-Etowah is a lot more "out there." Not crazy to where you question if you are playing disc golf, but it's quite far away from the normal spectrum. It's like a brand new artist that created their own genre and exceeded expectations. The design seems very abstract, but with a lot of effort and labor, abstract works out great. I compare it to a hot caffeinated beverage with a berry syrup. Unusual, but I love those beverages. After all, I usually get the raspberry latte at Starbucks. You are playing disc golf in a back side of the woods by a river with a very hilly terrain consisting of boulders and you end up in the open by the river. None of this is normal but it's extremely innovative and quirky.

-The terrain here is very hilly. Especially from #8-11 as you are slowing making your way to the flat portion of Etowah. Starts off with a nice tighter downhill straight hole with rock formations creating the smaller hill you throw down. #4 (the cave hole) has elevation more significant but the cave makes this uphill hole the gem it is. In my opinion, this hole wouldn't be as awesome if it wasn't uphill. Right from the get go you see the fairway and you are looking straight at the basket uphill and you clearly see the cave. Another perk that the elevation gives is the enormous boulder on the right side of #3's fairway. Man! That thing is huge! Maybe 60' high! The hilly terrain here has subsets and offers more than fun disc golf holes that you have to take pictures of.

#8-11 offer the most elevation on the course. #8 is interesting, being only 185'. It's a very technical right to left uphill hole (27' up in elevation). You don't have any other option on this one. You could argue whether or not it's a deuce or die hole. The basket is not in a forgiving spot. Lots of roller potential. I missed my birdie putt and landed 20' left of the pin and made the par save. #9 was an interesting valley. It's easier to cross on the right side of the fairway than the left side because the dip you throw over is slanted forward on the left, making it a longer crossing point to the side where the basket is if you go left. #11 was my favorite hole. This is the first hole with two different tee pads. The long pad was awesome. 305' and severely downhill. Plays way less but the line to the pin is more intimidating than it is from the short pad (a steep downhill 185' hole with an elevation drop of maybe 35 feet). The long pad is a little more than a drop shot. The gap is a little bit tougher right from the long pad and kind of persuades you to "S Curve". I threw a slightly under stable putter with little power and threw it a little high so that it would fall left. I was able to get the birdie from that play. Sweet hole! I love extreme downhills! This one was very different and more particular. I was leaving Birmingham after playing the Magic City Mega Bowl and I had to compare this hole to #16 at Clay. They changed that hole up a little bit. If you've played Clay, you know #16 is the super cool extreme downhill shot out of the woods into the middle of the open. Well, that hole was adjusted and was pushed even further downhill into a green in a different wooded section from where you tee off. #11 at Etowah is completely wooded with a tight curve fairway onto a flat floor before the hill descends even further. #16 at Clay has a little more of an elevation loss and is a little bit better in my opinion but #11 at Etowah is definitely a rival.

-Etowah slowly opens up. #12 is the road hole. It's an oddball for sure but it's a cool hole! Woods on both sides. The road is in the middle of the clearing. The long pad is 508' and is a par four. If you can throw over 400', this hole could be in reach for you if you are able to avoid the woods the whole way and get a good skip off the road. An attempt to rip a driver could cost you big time. This is one of the toughest par fours that I've played that is more reachable. #15 was similar but a lot more forgiving. Same gist. You tee off on the road and see two sides. The basket is in the field to the left. It's 480' and open, so you really want to eagle this hole if you have distance but if you throw just a little too hard, you could end up OB on the right side of the road. In between these two par fours, you see more of the water. #13 plays downhill over a creek and back up to a stump green. #14 is in a grassy area very close to the river. It's a HUGE river and it is very fast. There's a rill erosion that forms a creek from the river in the middle of the fairway that's very close to some trees you want to avoid.

-Plenty of fairway diversity, and all of them are fair. A few of the sidearm friendly holes were difficult for me to hit, but I think I could reach them on a backhand anhyzer with the right disc. Many of the holes are under 300', and the longer par threes are not wooded. Distance is a bonus on the more wooded holes, but it's not a base need. Etowah is very fair the entire way through.

-The disc catcher baskets catch great and are in good shape.

-It's tiring, but very accommodating. Many stairs, and many benches to rest on. It's a moderate hike until you reach #12.

-It doesn't drain well. When it's slick, it's a tougher walk through. Hole 4's hill was especially tough to walk up just because of how muddy it was. A lot of parts of the front nine had puddles. You'll want to find a grocery store with good deals on laundry detergent because it could very well be muddy when you play here. I was constantly hopping from tree to tree in order to avoid the mud on the flatter holes on the lowest point of the course (holes #3, 18).

-I do realize that the majority of the baskets are visible from the tee, but it would be nice to see some tee signs with hole diagrams. Especially considering the fact that the road is in play on many holes on the back nine. Would be nice to know whether or not the opposite side is OB or if only the road is OB.

-Few of the turf pads are a little too small. Few slip hazards.

-The long pad for #16 is also the long pad for #17. You throw a big hyzer on #16 and a much bigger one on #17 from the same spot.

