Setting: The Burnaby course has a very isolated feel in the middle of a large urban area. Once you leave the parking lot at the bottom of the hill beside Hwy 1, you really feel like you're out of the city and a little isolated. This course sees 1/4 of the players of any other courses in the Vancouver area, which really adds to the "quiet walk in the woods" feel that makes the course so enjoyable.

Course Layouts: If it's your first time to the park, playing the "official" 10 hole layout as noted on the kiosk in the parking lot is a good way to start. BUT, I highly recommend trying out some of the alternate layouts found either on the club website, or in the "Files/Links" tab on this site. Brett's 23 is my personal favorite. If you have a smart phone, preload the maps, if not, print off a few because navigation is challenging without a map or a local guide. Yes some of the alternate courses have overlapping, crisscrossing holes, and use the same baskets and tees as other holes, but since there is so little traffic on this course, interfering with other players is rarely an issue. The efforts of the Burnaby Club to create and make readily available all of these alternate layouts is truly amazing.

Playing the Course(s): The "official" 10 holes of the course are good, but aren't the best way to play at Robert Burnaby Park. If you consider all of the options provided with alternate maps, there is a fantastic variety of holes and shots to challenge experienced players, and to keep it basic for newer disc golfers. As the park is on a slight incline, there are some good up and down hill shots, as well as a few cross hill options. The park is quite heavily treed with some thick rough off of the fairways for the most part, but there are a few holes that are a little more wide open. Playing across the ravine, and onto the "island" green of hole #5 are pretty cool.

The Burnaby Club: In August '11, the course saw a significant facelift, seeing new or rejuvenated tee boxes, freshly painted and numbered baskets, and even some new holes. If you haven't played at Burnaby in a while, it's worth another trip because the Burnaby Club has put in some serious effort to get the full potential out of the land provided by the city, and I'm sure they'll keep up the good work.

Navigation is an issue on the course, though a digital or printed map will help, it can still be an issue.

There is a lot of tree cover on the course which provides some technical challenging shots, but I feel this course is lacking a few wide open long holes to really stretch out the arm.

Unlike other nearby courses there are no playing fields in the park to practice or warm up. There are no official practice baskets either, but with the lack of traffic on the course, you can just pick any basket and not really worry.

Finally, outside of the hot summer months, this course is very mucky. Even on some of the grass fairways, deep thick mud can be an issue. Bring your gumboots between October and April for sure.

At first look, this course seems average. BUT, take the time to check out some of the alternate course layouts posted on this site and the Robert Burnaby Disc Golf Club's website and commit to playing one or two of these options, and you'll enjoy yourself much more.

You'll enjoy how quiet and secluded the park feels. The local club members are always happy to show off their hard work, so don't be afraid to make friends and get a guided tour of some of the alternate options.

A nice, quiet, wooded course with plenty of elevation change to make for some fun disc golf. I've been there several times on a summer evening and been the only disc golfer. Very fun course.

Most holes are pretty short. Unpaived, unlevel tee pads with rocks and tree roots. Hole 7's basket needs to be replaced.