Palmyra, IN

Buffalo Trace Park - Old Layout

3.565(based on 24 reviews)
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Buffalo Trace Park - Old Layout reviews

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1 1
TheThoughtNinja
Experience: 8.1 years 32 played 5 reviews
3.00 star(s)

Into the Woods 2+ years drive by

Reviewed: Played on:Aug 8, 2016 Played the course:once

Pros:

Buffalo Trace Park DGC has a lot to offer players of any skill. Each hole presents a different challenge, from the hanging basket on hole one to the steep valley of hole fourteen. The course is heavily wooded, but a few holes (11 and 19 especially) give you a chance to open up. There is a decent amount of elevation change as well. In the woods, some shots (7 and 8) have "grove-style" fairways, flat, straight, and narrow. Others (5) have a "meadowy" feel to them--short grass and scattered trees, making for a beautiful hole. Still others (9, 12, and 14) pass across slopes, over valleys, or down hills.

Cons:

The teepads are too short. Normally this would not bother me since I would run up from behind the tee, but the ground around most tees is uneven and rooty.

Much signage is missing. About half the holes have no information. If I hadn't printed out a map from this site, I would have gotten lost and missed many holes.

Some players may be disappointed that the lake never comes into play.

Other Thoughts:

I would definitely play this course again because it is one of the best courses around; however, it could be better. What would it take for me to increase my rating? Putting up signs would get half a point. Larger teepads would get another. Trash cans and a course map would get another. Grass on the half-dozen dirt fairways and this place would be perfect.

Also, there's a secret parking lot only the locals know about where you can (legally) get into the park free. Ask around and see if you can find it :)
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3 0
sisyphus
Diamond level trusted reviewer
Experience: 12.6 years 397 played 383 reviews
3.50 star(s)

Begins at the gallows! 2+ years

Reviewed: Played on:Nov 3, 2015 Played the course:2-4 times

Pros:

Set in a beautiful park beside a picturesque lake, and weaving into piney and deciduous woods, and some late elevation, Buffalo Trace features 19 holes laid out to challenge the Intermediate disc golfer and above. The first 18 holes have DisCatcher baskets, while the 500+ footer hole 19 finishes on a deep, sturdy, single ring of chains basket meaning that up-shot better be a good one. You'll be immediately struck by the signature, hanging basket on hole 1 that looks for all the world like a gallows, with its steps up to retrieve your putt from the cage.

Amenities include medium sized concrete tees (only at the 'long' positions listed here: I didn't see anything indicating tees at the shorter distances listed), reasonable signage (see below), and frequent picnic tables and trash receptacles. The flow of the course is fairly intuitive, and there are some next tee signs for the trickiest transitions, though first timers can make it a breeze by bringing the map. Based on the parking limitations (also see below), you may opt to throw the bomber on 19 first.

As you play through the wooded holes, you'll be able to see lines of flight available to more seasoned players, but you have to decide if you've got the forehand accuracy to skip that one in low and close, ...or if you've got the combined distance and accuracy to get your backhand to "S" through the gap on the next hole that you need to hit. The challenging holes for me included #5 (a wooded 325 footer), 14 (a shot that runs down the wooded valley and up to the right, not up left, per the tee sign), and 16 (a blind ridge overflight that needs an accurate line to hit the 100+ feet of 'secondary' fairway on the approach). I particularly liked the downhill lanes into the woods on holes 12 and 15 (love me some downslopes, to boost my meager arm ego).

Overall, the course is laid out with a great variety of lines, good usage of the limited elevations available, and even better use of the woods to challenge the intermediate to advanced player to a satisfying round. The 'gallows' on hole one and the 'terraced' basket on hole nine are neat features to make the 'greens' even more challenging. And the views of the lake make this a real treat for the senses.

Cons:

The only parking areas are a dozen or so spots near the bathroom in the middle of the campground, 800 plus feet from the first tee (but closest to the 19th), or the larger lot all the way on the other side of the lake. There appears to be a course map kiosk and mailbox at the top of the slope looking down toward the 19th basket and 1st tee, but they are both empty. There are some signs in disrepair (7, 9, 11...), and some seem to suggest basket positions that may have since been moved (14). The concrete tees seem to be just a little small (just under 4' x 8') for the length of some of the drives. There are two park benches in play on hole 6, and folks on the 7th tee need to make sure others crossing between 2 and 3 are clear before throwing. And it seems a little odd that none of the holes used the lake as a feature or an obstacle. Of course, since there's a walking trail circling the entire lake, they might not have been able...

Other Thoughts:

There is a $5 fee, but it's seasonal (see course description for details). Buffalo Trace is a course worth going out of your way to try out, but folks looking for a simpler (family, novice, etc) level of challenge: be aware there are only tees at the 'longs' now.

