Lots - the terrain, in particular. Gently-to-moderately undulating. Many medium-to-tall hardwoods, i.e. you'll primarily be trying to miss tree trunks, as opposed to branches. A pond (~250' water carry). A clear, shallow, small meandering creek near some fairways and/or baskets.

Little - primarily single tee/basket.

This private, pay-to-play ($5) course is located on the grounds of the Freedom Center located near Lucketts, Virginia. There are some playing restrictions, when summers camps are in session, and year-round prohibition of smoking, vaping, drugs, alcohol, and firearms. It is co-located with the Scattersville course, a 9-hole beginner-level course, useful as a warm-up area for experienced players prior to playing Clark's Run.

Most holes are single basket location/tee, although #4 has a second basket, and a few holes have a second tee (carpet) position. The tee pads are concrete, long, wide, level. Good teesigns and navigational aids. Basket-9 is not too far from the parking lot, and basket-18/tee-1 are next to the lot.

Distances vary greatly, pars 3-5. Straight off the tee, 250-300', will serve you quite well on most holes, as either you'll have created birdy chances on the shorter holes, or be well-placed for the second shot on the longer, more-curvy, par 4-5 holes. Most shot-shaping will come into play when approaching on the longer holes.

Throwing lanes/windows are typically fair-but-challenging. The trees are moderately dense, so being off fairway will offer some chance of reasonable recovery. A few holes have funnels mid/late-fairway, so accuracy, v. grip-n-rip, is more pertinent.

Variety of elevation types, of flat, up, down, up-n-over, and many of my personal favourite, cross-valley.

About the half the baskets have challenging greens, i.e. either on a slope, a small mound, or near the out-of-bounds creek.

Favourite hole(s): So many good holes, but #'s 13-15 form an excellent trio. All are cross-valley shots, with the oob-creek forming the nadir of all three holes. Par-4 #13 is straight and gently down-sloped the first ~275', then takes a hard-right turn. If the first shot is well-placed, you'll then have a long, ~350' cross valley shot to execute, open initially, but tree thickening on both sdies after you cross the creek. Par-3 #14 is narrower at the start than at the end, and needs a small of right-turn late. Par-4 #15 has a random tree to miss early, but more trees post-creek-crossing. Basket sits very close to a steep slope and is well guarded by a few trees, so a well-placed approach is needed to avoid a death-putt.

Simply put, one of the best courses in the mid-Atlantic, and one of the top courses, of 700+, I've played.

Beautiful wooded property with a large pond early in the tract and a meandering creek throughout a good chunk of the rest.

Challenging course that forces you to abandon any conservatism. You must take risks to score decently (if you are a novice or recreational player) and to score well (if you are intermediate, advanced, or professional). Take time to decide on your strategy but commit on your throws.

Though there are a few red tees and blue tees, the main tee is the white tee. If you are a less-skilled dolfer, take advantage of the shorter or less-tactical tees at nos. 2 and 4. (I've yet to find the red tee supposedly at no. 8.) If you are advanced or pro-level, there are blue tees at nos. 3 and 15. Those, I have seen. I did not see blue tees at nos. 10 and 16. Could be there; I just cannot vouch for their existence.

In general, I like this idea: the core of the course (white tee to single basket for all except one hole) is what everyone plays.

There is a long basket at no. 4 for those looking for more distance there. Or just to get away from the rollaway green of the short basket. Not sure there is long pin placement at the other holes, where the basket might move on occasion.

Very few people come here apparently (outside of tournaments, of course), so it is peaceful. I had absolutely no one to have to let through on two warm Sunday afternoons. Granted it was early March and early April.

The pads are nice, the baskets are nearly new, and every hole has at least one bench. Latter definitely needed for those of us of a certain age and/or with mobility issues. By my Fit app measurement, the tract is 3 miles around.

Because the creek comes into play so often, many holes in the middle are down into the ravine and back up the slope on the other side. This repetition gets old (especially on really long holes) if you are not a long thrower. Footbridges across said creek are varying in quality...wear hiking boots.

Similarly, there are plenty of tunnel holes or gates at the beginning of the fairway to toss through. If you cannot hit a line with force and accuracy, you're just going to have to do a soft pitch through and waste the stroke.

The course is still primarily meant for the higher-skilled disc golfers. Certainly not for true beginners. There are too many really long holes and very few instances where there is a short tee. I don't mind a 500-600 ft hole here and there (maybe two of them on the course), but there are six 400-800 foot holes (from the white tee): nos. 3, 8, 9, 12, 13, 15. Your first time here, you will find this a rude introduction if you are not intermediate level or above.

I never found the short pad at no. 8. This creekside hole is perhaps the toughest: narrow lane, trees on the left, creek on the right, fairway sloping towards the creek. With the basket elevated (naturally or artificially) at the end. It's a demoralizer for me right now, but when I do (and I shall!) bring my stroke count down here, I will come to appreciate this hole more.

There's a lot of elevation change, so one should come prepared for that. Which means more time than normal on the course. Expect 3 hours. Based on the weather, you may be sitting and resting more than you normally would on a flat course. Obviously, if it's summer, bring water. The shade is great, but you will be exerting yourself throughout the walk around the course.

