1) Part Traditional Golf driving range, part park golf, part wooded nightmare, Niehaus Park has an identity crisis and it is actually glorious. As another reviewer stated it doesn't take itself too seriously and doesn't try too hard to be something it isn't. It makes for a random mix of challenging, fun, ugly, beautiful holes that somehow just work together harmoniously.

2) Tightly wooded front nine with a solid mix of demanding shot placement Par 4's, sprinkled with several sub 250 feet Ace run holes, with a dash of multi angle shots before gradually opening up into a very open massive elevation shift back nine with some big distance downhill hucks.

3) The variety of hole distances, shot shapes, natural obstacles, and change in elevation is top notch. Some holes definitely used this better to their advantage, but the mixing in of shorter gotta birdie holes that demand a perfect tee shot, with the two shot perfect landing zone Par 4's is the chef's kiss.

4) Course flow is intuitive and excellently done. You start adjacent to the main parking lot and dive off into the woods on Hole #1 (which is a surprise because all you see from the parking lot is a huge elevated golf course driving range). Then you weave through the woods with the occasional more open shot before eventually coming out of the woods and following the perimeter of the driving range for fun to throw and unique from each other holes.

5) Excellent tee pads (4' x 10' textured concrete), solid baskets (I've seen both white Patriots and green Prodigy in use the times I've been there, never mix matched though), and tee signs are informative although primitive as they show all the relevant information needed.

6) I believe I counted 6 holes under 250 feet that are legitimate Ace Runs (some more risky than others) and each presents a different challenge. Roughly half of those sit on on the edge of a creek either before it or right behind it, or both. The others are on top of mounds with severe roll away potential.

7) Course uniquely allows you to choose how hard you want to attack it and how much risk you want to take, while still providing the ability to play it very safe and score well also. You can "try" for eagle on some of the shorter Par 4's, but they are designed as two shot Par 4's and punish you unless you have elite power, hit a perfect angle, and get lucky through the trees. Where someone with 250 feet of accurate distance can score 6-8 under par without ever really bringing risk or big numbers into play.

8) A course that truly challenges the player more based on their increased skill. It's rare but this course dares you to prove how good you are. It lays out a simple here's the safe landing zone to take your easy par. But over here, we have the hero line to park it. And instead of the tee pad facing the safe landing spot or making the safe shot appealing from the tee, the course does an excellent job of pointing you at the hero gap and making that look like THE shot to take. It's hard to explain in words, you'd just have to see it for yourself. It "I triple dog dare you" were a disc golf hole, this course has several.

9) Too many solid to spectacular holes with their own personality to pick a signature hole. Holes 17-18 will definitely get a lot of votes though. Back to back "top of the world" downhill bombs. You will want to empty your bag for sure and just watch the discs fly forever.

10) 3 Practice Baskets, yes 3, set up near the driving range that let you putt, toss, approach (one on a mound) to dial in before you start.

11) Restrooms beside hole one, there is a walking trail throughout the park and has multiple "emergency" call poles, the underbrush is cleaned out, except where left on purpose to make the hole more difficult, bridges over the creeks in all the right spots to keep walking around to a minimum.

1) Several holes have Mandos that are marked on the tee signs but NOT on the trees themselves. This can be very confusing trying to figure out which tree is which, or figured out too late after someone has thrown not realizing there was a Mando.

2) A lot of people do not know but this property used to be the city landfill. While they have done an excellent job in repurposing the land over the years, you will still encounter tons of glass and other items throughout your play. While they do routinely clean this up, you can cut yourself of on broken glass so watch where you kneel or place your hand.

3) Drainage is a huge issue, waterproof shoes are highly suggested, extra towels, and probably skip this course directly after a rain until it dries out. Standing water makes mosquitos an issue.

4) Walking trail that zigs and zags through the course, wasn't an issue when I have played here, but I can see park goers possibly being an issue with so many blind shots and tree kick potential.

5) Not a Pro level course nor a solo destination so that keeps it out of the 4.5 range for me. Pair it with some of the other courses in Dubois County or with the Evansville courses to the west and it would be a worthy addition to any weekend trip to the area though.

