Decent signage. Holes are a mix of short and long and most are challenging regardless of distance. Nice rolling hills and good use of elevation. Easy to walk and navigate the course. Park is in the middle of Ione and lots of other things to do at this well maintained park 18 newer baskets. Some parts of the course reminded me of Tahoe courses.

Tees are rugs, might be kind of messy during the winter.

If the dry pond fills with water, that will add another fun element.

The future of this course has so much potential. Multiple tee locations, long bombs shots, technical short shots, this course has all types of disc golf skill shots in one location. Great for beginners and experienced disc golfers!

Still in beginning stages.

Talks of a lighthouse hole is in the works which is a unique and creative idea for a course that is already on its way to being tournament ready!

--Low traffic on the course, did not see anyone else in the area
--Mix of shots: downhill, thick bushes and trees, wide open, water hazard, long and short drives
--Metal tee signs (blue) on 4x4 posts indicate hole number, par and distance
--Short fairways usually require skilled shot to avoid trees and foliage
--White arrows nailed to tree trunks in some areas direct players to the next tee or to the location of the target
--Plenty of parking
--Very clean, likely due to low use

--Targets are home-made
--Natural or carpet tee pads in poor shape, uneven or disintegrating
--at least one hole has downed foliage that interferes with the intended shot (as of April 2019)
--Tee signs do not show a "map" of the hole, or direction of next tee
--One position for each target
--Driving in to the parking area can be confusing, since there are multiple dirt access roads and the signage is not abundant
--No benches on the course, or trash cans

I had a map, but still spent a fair amount of time finding the next tee areas, and spent a lot of time looking for the targets themselves. Even with that, I did enjoy playing this course. I thought, based on the distances, it would be easy. However, it requires you to really look at the best flight path and then execute the shot. Being off by a little bit can cause extra strokes to pile up quickly.

Hole by hole description as of 7 April 2019.
Hole 1: 210 ft par 3. Walk up the hill to the chain-link fence for tee #1. Fence separates the cemetery from the park area. Shot is downhill, slightly right of the tee pad's midline. Several trees create a low ceiling. Nearing the target, a few tree trunks block the way at about 40 ft. The target is a painted propane tank, like a US flag (very well done), and is on a metal post driven into the middle of a tree with multiple trunks that act as an effective barrier to approaching putts.
Hole 2: 201 ft par 3. Level fairway, target is in a ring of trees, and trees line most of the right side of the fairway. Target is a blue barrel with a narrow set of chains.
Hole 3: 174 ft par 3. Slight uphill. Tee is carpet that was not staked into the ground. Look for a large pine down the right side of the fairway. A white arrow about 7 ft up points to the target, which is nestled in 6 ft high bushes. The target is the same style as hole 2. After playing 3, it is a little bit of a hunt to find the tee for Hole 4.
Hole 4: 162 ft par 3. Uphill drive, no view of the target, even when midway up the small slope. Mostly 5 ft tall bushes and trees. Same style of target as previous two holes. It is tucked behind bushes on right. Walk up the slope to find the target prior to driving.
Hole 5: 126 ft par 3. Very tight fairway, slight left to right, target same type as previous three holes. Although it is a short throw, it is very technical. Walk down the hill to the next tee. On the gravel path, look for a white arrow pointing to your right.
Hole 6: 219 ft par 3. After the last few short, highly wooded holes, this one feels like a wide-open bomber, but it is only 219 ft. Blackberry brambles line the left of the fairway, and impenetrable trees on the right. Target is just out of sight, around corner to right, behind a solitary tree. There is a very shallow, sluggish creeklet (drainage ditch?) behind the blue target.
Hole 7: 228 ft par 3. Tee is nestled among a couple of young pines, and the fairway is mostly wide open, but the hyzer shot is protected near the target by trees on the right, and a lone bush on the left. Target is a white propane tank on a metal pole.
Hole 8: 288 ft par 3. The pole for the tee was out of the ground, and the tee had no carpet, just wear on the dirt. An oak branch had fallen almost onto the tee pad and obstructed the drive. As you look for the target, you will see a blue one on your right--that is target #10. Target 8 is on the left, up a slight slope, and is a propane tank painted white with blue bands on top and bottom. Barbwire fencing is just behind the target and runs along the edge of this part of the course.
Hole 9: 249 ft par 3. Level fairway, carpet tee is being reclaimed by grass. Target is hidden from tee by a downed oak, still alive, that creates a small cave. Target is a white propane tank with blue and red dots on it. Walk up to view where this target is prior to tee shot.
Hole 10: 231 ft par 3. The tee (carpet) is down the slope near the creek. The distance is off on this, and it seems this is the longest hole on the course. The basket is a blue chain and tub, nestled in oak trees and slightly up the slope, about 375+ ft away. You cannot see it from the tee. The creek is along the left of the fairway, which is narrow, and trees block along the right side. A wooden tombstone "Unknown RIP" is about at the halfway point. A white arrow points to the next tee.
Hole 11: 273 ft par 3. Fairway is across the swale that has the little creek running down the middle. Target is visible on right side, up the opposite slope on the edge of the trees. Painted blue propane tank with a stylistic black tree painted on it. Walk slightly downhill for the next tee.
Hole 12: 321 ft par 3. Level fairway, driving back upstream of the creek, with it on the left, and a slope on the right. A dirt berm surrounds the target (which is a propane tank with forest scene), and thick brambles are on the left. After finishing, head to the right back to the skate park along the path.

