Short but Sweet
7 Helpful / 1 Not
Pros: This is a very short 18, which makes it great for introducing kids or spouses to the game. Quite a few ace attempts can be had here. Baskets are a nice bright red, tee pads are easy to find.
Cons: Obviously, not the most difficult course as far as scoring goes. The fairways are extremely narrow, and the grass is tall. This adds a bit of difficulty in shot placement, but ends up being harder on the newer folks.
For this reason, I recommend playing this course during the late fall, winter, or spring, to let the weeds die down.
Other Thoughts: If you want to work on shot placement, this is a good course, as the margin for error is small on the fairways. Newer players can find success here, only one hole over 200'
It is an interesting question, do you go for short 18 and give frequent chances at aces (or a -18 score), or go for a longer 9 hole course? Seeing as how 18 hole courses this short are rare, I say keep it 18. How often do you find courses like this? :)
7 of 8 people found this review helpful.
If there was putt-putt for disc golf, this is it.
15 Helpful / 0 Not
Pros: Really nice new DD Veterans.
Tee pads have arrows which helps when you can see two or three baskets at once.
Makes a nice loop around the lake administration building.
Someone who knows the layout can finish a round in 20 minutes.
Cons: Lots of dangerous shots. Holes 1, 3, 4, 5, 16, and 17 cross a road, holes 9 and 13 have a walking path behind the basket, a bad shot on 17 could go into the playground, and hole 18 has a picnic shelter behind it.
Not much in the way of distance. One hole over 200' and a few grazing it at 198' and 194'. Some of the holes are just laughable (6 is only 78'), but it's a good course to try for a -18 round... or even -19. Being so short there isn't a lot of shot variety either.
16 and 18 are missing tee pads. 16 you can see where it was, but 18 has nothing at all. Also the tee pads are short and rubber and some are on uneven ground (4, 6, 11). Both these factors make run-ups very difficult... if you really need one.
The fairways of 7-14 are disappointingly similar. 8-12 feet wide with reedy rough on either side. The reeds are tall enough to be an obstacle to get out of, but not punishing enough for them to be worth repeating for 8 successive holes. Also those fairways held a lot of mud and water.
Other Thoughts: I don't really have much to talk about. It's nice to have these kind of courses... but I agree with Upshaw that this would be far better as a longer 9-hole course. Definitely a good place to go ace hunting (1, 2, 6, 13, 18...). I figure some decent safari is possible too.
Parking is 2 hours. Plenty of time to get at least 4 rounds in.
Overall, this is an enjoyable enough course that I played 2 rounds. It's a great place to introduce people to the sport but not a place an experienced player would go very often.
15 of 15 people found this review helpful.
Definition of Passable
10 Helpful / 0 Not
Pros: These fire engine red Dynamic baskets are bright and gleaming, so pretty. There are a full set of 18 for the course. The rubber tee pads are rarely more than a few steps away from the previous basket. There is an arrow on each pad pointing to the target, which is nice because multiple baskets are visible most of the time.
Holes are short and birdies can be had at any moment. Perfect for beginners and young players, or if you want to practice playing with your off hand. If I ever play this one again, I seriously think I will try it lefty and see if I can make par. I would be surprised to find this course packed with disc golfers, even on the nicest day.
There are trees to dodge on the first couple of holes. A lot of the middle portion of the course features narrow, slightly hilly fairways that have tall grass on either side. This could hide plastic, especially when it is fully grown during the summer. The best hole for me was 17, with multiple mature trees standing between the tee and the basket. A very tricky drive on the second longest hole.
Cons: There is not any reason for a serious disc golfer to put this one on the wish list, unless you are trying to get newbies into the game. After visiting the new course in Louisburg, I decided to take the 20 minute drive west to Hillside Lake DGC and give it a try. It is the perfect stepping stone up to Lewis Young Park.
The tees are usually right next to the basket from the hole prior, and sometimes the previous basket is an obstacle to be avoided. The tee mats are tiny, not that a run up is required very often. The pads for 16 and 18 were gone when I played, and they were not the most obvious transitions on the course.
A lot of holes cross the road, and hole 3 tees directly at the building. The only hole I threw a driver on was 17, where the basket is next to the only place likely to have people, the playground.
Other Thoughts: This is the only 18 hole course I have ever rated below 2. It isn't for me, and I understand that it caters to a very recreational level of play. Still, the layout is super cramped, to a point where people, cars or the office could be hit by errant throws in several places. This should be on a larger parcel of land or trimmed to 9 holes in my opinion.
I was only 5 under par, which is a little embarrassing really. 6 down on the front, and 1 over on the back. I played a better round at Lewis Young somehow. My putter was pulling double duty from the tee boxes, maybe it was overworked and not feeling cooperative.
10 of 10 people found this review helpful.
Short and Sweet
9 Helpful / 0 Not
Pros: This course is in close proximity to other recreational activities at Hillsdale Lake. The red Dynamic Veteran baskets are in excellent condition. Rubber tees are in excellent shape, and each has an arrow painted on it pointing to the basket. Navigating this course is very easy; the next tee is always very close to the previous basket. This makes up for the lack of tee signs (which aren't really needed anyway). Short holes (75-200ft) provide ace runs and birdie-or-die holes galore. Even beginners can experience the thrill of a birdie here (as an intermediate player, I threw a -5 while playing poorly and -14 while playing well).
Cons: The fairways are very narrow on many holes (maybe the width of 2 mower decks at times); the rough is native prairie tall grass which hides discs well. There is not very much shot-type variance since all the holes are so short. Safety is a little questionable in spots: tees are often right next to the previous baskets, a few holes throw over the driveway(s), and 18's basket is right next to a picnic shelter. This is not a major concern since traffic here seems pretty light, but just be careful.
Other Thoughts: I get the sense that this course is intended to introduce new families that are spending time at the lake to the sport. The abundance of the tall-grass rough is the only thing holding this course back from doing an excellent job of that. Spending lots of time searching for an errant shot (or even losing your only disc) is not a nice welcome. I think more experienced players could enjoy this course for at least 2 reasons: 1) there are ace runs galore! & 2) the narrow fairways cut into the tall-grass provide ample opportunity for practicing straight and technical approach shots (albeit from the tee).
9 of 9 people found this review helpful.
Pitch and Putt
5 Helpful / 0 Not
Pros: Nice baskets
Rubber tee pads help point to which basket to go to (as you can see many of the baskets standing in one spot)
Flows fairly logically
Great introductory course to very new players.
Cons: Very short. Not a whole lot of challenge for players above Novice level.
For the holes in the back, tall grass is well over waist of 6' person. Given the narrow fairways, throwing into the grass, and then looking for the disc is inevitable.
Other Thoughts: At first when I pulled up, I thought what a joke. Seriously? Especially since I drove over 30 minutes out of may way to play it. But, I'm glad I did. It actually was fun once you got into it. I already pulled my cart out so just kept it with me, but for anyone over a PDGA 800 rating, A mid and a putter is all you need. Over 900, and you only need a putter. If you look at it like that, a fun putter round where most holes are ace opportunities, then it is fun. Which, I did ace #9, which is the only hole I measured - 169'.
5 of 5 people found this review helpful.
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1 
4/9/2021 
4/14/2021
Review By: Surge5 
This review was updated on 4/17/2021
Hole #17 (Taken 2/2020) 
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