View of nearby Niagara enhances otherwise decent course.
+ generous fairways and pars
+ multiple tees to suit various skill levels
+ scenic view of Niagara River
+ beautifully presented (especially tee signage) and maintained
+ park store sells discs

Wind can be a nuisance on this course with too many wide open shots.
- several open holes with few obstacles
- lengthy walks between holes
- conditions often windy

INFO
Situated at the southern end of Grand Island and alongside the Niagara River, this course derives its name from much smaller Beaver Island which several holes play across. Despite its close proximity to the river, the majority of the course is hazard-free with most holes playing over open fields besides roadways within the park. Disc golf is but one of several park amenities.

EVAL
This relaxing, recreational course offers a handful of interesting shots on a layout of otherwise open fairways studded with mature trees. Hazards include water and marshes near the banks of the Niagara River which presents a scenic backdrop during play. I enjoyed the views while I threw the holes and was pleasantly surprised with the canopy of trees guarding hole #9's green. This well-maintained course is approachable for beginners and challenging for advanced players, especially with its multiple tee offerings. Wind off the river can be a factor to add difficulty to play.

LAYOUT
Holes #1-5 play across a wide field bordered by tall trees which lies beside the Niagara River on the only section of the course with appreciable elevation changes where holes #1 & 4 present downhill shots off the tee while hole #3 finishes on the side of a hillock where #4 starts. Following the road across the bridge to Beaver Island leads to holes #6-8 which border the Niagara side of this oblong isle. Holes #6-7 play to the right of the park road on narrower fairways with a smattering of trees. Past the circle drive, hole #8 plays farther into a wooded recess.

Another long walk across Beaver Creek and back onto the main island leads to dogleg hole #9 and its ornery tree-obstructed view off the tee plus guardian trees encircling the green. Here the course turns in a counterclockwise loop leading back to the start. Holes #10-11 play through a sparse stand of small trees out to a park road and back, and holes #12-14 follow alongside Beaver Creek and across open fairways with OB water on the left and lots of length to cover for holes #12 & 14. Across the park road and in a mostly open field, hole #15 reverses direction parallel to the previous hole after which holes #16-17 double back and skirt the border of a forest on the right, leading to longest hole #18 which plays past the parking lot and into a pocket of trees at the field's far corner.

Concrete tee boxes
Views of niagara river and Canada
Typically well manicured

Wide open

Played this course more than any other. It's quick and convenient for anyone in Buffalo or Northtowns. It's almost impossible to lose a disc and any shot that moves forward is probably playable. Good course for beginners that don't want the frustration of narrow fairways or wooded holes. Elevation changes are also pretty minimal outside of the sledding hill at 4

- Nice views of the Niagara River on many of the holes
- Nice concrete tee pads
- Well maintained, no garbage issues
- Mix of par 3's and par 4's
- Some holes have nice lines

- Can be quite swampy in any kind of wet conditions
- Older baskets
- A few too many wide open throws
- Too many boring basket placements (9 and 18 are exceptions)
- Can be VERY windy

This course is in a nice park with a beach and a lot of other activities that you could fill a day with.
The course itself I find to be adequate but there aren't many holes that I get excited about playing.
A great course to bring friends who are beginners to; scenic and not too much trouble.

If every once in a while, you want to get out an just crush a few drives. this would be a place for you! Lots of wide open holes. There are only three holes where you don't have a truly open run at the basket. Fairly flat; only one trip up and down a hill after the opening downhill. Scenic walk along the river for the opening nine.

Windy! Windy! Windy! I've played here in summer, fall and now spring, and it's been VERY windy each time. Bring your overstable discs! The same wide fairways that make this a pro if you feel like bombing a few, makes it a con is you like tight and technical.

If you come expecting to play in the wind, you'll enjoy your round. And it can get pretty squishy under foot for the first few weeks after the snow melts.

Well Maintained, Concrete pads are always nice, most holes are fairly easy, trash cans and benches at every hole is a huge plus

Often wet and marshy on certain holes, always extremely windy

Mostly open, enough trees to challenge a player, water alongside most holes. Gorgeous course to play, a lot of variance between holes

-Concrete tee-pads at every hole.
-Very beginner friendly with large, mature trees to shoot around.
-There's water, but the risk is fairly low.
-Makes use of what elevation changes they have with a couple downhills, a couple uphills, and a couple sidehills.
-Well maintained state park with bathrooms.
-Great scenery of the Niagara River.
-Not very crowded when compared to many of the other Buffalo courses.
-Plenty af ace/birdie opportunities, but not gimmies.

