(4.0) Claystone Park is a well-designed 27-holer on a strikingly beautiful piece of land. Fantastic terrain diversity abounds, with elevation, woods, water and open shots all coming into play. This course, however, lacks a few of the things needed to make a course truly destination-level, keeping it at Excellent.

- As stated above, fantastic terrain diversity. You will need distance, accuracy, and touch to score well here.
- Immense aesthetic appeal, with the lovely Georgia woods and the scenic shores of Lake Tobesofkee providing a wonderful backdrop to your round.
- Very solid throughout. The good holes are, well, good, and the lower ranking holes are a little below average at worst (with one notable exception)

- There are a lot of good holes here. But few are truly great. For a course to ascend to destination level, it needs at least 4-5 good multi-shot holes, and Claystone only has 3 par 4s scattered throughout the 27. 8 is an above-average hole, 18 is relatively mundane, and I consider 21 to be the second worst hole on the course. (1 is sometimes a par 4- boring first shot, fun second shot)
- Some of the wooded holes can get a little poke-and-hopey here at times.
- Only one tee pad, with multiple basket positions per hole. You'll take what the course is going to give you that day, and you'll like it.
- 14 is just a total mess of a hole. More on that one later.

This course hasn't been given a review in about five years, and it seems it's changed a lot since then. I feel it's worthy of an update. I'd like to alert others of this gem, especially since it's close to the interstate and merely a little over an hour from the Atlanta metro. Fun day trip, especially when you consider the other activities the park has to offer.

Background: At the time of this review, I am a 917 rated player with 375 golf distance backhand and a weak forehand. I have played 62 different courses, located mostly in the American Southeast. I am right-handed and will write this review from such a perspective.

