Great clean course
Can be short for a quick round or longer if time allows it due to multiple tee pads.
Variety of shots both backhand and forehand
Directional signs on baskets to point you to next tee

Baskets are sometimes hard to see and locate with multiple positions for each hole

A couple holes run close to each other so watch out for other groups

This is a great course to play in the Sarasota area! I was in town and very happy I played this course. It starts out with some great holes that challenge your ability to throw under a low ceiling. After hole 5 water really starts to come into play. Most holes this is not a problem from the standard tee. Hole 14 was the only hole that water seemed to come into play as a typical backhand hyzer carries water for most of the hole and if you're like me and hit tree limbs, you'll end up in the water. I really enjoyed the pin position for hole 13 in the tree. Some holes it was difficult to see the baskets as there are multiple pin positions but this can easily be fixed with a bright numbered flag on the basket.

This is a great course that I highly recommend if you are in the area!

Snapshot: The aptly named Lakeview Park is a intermediate-beginner to intermediate course (distance 120 --250 feet for short tee pads and 200--350 feet for Blue) that is remarkable for many of water hazards, (canal, ponds, lake), small hills, low ceilings, and 3 pin locations per hole. You may want to bring some sort of disc retrieval device. This is a great course to improve your precision at the cost of losing some discs.

Some good things about this course are…
-Nice cement Red, Blue and some Gold tee pads.
-Diversity of shots, going from low ceiling to wide open, and water in play.
-Baskets have arrows or painted wire pointing to next tee pad.
-I thought that 16, 17, and 18 were going to be difficult judging from the udisc map, but they were surprisingly easy. 18 was an especially nice finishing ace run hole.
-It uses the whole park.
-Good tee signs
-Good map at the beginning (take a picture)
-Well maintained and beautiful.
-This course will make you less fearful to through over water by pure exposure
-Possibility to see a Gator???

-This course can be intimidating due to the very real possibility of losing a disc on water holes for all experience levels.
-You may want to bring some discs that you don't mind losing or play safe.
-This is a relatively safe and well-designed course, although it is good to be aware of other park users especially for some of the blind shots.
-Small course footprint, meaning be sure to be aware and alert other players if you throw an errant shot.
-Tee pads are mostly cement, but some have large bricks at the beginning of the run up.

Who would like this course: This course is good for all players. Experienced players would likely enjoy this course for the precision it requires and probably find the course a bit short. Individuals who are afraid to lose discs and very new players may be intimidated by the course. Overall, one of the nicer courses in the Sarasota area.

Possible Improvements:
-These are mostly nitpicky
-Some long 10 foot + sticks or rods would be a nice improvement to help with disc retrieval.
-Making sure all baskets have arrows point in the right direction (#12 was a bit confusing and required a map).
-Baskets are in decent condition, however one or two had a broken chain or two.

Very aesthetically pleasing.
Lush canopies make for good shade.
Clean tee pads.
Fun and technical

Flow doesn't have continuity through out.
Was left a few times looking for the next tee-pad.
11 and 10 are out of place on the course map.

Very fun course. I wanted a course that I could take just a couple of discs and I found it with this course. Wonderful windmill early on and I got a sense that I was walking though a nature trail. Loved it!!

The word that comes to mind is charming. This is a really fun course on footprint that seems too small for the course but the compact nature actually adds to the atmosphere. There is a ton of water here as a series of small ponds breaks up most of the course and most holes involve some small elevation changes, a short carry and a scattering of old-growth trees. The holes are short and while the course, especially from the short tees, is very much a beginner course, it will be fun for experienced players. I grabbed a floater and a putter and left the rest of my bag in the car. It took me less than thirty minutes to play the course from the shorts while getting a look at each of the long tees. When you consider how close the park is to the highway, Lakeview is really nice travel stop for any level of player.
I don't think any other course that I have played benefitted so much by the use of a floater. The water is brackish at points so pulling one up from the bottom may be a hassle but the ponds are rarely wide enough so that retrieving one from the surface will be more than a minor inconvenience. The carries are short but there is enough water around so that there is often danger of rollaway leading to another hole's water hazard.
At the same time, the far tees do introduce some longer carries, and a much greater degree of difficulty to many holes. Even if the carry is the same size, the far tees will put the player much further back from the lake's edge or with a gap before the water, or with a ridge in-between. A few of the holes even have a gold tee so there is really a lot to occupy the player here.
I don't know if I want to mention specific holes as the appeal of the course has more to do with the consistent and unique vibe than any specific throws. I will say that each shot really is different and at no point does the course feel repetitive.
Basically just a lot of short throws over water and up small embankments to well-placed baskets, less than two miles from the highway.

