Fort Thomas, KY

Highland Hills Park

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2.135(based on 19 reviews)
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10 0
Luckj
Gold level trusted reviewer
Experience: 6.3 years 65 played 50 reviews
2.00 star(s)

9 hole course that offers a couple nice moments

Reviewed: Played on:May 24, 2023 Played the course:once

Pros:

I was able to bag Highland Hills Park on a lovely May evening while working nearby. The park was fairly empty on this particular evening and I had a nice time walking and playing the course.
Pros:
-The park is well kept for the most part and offers a variety of shots
-Most holes include elevation changes and at least some shot shaping
-Restrooms on site
-Concrete teepads on each hole
-Hole 1 was a nice starter, a 300' downhill shot with the basket on a steep slope to the right behind a mature tree. I elected to play it safe to the left and layup for par.
-Hole 5 is interesting. It's listed as a par 4 but for a good play could be reaching off the tee with a big BHRH hyzer that would likely give a circle's edge look.
-Hole 7 was my favorite, a 300' downhill shot with a tree
line to the left at the bottom of the slope that threatens to pull in an under-committed shot.
-Holes 8 & 9 are both narrow fairway shots between a treeline and the OB road

Cons:

-Speaking of the road, it is far too close for comfort on 7-9. It is a dead end street so I assume it doesn't see a ton of traffic, but I saw a number of park goers using it to walk or ride bikes on.
-I can't believe I've made it this far without mentioning the baskets. The 2nd worst I've ever seen (looking at you Embshoff). They're old Mach 1s that have not gotten any love since they were installed. It's the kind of basket that makes you hesitate before putting because you're afraid there's nothing there to catch your disc.
-The tee signs are either non-existent or a wooden post with written hole numbers on them.
-Hole 2 is a transition hole. It's only 132' on the hillside and it's basket is less than 50' from 3s basket, the circles basically overlap.
-Speaking of overlap, the teepad for 4 is inside the circle for 3.
-Hole 6 plays very near a shelter and the only line is overtop a picnic table.
-There's a long walk from 6 to 7 and a long walk from the basket of 9 to 1's tee so no matter where you park you'll be walking a bit.
-It's known locally that you do not want to be near this when there's a baseball game going on in the park. The HS plays their home games here and parking is impossible. Even if you do manage to park, several holes are unplayable due to the crowd.

Other Thoughts:

It's not a terrible course and I'm sure if I lived close I'd come hear fairly often for a quick round, but there are far too many safety concerns to overlook. If the baskets were replaced I'd say it would be closer to a 2.5, a typical small community park course, but as is I think a 2 is a fair rating. Reasonable is about the best word I can find to describe it.
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7 0
b_huber14
Experience: 6.1 years 23 played 4 reviews
2.00 star(s)

Decent Easy Course for Locals 2+ years drive by

Reviewed: Updated: Played on:Aug 20, 2020 Played the course:5+ times

Pros:

- Easy course with few obstacles
- Difficult (but still possible) to lose discs
- Well kept up
- Great concrete tees
- Holes 5 and 9 are a step up in difficult and add a lot to the fairly bland course
- Played by locals enough for it to be kept up but usually empty enough to get a full 9 (or 18) uninterrupted
- Nice park ammenities

Cons:

- Baskets are honestly some of the worst (if not the worst) I've ever played on. Be prepared for kick outs on seemingly very good shots. In addition, many look pretty beat up. Replacements would be much appreciated at this point
- No signage around the course. Someone tried to draw and write some things on the wooden posts next to the tees but this leaves a lot to be desired
- Course does not flow well on some holes (specifically basket of 6 to tee of 7 where you have to walk the length of a baseball field
- Only occasionally, but when there is a baseball game, cars are parked along the road on holes 7, 8, and 9. Holes 7 and 9 are usually still playable, but 8 often becomes nearly unplayable

Other Thoughts:

I probably go to this course 2 to 3 times a week as it is by far the closest and most easily accessible course to me. To put it bluntly, there is nothing special about this course. All holes with the exception of hole 5 and the beginning of 6 are wide open shots. That combined with the fact that it is only nine holes with terrible baskets leads me to say that there's really not much need to play this course unless you are a local or just happen to be in the area. If you are a beginner and want an incredibly easy course to get started on, however, this is a good course as, like I said, most every shot is wide open, and it is difficult to lose your disc even if you throw it into the woods hard.

In short, if you want a quick 9 round of disc golf and are close by, live near Ft. Thomas, or are a beginner, this is a nice little course. Otherwise, this is a course that isn't worth traveling to.

