Mt. Gilead, OH

Mt. Gilead State Park

2.135(based on 8 reviews)
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14 0
MrFrosty
Diamond level trusted reviewer
Experience: 31 years 764 played 386 reviews
0.50 star(s)

The One Course That Smokey The Bear Might Let Burn 2+ years drive by

Reviewed: Updated: Played on:Oct 24, 2020 Played the course:once

Pros:

Mt Gilead State Park is a great facility for camping , has nice playgrounds for the kids , nice trails fishing and boating . Oh , I almost forgot , it has a 9 hole disc golf course . I think that the state parks dept. forgot about the course about 4 years ago . Go into the park and stay left , passing a playground and the basket for #2 . There is parking by the #1 tee .
The Equipment - Natural tee pads . More on this and signs in cons . The tee signs are primitive and very basic . sitting very close to the ground . I couldn't find the #7 sign . The baskets were Yellow banded Discatchers .There are ropes to help you descend the fairway on #8 and ascend the fairway on #9 .
The Landscape - The first 4 and last 2 holes are in the woods , 5-7 are park-style . The course has some elevation on most of the holes . The elevation is more intense on the last 2 holes across the road . The grass in the park was manageable when I was here , but overgrowth was present on most of the rest of the holes .
Appearance/Atmosphere - The park looks nice , but the course was neglected . No one was on the course while I was here .
Highlights - The 2 holes worth shooting were the last 2 . #8 is a putter run straight down and embankment . If you don't angle downward on this 120' hole , you might lose your disc in the lake behind it . #9 starts on a small ridge , throwing over a gully to a higher plane . There is really only one path up the hill that you can hit , and still have a chance at a long putt at the basket sitting to the right of the fairway .
The Time - It took me 40 minutes to play the course , but over 10 of it was used on trying to find tees and going up and down the last 2 holes . A foursome that know the lay of the course might fight through it in under an hour .
The course was in a much needed area that was void of options in 2010 . It is also another activity that state park users and campers can try .

Cons:

#1 Safety - there is a blind spot that you shoot out of on #2 that might hit a kid that strayed off the playground some . Also , there is a thin strip that you shoot down at #5 that could find the road and a car coming into or out of the park . #6 has you throwing over the road , and #7 comes close enough to the road that your disc might float into it on a windy day . For your safety , the last 2 holes really need some steps . Even using the rope , I fell on #8 going down the hill and the hill on #9 is a steep climb , too .
#2 Navigation - You would think that with holes this short , navigation would be a breeze . Wrong ! Without a map of UDisc , you are lost after hole #1 . Providing you find the 4 woods holes , there is a walk out of the woods to #5 . Then you have to remember to cross the street on 6 , and there is no tee sign or pad for #7 . #8 is backward and across the street , on the other side of the outdoor theatre . #9's tee is up and to the left of the #8 basket , hidden .
#3 What Equipment ? - A 10 year old course in a state park really needs some tee signs , some Next Tee signage and at least some carpet or turf tees . What happened to the tee sign on 7 ?
#4 Cleanup On Aisles 1-9 , Please - Debris in the fairway , fallen trees blocking the path and tee pad to #2 , overhanging branches on paths and fairways on all the fairways but maybe #7 , but I am not sure about that because I never found it .
#5 The Elements - A good rain or snow will wipe out any chance of you playing #'s 8 & 9 and make the woods holes sloppy . Even climbing over the logs can make for a wet crotch .
#6 Disc Risk - High . Ricochets in the woods with blind shots , overgrown fairways , a putter run which could turn into a Lake Run = chances for lost discs . Using a spotter would help if not playing solo .
#7 Embarrassment , Party Of One - It was odd . I passed an empty outdoor theatre that shows movies to the campers on the way to tee pad #8 . After babying my putter down to the basket , I used the Bat Rope to lower myself down the hill . I forgot how muddy it was and landed on my backside and slid on the way down . I almost forgot all about it , until when I was leaving and passing by the theatre , it looked like a bunch of campers were sitting at the theatre , laughing while watching some big guy falling down the hill . I think that hole #8 was made for the sole purpose of entertaining the rest of the park . Do they have closed circuit monitors at the fairway ?There was a woman with 2 dogs that was at the tee pad that told me that it was too steep to take her dogs down . ( Did she video me ? ) Everyone waved goodbye at my car. Ashamed , I headed north up to 42 , to the Wine And Ale Trail and numbed the pain .