Reviewer Background as of this writing: age 54 w/ 4 yrs experience, rated 900+/-, played 238+ courses in 23 states, 80% w/in 3hr drive of Cincinnati. Thrown with folks rated 600's to 1000's, ages 9 to 85 in events and leagues at all tiers. Seldom drive beyond 300-330, but have a solid up-shot and putting game. I haven't designed any courses, but try to lend a hand (with my severely desk-job limited skill set) when I can.
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3 0
smitdavi
Experience: 37 played 7 reviews
4.00 star(s)

Great Course! 2+ years drive by

Reviewed: Played on:Jun 5, 2014 Played the course:once

Pros:

- This course had a great layout. Some open holes mixed in with some technical wooded holes.

- Because this is a state park the grounds are well maintained. When we went the grass was cut and it looked to be in tip top shape.

- This course had some beautiful scenery. It's set right up against a lake. Wish the water came more in to play but that is being nit picky.

- That baskets are good. Never had a problem with spit outs. They are Innova Discatchers.

Cons:

- We had some confusion at times finding the next tee pad. Seems to be signs on about every 3rd hole. Sometimes it's pretty logical to find the next pad, other times it isn't.

- Parking is a pain in the rear. There is no designate disc golf parking. We ended up just circling the camp ground and took an empty camping space.

- The tee pads seemed a little short at time. This isn't a course that requires a big run up but you did find your self trying to spot the end of the pad on your 1st throws.

Other Thoughts:

This was a great course. We'd definitely come bad. Was the perfect mixture of challenging vs. fun. My buddy and I shot a +2 on our first time playing the course. The rough wasn't too bad. We didn't really have a difficult time finding discs that went wayward. If your in the area stop by, you won't be disappointed.
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2 1
The Spleen
Experience: 13 years 3 played 3 reviews
4.00 star(s)

Worth the Drive 2+ years drive by

Reviewed: Played on:Oct 5, 2013 Played the course:5+ times

Pros:

-Love the variety of basket types and positions.

-Long course that really puts you in the woods.

-Lots of terrain types to challenge everyone.

Cons:

-No nearby parking.

-The amateur tees are made of rubber that gets terribly slick with any sort of moisture. We always play the pro tees to keep our feet under us.

-Signs at each hole need updated with both graphics and Par listings.

-If goes from fairway to rough pretty quickly. Probably need to wear long pants on this one, just in case you have to go off-roading.

Other Thoughts:

It's a "Pro" for me, but may be a "Con" for others -- I like some of the "blind" tees that are along the course. You sometimes have to wander back and forth a little bit to figure out where the basket is, but you get there in the end.
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8 1
harr0140
Diamond level trusted reviewer
Premium Member
Experience: 15.2 years 1508 played 475 reviews
3.50 star(s)

Coyote Trace 2+ years

Reviewed: Played on:Jan 23, 2012 Played the course:once

Pros:

1) Hanging basket on #1 . . .unique, challenging, and deadly. . . like hanging from the gallows.
2) Signs are decent with Hole #, distance and a very simple layout that helps the first timer decipher where some of the obstacles and baskets are.
3) A really nice variety of shot shaping on this course. There are a few open holes where you can throw any shot you want. There are some tight hyzers, spike hyzer, flex shots, and some anhyzers of flicks.
4) Really tight tunnels on a few of these holes, there are ceilings that force you to keep your disc low so throw hard and flat!
5) This course was set on what seemed to be an old tree nursery or perhaps the trees were intentionally planted in rows for a windbreak or something. Those rows create some real challenge when you get off the intended line.
6) Concrete tees are always a positive, but they are just about 2' short for me . . . and I do not have a big runup. Still doable and absolutely essential on this course because grass tees wouldn't cut it out here. Short tees have rubber tees in place. They also look short
7) Short enough holes that beginners will not want to walk off even if they are errant on a few shots.
8) Really works your recovery shots which is something I have never really thought of as a design element, but you are bound to get offline a few times in every round . . . how you recover from those bad lies is part of the fun and challenge. If you don't want to throw any recovery shots . . . you could decide to just execute the first shot instead.
9) Some unique holes out here which are shots I have never had to throw before.
10) Some decent elevation changes on a few of these holes. There are only a couple holes that do not have some undulation.
11) Nice Basket perched on a small retaining wall.
12) Roll-a-ways are a possibility on a handful of baskets, while frustrating, fast greens are a crucial design element.
13) Practice basket available by #1 but it also doubles as a nice long bomber 19th hole.

