Northwood Blue
12 Helpful / 0 Not
Pros: -- Excellent use of the land: water, trees and elevation. This is a wooded course, so there is no big body of water for a giant water carry, but a creek borders many holes and crosses some fairways.
-- Excellent distance variation: From the shorts, three holes are less than 250 feet and four are longer than 400 (two longer than 600). From the long tees, one hole is shorter than 250 and six are longer than 400 feet.
-- Two concrete tee pads on eight holes, all plenty big and with nice grip.
-- Decent navigation with next tee signs to help. One exception is noted below.
-- Doesn't favor one throwing style (RHBH, etc.).
-- Excellent baskets with orange bands to help with visibility.
-- Tee signs are excellent. Big enough to help you see from a distance as you approach. They include a nice map of the hole shape, locations of each tee, distances from both tees and pars from each.
-- Signature holes abound: Hole 5 (419 feet) requires good placement off the tee before a shot through a tree-lined gap down into a big ravine to the basket with water on three sides and thick brush on the other. Don't go straight down the ravine to the basket; there is a path to the right, but it is not obvious. Hole 11 (603) feet is much more open but has a low ceiling and still has trees. The final hole of the course is the longest (660 feet) and has an initial gap over the OB creek. Though it plays mostly open after the drive, more OB on the right side of the pine-tree lined fairway comes into play as you go uphill to the basket.
-- Creek crossings all have nice sturdy bridges.
Cons: -- The Blue and Black courses cross some, so there can be some minor confusion (and added congestion).
-- Not cart friendly. The bridges help, but you've still got steep hills and some narrow paths. If it has rained recently, those hills are going to be treacherous.
-- Disc loss potential is high. Long throws, often blind to the basket, combined with some thick rough and ravines mean you will likely spend a lot of time looking for discs.
Other Thoughts: -- There are a few long walks (including parking to No. 1, depending on your parking lot) that combined with the length of the holes and the up and down nature of the terrain make this physically demanding to traverse.
-- Two great course in the same park. Blue appears to be the easier of the two but was still a huge challenge for this low 800s player.
12 of 12 people found this review helpful.
Top level course hidden away beyond the cornfields
11 Helpful / 0 Not
Pros: Concrete pads, tee signs, bright orange Mach X's.
Two layouts with multiple tees on both to cover a wide skill set.
Incredible wooded holes consisting of tight lines, length, elevation, water, and everything in between.
Blue hole 18 is what a finishing hole should be.
Cons: Punishing rough, multiple drop offs where discs are never to be found again.
Muddy and slick after rain.
Other Thoughts: With much deliberation, Northwood is the lone Peoria area course I have given a 4.5 rating.
Its masterful use of the landscape, iconic holes, balance of challenge and fun are indeed phenomenal.
While once standing as a peer to McNaughton as the area's toughest course, the work put into this course over the last few years has been astounding and worthy of the next level of rating
The original hole 5 (now Blue 5) was once the iconic hole that showcased how disc golf holes can be carved out of the dense rolling hills is now usurped by multiple holes of unimaginably higher caliber.
With the original layout nearly restored as the Blue layout alongside the vaunted Black layout (plus multiple tees on most holes), it is truly approachable and enjoyable for all skill levels.
Find your way down the country roads between the Central Illinois towns of Washington and Morton and play this highly touted gem of a course.
11 of 11 people found this review helpful.
18 Helpful / 0 Not
Pros: To start off with. WOW. I was expecting a challenging course but this was so much harder and tiring than I expected. In the good way though. There are 2 tee pads on most of the holes I'd say. Some could even have 3 but I assume these are from an older layout and they're not shown on the signs. The pads themselves are in excellent condition and are level and grip well. The flow from hole to hole is very easy to follow. I never got lost once on my first time through. There's next tee signs where needed but it's pretty straightforward to find the next tee. The baskets are Mach X's that are all in great shape and catch fantastically. These are some of my favorite pins out there. The tops and cages are a bright orange which stands out really nice against a green backdrop. The tee signs here are, again, top notch. These are plenty big enough with a nice map of the hole shape, locations of each tee, distances from both tees and pars from each. All the info you'd need. The big orange circle around the hole number makes spotting them from a distance pretty easy. There is every type of shot required here. There are left turning, right turning, uphill, downhill. Downhill then back uphill? You name it they probably have it here. There are even 2 holes over 1000 feet. The distances are all over the place. No 2 holes really feel the same except maybe 7 through 10. These are more open park style holes. Hole 9 is 600 some feet though, I believe it was, and they all have some trees in the fairway to contend with. Great design here. There are numerous places where the creek winds through. Every hole that it does there are some steps or bridges to get you over to the other side. And I mean REALLY nice bridges. The course is in a very secluded area, therefore it's very quiet and serene. About the only thing you'll hear is other disc golfers. The course was in fantastic shape and everything was mowed to perfection. There are actually 3 additional holes that appear to be the old 1-3 with yellow Machs which we played first and are kind of a nice warm up for the new layout.