If someone asked you if this course is tightly wooded, park style golf with a few trees to miss, elevated, flat, short distance, big distance, beginner friendly, advanced skill required, beautiful, or ugly... your answer would be "yes". And they would look at you very confused until they played it. Roughly 15 minutes from I-64 and in a string of solid to very good courses along that corridor make this an easy bagging stop location for those heading to or from Evansville along this route. Highly recommend

Niehaus Park doesn't take itself too seriously and I love it. For instance, you'll start with a few demanding Par 4s and then, boom, an ace run awaits. The variety in terms of shape, length, obstacles, and elevation is superb. The designers did a great job with the flow here, weaving in and out of the woods. Once you think you're in the grip-and-rip section for the rest of the round after hole 10, boom, a few more technical ace runs pop up.

Speaking of ace runs, there are 6 holes under 250' and all have unique challenges. These holes help make Niehaus very attackable. I fortunately had a very clean round and shot -8. Usually when my 915ish rated self finishes -8, that means Par was soft. Not the case here! At 6500ft and Par 62, you'd think there would be some easy Eagles for the pros. All of the Par 4s (except maybe hole 1 with a otherworldly drive) are two-stage layouts--even the 387' hole 15.

Niehaus also has some very unique and risky basket locations. 3 holes sit atop large mounds and several more are perched dangerously next to some creeks. Holes 17 and 18 give you some top-of-the-world shots. Hole 18 is one of the rare "empty the bag" finishing holes. You're crazy to not launch at last a few drives here to watch them sail down the hill.

Amenities: fantastic. Signs are incredible with each showing a small layout of the entire course with the current hole highlighted. Baskets are the good-looking and very effective Dynamic Veterans. 3 baskets are set up in a driving range! Tees are level 5x10 concrete. For a new course, fairways are clean and cleared and already at the "broken in" status. Brand new restrooms are by the tee at hole 1. Bridges are in all the right spots and I'm hearing more are in the works. You can tell they take good care of this park.

The designers also gave us the wonderful water-laden Prides Creek and the 2 strong Mesker Park courses to the west around Evansville. They know what they're doing and Niehaus Park was executed at a very high level.

Not a lot to gripe about but I think mando trees should be marked somehow on the tree itself, not just on the sign. Navigation is pretty strong but a few arrows would be nice, especially after finishing hole 6. I was tempted to walk up the concrete path where I should have taken a hard left. ***April 2022 Update: mando trees now marked and next tee arrows in place, nice!***

Standing water is an issue and I've been told there are efforts in place to improve draining. For now, waterproof shoes are a must if you're playing after a rain. There was some pooling water around hole 5's basket when I played. I'd imagine this course (much like Buffalo Trace to the east) would be largely unplayable after some super heavy rains.

This is kinda nitpicking, but Hole 11 wasn't much more than an open field connector to the other side of the park. Distance was the main identity.
There is a walking path that meanders throughout. It adds OB and non-discing humans. These paths come in play on a few holes but are largely out of the way. A few tees incorporate the path. Please, please, please give the walkers some space and respect as those are generally the folks who can try to get a course shut down if they're threatened.

Niehaus lacks championship-level challenge but doubt that was the goal here anyway. Its first tournament is in a few days and I'm confident there will be at least a few sub-50 scores.

This is a course-baggers delight. Niehaus is 15 minutes off I-64, can be played in about an hour, and offers a fine mix of shots and terrain with very nice amenities. I love the variety and attackability. Plus the hole 18 empty-the-bag finale is hard to argue with. Get out here!

First 10 are mostly wooded with some tight fairways but some reachable birdies as well. An Ace run on 3 is fun mixed in with some longer Par 4s. Definitely need a straight driver for the woods but also need a hyzer disc for others. Back 9 has a couple Ace runs as well if you can control through strategically placed trees and wind. Fun drives on 17 and 18 down hill with nice views. Difficult but doable to finish under par

Drainage is problematic in some areas and walking path cuts through a few holes you need to be wary of walkers when the weather is nice. Newer course so the more people play the better the fairways in the woods will be as far as weeds and thorn bushes go. Long Par 4s on 8 and 11 could be a Par 5 for some players depending on skill level and distance of drives, other Par 4s could be Par 3 for skilled, experienced players.

One of my favorite courses (but I'm a little biased). Niehaus is one of the cleaner if not cleanest woods courses in the area with a couple long open holes you can unleash on. The ace runs are challenging. The wooded holes are tight and technical, making the course fun (or frustrating) to play. Bridges have been put in so it's more cart friendly.

It's tough. Swirling winds are a heavy factor in the back 9 and especially the two 700+ ft holes. When it's wet, it's wet. The maps aren't great. Hopefully they are updated soon.