Toronto Island reviews
14
0
EspressoPatronum
Gold level trusted reviewer
Premium Member
Experience:
18.7 years
256 played
238 reviews
A Unique Experience With Average Disc Golf
Reviewed:
Played on:Sep 22, 2023
Played the course:once
Pros:
- unique experience to play disc golf on an island
- incredible views of Lake Ontario and downtown Toronto skyline
- long, respectable length well incorporated around other park activities
- water hazards along lakefront incorporated on several holes
- amenities in various places on island: seating, restrooms, garbage cans
- asphalt tees are unusual but serviceable
- dual tees and dual baskets on every hole
- high quality baskets (Prodigy and DGA) catch well
- high quality tee signs with full color maps
- beautifully maintained park with various other activities for the whole family
- incredible views of Lake Ontario and downtown Toronto skyline
- long, respectable length well incorporated around other park activities
- water hazards along lakefront incorporated on several holes
- amenities in various places on island: seating, restrooms, garbage cans
- asphalt tees are unusual but serviceable
- dual tees and dual baskets on every hole
- high quality baskets (Prodigy and DGA) catch well
- high quality tee signs with full color maps
- beautifully maintained park with various other activities for the whole family
Cons:
- entirely flat
- tons of safety hazards in a fairly crowded park
- some holes have fairly limited obstacles/challenges
- fairly long walks from ferry to course
- time consuming process if you want to play (ferry + walking)
- some areas of rough can cause time-consuming searches for discs
- tons of safety hazards in a fairly crowded park
- some holes have fairly limited obstacles/challenges
- fairly long walks from ferry to course
- time consuming process if you want to play (ferry + walking)
- some areas of rough can cause time-consuming searches for discs
Other Thoughts:
Toronto Island is a cool and unique experience if you are visiting Toronto. There aren't many places you can play disc golf on a small island, and the views of the Toronto skyline are incredible here, especially as the sun starts to set. At present, Toronto Island is the #1 rated course in Canada amongst courses with enough reviews to be in the "top rated" section...
This is NOT the top course in Canada. It is not even the top course amongst the 7 I have played in Southern Ontario. This is a neat course, but is rather overrated by other reviewers. The course is entirely flat, moderately wooded at best, and is open enough to appeal to inexperienced players and families - although the lengths certainly cater to more experienced players.
The equipment is very nice, and the course is enjoyable enough, but I can't imagine rating a course as a 4-5 with so many safety hazards. There are people everywhere on walking paths and even on the fairways, and many of them are fairly clueless about the hazards of disc golf. The course is amongst all kinds of other park activities. This was the 2nd time on my Canadian trip that someone picked up my disc on the ground as I was calling to them to leave it in place. In this case, a well-intentioned guy I was trying to get to clear the fairway so I could throw said to me "oh, sorry, I thought you were throwing it to me." What? No. You're in the middle of a disc golf course, what did you think those funny chain sculptures were, abstract art?
If you want to play the course, you will have to take the ferry to Centre Island or Ward's Island (well, or you can take a water taxi or kayak, though I don't really recommend the latter). Ward's Island is a bit closer, but the ferries sometimes run to Centre Island more, so that was the route I took. Taking the ferry and walking to the course does take some time - ferry probably about 15 minutes + wait time, and then another 10-15 minutes of walking each way. The ferry is around $9-10 CAD round trip now. The park is in great shape and I wish I had more time to explore more of it - there are fountains, green spaces, food, etc. If you come from Centre Island, you can save some time by starting at hole 11 and playing the course on a loop from there rather than hiking to hole 1.
Holes 4, 5, and 9 have the coolest water hazards/views of Toronto Harbor. Otherwise most holes don't play too close to the water. You will want a variety of discs here, including your drivers as some of the holes are quite long - just maintain your control or you might whack some kind little old lady innocently feeding pigeons in the side of the head.
I played the short tees to the short baskets, as I had already played 3 courses and visited the Hockey Hall of Fame before coming to Toronto Island. This still was a decent length, and all the challenge I needed at that point in the day. Most of the long tees just add a bit of distance, but the 2nd set of baskets makes for some varied shot requirements.
Overall, despite being wiped out I had a fun round here. The terrain is easy even if the course is a bit longer, and it's a neat course - just not a 4.0 course. The only major con here is the number of safety hazards. I always have a bit of trouble feeling comfortable with this many people at risk around me. Some of the holes are more shelted and this isn't an issue, but a good half of them probably play along walking paths.
This is one of the more unique disc golf experiences I've had, so despite the safety issues I still encourage anyone to come out to play the course and ideally, make an afternoon of it and enjoy all the island has to offer.
