-This is a delayed review due to personal reasons (anxiety over graduation, work, grad school, and this corona virus going on). But this is worth mentioning. This course is amazing! It's courses like this one that you'd drive many hours to play. It's exquisite! Exquisite like a real gemstone! There's elevation, water, danger, and curveballs are thrown at you with the various hole distances. Course takes up a good amount of space, but there's more than 18 holes designed here.

-David is an awesome guy! He's very friendly and fun to talk to! He walked with us and talked about many different events held here and the different changes the course has been through. The Sauls do an amazing job maintaining their course. Chris is an awesome guy as well. Very nice! I was having a hard time working with paypal and he was very helpful when I purchased a disc and paid through paypal. Travis and Jay are awesome guys too.

-You pretty much step on the tee pad and say "WOW!" Every hole here is special in some way. There are many signature holes here. I'm running out of fingers here. The big downhill bomb has two pin placements. The left pin is #1 diamond. 580' and downhill the whole way. It's a tough par three. Seems like it should be a par four, but it plays less and is reachable for distance throwers. The right pin is #3 on the Garnet layout. Very hard par four. In a major pro tour event, the average score on this hole would probably be a 4.7. The pin is to the right side right beside the creek. The basket is guarded by some trees, and the creek kind of curves to where the upshot is more daunting. Scary but awesome hole. Another awesome downhill hole is #8 garnet/#12 diamond. This hole is STRAIGHT downhill and you'll play it whether you play the Garnet or Diamond. If you play both, then you'll get to play this hole twice! It's 281' island hole. That may not seem fair, but it plays a lot less and is actually a great challenge for all players. There is a drop zone further down the hill if you miss the island. Beware of the creek that's on the island! Great hole!! #6 garnet is a fun steep downhill ace run over the creek!

-Oh yeah there's more! A whole lot more here! We are talking about the pond now! #16 diamond might be the only hole you play where you have two water carries! 608' and OB everywhere. The short pin (#14 garnet) is fun too! Either way, you have to avoid the pond and the OB path to the right side. #15 garnet is an awesome par four that's back over the pond and to the right side. I think #17 diamond was my favorite hole. You are backtracking the fairway for #15 garnet on this hole. It's a 760' par four. The drive is significantly downhill and the water is in play to the left side the whole way. The basket is perched on a hill so there's a scary putt once you make it there. Hole is beautiful. If you know exactly how to navigate it, she'll cure your heartache but she can also leave you out in the cold and let you freeze.

-Both layouts are challenging; as you'd probably expect at a private course. I've played some private courses such as Brackett's Bluff, Harmon Hills, Legacy Trails, Black Jack, Torma Town, etc. All of them are at least moderately difficult. The Garnet Layout here at Stoney Hill is harder than Harmon Hills and Black Jack in my opinion. The Diamond Layout is maybe a little bit harder than Brackett's Bluff I think (even though the rock green there is insane). You really have to play smart on every hole here. The local 930 rated player could very well likely beat the 1000 rated player that hasn't been here before. Often times, it really doesn't matter at all if it's your home course. But it might matter here.

-Plenty of parking space, and once you are close you'll see a couple of signs with arrows directing you to the course.

-Crazy pin placements. #9 garnet/#13 diamond has a hanging basket. Not high off the ground no. But the ground is NOT level at all and the creek is just in front of it. I crossed the creek and rolled in it twice. Yikes! #10 diamond. Pin is on a hill that drops over 20'. Yikes! #18 (both layouts) is REALLY intimidating. There's a ravine in front of the elevated basket. It is about 20' deep in spots. The basket is on a mound that's shaped like a cone. Yikes! But pretty awesome! The ravine is actually quite difficult to avoid. And it's OB. You really have to be in an ideal spot to have an easy second shot. If not, you'll probably have to throw a pitch up to one of the gaps. The basket is in a more open area in the woods, but in order to reach that area, you have to take one of the two gaps. They are on opposite sides. Yikes! There are more pin placements that I mentioned previously and maybe a couple more. Yikes!

-Carpet pads are cool in my book! The tee signs are nice too.

-This is the optimal outcome I think, so it's not a con in my eyes. But #18 crosses the fairways for #1 diamond/#3 garnet and #2 garnet. But all are great holes so.....

-Par confusion on a couple of holes. I think #6 diamond is a hard par four instead of an easy par five. I think #3 garnet is a short par five with a whole lot of danger. It takes a really long throw to have a look at three. Both holes are excellent regardless.

