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Bellevue State Park reviews
15
0
A Walk in the Park 2+ years
Reviewed:
Played on:Apr 24, 2021
Played the course:once
Pros:
+ Although pretty much flat after the first hole, the layout provides a good combination of open, treed and wooded holes to keep things interesting
+ Work is going on to update this course, with some changes to the layout and addition of long tees; from reading through the reviews, it sounds like the course went through a major change in 2018. The changes I saw were newer (and still in progress). Many of the "old" signs now have additional information tacked on to reflect the long and standard layouts. I couldn't find some of the alternative tees, so I played a mix of shorts and longs. It was a bit confusing at times, but I was left with an overall positive impression, seeing a course that's being improved
+ There are a few early holes where you might find picnics and other activities, but the layout does a very good job of separating from other park activities. The back nine feels entirely apart from the park
+ One last callout about the improvements: the new long tee on Hole #6 is framed pavers with an absolutely stunning slab bench cut from the trunk of a (local?) tree. If this is the model for the rest of the tees, Bellevue will be distinctive
+ Hole #12 is a short 3, and the second half of the hole is a narrow alley cut through a grove of skinny trees. The basket is right in front of you, beautifully framed. It's like a miniature version of the famed hole at Blue Ribbon Pines
+ Nice raised basket-on-stump on Hole #4, and great use of woodchips to mark greens and keep the mud down throughout the course
+ Work is going on to update this course, with some changes to the layout and addition of long tees; from reading through the reviews, it sounds like the course went through a major change in 2018. The changes I saw were newer (and still in progress). Many of the "old" signs now have additional information tacked on to reflect the long and standard layouts. I couldn't find some of the alternative tees, so I played a mix of shorts and longs. It was a bit confusing at times, but I was left with an overall positive impression, seeing a course that's being improved
+ There are a few early holes where you might find picnics and other activities, but the layout does a very good job of separating from other park activities. The back nine feels entirely apart from the park
+ One last callout about the improvements: the new long tee on Hole #6 is framed pavers with an absolutely stunning slab bench cut from the trunk of a (local?) tree. If this is the model for the rest of the tees, Bellevue will be distinctive
+ Hole #12 is a short 3, and the second half of the hole is a narrow alley cut through a grove of skinny trees. The basket is right in front of you, beautifully framed. It's like a miniature version of the famed hole at Blue Ribbon Pines
+ Nice raised basket-on-stump on Hole #4, and great use of woodchips to mark greens and keep the mud down throughout the course
Cons:
- Tees are a mix of framed pavers, carpet, and dirt. While I suspect they're moving toward uniformity, the variability is pretty wide right now
- Danger of Holes #8 and #9 throwing at one another: they face each other across an open, sloped field, and they're both 300ish "go for it" teeshots
- Hole #10 is long and narrow, with a fence bordering right side tight. It's a par 4 that requires a very controlled low straight shot to get into the landing zone, also avoiding a small stream that cuts across the fairway. The problem is that the approach from that landing zone is so heavily treed that it's just a "poke and hope" - and the impact of luck on your kicks really detracts from the hole
- Hole #18 is a disappointing closer. It's in that "tweener" range of 250ish, bends hard to the right the entire way (enough that you can't see the basket), and doesn't really have a clear throwing lane. There's a "mando" on the right according to the signage, but there's also a huge tree down - that may have been the mando? I'm left wondering if this is still a hole that's being figured out, because it felt the roughest and most unfinished - which is unfortunate for a final hole
- Danger of Holes #8 and #9 throwing at one another: they face each other across an open, sloped field, and they're both 300ish "go for it" teeshots
- Hole #10 is long and narrow, with a fence bordering right side tight. It's a par 4 that requires a very controlled low straight shot to get into the landing zone, also avoiding a small stream that cuts across the fairway. The problem is that the approach from that landing zone is so heavily treed that it's just a "poke and hope" - and the impact of luck on your kicks really detracts from the hole
- Hole #18 is a disappointing closer. It's in that "tweener" range of 250ish, bends hard to the right the entire way (enough that you can't see the basket), and doesn't really have a clear throwing lane. There's a "mando" on the right according to the signage, but there's also a huge tree down - that may have been the mando? I'm left wondering if this is still a hole that's being figured out, because it felt the roughest and most unfinished - which is unfortunate for a final hole
Other Thoughts:
~ The overall 18 hole loop is pretty intuitive (and up to date on uDisc), but I'm sure I'm benefitting from the descriptions provided by earlier reviewers, especially DumfriesLizzie. Because of the ongoing work, you really have to check the signage to confirm which hole and tee location you're at. There are some small white arrows to help navigation from hole to hole. Not a lot of them, but they seemed to pop up at exactly the right times.