Cons: The number one thing about this course is that it's NOT for beginners. This is a pro level course even from the short tees. This course will challenge even experienced amateur players. This isn't a con at all but expect a couple hours to finish a round and expect a workout. It's a very challenging course. The rough can get pretty thick in spots making losing a disc very possible. There are also numerous drop offs right off or even in the middle of fairways. Very treacherous walking down and up these. Again not really a con per se but worth mentioning. This is what makes this course such a challenge. Just know this going in, that's all.
Other Thoughts: This would seem to be the destination course in the Peoria area. I haven't played them all but I can't imagine there's anything as beautiful and challenging as this place. This course is definitely worth a stop if you're anywhere near here. It's an absolute gem of a course. Pair it with an of number of other nearby courses and you're in for a great day of disc golf. Must play for sure.
18 of 18 people found this review helpful.
Excellent Course
3 Helpful / 0 Not
Pros: Nice Tee pads
Nice baskets, bright orange easy to see in all the woods
Nice tight woods shots
Some more open, but still technical
Some long and low ceiling holes
Very Clean Course
Nice Park
Ample Parking
Not busy, sort of secluded
Lot's of elevation changes
First 4 holes are tight wooded holes
All holes are hard but fair
18 is a long bomb, but not just wide open and fun
Cons: None, only minor tweak would be walk from 18 tee pad to field where thrown you have to walk around on the road, but very minor knit
Other Thoughts: Great course will be back for sure when in town
3 of 3 people found this review helpful.
Would Play Every Day If I Could
2 Helpful / 2 Not
Pros: Nothing to say that hasn't been said already. I absolutely love this course. Challenging, fair and fun. Course gives you a little bit of everything, tight wooded holes with narrow gaps, to open bombers, low ceiling technical shots, you name it, it's probably there.
Cons: I really can not think of any.
Other Thoughts: If you are in the area, you have to play this course.
And in case you didn't know, the course is being updated later this summer in preparation for hosting Pro Worlds in 2019.
2 of 4 people found this review helpful.
Excellent Pro Course
2 Helpful / 1 Not
Pros: Excellent holes. Every single one was fantastic and fun to play. There was a great mix of open, sweeping holes coupled with tighter, technical shots in the woods. This was tough for me since I am a beginner and this was a tough course, but it is still a blast to play.
Cons: No real cons for this course except that it has a very steep learning curve for beginner players.
2 of 3 people found this review helpful.
1 Helpful / 10 Not
Pros: -Well designed
-baskets/tee pads in good condition
-practice basket
Cons: -Map of back 9 needs to be updated to new tee pads -and pins.
- can be difficult for beginners
-next hole markers need re done
-no water/bathroom locations throughout course, only by parking.
Other Thoughts: Worth the drive to play.
1 of 11 people found this review helpful.
2 Helpful / 8 Not
Pros: Great course, good mix of woods and open areas. I like the baskets. Front 9 could be the best I have played. Everyone says hole 18 is the signature hole, but I would have to disagree. HOLE 5 IS A BEAST.
Cons: Holes 10-14 are a little crowded.
Other Thoughts: Awesome course!!!!!
2 of 10 people found this review helpful.
Wonderful Design
8 Helpful / 0 Not
Pros: - Located close to the interstate, in a nearly dedicated park for disc golf. There are some playgrounds and pavilions near the start, but out the way. The only other conflicts are some hiking trails, some of which coincide with a few paths between holes.
- Two tees for most holes. Some of the long tees are dirt, however, marked with two blue pavers. They'd be pretty difficult though.
- Tee signs are minimal, but do the job. Just tee positions and arrows indicating the line.
- Wonderful elevation used on parts of the course. (3, 5, 9, 17, 18)
- #1, talk about a starting hole! Warm up putting, and then bring your A game right away. Very tight window from either tee.
- #3, a nice blind uphill. Just trying to get through the trees and up to the top of the little hill for a shot at the basket.