Hole 1: This is the first hole you see right when you drive into the park. This is just a straight shot down the hill before coming to a tee that is on top of a smaller hill

Hole 2: Teebox is a small walk to the right of hole 1's basket. This a very short straight shot with no obstacles. For more of a challenge, I recommend shooting from the small flat clearing on the hill right before hole 1's basket. This provides a more unique shot and was originally where hole 2's teebox was. Just be sure that there is not a group behind you so you don't accidentally get in their way

Hole 3: Teebox is a small walk directly behind hole 2's basket. This is a long uphill shot with the basket very near to hole 2's basket, just higher on the hill.

Hole 4: Teebox is to the left of hole 3's basket. This is a fairly open shot with a somewhat sharp left turn into an area surrounded by longer grass.

Hole 5: Teebox is near the bathrooms to the right of hole 4's basket. This is the first of the two "long" holes on the course. A straight shot with a left turn through a light wooded area makes this a more difficult hole as compared to the others prior to this.

Hole 6: Teebox is to the right of hole 5's basket in a slightly wooded area. This ho;e has a fairly straight shot with a slight left turn. There are two trees next to each other with a small gap between that give the best look at the basket. After this is one more tree somewhat close to the basket.

Hole 7: To get from hole 6 to hole 7, walk up to the path from hole 6's basket, and walk on the path towards and past the baseball field. The teebox is straight behind home plate. This hole is a wide open hole with a small left turn. In my opinion, a roller is a very fun option here and is very forgiving considering there is a hill the slopes downward with the turn.

Hole 8: Teebox is to the right of hole 7's basket, across the street. This hole has a right turn that follows the curvature of the road with only a single pole as a hazard.

Hole 9: Teebox is directly next to hole 8's basket. This is the longest and hardest hole on the course with a few trees and picnic tables along the right side. This provides a nice challenge compared to the rest of this course. Afterwards, the basket will leave you a small walk from hole one. Just walk on the path along the road to reach hole 1
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5 0
esc1
Experience: 10.8 years 26 played 9 reviews
2.00 star(s)

My Home Course 2+ years drive by

Reviewed: Updated: Played on:Jun 25, 2014 Played the course:5+ times

Pros:

+ Variety of holes
+ Uncrowded usually
+ Always well mowed
+ Excellent facilities with several water fountains


Cons:

- Bad baskets
- No signage
- Baseball games can make holes 8 and 9 unplayable
- People can get in the way easily

Other Thoughts:

Home course for me.. hiding a lot of potential.

They have recently put in two new teepads on 1 and 2 so now all holes have proper teepads. Yay! Now it just needs some signage and new baskets. Someone has taken it upon themselves to sharpie the hole numbers, so I guess that helps. I've reached out to the city to try and get the baskets replaced before but no luck. There have been rumors of expanding the course in recent years, but not any movement on that. A walking trail went in parallel to the two finishing holes, but I've never seen anyone on it. Maybe it could be used for a course expansion in the future. It pains me to rate the course a 2, but with signage and new baskets it would be a solid 3.

Hole 1 - Close to the stop sign you hit before entering the park. Plenty of parking close here unless there is a high school baseball game. Restrooms right across from the play ground. Play hole 1 straight down hill. The woods behind the hole are not very thick if you go long, but not easy to play out of either.

Hole 2 - Cross the sidewalk and just up hill from the volleyball courts. A short ace run dead ahead. Throw something flat unless you want to see it roll into the parking lot or porta potty.

Hole 3 - Move down hill to the back of the gravel lot and across the bridge or just straight to the teepad if you don't like bridges. Straight throw up the hill towards the telephone pole.

Hole 4 - Close and just slightly up hill from the last basket. The ground here is a former volleyball court. Throw is a hyzer shot to the left. RIP to the mature ash trees that used to make this more difficult.

Hole 5 - Go up hill to the right of the bathrooms. Its a far shot to the back left of the woods. Teens will occasionally string some kind of hammocks up between the trees here. Watch out for players on the fairway of the next hole and check for anyone on the picnic table.

Hole 6 - Towards the baseball field left wall. There is a wooded trail back this way. You throw straight ahead and slightly to the left. Be mindful of the picnic table that you eyed on the last teepad.

Hole 7 - Take a good walk past the baseball field. The teepad is past home plate and down from another porta potty. Hyzer to the left or straight throw towards the dog park. Woods are thick in the summer there.

