Bowling Green, KY

Hobson Grove - Original

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3.45(based on 34 reviews)
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Hobson Grove - Original reviews

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7 0
skottyb
Experience: 25 years 54 played 26 reviews
4.00 star(s)

Bowling Greens Legend 2+ years drive by

Reviewed: Played on:Nov 22, 2009 Played the course:5+ times

Pros:

I play this course every time I go to Bowling Green, I mean everytime. My lady goes to visit her sister so I beg to make a stop here. It plays fast and is very easy to navigate. The course is set around the Old Hobson House, which is a beautiful site to have for a backdrop to the course. The flow of the course is very nice, it starts off at the bottom of the hill with a short anhyzer and then sticks you in the belly of the beast. Hole 2 is a great par 4 esque hole that will test you, a 3 on this hole is doing well. Not that it's impossible but its a well rewarded 3 and happens to be my favorite hole on the course. The course then goes into more wooded shots on the front 9, mostly short but wooded at that. It is very easy to pick up some birdies through here but you have to hit your lines. The back 9 starts off back at the parking lot and gives you a few different looks but mostly its wood shots again. Not that this is a con because wood shots are my favorites. The last time I went there the tee signs were all redone and they look NICE!! Some of my favorites that I have ever seen, it surely knocked up my rating of this course.

Cons:

Teepads, some are unlevel and cracked so you have to watch your footing coming off the box. The course is so old though that I can't really fault it for having subpar tee boxes, it kind of brings the whole old feeling too the course.

Other Thoughts:

I have heard "rumors" that the local BG community wants to redo Hobson Grove, I beg you to leave it the same. I love the course with it and Keriekies I could play them ALL day. Thanks Bowling Green for your amazing courses, I just wish I could have the buffet of disc golf that you all enjoy.
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1 4
lynx2324
Experience: 4 played 1 reviews
3.50 star(s)

No longer 9 holes- Now 18! 2+ years drive by

Reviewed: Played on:Sep 6, 2009 Played the course:once

Pros:

Nice and short technical shots with trees in play. Longer holes can be deuced. Hole number two was a bit ridiculous but can 3'd. Shot a 51 my first time playing there. Fairly easy but fun with elevation.

Cons:

Enjoyed it... not any cons that stood out

Other Thoughts:

A few ace runs! Go for em!
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8 0
craigd
Diamond level trusted reviewer
Experience: 15.7 years 180 played 120 reviews
3.00 star(s)

NIce course 2+ years

Reviewed: Played on:Jul 11, 2009 Played the course:once

Pros:

This course is quite an enjoyable course set on the historic Hobson House property. It is fairly scenic and if you like wooded holes then you'll defiantly enjoy the atmosphere. It plays through a mixture of somewhat open holes along with predominantly wooded holes and should be appreciated by players of all skill levels. The holes may be comparably short but with the variety of shots required you'll hardly notice, that is unless you love to really "air it out" a lot. There is a fair mix of left and right shots with maybe a slight lean favoring right hand, back hand shots. Those are the holes where accurate hyzers along with skill and placement are really needed to score low. That is not to say anhyzers are not needed because they are. You will find several out here. There are also some fairly tight holes where a little luck will be embraced too. But over all it really is a good mix. Some slight elevation changes will also add to the assortment of hole types as well.

Concrete tee pads, signs, and a few benches here and there add to the attractiveness of the course in general. The tee pad for fifteen was really nice. It is "Y" shaped and and points you towards two very distinct lines to the basket. Parking is also convenient and quite accessible from holes 1, 9/10, and 18. The baskets are also in good enough shape to serve their purpose well enough. Over all this is a solid course and the fun factor is high enough for everyone to have a great time.

Cons:

Heavy shule if you find yourself outside the fairways and older pads are the biggest cons. Clean/convenient bathrooms would have been nice. There are trashcans, five gallon buckets, and other trash receptacles around but I noticed people were still hiding trash in the woods. Hollow tree stumps seemed to be the favorite. It sort of takes away from the overall "vibe" of the course.

There is a half dozen or so pallets of bricks stacked up against the old shed to the right of seventeens tee pad. While it is a unique obstacle and effects your shot, I don't like artificial obstacles at all. I understand from a local they have been there for a while now. Surprisingly, they didn't even get moved for the Am Championship.