This is NOT the top course in Canada. It is not even the top course amongst the 7 I have played in Southern Ontario. This is a neat course, but is rather overrated by other reviewers. The course is entirely flat, moderately wooded at best, and is open enough to appeal to inexperienced players and families - although the lengths certainly cater to more experienced players.
The equipment is very nice, and the course is enjoyable enough, but I can't imagine rating a course as a 4-5 with so many safety hazards. There are people everywhere on walking paths and even on the fairways, and many of them are fairly clueless about the hazards of disc golf. The course is amongst all kinds of other park activities. This was the 2nd time on my Canadian trip that someone picked up my disc on the ground as I was calling to them to leave it in place. In this case, a well-intentioned guy I was trying to get to clear the fairway so I could throw said to me "oh, sorry, I thought you were throwing it to me." What? No. You're in the middle of a disc golf course, what did you think those funny chain sculptures were, abstract art?
If you want to play the course, you will have to take the ferry to Centre Island or Ward's Island (well, or you can take a water taxi or kayak, though I don't really recommend the latter). Ward's Island is a bit closer, but the ferries sometimes run to Centre Island more, so that was the route I took. Taking the ferry and walking to the course does take some time - ferry probably about 15 minutes + wait time, and then another 10-15 minutes of walking each way. The ferry is around $9-10 CAD round trip now. The park is in great shape and I wish I had more time to explore more of it - there are fountains, green spaces, food, etc. If you come from Centre Island, you can save some time by starting at hole 11 and playing the course on a loop from there rather than hiking to hole 1.
Holes 4, 5, and 9 have the coolest water hazards/views of Toronto Harbor. Otherwise most holes don't play too close to the water. You will want a variety of discs here, including your drivers as some of the holes are quite long - just maintain your control or you might whack some kind little old lady innocently feeding pigeons in the side of the head.
I played the short tees to the short baskets, as I had already played 3 courses and visited the Hockey Hall of Fame before coming to Toronto Island. This still was a decent length, and all the challenge I needed at that point in the day. Most of the long tees just add a bit of distance, but the 2nd set of baskets makes for some varied shot requirements.
Overall, despite being wiped out I had a fun round here. The terrain is easy even if the course is a bit longer, and it's a neat course - just not a 4.0 course. The only major con here is the number of safety hazards. I always have a bit of trouble feeling comfortable with this many people at risk around me. Some of the holes are more shelted and this isn't an issue, but a good half of them probably play along walking paths.
This is one of the more unique disc golf experiences I've had, so despite the safety issues I still encourage anyone to come out to play the course and ideally, make an afternoon of it and enjoy all the island has to offer.
10
0
Great views and some fun shots 2+ years drive by
Reviewed:
Played on:Aug 7, 2010
Played the course:once
Pros:
The course plays through a nice park on Toronto Island. There are numerous great views over the lake and back across the harbor at the city, along with some nice stretches along the yacht club. The park is nicely kept, with all the grass recently mowed and the fairways cleared of dead branches. There are baskets in decent shape, and two tee pads on every hole. Two sets of adequate signage are a nice touch, with the distance and layout from both tees to both pin locations.
There is some nice variety here. A couple holes bring water into play for some fun risk/reward shots, including one where the best line is a wide hyzer out over the water and back on to the fairway. There is a good mix of lengths and hole shapes, and enough trees and brush to punish errant shots in many cases. The alternate pin locations often changed up the hole quite a bit, if they're moved reasonably often they're a great addition to the variety of the course.
There is some nice variety here. A couple holes bring water into play for some fun risk/reward shots, including one where the best line is a wide hyzer out over the water and back on to the fairway. There is a good mix of lengths and hole shapes, and enough trees and brush to punish errant shots in many cases. The alternate pin locations often changed up the hole quite a bit, if they're moved reasonably often they're a great addition to the variety of the course.
Cons:
Unless you live on the island, it's a $6.50 trip on the ferry to play. If you're planning on spending the day enjoying the parks and sights on the islands, that's no big deal, but it's a little pricey just for disc golf (though the views from the ferry and from the island back at downtown made it worth it to me, so I didn't ding the rating at all for the cost).
There are some safety issues with the walking path and a couple picnic areas, and the pedestrians and picnickers didn't seem to be aware of disc golf. The course is very flat, and does feel a bit repetitive after a while. The dual pads are a good thought, but they are often directly in line, and only different by a little bit of distance so they don't really differentiate the course for various levels of players. The asphalt makes for a pretty slick surface even with just a little dew on it.
