Whitehall, PA

Jordan Creek

4.335(based on 69 reviews)
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19 0
Pierparknut
Gold level trusted reviewer
Experience: 11.4 years 90 played 87 reviews
4.50 star(s)

Reviewed: Played on:May 14, 2023 Played the course:2-4 times

Pros:

-Jordan Creek is far from the only course to play through a greenway park along a creek, but it's certainly one of the best. It features a few true woods holes, a few park-style holes, and a dozen or so amazing holes with tree canopy, well-defined lines, and grass fairways.

-The course is tremendously well-designed. No hole felt like a filler, and no hole required an impossible shot. To put it simply, 6 holes were good, 6 were great, and 6 were exceptional. There is also a great mix of hole lengths. Up to six holes can play as par fours depending on the configuration.

-The layout begins with several relatively straightforward holes. It then begins to increase in length, elevation, and hazards, before crescendoing on the back nine. 11, 13, and 15 all give the opportunity to throw a driver 400'+ downhill through beautifully framed grass fairways, and 18 with the double creek carry is one of the most unique par fours you'll ever play.

-Jordan Creek has received a refreshment since the current photos were taken. Every hole is now equipped with DiscGolfPark tee signs and baskets which point you in the direction of the next hole. Aside from the long walk from 5-6, the layout is easy to follow.

-The course features three water carries (#7 and two on #18), all of which are reasonable. The creek also comes into play laterally or behind the basket on several holes. With the water, gorgeous fairways, mature trees, and rolling elevation, the place gets top marks for scenery.

-Practice basket and information board are located next to the parking lot. I think a much better location for the practice basket would be behind the first tee.

-Pace of play, even on weekends, is excellent.

Cons:

All issues are rather marginal.
-The concrete tees are spacious, but several of them have started to tilt in the direction of the terrain.
-As with many older courses, Jordan Creek is very favorable to the right-handed backhand shot, particularly on holes 8-15.
-The fairways are generous on most holes, but the rough is thick and unforgiving for errant shots.
-The approach shot on hole #10 is absurdly uphill on a rocky slope and out of character with the rest of the course.

Other Thoughts:

-For intermediate players, Jordan Creek is a great challenge to break par. For better players, there are plenty of birdie opportunities but no "gimme" holes. For newer players, however, the rough and water come into play far too often, especially with only one tee per hole. I recommend a prerequisite of being able to throw 270' relatively straight before playing here.

-Evidently, there have been some modifications to the course. Hole 5 is new and the only hole without a permanent tee. The old hole 5 looks playable (and fun) – not sure why the basket was pulled. Hole 6 now has two tees and two baskets – it can play as a par four or a par three. Hole 15 is not original to the design, making it easy to miss – relative to the 14th basket, the 16th tee is closer than the 15th tee.

-Jordan Creek was one of the host courses for the 2005 PDGA World Championships. The top 10 from that tournament were Nate Doss, Matt Orum, Barry Schultz, Ken Climo, Steve Rico, Dave Feldberg, Mike Moser, Kevin McCoy, Chris Heeren, and Brian Schweberger. This was two years before the introduction of the Innova Destroyer, and, as evidenced by the leaderboard, several years before the popularization of the forehand shot. In that light, this course was certainly a 5.0 back in the day. While it's no longer the best of the best, it's still a tremendous layout. Visiting town, I enjoyed it so much that I came back and played it again the next day.
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18 0
lukedpt
Silver level trusted reviewer
Experience: 24.8 years 79 played 58 reviews
4.00 star(s)

Very fun course with challenging variety

Reviewed: Played on:May 1, 2023 Played the course:once

Pros:

-This is a course that has gotten the Discmania Discgolfpark treatment, so there are very good tee signs w/ helpful info. I didn't always agree with the distances compared to my range finder, but they were clear and helpful
-The baskets are also Discmania and are still very new and in good repair. All baskets also have arrows built into the baskets to guide towards the next tee.
-Concrete tee pads on the shorter end, and a few under construction
-High variety of shots, including, significant elevation changes. Some border on punishing elevation when wet, because keeping balance to throw from the fairway can be treacherous
-Fairways are clear and well kept, with clear lanes for drives
-Multiple water carries over both the creek and a pond (the branches hang over the pond more than you think. Ask me how I know)
-Variety of hole length allow for mid-ranges and drivers off the tees
-Cart friendly-ish. The dramatic elevation changes would make it difficult at times, but you shouldn't have to carry it

Cons:

-A few of the holes towards the beginning are under light construction, still playable but the signs aren't reflective of what's in play yet. Also, we threw from the walking path for one hole (4 maybe?) because it was underwater from construction
-There are a few LONG walks between holes, and the arrow on the baskets can get you started in the right direction, but I had to use udisc to get me the actual pin position
-I did not see any bathrooms or water available, but I'm not a local so I may have missed something
-I played in early May, and the underbrush is already growing up, so having someone else to watch your shots would be a good idea

Other Thoughts:

This is a very fun and challenging course that will require most aspects of your game. Almost all holes are wooded, requiring good control and punishing bad choices. As above, my biggest complaints are signage to get you to the next tee, but with udisc, it's not an issue. Definitely worth a stop if you're passing through.
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19 0
itsRudy
Gold level trusted reviewer
Experience: 8.3 years 80 played 68 reviews
4.00 star(s)

Golden Oldie Still Has It 2+ years

Reviewed: Played on:Oct 18, 2022 Played the course:2-4 times

Pros:

Jordan Creek is forested with generous fairways, the first eight being generally flat and feeling like a premium community course, the back ten suddenly opening up to longer bombs having heaps of elevation more akin to a state park. Those who can keep their shots landing consistently in the fairways will find the course much easier and funner than others.