The course is located up and off Route 15, some miles above Leesburg. Indeed, nearly to the Potomac River and the Maryland line (Point of Rocks). You are out in the country, so if you're coming from afar, you probably want to pair this one with Franklin Park with some lunch in between in the business district of Leesburg. The Scattersville course on the same property is both a good warmup and cooldown course to play if you have the time. You could also pair Clark's Run with Seneca Creek, if you are a billy goat that loves the woods and the challenge of yet an even stronger, wider, and deeper creek.

The technical challenge of this long and beautiful course. It's ALL trees, all the time and it will challenge every aspect of your game. It's got great tee pads, great elevation, and great bridges that cross the creeks. If the lake is draining into the creeks on the back, it adds a really nice natural beauty. There are benches on most holes. It's got a cool 9-hole pitch-and-putt warm up course. There are great locals that maintain the course. In the Summer, this is the go-to course because almost all of it is under tree canopy.

Hole 2 - the Lake shot. I can get across the lake, but barely. I always throw a disc I can afford to put in the water on Hole 2 and I always aim for the diving platform on the left, which is the shortest distance across the lake. If you know you can't get across the lake, you end up walking to the 'drop zone' tee across the lake, shooting 3 at the basket about 80' away. For many, Hole 2 is a great shot and a scenic shot if you have the arm. For some, this hole is kinda lame because you know if you try, you're going in the water.... again. Other con is that the leaves really accumulate in the Fall months and it's easy to go underneath them. Throw bright colored plastic in the Fall. Weird note: No one seems to refer to this course as "Clarks Run".... just about everyone I know calls it Freedom Center.

If you like technical disc golf with decent elevation, you will love Freedom Center DGC. IMHO, it's the best disc golf course in the DC area (30 mi radius). Now, it's HARD... my best round is a 70 and I've probably played 15 rounds here. Holes 3, 5, 12, and 13 seem like genuine Par 5s - Hole 8 feels like a Par 6! Hole 8 is the hardest hole on the course. Hole 13 is an absolutely awesome hole and my personal fave. Check out Crooow's great review below for a good hole-by-hole description (he's a little tough on 18 - it's a good hole). There are only a handful of 'easy 3s' on this course, and you will be thankful for them. I like technical courses and I like elevation so on a scale of 1 to 5 stars, this course rates 5.5 stars in my book. Now, if you like mostly open courses, Freedom Center might not be your cup of tea. Yes, it's $5 to play but it's worth $10. Join the LOCO club and you don't have pay the daily fee. This course is just an absolute gem. That said, it ain't for beginners.

The club managing this course has put everything into making an incredible disc golf round. The course is very wooded but each hole has well thought out lines that demand good shots. Very comfortable and private to play. I also love that the course does not allow smoking and drinking.

needs tee signs

Cant wait to play it again.

This course is sweet.

+The pads are amazing
+The holes are well-thought-out and really challenge all aspects of your game
+If you get off of the fairway, the wooded holes can really punish you... which is EXACTLY what a course like this is supposed to do
+Rolling hills
+A beautiful creek running through the course that adds to the challenge
+A somewhat intimidating tee shot over a disc-gobbling pond
+Elevation change on many of the holes
+Great Discatcher baskets
+Benches or seats on almost every hole

The course is in its infancy and is needing a few things:

Signage - including walk-outs.
Trash cans

And it should definitely be closer to where I live... though that might be my fault.

I am really looking forward to seeing how this course matures... and I really want to play a tournament here to see what that is like.

This IS a destination course. Make a day of it and go have lunch at Vanish (a brewery) about a mile from the course and enjoy their great beer and what appears to be a great menu.

I will absolutely be back to get some revenge. Brutal back 9.

Fantastic Wooded Course. Plenty of holes are crushes of the tee with precision being a must. Par 4s and 5s provide room to navigate the holes in multiple shots and still shoot well. The tee pads are coming along very nicely with plenty of work being put in by the club overseeing the course. The elevation of the terrain is used wisely to create fun and interesting lines through the trees. Some fairways are quite tight but fit the flights of discs extremely well. This is for sure a must play course in the Northern Virginia area

Cement pads on all holes (some alternate tees are astroturf). Next tee signs on most holes (usually easy to find - see below). Benches on most holes (or tree stump seats). Good bridges now over all streams. Natural beauty. Very few other activities (a few hiking trails) in area. Rake on #2 (see below). Good variety of holes allows for (but doesn't require) using different shots; you can survive on backhanders only. Nice little 9 hole warmup putter course; the kiddies can play while you do the long march.

Some navigation difficulty (next tee signs either missing or obscurely placed); the next tee signs are small white arrows and sometimes can be hard to spot. No bathrooms. Needs tee signs.

I injured my hip so pivoting and hill-climbing is painful. Thus I was doing mostly stand-and-deliver and maxing out at about 250 feet which probably diminished my ability to appreciate the course. All holes are wooded (except maybe #2) so I won't repeat that for each hole.

Hole #1: Nice opener. 366 feet, slightly downhill with the slightly-raised basket tucked into some trees on the left.

