- tee signs at every hole
- ample concrete tees at every hole
- good mix of hole lengths
- makes good use of some trees and elevation change on some holes
- baskets are in good repair

- a lot of open/easy shots
- first 3 holes are wide open and fairly identical
- discs seem to pass through basket chains pretty easily
- maps on tee signs could be better
- next tee sign could help between 8 and 9

This is a fun course in a very nice park with many other activities. The course flow is pretty logical and was clear to me except for needing a minute to figure out where to go for Tee 9. The mix of lengths is nice and I think the designers used the space the best they could - some holes are wide open, but some have at least a little technical challenge. Overall, this is still a pretty easy course, but I did enjoy it. It is worth coming back if you are in the area.

- Set in a very well kept multiuse park with some moderate elevation. All fairways are mowed and interspersed with occasional large trees.
- Baskets are Mach whatever and are in great shape. Each one has a cool circle about 6' diameter with landscaping stone in it to prevent erosion.
- For once in my life navigation was NOT a PITA. Even though there were no "next tee" signs at the baskets they really weren't needed. Just look around a bit and the nearest tee is the next one.
- When I looked at the map I though 1-3 were going to be exactly the same. These holes under the power lines were unique. And that can be said for the rest of the course. There was a pleasant amount of variety here. Being a multi use park and the fairways were quite open there are multiple lines to each basket.
- The tee signs were absolutely perfect. I really wish every course had these.
- The flow from hole to hole was nice and there really weren't any true safety hazards in my mind. I guess #9 could be considered a hazard but the walking path in front of the tee is only 10' away so it's pretty easy to see if anyone is coming.
- Tee pads were near perfect in both size and texture

- This course is super short overall.
- This course is super duper easy. This is my biggest con. Any middle of the road Am3 is going to easily score in the 24-26 range. So for the more advanced players this course is going to get pretty boring pretty quick. Even freshly minted newbs are going to get bored after a few rounds. With one exception, the fairways are wide open. The scattering of large trees does help some but not enough.

This is the kind of course you bring newbs to. Hand them a Buzzz and teach them the game. It's perfect for that before moving on to something more challenging. It's also the kind of course that would be great for working on specific shots or doing something like putter only rounds. You'll never see a league here much less any sort of tourney action. But in all fairness it is fun to play and easy to find for a quick round.

Castaldo Park is a well maintained city park. Park workers were spending a lot of time grooming the sand volleyball court while I played. How about some love for the disc course?

The course sign and map are located right by the parking lot as you enter the park. The course has the same tee signs posts as just about every course in Illinois. The tee pads are nice concrete ones with a crushed rock surrounding. The baskets are DGA models with the red numbers. The baskets are surrounded by the same fine, crushed gravel as the pads. The pars listed are elementary approiate. Ignore them or embrace them and go for the rare double eagle on # 3's 405 foot par 5.

The course plays as a easy recreational level with plenty of holes in the 225-260 foot range and not much in the way of obstacles

The first three holes play around the power lines and their giant grey towers. Then the final six play through the park's slightly rolling terrain. Beginners will enjoy their experience here.

The lovely little course lacks challenge for anyone over a recreational level.

Elementary pars as stated on the signs.

I guess the park's popularity could be problematic. Having a little patience is the key.

Another excellent little beginner course. I'm beginning to think that new players in Illinois have a good many options of where they want to practice their game. I just haven't seen more challenging courses for players looking to be challenged.

I have to agree with previous reviewers that Castaldo is one of the better Chicago 9'ers that I've played. As long as you're not worried about getting brain cancer from repeated exposure to the power lines, you'll probably enjoy your round here.

>>It's a quick, short course that let's you work on your fundamentals without feeling the need to give it all you've got on every throw.
>>The layout is easy to follow.
>>A few fairly technical shots between the trees, especially in the spring and summer when there are leaves there.

>>No long holes
>>It can get pretty crowded on a nice day
>>A little muddy, but not awful

>>If you live nearby, I'd definitely play this course. I do, and I plan to start coming here whenever I feel the disc golf itch. But If you're thinking about adding it to your road trip or traveling more than 10 miles to get here, I'd reconsider.

-Nice baskets
-Nice tee pads
-Nice tee signs
-Not too many places to lose your disc

-The holes are not very challenging
-Walkways and playground throughout the course
-Tee sign was missing on hole 8
-9 holes

Rather boring course that just didnt keep me very entertained. About a 45 minute drive from me so I probably wont go out of my way to make it back unless I'm making a day of playing the other surrounding 9 hole courses.

