9 hole course that offers a couple nice moments
9 Helpful / 0 Not
Pros: I was able to bag Highland Hills Park on a lovely May evening while working nearby. The park was fairly empty on this particular evening and I had a nice time walking and playing the course.
Pros:
-The park is well kept for the most part and offers a variety of shots
-Most holes include elevation changes and at least some shot shaping
-Restrooms on site
-Concrete teepads on each hole
-Hole 1 was a nice starter, a 300' downhill shot with the basket on a steep slope to the right behind a mature tree. I elected to play it safe to the left and layup for par.
-Hole 5 is interesting. It's listed as a par 4 but for a good play could be reaching off the tee with a big BHRH hyzer that would likely give a circle's edge look.
-Hole 7 was my favorite, a 300' downhill shot with a tree
line to the left at the bottom of the slope that threatens to pull in an under-committed shot.
-Holes 8 & 9 are both narrow fairway shots between a treeline and the OB road
Cons: -Speaking of the road, it is far too close for comfort on 7-9. It is a dead end street so I assume it doesn't see a ton of traffic, but I saw a number of park goers using it to walk or ride bikes on.
-I can't believe I've made it this far without mentioning the baskets. The 2nd worst I've ever seen (looking at you Embshoff). They're old Mach 1s that have not gotten any love since they were installed. It's the kind of basket that makes you hesitate before putting because you're afraid there's nothing there to catch your disc.
-The tee signs are either non-existent or a wooden post with written hole numbers on them.
-Hole 2 is a transition hole. It's only 132' on the hillside and it's basket is less than 50' from 3s basket, the circles basically overlap.
-Speaking of overlap, the teepad for 4 is inside the circle for 3.
-Hole 6 plays very near a shelter and the only line is overtop a picnic table.
-There's a long walk from 6 to 7 and a long walk from the basket of 9 to 1's tee so no matter where you park you'll be walking a bit.
-It's known locally that you do not want to be near this when there's a baseball game going on in the park. The HS plays their home games here and parking is impossible. Even if you do manage to park, several holes are unplayable due to the crowd.
Other Thoughts: It's not a terrible course and I'm sure if I lived close I'd come hear fairly often for a quick round, but there are far too many safety concerns to overlook. If the baskets were replaced I'd say it would be closer to a 2.5, a typical small community park course, but as is I think a 2 is a fair rating. Reasonable is about the best word I can find to describe it.
9 of 9 people found this review helpful.
Fun 9-holer that just needs an update!
15 Helpful / 0 Not
Pros: Highland Hills Park is a spacious piece of property with rolling hills and scattered trees throughout. The park itself has been renovated with new pavilions, paved parking lots, a playground, and baseball fields.
The course itself is outdated, but still plays as a very fun track.
+ The steep hills throughout the entire course are utilized to perfection. Many baskets are perched on hillsides, making every upshot and putt a little dangerous. Multiple holes tee off at the top of hills (starting with #1).
+ Plenty of variety in distance, ranging from 128' to 386'.
+ Each hole has a concrete tee pad. There's also plenty of parking, as well as a permanent restroom and a pavilion by the first tee.
+ 1, 4, 5, and 9 are great holes that would be a welcomed addition to just about any course.
Cons: - The equipment is *dated*. The baskets are old, rusty Mach I targets. A few baskets have dented cages and/or leaning bases.
- The tee posts don't have any information on them besides the faded hole numbers that were written in Sharpie at some point.
- Course navigation is pretty straightforward using UDisc, but without that app, this would be a tough course to play. Couldn't picture a beginner being able to navigate this one.
Other Thoughts: Overall, I think Highland Hills is a tad underrated. With better amenities, this could be one of the better 9-hole courses in Northern Kentucky / Cincinnati.
Ironically, just about everything in the park looks brand new. Hopefully some funds can be raised for improvements!
15 of 15 people found this review helpful.
