Hatten Stadium Park reviews
10
0
tallpaul
Diamond level trusted reviewer
Premium Member
Experience:
35.9 years
934 played
137 reviews
old school; improvements coming 2+ years
Reviewed:
Updated:
Played on:May 24, 2010
Played the course:5+ times
Pros:
Well kept park.
Cement tees roughed nicely.
Stays open all winter.
Great beginner course.
Disc Headz club has taken this course on as a project in the last couple of years. They are running at least two tourneys a year now; and all proceeds go to the course (this does mean that payouts are small at the present if you come for a tourney).
I have heard there are plans for some new longer tees and longer pin placements as well. (O.k. so this is an update I'm putting in since my original review....Deeper pins have been added to holes #1 and #15. New tees in place for #2, #11 and a new one that #12 and #16 share.)
Lengthening #1 works out pretty nice; as that was somewhat of a tough deuce anyway, and now plays more like a par 3.
Pathway/park road o.b. possible on a couple of holes, should you decide to play it that way. Tennis court o.b. also present on #3.
Tournament level horseshoe tossing area adjacent to course (@middle of course).
Nice, old school rock walls add nice ambiance to various areas. Not really in play; just a nice visual.
General wooded feel throughout.
Cement tees roughed nicely.
Stays open all winter.
Great beginner course.
Disc Headz club has taken this course on as a project in the last couple of years. They are running at least two tourneys a year now; and all proceeds go to the course (this does mean that payouts are small at the present if you come for a tourney).
I have heard there are plans for some new longer tees and longer pin placements as well. (O.k. so this is an update I'm putting in since my original review....Deeper pins have been added to holes #1 and #15. New tees in place for #2, #11 and a new one that #12 and #16 share.)
Lengthening #1 works out pretty nice; as that was somewhat of a tough deuce anyway, and now plays more like a par 3.
Pathway/park road o.b. possible on a couple of holes, should you decide to play it that way. Tennis court o.b. also present on #3.
Tournament level horseshoe tossing area adjacent to course (@middle of course).
Nice, old school rock walls add nice ambiance to various areas. Not really in play; just a nice visual.
General wooded feel throughout.
Cons:
Some of the tees are quite short in length. Don't really need a big run up on these holes; but they are less than stellar.
Course overall length is quite short.
This is a deuce or die course.
You only need your driver on one hole, perhaps a fairway driver or long mid on a couple of the wooded tunnel shots.
One hole, around #13 or so, has a standing water pond part of the year; especially in the spring. This is deep enough, and cold enough, at that time, that I've seen discs left behind.
More additional comments related to new "upgrades"....#2 new tee will simply pi$$ off lefties; makes their line near impossible, without really making the hole any tougher for rhbh.
#12 and #16 sharing a tee didn't really add any toughness to those holes and may create traffic jams.
The new #11 new pin simply moved what was already the longest hole at 385 ft. to nearly 450 ft. Makes it more of a par three for everyone; whereas used to be a bit of scoring spread on this one if you had a fairly big arm.
So much for cheering for improvements. Evidently still a deuce or die course that had none of those holes addressed. #1 appears to be the only one improved.
Course overall length is quite short.
This is a deuce or die course.
You only need your driver on one hole, perhaps a fairway driver or long mid on a couple of the wooded tunnel shots.
One hole, around #13 or so, has a standing water pond part of the year; especially in the spring. This is deep enough, and cold enough, at that time, that I've seen discs left behind.
More additional comments related to new "upgrades"....#2 new tee will simply pi$$ off lefties; makes their line near impossible, without really making the hole any tougher for rhbh.
#12 and #16 sharing a tee didn't really add any toughness to those holes and may create traffic jams.
The new #11 new pin simply moved what was already the longest hole at 385 ft. to nearly 450 ft. Makes it more of a par three for everyone; whereas used to be a bit of scoring spread on this one if you had a fairly big arm.
So much for cheering for improvements. Evidently still a deuce or die course that had none of those holes addressed. #1 appears to be the only one improved.
Other Thoughts:
This was one of the earliest designs in the Wisconsin. Steve Trogger, primarily of late 1980s guts fame; should be given credit. Originally an object course. 2003 is evidently the date baskets went in (though I could have sworn it was earlier; maybe because I played it as an object course for many years.) The original design was for lids; and this is still the design present. A number of persons, with design, or club credentials, over the years, have contacted the parks dept. here and been unsuccessful in convincing them of the need to lengthen the layout some. I was hoping to see this happen...
This IS a relaxing course; if you're able to forget that you need to be bird everything. Setting is different than other courses in the area.
I have made a trip a year here, or more, for many years. I rather look forward to a Hatten visit.
There are enough obstacles and shop shaping, that you don't get a completely boring pitch and putt feel. It's a true course; just one that you play with a putter or roc/buzz primarily.
If you're hitting your putts, you have the opportunity to put one of your "best rounds ever" up on the board.
With it said that I like coming here as a change of pace; I find myself having to downgrade this one .5, to perhaps the lowest grade I've given an 18 hole layout; due to the improvements not helping out much....oh well....
This IS a relaxing course; if you're able to forget that you need to be bird everything. Setting is different than other courses in the area.
I have made a trip a year here, or more, for many years. I rather look forward to a Hatten visit.
There are enough obstacles and shop shaping, that you don't get a completely boring pitch and putt feel. It's a true course; just one that you play with a putter or roc/buzz primarily.
If you're hitting your putts, you have the opportunity to put one of your "best rounds ever" up on the board.
With it said that I like coming here as a change of pace; I find myself having to downgrade this one .5, to perhaps the lowest grade I've given an 18 hole layout; due to the improvements not helping out much....oh well....
