• Discover new ways to elevate your game with the updated DGCourseReview app!
    It's entirely free and enhanced with features shaped by user feedback to ensure your best experience on the course. (App Store or Google Play)

Marion, OH

Ohio State University

Permanent course
1.835(based on 3 reviews)
Filter course reviews

Filter reviews

Filter reviews

Ohio State University reviews

Filter
15 0
MrFrosty
Diamond level trusted reviewer
Experience: 31.2 years 764 played 387 reviews
1.50 star(s)

THE Ohio State University - Marion Campus 2+ years drive by

Reviewed: Played on:Jul 31, 2021 Played the course:once

Pros:

The campus parking ( park in designated visitor spots to avoid trouble or a ticket from campus police ) is accessible from several angles . You can park way out on the campus side where holes 1-3 and 9 generally are , or park in the visitor lot like I did , between holes 3 and 4 , on the opposite end of campus . When school is in session , you can maybe pop in to use the bathroom . Otherwise , you are on your own , at least until you can use a local restaurant bathroom .
THE EQUIPMENT -- You can catch a break if you want , by teeing off in some places where there is a driveway or sidewalk . If teeing off from the tee signs , you are going to be teeing off from the grass . The tee signs are big , white and have green lettering and backing . They are informative enough , with hole number , par distance and flight path . I couldn't find the sign for #1 ( more in cons ) , but the other 8 were accounted for . The baskets are light red banded Discatchers .
THE LANDSCAPE -- The course plays in the front yards of the buildings and campus , or in the middle of it . The course was mowed and the trees/bushes were trimmed like you would expect out of a college campus .The course runs counter clockwise from the start . There are some trees on the lawns that serve as obstacles , not much shot shaping here . There is a pond in the middle of campus that you might partially have to throw over on hole 2 , but it is not really an obstacle since it is right in front of the tee pad and the hole is 117' . There is a large drainage ditch down the right side of hole 3 , but it shouldn't come into play much unless you griplock your drive or wind gets it . I think you should be able to retrieve your disc , anyway . Elevation is NO factor here . Aside from a 2 foot gulley on #2 and a couple of declines that might total 2' , you have baskets perched on short hills for planted bushes . There will be some walking involved between holes 1-2 , 3-4 and 9 to the car .
THE HIGHLIGHTS -- No highlights holes here , but a couple worth mentioning . Hole 3 ( 345' ) has road on the left as OB , and a drainage ditch on a downslope on the right . The basket is guarded by a large tree in front of it with limbs that hang so low , line drive will be swatted down . You may want to skip your shot under the tree . #9 is an okay finishing hole , throwing across the street , with a bush/tree line on the right and the basket flanked by trees under a canopy ( 250' )
DISC RISK -- Low here . You have to try to land your disc in water , and the trees and brush are not the type to swallow discs . Other that maybe having your driver catch up in the tree on #2 , you will leave the course with your same amount of discs .
THE TIME -- After finding a place to tee off from hole 4 ( I started at a different spot ) it took me under 30 minutes to play the course . A group of 4 will go through this in under an hour .
The Campus is wonderful looking , and you will have the course to yourself on the weekends .

Cons:

#1 Safety -- Some of the holes , like 4 & 5 , play right on the lawn of a couple of buildings #s 1 , 2 , and 9 throw along or close to walkways . Aren't the students in for a surprise when they lookup from their books that they are carrying , just in time for a " PUTTER WAKEUP CALL " . This course is better suited for play on the weekend or when school is not in session .
#2 Navigation/Fragmentation -- without a map ( now online ) you are lost . The course has little flow and only makes some sense for holes 5-9 . 1,2,and 3 play close enough together , that with some wandering around , you will find the signs . #4 sits by itself . Then look for the sign for 5 down the road . No NEXT TEE signs . How about putting some tape on the basket rungs to show where the next tee is ?
#3 Equipment Fail -- Natural tees , and not knowing where to tee off from when close to the sign , because there are no toe boards , bricks in the ground, or even worn dirt to show you where to start . and a missing sign , plus a couple of slightly vandalized signs . Still readable , it looks like one was shot with a gun ( I think #5 ) Yikes !
#4 Challenge-- Not a challenge at all , minus hole 3 , but I think it was originally intended for the students to blow off a little steam , or bond with classmates after classes . A midrange and putter will suffice for most .
Not a con , but one of the baskets was actually in the pete moss of the landscaped bushes on 5 , and the #2 basket sat on a hill with nice bushes on it . Dean Wormer will be upset if he gets a big bill from whoever does the landscaping here .
Bring water . There is literally no shade on this course .

Other Thoughts:

It takes some courage for a college to put a disc golf course on its grounds . On one hand , you give the students an option to stay on campus a little longer , meet other students , and even have a fun league on certain evenings .A course can also introduce itself to prospective students and the local community by luring them onto their nice campus , saying " Hi We're Here " . On the other hand , administration will hear it if a student gets hit hard with a disc , or there is an argument over how close a disc came to someone , or if they are sunning on the front lawn of the college .Making just a few changes to the course design could go a long way , providing this small campus has some extra land somewhere .
Introducing the game of Disc Golf to the curious is never a bad thing .
MY RECOMMENDATION -- Not any oomph in it for the locals , or anybody past being a casual player to attend . They will be better served going down the road and playing Sawyer Ludwig . This campus course is best suited for the attending student , maybe a local family wanting to throw a few holes after dinner , or an intro player learning how to drive or putt . There are better options to play for the traveler going down or up Rt 23 , but an easy grab for the Course Collector. OTHERWISE , YOU MAY WANT TO PASS THIS COURSE ON BY !
Was this review helpful? Yes No

Latest posts

Top