Peoria (Marquette Heights), IL

Marquette Heights Park

1.55(based on 12 reviews)
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6 0
EspressoPatronum
Gold level trusted reviewer
Premium Member
Experience: 19.3 years 316 played 302 reviews
2.00 star(s)

Chasing A Hole in 1 in the Heights

Reviewed: Played on:Oct 25, 2024 Played the course:once

Pros:

- high quality MVP baskets with stainless steel chains
- newer concrete tees
- some respectable elevation change with rolling hills
- not crowded at all
- lightly to moderately wooded with some technical challenge
- varied holes provide lots of fun in a casual atmosphere
- hole numbers on baskets
- some built in steps
- navigation is mostly straightforward
- space generally devoted to disc golf with no obvious safety hazards
- while compact, holes do not tend to interfere with each other

Cons:

- very short
- some holes are so short they qualify as par 2s
- limited parking
- very basic tee signs which may not hold up long term
- older red tees are natural and can be hard to locate
- out of bounds/private property a little close on hole 4
- fall leaves can swallow discs for a portion of the year

Other Thoughts:

Marquette Heights was a late add to my Peoria-area trip. Originally, the ratings made me pass over it, but it looks like at some point it was redesigned and has improved. This is not going to be the course for everyone, as it is VERY short. However, if you're in to a casual pitch and putt, you can easily finish this course in under 30 minutes solo with 2-3 discs.

The technical challenge here is not high, but it does exist. The rolling hills add some interest and most of the equipment is pretty nice. I'm not convinced the tee signs will last; after several years of weather and general abuse I fear they'll be in rough shape.

Wind can be a factor here on some of the more open holes, but with the limited distances, it probably won't have too huge an impact. There's only a few street parking type spaces here but I can't imagine this course ever being crowded.

There are a few open holes so variety here is pretty decent, just not so much in terms of length. The course seems to be in good shape. Despite being a simple and short 9 hole course, there are some built in steps which is a nice amenity. Bottom line, this course isn't one to go too far out of your way for. Still, if you're nearby and enjoy short courses I'd stop by. This place is just fun, and what it lacks in distance is made up for with the terrain and enjoying disc golf in its purest form.
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10 0
aclay
Gold level trusted reviewer
Experience: 40.2 years 344 played 274 reviews
2.00 star(s)

Marquette Heights 2+ years

Reviewed: Played on:Jul 14, 2022 Played the course:2-4 times

Pros:

-- Well maintained clean city park.
-- Restrooms (across small parking lot from 1 & 2).
-- Seating. It's a short 9-hole course, so you don't need a lot, but there is log seating at 3 and 4; more seating appears to be in the works.
-- Level concrete tee pads.
-- Excellent use of land. There is no water, but the trees and elevation are well used. You've got throws over ravines (6) and down into ravines (2), and both require accuracy to miss the numerous trees and to hit a line needed for a good birdie chance. Five is the shortest hole on the course (125 feet) but has a steep drop-off about 15-20 feet behind the basket.
-- Does not favor one throwing style (RHBH, etc.).
-- Navigation is good, but I had to look a little bit to find 8; the tee is uphill and right of the 7 basket, hiding in the edge of some trees.
-- Nice steps built into hill on the path from 2 to 3.
-- Trash cans.

Cons:

-- No map on site.
-- Very short. Some (including me) will enjoy the birdie chances and ace runs, but with five holes shorter than 200 feet and only one longer than 250, experienced players probably won't need a driver.
-- Tee signs are basic with no map of the hole; this isn't a big concern because you can see the basket on 7 of the 9 holes.
-- No. 4 feels like a filler hole: 204 feet, flat with no obstacles (trees, water, elevation). An errant tee shot from 3 could also hit someone standing on the No. 4 tee.
-- According to a local, the course was redesigned a couple of years ago; several wooden posts that marked the old tee "pads" are still around and can cause some confusion. The photos on this site are all of the old design.

Other Thoughts:

-- The most-recent review (before this one) is six years old; considering the redesign a few years ago, all of those reviews are out of date. The hole info was updated this summer, so it appears to be accurate.
-- I had a blast playing here. I didn't score as well as I thought I should have, which made me want to come back for more.
-- I threw to the No. 1 basket when I first played No. 6 because that was the basket I could see (peeking around some trees); the No. 6 basket is about 50 feet right of there (RHFH) and not visible from the tee. With no map of the hole on the tee sign, this is hard to know on a first round.
-- No. 3 is the longest hole on the course (266 feet), and you throw slightly uphill off the tee.
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6 0
sisyphus
Diamond level trusted reviewer
Experience: 13.3 years 401 played 386 reviews
2.00 star(s)

Good Ol’ Classic Fun 2+ years

Reviewed: Played on:Aug 21, 2016 Played the course:once

Pros:

This 'Steady Ed era' nine hole course surprised me with its good use of rolling elevation and trees to determine fun, short lines to the baskets. It has some basic signage and a couple of models of DGA baskets (which appeared to have been properly assembled now). There's parking right by hole 1, and the little park appears to be decently cared for. Mostly, when we stopped by on a cool and gorgeous Sunday morning in August, there were four or five groups of casual players enjoying the course, and a couple of groups like us, just stretching out a little before our Ledgestone tourney round over at Sunset Hills.