Cons:

1) Concrete tees are just a little bit too short and I do not need a hug runup.
2) Maintenance seems to be lacking . . . there were little branches and large branches down all over the place. Perhaps they only clean and maintain the course "in season" but it was messy.
3) The turf is thin in a lot of spots. There seems to be a lot of soil erosion here because of the thin turf.
4) I know I played right after a rainfall, but it is clear to me with the amount of clay in the soil that this course will hold water. We had extra water hazards.
5) A coyote scared the crap out of me back on hole #12, but fortunately it just scooted along the fence-line instead of coming after me or my disc.

Other Thoughts:

$5 to enter the park is reasonable considering it is per car. You can bring in a 4-some for $1.25 a piece. This course is enjoyable, challenging, and frustrating as well, but it is all pretty fair. There are some real unique features on this course like the hanging basket on #1, the timber wall green, the hole that goes up and over a hill with a really tight and low ceiling. The downhill hole that goes hard right is also a shot I have never had to execute before. I chose to layup short of the water (which isn't always there) with a mid-range rather than trying to make such a sharp bend right and risk another disc in the water . . . since I already had to walk into another rainfall pond to snag my wife's disc.
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4 0
MarcusGresham
Bronze level trusted reviewer
Experience: 17.6 years 58 played 22 reviews
3.50 star(s)

Good challenge for everyone 2+ years drive by

Reviewed: Updated: Played on:Jun 29, 2011 Played the course:5+ times

Pros:

Good variety of throws. Technical enough for good players, but short enough for beginners.

There are still hopes of adding additional holes. These would be in the wooded area adjacent to hole #14.
*Update as of 6/17/13---There is still intent to add an additional eight holes, however, these will now be placed beyond hole #5, continuing along the backside of the lake (including a hole that will force you to throw across the corner of the lake with the basket on the dam,) back along the backside of the softball field, into the woods, and back to hole #6. These will not likely be in place before the Buffalo Trace Open in August but they will probably be played as temp holes. These will be among some of the most challenging holes on the course. Also, when these holes become permanent it will be only a short walk from the back (free) parking lot to one of the new holes if you don't mind starting on a hole other than #1. When these new holes are open the rating will go up from 3.5.

As for the mowing (or lack thereof,) there will soon be a new park manager and hopefully he will be able to address that issue.

Cons:

There are a handful of trees that broke off during the recent storms,some of which are blocking faiways. Most of them snapped from the top and haven't opened up wide gaps in the fairways to affect the course permanently, but for the time being they're in the way.

Mosquitoes (and ticks,) can be thick. There is nowhere for water to run off and it can pool in some fairways, affecting some shots.

Take your water bottle with you and have it filled before heading out because there are no places on the course to get a drink.

Ignore the pars on the signs---only #19 (from the pro pad) plays as a par 4.

Other Thoughts:

Others have mentioned the $5 entry fee (applicable from about April to around October,) however there is an alternative free parking lot near the back of the park if you don't mind a bit of a walk. If you choose to do that, my suggestion is to take the path around the back of the lake (either follow the path around the softball field or go past the field and walk between it and the lake) and start on hole #6.

#1--Can be aced by a decent arm. Slightly upill and fairly open shot that splits a fairly wide gap between two maple trees. The basket is hanging from a large beam with the bottom about 7' off the ground, which creates difficulties putting when the wind is blowing (and it generally is off the lake.)

#2--Relatively short hole that has a somewhat low ceiling out of a line of trees up a slight hill. The hill drops off and the basket is only visible by a flag atop it. This is probably the most likely ace.

#3---Narrow gap from the teepad that opens wider. Several trees in the fairway through which to navigate. Too far left or right finds rough with likelihood of blackberry briars. Basket is tucked behind a tree.

#4--Probably a RHBH flick. Semi-narrow gap that opens to the fairway with the basket back and to the right. You can't get your drive too high or you'll hit a ceiling; hit the gap but get too far right and you'll be OB (or in a small pond on private property.)

#5--Low ceiling through pine trees with OB right. Drive should land somewhere near a line of trees with the basket about 60 feet beyond it. Sidewalk to left is also OB, but should rarely come into play.

#6---One of the longer holes. Sidewalk to right is OB (with the lake looming about 15-20 feet right of that.) Watch for walkers/bikes coming around the corner. Basket well hidden amongst trees.

#7--Narrow, low ceiling, hole to the right. I throw LHFH and like to roll it but water often stands in the fairway eliminating that option. Other golfers will have to cross in front of your teepad going from #2 basket to #3 tee but this is rarely a problem.

#8---Narrow fairway through a line of pine trees on either side, basket tucked behind a large pine tree with thick rough to the left and behind the basket.

#9--Fairly narrow opening from tee, opens up with rough on either side of fairway. Basket sits atop a platform made of cross ties (about 3 1/2 to 4 feet high and about an 8'x8' surface.