Hole #2: The throw across the pond. Very scenic but this is pretty much "you have the arm or you don't" hole. If you do then you might as well be throwing across a flat meadow. My throw came up about 10 feet short and I walked around the pond and realized that I had forgotten my golden retriever. Fortunately there is a very long handled rake now on the shore and I easily fished out my disc. You can play from the drop zone if you don't have the arm.

Hole #3: Two tees, the longer position is astroturf. Disturbed a deer. A long flat trip (500+ feet) through the woods.

Hole #4: Two tees, the longer position is astroturf. Short (252 feet) and downhill. Some dropoff behind the basket.

Hole #5: Cruel. A long (477 feet) hole with the first half uphill and a tunnel of trees near the end. Didn't enjoy it.

Hole #6: Very pleasant, short (228 feet) downhill hole with a tunnel of trees. If you throw straight, a 2 is easy to get (my only deuce on the round).

Hole #7: A slightly longer (297 feet) downhill throw with a lot of trees but still pretty easy to par.

Hole #8: Long (633 feet) but not punishing; a fun hole. There are a number of obstacles early but they are more for scenery than actually causing any problems. Roll away possibilities near the basket.

Hole #9. A down and up hole (420 feet). Surprised a garter snake in the fairway. Another good hole.

Hole #10: My favorite (although #13 is creeping up). A downhill hole (249 feet) with lots of trees and the basket on a ridge across a creek. You have at least three options on how to attack it. The transition to #11 is improved but still a noticeable hike.

Hole #11: Uphill but not hard (225 feet). A somewhat boring hole (not many obstacles). The trail to #12 is not clear. Follow the path as indicated and take the right fork. Not a short walk.

Hole #12: Long (501 feet) through some tree tunnels, mostly flat. A very neutral hole. There is a turf tee (with no markers) in the fairway so perhaps they are planning a shorter tee.

Hole #13: Great bench. A long hole that starts downhill and curves to the right and then crosses a stream with the basket up on a hillside. Listed as 639 feet but a good first curving throw to get you on the downslope leave a nice straight across the valley shot at the basket. I parked my second throw (which is maybe why I like the hole now). I also assisted (very minorly) in putting in the bridge so I have some pride in that (the only help I gave).

Hole #14: Another down-and-up chasm 309-foot hole (wide chasm) that looks harder than it plays.

Hole #15: Two tees (longer position astroturf). Another down and up (400+ feet) with the stream at the bottom but a very wide chasm. Threes are definitely in play.

Hole #16: Downhill throw (294 feet) that curves to the right. The basket is on the near side of the stream somewhat close to it. Stream only comes into play on downhill overthrows and possible deflections from the trees at the bottom.

Hole #17: Crosses the stream and goes uphill (399 feet). More scenic than challenging. Basket is located on a slope. Fairly easy, my second throw took a "Family Circus" route off trees and rocks to end up rolling into easy putting range.

Hole #18: Uphill 297-foot hole to get you back to the parking lot. One of my least favorite holes on the course.

Overall a mostly fun course; well worth the $5 charge. I don't care about the lack of amenities so am just rating on the playability. Probably a little high on my rating but this is the kind of course that makes me want to come back time and time again to try out different strategies (I took some 5s and at least one 6). Unfortunately I feel like it peters out near the end. I know work is still ongoing and there will probably be more benches in the latter half of the course (where you need them more) forthcoming.

Very well maintained course with an active local club that continually is making updates (LOCO)
Recently added new concrete tee pads and bridges
Can warm up on the small par 2 course or practice putting/upshots
Beautiful piece of secluded wooded property
Challenging holes with elevation changes but fair/adequate fairways

A few spots could be confusing to a new player as far as moving from one hole to the next, but for the most part they are well marked and kiosk at beginning of the course has great map

I absolutely love this course! I am not much for courses that are mainly wide open. I like the challenge the woods provides, Each hole is designed to challenge players of all levels, it tests your ability to execute technical shots and stay on the fairways. Fairways are well maintained and adequate, but if you get in the rough it's a great way to work on your scramble game. I leave here feeling challenged every time. Truly a great mix of holes with elevation both up hill and down hill, longer and shorter holes, The club makes everyone feel very welcome on their courses and their events! Great job Locos!

Fair course. Challenging and rewarding. Something for everyone. Par 3,4 and a Par 5, tight woods on some and more open on other holes. Every time I play the course it helps me improve my game. There is a short 9 hole putter course up front to warm up on.

Some shots are very tight. If you get off the tight fairways you can really struggle quickly to scramble to the basket.

Some courses in VA tend to be very brushy and can eat discs if you get off the fairway. Clark's Run is not that course. In the handful of times I have played with 10-15 other people I do not remember a lost disc.

Shady in the summer, lots of elevation changes, great tee pads and its very well maintained.

the tight lines on this course make it very difficult to navigate and challenging for even the pros.

a lot of time and love has been put into making this course and to everyone who has helped,Thank you!

+Exceptionally crafted holes. There's not a single one of the 18 that is just thrown in there - every one has something unique and/or particularly challenging about them.

+To follow on the first positive - the use of the terrain is about the best I've ever seen. Starting with the beautiful woods, the rolling elevation, the gorgeous Clark's Run creek, the pond on #2 that is very crossable yet imposing to any non-pro...this course took a bounty of natural gifts and maximized their use.