There are limitations of course. The small footprint means that discs are constantly coming in from different directions. There shouldn't be much non-disc traffic around and it's designed as well as I can imagine but errant shots are still going to whiz by other tees, baskets and fairways. Players should be aware at all times. But there aren't really pedestrians, unless one throws over the fence into the dog park. (only a possibility on one hole)
Not a ton of challenge. Not much in the way of shaping shots. Not much in terms of skills needed. Not a lot of distance. None of that is what the course is really aiming for but just be prepared that you won't find any of that.
Navigation is mostly logical with arrows on the baskets pointing the way, but it becomes confusing in the 10-12 area and wouldn't you know it, one of them is (probably temporarily) missing an arrow. Not a big deal. However, it would be nice to have a system to indicate which location the basket is in. There are some blind shots and also some places where other baskets and tees are in the line of sight from the tee. With three locations on every hole, I think a tee sign magnet would make play better here.

-The course was easy to find for me. Parking was easy.
-There was hardly anyone else playing when I was there (2PM midweek)
-Incredible use of a small area.
-Interesting holes that make the most of natural obstacles (trees and water). I have never played a course with so many unique bodies of water. The scenery was something special and sets this course apart from others. And not only is it beautiful, but the scenery ties directly into the disc golf experience, as many shots require you to cross water or throw under or around beautiful trees.
-Beautiful waterways throughout the course add challenge to most holes
-Am tees for every hole
-Tee pads are concrete and good
-Baskets are in fine shape

-Confusing layout. I had trouble finding the next hole on several occasions. I ended up starting at hole 6, skipping a few holes in the middle (I was in a rush), and finishing at hole 5. The good news is that the park is so small, that there's always a basket in sight, so you don't have to spend time trying to find a hole to play next... it's just a matter of finding the RIGHT hole to play next.
-If your shot is a few feet off your line, you risk ending up in the water. I had two good shots that landed in the water, even though they both had enough power on them.
-Fire ants. Ugh. I got bit up on two holes.

This is a really cool course to check out given all the cool shots and beautiful scenery. But I don't know if I'd like it as a home course since you're going to lose discs when you play here, even if you're a half-decent player who is familiar with the course. And the fire ants are not fun. That said, the beauty is stunning and it makes for a great round.

This is not a course for the big arm, or for the person looking for 400 foot holes. This course is the for folks looking for something very different. It's built on a 50's version of Cypress Gardens. Has a cool, unique flow through the park and a winding creek that can eat discs if you're not careful. This course is all about placement, not distance. I played the entire course in about an hour using an Eagle, Buzz and putter

To be honest ,this course is really on a 3, but is so cool, and unique that I awarded it a 3.5

Being on a very small foot print, a lot of holes run almost side-by-side. So you have to make sure the fairway is clear, but aware of other golfers as you might be throwing shots over their head

Also, there's multiple baskets in the background of every tee, so make sure you're throwing to the correct one.

If you see an older gentleman performing course maintenance, his name is Odell Phillips (I think that's his last name). Please thank him for all his efforts as he will award you with great stories of the courses history.

Wonderful neighborhood course that makes the best, out of what's available.

Lightly wooded, minor elevation changes and other interesting terrains make for a fun round.

Plenty of water hazards add to the excitement. There are two sets of tees, so lesser players can have easier water carries, or layups, to minimize disc loss's, or having to "Go Swimming".

Very highly maintained. The local league does a great job. They also have weekly events and host legendary tournaments.

There is a lot of water here. If you or your discs are completely allergic to water, stay far away from this course. The risk can be minimized by playing from the short tees or laying up, but there could be a strong chance of losing a disc here.

I used to think that Water Tower was my favorite Sarasota area course, but over the years, Lakeview has passed it up. It's very charming now. And who wouldn't want to risk a disc to play a charming course? Pack a couple of extra discs, and maybe one that you wouldn't care so much if you lost, and you'll be fine!