Decent Easy Course for Locals
7 Helpful / 0 Not
Pros: - Easy course with few obstacles
- Difficult (but still possible) to lose discs
- Well kept up
- Great concrete tees
- Holes 5 and 9 are a step up in difficult and add a lot to the fairly bland course
- Played by locals enough for it to be kept up but usually empty enough to get a full 9 (or 18) uninterrupted
- Nice park ammenities
Cons: - Baskets are honestly some of the worst (if not the worst) I've ever played on. Be prepared for kick outs on seemingly very good shots. In addition, many look pretty beat up. Replacements would be much appreciated at this point
- No signage around the course. Someone tried to draw and write some things on the wooden posts next to the tees but this leaves a lot to be desired
- Course does not flow well on some holes (specifically basket of 6 to tee of 7 where you have to walk the length of a baseball field
- Only occasionally, but when there is a baseball game, cars are parked along the road on holes 7, 8, and 9. Holes 7 and 9 are usually still playable, but 8 often becomes nearly unplayable
Other Thoughts: I probably go to this course 2 to 3 times a week as it is by far the closest and most easily accessible course to me. To put it bluntly, there is nothing special about this course. All holes with the exception of hole 5 and the beginning of 6 are wide open shots. That combined with the fact that it is only nine holes with terrible baskets leads me to say that there's really not much need to play this course unless you are a local or just happen to be in the area. If you are a beginner and want an incredibly easy course to get started on, however, this is a good course as, like I said, most every shot is wide open, and it is difficult to lose your disc even if you throw it into the woods hard.
In short, if you want a quick 9 round of disc golf and are close by, live near Ft. Thomas, or are a beginner, this is a nice little course. Otherwise, this is a course that isn't worth traveling to.
Hole 1: This is the first hole you see right when you drive into the park. This is just a straight shot down the hill before coming to a tee that is on top of a smaller hill
Hole 2: Teebox is a small walk to the right of hole 1's basket. This a very short straight shot with no obstacles. For more of a challenge, I recommend shooting from the small flat clearing on the hill right before hole 1's basket. This provides a more unique shot and was originally where hole 2's teebox was. Just be sure that there is not a group behind you so you don't accidentally get in their way
Hole 3: Teebox is a small walk directly behind hole 2's basket. This is a long uphill shot with the basket very near to hole 2's basket, just higher on the hill.
Hole 4: Teebox is to the left of hole 3's basket. This is a fairly open shot with a somewhat sharp left turn into an area surrounded by longer grass.
Hole 5: Teebox is near the bathrooms to the right of hole 4's basket. This is the first of the two "long" holes on the course. A straight shot with a left turn through a light wooded area makes this a more difficult hole as compared to the others prior to this.
Hole 6: Teebox is to the right of hole 5's basket in a slightly wooded area. This ho;e has a fairly straight shot with a slight left turn. There are two trees next to each other with a small gap between that give the best look at the basket. After this is one more tree somewhat close to the basket.
Hole 7: To get from hole 6 to hole 7, walk up to the path from hole 6's basket, and walk on the path towards and past the baseball field. The teebox is straight behind home plate. This hole is a wide open hole with a small left turn. In my opinion, a roller is a very fun option here and is very forgiving considering there is a hill the slopes downward with the turn.
Hole 8: Teebox is to the right of hole 7's basket, across the street. This hole has a right turn that follows the curvature of the road with only a single pole as a hazard.
Hole 9: Teebox is directly next to hole 8's basket. This is the longest and hardest hole on the course with a few trees and picnic tables along the right side. This provides a nice challenge compared to the rest of this course. Afterwards, the basket will leave you a small walk from hole one. Just walk on the path along the road to reach hole 1
7 of 7 people found this review helpful.
Where I Learned The Game
5 Helpful / 0 Not
Pros: Playing a quick round here is easy -- it is never crowded and the 9 holes take under 30 minutes either alone or with a small group. The holes are fairly basic, but there are a couple longer, more difficult holes that stand out. There is a lot of elevation change in play here, which is unusual for a course this short. Someone has taken creating signs into their own hands and scribbled an approximate distance, basket layout, and next tee arrow on the wooden posts by the teepads, and frankly this might be the only time where course graffiti has been a plus.
I do want to highlight Holes 5 and 9, as they stand out above the rest. Hole 5 provides a lot of distance (my guess is 410' or so) with an appreciable amount of trees in the direct line of the basket. Hole 9 is also long (430'?) that goes over a valley of sorts and forces you to throw a long straight shot, otherwise the disc will hyzer into the woods.
Cons: The baskets are bad; they are often bent and do not catch discs well at all. The layout is pretty bland beyond Holes 5 and 9, many involving straight shots with some elevation (which is nice) but very few obstacles otherwise (which is not nice). When a baseball game is playing, holes 7-9 become unplayable due to parked cars along the road that meanders past these holes.
However, the most frustrating part of this course is navigation. There are no tee signs on this course (the graffiti work mentioned in the pros doesn't count it) and no signs within the park at all acknowledging the course is there. There are several long walks between holes, notably 6 to 7 which walks all the way to the other side of the baseball field (at least 600' from pin to tee). Some teepads point toward multiple baskets (3 and 5 come to mind), so unless you know the course layout, it is not entirely clear how to play it.
