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West Reading DGP reviews
10
0
Wish this was here when I was in highschool
Reviewed:
Played on:Nov 25, 2022
Played the course:once
Pros:
-Great use of the creek to force OB as well as some low-risk water carries
-Long and short tees for each hole except for hole 9, which has two baskets
-Fresh discatchers in great condition
-Clear and helpful tee signs at both long and short positions
-Concrete tee pads
-Bathrooms at pavilion at top of hill
-Long and short tees for each hole except for hole 9, which has two baskets
-Fresh discatchers in great condition
-Clear and helpful tee signs at both long and short positions
-Concrete tee pads
-Bathrooms at pavilion at top of hill
Cons:
-I don't trust the distances at all. I don't have a rangefinder to prove it, but very inconsistent by the feel of it, as well as not remotely consistent w/ udisc GPS
-tee pads are fairly short
-Parking is a little challenging, and I'm sure would be limited especially in summer months with the mixed use park. Most is along the road, not sure if there is any other area
-tee pads are fairly short
-Parking is a little challenging, and I'm sure would be limited especially in summer months with the mixed use park. Most is along the road, not sure if there is any other area
Other Thoughts:
This is a great beginner course that can offer ace runs for more experienced players. The available space was well used and doesn't get in the way of all the other uses of the park. The proximity to the creek creates challenge but should be achievable for all skill levels. My biggest reason for not marking higher is the high levels of inconsistency in distances for tee signs. Overall, an excellent community course to get locals started.
10
0
A short, fun challenge in a busy park. 2+ years
Reviewed:
Updated:
Played on:Mar 7, 2021
Played the course:2-4 times
Pros:
Easy to navigate once you find the 1st Tee. It's on the side of the park closest to the Museum.
Holes are short but you still have to do something a little technical to get to most of them.
The creek does add an element of danger, and there is a bridge now! You aren't trapped after hole 6.
There is a long and a short tee on holes 1-7. 8 has 1 tee and basket although you could use the path as a long tee. (update! I found the long tee for #8, it's up by the street near the parked cars.) 9 has one tee and 2 baskets. the shots are interesting from both tees and there's often not that much of a difference. The long tee often adds a little more technical challenge, more so than just making the short tee longer.
Park is very well taken care of.
There are 2 forced carries over the creek if you're playing the long tees, and 1 forced carry from the short tee. neither is very long but it does add excitement. #1 is a forced carry over water from both tees, but the hole is only about 200 feet total, less than half of that is a forced carry.
#7 is a great hole on any course. Play it from the long tee even if you're playing the short tees. The long tee is only about 225 feet, but it's mostly over the creek with several lines to choose from. It's wide enough that you shouldn't hit a tree and drop in the creek, but there's always that chance....
Holes are short but you still have to do something a little technical to get to most of them.
The creek does add an element of danger, and there is a bridge now! You aren't trapped after hole 6.
There is a long and a short tee on holes 1-7. 8 has 1 tee and basket although you could use the path as a long tee. (update! I found the long tee for #8, it's up by the street near the parked cars.) 9 has one tee and 2 baskets. the shots are interesting from both tees and there's often not that much of a difference. The long tee often adds a little more technical challenge, more so than just making the short tee longer.
Park is very well taken care of.
There are 2 forced carries over the creek if you're playing the long tees, and 1 forced carry from the short tee. neither is very long but it does add excitement. #1 is a forced carry over water from both tees, but the hole is only about 200 feet total, less than half of that is a forced carry.
#7 is a great hole on any course. Play it from the long tee even if you're playing the short tees. The long tee is only about 225 feet, but it's mostly over the creek with several lines to choose from. It's wide enough that you shouldn't hit a tree and drop in the creek, but there's always that chance....
Cons:
This park is pretty small and there are a lot of other things going on. Also, I'm not totally sure I'd be comfortable here if this was my first time playing disc golf. You definitely don't want to throw a bunch of sideways shots because you'll hit cars, people or be out into some busy streets or in a creek.
The tees are small, but then again so is everything else here. There's just not much room.
Most of the holes play down a park walking path and you might be waiting a while if it's nice out. Easier to just skip holes and come back later.
The short basket for #9 is a very fun shot to an elevated basket on the edge of a dropoff to the creek. The long basket on #9 is the worst hole on the course, a straight away dull slog with a fence on one side and a path on the other. If you're playing the long course, skip that on #9 and just play to the hanging basket instead. You'll be way happier, unless you miss it and your disc disappears into the creek.