-This course has been in my wish list since I was fifteen. It took a long time to get the opportunity to play Stoney Hill. But I'm so glad that I did. It's a very hard course, but it isn't impossible. When you see long par fours such as #3 garnet or #17 diamond, you feel the urge to throw about as hard as you can because you want the full distance. When you see shorter par fives such as #14 diamond, you feel the urge to throw as hard as you can since 714' can be reached in two shots for some players and everybody loves an eagle opportunity. When you see holes like #6 garnet or #7 garnet/#11 diamond (a 167') ace run, you feel the urge to go for an ace. Slow down! Take a few more seconds to analyze more thoroughly.

Pretty recently, I realized that is one of main things that is holding me back. I don't take that few extra seconds I need to take. I played horrible in the tournament here. My biggest piece of advice in disc golf in general would be to not throw too hard. It's like playing wii golf. If you swing the remote too hard, you'll shank the drive. That advice is very important here at Stoney Hill. I was intimidated on #16 diamond. I got lucky on my tee shot by staying in bounds and being left with a 320' approach. The wind was stirring and I let it mess with my mind. I threw my midrange too hard and it made it to the edge of the land, but didn't cross. I had to rethrow and I hit the water again and had a lucky water skip that put me across. That was another terrible shot that I released too hard. I did that hoping to go past the water since the basket is another 60' away. On #17 diamond, I took a little less power off and had a much better drive and I had a great second shot that gave me a birdie on this brutal par four.

-As difficult as Stoney Hill is, it's incredible. Garnet and Diamond are found by labor. The amount of work the Sauls put into this course is what makes the layouts the beautiful gems that they are. Along with Harmon Hills, I'm giving Stoney Hill a 5. Don't turn down any opportunity to play here.

I've waited 10 years to review this course. I wanted to make sure that no one thought I was biased due to the course being a family-course labor of love. I also wanted to add some street-cred (as the whippersnappers say) with 100+ played tournaments, 20+ wins and a player rating that says I know how to get around a course. That said, let's dig in...

Like my title says, 'What more could you want?'. At Stoney you are provided with rip-snortin' full-power, blow-your-elbow-out rips (#1 diamond layout). Or how about butt-pucker, give your disc it's last rites, and throw a 250' shot across a pond that is always windy. And to make this more fun for RHBH, the disc sweeps back (if you get it up a little bit) to a disc-eating pond that claims many, but returns few. Not sure of the hole number, use to be #16 but there's been so many iterations of the hole numbers, that I can't be positive! But you'll know it when you see it - guaranteed.

You want down hill tunnel/bomber shots, we got 'em! You want FULL POWER uphill shots? We got 'em! Need crosshill shots, those are available for your enjoyment as well! Like testing you accuracy down heavily wooded fairways barely wide enough to walk side-by-side, we got those as well!

How about hitting a 50'x50' island hole from 280' uphill? (Garnet #1)

Or how about a nice 200' uphill turning Anhyzer blast out of shoot that you don't want to grip-lock or early release? Diamond #2

Want more distance, how about Diamond #14 (I think) Under an arching tree branch, over a hill top, down across a meadow, through a pair of 'goal-post' trees following a narrowing peninsula with a creek on either sides, and a basket at the tip of the speak with water on 3 sides. Just a nice little ol' 714' drive.

Want something unique? Lets' go with a hanging basket on the edge of creek bank that almost guarantees a spit out is going to have you rolling into the creek. Or worse, along the creek, then into it 20' feet away so that you get to do it ALL OVER AGAIN!! (Diamond #13)

Lest we forget the signature hole, diamond #18 with the basket on a 15' mound with a small 'quarry' before the basket that is OB. Oh, and it's ALWAYS windy on the basket. Bad putts can find themselves a very long way away.

So like I've said, 'what more can you want'? There's dogleg left holes, tight ridge-line holes with a creek (seems to wind by every freakin' hole!) to the left. To much juice and splash. Hit a tree and splash, hit by the basket and roll...you get the point

At Stoney you will need your forehand, your backhand, good chance a roller, a thumber, a tomahawk. You'll need to throw really hard and long, then turn around and toss an almost pin-point corkscrew shot downhill (diamond #7)

This course takes it all out of you. It demands power and accuracy, patience and forethought. And it takes stamina. Despite the layout you choose - original diamond 18 or Garnet 18/24/27 you legs will take a beating and your back will be abused - all in a good way

I could go into a list of all 30 possible fairways, but you would end up really confused (I do when I try to think about it!)