Other Thoughts: Highland Park is an average course layout with terrible "extras" (baskets, signage, local support) that is only worth playing if you are in Fort Thomas. I grew up within walking distance of this course, and it was always easy to go and play a round or two (or five) with friends or by yourself to work on your game. It holds a lot of sentimental value to me, but I just played there today with the mind of someone who had never played there before and frankly, it is not worth it. If you are looking to play a semi-quality disc golf course and do not live within about ten minutes of this course, it is not worth the visit. There are an abundance of good courses throughout the Greater Cincinnati area that deserve to be played more than this one, and unless a significant amount of work is done to improve the course features, it will not be a destination.
Frankly, this was a hard one for me to rate, having known the course for so long and having seen it be "redesigned" a bit over the years. I couldn't decide between a 1.5 and a 2.0, and ultimately went with the 1.5 because if I was not familiar with the course, I would not know how to navigate it. If some money was put forward and someone with an eye for disc golf came in to better locate some of the baskets, I think a fairly strong 9 hole course could be here. However, having grown up in Fort Thomas, I do not see the city doing that.
5 of 5 people found this review helpful.
Decent Nine Hole Course
4 Helpful / 0 Not
Pros: +Great facilities with water fountains and a dog park close by
+ Some holes have some length to them, something not all nine hole courses have
+ Course is always mowed
Cons: - Baskets really need replaced.
- There is a lack of signage (although there are sign posts, so maybe they will put signs on the course at some point)
Other Thoughts: This course has potential if someone would just put some love into it and maybe reroute a couple of the holes. Some of the holes have notable aspects to them which make them memorable (#5, 6, 7, 9, in my opinion), but others are just a let down.
The baskets are frustrating, as they can spit out even putts drilled directly in the center.
Be sure to download the course map before going. It is easy get confused on which tee/basket is next.
The hills may tire you out if you are not used to hiking up and down steep inclines.
There are not generally many other players on the course, which can be either a positive or negative.
4 of 4 people found this review helpful.
My Home Course
5 Helpful / 0 Not
Pros: + Variety of holes
+ Uncrowded usually
+ Always well mowed
+ Excellent facilities with several water fountains
Cons: - Bad baskets
- No signage
- Baseball games can make holes 8 and 9 unplayable
- People can get in the way easily
Other Thoughts: Home course for me.. hiding a lot of potential.
They have recently put in two new teepads on 1 and 2 so now all holes have proper teepads. Yay! Now it just needs some signage and new baskets. Someone has taken it upon themselves to sharpie the hole numbers, so I guess that helps. I've reached out to the city to try and get the baskets replaced before but no luck. There have been rumors of expanding the course in recent years, but not any movement on that. A walking trail went in parallel to the two finishing holes, but I've never seen anyone on it. Maybe it could be used for a course expansion in the future. It pains me to rate the course a 2, but with signage and new baskets it would be a solid 3.
Hole 1 - Close to the stop sign you hit before entering the park. Plenty of parking close here unless there is a high school baseball game. Restrooms right across from the play ground. Play hole 1 straight down hill. The woods behind the hole are not very thick if you go long, but not easy to play out of either.
Hole 2 - Cross the sidewalk and just up hill from the volleyball courts. A short ace run dead ahead. Throw something flat unless you want to see it roll into the parking lot or porta potty.
Hole 3 - Move down hill to the back of the gravel lot and across the bridge or just straight to the teepad if you don't like bridges. Straight throw up the hill towards the telephone pole.
Hole 4 - Close and just slightly up hill from the last basket. The ground here is a former volleyball court. Throw is a hyzer shot to the left. RIP to the mature ash trees that used to make this more difficult.
Hole 5 - Go up hill to the right of the bathrooms. Its a far shot to the back left of the woods. Teens will occasionally string some kind of hammocks up between the trees here. Watch out for players on the fairway of the next hole and check for anyone on the picnic table.
Hole 6 - Towards the baseball field left wall. There is a wooded trail back this way. You throw straight ahead and slightly to the left. Be mindful of the picnic table that you eyed on the last teepad.
Hole 7 - Take a good walk past the baseball field. The teepad is past home plate and down from another porta potty. Hyzer to the left or straight throw towards the dog park. Woods are thick in the summer there.
Hole 8 - Move uphill and across the street. Hyzer or straight shot over the road toward the big pine covering the last teepad. The woods are kinda thick towards the basket, so be mindful of hyzering out too much. Mando to the left of the telephone pole for a greater challenge.
Hole 9 - You're easiest teepad to spot! Another picnic table to be mindful of but its in clear view. There are vines in the trees half way down the left fairway that might try to keep your disc if you tempt them. The woods there are not difficult to walk through if necessary.
