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Chadron, NE

Chadron State Park

Permanent course
3.55(based on 7 reviews)
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Chadron State Park reviews

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14 0
playrecords
Silver level trusted reviewer
Premium Member
Experience: 18 years 770 played 27 reviews
3.50 star(s)

Chadron pronounced "Shadron" or so I've been told

Reviewed: Played on:Sep 25, 2022 Played the course:once

Pros:

Chadron SP is a beautiful well maintained 18 hole park like course in Nebraska's oldest state park. The course plays on one side of a large hill and starts "behind the lagoon" as the young man at the visitor center explained to me. The first third of the course plays mostly at the bottom of the hill before climbing the next third, and then finishes downhill for the final third. Teepads are concrete, baskets appear to be homemade and caught fine and the navigation was easy. There is a thoughtful option for an easier (read less uphill hiking) 9 hole loop after hole 5 by playing an alternate hole 6 then 16 - 18. There are a few holes where you have to hit a gap or shape a certain line, but most holes have multiple drive options.

Things start to get interesting as you throw your way up the hill towards hole 12. I saw a hiker way up on the ridge and thought "Is that where I'm headed?" Sure enough hole 12 tee is along the ridge, and throws way downhill. There are 2 tee pads with the long being another 50'+ uphill. Amazing 360 degree views from the top, I probably sat up there for 15 minutes taking in the sights.

Hole 17 is another fun downhill drive, this time through a ~20' wide gap.

Cons:

Holes 3 - 5 have the potential dangers of picnickers and a playground that could come into play. Wasn't busy fortunately when I went through.

Hole 12 long teepad while being an epic view and potential downhill bomber was a bit too sketchy for me to throw from. Narrow, too short for much of a run up. All I could think of was "If you fall off this tee and break a leg you are 600 miles from home..."

Other Thoughts:

Hole 12 is the star of the show and worth your price of admission (at least for me).

Day pass for an out of state vehicle was $12 as of September 2022. I was a little surprised as this is more than most park entry fees. I didn't inquire but discounts for a season pass are a given. Also probably a better deal if you were to camp / rent a cabin.

Speaking of cabins, there must have been two dozen on that hillside. They looked newish and well maintained, would make for a nice weekend stay.

If I would have reviewed the pics posted here before playing my round I would have taken a comprehensive set as it looks like these are representative of the old 9 hole layout. Oh well, I posted a pic of the new course map, hope that is helpful.
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8 0
bcos4life
Experience: 12 years 77 played 23 reviews
4.00 star(s)

Surprising course. Worth the day pass 2+ years drive by

Reviewed: Played on:Jul 31, 2021 Played the course:2-4 times

Pros:

The elevation change is surprising, given the general topographical experience in Nebraska. Great uphill holes, downhill holes, valleys, etc. Really juiced the land of its potential.

Pretty private. Played two tournament rounds and one casual, and only ran into two players that weren't involved w/ the tournament.

Tee signs are both really clear, and accurate.

The holes are always challenging, but fair. I never felt like it was a gimmicky hole.

Cons:

Tees are JUUUST short enough to not allow a reasonable runup. It usually isn't a big deal, but the tees are elevated, so for a satisfying run up, you have to jump up.

Homemade baskets aren't ideal, but these are some of the best I've ever played on. Still could use a solid upgrade, though.

The shooting range right next to a couple of holes isn't awesome. Seems to be as safe as possible, but still weird to just be walking next to a shooting range.

Other Thoughts:

They have camping available right next to the holes. I might rent a cabin and stay there, so I can walk right out to the course!
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4 0
hollman
Experience: 20 played 20 reviews
3.50 star(s)

Great course, look out for grillers 2+ years drive by

Reviewed: Played on:Jun 21, 2015 Played the course:once

Pros:

This one was a lot of fun. A couple of the holes had good elevation changes. Very scenic. Shaded with nice trees for a challenge. Well-maintained. Great park.

Cons:

If there were a lot of people grilling out, I would have knocked it down a half disc in the rating. The biggest complaint is that most holes run right through picnic areas, sand volleyball, and other areas where non-players could present a challenge. But being in that area is also why it is so well maintained. Luckily, everyone was around the pond area the day we played (Father's Day) and not in the line of fire. There were also NO other players that day. If it just rained a lot, the grass (worn to dirt) tees might have been muddy, but the sandy soil seems to drain well and moving over a bit into the grass would help.

