I pulled into this busy park at 7:40 on a Friday morning , just as daylight was trying to overtake the night . The park was an easy find , just off of RT. 19 with a big sign saying Cliff Stephens Park Disc Golf . As I sat in my car , I could already see walkers treading their miles on the cement paths . I wanted to get on this course before the locals overtook it , and I was glad I did . by the time I was done with the first 9 , there were 30 people on the course , On a Friday . And it was only about 8:30 ! The course starts on the left of the adequate sized parking lot here . There is a kiosk with a map of the course . A Port O Let was nearby from the #2 basket . The signs are excellent , with Hole # , par , distance , and actual pictures of the pins . There are some Next Tee signs that help wit navigation The cement tees ( 2 on most holes ) are large and grip well .There are multiple pin positions and in many cases multiple baskets . Some are yellow , but the main ones are green Discatchers . The amenities are good here , too . Benches and trash cans throughout this course . Plenty of holes here to play . The DGR face page says 25 , but I was only able to play 22 this day .The course splits , as 1/9 play on the parking side of the street that you came in on , and 10-25 makes you cross to the other side . The course is very picturesque , with it's water , large oaks with low hanging branches and Spanish moss hanging from them . I won't explain hole to hole , but I will give highlights . Beware of #1 . Great starter hole at 425' from the long tee , has water behind and to the left of the basket . #5 has a tribute to Climo on it It is 369' from the longs , but is guarded by an oak with low hanging branches even on the ground guarding the basket . makes for interesting putts . Overthrow this hole or ricochet of a branch and you could hit water behind it . #9 is one of the shortest holes on the course at 279' , but you have to lift your drive enough to carry a wall in front of the basket . Throw too hard and go way past . Many holes here will have water on the right or left fairway or right behind the hole . #12 is a safe water carry , but the basket sits way past the water in a clump of trees . I played 2 discs at 16 long . One to throw an island shot , then 1 to play 16 as a station to station shot to the basket on the slight other side of a body of water . #17 is a hidden tee ( print the map ) down to the left , where you have to throw at the island shot , which is really a peninsula throw from the other way , with a long dropoff into the water on either side . Make sure you bring a couple of found or throwaway discs from your trunk when playing this course . It is not hard to have one land in water . And you don't want to go in after them ( explain in cons ) . #18 tee is actually close to the 17 hidden tee , just in the opposite direction . It is a tunnel shot with a small hillside to the left , a tree in the middle of the fairway and water to the immediate left . A true pucker shot from either the long or short tees . The next tee beyond it was unplayable , so you have to take an immediate right and out the other end to play the final holes . #21 ( or 18 as the locals know it ) finishes you off as a 669' par 3 ? What the ?!?! You want to come here when you have time to burn , because this is NOT a fast play . It took me over 90 minutes to play the 22 holes . By the time I was done , there were players all over this course . The park is clean and well kept . I met one of the locals from the Tampa Bay Disc Sports Club back on the hole behind 17 , clearing it for an upcoming tournament . Many very good holes and friendly locals , make this a happening course . Signature Hole : Maybe #16 , where you can throw to an island to throw over the rest of the water . There is a reason that there are so many bike riders and walkers here , with the trees , paths and water . Challenging , yet also friendly for the average player . The course has a more woods feel on holes 2-9 and 18 , and more open , park style and water related on the rest .

#1 Safety . The only places you have to watch for disc golfers and fairways are from holes 4-8 . , especially after the front 9 , but the cement paths cut through a part of this course and bike riders and runners can come up on you in a minute . Nailing them with a drive is a possibility . Also , on maybe hole 13 ? One goes dangerously close to the busy road that cuts this course in 2 . You can easily hit a car that is coming in from behind you . #2 Water ,,, and safety . You will see more water related holes here than most anywhere . And most are sloped downward . Not only do you stand on losing your prized driver or midrange , but alligators have been spotted in these waters . Let your miscues drown . Bring a couple of second hand discs to throw some of these holes . I had one run-in with a gator at Sunset near Pensacola while putting on the fringe of a small lake . Don't take needless chances . Disc Risk : medium to high , just because of so many water possibilities ( the shorter tees try to steer you away from the water carries , a big plus )#3. Navigation . Even with a printed map , the back end of this course can be a head scratcher . You will see what you think is a natural flow ( 11 to 15 comes to mind , along with 17-18 ) only to be a course hiccup in another direction As scenic as these holes are , the course varies in distance and challenge , but the course is flat ( not able to help ) , and has no bends , station to station throws or doglegs . Shot shaping only goes to the creativity of this course . Some of this course might be a mess after a good hard rain .