Some distance helps a lot in enjoyment, I have noticed with my 2 trips four years apart -- going from meager 150' average throws to a noodley 275' in the meantime -- but even if you don't have it, this is a great course to play at least once just for aspiration.

There were a number of scenic holes I just enjoy looking at but I have to mention two. #7 water shot where the big pond upfront is in it's own bowl followed by a ridgeline obscuring the final destination which is finally the basket in its own bowl. #8 is my absolute favorite where the majority of the fairway is in a long bowl between tee and basket on small ridge.`

#10 steep hike is scenic but also just a brutal uphill to throw. However, it sets up the next four holes which are enjoyable and more chill downhills and grassy hillsides.

#16-17 are my jam. Gently sloped forest fairways under heavily treed canopy and a bed of dead leaves. I would take an entire course of this if I could.

#18 is an appropriate exit. Ends on a high throwing a massive dropdown downhill over a Jordan creek tributary.

The actual Jordan Creek is flowing throughout but stays in the background with its peaceful flow unless you're shanking drives in a big way. Even baskets near water drop-offs weren't on edge like they'd be in, say, Sellersville. Few death putts other than possibly the last basket.

+Old DGA baskets from photos were replaced by Discmania DiscGolfPark baskets.

Cons:

Jordan Creek is highly enjoyable and very much a course for Disc Golfers without compromise of typical parks. It is heavily touted as some Top 50 US course designation, which may have been true back when it hosted part of the 2005 Pro Worlds (along with Little Lehigh, Nockamixon, Tinicum Park). I'm not really sure it would hold up nowadays. Which takes away nothing from the course, it's just the competition is so much deeper and pronounced these days. But it still compares favorably with all the area's nearby courses I have played so far.

Missing the fairways, especially in summer, would mean a lot of scrambling in dense growth, especially in the middle from #4 to #14.

The rest of the complaints are more for the sake of a first time visitor. There should be guidance from #5 to #6 and from #15 to 16. Both entail suddenly following the asphalt/gravel trails for lengthy distance. Udisc guided me both trips, four years apart, when I got lost. Something a few signs would remedy.

I felt like the tee signs sometimes showed more baskets than were actually there. I could be wrong as it's something I didn't fully investigate and tended to throw at the first basket I saw.

The way to new #5 is marked but the tee is unsigned. It's an obvious bit of dirt patch in the ground in hindsight but unlike the other tees here.

It's too bad old #5 up the mound isn't there anymore. The replacement #5, a sharp left bend, is pretty good though and while less scenic, feels like better disc golf. But the absence of old #5 creates an even longer unmarked walk to #6 that's suddenly off the beaten path.

#7's over-the-pond throw isn't particularly far but the guy who was raking it out while I playing was clearly getting plenty of discs on the left side. I figure a 180' straight throw should clear you from the amateur pad. They probably should designate an OB dropzone for noodlearms to start at that don't want risk discs.

Other Thoughts:

Out of OOOOO discs or XXXXX strikes.

Terrain: OOOOo - Phenonemal varied terrain. Big. Flat parts. Big elevation part. A bit of water. Feels unconstrained.
Execution: OOOO - Excellent. Time and community has polished this course.
Upkeep: OOO. Good. The important parts like fairways were clean, tees simply excellent but loses luster on signage and navigation in spots to help newcomers.
Difficulty: OOO - Intermediate. If you keep your discs on the fairway, I don't feel it's too hard.
Fun Factor: OOOO - Good. I loved most of this course except the HUGE uphill.
Crowded: N/A. Both times I went is was emptyish with sounds of distant player groups -- I have a feeling that was an exception.
Overall: OOOO - Wouldn't be my daily pick but would be an enjoyable monthly excursion.
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15 0
Ryal
Gold level trusted reviewer
Premium Member
Experience: 7.4 years 240 played 202 reviews
4.00 star(s)

Jumping Into Jordan Creek 2+ years

Reviewed: Updated: Played on:Sep 16, 2020 Played the course:once

Pros:

+ The whole course is located within a peaceful, breezy, well-maintained and firmly established county park with plenty of water hazards, tricky terrain, a full forest and fine fields on offer. It is a wonderfully diverse course.
+ Lost disc box, scorecard box (empty on my visit), benches, trash cans, tee brooms and tee posts with bag hooks nicely round out the optional infrastructure features.
+ All tee pads are long, sturdy and level poured concrete.
+ Tee signs are consistently built and sufficiently informative.
+ Next hole signs exist for most of the course.
+ Plenty of friendly locals at this popular park.
+ The practice area has stone markers implanted within the ground marking 20, 25, and 33 feet for putting practice, but...

