Pasadena, CA

Oak Grove (Hahamongna Park)

3.465(based on 65 reviews)
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14 0
Shadrach3
Gold level trusted reviewer
Experience: 5.5 years 318 played 306 reviews
3.00 star(s)

An Erratic Grandfather

Reviewed: Played on:Jun 23, 2023 Played the course:once

Pros:

A piecemeal course that's anything but normal. A note of apology in advance because I think there are multiple different ways to number the course and at least two holes were closed or rerouted when I played! Numbers may not line up perfectly with other players experiences but should still give a ballpark idea.

-OG: Should this be a pro? Probably not. Did it affect my experience? Definitely. This is obviously one of the most tangible pieces of the sport's history. It wasn't what I was expecting though, and defied normal categories of courses I've seen before.

-Setting: Some trees, some slopes. Views of mountains and the NASA JPL. Counts as cool in my book.

-Amenities: Concrete hexagonal tees, DISCatchers, tons of practice baskets. Next tee spokes from time to time.

-Technical Holes: A handful of technical holes out here are absolute gems. (1)-(4), (7), (16), and (19) I think were all particularly notable and fantastic. Subtle shaping with clear fairways within the trees is something I haven't seen in SoCal much.

-Club: I bet this is a great place to be a local. The most signs of club improvement of a course I think I've ever seen. The boards at the start of the course had great beginner info as well.

-Shot Shaping/Gameplay: Oak Grove is split into what feels like several smaller courses, so it's hard to summarize, but I'll discuss several types of holes. First are the good technical holes as described above. Second are other technical holes - these are either short and gimmicky like (5)-(6), or long and luck based which I felt was the case in the section of the course that holds (9)-(10) and (17) and on. There are a few transitional holes like (8) and (11) which feel like filler holes that you need a few times through to get a feel for. Then there's the desert of (12)-(14) which is wide open and pretty ugly. You'll get a bit of everything, but not in a good way to me. Parts were nice, but just as much of the course was bleh holes that weren't terrible per se but felt like a slog.

Cons:

After a stellar start, the rest of the course is so fragmented and pinched in the land that the round never really gets rolling.

-Navigation: Big issue with multiple layers. First, there are no tee signs which is a major drawback to me. Second, it's hard to locate baskets from tees, and at some points it's hard to know which basket to throw to, especially with the tee signs missing. Third, there are lots of fragments of the course necessitating walks in between. The flow is roughly 4-2-3-3-2-1-1-5 or something like that. Lots of brief snippets strung together. Lastly, due to all of the above, it can be tricky to locate the next hole rather than choosing a random tee pad and throwing where you think you might be going.

-Hole Overlap: Throughout, but especially in the main section across from the parking lot, there are lots of holes with tee pads and fairways of subsequent holes easily in reach from previous drives. This would play terribly if it was full.

-Thorns: Portions of rough are prickly. Furthermore, some of these patches are hidden from the tee. Not a biggie.

-Other Hazards: Roads and parking lots are in play on a fair number of holes. I can't imagine how many folks get their cars dinged up halfway through the round on a hole playing directly towards the parking lot with the basket about 10 feet from the pavement.

Other Thoughts:

My round at Oak Grove was all over the map. Parts had me thrilled to be filleting technical lines, parts had me bored, parts had me throwing with no real idea where the right basket was. On the whole, it's a Good property where the nice holes outnumber the dull or flawed ones. A hodgepodge that I still don't really know what I want to say about it.

~Similar Courses: At times like Owens Field (Columbia, SC); at times like Sedgley Woods (Philadelphia, PA); at times like any wide open mostly flat course you've played.
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19 0
DFrah
Gold level trusted reviewer
Premium Member
Experience: 5.8 years 227 played 224 reviews
2.50 star(s)

The world's first course is getting TLC, but needs a larger-scale redesign!

Reviewed: Played on:Apr 23, 2023 Played the course:once

Pros:

Hahamongna Watershed Park is located on the north edge of the Los Angeles metro area. It is the home of Oak Grove, the world's first permanent disc golf course (originally installed in 1975). Today's version of the course has 23 holes.

The course mostly plays around the edges of the park. The main obstacles are trunks of the oak trees the course is named after. Nothing is super tight here, but the designers did a good job of placing tees and baskets to require some degree of shot shaping around the tree trunks. It is a nice setting for a round of disc golf. The distances are recreational level, with most holes under 300' and all par 3. However, in general you will have to throw about 250' and shape your shot correctly to have a chance at birdie.

There are some thick rough areas, but in most places the grass is cut down and losing a disc would be nearly impossible unless it gets stuck in one of the trees.

The baskets, ironically, are not DGA's but rather standard yellow banded DISCatchers. They have definitely seen a lot of discs, but were still in fine shape as of my visit. One basket installed per hole.

Some of the tee pads are quite nice - large, hexagonal-shaped pieces of concrete. Trash cans and benches are also present near most (if not all) tees. The benches are a big plus here since the park is so busy and you'll likely have to spend quite a bit of time waiting for DGers, non-DGers, or both during your round.