Hole Breakdown: (Note: I'm going to devote most of my time here to addressing the most common basket positions. I may mention other ones, but I will focus on the most common.)
1. A diversity of basket positions to start the day- this could be a midrange or putter throw uphill, a long island bomb playing about 425-450, or a dogleg right par 4. There are some trees, but it's relatively open.
2. Relatively open for about 250 feet, but this shot clamps down into a tunnel under a tree canopy at the end. Getting stuck on the left or right will lead to some unfortunate scrambling. Fairway or mid up the gut seems to be the best play.
3. An oddly-angled downhill tree-lined shot that gently moves right. RHBH turnover or RHFH push hyzer will get you down there. That last position is way farther down there than it looks.
4. Three positions- left, right, and center. The rightmost position is going to be either a forehand skip or a sneaky hyzer to the left of the mando. Green access is obstructed and some shots have to get a little lucky here. Center or left positions will be must-gets for MA2 and up.
5. A truly fearsome tunnel shot with a large "tree of injustice" in the middle. Left is a cache of trees from which scrambling is difficult and right is scraggly, thorny rough. I've seen good players deuce this, and I've also seen good players take a snowman here. One of the best holes on the course, if you ask me. Plays a little over 300.
6. Either a straight putter shot or a wooded RHBH hyzer skip.All positions play under 230. Far one is definitely a poke and hope.
7. A personal nemesis hole for me. A downhill power shot moving slightly from left to right. Nasty rough to the left, and an overturned RHBH turnover could hit one of 3 lined up trees along the right side of the fairway. Probably takes about 330 to get down there. The basket is located on the top of a hill facing the lake, and a cross breeze could ruin your nose-up uphill putt. Rollaways are also common here.
8. In the short positions, this is a stock RHBH hyzer. In the long position, it gets a lot more interesting. It becomes a par 4 with 2 routes to the landing zone- RHBH flex or tommy up the middle or wide skip hyzer. Then, the fairway almost doubles back in a severely sharp left dogleg to a hill green with an elevated basket. There's 2 places where you can attack for the bird after the tee shot- an inside line and an outside line. If you're in the middle, it's probably best to commit to the par.
9. Uphill RHFH flex forehand or backhand putter shot right up the gut. There's a sneaky line on the right side. Probably a must-get for MA1 and up.
10. Uphill midrange tunnel shot. I like to RHBH a midrange that's a little flippy on hyzer so it doesn't finish too hard down the hill. There's an OB road to the right.
11. Short position is a little putter dump. Long position is a mid/fairway downhill blast through a gap. Backhand and forehand both work here. The natural one-sided bowl of the green can help stop your disc, but it can also lead to an inopportune rollaway to the bottom.
12. Either a RHBH midrange hyzer onto a little hill of a green or a downhill straight midrange shot with OB behind and to the right. Fun little birdie shot.
13. Across a valley and slightly uphill. Positions are left, right and center. Right is pretty reachable with a midrange turnover or flick hyzer. Relatively short, open hole. All basket positions are on the hill, and, as such, mind rollaways.
14. I have played few disc golf holes where I loathe stepping up to the tee pad as much as I do on this one. It's about 225 in the short and 375 in the long. An OB road runs all the way along the right, and the lake runs all the way along the left. To make matters worse, the fairway runs down on a severe right-to-left slope, and I don't think it gets much more than 100 feet wide the whole way. Rollaways and big skips into the lake are common, as are hyzers that don't come back and lead to you attempting the same awful shot 20 feet up the fairway. The short position is close enough that you should be able to lay up a putter and take a par, but you're still praying that it doesn't roll into the lake. The long position…well, you're hoping the basket isn't in the long position. This hole has ruined my Throw At The Stone two years in a row, and I've decided that next year, I'm going to buy a used-bin driver, chuck it down there into the water and take the 4, since laying up doesn;t even really work all that well because the fairway is so tight before the green. This hole would be SIGNIFICANTLY improved with the addition of a drop zone. Maybe you go OB and don't get up and down from the drop zone…I think the double bogey is punishment enough, instead of some potentially cartoonish number (and, of course, the searing pain of probable disc loss). The next hole executes this suggested concept correctly.
15. Awesome blast over the inlet of the lake; an overall really fun and scenic shot. I'd say you need about 330 controlled distance to clear this one and about 350 to get near the pin. This one does have a drop zone about 200 out or so- you can lay up to the drop zone area off the pad if you're a shorter thrower. Shots pulled to the right risk getting caught up in tree branches and dumped unceremoniously into the lake.
16. Another beautiful shot over a rolling hill down to a pin tucked against the lake on the right side. If you're a power forehand thrower or a lefty, this is your jam. I've seen the turnover work, but due to the elevation change, if it's overturned, it's just going to keep going….right into the lake. I've also seen turnovers that don't flip stable up and cruise over the hill into the water. Once you crest the little hill, it's all downhill from there towards the hazard. I don't have the 325 or so forehand power you'll need to reach this hole, so I lay up with a midrange. (I know, I'm lame.) I've also seen this one in a really crazy far position out to the left.
17. A power hyzer uphill with one large tree in the way. I have 375 feet of distance consistently, and I can reach this one, but it's at the edge of my range. Birdie putts can be tough up here due to wind coming off the lake. I've also seen the pin tucked on the edge of the lake, about 250 out; land to the left, lake to the right.
18. A par 4 that has RHBH power throwers salivating. Woods line the left, and the lake lines the right the whole way. (Very tough for LHBH or RHFH players.) The fairway is wide enough that you can hang a relatively conservative hyzer out and keep it off the trees on the left side. I usually try and get about 350-375 off the tee, then I have a very open 200-250 foot upshot. Pretty much zero danger on the green here. Also, the woods on the left tail off around the 400 mark, so if you have a big arm, you can keep the hyzer more over land here. MA1 and up should get this every time.
19. Two lane uphill shot with a midrange. Forehand or backhand turnover both work. Inside line is pretty tight, so I see most people go outside. If you hit a tree in the fairway, you'll have a rough par save from the rough on either side.
20. Very, very technical downhill left turning shot. The line is TIGHT and there are a lot of trees in the fairway. A pushing hyzer can get you down the fairway, but only a hard chop forehand is going to get you down to the back position. A unique, intimidating hole that I find particularly excellent.
21. Not a fan of this one. It's almost an L-shaped fairway to the left- you'll need to throw over some trees and thick brush to get into the fairway. A more aggressive shot can really get up there, but risks getting stuck in insane levels of brush. (I've noticed a high flex forehand fading back to the fairway seems to be the shot.) The second shot is basically a poke-and-hope down the hill towards the basket. I've heard there's some sort of forehand line, but I personally didn't see it. Not a good first shot or second shot, but I think this one could be improved by taking out a few trees towards the end of the fairway.
22. An uphill power shot with a relatively open fairway and a small gap in a wall of trees at the end. If you don't make the gap, you'll have an obstructed 35-40 footer. Plays around 330. Fun to bomb a fairway up there.
23. Right turning shot around a corner with thick rough everywhere. Pretty far right, so you'll need a skip forehand or a very high, ambitious backhand. Relatively standard hole.
24. Wide open 180 foot shot with an extremely elevated basket- probably about 10-12 feet in the air. Big time struggle in the wind. It can be really difficult to make a putt inside 20 feet here due to the severe elevation difference. At my last tournament here, without thinking, I parked my shot off the drive and couldn't make the putt from under the basket. I'd switch to the basketball shot at close range.
25. There's a left and right fairway here, but I think you have to take the right side, even if you're left handed or a forehander, just based on the way the pad is angled. It's around a 325 foot shot with the trademark nasty rough along the sides. Pros would likely go spike hyzer here. You can also lay up with a RHBH putter hyzer to guarantee a manageable approach.
26. This is an absolute beast of a hole, it plays 410 off the long pad and pinches down around the 275 mark. I usually try and throw a midrange into the main gap; if it gets down, the approach is a relatively unobstructed 150 footer. If you can get the drive down, this one is doable. If.
27. A very sharp wooded right turn leads to a very obstructed approach to an elevated basket. There's a number of lines to the basket after the drive, but none are particularly easy, and if you try to push the drive far down there, you're really risking the initial gap. Difficult finishing hole, there's a variety of things that could go wrong here. I think even pros would see nothing wrong with a par here.