-Etowah is a nice change in character. It's a funky course in a very positive way. It's $5 for a day pass, but you can also maybe go fishing or kayaking in the river which is a very pleasant sight. There is also a card reader, so you don't have to stop at an ATM and pay in cash. $5 to spend some time here is very well worth it to me because I loved this course and the fact that it shows its individuality. Some people may hate throwing over the road, but I don't think it gets busy. I didn't cross that road to pull into the parking lot so it might not be an entrance. The road holes were interesting enough from the long pads. #12 was cool with the seemingly not busy road dividing two sides with the basket being on the left on a small hill. I usually don't enjoy flat, but I thought holes 12-18 were all okay at the least. #14 was a great hole with danger on both sides and water in play. 412' from the long and about 330' from the short. Was probably the toughest par three from the long, even though the fairway isn't very demanding. You have to throw very cautiously because of the river to the right side and the woods on the left.

-There is now 20 holes. Holes 19 and 20 are not currently included on the site. #19 is a challenging anhyzer around 320' past a tree in the open. #20 is that finisher that is just begging to be aced. 210' or so and open. Anticlimactic ending, but would be nice to end on a high note. #18 is the last hole in the woods and is only 404' long and plays as a straight par four. Very reachable hole that you can birdie without as much effort. Whether you decide to play the last two holes in the open (#19 and 20) or not, you'll end on an easy finish.

-Etowah isn't long. There are five par fours from the super tees and the longest is 565'. Most of the par threes here are under 300' and have favorable lines for either a predominant sidearm thrower or backhander. Very fair and fun course for almost anyone. Strongly recommend!

An utterly beautiful plot of land with lots of good par-3 golf.

-Amenities: Concrete pads, DISCatchers, tee signs with only number, par, and distance, kiosk with map and such.

-Beauty: Phenomenal. Most of the course is in hilly, lush woods with plenty of older trees, but towards the end there are a few more open holes along the river, which is also nice. One of my favorite courses period if I were rating on natural surroundings.

-Elevation: Abundant. Some very steep holes, some more gentle ones, and some flat ones. A couple of valley holes are fun.

-Shot Shaping/Gameplay: A very enjoyable series of par-3s making good use of the land. Plenty of birdie opportunities, but also a couple of harder holes that will be a challenging 2. The front 11 are mostly very technical, mixing all sorts of shapes with multiple elevation scenarios. The end of the course opens up more, with a lot of medium-wide or field fairways leading to closed-off greens. Highlight holes for me include the par-4 (3), hole (4) leading over a valley with a cave mouth directly behind the basket, hole (13) shooting over a creek into the hilly woods, and hole (14) in the open with a gap and a creek crossing, but you'd get a different list from any other player. Overall, a lot of opportunities to throw a decently powerful shot that requires good touch to score the birdie.

-Atmosphere: Really a combination of all the above factors, because separated they don't do the course justice. Etowah is fun to play. It's relaxing and challenging, easygoing and rewarding. This is the kind of course whose flaws you're willing to overlook because it's a great time anyway.

-Multi-Shot Holes: I think the biggest strike against Etowah is that it only has one true multi-shot hole. I think a great course should include a variety of off-the-tee decisions beyond "which disc will get me parked", and to exclude that level of variety keeps a course from reaching the circle of Excellence.

-Running out of Steam: Not a big con, but this is one of those courses that feels like it's just trying to get back to the parking lot after 14 or so. The holes aren't bad per se, but they're hardly striking and the least interesting part of the course.

-Signage: For a course as nice as Etowah, I'd like to see maps on the tee signs.

-Drainage: (1)-(5) had some problematic mud, and judging from other reviews they are often this way.

-Exertion: Be ready for a hilly workout.

Etowah is a thoroughly enjoyable round of disc golf in an enchanting woods environment. Although the variety may not be top level, I'd recommend the course to anybody who wants a soothing stop on a trip, or just a place to chase birdies in the woods.

Exotic, unforgettable mountainside terrain presents unusual challenges. Accuracy is vital to negotiate narrow, often wooded paths along lowlands bordering a small creek. Other longer tunnel holes such as Holes 3 and 18 reward distance as well as accuracy. Some holes open up a little but still have tough tree obstacles, such as Hole 12 and Holes 15 through 17. Signature holes include the famous 'cave hole' (Hole 4), which is advantageous for overhand and forehand shots, and a thriller ravine hole with hillside obstacles (Hole 7). The tee pads are astro-turf covered and work well, and likely took a ton of work to put in.

The rocky, mountainside terrain is difficult to walk on and traverse, with hiking shoes or boots necessary. There are some benches but due to the presence of wildlife trash cans are few and far between. Though this course is memorable and unique, the majority of the holes are tightly wooded. Fun factor is average. Some water hazards may force you to part with a favorite disc or two.

This is a highly recommended course, with some reservations. Be sure to have rugged foot gear, and be careful on some of the slopes. $5 entry fee.

Gorgeous course with healthy elevation changes, short to medium length wooded technical holes and a couple of water hazards. Nice elevated turf tees with specific sizes to force a "stand and deliver" type drive on a couple of holes where the awesome tee placement prohibits a longer tee pad. I think this is the first time that I have seen this, and I kind of like it. Tee signs have hole # and distance. Super easy navigation with basket mounted next tee arrows and innovative chain direction cues.