There are various porta potties and restrooms scattered around the park. The first tee area has a practice basket, and a makeshift kiosk consisting of various notices and other pieces of paper taped to a power line pole (no course map though).

Cons:

It will be easiest if I lump my two biggest Cons together and share my experience in story form. This course is frankly a nightmare to navigate, and has egregious multi-use safety issues.

I do not use UDisc during my rounds, but here I came prepared with the UDisc map pulled up on mobile web to reference. Even that wasn't nearly enough. The first couple of holes weren't bad. Someone put the little clips in the bottom of the baskets, which along with the UDisc map was enough. Things started to go sharply downhill after hole 4, where you'll see hole 7's tee a short walk away but instead you are supposed to pick your way up a steep ridge to reach hole 5. Hole 5 is a short, uninspiring fairway next to a parking lot (basically through a picnic area). Then, hole 6 asks you to throw across a busy paved bicycling/walking trail. After that, you have to retrace your steps (and safely get back down the steep hill) to reach hole 7. After doing this I found myself wondering why holes 5 and 6 even exist at all. It's not as if the designers were trying to get to 18 holes.

Hole 7, by the way, plays right up to another picnic area that was in use when I visited. I think hole 8 was being affected by construction, but it was hard to tell. There was a group looking for a disc in thick lose-your-disc brush on the left side. Hole 9 plays right up to the parking lot.

I never found the 10th tee. And again, I was looking at the UDisc map and normally my navigational sense is very good. I wandered around the area and found the 18th and 23rd baskets, and the 19th tee. A few minutes later I gave up and walked up to what appeared to be the 11th tee, but there was clear signage (for once) indicating to use an alternate tee pad a few feet away. There was also a group playing the hole which I hadn't seen during the round yet, but I figured I was probably just catching up to them. I stood on the alternate pad and waited for them to clear. Just as they did, another group of 3 that I had not seen yet walked up to the normal 11th pad and proceeded to tee off immediately without even glancing towards me. This group definitely was NOT behind me the whole time, and I am certain I did not walk around them on #10. So I think they skipped holes and played out of turn, but it was hard to really blame them since I was confused too.

I was also running out of time to play. I incorrectly thought I would be able to get through a short course like this solo in two hours on a Sunday late morning, even if I had to wait for a couple of groups. So I decided to break normal etiquette myself and walk around a little bit to find an open hole to throw (making sure that no groups were playing the hole or about to play it). But curiously, when I started skipping around I noticed more other groups that seemed to be doing the same thing. People were throwing at baskets from directions that did not seem to line up with any sort of fairway or tee pad on the map.

Finally I saw the 21st tee and no one seemed to be on that part of the course, so I was able to play the last three holes. #21 and #22 went fine. #23 basically shares the same fairway as #19, and they play in opposite directions so I had to wait for a group on #19 to play through before I could finish up.

The TL/DR version of the above is:
- Lots of safety hazards related to throwing in heavy multi-use areas.
- Lots of issues navigating between holes.
- Cramped together holes in the back half of the course.

It seemed like all of these could be resolved by:
- Redoing the layout to have only 18 holes, while avoiding fairways that overlap with each other/other park amenities (basically eliminate the current #5 and #6 plus three of the back area holes that are close to other ones, then adjust the remaining holes a bit).
- Installing better signage.

The tee signs were not good either. They were just yard-style variety with the hole number, and occasionally a fun fact about the course. A note somewhere said that more permanent signage was in the works, which would really help.

Some tee pads were not the hexagonal-shaped concrete slabs but rather just rubber mats. Many of the hexagon slabs also had incorrect hole numbers engraved into them, which didn't help the general confusion (I recommend just ignoring the engraved numbers).

The elevation changes here are only gentle. There is nothing particularly memorable about the golf itself (at least the holes I experienced), and also nothing to challenge advanced players.

Other Thoughts:

I was hoping to see some kind of high-quality commemorative plaque explaining how Steady Ed helped get the world's first course installed here in 1975, and added baskets in 1976. In retrospect, I should have known better. The rusty "Frisbee Golf Course" sign on the park drive and the "World's First Disc Golf Course - 1975" note taped to the power line pole are way more in line with how our sport got started. :)

I did not expect the world's first course to be world-class disc golf by today's standards. But I still left pretty disappointed. It's not that the holes are too easy or the baskets are falling apart, or anything like that. Someone cares about this course and is trying to chip away at the issues, but larger scale changes are needed. With a redesign along the lines of what I described above, this could be a solid 3.5 type course - but right now I feel like I'm being generous giving a 2.5.

I had about two hours to devote to disc golf on my recent mini trip to California. I chose to spend that time here more due to the historical significance than anything else. Through that lens, I don't regret coming here. Now I can say I threw at the first disc golf course in the world! But if you don't care about that, I'm pretty sure there are better options around - even within the LA metro area.
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11 1
eakadima15
Experience: 27 played 17 reviews
3.00 star(s)

2+ years drive by

Reviewed: Played on:Nov 3, 2021 Played the course:5+ times

Pros:

Fun combination of wooded holes and open shots

The desert portion of the course is especially fun

Terrific ace runs to attack

Course will always be an important part of disc golf history as the first ever basket disc golf course

Cons:

Even though its the first course ever created, you wouldn't know it from the lack of respect so many players show for it with so much litter and trash

The locals are jerks and overcrowding is always a huge problem now. So many people who won't let you play through even as they mob the course, playing loud music and people who throw while you're still playing a hole.