Cons:

- ...The practice area itself is uncomfortably crammed in between the parking lot, hole2 and a service road. No more than two or three people could sensibly use it at a time.
- For the holes with multiple pin positions, there is no system in place to let the player know which position the basket occupies before throwing. Holes 1, 4, 6 and 15 are just a few examples of this.
- The course could use more signage to guide players between holes. I got lost between holes 4 & 5, 8 & 9 and 10 & 11.
- The baskets are showing their age. Spill-outs are a possibility with chains this loose and cages this relatively shallow. No major rust or damage-- just old.

Other Thoughts:

My favorite hole to play here was hole 13 because of its vast exciting downhill tee off framed on both sides by trees and rough. (Hole 18 was a close second!) My favorite hole to look at was hole 14 because of its lovely tree-dodgey grove that reminded me of one of those enchanted forests you see in movies. My least favorite was hole 2 because to my mind it felt the plainest and least engaging contrasted against any of the other holes here.

As for the course as a whole, Jordan Creek very easily earns a spot in my Top 20 courses that I've visited so far in my disc golf journey because of the variety of the holes alone. One hole has you throw through a woodsy wide tunnel. The next has you throw over a large pond. And then you throw over a narrow valley before coasting through an open field and then up a massive unexpected hill! While it's true that the course is undeniably dominated by trees and forest, some of the fairways are so spacious that they feel like open holes in the middle of the woods. Variety and challenge the likes of which few other courses can match is one of Jordan Creek's strengths.

Another strength is its consistency of presentation. All tee pads are uniformly shaped and filled. All tee signs are identically built and reliably illustrative, though some diagrams ought to be updated. Trash cans and benches can be found all over the place. The 'next hole' signs that I saw were all well made and accurate, even if they sometimes blended into the background or didn't exist at all...

...So, I might as well say the absent 'next hole' signs are the biggest hit against Jordan Creek. I've always said that guiding the player where to go is one of the most important features of a course. At basket 4, the player gets just one sign. There is no way a first-time player could know that they are meant to go down a path, past a co-op garden and over a bridge. It was lucky that a local player, Chris, let me follow him from 4 to 5 and warned me about navigation later down the line (It would seem to be a known issue). In between holes 10 and 11, the player is on their own. There are at least three paths to choose from, and all of them look correct. Some signage at the more open-ended parts of the course wouldn't hurt. Add to that the aging baskets, the shockingly inadequate practice area and no system to tell the player which position the basket currently is, and it brings down the rating that could have been.

In closing, I feel that Jordan Creek could easily earn a higher rating than what I gave it today. Fixing the 'next hole' signage issues and placing the practice pin in a more open area would do wonders for the playability and enjoyment of the course, from my perspective. Still, I can easily see why there is a fervent following for this course. A well-maintained, sprawling, varied course like this one with dynamic terrain and several water features is exactly the kind of course that most people are looking for. Visiting this park would be a blast even if I weren't a disc golfer because of the dozens of trails and various sights throughout. Be warned, though, pedestrians, dog walkers and bicyclists are everywhere. Look before you throw! I strongly recommend this course and will definitely be back!
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15 1
HyooMac
Diamond level trusted reviewer
Experience: 7.3 years 447 played 414 reviews
5.00 star(s)

A Classic That’s Stood the Test of Time

Reviewed: Updated: Played on:Oct 22, 2024 Played the course:2-4 times

Pros:

.
*** October 2024 Update ***

Let's start by acknowledging Jordan Creek's role in the history of the game: being one of the courses that hosted 2005 Worlds, formerly in the uDisc Top 50 in the USA, and deeply loved by players in the Lehigh Valley of Pennsylvania and beyond. Although time and development has given us lots of newer and more exciting courses, Jordan remains a gem with ongoing tweaks and updates.


It's a 30 year old course that's wooded in places, but the fairways are wide and there aren't any really tight gaps. A few holes have dramatic elevation change well beyond typical park courses (straight up on #10, and back down on #18). There's a 200' water carry, and the creek lurks or crosses a handful of holes. The course is kept in great shape by park maintenance staff and the local club.


+ New DiscGolfPark signs and baskets have been installed since my last visit. The signs are excellent and are a welcome upgrade. The baskets are fine, but since they're the style with both sets of chains being attached to a single ring, some firm putts risk being spit out. The tees remain as they always have been: large, wide, level, poured.



+ Hole #5 was moved in recent years, and I miss the dramatic hillside basket that threatened rollaways. The replacement hole 5 is a left dogleg short par 4 with a sharp turn that rewards careful placement off the tee. It's an excellent replacement with the narrowest fairway on the course.


+ The "new" hole 15 has been around for five years or so, featuring a teeshot down into a pretty grove of trees as the hole begins to bend to the left and starts gradually uphill for the rest. The three basket placements offer alternatives for par 3, 4 and 5 - and playing the full 801' par 5 makes for a terrific hole.


