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Woodstock, IL

Emricson Park

3.55(based on 3 reviews)
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13 0
EspressoPatronum
Gold level trusted reviewer
Premium Member
Experience: 18.8 years 256 played 243 reviews
3.00 star(s)

Impressive Niner with Treacherous Water

Reviewed: Played on:Dec 8, 2023 Played the course:once

Pros:

- DGA baskets are in great shape
- full color tee signs with maps
- some excellent elevation change
- incorporation of notable water hazards
- significant length for a nine hole course
- one of the funner and more challenging courses around
- bathrooms in park (locked in winter)
- nice built in bridge between holes 8 and 9
- ample parking
- some good mature tree hazards
- picturesque and well maintained park
- shot shaping and technical skill required on many holes

Cons:

- visibility of baskets isn't great; can be hard to see from distance
- tiny rubber tees are pretty bad
- tee signs are mounted very high
- some pedestrian hazards from walking paths
- multi-use park does not separate disc golf from other activities enough

Other Thoughts:

It's never a good day when you lose 2 discs on one hole... but you have to respect the design of this course, even if it spanks you hard. The water hazards are the main highlight here, with a huge pond on hole 6 I managed to throw into TWICE :-( and a smaller water hazard on hole 8. Some of the course is a bit more open and less exciting, but there is a low shot under a tree on hole 7, and lots of good elevation change incorporated. I would call this course lightly to moderately wooded but trees do come into play. Note that if you play in fall (including into December like me), leaves on the ground will become a factor here. I looked for one disc that was partially in plain view for 20 minutes due to blending with leaves.

The equipment here is okay; tee signs are nice, but mounted weirdly high for some reason. The baskets would benefit from some color like a DISCatcher has to see them from a distance, but they catch well. The tiny rubber tees are pretty terrible. They are small, slippery, and allow for nothing but standing shots. Adding concrete tees here would be a great upgrade and would help push this course towards a 3.5. I think it is probably above a 3 in its present state, but the safety hazards are holding it back a bit.

This is one of those multi-use parks that smooshed disc golf in with the scenic walking areas too hard. While the course won't win any beauty awards, it is well maintained and in a nice, semi-wooded area. Unfortunately this means there are several hazards with the walking paths and you have to be careful. As is common, many of the walkers don't know a thing about disc golf and aren't paying a ton of attention.

This is probably one of the longest nine hole courses I've played at almost 3500 ft. I don't think it's too long, but it is probably pushing it for a lot of people. I'm not sure I'd bring a beginner here; I think intermediate skill level and up is best for this course. You will need your A game here more than most niners. Distance drivers will be required and shot placement will factor heavily into your scoring. It isn't quite to the technical level of tunnel shots in the woods, but the multiple water hazards and trees will force you to place your disc well or pay the price. The large pond on hole 6 is not something you'll save may discs from - it is large and not clear enough to see into easily, so unless you're near the bank you're in trouble.

Overall, I had a really fun time here despite losing the discs. This is a solid course, and one of the better nine hole courses in the Chicago suburbs. I think Campton Hills and Central Park in Oak Brook are probably better, but this one might be kind of a toss up with Central Park - and it is a bit different, too. This won't be a destination but it's well worth a stop if you are in this area. It beats 90% of the niners around and probably some of the 18s too.
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2 2
ganderson76
Experience: 2 played 1 reviews
4.50 star(s)

drive by

Reviewed: Played on:Sep 9, 2022 Played the course:5+ times

Pros:

Excellent use of the terrain on every hole! The variety is great on such a compact course - water, trees, hills and open spaces.

Cons:

Geese at certain times of the year, but they don't seem to be bothered by our group. Some waiting for joggers to cross the fairways, but I can be patient.

Other Thoughts:

As a local Woodstock resident and casual disc golf player, I'm thrilled to have a new course in town.
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16 0
notapro
Diamond level trusted reviewer
Premium Member
Experience: 20.8 years 569 played 284 reviews
3.00 star(s)

Intermediate/Expert

Reviewed: Played on:Jun 19, 2022 Played the course:once

Pros:

- Course is set in a corner of a large park. There is a walking path and road present on many holes, and even some park equipment on one hole. Could see some interference from park-goers.
- Good variety of holes here, there are enough trees to keep things interesting on over half of the course. Two of the tee shots are tight, mostly due to very low ceilings to advance down the fairway. A few holes are more forgiving, but still require choosing a gap and shot shape to stay clean. Holes #6 and #9 have trees to avoid on the back end too.
- Very decent elevation changes, #1 is uphill, #3 and #5 are down, #4 is a long valley shot. A sneaky rollaway behind the pin #2 is no joke either.
- Good variety in hole lengths, #3 and #8 play short, but the other shorter holes (#1 and #9) play a lot longer due to hole shape. Two of the holes, if not more, are true bombers for even the longest throwers out there.
- Water is very present on two of the holes. #6 has a large pond on the left that can be avoided fairly easily, but a wooded approach might redirect shots into the drink. #8 has a small pond on the right that eats any errant shots on the short ace run.
- Good tee signs and baskets, tees are smaller rubber squares that work for now, but will need to be updated at some point.

Cons:

- A few of the holes don't offer too much thought, #2 is wide open the whole way, and hole #8 is kinda of a filler hole even with the water hazard. If anything, #8 is too hard for new players and way too easy for experienced players.
- Two of the holes are a little unfair, such as #1 and #7. The windows are just too low and tight to realistically have a clean tee shot. The option is there to force a wide hyzer diagonally, or a very specific roller, but it's not a good compromise.
- Layout is a tiny bit cramped by 4-5-6, but it's not terrible. Lots of walking paths to contend with too, which makes for good OB but bad interference. The course is MUCH better for it, if it was designed to avoid the path, it would suffer tremendously. 50/50 pro/con.

Other Thoughts:

- Well, I came to this course with no expectations, figuring it was another dime-a-dozen Chicagoland niner. Instead I found a difficult, long, punishing course that ate my lunch. Hole #6 is a beast; the long tee shot next to the pond, followed by a blind wooded approach shot is legit. #4 is a sweet long sloping valley shot that would be found on a high caliber course as well. Even the "easier" holes have some wrinkle to keep things interesting. I threw a putter in the middle of the pond on #8 because I made a bad decision and was appropriately punished.
- Very solid course. Would greatly benefit from real teepads, and maybe some short teepads as well for beginner players. It's a little punishing for newer players, everyone else should find a real challenge!
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