Hawthorne Park reviews
10
0
EspressoPatronum
Gold level trusted reviewer
Premium Member
Experience:
18.7 years
256 played
238 reviews
Decent 9 Hole Park Course With Some Length
Reviewed:
Played on:Sep 19, 2023
Played the course:once
Pros:
- well maintained park
- tee signs have maps and are serviceable
- incorporation of some minor elevation change
- some good mix of hole lengths
- older but solid Innova DISCatcher baskets
- numbers on baskets
- garbage cans throughout course
- some moderate obstacles in otherwise open park
- respectable for beginners, ok for practice if more experienced
- concrete tees
- tee signs have maps and are serviceable
- incorporation of some minor elevation change
- some good mix of hole lengths
- older but solid Innova DISCatcher baskets
- numbers on baskets
- garbage cans throughout course
- some moderate obstacles in otherwise open park
- respectable for beginners, ok for practice if more experienced
- concrete tees
Cons:
- several notable safety hazards in multi-use park
- tees could definitely be larger
- despite being a simple course, navigation is not always clear
- terrible design for hole 2 throwing directly over bike/walking path
- fair amount of vandalism/stickers on baskets
- not isolated enough from other park activities
- mostly open and fairly flat with low difficulty level
- tees could definitely be larger
- despite being a simple course, navigation is not always clear
- terrible design for hole 2 throwing directly over bike/walking path
- fair amount of vandalism/stickers on baskets
- not isolated enough from other park activities
- mostly open and fairly flat with low difficulty level
Other Thoughts:
I stopped by Hawthorne Park en route between Chicago and Fort Wayne, IN. This route really doesn't have a lot to offer in the way of solid courses. I played Hawthorne Park in a constant drizzle and still had a fun time, which I'd say is a good sign. It probably helps it was only 9 holes though!
For a 9 hole course, the mix of lengths is respectable here. While I prefer more technical, wooded courses, this one is fun enough and does have some so-so elevation change for an open park course. There are a moderate number of tree obstacles to add some challenge but overall this course is a pretty basic park course.
The navigation here could be a bit better but it can be figured out - as with most open courses, hole numbers on the baskets really help. Amenities are pretty limited here but typical of a public park. The only major con here is the safety issues - hole 2 throws for 300 ft over a bike/walking path, hole 6 throws straight towards the playground, and the fairways for holes 7 and 8 cross each other. There are several other walking path encroachments, which is always frustrating to see on a disc golf course. Admittedly, the course and park were deserted while I was there, but it was a rainy Tuesday afternoon so I'm not sure that was indicative of the norm.
Ultimately, I had a fun time here - definitely wouldn't seek this one out, but if you are en route to somewhere else, this is a nice little course where you can play a quick round near interstates and Indiana Dunes National Park.
For a 9 hole course, the mix of lengths is respectable here. While I prefer more technical, wooded courses, this one is fun enough and does have some so-so elevation change for an open park course. There are a moderate number of tree obstacles to add some challenge but overall this course is a pretty basic park course.
The navigation here could be a bit better but it can be figured out - as with most open courses, hole numbers on the baskets really help. Amenities are pretty limited here but typical of a public park. The only major con here is the safety issues - hole 2 throws for 300 ft over a bike/walking path, hole 6 throws straight towards the playground, and the fairways for holes 7 and 8 cross each other. There are several other walking path encroachments, which is always frustrating to see on a disc golf course. Admittedly, the course and park were deserted while I was there, but it was a rainy Tuesday afternoon so I'm not sure that was indicative of the norm.
Ultimately, I had a fun time here - definitely wouldn't seek this one out, but if you are en route to somewhere else, this is a nice little course where you can play a quick round near interstates and Indiana Dunes National Park.
2
0
jeffhoots
Experience:
11.9 years
11 played
5 reviews
Decent Beginner Course 2+ years
Reviewed:
Played on:Sep 29, 2012
Played the course:once
Pros:
Decent course for a beginner: a good mix of short, long, straight, and not so straight.
Good location for those visiting the Indiana Dunes area. About 5 - 10 minutes from Indiana Dunes State Park and National Lakeshore.
Good for kids. If they get bored, park includes a playground.
Good Innova DiscCatchers.
Good location for those visiting the Indiana Dunes area. About 5 - 10 minutes from Indiana Dunes State Park and National Lakeshore.
Good for kids. If they get bored, park includes a playground.
Good Innova DiscCatchers.
Cons:
Holes 1 and 2 are right next to the park road, then the other 7 are more typical of a public park.
An experienced player will not be challenged. You have to go about 10 miles south to Rogers Park in Valparaiso for that.
An experienced player will not be challenged. You have to go about 10 miles south to Rogers Park in Valparaiso for that.
Other Thoughts:
When our family goes camping at the nearby state park, this is a good way to get 9 holes in without having to drive too far. While not a destination, bring your family and you will do OK.
1
0
cmchavis
Experience:
42.2 years
26 played
12 reviews
Social course 2+ years drive by
Reviewed:
Played on:Jul 26, 2012
Played the course:5+ times
Pros:
It's short, it's in a multi-use park that gets a lot of non disc golf use but it's a fun, free, social course to play.
