Mishawaka, IN

George Wilson Park

3.25(based on 37 reviews)
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13 0
Central Scrutinizer
Bronze level trusted reviewer
Experience: 34.9 years 168 played 17 reviews
4.00 star(s)

Vastly Improved from the Old Days! 2+ years

Reviewed: Played on:Oct 10, 2021 Played the course:5+ times

Pros:

Wilson Park's calling card is, and always has been, its fantastic elevation. There are two "on top of the world" type holes for your gripping and ripping enjoyment, plus it comes into play in bundles around the layout. You will get a good workout, and the effort is worth the throws you get to make. It's such a fun place to play.

New alternate holes in the woods are terrific and make the course a 24-hole layout now! They add technical balance to what had been a too-open course for decades. They're tricky and tight but fair and creative. I adore them, and now the course feels more complete because of them. Bravo, bravo, bravo.

A few of the old dud filler holes have been replaced by better holes, and in one case toward the back where it used to be all in the open running alongside the woods line, a second wooded half of the hole has been added. You are rewarded with a much better look at getting up and down for a 3 if you place your drive as closely as possible to the entrance. Fantastic job here.

New baskets have replaced the venerable 1990 Mach 3's. Most are either Mach 7's or Mach 5's, I believe. I also love it when a classic course keeps one old basket for practice, and sure enough, Hole #1's old Mach 3 from 1990 is in the practice area.

The tees have also been vastly improved, sometimes even right next to the old ones that look archeological in nature. I love the wisp of history you feel seeing those old tees, including #10 where Scott Stokely aced in the 1996 worlds. Who doesn't want to stand where Ken Climo did during his run of consecutive titles?

In many places I remember the tees being treacherous in the old days, like on #7, but they've leveled that out and added a safety buffer afterwards so it's not like it used to be when it felt like you would fall off a cliff when teeing off. Great job.

You've got a hanging basket, speaking of #7. Nice touch there.

Lots of the original holes that remain have been extended and improved. I like what they've done to #1, for example, making it feel like a par 4. It's about 100' longer or maybe more than it used to be. The fence is still there to punish errant drives on #1/#9.

There are tons of holes with alternate basket placements now. Sometimes you'll have to walk up ahead and see where they are, but what it adds for diversity makes that more than worth it.

There are at least three practice baskets and lots of room to warm up. So many courses don't have a decent place to loosen up. That's not the case at all here.

There are good public restrooms and the place is kept well.

Some of the finest and largest benches I've seen yet on a Disc Golf course can be found scattered throughout the course. They're awesome.

New signs are great and informative, even showing you where possible alternate pin placements could be. I never got lost in the new area because some arrows pointing the way helped.

Cons:

There are still 3 wide open filler holes on the back nine, but that's better than the high number they used to have where it felt like most of the round was out in the open. I can live with them now.

If you crave water hazards, there isn't one. There is O.B. on some holes, though, like the fence between #1/#9.

Other Thoughts:

This is the second course I ever played all the way back in 1990. I don't live super close by but close enough to make a few trips per year and savor them, and I used to love coming even with all the limitations of the old layout. Now I consider George Wilson to be "excellent" and one of my regional favorites. There's excellent shot variety now with more of a wooded factor added for a nice balance in the whole 24-hole layout, plus all the savory open hilly holes are still there, some of them with improvements to boot.

Hats off to all of you who put in the work to make this place excellent. It is, and I will be back with my son to play lots more!!
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2 3
Kylecoplen
Experience: 21 years 20 played 2 reviews
4.00 star(s)

Big Hills, exciting and disastrous shots 2+ years drive by

Reviewed: Played on:Sep 14, 2015 Played the course:5+ times

Pros:

Nice mix of long and medium drives. Throwing from giant hills is awesome but can be frustrating on a windy day. Fee is reasonable. League cash doubles on Wednesday nights. Great group of guys. Lots of benches. Was gonna give it a 3.5, but as I write this I'm reconsidering. 4.0. Will likely be updating as Ricky and crew continue to improve the course.