-Not very challenging for more experienced players.
-Some of the more open holes can get repetitive
-Current construction in the way of holes 3-5. Don't go in that mud, it'll eat your shoes.
-Some holes play near the road, which I'm not really a fan of.
-A few walks between the holes are tricky. Holes 4-5 require walking around the construction, and over a bridge.
-I played during mud season, but there was quite a bit of ponding on some of the fairways.

I really had a blast playing this after Chestnut Ridge, which is a much tighter course. It was nice to air some throws out.

I don't want to list it as a negative, but the wind is worth noting. It's pretty constant being right on the river.

Really a great course to bring a new player to. You won't be hurried, and other than <maybe> hole 9, they should run very little risk of getting their discs wet.

Thanks to Simpletwist for showing me around!

Tricky weather, elevation change, and a scenic view of the Niagara River are just some of the highlights of this course. Weather: typically the wind doesn't stop here which can help you learn how to play with a variety of wind conditions. Elevation change: The park's use of elevation change can help you pull off a booming drive down hill or kill your drive up hill. Scenery: I maintain that this is the most scenic course in the Buffalo/Niagara area, with views of the river, inlets, and those Canadians!

In the long term this course is just far too open. I personally enjoy the challenge of a tighter course (even though I'm no good on tighter courses). The course maybe is pretty open but there are some O.B. lines that can KILL you. I find those lines to be more frustrating than anything; I would rather hit 100 trees than throw one O.B. In the short term this course is disrupted by the state's beaver habitat project (just another way to waste money) so the course plays with two rather unpleasant tee placements. However, the NRDG and park office have done a good job of keeping the course close to its intended layout.

One very nice elevation drive into an open field. Several grip and rip holes. Watching ice floes in the Niagara River is nice. Having a herd of deer watching me play was interesting as well!

Very little in the way of technically challenging shots. Mostly flat, although there are a couple of water hazards.

There's a course called Lighthouse perhaps 25 miles from this one that is WAAAY better; and if you really want to get technical, go play the Chestnut Ridge course!

-very scenic (view over river)
-good wildlife (i understand why it is called the blue heron disc golf course)
-3 tee spots for all levels of players
-just enough trees (no throw and pray shots)
-good open fairways, with basket snuggled in tight area's
-trash and benches on nearly everyhole
-nice signs (see photos)
-although other reviews here say it is windy, the day i went was rather calm
-many holes make you say "oh, this is a cool hole"

-although there are 3 tee's here they're all very similar, just a slight change in distances. i enjoy courses (deis hill in ohio for example) that the different tee's give you different types of shots not just a change in distance, nearly making the hole completely different.
-basket on hole 3 has a redic lean to it (cost me a birdie)
-baskets are older with slight rust, no real issue just needed to be noted
-the signs here although wonderfully showing distances and hole layout are in craaaazzzzy spots. in some cases you find the sign, read it and then look around for the tees. on hole 18 from the blue tee i would have been furious had my disc hit the sign next to the white tee as it was directly in the throwing lane. Every course i have been to the signs face opposite of the holes, here it is not always the case.
-no real signature holes, would have loved a shot over the river.
-water doesn't come into play unless you have a very poor drive

mixed emotions after playing this course. i feel the average 4 star rating is quite high here. but i have to admit i had a good time playing here. this course just needs some work before it gets a 4 star rating. cement tee-pads on all tees, new baskets, better located signage and a practice basket would greatly improve my rating.

The course has a good breeze coming of Niagra river that adds to the courses difficulty. Its a fairly open course but enough trees come into play in the fairways to add moderate difficulty. The white and blue tee's are worth playing.

Only 2 holes with elavation change. Most of the course is a birdie fest (unless your Campbell who shot a 27 over from the whites).

A great opportunity for a picnic near the water after you play.

Fun place to play; lots of variation in scenery, (along the Niagara River), in open fields, in woods. Well designed, unique holes provide a good challenge. Even some elevation changes, (though minor).

Have to share this popular park with others; picnicers, walkers, bikers, etc. Water holes mean that potential for losing discs is higher.

There are some really unique and challenging holes on this course, which make this a fun place to play.