Hannibal-LaGrange University (HLGU) plays host to a brand new 9-hole recreational course that is open to the public. This 9-hole course makes the most out of an otherwise little used plot of land, and does enough with its design to make for a fun, easy round of golf.
Location of HGLU is just off of Route 61, just a mile or so north of I-72. The entrance to the college is actually very accessible from either the Route-61 or Harrison Hill Rd. exits on I-72. When you turn onto College Heights road to get onto campus, take the first right onto Muir Rd and then take another right in front of the house on the left side of the road. You'll see some parking to the left, followed by the course map and the back lot to the library. Apparently, they want you to park in the paved spots and not the gravel, so disregard the Ford Fiesta in the photos I post, as that belongs to some other schmuck who doesn't read before going to a small 9-hole course....
Along I-61, you will find just about any fast food, store, or gas station you could ask for in a town of this size, so any bathroom breaks or replenishing of snacks will not be a problem. Huckleberry Park is host to another 18-hole course that is just south of HGLU on 61, and when you consider other options in Palmyra and Quincy, this 9-hole is among a bunch of local options if you're wanting to make a day of the area. Just don't speed in Hannibal, as I have heard from multiple friends and family that it's easy to get a ticket in this town.
Amenities are limited at this course, as it's on a college campus instead of a city park. That being said, according to the course map, disc golfers are welcome to use the library for its bathroom. The nearest door to the course says staff only though, so you may need to walk to another door.
Terrain/Mud/Drainage was notably a non-issue during my round, as my opportunity to play this course was after some pretty wet days in the area. I was impressed that there were virtually no areas of mud or water, minus the drainage next to hole 1 that the mando makes you throw around. This course seems like one where you won't have to worry too much about course conditions.
Course Equipment is all brand new here as of the writing of this review, and exceeded my expectations. The baskets are red-banded DISCatchers that look fresh and play like they are fresh out of the box. The tees that are not off of the gravel circle by the library have concrete pads that vary in size but are generally long enough for the tee shots on the course. The tee signs include all of the information you could ask for, including par, distance, a graphic of the hole layout, mando locations when applicable, and hole sponsors. The course sign/map also provides a great overview of the course layout as well as the par and distance of each hole, rules, and an explanation of how to play disc golf. Overall, the branding in place for this course is very well done, and makes the course accessible to new players in addition to those who already know the game.
Course Design is pretty straightforward at HGLU, and just about makes the most of the land available. While a lot of the shots are pretty basic and fairly open on the course, there are some nice opportunities to really rip a drive and also do some shot shaping to get your birdie on some of the holes, which adds to the fun-factor here.
Shot-Shaping is most notable on holes 3 and 5, with both of these holes requiring RHBH anhyzers if you want to get significant distance and close to the pin. Hole 1 also has some shot shaping with the mandatory dogleg around the tree in the field, which will require either a long hyzer or a flip up shot followed by a second approach shot from the right side of the fairway. Most of the other shots are pretty straight, though many do have trees and branches to consider.
Elevation is also present on this plot of land. Holes 1 and 3 have a downhill factor to them, while holes 2 and 5 have slight uphill elevation changes from the tee to the basket. Other shots like on 6, 8, and 9 have some small but noticeable elevation changes.
Distances are where you will find the most variety on this course, with hole distances ranging from 211 to 526 feet. This results in three par-4s on site, with hole 3 arguably being long enough to be one as well based on the rest of the course. This variety provides some fun changes of pace as you make your way through the 9 holes on site, as it was fun to follow up longer bomber holes with shorter but somewhat technical ace runs.
Difficulty is on the easy end at HGLU, which is really what they are probably going for with this course. Newer players will not be caught off guard with any of the pars or any shots here, and more seasoned players can enjoy this course for its ace runs and try to see how close to a -9 they can get. All in all, this course serves its purpose and likely goal well.