+There are at least seven - and as many as ten - holes on this course that could easily be the signature hole on most other courses. Hole #2 with the pond crossing, #8 with the right to left and back to right fairway with a tough gap off the tee and winding creek along the right, #9 with the ravine crossing off the tee and then uphill finish, #10 (my personal favorite) with the steep downhill over the creek and pin perched just 10-15' back from the creek (do you go for it or lay up in the short grass?), the gauntlet on #12 - you can see the hole 500' away, but good luck..., #13 with the huge dogleg right and gorgeous ravine approach, #14 with another ravine shot...honestly all of holes #12-17 are incredible.

+Tee pads and baskets are well done and in great condition. Flags on top of some baskets that are difficult to see below the hill crest. Most (all?) holes had good benches.

+A nine-hole mini/duck-golf course next to the parking lot is *PERFECT* for warming up, playing with your kids, testing challenging obstruction/gap shots, etc...and it has top-notch baskets too! Honestly that mini course is better than some real courses I've seen...

+Parking lot signage gets you excited to play. Course starts 40 feet away from the parking lot and loops back between #9 and #10, great for reloading on water (it's a bit of a workout).

+Freedom Center (grounds on which Clark's Run is located) has great hiking trails that go around the perimeter of the course, as well as a mountain biking trail. Just a beautiful property at which to spend the day. Also loads of wineries and breweries nearby in the beautiful VA hills to visit after a round or two.

-No real hole signage. Probably coming soon as it's a newer course, but should be noted - if you haven't played the course before or watched a tournament video of it online, you'll be hunting for distance indicators or just where the pin is.
-Most holes only have one tee pad, and I think all holes only have one pin position. I'd say that it would get repetitive, but man this course would be a dream as a home course...

Once tee signs and/or a full second slate of tee pad positions are added, I will immediately bump this up to a full 5/5. The only better course that I've experienced is Iron Hill, and it's well-seasoned. The LoCo DGC has done an outstanding job on this course, and John Briscoe is to be commended. Within 5 years, I think this will be known as one of the jewels of Mid-Atlantic disc golf.

Not a pro or a con, but just be forewarned - this course is *not* for beginners. Anyone without the ability to consistently throw 200' in an open field and hit a gap at short range is going to be hating life by hole #5. My group of rec-level players played this in doubles format, and we tied at +9. But we all agreed it was either the best or second-best course we had experienced in the DMV region.

$5/adult (cash only in the donation box) to play or use the Freedom Center property, and worth every penny. LoCo DGC is using the property at the blessing of the Freedom Center - treat it accordingly. No alcohol or smoking.

- Beautiful property offset from busy roads offers a peaceful and secluded atmosphere, enhanced from late spring to early fall when the canopy and floor are most lush

- Tall canopy offers copious shade during the hot Virginia summers

- Tight yet fair fairways that require precision throws, sometimes with power. Many risk/reward type opportunities available (the rough can be very punishing). Favors smart golf

- 5'x12' concrete tees on every hole, currently the club has alternate turf tees they're testing on holes 4, 10, 15, and 16

- Well maintained and cared for year-round by the local club, continually improving

- DZ on hole #2 available to players who fear losing discs throwing the ~235' pond shot

- White wooden markers attached to trees to guide you towards the next tee from each pin

- Benches throughout the course

- 9 hole pitch-n-putt course opposite the gravel parking lot perfect for warming up for cooling down

- New kiosk on hole 1 with large course map and a return box for found discs. Club usually contacts owners with name/number printed on found discs

- 2nd parking lot available at the Northern entrance for overflow parking during events (does require a bit of a hike to get to tournament central)

- Tee signs might be the only thing lacking from this course. The white wooden markers nailed to trees do a lot to help navigation from pin to next tee but for newer players playing blind their absence will not go unnoticed: every par 4 & 5 (and some par 3s) will require a walk down the fairway to spot the pin, especially in the lush summer months.

Once this is addressed (and it will be) I'd have a hard time finding anything negative to say about this course.

One thing to note right from the start: This course is WOODED and CHALLENGING! And you know what? I love it for it.

Sprawls through a beautiful wooded property and makes great use of the moderate elevation changes and water features. Pictures simply don't do this place justice. Par 63 with an average hole length of 382.5'. Multiple true par 4s and a "short" par 5 that requires decision making and accuracy yet still allows larger arms to attack and get the eagle. Some of the par 3s are ace-able while still offering a challenge, usually in the form of a tight gap or hallway followed by elevation change and a creek system that winds throughout the property. Shooting par is an accomplishment and has been coming in as a 960 rated round.

Designed by John Biscoe (Hawk Hollow) this place is a disc golf gem hidden in the hills of Northern Virginia near the Maryland border. The local Loudoun County (or LoCo for short) Club keeps this place well maintained year-round and is constantly improving amenities such as bridges and benches as the course grows.

This place is a wooded golf boot camp/wonderland and has been extremely humbling while helping me cultivate both the physical and mental aspects of my game.

Try not to reserve judgement about the course until you get a chance to play it a few times over a few visits. I truly believe this is one of those places that gets better and better the more you see and start to understand it. You'll start seeing lines you were blind to in previous rounds. There are local lines out there! Along with a slew of tertiary fairways to cut through the rough that you won't know about until you get that kick out there.