I didn't realize that Cliff Stephens in one of the oldest course in Florida . This is a first class play . Amenities , good trails and places to sit for family while you play , The course sits very close to Clearwater beach for you vacationers . Very scenic , it's no wonder that you have to dodge foot and bike traffic here .Even if I didn't play disc golf , I would come here , even if to eat lunch . You might even catch some of the local pros playing .If you lose any discs or just want to browse a huge disc golf store nearby , The Local Route is close by on Rt 19 . You might want to look at the Facebook page before coming out . I am told that this course hosts a lot of tournaments and organized play . Checked this course off of my personal bucket list .Thank You Clearwater Parks And Rec and Tampa Bay Disc Sports Club for letting me play this great course . My recommendation : Even with the shorter tees Newbies or local families may want to cut their teeth on North East Coachman Park just a few minutes up the road . Other than that , locals , Pros , Ams , vacationers , travelers will find that this is a must play . You will understand what I am saying immediately after you park your car here . Play IT !! As Many Times As You Can !!!

This course has been on my wishlist for quite some time... and it did not disappoint.

*Personal Background as of time of review- 7 years playing DG, course designer of Black Bear DGC in West Portsmouth Ohio. I have played 3 of the current top 10 including: Flip, Harmon Hills, and Idlewild.

As the previous reviewer mentioned, It was really cool to see the Disc Golf sign on the main road that accesses the park. This is very similar to Idlewild. My review is simply for long tees to short baskets. 18 hole design. Holes 1 through 9 play through old growth oak forest. Holes 10 through 18 really open up for longer throws and water Carries.

Without spelling out every single hole, I will say that highlights for me were 2, 10, and 16. Something very majestic about Spanish moss covered oaks. Very likely, this is because it is nostalgic for me having grown up in South Carolina... and then living in Ohio and never seeing it.

Loved the long teepads. These arent a must for a long carry course, but very appreciated. Also enjoyed the signs that hung on the baskets... and tee signs that were in. Having a Kiosk is great.

Multiple Tees and Baskets on every hole. That really allows for different levels of play.


I guess the other thing that cant easily be replaced here... the history. Cool to know that there have been many top pros that have played here.

Gators... I will put that as a con. No way in hell am I going after a disc. Although... this really made me think the holes and made me play differently than I would up north. Not really a con for me... but probably for most people. I will just leave the disc and donate it to the swimmers.

Again, not a con for me just knowing that this is an old course, but Multi use park with lots of pedestrian foot traffic. There will be several people that will walk through the course as you throw.

Other than the above holes, most of the holes felt like they were the exact same hole. Very few par 4s or 5s.... unless you play to the gold basket.

I stopped by The Local Route on my way out. Very close by, and the people seem very personable. Having a great store nearby is almost enough to make the Pros... but since it isnt part of the course I will list it in this section.

I bet this course would be a blast for tournament play.

Thank you very much to the locals and the club for giving me a great course to travel to. I know it is difficult to take care of such a huge course.

About a half mile from the park, I spied a sign reading Cliff Stephens Park Disc Golf Course. I was most impressed. The large park is lovely and features many lakes and canals. It seems as though they come into play on just about every hole.

The course starts near the parking lot with the front 9 looping back here. There is a Sani-can, a course rules sign, and a small kiosk here. There are extra long concrete tee pads (14 feet) on both the Longs And the Shorts. The signs show the distance for both and as well 2-3 basket placements along with those distances. The baskets are a very pretty light green Discatchers. Or are they Pea Green?

There are benches at most every pad as well as garbage cans and bag holders. Both 9 and 18 finish at the parking lot.

I thought there was a nice mixture of hole lengths as well as difficulty. From the shorts, # 3 and # 9 we're both fun little Ace runs. I loved the difficult basket placement on both # 2 (stuck in behind this tree with multiple limbs sprouting up) and # 5 with it's basket just above the waters of the pond.

There were water carries for everyone. # 10 features a 280' carry if you throw directly at the basket. Then # 12 is just about 100' carry. # 16 is a monster especially from the longs and especially today with a brisk wind kicking up. And these don't include the other 7-8 lakes and canals border the fairways.

As with just about course with added A-B-C type holes, I found this somewhat confusing. Firstly, my DGCR map shows a map with 21 holes numbered 1-21. There is no mention of any lettered holes but the information side states the course has 25 holes. I did find a basket just beyond # 16 basket labeled C. The cool island hole is listed as 17 on my DGCR map. I do see that there is a path leading off into the woods beyond the # 7 tee pad. If I had spent a little more time searching, I would've have figured it out.

Not a con but when you combine windy conditions with scary water carries, that's a situation.

All the water here that defines Cliff Stephens could also be considered a Con to many. Losing your plastic is a Con.

Hungry gators are a Con.

Course is flat.

To me, Cliff Stephens lived up to it's lofty spot among Florida's top courses. The amenities were great. The water was lovely to look at, provided some nerve wracking moments throwing over or around it and is not advisable for rescuing little wayward discs out of. I liked the hole variety of short Ace runs and others like the 669' last hole. I don't know which number to bestow upon this behemoth (Is it 18' 21 or 25?) but I like the fact that there was some shaping and accuracy involved here as well. For me, # 16 was a little too much for my game but how I would love to watch any kind of a tournament group playing it.

