Los Angeles, CA

Elysian Park - Buena Vista Hill

Permanent course
1.925(based on 6 reviews)
Filter course reviews

Filter reviews

Filter reviews

Elysian Park - Buena Vista Hill reviews

Filter
6 3
Zaneman
Experience: 15.5 years 51 played 1 reviews
1.00 star(s)

Sketchy and Meh... 2+ years drive by

Reviewed: Played on:Apr 27, 2019 Played the course:once

Pros:

Holes 2,4,5,6,7,10,11 are all decent enough disc golf holes.

Cons:

Difficult to find some baskets as there is no line of sight to the basket such as Hole 1,8, and 12. Some of the holes I stated as "decent" are still so uphill that they were not particularly "fun". Also, the pin placement seems to be inspired by RHBH players. What about a left-handed player? You better throw forehand or you will be most likely searching for your disc.

Other Thoughts:

Dirty! I realize this wasn't a new park built around disc golf and instead of a nasty place that with the introduction of DG they are trying to clean up but still there is trash everywhere. I read about this place being a gay hookup spot and didn't think anything of it until I came across single men walking through the course and parked sitting in their cars or standing outside of them. The designers didn't have much to work with and they made due but this course is just not ready for a new player nor would a veteran have any urge to play it.
Was this review helpful? Yes No
6 0
Mark R
Gold level trusted reviewer
Experience: 22.4 years 118 played 90 reviews
2.00 star(s)

2+ years

Reviewed: Played on:Mar 8, 2019 Played the course:once

Pros:

The city views here are simply fantastic, especially from the basket for Hole 2. Despite the preeminence of shorter holes, the narrow paths do provide some challenge. Hole 3 might be the best hole, with a steep drop from the top of the ridge down to a near a winding road. Holes 6 through 8 are steep enough uphill to throw with higher amounts of power. Holes 9 through 11 wind around the side along a trail. I saw woodpeckers in the trees on Holes 1 and 2. Decent wood (or plastic?) tee pads are adequate. The existing signs are nice. Free course.

Cons:

Navigation is near impossible for first timers, especially between Holes 3 and 4, and Holes 8 and 9. Signs are missing from Holes 9 through 11. Recent overgrowth near Hole 12 ate one of my drivers. At first glance you might shoot at the basket for 9 from the tee for 1. The course map on this site is better than nothing, but not by much. The Elysian park courses seem to stump navigation devices.

Other Thoughts:

This 12 hole course occupies a boot shaped, approximately 10 acre sliver of land on Buena Vista hill. A decent course with some fun factor points. With less overgrowth this course would improve a bit.
Was this review helpful? Yes No
7 1
The Valkyrie Kid
Diamond level trusted reviewer
Experience: 46.4 years 1562 played 1507 reviews
2.50 star(s)

I Only Want To Play Disc Golf-No Hook Up Please! 2+ years drive by

Reviewed: Updated: Played on:Jan 20, 2019 Played the course:once

Pros:

Living up to it's well earned reputation as a gay hook up location, there were no females in the park today, just lots of dudes sitting around in their cars. I'm lucky that they're not looking for guys my age. But getting beyond that small issue, the new Buena Vista Hill Course is coming along nicely. Some signs are up and they are pretty, colored models, a couple of tee pads have been put into place and the baskets are all there. This course features recreational lengths averaging 219'. But the challenge is with some steep, nasty drop offs (especially on 9 & 10) as well as, some tricky basket placements and the over-all technical nature of the course.

I like a a number of holes. # 1 is hidden behind a large tree with two different routes available. # 3 is a steep little straight, downhill Ace run but there isn't much room to put any hyser on it, you gotta keep it laser straight. And # 12 is interesting with it's hidden basket and danger on the right side.

Short technical courses are not everyone's cup of tea.

Cons:

Not finished, as yet.

No place to air anything out.

The right side rough on # 9 & 10 is really steep and nasty. With a bad throw or maybe just a bad skip off a tree, it could be painful, really painful, like root canal painful!

At little tricky to navigate, at present.

The park is a little trashy in places. Pack out your litter.

I don't ever like holes that play down paths or roads and 9-10-11 all play down paths. Try to avoid hitting any walking......guys.

Other Thoughts:

This is not a bad little supplement to the Elysian Park-Chavez Ravine Course just 1/2 mile away. It will get better when all the signs and pads are in. Hopefully, they won't get sprayed painted like everything else hereabouts and having disc golfers around might discourage other behaviors.
Was this review helpful? Yes No
3 2
jedge
Experience: 22 played 2 reviews
4.50 star(s)

Great new beginner/intermediate course! 2+ years drive by

Reviewed: Updated: Played on:Oct 16, 2018 Played the course:once

Pros:

I think this course is very good for what it is, which is a very accessible beginner/intermediate level course with a lot of shorter holes, some interesting elevation change, and great views.