Hole four. Up a hill with the basket sitting in front of a cave!

One tee pad and one basket per hole. Not necessarily a con, but could limit the course to Int-Adv level players. The course may be a little hard on rec and new throwers and might be a little easy for pros, but I think most would enjoy a round here.

There is a bit of a walk from 12's basket to 13's tee. keep going down the road.

Beautiful course with giant rock formations and boulders. A joy to play. Makes for a good leg stretching round if driving by on I-75.

-Turf tees are awesome! Good grip and ample run up space.
-Baskets are great quality DISCatchers that are as good as new. They are also highly visible in the dense forest.
-Rough was in good condition, arguably as good as the fairway, but with more trees, which I think a rough should be: semi-easy footing, but difficult lines.
-This course has some really high quality elevation, and it is used PERFECTLY! The best holes for elevation are 4, 9, and 11.
-This course is very wooded, so that makes trees very important. This course used the trees well. The trees and the elevation together define the holes for most of this course.
-This course is difficult to traverse with paths, that being said, it would be unimaginable without them.
-This course is easy to navigate if you look for the pretty obvious tee areas, and follow the arrows on the baskets, the map is very nice, even though I didn't have to use it.
-This course has a nice vibe, it feels very professional, even though it is a relatively short course.
-Creeks and other water come into play on around 4 of the holes, they are always and obstacle that is either right next to the hole, or running across it.
-Benches by every tee, very nice, especially in the summer heat.
-Driving up to this course, I was afraid it wouldn't be very good because it seemed like we were headed into the middle of nowhere, but the woods this course plays through are really amazing.
-A wide variety of shots to throw, most holes had an obvious line, and a non obvious more daring line. Which most good woods course have, the nice thing about this course in particular is the more obvious lines can be thrown either forehand or backhand.
-I have played a fair amount of courses, and my least favorite thing with most of them is when they have garbage everywhere, I am pleased to say that there was absolutely no garbage at this course.

-Tee signs, while high quality, only have hole # and distance, it would be nice to have par and a map.
-The fairway was a little worse for wear, this isn't a huge con, but it is annoying on some holes (namely 3 and 18) to look through little bushes, weeds, etc for discs.
-One of the bigger problems I have with this course is the distance. most holes are under 300', which is typical for a woods course, but the only thing I feel really holds this course back from being a really nice professional course, it the short distances.

-This course gets a 2/4 on the new shoe index
-Favorite holes: 1, 3, 4, 9, 13, 14
Ok, I get it, there are a lot of great, well established courses in Georgia, and most people are probably very skeptical of a 4.0 rating, but that is really what I think it deserves, because it is a truly representative of how much fun I had playing this course.

(3.562 Rating) A moderate to heavily wooded course of intermediate difficulty.
- RAW BEAUTY - One of the more beautiful courses I've ever played and currently in my personal top 15 (268 courses played as of this review) Etowah plays threw the Red Top Mountain area, specifically Vineyard Mountain, and has holes that play threw valleys and small ridges. On hole (13), one can get partial view of Allatoona Dam and full views of the Etowah river. The course is two thirds heavily wooded and manmade structures are limited to park buildings and parks roads.
- HOLE 4 - Wow! I'm at +4,000 unique holes played now and this one would make my personal top 5 favorites. No spoiler description from me, experience it for yourself.
- UNIQUENESS - The hole variety is better than most courses. For one, this is not a fully heavily wooded course, there are some lightly wooded holes on the back nine. There are also a bunch of elevation changes in the +20 foot range and a one maxes out at around 50 feet down on hole (11). Mostly par 3s but a couple shorter par 4s. Holes twist left and right, although the RHBH hyzer play seemed to be more prevalent. Other missing items include a dogleg par 4s, a par 5s and a register-able water play. Yes (12) has water along the entire right side, but it's already out of bounds with the fence before the water.
- CHALLENGING - This course manages to find the perfect middle ground between too easy and too hard with the one set of tees and basket locations. It reads as an intermediate level course and will have these players averaging even to 4 down. I could see recreational thru advanced level players loving this course. Probably not the best course for beginners. Also not championship difficult for the pros, but then again, how many course are?
- CHARACTER - For a young course, not too bad. For one thing, perfect baskets for a woods course with the yellow bands peaking through the trees. Also two practice baskets with distances marked off in the parking lot. There are also drive markers on both par 4s. Great course map at the community board. Simple tee signs showing number and distance that will need to be upgraded. Benches were already at lots of the tees on my visit and shading is at almost all of them as well.
- NAVIGATION - Pretty good. As stated, great course map near (1). Take a picture or have it printed, as I took a couple peaks. Also nice wooded arrows below every basket and a few other directional cues as well. Nice bridges and a couple wood stairs are now installed. The course is not cart friendly IMO however.