+ Hole #18 is a great finisher, and it's got everything Jordan offers: Dramatic elevation looking down from the tee, two different water carries, and a premium on control and placement

Cons:

.
- Typical for older courses, the layout favors RHBH. With the exception of hole #3, nothing calls for left-to-right flights until #16 - and then #17 - and then #18. All good holes, and it was nice to have a forehand/sidearm option - but it felt unbalanced overall to have them stacked together at the end of the round.

Other Thoughts:

.
~ Visiting Jordan, you won't find the drama of some of the newer PA courses like Ryan Kelly Green Monster, Pinebrook, or Faylor Lake (the one exception is hole #10: a placement tee shot puts you at the base of an incredibly steep, rocky hill. A narrow trail straight up, leading to a basket perched on a ledge. Long / steep / rollaways / death putts). The relatively straightforward starting holes might lull you. But as Jordan goes on, the challenges and the length show themselves.


~ The other 2005 Worlds courses were Tinicum, Little Lehigh and Nockamixon. Nocky is currently enjoying a comeback/re-opening after being closed for years due to infestation. The other two haven't aged anywhere near as well as Jordan Creek. Today's equipment and training allows intermediate players to play for par at Jordan. It's not the beast it once was, but it's still a great place to play.
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10 0
PRC90
Experience: 8.3 years 20 played 18 reviews
4.50 star(s)

One of the finest the Valley has to offer 2+ years drive by

Reviewed: Played on:Jan 28, 2018 Played the course:5+ times

Pros:

Wonderfully carved out fairways.

Balanced shot variety (will require a solid backhand and forehand game to shoot well).

Excellent usage of features and simply picturesque. The designer must have taken their time and it shows.

Cons:

Older DGA Mach Series baskets, they catch okay but make sure your putts are dead center.

Disc Fishers: if you lose plastic in the creek it is not surprising to see people wading through and snagging your lost plastic as their own. If safety permits and you want your plastic back bring a retriever and get it out ASAP.

Parking lot is a little small but is serviceable.

Other Thoughts:

One of the OG tournament level courses in the LV area (also featured in 05 worlds). It took me awhile to articulate a review for this course because initially I hated it. I wanted to shoot well but I found it to be merciless and looking back I can only attribute that to my skill and not to the course. I still struggle to shoot well on this course and that is a testament to how well designed it is. Jordan creek is hard but fair. You will earn your birdies on this course and this course is remarkably balanced. Pretty much the entire course is under the tree-line and you will find yourself hurling plastic down these gorgeous alleys of trees. There are so many feature holes here with the cross the pond shot and mountain hole building you up to the big boy hole throwing across the creek twice on 18. The layout is quite long and there are a couple holes with some alternate pins or tee pads to cater to most levels of play. It has great signage and the general flow (apart from 15 which was later put in and up until recently wasn't well labelled). Similar to Nockamixon you will need every shot in your bag to pull off a hot round here and even the shorter holes require your full attention. If you only have time for one course to play in the LV area...this is the course to play.
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12 0
RamsFan1
Gold level trusted reviewer
Experience: 14.1 years 92 played 92 reviews
4.00 star(s)

Great Compliment to Little Lehigh 2+ years

Reviewed: Played on:Jun 11, 2017 Played the course:once

Pros:

Very challenging 18 hole course in a nicely maintained town park within the disc golf-rich Lehigh Valley area. There is a practice basket and ample parking. Nice balance of short and long, wooded and more open holes. Good use of elevation and water. Oversized tee pads will make players happy, as will the nice descriptive signs at each hole. Navigation is relatively easy for the most part with "next tee" signs visible near most baskets and well-worn pathways. Hole 18 is an outstanding finishing hole, requiring a downhill throw to a landing area in the fairway and a 2nd shot needed to clear the creek in order to reach the basket.

Cons:

Oppressive rough on many holes. Erosion evident near many baskets and low-lying areas throughout much of the course do not hold water well after heavy rain. There are some flow issues here: there is a long walk between holes 4 & 5, one has to throw a drive across the area players must walk to get from hole 11 to hole 12, and coming off hole 14, one passes the hole 16 tee which is 35-40 feet away to get to hole 15. The usual assortment of dog walkers, runners and others oblivious to disc golf will sometimes create delays.

Other Thoughts:

Jordan Creek has aged well and is certainly challenging. It's a highly-regarded course deserving of the praise it's been given.That said, I am not as high on it as many others seem to be. For one, the rough on many holes is as bad as I've seen on any other course I've played. Secondly, I am not a fan of baskets perched on ledges (there are two here) which needlessly bring the element of luck into a round and is a "cute" way to punish perfectly good approach shots. And thirdly, there are too many RHFH shots/backhand anhyzers off the tee for my tastes- whoever reviewed this course as being too RHBH friendly is either blind or delusional. There are at least 6-7 holes where the preferred shot off the tee is a forehand or righty anhyzer to a basket placed to the right of the pad. And though the course appears regularly mowed, there are some definite areas of need in terms of housekeeping- weed whacking, branch trimming, downed tree removal- etc. to maximize its beauty.

