Pros:
(Note: I will be back to update this review once all 18 holes are installed)
It's been a long time coming, but Wayne County finally has a course worth traveling for!
OARDC / ATI (Ohio Agricultural Research and Developmemt Center / Agricultural Technical Institute) is a small branch of THE Ohio State University located in Wooster.
Located on over 400 acres of spacious property in a 9-hole disc golf course, which will be upgraded to 18 holes in the near future!
+ Each hole features a beautiful colored tee sign with a hole map. The signs also have QR codes to view a flyover of each hole.
+ Tees are concrete, and the baskets are brand new DISCatchers. Easy to spot and they catch very well.
+ The front 9 that is currently playable is really fun for being a more open course. Distances range from as short as 195' (#9) to as long as 600' (#6). As a note, the "official" distance as posted on #9's tee sign does seem a little shorter than it actually is. There are plenty of mature trees in play, with enough elevation to keep things interesting.
+ Plenty of parking is available right next to the first tee. There's a gravel lot and an asphalt lot.
+ This is the first course that I've played where you can walk a couple hundred feet across the street between after #9 to grab some beverages before you hit the future back-9. The 24/7 Minit Mart across the SR-250 is accessible (at your own risk). I highly recommend the Gatorade Glacier Freeze flavor for those hot summer days, or maybe even a hot chocolate during the fall/winter. Maybe too much detail, but we're gonna roll with it.
Cons:
- There are a couple of pretty long walks without any navigational signage to speak of. One of these (#9 to parking lot / #1) will be addressed once the full 18 is ready to go. The other (#7 to #8) is here to stay. It would be great if there could be a few signs put in to help with navigation, even on holes with shorter walking distances.
- As mentioned earlier, the teen sign on #9 has an incorrect distance. It's marked as 195' but should be closer to 275'.
- Could use at least a few trash cans and benches, especially for a course that is about 3300' for 9 holes.
Other Thoughts:
Seeing a tournament quality course in development in this part of the state is HUGE, because there aren't many options in the area.
I have no doubt that once expanded to a 6000+ foot 18-holer, this will be at least a top 10-15 course in Northeast Ohio.
For that reason, my score is a little higher than what I would typically rate a 9-hole course. Can't wait to come back down and update this review once the full course is complete!