Royal Palm Beach, FL

Commons Park - Lakeside

3.595(based on 17 reviews)
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9 0
chris deitzel
Gold level trusted reviewer
Experience: 30.6 years 286 played 54 reviews
3.50 star(s)

Spectacular park drive by

Reviewed: Played on:Feb 2, 2022 Played the course:once

Pros:

The park that this course is at is absolutely stunning. There is a water park with cool lion statues. There is a cafe with food served. Nice bathrooms, beautiful playgrounds, nice lake. It's just an absolutely beautiful park. One of the nicest I've played at in the country.

The course starts off with some water shots and some open shots. And that theme continues throughout. This is not a wooded Florida course, this is an open park with very little rough. A chance to really air out drives. You will need control to stay out of the water for sure.

There are a lot of undulations of the fairways here, some hills, some sloped greens. It's all very beautiful. There is the typical Florida walking path that goes through a few holes, but didn't cause any backups for me while playing as there are plenty of other places for walkers also. The long tees are long, I played a mix of both sets of tees depending on my mood. There are some legit par 4's on the course. I really like the water holes here, they have some great character. The extra hole 19 is quite a site and I sure was glad to land my drive on that small green. I had to play it, you might skip it??

The hole with the palms that line the left and right of the fairway as it curves right is one of the most memorable holes I've ever played. Overall, this was a great experience for me.

Cons:

It's a more wide open course so the sun beats you down. If you don't throw 300+ feet and have decent control, you probably won't love this place. I wouldn't call it "championship" but it's one of the better courses in this area of Florida. The park really is beautiful and worth a stop to check out. Kids would have fun here. They have concerts here, so maybe schedule a round in the evening with the family.

Just know that once you start this course, you won't be anywhere near your car or even have an easy way to get to your car until you have finished the course. Even then, where did I park??? Guess I'll sit by these lions for a minute.

Other Thoughts:

This was an unexpected gem in my opinion. The day I played, the grass was just cut, the weather was beautiful. The course was empty other than one other player a few holes ahead of me and I had a great time talking with a few of the locals walking the path. I seriously considered buying a house that lines the fairways of this course. While it is a longer more open course, there are plenty of trees used and the course requires quite a bit of skill to navigate the fairways successfully. Give it a try, I did.
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11 2
The Valkyrie Kid
Diamond level trusted reviewer
Experience: 45.8 years 1563 played 1507 reviews
3.00 star(s)

Length And Water Alone Does Not Constitute A Championship Course! 2+ years

Reviewed: Played on:Mar 30, 2019 Played the course:once

Pros:

The Commons is a brand new park complex that more resembles an expensive resort than a park. People pay hundreds of dollars a day to hobnob in properties such as this. The grounds are really that extravagant. What park's department has these kinds of funds available?

Unfortunately, the disc golf course can't stand up to these high standards. I guess you choose to call your course a championship course, I expect championship quality. If you can throw a consistent 350' hyser, you'll nail this course. There's so many opportunities here to just throw it out over the water and let it hyser back for you.

The course has two tee pads at each hole. The hole information is painted on the pad and as always, it's wearing off and becoming difficult to read. There is a practice basket at the beginning. The baskets are Discatchers with always hard to read red numbers plus a flag on top which helps with spotting them from a distance.

There are quite a few challenging and scary holes here, # 18 being one of the shorter ones, where the basket sits on this island surrounded by marsh grass. I would think that one scary aspect of this hole is where the marsh ends and the dry land starts. I think # 13 was my favorite or signature hole here. It's just 199' from the Reds, but plays down a palm lined fairway with multiple routes available for you. It was a pleasant change of pace hole here.

Cons:

The red pads aren't quite long enough and some are raised just enough where it's difficult to get a proper run-up. A championship course needs championship tee pads.

A previous reviewer, NightRavenKW, stated that just placing a basket or a pad near water doesn't make it difficult and I agree completely.

Most of these holes felt the same. If you can throw straight and fairly long, you can score well here.

Windy combined with water wii be challenging.

Not for the casual rec player. Not beginner friendly.

Too open with little shaded area. It will be sweltering on those summer days.

Other Thoughts:

This is such a lovely park that it's hard to disparage the course. Every reviewer points this out but still gives the course a 3.0 or a 3.5 or a 4.0. I'll give the park a 4.5. It's spectacular. I will deduct .5 for lack of elevation.

