Camden Kroc Center reviews
8
0
Not the PMcB Foundation's strongest effort
Reviewed:
Played on:Nov 16, 2024
Played the course:once
Pros:
This is an open, mostly flat, beginner friendly 9-hole course set behind the Salvation Army's Kroc Center in Camden, NJ. As a Paul McBeth Foundation course, the goal is to create disc golf opportunities in underserved urban areas. Kudos for that admirable objective.
White-banded Dynamic Veteran baskets were easy to spot, installed properly, and caught well. There is a metal pole at each tee area, suggesting that tee signs may be installed at some future date.
Hole lengths average a beginner-friendly 230'. The "par 4" hole #8 is the longest on the course, stretching out to 329' and featuring a stand of young trees in the second half of the fairway.
Well-mown grass. You can see the Philly skyline in the far distance from the course. Minor elevation changes in play: hole #2's basket sits on a slope with rollaway potential; and the ground slopes gently away past #9's basket.
Low risk of disc loss, although I did spend several minutes searching for a drive that went long into dense evergreen trees past #9's basket.
White-banded Dynamic Veteran baskets were easy to spot, installed properly, and caught well. There is a metal pole at each tee area, suggesting that tee signs may be installed at some future date.
Hole lengths average a beginner-friendly 230'. The "par 4" hole #8 is the longest on the course, stretching out to 329' and featuring a stand of young trees in the second half of the fairway.
Well-mown grass. You can see the Philly skyline in the far distance from the course. Minor elevation changes in play: hole #2's basket sits on a slope with rollaway potential; and the ground slopes gently away past #9's basket.
Low risk of disc loss, although I did spend several minutes searching for a drive that went long into dense evergreen trees past #9's basket.
Cons:
No signage and no tees as of November 2024. Can get super windy, as it was when we played. The course is short, flat, and most holes are wide open except for manmade obstacles.
Navigation would have been very difficult without a map or app. There are no tees or tee signs, so look for the metal pole that marks the tee area.
Potential conflicts abound. Hole #1 plays beside a parking lot and access road, and crosses two paved walking paths. Hole #2 plays along a baseball outfield fence. Hole #3 doglegs around the left field fence, with the basket set between the third base line fence and a soccer goal. Hole #4 plays across the infield of a different baseball field.
Most fairways conflict with paved walking paths, but to be fair I don't know how often those paths get used.
Navigation would have been very difficult without a map or app. There are no tees or tee signs, so look for the metal pole that marks the tee area.
Potential conflicts abound. Hole #1 plays beside a parking lot and access road, and crosses two paved walking paths. Hole #2 plays along a baseball outfield fence. Hole #3 doglegs around the left field fence, with the basket set between the third base line fence and a soccer goal. Hole #4 plays across the infield of a different baseball field.
Most fairways conflict with paved walking paths, but to be fair I don't know how often those paths get used.
Other Thoughts:
The other Paul McBeth Foundation courses I have played were well suited to the target audience of beginners, while remaining enjoyable for experienced players. Unfortunately, I did not find this course particularly interesting or engaging. Some holes may improve as sapling trees mature, but the rest are wide open. Absent a redesign, conflicts with ballfields and walking paths will remain.
We parked in front, signed in at the athletic facility desk, and walked out the back door to reach the course. There is an entrance fee to use the pool, but you should not be charged to play disc golf. You are, of course, welcome to leave a donation.
Note that the door leading to the course will lock behind you, so don't be surprised if you need to get someone's attention to let you back into the aquatic center so you can return to your car. There is also parking behind the facility, but it was blocked by a gate and it is not clear whether non-employees have access.
Set in a run-down looking neighborhood, the Camden Kroc Center is a shiny, 125,000 square foot facility featuring an aquatic center, athletic facilities, food pantry, and other community services. The location is about halfway between Sedgley Woods and Stafford Woods, and not far from I-95 in Philly or the New Jersey Turnpike. Course baggers take note.
We parked in front, signed in at the athletic facility desk, and walked out the back door to reach the course. There is an entrance fee to use the pool, but you should not be charged to play disc golf. You are, of course, welcome to leave a donation.
Note that the door leading to the course will lock behind you, so don't be surprised if you need to get someone's attention to let you back into the aquatic center so you can return to your car. There is also parking behind the facility, but it was blocked by a gate and it is not clear whether non-employees have access.
Set in a run-down looking neighborhood, the Camden Kroc Center is a shiny, 125,000 square foot facility featuring an aquatic center, athletic facilities, food pantry, and other community services. The location is about halfway between Sedgley Woods and Stafford Woods, and not far from I-95 in Philly or the New Jersey Turnpike. Course baggers take note.
12
0
Soft Pars Behind the Community Center
Reviewed:
Played on:Dec 27, 2022
Played the course:once
Other Thoughts:
Nine baskets in a large open field behind a community center. Installed by the Paul McBeth Foundation to grow the sport in areas that aren't likely to have courses. Excellent white Chainstars, but as of winter 2023, no signage or tees
Controlled access: the area is fenced, and you get to the course through the main lobby. The doors out to the back can lock behind you, so it's a good idea to check in at the front desk as a courtesy. According to uDisc play should be free, though I understand the sentiment of making a small donation to a non-profit (like the donation boxes you sometimes find on courses at church camps). This is a beautiful facility with a welcoming staff, so any confusion about pay-to-play or limited access shouldn't deter you
These are open holes in a large area with a few walking paths and ballfields. Hole #4 crosses a baseball infield, so no disc golf when that field is in use.
Pars are geared to encourage beginners: two short par 4's with the extra stroke to compensate for the (slight) uphill and a few trees guarding a green. The only hole longer than 300' is also a par 4.
For anyone other than beginners, this is just a bagging stop. It wasn't designed for us. But nobody's saying we can't pad our averages with the soft pars.
Evidence of lots of geese - dress your feet accordingly
Controlled access: the area is fenced, and you get to the course through the main lobby. The doors out to the back can lock behind you, so it's a good idea to check in at the front desk as a courtesy. According to uDisc play should be free, though I understand the sentiment of making a small donation to a non-profit (like the donation boxes you sometimes find on courses at church camps). This is a beautiful facility with a welcoming staff, so any confusion about pay-to-play or limited access shouldn't deter you
These are open holes in a large area with a few walking paths and ballfields. Hole #4 crosses a baseball infield, so no disc golf when that field is in use.
Pars are geared to encourage beginners: two short par 4's with the extra stroke to compensate for the (slight) uphill and a few trees guarding a green. The only hole longer than 300' is also a par 4.
For anyone other than beginners, this is just a bagging stop. It wasn't designed for us. But nobody's saying we can't pad our averages with the soft pars.
Evidence of lots of geese - dress your feet accordingly