Illinois Institute of Tech DGC reviews
9
0
jdude97
Experience:
13.9 years
3 played
3 reviews
It's open but not good for much 2+ years drive by
Reviewed:
Played on:Jun 27, 2020
Played the course:5+ times
Pros:
- Biggest pro is that it exists. It's the only course within the Chicago city limits, and pretty much the only reason this isn't a 0.5 or 0.
- It's a 9 hole course that plays through various quads on the IIT campus.
- It was unplayable for awhile as 4 holes were knocked out by the construction of a new building, but persons unknown (I'd really love to know who's responsible for this course) rearranged some holes so there are once again 9 holes.
- There is a course map near the 1st tee and tee signs by every tee (although why they removed the IITee pun I cannot say)
- Easily accessible by public transit (red line to White Sox-35th, green line to 35th-Bronzeville-IIT, State St. #29 bus) and is a short drive or ride from downtown Chicago (15 min)
- Ample public street parking on 35th just west of State, walk 2 blocks north to the 1st tree (metered, $2/hr)
- Baskets are in good condition and marked with the hole number
- Good security, there are IIT university police near almost every hole keeping an eye on things
- Bathrooms and vending machines in Hermann Hall, enter by the 8th tee, although may be closed in summer/weekends. Otherwise, best bet for a bathroom and cold drink is the Starbucks or Jimmy John's at 35th/State
- It's a 9 hole course that plays through various quads on the IIT campus.
- It was unplayable for awhile as 4 holes were knocked out by the construction of a new building, but persons unknown (I'd really love to know who's responsible for this course) rearranged some holes so there are once again 9 holes.
- There is a course map near the 1st tee and tee signs by every tee (although why they removed the IITee pun I cannot say)
- Easily accessible by public transit (red line to White Sox-35th, green line to 35th-Bronzeville-IIT, State St. #29 bus) and is a short drive or ride from downtown Chicago (15 min)
- Ample public street parking on 35th just west of State, walk 2 blocks north to the 1st tree (metered, $2/hr)
- Baskets are in good condition and marked with the hole number
- Good security, there are IIT university police near almost every hole keeping an eye on things
- Bathrooms and vending machines in Hermann Hall, enter by the 8th tee, although may be closed in summer/weekends. Otherwise, best bet for a bathroom and cold drink is the Starbucks or Jimmy John's at 35th/State
Cons:
- Dirt tees, which aren't even well delineated/clear on most holes (because the holes are new) and are full of tree roots everywhere
- The key to a good urban course is a well placed tree or two on a hole so it's not just throwing in an open field. But unfortunately the new course layout has mostly open field holes. Hole 7 (formerly 4) went from a nice hyzer approach with 2 large pines to just an open field, sadly.
- The footages and pars are clearly wrong on the course map and tee signs! For instance, hole 9, perhaps the only par 4, is listed as a par 2!
- 5 min walk from 9th basket to 1st tee
- Doesn't have scorecards anymore by the 1st tee like it used to
- On a nice weekend or afternoon during the school year, expect the greens to be full of students lounging, and some may be properly closed for official functions or intramural events. There are picnic benches on 1 of the fairways. You're best playing in the summer or during the day the rest of the year (be prepared to pause your round for passing periods).
- There's a risk of losing in a disc in the 2 fenced off areas on the fairway for holes 4/5.
- Two fairways cross (1/2, 4/5) which is a hazard
- The key to a good urban course is a well placed tree or two on a hole so it's not just throwing in an open field. But unfortunately the new course layout has mostly open field holes. Hole 7 (formerly 4) went from a nice hyzer approach with 2 large pines to just an open field, sadly.
- The footages and pars are clearly wrong on the course map and tee signs! For instance, hole 9, perhaps the only par 4, is listed as a par 2!
- 5 min walk from 9th basket to 1st tee
- Doesn't have scorecards anymore by the 1st tee like it used to
- On a nice weekend or afternoon during the school year, expect the greens to be full of students lounging, and some may be properly closed for official functions or intramural events. There are picnic benches on 1 of the fairways. You're best playing in the summer or during the day the rest of the year (be prepared to pause your round for passing periods).
- There's a risk of losing in a disc in the 2 fenced off areas on the fairway for holes 4/5.
- Two fairways cross (1/2, 4/5) which is a hazard
Other Thoughts:
- There's a hole P, which I guess is meant to be a practice hole or maybe a playoff hole (it comes after hole 9 and is 5 min from the 1st tee)
- This was the first course I ever played and the only one I played for a few years as I was learning due to its proximity to the city, and there is a place in disc golf for short urban courses, but after some of the better/longer holes were knocked out, this went from a decent urban course to a mostly pointless course. Good for absolute beginners or if you're dying for a round, but be sure to come on an empty day and don't expect much. If you're in the city and want a short course, you're better driving north to Lincolnwood for the North Shore Channel Trail DGC.
- My suggestion to the course administrators is to try to use the land to the east of State street to add some better holes.
- This was the first course I ever played and the only one I played for a few years as I was learning due to its proximity to the city, and there is a place in disc golf for short urban courses, but after some of the better/longer holes were knocked out, this went from a decent urban course to a mostly pointless course. Good for absolute beginners or if you're dying for a round, but be sure to come on an empty day and don't expect much. If you're in the city and want a short course, you're better driving north to Lincolnwood for the North Shore Channel Trail DGC.
- My suggestion to the course administrators is to try to use the land to the east of State street to add some better holes.
