Elk Grove Village, IL

Clark Park

2.565(based on 32 reviews)
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1 0
DiscGolfer80
Experience: 5.3 years 57 played 56 reviews
2.50 star(s)

Tricky Beginner's Course 2+ years drive by

Reviewed: Played on:Oct 31, 2020 Played the course:once

Pros:

Descent layout of course with concrete tee pads and descent signage for hole.

Cons:

Tricky for beginners, especially hole #3. Super small designated parking area for course, if you get lucky to find a spot, on Wise Rd.

Other Thoughts:

Hard to give a lot of "pros" to this course. Played many beginner's courses that weren't as tricky.
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5 0
EspressoPatronum
Gold level trusted reviewer
Premium Member
Experience: 19.3 years 316 played 298 reviews
2.50 star(s)

Pretty Standard Chicago 9 2+ years

Reviewed: Played on:Aug 17, 2018 Played the course:2-4 times

Pros:

-huge concrete tees
-nice signs for every hole
-well manicured/mowed
-though open, the trees/plantings do force some more challenging shots
-good course for beginners

Cons:

-pretty much entirely flat
-fairly open on most holes
-one tee sign (2) facing wrong direction
-8 of 9 holes under 300'
-some risk of hitting other players/walkers due to short holes butting up to each other
-advanced players will likely be a bit bored

Other Thoughts:

This course is set in a multi-purpose park like many in the Chicago suburbs. It is basic, but well maintained. The designers did a good job of staying away from the walking paths as much as possible, so playing the course isn't generally a hazard.

I was a bit torn between 2 and 2.5 on this one. While it is a pretty basic suburban course, the designers really did do their best to add some challenge with the trees and other plantings. I found myself nailing trees several times despite the course seeming very open.

One vote in this course's favor are some of the largest concrete tees I've ever seen, which were pretty nice. The tee signs are also nice although for some reason the one for hole 2 was facing the wrong direction, straight toward the tennis courts - not sure if this was just a mistake or the hole used to be different.

I think holes 4 and 5 were my favorites, due to tree placement adding a bit of challenge. In particular, hole 5 has trees placed down the fairway near the basket, so if you don't hit your line you can come up short and have a rough approach shot.

I think the more advanced players would get a bit bored with this course, but there is enough challenge that intermediate players will have to work for birdies and beginners won't get discouraged. It's a solid, serviceable course for the Chicago area, but not much truly sets it apart from other decent courses in the area.

I did find that a few of the holes butted up pretty close to other hole's fairways, and with all of the holes being so short, there is some risk of interference. This is limited, and I think the park was used as well as possible with limited space, but it's not ideal.

All in all, I think some players would rather travel a bit further for a more involved course, but if you're nearby, this is a decent course to get in a quick 9 - with the short holes, it plays very fast.
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6 0
mrbro855
Gold level trusted reviewer
Experience: 11.1 years 391 played 106 reviews
3.50 star(s)

Loved it!! 2+ years

Reviewed: Played on:Aug 13, 2016 Played the course:2-4 times

Pros:

Typical city park type course that used what was there to make it interesting.
It has the usual basics: (giant) concrete tee pads, quality signage (though #9 was missing), mature trees in just the right places and use of what elevation there was.
Couple of holes come to mind:
#1 Downhill and to the left
#3 Big left bend around a fence (30 ft high with the safety net) into a grove of pine trees.
#6 Downhill between a couple of mature trees as was
#8 another downhill. with
#9 straight back toward the street with a tree smack dab in the middle of the fairway.

Distances were all over 200 ft with one over 300. Perfect for an old guy like me!!

Cons:

None.... easy to follow, well manicured. I suppose on a really busy day, one might have to wait for folks to move through the throwing paths. While there were a few other players went I went that wasn't an issue.