#10 Low ceiling. Slight downhill drive. Basket on a hill going up at the end of the fairway. There is a stump in the middle of the opening that seems to kill an inordinate amount of shots for no taller than it is.

#11---Go left or right around a tall tree in the center of the fairway. Two lines of trees to the right of the fairway, Thick rough with thorns to the left. Get too far right and you'll be throwing your second shot with a very low ceiling to approach.

#12---This is where things get tougher...Crest a short and open but (but not overly wide,) hill into a fairway that has a low ceiling at the bottom of the hill. Fairway has thick rough/briars before the trees. A three here is a solid score, as lines to the basket are often obstructed. A good drive will probably be thrown so low it almost skims the top of the hill because anything higher will just hit the canopy instead of getting beneath it.

#13---Two lanes. Straight ahead looks the most open but probably leaves you a poor approach on your second shot. Go right and hope you don't hit any trees and you'll have a better shot to park your next shot where the basket sits atop the small hill where the fairway opens up. Don't get right (rough) or too far past the basket, as you can roll away.

#14---Narrow, downhill drive doglegs right. Second shot back uphill to basket. Make sure you're in the fairway or you might not have anything.

#15---Drive goes into a narrow gap back into the trees, then downhill. Basket is back uphill to the left. Another hole where your drive has to be fairly low to the ground to avoid hitting the canopy.

#16--Narrow drive uphill with little margin for error on either side (nor can you throw too high.) Fairway then turns barely to the left with the basket tucked behind a tree.

#17. Narrow out to an open fairway that goes sllightly uphill. Most will throw a RHBH and let it turn back to the right. Basket is under a bit of a canopy eliminating high approaches/flop shots.

#18. Short, uphill. Tree in the dead center of the narrow fairway; thick blackberry bushes to the left--go in them you may lose a disc, you will lose blood.

#19---Grip it and rip it. Pretty wide open par 4. You can be OB if you get left onto/over the road circling the campground. Trees to the right with a similarly bad shot the other direction. The information sign is also just to left of the fairway beyond the road and could be an obstacle if you get that direction.
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4 0
Mike B.
Experience: 7 played 7 reviews
3.50 star(s)

2+ years drive by

Reviewed: Played on:May 30, 2011 Played the course:2-4 times

Pros:

This course has a little bit of everything, open holes, elevation changes, tough doglegs, woods, and on some holes an unforgiving out of bounds. Tees and baskets are well marked, and baskets that are tough to see usually have a flag on top, there may be one or two exception but from almost every tee you have a visual of where the basket is. All concrete tees, a good course for beginner and pro

Cons:

It's definitely not the toughest course in the area, challenging enough but more experienced players could get bored with it easily. A few holes have standing water or thick mud after rains, mosquitoes can also get really bad after a rain, and many of the fairways looked as if they haven't been mowed in weeks, making the mosquitoes worse and making it difficult to find your disc, not to mention you won't any get bounces or rolls on the holes.

Other Thoughts:

I liked this course, however if the grass doesn't get cut on the fairways then this course is dead to me, I'll play through it on a free course but not a pay course that regularly mows the rest of their property. The nice thing about coming here though is there's a nice lake to jump in and cool off when your done, you could also rent a boat, go fishing, and even stay and camp and make a weekend out of it. Would be a great place to spend the day grilling and golfing.
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4 0
upfromtheashes
Bronze level trusted reviewer
Experience: 19.6 years 42 played 38 reviews
3.00 star(s)

Par confusion?? 2+ years drive by

Reviewed: Played on:Apr 9, 2011 Played the course:once

Pros:

-Attractive course set in a pretty park. The nearby lake doesn't come into play during a round, but it adds to the beauty of the course.
-Upkeep looks good, appears to be regularly mowed. Mulch around the baskets is a nice touch that I wish more courses would employ.
-Picnic tables near most (all?) teepads. Very nice.
-Concrete teepads on the longs (a bit small for my liking, however)
-Signs were good, navigation from hole to hole was smooth. As first timers without a map, we had no trouble finding our way around.
-Course makes good use of the available land. Some of the holes are sort of bunched up near each other, but there's just no more land to be had here.

Cons:

-What is the par on this course??? The hole info listed on this site is completely different from what is on the teepad signs. In fact, the pars on the course signs were the most ludicrously generous pars I've ever seen. I don't buy into the "everything is par 3" line of thinking. I like to measure my game against the expected score for a given hole, ie par. But....par 4 on a 250 open hole?? Really? I don't think I've ever played a course where it felt like I was getting charity, but going by the tee signs, it felt exactly like that. Our round was like this: birdie, eagle, birdie, eagle, eagle, etc. Who are these pars set for? Children? Old ladies?