The course seems to be getting worse. Some of the most popular holes are now gone and they even got rid of the great island hole.

Very difficult to play the first time. Lack of signage and the hole numbers on the tee pads are completely out of date from decades ago

Other Thoughts:

Oak Grove's problems aside, you can still experience the magic of playing the first course ever if you visit at the right time. It's just hopelessly overcrowded dominated by the wrong crowd. Come here early in the morning and you'll have a great round.
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2 5
chrishall1010
Experience: 3.8 years 9 played 7 reviews
2.50 star(s)

Excited to play but a bit disapointed 2+ years drive by

Reviewed: Played on:Jul 10, 2020 Played the course:once

Cons:

Very hard to find holes, lack of signage, online course maps out of date. We had to skip holes because we just couldn't find the baskets. We played to wrong baskets a few times. NOT great for anyone who has not played here before. I would not go back unless I went with someone very familiar with the course. Beautiful area though and weather was great!

Other Thoughts:

Happy Birthday Jeff D.
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9 0
Nate32
Gold level trusted reviewer
Premium Member
Experience: 10.6 years 74 played 60 reviews
3.50 star(s)

2+ years

Reviewed: Played on:Aug 8, 2018 Played the course:once

Pros:

Oak Grove Park is located in Pasadena, California and is the first disc golf course ever.. Oak Grove is unique for its variety of holes as well as how old it is. This course hosts a disc golf tournament every year called the Winter Time Open. Almost every hole plays through these big oak trees which is probably why the call it oak grove. This course starts out with a mando on the first hole.

I thought this hole was really challenging because you have to cut the mando hard to have a look at the basket. Hilly terrain on some of the holes. It was really unique to see the first ever basket on display there it just shows that disc golf has come a long way. Hole 2 is also another fun hole. This hole is a great shot to practice your technical lines.

Hardware on this course has been updated as well. The pictures are a little old and no the vintage basket is not part of one of the holes basket. All of the discatchers are new and nothing much to complain about. Tee pads are concrete as well as big garbage cans.

On Hole 3 there were some picnicers on the course right in the middle of the hole. There are also bathrooms with a big parking lot. I played on what felt like a 100° day and man it was exhausting. There is a lot of shade but on the holes that do not have shade it was a hot mess.

The climate reminds me of Chavez Ridge. Hot and dry in the shaded area. I wonder if they have the wintertime open in the winter for a reason. Some of the back holes are fun. Also the spider basket on hole number 4 was really cool but challenging. This hole plays uphill finishing with the weirdest position for a basket. Oak Grove's history reminds me of Delaveaga Park.

They both have unique holes named after something like the refrigerator or the spider basket. With those California dust skips you will get the best of then here in the summer.

Cons:

I played in the back of this group that was like an 8 sum. They were not good and it was like a college group just hacking around the course. I do wish they would split up but I found a gap and cut right in front of them.

The course is a little sloppy on layout. On some of the back holes it was confusing. This course plays mostly in the shade but on those back holes it is hot and dry. Man this course is a desert and I mean it. A lot of the trash cans are filled with beer and cigarettes which was not very pleasant.

The course does not really get maintained which is ok but it needs some updating. Some of the chains are rusting and not in the best shape. There is a practice basket in the parking lot but it is not the greatest for long putting practice. Cars drive by and without getting hit you can only get about a 20 footer at the most.

Other Thoughts:

Overall this course was fun to play with all the unique features and is a tournament course which I am not surprised because it is the first ever disc golf course. I like a lot of things about oak grove it is a little outdated. Some of the holes offer some unique shots as well as some unique holes. Bathrooms are okay but not the greatest. Overall I would like to play it again on a winter day when there is overcast.

Hole 5 alternate tee is my favorite hole on this course. This hole plays all the way down the hill straight to the basket. Man nothing like this hole. It is great and basically the only hole with grass.

Some blind shots on this course make it nice and it does look like they have done some renovating. Oak Grove offers one of the best for a variety. All the pin locations are a little confusing but not really. I think all the back tees are rubber but I am not sure.
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6 0
Sharknado2
Silver level trusted reviewer
Experience: 34 played 34 reviews
4.00 star(s)

Versatile terrain, accessible difficulty 2+ years

Reviewed: Played on:Aug 4, 2019 Played the course:5+ times

Pros:

- Tons of possible pin locations for each hole
- Nearly 30 holes for flexibility in tournament layouts
- bathrooms near all edges of the course
- Big parking lot
- With the exception of some of the desert holes all are reachable for rec+ players
- greens are well guarded, being 10-20 ft away doesn't always mean you will have a put
- tons of oak trees, mandos, elevation changes require precise lines off the tee
- It's almost like 3 different courses-- super wooded and elevation changes on the front 9, more open park style on most of the back 9, then you have the long bomber out in the open desert holes. Keeps the holes from getting too repetitive.
- Hard to lose a disc--only thing rough on a couple of holes
- Minimal OB except on the holes near the road/parking lot
- Pretty close to the highway so easy to get to
- Water fountain right at the start of the course
- Except for the desert hole it's pretty shady so you can have some refuge from those blazing Pasadena summer days
- Awesome community of huckers--active league and locals who try to make every tournaments. Everytime I've gone I feel like I've seen a league or an event on the course.
- And of course I'm obligated to mention that this is the original disc golf course so that's cool too.