#6 is sort of dull hole, in an empty field to a pyramid basket. Doesn't really matter what tee you play from, there's not much difference. Maybe there could be some other more creative obstacle in the field. We are right next to a museum. Maybe a big sculpture of some sort! Turn it into a par 4 with a couple of mandatory gates.
The tees are small, but then again so is everything else here. There's just not much room.
Most of the holes play down a park walking path and you might be waiting a while if it's nice out. Easier to just skip holes and come back later.
The short basket for #9 is a very fun shot to an elevated basket on the edge of a dropoff to the creek. The long basket on #9 is the worst hole on the course, a straight away dull slog with a fence on one side and a path on the other. If you're playing the long course, skip that on #9 and just play to the hanging basket instead. You'll be way happier, unless you miss it and your disc disappears into the creek.
#6 is sort of dull hole, in an empty field to a pyramid basket. Doesn't really matter what tee you play from, there's not much difference. Maybe there could be some other more creative obstacle in the field. We are right next to a museum. Maybe a big sculpture of some sort! Turn it into a par 4 with a couple of mandatory gates.
Other Thoughts:
I'm updating my review from 3.0 to 3.5 for customer service. A few weeks ago I played here and on #9 I threw a pretty terrible shot and it went deep into the water. I had no way to retrieve it. A couple of weeks later, the West Reading Borough called to say that someone had retrieved my disc, and it's at Borough Hall, come pick it up. Now that's a Very Good Course!
I enjoyed the course and it's a great way to walk around for 20-30 minutes. It's mostly flat with nice easy paths. The baskets are new and friendly. It's all par-3s and none of them are back-breaking, but it's not a pushover from the long tees, you are forced to play a bunch of different shots in order to get close to all of the baskets, and the creek is constantly a danger . You are likely to lose your disc in the creek unless you have a grabber. The short tees are very short, mostly just chip shots, but still you have to work your away around or through trees and not go down an embankment. The parking lots, courts, walking paths, roadways are all close though. You are often playing down, next to or across a walking path and this is a pretty busy park. Fun though, I enjoyed it more the second time around than the first. The cement pads are very small though, the tee pads painted onto the walking paths are better.
I enjoyed the course and it's a great way to walk around for 20-30 minutes. It's mostly flat with nice easy paths. The baskets are new and friendly. It's all par-3s and none of them are back-breaking, but it's not a pushover from the long tees, you are forced to play a bunch of different shots in order to get close to all of the baskets, and the creek is constantly a danger . You are likely to lose your disc in the creek unless you have a grabber. The short tees are very short, mostly just chip shots, but still you have to work your away around or through trees and not go down an embankment. The parking lots, courts, walking paths, roadways are all close though. You are often playing down, next to or across a walking path and this is a pretty busy park. Fun though, I enjoyed it more the second time around than the first. The cement pads are very small though, the tee pads painted onto the walking paths are better.
10
0
You Best Be Heading To West Reading 2+ years
Reviewed:
Played on:Oct 23, 2021
Played the course:2-4 times
Pros:
+ All baskets are numbered and have 'next' arrows
+ Nice tee signs at all tee pads give players a good diagram and all the right info.
+ This 9-holer has a practice area...!
+ All holes have two tee pads made of solid and level concrete except for 9, which has two baskets intead.
+ The Wyomissing Creek is almost always a feature to consider, but...
+ Nice tee signs at all tee pads give players a good diagram and all the right info.
+ This 9-holer has a practice area...!
+ All holes have two tee pads made of solid and level concrete except for 9, which has two baskets intead.
+ The Wyomissing Creek is almost always a feature to consider, but...
Cons:
- ...That Wyomissing Creek is almost always a factor to avoid.
- It's basically all pretty open. The densest it gets is a light tree peppering.
- Walking paths, other sporting areas and a few city roads are all things to consider before you throw.
- Those tee pads, while well-constructed, are pretty tiny. But I guess long wind-ups aren't necessary here.
- Fairways get concerningly close to other sports' playing area.
- It's basically all pretty open. The densest it gets is a light tree peppering.
- Walking paths, other sporting areas and a few city roads are all things to consider before you throw.
- Those tee pads, while well-constructed, are pretty tiny. But I guess long wind-ups aren't necessary here.
- Fairways get concerningly close to other sports' playing area.