Very few issues with Etowah.
- TEES - Among the better turf tees I've played on, but still turf. 5.5 feet wide by 10.5 feet long with a yellow foul line. (15's) tee had the turf blown over due to the wind, probably from the windy day before, but I was able to correct it. (9) and (11) were really abbreviated tees being only 4 or 5 feet long, but in all fairness, major kudos to those involved hauling and constructing these in a hard to reach area. A few of the pads were showing a touch of unevenness.
- AFTER HOLE 11 - The course is consistently entertaining threw 11 holes. Starting at hole (12) the hole to hole quality degrades a bit over the beginning's euphoric high. (12) and (14-17) all play along park roads. The early heavily woodsy portion dissolves to become more lightly to moderately wooded. There is also less elevation and it has the look and feel of a typical city park course. I liked the rocks around (17's) basket, but then (18) was an anticlimactic average looking wide tunnel shot hole. In hindsight I kind of wish the course started at (5) and ended at (4). I was very temped to re-throw (4) walking by it after finishing (18).
- HOLE 7 - A poke and hope shot without a realistic line. I predict a widening at some point.
- PAY TO PLAY - A few bucks to enter the park. Worth it for this course.
- TERRAIN - Some steep terrain on a few holes that's probably too raw for many. Those that have bad knees or ankles should stay clear of this course.

I wish I lived nearby. Cause I'd definitely have a seasonal pass and would be playing this all the time. What an awesome start for a newer course. Anyone traveling along I75 between Chattanooga and Atlanta needs to take a quick pit stop here and check this gem out. Etowah will be beloved by those that are fans of beautiful courses. As this course continues to get more upgrades, I'm sure it will start to challenge the top DGCR rated Atlanta area courses like Tyus, Mulberry and Perkerson. No doubt Etowah's a top 25 Georgia course and its probably knocking on the door of the top 10.
- DRAINAGE - From reading a previous review, I was a bit worried about standing water and mud as I played two days after a one inch rain event. Hole (1) was flooded pretty good, but other than that, just a couple muddy holes and the remainder of the course was dry.
- TIME PLAY - I finished in just over an hour solo. There are a couple long walks between a few holes. Figure a four sum should play this one in about 2 hours.

Well maintained
Excellent practice area
Lots of benches and well made stairs
The best designed homemade pallets to walk through wet areas I've ever seen
A few really well designed and fun/challenging holes (4, 15, 16, etc)
Perfect baskets

No concrete pads
More than a few baskets are too close to other tee pads
A couple of benches are practically on the back of the teepad (hole 3 and 8
come to mind) making them useless or in the way
Two of the teepads are intentionally short in steep areas that are
dangerous. You can easily fall off the front of the unnecessarily short pads (holes 9 and 11)
More stairs/level walking paths still needed in and around steep areas
(leaving 11's green, path to 13's basket)
Tons of standing water around a third of the course. Apparently is a common
issue
Pay to play (not really a con, but will prevent me from coming back as
often as there are better, closer, free courses to play)

I enjoyed my round at Etowah and will likely be back
to play in the future when certain friends or family want to go have a
casual outing. I would say the course lends itself to a casual atmosphere
and rates as an intermediate level course.

There were some enjoyable design factors. I like wooded courses
and hole 1 for instance was a great little starter hole. Hole 4 (the cave
hole) put a true disc golf smile on my face. The elevation all over is
fun. I definitely found myself wanting some longer downhill or tougher
uphill holes. Hole 9 is a great little tough hole and would be much
better with a full teepad. The last third of the course really shone with
some great challenging holes on 12 and 14-17 that really added to the overall
enjoyment of the round and left me more likely to come back.

I'd say half the holes on the course are relatively nondescript and don't
deserve much mention other than the fact that it is clear a lot of work
was put into them and it is much appreciated. I do think the road should
be OB on hole 13 not the creek to make it more challenging. Hole
7 is the worst hole on the course with luck playing a factor as
much as skill in getting down the barely-there fairway routes. Hole 13
stood out as the worst of the filler holes as you walk the wrong
direction for a very short easy hole that lacks imagination and then walk
back to get to the next hole.

A quick word on the turf pads. I know plenty of people like them. I do not.
Concrete is the gold standard and will always be my preference. Turf will
also require maintenance over the years and it will be interesting to see
how that goes. That said they are probably some of the best non-concrete
pads I've played on but I still found myself slipping or holding back out
of fear of slipping throughout the round.

I'd love to come back and play the course in the summer and see how it
plays. Big thanks to all those who put the hard work into this little course
especially Sam and keep it up!

This was a really fun round. Etowah is a picturesque wooded course complete with plenty of elevation and fair-but-challenging lines. The majority of holes will tempt you with a few lines to get to the basket, usually with a wider primary route and a more tricky secondary option. With some smart city park-ish holes towards the end, Etowah offers good variety and let's you get a few open rips before your round ends.

The landscape adds to the fun as you'll have low-lying groundcover and ferns throughout instead of the bushy/thorny messes common to this part of the country. Straying off the fairway doesn't instantly put you in jail here. Amenities were strong. The attention to detail with tees, trails, steps, bridges, etc was greatly appreciated! The turf-on-wood tees (although sometimes a little lumpy) are a nice touch. The tee signs were lacking but I actually liked the minimalist aesthetic here. Most holes were around 300ft or less and it usually wasn't tough to spot the sparkling new discatcher baskets from the tee. On the 2 400ft+ holes, there are distance markers every 100ft!