Cons:

- Flow is damn near impossible to navigate for a first time visitor. I played whatever hole I could find after wandering around the first time. Didn't figure out the actual layout until playing a tournament.
- I don't love the baskets--the chains can be a little heavy and push out things that don't hit perfectly in the center.
- baskets are pretty much all the exact same height with the exception of 1 elevated one
- Lots of oblivious park goers, this was even during a 3 rd tournament with signs everywhere, dog walkers going in and out of fairways at their own leisure
- Practice basket in the parking lot isn't the best placement unless you only want to practice 15ft putts. Leads to people putting from the parking lot and dodging cars
- The first couple holes on the field are always the toughest when it comes to other park goers--people who have booked the field, oblivious walkers, cranky old men hitting golf balls, etc.

Other Thoughts:

An awesome course that's scorable for rec thru open players but has enough trouble and tight lines to make sure nothing is a gimme. Variety in hole shapes and terrains keep things interesting. Plus the walks from hole to hole (once you know where to go) aren't too long or demanding so it's not any sort of endurance test.

If you are in the area I would definitely recommend this course over Chavez--you'll have to walk fewer hills, get fewer rollaways, have an easier time parking, and get to experience some real history of the sport. Plus if you're taking a beginner they won't be permanently scared off the sport like they would if you took them to Chavez.
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3 1
coyotepower
Experience: 18.6 years 87 played 34 reviews
3.00 star(s)

Showing its age 2+ years drive by

Reviewed: Played on:Aug 3, 2018 Played the course:once

Pros:

- DG History.
- Old basket in 10's fairway.
- Shaded Parking

Cons:

- Day Campers (I get it but man could they not take up the whole park?)
- Worked over like the Hookers we saw in Vegas.
- Hot as F on the back side (the Desert)

Other Thoughts:

Day 3 of 12 we played Oak Grove in Pasadena, CA. This is some DG History right here folks! Unfortunately the Day Camp had the rights to the fields and the course. We went ahead and played anyway skipping the first 3 holes and one later. the course itself is ok. the holes are worn in and the back half of the course is like a desert. Not ideal but we played it and happy to have. Wouldn't go back though as there are much better rounds to be had.
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5 0
dobsonr
Bronze level trusted reviewer
Experience: 15.8 years 40 played 33 reviews
4.00 star(s)

Must play! More fun once familiar. 2+ years

Reviewed: Updated: Played on:May 25, 2018 Played the course:5+ times

Pros:

- Historic value. First permanent course ever!! You can see one of the original baskets tucked into a tree to the left of the fairway on Hole #10.
- Scenery. All of the old oak trees make you forget you're still in Los Angeles (whereas at nearby Chavez Ridge you're well aware the entire time). This makes it a great respite for city dwellers like myself.
- Well-designed. The holes have a lot of variation, and you'll find opportunities to work on all sorts of shots. There are plenty of big, open holes that give you a chance to air it out, and short, technical holes that play in and out of the woods. There are also 4 open "desert" holes that provide a uniquely-SoCal feel to the course.
- Something for everybody, and fun for everyone from beginners to seasoned pros. Whether you've got a canon and like to air it out or shine more in technical situations, Oak Grove has it all.
- Strong community of locals. No matter what time I go there are always folks out playing, and so far in my experience everyone is really friendly and welcoming.
- Multiple basket locations for every hole.
- Nice, safe area. Pretty close to the local high school but it's separate enough that you aren't aware while you're playing.
- Water fountains and bathrooms on site. The porta-potties near the soccer fields are the cleanest I've seen.

Cons:

- Navigation for first timers is difficult. The course has been redesigned over the years, and many of the cement tees have the wrong hole number etched into them. Following locals can make this even more confusing because a lot of folks seem to play their own preferred variations of the course.
- Signage could use an update. Would love to see "next hole" signs, at least on the holes where the next tee is not visible from the basket. Would be amazing to have a kiosk near the practice basket with a course map so people have a general idea of where to go.
- The teepads are solid, but the trapezoidal shape can cause some confusion about which basket you should be playing to (particularly on the back 9, where you can often see multiple baskets from the tee). Most teepads are cement, and a few holes have rubber tees.
- Bystanders. Being a multi-use park, there are often kids playing on the adjacent fields, runners, people walking their dogs, and the occasional horse riders. Fortunately, the course is well-designed and most of the park patrons won't be in your way - but you may need to yell "fore!" now and again.
- Maintenance, mostly on the desert holes. As of this review (May 2018), the brush is so tall and dense on 14-15-16 that I often just skip from 14 to 18 (I probably have these hole numbers wrong). I've been told that these holes are on property that is not technically owned by the park, so I imagine that's why these holes are not as well maintained as the others.