Other Thoughts:

Mt Gilead Park is pretty large . I know that with some cooperation , a better job can be done designing an 18 hole or at least a good 9 hole course . At a 2.36 rating , the course is overrated by about 2 . Tight fairways are one thing , but overgrown ones without a door or window to throw through , or pinball drives hitting tree after tree will negate anyone ever coming back for a 2nd time . Bring your technical game , and your Lucky Buckeye that you take to the casinos with you .

My Recommendation - Maybe if you were camping in the park for a weekend and ran out of things to do , playing the first 7 holes just to nature walk the park , and safari #7 , might give you something to do . Other than that , this course doesn't serve any other purpose of than to disappoint . It's not worth a stop unless you are a hard core Course Collector .
You Need To Pass This One By .
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7 0
markcasazza
Experience: 3 played 3 reviews
0.50 star(s)

Poorly marked, unmaintained and not really challenging 2+ years drive by

Reviewed: Played on:Aug 22, 2020 Played the course:once

Pros:

Free.

Cons:

The first shot is into the woods with no fairway, just knee high weeds on both sides of a 12" wide dirt path. I skipped it not wanting to get poison whatever. The direction to the next tees are totally lacking. The tees are not within eye shot of the previous goal. I could not find the 6 tee or the 8th. I shot the 6th hold from where I gave up looking for the tee. I quit after the 7th hole when there was no sign of the 8th tee.

Other Thoughts:

Take a picture of the course layout and the camp store before you start. Wear long pants, you will be in high weeds unless it is winter or early spring.
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7 1
DiscinOhio
Gold level trusted reviewer
Premium Member
Experience: 10.8 years 200 played 191 reviews
0.50 star(s)

Scariest Thing You'll See on Halloween! 2+ years

Reviewed: Played on:Oct 31, 2017 Played the course:once

Pros:

Mt. Gilead gives you a nice, welcoming drive into the course area. It was already decked out with Christmas decorations as far as the eye can see. You could call me The Grinch, because I'm about to slam this course pretty hard, as it's one of the worst I've played so far.

I'll give you some positives first. The park itself is pretty nice, and looks like it's very kid friendly. Its a state park, so there will be lots of things to do.

DISCatcher baskets that are in very solid shape. All of them are in tact and easily visible.

Mixes in wooded and open holes evenly.

Easy to find the first tee, just follow the road by the park entrance all the way to the playground area.

Cons:

The holes in the woods just plain suck. There aren't any lines to the basket, you just fling it until it hits a tree. Repeat, repeat, repeat.

The first hole is almost unplayable. Long weeds and underbrush on both sides, with the fairway being a skinny path about the width of a mountain bike trail.

Holes 8 and 9 have a huge "no trespassing" sign by the #8 tee box. Says that it's a construction zone, so technically you aren't allowed down that hill.

The insanely steep hills on 8 and 9 are almost impossible to navigate in the mud. You'll be lucky to make it out of there (if you choose to enter).

Two holes play over a roadway.

There are no teeboxes next to the signs, you just kind of guess. A tree fell and crushed the sign for #2 and is blocking the tee.

Really just a painful experience. The wooded holes play right through tall trees with no lines to the basket whatsoever.

Other Thoughts:

Maybe the course was good back in early 2016 when the last review was. But right now, don't even bother. #8 was the only hole worth playing and it's closed due to some construction project. Better places to play in central Ohio.
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6 0
sisyphus
Diamond level trusted reviewer
Experience: 12.6 years 397 played 383 reviews
3.00 star(s)

Tight, technical, petite with curves! 2+ years

Reviewed: Played on:Jan 30, 2016 Played the course:2-4 times

Pros:

As a player who relishes shorter, technical play a great deal over open distance shots (don't get me wrong: I love long, gliding down hills, I just don't have the 'D' to enjoy 300'+ uphill!), the nine hole course in Mt. Gilead State Park is really my cup of tea. Incredible, challenging use of woodsy elevation here, with holes only ranging between 120 and 270 feet in length, the course has 10 discatchers (one practice basket right by the first tee), a reasonable flow (first timers take the map), and very basic signage.

But the part that I liked the most was having trees to challenge your tee shots, plus the occasional tricky drop-offs around the pin positions which force careful play if you want to score well, but gut-checking trouble if you want to run for aces. The stunners start right at the beginning with a fairly steep down slope into the woods and a big drop-off (but not hazardous) just behind the basket. The steep slope to the driveway just left of the 5th basket means you'll need to control your tee shot if you don't want the world's worst comeback putt in your future. And Hole 8 definitely has the steepest drop I've experienced yet (and I've played 258 courses). Feels like it drops at a 50 or 60 degree angle, but maybe I'm just exaggerating a little. And the lake being behind the basket? Neat control shot, for sure!