Other Thoughts:

I judge a course by how much I enjoy the time out there. This one was great. That said, the max I give a nine is 3.5 which is what I rated this one.
Out of towner in Chicago for work. Played over 12 courses here in town now... this one is near the top... would play it regularly if in the neighborhood.
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4 0
The Valkyrie Kid
Diamond level trusted reviewer
Experience: 46.4 years 1562 played 1507 reviews
2.50 star(s)

Dandy Chicago 9'er! 2+ years drive by

Reviewed: Played on:Jun 29, 2016 Played the course:once

Pros:

The best compliment I can up here is there was a steady stream of players waiting to play. Most of them were teens carrying one disc who fired up baseball style wild forehands, with no clue where it was heading.

This lovely, little park is common in the Chicago suburbs. It has just a little roll to it, features a pair of tennis courts, kid's playground and a ball field.

The course starts right near the sidewalk and street. There is a bench here for waiting players. The tee pads are oversized, no doubt costing the fine citizens of Elk Grove Village a tidy percentage of their tax dollars. Since there is only hole here longer than 269' these large pads are not really needed. The baseball throwing teens wouldn't know the difference anyway.

The baskets are older DGA models. The tee signs are very nice, giving you all the pertinent information including a route map showing trees, walls, etc.

The course is just beyond Pitch and Putt difficulty. It's just an easy, non-threatening recreational course. Just an enjoyable walk in the park. Eight holes play from 217' to 269'. Only # 4 plays longer at 335. But each hole has a certain element to it that keeps this course interesting. It might be a well placed basket in a small grove of trees or a sharp 90 degree hyser off the trees or just having to throw accurately.

There is no/very little chance for most players of losing a disc and no play tall prairie grass to hunt through.



Cons:

Honestly, I'm not too excited about the so called safety concerns here. Use a modicum of common sense and don't fire your disc off into another group. An occasionally shout of "Fore' goes a long way, too. The holes are packed in pretty tightly but I didn't at once fear for my life.

Rec length holes will not challenge many players.

Other Thoughts:

This is another of the Chicago 9'ers that I could see myself playing on a regular basis. It's just a no pressure, throw in the park experience.
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2 2
jul9632
Experience: 1 played 1 reviews
4.00 star(s)

Great Practice Course 2+ years drive by

Reviewed: Played on:Oct 2, 2015 Played the course:5+ times

Pros:

Clean and well maintained small course
Small challenges for Beginners
Great for practicing when you have limited time
Short course with no hazards to loose a disc in

Cons:

The park district maintenance crew has no respect for players. They are more about getting their job done and acting like you are in their way. I've had 2 workers run over my discs on the fairway with their lawnmowers, they had their blades up and were passing through but I guess they couldn't go around the only player out there? Then last Friday EGV Park District Pickup drives right across the fairway between me and the basket, I was on the tee ready to throw.
Playground for little kids is right next to hole 4 and 5, so you might be waiting for kids or parents to move.
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7 4
Three Putt
Staff member
Diamond level trusted reviewer
Premium Member
Experience: 29.9 years 158 played 131 reviews
1.50 star(s)

Setting the (sub) standard 2+ years

Reviewed: Updated: Played on:Nov 2, 2013 Played the course:5+ times

Pros:

Clark Park is the defining Chicago 9-hole; it is the course that set the (sub) standard for the short, flat, boring 9-hole disc golf courses that Chicagoland is noted for. Set in a small neighborhood park, the course shares the small space with tennis courts, playgrounds, a ball field and a walking path. The land has a bit of roll to it so it is not completely flat, but there is not much elevation to work with. To cram 9 holes in the space, the shots are pretty short and the conflicts between holes and other park uses are multiple. The baskets are old DGA baskets in good condition, the tee signs are very good and the concrete tees pads are ginormous (the huge tees in Buffalo Grove are direct descendants of the huge waste of taxpayers money that are the Clark Park over-sized tee pads.)

Cons:

The conflicts are numerous, but the most glaring are #4 and #5 which shoot on either side of two play systems. Both holes require you to throw toward a play system, never a good idea and an especially bad idea on a course that will be attractive to new/lesser skilled players. #4 has the bonus of the walking path cutting right in the middle of the hole. #6 essentially uses the walking path as the fairway. #6 and #7 basically share a fairway; the tee for #7 could be moved over closer to the ball field but that could increase the n00b hyzer shots into the ball field so six of one, ½ dozen of the other. #8 conflicts with everything. The tee is too close to #2's basket, the fairway is in the outfield of the ball field, the walking path is right there as is #1's basket. It's basically a shooting gallery.

