Pros:
The local disc golf community has been bugging Kurt and Shauna for about a year, "...when is Stonelick going to be open?" Well, it might've opened sooner if they'd all been asking, "...how can I help get Stonelick open?" So there's been some drooling going on, and this turns out to be a dish that more than satisfies. Set in a beautiful lakefront parcel of the state park, the Lahms have designed and installed the prettiest course in the county (and possibly in this corner of Ohio). The infrastructure is astonishing: massive bridges, stairs everywhere needed, even little culverts in places as small as a foot deep, plus really amazing elevated tee pads, a pedestal basket, and 36 well-sized, level concrete tees, each stamped with a really cool leaf motif, join the well-marked and easy to follow signage (temporary in place, permanent on order).
And the design! Half the holes incorporate water as a factor to consider, because you frequently throw down toward the lake to a challenging green, or have a steep, wooded lakeside slope just off the fairway to consider. More than half the holes will challenge your technical game through the woods. There is a fairly good balance of left to right and right to left lines to choose from. The challenging (par 5) hole 14 has both, in stages, and may be a "signature hole" for the course. But then, I'm guessing most people will think of the water carry to the peninsula basket on hole 10 as the "signature" here.
Though there is actually limited elevation change in the park, you do play as many slopes as they could find, and you do have challenging sloped greens on 14 & 15, then ridges and valleys on 16 & 17. The finishing hole is interesting in the tightness of the 'release' line off the tee, utilizing a mando to the right for the long (keeping you away from the short tee) or the double mando (20' off the tee and 4-5' wide!) as you tee off from the short, then out to the open, and fading left to the pedestal finish.
In all, and as of this opening weekend, I'd say the course will challenge Intermediate skill levels, but be enjoyable for all. It opens already at a 4.0 rating compared to the 300+ courses I've reviewed, but I wouldn't be surprised at all if it stays in the 4.0-4.5 range from here on out. Kurt & Shauna should be rightfully proud of this gem!
Cons:
Not a con for me at all, but there isn't a wide open bomber tee shot here (maybe the uphill hole 11?). The longer, more open holes still have groves of newer trees or majestic park trees to navigate, and usually finish into guarded woods. Knowing that the signage is temporary, and permanent ones are on order, I didn't expect to have such an easy time with first time navigation. But there are so many well-worn paths out there (they've been working this place over!), there will hopefully be some 'next tee' signage in the two or three places it's needed. Other than that, there's not much to complain about.
Other Thoughts:
The park has a HUGE amount of parking available (I count five lots?), a primitive restroom, shelters, campgrounds, and, well, the lake! Lots of appeal here. And the design didn't seem to cross paths too much with folks out fishing, boating, or birding, but those folks were also enjoying the beautiful fall Sunday we visited. This is going to get a LOT of play!