~ I'm always impressed by the commitment that Delaware State Parks has made to disc golf, while in neighboring NJ, we still have only one course in a State Park (the excellent Allaire). These layouts in northern DE have been around for a while: Lums Pond since 1987, Brandywine since 1980 and White Clay since 1999. Like Bellevue, ongoing improvements are evident at Lums and Brandywine. Only White Clay seems to be stuck in time. But they're all good, and different from one another
COURSE AMENITIES:
Old Chainstars that are in good shape, but Chainstars aren't as easy to spot as newer designs with brightly colored bands. Cart-friendly,. Restrooms available. Park is "pack in, pack out" so you won't find garbage cans
RECOMMENDED COMBINATIONS:
The nearest obvious choice is Brandywine with its spectacular views and elevation changes (and you can use the same day park entry fee), but don't sleep on Canby West if you want a wooded challenge
~ I'm always impressed by the commitment that Delaware State Parks has made to disc golf, while in neighboring NJ, we still have only one course in a State Park (the excellent Allaire). These layouts in northern DE have been around for a while: Lums Pond since 1987, Brandywine since 1980 and White Clay since 1999. Like Bellevue, ongoing improvements are evident at Lums and Brandywine. Only White Clay seems to be stuck in time. But they're all good, and different from one another
COURSE AMENITIES:
Old Chainstars that are in good shape, but Chainstars aren't as easy to spot as newer designs with brightly colored bands. Cart-friendly,. Restrooms available. Park is "pack in, pack out" so you won't find garbage cans
RECOMMENDED COMBINATIONS:
The nearest obvious choice is Brandywine with its spectacular views and elevation changes (and you can use the same day park entry fee), but don't sleep on Canby West if you want a wooded challenge
12
0
Diamond in the rough improved 2+ years
Reviewed:
Updated:
Played on:Feb 20, 2022
Played the course:2-4 times
Pros:
Very beautiful, large park with a lovely fine-gravel main promenade around a catch-release pond, open fields, equestrian facilities, playgrounds, picnic areas, etc.. With spur trails into woods, the disc golf course, etc.
Manageable holes once you figure out where you are and which hole is what number. More later on that.
Varied holes overall, though some in the middle and back start to repeat the type of the previous or near-previous hole.
I believe the front 9 (barring short no. 6, old bricks) now has paved teepads. I believe there are other paved tee pads at nos. 11, 12, and 15. These are long enough and wide enough for those of us with long legs and arms.
The course opens with no. 1's fairway sharply descending through fairly-narrow woods to a small creek. A tester out of the box.
Has a nice balance of wooded and open holes on the front 9. No. 11 starts rather open before a guard line of trees before the open green. Then it is back into the woods, pretty much.
I think no. 10 might be the most challenging hole. It is a tunnel that descends to a creek. Narrow footbridges over said. Over or around a mound as you rise from the creek. Basket tucked in a grove of trees to the right.
No. 5 (presently marked as no. 19!) is the big open bomber hole. I believe it is over 500 feet and one of the 3 par-4s.
Nos. 8 and 9 are quite pretty, sharing a small meadow ringed with trees.
No. 12 is one narrow tunnel ahead of an even tighter section of trees. The basket is dead ahead, and the hole is quite short. But there are plenty trees to hit!
Beautiful bench at new no. 6 and a handsome one at no. 4. Both generous in size. However, I didn't see any others.
Manageable holes once you figure out where you are and which hole is what number. More later on that.
Varied holes overall, though some in the middle and back start to repeat the type of the previous or near-previous hole.
I believe the front 9 (barring short no. 6, old bricks) now has paved teepads. I believe there are other paved tee pads at nos. 11, 12, and 15. These are long enough and wide enough for those of us with long legs and arms.
The course opens with no. 1's fairway sharply descending through fairly-narrow woods to a small creek. A tester out of the box.
Has a nice balance of wooded and open holes on the front 9. No. 11 starts rather open before a guard line of trees before the open green. Then it is back into the woods, pretty much.
I think no. 10 might be the most challenging hole. It is a tunnel that descends to a creek. Narrow footbridges over said. Over or around a mound as you rise from the creek. Basket tucked in a grove of trees to the right.
No. 5 (presently marked as no. 19!) is the big open bomber hole. I believe it is over 500 feet and one of the 3 par-4s.
Nos. 8 and 9 are quite pretty, sharing a small meadow ringed with trees.
No. 12 is one narrow tunnel ahead of an even tighter section of trees. The basket is dead ahead, and the hole is quite short. But there are plenty trees to hit!
Beautiful bench at new no. 6 and a handsome one at no. 4. Both generous in size. However, I didn't see any others.
Cons:
The primary problem is signage, as noted by others here. Everything is fine until you finish no. 3. There is no next-tee sign to direct you from 3 to 4, so you need the course map to figure how to walk over the two park loops to get there (through small woods). The no. 4 basket btw is elevated on a tree stump and just at the right bordering tree line.
The bigger signage trouble starts with big 5. It is labeled as no. 19. Then you look at the course map on your phone or what you printed out from DGCR. You walk around in the gardens (warning, bee hives!!) on the other side of the creek tree line. You look at the pictures here too and scratch your head. Apparently holes 5, 6, and 7 (the old ones) slotted between this creek tree line. What you have now is a reoriented old no. 6 teepad that plays to the old no. 7 basket. It takes more than a minute to figure this out. This is new no. 5.