4 or 5 of the holes play over real grass! A nice change of pace, lots of tight control shots and fun elevation changes.

Felt like a mini Chavez ridge, and provided a nice warmup for that bigger course.

Great views of the city were an added bonus.

Didn't have any problems with other park users as previous reviewers did, and didn't have to wait on any holes at all.

Cons:

The teepads and signs weren't all in yet as of 10/16/18 but the map linked on here is very good and easy to follow! Didn't have any trouble once we figured out the teepad for hole 1 is a black square painted onto the path, and the first basket you see isn't basket 1.

Several similar uphill shots in a row is a little repetitive, but not too bad.

Biggest con is the proliferation of trash scattered throughout the whole park.

Other Thoughts:

Don't come expecting to make a lot of long throws, expect a nice mid-range course with some great views of LA and you'll have a good time.
Was this review helpful? Yes No
9 1
dobsonr
Bronze level trusted reviewer
Experience: 16.4 years 40 played 33 reviews
0.50 star(s)

Not Worth Playing, but Has Potential to Improve 2+ years drive by

Reviewed: Played on:Aug 18, 2018 Played the course:2-4 times

Pros:

- Course design makes good use of the topography, and provides some nice variation from the holes at nearby Chavez Ridge.

- Unlike at Chavez, there's grass!!

- Nice views of the city.

- New baskets.

And that's about where the pros end...

Cons:

- LOTS of bystanders. Several groups of people looking sketchy near the parking lot, homeless people sleeping on fairways, people playing with their dogs (off leash), picnics, etc. We spoke with a few folks that were unhappy that their nice picnic area was now a DG course. Felt pretty unwelcome for much of the round. There were maybe 2 holes where we were able to throw actual drives, and more than a few holes were unplayable due to park patrons.

- Not many tee pads, and virtually no signage.

- Trash everywhere.

- Hole one didn't seem to have a basket, and there were several "tee pads" that we just couldn't find at all. We spent most of the time arguing over our interpretations of the vague map.

Other Thoughts:

This course is definitely a work in progress, and I'll circle back here to update this review as it evolves. In time, I could see it being a great warm-up course before a more serious round down the road at Chavez Ridge. For now, though, she's not worth playing.
Was this review helpful? Yes No
7 0
The Katana Kid
Gold level trusted reviewer
Experience: 8.9 years 185 played 56 reviews
1.00 star(s)

Maybe in time this will be worthwhile, but not yet. 2+ years

Reviewed: Played on:Jul 16, 2018 Played the course:once

Pros:

Elysian Park - Buena Vista Hill's big brother, Chavez Ridge, is a good and respectable 18 hole course that's had a good reputation since 2006, which is rated 3.42 with 51 reviews.

There are some nice elevation shots at Buena Vista Hill which will test your touch skills.

There are some tight lines along paths that will punish you if you miss with downhill roll aways and/or you will get lost in the woods with thick brush.

There are nice views of the city if you stop to enjoy them.

Cons:

Missing or poor tee signs. On several occasions we found a tee pad, but were not clear from the course map which basket we should be throwing at.

There were some tee signs, but they were not accurate, which made navigation very difficult, even with the map.

No hole number on the baskets. Just this one improvement would drastically improve navigation.

Two important notes on the information page are worth repeating here with emphasis:

1. "Note: Disc golf is helping this area of the park transition to clean recreation." The point of emphasis here is "transition to clean recreation" since it hasn't turned the corner yet. It is not "clean" here in any sense of the word yet and that gives a bad vibe. There were a lot of people around, none playing disc golf besides us, and the atmosphere was not friendly.

2. "June 2018: Formal tees signs are not yet in place" Even with the map we were lost. Maybe they'll have signs eventually that will help you navigate, but my "poor" rating of 1.0 is for what it was on July 16, 2018, not what it will eventually be. So if it improves then I'll update my poor rating.

There are only twelve baskets listed, but I did not find 8 and 9. I suppose we could have searched more but by that time we were ready to get out of there.

Other Thoughts:

As stated in the information page, this is a recreation course, which is only useful to warm up the better players before they go to Chavez Ridge. This is not a good place for beginners, which is what you'd expect for a "recreational" course.

Elysian Park - Buena Vista Hill is a good idea. Having played the Chavez Ridge course I looked forward to this new addition. I was disappointed, however, by the confusing layout and the overall bad feeling here. I'm hopeful in time that it will turn the corner and become what it was envisioned to be. It's just not there yet.

And be prepared for some up and down hiking since this is playing around a hill.
Was this review helpful? Yes No
Top