-- Cliff Stephens is a well laid out, 24+ hole course with multiple tees on many holes and multiple pin placements. This means there is a lot of fun golf to play out here. There are long shots, tight tunnels, nerve-wrecking water carries, and a lot in between. The only thing really missing here is a lot of elevation, though there is some (especially the riverbanks). The variety is what really makes this course for me: I throw just about every disc in my bag and use every shot I know how to throw every time I play it. Many holes have different lines you can play based on what you are feeling that day.
-- Risk/reward. With all the water in play on this course, there is a lot of decision making between a safe shot that won't fly/roll into the water or that perfect line that you *know* you can throw but may not be the highest percentage shot for you. Hole 16 really embodies this, with a HUGE carry over a pond on a very long hole. From the long tees, you can try to carry straight (a 330-400 foot bomb depending on where you aim), play short to the right to get to dry land, or play out to the left onto the peninsula with hole A's basket. Launching one out there and praying that it barely carries to dry land can be a lot of fun or just plain miserable depending on whether the disc golf gods decide to listen that day. Hole A is another risky shot (that is an extra hole not always played) where you shoot out a very narrow peninsula fairway to a basket surrounded on 3 sides by dangerous water.
-- The tees are nice concrete tees with plenty of length. They could be wider, but they aren't narrow enough to be problematic.
-- There are benches, trash cans, and bag hangers all over the place. The signs are also very helpful with actual pictures of the holes showing the various pin placements. The only thing missing from the signs would be an indicator of which pin placement is currently installed.
-- The legend and history of this course. Being built in 1986, it has seen a lot of rounds by a lot of players and has become somewhat infamous. It is also the home course of The Champ, Ken Climo.

-- Water, water, water. And gators. Water plays in on a very large number of holes, with some just having river along the side or back of the hole barely in play but with others carrying over a good amount of water. I don't know if I have ever played here without losing at least one disc. I've had a few that I could see in the water, but with all the signs everywhere about gators, I wasn't about to go in and get them. I can also attest that these signs aren't exaggerations, the last time I played (Feb 2017) I saw a tiny 2ft gator on the back of hole 5 and thought "oh cool." That was until I got to hole 7 and saw an 8-10 foot gator sitting on the shore just downhill behind the basket. Playing water shots is fun, but be prepared to lose some plastic here.
-- On the theme of losing discs, hole 17 (I think locals call it "B" or something, but is the one listed as 17 on this site) is also a bit ridiculous. It's a short hole, but incredibly tight (15 to 20ft wide) with really thick woods on the right and a few tree trunks, thick bushes, and a creek on the left. While the creek is pretty shallow and narrow, the bank is steep with very thick brush. A slightly errant shot can barely catch a tree and bounce way left or right into very serious trouble. This hole always takes me forever.
-- While this course has decent variety, I'd say it tends to play largely open. There are some more tightly wooded holes towards the end, though ideally I'd want the open and wooded holes a bit more spaced out to balance the front and back nines and keep the round a bit more interesting.
-- Some holes play next to or over a bike path and a road. The road is only one hole, but the bike path comes into play a lot. I've had to wait on quite a few holes for bikers and walkers to clear the fairway before throwing, and on a super busy day I could see risks of someone getting hit with a disc.
-- Towards the end, it is confusing to know where to go. Hole A feels natural after 16 but is rarely played. The original 17 is also right there, but if you do that you miss the new holes in the back (listed as 17-22 on this site). A sign after 16 directing players where to go based on whether they are playing 24 or just the original 18 would really help.

While some of the newer courses in the area - like Cypress Point and Picnic Island - are better, this is a must play course in the Tampa Bay area if for nothing else but the history of the place. It is a very fun round, but I'd recommend bringing some throwaway plastic for some of the water shots (but don't worry, Clearwater Disc Golf store is just up the road in case you need to reload your bag after a round). Enjoy, and watch out for gators!

Loved this course! I played in the afternoon, and the low sun was lighting up the moss that hangs from the mature trees and making them glow. It was really picturesque!

On to the course: First 9 is mostly moderate length holes, thru mature tree lines. Water skirts a few holes, and sits quite lower than the land, so flirting with the edge could lead to a roll away disc, but only if you make a bad shot. The water really shouldn't be in play too much for most throws. I really like the multiple lines offered by the mature trees, and the mentioned slight elevation changes, which are both kinda rare in parts of Florida. I played conservatively throwing straight at most baskets keeping the disc low. And making good approach putts lead to easy pars. There a few legit birdie chances to be had. Back nine the water comes in to play more, but the trees thin out a bit, so it's a wash. I little easier to stretch out your throws, but you better be accurate! A couple of water carries, but there are areas to bail out if you aren't feeling on top of your game. I did not play the extra holes, so cant review them...was running out of daylight. Overall, the pads are concrete, in fine shape, and the baskets are adequate.