These criticisms aside, the golf is very good here, and Jordan Creek presents an excellent playing experience. All ability levels are served well at Jordan, and it's a course that will make you a better player. It has all the elements one looks for in a course in terms of variety and variables- water, elevation and reasonable OB areas- and should be a regular stop on one's foray into the Lehigh Valley Area.

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3 2
sbilger16
Experience: 8.4 years 4 played 2 reviews
4.50 star(s)

Awesome and challenging cours 2+ years drive by

Reviewed: Played on:Feb 19, 2017 Played the course:5+ times

Pros:

- Good use of water
- Challenges many types of shots
- Well kept

Cons:

- Can get really muddy with rain or snow

Other Thoughts:

They are adding a par 5 in replace of the somewhat lacking current hole 15. This should really round out the course well.
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3 2
ROTFLandmines
Experience: 14.3 years 15 played 11 reviews
4.00 star(s)

A must play in the Lehigh Valley 2+ years drive by

Reviewed: Updated: Played on:Oct 25, 2016 Played the course:5+ times

Pros:

Very interesting design.
Great use of water hazards.

Cons:

N/A

Other Thoughts:

This course is a local favorite.

Jordan offers an extremely interesting opportunity and gives players an awesome variety of control shots and long drives, all while including some complicated water hazards. This even includes throwing over a pond.

I would highly recommend it to anyone looking for a challenge in the Lehigh Valley.
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4 0
ruraljuror
Experience: 30 played 9 reviews
4.00 star(s)

Challenging and beautiful 2+ years drive by

Reviewed: Played on:Jun 19, 2016 Played the course:once

Pros:

-great mix of open and lightly wooded areas
-lots of memorable holes

Cons:

-course is currently under construction? there's no #5 or #15 (well, you can play 15 for some 800ft of rough/scattered garbage). Also, there's no sign stating that there's no hole #5.
-some holes don't have a map
-navigation is pretty straight forward, but it's very easy to get lost. i walked 15 and could not find 16 with the map on the website-- turns out it's to the left of the basket for #14
-the rough is quite thick. if you shank one, you probably won't be able to find it on most holes
-#10 is pretty dangeous. very steep hill with large rocks. not player friendly

Other Thoughts:

-not for noobs. #7 and #18 have some pretty wicked water obstacles
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11 0
Zunz
Bronze level trusted reviewer
Experience: 11 years 85 played 21 reviews
4.00 star(s)

Water Jordan 2+ years drive by

Reviewed: Played on:May 8, 2016 Played the course:5+ times

Pros:

Has that feel of, "This is what Disc Golf is supposed to be!"
World class challenge
One of the best finishing holes in the game
Easy to navigate because of excellent "Next Tee" signage
Great tee signs
Large concrete tees
Great use of available elevation and terrain
Several "Signature Holes"

Cons:

Some long walks between holes
If your disc makes a splash landing, you're probably not getting it back

Other Thoughts:

Played Jordan Creek after a week of solid rain, expected it to be a muddy mess, was surprisingly not. I played this course a few times before the construction/redesign so I was excited to see all the work... With that said, we skipped the new 15 even though the new tee pad was just opened for business.

To me, Jordan is the epitome of a risk/reward course. There are wide fairways and clear lines through the woods tempting big throws... But mistakes are usually severely punished. The creek comes into play on almost half of the holes and the density and size of the crap off the fairways often makes just giving up a shot and tossing back to the fairway an adventure. There are a lot of fast greens here, going for it and missing can leave you with an even longer comebacker. Some, like the new Hole 6, have incredible roll-away potential (I 4 putted from the bottom of the hill. The first, a front rim banger, rolled back to almost exactly where I had just thrown from, the second, another clanger, stopped about 5 feet to the right of that spot). Hole 10's green is a mini rock cliff and a STEEP hillside. It's also one of those holes that you aren't going to soon forget. Holy Crap what a hill!
Hole 7 is a unique and memorable hole as well. Almost the entire fairway is a pond. This last time around was the first time I wasn't totally intimidated by this hole. There's no going in after your disc here, it's basically a steep edged bottomless pit full of water, even a retriever won't do you any good. There's no safe but longer route around the pond as far as I know. The closest I've come to losing a disc was trying to throw to the right side of the pond when I didn't think I could get all the way across and I hit a tree and my disc bounced back almost going into the water.
Hole 18 is yet another signature hole; Downhill over a creek dogleg to the right probably laying up before the real creek, then over it to the green and basket. I say downhill, but it's more like you're throwing off a 30' cliff.

I played here when I was a total noob and really enjoyed the course. I like it even more now that I've been playing a while, even though I'm still a rec/intermediate level player. The course has well thought out landing zones for players like me that need more than one throw to reach some of the longer or more technical holes. It's a pretty far drive for me, about an hour and a half each way, but totally worth it. I've played almost all of the Lehigh Valley courses and other than SoMo, Jordan is the only one I've played more than once (South Mountain is a half hour closer and is one of my absolute most favorites). Not nocking the other local courses, Jordan Creek is just on a different level. If you're traveling through the valley and only have time to play one course (On your way to Nockamixon), this is the one you should play. I will end this review the way it began, by saying that Jordan Creek is one of those special courses that you walk around with a feeling of, "Wow, this is how Disc Golf is meant to be." Whether the fairways are lush and green or the pond is a frozen block of shiny white ice, playing Jordan is its own reward.
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12 0
splatbaseball51
Gold level trusted reviewer
Experience: 15.6 years 182 played 59 reviews
4.50 star(s)

An original great that has stood the test of time! 2+ years drive by

Reviewed: Played on:Sep 19, 2015 Played the course:once

Pros:

The course seemed to slightly favor RHBH, but still had plenty of holes that finished to the right. There wasn't any HUGE ups/downs with the exception of hole 10, but the course still utilized the elevation very well. You'll throw up and down, but only once will it feel daunting.

