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Springfield, OH

Hazy Shade DGC

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3.065(based on 9 reviews)
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Hazy Shade DGC reviews

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8 0
danlind.321
Bronze level trusted reviewer
Experience: 15 played 14 reviews
3.50 star(s)

Decent and challenging water-based course 2+ years drive by

Reviewed: Played on:Aug 3, 2021 Played the course:once

Pros:

+ Dynamic Veteran baskets. They're in great condition too.
+ Can see many baskets from the tees - advantageous for first-timers.
+ Several technical shots required.

Cons:

- Some damaged and missing tee signs.
- No defined tee pad on most holes, as they're all natural.
- Awkward navigation, especially without a map.
- Some geese to watch out for.
- Many holes play quite close to roads and the river.
- Much of the walk is across roads where cars will be driving - watch for them.
- Allegedly the area it's in is not great, so play this one during the daytime if you can.
- Several water carries. Fortunately the longest ones on Holes 1, 2, and 17 are practically eliminated by the availability of short tees, which ensures more recreational players can conserve their discs.
-- Could possibly use extra short tees on Holes 5 and 7 as well, to ensure those holes are playable by those who don't throw the farthest.
- There is a bench installed in the middle of Hole 7's fairway. On particularly busy days I could see this hole almost being unplayable if people are using the bench unless you were to ask them to move off the fairway.
- Long walk from Hole 7 to 8.
- Disc loss potential on Hole 11. The bog on the right side of the fairway is known to swallow people up to their waist. Fortunately at least one local has been retrieving discs from there himself, and may be taking them to the nearby Hazy Shade shop.

Other Thoughts:

Amenities:
- Parking: Plenty.
- Restrooms: There is one near the parking lot.
- Running water: None that I saw.
- Benches: None on the course itself, except maybe for the one on Hole 7's fairway.
- Trash cans: None that I saw.
- Bag holders: None.
- Tee signs: Just the distance and an arrow pointing to the next tee.
- Next tee/direction signs: Only on the tee signs. Have a map ready.
- Wheelchair/cart friendly: Somewhat - some holes have you walking up and down hills. Hole 9's hill is quite steep depending how you approach the basket.
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1 4
sjgcollins
Experience: 13 played 1 reviews
3.50 star(s)

Nice Course 2+ years drive by

Reviewed: Played on:Sep 17, 2019 Played the course:once

Pros:

Fun, challenging basket positions

Cons:

You need to watch out for people in the park, cars, water, et cetera.

Other Thoughts:

Bring discs you don't mind losing and clothes you're ok with getting wet in!
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5 2
MrFrosty
Diamond level trusted reviewer
Experience: 31.2 years 764 played 387 reviews
3.50 star(s)

Challenging City Park Course 2+ years drive by

Reviewed: Played on:Jun 30, 2019 Played the course:once

Pros:

