After about 11 years as a nine-hole course, the Steele Creek DGC is now 18 holes. The grassy, well-maintained course has ventured into the woods to double the fun with a design that contrasts greatly with the front half, which spent plenty of time on the DGCR top-25 list for nine-hole courses.

This course is challenging to review. If I was in charge of the disc golf section of the park, I would have named the two nine-hole loops Steele Creek East and West. (Or Field and Woods. Or Green and Brown. Or any other names that would designate the differences.) Not only are the front and back halves extremely dissimilar, they're in different areas in the park. I created a Park Map to identify where each half starts, because Hole #9 finishes about a 10-minute walk from Hole #10. If you opt to play all 18 holes, you might consider playing the front half, then exit the park, turn right onto Steele Creek Drive and find the Mill Creek Trailhead parking lot. Just don't do what I did the last time I played Steele Creek: Park my car at Hole #18, have my playing partner pick me up and drive to the beginning of the course, play the entire course and finish Hole #18, and then realize ... oh crap, I left my keys in his car at the first hole. That's a LOOONG walk.

That detail aside, there's a lot of good disc golf at Steele Creek DGC. Especially on the front half, which includes some excellent elevation, especially for a park course. There are a few gradual downhill holes, as well as a couple valley holes. Most of the terrain on the front half is grass and there are enough large trees scattered about to provide a good challenge.

The front half includes dual teepads with about 900 feet in difference between the white and blue options. However, the longer teepads do provide several "tweeners" - there are three holes between 380 and 400 feet that are labeled as par-4s. The white and blue markers clearly define each teepad, but they are located at the end of the teepad, which could be a slight obstacle. Also, there's some appreciated variety between the white and blue tees regarding the intended line and in-play obstacles.

The back half features short, wooded holes requiring technical shots. These nine holes average just over 150 feet in length. But the narrow fairways yield some tough lines that will challenge your chances for birdie.

The back nine includes excellent teepads, temporary but detailed signs, and a lovely, new bridge on Hole #13. There's some variety in the design with Hole #15 being one of the more memorable holes. At only 135 feet, the hole starts in the open and goes up a hill through a narrow gap to a blind basket on the right side.

The entrance to this park is incredibly picturesque; unfortunately, the beautiful creek that babbles while cascading over rocks merely serves as a welcome and isn't part of the course.

The obvious disjointedness of the course. Finding the back nine was challenging. Hopefully, better signage can help with this.

There's a $2 fee to enter with parking right next to Hole #1. However, there is free parking at the trailhead outside the park and closer to the back nine.

The back nine design goes all in one direction and not a loop, so you'll walk northeast away from Hole #10, leading to a several-minute walk back after finishing Hole #18.

The second half would benefit from the removal of additional saplings, especially on Hole #10, where it's definitely "poke and hope" without an obvious route to the basket. Also, the creek could come into play with a rotten ricochet on Holes #10 to #12. There's a small fence on the left downhill slope of Hole #10 to allegedly protect some discs from finding the creek, but it's possible to slide under the fence also.

Word is that another nine holes will eventually be added in the woods. Will they be tabbed as Holes #19-27? Or will the design either connect the two sections better or categorize this disc golf area as two courses?

As for rating the 18-hole version of Steele Creek DGC, the course loses a bit of the grace it received as a Top-25 nine-hole course. Of course, more disc golf is usually a good thing, especially with the addition of nine new wooded holes that amplify the variety. That said, in considering how this course compares with its 18-hole counterparts, both locally and nationally, it falls into the "good" category with the potential to improve. The rating from the previous eight Trusted Reviewers of the nine-hole course was 2.88, and with the wooded version now in play, a current rating of 3.0 seems fair.

Really open ball golf style course on rolling land with the occasional pine tree(s) to get in the way. This is a really clean and well manicured park making it a perfect venue for gripping and ripping without worrying about losing discs in undergrowth and such. You get 9 holes currently with two sets of tees, I played from the Blues aka longs, and the round a here is low-stress and quite enjoyable. Most of the challenge is distance related but for the par assigned you don't need a cannon to score well.

I had no difficulties finding the next hole or any basket (despite playing in waning daylight) thanks to the openness of the course and the informative, very ball golf esque tee signs. Tees are terrific and flush and the baskets are nice and new. Just grading on style and appearances this course would get very high marks.

The elevation change is interesting and fun if well short of being extreme, for the most part you're throwing down hills or over depressions rather than uphill which is good for fun factor, and makes the longer holes more approachable for noodle arms. Also nice is how short the grass is cut so those with roller game will enjoy letting loose here.

Design-wise the course is a bit fur coat and no trousers. Not much in the way of fairway variety, generally just long, open rip straight across the field holes. If it weren't for elevation change it would get fairly repetitive. There are trees here and occasionally they do provide a bit of an obstacle but for the most part they are afterthoughts in terms of challenge. This is definitely not a course I'd like to play during the heat of the summer.

The only other real con was I thought the par was a bit forgiving on a few holes. I had Eagle chances a little too easily despite playing the long tees. Birdies are not hard to come by if you can throw decently long.