Other Thoughts:

I had a great time out here at the Hobson House. This clean and safe course should be enjoyed by all. If you are in the Bowling Green area then I highly recommend you give this one a shot. I don't think you'll be disappointed. Enjoy!
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6 0
LStephens
Bronze level trusted reviewer
Experience: 17 years 78 played 15 reviews
3.50 star(s)

Oldie But Goodie 2+ years drive by

Reviewed: Played on:Apr 28, 2009 Played the course:5+ times

Pros:

I'm a lover of moderate length, tight and technical courses. If this doesn't appeal to you then this isn't the course for you. The average hole is around 240ft in length and most fairways are tight. This makes an excellent course for you to work on your Roc or Buzzz shots. I can't think of a single hole that is a 'signature hole' but the entire course flows very nicely and the sum of the parts is less than the total you feel at the end. At the end you feel like you've been rewarded with a wonderful day of disc golf in the park.

No where did I feel like I was playing the same hole twice. Each hole presented a new challenge. I was asked to really use my entire game..except for a back hand driver. The method of flowing from openess to woods and woods to openess was used well here. A 240ft hyzer that starts in the open and finishes in the woods that requires a soft touch on an overstable driver is completely different than the same exact angle and distance on a hole that starts out tight wooded and finishes in the open.

Some say it doesn't offer much in elevation changes...I think maybe they need to play the course again...there is no elevation that makes you catch your breath after a long walk up a hill...however...most holes are uphill or downhill or over a slight rise...very few are actually flat.

This is the one course in Bowling Green that PDGA divisions will complain about when their division doesn't get to play here for the Bowling Green Amateur Championships. For most people, Hobson Grove IS the reason to come to Bowling Green, KY. Pros love it, Ams love it. Coupled with Lovers Lane it is a great day of disc golf.

Cons:

It does have old teepads and baskets...but I don't think it really matters. I've never had a problem with the tees and the baskets catch my good putts and aces.

It probably needs some modern and clean restroom facilities for the ladies. If we are going to get more women in disc golf...we need to have clean and modern restrooms.

Other Thoughts:

Like I said above, Hobson Grove is the reason many people come and play in the Amateur Championships at Bowling Green. The divisions that don't get to play here gripe and moan and I understand their anguish. It is a fun and challenging course. Many times you will shoot a nice -6 or better in practice only to be humbled with a positive score in the tournament.

If you are ever remotely near Bowling Green, KY this is a must stop. The course may not be a modern pro caliber course...but pros will find it fun none the less..and ams will thoroughly enjoy it as well.
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9 2
dpennycuff
Experience: 11 played 1 reviews
3.50 star(s)

Update for 2009 2+ years drive by

Reviewed: Played on:Feb 6, 2009 Played the course:2-4 times

Pros:

At the end of last year the signs (which were very bad), were replace with very nice DGA sponsor level signs. The maps are pretty decent if you have not played there before.

This is a very good course to work on your short game control and accuracy. There were only 2 holes that I pulled out a driver, and that was a monster for 2 hard left shots. In other words, the holes are of moderate to short distance, and the fairways are not too narrow for first year players.

If I was playing multiple courses for the day, I would pair this with the Lovers Lane course (for driving), or the Preston Miller course (for even tighter wooded fairways)

Cons:

I played this course my third time ever playing disc golf, and obviously my game was no where near ready for this course. The course destroyed me so completely that it took me several months before I was ready to give this course another try. So, if you are very new, do yourself a favor and skip this course until you have a month or so of playing under your belt.

The low areas of the course take awhile to dry out, so if it has rained in the last couple of days, be prepared for some muddy areas.

In the summer the roughs do grow pretty thick with their fair share of briers, so wearing pants would not be unreasonable.
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2 6
claydjordan
Experience: 17.7 years 1 played 1 reviews
4.00 star(s)

The Best in BG 2+ years drive by

Reviewed: Played on:Dec 1, 2008 Played the course:5+ times

Pros:

Challenging wooded course with an excellent mix of back hand and forehand shots. A good variety in hole distances.

Cons:

Very few. None that I would say takes away from teh character of the course.

Other Thoughts:

There is a sewage treatment plant right next door, folks. I will say that this is rarely a problem, but there are days when you could easily make the decision to play somewhere else.
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9 1
bjreagh
Diamond level trusted reviewer
Experience: 27.7 years 350 played 321 reviews
3.50 star(s)

Classic Course 2+ years drive by

Reviewed: Updated: Played on:Oct 4, 2008 Played the course:2-4 times

Pros:

It is a fine older course- shorter and more technical, but there is always a fairway. This course is one of the more challenging courses in Bowling Green. Excellent variety from hole to hole. Distinct setting as it plays around the historic mansion and next to the ball golf course (which also contains a separate longer 9 hole disc golf course).