Small parking area as you arrive. Really need a course map and sign directing you to the first hole. I walked around a bit like a newb looking for the first hole until I found it. Be aware of walkers, bikers, etc. There are paths throughout the park. Also, gators and snakes. Baskets are set a bit low to the ground. Could use a little more variety in this regard. But I'm nitpicking...the course is really really fun.

It was a beautiful park, played in beautiful weather. I played +1 which I thought was great for first time through. I did put one in the drink on #16, but it was fun going for it! Played with a beginner who played from the short pads, and she was able to get some pars and really enjoy the course, as well.

I recommend this course, definitely one of the top 10 in FL, and you feel the history of the course when you play it.

(3.838 Rating) (REVISED - replayed September 2017) Generally regarded as one of better courses in the Tampa Bay region. The layout will test the nerves of a seasoned player and ruin the day for the kid with just one disk.
- MULTIPLE FORMATS - The thing I find most intriguing about Cliff is the ability to choose between multiple hole formats based on skill and the time one has available. For example, starting at 1, you could play 1-9 as 9 ends at parking. you could play 1-18. Adjacent to (16) is a loop of 6 additional holes (19 thru 24). There is also a 25th Hole (A) and it's a signature bonus hole and is generally only played during casual rounds. It's a must play if you have the time. The basket for hole (A) is surrounded by water, as is only connected by a small isthmus from tee and basket. It will intimidate even the surest of players.
- CHARACTER - The course has most of the typical character items that you'd see at an older established course. Brand new baskets as of this revision. Other items include; multiple basket locations, benches, bag holders, good tee signage, trash cans, tables, porta-potty and so on.
- TEES - I find that the concrete tees are satisfactory in length and in integrity. There are also multiple tees pads for a majority of the holes.
- UNIQUENESS - The hole variety and shot selection options are well above the average course. There are heavily wooded and open shots. There are holes along water, over water, and "keep it short" of water. There are right and left pocket shots, blind baskets, and a few gimme holes. There are no listed par 4's, but at 669 feet and with flanking water, (18) could easily be list as such. No par 5 and the course lacks a true dog-leg hole. No hole twists more than 20 degrees.
- CHALLENGING - The two sets of tees will offer a good challenge to a wide swath of skill levels. The back tees are great for advanced players and the front tees are great for rec and intermediate level players. Risk reward lines are present on several holes. Not as much as the shot shaping as nearby Maximo but close. A few holes will also require a nice bomb done the fairway. I want to say that I've used every disc in my bag for this one.
- NATURAL BEAUTY - The Spanish moss on the live oaks is pretty awesome. Lots of water views and the overall landscape is pleasing. Doesn't quite have the eye appear of nearby Picnic or Taylor, but it's up there.
- FUN FACTOR - In general, I find the course to be fun. There are a few opportunities for aces, some enjoyable driving windows to hit and plenty of chill areas. In addition, the regulars will be pleased with a very active club with weekly events.

Other than the water factor, I find no other major issues with Cliff Stevens, but I will add a few ticky-tack things.
- WATER - The glaring problem with Cliff is the amount of water, which comes into play 14 times. I advise that only Pros and Advanced players play the back tees to mitigate some of this problem. Many area players consider it an accomplishment to complete a round and not throw one in the water.
- BEGINNER FRIENDLY - Due to the above issue, bring a beginner or newer player here is not advised.
- NAVIGATION - There is no course map located within the community board. The map on DGCR is only good till (16) and is not up to date with the new 24+1 hole format or numbering after (16). For this reason the loop holes 19-24 are tricky to navigate. After hole 16, head west into the woods to find tee (19). Hole (20) is due west after (19) basket. (21) tee is north of (20) basket. The tee (22) is easy to find as you'll pass it to get to (21) basket. After hole (22) basket, head south and towards the road (U.S. 19) and you'll find (23) tee. after (23), head east down the path for what seems like at least 500 feet to find (24) Please note these holes were labeled as (17-22) for awhile and (17 and 18) were labeled as (23 and 24). Needless to say, Its confusing.
- SAFETY HAZARDS - There are a lot of bikers, walkers and joggers in the park. You will likely have to pause your round a few times. Hole (13) has a road in play.

Cliff Stevens is one of the oldest active courses in the state of Florida, behind Northside Park and Lake Wauburg in the Gainesville area. In addition, this is the home course for 12X World Champion Ken Climo.

Cliff Stevens is a beautiful piece of property and has a very well thought out course design. Some of the best disc golfer's in the world play here on a regular basis. I'm a big fan of the new signs that use photographs to guide you through the course. The front nine is very easy to follow with a perfect flow, but the back nine is a little bit more challenging.

Like a fine wine, this grand old course keeps getting better with age. It is a very popular course, that has been constantly improving over the years.

Most holes have 2-3 pin placements, 2 sets of tees, and nice tee signs. The "Home Of The Champ" sign was a nice touch.

