Riverbend Park
11 Helpful / 0 Not
Pros: -- Water in play on at least three holes (6, 10, 11; 13 and 14 would be a stretch), although there is no water carry.
-- Course flow is good; once you find No. 1 (turn left into parking lot after entering park), you won't have much trouble.
-- Map on building (restrooms) by No. 1. There is also a restroom by 13 (campgrounds).
-- Baskets are a mixture of Innova DiscCatchers and another maker I am not familiar with, but they all catch well.
-- Good concrete tee pads.
-- Water (spigots) on course.
-- Cool tee signs with the hole number, distance and general flight path cut out of a metal plate raised from the base. They look nice but aren't the easiest to read.
-- Elevation is well used with three downhill and two uphill throws.
-- The best stretch of holes is 6-12. This picturesque stretch is below the level of rest of the course (near the river). Six is an ace run (223 feet) with the basket downhill from the tee. An overthrow of 15-20 feet could cost you your disc as the ground slopes down toward the river. No. 10 is RHFH (315 feet) around bushes with the basket less than 10 feet from ground sloping down to the river. No. 11 (180 feet) has a mando that forces you to go right around a tree where a bad kick could result in a disc in the water. No. 12 is the longest hole on the course (439 feet). It's flat with a decent number of trees to avoid for the first 300-325 feet, then goes steeply uphill in an open area to a basket guarded on three sides by bushes.
Cons: -- The longer holes tend to be somewhat open, and some play downhill, so there isn't much chance to air out a drive for those with good arms. My 275-foot distance off the tee was frequently enough. In fact, I parked No. 16 (314 feet downhill).
-- The opening holes (1 and 3 especially) seem almost like fillers in a mostly open field.
-- The No. 3 fairway (and other parts of that field that house 4 and 5) are FULL of stickers despite the grass being very short. I stopped 4-5 times to get stickers out of my dog's paws because she was limping badly.
-- No. 2 (264 feet) is a cool hole with the basket guarded by trees, but you have to throw over TWO park roads (entrance and exit) to reach the basket.
-- Long walk from 13 to 14. When you finish 13, cross the walking bridge, turn left and keep walking.
Other Thoughts: -- Distances listed on dgcoursereview are not accurate. They are from 2013, so it appears there has been a redesign (or perhaps just a few baskets moved). For example, 9 is listed at 246 feet, but it's more than 300 feet; No. 15 is listed at 330 feet here but 364 on the tee sign. I didn't realize this when I played, so I didn't write down distances.
-- This is a multi-use park, but most of the holes take you away from other park users.
-- If you are heading north/west on Highway 71, the park entrance is on the right IMMEDIATELY after you cross the Colorado River.
11 of 11 people found this review helpful.
2 Helpful / 3 Not
Pros: 1. concrete tee pads
2. metal signs with distance and direction
3. next tee arrows under baskets
4. well maintained park
Cons: 1. restrooms locked
2. no potable water
3. stickers everywhere "ouch"
Other Thoughts: beautiful trees
2 of 5 people found this review helpful.
Good course for location!
0 Helpful / 4 Not
Pros: It has a combination of technical and distance really enjoyed the course!
concrete T's
Well maintained and cut
Cons: Grass is high in areas and next to the river the concrete pads were non existent due to past flooding. It's a good course for its location.
0 of 4 people found this review helpful.
Unexpected fun course
1 Helpful / 3 Not
Pros: Fun course to play. Good use of the slope going to the river bottom. Nice concrete tee pads. the baskets are in good shape. Most holes are fun, fair and just enough of a challenge.
Cons: Stickers(ouch), not on all holes just the beginning and end. 2 types of baskets, you never know what you are looking for. Out of the way for most people.
Other Thoughts: Took my wife to Smithville to go antiquing. Saw this on the map and went to check it out. Glad I did.
1 of 4 people found this review helpful.
A short yet decent course
7 Helpful / 0 Not
Pros: This course plays in a city park of the small city of Smithville. The course has big, wide concrete tees with tee signs at every hole.
There are nine Innova DisCatchers along with nine DN Liberty baskets, all of which are in good shape and have the extra inner chains.
In my opinion, the best part of this course is the use of the hill that five or six holes play up and down multiple times on. Being from Houston, any elevation is good elevation and it brings a new dynamic and can make longer holes play shorter when playing down a hill and vice versa when playing up the hill.
The holes are short enough that shooting under par is not too hard to do. Though the holes are short, there are enough trees in the park that it doesn't feel like you are throwing short shots with no obstacles, and you will have to work for you two.
With the locals there is something that is called "Birdie Row" and it is a string of holes that all should be birdied. Holes 6-10 make up Birdie Row.
Even though there are short holes there are longer and more challenging holes. Hole 12 is the longest and toughest hole on the course as it plays in a tighter part of the woods and up the hill then a dog leg to the right. It is a very tough three, and it adds a bit of challenge after Birdie Row.
