- new Mach V baskets
- new dual concrete tees
- some limited elevation change
- area of park is mostly devoted to disc golf
- good use of some tree obstacles and some added challenge on wooded holes at the end
- excessively tall grasses and rough overgrowth have been cut back from prior course instantiation
- mulch around most baskets to help with wetness
- navigation is improved from prior course
- new full color tee signs with maps

- minor safety hazards with children's playground nearby
- smells from nearby river/sewage treatment plant
- some standing water near fairways; generally contained to retention area
- some wooded fairways are unrealistically narrow
- minimal amenities typical for municipal park
- limited degree of challenge, many holes are pretty open

The 2.5 was a bit of a stretch, but the new layout of Haines Wayside is much improved from the prior course. Unfortunately, this course will never escape the smell from across the river, which is thankfully only notable around holes 2-3. While in the past navigation here could be a bit confusing, it is more clear now - which seems as it should be for a relatively short 9 hole course.

The wooded area continues to be nicely incorporated on the back half, and where discs could easily be lost in tall grasses on holes 3 and 4, and in the wooded rough, all of these areas have drastically been cut back so losing discs is pretty hard as long as you stay away from the river, which has some decent depth and movement to it.

Honestly, they may have cut the woods too far back; before, it was thick, now, it is almost too open, but still overall a beneficial change. The new baskets were donated by Dellwood Disc Golf which is nice to see, and the basket and tee upgrades are great. The tee signs are also greatly improved.

A few holes nicely incorporate shrouded baskets near stands of trees to add challenge to the relatively open fairways. A minimal amount of elevation change present on the property is incorporated. Overall, this course will never be a destination, and is still just a small city park, but with these updates it's probably in the top half of those city parks instead of residing in mediocrity like before. I wouldn't go out of your way, but there are a fair few courses down this way and this is worth a quick 9 if you enjoy shorter courses now and then. It's also a worthwhile place to bring beginners who are ready for a bit more challenge than wide open field courses.

- Two concrete pads, signs, and baskets per hole

- Good fairway and green variety despite small park footprint

- Park is well maintained with good amenities

- Limited distance, even from the longest layout

- Hickory Creek produces an unpleasant smell

- Hole 4 feels a bit too "poke-and-hope"

This is at least the second redesign of the Haines Wayside Disc Golf Course since its inception in the '80s. The latest rendition is a great refresh of an old course that provides some much needed updates. There are Red and White tees and A & B baskets on each hole that provide an abundance of layouts to choose from. Red to A pins is a beginner friendly layout that most experienced players could easily get through with only a putter, while White to B pins adds about 750' and a few more interesting lines. Even from the longest layout there isn't much here to challenge higher rated players, however, with the abundance of longer, quality courses in the area, this little 9'er doesn't need to.

There is a good mix of more open and wooded holes for such a small course. There is something interesting on each fairway, be it throwing through, into, or out of the woods, a guarded green, or a "sometimes" pond. The low area in the middle of the course is intentionally flooded to make an ice skating rink during winter months, but I would assume it gets pretty soggy and may fill up a bit after periods of rain during the rest of the year as well, and comes into play on Hole 6 from either tee. Hole 3's baskets are placed quite close to Hickory Creek for a course that is otherwise pretty beginner. I can see a lot of discs finding their way into the water as right-hand-backhand hyzers fade out too much. My only other issue with the design is that Hole 4 seems to lack a well defined shot to the basket. There certainly are routes, but all super narrow and not immediately obvious. Not a big deal for such a short hole, but feels a bit unfinished.

The new equipment is all of great quality. Great concrete tee pads, colorful tee signs with all the information you need and, while not my favorite target, the Mach Vs catch well. There are several trash cans spread throughout the course, tho no benches by the tees as of yet. Two older baskets are used as practice putting targets ahead of the first tee, which is a nice touch. There is a permanent bathroom on site, but my guess is it is only open seasonally since it was locked during my mid February round. The parking lot is fairly small, but I don't see this being an issue outside of any organized events. The creek on the south side of the park does emit a bit of a funky smell. Not a big deal for me, but may be for some. There is also a playground near the parking lot that is never in play.

Haines Wayside is a nice course that provides a good challenge and great variety for newer and lower rated players. More experienced golfers should still find plenty to like here, even if they won't be particularly challenged. This is no destination course on its own, but a quality component of the Greater Joliet disc golf scene that adds more variety and is a nice alternative to the longer and more difficult courses nearby.