Springdale Elementary is a decent kid-friendly introductory course. The question is whether the course can actually reach its intended audience as its virtually unplayable if other kids are using the playground/rec area.
- There are nine baskets. And in something I've never seen before, each basket's cage is pad with a blue mat. Think bumper bowling meets disc golf.
- The baskets are clustered in a small area. The entire area/field is about an acre and a half. The first six holes are in an area that's about a ½ acre.
- Because of the crapped space, you're zig-zagging back and forth. The closest or most obvious basket isn't necessarily the one you're throwing to.
- Holes are all short. Two holes (#7 & 9) are in the 200-foot range. Everything else is seemingly between 100 - 175 feet. Being an elementary school course, these are perfect hole lengths.
- The obstacles on the course mainly involve throwing over or around playground equipment. A tree comes into play on #4 and a soccer net on #9. Ah, nothing like having a 25 foot putt on #9 and having to throw over the goal post.
- Quick, easy round. Done in less than 20 minutes and that involved taking pictures, throwing to the wrong basket twice, and finally scouting to ensure I was throwing to the correct basket.

SAFETY! SAFETY!! SAFETY!!!
- This is an intro course for kids. Kids aren't going to be precise with their throws. And yet, on nearly every hole, another portion of playground-related equipment comes into play. At recess or gym-time, kids shouldn't be throwing discs if others are running around and playing.
- What's up with the padded baskets? I don't understand the benefits. Maybe the lawn crew keeps banging into the baskets when mowing. Regardless, it's not a beneficial tool that helps kids learn.
- Signage can be better. With baskets clustered together, why are the hole numbers on the baskets not listed better? Standing on #3's tee and seeing two baskets as possible targets, why isn't the #4 facing my direction? Why is it on the backside?
- Along those lines, there is no marker/indication where the first tee is located. I teed off from alongside the backstop/trail at the edge of the playground area.

Springdale could easily be the perfect course for kids. It could be IF the course didn't potentially put other kids in harm's way. It doesn't take too many kids getting smacked with errant throws before the school decides disc golf baskets are a bad idea. And that's a shame.
- There's something enticing about throwing right over top of inanimate objects. Throwing over the jungle gym on #6 is fun. On #9, trying to throw just over top of the soccer goal and landing 10 feet past it is a fun challenge. If you're short, like my shot was, you're left with that challenging birdie putt over the goal.
- With giant blue padding, these baskets somehow seemed even larger and more inviting to try and smack them with tee shots.
- This is a quick, simple layout. If you lived close by, you could use the more open side of the field, by baskets #7 - 9, for approach shots and putting. Otherwise, you're like me and only stopping by to bag this course.
- This will be one of the most memorable bad courses I'll play. 'You remember Springdale Elementary?' 'No.' 'You know, the course with the blue pads around the basket?' 'Oh yeah. That course.'