If I lived nearby, I think I would be out on this course several times a week, seeking a 'clean' birdie round, then trying to log an ace on each hole. I really enjoy the fun, casual aspect of a pitch and putt from time to time. Besides, there are several championship caliber courses within a twenty minute circle, and it's nice to have something for everyone!

Cons:

The lack of distance will certainly deter players above a recreational level from wanting to play here too often. Then there's the age factor...about half the baskets are 1980's era DGA baskets with only about 6" of depth to them. The others might be 10" deep. The tees are undefined and natural, meaning folks range forward, back and side to side to get decent footing as they rut, or to take advantage. I think it was hole 3 that has at least 20' of worn tee area, and the front of that practically becomes a 'short tee', compared to throwing from the sign

Speaking of signs, they're old and in need of refreshing. And they are often only a few feet off the 'green' of the previous hole...which was fine with a Frisbee, but now there are certainly dangerous lines for chuckers to risk hitting kids. The second tee is only a few feet left of the first fairway (which also hyzers at the parking area).

Though they've built some sturdy steps going up to 3 and down on 6, they're showing their age, and some of the rebar is becoming exposed. Finally, the branches on 2 pretty much turn a cool shot into a spray and pray, and I remember having to move a bushy branch out of the way to walk up to 3. Needs a little trimming.

Other Thoughts:

A lot of folks might rate this a half point lower, but I kind of liked the charm and variety of the Marquette Heights pitch & putt to move it up a notch.

Reviewer Background as of this writing: played 281 courses and written 264 reviews, with skills hovering around a 900 rating, I started playing at 50 and am now 55. I don't throw far (300 footers feel like success), but am addicted to DG, and have played with folks ranging from age 7 to 87, so I try to write reviews helpful to all.
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1 3
Zuggy890
Experience: 5 played 1 reviews
1.50 star(s)

Not my course. 2+ years drive by

Reviewed: Played on:Apr 18, 2016 Played the course:once

Pros:

Quick course to get through.

Cons:

Dirt tee pads, and baskets are not well maintained and visible. A few of the tee pads are on a uphill slope.

Other Thoughts:

I would. It recommend this course. I think with a little work from the community and disc golf community it could be a decent beginner course.
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6 1
Horsman
Gold level trusted reviewer
Experience: 18.3 years 222 played 100 reviews
2.50 star(s)

Short and Sweet 2+ years drive by

Reviewed: Played on:Sep 16, 2013 Played the course:5+ times

Pros:

- Easy to get to

- Flow from hole to hole is quite nice and easy to manage

- Good use of elevation

- Next Tee Posts

Cons:

- Dirt Teepads

- A lot of the teepads are at a wierd slope

- The baskets were assembled upside down so there is a smaller area that catches the disc.

- Some of the teepads are so worn down that they have roots exposed and become a hinderence when throwing.

Other Thoughts:

When all is said and done this is not a course that you should go out of your way to play but I still like to play it.

I use this course for learning new mids and putter and I like to do a lot of one disc forehand rounds here for practice.

If you take the course for what it is it really isnt that bad.

And for it being so short it is stil quite hard to have a perfect round because there are a couple of tricky holes out there and even the easy ones have enough obsticles in the way that make the course a little bit of a challange.
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5 4
XxBenNastyxX
Experience: 14 played 7 reviews
2.50 star(s)

Little course. Easily played in 20mins 2+ years drive by

Reviewed: Played on:May 18, 2012 Played the course:once

Pros:

Not a lot of walking involved. Pretty well taken care of.

Cons:

Super easy course. No hole brings much of a challenge.

Other Thoughts:

If you're in the area stop in and play it, but by no means go out of your way to make the stop. This course could be much better than what it is but we still had fun playing it I suppose.
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9 0
notBOB
Experience: 20.5 years 207 played 16 reviews
2.00 star(s)

grab your putter and roc(k) 2+ years drive by

Reviewed: Played on:May 21, 2012 Played the course:once

Pros:

i was pleasantly surprised by this course; it was a great cool down between some more serious golf offered in the area.

- park is in a nice area, not too much traffic or garbage
- the course has good flow from hole to hole with only minor navigation issues given posts and distance only
- course plays really short but offers fun lines, upshots
- great use of elevation as well as trees and limited space
- all tees are relatively flat being natural, with a few exceptions
- plays really quick- 30 min chillin
- notable holes: #2- tight shot downhill OB right, #5 tight gap over drop- plays short, #6- mellow downhill ace run over the gulley and thick

Cons:

- all the baskets are a smidge short from top ring to basket. kinda wierd..
- course is really short, but doesnt have much land
- minor navigation issues hole to hole, nothing overwhelming, look 4 posts/signs- baskets have the correct numbers
- certain holes play close to others- take caution when its crowded, if ever
- fun for a putter only round; not completely satisfying for even the average golfer

Other Thoughts:

unless some changes were made at marquette heights, i fail to see eye to eye with the current rating. i give it the benefit of the doubt. i have played much worse.
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9 1
mashnut
Diamond level trusted reviewer
Experience: 22.8 years 831 played 777 reviews
1.00 star(s)

Redesign finished 2+ years drive by

Reviewed: Played on:Aug 28, 2010 Played the course:once

Pros:

The course plays through a small wooded neighborhood park. There are some small elevation changes that add some fun shots, including a little ace run hole across a small ravine. There are enough trees that you have to hit some tight lines to score well, and there's an interesting mix of hole shapes. There are 9 newish baskets that are in pretty good shape, and 9 tee posts with distance on them. The park is nicely mowed and free of trash and vandalism.

