- 24 holes with 2 tees per hole makes for a lot of disc golf to be played
- Good shot variety. While there aren't a ton of extremely wooded holes, there are a few tight ones and the design of the course allows for a lot of different shots to be played in a round.
- A few signature holes make good use of the bit of elevation, specifically #2 which is a blind shot off a cliff and over a creek and hole #16 which is a downhill tunnel shot through some pretty thick rough
- Not that it affects the play of the course, but it is nice to see that the oldest course in Illinois is still up and running in good condition
- Not really a true "pro," but since the course is really old, the course par is insanely easy. Just feels good to use the DGCG scorekeeping app and at the end of the round be told I shot 23 under par

- The course could use a bit better signage as there are some spots where finding the next tee can be challenging unless you know the course. Also a few places where you tee off a road could be better marked in terms of where the tee pad should actually be.
- In some places the teepads are marked by white or red stones/markings for the white or red pads, but on some holes they don't seem match which tee the sign says should be where. Whites are supposed to be longer but on some holes I felt it was the opposite, or maybe I was just confused which pad was which due to it not being totally clear.
- On the back half of the course, it was clear that the holes were just kind of jammed in there. There are a lot of pads and baskets near each other, which in addition to making navigation confusing, leads to some dangerous areas if the course is packed. A few holes play within a few feet of a road (not counting the small road through the park) which could lead to a car being hit or a disc being ran over
- Gets really muddy if there has been a lot of rain
- Doesn't have pads for all 48 tees

In writing this, I feel like it might sound like my "cons" are a lot more descriptive and thoughtful than my "pros" and make it sound like I'm being negative. Truthfully, I really enjoy playing this course, and it is one of my constant go-to's in the area. It has a few issues, but it is a lot of fun to play and overall it is very well designed on a majority of holes. I was torn between a 3.5 or 4 but the 3 or 4 overlapping holes on the back 9 made me decide to go with a 3.5. I highly recommend anyone in the area checking it out, if for no other reason than to play the oldest course in the state.

- Good use of elevation
- Several fun holes
- Decent variety and pacing
- Easy enough for beginners to have a good time, challenging enough for the more advanced to hunt for birdies.
- 24 holes

- No concrete teepads, hopefully will be remedied soon. Natural pads eroded significantly in some areas.
- Course really suffers after a significant rain.
- Through 24 holes, only a few where you can really break out your drivers.
- Navigation can be tricky your first time out. My buddies and I got lost between 8 and 9 and again briefly on the back end

West Park is a very fun, if not overly challenging, course. There are many fun and interesting holes sprinkled through the course, and while some may feel redundant, they do not take away much from the overall experience.

Many shot shapes are needed, and elevation is used to great effect on several fairways and greens.

While you will be able to get by with a putter or midrange on the majority of holes, there are enough opportunities to breakout the driver to keep things from getting too stale.

Concrete tees and a bit of work on some of the more eroded areas would really improve the playability of this course, especially after a day or two of rain.

West Park is a lot of fun to play, and combined with one or more of the other Joliet area courses, makes for a great day of disc golf.

A somewhat short technical course that's wooded and challenging.

The course offers a wide variety of shot options.

The course caters to all skill levels and under normal conditions, is very fun to play.

It is one of the oldest courses in Illinois, with the original 18 being put in the ground in 1979.

Friendly locals and a long standing tradition of fun tournaments.

The course is not so fun when its raining out, or after a heavy rain. It can get very muddy.

The course could really benefit from some concrete tee pads.

It can get very crowded.

The navigation can be a little tricky. I would recommend a guide, if playing for the 1st time.

I started playing this course when it was first put in, and it was the 1st course that I played with baskets for targets. It will always be my home course, and hold a special place in my heart.

The cons have not changed over the years, but with that in mind, it is still a very fun course for all skill levels and a must play for this area. It really is a piece of Illinois disc golf history.

Very cool course! One of the first courses I played when I got into the sport of DiscGolf. Witnessed my friend getting an ace on hole #5

Nothing really bad to say about this course.

Hole #3 feels like your in Jurassic Park!

This course has some of the best variety of holes with a few special ones that are as good as you'll see anywhere.

Hole 2 could be my favorite hole ever. You tee from the edge of a cliff down through some trees to a hole that looks so small that it's unreachable, but I usually manage to have a reasonable putt for a deuce. There's a water hazard (creek) that you can usually retain your disc from, which adds an extra something. There is another blind shot that's downhill from elevation that's a similar, but shorter version.

There's a good mix of wooded and elevation in the first 15 or so and then it starts to open up a bit for the final several holes. They've carved out some nice angles using the trees.

