~Large parking lot, pavilion, and restroom facility by Hole 1
~Tee pads, signs, and basket numbers have all been installed
~Intermediate to advanced in length, but still fun for casual play
~Decent mix of holes, primarily open but still challenging

~Only ten of the original holes have long tee pads
~Navigation can still be confusing for new visitors
~Hole 18 doesn't loop back by the parking lot
~Awkward course flow in a handful of sections

Redesigned from the original 24 hole layout some years ago, version 2.0 of Arboretum-Spiker is a somewhat lengthy 18-hole layout that was redesigned around a newly installed dedicated wetland area. This layout includes 7 new holes incorporated with 11 of the existing holes and an entirely new numbering order.

With 6 holes carrying over or playing near water, and 6 other holes playing through and around thick vegetation this new design may appeal less to the casual thrower and more for the seasoned disc golfer. Solid variety from the new holes adds a nice technical element. Much of the layout is spread over a park landscape of mature trees, while most of the new holes play alongside a wetland area. Overall the layout is fairly decent, but feels choppy in spots and has periods of awkward flow.

Some additional ground clearing and pruning of the wetland holes would benefit the overall aesthetic and help with pace of play. Navigation is solid, but the course could benefit from a handful of "To Next Tee" signs placed in a few strategic spots.

Original holes 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 21, 22, and 23 are gone due to the location of the dedicated wetland area and installation of the redesign. While it was difficult to see the original layout so greatly impacted by this, I am thankful that these parks still house a good disc golf course.

I had been waiting to play this park for a long time . Unfortunately , too long , as they changed the design a year ago . Pulling into the park , you can see the first tee , next to the bathroom on your right , and the first basket which is a dogleg left , around a blind with water . The course has cement tees ( many of the champ tees are grass ) , a kiosk with a map , better print and study , or better yet find a couple of locals like I did ( Hi , Logan and Brandon ) , and baskets in pretty good shape , There are trash cans scattered on many of the holes . There are some Next Tee signs in some of the spots on the course , good for out of towners , Remnants of the tee signs from the old course remain throughout the course , making navigation even more confusing . Championship caliber ? I think not . Even as I took a 6 on 17 ( threw from out of bounds into a thick bush , maybe I should have scouted this hole ) , good players will tear most of this course to shreds . That doesn't take away from the fun of some of these holes , along with a few being downright tough . Since the Green 9 is almost set right against the championship course, I would recommend warming up with these before playing the White if you have enough time . The Green is flat and open . After your initial dogleg left to start your game , #2 goes back over the water and blind to one of 2 baskets you can play . The tee is elevated up next to the road and there is risk/reward for the longer basket , as the creek runs right behind the basket . you have to walk a bit to #3, which runs a bit to the right and 400 + feet . Then you have to cross the street and the fun begins . The baskets are not lettered or numbered , so after seeing a bunch of baskets from the Green course from #2 tee , to your right , now you aren't sure where you are throwing to or around . The baskets are well placed , so if you made friends like I did , then you can get their take on the baskets . #6 is a good run , a 564' drive over some a thin creek and a canopy to make you throw hard and low to a basket well placed a little left up on a hill . After #6 , if you don't have your printed map and haven't taken a picture of the map at the kiosk , you will have to walk to the street on your right , down the road , zigzag right and left , and walk a bit . over a small bridge to #7 . #7 is a fun water carry over something looking like a small canal about 20-25' wide . The basket is placed somewhat close to the water , but not enough that you can't throw safely to the other side . There are some trees that could knock down your drive and make you lose a disc in the water . If it lands in the water any further out than a few feet , you just lost your disc . #8 is another water carry that throws over a large pond to a basket guarded by large bushes and trees . 9 is a nondescript straightaway 454' throw with no real obstruction . 10 is a great hole . a drive thrown out of a tight pathway toward a small tree almost 300' away . You have to turn right and throw another 150' + depending on where your drive went ( hopefully a little left , but not too much , since the basket is guarded by a lot of high brush , making it nearly impossible to reach in any more than 2 . The next few baskets go in and out of the elevated woods of Spiker , with some well placed pins . 14 is a nice over the hill shot to a hidden pin ( look before you throw, for both the pin and picnics ) . #15 is the toughest pin placement on the course . You throw back over the water that you threw the other way on #7 , to a pin that is right next to the canal . Now you have to venture back over to the Arboretum side again , just a little lower than where you left #6 . #16 is a tight slightly uphill throw . #17 is a 458' hole with out of bounds wetlands to your right , large bushes and trees too your left and a tighter than needed passageway right to left that you will eventually have to enter to the basket's green , a drop down opening if you find your approach makes it through . #18 is an uphill throw to a blind basket over the hill , guarded by trees in the fairway to the right and left and smaller trees around the basket as you go over a small road . I was shown by Logan where the tournament placement is , which is a hard right after going up the hill , to a drifting left sitting on an embankment guarded by bushes and trees . A great finishing hole if you are playing a tournament here . #17 qualifies as my signature hole when #18 is not in tournament position . Plenty of water , some elevation and a good amount of trees to keep you alert on your round .

