.

Great mix of shots; 18 concrete pads (from the longer selection); good use of water holes (2 over water, although water is potentially in play on 6 holes); mostly wooded, so nice shade in summer months; tight fairways but they offer a chance; pretty easy to navigate; not a long round time-wise; recently mowed and well-maintained; one of the courses in the 2010 PDGA Am Worlds; plays well for locals, as to really get this course you have to play it multiple times; never seen a crowd; hole 6 turns into a beautiful hole as you approach the pin...in fact, there is a fair amount of nice scenary with sailboats and jetskis.

If you are a little bit off, you will hit a lot of trees (but again, even though some holes are very difficult, there is a fairway); in the wet season, there is a bit of a flooding issue (not enough to make it unplayable, but count on getting muddy. I won't play it at all next spring); can be frustrating playing in the woods so close to water, as an unlucky strike on a tree can send you into the reservoir; lack of trash cans, benches, water, and updated signs.

This is the closest course to my house, so therefore the course I play the most. As an "experienced" Alum Creek player, take this advice: throw as far as you can WHILE STAYING ON THE FAIRWAY, and be aggressive on the water holes! Ive seen more lost discs from timid throws than anything else. As far as a road trip, this is not that course, but it is a fun addition to the growing central-Ohio scene. Considering this course went into the ground last November, it is in excellent shape. And for my money, it is the most difficult "Columbus" course (maintained by MOODGolf, not CFDGC).