However, the championship disc golf course is more on the average side, IMO. I'll cave and reward it with a 3.0 with the caveat that I wouldn't be inclined to return here and play it.
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7 0
adlacro
Gold level trusted reviewer
Experience: 17.8 years 149 played 125 reviews
3.00 star(s)

Commons 2+ years

Reviewed: Played on:Dec 17, 2017 Played the course:2-4 times

Pros:

19 holes with Innova Discatchers in fair condition. Well-maintained. Two pads to every basket, and the back pads allow for a fair run-up. Some unique holes including one playing through a fairway lined with palm trees on both sides and a true island hole. Easy to find and pretty easy to navigate. If you like a water challenge, this is your course.

Cons:

This is not a lefty friendly or beginner friendly course with a ton of water. Path comes into play on a lot of holes and can be rather busy at times. This is also not the summer destination course (unless you plan on swimming and that's not water I would recommend swimming in), not a lot of shade and of course, in South Florida it gets kind of hot here.

Other Thoughts:

By no means this is a destination course, but if you have the shots (high RHBH hyzers) and skills to avoid OB, then this course can be scored on. The fun factor is there; so is the frustration factor. You choose in the end.
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10 0
nygfaninva
Silver level trusted reviewer
Experience: 16.1 years 38 played 36 reviews
3.50 star(s)

Water, Water Everywhere! 2+ years drive by

Reviewed: Updated: Played on:Nov 24, 2017 Played the course:2-4 times

Pros:

Beautiful park. Something for everyone (I list that as a pro for players that may come out with the family). Clean restrooms.

**Practice Basket at beginning
**Easy to negotiate. Very first time friendly. Nearly impossible to get lost.
**Two tee pads. Long and shorts. Concrete and in fantastic condition
**Good test of skills as it pertains to playing in windy conditions (Which I am told is often) and working over and near water.

Cons:

**Rather simplistic in design. It can seem a bit repetitive.
**Lots of chances to lose discs!
**Busy park. Errant discs could easily be a problem for casual park users. I imagine on a busy weekend some people would be right in the way of some fairways (Although that was not the case while I played)

Other Thoughts:

I also played Okeeheelee in the past and I found both to be beautiful parks, but Commons seemed to be a bit higher on the enjoyability factor.

Commons is far more challenging due to the water hazards near by many of the holes, so for that I appreciated the challenge more here. Thus I rated it higher.

I saw groups of players carrying a Pool Scooper (used for getting leaves out of pools) and I can see why that would be a great idea. If you lose a disc in the drink, it probably won't be far from the edge and that tool seemed like a great idea!

Truth be told when I retire to the area this is going to be my go-to course. I can't wait.
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8 0
thrembo
Diamond level trusted reviewer
Premium Member
Experience: 48.8 years 242 played 194 reviews
3.50 star(s)

Bring Some Floaters 2+ years

Reviewed: Updated: Played on:Jul 29, 2017 Played the course:once

Pros:

Nice course with two sets of concrete tees, and featuring gentle hills, some open holes with plenty of water hazards and some tree filled fairways. The course is of the somewhat long length and is generally fun to play. There are plenty of restrooms. The course seems to be well maintained.

Free.

Cons:

The tees have hole distances on them, but some don't reflect new pin placements and are way off. No proper tee signs, but hopefully they will get them in the future.

This is a very popular park, so be prepared to wait for joggers, bike riders etc to roll through your fairways.

There are a couple of picnic tables at first, but I would like to see more on the back nine. Also, there is a long walk from hole 18 to the parking lot by hole 1.

Other Thoughts:

A good solid course that has room for improvement. I may be in the minority here, but I prefer the nearby Okeeheelee course to this one. It's a little more charming in my opinion.
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5 0
NightRavenKW
Experience: 14.7 years 17 played 9 reviews
3.00 star(s)

Beautiful park setting. 2+ years drive by

Reviewed: Played on:Jan 15, 2017 Played the course:once

Pros:

- A practice basket is provided right near parking and hole #1.

- All pads have painted markings indicating hole number and distance to basket.

- Makes use of a little elevation change around 2,3, and 4.

- The course starts and ends near parking making the day easy after a round or two.

- Signs at each basket easily mark where the following pad is.

- The course is very well maintained.

- Common buildings have nicely kept restrooms.

Cons:

- Every hole in the course is very similar. All baskets are within a couple degrees of the pad. There is no real reason to curve any shot.