The only con I can come up with would be that there are no 'red tees'. This is a big-boy course, beginners need not apply. Even if red tees were installed, it would be demanding.

So, why a 5-star rating? Because there are no dumb holes, no 'what the hell were they thinking holes'. I'm a good player, but this place has fed me my lunch and made me eat it on more than one occasion. I don't know of any other course that has me choosing a different disc for every tee. The mental calculation you will use here will wish you were sitting in a calculus course taught by someone speaking Chinese. Your brain will have to account for wind, elevation, trees, water etc.

Course is a long way from anything. If you visit, pack a lunch - a big one. And water. In the summer time this place can leave you parched. You will be tested and bested. Very few escape Stoney Hill with their ego in tact. Tee pads are carpet, but amazingly grippy. Only time they are an issue is when its been wet and cold. They can actually freeze! Signage is at a bare minimum, so you will need a guide to find your way around. Cart friendly if you dare!

Privacy: You are a guest on a sweet disc golf course. The Sauls are gold member disc golf ambassadors.

It truly is a masterpiece of design. Form, function, and finality were put into this course.

This course will punish you. It will crush your soul. And that is what makes it great.

Here you'll find many memorable holes. They keep you coming back. I like what one other review said: 'no fillers' and that is correct. Each hole makes you earn it.

This place is just a masterpiece and has to be in the top 3 in SC.

There aren't many people that will find a con here. The tee pads are really my only con. I actually really enjoy throwing on them, but I've played on them in early morning dew and now rain. They hold up pretty well, but given the inkling of a slip and it messes with your head.

I know all to well about expenses of tee pads so I totally get it. I commend them for using the carpet. Do to the fluidity of this course, it can't be helped. And it also adds to the uniqueness because those Sauls are always cooking up some new hole!

This course is just amazing. It is so much fun to spend a day there throwing.

I'm just glad it has such gracious owners.

Excellent variety- in elevation, distance, and scenery. Nice wide open shots downhil, tight wooded technical shots, water in play, a little bit of everything.

Well maintained- the fairways were clear, and the brush wasn't so thick that a misplaced shot was too hard to recover.

Actually felt like playing golf- this course made me think about my shot placement a lot more than most courses I have played. The norm around charlotte is just don't hit a tree and stay in the fairway- needed a little more strategy here, and that was a nice change.

Challenging, but not overwhelming- I am a fairly new player, and the course was tough, but I never got discouraged- I like a good challenge though.

Not much here- distance from me is my only real complaint.

I was a little skeptical of the carpet tee pads, but after using them they didn't bother me at all. Felt fine.

Definitely worth the trip to play. It was spur of the moment for me and David was extremely helpful. This is probably my favorite course I have played so far, and look forward to coming back in the future.

-Long
-Challenging
-Unique
-Private
-Well Designed
-Great Baskets

I can't think of anything bad to say about this course. I know some people complain about the course needing to be mowed more often...but being that it's a private course run by someone with a full time job I think it's kept up beautifully given the circumstances.

Highly recommend this course. I can't wait to go back and play it!

Great variety, not just in the shots but in the layouts you can try. A 24-hole layout, two 18-hole layouts, etc. They often change the layouts, so you can play a year later and it's a new experience.
While there are tight holes (and some thick rough, and water), many of the fairways are open enough to let you air it out and play for placement.
The owners are very friendly and accommodating, a couple of cute kids running around give it a nice family vibe.
Beautiful lake, stream, trees, hills, etc.

Can be hard to follow, but the course owners are extremely helpful with guiding you. A few times you see a basket but have to throw to a hidden basket. Again, can be tricky but the guides help.
There are carpet tee pads, though they worked fine for me. I played after a hard rain and didn't slip any more than I would on a concrete tee.

The course is pretty remote. Stock up on drinks and snacks before you come. Lots of back-roads ways to get here. I went through Chester State Park on my way back to Charlotte - didn't take any longer than I-77 (so you can hit that new course if coming from Charlotte). The Sauls told me they have a pro-shop with hundreds of discs in Columbia, in case you're coming from that way. The reviews pretty well nailed it. I read a lot of them before playing and they were very helpful. It's hard to add anything new but I had this idea - no one lists the best place to take a leak on a course. On this course, walk behind #10's tee pad, behind the bench, and you've got a great view of this beautiful little stream hidden back there in the woods.