Hole 8 - Move uphill and across the street. Hyzer or straight shot over the road toward the big pine covering the last teepad. The woods are kinda thick towards the basket, so be mindful of hyzering out too much. Mando to the left of the telephone pole for a greater challenge.

Hole 9 - You're easiest teepad to spot! Another picnic table to be mindful of but its in clear view. There are vines in the trees half way down the left fairway that might try to keep your disc if you tempt them. The woods there are not difficult to walk through if necessary.

Please take care if playing this course while there are high winds. The tree's drop limbs very easily! On a positive note, you will be hard pressed to find a rural course with more wildlife. Deer walk everywhere like they just don't care.
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1 1
Eric troll Biscuits
Experience: 35.8 years 31 played 29 reviews
2.00 star(s)

Troll's Review 2+ years drive by

Reviewed: Played on:Jul 23, 2013 Played the course:5+ times

Pros:

9 baskets to shoot at
it has tee boxes
family friendly
good for brand new players or kids
its short, quick and painless, and easy

Cons:

The area for Disc golf offers so much more than this course, so it receives little or no attention
Baskets are old and gone to rust

Other Thoughts:

There's more courses around to play at, I suggest to find another one
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5 1
Ben17
Bronze level trusted reviewer
Experience: 23.9 years 119 played 31 reviews
2.00 star(s)

Short And Sweet 2+ years drive by

Reviewed: Played on:Sep 14, 2010 Played the course:5+ times

Pros:

The one thing that this course does have is the elevation changes. They know how to use their surroundings. There are hills here so they put them to good use. It is also a great beginner course. There are the holes that the beginners will really enjoy. Very easy to navigate your way through this course. The park is never very crowded. You can come and get a quick round of nine down in no time. Great location located in Fort Thomas and is near nice courses. There is plenty of parking so you will never have to park all the way down the street. The trees here are very nice. They know how to use the trees very well.

Cons:

First of all the tee signs are torn up and of to no use now. You are just going to have to look around the park to find the basket for this hole. The tee is nothing but grass, and sometimes pretty rough. It is not good to be on a bumpy surface while throwing. The thing that was the worst to me was the baskets. They had some of the chains unhooked, and the baskets were old and rusted. I actually hit the chains right down the middle and it fell through a hole in the basket. I have no idea where the seventh tee is. I looked all over for it and was still unable to find it. So i gave up and just threw.

Other Thoughts:

Considering where this course is located near a bunch of other very nice one i dont recommend coming here. Unless you are just right in the area and want to get in a quick round dont go here. In particular this is not a very challenging course at all. I finished well under par. There are a couple of holes here that could be considered ace holes. So when you go bring alot of disc and go for the ace. This is just very short and sweet.
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7 0
richardmmill
Experience: 21.9 years 48 played 17 reviews
2.00 star(s)

Highland Hills 2+ years drive by

Reviewed: Played on:Jun 30, 2010 Played the course:5+ times

Pros:

Location is nice in Fort Thomas nothing else very close. Park is kept well. Nice elevation changes good mix of wooded holes(not heavily wooded) and open holes. As well as a mix of lengths. Good course to get people going/started playing.

Cons:

Holes 1-6 are split from 7-9 by a small walk. The tee pads are the biggest con. They are stone to it is uneven with gaps. They are not level and some are in very bad condition. You have to be careful that you don't end up twisting your ankle or rolling it. Be careful. The tee signs aren't very accurate, they just moved a few holes without changing the tee signs. Condition of baskets is alright.

Other Thoughts:

It is a nine hole course. Construction is happening near two of the holes. The first hole throws right by someone's back yard if your not careful/new players could end up in their yard.
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5 0
Andy Hlavac
Experience: 35 played 20 reviews
2.00 star(s)

Kind of run down... 2+ years drive by

Reviewed: Played on:Sep 17, 2008 Played the course:once

Pros:

This course is near others and could be included in a multi-course day.

Some of the holes offer challenging D, and trees. Nothing too nasty, but enough to make a difference if you're playing a close game with your buddies.

Cons:

My major gripe with this course is that the surrounding park does not lend a lot to the atmosphere of the course. The park is situated right in the middle of a suburban neighborhood. Unfortunately, you don't feel like your away from civilization which is one of my favorite things about playing disc golf. Some of the holes are adjacent to a run-down basketabll court which is literally covered in rubble. It looks like a battlefield.

Also, the baskets are kind of beat up.. With my terrible putting, I can't afford to be stuck with a stroke because a basket's bent out of shape (ha ha).
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