* Great shotmaking on nearly every hole.
* Not long but still reasonable distance variety.
* Short and long tees for different skill levels.
* Tee pads are of good length and signs are clear and accurate.
* Course flows well and is obvious even for first timers because of the use of arrows under each basket.
* Multiple basket positions!
* Many holes are birdie opportunities, but high amount of risk reward.
* Bathrooms and water fountains on site.
* Course is FUN to play!

* We played after a rain and there was a lot of standing water. Did not make it unplayable though.
* If you like to throw your high speed drivers then this is not your course. If you enjoy technical challenges then this is not a con.

Lakeview park is a beautiful, moderately treed course playing along canals and ponds. Although there is a lot of water, I don't consider it a con. Only on 15 and 18, did it actually make me nervous. This course is a great example of risk reward. Good shots will be rewarded and bad shots will be punished. However, most water is avoidable just by playing cautiously. There are some water carries, but they are never very far. But, this course would not be fun for the brand new. There are simply too many disc eating locations. However players of moderate to high skill level should be able to find their way around around this beautifully, challenging course.

When you pull up, hole 1 is all the way the gravel road almost to the dumpster. Come ready for water...it is everywhere. I would enjoy this course far more after having played it a few times. I had to lay up on multiple holes because I couldn't tell where the water was. The one time I let lose I lost a disc on the water as I didn't see it was behind the pin. This course will challenge your game and force you to manage your shots well.

All in all, this is a wonderful course that I am sure the locals love. You can tell a lot of work has gone into this course and it is very well designed. There are multiple routes on many holes which is nice if you are right or left handed.

Hole 18 is a great way to end the round. You either can lay it up for an easy par or risk it all and hopefully get a birdie on what is nearly an island green.

There were really only 2 problems I can think of. 1 - There are some long walks between holes due to all the water. 2 - I wish there was a little more opportunity to air it out without worrying about water being all over the place. Right when you think you have a chance there is water behind the pin. That is really the only downside to this course that I can think of.

I would love to play this course again and gain some confidence to really give it my best. Thanks to all those who put so much work into this course and the DG scene in Sarasota.

Multiple tees, Multiple pin positions.
Tons of water to create a lot of challenge.
Seems very well planned to maximize water threats.
narrow piece-mealed concrete tee pads.
Ribbons have been added to the baskets to point the way to the next tee, this made navigation so much easier.

No tee signs, distance markings.
Extreme chance of disc loss on many holes.
Parking lot is used as OB
Hole 7's far tee had no safe route (but there is always the short tee)
Hole 16 tee looks at basket 17 which is only 80 feet from it's basket, which is tucked over to the right.
stagnant mud smells horrible if have to jump in, becareful we did see a small alligator in the water.
Course appears to be a frequent victim of basket theft. Several baskets did not match, many appeared far newer, some even showed clear signs of aggressive attempts at multiple thefts (basket 16 specifically).

This course was a challenge, but if you stay dry you will be handsomely rewarded with tons of duece opportunities.

I spent alot of time in the water retreiving discs for my foursome and we still lost 2 discs.

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BRIEF HOLE BY HOLE
Hole 1 starts out using the parking lot as OB and the basket is perched on a small mount with a low ceiling forcing your disc to stay low for a decent ways.
Hole 2 has water hazard on the right which affects lefties during the drive and righties during the putt.
Hole 3 uses the parking lot as OB again on the left 274 feet relatively straight.
Hole 4 features a mando that only affects LHBH players and is only there to keep your discs off the dog park
Hole 5 is 311 feet over a small hill
Hole 6 brings back the water in a deceivingly risky shot. It is a 227 foot hole over a small water hazard, but the trees can easily knock you straight down into the water.
Hole 7 is a more intimidating hole over a larger water hazard with very little opportunity to play it safe.
Hole 8 is basically a repeat of hole 7 going back the other direction.
Hole 9 throws over a creek with enough foliage to create risk.
Hole 10 is a dog leg left, throwing directly at the building and letting it fade to the basket.
Hole 11's tee is the sidewalk behind the building and the basket is infront of a small water hazard.
Hole 12 is a dog leg left with water on both sides.
Hole 13 is a 326 foot shot with a good amount of foliage and water behind the basket.
Hole 14 features lots of water. with the safest area being on the left side.
Hole 15 is a straight shot with a late sharp dog leg left. Water on 3 sides!
Hole 16 looks at basket 17 but it is really a slight right with the basket tucked over by the stone trail.
Hole 17 plays back to the 2 baskets in the opening, but to get there you have to throw down a tunnel of trees. Past the wall of trees there is water on both sides. There is also water behind the basket if you fade right on your drive.
Hole 18 is a short throw over the water, but a short shot will send you into the water infront of the basket.