Cons:

Now, some woods is one thing, but there is almost no recognizable line between all the wood on the uphill hole 2, meaning a deuce would pretty much take a lucky shot. The biggest concern I had was that they need more than a thin little rope to get down the 8th fairway. I'd say it needs steps, but maybe a ladder (?!), it's THAT steep!

The natural tees and minimalist signage could use an upgrade, as could the map (seems 4's tee is on the #3 basket side f the hollow), then next tee signs are needed to get you to hole 5, then later, to hole 8.

I didn't really like the fact that hole 6 used the park road as its fairway. Finally, though hole 7 rewards longer arms with a fairly open shot, you have to watch for folks coming from the playground and basketball court up over the hill towards the parking lot, the big hyzer line flies over the road again, and the left side is all thorny rough.

Other Thoughts:

I will definitely be bringing my 'technical' shooting buddy back up to play this course again, even though it's 2 & ½ hours from home. He's going to like it for a casual round. And there's a hint they intend to someday add another nine, so...cool!

Reviewer Background as of this writing: 4.5 yrs experience at age 54, not a big gun, and not an impressive rating (Rec to Int skills), but enjoy having played over 250 courses and hopefully shared helpful info about those experiences.
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2 1
Bushman71
Experience: 314 played 10 reviews
2.00 star(s)

2+ years drive by

Reviewed: Played on:Mar 13, 2012 Played the course:2-4 times

Pros:

Technical, short course with a good layout. Beautiful land to play on with some nice elevation changes.

Cons:

Some steep hills to navigat on last couple holes that could get hazardous. Finding the next hole got a little confusing a couple of times.

Other Thoughts:

I would rate this course higher but its a 9 hole course..
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3 0
Flyinfatkid
Experience: 12.1 years 25 played 3 reviews
3.50 star(s)

Nice state park course 2+ years drive by

Reviewed: Played on:Jul 8, 2012 Played the course:once

Pros:

Very tight, some real fun shots! 8 and 9 are fun! Easy to find the tee box. Shot placement is a must! My wife and I are just starting out and we had a blast playing.

Cons:

Trees down on 4 had to walk up to see the pin. 8 is a steep descent and then a steep climb.

Other Thoughts:

Great course if you are by this play it!
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4 1
OhioDiscer
Experience: 19.7 years 10 played 10 reviews
3.50 star(s)

2+ years drive by

Reviewed: Played on:Oct 9, 2010 Played the course:once

Pros:

This is how a technical course should be made I played once and new it was well done. This is a 9 hole course that was very technical course most of the time you were in the woods. rarely out of the wood. Even then your in a tight spot.

Cons:

Holes 8 and 9 are my only complaint only because it's very hard to come down the hill without scraping yourself. They really need to add some cheap stairs. Hole 8 all you need to do is look down a gently throw your disc down like a put to score a 2. Hole 9 you just throw across the across a steep hill.
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5 0
danhyzer
Gold level trusted reviewer
Premium Member
Experience: 36 years 2296 played 124 reviews
3.50 star(s)

2+ years

Reviewed: Played on:Sep 15, 2010 Played the course:once

Pros:

another good DGC in the Ohio State Park system.

dedicated area DG club, that will insure this DGC will blossom to full potential.

# 8 is a rare kind of a hole found on a DGC. but nevertheless a great kind of hole as it's almost straight down from the tee, but this hole has water just behind the basket so ya throw your disc a little to hard or its winter time and the leaves aren't on the trees anymore, your in trouble (AWESOME HOLE)

# 9 is equally as good as one throws from ridge to ridge but your last ridge is higher in elevation to the first ridge in which you tee off from. this hole is one of the longer holes on the current DGc and if you stray from the fairway you could go off the ridge line, down the side of the hill and into water. (another good hole)

Camping, clean rest rooms, plenty of parking, small snack shop available

Cons:

dirt tees (DGC is in it's infancy, so given time this mighht not be an issue)

only 9 holes, still 9 holes is better than no holes so this isn't a bad con

Other Thoughts:

this DGc is in it's infancy, so please allow DG club to continue their quest in devoping this DGC into a good one.
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