Hole 4 is a fantastic uphill ace run with a basket sitting at the mouth of a shallow cave. Feel free to get aggressive on this as you have a nice backstop. Landing in the back of this "cave" should still allow a 25 ft or less birdie putt. 8-11 take you on an extreme elevation tour. 12-18 get out of the thick woods and into some longer and more open shots.

It would have been nice to have a few legit multi-stage par 4 holes. All but hole #3 are reachable from the tee for an advanced player.

Noobs may gripe about the short tee length on 9 and 11 (they force a nearly standstill drive).

Compared to the epic woods fun on the first 11, the last 7 holes could be a slight let-down.

This was a no-brainer stop along I75 for me. Etowah is maybe 5 minutes off the highway and offers a top-notch experience. I'd rate the first 11 holes as a 4.0-4.5 and the last 7 as a 3.5. Nonetheless, this is a must-play in the ATL area!

Great location with balanced mix of holes on both flat and hilly terrain. Additionally, a very family friendly location with park amenities, group shelters, clean restrooms all set along the scenic Etowah river.

Excellent location for the traveling player. Course is located only a few miles off of I-75.

No major cons worth mentioning. It's mainly a wooded course, so keep an eye on where you disc lands.

Let's get a league formed here soon!

The must-see signature #4 hole with the basket located up a steep hill in front of a cave, has got to be one of the coolest holes in the Southeast!

Wow, what a great wooded course right here in what was previously criminally underserved disc golf area. Thanks to Etowah success it's become a booming disc golf area.

The park has been here for years and boasts some good fishing in the river, as well as ample picnic areas and playgrounds for the kids. Really good place for a day out with the family. Great hiking trails behind the course too. Many paved parking areas and the first hole is by the first large parking lot on the right. There is a good map and a practice basket by the left hand corner of the lot, and the first tee is at the right hand corner.

The pads are all turf with a well constructed wooden base. There are also composite benches on every single hole, which on a somewhat hilly course is great.

The course is heavily wooded on the front 9 and the back nine is somewhat more open, with a little water in play(just some feeder creeks the main river is never really a concern). Elevation is huge on several holes 4, 9 and a few others as well.

And cool natural features like the Cave on 4 the tree tunnels and varying teepad lengths based on what the hills allow make it a lot of fun.

It is now a permanent 20 holes and holes 11-17 have long pads so it has several more dimensions and possibility for length. I don't know that you can incorporate the longs often in tournament play(some lines would be pretty close to another pad), but they are great to throw in a couple for a league or casual round.

There are also 2 red banded practice baskets so that you can tell easily that they are not in play, with markers in the parking lot for distance to the far basket.

Long tees have been added to 11-17 and they make a fun layout as well adding some bomber shots to the mix.

It may be the most unique in North GA and one of the best.

Great design and plays really well even though most holes aren't that long.

There are a few holes where the line is very tight and could quite frustrating for first time or newer players.

It's not long, but even the short holes are fun so I'm not going to count off for that.

Some tees are a little short, and most are elevated so you could come off the end hard, but most of the time it couldn't be much longer.

Cutting off there though, anything else is just nitpicking.

In the last 5 years I've gotten to know Sam, and his mission to make great places to play in the area has been a noble and successful quest here and his other two courses also.

The carved bridges, and raised bits over the low areas are great, every hole has some unexpected challenge and beauty.

I love it and since it's the closest course to my house, I'm happy to call it one of my home courses.

Thanks to Sam, the corps of engineers and all involved.

Situated in the Riverside Park Day Use Area alongside the lovely Etowah River, the Etowah DGC features an assortment of well-designed holes within a peaceful wooded setting. Even though the course is a mile or so from Interstate 75, users will be more likely to hear squirrels, birds and wildlife, in addition to the roar of the dam, than noise from the highway.

Most of the teepads are carpeted with artificial turf and offer excellent footing. The new course sparkles with fantastic amenities, including new signs and benches, and the fairways are groomed and well-maintained. Etowah DGC offers several outstanding touches, including markers in the ground indicating the distance every 100 feet on the longest hole, Next Tee signs under the baskets and nice pathways in between holes.

An excellent practice area offers baskets a couple hundred feet apart, allowing for putting and approach shot preparation.

The course makes fantastic use of elevation during the middle part of the round, providing some superb diversity regarding the course design.

Some well-crafted walking areas and steps make travel between holes a breeze. However, the moderate elevation changes will require some stamina.

Plenty of parking is available. (There is a $5 charge per car to enter the park.)

The course could be susceptible to mud and slippery footing on several holes after a rainstorm. The footing on the hill of Hole #4 is treacherous when dry and could be nearly unplayable when wet. Several other areas that bring extreme elevation into play could be hazardous too.

The fairways on several holes (especially #5 and #7) are extremely tight and could be considered undefined.