We've been improving the course at Lakeview Park for the last year+.

First, the county has built a man-made damn and installed a pump that runs 24/7. This has greatly increased the health of the park and the clarity of the water, so discs are much easier to retrieve.

Second, the County hired a private contractor to remove dead and dying trees, which has opened up the course a bit, and made a few of the water holes play easier (safer).

New pin positions have been added to holes #1, #2, #5, #6, #7, #9. We've also added paver bricks behind tee pads to improve the length of tees, as several were too short.

In addition, our club (Sarasota Sky Pilots) continues to trim back the invasive plants that grow into the fairways. We've also added a couple benches.

Obviously, there is still work to be done at Lakeview Park.

Join us at the end of September for a PDGA C-tier event, the Snake & Lake Partake benefiting the Racing Dog Rescue Project.

As stated in other reviews this course is not a long range bomber course, it is a tricky tech course with plenty of lines and shot options for everyhole. With that being said bring your A game when throwing your putters and midranges as accuracy is crucial to threading through the many ponds and trees throughout the course. This park is gorgeous with great trees, ponds, and wildlife. I've been in the area to see my grandfather and played a triples round with the www.SarasotaSkyPilots.org club members and had a great time hanging out and seeing how they play their own course.

Some of the teepads are short and worn down, but I found ways to work around this. Holes 16-18 are a little tight, but as long as you are paying attention it should not be an issue.

I can't say enough good things about the the people from www.SarasotaSkyPilots.org and how they run their club. All around good people, fun to play with, and some really good players. If you are looking to air out some big shots then roll over to North Water Tower, but for pure beauty I don't think you'll find too many courses as nice as Lakeview. Go throw and see for yourself.

Wonderful course on the site of the old Sunshine Springs and Gardens. A botanical gardens park with swan boat rides on a canal that winds through the park and a spectacular ski show on Sarasota Bay that was open from 1955 to 1959. The gardens are mostly gone, but the canals, the trees and the Old Florida feel remain. There are no long holes, only 5 holes are longer than 300 feet and the longest is 352. It is instead a technical challenge and a severe mental challenge to not let the water get into your head. The course ends, by heading out on a peninsula that is surrounded by Sarasota Bay. There are some great views and two challenging finishing holes - 16 and 18.

The tee pads are very short thoughout the park. The signage is very poor and the baskets are not marked.

Start off with lots of old growth oak trees, complete with plenty of hanging moss. Add in a peninsula on Sarasota Bay that was once home to a great ski show. Next, add a meandering canal that served as a prototype for Cypress Gardens and you have one of the most beautiful parks and disc golf courses in Florida. This course has a feel unlike any other other in Florida. It also has a very cool dog park at one end of the course. There is a lot of water here, it comes into play on 14 of 18 holes. On most holes, it is more a mental than an actual physical challenge. The water that you need to clear is usually pretty close to the tee. The exception to this is hole 18. It is 262 feet but you have to cross water to get to the hole on another small peninsula. The crossing is about 240 feet, and the landing area isn't huge. For most players, it is a definite lay-up hole. For your first time, you should print out the course map. If you forget it, just remember that the tee for hole 10 is actually across the entrance road, next to the dumpsters. If you follow that painted basket clue for the next tee, you will end up playing hole #12 instead of 10. Make sure you take a little walk and cross over the road for tee pad 10. That is really the only hard tee to find and the only place that the course doesn't flow well.

This course is only 5 minutes off I-75. Do yourself a favor and add this course to your wish list and take the time to get a taste of Old Florida. It is definitely one of my favorite courses and is a wonderful round spent going back in time.