The great courses in the Greater Dayton Area just added a new member . Hazy Shade , set in Snyder Park in Springfield Ohio , just northeast of Dayton was just created in 2018 . I do not try to review on a course's potential , but I think that this course will be the 2nd best in the area , just behind Handyman . The multi use park looks to be busy most of the time . When you drive across the green bridge , park in the first lot you see , immediately on the right . Practice basket is off to the side of the lot near #2's basket . It doesn't matter where you park , because you will be heading toward the bridge when you tee off for #1 and coming from the opposite end when finishing #18 . I did not see a kiosk , so you better print a map because the course flow can have you wandering aimlessly , but there are bathrooms close to the parking lot and I think in the back part of the park .The park has short wooden posts with a small sign on it telling you the hole number , distance and next tee . The course also also had dual tees 1 short and 1 pro , in the first few holes . Someone at the course said more are planned . . The baskets are new white rimmed Dynamic Veterans which catch well and are easy to spot . The tee pads for the first 15 holes are technically natural . When you get to some of the posts , a white spray painted arrow sometimes will tell you to walk sideways or backwards to where you are in order to tee off from the street . Be careful when doing so because this park sees a lot of traffic even though there is construction dividing the park . Also watch closely when crossing the street . The cars can be coming towards you faster than it looks ( mostly in the back part ) . The pro first tee is just past the bridge on the same side you parked , and is a long throw across a large creek ( I think Buck Creek's ) to a fairway landing and to a basket sitting on a side of a hill . The short tee is across the green bridge and to the right . Then you have to backtrack after the hole to the tees on the same side as the short tee but past the bridge . See what I mean about printing a map ? This is another throw across the creek . If you love water holes , this course will be your all time favorite . Ponds and the creek will come in to play throughout parts of your round . The course itself is one of the more scenic that you will encounter . Stone bridges , a creek , nice tree lines . The course design is what makes this course . It is a good mix of short and long holes , with canopies , tree and brush lines , great basket placements . Even though the park is pretty flat , there are still several holes that utilize grades , embankments and hills . Even the map becomes confusing after hole #7 , which is a nice short 250' throw across the water into the basket that is cut out of some small woods and sits a little higher than the tee . You cross this cool stone bridge to get to your 2nd shot . To go to the #8 tee , you must cross back over the bridge , turn right and head towards the underpass of the highway . Construction may make you walk over top , but I walked underneath during my play on the weekend . You will feel lost during this walk because it is by far the longest one on the course . The tee sign slightly right will come into view and you will stay on this side of the park for holes 8-15 . #8 will give you a semi open 515' drive with a couple of large trees in the middle of the fairway . You will encounter some fun holes after this starting with #9 , a right to left 295' uphill that plays more like 350' unless you risk throwing a hyzer right at it ( good luck ) . #'s 10 and 11 are 2 of my favorite holes on this course . #10 is a station to station drive across the water ( 388' ) and then around a tree lined brush to the right with canopied trees littering the fairway read to knock down any chances of a drive going over 10' . #11 is measured to be 350' but seems longer . You can either drive along the same canopied trees to an area where you can throw over the water to the basket that is nestled on the hill , or chance a drive along the water line and pray it flips or returns back on the same side you threw on . Great risk/reward. 12-15 start across the road and return you to just past the #8 tee pad , keeping holes 8-11 to your left . A couple play close to the creek line . You then go back underneath the highway and keep to your right where you see #16's pad . I don't know if the parks dept. is working backwards on this or it's random , but the last 3 tee pads are very nice , with turf enclosed with a garden rock . If all of the tees had this , it would easily be a 4 or maybe a 4.5 if other amenities were added . #16 is a tight 335' drive that ends next to foliage and water to the right .#17 is a risk/reward throw that dares you to run parallel to and across the water or the more sane hyzer over the short tee area and down a fairway to a tree and brush lined fairway which opens up to the basket . #18 is a good finishing hole . A tight tunnel shot ( or the safer hyzer to the far left of the tee ) 275' , which could give you a shot at a finishing birdie or maybe stick you with a finishing 4 . Even though the course boasts some short holes and some short tees , this is really not a course for the family or newbies . So much water is everywhere , that you would have to skip a lot of holes or throw safety drives in order to keep your prized driver . Even the seasoned players will risk their discs on some of these holes . I am not trying to scare you , just warn you to throw with control . All in all , you will be captivated by the beauty of Snyder park and the course design . There were a lot of choices , but my signature hole was probably #11 which had the creek on your right that you eventually threw over and a canopy in front of you , to a basket on the right on a hillside .

Cons:

With all of the good that is coming out of this course , there are still some cons . Keeping in mind that the course is barely a year old , #1 . Holes 1-15 are natural or on the road . Not ideal for a premier course in the making . #2 the population of the park . Since the course sees a lot of use , you will encounter curious kids , walkers, people wandering around from the shelters ,etc. I even saw some cosplayers in the back shelter of the park hammering away at each other with foam swords . #3 Navigation . Without a map or following locals , you can be lost in a hurry . Backtracking from #1 to #2 , crossing the creek , and mostly , trying to find tee #8 . Walking to #8 will either have you walking through a construction site , or going over top and carefully try to avoid cars going 45 mph + . #4 Cars . They come into play a little bit going from 1-2 , and a lot more crossing back and forth on 9 , 12 , 13 , 14 and 15 . Be aware , especially since some of these tee boxes are spray painted on the road . Finally , this is more of an observation than a critique , but some of the park goers seem a little rough around the edges . I would suggest finishing up your round before dusk unless playing in a group . It might be paranoia , but ,,,,,,,,,,, . I did see where a previous review mentioned that 2 of the baskets were damaged or stolen the first night the course was installed , and I did witness some bored youths chasing some geese with a pocket knife in the back part of the park ( I put an end to it , but luckily only because of my size ) .