The site is lightly wooded, so it really doesn't force you to do anything other than the forced RH hyzer around the fence on #3. I throw RHBH hyzer shots all day here.

The course has classic pitch and putt distances. There is one 300'+ tee shot. Most shots are in the 215'-250' range.

Other Thoughts:

Traditionally what Clark Park has been is the course close to O'Hare that you could hit for a quick round when you had a layover. For years it has been the only Chicagoland course a lot of people have played, and because if that it has pretty much defined Chicago disc golf for a long time. Unfortunately, that means short courses set in small flat parks with numerous safety conflicts. It is the direct ancestor of a lot of bad disc golf courses. It remains today what it has always been; a place to get in a quick round if you want to get out of O'Hare on a layover. Otherwise, it's not worth the trip.
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10 0
whitechocolate
Bronze level trusted reviewer
Experience: 16.6 years 437 played 23 reviews
3.00 star(s)

Well Designed Beginner Course 2+ years drive by

Reviewed: Played on:Sep 28, 2013 Played the course:5+ times

Pros:

-Large Cement Tees
-Well Signed
-Maximized use of land available
-Obstacles use on most holes
-Fun Factor
-Beginner friendly with line sculpting opportunities

This 9 hole put in a park to small to hold it, is a decent example of what a beginner friendly community park should be like. The holes feature gigantic cement tee pads perfect for any type of throw. They give a great option to try different lines and work on different throws during your round. The signs offer graphics and distances and make it easy to plan your route.

Each holes offer a sense of line shaping without making the hole impossible for a new player to navigate. Whether it is slight elevation changes, trees in the middle of the fairway, or 90 degree turn on 3, the challenges provide a fun factor most 9 holes in the Chicagoland area do not offer. The course was spread through this entire small park maximizing the distance of the holes, although it is still on the short side based on today's abilities and product availibility.

Although this course is far from perfect, I believe this is a good course to show other park districts from a design standpoint. It gives the best example of what disc golf should offer, and an easy canvas to examples of issues that can be avoided. Also, with it being a high traffic course, it also shows the popularity and need for courses in the Chicagoland and Greater Schaumburg area.

Cons:

-Right handed Friendly
-Safety

This course is a right hand, back hand player dream. All holes are right turning or practically dead straight. Nothing forces a left turning throw at all. There are still holes that can accommidate anhyzers or sloppy forehand throwers but nothing forces the issues. I also like to see at least 20% on courses but prefer 30-40%.

Safety is a huge issue on this course. Overall from an experience player point, I think it's fine. It's about course management. However, I have seen many throws in the tennis courts, both playgrounds, the baseball field, and in people's yards. There is also a walking path that runs between many of the holes. Easy to play as on or over as out of bounds, however you directly throw over it on 4 and 8. Also you could potentially be hit on hole 8 teepad by a drive on 2 and an overthrow or bad throw on 3 could easily hit some putting on hole 5. With this course being designed in 1981, this may have not been as big of an issue. Over the years of developing the park, more may have become at risk.

Other Thoughts:

Even with the safety risks, I believe I prefer to leave the course the way it is currently set up. If three was moved it would just make it an extra easy par 2 hole. Slightly overlapping fairways aside, they tried to maximize the distance on each hole that is at that park. For an experience player, there is no real challenge here. As a Rec player at best, my goal is to shoot a 18 or less round here. If I don't shoot a clean round, I am usually disappointed with my play. For a beginner, it offers different designed holes, varied lengths (mostly between 200-300 feet), slight elevation, and perfect teepads for working on proper foot work.