Please take care if playing this course while there are high winds. The tree's drop limbs very easily! On a positive note, you will be hard pressed to find a rural course with more wildlife. Deer walk everywhere like they just don't care.
5 of 5 people found this review helpful.
Troll's Review
0 Helpful / 2 Not
Pros: 9 baskets to shoot at
it has tee boxes
family friendly
good for brand new players or kids
its short, quick and painless, and easy
Cons: The area for Disc golf offers so much more than this course, so it receives little or no attention
Baskets are old and gone to rust
Other Thoughts: There's more courses around to play at, I suggest to find another one
0 of 2 people found this review helpful.
Great Park Improvements Ignored Disc Golf?]
6 Helpful / 0 Not
Pros: This small, hilly, neighborhood park in northern Kentucky, just minutes from downtown Cincinnati, has had major infrastructure improvements in the past year or so. Beautiful pavilions, bathrooms, landscaping, a top-notch baseball field (with benches placed between shade trees overlooking the third base line, a wonderful scoreboard, etc), and play areas, have all been added or upgraded.
The DG course has some very interesting, hilly shots, starting with a 259 foot downhill where you'll want to put on the brakes, and not run long into the woods, through a series of right, then left-bending shots through this rolling terrain, and a finishing hole that will stretch out your arm (482', with OB roadway on the right, and trees to navigate, plus a down slope left to avoid: a tricksy challenge).
Holes 3-9 now have nicely sized poured concrete tees. The baskets have been fixed up and freshly powdercoated (2016). Hole 2 currently plays as a short ace run, and no longer conflicts with 3, which plays further up the hill. And they put 7 where it should be: out about 290' across the valley.
There is a decent range of distances here for the Rec to Int arm, requiring some thought to navigate the sometimes tight gaps through the park trees.
Cons: 2016 edit: Many of the former hazards have been fixed! Be careful though, as there is a picnic table in the left side of the #6 fairway (blind from the tee), so walk up and check to be sure it's unoccupied before you throw!!! There are also two tables to the right of the #9 fairway.
And the 8th hole still requires a low, hard drive from a nearly blind angle to travel over the roadway for nearly 200' (and needing to wait, and sometimes wait a long time, for cars, pedestrians, joggers, and so on, to clear). Or a mando will be declared, but again, that won't stop the casuals...
Other Thoughts: This park is really looking great, and the DG course seems to be on its way back to being a really fun challenge. I plan to revisit and update this review again (and raise my rating) once they've finished the upgrades.
6 of 6 people found this review helpful.
Nice rolling hills
3 Helpful / 1 Not
Pros: A technical course played on nice rolling hills .
The course has a good mix of long and short holes which were enjoyable to play .
The course offer nice basket placements that make for a nice challenge .
Cons: hole one plays close to a basketball court ,and some of the other holes plays very close to areas that other park goers use puts people at risk of being hit .
the baskets were some of the worst I have ever played on
Other Thoughts: Much better courses in the surronding areas
3 of 4 people found this review helpful.
Short And Sweet
4 Helpful / 1 Not
Pros: The one thing that this course does have is the elevation changes. They know how to use their surroundings. There are hills here so they put them to good use. It is also a great beginner course. There are the holes that the beginners will really enjoy. Very easy to navigate your way through this course. The park is never very crowded. You can come and get a quick round of nine down in no time. Great location located in Fort Thomas and is near nice courses. There is plenty of parking so you will never have to park all the way down the street. The trees here are very nice. They know how to use the trees very well.
Cons: First of all the tee signs are torn up and of to no use now. You are just going to have to look around the park to find the basket for this hole. The tee is nothing but grass, and sometimes pretty rough. It is not good to be on a bumpy surface while throwing. The thing that was the worst to me was the baskets. They had some of the chains unhooked, and the baskets were old and rusted. I actually hit the chains right down the middle and it fell through a hole in the basket. I have no idea where the seventh tee is. I looked all over for it and was still unable to find it. So i gave up and just threw.
Other Thoughts: Considering where this course is located near a bunch of other very nice one i dont recommend coming here. Unless you are just right in the area and want to get in a quick round dont go here. In particular this is not a very challenging course at all. I finished well under par. There are a couple of holes here that could be considered ace holes. So when you go bring alot of disc and go for the ace. This is just very short and sweet.
4 of 5 people found this review helpful.
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4 / 367ft.
Par / Distance:
5+ 
8/20/2020 
8/20/2020
Review By: b_huber14 
This review was updated on 12/31/2020
Hole #5 (Taken 6/2016) 
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