Cons:

Definitely not for fat fatties. Huge hills. Some shots challenge you to be dumb.

Other Thoughts:

Don't park too close toward the basket on 1. You may get a hyzer flip from the hill in your window.
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3 1
RICKY BOBBY
Experience: 18.1 years 47 played 4 reviews
4.00 star(s)

Just great! 2+ years drive by

Reviewed: Played on:Aug 3, 2009 Played the course:5+ times

Pros:

Safe, family friendly park.
Restrooms/changing/water fountains at hole 1/10.
Easily make the turn (no long walk between 9 and 10)
Great variety of shots needed.
Great variety of holes (long, short, wooded, etc)
GREAT 18th hole. 600' long and on top of a large hill. One of my all-time favorite holes.
Never very crowded when I was there.

Cons:

Pay to play.
A little bit of trash near the garbage cans. Some people can't aim I guess, unless it's a disc.

Other Thoughts:

Again, a great variety of holes and shots. I recommend this to anyone who has never played here before. IIRC this was a final course in the late 90's in the PDGA.
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3 0
MGroothuis
Experience: 33.9 years 7 played 7 reviews
4.00 star(s)

G Dub-ya 2+ years drive by

Reviewed: Played on:May 25, 2010 Played the course:5+ times

Pros:

Very good variety of holes with very unique hole layouts. It's a good mix of tight wooded fairways and wide open crushing distance shots. This course works both your accuracy and your power in different ways while the course elevation undulates 50ft or more. Holes 9, 16, and 18 are wide open downhill drives. Big distance discs like a Boss or a Nuke will have good opportunity to fly 400-500 feet. Hole 9 drive MUST be either an overstable driver or a roller. Out-of-bounds fence is very tight along the right side of the hole. Hole 17 has a fun basket placement at the very far ridge of a huge downhill slope.

Within the past 4-5 years, holes 5, 15, and 18 were redesigned to better use the land and avoid headaches. Hazards like perimeter fences, picnic areas, buildings, and playgrounds were all either moved or REmoved from the course play-thru areas.

Cons:

Several of the holes have very, very thick weedy brush to swallow errant throws, plus the course is overflowing with Poison Ivy in the wooded areas. Over the years, the carved paths of other golfers have not made finding discs easier.

There are 3-4 tee pads that have deep holes or drop-offs directly in front. They are visible in the pics on this site. It's a pretty big distraction if your follow-thru involves stepping off the front of the pad.

Signage is missing on some holes. Best to play pro par if unsure of course pars.

This course allows alcohol. Personally, it makes a good game go bad when you catch up to a bunch of half-drunk disc golfers. A couple of beers, fine, but it tends to get abused with people toting entire coolers full of beer around the park.

Other Thoughts:

Wish they would have kept the drinking fountain at the start of the back 9 and end at 18.
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4 0
MotoDj
Experience: 15.2 years 20 played 8 reviews
4.00 star(s)

compared to local courses 2+ years drive by

Reviewed: Played on:Dec 1, 2009 Played the course:5+ times

Pros:

great elevation use throughout course, gives you all shots, left right, long short, up and down
half wooded, half open
above average upkeep, great restrooms, play area for kids, open area for airing out practice drives, baskets 9,18 and a practice basket makess for a great warm up approach loop
lets you cut loose on 6 or more drives, sadly the big hills are the only real lengthy holes

Cons:

pay to play, but its 2 local, 3 outta area so its not bad, half the holes get taken out for 4 months outta the year, lots of unleashed dogs (no issues other than poo and distraction... dogs dont seem to go after discs)

Other Thoughts:

my number 2 for local course
we play alot there, great place to take multiple drives fromt the tees, fairly open and hard to lose discs on half the holes (sledding hill side)
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6 0
zud00
Silver level trusted reviewer
Experience: 15.8 years 199 played 47 reviews
4.00 star(s)

9 and 18 make it worth it 2+ years drive by

Reviewed: Played on:May 28, 2009 Played the course:once

Pros:

Great variety on the front 9. Signature 9th and 18th where you get to throw from the top of the hill. Excellent tee pads and signage. Trash cans available, restrooms, and picnic tables. Practice basket located next to restrooms, Playground for children. Scorecards available.