It's a beautiful park with a creek, hills and plenty of tall trees.

While an errant shot can be punished by giving you a bad angle at the pin, there aren't too many places where you'd struggle to find your disc.

As someone who has played it a couple times a year for many years I know not to play it when it's wet. Just keep that in mind because if you know to simply play when it hasn't rained a lot recently that's not a factor. It will drain (and is often bone dry) unlike some of the drainage ditch courses in the Chicago area.

Despite my familiarity with the course I always tend to get a little lost in a couple places. Some sign improvements could make this the best course around.

A lot of people complain about the tees, but I've played it when it's really dry and the natural tees work just fine. That said, a lot of people seem to care about what kind of tees there are so natural tees is a con to some.

I wanted to give this a 4.0, but the more I thought about it the more the lack of directions within the course had to bump it down a peg. Regardless, you must play this course if you love disc golf. 24 with good baskets, variety and fun shots.

My review of West Park DG Course is one that I'm very torn on... there were parts of my round here where I thought to myself "I want to make this a favorite" and parts where I wanted to pick up my discs and go home. The pros are the following:

*24 holes! Mentally, I felt like the round was nearing an end around hole 15 or so, but then I remembered that there was still a lot of disc golf to be played!

*Scenic holes... Hole 2 in particular was awesome! Pretty much throwing off of a mini-cliff with some trees to sculpt a line for you to hit. This is one that I would love to ace (or see aced) some day.

In all, it was a pretty challenging round with a lot of fun holes and a few like number two that I would call good "signature" holes.

*Unfortuante lack of tee-pads. Sometimes this isn't too bad of a thing, but here it got pretty bad in that there were roots and slopes and crazy things preventing a solid approach.

*Bad flow... I was lucky to have someone who had played the course before with me because I would have had no idea.

*For me, a feeling of being isolated or seperated from the rest of the world is an awesome thing while disc golfing (for both safety and enjoyment reasons). That did not happen here! Multiple playgrounds and streets and houses come into play here which kind of made the round less fun for me.

- High fun factor
- Lots of birdie opportunities
- Solid elevation changes
- Well defined fairways
- Variety of lines required
- Some distance variety
- Some risk/reward decisions
- Course flows well from hole to hole
- Bathroom on site in the back near hole #9

- Teepads are natural and rough
- Erosion issues regarding the teepads, they are treacherous!
- Holes 2-5, 11, and 16 can get extremely sloppy after a significant rainfall.
- Lacks challenge, it is a true deuce or die kind of course
- Majority of holes lack distance

West Park is a timeless classic and despite its shorter distance and sometimes lack of a challenge, it is an extremely fun course to play. Most of the holes play through moderately wooded and hilly terrain. The elevation is used very well and provides some really enjoyable down hill shots. Despite the fact that most holes are under 300ft, there are a few holes that let the bigger arms air it out. The fairways are well defined and the navigation is easy. Most holes are rather straight-forward and do not require a guide or walk down the fairway in order to understand the designer's intention.

The creek on the left of #2 drops off near the center and it is possible to lose a disc in there. Otherwise, the creek generally stays pretty low and any disc that goes in should be fairly easy to see and retrieve.

Bathrooms right near hole #9's teepad, but they are sometimes locked.

Bring bug spray as the mosquitoes get pretty bad in the summer.

Overall, West Park is a timeless classic. It is worth a play at least once if you are within a couple hours. The fun factor is extremely high as every hole seems to present a deuce or ace opportunity. With renovations such as concrete teepads and some way to deal with the flooding on holes 2-4 this course could be a 4 or 4.5

A very FUN course with many interesting holes. I think the course is fun for all skill levels because although there are few chances to throw a driver there are many holes that demand a well chosen and executed line. Lots of woodsy holes and several made me smile when I first saw them. Nice use of the hills and elevation variations. 24 holes.

Close to the highway if you are passing through I highly recommend this stop.

The pads were rough and this course would be much improved by good tees. If it is muddy I am sure this could be a problem. Not a course to let you throw the big air drives much, though there are a few chances. At points course was a bit tricky to follow and some signage could be very helpful to new visitors.

Not a world championship caliber course but it rates high on my fun scale which is why I give it a 3.5. Only a couple longish holes, more of a control type of course which causes you to find your line and hit it. We need courses like this... they make this game fun for all.
For advanced players every hole is 2 able but, there are risks involved (as there should be in my book). For intermediates this course would be fun too, and even for beginners I believe though it is far from wide open being in the woods so much.

