Fort Wayne, IN

East Swinney Park

Permanent course
2.975(based on 15 reviews)
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5 0
mashnut
Diamond level trusted reviewer
Experience: 22.2 years 831 played 777 reviews
2.50 star(s)

Pretty open 2+ years drive by

Reviewed: Played on:Oct 9, 2010 Played the course:once

Pros:

The course plays through a flat park that's mostly flat and open with scattered small trees. There is wooded rough along the edges of the course, a few holes have baskets tucked into the edge of the woods for a little more challenge, and a couple play through the woods to mix things up a little bit. There is a pond in play on a couple holes, and the river comes into play on a few more for some fun risk/reward (I got the nose up on 18 and hyzered out into the lake...). There is some good length here, several holes where most players can air out a drive.

The baskets are spiderwebs in good shape, these one of my favorite baskets and catch great. There are good concrete tees for every hole, plenty of space and a good surface to throw from. Having two courses in the same park is always a plus, you can play them separately or play one big 36 hole loop.

Cons:

The course gets pretty repetitive, too many of the holes are basically open field shots with just a few small trees to avoid. This means you're not pushed to throw different shots and different lines, most holes have a relatively open hyzer line. Too many holes have walking paths in play, they don't seem to be all that heavily used, but it could be a safety issue and can chew up your discs.

The tee signs are just laminated bits of paper stapled to the wooden tee posts. The ones that are still there only have hole number and distance, pretty basic. Many are missing, which makes navigation even more tricky when you can't tell what tee number you're standing on. A few holes require backtracking to get to the next tee and others have a few tees around that could be the next hole. Without a map or a guide you'll do some extra walking to make sure you're shooting the right hole.

Other Thoughts:

This is a pretty basic open field course with a few nice holes bringing water into play. It's worth a play together with the West course, but on it's own it's nothing special. Beginners will find it a little long, and the water could be a little intimidating to players with less control. More experienced players won't find variety or different challenges here to test different parts of their game.
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7 0
AdamE
Diamond level trusted reviewer
Experience: 20.6 years 267 played 148 reviews
2.50 star(s)

2+ years

Reviewed: Played on:Jun 20, 2010 Played the course:once

Pros:

East Swinney is a fun course with water in play on about half the holes. There are a few holes where it's a big factor, but the rest I think it's just there to get in your head. There's also OB in the form of sidewalk in play on a few holes as well.

The course uses the land pretty well and there's a nice variety of shots and lengths here.

Hole 18 is definitely the signature hole on the course and easily my favorite. It's 520 with the basket on the other side of the pond about 15 feet from the water. It dares the big arms to try and go for it, and everyone else has a challenging placement shot on their first two throws around the water to see how close you can get to the pin and avoid the water. Great par 4 hole to end on!

Cons:

Most of the holes are wide open with few if any trees in the way to punish a bad shot. I noticed a lot of small saplings that have been planted here. I know it doesn't help the course right now, but it's great to see that the course will be more difficult in years to come.

Navigation is a serious issue your first time here. After the third hole, the two closest tee pads to you are not for the next hole. After hole 10 there's a long walk to hole 11. After hole 11 there's another tee pad very close to the basket but that's for hole 13. It seems so obvious it SHOULD be the next hole that I'd already thrown and was at the basket before I realized I'd skipped a hole. So I walked back and found that you had to back track after 11 to find 12. I stopped to play here on a whim otherwise I would have had the map with me. That was a serious mistake I was made to regret.

Hole 17. I know it's only 200 feet long and they're trying to use basket placement to make it more difficult and add risk/reward. But the problem is the river is 20 feet behind and slightly left of the basket (which isn't a problem), but 5 feet behind the basket it starts going downhill. Behind and right of the basket is a thick bush that was literally 2 to 2.5 feet from the basket. I don't mind OB or obstacles close to the basket, but this is a bid ridiculous IMHO.

It sounds like there used to be a bridge you teed off on hole 9. It's not there anymore so understandably there isn't a teepad or sign for this hole.

The course is almost completely flat.

Other Thoughts:

Other than the navigation issues, I really enjoyed this course and the challenge the OB water presented on some of the holes. I feel like the designer did a good job with what he had to work, but when it comes down to it, the course is still mostly open and is in desperate need of some "next tee" signs.
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8 0
discflinger
Experience: 20 years 153 played 15 reviews
2.50 star(s)

Work in progress 2+ years drive by

Reviewed: Played on:Oct 14, 2008 Played the course:5+ times

Pros:

OB makes course more difficult than it seems. Water can be found on half the holes and most is irretrievable. Many of the new holes incorporate path OB and features one island hole in the middle of such sidewalks. Features Al Pier baskets w/ some bird cages mixed in. Some good length on a couple holes, 18 is around 500', but mostly kept around 300' or less. Concrete tees on all old holes. A couple holes are tightly wooded, but most play around mature growth. Right across the river from West Swinney.

Cons:

Not well marked, yet, as 6 new holes have just been added to make full 18. If you hate water you will hate this course. No fountain, restroom or trashcans. #9's tee is on the bridge and difficult to find. Some of the locals may be a bit too friendly.

Other Thoughts:

This course gave me my first ace and the area used to be an important post for native americans. With the river winding around here, it is no wonder. I believe a map can be found by googling Fort Wayne disc club and going to their site. I think Kyle is trying to update the site and it may prove to be more helpful.
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