This is a really fun and relaxing course to play. I'm looking forward to seeing where they put 9 more holes in but as it stands it's a great 9-holer. I won't go so far as to say it's a must-play in the area unless you prefer really open courses but it's definitely worth the while and a good course for warming up. The park is easily accessible off the highway so try to fit it into your road trip in the area.

This is the most wide open of the courses in the Kingsport-Johnson City-Bristol area. However, the baskets are placed so that you are not often just shooting across a straight grassy field. There are almost always trees or hills or rough close enough to make some control necessary. Still, it's the best place in the tri-cities area to go practice your long throws.

The blue and white tees provide enough variety to make the course worth playing once on each. On some few pins the blue is just a longer version of the white, but on many the blue and white provide very different angles and obstacles.

The pro shop is nice and carries a substantial number of discs from Innova and Discraft. I think they might have also had a few Prodigy discs last time I was in there.

This the best 9 pin course I've played, but it's still a nine pin course. There have been rumors for a while that the ball golf course will be shutting down and the disc golf extended to 18, but don't hold your breath.

Minor: The white tees are often harder than the blue; I consistently have a better round on the blue than the white. This is particularly true on 4. The blue is a straight, open shot. The white is technically shorter if you can shoot through the middle of a picket row of trees and over a depression on the other side of the trees. Nobody tries that shot; they shoot to the right (past the tree picket) and into the open field to the right (which blue starts shooting into). Personally, this does not bother me, but it might irritate some people.

Minor: There needs to be a sign from 2 to 3. The first time I played, I walked straight from 2 to 4. I had to have someone point out that 3 was across the road between the two roadways. However, the rest of the tees are easy to find.

If you go through the manned gate you have to pay to enter the park. However, if you drive past it and pull into the parking lot next to the pro-shop you do not. It makes for a bit of a walk, but nothing too bad. It's silly to pay to play here when there are three good 18 hole parks within 30 minutes that are free, but if you want to park next to the first tee instead of walking for less than a minute to get there you can.

Nice place to practice long drives
Beautiful Course: Tees and Pins are High Quality and there is Good Signage
Very Well Maintained
Well Stocked Pro Shop
Running Water

Only 9 holes
Too many open areas--not enough technical difficulty

This is a very nice course with good flow and use of the terrain. There are reasonable ace opportunites on holes 1, 3 and 5.

Each hole has 2 Tees which helps with the only having 9 holes problem

Steele Creek is the exception to the rule when it comes to 9-holers. Most are 9-holers for a reason, and not in a good way. I finished my round wanted to play nine more.
- Very good hole layout. Again, unlike most 9-holers, this course had a professional feel. It had solid, challenging holes, no gimmicky or way-too-easy holes. Every hole would be seen on any true 18-holer.
- Great use of the terrain. It starts with a tight fairway on #1 to the two long holes (#6 & 7) with strategically placed baskets behind trees; and a pair of nice downhill (#2) and uphill (#4) holes.
- Great tee signs. Some of the nicest I've seen. They have everything you need to know.
- Dual tee pads give a decent layout (2574) and challenging (3475) one.
- No easy birdies. Again, unlike most 9-holers in neighborhood parks, you have to throw well to score well here.
- Overall amazing park. I think it had everything from a golf course (the other golf) to big play area and even a train for kids. The park was absolutely packed on the Sunday afternoon I was there.

For a 9-hole course, this was as close to flawless as I've seen. I'll nitpick here, just to point out a few potential areas to be improved.
- There are no true wooded holes, or any other major obstacles. On most holes, baskets are strategically placed behind/near trees.
- Some people may not like because of the potential risk of hitting a car. There's a road on both sides of the fairway, so any shot that sails too far left or right could be in trouble. Granted, you'd have to be really far offline, but it's still worth pointing out.
- The two blandest holes are #8 & 9. After playing what I think are the course's two best holes, it's a little bit of a letdown to end on that note.

For a 9-holer, this is special. Still, it's only 9-holes, so it leaves something to be desired. This would be a great course if it were 18. If not, it would be nice to have more variety in the long and short tees to give each hole two different layouts. Look at Park Circle in North Charleston, SC as an example.
- As stated, most of the holes were enjoyable and well thought out. That should appeal to players of all levels. My two favorites were #6 & 7. #6 is a 466-footer with the basket behind a big tree, which forces you to play around the sides, instead of coming right at it. #7 is similar, only longer at 555 feet. Your first shot here is to a wide open field. Go too far to the left and you'll have a long second shot; too far to the right and this basket will be hidden by another big tree. Whether you play them as 3s or 4s, it'll take several solid shots for both of them.
- If this were a full 18, it'd be in the 3.5 - 4.0 range. I'm thinking it'd be very comparable to Wellspring in Burlington, NC or Bryan Park in Richmond, VA. That said it's only 9 holes, so the score will be lower.
- I don't know if there are plans to expand, or if there's even room, but I'd love to see it happen. At the very least, you should be leaving this course wanting more. And I think that's what every disc golf course should be aiming for.