The beautiful wood signs near each teepad offer distance, but they don't indicate where the basket is. Not every basket is visible from the teepad. On several holes, first-timers will have to figure out the basket location.

The several-minute walk after Hole #12 could lead to confusion. To reach Hole #13, follow the road until it almost intersects with the main road - the teepad is painted on the right side of the road.

The design of the back nine is inferior to the front nine. While open holes provide diversity, the most open holes got clumped together at the end of the course. And Hole #18 is a slightly disappointing finish. While the last hole returns to the parking lot, the wide open design is under par compared to the rest of the course (and at 404 feet, the final hole should be listed as a par 3, not a par 4).

A hole-by-hole commentary: Hole #1 is an excellent starting hole. Wooded on both sides with an open line down the middle, the fairway narrows near the basket and requires an accurate throw or navigation around a couple trees to land close to the basket. Hole #2 is a slight dogleg left, and at just over 200 feet, it's a potential ace run, but a couple trees two-thirds of the way to the basket provide an obstacle. Hole #3 feels like a golf hole with its straight, open fairway lined well by woods on both sides. The teepad is elevated for the longest hole on the course. Hole #4 is extremely picturesque and likely the signature hole. The basket is atop a steep hill with a stony overhang behind that frames the basket.

Holes #5 through #7 are some of the most technical holes on the course, requiring accurate throws through some tight wooded areas that threaten to pinball your disc. Hole #8 is only 185 feet, but the challenging uphill throw necessitates finding a safe line to arrive near the basket. Hole #9 is one of the coolest holes on the course and features teeing off from one side of a hill and across a valley to the other side of the hill. Hole #10 is a tricky hole, with narrow lines and a downhill slope to the right of the fairway. Hole #11 offers another ace run - a downhill, 185-foot run that might be tougher than it looks. Hole #12 and its "teepad" utilize a dead-end road, which is not out of bounds, but there is an OB area to the right that includes a stream. A short walk is required to find Hole #13, which includes another painted mark on the road to indicate the teepad. The hole features a sharp turn to the right and the basket may be difficult to see from the teepad.

The final five holes are the most open holes on the course. Hole #14 is across the road, next to the lovely river. The basket is situated on a small hill with an OB road behind. Hole #15 is wide open but its borders include a thick wooded area to the left and the road to the right. Holes #16 and #17 feature similar design - throwing from an open area toward a basket in the woods. And Hole #18 mirrors the golf-like third hole, wide open but shorter.

The Etowah DGC is a beautiful addition to the Metro Atlanta courses. The work and care that went into building this course is obvious. A well-earned high-five to all involved in its creation.

Fun and challenging layout with multiple lines...throw straight score great. number 4 is the coolest hole in North Georgia. We have fun every time we play....Tee pads are turf! love them

none!!!

super fun

This course is like no other close to Atlanta. It feels like you are playing in Blue Ridge or somewhere much more secluded than its proximity to Highway 41 and I-75 would let you believe. It is a very well thought out course with a lot of tight technical shots through the woods, up and down steep hills, and across ravines. It challenges you to throw both forehand and backhand though many holes offer lines for which ever you prefer. There are many different lines you can take if you are creative and sometimes you have to be if you end up in trouble off the tee. Hole 4 I think my favorite of the many "signature holes" at Etowah, throwing across a ravine, down then back up a steep hill with the basket placed at the mouth of a very shallow cave begging you to give it an ace run. I have yet to play a cooler hole anywhere. Overall it is a great experience playing here on a technical , scenic course surrounded by nature. If you are tired of the routine courses around Atlanta and want something unique, challenging and not too far of a drive I highly recommend you give Etowah Disc Golf Course at Riverside Park a try.

If you are not coordinated be careful out there. There is a lot of elevation change and sometimes errant throws lead to having to throw from akward positions on steep hills.

Be careful out there! Be mindful you are not in a park in the middle of the city or the suburbs and there are hazards that entail with that. Be mindful of wild animals especially snakes. The last round I played we saw a decent sized copperhead on hole 1. We left it alone so it left us alone but be careful out there especially picking up discs. And lastly bring plenty of water. Those hills will wear you out haha.

Etowah DGC is a very scenic one-of-a-kind course. It is set in the beautiful Riverside Day Use Area situated at the base of the Allatoona Dam on the Etowah River. The views from many of the holes enhance your experience and blend the feeling of a foothill hike with a round of disc golf. The rolling hills around the park are thickly forested with a variety of hardwoods, ornamental trees, shrubs, and ferns. Look out for some stunning rock features and other scenic landmarks as you work your way through the course. Beyond a couple of the later holes where you play as the Etowah River hurries along beside you, you will also play near and over a tributary creek on three of the holes. This course truly offers some scenery not found at any of the other metro Atlanta courses.

