WHAT TO EXPECT: Patoka Lake is located within a pay to enter State Park ($7 for Indiana residents, $9 for out of state visitors). Expect an absolutely beautiful course with tons of shot variety, wilderness seclusion, some picturesque forest views, and great course upkeep for as secluded as the course is. There are mostly shorter holes distance wise with a mix of semi open but well defined fairways before dipping off into some tight, but well defined technical woods golf.

TEES/SIGNAGE/BASKETS: Baskets are older, not sure exactly what brand, but look like early Mach's but the chains have been replaced with newer ones. Baskets caught well, just show their sign of age. Basic tee signs that only show distance and par. Tee pads are concrete and on the smaller side, but fine for a course with holes this distance.

DESIGN: Course is chalk full of variety with multiple windows to hit off the tee, subtle but noticeable elevation changes, tree guarded greens, and a variety of distances and shot shapes required. Very few "air it out holes" for those with longer arms, but offers a ton of variation in distances and angles that make disc choice and angle control extremely important. Extremely fair lines that are both fun and challenging without being overbearing.

EXTRAS: The course beauty deserves recognition with the mass of old hardwoods, walnut trees, streams, and evergreens. The slight elevation changes (to the extreme elevation changes on Hole #9), low ceilings, protected greens, and scenic nature of the course just add to the aura. Course is well maintained and while there is some thicker rough, especially in the heavier wooded sections, it isn't thick or allowed to grow uncontrolled.

AMENITIES: The lack there of. Though this park has some great beaches, a beautiful lake, and tons of amenities for those areas, the disc golf course is a secluded island unto itself. There are no bathrooms or water available that I could find anywhere near the course.

MISSED OPPORTUNITY: The lake unfortunately is not incorporated into the course at all. The water hazard aspect as well as the missed view opportunities definitely stands out. Kinda leaves the name of the course to be sort of misleading, but that's just nitpicking.

SECLUSION: While being alone on a course is often quite relaxing, this course is secluded from practically everyone. The closest course was Dubois County Park over 30 minutes away. We actually played a tournament that used this course, Dubois County Park, and Neihaus Park over a 2 day event and the courses were wildly spread out. The course is also a decent haul from Louisville, Indianapolis, and Evansville making it require a dedicated trip to play.

BENCHES: Course could use some more benches, and the existing ones could definitely use an update. Though the elevation isn't crazy here, there is enough of it that some players would benefit from having a place to rest between holes.

Overall Patoka Lake is a wonderful wooded course that has stood the test of time. Some serious updating and modernizing of this course and adding amenities would make this course rate MUCH higher. As is, the course rates at a 3.5 to me. The old tees/signs/baskets and the lack of bathrooms and water bring this course down from a 4.0. The State Park is definitely worth the trip on its own, with the bonus of this great course. Not a destination course on it's own, but definitely a can't miss if you are in the area.

Tight technical fairways in a very nice state park with camping amenities galore. Tons of elevation. New concrete tee pads. Amazing scenery! Often, you can have the course to yourself!

Signage and a couple of baskets have fallen into disrepair. It's off the beaten path and there's a $5 entry into the park for Indiana residents, $7 for out of state residents.

While playing this course, I couldn't stop thinking about how similar it is to Cedar Sentinels. One of my favorites. The parking area is a ways down the road from hole 1. If you walk straight across the road, there's hole 15's basket. So, I try to start on hole 16.

Signs and teepads were good. Park was nicely kept and fairways were mowed. Good blend of semi-wooded and fairly open holes. Flow from hole to hole was good, we didn't have any trouble navigating the course as first-timers.

The biggest gripe I have with this course is the number of doglegs it has. I think 9 doglegs in 18 holes is excessive and started feeling repetitive. 7 of the 9 are doglegs right, and some of these are HUGE fish hook type curves. If you are a RHBH thrower and can't reliably flick, then you are going to have some trouble. Several of these curves are just too big to anny around.

More benches would be a welcome improvement as well.

It seems like more thorns must grow in Indiana than anywhere else, because the thorniest roughs I've ever encountered (Patoka, Cavan, English) were all in that state. I'm not listing this as a "Con", because I don't think the fairways were unfairly narrow, and if you stay on the fairway then you don't have to worry about the rough! That being said, I would not recommend playing this course alone. With so many blind dogleg holes, you really need to employ a spotter to see where your throws go. You do not want to be stomping around in THIS rough any longer than is necessary!

We played a doubleheader of English and Patoka. They are completely different from each other and make for a good day of golf.