There are also bathrooms and water on the course. The flag and eagle carved into the dead tree at Hole 17 is very good and adds a bit of notoriety to the course when looked in from outsiders.
Cons: Several of the holes make you throw over the park road, even some holes twice. If you are not careful or observant, you could hit an oncoming car. With the exception of 12, most of the longer holes, over 325', have few obstacles to contend with. There have been a few trees that have been cleared because they are dead, and I believe that this will be an ongoing trend, which will eventually lead to an even easier course.
There are also very few holes that stick out in my mind as holes where I really felt that I had just played a good thought out hole. Many of the holes felt repetitive, even the ones utilizing the hill. It is what it is, a typical city park disc golf course.
Other Thoughts: I was pleasantly surprised when I got to the course to play the Boxcar Bash. Going into it, I thought the course would be bland and not exciting. This is a course I would not mind driving two hours to play on occasion. It is the only course in 20 or so miles, and it is a solid course no doubt about it.
7 of 7 people found this review helpful.
Very decent course
0 Helpful / 3 Not
Pros: Now 18 holes, all with concrete pads. Nice design that takes into play all of the varied terrain, from some hills, to wide open fields, to the trees lining the Colorado River.
Cons: Pretty short overall. One basket was missing and replaced with a post. Nature is at play with poison ivy, thorns, ants, and the river.
Other Thoughts: This is a very homey course, with good parking and a restroom available. The design seems well organized and was fun to play.
0 of 3 people found this review helpful.
Great, Fun little course!
4 Helpful / 1 Not
Pros: Active course, taken care of, association of members, monthly mini and annual tournaments, Fun, Variety, good pace.
Cons: Occasional poison ivy
Other Thoughts: At the time of this posting (Aug 2nd 2013) a few of the other reviews are a little incorrect. This course is in the process of being converted to 18 holes. There are 18 different baskets set up now. There are 9 concrete tee pads and 9 more coming soon (probably done by this time next month). Also, there are signs coming soon to indicate yardage, etc. A new map has been made and can be found online and a new printed map we be posted at the course too. The course is maintained by the Smithville PARD and the Smithville Disc Golf Association. The SDGA is extremely active and is regularly holding meetings to improve the course.
The course.
Has a great variety of shots. Great course for the average, intermediate and beginner player. Super Pros may not enjoy this course. It is designed for all around fun and scoring. All the holes are Par 3 with the exception of 12 can be played as a Par 4. Hole 5 will be elevated and not be a blind shot (SDGA voted to change this hole). There are several holes that can be played with a flick shot. There are a few holes where having a great arm will help. There are a few short holes where precision comes into play.
4 of 5 people found this review helpful.
Not bad, not great
3 Helpful / 0 Not
Pros: Quick little course if you have an hour or so to kill. Has a few holes you can air it out, but mostly technical, controlled shots here. Not crowded at all with the general public. Even with the lack of trash cans it was mostly clean. Good use of what elevation changes were available. Hole 1 starts out nicely.
Cons: Lack of tee signs, distances (some distances are written on yellow posts in sharpie) and pads - has 5 or 6 concrete pads from the original 9 hole course it used to be. Difficult to navigate....you see 3 tee markers from basket 3, but none of those are for hole 4 (it's across the road by a guy wire and throws down the hill).
Other Thoughts: It was freshly mowed and that helped a little in the navigation. Was recently converted to 18 holes from 9 (sign at hole 1 still says 9 holes). Most of the shots are the same....225-275 ft dogleg left (I used my Drone ALOT) either up or down hill. Even the open holes fade to the left making it very friendly for RHBH with a stable disc (1 and 13 being the exception...very straight to slight anny needed). Would probably give it a 2.5 or 3 when the pads and signs are in.
3 of 3 people found this review helpful.
3 Helpful / 0 Not
Pros: The is a short course that has some fun shots. I appreciate how the course designers make the most out of the elevation and trees throughout the park. Some of the baskets were DISCatchers; however not all of them were.
Cons: The tee pads are dirt and a little rough. Also, the navigation can be a little tricky thought out the course. 3 shoots long across the field, and 4 is down the hill on the other side of the basket. 5 is on the slope of the hill shooting back right by hole 2's baskets( this can be confusing hole 2 and 5's basket are literally 20 ft. away from each other. Then, 6 you throw back down the hill. 9 is back up the hill.On many of the holes you shoot over a road(2 and 5) or blind shots( hole 5). I'm pretty sure 9 and 18 share a basket which really doesn't make this an 18er.
Other Thoughts: This is a quick stop if you are driving threw. It is right off the highway. Stop by and experience this course for yourself there are a few fun holes out there.
3 of 3 people found this review helpful.
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1 
5/25/2018 
6/2/2018
Review By: mlstivender 
This review was updated on 11/4/2018
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