Hey, I always give credit to anyone willing to put in a course, and this large nine hole course is on well maintained college grounds, and gradually improves in beauty as it progresses. There is a blue practice basket right by the tennis courts, and not too far from the first tee, where you get to uncork your long tee shot out to the north, before rounding the campus counter clockwise though hole nine.

Signage is informative and relatively easy to spot (there are even helpful 'next tee' arrows on the Prodigy baskets), and the white bands on the blue caged baskets are almost all visible from the tee areas. You do have some distances to throw, and the approaches have some line shaping. The course favors long arms, assuming they can throw for distance on the intended line. For those with an accurate, low 350' to 400' drive, you might have a look at deucing holes 4-6, 8 & 9. If you have less (like me: 300' is good), you look to go "all threes" here. So, overall an interesting course to try to figure out…

…who is the intended audience? Younger players tend to throw for more distance, and this course will not penalize errant throws that go even 20 or 30 degrees left or right. You're mostly looking at: heave, approach, and (hopefully) putt for a three if you're intermediate or above. There won't be much to interest advanced or open players, and I see beginners and recreational level players just getting frustrated. In fact, there was NO one else playing on a 72 degree, sunny Saturday morning, and when I realized I'd left a disc in the first basket (I was on hole 5), I wasn't too worried about it still being there when I finished my round (it was).

There are no designated foul lines, toe boards or any other way to identify the intended tee (I didn't see any of the white 'cubes' mentioned in MrFrosty's review), so I saw some evidence of "tee creep" in the slightly worn turf. The finishing holes, while pretty (around or over the pond) have disc loss written all over them: on hole 8, do you throw to clear (250'+) or bail right, towards that picnic table and bench. Hole 9 is uphill, so that you can't see the edge of the pond from the tee. The slope makes the "carry" an effective 290'+, and bailing out to the right requires WAY right your first time.

Unfortunately, this course sat between Hazy Shade and Caesar's Ford on my bagging itinerary for the day, and it doesn't do a very good job of measuring up to either. But if it's all you've got, you live close by, and lack transportation…

Clark State Community College has a new ( 2019 ) 9 hole course that plays around all of the main buildings . Sitting just minutes off of I-70 in Springfield , it is easily accessible and a 9 hole course , this play can be fairly quick . The course starts at the Northwest side of campus , close to the tennis courts . I saw campus police , but never saw any signs that said decal parking only or to check into the office . The parking lot is plenty big enough . The grass was mowed and the landscape looks well taken care of . There are no bathroom facilities unless you are there when school is in session ( but there is a Speedway Gas Station pretty close to campus ) .
The tee pads are natural , but marked with little white cubes in front of the signs . The signage is very basic . Set on wood posts they give the hole number , par and distance . There are NEXT tee signs at the bottom of most baskets . The baskets are New Prodigy . There is a blue putting basket close to hole one's tee pad . I saw some surprising length for a small campus course Do yourself a favor and print the map to save a few steps . . Even though it wraps pretty tightly around campus , course designer Joshua Trapp made sure that the sparse number of trees are utilized well . #1 goes slightly downhill , keeping the tennis court area on the right (564') , then if you walk to your left and over the road and up a small hill , you will tee off to a basket ( 534' ) which sets between 2 smaller trees . #3 is directly behind 2 , and is 495' straightaway , sitting behind a tree with low hanging branches . #4 is behind that and is a dogleg right , behind a white garage . #s 5 & 6 are off to the left of the #4 fairway , and make use of long branches and canopies of the trees . #6 is the shortest hole at 285' . You have a long walk left and around the LRC building . Keep walking to a parking lot . #7 is a nice shot across a dip in the fairway , to a basket with a tree in front of it . #8 , to the right is a downhill drive over a large pond with a fountain that shoots 15-20 ft . to a basket with a huge tree with low limbs to block drives . The green beyond the trees has small boulders encircling it . #9 is a throw back across the pond to a basket just beyond it , placed on a hill . Walk straight back from the #9 basket and it will put you in the lot you parked in . This is a pleasant walk as the campus is small but a very nice walk . Disc Risk : minimal but not impossible . The last 2 holes throw over water , and if you are left handed , you may have the water fountain swat your drive on #8 , or if you can't safely throw 300'+ . you may want to lay up near the pond on #9 and throw over from there . This is a fun campus course and is almost too nice to pass up for a student or a local . It took me about 30 minutes to play my round , figure about and hour and 15 for a foursome . The online scorecard tells you to count the first 3 holes as par 3s , but the signs count them as par 4 , probably because they average over 500' .

Not a lot to complain about for a new course . Maybe some lack of variety . Most of the drives on this course barely vary from straightaway , #4 being the exception . no amenities , like bathrooms when school is closed , or benches . kiosks , a relaxation area for after the round . Natural tees are a downer , but the course is new and if disc golf catches on around here , who knows ? It will be windy most of the time , here .

I never like being the first to review a course , but in this case , I am kind of glad . I always felt that a well intended course that is cared for can go a long way with both the locals And the students . A disc golf course can enhance and maybe create a buzz for your aesthetically picturesque campus . This course will never knock your socks off , but it will give you a pleasant round and let you air out some drives . Thank You , Clark State Community College for allowing me to play your course . My recommendation : Not something you would go very far out of your way to play , still ,this is a great course for the locals , the student or faculty population , some families , course baggers , and travelers , as a leg stretcher since it is just off the interstate .