An open and simple track with respectable distance and challenge.

-Distance: A redeeming factor that most 9ers don't have. Columbia lets you rip it, with several short par-4s and par-3s in the upper 280s.

-Maintenance: Columbia State seems to take proper care of the property. It may not have the best equipment or grounds, but it's cared for nonetheless.

-Shot Shaping/Gameplay: A series of medium length open shots. The course has five par-4s, all eagle chances for people who can throw over 400', then four par-3s under 300'. The holes are almost completely open, with no more than three trees on any one hole. That said, it maximizes the natural resources available, which are virtually none. A bit of elevation comes into play as well.

-Amenities: A weird mix, but more con than pro. No tee signs. Baskets are Instep or some other flimsy type, although they are well maintained and numbered. Tee pads are spacious turf, but they are coated in grass shavings and also installed sideways.

-Basket Confusion: Without tee signs, it's pretty hard to know which basket to go to next, and I routinely threw towards the wrong one. There's also no course kiosk, so you basically have to use UDisc.

-Scrappiness: The quality of primarily being baskets in a field with no other indication. Also includes the fact that you have to walk straight through a marsh on the second hole with no way over or around.

-Challenge: The one dimension is length. There are a handful of guardian trees, but the shaping imposed by them is only the most rudimentary.

Columbia State is a pretty typical university course in the facts that it is wide open and underfunded. It's not typical of college courses in its layout of holes to maximize trees and length. For that design skill, it earns a Passable. Keep in mind that navigation will require maps and putting will require dead center skill.

Columbia State is a community college sitting in the middle of Columbia . It is located on Hampshire Pike , and you can see baskets 1 & 2 from the road . Yes , nestled near their athletic facilities is a 9 hole disc golf course .There are plenty of parking spaces near the tennis courts . I didn't see any bathrooms , and I doubt the college wants you using theirs .
-- THE EQUIPMENT -- The tee pads are turf , large at maybe 9 or 10' X 6' and in okay condition . They have a white line on the edges , not sure if its a foul line . There are NO signs or a kiosk on the course or at the tees . Print a map , It will get confusing after hole 3 . The baskets are Instep , veru shaky quality .
-- THE LANDSCAPE -- The grass was mowed and branches of trees cut back . The campus grounds looked great and trash free . I think there was 1 can near the tennis courts . The course rolls up and down with some elevation on every hole . The course follows the front and the west side of campus in almost a lasso design , going 2 holes out , then a thin circle for the other 7 holes . Bring water , because the large trees on the course are few and far between . It's open air drives on this course .
-- THE HIGHLIGHTS -- No highlights here . Just grip and rip . The course is really long for a campus course , causing you to put some oomph in your drive . You can show off your arm on several holes , notably 2 , 6 and 8 . 2 and 8 are uphill and feel more like 500' than 450+ . #2 is a notable hole , throwing up a large embankment at the end , to the basket under large trees .
-- DISC RISK -- Almost zero . Unless one gets hung up in a tree , which will be unlikely you will go home with as many discs as you came with .
-- THE TIME -- It took me about 35 minutes to play . A group that doesn't have to look down at a map will do these 9 holes in an hour .
Remember that you will finish up near where the #2 basket is , so conserve some energy for the walk back , or to the #1 tee if you are intent on playing 18 holes .
The Fun Factor is missing here , but the solitude of this place will let you throw multiple drivers at baskets , or allow you to work at about anything , except maybe putting .