Etowah cut its teeth as a modest 18 hole, 5233-foot, par 56 course. Since then, the course has matured well and has "broken in" nicely. Meanwhile, the designer, Sam, has never been one to be content with idle hands. He seems to always be up to something out on the course. Beyond the ever-important maintenance and upkeep, there has been some meaningful additions as well. Today you will find what is considered the "regular 20-hole layout" ringing up at roughly 5580 feet and playing as par 62. So far, just holes 8 and 20 have alternate pin placements. Hole 8 just adds some marginal distance up the hill but offers different options on the split uphill fairway. Meanwhile, hole 20 takes a relatively easy birdie shot and will have you fighting for par with a mando and flirting with out of bounds with some tricky out of bounds. It will add about 140 feet to the much more manageable 220-foot original position. In addition, a few longer pads have been added (dubbed the "super tees"). You will find them on holes 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, and 17 (16 and 17 shares long pad). Overall, they add roughly 975' to the course and although par is not officially established by the designer, many would argue that 12, 15, and 17 become par 4's.

You will find a parking lot dedicated to disc golf with ample space. While there, be sure to check out the informational kiosk that relays course info and an overhead map. The kiosk is also home to the lost disc drop box where folks who find discs can drop them in hopes that they will be reunited with the rightful owners (look for lost discs posted on the Etowah Facebook page periodically). Trash receptacles including aluminum and plastic recycling bins are at the edge of the lot for everyone's convenience. Note that there are no trash receptacles on the course and that is by design (pack it in and pack it out). There are clean restrooms with a water fountain across the road near hole one. There is also water spigot during the warm season at the pavilion between 11 and 12.

This parking area has a perfect place to warm up. On the left side of the parking lot in the grassy field, you will find the practice baskets/driving range (look for the red banded baskets). Take note of the distances marks in the parking lot in increments of 50' to the deepest red basket up to about 350'. The second red practice basket is nearer to the parking lot and situated in such a way that it is ideal for brushing up on your pre-round putting. Some folks take advantage of throwing from the longer basket back to the shorter while sighting in their upshots before finally working on that putting routine.

Moving back to the course, you find it outfitted with turf tee pads, another feature not found on many courses. Now that they have a few years of use, they have proven themselves to be durable. They feel great and do the job nicely. Unassuming tee signs with only hole distances and par will also welcome you at each pad. Sturdy composite benches on each tee come in handy especially after some hikes in the heart of the course. DisCatcher baskets of course catch well, but the yellow bands also make finding the basket easy in even the thickest part of the course. After you finish each hole, look out for directional arrows and other on the bottom of the baskets or other cues pointing the way to the next tee.

As far as the holes are concerned, you will find a diverse layout with holes ranging from 185' to 585'. The land provided plenty of elevation and the designer took advantage of that with uphill, downhill, and valley shots. Of course, you will find sweeping left and right shots as well. There are several memorable holes, but hole four, the cave shot, looks to be the crowd favorite and you will be fighting the urge to unload your bag on this one! Not to be outdone by hole four, the other holes have a lot to offer as well. Ace shots present themselves to just about everyone who plays at one point or another along the way. Being that the course is on the shorter side, there are birdie opportunities galore. Ringing up as many as you can early in the round will help cover a multitude of sins in the long run. Advanced/open players will likely have a chance on every hole. With that said, it has some challenging shots that can test even the sharpest of shooters. On the par fours, look for clearly defined fairways that demand good placement shots. Some of the shorter shots tighten up in the woods and if you are off your line, just saving par can be challenging. And for those who find the tighter woods shots to be grueling, you will find some relief on the finishing holes as things start to open and add some variety to the course.

Note that you will find some OB from time to time along the course. The designer intends that the course play under a relatively new OB option. During a PDGA event this OB rule is available at the discretion of the TD: you play from the closest in-bounds point (similar to a lateral hazard in golf). Sam and those who run leagues use this option. As such, most locals follow suit and play "lateral in" when playing casual as well. For clarity, when out of bounds using this provision, your next lie would be based on the following from the official rules of the PDGA. "A lie designated by a marker disc placed on the playing surface at any point on a one-meter line that is perpendicular to the out-of-bounds line at the point that is nearest to the position of the disc".

As far as the difficulty is concerned, the designer mentioned the layout is geared with the recreational, intermediate, and low advanced players in mind. He went on to say that his goal was that advanced to open players should still enjoy the course. Although I do not fall into the latter category, I happen to agree. Based on feedback I have heard from a wide range of skill leveled players, everyone seems to really love all the course offers. Having said that, do not be misled into thinking that this is just another pitch and putt course. It is much more than that. There may be courses with a bigger "wow factor" and championship caliber but with the intended design, amenities, and overall ambiance of the course, I'll still give it a 4 out of 5.

At tournament time, there is a possibility to use one extra hole for a 21-hole layout using 12' s long pad (referred to as 11-b) to a temporary basket placement in grassy area to the left of the parking lot. Nice pavilions are available and serve well as tournament central as needed. Given the park infrastructure, this is an ideal park and course for tournaments.

Oh yeah, for those that find it important, alcohol is allowed in the park and is another feature you won't find at many public metro Atlanta courses.

The biggest con you will find is some drainage issues on the course, particularly holes 1-5. This is mainly on the low-lying areas. After a lot of rain and/or the winter season, expect some soupy and possibly flooded areas (better described as large puddles). Efforts have been made and are likely to continue to make footbridges and steppingstones to help cross the areas. In the dryer summertime season, you probably won't even notice.