The course is very scenic, and pleasant to play. There are plenty of fair water holes, and many trees to shot shape around. The course runs from moderate to long in length and offers plenty of challenge. Not too much in the way of rough, so the risk of losing a disc is low here, except to the water of course.

The course is well maintained, and litter free.

The course plays close to the road and walking paths/sidewalks on a few holes, so a little waiting to let walkers/joggers/bikers pass may be needed.

I would recommend skipping the alt holes, and just playing the 18 main holes during a casual round. The alternate holes can be hard to navigate, if they are in at all, and are primarily used for tournaments, to allow for more participants.

If you don't like water holes, the amount of water here may be a con for you. I found the water holes to be fair though.

The course may not be the best one for beginners.

This is the home course of "The Champ" Ken Climo and is one of the most popular courses in the Greater Tampa area. The large and competent local leagues do a good job of maintaining their courses and hosting fun tournaments.

UPDATE 1/17/2022: This course continues to age beautifully. Maintenance is spot on, and facilities are in nice shape. The shot variety is great, and it's still outstanding even though we have some other newer options popping up in the area. I consider it to be one of our top tier courses and play here often now that I live down here.

I've frequently heard the knock that this course is hard and a bad choice for beginners. I beg to differ; I think it's worth laying up a few times to avoid the water just to play this amazing course. It's a bit long but not obnoxiously so...I've played courses with multiple 800-ft holes back to back, and this isn't like that at all.

Original review follows:
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Great course design. Lots of different shots kept the play interesting the entire time and I wasn't bored once playing here.

The front 9 is fairly tight and close-in, but the back 9 opens up a lot and you have some chances to air it out. Great job balancing the two and providing a fun experience.

I actually really liked the course tee signs. The photos were a bit unorthodox and different from what I'm used to seeing, but I actually found them pretty helpful. A photo showing specifically which tree the hole is hiding behind is better in my mind than a top-down map with green circles.

Water, water everywhere, but not frustrating or overdone. Love how it is used throughout the course to add difficulty.

The hazards here always seem to fall on the right side of the fun/frustrating divide. I was challenged here and didn't do well to be honest, but it was great fun and would definitely play again.

Ample parking, a porta-john, and trash facilities were available. The surrounding neighborhood looked fairly safe to me as well.

"Hole A" on the back 9 was a blast. A super easy way to lose a disc in the water, but a neat challenge if you've got the time.

The short/long tee pads are amazing and help make this course accessible to all skill levels. It was much appreciated and they frequently help guide you around hazards where you could lose a disc, which was nice.

Course scenery is very nice here; saw plenty of birds while out and the foliage is as always beautiful.

I like how hole 9 plays right back by the parking lot. Great way to get back to the car if you forgot something, or even take off if you don't have much time.

UPDATE 1/17/2022: The only con I will add is that this course is very, very busy. It's one of several great courses in our area, but the only one that seems consistently crowded.
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Navigation was acceptable, and greatly aided by the picture of the map I took with my phone. However, I agree that some "next tee" signs would be nice. The hop from 9-10 was not obvious at all and I would have totally missed it without the map.

You cross quite a few paths throughout, and you have to be fairly aware to make sure you don't hurt people or cyclists. Not a DG-specific area.

UPDATE 1/17/2022: Cliff Stephens is one of my personal favorites, and it's an amazing course. It's aging very well and is clearly well taken care of. Review remains at a 4.
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This course was easy to get to, a blast to play, beautiful, and I think it would be a fun play for most skill levels. Maybe a little overwhelming for your first course, but not horrible either. The design of the shots here was what really gave this course a great rating in my mind -- excellent design makes for a fun, enjoyable round in a beautiful park. Happy discing!

Cliff Stephens is a park style course in Clearwater with pretty simple access from I-275.
There was ample parking a nice practice area and a couple of portable bathrooms at the practice area.
The layout is setup where hole 9 and hole 18 return to the parking area.
The chaistar baskets were all in pretty good shape.
Most of the holes have multiple tee pad that can allow for a rec player to enjoy the round while the more advanced player can be challenged from the back tee. The pads were concrete and in real nice shape.
There were 2 different pin locations on each hole.
The layout of the course was very well done. There were some holes that forced a hyzer and some holes that forced an anny. Rollers were also a good option on a couple of holes.
I was also impressed with the natural use of the propety to achieve a very challenging disc golf course.
Not being from the area, I wasn't used to the sandy terrain, but I consider this as a pro since most of my upshots would hit and stick.
I remember there being some holes that had places to sit down.
The teeth of this course to me was the distance of the holes. 426 ft par 3 right off the first tee and ending in a 670 ft par 4 is typical of the course. To play the back tee, you WILL need to throw long accurate shots AND work the disc to score well here.
Hole 16 is a thing of beauty. The pin was in "A" making it play at it's longest distance, but that is a awesome hole. The risk/reward is what is love about disc golf.

Beware of snakes on the property. Being from Kentucky, we have our share of snakes, but we saws 3 or 4 in a day at the course.

Being a park setting, there are other people in the park that will hinder your round some.