Castaldo Park was an enjoyable course... my buddy and I were able to play two quick rounds in this nice little park. Here are the main pros:

*Fun, semi-challenging lines to hit on holes 4-9
*Concrete tees, nice baskets
*Man-made "greens" on a few of the holes (made of crushed stones) prevent pin areas from getting super muddy
*Well maintained

Here are the cons of Castaldo Park

*Holes 1-3 are pretty boring
*Very congested park... shares area with lots of other activities. A pet peeve of mine is when fairways cross walking paths, and Castaldo Park's fairways cross paths several times
*No distance challenge (see below about sign)
*Several signs were inaccurate... one of them said there was a 400 ft hole, but there's no way it was longer than 325
*Some of the tee pad are surrounded by the same stones that surround the man-made greens leading to horrible footing on those pads.

My buddy and I drove about 25 mins each way to play this course, simply for the sake of playing adding it to our "courses played". I probably wouldn't make that drive again to play this course, but if I'm in the area, this course is a fun, quick round so I'll stop by again.

-Cement pads
-Decent change in elevation throughout holes
-Good use of available obstacles
-Quick, But not too quick of a play
-Easy to navigate
-Well groomed
-One of the better 9 holers around

-Not overly challenging
-Usually pretty crowded
-Fairways sorta close together in some of the later holes
-Multi-use park that sometimes is overly crowded with people on the walking path, forcing you to wait to throw

I like this course for a quick couple of rounds, It's close to my house and it is a fun course to play. It's proximity to knock knolls is also a added bonus because if I do not want to stray to far from home I can play two niners in the same day.

Considering some of the other nearby park district courses, this one is good. I only gave it a 2½ because the fact of the matter is, this course is extremely forgiving to bad shots, Pick a line, any line and you can get to the basket on pretty much every hole. I am not saying that is bad for everyone, But experienced players are looking for courses with holes that demand precise shots.

In a nutshell, this is a fun course to play and boost your confidence. If you are in the area, I would definitely stop to play a round or two.

Castaldo is a very likeable park-style disc golf course with mature trees defining the lines for the moderate distance nine holes available here. The first three holes are medium (280') to lengthy (up to 405'), slanting along the clearing for a line of high tension pillars, some of which affect the hyzer lines (for rhbh throwers like me). The last six holes tend to favor slightly right-turning flight paths, but there is enough space and openness to get as creative as you like. There is a tree along the 6th fairway that has an amazing old branch which leans over to influence your shot. Unfortunately, the tree doesn't look healthy, and the fairway will be entirely different if the tree is lost. The slight rolling nature of the terrain and the shade of the trees make this a fairly fun course to get in a quick confidence-builder, even on a sunny summer day.
Fantastic trapezoidal concrete tees are complemented by decent signage, logical course flow, and DGA baskets in a park with sand volleyball, a jogging path, a kiddie playground, a park shelter/gazebo, at least one water fountain and one bathroom (noted on the map). There are plenty of trash cans available (though I did pick up stuff thrown on the ground by others, near a couple of tee pads...well, you can't blame them...the trash can WAS almost twelve feet away!)

There is a relatively limited variety of challenge here for the more experienced player.
Two of the holes require drives over the path, but the tees are near enough to the path to make it clear to even the most oblivious pedestrian that you're about to tee off.

I normally want to play a course five times before writing a review, but was only in town for a brief stay, so only played twice, but enjoyed this course immensely, and wanted to add a complimentary review.

This course is a solid little nine holer with a fair amount of character. Plays relatively short, virtually every pin is reachable for a player that is throwing around 300ft, and there really isn't too much in the way of difficult lanes, though the few trees that are located on the park do spice it up enough to keep things interesting.

Holes 1,2,and3 are straight forward and open with nothing but a few power line poles to get in your way. Hole 4 is a solid ace run just a hair under 200ft. Holes 5,6,7,8 and 9 are all similar style shots between 250 and 320ft that require you to dodge a few trees, but offer plenty of very make-able lanes to the baskets.

Good signage, and plenty of places to rest on the course in the shade if you'd like to make an afternoon there. Practice basket near the first tee, and nice cement tee pads.

A fun little course that if I was in the area would definitely go play.

Honestly the biggest con about this course is just that it is a little boring. I went out and only grabbed for my driver and holes 3 and 9, otherwise I could throw a midrange or putter off the tee for every shot. There are certain holes where you may have some minor tree issues, but the lanes are so clear they don't offer too much difficulty. Other cons include the fact that the first three holes are located directly underneath power lines so the buzzing coming from these is pretty annoying, but not too big of a deal.