- Since the park is so nice there are always other park goers on the course.

Other Thoughts:

This is a must play course if you're in the area. The park is extremely nice and is a good place to hang out for the day and get in a couple rounds of disk golf. When I read that this was a "championship caliber course" I had higher hopes. As long as you can get around 400' in under 3 straight throws there really isn't anything to worry about. Simply putting a pad or basket near the water doesn't make it difficult. With the vegetation provided they did what they could presenting natural obstacles and throwing around objects, but it seemed to lack variety.
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6 0
lazrman778
Gold level trusted reviewer
Experience: 13.1 years 264 played 100 reviews
4.00 star(s)

Commons Park 2+ years drive by

Reviewed: Played on:Apr 30, 2016 Played the course:once

Pros:

Has practice basket

Has concrete tee pads for both tees with distance on each pad

Water comes into play on many of the holes - can be very intimidating especially when it gets windy

More open than wooded fairways

Course flows pretty well

Alternative tee and basket for #18 in case the island green is too intimidating

Next tee signs under each basket

Well-maintained

Free parking (very limited due to many parkgoers)

Restrooms

Cons:

Many opportunities to lose discs in the water

Parkgoers can be in the way on some holes

Need more variety in pars as it's all par 3s

Other Thoughts:

This is a very beautiful course that is challenging to play. Almost too challenging for the casual player as I almost didn't see anyone out playing on a nice, sunny and windy Saturday afternoon. A definitely must play if you're in the area.
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4 0
Jiggy202
Experience: 13.8 years 63 played 25 reviews
3.50 star(s)

Young course with great potential! 2+ years drive by

Reviewed: Played on:Oct 30, 2015 Played the course:2-4 times

Pros:

- Great course design in a very well maintained park
-Great risk vs. reward shots with quite a few water hazards
-2 concrete pads per hole
-Next hole indicators and solar lights on the baskets

Cons:

-The only hazard to play is the occasional jogger/walker and the dog park near the last few holes.
-The short tee pads are slightly shorter than the long pads.
-It would be nice to have some tee signs with hole information.

Other Thoughts:

Commons Park is a great young course. It is in a great park that seems very well kept up. The feature here seems to be the water hazards, and they are utilized very well. Every hole has something a little different while maintaining a consistent course theme. This course has quite a bit of potential to be even better if they continue to add things to this course, tee signs and benches would be great additions. Currently they have 2 hole #18s. The island green #18 is a really great finishing hole. Nice to see a course of this quality so early in its development. Seems like this course can only get better!
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3 0
cohunter
Experience: 12.9 years 39 played 8 reviews
3.50 star(s)

New Beauty! 2+ years drive by

Reviewed: Played on:Jun 28, 2015 Played the course:once

Pros:

Found this course on a road trip and played with my family. Was surprised at how nice the entire park was. Everything was NEW! NICE! and well taken care of.
The lake is a nice feature, it doesn't effect many throws if you can throw over 200 feet.
Open area, new park/course/playground/information center, not to easy and not too hard, multiply tee pads, brand new baskets, water to mess with your head!

Cons:

With it being a more open course it was fairly easy to just throw, walk, putt on most holes. Depending on your drive, putts could be a bit farther...

There are people who don't know about our sport so be aware of them.

Other Thoughts:

Was a great time! Recommend playing this course for the beginner or the pro!
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12 0
reposado
Diamond level trusted reviewer
Experience: 12.7 years 278 played 273 reviews
3.50 star(s)

2+ years drive by

Reviewed: Played on:Feb 27, 2015 Played the course:once

Pros:

I'm impressed. Commons takes the characteristics of South Florida courses and fuses them with incredible design and beautiful terrain. Anything that any other area course does, it is done better here. The park is bigger, more scenic and cleaner than anything else. Like pretty much every other course, Commons is situated around a lake. But it uses the lake better. Though most parks here are open, allowing players to air it out, the open spaces here are bigger and bolder. The tees are perfection, big and flat enough to launch full drives. And though the park is multi-use, at no point did I feel like I was throwing down a pathway. Tees are placed with the back toward a path if one was close. Just a great experience that is only getting better as it approaches completion.
Before I proceed, I'd like to mention the one atypical hole. Imagine a perfectly shaped RHFH line on a wooded course with well-defined fairways. Now replace the woods with two lines of ten-foot palms. No underbrush. On a peninsula. My favorite hole, and one that tempts you to picture an entire course designed and built by planting palms. (I can also imagine the incredible expense of building that though.)
The first few holes are decent enough. They use a little elevation and few large trees to offer a little variety to an area that is mostly open. It is from 5 on that the course shines. That is when the lake comes into play. Most of the holes offer real risk/reward, with a direct line at the basket over water and safer route over land that will add at least a stroke to the score. These are some lengthy carries too. 6 is a highlight, in which the basket is behind a clump of trees. The land route isn't further than the sea rout here, but the land route will require a forehand shot to attack the basket where a RHBH player will be forced to hyzer over the water to get around the trees with his preferred style. And for those that can't make the full carry, most of the holes do offer a bailout to the left of the lake. And yet, it doesn't have that every-hole-is-the-same feeling that plagues many courses that circle a large lake.
Commons isn't really doing anything that hasn't been done before in South Florida. It's just doing it all better.

Cons:

Most of the issues will likely be cleared up within a few months. Tee signs and a map will make a big difference here for first time players as many of the baskets are far enough from the tee to really give no clue to the player. There is currently not even a distance listed so one doesn't know how far to look or throw. But I'm sure those are on the way and this comment will soon be invalidated.
In the same way, some of the navigation is tricky. The tees are so large that they can be spotted from some distance but there are times where it is just too far to easily spot. This is especially true towards the end of the course as once the road is crossed to play the last three holes, the flow is not intuitive. Again, a map and tee signs clear this up. Hazard of playing a new course.
I do think this course has 4.0 potential but it doesn't have the shot-shaping I would want to see from a truly elite course. It could very well be among the best of its type (open rolling hills with water in play) but that only goes so far. After playing fourteen courses in South Florida in the past week, I've realized that for me, a course without much narrower fairways than the terrain allows for here could ever be higher than a four. And like any course that uses water as the main source of challenge, the holes away from the lake tend to be less interesting. 10-12 mitigate that somewhat with excellent basket positions but the opening and closing holes here are certainly the least memorable.

Other Thoughts:

Still, Commons is already the best course in South Florida and it is still improving.
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2 3
hwes
Experience: 11.6 years 4 played 1 reviews
3.50 star(s)

Good course for intermediate level 2+ years

Reviewed: Played on:Feb 24, 2015 Played the course:2-4 times

Pros:

As intermediate level player, found course challenging but doable -- you're able to skirt the water hazards fairly safely. Course is set up that it's not too hard to avoid pedestrians and bicyclists on the paved pathways. Only had to wait a couple times for less than a minute. Rest rooms available in the building, and there's printed course maps there, too.

Cons:

Holes 16-18 do not yet have concrete tees.
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6 1
JBard8181
Experience: 1 played 1 reviews
4.00 star(s)

Really Liking This New Course! 2+ years drive by

Reviewed: Updated: Played on:Jan 31, 2015 Played the course:2-4 times

Pros:

Update:Feb 21st 2015. Concrete pads are in already!! My rating for this course goes up. Love this new course! Hats off to Palm Beach Disc Golf Club!!

This is an awesome new course. Much potential here to go from good to great! It's a longer course with some challenging water holes. The long 6 is down right intimidating to stare down the pad to basket, it's basically all water but plays good with a long RHBH shot.

Overall I am very impressed with the course as it's well kept and rather open but with the large trees and palms make it a very interesting and challenging play. Needed a few thumbers on the back 9. The baskets are lit which makes night golf possible any night. It's a good course as it but I agree with the earlier review once it has concrete pads, bag holders and a bench or two. It will be a great course.

As it is a new course it still has natural pads

Cons:

Natural pads are a little rutted already needs raked, filled in or matted until concrete pads are in. Other then that can't complain its a good new course in Palm Beach County. It will only get better!

Other Thoughts:

Kudos to made this course happen!
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2 9
discjocky
Experience: 14.2 years 16 played 8 reviews
5.00 star(s)

coomons is a great course ! 2+ years drive by

Reviewed: Played on:Jan 21, 2015 Played the course:5+ times

Pros:

old ball golf course
dg course designed by dan rigg
brand new baskets
open till 11 allowing for glow golf every night
beautiful park !
they do a food truck invasion the last friday of the month with random dbls glow round .