Other Thoughts:

This one became more fun with each hole. The baskets are probably a little different than the original homemade ones. They still look somewhat homemade, pretty solid, but really close to what you might be familiar with. I should have examined them a little further. Also, they still do seem to want to cough up your discs at times, so do some practice putting to get familiar with them first. Definitely worth the stop and the park entry fee if you don't already own a Nebraska state park pass. Stop in the main office for a scorecard and map. Spend some time exploring the rest of the park. Great trails and views.
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3 0
BruhaDiscGolf
Experience: 9.9 years 13 played 2 reviews
4.00 star(s)

Great Course in NW Nebraska 2+ years drive by

Reviewed: Played on:Jul 31, 2014 Played the course:2-4 times

Pros:

This course is nine holes and is a great one for beginners. Most of the holes aren't the longest, but do provide decent obstacles such as trees, water, and roads. There are also some great elevation changes along the course.

Cons:

The last two holes on this course are the biggest problems for me. Hole 8 is a graveyard for discs with all of the shrubbery. Even if your disc is visible, the steep hill makes it hard to retrieve. The path to go on the fairway is not clearly marked either (it is to the right, not straight down). The river on 9 can sweep away a disc. Some tees are not clearly marked and in poor condition.

Other Thoughts:

This is a great course if you are new to the game or just driving through. There is a small fee to get in, but you can also enjoy the park's scenery as well. This is a course I would recommend and play again!
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3 1
Zedrijan
Experience: 11 played 4 reviews
4.00 star(s)

2+ years drive by

Reviewed: Played on:Jul 14, 2014 Played the course:5+ times

Pros:

Very scenic course located in the pine ridge. Entire course was redesigned in September '13. Nice mix of shot types and challenges. Intelegent lay out with Signs pointing the way from basket to next tee. Hole 8 is definitely an "empty your bag" tee. By far the best course in the panhandle.

Cons:

Home made baskets with very heavy chains. They will spit your discs out. That said, they are some very nice looking baskets especially for home made. Dirt tees and tee signs could use a little work.

Other Thoughts:

The park has plans to extend to a full 18 holes. Please come out and show your support and ensure they add the back 9.
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3 4
Gnuckle
Experience: 10 played 2 reviews
4.50 star(s)

All new! 2+ years drive by

Reviewed: Played on:Jun 18, 2014 Played the course:2-4 times

Pros:

All new course layout and new baskets makes for a very fun course. Winding your way through lots of trees and a park like setting, then up hill into some more woods and some technical challenges. Currently only 9 holes, but they plan on adding another 9 soon.

Cons:

While the baskets are new, they are homemade but done pretty well.
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7 2
DGtourist
Diamond level trusted reviewer
Experience: 21 years 188 played 106 reviews
1.00 star(s)

beautiful setting short course 2+ years drive by

Reviewed: Played on:Jul 6, 2008 Played the course:once

Pros:

The setting is a rare place for the Nebraska Panhandle, its in fact very beautiful and full of trees. Its as if an oasis sprang from the prairie plains in which spring time lasts a few months longer. Chadron State Park is worth a stop on its own. The park was the perfect afternoon relief, and was about ten degrees cooler in the park than in the nearby town of Chadron. The length of the course had my daughter insisting that she play. The homemade baskets provide an opportunity to think about putting differently. Drinks and snacks are available at the cabin where you pay to play.

Cons:

The course is very short. Some of the holes would just be considered long putts or approach shots. Short homemade baskets, maybe they were just jammed into the ground too far. One basket was tipped over, I assume this was the result of people climbing on them and as a result I lost an ace. (It hit the chains and fell out of the side the basket was leaning). Perhaps some park employees can keep a better eye on the state of the baskets. I wish that the course could have gone into more sections of the park because the place is stunning. It would have been cool to bomb one over that lake.

Other Thoughts:

Since the course is pulled in the winter, it can easily be redone the next season. There is a fee, when I paid the lady looked at me like I was crazy, but I insisted because I wanted her to understand that people will travel and pay for disc golf and I'm glad that the course is in the ground.

A few years back, a friend of mine played a course in nearby Ft Robinson Park. He described baskets that are very similar to these ones here. I called Ft. Robinson Park, and they knew nothing about a disc course. I suspect that the course that was in Ft. Robinson no longer exists because its in the ground here. You should diffidently call ahead before making the trip out to make sure that baskets are in the ground. If the course is not there or here the course in Chadron is permanent.
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