#1 Equipment - I am okay with the turf tees . They all were level and held your footing on drives . No signs at the tees , or kiosk ? Even putting something in the ground , like identifying bricks with info would help . The non numbered baskets could really use an upgrade . I threw a rubber putter because I thought my hard one might fold up and collapse in falling chains . Next tee signs under the buckets of the baskets , or even electrical tape in the bottom rungs pointing to where you go might help.
#2 Navigation - If you stood in the middle of the grounds where the course is , the turf could be devoured by longer uncut grass . Even with the map , a hole like #6 can confuse . You see a basket far down a long hill , but you really need to be shooting way farther left , where a white stick hangs from the top of the basket . Walk left a little off the tee until you see the basket to throw at . Also , #9 leaves you in the middle of nowhere , right near the end of the #2 fairway . It makes you think that you might be skipping a hole .
#3 Open Air- Not a lot of obstacles to shot shape around . Even though I hit the only telephone pole on the course , it's almost hard to hit anything . If you are a technical type of player , you aren't going to fall in love with this course .
#4 Challenge - see above . You are going to curse yourself for blowing birdie chance because of the wind and not your drives .

I don't know how much of the back property that the school owns . Maybe this course is landlocked , being sequestered off to the corner end of the campus athletic section . At least it's a start , and it introduces the locals and travelers to the Columbia State Campus . There was actually an Alum playing the course when I was . I would have liked to talk to someone in the athletic department to get their take on the course . My hats off to them for giving it a try . Most colleges don't even give disc golf a chance , much less know anything about the game .
MY RECOMMENDATION -- The course has some pluses to it . Even though it is open , it's a good tool for developing distance from the tee . Intro and newbie players should start to play here . No discs lost , and after you have learned to control drives and approaches , you can graduate to better and more established Woodland Park , just 6-10 minutes away . Families can have a nice after dinner round and walk off their dessert . Locals can sharpen their game , and jump right on the course , taking their time to empty their bag on each hole , instead of waiting to play Woodlands Holes . Intermediates and up will just practice aspects of their game here . This is still a good course to try out that new midrange or driver . Travelers straying from the I-840 belt will get a good leg stretch without scratching up their bodies digging in the rough for discs . Course Baggers will get 2 for one by playing this course to warm up first , then taking on Nearby Woodland second . Students also have a nice alternative for blowing off some steam after classes . I wouldn't recommend going out of your way to play this course , but if you want to bust out the discs you never throw to see how they still fly ,,,, It's At Least Practice !

(1.266 Rating) An open forgiving nine holer.
- LENGTH FOR A 9 - At 3,200 feet, one of the longer 9 holes courses I've played. A couple holes over 450 feet meaning that 99% of the players out there will have a chance to use their driver. Players wanting to practice their drives while playing a round will find some utility to this course.
- BEGINNER FRIENDLY - A great course to introduce a new player to. There are no overgrowth areas, the course is well spaced for a 9 holer and the odds of losing a disc will be limited to forgetting to pick up. The course is probably also nice for novice and lower end Recreational players who prefer openish courses.
- MAINTENANCE - The grounds appear to be mowed weekly or bi-weekly and it was clean despite me not seeing any garbage cans along the layout.
- QUICK PLAY - A single should easily be able to complete a full 9 in under 30 minutes. Groups of 4 in under an hour.
- NIGHT GOLF - This is an ideal night golf course. Spacious fairways, few trees, no overgrowth and no water hazards in play.
- GROW THE SPORT - No doubt will this course aid in growing the sport by offering students easy access to learn the game at a beginner friendly course, on campus grounds.
- LOCATION - 8 minutes from Woodland Park, so an easy extra bagger notch for those looking to add courses.