Private Course, built and set up by the Sauls, and from the drive in to the last hole, you are reminded how much work and BEAUTY this course has.

Everything in disc golf is here, from longer to shorter holes, Elevation, water back drops, water carriers, great basket placement, hyzer, anhyzer,

This is really some of the "Best" Disc golf I have played. And not in me playing well, but just all out good golf. Every hole here is worth while to play, no fillers.

Two lay outs, both of them are covered on the map shows them well.

Great use of land to fill to make some of the best golf holes ever.

One of the coolest last holes ever, and the floating basket on

This course has three things bad with it, and really it's just getting nit picky.

1. The grooming could be a little better to make this place more pretty. (Once again the course is groomed nicely, but it's rough around the edges, but for a private course this is really just getting nit picky)

2. Carpet Tee Pads (Once again this is really nit picky) - when we played it rained the day before and they got slippy on about 3 holes.

3. could be a confusing course to find your way (Once again this is super nit picky as there is a map, but I played with someone who knew it, if I had to check the map every time it may take an extra 30ish minutes)

I took a 3 day disc golf trip where this was the 3rd course I played. I loved every bit of this and thank the guys for putting in the time and making one of the best courses I have ever played.

I would say that I can completely understand when people give this course a 4.5 because of the teepads, however I think because of the overall course play it makes it an even trade.

When you play hole 1 A you can see the road in the distance, once you have turn to 1 B you will be alone in the course with no one else, and no other things left besides the course.

I would plan on bringing water and food if you come here, because it is out there and will take about 2.5 to 4.5 hours depending on the pace of play.

Don't have to pay to play here, however I paid ten bucks and I feel like I should of left more. This place easy makes my top 3 favorite courses played and is hard to really place because I don't know if I will ever play another course like this. Great Time! and Thanks for everything!
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If you do not like my review, please give me a PM on what I can improve. Thanks!

Let me preface by saying that I have played this course at least 6 times and the most recent was yesterday. I have not reviewed it yet because I like to write a review right after I have played it.

Now. This course is the most well designed course I have ever played. I was lucky enough to play a round with David and Chris as well as an out of towner. having the Sauls brothers there brought new insight into why they did what they did.

This course has 2 layouts. both equally challenging.

Diamond is an 18 hole beast with multiple holes over 700 ft. long water carries and overall punishment.

Quartz is a 24 hole layout with some of the longer holes being split up into multiple holes. dont let that fool you. you will still need every shot imaginable to shoot well.
they also added 4 new holes to this layout and changed a hole since the last time I played.

Here are some of the highlights of these changes and additions,

Hole 1a is a tough island hole. just how you want to start your rd. its a very fair sized island but the pressure is on from the get go.

Hole 1b is is a placement shot followed by a narrow fairway to the basket.

Hole 1c is like the Diamond Hole 1, you still get to bomb a drive down the hill, but instead of going to the left, the basket is in on the right. ( I got a three!!!)

no other changes for me until we get to 15b.
this hole is a low gap off the tee to a basket behind the dam.

this is not a change, but a highlight of my day out there; I parked the first water hole and hit the putt for a 2 for the first time. even though the carry is only 240, its still a scary throw and can make even the most confident player think twice.

17c is the last new hole, it starts near the top of the hill and plays to the basket for 17 Diamond. this basket sits on the dam, and has a large drop off behind it.

Ok, now that I have described all the changes, what else can I say. These guys have put so much thought into this course its amazing, every hole is designed with the utmost care. they also try to alternate throwing styles. while the first few holes are lefty friendly, the next couple go the other way. If you do not stay on the fairway you will be punished, and the best thing to do is pitch out. trying to make up for a bad shot by throwing something you are not comfortable with will result in more strokes added to your score.

OB is everywhere. but its not there just to be there. It serves a purpose. It prevents you from just winging it. you need to think before, during, and after each throw.

Nothing that I can think of. except that it isnt closer to my house. The Sauls brothers have really made something special here. anyone who loves true Disc Golf, played the way it was meant to be needs to pay these guys a visit.

Hole 18 is one of the coolest holes i have ever played. the green is a giant mound with the basket on top of it. there is a giant ravine on the backside that is all OB. Treacherous, but fair. a perfect finishing hole!!