Most of these cons are really from a first-timer's perspective. Some familiarity with the course makes it much more enjoyable!

Other Thoughts:

This course got me back into disc golf after not really playing since I moved to LA. Really love playing here, and even though Chavez Ridge is closer to me this has become my home course.
With some updated signage and a little TLC this course could be a 5. Fun, rewarding course for players of all skill levels, and a piece of disc golf history!! Looking forward to playing in the weekly tourneys and getting active with the local club!
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9 0
Pierparknut
Gold level trusted reviewer
Experience: 10.8 years 89 played 85 reviews
3.50 star(s)

First Course! 2+ years drive by

Reviewed: Played on:Mar 30, 2018 Played the course:once

Pros:

-This course is called Oak Grove for a reason. The majority of the course plays throughout a beautiful grove of old-growth oaks. Several holes also play out in an open, desert area.

-Quite a few holes have nice-looking tee signs. Most of the hole numbers are off, however, as the course has undergone numerous re-configurations.

-The course tests several types of shots. The holes in the park area, with the oak trees emphasize low line-drives and skip shots. The holes out in the desert afford a good opportunity for crushing.

-Most of the tee pads are hexagonal and concrete. I like that they allow for multiple run-up angles. Unfortunately, they've seen better days. Several were cracked, crumbling, or uneven. Trash cans and benches were present on most tees.

-Restrooms can be found on the back 9.

-Multiple basket positions on most every hole.

Cons:

-Oak Grove appears to be a constantly evolving course. I understand that the layout is altered for the Wintertime Open, after heavy rain storms, and other events. No one map can be a permanent reference, however the ones on file do a good job of keeping you on track in the general direction of the course. As a result, it can be a challenge to find your way, as well as keep score.

-The section of holes in the desert is especially confusing. It was a hodgepodge of at least six baskets and several unmarked tees. I played a few holes I recognized from the Wintertime Open and moved on. Skipping this section altogether is not a bad idea if you're pressed for time.

-Several holes have a mini-golf feel, with an assortment of oddly shaped trees, huge boulders, tree roots, and baskets in difficult places. You never know when you'll get a crazy bounce.

-It's a popular multi-use park. Expect some oblivious park-goers, especially on the front 9.

Other Thoughts:

-High spike hyzer lines are not preferred. It's very easy to get a disc stuck in one of the enormous oak trees. I saw a group of locals using sling-shots to get their discs down.

-Innova Discatcher baskets of various ages.

-"The course has been around forever, and has a well-beat-in feel. If it were a disc, it would be very understable by now." I know you're not supposed to comment on other people's reviews, but Phil Esra summed up the course perfectly. I wonder why, being known as the First Course in the world, and so close to Innova headquarters, it has not seen more improvements.

-Overall, however, this was a very enjoyable round. There's a plethora of fun lines to throw. Tip for the day: Bring a smile, not a scorecard!
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1 2
Mkelley21
Experience: 7.4 years 4 played 3 reviews
4.00 star(s)

Good ol course 2+ years drive by

Reviewed: Played on:Feb 8, 2018 Played the course:5+ times

Pros:

Short and accurate
Lots of benches and shade
Easily walkable
Not hard to navigate because it's a smaller course

Cons:

Dry and dusty
Bees on hole 5 ( I got stung)
Basket 8 and 9 is right near parking lot
Horse crap (huge turds)

Other Thoughts:

Its a campable course. I literally have camped on the course a dozen times. (Don't get caught). There are 23 holes which I play my own little 18 on my own.
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9 0
ajbova
Gold level trusted reviewer
Experience: 18 years 112 played 94 reviews
3.50 star(s)

Historic Course 2+ years

Reviewed: Played on:Sep 11, 2017 Played the course:once

Pros:

Intermediate Level Course set in a secluded area of a park.

Baskets - Including the practice basket, there were 23 (at the time) total baskets that I saw. The course seemed to be in a 20 (21) hole layout. They were DISCatchers that were a bit on the older side but still caught great. I did not have any spit outs. There are 3-4 pin placements per hole.

Tees - As mentioned, the layout seemed to be 21 holes. Of the 21, 18 were concrete and 3 were large rubber mats. They were not slick, however, only hole 5 seemed to be on the short side.

Variety - Most holes were between 250-350 feet give or take. There were a few blind shots; 7, 9, 14, and 15. Most holes were on the flat side although not completely flat. 5 was downhill, 8 had slight incline near basket, 13 had a basket on a small hill, and 14 went around a canyon. No shot was completely open, all holes had trees, brush, or rocks as obstacles. No two holes were alike.

Benches or trees at almost every hole. Only a few with rubber mats did not.

Trash cans at 90% of the holes. The park was very clean and the trash cans definitely helped.