The flow on this course is not very good . A lot of hopping around . If you aren't a veteran or great at reading maps and have no locals to guide your way , then you may be in for a long day . I would have never figured out the last 3 holes by myself for a long time . All of the baskets from the Green course also are confusing when you are heading to #2 .

I am giving this course a pass since it was only redesigned last year . There is a lot of growth going on near the wetlands , and a lot of potential using both parks . I guess using the 2 parks is a must have in this situation , Some fun and good holes come to mind ( 2 , 6 , 7 , 10 ,11 , 12 , 15 , 17 & 18 ) , and adding in 9 more hole to make 27 is a plus . I hope to make it up in a couple of years to see how everything turns out . Not a destination course by any means , but if coupled with Lincoln Ridge , a chance to make a whole day out of it . Give this course a try . I think there is enough here to entertain you .

One of the better courses in the Akron-Canton area is Arboretum-Spiker. Despite undergoing an involuntary overhaul in 2017, it still remains a solid intermediate level course.

+ You're greeted with a spacious parking lot that is located right next to the first tee pad. This area also has a course information board, a practice basket, and permanent (but seasonal) restrooms.

+ All holes have concrete tees and detailed tee signs. Previously, there were short and long tees on every hole. Most of the long tees aren't maintained anymore, so the short tees are the primary layout.

+ A few of the water/OB carries do have new tees that are shorter than the original. This gives players who don't have enough distance to clear OB an option to avoid it all together.

+ While there aren't any sections of the course that you would really consider "heavily wooded", the Arboretum and Spiker sides compliment each other very well. Arboretum has more technical holes through mature trees and steep hills. Spiker is more open, but includes a few tricky pin placements.

+ There are a couple of holes that are among the most memorable that I've played.
* #6 is an epic valley shot to a hidden basket surrounded by guardian trees. The tee shot is a "bag emptier". There's no chance you can resist just throwing one drive on this one.

* #7 is a basic water carry hole, but it plays right up towards a beautiful stone bridge. The basket is red, white, and blue; A memorial to fallen hero Jesse Buryj, a native of Canton.

+ There is an option to easily play 27 holes between the White and Green courses.

+ Navigation has improved significantly since the last time I played. There are signs guiding you in all of the trouble spots.

+ Both parks were kept up very well for the most part. They were in tournament shape with the "Hall of Chains" event coming up in a few days.

- With most of the long tees no longer maintained, scoring well here should be easy for more experienced players.

- There are a few areas that can be dangerous if there are multiple groups playing at the same time. #7 and #15 cross fairways over the pond. A few holes on the Arboretum side get a little close. #18 is a double Mando just to keep you away from other tee pads and baskets.

- Crossing the roads to get back-and-forth between parks can be a little awkward to navigate.

- There was a ton of trash near a couple holes on the Spiker side. Most of it was dumped litter from non-disc golfers. There was a box full of garbage behind #15's basket.

While Aroboretum-Spiker isn't as good as it was in its prime, there's still enough interest here to keep the course alive. It's worth a play if you're in the area.