Other Thoughts/Tips:
- This park is a wonderful place to spend some time enjoying the outdoors. It's $3 to get in, but it's worth it. In addition to The Stone, there's a 9 hole junior course for ace runs, a swimming beach, and camping onsite. I camped out here for Throw At The Stone one year and had a blast.
- 19-27 are a significant step up in difficulty from the first 18. I recommend newer players stop off after 18, near the parking lot.
- The rough here is ROUGH, especially on 19-27. I've never seen anything like some of the thorn plants here, and there's a lot of them. Luckily, your disc usually doesn't go too far in due to the density. As always, check for ticks and bring bug spray.
- Amenities are very good. There's a practice basket, lost disc box, and community board. Large concrete tees and Discatchers are always good to see, and there's a bathroom near hole 1/18 and after 13. Signage does a good job of helping you locate the basket, but I've found some of the distances to be inaccurate.
- Course maintenance has been a little inconsistent. Normally it looks pretty good, but it was terribly overgrown one time I played.
- Navigation and flow is really good here. You might need help getting from 19 to 20, but that's all I can think of off the top of my head.
- The folks from the Macon Aces local club are a lot of fun.
- The Tobesofkee Lake Store is less than 5 minutes away. It has an absolutely fantastic selection of Innova and Discraft discs, and there are a few other manufacturers as well. I'm a Discraft guy, so my wallet tends to take a beating there.
- I've played a lot of courses on the I-75 corridor through GA (Dalton courses, Cartersville courses, ATL, Moseley, Tracks, Rozar, Fulwood) and I would recommend this above any of the others if you are on a road trip (I haven't played Freedom Park in Valdosta), although I think others might recommend Westside or Moseley.
- Claystone has a relaxed, easygoing vibe to it. I tend to get frustrated with myself if I play poorly; I notice I don't really have that problem here.

"God bless America, and God bless the backhand turnover."

This is probably my favorite course in Macon. It offers a really nice blend of technical and open throws. While the holes aren't particularly long, they play a lot longer than they are listed. There are a lot of elevation changes that lead to a variety of shots required. There is water on a number of holes that make it pretty easy to lose a disc if you're not willing to go swimming. A skilled player can shoot very well here, but a lesser skilled player can find themself running up some numbers.

Lots of water and marshy areas make discs realllllly easy to lose. Be aware of OB, it can jump out and get you.

Hole 1: Large uphill RHBH hyzer shot to the basket. The fairway is dotted with large trees that are easily avoided. The right side of the fairway involves some underbrush and tall grass, but the risk reward for the big backhand is very worth it.

Hole 2: Mando tree on the right side of the fairway with some low hanging branches that bring the ceiling into play early off the tee. The left side of the fairway is heavily wooded. This is a great putter approach shot, but going left leaves you in jail for your second shot.

Hole 3: Wide open fairway that is heavily wooded on the left. The fairway slopes slightly downhill to a right fading tunnel approach. The best play is an aggressive RHFH that flexes down the left side of the fairway and glides towards the basket.

Hole 4: Depending on the pin position (currently in the B position) the hole plays drastically different. In the A position, it is a straight on driving putter approach with the basket guarded on the left side by a single tree. The B position offers two approaches, a hard hyzer RHFH down the main fairway will leave you a relatively open approach to the basket. The alternative line is sneaking inside the Mando tree on the right and letting a RHBH hyzer fly down the outside of the alternative fairway. In the B position, it's a tough birdie, but not impossible.