Easy to navigate. Although there were a few holes present (not on the map) as well as the numbers on the concrete tees not matching the holes, the course flowed great. There were only a few times (rubber mats) where there could be confusion but fortunately a local pointed us in the right direction (including an extra hole near hole 13).

Portable restrooms on site (although hot inside)

A few water fountains on back 9.

Course was right off the highway.

Beautiful view of mountains.

Cons:

There are several holes that sit right on top of each other. Tees for the next hole were borderline mid fairway of a current hole (see map). If the course was busy, this could be a dangerous situation. It could also add wait time. When I played course was not busy so this was a non factor.

There were a few holes that could use updated signs or at least a way to tell which pin position was currently being used (for distance purposes).

Biggest con was that there was not much shade and extremely hot, but being it was the LA area, that was expected. It's a part of the layout so not really a con.

From the exit provided by the directions, no places to grab drinks between highway and course, but if you take Foothill exit, there are places.

A few next hole signs would help since there are a cluster of holes near each other (10-20).

Other Thoughts:

With multiple pin placements per hole, additional tees are not needed to increase the rating on this course, however, it would be nice to see which placement is used on a map. I would like to give it a higher rating seeing as it was the first course but I am basing it on its play.

I really enjoyed this course. I am from Indianapolis and my cousins live in LA so this was a must play during my visit. It was a little on the easy side for me but it had the same feel as the other Steady Ed Courses I have played in the Midwest. Not too hard but placement is key.

It was definitely a journey from the Santa Monica area but it was worth it. Although I would like to play this again, there are other LA courses I would like to try. I would recommend it if you area in the area, however, it is a bit out of the way from downtown LA (if you are traveling).
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3 0
programchaos32
Experience: 7.6 years 22 played 6 reviews
3.50 star(s)

Historic and Fun! 2+ years drive by

Reviewed: Played on:Dec 27, 2016 Played the course:once

Pros:

Beautiful location.
Nice adjacent field to warm up on.
Historical value.
A variety of shots to the left and to the right.
Some water hazards (make a course more fun!)
Not busy (we came pretty early.)
Long shots and short shots.
Low ceilings and wide open shots.

Cons:

A few holes had no maps.
A couple fairways overlapped.
Hole 17 and 18 shared a basket because they were in the middle of setting up for a different season or tournament.

Other Thoughts:

My buddy and I drove up from San Diego and got to Oak Grove around eight in the morning. When we arrived, the course was easy to find and there wasn't really anyone else there. We parked in the parking lot and walked around a bit to see where the first tee was. We found it pretty easily and also noticed that there was a baseball field adjacent to the course that looked really good for warming up or practicing drives on. We played through the course and found a nice variety of all kinds of shots, not extremely difficult, but definitely challenging because of the trees and many low ceilings. At one point we had to ask a couple people that had showed up which way to go because it wasn't very apparent and not all of the tees had maps on them. For some reason holes 17 and 18 shared a basket, and we were told that it was because they were setting up for a new season's layout (not sure if this was really true or not.) Besides being a little lost and chopping down many branches, we had a great time that I think anyone from a beginner to an advanced player would also have. The surroundings were very beautiful and in the background there were even snow-capped mountains (not usual for southern California!)
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3 0
BBB-SoCal
Experience: 26 played 17 reviews
3.00 star(s)

Challenging Course in a Nice Environment 2+ years drive by

Reviewed: Played on:Nov 19, 2016 Played the course:once

Pros:

Challenging course design (including low ceilings)
Pleasant surroundings
Free
Multiple pin locations; good mix of short and long distance
Decent amount of shade

Cons:

Poor signage, especially on winter layout
Some tee pads are in the firing path of previous hole
Holes 12-16 are not laid out properly and are going to confuse people in terms of start/finish of each hole
The terrain behind JPL is challenging and can lead to many lost discs

Other Thoughts:

This place has a ton of history baked into it and it is worth a visit for that reason alone. The crowd was friendly and easy-going. I never had any issues with poor play from others on the course (and one group helped me find a lost disc). The signage (at least for the winter layout) is terribly once you get out of the "grassy park" portion of the course. Once you venture out into the washed-out gulley you are in for a rude awakening (lost discs, poor directions, itchy terrain, long distance throws, etc.). I would recommend starting with a course-regular for the first time. The overall course rewards those with good shot selections and I enjoyed the mix of throwing types throughout the course.
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7 0
Phil Esra
Experience: 8.8 years 2 played 2 reviews
3.00 star(s)

Go Hahamongna or go home 2+ years drive by

Reviewed: Updated: Played on:Oct 1, 2015 Played the course:5+ times

Pros:

Very frequent rotation of basket location
Historical significance to the sport
Thoughtful layout and variety
Natural setting

Cons:

Crowded at peak times with golfers & others
San Gabriel Valley is hot and dusty in the summer. Megadrought.
Holes are not labelled or are mislabeled (old hole numbers embedded in concrete tees)
Almost impossible to figure out where the next hole is without map or assistance

Other Thoughts:

This place is basically the opposite of a ball golf course--not a posh experience by any stretch. A quasi-urban municipal park.