This park was a very nice place to play disc golf. It would make a great home course to work on your game. The ability to flight the disc is the key to playing here... not just playing turns or fades. When we return to Florida next year, this place WILL be on our MUST play list.

-Perfect mix of long and short tees
-This course has some of the best water hazards that I've seen. The water really brings in the risk/reward factor to several holes.
-Concrete tees on all holes, both long and short.
-Some of the best tee signs around. They give you a close-up of the basket and show you the location of the next tee which makes navigation a cinch.
-The course plays in a figure 8 with the parking lot conveniently located in the middle.
-This course is a "Tale of Two Halves" with the front being a bit shorter with more trees in play and the back being longer with less trees and more water hazard. This was probably my favorite aspect of the course.
-As long as you avoid the water hazards it's pretty easy to recover from a poorly throw shot.
-Challenging, but not brutal.
-This being The Champ's home course is a definite plus.

-The biggest con for me was how crowded this course was. I arrived at 10:30 am on a Wednesday morning and the course was still packed.
-Lots of pedestrians to contend with adds to the slow down on the course.
-There's a real risk of losing a disc here.

Cliff Stephens really is a fantastic course with a great ambience. It's challenging, but doesn't beat you down. This was my second favorite course of the 7 I played in the bay area.

2 sets of tees make for a good challenge for each skill level. A mildly wooded course accuracy is needed to score low. Distance helps but isn't a must. Tee signs are present on each hole with accurate distances for each pin and actual photos of each hole which makes it easier to ID where certain pins are.
There are concrete tee pads so footing isn't an issue from the tee.

The course has a lot of variety in terms of distance and routes to the pin. You will find yourself throwing a different shot on nearly every hole. You definitely don't get a lot of "same disc, same line" shots.

The course is kept very clean. This is clearly a course that gets a lot of play and has pretty good upkeep making for an enjoyable round. When I was there multiple groups were out playing which is always the sign of a good course.

While the tee signs are accurate there isn't a way to tell on multi-pin holes which pin is in play at times. Holes 2 and 9 have pins within about 60 ft of each other so an errant throw on either might find you in someone else's putting green.

The added holes are a little awkward just in terms of getting to them and navigating them. Hole A is straightforward enough and was actually a really nice peninsula hole. Unfortunately you then have to backtrack down As fairway and trek through the woods to get to B. Hole B is the only "bad" hole on the course and I say that only because it doesn't really fit the design of the rest of the course. A very tight tunnel shot it just doesn't fit the rest of the course. The walk from B to C then takes you through the woods again in a not very clearly defined trail (but easy enough to figure out).

The only other thing to be aware of is the course is split in half by a fairly busy road with at least 1 hole coming into direct play alongside it where an errant drive could easily hit a passing car.

This was the 2nd of two courses I played on a trip back to Mobile from St. Petersburg. It was a fun course that challenged my game from start to finish. You have to think about each shot and really need to have every shot available to your disposable to score low. There's a good mix of distance and no real gimmicky shots. Definitely worth the play if you're in the area or passing through.

* Course offers a great variety of shots. Every disc in your bag will be used.
* Edit...I have been told that the nice signs are new. Well, the course has very clear, colorful signage and flows well. Apparently this is an improvement from before.
* hyzer, straight and turnover lines are all used.
* Water is prominent, and not insignificant, but there are typically safer routes. (Except 10...That one you need to carry)
* Front nine offers some lightly technical woods shots, while back is more open, and the variety is appreciated.
* The course is expansive, and does not feel too close together.
* Hole 16 is a flat out awesome hole with an extreme challenge. However safe routes are available.
* Walking paths all over with water fountains which is great for humid, Florida days.
* Challenging pin positions often perched on the edge of slopes leading to hazards.
* There are some slopes leading to hazards. This kind of elevation change is not found on most, Florida courses.
* Bonus holes available A, B, and C near the end. Can be skipped, but adds to the challenge.
* Multiple basket positions, and short pads to play if you prefer.
* Nine and 18 finish toward the parking lot, so the course is intelligently set up.
* Fun course! If you cannot get amped up to play Cliff then you shouldn't be playing.

* This is a popular course and can get very crowded.
* One hole on the back nine runs by a very busy road. It's a nice semi tunnel shot, but it would be easy to lose a disc (and get it run over) on that road.
* The above are more just observations. I loved the course!

Cliff is a big, expansive course with the front nine running through woods and beside a large creek. The back is across the street and runs near a pond and a much larger lake. The course is well marked, has large tee pads, and offers a variety of shots. I really enjoyed the change between front and back nines. It was like crossing the road between two different worlds, because the nines are different in distance and cosmetic makeup.
The front nine has some light woods, and the back is open and long. And this course closes strong! 16 is a bearishly long hole that hugs a pond on a hyzer line. Any hopes of a 3 involve skirting with danger the whole way. It's an incredible hole. 17 is a long turnover shot, guarded by trees on the right and one large oak near the tee. 18 is almost 700 feet, skirts a pond that you already crossed on 10, and finishes in what feels like a wind funnel.
This is a wonderfully designed course that is challenging without being unfair. The fun factor is intact, and you will be proud of your good shots while nervously watching your bad ones. Coachman park is very close and the two can make for an amazing day of disc golf!

