Ottawa, IL

Fox River Park - Old Layout

Permanent course
1.785(based on 9 reviews)
Filter course reviews

Filter reviews

Filter reviews

Fox River Park - Old Layout reviews

Filter
10 1
mashnut
Diamond level trusted reviewer
Experience: 22.2 years 831 played 777 reviews
0.50 star(s)

Huh? 2+ years drive by

Reviewed: Updated: Played on:Apr 10, 2010 Played the course:once

Pros:

The course plays through a flat park with scattered mature trees, and nice views of a river. The trees provide obstacles while leaving multiple lines available on all holes. The fairways were grassy and mostly well kept. The tees were decent concrete pads with a fine surface to tee from. The baskets were in good shape and catch fine.

There were a couple interesting holes, particularly 5 and 6, that offer a little elevation and a little different feel from the rest of the holes on the course, as well as a good exposure for the sport by the basketball courts.

Cons:

The course was squeezed into several sections of park and what seemed like empty lots between houses. This meant that the course had very odd flow and was difficult to follow, which wasn't helped by the lack of any signage on the posts at each tee. [UPDATE: Course maps and signage have been updated, so the course is much easier to follow and play.] It also meant that many holes played very close to yards and houses which takes away from the atmosphere of the course and makes for some safety issues too.

There are several places in the course where you are shooting directly over other park features like a water play area, gazebo and basketball court, as well as very close to roads and sidewalks making for a fairly unsafe course in general. On top of that, the lack of signage and the missing 7th basket make for a very run down and neglected feel to the course. Other than a couple mildly interesting holes, there aren't any shots that really draw you back to this course and keep it interesting.

Other Thoughts:

This is a course that I wouldn't recommend for pretty much anyone who isn't stuck living near this course with no other options within easy driving distance. It's approachable for beginners, but with lots of safety hazards and some silly holes way too close to houses. More experienced players won't find any real challenges other than not hitting someone on a busy day. Even if you're passing through, don't bother with this one unless you just want to add to your course list.
Was this review helpful? Yes No
7 0
hognosesucker
Gold level trusted reviewer
Experience: 25 years 443 played 87 reviews
0.50 star(s)

Strange/bad setting for dg 2+ years drive by

Reviewed: Played on:Oct 26, 2009 Played the course:once

Pros:

-Tiny city park along the flood plain of the fox river and some decent views
-concrete pads
-Holes 5 and 6 (the holes by the basketball court) are actually pretty decents. 5 is a kind of tight short straight shot , 6 is a downhill putter or mid shot. Nothing tricky, just a nice change of pace from the rest of the course

Cons:

First, let me explain the park. It is very small with houses and private property on the edges and the course plays on either side of the road. Many of the tee pads or baskets are located near people's backyards, which was kind of creepy. For instance the pin for 4 is in someone's side yard, 9 is by someone's backyard, 6 tees by the side of a house. etc. you get the idea.
-Secondly, not one of the tees had signs. All of the teesigns had been pried off. Therefore you had no idea the distance the location of the pin (which wasn't a problem until hole 7-9), or whether you were in the right place.
-Hole 7's basket was gone, I looked all around for it, but couldn't find it or even where it was supposed to be.
-The layout was kind of screwy, not hard to follow, but 9 crosses 8's fairway, and there is no signage between 2 pin and 3 tee and it's not in sight from the basket.

Other Thoughts:

All in all, this course was terrible. Between the vandalism and throwing near people's yards, and not knowing where to park, (for future reference, park in the lot on the right side of Superior, across the street from hole one, by the bathrooms and water fountains) it was hard to give this course any recognition. It was almost like one of those courses that they put in for foot traffic to keep hoodlums and vandals away, but it didn't work because there was still vandalism and they didn't think of actually designing it in a fun or interesting way. I rarely drag on about courses this way ,after all, I have fun throwing the discs, but this was a sorry excuse for a course.
Was this review helpful? Yes No
Top