This course is getting a 3.0 Good ratings from me. I waffled between a 3.0 Good and a 2.5 decent/typical but with the amazing teepads and the fact that technically there is not a completely wide open hole (tree basket protectors on 5 and 7), it is not typical compare to most of the 9 holes in the area. Most of the other 9 hole have the same feel. This one does not. I am also review this course based on the course not the foot traffic. This course during prime hours is Woodfield mall during Christmas busy. It definitely can ruin the fun when you have to wait to play holes being a couple of large groups. But that's the effects of a growing sport.

Central Park (Oakbrook), Adler Park (Libertyville) and Lewis University (Romeoville) have more of a wow factor for a 9 hole course. Overall, Clark Park is a decent place to play a quick round, in an area of a lot of non-interesting 9 holes. I would go out of my way to play this but if you were in the Woodfield area, there really isn't a better option...yet. Shady Oaks (Streamwood 18 hole) and Willow Stream (Buffalo Grove 9 Hole) probably makes the triangle of the best you will get over in that area.
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8 0
harr0140
Diamond level trusted reviewer
Premium Member
Experience: 15.8 years 1512 played 480 reviews
2.50 star(s)

The place I learned racquetbolf 2+ years

Reviewed: Played on:Aug 11, 2012 Played the course:once

Pros:

1) Nice signs with Par, Hole, Distance, and a Map. They are very attractive and they use a landscape design type of graphic, which I love to see.
2) Huge concrete . . . quite possibly the biggest I have seen maybe 8' x 16'. What more can a guy ask for?
3) Benches and garbage cans on every hole if I remember correctly.
4) Some nice variety here in terms of terrain. A few holes go uphill, some go down, and some are fairly level.
5) Older DGA Mach baskets with # plates are in decent condition.
6) This course is beginner friendly because there is no fear of a lost disc (unless they throw over the massive fence on #3. However, there is still plenty of challenge to be found for beginners to show them what the game is all about.
7) Some hyzer shots available, and some holes that would be better played with a flick or an anhyzer shot. Then there are a few holes where you can choose your preferred line and just execute it.
8) Nice use of some mature trees to create some lanes.

Cons:

1) Dangerous on Hole #5 and #3 fairway. An overthrow on #3 will go right over #5 basket or very near. # 3 tee is also only about 20' past #2 basket. Since #3 is already a fairly goofy hole, the tee could have been shoved out to the side lessening the 90 degree angle of #3 fairway and taking the #5 basket out of play completely.
2) The course plays a little close to the playground on #4 and very near the walking path in the middle of the course. This is a danger issue.
3) The holes seem a little cramped in the middle of the course and it also seems like it could have been avoided with slightly different design.
4) #1 tees off right next to the sidewalk which would lead to a backup impeding people walking on the sidewalk when there is a backup.
5) Distance variation here is terrible with everything in a very similar distance. #4 is the only one that plays very differently in terms of distance.

Other Thoughts:

I was introduced to a new sport here . . . racquetbolf. It incorporates three sports. Tennis, Golf, and Disc Golf. There was a father and two sons who were waiting for a tennis court to clear so they decided to fill their time by hitting tennis balls into the baskets. I took a picture of it and posted it on facebook if you would like to see it. I do have to give them credit for being creative. They could have just sat around waiting and waiting, but they decided to go out and do something with their time. I was thankful that they were able to get a court when they finished #9, because I had started on #5 and had 4 more holes to play and didn't want to wait for them to try and keep the tennis ball in the basket (PS it always falls through).
Not a bad course from a disc golf standpoint with some fun shots and unique holes. There are 2 spots where safety might be an issue and that is always a negative, and truthfully, I think both spots could have been avoided with just minor tweaking of one basket location and one tee location.
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6 0
Derbodis
Experience: 12.3 years 6 played 6 reviews
2.00 star(s)

Nice When Not In Use 2+ years drive by

Reviewed: Played on:Jul 16, 2012 Played the course:once

Pros:

-Difficult to lose a disc

-Plenty of trees/obstacles to make the course more enjoyable

-Great having a hyzer shot on hole 3 to make a 90 degree left turn

-Baskets are well maintained/are in great condition

-Easy parking

-Signs are one of the best I have seen along with the nice sized tees

-Most holes are straight forward (except for hole 3) so makes it great for beginners

Cons:

-Risk of landing in yards or in a baseball game. Hole 4 is right next to a row of houses and 7 plays right down the right field line of a baseball field.