Other Thoughts:
Hole5 was my least favorite. As I've said in many other reviews, I simply do not like throwing that close to a road. Worse yet, that road has parking spaces for cars! I've been playing for more than four years, and I am still nervous that I could hit a car if I grip lock a disc or a nasty gust kicks up. Plus, the tee pads are on the park's walking paths! Hole7 was lovely to look at. I played both of my rounds from the long tees, and seeing the tree-peppered fairway down on the other side of that creek was an exciting thing to behold. Hole1 was my favorite to play because of the trees to dodge, the creek to fly over and the manageable distance, which makes it all tantalizingly possible. It's a nice little drama condensed into 230 feet.
As for the course as a whole, West Reading (pronounced RED-ing for those of your not familiar with the area) packs a wallop. It is a tiny course, but it catches you off guard with its features and forces the player to pay attention and give it respect in a way that some 18-hole courses can't. I would say the biggest contributing factor for why this is the case is the waterway.
Wyomissing Creek snakes its way through the whole course. From start to finish, it is always at least visible and many times part of the hole's challenge. If a disc lands in there, you will have a steep and treacherous climb down and back up in most parts. It's the kind of water feature that so many other disc golf courses dream of having. Aim true.
That won't be terribly difficult, though, because these holes are largely open and pretty brief. Tacticians might feel bored. Most disc golfers in general tend to turn their nose from a majority of 9-hole courses. The park might be nice with pretty landscaping, a healthy downtown vibe and several things to do. However, the disc golfing fairways are mostly sparse of barriers and blockades unless you count the baseball field and pickleball courts. (Is it me, or are pickleball and disc golf showing up at a lot of the same places lately?) So you won't really encounter any big trouble unless you throw too far, get a nasty ricochet or throw incorrectly.
Still, it is far and away better than most 9-hole courses I've played. West Reading has heart, soul and effort behind it (and probably a little money, by the look of it). It's got a practice basket and a nice big course map at the start. It's got two concrete tee pads per hole, even if they are small. It's got all the signage you need. It's got an omnipresent water hazard that laces every throw with delicious apprehension. It's also got my recommendation.
Yes, it's not an 18-hole course, but its features would make some courses green with envy. Just play it twice. The math works out.
As for the course as a whole, West Reading (pronounced RED-ing for those of your not familiar with the area) packs a wallop. It is a tiny course, but it catches you off guard with its features and forces the player to pay attention and give it respect in a way that some 18-hole courses can't. I would say the biggest contributing factor for why this is the case is the waterway.
Wyomissing Creek snakes its way through the whole course. From start to finish, it is always at least visible and many times part of the hole's challenge. If a disc lands in there, you will have a steep and treacherous climb down and back up in most parts. It's the kind of water feature that so many other disc golf courses dream of having. Aim true.
That won't be terribly difficult, though, because these holes are largely open and pretty brief. Tacticians might feel bored. Most disc golfers in general tend to turn their nose from a majority of 9-hole courses. The park might be nice with pretty landscaping, a healthy downtown vibe and several things to do. However, the disc golfing fairways are mostly sparse of barriers and blockades unless you count the baseball field and pickleball courts. (Is it me, or are pickleball and disc golf showing up at a lot of the same places lately?) So you won't really encounter any big trouble unless you throw too far, get a nasty ricochet or throw incorrectly.
Still, it is far and away better than most 9-hole courses I've played. West Reading has heart, soul and effort behind it (and probably a little money, by the look of it). It's got a practice basket and a nice big course map at the start. It's got two concrete tee pads per hole, even if they are small. It's got all the signage you need. It's got an omnipresent water hazard that laces every throw with delicious apprehension. It's also got my recommendation.
Yes, it's not an 18-hole course, but its features would make some courses green with envy. Just play it twice. The math works out.
11
0
Work in Progress But Probably Not for Newbies 2+ years
Reviewed:
Updated:
Played on:Mar 1, 2020
Played the course:once
Pros:
This is a very nice 9er community course and I have a soft spot for well-executed ones. It's completely flat but some holes make use of trees, the stream, and all in all seemed varied enough for a community park. First eight holes had two teepads, either concrete or a spraypainted box on the asphalt path. #9 is the exception and instead has 2 baskets. They really did an excellent job on the tees and signs.
Surrounding the park is the Reading Hospital Complex, Reading Public Museum with Neag Planetarium, Reading Hospital School of Health Sciences, etc. The park is well facilitated with 4 tennis courts, 2 basketball, pool, playground, calisthenics/exercise machines, baseball field, and a large pavillion on Sycamore road. Whoever you bring definitely doesn't have to be into DG at all.
Once the bridge is installed for #7, this will be a 3 star course.
+Great signs.
+Good tees. The concrete ones may have been a little short for some run-ups but they were all completely flush to the ground so it didn't matter.