The course had a good mixture of short and medium length holes, but as you'll see in my cons, lacked a sufficient amount of par 4's/5's for my tastes. Your tee shot must land within putting distance on almost every hole to play the course well, which doesn't put an emphasis on finesse, rather power. If the fairways were narrower in some places this wouldn't be as noticeable.

The shot variety, despite lacking many placement par 4's, was very fun. The course utilized water hazards very well. I believe hole 14 was the first time I've thought about throwing a forehand roller off the tee as my first option...I think you'll find most, not just some, of the shots to be very well thought out and memorable.

Hole 18 deserves it's own paragraph. It is one one of the best finishing holes in the game. A true par 4 that is probably rarely deuced. If you play it conservatively off the tee, you'll likely end up with a very nerve-racking approach, thanks to having to cross the "creek"(really a small river) a second time. If you don't have fun approaching that final basket, you should reconsider your hobbies.

The other amenities on the course were nice. Signs were informative and the tee pads were always big enough. Concrete as should be standard with courses of this caliber. From what I remember, there was ample seating throughout the course, but I can't recall if there were benches on every hole or not.

Cons:

The most obvious con for me was the construction on hole 5/6. Obviously this is something that is in the process of being improved, but unfortunately I played it before it was finished.

Another major detractor, is that despite most holes being "longer" par 3's, and certainly not gimmies, the course is still very much a deuce-or-die type of course. I would have liked to see a few more par 4's/5's to help lengthen the course and to place more emphasis on placement.

Navigation was fairly straightforward but there were a few transitions which could benefit from some signs being added. Obviously the walk between current hole #5 (future #6, I think) and #6 (future #7) could use some signs. Most people would probably figure it out, but with a course this nice, there should be no doubt about where to go. Rule of thumb should be to take a non-dg player out and have them walk the course. If they stumble up somewhere, add a sign!

The fairways on some of the "open" holes were wide enough to almost be considered truly open, but not quite. You don't have any holes where you can work a disc left to right to maximize distance. Some people will find those few holes adequate, I felt a little constrained.

There are some rather thick spots on the course, particularly holes 9 and 10. If you find yourself off the fairway there you have a good chance to lose a disc. I'd recommend trimming those trouble spots up.

The course isn't exactly "accessible" to players Intermediate and below. With only one tee pad per hole and only a few alternate pins, this course is demanding and caters to the advanced/open players. This didn't personally affect me, but I always like to see great courses be able to be played by all skill levels.

Other Thoughts:

Jordan Creek will forever be one of my favorite courses. Not for its difficulty (which is ample but not extreme) but for the sheer beauty and play-ability of this course. I expected the course to be pretty crowded, but to my surprise it wasn't. I'm not surprised in the least that JC was once host to the PDGA world championships. If you haven't played JC, don't hesitate to give it a shot, it's easily one of the better courses on the east coast!
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8 1
Upshawt1979
Diamond level trusted reviewer
Premium Member
Experience: 21.4 years 562 played 429 reviews
4.50 star(s)

Air Jordan 2+ years

Reviewed: Played on:Aug 19, 2014 Played the course:once

Pros:

Jordan Creek is attributed to an Eagle Scout who designed and built it to earn his badge, so to speak. Good job brother. I almost did a slow clap after the 18th hole. The long tees are concrete and have nice signs. The baskets were good quality also. Most importantly there are a couple of holes here that are incredible. The ones that are not quiet at that level are still solid and fun to play. The first several holes are in a mostly flat and grassy portion of the park. Trees are present in numbers large enough to make throw around them. Water comes into play to the left of the first hole, and with the creek behind the basket on 4. Hole 5 is long, and the creek plays to the right of the fairway and green. 7 is a fun throw over the top of a pond, and I stayed dry there. 8 gets more wooded, and elevation starts to show itself. 9 is one more big open crusher with the creek bubbling behind the green, before the real fun begins. 10 is the point where elevation climbs seriously, the basket up a hill that begins half way down the fairway. Rough to the right of the hill caught my drive and cost me a shot. The utility easement that clears the path up the hill on 10 also makes room for 11, 12, and 13, but heading downhill. 11 is long, and tucked in woods to the left. 12 is similar, but shorter in distance, and yielded my only birdie on the day. 13 is one of those that you have to toss more than one. Way downhill, basket dead center with water running behind it. There is plenty of airspace if your disc stays true, and you can get all 438' with the right stuff. 14 turns left and plays uphill again. Missed my putt, went from even to over par, and almost walked away without my mini. 15, 16 and 17 get back on the woodsy side, grass is replaced by dirt, rocks and the occasional fallen tree like the one I hit on 16. 17 also has some extra elevation contour and rocky outcroppings around the basket, I took another bogey. 18 is one of the best finishers you will find anywhere. Tee is elevated, and drops rapidly toward the creek about 30 or 40 feet below. You must drive across the water, which is fairly wide in this spot, and turn right at the same time to maximize distance. My forehand attempt stayed dry, but was short of the fairway. From there you still have a lengthy, wooded approach that crosses a smaller leg of the same creek. I made double bogey and shot a +4 (64) for the round. I would have liked to finish stronger, but at least I didn't lose any plastic, and had a really good time.

