Pros:
- Fantastic atmosphere and staff
- Good variety of shots and hole lengths
- Well groomed for a deep woods course
- Nice little pro shop on site
- Good signage and teepads
- Excellent use of elevation
Cons:
- Lower on the challenge side (may be pro for some)
- Rough is typical for a deep woods course
- Buggy as all hell (not necessarily within control, but a con nonetheless)
Other Thoughts:
Top O' The Hill DGC is an exemplary example of a top notch casual course. While it lacks the long, difficult drives and high class amenities of a "professional" course like Maple Hill, TOTH never wanted to be one of those courses in the first place. The owner and designer, Marty, created TOTH to be a haven for those who want to relax and hang out with friends while playing a fantastic round of golf, and in that pursuit he succeeded with honors. The course winds throughout the woods as it traverses the large hill that is the course's namesake. Every hole has at least moderate elevation change, and the course is set up to have a good mix of both positive and negative elevation to create some unique holes. There are plenty of trees to block errant shots on even the shortest, easiest holes, so while there will be quite a few birdie and ace opportunities nothing is guaranteed. There are no clear signature holes (though the downhill 390ft bomb into the woods could be a contender to some) but each hole presents a different shot than the last, and the mixing of short, long, uphill, downhill, tight, and open holes is well done to avoid a feeling of de ja vu.
While the fairways are well kept, this IS a deep woods course and is therefore subject to the usual drawbacks. Going off of the fairway can lead to some difficulty in locating your plastic, as the underbrush is clearly too much for the small staff to completely keep in check. With thick foliage comes thick swarms of mosquitos and horseflies (or deer flies, or moose flies, or whatever. Some variety of ungulate fly) so be prepared to leave a pint or two of your blood at the course. High DEET bugspray seems to act as seasoning for the bugs here, so plan to wear protective clothing if you're averse to a few bug bites.
Don't let the bugs turn you off though! The best way to reduce the threat of bugs is to play with others and provide extra targets, and fortunately that shouldn't be a problem. I showed up alone, but was easily able to meet up and be invited to play with some of the local players. There is an active league with multiple skill tiers, so not only are there plenty of friendly locals to play with, there's opportunity for some healthy competition if that's your thing. Marty has a good thing going here and will happily include you in it as long as you're respectful and friendly. Leave your privilege and don't be a dick, and you'll have a fantastic, laid back round of good old fashioned disc golf at TOTH.