Other Thoughts:

After playing a round here , I sat at one of the benches in the park and jotted some final notes . The parks dept. in Springfield looks committed to this disc golf course , and it shows . It has a little of everything here . It is NOT for the faint of heart . There is even a Hazy Shade Disc Golf & More just up the street on Park Rd between BP and Speedway in case you chuck a disc into the creek . Even though the course is barely a year old , people know and are talking about it . I am from Cincinnati and a good 60 miles from this course , and the first person I met on the course and played part of my round with was from Cincinnati , too ( Hi Austin ) . I can't wait until next year when I can play this course again and update my review . My recommendation : If you are anywhere close to Dayton or traveling through I-70 to from Columbus or Indianapolis , PLAY THIS COURSE FOR SURE !!!
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14 0
mrclc
Gold level trusted reviewer
Experience: 10.7 years 737 played 47 reviews
3.50 star(s)

Wily Water Warrants Strategic Shot Selection at Snyder! 2+ years

Reviewed: Played on:May 10, 2019 Played the course:2-4 times

Pros:

Hazy Shade DGC at Snyder Park deftly balances a fun and challenging design for most skill levels in a manicured park setting. Golfers play through a large, well-maintained, well-established (inaugurated 1897!) city centerpiece park dotted with historic buildings, stone bridges & archways, and a king's ransom of other park activities. Holes wind through gently wooded green spaces with minimal undergrowth or brush to contend with, making Hazy one of the more scenic open courses in the area.

The course features more water hazards than any other area track, but the integration is elegant, thoughtful, and eminently fair for all but the newest players. All forced carries are manageable through layups or avoidable altogether courtesy of newbie-friendly short tees. Golfers with a bit more experience and skill will love heroic risk/reward water drives on 1, 3, 10, 11, and 17. It's possible to lose zero discs or toss your entire bag into the drink, depending on your personal strategy.

This gradient challenge means Snyder is truly fun for a wide swath of players across all skill levels. Although overall ideal for intermediate-level golfers, advanced will keep coming back to try and conquer these sneaky-good water holes. Rec players will enjoy navigating forgiving park lines and testing their mettle against the omnipresent lurking liquid if they so choose.

As the name implies, Hazy Shade Disc Golf & More's Springfield location is less than a half mile from the course. Do yourself a favor and stop in at one of the best disc golf specialty shops in the world before or after your round.

All holes feature simple tee signs and top-notch DD Veteran baskets.

Cons:

As a popular bypass/cut-through on this side of town, Snyder Park is beset by a great deal of vehicular traffic. Disc golfers walk up and down Snyder Park Rd for nearly all of the round, so keep your head on a swivel.

A long walk between Hole 7 & Hole 8 has become an arduous misadventure due to long-term road construction at the park road and Bechtle, one of Springfield's primary north-south streets. Once the bridge work is finished, golfers will simply follow the road under the street to get to Hole 8 -- a long walk, but a relatively safe one. Unfortunately, with work ongoing you'll have to play a bit of Frogger to cross over the road, around the construction site, and in front of the often heavy construction-choked traffic. This process repeats once you've finished Hole 15, albeit with a shorter walk.

Navigation can be a challenge for first-timers, especially with the road construction. You'll definitely want to consult the map to stay on track.

All tees are natural (except 16, which is turf) for now, but that will likely be remedied in the near future. Since this is a new course, I didn't ding the rating for either the navigation or the tees.

Other Thoughts:

I imagine navigation aids and concrete tees are coming down the pike, and once installed Hazy Shade DGC will be one of the better routings in the metro Dayton area.

Since the course is brand new and hasn't been in the ground for a summer season, other park users may infringe on the course at peak times. This may not end up being an issue, but is something to be mindful of in the future.
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