Pros:
Driving into Matter Park , you will see a basket here and there and have to decide where to park I parked below and to the side of the tennis courts . There is a nice kiosk here showing a map of all 24 holes , along with a shelter on top of the hill and a practice basket sitting close by . The #1 hole will be on the hill and on the opposite corner of the tennis courts in which you parked . I started next to the woods on #11 so I could save the woods holes for last . Print the map . You will need it later .
This course is mostly park style . There are some holes tucked into the back woods ( which also has the most elevation ) #3 thru #10 . Once you get your bearings , the course flows pretty well for a while . Plenty of level shots mixed in with baskets sitting on small hills or at the bottom of some . The course has a hiccup where because of construction near the maintenance facility , it looks like the basket to #17 was missing , and the tee to #18 was gone , too . After that , the course picks right back up . The baskets are yellow rimmed and have deep buckets ( some baskets don't match , but are good . There are a couple of alternate pin placements on most of the holes . The tee pads are cement and the signage is okay . There were a few missing signs , one being #22 , which the cement tee is across the bridge . You throw back across the bridge , close to #21's fairway , to a basket hidden behind some tree and a little brush . The park grounds for holes 1,2,and 11-24 were in great shape . It is a clean park . There are walkers that will cross your path . Be careful .
The course will not impress you with any kind of distance , but the fun factor out here will make up for it . Some highlights might be : #6 , a cruel overgrown tight fairway shot uphill to a hidden basket . After #6 , make sure you go up further and to the right , or you will miss #7 , a great downhill putter run with some deep rough on the right side, to a hanging basket . Then you can proceed to #8 , which is behind you and to the left ( you saw the tee pad from #6's basket ) . #15 starts off level , but with the basket on a hill . #16 is a low canopy 352' shot . #21 is the 2nd longest hole on the course at 419' , to a basket sitting in front of the creek . #23 is a left to right shot over the creek to the basket sitting in the middle of the hill . #24 is a great finishing hole . An open fairway , from an elevated tee pad , the basket sits 558' away .The course carries some nice balance . It took me 90 minutes to play the course . A foursome might take up to 3 hours for all 24 holes . Disc Risk : minimal from 11-24 unless you get it stuck in a tree or land directly in the middle of the creek . Woods hole #6 will give you the most trouble .
Signature Hole : I liked the long #24 hole from the elevated tee ( 547' )
Cons:
#1 Safety . There are park users all over this course . Look before you throw. Especially from holes14-24 .
#2 Navigation . A couple of confusing sports . #17 to the 18 tee , which was nowhere to be found . Finding the tee pad to #22 was hard , very hard without a map . Going from the #22 basket to the #23 tee might take some looking , as well as the long walk from #23's basket and #24's tee pad . At #6's basket , the inclination is to walk down a few steps to tee pad #8 which is clearly visible . Make sure you walk up the hill to #7 or you will miss the putter run.
#3. Some will complain that the course lacks serious challenge . I don't think the course was designed for tournament play , especially since the added 6 more holes instead of lengthening the existing 18 .
#4 Course care . The fairways in some of the woods holes are overgrown . There is a nice downhill run on I think 9 , where I had to look for my disc just off the fairway because of deep rough .
Bring bug spray in the summer .Insects are hungry in the woods .
Other Thoughts:
Matter park DGC can give you a little bit of everything . Woods holes with some elevation , park golf with a creek , some good basket placements , a few holes with some length . The course isn't overly popular , where you are waiting on tee boxes , but there were several people out on the course on the weekend morning that I was playing . With 24 holes to this course and the fact that many have more than one pin option . you have a lot of varying disc golf at your disposal I think that the Fun Factor here is what makes the course what it is . Very entertaining with the disc golfers that are infatuated with playing a lot .
My Recommendation : Kick out a couple of the overgrown woods holes , and this is fantastic for newbies , maybe even families . Very Good for locals , travelers ( not far off I-69 and just northeast of Indianapolis ) , course collectors , and even pretty decent for intermediates and pros that want to work on different aspects of their game .PLAY IT !!