This is a really, really good 9-hole course set in a very nice city park. The holes are your usual city park style, mostly open lush grassy fairways with large mature trees to navigate around and for the most part little-to-no undergrowth. Elevation is a big factor here and adds to the difficulty. The land itself is very nice (I think it used to be a ball golf course, so it is nice for a change to see a disc golf course put on good land often reserved for ball golf courses!)

There are two tees per hole so you could make it 18 holes as the 2 tees are quite a bit different in length and many play from a completely different angle. The length of the course is much longer than your average 9-hole park course. The longer blue tees are great for those that like to throw long bombs as they average close to 400' with the longest at 555'- many 18 hole courses don't have that kind of distance. The white tees are perfect for the distance-challenge and the casual player to make the round more enjoyable.

There are concrete tees for the blue and the white tees which are clearly marked with colored PVC. The signs are excellent- detailed, informative, and in color. The baskets were in terrific shape. The park and course were very clean. There was a lot of parking available by hole #1.

Not too many. There are only 9 holes where there might be room in the park for 18. The 9 holes are unique enough from each other, but there are no woods-style technical holes here. Also, because it is nice and caters to everyone, I could see at certain times this course getting crowded with lots of recreational players, which could be a con for some people.

As others have said, for this only having 9 holes it is an excellent course and one of the best 9-hole courses I have played. A plus is that it has appeal to players of all skill levels. The city of Bristol is lucky to have this course and they seem to be proud of it and take good care of it. It is also not too far from a couple other solid courses: Warrior's Path and Winged Deer.

*Despite the name of Steele Creek, there is no water in play here.

- 2 Sets of Tees. Not only does having two sets of tees let people chose the game that's right for them, it also allows this course to be played as an 18 (kinda sorta). Both sets are different enough to make the holes unique (kinda sorta).
- Ball Golf Feel. Because the course is on an old "ball golf" course, it feels like Golf. Rolling terrain, manicured grass, use of available trees, use of elevation, use of available opportunities for punishment... Fun Times!
- Air it Out. With a few holes being over 400' and one over 550', and with the terrain being mostly open, you really get to air it out at Steele Creek.

- Only 9... Bummer. This course is pretty cool as is, but if they had an additional 9, it would be elevated to a whole new level.
- Labeled Par. I appreciate that they didn't try to go "Pro-Par", but, they were a few questionably labeled Pars out there. I had 3 realistic "eagle" putts... and that's probably a little unrealistic. Two of the 4's should be 3's and the 5 should be a 4.

- Best 9 Holer? As my review title states, this might be the best 9 hole disc golf course I have ever played (out of 20 nine-holers played in six states). The "ball golf" atmosphere, rolling terrain, manicured grass, elevation use, "Par 4's and 5", and dual tee-pads make this 9 Holer stand out.
- Other Nearby Courses. This area in north east Tennessee is a hot bed for GREAT disc golf. My Rankings: Harmon Hills (and I haven't even played the whole thing yet), Winged Deer, Warrior's Path, Fossil Hill, Steele Creek.
- My Score: Depends on what you call "Par". I would consider it a -1 (28).

Situated in a humongous city park that was formerly a state park (before the state shifted it over to Warriors Path). Gorgeous property with a lake, ball golf and disc golf. The DG course is actually on the old ball golf site and is open,rolling with scattered trees. The design fully utilizes all the trees for an interesting layout. Two separate tee pads gives you 18 holes. Fantastic signs.
Nice bike path.

Only 9 holes.

If the city adds 9 more holes in the woods, this could be an elite course...one of the best in TN. Please treat this place with respect to enhance the chances of 9 more.

Open course with strategic basket locations; Very well marked; good pro shop; good scenery, (lakeside holes).

None apparent, except more holes would be nice.

This is where I started seven months ago; good beginner's course. Not too long, and achievable pars, even for the novice. Builds confidence level.

Concrete tee pads, well maintained, the short holes are equally difficult compared to the longer holes through the use of trees, the signs are very nice

There is a road that runs through the park that is in play on two holes. There is also a greenway that is in play on one or two holes. Remember it is a public park so people can come out of no where, not just from the roads and greenway.

This is a great course to introduce someone to the sport. There is even a sign with general rules of the game at the first hole. If you don't have discs, you can rent some from the shop at the golf course. The white tees are easier for the most part.

I haven't heard any more on the course growing, so I doubt it will be expanding any time soon.

A tree on the second hole has been removed making the drive from the blue tee easier and more forgiving.

Good draw course for the area, beginner friendly and very good course to introduce this area to disc golf. I think the back 9 when planted will be good for those of us that are more experienced and do not want to make the Ktown drive

The only con would be that there are alot of people that are just wandering on the course. But I think that once people get used to the course being there and the concept that "discs" hurt that will correct itself

Kudos to the area club for getting another course planted in the tri-cities area and expanding the DG scene

Good beginner course. Well maintained. Nice signs. Great baskets.

Only nine holes. Dirt tee pads. Lack of technicality. People walking on course.

Fun course to let the disc rip. Nice club house with disc to buy or rent. Also score cards.

Well marked, well maintained, nice baskets, nice signs.

Lack of technicality, most shots big open drives, no concrete tees, only nine baskets.

Not bad for the first course in bristol. more could have been done with the course