I think if you took the pars posted on the teepad signs, and subtracted 1 stroke from every one of them, you'd have a decent, semi-challenging par. That's probably how I'll play this course the next time I go.
-We played this course after a heavy rain, and being mostly flat, there was some puddling in places.

Other Thoughts:

Despite the fact that you have to decide upon your own par when you play this course, this is a nice course, and I'll play it again. In fact, I want to bring my kids to play this course. With the posted pars being so generous, it will probably make them feel really good to be able to get some pars and birdies of their own!
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7 0
weeman
Gold level trusted reviewer
Experience: 20 years 634 played 60 reviews
3.50 star(s)

Fun deceptive course 2+ years

Reviewed: Played on:Jul 22, 2010 Played the course:5+ times

Pros:

This course provides a fun test of depth perception and accuracy. Not very long but the fairways are demanding. Most wooded holes don't allow for errant throws and have low ceilings with which to work with. Not much elevation changes except on a few holes. These elevation changes are incorporated well into the overall feel of the course. Course maps, scorecards, and pencils are supplied at the front gate so in case you forget these items. The course also lies next to the campgrounds but it does not come into play. So its quite convenient if you plan on camping.

Cons:

The rough has poison ivy, sumac, etc. throughout the entire course so beware and take protective measures. Also the bugs can be irritating so bring bug spray or play fast enough to outrun them! More advanced players may gripe at the lack of length on this course but this is a more technical course than a big bomber course. Some blind shots may require extra walking to locate the basket before actually playing the hole.

Other Thoughts:

It costs five dollars per car for an all day pass. Park provides several other fun activities - swimming, paddleboating, and camping. Generally nice people can be encountered here so enjoy the surroundings. The entrance to the park is marked by a half hidden sign (if you're coming from Louisville) and I miss it every time so be aware of your surroundings when you're getting close.
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5 0
thebeast175
Experience: 15.1 years 47 played 12 reviews
3.50 star(s)

Surprised 2+ years drive by

Reviewed: Played on:Jul 23, 2010 Played the course:once

Pros:

I must admit I was weary of this course when I stepped up to the first tee pad but this little course will surprise you. This course has a lot of character and really demands your respect. The first nine is a great place to build your score with short throws through really cool lanes. Then, the back nine happens. Here you will experience some different looks at shots you have probably thrown before but your skills will be tested a little differently. The anhyzer shots force you to use some different angles that normally you might not think about. Disc control is a must or you will get frustrated. Take your time here and you will have a great chance at a great scorecard. Also, great tees. The length of the tee generally matches the length of the hole, good job to the builders. The baskets are great, the lanes are cleared and mowed nicely.

Cons:

I'm not sure what the designer was thinking as far as scoring this course but the whole thing needs to be played as a par 3 course. My wife played from the am tees and even she thought that they were kind of ridiculous. Other than that the front nine could be toughened up a bit and the am pads are rubber.

Other Thoughts:

Fun course to play. I am planning on making this one of my main courses in this area so as I become accustomed to it then I will edit my review but this is definitely a cool course. The park charges five dollars to get in but apparently after the season is out (Oct 31) then it becomes free. Play hole 19 before hole 1 and it will save you a little walking and it will warm your arm up.
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3 2
EddieBTrue
Experience: 15.7 years 43 played 42 reviews
3.00 star(s)

Oh give me a home where the Buffalo roam... 2+ years drive by

Reviewed: Played on:Jul 22, 2009 Played the course:2-4 times

Pros:

There are some very tough technical holes; and a few grip and rip to boot. The scenery is nice as several holes line the large lake in the middle of the park/campground. When through with a round you can go fishing, canoeing, or for a swim.

Cons:

There are some lower lying areas for several holes which can become mesquito heaven (Or hell based on your point of view!); so be forewarned and forearmed with some Deep Woods Off! Very little in the way of elevation changes.

Other Thoughts:

There has been inquiries from the park owner's in 2009 as to adding more holes; and there are some more elevated terrain areas that could be well utilized which would help increase this courses overall rating. If you like to camp and play DG, this is a fine destination.
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2 3
g1nked
Experience: 14.8 years 63 played 12 reviews
4.00 star(s)

Home of the Brave 2+ years drive by

Reviewed: Played on:Oct 12, 2009 Played the course:5+ times

Pros:

Very technical course and family friendly clean and well maintained with a wide selection of shots from a few long open and a ton of wooded shots with low ceiling that requires a good shot selection. rollers flip, hyzers and anhyzers.