This course seems to be much less crowded than others in the area like Keriakes which sees a lot of traffic.

Cons:

There was one hole where a wayward disc and wayward golf ball might cross paths- some ballers in golf carts almost, unintentionally, ran over my friend's disc. But now with the new DG course at the ball golf course, golfers should be more aware of what discs are.

Other Thoughts:

Older, but still in pretty good shape for an old course. This is one of the better courses in BG. I have played it a few times, and I look forward to playing it again!
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10 0
tamahawk
Gold level trusted reviewer
Experience: 17.7 years 50 played 50 reviews
3.00 star(s)

2+ years drive by

Reviewed: Updated: Played on:Jun 28, 2008 Played the course:2-4 times

Pros:

Hobson Grove is one of the more scenic and visually appealing courses in the Bowling Green area designed mainly for accuracy and control, and built around a magnificent historic centerpiece. The technical layout will provide ample challenge for any skill level.

General Course Info:
Hole Avg: 263ft
Length Variation: >200(2), 200-299(13),300-399(2), <400(1)
Elevation: Mostly Flat w/Minimal Elevations

Course Essentials:
-Baskets: MachIII, single position. Baskets in good shape.
-Tee Pads: Small (but adequate) concrete tee pads, single position.
-Tee Signs: Nice, new tee signs on all holes, recently updated.

Course Design & Layout:
Hobson Grove is built in/around the thick woods surrounding the Hobson House, a late 1800's home tied to the history of the civil war. The course is comprised of 2 9-hole loops (each returning to the parking area) which provide a smooth and uninterupted flow that is easy to navigate.

The hole average is just under 265ft/hole, but what the course lacks in length is easily compensated for with the tight (but fair), technical and semi-technical fairways. One of the greatest features of Hobson Grove is the creative combined use of open spaces and tree lines to create holes which force a player to have both distance control and line control off the box. By this I mean that several holes have tee boxes in the open that throw to baskets tucked into the woods with tight gaps to navigate, and vice versa, tee boxes that throw from the woods through a narrow tunnel and tight gap to baskets in the open.

Elevation changes are minimal throught the course, but used effectively in the design. There is good variety in the layout mixing it up between technical and semi-technical holes of varying length. Pin placements are strategic, but accessible. Many of the pins are located in/around tree clusters which provide adequate protection for the baskets, and even a well-placed drive can sometimes leave you in a situation that requires some creativity with the putter to get the deuce.

Maintenance & Amenities:
-Course is well-maintained year round.
-Benches and trash receptacles are located around the course.
-Large wooden sign w/course map near first tee.
-Parking lot with easy access to holes 1,9,10, and 18.

Cons:

-Some tee pads worn, cracked, and uneven.
-Thick foliage outside some fairways in the summer months.
-Lower elevation areas have a tendency to retain water.

Other Thoughts:

Hobson Grove is one of the top courses in the Bowling Green area. New players may find the narrow fairways a bit frustrating, and more experienced players will have to rely on control and creative shot-making to score low here, length offers no advantage. Overall, a fun course with a great layout. The more I play this course, the more I appreciate it's design and challenge. Hobson Grove is a classic, must play course in the Bowling Green region.
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10 0
SimonCarr
Gold level trusted reviewer
Experience: 25 years 116 played 57 reviews
3.50 star(s)

One of the best in BG 2+ years

Reviewed: Played on:Sep 1, 2008 Played the course:5+ times

Pros:

I lived in Bowling Green for several years and this course quickly became one of my favorites. Many of the holes are very technical and require extreme accuracy. The holes are short, but since they are so technical it can be easy to shoot over par here. Players that have a good midrange game will likely do well here.

The course is picturesque, well maintained. It is usually not nearly as busy as Keriakas or Lovers Lane. In the extremely hot and humid summer days, this course is cool and shaded.

Cons:

Could be a longer course, but is short given the fact that it was installed 30 years ago.

Can be frustrating when a drive ricochettes into the thick underbrush.

Other Thoughts:

My best round ever was -6, a couple days later I shot +4. It is not an unfair course at all, but is very demanding. People playing this course for the first time will have difficulty. It takes several rounds to find the best routes on some of these shots.