-Discs that land over a fence need to be retrieved properly by going around the block and letting the company know (that's what the sign says on the fence). You will be prosecuted for trespassing (also on the sign)

-Many of the holes are just par 3's. I mean, par is a 29. That's all par 3's and 2 par 4's. The par 4's aren't even that difficult compared to the 3's. Makes for a quick, short game

-There's a busy road behind hole 9 (Beisterfield road). A very possible overthrow on this par 3 means possible disc being run over.

Other Thoughts:

Only played once, but it wasn't terrible. As a beginner still, the course was pretty fun at times. I would've played again if it wasn't 99 degrees outside and I just wanted to go back inside. If you're in the area, come try it out. Otherwise, don't make a terribly long drive
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6 2
axiom
Experience: 3 played 3 reviews
2.50 star(s)

NOT very beginner friendly 2+ years drive by

Reviewed: Played on:Jun 3, 2012 Played the course:once

Pros:

-Ample Parking
-Nice park

Cons:

I found the course to be very intimidating for a beginner such as myself. It was literally my third time ever playing when I played this course and it was a somewhat nerve wracking experience. First off, saying that this park was designed specifically for disc golf is extremely misleading. It's a multi use park like any other... there are tennis courts, a walking trail, a baseball diamond, and a childrens playground. As I said, I'm a beginner, and I'm still trying to work out my drive's tendency to bank hard left like a hyzer... with that in mind, heres my experience at the park
Hole 1: Almost into the tennis courts, with a doubles match going on
Hole 2: Actually lost my drive over the fence(please feel free to laugh, because that's an impressively bad drive)
Hole 3: I skipped all together. It's a blind dog leg, you throw it either into the trees, into a fence, or 15 feet in ffront of you to try and line up your next shot. If you throw a hyzer too hard, you'll end up in the children's playground.
Holes 4 & 5: Bordered by private yards, and my disc went into one on 5.
Hole 7: borders e foul line on the baseball diamond, and my disc got pretty close. while a softball game was underway
Hole 9: A long drive here will put you on Biesterfield

Other Thoughts:

I'm sure this is a decent course for an Amature, and probably boring for an advanced player, but ultra-beginners like myself will probably be more comfortable at other places in the area that are more open (like Lombard Commons). I still gave it a 2.5 brcause I dom't think it's reviews should suffer because of my biased opinion. And, I'll probably be back after I'm more confident with my control
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3 0
geognerd
Experience: 14.1 years 11 played 11 reviews
3.00 star(s)

A well-balanced course 2+ years drive by

Reviewed: Played on:Oct 22, 2011 Played the course:5+ times

Pros:

Allows a player to use their full set of skills - from throwing precisely to throwing far. A low likelihood of losing discs, unless thrown up in a tree. A beginner or a player without much power (like myself) will find this course to be a fair challenge. You don't need he-man strength to do well here.

Cons:

A lot of geese and their droppings were on the course. People messing around near the softball field may get in the way at #17.

Other Thoughts:

I last played this course in 1992. At that time, the 30ft tall netting wasn't in place at #3. The course seems better and nicer now. The tee boxes provide good grip and are almost comically large. The grass around the baskets is worn away and can be muddy. A sort of mat has been placed at the base of most of the baskets.
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1 4
hankbuck
Experience: 18.6 years 7 played 6 reviews
2.00 star(s)

Quick 9 2+ years drive by

Reviewed: Played on:Jun 27, 2011 Played the course:once

Pros:

You can play these 9 holes 3 times in an hour. Forgiving, most of the time. Lots of trees. Easy course, good for beginners.