Cons:

not to much to complain about maybe would like the park maitenance to ride thru the course with the misquitto fogger cart from time to time. Its near a big lake and the misquitos are thick on certain holes. Not a deal breaker just bring your own OFF

Other Thoughts:

great campgrounds, other activities for entire family staff and everyone you meet is awesome toward sport.
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1 2
DitchBall
Experience: 6 played 2 reviews
4.00 star(s)

Early Fall 2+ years drive by

Reviewed: Played on:Oct 5, 2009 Played the course:once

Pros:

Challenging course, with plenty of trees and minor hills. This was my first time playing the course and I found the layout very simple to follow. Low canopy makes many of the holes challenging. For bonus points, a few holes have great views of the lake, but it never is in play. The course appears to be well maintained.

Cons:

Very few. A garbage can or two would be a nice addition.

Other Thoughts:

We camped at the park. Well worth the short trip from Louisville.
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14 0
tamahawk
Gold level trusted reviewer
Experience: 17.6 years 50 played 50 reviews
3.50 star(s)

2+ years drive by

Reviewed: Played on:Oct 5, 2009 Played the course:once

Pros:

Buffalo Trace Disc Golf Course is a scenic little 19-hole course that is both fun and challenging for players of all levels. There is a small fee to enter the park ($5/vehicle), but well worth it for the disc golf experience you'll get for your money.

Course Essentials:
Baskets: Innova DISCatchers. Baskets are all in good shape.
Tee Pads: All holes have level, concrete Pro tees, and many holes have an alternate rubber Am tee that offers a slight distance advantage over the Pro tees.
Tee Signs: All holes have accurate tee signs that show hole layout and distance.

Navigation:
Course maps (with scorecard), and individual scorecards are available upon request at the park entrance. I only used the map to locate the first hole, after that, you won't need it. The course flows great from hole to hole, and navigation is a breeze. There is a small sign near the each basket pointing the direction to the next tee.

Course Design:
Buffalo Trace offers a great layout through narrow, heavily wooded fairways with low canopies and gently rolling hills. The course plays just under 6000ft, but don't be deceived by the lack of distance, the fairways are well defined, and well protected. A lot of drives get knocked down or off line due to the low ceiling, so be prepared to navigate through small gaps in and around the trees on your approach. It seems like the front nine is a little easier, so try to grab your birdies here and hold on for the back nine. Despite the short holes, you'll likely find yourself tossing up shots at the basket on the back nine as opposed to putting for birdie, or at least that was my experience.

The course offers a good variety in right/left dogleg fairways and uphill/downhills shots. The first and last holes are pretty open, but otherwise a semi-technical layout that will challenge all skill levels. The park is built around a nice lake, and several of the holes on the course run near the water as well. No big risk of losing a disc in the water except for number six where the lake runs all down the right side of the fairway. The course is very scenic, and enjoyable.

Maintenance:
The park itself was clean and very well-maintained, the disc golf course is no exception. You can tell that they take a lot of pride in their park, it shows. There was little over-growth or underbrush on the course, not really enough to even notice. The fairways were nicely manicured and the rough was very manageable.

Ammenities:
Camping is available with restrooms and shower houses. Parking was adequate. I actually got to park in the campground area since it wasn't so busy, but still a little bit of a hike to the first tee.

Cons:

A few things to mention, but nothing major, and really these things are only for someone new to the course to keep in mind. There is one crossing fairway (2's basket to 3's tee crosses 7's fairway). Several holes require the player to walk back in the general direction of the hole they just played, so if you are on the tee, just make sure the areas are clear before throwing. These areas are going from 3's basket to 4's tee, 5's basket to 6's tee, and players walking from 15's basket to 16's tee will be walking near the fairway for 16, so make sure everything is clear before proceeding. And the practice basket, I thought. Walking toward the first tee, there was a basket in an open field. I thought it was a practice basket, but when I got to the tee for 19, I realized that the practice basket was actually 19's basket, and the tee shot is blind, so if someone was using the basket for practice, it would be easy to throw without realizing others are in the area. Granted, 19 is 500+ ft, so not a lot of people are going to be driving the green here, but just keep it in mind.

Other Thoughts:

All in all a great experience for me and well worth the 1.5hr drive and $5 entry fee. The course is fun and challenging for all. The course length is a bit short overall, but given the space, the design is efficient and well thought out. The park offers camping, paddle boats, canoes, playground equipment, tennis/basketball courts, etc and is very family friendly. The staff was helpful and courteous, as were all the people that I ran into while I was there. A great disc golf experience and a very solid 3.5 disc course.
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7 0
dr.chainslove
Silver level trusted reviewer
Experience: 24.9 years 330 played 42 reviews
4.00 star(s)

2+ years

Reviewed: Updated: Played on:Sep 12, 2009 Played the course:2-4 times

Pros:

Very well maintained course in a great park. Brilliant layout. Very forgiving rough (the place is too well-kept for those nasty, thorny, thick rough areas to exist!). great variety of shots and angles through defined, tight fairways. It's tough. I felt good about my last outing here of a 4+ (playing everything as a 3). That's what I shoot on a good day at the beast-of-a-course Charlie Vettiner Park!!!