I would rate this in between 3.5 and 4.0.. It is a favorite of mine, and one of the best in BG.
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2 5
CStaples
Experience: 24 years 6 played 6 reviews
3.00 star(s)

Short and technical 2+ years drive by

Reviewed: Played on:Jul 6, 2008 Played the course:5+ times

Pros:

Hobson offers a good variety of shots and is set on a very attractive property.

Cons:

The signs are poor but the course is still navigable. Some of the schule is a bit thick.

Other Thoughts:

This is a fun course to play as a warm up for the neighboring Riverview course.
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8 0
tdortch
Bronze level trusted reviewer
Experience: 16.9 years 84 played 34 reviews
3.50 star(s)

Toughie/Goodie 2+ years drive by

Reviewed: Played on:Oct 25, 2008 Played the course:once

Pros:

A lot of folks seem to gripe about the technical aspects of this course, but this is the kind of course that will make you better! This course has a lot of very tight fairways and if you miss your shot, you're in the woods on most holes. I played it for the first and only time (I'm from Paducah, 120 miles away) in the Nat's Halloween Tournament and was hating my day as I shot a +6, but I've been thinking about the lines I found, the shots I missed and so forth since I got home. That's usually the sign of a good course to me. I will play it again the next time I'm in BG. There are a few holes where you can air it out, but even the "long" ones aren't that long.

Cons:

The signage is bad, as has been mentioned. I played with some local guys, so that helped, and since it was a tournament, I had time to hike up and look at a lot of the baskets. Big arm guys will hate it because there just won't be any shots for them. Some of the holes just seem literally impossible, but again, I was playing in a tourney and that always ups the pressure and all.

Other Thoughts:

A great course to learn/practice your approach game. Some uphill and downhill shots, tunnel shots, doglegs in each direction, blind shots, flick, BH, etc. This course will definitely test you. Someone mentioned the other nine also. This is where the open division played their final round. At its longest, it's over 17000 feet (if you play the 9 twice at the long pads), but you play with a cart on a ball golf course. I think it would be pretty cool. It's called Riverview.
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8 0
buzzinb
Bronze level trusted reviewer
Experience: 16.2 years 19 played 18 reviews
3.00 star(s)

Bring your axe 2+ years drive by

Reviewed: Played on:Oct 18, 2008 Played the course:2-4 times

Pros:

Extremely challenging course that will make you cry "Uncle" if you don't keep your shots straight. Very scenic park with many of the holes winding through heavily wooded areas. Good use of the available land and good variety of holes that dogleg in either direction. This is a "thinking mans" course where weenie arms can showcase their control game.

Cons:

Many of the t-pads are short and uneven. Can feel monotonous durring the mid stretch where you are constantly fighting to get out of the woods with no break.

Other Thoughts:

Not the best course in BG but worth playing if you really like a challenge.
It looks like they are planning on putting new T-signs in but as of yet there are only new, empty frames.
There are an additional 9 holes with available cart rental built into the adjacent ball golf course for a fee.
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2 5
upfromtheashes
Bronze level trusted reviewer
Experience: 19.7 years 42 played 38 reviews
2.00 star(s)

Not bad, not great. 2+ years drive by

Reviewed: Played on:Jul 26, 2008 Played the course:once

Pros:

Shady, uses elevation change in some place. Sits on a beautiful piece of land.

One really cool tee pad is shaped like a V, and you can either play it to the left or to the right.

Cons:

It's an old course and is showing it's age. Signs are lacking, teepads are old and small. This surprises me because every other course I've played in Bowling Green has fantastic signs.

Like most old courses, it has a lot of short holes. I'm sure this course would play a lot differently if it was 1978 and we were using Wham-Os.

Other Thoughts:

Not a bad course, but there are much better courses just a few miles away.
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2 5
dscglfgeo
Experience: 42 played 3 reviews
3.00 star(s)

Tight course with nice elevation 2+ years drive by

Reviewed: Played on:Mar 30, 2007 Played the course:never

Pros:

Nice course with some sweet elevation changes. You can shoot under here just as easly as shooting over. Roads come into play on more than one hole

Cons:

Lack of tee signs is the main cause to the lower rating on this course easily a 4 if they put in some nice signage.

Other Thoughts:

They added some distance to a couple of holes the last time I played it, making it a little more tougher.
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