Cons:

Lots going on here, Tennis, Baseball, Playground, etc. Hole 3 doesn't make sense, a 90 degree bend around a 30' high fence that reads do not enter. Lots of traffic, and some tees in the fairway of other holes.
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10 0
Jashwa
Gold level trusted reviewer
Experience: 20.4 years 177 played 88 reviews
3.00 star(s)

Great Walk in the Park 2+ years

Reviewed: Played on:Jul 8, 2011 Played the course:once

Pros:

I really enjoyed playing Clark Park and in my opinion it fell just short of being given a 3.5 rating. The Park itself is small, but very scenic in a great location near woodfield mall. There are baseball fields nearby, and there are beautiful pines and other nice looking trees. As far as disc golf goes:

*Trees are strategically placed to make almost every drive off the tee a fun challenge! The holes force a variety of shots.

*Great big concrete teepads

*Often, the wind is only a major factor in wide open courses. This course is an example of one with lots of trees AND lots of wind, which adds to the challenge of the course.

*Accessible for beginners, but experienced players will also have fun with the different lines demanded

Favorite Hole: 4

Cons:

As I said, I really wanted to give this course a higher rating than 3, but a few things prevented me from doing so.

*Several tee signs were missing.

*Had I not read about hole 3 on this website prior to my visit I would have thrown at the wrong basket (the pin is way left of where the tee is facing)

*Parking here is not great.

*Not a whole lot of distance challenge here, experienced throwers will have a harder time with the lines they have to hit on their drives rather than the ability to get it the right distance

Other Thoughts:

A few more things to mention that I'm not sure how to classify:

*Decent baskets: Not terrible, not amazing

*Your second shot will most likely be a clear shot at the basket. This is not an elite tournament course where an errant drive could mean taking a 5 or 6 on a hole.

*If Clark Park Disc Golf Course was somehow located on a bigger plot of land and a back 9 was built similar to the 9 that actually exist, I would easily give it a 3.5 or a 4.0

I will definitely visit Clark Park again soon! It is a fun course that can easily be completed in 40 mins. And even though it literally is a walk in the park, you will be challenged here!
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1 1
Andy in Lisle
Experience: 4 played 4 reviews
4.00 star(s)

2+ years drive by

Reviewed: Played on:May 14, 2011 Played the course:5+ times

Pros:

-Concrete tee pads
-Mix of lengths most on the shorter side
-Design brings trees into play on everyhole, you will need a variety of shots to adjust

Cons:

-Small park that gets crowded on the weekends

Other Thoughts:

A couple long ones to test the accuracy and distance but shorter ones to too that are still tough. I have a blast here everytime unless there's a softball game. (those are some inconsiderate parents)
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11 1
discRabbit
Diamond level trusted reviewer
Experience: 25.4 years 1329 played 136 reviews
2.00 star(s)

2+ years

Reviewed: Played on:Jun 29, 2010 Played the course:5+ times

Pros:

The main billing for Clark Park in the Chicago suburbs was always that it was "specifically designed/landscaped for disc golf". While this is interesting, you probably won't really notice it as it looks like any other niner in the Chicagoland area. Most holes are under 200' and only one hole really requires a driver off the tee. The mix of holes incorporates a very nice variety of shots using the little bit of (man-made?) elevation and really nice scattered areas of trees. The park is nearly always nicely maintained everytime that I have played it and after visiting this summer, I was quite impressed that all of the trees have grown up nicely in the past few years - this makes the course a bit more challenging than when it was initially designed. In addition to the very nice upkeep, the teepads are HUGE slabs of really grippy concrete (perhaps much bigger than is necessary for such a short course).

Cons:

The obvious con to this course is the lack of appropriate challenge for experienced players. While I agree with the previous reviewer who said that this is one of the better/best nine hole courses in the Chicagoland area, it still isn't able to challenge advanced or pro level players and because of the one tee pad/one basket design, there isn't much to enhance the replay-ability of the course.

Other Thoughts:

Clark Park is a nice place to practice one's midrange game and to play around and experiment with new shots where the scattered trees allow players to choose from several (rather easy) routes. As stated above, this is one of the nicer of the many, many nine hole courses near Chicago and is worth a play but certainly not worth going out of one's way to hit up.
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11 0
mykeg44
Silver level trusted reviewer
Experience: 15.4 years 72 played 45 reviews
2.00 star(s)

2+ years drive by

Reviewed: Played on:Jul 31, 2010 Played the course:2-4 times

Pros:

This is a shorter, easy course in a nice city park. While the course lacks challenge, it's still a pretty enjoyable place to play a quick round or two.