Other reviews have mentioned a dbag presence--I have not seen that at all. To me that means rich guy in convertible BMW and USC v-neck sweater. Haven't seen this person here. Lots of solo players and lots of big groups. To me, the vibe is very tolerant, very "do what you feel." Today, a random guy insisted on spending 15 minutes in the hot sun helping me look for my disc (thanks, Javier), despite it clearly having been a horrible throw by a noob player.

Download a map from this site beforehand, or expect to be confused and frustrated trying to follow the course for the first time--signage is mostly non-existent. The back 9 is a maze, with a lot of similar holes right on top of each other.

Lots of giant shade trees. Lot of groups of guys standing under trees, throwing rocks up at their stuck discs--mostly enjoying the game-within-a-game. Lots of precision needed--or at least rewarded. Many 200-300' holes with trees in all the "wrong" places.

I have seen NO poison oak. There is some poodle-dog bush in the former pond on hole 14--some people have a poison oak-like reaction to it https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki...ictyon_parryi

The course has been around forever, and has a well-beat-in feel. If it were a disc, it would be very understable by now.

There are two bathrooms--near the hole 18 basket / hole 19 tee and up the hill from hole 4 (with others elsewhere in the park, I'm sure).

There are 5+ water fountains on the course--just keep an eye out.

Park gets a lot of use--I showed up one Sunday to find a massive cross-country meet going on. Free-for-all parking, kids picking up discs, golfers throwing onto a live race course...madness. Bring your zen, and don't take it too seriously.
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2 9
powderdrop
Experience: 37 years 25 played 5 reviews
5.00 star(s)

The Original 2+ years drive by

Reviewed: Played on:May 11, 2015 Played the course:once

Pros:

Short, technical, fun, hot, and friendly locals. First time I have played a course I've watched the top pros play... would have loved to have tried the winter layout... but the short course was fun enuf.

Cons:

Very hot in the hot season.
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6 2
mattdabbs
Gold level trusted reviewer
Experience: 20.7 years 104 played 61 reviews
4.50 star(s)

Amazing Course! 2+ years drive by

Reviewed: Played on:Jan 30, 2015 Played the course:once

Pros:

I have only played the course once and played the layout for the Wintertime open...I had a blast! The first hole just over 300 with a low ceiling. Threw a flick roller to within 20 feet of the pin to start with an easy birdie...then it got hard! The first few holes can be birdied if you throw with great precision. Very technical and better get those birdies because those are the easy holes. It got a little hard to figure out the layout after hole 4 but some locals were extremely helpful on several occasions and we figured it out. I am so glad we didn't miss any holes (as we were tempted to skip a few going up and along the hill and then back out into the field (4-6?).

Plenty of distance to test your arm. Not many birdies unless you can throw 350-400 with accuracy. The par 4s are legit par 4s. The course wraps back around to the parking lot, which is always a huge help.

There were not a lot of non-disc golfers in the park. Bathrooms were also provided in several places. Parking was also great and the course loops back to the lot as already mentioned. Sometimes courses come way too close to the cars or streets and I thought maybe it was going to do that on 9 but it wasn't even close. The rough wasn't too bad and it would be tough to lose a disc on this course.

Cons:

Navigation was an issue in one place on the front 9 (around 4-6) and right at the end on the last 2 holes. Again, plenty of very friendly people helped out all we needed and we worked it out. It was a bit crowded but there are enough holes to even things out and the groups were pretty courteous. No water but I bet that huge valley you throw over gets nasty when it rains. Some next tee signs would be incredibly helpful. I understand some of this was hard since the course had been changed up for the tourney.

Other Thoughts:

I came in without huge expectations and was blown away with how great this course is. I would love to see it in its normal set up and would also enjoy playing this with some locals who can navigate it faster than I was able to.

I can't wait to play this again!
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3 1
aghanDG
Experience: 11.6 years 3 played 3 reviews
3.00 star(s)

Puttsin' around the dust bowl. 2+ years drive by

Reviewed: Played on:Sep 26, 2014 Played the course:once

Pros:

1. Great challenging course that offers a lot of opportunities to practice various shots and driving.

2. Plenty of trees until you get to the open field, but you're not there for long.

3. Good Disc golf community.

4. Bathrooms!

First time playing this course,and I had a buddy guide me using dgcoursereview map.

Cons:

1. Gets pretty crowded late morning.

2. Lots of trees to get your disc stuck in. Keep a baseball or softball handy.

3. Watch out for horse scat.

4. There is one basket that has a bowl you need to throw over. If you have beginners with you, this could ruin they're experience if the have to go digging in the bowl.

5. Local players are pretty good and move at a good pace. Not great for big beginner groups.

Other Thoughts:

I suggest getting there early in the morning. It gets pretty hot. Be careful on a couple of the elevated tees. The last thing you need is an accident by falling off the tee.
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1 2
Delojah
Experience: 2 played 2 reviews
3.50 star(s)

Oak grove 2+ years drive by

Reviewed: Played on:Aug 9, 2014 Played the course:once

Pros:

First time at this course technical not too short but somewhat confusing to navigate. I would not consider this course for a beginner because of the low trees, And drop-offs with thick shrubs. I almost lost my disc on two of the later holes but luckily recovered within 15 minutes once an 1/2 hour once.