I've been fortunate enough to play all over this country and this is still one of the best courses I've had the pleasure of playing. #13 is one of my favorite holes I've played anywhere and In my opinion embodies the entire course in one hole: beauty, precision, valley, creek, trees, distance (and a chance for a big "fuck you" roll away on your putt).

I try to play here a minimum of once a week and I never get tired of it. It's worth a day trip to come experience, and if you do you might want to consider packing a lunch as Lucketts doesn't offer much for food outside of a gas station and a (delicious) counter service restaurant called Roots on Rt. 15

I know the course isn't perfect, it's a work in progress. But I've played this course maybe more than any other and I've never grow tired of it. In fact I look forward to playing it more than ever.

What can I say? I love this place.

Very wooded providing plenty of shade on a hot sunny day.

Concrete tee pads

Excellent bridges for crossing the creek(s) that meander through the course.

White directional arrows that guide you from each target to the next tee pad. Pathways are easily distinguishable. A first timer should be able to navigate without any real issues.

Very fancy bench on #13.

Targets are new, and in excellent shape.

The setting is very scenic, and each hole is entertainingly challenging. Besides the trees; the course rolls up and down some hills.

The current course record is -8, so this is not a pitch and putt journey. Par is 63.

Very wooded providing plenty of opportunities to kick off the fairway, and end up having to scramble for your life. You have been warned.

A pond you have to carry on #2 which should be manageable for anyone rated MA2 and above. Of course if you don't clear it you'll be stewing about it for the next 16 holes. On the plus side the LOCO club actively works to return discs that have gone to a watery grave. You always have to option of taking the cowards route, and simply proceed to the drop zone, but what fun is that?

Lack of tee signs. Each tee pad simply has a white post that shows you the number of that hole.

Not each target is visible from the tee pad, so sometimes you have to walk forward to see where you should be going.

Definitely worth a visit if you are in the area.

There are nine holes adjacent to the main course that you can get your putter ace run game on warming up, or cooling down/blowing off steam post round.

New concrete padsGreat clubMaintained often

Fun but tons of trees some holes have no direct lineNewcomers should use course map

Can I use the blob

-Update-
Tee Signs are in, new bridge or two is in place, every hole has a decent sized bench, work has started on the alternate tees and attention has been given to the restrooms. The course has broken in quite nicely! Home to an A-tier for the LoCo Open (Pros) weekend!

This course is a John Biscoe design. Both the LoCo club and John have done a great job here. I have visited this course probably 2 or 3 dozen times and I'm continually impressed how I discover nuances of things I've overlooked in previous visits. Initially, I was frustrated as it is a challenging course. Nothing is given away, every throw challenged. There are short par 3's, but you have tight tunnel gaps to hit. You have a longer par 5 on hole 8, but the twist and turns demand considered placement shots or you risk either OB or Jail. Remember, there's no shame throwing back to the fairway - it's the hardest shot in disc golf to take your medicine and move on cleanly. On hole 11, it may be a shorter par 3 but the elevation change, the pin placement and initial gap still challenge the score. Probably the best features on this course are; a mix of elevation change, the constant change in lines and the strategy you need to consider if you want to score well. The course is still fairly new but the foot traffic has finally settled it in quite nicely. The paths/routes from basket to tee are fairly obvious now. The basic canon of thought on this course is stay on the fairway, and in most places, the fairway is generous. However, tree-kicks do abound, and you will be scrambling more than once in your round, but that's where it gets interesting. I would say the two singularly hardest holes are holes 8 and 12. The locals refer to hole 8 lovingly as '8 on 8'. But I would argue 12 is much harder. Getting off the fairway on 12 is tough as there are spots on both sides where it's hard to navigate. Hole 12 forms a sort of double hour glass where you have 2 choke points to navigate through with lots of trees on either side to encourage you to disc down and stay on the fairway.

This course will require you to bring every shot in your game and point out some you'll want to work on. There are a couple of bomber opportunities, but they still demand accuracy. There are a ton of shots that require placement and accuracy. I can't decide what my favorite hole is..I really like the water carry on hole 2 as well as Hole 10's snaking line from the ridge across the valley and stream back onto the basket's shelf above the stream or possibly hole 13's placement landing out the 250 foot gap to cross a valley stream back up the hill to the basket. There are legitimately 8 or 9 holes that some courses would see as signature holes. Hang on to your hat on this course, it's a fun ride.

All in all, this course will make you a better player for visiting. I found the course showing me where I was weak in my game, and allowing me to work on that there.

Other Pro's as I see it:
- No real poison ivy observed
- I have not seen any ticks either - but I usually carry Deep Woods Off
- Heavy tree canopy, so lots of breaks from the summer's sun
- The local club (LoCo) has been very active it the upkeep of the course with permission of Freedom Center
-----To that point, they recently installed a new bridge between holes 10 and 17, and more work is still coming
- There is a concrete tee pad on every hole
-----The amount of work that went into the tee pads was amazing considering many of the pad locations had no easy way to get the volume of materials to the location other than by hand - the work that went into it is impressive
-----additional longer tee pad positions are being considered, so you may see some green turf laid down as consideration points
---------check out the alternate tee pads on hole's 15 and 16 - makes for interesting lines
- There is a new course map an kiosk by hole 1 and the parking lot.
- There is a par 2, 9 hole course to the right side of the property, ideal for warming up and a good way to introduce the game to a younger crowd.
- Generally, there is bench seating available for 2 or 3 people on 'most' holes
- It is a quieter setting and you may find yourself alone in the woods from time to time
- Finally - This course is still a work in progress, and that's a good thing. The club wont leave it alone and it keeps getting better with every added touch.