The course has a nice visual appeal, it was very clean and well-kept both times I played. Large trees are scattered throughout the park that come in to play on a few holes

The tee pads here are huge and nice signs are present on all holes.

The course has been pretty crowded when I've played, but most holes are quick and the flow of the course is pretty good, so despite the crowds I didn't find myself having to wait very long.

Cons:

As is the case with most multi-use park 9-holers, there's just not a lot of difficulty. Most shots here are in the low to mid 200s with only two holes are over 300ft, so if you're a player who likes to air it out, this course won't do much for you. Trees provide obstacles on most holes, but not enough to provide any legitimate difficulty.

The tee for hole #8 is almost directly in the fairway of #2. When throwing at #2 you may have to wait for players throwing on #8 and visa versa. Dumb. #7 also shoots back towards this area, so you should be on the look out for discs in this area.

Other Thoughts:

Overall, this a simple, but enjoyable course. There is a pretty high concentration of decent courses in this area of the suburbs, so you can knock out 4 or 5 courses in a single day pretty easily.

The first tee is next to the tennis courts. There is no parking lot, but there's parking on the street.
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11 1
Countchunkula
Gold level trusted reviewer
Premium Member
Experience: 18.3 years 224 played 75 reviews
2.00 star(s)

One of the best Chicago 9's

Reviewed: Updated: Played on:Jun 24, 2010 Played the course:2-4 times

Pros:

Huge concrete tees on many holes (~10 x 15'), standard size concrete for the rest. Baskets are in nice shape. Decent length when compared to local competition. No totally wide open holes (around here almost all the courses have at least two of these, usually ~200'). Enjoyable course, with the exception of hole 3 all of the holes were fun. Good variety of shots, I threw RHBH, RHFH, and even a thumber. The tee signs that were still there were very descriptive.

Cons:

This course has some safety issues. The most obvious being that hole 3's teepad is 20' directly behind hole 2's basket. I have seen a few dangerous tee locations, but this has to be one of the worst. What really gets me though is hole 3 is a bad hole. The fairway is straight for about 50-70' then turns 90 degrees left for the final 160-180'. There is a 30' high fence on the inside of the dogleg. They could have reconfigured this hole to make the tee safer, and at the same time improve hole 3 (really, any change would improve this hole). A few of the holes play along or over the walking path. The path was pretty empty when I played, but on a nice day I can see long waits. Two of the holes play around a softball field, and there can be conflicts. Tee signs are missing on a few holes, including hole 1. It is not obvious where to go after hole 4. Hole 5's tee is across the playground to your right.

Other Thoughts:

This is one of the best Chicago 9's. I would put this one up with Central Park/Oakbrook, Adler/Libertyville, and Lewis U/Romeoville. The tee for hole 1 is located off Biesterfield Road, just west of the tennis courts and right next to the walking path. It is one of the ~10' x 15' tees.
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9 0
notapro
Diamond level trusted reviewer
Experience: 21.3 years 571 played 284 reviews
2.00 star(s)

Beginner/Intermediate 2+ years

Reviewed: Played on:Jun 13, 2010 Played the course:5+ times

Pros:

- Nice, small park that is well maintained. There are other activities here, but they do not interfere with the DG side of things too badly.
- Great tee boxes, good baskets and signage.
- Pretty decent elevation changes on some holes, at least for the course's location. A shorter hole has an upslope which makes it play a lot longer than the 285' posted. The next hole has a nice downslope, which makes it easy but enjoyable.
- Lots of trees scattered throughout almost all fairways, or near the green, make accuracy very important. Almost every hole has a line through the trees, so it is not overly difficult either.
- A lot of holes favor a certain type of shot; like a RHBH or a RHFH. Helps to mix things up a bit.
- Hole 3 is a good challenge. It is a 90 degree wooded dogleg around a restricted area fence. There is a line if you want to overhand it over the fence; otherwise you have to play around the fence. I usually just hyzer it and lay up. But, if you are feeling brave, there is a line...
- One of the baskets is very susceptible to mud; they have put in bricks/steps so you can retrieve your disc without stepping in the mud. Thanks!