There are some safety issues with the walking path and a couple picnic areas, and the pedestrians and picnickers didn't seem to be aware of disc golf. The course is very flat, and does feel a bit repetitive after a while. The dual pads are a good thought, but they are often directly in line, and only different by a little bit of distance so they don't really differentiate the course for various levels of players. The asphalt makes for a pretty slick surface even with just a little dew on it.
Other Thoughts:
This is a fun course, and the scenery on the island makes it worth the ferry trip. Beginners will find the course approachable, though the rough can get a little punishing, and errant throws on a couple holes could end up lost in the water. More experienced players will find some nice challenges, but not a whole lot of variety.
9
3
Disappointing Actually 2+ years
Reviewed:
Played on:Oct 12, 2009
Played the course:once
Pros:
- it's on an island. In Toronto. 'nuff said.
- many tough pin locations
- 2-3 pin locations per hole
- good balance of long and short holes gives a 'disc golf country club' atmosphere as you're playing
- nice signs at both sets of tees on each hole (36 signs). Very descriptive and accurate.
- large asphalt tees provide for decent grip, your only issue coming if it's raining really hard
- many people (mainly tourists) walking on the paths as you're playing will ask you what you're doing, giving you a chance to tell them about disc golf and promote the sport
- the view of the Toronto skyline is pretty cool
- many tough pin locations
- 2-3 pin locations per hole
- good balance of long and short holes gives a 'disc golf country club' atmosphere as you're playing
- nice signs at both sets of tees on each hole (36 signs). Very descriptive and accurate.
- large asphalt tees provide for decent grip, your only issue coming if it's raining really hard
- many people (mainly tourists) walking on the paths as you're playing will ask you what you're doing, giving you a chance to tell them about disc golf and promote the sport
- the view of the Toronto skyline is pretty cool
Cons:
- the short tees are pretty much pointless. Almost all of them are 30-50 feet directly in front of the longs, which doesn't provide a much different experience for Amateurs, or make the course any easier for them.
- the course is extremely flat, almost zero elevation change through 18 holes
- it's an 'out and back' course, meaning that once you start playing there isn't a good place to cut the round short because the course is one big loop
- it's a pretty long walk (600m or 10 mins) from where the ferry lets you off to the start of the course
- the ferry to the island costs C$6.50, so it's not a course you're going to want to play every day just because of cost.
- the description says there are water hazards, and this is not at all true. Water doesn't even come close to being in play.
- the course is extremely flat, almost zero elevation change through 18 holes
- it's an 'out and back' course, meaning that once you start playing there isn't a good place to cut the round short because the course is one big loop
- it's a pretty long walk (600m or 10 mins) from where the ferry lets you off to the start of the course
- the ferry to the island costs C$6.50, so it's not a course you're going to want to play every day just because of cost.
- the description says there are water hazards, and this is not at all true. Water doesn't even come close to being in play.
Other Thoughts:
Toronto Island is a pretty quality course, and definitely a challenge for any skill level.
I'm only giving it 3 discs however, because after the first few holes it honestly got to be really boring. After about 6 holes all of them start to look pretty much the same. The obstacles change slightly, but it's still a flat course and the basket is pretty much straight ahead of you off the tee (except for 8).
The walk to the course from the ferry and the cost of the ferry to the Island are also reasons that I'm knocking off some points too.
In the end I was actually disappointed with Toronto Island and I don't think it lived up to it's hype. It's worth a trip to place once, but not a course I think I'll go back to unless it's for the Toronto Maple Leaf, which is a really legit tournament there.
I'm only giving it 3 discs however, because after the first few holes it honestly got to be really boring. After about 6 holes all of them start to look pretty much the same. The obstacles change slightly, but it's still a flat course and the basket is pretty much straight ahead of you off the tee (except for 8).
The walk to the course from the ferry and the cost of the ferry to the Island are also reasons that I'm knocking off some points too.
In the end I was actually disappointed with Toronto Island and I don't think it lived up to it's hype. It's worth a trip to place once, but not a course I think I'll go back to unless it's for the Toronto Maple Leaf, which is a really legit tournament there.
1
4
bryon
Experience:
63 played
58 reviews
2+ years drive by
Reviewed:
Played on:Feb 20, 2008
Played the course:never
Pros:
When course is in the long position this course is very challenging. No elevation changes, all flat land. The course did use the land they had very well. The long position makes me want to go back and try again because I know I could do better.
Cons:
Parking (need $$$) and the ride over to the island on the ferry (more $$$$) makes it like a play to pay course since you have to pay to get to the island.
