Pros:
(1.875 Rating) A basic reasonable park style niner.
- QUICK PLAY - I was running out of daylight when I arrived in Portland and I was wanting to bag as many courses as possible before sunset hit. I gotta say, Vance Park is an excellent course to choose when time is short. It's easy to follow, hard to get into trouble, and goes quick. I was in, out and on my way to Rockwood in 20 minutes.
- BASICS - The tees, baskets and signage makes this one a reasonable course to me. 4-foot by 10-foot concrete tees. Mach V baskets, I think, that are in good shape. The signage is bare bones being just a number, but the simple gameplay makes that aspect passable.
- BEGINNER FRIENDLY - I think the course will work great for newer players. Birdies can be carded on most holes by MA4 level players. Zero chance in having to search for one within the park boundaries. The lost disc potential is nil, unless one makes an epic grip lock error over the fence along the east park boundary.
- A SECOND COURSE NEAR BY - As noted in the review title, there is another course right down the street from here. One can literally tap out on (9) at Vance and walk over to tee (1) at Rockwood in 7-minutes. They are about a 1/3 of a mile apart.
Cons:
The course comes up below average on just about every important category.
- SIMPLISTIC - I found the gameplay at Vance Park to be very lackluster. Generally a lightly wooded course with simple sub 300 foot shots. The course is also mostly flat and void of water features. Sure MA4s and perhaps MA3s may enjoy the care-free style here, but higher skilled players are going to be caught yawning.
- NATURAL BEAUTY - I found this aspect to be slightly below average. The park seems to be maintained well. It was mowed and free of excess trash and downed tree branches. Like many regional courses, there are large Douglas Firs and Western Cedars sprinkled throughout the course. It's a nice park and all, but it's nothing special.
- AMENITIES - Besides the concrete tees and baskets, there are no other course related amenities. Off the course there is a restroom and shelter, just like every small city park.
- NAVIGATION - As noted in my basics pro, the signage is just a number. Unfortunately, the number is flush with the ground. Thus if someone doesn't have an navigational app, they may end up heading to the wrong tee. However, the park is generally open. Thus no one is getting lost for an extended period of time.
- PARKING - Street parking only on 182nd. Lots of traffic on this road.
Other Thoughts:
Vance Park was officially the first course I ever threw in Oregon. It shares a lot of qualities with its nearby neighbor Rockwood, and thus I have them in a near ratings tie. I asked several locals regarding their thoughts between the two and they all said the better one is dependent on who you ask. No reason for the destination pilgrim to head here. For baggers trying to tally as many courses as possible, I would say this is an ideal target since there is a second course within walking distance. I could see someone playing both in less than 45 minutes. Anyways, a solid 2.0 course to me. Besides Rockwood, it also reminds me of courses like Azalea in Tampa Bay, Ken Johnston in Huntsville Alabama, Donner Park south of Indianapolis, Calvert City Park near Paducah Kentucky, John C Poole north of Nashville, Portland Park near Chattanooga and Silver Lake Excalibur north of Seattle.