The holes wind around Hawthorne park in Porter and other than holes 1 and 2 there is not much chance of losing a disc or being punished by rough.
This is a good course when out with friends and want to relax and don't want to have to worry about your game or deal with a rigorous round at Rogers which is the next closest course.
There is a nice use of OB to help make some holes a little more challenging and there are some mando's defined that force you to shape a line or two on a couple holes. Most of the holes are wide open, so you can just throw w/o worrying about landing zones.
The first two holes - have woods bordering them on the left hand side, so any overstable discs thrown have a good chance of hitting the woods. Playing it safe on those leads to 3s and over the entire course any non-beginner will be shooting for deuces here.
Holes 3-7 and 9 are basically straight shots across fields
8 is a nice dogleg left with a mando over around the trees to keep out of private property.
Nice Ace opportunities at over half the holes for most normal arms, longer arms probably at all the holes.
You're never more than a 2 minute walk from the car, so if you want to play a putter round or forget something in your car or just don't want to carry much, you're really close.
The holes wind around Hawthorne park in Porter and other than holes 1 and 2 there is not much chance of losing a disc or being punished by rough.
This is a good course when out with friends and want to relax and don't want to have to worry about your game or deal with a rigorous round at Rogers which is the next closest course.
There is a nice use of OB to help make some holes a little more challenging and there are some mando's defined that force you to shape a line or two on a couple holes. Most of the holes are wide open, so you can just throw w/o worrying about landing zones.
The first two holes - have woods bordering them on the left hand side, so any overstable discs thrown have a good chance of hitting the woods. Playing it safe on those leads to 3s and over the entire course any non-beginner will be shooting for deuces here.
Holes 3-7 and 9 are basically straight shots across fields
8 is a nice dogleg left with a mando over around the trees to keep out of private property.
Nice Ace opportunities at over half the holes for most normal arms, longer arms probably at all the holes.
You're never more than a 2 minute walk from the car, so if you want to play a putter round or forget something in your car or just don't want to carry much, you're really close.
Cons:
There are a lot of safety issues here - there are a couple 2 and 3 that are either along a park entrance road or a busy city road.
Holes 3-5 are across a field that gets plenty of use by non disc-golfers since there is a shelter that can be rented right off of 5. Numerous times we've had to ask kids playing soccer in the field to 'heads-up' so they were paying attention. Hole 6 throws right by a playground - we had a guy in our group hit the swingset _every_ time he threw on that hole.
On 6 you are either throwing at the parking lot/road or at 7s tee - so that can get tricky.
Holes 7 and 9 are on either side of a gazebo that gets traffic and hosts weddings that I've seen people accidentally wing one into.
Hole 7 plays over 8's basket - which isn't really a big issue, but 7s basket is basically in the middle of 8s fairway. So after you throw on 8 - you have to walk right past the basket on 7, which could be a safety issue.
As stated in the pro's - all these holes are deuces, three if you get into the trees on 4 or 8 or hit some of the defined OB. So the course is fairly simple - anyone looking for a real challenge should look elsewhere.
Holes 3-5 are across a field that gets plenty of use by non disc-golfers since there is a shelter that can be rented right off of 5. Numerous times we've had to ask kids playing soccer in the field to 'heads-up' so they were paying attention. Hole 6 throws right by a playground - we had a guy in our group hit the swingset _every_ time he threw on that hole.
On 6 you are either throwing at the parking lot/road or at 7s tee - so that can get tricky.
Holes 7 and 9 are on either side of a gazebo that gets traffic and hosts weddings that I've seen people accidentally wing one into.
Hole 7 plays over 8's basket - which isn't really a big issue, but 7s basket is basically in the middle of 8s fairway. So after you throw on 8 - you have to walk right past the basket on 7, which could be a safety issue.
As stated in the pro's - all these holes are deuces, three if you get into the trees on 4 or 8 or hit some of the defined OB. So the course is fairly simple - anyone looking for a real challenge should look elsewhere.
Other Thoughts:
For all it's faults - it's a fun little course. I bring the kids out frequently with me since they can walk for a few and throw when they want to and they can play on the playground while I play some holes then we repeat.
It's fun to meet friends here and casually work on your game or put in a quick round.
We've taken to playing through 3 times to call it a round.
Their putting in teepads - when we were out they were digging them out - getting ready to install. (July 26th, 2012)
It's cool to see disc golf return to this park after 30+ years. One of the people in the group I play with used to play here in the late 70s.
It's fun to meet friends here and casually work on your game or put in a quick round.
We've taken to playing through 3 times to call it a round.
Their putting in teepads - when we were out they were digging them out - getting ready to install. (July 26th, 2012)
It's cool to see disc golf return to this park after 30+ years. One of the people in the group I play with used to play here in the late 70s.
1
0
halfbidfor5
Experience:
3 played
3 reviews
GoodDriveBadPutt review dead on 2+ years drive by
Reviewed:
Played on:Jul 5, 2012
Played the course:5+ times
Other Thoughts:
I live right across the street and GoodDriveBadPutt's review is a dead on accurate review of this course. It is mainly a good little course to work on putting and your shorter game and that's pretty much it. They did a good job using what they had to work with to squeeze 9 baskets in this nice park so that is not to be overlooked. Enjoy.
