Pros:
Dr. George W. Hilliard Park in Beloit plays host to the oldest disc golf course in Wisconsin, a short 9-hole track across the park's modest 6 and a half acres. This short course is very accessible to new or young players with limited distance, making this a decent course to play while learning the basics of the game.
Location of Hilliard is on the southwest end of Beloit, within spitting distance of the state line. There are plenty of food and gas options in town, especially if you take the exit off I-39 or I-43 at route 81. For course baggers, there are plenty of courses in Rockford and Janesville collectively, leaving plenty of options for those like me who were traveling up I-39. For beer lovers that are visiting from the south, make sure to pick some New Glarus up before crossing back into Illinois.
Park Amenities are limited given the space to work with in the park. Other than disc golf, there is a nice pavilion that seems to get some good use, playground, and a bathroom with a drinking fountain outside (the fountain was not working during my visit). There's a sports complex next door, but that is not a park of the park but rather for the nearby Beloit College.
Course Equipment checks all the boxes that you'd want to see checked for a disc golf course. The baskets seem to be a mix of old models, but hey, there's 9 of them, so Hilliard as that going for it, which is nice. The tee signs have been upgraded from the original fiberglass to ones that have the hole number, par, distance, and very basic hole graphic. Each hole had a concrete tee pad, all of which were nice to throw from and didn't have any issues that I ran into.
Course Design is straight forward at Hilliard, given he limited space. Most shots will be straight while utilizing the more mature trees around the park to add obstacles to avoid. The course par is 30, which is generous, but more accessible to brand new or younger players.
Shot-Shaping isn't something you'll have to keep in mind for most of the holes here, but holes 3 and 4 do play close to a tree line, requiring left turning shots unless you choose to navigate tight gaps. Other than those two holes, lefties, righties, backhand or forehand favoring players will be able to choose what shot they want to throw on each hole without having a disadvantage.
Distances are consistent, ranging between 208 and 310 feet. Many players will not need a full bag to play this course; I took one look from my car and grabbed a putter and mid out of the bag, and had no regrets just using those two discs for a round. A mid and fairway should be enough for most people to reach each pin placement unless you hit a tree.
Difficulty are Hilliard is geared towards newer players given the general openness and shorter length of the course. Intermediate players will enjoy a low scoring round more than likely, while new and young players will find the course accessible and forgiving to trying new shots or not having as much arm speed to distance.
Cons:
Course Design is good considering the land available but is otherwise bland. Pretty much every shot is straight with little incentive to stray from whatever shot type is your go-to method of chucking plastic. The park is also one of the flattest pieces of land you will find anywhere, with no elevation challenges to be seen. Players with carts won't have issues at Hilliard unless you find a rogue tree root that I missed.
Course Equipment could also use an overhaul, mainly the baskets. The tee pads and signs are more than enough to get the job done, but just about all of the baskets are showing their ages and look to be past their intended life spans. New baskets would really elevate the quality of this course, as the current baskets look like they spent too much time with John Mulaney in late Fall of 2020. I had a few putts that were close to chaining out despite being very on target, and I can see how some other folks have had issues with missed putts that should have found the bucket.
Parking is limited to the street as there is no parking lot for the course. There seems to be enough space on the street where you won't be in the way of other park-goers or neighbors - just don't block any driveways.
Other Thoughts:
Overall, despite its age and condition, Hilliard makes for a fun, short round of golf. I had limited time to play here, but comfortably finished a round in under a half hour without rushing. Some folks mentioned the area seemed sketchy during their rounds, but I really don't think you're going to have safety concerns during a round here. Just be aware of surroundings and lock your doors like you should do anywhere anyways.
If you're a local and new to the game, this is a great course to get your feet wet. Otherwise, I'd recommend this course to mainly course baggers or those who like a little disc golf history considering this is the oldest course in Wisconsin.