There are still some To-do's on the course.
- The club is planning to install more tee pads
- Recent severe weather brought down a tree or two. The club has been quick to do the cleanup to keep the fairways clear, but more is in the works to keep the property looking pristine.

One area that is sometimes tough for first time players is navigating between hole 10's basked to 11's tee pad. That transition is not so obvious; basically you have to follow the path across the creek/water behind hole 16's basket and walk a little ways to the left up the hill and stick to the path.

Most importantly, the elevation change here is real. It gets interesting from holes 11 through 17 with non-stop up and down terrain. Take your time, bring water. The back half stretch is as much about your shot selection as it is your endurance. I see this as a 'Pro', but some might disagree.

By the way, this course was featured in a recent YouTube video - for the Brent Anderson Memorial 'BAM' Tournament. You can check it out to get a better sense of the course as a couple of local pro's discuss the routes and strategies the players were taking:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=c75iSw2CfKc

Some final things to consider:

You may want to leave your cart behind and use a shoulder bag. You can play the course with a cart, but the elevation changes make it a challenge in a handful of places. I found that when I do bring the cart, that between 13's basket and 14's tee, after I cross the water on 13, I like to leave my cart at the bottom of the hill behind a tree over towards 14's fairway and just take what I need as after the tee you'll walk back down the same hill.

For summer time, I like to bring a face towel for sweat. The humidity in the Virginia woods can be tough on you - so do bring water

Clark's Run is private property and the property owners are very welcoming. The property owners and the LoCo club has asked the following:
- Please no smoking/drinking etc on the property
- Please don't leave trash behind
- There is a $5 donation drop box on the kiosk - this goes into the course upkeep and improvement projects
- The property is shared with mountain bikers, so please be considerate and on the lookout for them before you throw
------Mainly the bike loop skirts on the outer ring of the property, but it does intersect in a few places with the course
------Check out the new kiosk map for path info

This is all kind of common sense. The main thing (and most importantly) is the club wants to ensure everyone has a good time and no one puts the property owner's good will and keeping it open to all in jeopardy.

I may have taco'd a few DX plastic discs out there off the trees, but we always leave with a good laugh and had a good time. Hope you do as well!

This course is designed unbelievably well. It tests every aspect of your game and will ultimately make you a better player. The Loco guys have out done themselves with the course work from clearing fairways to building bridges THIS PLACE IS AMAZING

Cons? What cons GO PLAY THIS COURSE!!

New manicured concrete tee padsNew basketsWell designed with defined fairways that are not always there on new wooded courses. Fun to play and you don't need a big arm just something that goes straight

STUMPS everywhere. Most are painted with orange and with the course being fairly new I'm sure they will start disappearing. No tee pad signs or map, only little white arrows on trees sometimes 40' away from the basket showing you the next teepad. Beginners will have a problem navigating.

As this course beats in it will be even more enjoyable to play. I will definitely be back soon. It felt like i was playing the darkside at blockhouse. Not a bad thing and the property was used very well. A map with locations and distances should be priority #1

This course is a disc golfers sanctuary. Set apart from the sounds and distractions of public parks and busy streets, you can find yourself alone playing in the serenity of majestic 80-100' trees that provide shade even during the hottest days of summer. Seriously, if you play during the week, you may find yourself with the entire course to yourself with only the sounds of birds and the company of an occasional deer or two. Happily, as a wooded course, there is virtually no poison ivy to speak of.

Shot diversity on this course is amazing. There is only one true hyzer bomb shot (hole 15 off the pad), otherwise the shots are mixed: left, right, straight, doglegs, up, down, short, long, water carry, and roll aways around putting circles. Bring your complete game because every type of shot can be useful here: forehands, backhands, tomahawks, thumbers, rollers, etc. Out out of bounds is only governed by open water (hole #2) and the namesake creek on several holes (i.e., Clark's Run) 8, 11, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17. If you get off the fairway too far, it's its own punishment. Discing down for control can lead to more scoring opportunities, but getting greedy with high speed discs can be punishing.

The property owners recently installed some signage directing traffic to the disc golf course parking area from New Valley Church Rd. The LoCo Disc Golf Club just installed an amazing property Map at the Kiosk with a full layout of the course as well as the youth course, Sacattersville. Parking is shared by mountain bike trail users. The mountain biking community doesn't use the property heavily so the occasional passing of a biker across a fairway is uncommon on weekends to rare on weekdays. A large brown kiosk in the parking area has a course open/closed sign, information and the #1 tee pad is found just past it to the left. If you aren't a member of the local club (LoCo Disc Golf Club), you are expected to donate $5/day to play. A blue donation box is mounted to the kiosk. A white lost and found return box is on the back side of the kiosk (nice).