Hole 5: This is a very narrow tunnel shot over a small bridge. The fairway is very narrow and the basket is tucked behind a couple of large pine trees at the end of a left fade off the tee. The best play is a driving putter approach holding a straight line just inside the tree line on the right side of the fairway. There are a lot of branches and foliage that keep the ceiling very low and takes out the big sloping hyzer approach.

Hole 6: This is another big hyzer shot slightly uphill with trees guarding the fairway and a lot of branches in the ceiling to guard the lines. There are two plays for this hole to consider. The first is the hard hanging RHBH hyzer that sneaks just right of the trees that guard the middle of the fairway. This is an unpredictable approach because of all the branches and obstacles that could obstruct the hyzer shot. The other approach is a slightly understable RHBH midrange approach. The left side of the fairway has an available line for a RHBH flex shot, but it requires a bit of weaving for the shot to pay off. Even if you get knocked down by a tree/branch, the underbrush isn't bad and allows for a very easy 2nd approach shot.

Hole 7: In the A position, this shot is a hard dog leg right with a number of large pines guarding the more direct line. A RHFH throw will leave a solid line, but requires a larger arm than expected. The basket is just far away enough to challenge an intermediate players distance, and the hyzer line only adds to the demand of the shot. In the B Position, the fairway is fairly narrow with heavily wooded protection on the left and right side. The fairway will slope downhill at first with lots of roots to prevent skipping shots and rollers. The green for the B position is a steep uphill approach. A powerful RHBH flex shot down the left side of the fairway will flex out and glide down to the bottom of the hill for an easy approach to the basket.

Hole 8: This is a short but hard dog leg left shot. The distance is no more than 150-160 feet but the left side of the fairway is heavily wooded and completely blocks the direct line. A RHBH hyzer shot with an overstable disc will leave you an Ace Run or in a great position for birdie. The right side of the fairway has a lot of low hanging branches to prevent the hyzer bomb.

Hole 9: This is a straight uphill shot with the basket tucked away on the backside of the plateau on top of the hill. The center of the fairway is guarded with lots of trees, and the left and right margins are guarded with lots of young pines. There are two lines that I've found effective, a RHBH anhyzer with an understable midrange will curl around the left side of the fairway and park on top of the plateau for an approach. The other is a RHFH flex shot down the right side of the fairway, but requires absolute precision to make it up the hill, flatten out, and slide up under the basket.

Hole 10: This is a long and narrow tunnel off the tree. There is no underbrush, but the tunnel is maybe 15 feet wide for about 100-130 feet off the tee. Once you clear the tunnel the fairway opens up wide open with an OB road on the right, and OB road long on the basket. The basket sits on a left fade and slightly uphill from the tee. The best approach is a fairway driver off the tee controlled down the tunnel along the right side and fading left on a line towards the basket.

Hole 11: This hole plays very different depending on pin position. In the A position, it is an "island" green (marked by rocks) that is sharply downhill, but straight on from the tee. It does not require a big arm, but it does require control to stick the island. A position is a straight Ace Run or easy birdie. In the B position, it is a long RHFH drive with the basket placed on a steep hill on the far right end of the fairway. The approach is fairly well guarded by spotted trees, and if the disc stands up on the landing, it has a lot of potential to roll back down the hill.

Hole 12: In the A position, the shot is a hard RHBH hyzer with a relatively open approach. The basket sits on a hill that drops off behind the basket. Off the tee, the left side is spotted with trees that prevents a direct line, the only real approach is the sky hyzer for RHBH players. In the B position, it is a straight on shot that plays slightly down hill. The green is guarded on the back right with an OB gulch/little bridge. The best play in the B position is a RHFH flex shot that has potential for a little skip up at the basket.

Hole 13: This hole has 3 pin positions, but I have only ever seen it in the A position. In the A position, it is a dead on straight shot, but the fairway slopes steep downhill off the tee, and straight uphill back to the basket. Off the tee, you are just slightly below pin-high. There is an OB road behind the basket that comes into play with bigger armed players. There are spotted trees on the right side of the fairway that shouldn't come into play, there is a single tree near the left-center of the fairway that also shouldn't affect your approach at the A position. A straight line RHBH shot is the safest approach. The B position is about 50 feet to the left of the A position at the same elevation. The C position is 50 feet right of the A position at a SLIGHTLY lower elevation. None of the positions pose a serious threat. The C position is more heavily guarded by trees.