Driving from Chicago I would rather go play one of the other courses in the area. This course is just a little short and boring, but still I did have a great time here. This is definitely a good place to bring people that are just getting into the sport. It is difficult enough to offer a challenge, yet not too difficult where people will get discouraged. Also the fact that as a hole this course is pretty short means that even the least experienced disc golfers I know are bound to hit a couple pars. This is the only course where my girlfriend can claim a victory over me this year, so it is certainly one of her favorites. Happy Discin!

-Larger than most 9-hole courses in the area
-Well kept park
-Concrete (and level) tees
-Well kept catchers
-Scenic with older large trees that offer some challenge (not including the first 3 holes under the power lines)
-Decent elevation change (especially for the Chicago area which it notoriously flat).
-Favors accuracy over power (pro or con depending on your POV)
-Larger than some area courses

-Can be very muddy
-Could be a longer course
-Signage is dicey at best
-Bike path (con for golfing, but a pro for getting there if you bike)
-Sometimes have to wait to start on nice days
-First 2 holes are boring
-Power lines

This course has some good mid distance shots where accuracy can play a role. If you are making a trip to this course you may want to warm up here then make the trip over to Knock Knolls for a bigger accuracy challenge. If you are in the suburbs make a stop here.

My home course. Always fun to play and plays fast, even when crowded.

The woods that come into play on holes #3 and #9 are gone! Bulldozed recently! Changes the course dramatically. Must be a powerline issue. Stinks for us though.

Still fun to play, but the recent changes make the two affected holes wide open. There is now no danger from a stray drive. Beware of deep leaf pools that suck up discs.

- nice rubber tees
- made good use of terrain features (trees, hedges, hills)
- also good use of not very much space
- pretty park, tall oaks in most of the park

- some of the later holes a little close together, but not overly so

In general a nice, compact little course. Distances were average, with very good use of trees, hedges, or other terrain features. I'd play this again if I was looking to play just 9 holes and I was in the area.

-several holes with elevation change
-fair lines through scattered trees
-practice basket
-grippy concrete tee pads
-well-made tee signs
-some hole variety and challenge, with uphill, downhill, corridor, and anhyzer shots
-very beautiful park after the first 2 holes

-can get VERY wet and muddy, especially around holes 2-5
-short course, most holes under 300'
-the first two holes are wide open, without much challenge or interest
-every hole except #3 is very deuceable

Overall, despite the lack of challenge presented by the course, I found it a fun and fast round to play. After finishing the first two holes, which admittedly are very weak, the course hits you with a few different challenges:

#3 is a tough blind anhyzer shot that is difficult to deuce based on the basket's position near shule. regardless, it's a pretty easy 3.
#4 is the only "tight" hole, but also the shortest
#5 has multiple routes, but they are equally challenging (slow anhyzer or fast straight shot)
#6-#8 are 280-300' long shots that are uphill and downhill through the woods
#9 is a beautiful finishing hole that crosses a valley, with punishing shule on the right side.

I think it's best to stay away from this course in the rainy season, as almost every hole becomes very muddy, and difficult to play.

nice teeboxes
good boxes
best course within ten miles

short holes
nine hole course
gets muddy after rain

good beginner course some bike paths intersect holes. good cours if wanting to play a relaxed round

Good course for beginners to improve their form and still feel like they accomplish something because the holes are a little shorter than normal. Of the 3 courses that are close to me (O'brien, Castaldo, and Knock Knolls) this is my favorite.

I have to shoot this course 2 or 3 times to kill more than 20 minutes, and I am not very good yet.

I have only played 6 or 7 courses total so far, and this one falls right in the middle. I shoot here a lot and it is well maintained with very few blind holes (hole 3 is the only one where I have ever come close to losing my disc as you shoot between a clearing of bushes).

Pretty good variety in holes- fun layout.
Nice park.
New-looking signs and teepads.

Poison Ivy, and not just in the brush next to the fairways but actually on the fairways of some later holes, under the big trees. If it was cleared, my rating would go up to a 3.
Starts a little slowly for a 9-hole course; 1st hole is wide open, 2nd almost the same, but then things pick up.

Power lines literally buzzing overhead on 1-3; spooky! I'm surprised to see other reviewers saying not crowded- we played on a Sunday afternoon and there were at least 4 other groups of players out there, so we all had to wait at times.