Cons:

This course is hot and dusty. Navigating the course was difficult due to lack of signage. Some tees you have to walk ahead to locate the basket.

Other Thoughts:

This is a fun course with baskets not too far off the tee. Good crowd locals were nice was able to navigate with other disc golfers. Some idiot was throwing into my hole when I had a group of four in front of me as I was putting , where's the etiquette?
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7 1
The Valkyrie Kid
Diamond level trusted reviewer
Experience: 45.8 years 1563 played 1507 reviews
3.00 star(s)

Historic Old Course Looks Worn! 2+ years

Reviewed: Played on:Jun 18, 2014 Played the course:once

Pros:

I could just copy the previous reviewers (Forehandfranz) review. It was that spot on!

This historic old course has a sign at the beginning which reads, "Oak Grove-Worlds First Frisbee Golf Course." Remember way back in the 70's, this sport was known as Frisbee Golf.

The course plays through several different areas of the park. I think the original 18 started where the frisbee sign stands. This part of the park features many oak trees and is mostly flat. The current front nine starts across the street and plays around a large green grass area. This part features a little more rugged terrain as well as a couple more challenging holes. And part of the course plays in the back of the park in a much more rugged undeveloped area. Navigation was confusing from the start. I think I played the back nine followed by the front nine and more than once threw to the wrong basket or spent time back tracking about trying to find my way.

Everything about this course is kinda old and tired. The signs, the tee pads and the baskets all have that vibe that they've survived since the 70's and much of it has. The pads are mostly concrete and most are a hexagon shape. Some have the hole # engraved in the concrete but it's not often the correct hole due to course reconfiguration.

The course is recreational in length and difficulty, very common for a 70's vintage course.

Cons:

I only encountered one local and he sure as hell wasn't very helpful when I asked for some help with finding my way. It was like I was asking him to donate a kidney to me.
Everything about this course is showing it's age.
Navigation, even with my on-line map, was most confusing.
There was a giant gathering of campers there on the day I played making a couple of holes unplayable. Not really a con, just a fact.
Lacks the challenge and creativity that many of today's top courses share.

Other Thoughts:

I would love to see this course designated as some kind of a historical landmark and thereby be protected and be entitled to better upkeep and preservation by the county or local disc club. Better signage would be a nice step in that direction. A previous reviewer suggested stenciling the hole # on the pads and putting a number on the baskets. Both would be tremendous helps.
It was fun getting to finally play this historic course. I vividly remember my boss bringing a recreation journal into our Parks & Recreation office sometime around 1977 which had an article on the world's first frisbee course. We were so inspired that we soon starting designing/building our own little frisbee golf course which was the first permanent course in the Northwest. It still stands today although it's pretty much a joke by today's standards.

Back to Oak Park, Play it by all means. It's history! But don't expect to be wowed.
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11 0
forehandfranz
Gold level trusted reviewer
Experience: 31.8 years 226 played 128 reviews
3.00 star(s)

Thank you Steady Ed! 2+ years drive by

Reviewed: Played on:Mar 27, 2014 Played the course:once

Pros:

Being the first installed course in history, I expected old baskets and really short holes. This wasn't the case. Most of the holes are medium length (300' range I'm guessing) with lots of chances to shape your shots through the prevalent oak trees. The course is fairly flat, though there are some minor changes in elevation and many pins are placed on these slopes to add putting challenges. There are multiple pin placements per hole. The holes are interesting and fairly creative (I wonder if they all are Steady Ed's design, or if they have changed over the years). The trees can punish a poor drive, forcing some very skilled approaches.

The park is in a scenic, quiet area, with the northern mountains looming in the background.

The locals were kind - a large group offered to let me play through, and later a friendly twosome let me join them to complete my round.

Cons:

Navigation, as many have mentioned is tricky the first time. Please download a map from this site BEFORE you get to the park (I couldn't get good internet reception inside the park, as it's in a recessed bowl). They did have a crude map on the phone pole at hole #1 which helped, but I had to ask someone which hole #1 was!

Very few of the tees and baskets were numbered, so bring a map!

There were a couple tees that had numbers carved in them but they were the wrong numbers, alas. This would be a fantastic idea if they could follow through on this project, as the numbers can't get destroyed by vandals!

Other Thoughts:

This probably can't be helped (due to a nasty ongoing drought), but everything is very scrubby and dry and plant life seems to be suffering. The area that goes out over the "water" is now dry and stinky, blecch! Some areas just looked kinda "sad", but that does not reflect my rating.

The baskets (Innova) were adequate but looked worn and tired and many were graffiti'd. I guess it just kinda compounded the "abused" look of some of the landscape. It sure would help if they were to paint the yellow band and add some numbers to them. It would just be nice to give this historic course that little extra bit of respect it deserves.

Overall, I would return here to play again. Don't expect anything mind-blowing as the course lacks holes (in my modest opinion) that have any "wow factor", but is a fun play, nonetheless.
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