Cons:

Back 9 holes lack variety. You have to pay to play $3 for being an out of town visitor.

Other Thoughts:

The front 9 holes on this course offer about 9 different types of holes. There's short and straight, dogleg right, through the woods, in the open, over the hill, over the ravine, and then you get to hole 9...A big downhill hole! The fence on the right plays as O.B. so keep it straight!

The back nine holes play in the open but take advantage of the rolling terrain. Being in the open rolling hills, your distance judgement may be off, either that or the distance on the tee signs was off when I played the course.

There was one hole with a missing sign so we had to refer to the map on the scorecard to locate the tee pad. Hole 17 is a fun hole with the building behind the pin on the left and a huge downhill slope on the right side of the pin. Once again, with the basket being on the edge of the hill, the distance of the hole distance seemed difficult to judge. And finally hole 18, the ~600' downhill hole where you can let 'er rip!

I really enjoyed the variety of the front 9 holes, ripping it on hole 9 and 18, and the rolling terrain of the back 9. I would definitley recommend this course to anyone in the area or passing through. When you step up to the tee on 9 and 18, you'll be glad you did.
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5 2
mmyersdisc
Experience: 15.8 years 14 played 14 reviews
4.00 star(s)

Sledding and discing! 2+ years drive by

Reviewed: Played on:Nov 25, 2008 Played the course:5+ times

Pros:

Very versatile course...tight shots on the front nine, open shots on the back nine! Hole 18 will test your distance with I think a 500' downhill shot. Hole #1 is an easy ace hole for either forearm RH throwers or lefties. Plus its only 2 dollars to play!!!

Cons:

Some vandalism, beer bottles and such eventhough alchol is prohibited, as stated below, # 15 is missing a sign.

Other Thoughts:

The back nine has a fence to the far left of it...there IS a way to get over the fence in 2 spots if you lose a disc over there..go all the way back to hole 15 i think and go behind it...or there is a opening further up that you can squeeze through.
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6 3
MarshallPrime
Experience: 22 years 1 played 1 reviews
4.00 star(s)

The George Wilson Wonder 2+ years drive by

Reviewed: Updated: Played on:Jul 12, 2008 Played the course:once

Pros:

This is a great course. We play every hole, no matter what, par 3's to keep scoring easier. It has something to offer all players. It gives some longer shots, elevation changes, some birdiable holes (using par 3's) and some very nice views.

Cons:

It does cost $2 for residents and $3 for non-residents. Their holes are removed from most of the course until mid spring for sledding. You never know when they will be put back.

Other Thoughts:

I have played this course many many times. Never gets old. One of my favorite courses if not my favorite. Very worth the while. Come and enjoy.
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10 0
CNeuey
Experience: 4 played 4 reviews
4.00 star(s)

George Wilson Park 2+ years drive by

Reviewed: Played on:Jun 18, 2008 Played the course:never

Pros:

This is a very fun course to play. The different elevations of holes make for a fun time. The back nine is really open with not much risk of hitting any trees. There is a good combination of short and long holes. The front nine is mostly in and around the woods. It is a perfect match for those interested in playing a course where you need to be very accurate with your throws in the woods (front 9) or for those who just want to throw a disc as hard and as far as you want to without much risk of losing it (back 9). Holes 9 and 18 by themselves really make a trip to this course worth your while. The park also provides you with a scorecard that has a map of the course when you arrive (be sure to ask for it if they don't give it to you right away).

Cons:

Residents need to pay 2 dollars to play and those coming in from out of town pay 3 dollars. The course is an easy course, especially the back nine. Some par 4 holes would be par 3's at other courses. There is even a par 5 hole that you can get a 3 on fairly easily. I don't go that often but usually leave shooting anywhere from 5 to 10 under par.

Other Thoughts:

Overall I think this is a great course and is worth the money to play. You can even see the Golden Dome of Notre Dame on the skyline on holes 9 and 18. Go and check this course out. You won't be disappointed.
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