+Has good variety for a flat urban course.
Surrounding the park is the Reading Hospital Complex, Reading Public Museum with Neag Planetarium, Reading Hospital School of Health Sciences, etc. The park is well facilitated with 4 tennis courts, 2 basketball, pool, playground, calisthenics/exercise machines, baseball field, and a large pavillion on Sycamore road. Whoever you bring definitely doesn't have to be into DG at all.
Once the bridge is installed for #7, this will be a 3 star course.
+Great signs.
+Good tees. The concrete ones may have been a little short for some run-ups but they were all completely flush to the ground so it didn't matter.
+Has good variety for a flat urban course.
Cons:
This place is not for everyone for several reasons.
-Throws across a creek twice (#1?! Hey, let me warm up first!, and #7's pro tee) and since it plays up and down the creek, a few tee-offs and baskets come close to the water.
-A number of tee-offs take place near other facilities or near people. If you griplock or premature release frequently, or are crowd-anxious this place isn't for you at busy hours and it's a well frequented park. #1 tee plays near the busy main road, #3 tee-off may end up in the caged Tennis/Basketball courts, #4/5 again near a secondary road with parked cars, #9 near a baseball field.
-The biggest downside is the disconnect between #6 and #7. Having to backtrack from #6-#1 and then all the way back through #9-8-7 was tiresome and will double playtime. Don't throw from #7's pro-tee unless you're willing to risk your disc being rescued as a stray by someone.
A bridge is said to come in this year. Google maps may show Parkview Rd bridging over the creek near #7, but it has been demolished sometime since 2018. No shortcuts unless you want to wade the creek.
-There's no dedicated parking lot. Sycamore Road had Mo-Fr 6AM-6PM Permit, Non-Permits 2 hours only signs all over. Idk if Old Wyomissing Rd has the same signs.
-Throws across a creek twice (#1?! Hey, let me warm up first!, and #7's pro tee) and since it plays up and down the creek, a few tee-offs and baskets come close to the water.
-A number of tee-offs take place near other facilities or near people. If you griplock or premature release frequently, or are crowd-anxious this place isn't for you at busy hours and it's a well frequented park. #1 tee plays near the busy main road, #3 tee-off may end up in the caged Tennis/Basketball courts, #4/5 again near a secondary road with parked cars, #9 near a baseball field.
-The biggest downside is the disconnect between #6 and #7. Having to backtrack from #6-#1 and then all the way back through #9-8-7 was tiresome and will double playtime. Don't throw from #7's pro-tee unless you're willing to risk your disc being rescued as a stray by someone.
A bridge is said to come in this year. Google maps may show Parkview Rd bridging over the creek near #7, but it has been demolished sometime since 2018. No shortcuts unless you want to wade the creek.
-There's no dedicated parking lot. Sycamore Road had Mo-Fr 6AM-6PM Permit, Non-Permits 2 hours only signs all over. Idk if Old Wyomissing Rd has the same signs.
Other Thoughts:
Terrain Potential: XXx - Typical. Flat, some trees, wide creek. But lots of crowd to boot.
Actual Execution: XX - Reasonable. Backtracking issue and being near other park patrons.
Upkeep: XXX - Good.
Difficulty: XXX - Intermediate. Distances, crowd and creek.
Fun Factor: XX - Reasonable.
Overall: XXx - Typical. Competent but not the most relaxed place to disc.
Amenities: As of March 1st, toilets on Sycamore Rd pavillion were closed.
Starting Point: There's a driveway at the corner of Sycamore Rd & Museum Rd, you may see a practice basket coming in. It leads to a building in front of the swimming pool and Tee#1 starts there and throws over the Wyommising Creek, 40.327291, -75.949276 on google maps. Another possibility is starting on #7, roughly around 40.328474, -75.944096, and just playing all the way through in one shot.
Layout: 9 holes that don't loop yet but will, likely, in the future. #7-9 & #1-6 makes a continuous U shaped course currently. #1 shoots over the creek. #2 starts at the corner of Museum Rd & Parkside Dr. #3 tees off near the caged Tennis/Basketball courts toward a basket near the stream. #4-6 follow near Old Wyomissing Rd until hitting Parkview Rd. Backtrack west all the way back to #1, cross the bridge and then follow the paths along the creek to get to #7's amateur tee. You'll hit #8 and #9 along the way. #9 Pro basket ends near the baseball field, close to the corner of the southern and eastern pool fence, about 400' from the first tee, on the other side of the pool area.
Actual Execution: XX - Reasonable. Backtracking issue and being near other park patrons.