Cons:

The front nine is a little more tame than the back, and not as exhilarating. It is still good, getting the most of what is there to work with. The media shows some pics with very long grass, but everything was trimmed very nicely the morning I played there.

Other Thoughts:

Jordan Creek is a fun course, I would have liked to play it more than once. The 4.5 rating may be a touch higher than deserved, but it is so well done 4 was not doing it justice in my opinion. I'm not the only one who thinks so, many other reviewers before me agree. If you haven't been I suggest you go if possible, and find out for yourself. Really a gem, recommended to all serious players.
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13 1
New013
Diamond level trusted reviewer
Experience: 14.3 years 179 played 120 reviews
4.00 star(s)

Tha'ts a big creek 2+ years drive by

Reviewed: Played on:Jun 9, 2014 Played the course:once

Pros:

Layout - Jordan Creek is kind of like the Augusta of disc golf. It's just this gorgeous stroll through a manicured park with some lush grass fairways and really defined cleaned up wooded holes. It's not overly difficult or beat you down long. It's just a collection of really fun shots that make you go wow this place is awesome.

There's a few multi-shot holes out here but it's mostly par 3's. It's not an easy course by any means the holes have a habit of being around or just over 300' so you really need to put power on the disc and work it in most cases. Birdies are earned here but it's a really fair course that allows solid shots to be rewarded.

In the bottom area of the course it plays near a rather large creek or river that makes you think twice about how you're shaping your shot. Then there's a pond you throw over on another hole, that is a really great left to right shot where you hit a gap across the water. The holes with water are all really well done.

Then on the back 9 you all of a sudden hit this elevation on a par 4 that is just awesome. You go up it play some holes in a more wooded area then go back down on a really nice downhill bomb that requires accuracy and straightness.

The course finishes really strong with 18 being one of the best finishing holes there is. Downhill technical dog shot over the creek. Then on your second shot you're throwing back over the creek through a tight gap to the basket. It combines and beauty and great design.

Overall I like this course because it gives you a really fun round with decent variety and balance in hole types.

Equipment - Nice concrete pads, baskets in solid condition. Good tee signs.

Atmosphere - I mentioned it earlier and I'll say it again, this place is just beautiful and even though it has this park style feel I felt secluded for most of the round once you got away from the holes right near the parking lot and community garden. I wish we had a course like this in my area.

Cons:

Layout - There wasn't a ton of variety in hole lengths. It seemed like most of the par 3's were right at 300' or just over. I threw a lot of mids on straighter lines that moved a bit left or right. On some holes with a lower canopy I'd go driver but overall there wasn't a huge amount of shot shaping. A few of the more open par 4's weren't all that great, basically just two easier shots and a putt, tweener holes kinda.

Some of the more wooded holes were kind of boring and not as memorable, nothing all that bad I think the design is solid but it's there.

The shule can be very thick in parts and we spent a good while looking for discs in the higher elevation area. Watch your disc when you go off fairway.

Equipment - The distances on some of the teesigns just seemed off.

Atmosphere - We played it after a solid rain but I got the impression the low parts of the course doen't drain all that well being right near the water. It was definitely muddy and sloppy on a few holes. There are several holes that play near other park activities and though it never really caused any conflict it doesn't give that secluded feeling in those areas.

Other Thoughts:

If you can't tell I am fond of Jordan Creek. It was a super nice change of pace after playing some super challenging technical courses. It really fits in with the other great courses in the area to give a nice balance. If I lived in the area I'd probably play here the most from what we saw. I kinda got the feeling not a lot of chuckers go here because of the water and I love courses like that because you get them all to yourself.
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3 3
Smf5125
Experience: 7 played 4 reviews
4.50 star(s)

Great Longer Course 2+ years drive by

Reviewed: Played on:May 14, 2014 Played the course:5+ times

Pros:

This course offers a great mixture of holes, lengths, obstacles, and difficulty.

Well Maintained majority of year.

A few holes to easily try new discs (9 is great to let a new disc rip)

Challenging for nearly all players but not too difficult that it isn't fun for new players

Some of the best designed holes in the Lehigh Valley, especially 18.

Cons:

You can EASILY lose a disc on a good amount of holes here.

That's about all as far as cons for me.