Hole 14: In the A position, the basket is straight on from the tee, very narrowly tucked inside the OB road on the right. The fairway slopes hard left downhill straight towards the lake. The basket is maybe 5-7 feet off the OB right, and the hill starts its steep drop off immediately after the basket. In the B position, the basket is about 150 feet further down the lane from the A position. The nearside fairway remains treacherous with lots of trees to block your direct approach, but not enough to save you from skipping down to the water. The OB road right has a gentle left turn that continues to guard the very narrow fairway on your approach to the B position. For most right handed throwers, the normal landing zone is at a very narrow point in the fairway between the OB road right and a jetty in the lake that creeps up behind the tee for 15. Once you've made your first shot, the approach to B position is very open, but there are a few guardian trees that can create problems on your lines. In the B position, this is a ridiculously difficult par 3, with OB potential all over the place.

Hole 15: This is a long shot, fading slightly right off the tee, over the water (when the lake is at normal levels). The left side of the fairway is heavily wooded with lots of low hanging branches and foliage to knock shots down. The far side of the lake as you get close to the basket turns into a swampy marsh with high grass and sinking mud. Avoid this area at all costs. A strong RHFH shot will coast out over the water and fade safely to the right side of the lake/fairway and leave a relatively safe approach shot. Beginners beware, this hole has eaten more discs than the puppy bin at Petsmart.

Hole 16: Depending on pin position, this hole plays more or less dangerous. In the A position, the basket is tucked behind a big guardian tree on the right side of the fairway on a slightly left to right downhill that fades towards the water. It tempts aggressive players with a hyzer RHFH shot that can leave you in the water/reeds in a hurry. The RHBH flex shot offers a safer play, but does not leave a hugely desirable upshot. In the B position, the basket sits about 50 feet left and 100-125 feet longer than the A position. The tee shot is much safer, as you can just rip off a huge RHBH or RHFH shot depending on your strengths. Off the tee the fairway slopes downhill slightly, then back uphill to a plateau, and the basket is after the plateau and slightly downhill back towards the water again. It doesn't leave a death putt, but a long second shot can leave you closer to the water than you would desire. A shorter drive can leave you a blind approach, as it is difficult to see up and over the hill. In the B position, the wind can really be a factor because it sits on the corner of the lake and the inlet bay/marsh area.

Hole 17: Depending on the pin position, the hole plays vastly different. In the A position, the shot is basically straight on off the tee, slightly downhill. The lake is OB right off the tee, and the shoreline is covered in tall reeds. The basket is guarded on the right side by a tall tree with tons of pesky branches to knock down good shots. The best shot for this is a RHBH hyzer shot that hangs out over the lake and fades back towards the basket (which sits about 10 feet off the shoreline). In the B position, the shot is to the left off the tee in comparison to the A position. I've never see the basket placed here, but it's a very safe shot with no real obstacles. It's an uphill big arm shot, but there would be no real challenge in making par. In the C position, this hole is a bear. The approach off the tee is the same as the A position. You can throw a bigger shot with a RHBH hyzer and leave it behind the A pin for your second shot. The C position sits about 150 feet behind the A position on a similar line and equally close to the shoreline on the right. The C position basket is heavily guarded by a few pesky trees that are tall and branchy, similar to the A position.

Hole 18: In the A position, this is a straight on shot with the fairway heavily guarded on the left with woods. The right side of the fairway has the OB Lake (disc eater), and the shoreline is covered in tall reeds. Very easy to lose a disc on this hole, but sticking the fairway with a good OS disc isn't too hard. In the B position, this hole becomes a huge par 4, that is exceptionally challenging. The basket sits about 150-175 feet behind the A position, and the approach after the A position is aggressively uphill. The normal RHBH hyzer line is still available, but the distance shot is guarded by multiple boathouses and docks. It would take a HUGE RHBH hyzer shot to clear the boathouse, but it is possible.

Great course. My favorite course in Macon because of the variations in elevation, and the multitude of shots it requires. Good luck and stay dry.

-Very pretty course and park
-Not very crowded typically
-Has garbage cans at most holes

-$3 a person
-Campers
-Could use more bathrooms

-Nice beach and lake
-Bringing bug spray can be a good idea depending on what time of the year it is

- Beautiful Layout
- Garbage cans at every hole
-Easy to find and play
- Greens and Tees were very well kept

- Entrance fee to park
- Almost every hole is aceable

If you find yourself in this area please take the time to play this course. Found it driving back to Wisco and the course did not dissapoint