That means most everything going forward is now 2 nos. less than the current online course map says. Old no. 8 is now new no. 6 (it has a long pad also), old no. 9 is new no. 7, etc. I think most hole signs of new holes 6-18 have something on them indicating this now (taped-on pieces of paper). There is a new (from scratch) no. 16 between old 17/new 15 and old 18/new 17. The tee for new 17 is now on the border of the soccer field. The tee of new 18 is deeper in the woods beyond the basket of new 17. The tee of old 19 appears to be the basket placement of new 18. I know. It's confusing, but print out the map and hand-edit your printout, based on this paragraph. You will get clarity on what is what.
One definitely needs next tee signs from 3 to 4 and from 9 to 10. For the latter, you walk down the paved path towards the green barn, then go left on the intersecting path to the edge of the property. There you will find two stakes in the ground to mark the short tee of 10. Not sure where the long tee would go... These stakes have orange, numbered labels on them. You will also find them at nos. 13, 14, and 17. Nos. 16, 17, and 18 have green mats.
Seems to have a lot of muddy places, even on dry, cool days. It's shady along a good deal of the course with less-than-good drainage.
Walkers and runners are determined to walk through the fairways. I had them on nos. 6, 13, 14, and 15. Despite having *two* pedestrian loop trails and a kabillion other trails in the park. It's exasperating but unfortunately common in multisport parks. I try not to lose my temper and only say something to those who actually encamp on fairways. No encampers thankfully on my first outing here.
The bigger signage trouble starts with big 5. It is labeled as no. 19. Then you look at the course map on your phone or what you printed out from DGCR. You walk around in the gardens (warning, bee hives!!) on the other side of the creek tree line. You look at the pictures here too and scratch your head. Apparently holes 5, 6, and 7 (the old ones) slotted between this creek tree line. What you have now is a reoriented old no. 6 teepad that plays to the old no. 7 basket. It takes more than a minute to figure this out. This is new no. 5.
That means most everything going forward is now 2 nos. less than the current online course map says. Old no. 8 is now new no. 6 (it has a long pad also), old no. 9 is new no. 7, etc. I think most hole signs of new holes 6-18 have something on them indicating this now (taped-on pieces of paper). There is a new (from scratch) no. 16 between old 17/new 15 and old 18/new 17. The tee for new 17 is now on the border of the soccer field. The tee of new 18 is deeper in the woods beyond the basket of new 17. The tee of old 19 appears to be the basket placement of new 18. I know. It's confusing, but print out the map and hand-edit your printout, based on this paragraph. You will get clarity on what is what.
One definitely needs next tee signs from 3 to 4 and from 9 to 10. For the latter, you walk down the paved path towards the green barn, then go left on the intersecting path to the edge of the property. There you will find two stakes in the ground to mark the short tee of 10. Not sure where the long tee would go... These stakes have orange, numbered labels on them. You will also find them at nos. 13, 14, and 17. Nos. 16, 17, and 18 have green mats.
Seems to have a lot of muddy places, even on dry, cool days. It's shady along a good deal of the course with less-than-good drainage.
Walkers and runners are determined to walk through the fairways. I had them on nos. 6, 13, 14, and 15. Despite having *two* pedestrian loop trails and a kabillion other trails in the park. It's exasperating but unfortunately common in multisport parks. I try not to lose my temper and only say something to those who actually encamp on fairways. No encampers thankfully on my first outing here.
Other Thoughts:
It is a pay-to-play course from March-October (I believe). You need a credit card for a dashboard ticket if there is no booth attendant. If you play other state park courses on the same day (Brandywine, White Clay Creek, others?), you can use the same ticket and feel like you are getting more of your money's worth.
When the state parks authority and/or local disc golf club have the money for signage and can complete all the teepads, this course will shine like the star it actually is. If there is a GoFund me for this (I don't know), I would certainly contribute. For now, call it a diamond in the rough.
UPDATE (2/20/22): Signage now totally updated and clear. Concrete or asphalt teepads at every hole now. I believe also longer baskets have been added to nos. 1 and 4. And shorter baskets added at nos. 5, 7, 10, and 18. So now, I believe 6 holes have 2 baskets, and 4 holes have 2 pads (previously existing). Makes for good extra variety. The course is just too busy. At least on a holiday weekend. And some of the regulars are disruptive and rude. Mix of abilities and sizes of groups can lead to traffic jams. I think though if you can play early working weekdays, maybe you have a shot at a peaceful round. Locals can confirm that better than me.
When the state parks authority and/or local disc golf club have the money for signage and can complete all the teepads, this course will shine like the star it actually is. If there is a GoFund me for this (I don't know), I would certainly contribute. For now, call it a diamond in the rough.
UPDATE (2/20/22): Signage now totally updated and clear. Concrete or asphalt teepads at every hole now. I believe also longer baskets have been added to nos. 1 and 4. And shorter baskets added at nos. 5, 7, 10, and 18. So now, I believe 6 holes have 2 baskets, and 4 holes have 2 pads (previously existing). Makes for good extra variety. The course is just too busy. At least on a holiday weekend. And some of the regulars are disruptive and rude. Mix of abilities and sizes of groups can lead to traffic jams. I think though if you can play early working weekdays, maybe you have a shot at a peaceful round. Locals can confirm that better than me.