Cons:

ummm... none they are even open on holidays 365 days a year .
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2 0
Larceny_Lars
Experience: 17.8 years 79 played 5 reviews
4.00 star(s)

Almost Done 2+ years

Reviewed: Played on:Dec 30, 2014 Played the course:once

Pros:

Very nice park. It's a long course to play, but the holes aren't overly long themselves which gives it a very "achievable" feel. Arrows hanging under the baskets point the way to the next tee pad was a tremendous help. Water comes in to play on several holes, but done in such a way where you fear losing plastic on any hole.

Cons:

As it's a brand new course and still in progress, the "natural" tee pads are already wearing down. Would like to see cement pads or even mats so the ground doesn't get dug up and rutty. Already a risk of twisting an ankle on a few pads. Long walk around a gorgeous pond, but not a lot of shade and no benches. Despite the signposts to the next tee pads, it was a little tricky to find the first tee as it consists of unmarked wooden posts.

Other Thoughts:

Given hole signs and proper tee pads, plus little things like a few benches/bag holders and trash cans would really make this course shine. As is, it's still a great course. Glad to finally see Florida getting some new courses.
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1 1
Bd 37
Experience: 12.9 years 66 played 10 reviews
4.00 star(s)

Sweet, but windy 2+ years drive by

Reviewed: Played on:Dec 15, 2014 Played the course:5+ times

Pros:

Lots of fun shots, great use of obstacles, water, OB, trees, etc
A good number of longer holes for the big arms
Course is always well kept, no trash on the ground, grass is manicured, very few hitchhikers, good area to warm up in, and sunday market doughnuts are an added bonus!

Cons:

Windy! Never seen an Xcal flex into a duck roller until I played here. Bring some stable plastic or you will lose a lot of flippy discs.
Definitely favors the RHBH.

Other Thoughts:

Should they put in the next 18 like they are rumored to, this will be a premier south florida disc golf location
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1 0
bigboned
Experience: 13.6 years 3 played 3 reviews
3.00 star(s)

Looking Good 2+ years drive by

Reviewed: Played on:Oct 22, 2014 Played the course:once

Pros:

A decent course set in a beautiful park. Multiple (pro/am) tees for many if not every basket. New baskets. Some shot variety. Good use of the limited number of trees and water. Some longer holes.

Cons:

Course isn't complete yet, so while there are temporary tee markers, there are no tee pads or signage at this time. I'm not a FL native and have have an unfounded fear of gators, and not a big fan of pins placed close to water in any case. This course has a couple of them.

Other Thoughts:

One of three courses I played (one time) while on vacation in West Palm Beach. Was able to navigate the course despite the lack of signage. I'd rate it above both PGA and Okee once it is completed, until then it's still very playable.
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5 0
Peter S
Bronze level trusted reviewer
Experience: 29.8 years 165 played 32 reviews
3.50 star(s)

2+ years drive by

Reviewed: Updated: Played on:Oct 5, 2014 Played the course:5+ times

Pros:

A lot of area to work with. The course goes around the large lake of Commons park and part of a retired ball course. Translation = hills, mounds and wind to challenge you for hole 2 and 3. Many water holes like 1 and 5 that let you skirt along side or go for it over the water if you have the D. #13 & 14 are sure to be a signature portion of the course. 13 is a palm tree lined tunnel shot on a long island. #14 brings you back off the island with a big righty hyzer. The #18 Island hole is another signature hole and great finishing hole, but wait there is more, another basket with an 18 on it over another water carry. Let's call them 18a & 18b for now. If the island of 18a is a shot you are not comfortable with just finish on 18b (local league plays both and considers it 19). Practice basket points the way to the first hole and there are next tee signs on each basket. Brand new concrete White tees are so perfect, long and wide. Also new Red concrete tees are in. Bright new yellow baskets with flags are easy to spot against the green grass and open blue sky. Grass seems to be kept perfectly mowed throughout most of the layout. There is a nice clean restroom after basket 6 and also inside the main building.

Cons:

Still no signs yet. A number of holes are by the walking path so pedistrian traffic may slow the action at times. 18b basket is too close to the dog park. Concrete Red tees are not as large as the White tees and almost too short.

Other Thoughts:

Located in a very nice and clean park with playgrounds, splash pad, walking trails, restrooms and snacks inside main building. Some sidewalk damage can be expected so bring the champion sidewalk skipping discs. This is a nice addition to an area that also has Okeeheelee park which is also one of my favorites. The walk is very long and not much shade. You will need extra water for this one. No return to car until after a very long 19 holes.
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