7 well designed and fun holes
A creek that provides just enough of a water hazard to be fun
Spotlessly clean and heated restrooms near the parking lot
Good tee pads
Excellent signage

#1 and #9 are straight, open, and side-by-side
Baskets could use a refresh, but are perfectly adequate
Would be nice to have a Sherpa for the climb up to the #5 tee
Low areas on #1, 2, 7, 8, and 9 can definitely be muddy and slick after rain

I picked up a paperback that I'd heard was worth a read. I wasn't impressed when I started down the path. I looked through it and really didn't know if it would be worth my time. Looking over chapter one, I didn't have high hopes, but once I started I've come back to reread it many times.

The first chapter is pretty straightforward, rather dull, and will remind other players... err readers... of the book's rather disappointing concluding chapter. As a warm-up, it is a perfectly adequate chapter and most readers will be happy to be even par after finishing it.

The second chapter increases the tension immediately as the hero must negotiate a straightforward, but potentially hazardous river (creek) crossing. Ingeniously, the author focuses the reader's attention on the crossing downplaying the perilous obstacles on either side which are the true perils. Success her may even leave the reader under par.

The third chapter is the longest of the book and care must be taken at both the beginning and end to avoid the snares in the middle and end of the chapter. Take care, reader, to not charge too boldly to the end or you may again find yourself submerged. Should you survive, you may be rewarded.

The fourth chapter is surprisingly long and landing left of the basket (metaphorically of course) is to be desired. Straying too much to the right could draw an unfortunate reader into abandoning all hope (of par).

The middle chapter starts with a long uphill preamble which may leave some readers gasping (for breath). The target is ahead but while the shot may be downhill a precise landing on the final pages may only be achieved by the most astute readers. Only the luckiest will be rewarded.

The sixth chapter is a shorter reprise of the previous chapter and at least in theory is the easiest on the course... um book that is. Bad luck or hubris may lead to disaster here, as all around the summit is thorns and impenetrable jungle.

The seventh chapter must be negotiated carefully as only the most gentle right to left throw will lead the reader to get the best result. The water theme from chapter two is foreshadowed here, but only the most careless of readers will be unfortunate enough to encounter it in this chapter.

The eighth chapter is the shortest, but not necessarily the easiest the reader may face. There are several solid obstacles to be overcome and the final water crossing must be faced. Upon finishing this thrilling chapter, the reader may well be excited about the conclusion.

Sadly, though, the ninth and final chapter fails to provide the satisfaction of the previous seven and falls back into the predictable nature of the opening chapter. Aside from a interesting side story that may come into play, the book ends with little thrill.

The stuff in the middle is definitely worth the investment of time, dear reader. I hope you enjoy the book as much as I did.

WHAT TO EXPECT: Just a few short minutes away from both Idlewild and Boone Woods, tucked away in a rather quiet subdivision is a stellar 9 hole wonder. The quality is surprising, the level it is maintained at is surprising, and the beauty it manages to contain makes this course a true hidden gem. A go to course for beginners and the casual quick rounders, this course offers small challenges without much bad taste interaction.

AMENITIES: Well maintained property, lovely park setting for almost entirely just disc golf, shelter house, modern bathrooms, ample parking, and basketball courts and soccer fields.

TEES/SIGNAGE/BASKETS: Large textured concrete tee pads, nice and flat in great shape. Tee signs are well done, stained wooden posts with nice signs containing all relevant information. Baskets are in great shape, Mach V's I believe or maybe newer, that caught well.

DESIGN: Holes vary in distance from around 200 to 400 feet, with a variety of shot shapes possible. Holes 1 and 9 are parallel to each other and the most open on the course and basically play straight. Hole 2 brings in a nice wide creek and a beautiful tree filled green. And holes 3 and 4 play along the creek (shallow but wide when I played), which helps add shape and risk to the holes without really risking losing your plastic. Holes 5, 6, and 7 really show off some nice use of elevation change and lean on roll away potential to guard greens. Hole #8 probably sets itself up as the best ace run on the course at right around 175 feet over the creek to a framed in basket. Design definitely targets beginners and casual players but manages to have all the bells and whistles of a well done, well kept course.