Cons:

concrete tee pads are great but are a little short. the walk to the course around the lake is a bit of a hike. hole 6 plays way too close to a popular walking path and some park benches. a family was hanging out on the benches, thus forcing me to layup my drive to avoid decapitating a small child (probably not a problem on the weekdays or offseason when the park isnt crowded). These are very minor complaints. This course is otherwise a very satisfying play!

Other Thoughts:

Most of the course is cut through a pine forest (a rarity in this part of the country). I love that each hole has a unique shape. Some holes have multiple approaches from the tee to the basket carved through the many trees. My trusty tomahawk has no value here as most holes have a ceiling of 15 ft or less! Although the distances are shorter than many other courses, the need for accuracy and placement will still have you hucking your disc hard and low. For a shorter course, you still wont find many finesse holes with this setup. Well worth the trip. turn off hwy 150 at the Subway and park on the gravel lot on the end of the street. Walk around the lake to the left. start at hole 6 and end at 5 if you're coming from that direction. avoid the park entrance fee and save some serious walking.
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8 0
skottyb
Experience: 24.9 years 54 played 26 reviews
4.00 star(s)

Nice Additions 2+ years drive by

Reviewed: Played on:Jul 3, 2009 Played the course:5+ times

Pros:

Very nice layout, in a nice park. Very good use of terrain, and a beautiful view of a nice lake. Sat by the parking lot and talked too a worker at Buffalo Trace, she seemed very interested in any feedback I had to give. It was all positive too say the least but I reassured her that what they had was a great course. You can tell the locals really take pride in this course, so kudos too them.

One positive too this course is that it makes you use every shot in your bag. It had been awhile since I have had the chance to go too a course and use a thumber, backhand roller, forehand roller, sidearm, forehand, & backhand all in the same round. I thought that was pretty cool, it will keep your on your toes for sure.

Cons:

The tee pads weren't completed when we were there, but they were well on there way. They seemed kind of short at times but I wouldn't necessarily call it a con.

Other Thoughts:

I had played this course right when it was initially put in the ground, I was a bit disappointed with it then. Now that it is all its glory I would definitely recommend this too anyone. I am always happy too see more courses go up in Southern Indiana, good job too all of the locals and whomever had a hand in this course. Your work is definitely appreciated.
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10 0
mashnut
Diamond level trusted reviewer
Experience: 22.1 years 831 played 767 reviews
3.00 star(s)

Fun course 2+ years drive by

Reviewed: Updated: Played on:Apr 25, 2009 Played the course:once

Pros:

This course has a nice variety of holes, and makes good use of the land available. Nearly all the holes play through various densities of trees, making this course more of an accuracy challenge. A few holes call for fairly precise lines down narrow fairways or around doglegs.

The scenery is nice, with pretty views of the lake (though the water doesn't ever come into play). The course seems well maintained, with adequate signs, and no issues following the course. The rubber tee pads were mostly in good shape and fine to throw from. I was playing with some less experienced players, and they appreciated the more beginner-friendly short tees available on each hole. Many of these tees give very different looks at the basket, and so a round from each would really feel like two very different games. We played the course as 19 holes, as the short and long 18th play to two different baskets, and the long 18 flows nicely after the short one.

The park was well maintained, and there was evidence of significant cleanup work done after recent storms. Overall, the course is well laid out and an enjoyable walk.

Cons:

The course starts behind the campground, so to get there you have to either pay to enter the park/campground and find a place to park, or park at the far end of the lake and walk around to the course. The walk around the lake is a little long, but the trail is nice, and this didn't take too much away from the course.

Other Thoughts:

Though this course is almost completely flat, the designer(s) made good use of the terrain available. I thought this was a fun little course, and certainly worth playing. Few of the holes had much length, but it was fun to play a course where accuracy was the real key. Obvious improvements have been made recently, and if this keeps up this course could be even better.
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15 0
Hamilton
Gold level trusted reviewer
Experience: 16 years 55 played 48 reviews
4.00 star(s)

Beautiful setting, good challenge 2+ years drive by

Reviewed: Updated: Played on:Mar 20, 2009 Played the course:2-4 times

Pros:

I had heard mixed reviews about this course, but I decided I wanted to hit it up even if some had said it was a short boring course. Man I'm glad I did, because it is a very nice course in a beautiful park that has lots of other activities.

