21 holes, with concrete tees, nice tee signs and good baskets. Idle Hour Lakes has some nice versatility on a lot of holes, with alternate pin locations that can change up the look considerably. Water is a minor concern, but is in play at times. Fairways can be moderately full of trees, and they are used effectively to create really nice lines. Mandos on a couple of holes and a couple of fun gimmicks like a hanging basket and an island hole add to the fun.

There isn't a lot of elevation change but the layout uses the terrain the best way possible. I played after a patch of fairly heavy rainfall, but the mud and puddles didn't really make it too hard to get in a clean round.

I was pleasantly surprised with the course, and happy to find this gem that was off the beaten path. There are many strategic placement shots, some risk reward, and a well balanced variety of shots needed to get around. I posted an extensive array of current pictures, with the signage. Take a look and see what it's all about. I will highlight my favorite holes and spare you a hole by hole review.

Holes 4-11 are a nice stretch. Most of the fairways are open, but have definite lines with obstacles that keep you in check and rough that merit efforts to avoid them. 7 is lengthy and the hanging basket at the top of a hill at the end makes for a tricky approach. 8 is another long one, and the shaping of the tee shot is key to get close enough to par. Hole 9 is the toughest one to find a lane for a drive. Low ceiling and narrow gaps are brutal. The long pin is tucked away, and a good angle is crucial to have an approach you can work with.

The island hole on 10 is one of the classic easy holes that might bite you in the backside if you don't commit. I short armed it and came up just short of the landing zone. 11 is not too hard but takes a bit of finesse, and the basket is hidden from sight on the tee. 18 is a cool drive into a woodsy tunnel, both sides are lined with plenty of trees. Water to the left and a barbed wire fence to the right if you are way off line. 20 is long and has 3 pins, with the longest amongst trees and backed by a creek.

Finding the first hole was the most frustrating aspect of my visit. If you're driving south toward the course, take the second entrance to the park, and drive to the south end of the camping spots. The first tee is south of the last spot. I wound up parking next to the playground and played the last three holes first.

Having a rake to dredge the pond on 10 would've been nice. My disc rolled in, and I didn't have any good tools to reach into the water. It was probably not far off the bank, but I couldn't see much and the New Years Eve temps were pretty cool to be wading in the muck.

Idle Hour Lakes is a good one, no doubt. The first half has some real beauties. A few average holes on the second half keep it from being a 4.5 in my view. If you can get through the front 9 even there are several spots that you can bag birdies coming around the back.

I was 9 over on the round first time out. Drives were clean all day, but my putt and approach game cost me a few. I hated losing my Dynamic mid range on hole 10. Bounced it off the railroad tie on the front of the island and rolled straight back into the cold, dark water of the pond. 3 birdies were not enough to offset a run of bogies and double bogies.

Scenic, as it plays around a small lake.
Variety, as it has technical as well as power shots required from the tee.
Not crowed, you can usually play a round with the course to yourself.
Well mowed. Seems it is mowed more often than other courses, even when there has been a lot of rain.

Baskets. They look nice, but dont seem to catch as well as what I am used to.
Fisherman. Sometime fisherman and/or their vehicles are in the way of shots.

With the foot traffic and continued effort to clean up the loose ends, the course is becoming better every time i play it.