Navigation is pretty clear cut with the exception of the transition from Hole 16 to hole 17. However, if you look for the white arrows mounted to the trees, you shouldn't have any problem navigating from basket to next tee. Walking trails are pretty clear as to which way to go.

Baskets are 28 chain disctacher pros. Pads are all uniform 5x12 cement and the surface is nicely finished for traction. Excellent matching benches can be found on every hole. Brooms on every Tee. Brand new permanent tee signs installed just before the first A Tier on May 5th 2022 capped off the final touches of this crown Jewel of Virginia.

Favorite hole is 12. 501' slight uphill to a fallen log, then a shotgun barrel straight, narrow fairway to the basket. Get off to either side and you'll need to go into scramble mode, FAST. One of the harder holes to score on IMHO. Most scenic hole is #10. Beautiful downhill shot to a basket that sits temptingly about 15' back from the creeks cut bank. Though there is no footbridge crossing from one side of the creek to the other, pause and take in the aesthetics of this hole. Gorgeous. Most challenging hole is the 633' #8. Start with two guardian trees located 40' past the tee box requires RHFH or RHBH flex to get beyond the clump of trees, then you need a shot to get past the next gap. Then you need to get down the last stretch of fairway and finish left uphill. It's a par 5 but the locals call it "8 on 8" for good reason. (Check out the stats from the A Tier. Hole 8 was the hardest hole of all.)

Bathroom is available, but not readily visible from the parking area.

This course is destination worthy and the added bonus for travelers is the 9 hole youth course (Scattersville Disc Golf Course) right next to the parking area. Great warm up course before you take on Clark's Run.

-This is a nice foil to Franklin Park which has a lot of long bombs and field holes.
-The tee pads! as other reviews have said, are nice. Well-sized, and the snow had been shoveled off when I played which was nice, too. It'll be awesome when they're all concrete.
-The baskets!
-Use of elevation was solid. There were some blind shots, some uphill shots, some downhill shots, and over-the-ravine shots. There isn't too much elevation change to begin with, but the course makes the most of what it's got.
-Use of water was also pretty good. The over-the-pond throw on #2 wasn't too scary, but it's far enough that a lot of players will choose the disc they use carefully. A lot of holes play over or along the creek(s) that run through the course.
-You don't need a big arm to do well on this course, but, as other reviewers have said, you do need to be accurate.
-It flows quite nicely. I had a map ready on my phone, but the snow meant I could just follow the tracks to the next box. I could see how a couple of hole-to-box commutes could be tricky, but some modestly better signage would easily negate any snafus. Regardless, I could accurately guess where the next box would be based on the outline of the course.
-I really like the location of the course; it's tucked away meaning that I had the course to myself. This might not be a pro to everybody, but I played on the middle of a Saturday and there was one other person playing the course, already on the back 9 when I got there. I didn't even see them in the flesh, though. Granted, it was winter time, but it wasn't THAT cold or snowy.

Beyond the above bullet points, this course has a lot going for it. I assume they'll put in signage on holes with maps and footage and whatnot. There are some interesting holes on which I had a lot of fun. I would play this course again.

I ultimately left this course feeling frustrated. I actually played pretty well, so it's not like I couldn't hit my lines and got tired of playing at lumberjack. I felt frustrated because after several holes I felt like I was experiencing dejà vu over and over again. For almost every single hole, I'd stand on the tee box and see a super tight fairway, a landing area, and then another tight run to the basket. For half of those, there'd be a tree in the middle of the landing area or right in the middle of the gap you're supposed to hit. What this means is that there's no risk-taking to be had. There's one, tight fairway to hit, one landing area to hit, and that's it. So, if I'm playing with a buddy and he nails his shot but I miss mine then I can't catch up. I can't try to cut a corner or hit a local's route. I am just waiting for him to make a mistake. Imagine if you're playing ball golf, and you are jumping from island to island to island using your 7 iron the hole way. By hole 5 or 6, I simply pulled my buzz our when I put my putter back because I knew I was going to need it on the tee. So, the variety of shots is can you throw a gentle hyzer and a gentle an-hyzer or a sidearm to hit the landing pad with your most reliable disc. That feeling of risk and reward is what makes golf exciting, and this course just lacks that feeling through and through.

Update (4/4/20) - They've done quite a bit of work to this course, and, in fact, I can see from the activity on the Facebook group that they're constantly working on it. It *shows.* A disc golf course with a good community behind it is something special.

I've now played this course several more times, and I think that my points below still hold water. However, I think going in today with the right expectations made me feel a lot better about the course as a whole. I still relied on about 3 discs (aviar, roc, eagle), but I had a lot more fun doing it this time.

The only thing that frustrated me today was that the rough is absolutely brutal. Another reviewer mentions this, and I couldn't agree more. If you're off the fairway on some holes, you're lucky to get a gap to provide you a 40-50 foot layup. There are just so many little trees that make tight lines impossible.

I also liked that Clark's has a lot of true par 4's (7 total par 4's on the course and one par 5 (hole 8!)). It's fun to play a true par 4. When I say a 'true' par 4, I mean not a "par 3.5".

I have upped my score for this course from a 3 to a 3.5. I have a feeling that if I played this course more (it's about an hour away from where I live) that it would grow on me, and I might bump it up to a 4.