With improved pads, and a little bit of trimming (and, of course, real baskets), I think this would be a great course to hone technical shots and develop your overall shot skills.

I give the excellent course sign a 5.0.
I give the tee signs 3.5.
I give the pads a 1.0.
I give the homemade baskets and propane tank targets a 0.5.
I give the park's terrain a 2.0.
I give the challenge here a 2.0.
I give the fun factor here a 1.0.

The course at Howard Park starts right above the skate punk park. There is a lovely, large course sign here. I would have saved that money for baskets. The fist tee is up above the skate park by the fence. At this time I was still searching for baskets and wasn't really hunting red, white and blue propane tank targets.

I found the small # 2 sign. There is a carpet pad and the basket is this funny looking, homemade single job. # 3 is a blind 174' hid up in the bushes. # 4 is a 162' throw to another old propane tank. There are a couple of white arrows pointing to the next tees. The next few holes all play in the mid-200's. # 11 is a 273' throw over a marshy area and # 12 in the longest hole at 321'.

The club has a lot of work cut out for themselves. Currently, there is a lovely course sign and not much else. The park is isolated so it will be easy prey to vandals. Having the skate park here draws the vandals. The park already has a kind of run down vibe going. And then putting in propane tanks and ugly homemade baskets as targets only adds to this run down vibe.

Good luck to The Amador Chain Anglers and their gigantic task of trying to establish a course here. You have a monumental task awaiting you and I wish you all the luck in the world. At least you don't have to tunnel out of Shawshank Prison like Andy Dufresne to fulfill your dream. You're not Matt Damon stuck on Mars.

You're just a club trying to raise a bunch of money, organize the disc club and volunteers, combat the skate crowd who enjoy vandalizing all your hard work and efforts to get a course established.



I only hope that any signs and baskets that are placed here are constructed of the strongest materials possible. That would be my # 1 priority. Vandal proof!

I'll try and keep an eye on your progress and will gladly up my rating as things fall in to place for you.

NOTE: Yes, I have been contacted by course personnel and yes, improvements have been made so I will very willingly add a point to my previous rating. Keep working on the course, men, and it will continue to get better.

Great mixture of tone pole baskets and home made baskets! Love the painting on the tone poles.

Course is well thought out and placement of pins are great for beginner and a challenge for more advanced players.

Look for the white arrows in the trees for next tee pad

All the holes are marked with tee pad signs

Tee pads are carpet

As usual, put something nice in, and it is bound to be vandalized. Some of the arrows that point you in the direction of the next tee pad have been broken or turned in a different direction.

For the most part, the first time player will be able to find their way.

Played in June 2016 and again in January 2018. Ground was dry both times. I am not sure how this course would play in other seasons, as it appears there might be a natural ravine that fills with water. That would add a level of difficulty to this course for a couple of the shots.

All but one hole, #12, are under 300 feet, with some under 200 feet.

If it's short it's tight and technical, if it's long it's open with big trees. Lots of shade fun for all skill levels, exciting course I could play everyday for the rest of my days.

Tee pads need work but are getting better every time i play. It will be nice when it's all Mach 5's but at least it's all baskets!

This course was designed and installed for the Ione community especially the children and their families, not much to do for them out here. Please be respectful and try to build a good reputation for the sport of Disc Golf. The course backs up to the Elementary School so watch your language on bad shots! The school has cameras up so be conscious of that fact! If you are a Sk8boarder there is a very nice Sk8 park at the start of the course, enjoy!