- #5 is one of the couple signature holes on the course. To be honest, it is probably one of the most memorable, signature holes on any course in central Illinois. It plays first across a small gully, which hosts an 8 ft wide gap on the other side, probably 60 feet in front of you. Clear that gap and get yourself on top of the next hill and into a clearing. From there, you shoot down into the ravine, hoping to land on the 15 foot deep peninsula that hosts the pin. I remember my first time ever playing this hole, and feeling it was too difficult and unfair. Years later, with a slightly more refined game, I partially recant that position. Difficult and a challenge, yes. Unfair, no.
- #8, just approaching this hole is chilling. It almost looks like a tunnel or portal to somewhere. The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe type of stuff. 300 feet long, 20 feet wide the whole way. Blue paver-marked tee is another 100 feet back, making the hole even more difficult. Pretty demanding for just a straight hole.
- I had not yet played the course with some of the more recent changes. I'm a big fan of losing the old #16, and adding the new #17.
- #9, new to me, and a very nice addition to the course. Definitely an upgrade. Shoots over a small hollow, but a deceivingly long hole.
- #17, also new to me on this course. You just stand on the tee pad, wondering how in the heck you're going to make a three. Tight windows and some rolling hills with small watershed channels carved deep into the earth. Only 330 feet, but uphill, and ending in a relatively wide open clearing.
- #18, also a very memorable hole, from a bluff shooting through a window over a small creek, and out into a wide open fairway. Once you've landed in the fairway though, you've still got your work cut out for you, throwing a few more shots uphill to reach the pin. I think that window has gotten smaller since the last time I played, but still very manageable. (Which doesn't mean I still didn't hit a tree and have to retrieve a disc from the creek bank...because I did.)
Cons: - Underneath some of the baskets is worn down, especially on some hillsides.
- There is some graffiti on some of the baskets and signs.
- No benches on the course, although there are some stumps here and there. Doesn't bother me a ton, but I did notice a lack of them.
- Getting down into the ravine on #5 can be a little dicey, especially when wet. There is a long way around if you keep walking straight through the fairway, which isn't entirely obvious. At least, until you get to the bottom and realize, "Oh, well I could have just come down that way." Some recessed wooden stairs would certainly take this hole up a notch. There are some nice small foot bridges at the bottom.
- Did not locate the short tee that was listed on #6's sign, but it may have just been a paver-marked dirt tee that was covered in leaves.
Other Thoughts: - #10 through #14 are just fine holes, but not particularly memorable. They do require different shots, and vary in length, which keeps them viable. Some low ceilings increase their difficulty, for sure. Some of these are new, or have been revamped. All for the better. #13 is deceivingly long.
- This course is straight up fun to play. I did not score well on my most recent visit...and kind of hardly even noticed, if that's possible. Enjoyed the grandeur of the course that much.
- Some upkeep and additional amenities could really push this course to the absolute, ultimate level. My initial thought is to score this a 4.25. However, I find it a step above McNaughton and Lake Eureka which I rated 4.0. Also, two finishing holes like 17 and 18 really leave you with a good taste in your mouth, almost unlike any other course I've played. So a 4.5 it is!
8 of 8 people found this review helpful.
Favorite Course in IL
2 Helpful / 0 Not
Pros: - Nice Teepads
- Fairly tight fairways on a majority of the holes
- Tunnel Shots Galore
- A very nice balance of tightly wooded and, open, and slightly wooded.
- An excellent use of the elevation where some of the pins are right before a drop off, on the side of hill, on the top of a hill and on #5 there is the steep cliffish hll halfway through the hole making it a challanging hole.
- A very nice mix of short medium and long holes with some nice must get holes and others you hope to get a 3 on.
Cons: - Not too much to complain about here.
- Some long teepads are grass
- Some direction from hole 3 to hole 4, hole 6 to 7, and hol 17 to 18 would be nice
- I was told that there was a redesign here a few years ago and because of this there a few random teepads that dont get used for anything and my first time I was clueless and played from them to random baskets because I had no clue.
- Signage to get into the park would be very helpful. I know I drove by it multiple times my first time here because I had no clue where the park was and gps didnt help at all. Its like a park within a park.
Other Thoughts: To me this is the #1 course in the Peoria IL area and is a must play in my mind and reeminds me a lot of the wooded courses in WI.
2 of 2 people found this review helpful.
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7/12/2022 
7/27/2022
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