(Original post below)

I only played this course once, so you should take my review with a grain of salt and play it for yourself. I am reviewing it in large part because it only has two reviews as of writing (1/19/19). I thought it was important to add other perspectives early on for golfers who might want to make the trip out. My 3 stars is based on DGCR's words they associate with the numbers. A score of a 3 is 'good.' They also say, "A score of 5 is considered the ultimate. There is absolutely nothing that could be done to improve the course. It is perfect in every possible way." Even if the construction were done (all concrete pads, signage was up, etc), I don't think this course would go above a 3.5 for me. I said in my pro's section that it's a nice foil to Franklin, but they both ultimately leave me feeling like I threw the same hole 18 times.

This glorious bit of Piedmont woodland would make for a lovely hike, so adding a top-level disc golf course is a pure bonus. Challenging and enjoyable layout on fantastic land for disc golf, with mature forest and new growth, rolling hills and steep stream valleys, and with water in play on many holes.

Nice variety of hole designs: two-shot holes; short-and-tight; long and semi-open; doglegs; right and left turns; uphill, downhill, side-hill, and over treed valleys. Several holes require an accurate placement drive to set up a tunnel shot on the second throw. A variety of fairway widths, appropriate to the hole length.

This course rewards accuracy and distance, but accuracy is paramount. That said, on most holes you have recovery opportunities if you kick off the fairway. Risk-reward decision-making throughout.

This is woods golf. Some fairways are tight and some are more generous, but the only time your disc is flying in the open is over the pond. To me this is a strong pro but opinions vary. If you favor wide-open bomber holes and if trees give you the willies, this is probably not the course for you.

Many holes can be birdied, even by a noodle-arm like me, but make no mistake - this is a challenging course. In a PDGA-sanctioned tournament par 63 yielded a round rating of 970.

Two 9-hole loops from the parking lot. Excellent concrete tee pads on all holes (as of August 2019). Serviceable artificial turf pads on alternate tees. Level baskets. Excellent tee signs and benches on all holes (as of summer 2021). Bridges for most creek crossings, including a raised bridge that serves holes 10 and 17 (as of 2020).

Lots of memorable holes. Some of my favorites:

Hole 13 is a 639' dogleg right. The tee shot is about 300' slightly downhill to the landing zone. From there the approach is another 300+' across a deep stream valley and then back uphill to the basket.

Hole 15 is a big downhill hyzer through a gap and across a winding stream. Approach is uphill to a guarded basket on a wooded knoll. Alternate tee offers a tunnel shot to reach the landing zone, maybe even an eagle look for a big lefty backhand or righty sidearm.

Hole 6 is a 228' slightly downhill ace run. The fairway is not too tight, and the basket sits in a bowl so you can run it without a long come-back putt. Nice to have an aceable hole on a course this challenging. Not that I've aced it. Yet.

Hole 8 is a 633' technical par 5. Tight initial gap, a second gap halfway down the fairway, and a guarded basket. Three accurate drives can set up a birdie, but a bad kick can send your disc OB across the creek or into the jail trees that line the fairway on both sides. Opportunities for failed hero shots abound; the local nickname for this hole: "eight on 8".

Hole 9 is another big downhill drive across a wide valley, followed by an uphill approach through mature trees. Gorgeous, tree-framed view from the tee. I often play the back nine first so I can finish on this hole.

Hole 10 requires a 250' steeply downhill drive through an early gap. The basket sits just on the far side of a stream bank. Short drives land OB in the creek, while long drives leave you with a death putt back towards the water. Miss the early gap and you are scrambling. Beautiful, challenging, and aceable.

Some risk of disc loss if you land off the fairway in summer when ferns and other low growth leaf out, and in autumn when the leaves can get thick on the ground. Overall the chance of losing a disc is fairly low, other than going "sploosh" in the pond on hole 2.

Small white arrows on trees guide you to the next hole.

Recommended $5 donation at the kiosk by the parking lot, or via PayPal. Or join the club and play for free.

The water carry on hole 2 is approximately 250' (longer if you pull your drive right), often into a headwind. Players have the option to go directly to the drop zone with a penalty stroke and avoid throwing over the pond.

Update: As of 2021 those who do not want to risk throwing over the pond on hole 2 can play a new concrete tee that offers a tunnel shot rather than a water carry to reach the basket.

Several holes play over wooded stream valleys, so a good drive is a joy to watch but hitting a tree 40' in the air can send your disc a long way in the wrong direction.

One tee and one basket position on most holes. Alternate tees have been installed on a few holes and more alternate tees and basket positions are being planned and tested.

I gave this course a 4.5 based on the quality, variety, challenge, and joy of playing disc golf here. Since my initial review, course amenities have been improved significantly. With an active club, I expect course improvements to continue.

Caveat: I am somewhat biased because Clark's Run is one of my "home" courses. That said I have played > 250 courses around the country so I do have some semblance of perspective. I think.

Updates: Concrete pads on all holes as of August 2019. Creek crossings improved as of 2020. Benches and tee signs on all holes as of summer 2021. Concrete short pad on the pond hole as of summer 2021. Concrete long tee and long basket position on hole 4 as of 2022.