Only the basic elements of game.
- UNIQUENESS - The holes themselves in terms variety are far below average. Most shots are open with a spattering of trees. The hole distance do vary a bit from 200 feet to 498 feet, so as stated in the pros, players will get a few opportunities to let one rip. There are no tunnel shots, pockets or tree gaps to hit. Elevation is mild. I'd say only hole (6) approaches the 25 foot down mark and its gradual over the 445 foot hole length. No water elements and no par 5s.
- TEES - Seriously, did the college call up the grounds keepers and nearby Woodland DGC to inquire on how to mess up turf tees? Well, at least the ones and Columbia State are level. The pads appear to be recycled field turf from a football field as some of them have hash marks. They are quite large at 6 feet deep and 10 feet wide. That's not a typo.
- CHAINS - Cheap-o Instep baskets. They don't make that nice ching noise that you'd expect of the DGA's, DISCatchers or Chainstars.
- CHARACTER - In addition to poor tees and baskets, the course lacks almost all of the character items found at the older established courses. No community board, no trash cans, no benches, no alternate tees or alternate pin placements. Tee signage is limited to a hole # and distance on flimsy vinyl.
- DIFFICULTY - Not much of a challenge to even recreational players as they should have no problem breaking par. Sub 850 rated players may be delighted however as it can be a feel good round. It's a great opportunity for those players to finish around even.
- NATURAL BEAUTY - Like most campus courses that play around campus amenities, the course just lacks the pop even compared to typical small city park courses. There are buildings, roads, a running track and/or fences in view the entire time. Due to the lack of trees, wind will likely be a major issue as well.

A borderline passable course. I'd only give it a 1.25 if I were allow to do so. The course has a ways to go and will be limited in some regards to improvements due to plot of land's natural limitations. For most players, Recreation level and up, this course barely offers the basics of the game. Columbia State DGC will be an adequate course for beginners and novice players that live within a mile. Everyone else should head over to Woodland Park DGC. For course baggers? As always, a must play
- NAVIGATION - Fairly easy due to the open nature. However, having a printed map is necessary to navigate this one seamlessly on first play because the baskets are hard to read from the tee and players will see several baskets from many tee pads. There's an accurate map on DGCR as of this revision. I'll also mention that the course is good for those that like to bring out the disc golf cart.

Good use of available land that appears to be well-maintained and mowed, being a college campus. Plays in a logical area near other athletic activities (tennis courts, a track), but not near the buildings.

Designed fairly well as it just about makes the most of what the land has to offer. Good variety of elevation with some flat holes, several up, and a few down.

Very good practice course or introduction course. Reasons- no rough or water or chance to lose discs, fairly open with the main challenge being length, elevation and a few trees

Navigation was ok: the tees were easy to find as each had a sign, but I had to use the course map for finding baskets (see cons)

Rectangle turf tees are fine, but they were actually turned in 90 degrees the wrong way from the basket- this made knowing which basket to throw to difficult for my first round as you normally assume the tee is pointed towards the target. Just not normal, in fact the only course I have ever seen with very wide but very short tees!

The signs were fine, except par was spelled parr with the 2nd r somewhat covered up (sigh). There was also no common placement in relationship to the teepad from hole to hole, again making it more difficult than normal to locate the correct basket. Also, these temp yard-type signs have a tendency to not last very long (mowers, weather, vandals, etc.)

Instep baskets just don't catch very well with the exception of short putts. Good enough to give you a target and them emphasize the importance of approaching.

The course sits on a corner so the roads were a bit of a distraction for me. Even though unlikely, in the back of my mind I was fearful of a wayward drive hitting a car. However big armed newer players could potentially big hyzer one out on the road on the first 3 holes.

#9 ends in the middle of the course. (*As a bonus, I could not resist playing a madeup 10th hole, teeing near 9's basket way up on the hill down to 1's basket. It just looks like it should be a hole because who doesn't love to empty their bag throwing down a big hill to finish a round? Just be careful that the running track is empty and that nobody is playing #1 or 2. And this helps the fact that #9 does not end near tee #1 or your car.)

This course is definitely good for practice, as an intro course, or for something fun the college students can do. Because of the length, elevation, and basket type, for me it offered more challenge than I thought it was going to be. But being fairly open it would get uninteresting to me after a few rounds. And the baskets are definitely lacking. Nice to see Columbia embracing disc golf, however- that being said, the other course in town at Woodland Park is way better.

I played early morning on a summer weekday and had no parking issues, but I am not sure if parking permits are required during certain days/hours when classes are in session.