Cons:

- Some of the tees are very, very close to the previous basket. Make sure to keep an eye out for overthrows, especially on tee #3.
- Just one or two of the holes having some more length would go a long way. If you are able to get it out to 350' consistently, there won't be much of a challenge here.
- Even with the various shots needed, it still is a little bland. I am pretty comfortable with BH and FH, so none of the holes are really challenging.

Other Thoughts:

- A good all around course, but nothing really stands out to make it a destination spot. People I play with have very differing opinions, some like it, some dislike it, but nobody hates or loves it.
- Only navigation trickiness is getting from #5 to #6, the tee for #6 is on the other side of the small park.
- Trees help to keep the wind to a minimum, even in the open, which can be a nice change from the usual windiness of the Chicagoland area courses.
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3 0
Two_Bearded_Dudes
Experience: 31.4 years 5 played 5 reviews
2.50 star(s)

2+ years drive by

Reviewed: Played on:May 8, 2010 Played the course:5+ times

Pros:

Nearly impossible to lose a disc
Well maintained
Easy-to-navigate
Decent variety
Good for beginners

Cons:

A lot of non-golfer, foot traffic
A little too quick

Other Thoughts:

A great beginner course with enough variety to keep you entertained for the short time you'll be there. Usually I'll run through it twice just so I feel like I actually got a solid round in. It's built around a park with a few ball diamonds, tennis courts and playgrounds, so there's always traffic you'll need to deal with.

I end up here quite a bit as it's right by Woodfield mall. Nothing will help clear the idiocy of 13 year old mall-bunnies away like a few rounds of DG.
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12 0
mashnut
Diamond level trusted reviewer
Experience: 22.7 years 831 played 777 reviews
2.00 star(s)

NIce little course 2+ years drive by

Reviewed: Updated: Played on:Oct 3, 2009 Played the course:2-4 times

Pros:

The course is in a small park with some minor elevation changes, and scattered trees and brush. There are some areas of the park with denser clusters of trees, and the course makes good use of these to add some challenge. Though the elevation changes are limited, most of the holes play up or down at least a small hill. None of the holes were completely wide open and simple, setting this course apart from the design of many other Chicago courses.

There was good length variety here. There were some ace run holes, a longer hole that lets you drive if you can get through or over the trees, and holes in between that offer a chance for an ace for experienced players and are reasonable for newer players.

There are great concrete tee pads on all the holes, that are very large and in really nice shape. The hole signs are in good shape, and show the hole layout with the distance. The course is extremely easy to follow, with no navigation issues at all.

I was pleasantly surprised by the design of this course. It's a small multi-use park, but the course doesn't really play into the other areas of the park, and only one of the holes endangers the walking paths throughout the park. There is more challenge here than it first appears.

Cons:

The biggest issue on this course is the traffic it gets by non-players and inexperienced players with no sense of course etiquette. There were many people wandering around on the course rather than staying on the walking paths. They seemed to be oblivious to the course, and weren't interested in paying attention when asked to move or at least watch while you throw. The other players on the course were mostly people with one disc who wanted to throw on you on every hole but refused to play through.

The walking path is in a dangerous spot on the second hole, and makes for some waiting if there are walkers out. There are a couple playgrounds that aren't really in play, but could be with particularly bad throws. The third hole plays around the corner of a restricted area, looks like an easy way to lose a disc.

Other Thoughts:

This is a great beginner course. The lengths are reasonable, but the holes aren't just wide open. There aren't many places to lose a disc. More experienced players will be surprised at some of the challenges on this course, and will likely have a fun quick round here.

This is one of my favorite Chicago 9 holers, and it's definitely worth a stop if you're in the area. Don't drive way out of your way for just this course, but there are some other fun places to play in the area that make it worth a look.
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