Memorable holes:
3 - Tight fairway with several trees, takes a well-placed drive to lay up for two.
7 - Hyzer to some rows of trees, then back to the basket, nice accuracy challenge.
9 - Out of some trees, up over a rise the the basket, tough to keep it right enough (due to trees on the right of the fairway) to not fade out left of the basket.
12 - Throw between some grown-up foliage, down a small hill into the woods back to the basket, really neat playing hole.
14 - Down a hill, then sweep right back up a hill, tough tough annie shot.
15 - Ate my lunch, low ceiling tunnel shot down a slope, if you don't hit it you're shooting 4+.
18 - Wide open 500'+, but row of trees down the right side keeps you from throwing a big S-curve shot.

Signs were great, and the course flowed pretty well, I didn't have any problems finding the next tees without a map. Baskets are in great shape, and there are restrooms and plenty of parking on premises.

I also really like the use of wood chips around the baskets to keep them from getting all muddy and nasty.

Cons:

I guess the biggest con is the short holes...18 is by FAR the longest, the others struggle to hit 300 feet. That is not a horrible thing, and it makes good use of the land available.

There used to be rubber tee pads when I first reviewed, which have now been replaced with concrete for the pro tees, oops now that is a PRO!.

The only other cons I can think of is that the parking is a decent hike from the course, although there is a nice walking path around the lake to the course. Also if you go in the spring through fall, and get there after 10am or so, you have to pay a few bucks to get in.

Other Thoughts:

If you are in the area, I highly suggest this course. It is a little off the highway, but it's good highway the whole way there, and only 15 minutes off of I-64. The technical holes might be rough on a beginner, but overall it is a very satisfying course.
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9 1
Russell Gore
Experience: 30.8 years 80 played 38 reviews
4.00 star(s)

2+ years drive by

Reviewed: Played on:Feb 28, 2009 Played the course:2-4 times

Pros:

Very beautiful setting, much like Otter Creek Park once was, with the only difference being that this park has a huge lake. Lots of very technical shots through low ceilings and tight rows of trees. Several elevation changes play into shots. There are also several blind shots on this course to test your skills. Plenty of camping spots located walking distance from the course that would come in handy during summer months. All and all this is one of the funner courses I have played in the area and will be bringing more people to play. Whoever designed this course gets an A+.

Cons:

Only 2 to speak of.....
It has Rubber mat tee pads that I like to twist ankles on.
And has a huge lake that only comes into play on one hole, and that's only if you shank it to the right. I personally would like to see a huge over the lake shot put in somewhere on this course. We need somewhere to lose our discs on this course!

Other Thoughts:

I played here for the first time after hearing about it from Martin Young. This is becoming one of his favorite courses and I can see why. I will most defiantly be coming back more often now. With it only being 15 miles off the exit ramp, it is well worth the extra few minutes of driving time. Besides now there are 3 courses all in close vicinity to travel too. This is a great course and would recommend it to anyone of any caliber.

I would love to see a huge PDGA tournament here sometime this year. Make it a 2 day, 4 round tournament and offer camping. I would bet that it would pull in a lot of people. I would also like to see a few leagues offered at this course this year!!!!
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13 0
AdamE
Diamond level trusted reviewer
Experience: 20.5 years 264 played 143 reviews
3.50 star(s)

2+ years

Reviewed: Updated: Played on:Aug 5, 2010 Played the course:5+ times

Pros:

Buffalo Trace is a beautiful, clean park with views of the lake from the course (although water only comes into play on one hole). The course is very challenging and requires skilled shots if you're gonna get a birdie. It plays mainly in the woods where roughly half the trees are pine. This really challenges you with a low ceiling in some areas. Many of the holes have a little elevation that comes into play more than you realize at first.

The course starts out easy enough on hole 1 and gets progressively harder until you get to hole 5 which sets the tone for the rest of the course; trees! The back 9 gets even tougher and holes 12, 13 & 14 are particularly challenging par 4's. The course ends with a monster, an open, 500 foot hole over a hill.

Many of the holes have multiple routes to the basket which keeps things interesting and make you think. The course isn't especially long, but it is so technical you really have to work for your birdies once you get past hole 4.

There are short tee pads made out of rubber making the course more friendly to new players. The short pads are often give a completely different shot than the long pad.

***Update***
No more rubber mats, extra grippy concrete tee pads were added Summer 2009.

This course continues to get better. Hole 9's basket was elevated on 8/5/10 to make it more challenging.

Cons:

The course is pay to play, but only during the warmer months. If you show up before 9:30a during the months they charge, you get in for free.

There is a bit of a walk from the parking lot to hole one. When no one is camping there, you can park much closer.

In the summer, the rough can get bad in a few areas and there is a lot of poison ivy off the fairway.

Other Thoughts:

Because of the short pads, this course is pretty good for beginners and a nice challenge for more advanced golfers. I recommend going out of your way to play here.

A big thanks to Terry for all the great work and many hours he's put into this fantastic course!
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