Other Thoughts:

I learned how to play on this course, probably not the best choice but I didn't know any better at the time. It does take a little longer to play as it is a pretty long course but it is a great course overall. One of my top three in the Lehigh valley easily.
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2 3
thecoasterman589
Experience: 11.3 years 33 played 6 reviews
4.00 star(s)

Great Course 2+ years drive by

Reviewed: Played on:Dec 1, 2013 Played the course:once

Pros:

*Very technical holes
*Well thought out hole layout
*Best finishing hole I have ever played (even though I lost a disc)
*Beautiful location
*Good placement of water hazards to make it tough
*Nice tee boxes
*Good signage
*Well maintained park

Cons:

*This course can eat up your discs

Other Thoughts:

For an average player like me (700 player rating), It will be a very tough course, but it is worth playing because you need to play hard courses to get better.
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2 5
TMF2
Experience: 14.4 years 11 played 9 reviews
3.50 star(s)

Great condition. Good design. 2+ years drive by

Reviewed: Played on:Oct 20, 2013 Played the course:2-4 times

Pros:

Condition of the course is perfect. Tee pads are very nice. Navigation is exceptional nearly everywhere. Very nice park. Less crowded than expected. A number of well designed holes.

Cons:

Repetitive, especially off the tee. Needs more variety from the box. Still, a super place 2 play.
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5 3
DiscLoser
Experience: 11.3 years 25 played 7 reviews
4.00 star(s)

A Real Classic 2+ years drive by

Reviewed: Updated: Played on:Mar 28, 2014 Played the course:5+ times

Pros:

*All concrete tee pads, mostly single pin (except 9 and 10) on a course that is an excellent combination of a park setting that is pretty heavily wooded as well.
*Great mix of woods and open fairways. Trees are often in play but there are opportunities for good lines and birdies. A real challenge for beginners and average players.
*The first few holes let you warm up before the challenge begins - holes 1-6 are mostly flat, with some trees shaping shots.
*The creek really comes into play on multiple holes, especially when the water is up. Tee shot over the pond on 7 is daunting, and 18 is just awesome - downhill tee shot and over water twice.
*The uphill 10th is a real challenge - flat tee shot to a steep uphill with pin precariously placed on for maximum roll away potential. Holes 11-13 play downhill, uphill, and downhill in a straight line, with deceptively tight fairways and punishing rough. 14-17 are back into the trees with some very tight lines.
*Some longish holes to let the big arms show off, but still mostly about control distance and placement.

Cons:

*The rough is Rough in the Spring and Summer - waist high and full of spider webs. If your shot is off, you could lose discs.
*The park is heavily used, and mountain bike paths cross some fairways and tees, gangs of kids like to chill on the 7th tee, and there usually lots of people being walked by their dogs.
*Most of the course is in a flood zone for the creek, and it holds water easily. If you're planning a trip to the course, be aware there may be mud and standing water on much of the course after repeated heavy rains.
*Tee signs are very good, but are old enough to not reflect some alt. pin positions or two-pin holes.

Other Thoughts:

Bring your own water, no fountains.
Bathroom on backside of building near tennis courts, only sometimes open.
Course plays much easier in the fall (except for disc-eating leaf piles) and early spring when the lines open up a little and the rough is dead.
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8 4
Gerry
Experience: 13.3 years 15 played 13 reviews
3.00 star(s)

Justly popular 2+ years drive by

Reviewed: Played on:Aug 24, 2013 Played the course:once

Pros:

Good tee signs. Good signs for navigation. Very well maintained. Perfect tees. A very nice park, that seems remarkably secluded. Challenging, but fair. Even the long holes give you a good size landing area to balance things out.

18 is a truly great hole. The two water hazards can be avoided (usually )if you are happy with a par or flirted with if you want to go for a three. This is how a water hole should be designed. It is a fantastic finishing hole.

Cons:

Very few, and even those are mostly minor. The pond hole is both good and bad. Its a fairly typical hole, but if you play a bad shot...there is no chance at all to get your disc back. I consider this a fairly substantial design flaw. In two places, the signage could be improved, but this is a very small issue.

I thought there was alot of similarity, early on, in the kind of tee shot needed. The later holes get more wooded, but like the rest of the course, there is not much in your way right out of the box. IMO, Jordan could use a few short, truly technical holes for balance.

Other Thoughts:

An earlier reviewer said it was lefty friendly. I disagree, at least for backhand players. If anything it favors RHBH or LHFH, but not enough to annoy rh flickers.

Although I did not fall in love with Jordan to the degree that others have, I still consider this course, in this delightful park, to be must play
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4 5
jbetz45453
Experience: 11.4 years 14 played 12 reviews
4.50 star(s)

Really Nice Course 2+ years drive by

Reviewed: Played on:Jun 29, 2013 Played the course:once

Pros:

Nice course layout. Nice use of the terrain. Good mixture of some open holes and some with a little more woods.Concrete tee pads. Looks like they keep the course in good shape.

Cons:

Only thing I can think of is some of the holes show 2 different baskets but I only ever saw one on those holes. Course can be tough for newbies like me.

Other Thoughts:

Really nice course and glad it is no too far from my house so I can get there and play it. Hole 7 over the pond is tough for new players as you have to clear the water. Hole number 10 is really tough one up the hill.
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