Pros:
- Great variety for a golf course style layout
- Golf carts are a great option to have
- Beautiful and well-kept property
- Very nice temporary baskets
Cons:
- Natural tee pads
- Expensive to play relative to other area courses
- Potential conflict with ball golfers
- Navigation can be tricky first time out
Other Thoughts:
The Pine Hills disc golf course is open seasonally from October to March, sharing space with the 9 hole golf course. As one would expect the course is mostly open but uses the scattered trees and sloping hillsides extremely well. There are also a handful of more wooded holes including a few that require tight gaps to be hit. There is no extreme elevation change here, but most of the fairways have some significant grade gain or loss, and many greens have rollaway potential. The course seems to vary slightly year to year, I've played both 18 and 20 hole configurations, but the layout is mostly consistent. Overall, this course has more variety than you would typically expect from a layout on a ball golf course and water comes in to play on two holes. I've updated the hole distances based on my latest rounds, though holes 19 and 20 were not played, so those numbers are from 2020.
Equipment is a mixed bag, tees are almost entirely natural which can definitely be an issue considering the course is only open in the wetter/colder months, but the portable DISCatcher baskets are great quality temp baskets. No benches, though this is mitigated if you spring for a golf cart. I believe there were a couple port-o-potties on the back half of the course and a smattering of trash cans as well. I've only played during tournaments when the course was reserved, but I'd expect sharing the space with golfers during the off season isn't too much of a problem. The green/cart fee was $25 for the day, not sure what the rate is for just green fees without a cart. Walking is certainly manageable, but the cart is very nice to have. Tee times are required so call ahead at the number found on the website linked in the Links/Files tab.
Pine Hills is a fun layout that I would probably play regularly if I lived nearby. The property is pretty, well kept, and pleasant to play through, keep an eye out for bald eagles! The greens fees may dissuade many people from playing often, but I think it's a layout worth checking out if you live in the area, and the novelty of the golf carts adds to the experience. The restaurant/bar/pro shop on site is also great and had very reasonable prices for food and drink. For those traveling to the area, check out the nearby Starved Rock State Park for some fantastic hiking trails and waterfalls, one of my favorite places in Illinois. A weekend stay at the park and a round or two at Pine Hills is well worth it.