Some may consider the moderate hike that it takes to navigate the hilly side of the course a tad bit strenuous. Those with physical limitations need to beware. It is not overly taxing, but it should be noted. Most folks leave the carts at home for this one, but I have dragged mine through and its certainly not impossible.

While I think the course layout is great considering the available land, there were some limitations. A few holes play across/beside the park roads. Typically, in course design, this would be an issue that is best avoided. Unfortunately, this was not possible given the allowed and available areas in the park for the course. The consolation is one road is ordinarily closed and with the low park use, the main road is not very busy. Even so, you can see any infrequently approaching vehicles from a safe distance before you throw. With any common sense and old fashion courtesy, this should not be an issue.

There are some areas where it is tough to get a good footing on the holes, especially on the before mentioned hole four. You will need to be careful in a few spots. There are some nice steps in place to get from hole to hole, but at times you may find yourself on some steep and slick slopes. There is also some potential for a bad tree kick or errant shots to send you into some areas where disc retrieval can be tough or at least aggravating. This only comes into play on a couple holes. This is not so much a con as much as an FYI as some will not mind and others will.

Some folks grumble about a few of the shorter than normal tee pads and/or some drop-offs at the front. They are certainly manageable by most players as generally run-ups are not necessary on these particular holes.

Although the course if free for unlimited play, there is a park fee of $5 per car (note as of Sept 2020 there is no charge due to Covid19 provisions). This is reasonable given the amenities at the park but historically some disc golfers like to keep their wallets closed.

Besides that, there are not a lot of cons in my view.

Big thanks to all involved including the Corp of Engineers who allowed the installation of the course. Although he prefers to stay out of the spotlight, Sam Barfield is the workhorse behind the course, and we all thank him. It was a nearly 4-year venture to get the course installed. Beyond the red tape of getting the course approved, Sam, along with the help of many other disc golf enthusiasts, put in literally countless hours to get the course where it is today. Instead of the impossible task of counting the hours, it is more accurate to measure his time and labor in weeks and months. There are few folks I know who have the determination and patience it took to get the course where it is today.

Speaking of Sam, he is the course liaison and Corp contact. He views the course in much the same way I imagine he treats his home. He loves to have visitors. If you are lucky, you may run into him on your visit. He is really a one-of-a-kind character. He is good-natured, jovial, friendly, and he really needs no other introduction. Believe me, you will know him when you meet him. If you have ever wondered if you have met Sam, you haven't met Sam. He is sure to greet you with a smile, give you a warm welcome to the course and a hearty handshake (not during Covid season, of course). He will probably ask you your opinion of the course, maybe tell you a story or two about the course's history, or just chit chat for a bit. You will know he really likes you if he heckles you for hitting a tree or laughs that unmistakable "Sam laugh" while your disc takes an unfortunately roll down the hill. He is the only person who can do that while somehow not being offensive. On the other hand, he does want you to do well too. If you get an ace, be sure to reach out as he has made up some can topper mini bag tags inscribed with "Etowah Ace Club" to help you commemorate your achievement.

He wants everyone to enjoy the course and by his own admission he has always put a premium on fun. He loves to see folks from all walks of life, age, and gender enjoying the course whether local or travelers. He particularly enjoys seeing new players, families, and those who enjoy the sport recreationally. But he does not overlook the weekend warriors with a more competitive spirit. On occasion throughout the year he throws amateur tournaments targeting different interests, age groups, and skill sets. I think his favorite (and mine too) is the "Etowah Masters" event geared and limited to only players aged 40 and above. Later in the year, there is the popular "Fall Salute" which is open to all amateur players. During the rainy spring season, he takes advantage of the wet and muddy forest floor and holds a bring your own partner doubles event dubbed the "Mud Swap" which also coincides with a lunchtime swap meet where players can trade and bargain for one another's disc golf gear and paraphernalia. There is even a beginner friendly "Trilogy Challenge" event where participants get three new discs as part of their entry that they must use during the round. Other times throughout the year, some of the locals who have been under Sam's tutelage have begun league play. They have even incorporated a weekly PDGA sanctioned league (check Etowah social media for days and times for any events).
The park itself is nice and for the most part underused. But there are certainly things to do here for those that might be bringing non-disc golfers along. Fishing, swimming/wading/kayaking in the river, hiking, playgrounds, picnicking, and more are all here. Being 5 min (3 miles) from the Red Top Mountain exit on I-75 makes this an easy course to tag if you are traveling through, and again, plenty of things to do to keep the non-golfers busy while you play if needed. Camping at the nearby Redtop Mountain State Park is also available.

Local tip - this course is particularly fun played with a group, but it is also hidden gem for a solo round to get away for a while if you catch it during non-peak times. I'd put it in the "must stop" category if you are traveling through and need a break.

I've read that the park is home to raccoons, opossum, bobcats, red and gray fox, white tail deer, squirrels, chipmunks and of course snakes. From time to time, you could even spot a black bear so keep your eyes peeled for some wildlife. I have also been told a couple of eagles have even been spotted.