Terrain features actual hills and drops. (for florida anyway.)
Truly pro level lines
Great scenery
Front and back 9 end at the parking lot (huge + for short round players)
Great drainage (we got 6+ inches of rain and only a few swampy spots unlike nearby N.E. Coachman which was COMPLETELY underwater.

Signage missing on some holes (cheap pvc poles don't last too long)
Hard too find next tee for many holes (sign on basket would be great)
Ominous water hazards (can be a plus but not for the faint of heart.)

Conveniently located near US-19 and Clearwater Disc Golf Store.

+ Variation of shots
+ Water Hazard play
+ Great scenery
+ Great pads and signs
+ Multiple Pins

- Water Hazard play
- Traffic from walkers/bikers

Easily in the top courses I've played. Very fun course that brings technical challenges of placement and lines into play. Some holes are easy to bird, but they are few to compensate for the more dangerous birdie attempts that follow. Great course design that keeps entertaining year after year. Note: Golden retriever would be a good tool to bring along for risky shots

The course is set up wonderfully. Great mix of technical holes and length. Water is a challenge on a couple holes which is always fun to toy with. One of the nicest front nine I've ever played...Back nine was good...not kind.

Nothing.

Played on my Honeymoon with a first timer...stopped at Clearwater Disc Golf Store and set him up with a beginner pack...We stepped up to hole 4..."You'll want to aim at the tree on your right...don't throw it down the middle...DON'T throw it to the left"..Big hyzer....brand new Valkyrie in the drink! Oops.

First thing, right off; it's Ken Climo's home turf. Biggest thumbs up you can possibly get right there. And it's no wonder he got as good as he did playing here all the time.
- Very technical course. There are a couple of wide open grip 'n rip opportunities (#1, #2, #9, #18), but most holes are wooded and have few lines to the pin.
- Water is everywhere here, and it's not casual, either. You throw along it, across it, and have baskets perched on cliffs above it. The course even boasts an island hole (#A, which is an epic hole).
- 21 total holes... that's a plus, being the only +18 hole course in Tampa Bay.
- Beautiful surroundings... Moccasin Lake Park is a great setting for a disc golf course. Plenty of natural hazards besides the water to test your skills... or bravery.
- Cliff is connected to Northeast Coachman Park by the Ream Wilson Trail. This is totally awesome! I love to park at Cliff and play 18 then skate over to Coachman and play 18 more.
- Course comes back to the lot before you play the back nine. Nice plus here.
- Before Fun 'n Sun 2013, they fixed the signage problem. Flashy new tee signs with arrows showing you where to go once you finish your current hole have been added, and they've done some more work on clearing some holes (especially B and C). The 'Champ's Turf' finally got some love!
- A couple more extra pin placements have been added.

- Well, as everyone has mentioned, some of the tee pads are in poor shape (#2 can get covered by dirt when it rains) and some of the pads are very short and aren't level, either.
- #1, #16, #17, and #18 play along the trail, so waiting for pedestrians is not uncommon.
- No restrooms on site except for a Honey Bucket. This is lame.

- If you can't control your drives perfectly, you might want a floater or two here. The water is pretty rough. And you'll walk a little more than two miles in one round here.
- Not a lot of shade on the back nine, so have your sunscreen.
- Bugs aren't really a problem here, but I'd be careful going in after discs. It's not called Moccasin Lake for nothing, not to mention gators...!
- Quick shot to Clearwater Disc Golf Store and Coachman Park. And running into a local pro is not uncommon.... I met Paul McBeth and Kyle Sawtelle out here!!!

Bumped my rating up to 4.0 with the awesome new signs.

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8/22/20 - The new Gold Layout is pretty much finished. The new pads are poured and have a nice texture to them and also have the distances to the pins painted since most of the tee signs have peeled. There isn't any signage for the new layout yet but it's not impossible to figure out; if you're a local you can probably figure it out. Lots of Par-4's on the Gold but be warned, it is crazy hard; double water carries and blind baskets on cliffs above water. I don't plan on trying it any time soon...way above my skill level.

12/12/20 - New tee pads going in on many holes and pads that aren't being replaced are being lengthened. Lots of underbrush cleared in dense areas as well. Nice to see the course finally getting some love to keep up with others in the area.

You will not get bored at Cliff Stevens. There is always a tree, pond, or stream to shoot around or over. There are a variety of holes and shots. I really enjoyed the long cement teepads. You don't always see teepads that big and I really liked them. There are also multiple teepads for beginners and pros.

There was only one thing that I really didn't like about this course. There were at least 3 or 4 holes with missing signs. If you have never played there it can be very hard to navigate.