EXTRAS: If this course had the room and the same love and attention to design that the current 9 holes have, and were able to add 9 more, this course would be a spectacular 18 hole course.

SAFETY: This course is in a subdivision and there is a walking path that cuts pretty close to some of the basket locations. The park was pretty empty when I played minus a few dog walkers, but I could see this being an issue.

FLOOD PLAIN: Course sits pretty low despite the elevation and it was moderately swampy when I played. It had rained for a few days straight prior to me playing it on the first sunny day. The more open holes (1 and 9) and the areas near the creek were the worst offenders.

LONG WALKS: If you happen to be errant on your throws on holes that border the creek, you will have to backtrack quite some ways to get to your disc. The bridge is nice, but the creek is wide and hard to cross anywhere else.

"CUTE" MOUNDS: Man made mounds of dirt for basket placements on a couple holes feel sort of gimmicky. I get it, especially considering the skill level the course is intended for, but the course could do without them and be just fine.

This is a fantastic course and I really had to be picky to do this course justice and add some cons. The park is beautiful, and it can be extremely relaxing after playing Idlewild to come over here and unwind and make some birdies. Definitely well worth the time to stop by if you make the pilgrimage to play Idlewild. It is an extremely quick play through (I think the 2 of us made it through in about 35 minutes chasing the setting sun before heading back to our hotel). 3.5 is the highest I rate 9 holers, and this course almost made me change that to a 4.0, but I decided against it. It's just that good.

I've been hearing some excitement about this new course in Florence, and had to give it a whirl. Turns out it's worth the hype. It's already the best nine hole course in Northern Kentucky, and definitely comparable to the really top notch Mason Sports Park near Kings Island, in Ohio. When you pull into the park, you're impressed with the amenities, woods, views, and elevation. Then you hike down the paved path, expecting more, and... well, it starts with an open field shot. Hmmm. Easy peasy, that's a threesie! But wait, give it a second, because hole 2 is beautiful: it crosses the stream (ignore Egon's important safety tip) to a green cut nicely into the wall of woods. Follow that up with a lane hole with a green bordering the stream, long, repeat the challenge on 4, and start thinking ahead to the mound top shot on 5.

Likely a signature pair of holes, you climb a 60 foot high mound (Feel the Berm!), and toss across to a second, with all rollaway if you don't spike it down Just So. Then you go halfway down that mound to the hillside 6th tee and throw to the third mound. This one feels shorter (by that I mean shorter, less distant, as well as lower elevation), but has the same fun challenge. Finish up with a downslope lane shot with more creek long and right, then the ace run 8th across the creek, and back out to the beginning field for the much longer hole 9.

With perfect, level, concrete tees, awesome yellow Mach V's with deep cages, and the hint of top notch signage on its way to go on the varnished, capped signposts, the park department here has spent some money on us. The massive bridge across the creek appears to be there for the paved path (that does NOT come into play for the DG course), but serves well when the water runs high.

Overall, a good course to challenge recreational to intermediate skill levels, and to get a surprisingly decent workout up and down those mounds!

The course layout and flow is fine, and the challenges are, as well, but I thought it odd to have adjacent, similar holes three times in a nine hole run (1&9, 3&4, 5&6). The rough is thick & unforgiving near the green on 2, and to the sides of 3, 4 & 9, though I expect, based on the relatively heavy play this course is already getting, that we'll see it tamed sooner rather than later.

I really only have one complaint, and that is that the seventh teepad is blind and at the foot of the hill, on the left side, where overthrows on 6 will come fading in hard. Eventually it's gonna spell trouble. Of course, the park might put up a net like Minneapolis' Bryant Lake Park did to protect folks teeing off on hole 11...

It's funny that my first experience with manmade hills in a park (Terramont) was just a couple of weeks ago on a trip to see my folks in Texas. Just as that is unique to the Houston region, South Fork's three mounds are unique course features here around Cincinnati.

Reviewer Background as of this writing: played 312 courses and written 294 reviews, via skills hovering around a 900 rating, with folks ranging from age 7 to 87, so I try to write reviews helpful to all.