Cons:

7 of the baskets were put together with the top and bottom parts of the basket way too close together. It makes the target area much smaller vertically, and makes the baskets look quite stupid. This is fixable, but seems like an odd mistake. The tees aren't well defined, many of the tee posts aren't on level ground, so you just have to pick the least sloped spot near them.

There are a couple holes that really need a little clearing of the low branches and brush to be good holes, they have potential but at the moment there really aren't well defined lines to the holes. Hole 9 finishes out in the middle of the park, so you have to walk back through the beginning of the course to get to the parking lot. The course is very short overall, and doesn't offer much real challenge.

Other Thoughts:

This is a nice beginner course, with reasonable lengths, not too much punishment for errant shots (but enough for less skilled players to have to get creative through the trees), and a variety of hole shapes. More experienced players won't be challenged, but there are a couple holes that make playing a quick putter round here fun. Don't go out of your way for this one, but it's more worth a stop now that it actually has tees and baskets if you want to check it off your list.
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7 1
ElementZ
Diamond level trusted reviewer
Experience: 15.6 years 221 played 209 reviews
0.50 star(s)

Marquette Heights 2+ years

Reviewed: Played on:Aug 22, 2009 Played the course:once

Pros:

-Very empty with lots of parking!
-There's a nice park on the other side of the street.

Cons:

-Usually you need baskets to play this game...but, as the past reviewer said, only 3 of the baskets were there. And even those were really rusty.
-The signs were all rusted and falling apart.
-Apparently the fairways go through each other...I couldn't really tell.

Other Thoughts:

I drove by here because it's right in between McNaughton and Bradley park (both of which I recommend).
As my dad and I were playing here, all of the people that drove by either laughed or had confused looks on their faces. This showed me how much they care about disc golf here, right?
I was actually surprised at the potential of this park. It really could have been something if they redo the signs, tees, and baskets.
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9 1
hognosesucker
Gold level trusted reviewer
Experience: 25.6 years 443 played 87 reviews
0.00 star(s)

Redesign should have potential 2+ years drive by

Reviewed: Played on:Aug 8, 2009 Played the course:once

Pros:

-The course has pretty good land to work with: good elevation, good thick woods where holes can be cut out, good amount of trees in the "open" meadows. This course has some potential to be a good course after the redesign.
-A lot of wildlife: I saw 2 fawns just kind of laying down. Got within 50 ft of them before they took off.
-It looks like the course gets maintained(grass was mowed)

Cons:

-I only found 4 of the 9 baskets and holes for that matter. Only baskets for 4,6,8,9 were present
-Six of nine tee signs were missing or rusted out. All that remained of the rest were posts. So you had no idea where to throw. The only intact holes were 4,8,9.
-Natural teepads overgrown

Other Thoughts:

This course is supposed to be revamped sometime in the future. But as of right now don't even bother playing this course.
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6 1
mmunter
Experience: 16.4 years 149 played 3 reviews
1.00 star(s)

This shouldn't even be listed as a course... 2+ years drive by

Reviewed: Played on:Jan 24, 2009 Played the course:once

Pros:

None, really.

Cons:

As mentioned before, no tees. Many of the holes didn't even have tee signs indicating where the tee was supposed to be.

Multiple baskets were nowhere to be found.

Two holes had so many downed trees between the tees and baskets that they were virtually unplayable.

No maintenance appears to have been done in quite a while.

Other Thoughts:

This course is listed here, on the PDGA website, and on the Peoria Disc Golf club website, but it should be taken off all of them. It looks like a completely abandoned course.
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6 1
ForehandMAN36
Experience: 22.4 years 199 played 13 reviews
1.00 star(s)

Oldie that's sadly not a goodie. 2+ years

Reviewed: Played on:Oct 18, 2008 Played the course:once

Pros:

Only pro is that a course is in existence.

Cons:

NO TEES! Tee signs rusted, marked up, or just flat out missing. Baskets rusted and warped. A few appeared to have been victim to a sledgehammer. I'm not kidding. Very poorly maintained course.

Other Thoughts:

We took a disc golf trip to Peoria since there are a handful of course within driving distance of each other. Sadly we took precious daylight time off our trip checking this course out when we could have spent that time on another course. With many other good courses in the area players should pass on this one. I had only wished a review of this course was on here before we took our trip. The course appears to have never been touched since it was made. Even the tees have no "tee box", the grass next to the tees makes it seem no one ever plays the course. AVOID this course.
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