Upkeep: XXX - Good.
Difficulty: XXX - Intermediate. Distances, crowd and creek.
Fun Factor: XX - Reasonable.
Overall: XXx - Typical. Competent but not the most relaxed place to disc.
Amenities: As of March 1st, toilets on Sycamore Rd pavillion were closed.
Starting Point: There's a driveway at the corner of Sycamore Rd & Museum Rd, you may see a practice basket coming in. It leads to a building in front of the swimming pool and Tee#1 starts there and throws over the Wyommising Creek, 40.327291, -75.949276 on google maps. Another possibility is starting on #7, roughly around 40.328474, -75.944096, and just playing all the way through in one shot.
Layout: 9 holes that don't loop yet but will, likely, in the future. #7-9 & #1-6 makes a continuous U shaped course currently. #1 shoots over the creek. #2 starts at the corner of Museum Rd & Parkside Dr. #3 tees off near the caged Tennis/Basketball courts toward a basket near the stream. #4-6 follow near Old Wyomissing Rd until hitting Parkview Rd. Backtrack west all the way back to #1, cross the bridge and then follow the paths along the creek to get to #7's amateur tee. You'll hit #8 and #9 along the way. #9 Pro basket ends near the baseball field, close to the corner of the southern and eastern pool fence, about 400' from the first tee, on the other side of the pool area.
11
0
Beautiful Equipment, but…. 2+ years
Reviewed:
Updated:
Played on:Feb 17, 2020
Played the course:once
Pros:
A short layout woven into a busy multi-use city park
+ New DiscGolfPark equipment: great tee signs, new baskets, concrete teepads
+ Multiple teepads on 8 of the holes, and alternate baskets on #9
+ The standout hole is #9 with two baskets offering very different challenges: the shorter one is a hanging basket right on the edge of the stream running through the park; the long basket is a healthy long open field shot
+ Nice elevated basket structure on #6
+ New DiscGolfPark equipment: great tee signs, new baskets, concrete teepads
+ Multiple teepads on 8 of the holes, and alternate baskets on #9
+ The standout hole is #9 with two baskets offering very different challenges: the shorter one is a hanging basket right on the edge of the stream running through the park; the long basket is a healthy long open field shot
+ Nice elevated basket structure on #6
Cons:
- With the exception of a few shots across Wyomissing Creek and the risk/reward setup on #9, the course is pretty much a plain vanilla park course. The setting is nice, but the holes themselves aren't particularly challenging or memorable
- Designers went to the trouble of including two teepads on eight holes, but they don't do much to change the configuration. There's an elevation difference between the two tees on #8, and the back tee on #4 causes you to throw around the fenced corner of the basketball court
Otherwise, the back tees just add a little bit of distance
- This is a busy park, and throwing lines come very close - or cross - walking paths. I was lucky enough to play on a mild February day, and I think I waited only once for a path to clear. I can't imagine the pace of play (and the danger to walkers) on a busy day in the park
- Designers went to the trouble of including two teepads on eight holes, but they don't do much to change the configuration. There's an elevation difference between the two tees on #8, and the back tee on #4 causes you to throw around the fenced corner of the basketball court
Otherwise, the back tees just add a little bit of distance
- This is a busy park, and throwing lines come very close - or cross - walking paths. I was lucky enough to play on a mild February day, and I think I waited only once for a path to clear. I can't imagine the pace of play (and the danger to walkers) on a busy day in the park
Other Thoughts:
~ It's great when a municipality or private association is willing to properly fund tees, signage and baskets. But how much does beautiful equipment matter when the park is too busy, or the footprint too small to accommodate play?
~ As of this writing (early 2020), the fact that you have to walk all the way around the park because of the stream bisecting hole #7 is still the most notable detractor to the course experience. But a planned footbridge over Wyomissing Creek in 2020 will solve this. In the meantime, I suggest you park along Playground Drive, and start your round with hole #7 (short tee). You'll be able to play your round straight through, finishing with the elevated basket on hole #6. You'll still have to walk all the way back around the course to return to your car, but at least you won't be doing it in the middle of your round
~ As of this writing (early 2020), the fact that you have to walk all the way around the park because of the stream bisecting hole #7 is still the most notable detractor to the course experience. But a planned footbridge over Wyomissing Creek in 2020 will solve this. In the meantime, I suggest you park along Playground Drive, and start your round with hole #7 (short tee). You'll be able to play your round straight through, finishing with the elevated basket on hole #6. You'll still have to walk all the way back around the course to return to your car, but at least you won't be doing it in the middle of your round
