Pros:
Valley Park , located just off of I-64 , is a new ( 2018 ) 18 hole course that is loaded with everything . Plenty of parking here , even though there is a lot going on here . The equipment is top notch . 2 tees per hole . Many color coded , with brown turf on its' large tee pads for the beginner/intermediate and green turf on the pro tees . The signage on both are informative , with hole numbers , distance and par and flight path . The baskets are blue banded top of the line Discatchers . The park is clean and maintained and can be very busy during the weekends . Bathrooms are located near the first hole . Course designer Johnny Sias is given a lot of area to work with and does a great job with shot variety . You will have open , lightly wooded , a little heavier wooded , then open again . The course also utilizes several mandos during the round , features a creek , 2 small lakes , an island hole , landing zones . The course has some elevation to it , and there are stairs , and nicely maintained paths and a couple of bridges also help . All of this is top of the line . Hole #1 starts you off with an over the lake shot to a hillside between buildings . A board at the bottom keeps rolling discs from going into the lake . We threw from the side as we didn't want to lose a disc on the first hole . You then turn hard left from the basket to a hole that enters the woods section and drifts a descending right ( tough hole ) . After this hole , navigation becomes a little easier . You may still want to print a map so you don't have to wander a path or 2 to figure out the break to the pin or save a few minutes looking for the next tee . The course flows well with distinct lines to the basket without it being too easy to negotiate . Holes 7-10 are the most heavily wooded holes , then it becomes lighter , where you descend on hole 11 , a right to left drive to a green sitting on a flat slightly uphill . The walk from 11 to 12 ( signs in the park try to point you the way ) is a little behind you and puts you in the lowest point on the course . This is a flat hole , slight left to right with a creek in play in the fairway to a well placed basket 504' away . #13 is a short but straight uphill shot with trees on either side . 14 has a lake on your far left and a bush line on your immediate right . There are obstructions in the fairway . You can take the lake out of the equation by keeping your drive and approach straight or just slightly left . #15 is the island hole which sits behind the lake but the lake is really out of play . It sits up close to a fence behind it . The wood boards that make up the island make a weird shape , but I think it adds to the fun of it . #16 has a triple mando from the longs which end with you throwing through a wood entrance about the size of a wide and little higher garage door . 17 is a straighaway shot to a nice wooded base and elevated basket . 18 ( 501' ) is a drive that breaks a little left to a mando . After the mando , you make a right and you are finished . Allow yourself a good 90 minutes solo , at least 2 1/2 hours for a foursome . There is a lot of fun factor here , because of all of the shot selection . Disc Risk : low . Even though the course plays long and there are a few hidden baskets , the course is manicured and the rough is low . I could see maybe a bad drive going into the second lake , but if you can get past hole #1's lake , you probably won't lose one .
Cons:
#1 . Safety . The walking trails run in and out of this course . Please be tolerant of the fellow park users . I saw a woman's dog get hit a disc on 15 and the foursome even saw her before throwing . They apologized , but don't be like these knuckleheads . This just adds to the reasons to pull a disc golf course . I also saw a light pole casualty on #18 where a 2nd shot left glass next to a path ( since cleaned up ) . Be careful . #2 Some of the better players may not like the short holes on 7-10 , or think some of the course is too gimmicky, but very few .
Other Thoughts:
Valley Park as far as course care and amenities has more going for it than all of the western WV courses combined . I didn't know whether to leave after my round , or stay and picnic and walk the trails for the rest of the day . If this course was within an hour of my house , I would play it every week . So much money and effort was put into this course . The course boasts some hills , but nothing ever as drastic as West Virginia can throw at you , and here , you don't have to play on sides of hills . Thank You , Valley Park , for the privilege of playing your course . My Recommendation : This course is for EVERYONE . PLAY IT !!!!