I really enjoyed my round at cliff stevens. Anyone from beginners to pros can enjoy this course because of the multiple teepads. However, if you don't enjoy throwing over or around water, this course is not for you. There were at least 6 holes where water comes into play. I didn't mind the water, but it wouldn't be hard to play aggressive and lose a disc. If you are in the area you should play this course. Its a really beauty.

Cliff Stephens Park is a really nice natural setting in the middle of a bustling area. With all of the road construction in the area, it was a little difficult to find, but totally worth the effort. Couldn't even really hear that much outside noise from the park grounds.

I really liked the way the designer integrated the water into the course. Sometimes it seems like a course has a body of water to work with and they use it the same way over and over...typically playing with water on the right side of the fairway. Cliff Stephens had that, but it also had water on the left, a couple of clearing shots and a peninsula hole. Really well done, and kudos to the designer.

I thought the "white" tees offered a good mix of distance differential. Some holes were under 300, but some were over 600. Plenty of 400-500 foot holes mixed in as well. Very well done. I enjoy multi-shot holes and this course had plenty of those. Drive-Putt or Drive-Approach-Putt can get really old. While it is a mostly open course, you really do have to consider your plan of attack on most of these holes.

Climo...it's cool to say that I played his "home course".

Navigation can be a little tricky for someone from out of town. Had to play the course out of order as it was, but I had trouble when I couldn't see other groups to gauge where they were going. I ended up tagging along with a guy, who led me to believe he was a local, but then after we got lost twice admitted he had only played there once before and he was actually from Minnesota. Maybe the first person I've ever run into on a course with multiple personalities. Guy also said he knew Ken Climo. Maybe he did...but I doubt it.

Other than navigation, the course was pretty good. Some of the baskets looked a little rough, but nothing atrocious.

Also, I did not see any alligators, but have heard there may be some around there.

Maybe I just caught them on a bad day, but the locals were not very friendly. They were about to start a weekly event, so I thought I would just tag along and play the weekly event. Evidently it was a "closed event" and "members only"...for an afternoon weekly...hmmm. Anyway, there were about 30 of them and one of me, so I just decided to simply play the course alone. Met up with the guy mentioned above on Hole 10. I guess I figured that since this was just a weekly, and that I was from hundreds of miles away, that these guys would allow me to play without too much trouble. Nope. Ended up playing the front-9 in this order: 1-2-7-8-3-4-5-6-9. When I got to the 9th hole, I waited on the tee for one group to throw. After they holed out, I parked the tee shot, dropped in for my deuce and sprinted to Hole 10 while they were taking a break. I tried not to let this affect my rating of the course, and I think I have minimized it as best I can. Unfortunately my only memories of this course are rushing around trying to play every hole while being looked at like a leper and feeling unwelcome.

The park is connected to a system of trails, and near one of the holes on the back-9, away from the majority of the course, a kid around (16) rides up on a bike. He asks me and the guy I was with if we want to "buy any discs". The way he said "discs" was very strange, and I have a feeling he didn't have any plastic in his backpack. We both declined. Then the guy with me proceeded to tell me how the same kid asks him if he wants to buy "discs" every time he plays there...which I later found out to be only once before. Guy seemed oblivious and harmless enough, so I didn't tell him what I thought.

Back to the course, Cliff Stephens is a cool course. There is plenty of variety here to keep you intrigued. If water is not your thing, then go somewhere else. There's a lot of it here. My personal favorite hole is #17 which plays out onto the peninsula. Beautiful hole and very difficult when windy. I was lucky enough to deuce it. Doubt I could do it again, but I just happened to hit a long putt. This left me with a good feeling over the final holes and made me feel a little better when leaving the course.

Course is definitely not designed for beginners.

If you are in the Tampa/St. Petersburg area, this would be the course I recommend the most. My only suggestion is that you try and play it in the morning when there is probably less traffic and no conflict with others. This is definitely an excellent course.

Played only front 9. Review is for front 9 only. Hole 1 is a fooler. Basket is out in the open. This is not how it is to be on the front 9. Basket placements are excelleent. I will declare short hole 3 as a sig hole for this course. Big trees hide the basket. Elevation is used. I did not have a understable middie with me and many times that was just what I wanted to toss on a number of holes. Not enough course play annie. I appreciated this element as I can toss neutral discs annie well.. MY bad not having one w me. 7 is a classic great hole... 2/3 rds of the hole is open... then a tree cluster, then a basket with a fall-away behind it... so many ways to play it. Really good golf. The basket on 5 is in just a great location. NO skip aces going to happen here... Tree is too in the way. Nice! 4 is a blind basket to a nice pin location along water... forces you to go annie to avoid dropping one in the water. basket on 6 is tucked in well, too.

A few creepy characters lurking about mid-day on a Sunday... the smell of 420 in the air. They were harmless, but it makes it a bit less family friendly.

Clearwater DG store to waaaaaay too close for my wallet! Not a con... a very good thing.