I had a blast playing it. I was fairly hot that day and made 21 deuces out of 24 holes.. I was impressed with the design, Great job you guys! *****
Not sure why I get thumbs down? I am not descriptive of holes I guess... Others do that enough and I don't recall enough to do that playing it only once, but I recommend this course if you get the chance to play it. It is high on my fun list and I have to believe most folks would agree.

old civil war base<great home course< cant beat the terrain
-variety of cliff shots, mostly short technical, a few long open bombs with towering trees
-10 holes have two tees, whites(longs) and reds> shorts
-tee signs on every hole and garbage cans
-endless safari possibilities when the course is empty
-many different routes for shortened rounds

-gets swamped with big groups
-nasty creek...
-natural tees- erosion issues..
-sledders inhibit snow disc
-mosquitos and poison ivy
-holes 5 and 6's tees are painted on the asphault may be hard to see if unacquainted with the course
-long walk from 8 to 9, back tracking, so what.
-hole 14's long tee..? can i call it a tee?? standin on rocks dawg

always fun rounds at westy.

- Course is spread out in a large park with many different features. It is an older course and an even older park, with a definite old school feel.
- Lots of elevation changes to be found through the first 18 holes. There are two great cliff shots, and some decent uphill tosses. A lot of gently sloping fairways as well, which can be very relevant when shaping lines to avoid trees. Some spots have big dropoffs off the fairway, starting with #1.
- Various trees and forested areas to contend with at all times. Majority have large mature trees to avoid, but there are other tighter spots with denser bushes and whatnot. A lot of the holes with elevation have windows to hit or fairways to stay on.
- Punishment in other spots due to water and/or swamp. A small creek is in play on numerous holes, crossing over a few and bordering others. It really helps to define the holes and set up some tricky approach shots and drives. A few baskets are protected this way very well.
- Decent mix of different shots needed. Most of the holes play straight, more or less, but there is the occasional spot where a left or right shot really made things easier.
- Good baskets for an old course, decent signage, and ok creek crossings. Can be a little tricky to navigate the first time through.

- Part of the old school feel is shorter hole lengths. There are a few longer holes and a decent amount over 300', but there are also a ton around 200'. A lot of these holes can be done in 3 without much effort, which really takes away from the difficulty.
- Back 6 or so feel a little tacked on, just a mostly flat field with some mature trees. Kind of a let down after the first 18.
- Teepads can be pretty muddy, just like the rest of the course.

- This course has a very high fun factor, with shorter hole lengths, great elevation changes, and lots of hazards. Water is used very well on a good amount of holes, in different ways. A few great cliff shots and even some sloping greens. It is easy to score well, but it does not feel cheap or boring like other shorter courses.

This park offers quite a bit of challenges to the RHBH thrower like myself. The number of finessed anhyzers required really tests my game even on the best days. The only drives you can really let loose on are too tight to reach the pin reliably, and for all of the obstacles this course presents, none of the punishments are really unfair. Big fan of holes 9-18. Great course design for the most part. The two sets of tees offer some different challenges on the ten holes that have them, and since I live in Orland, its often worth the drive out to west, so long as there's not a huge backup on I-80.

I've been spoiled by rubber and concrete teepads, so the dirt pads here at west can sometimes get on my nerves, to the point I won't play this course if it's rained recently (opting instead for nearby highland, or back to our default course, The Oaks). There are plenty of nearby roadways that can do a lot of damage to a brand new disc. I'm also a big fan of long tosses, and this course really only tests your distance throw twice...though they are beautiful holes.

Right off the interstate...on a dry day, you shouldn't pass this one up!

This course was a lot of fun to play. It was awesome to play the oldest course (out of the 100+) in Illinois and really get a feel for what started it all. The course is very well taken care of and there are a lot of "signature" shots (like #2) which set this course apart from all of the others. The course was very well manicured and seemed to flow very, very well. I didn't get lost at all and it was my first time playing without a map.

Three minor things stick out, none of which aren't that bad.
1. No cement tees. This wasn't really a big deal to me because it kept reminding me that this course was made in 1979 and if they added tees, it would take away from the personality of the course.
2. This is a seasonal thing, but the mosquitos were pretty bad. Not a major complaint because they're everywhere so I still give this course a 4.5.
3. It had a lot of traffic when I played here which resulted in the most waiting behind a tee I've ever had. (3 groups waiting behind the Green Mile).

It was awesome to play the oldest course in Illinois and the first ever wooded course in the world. Like I said earlier, it was nice to see the course that "started it all". I drove 2 hours to play this course and I'd definitely say it was worth it.

The park itself is very surprising. It is very shaded playing thru woods and some nice hills. There are also several nice open areas with scattered trees. Elevation comes into play on many holes and there are some unique areas. I posted a link to some nice photos in the other thoughts section.

This is a classic course established in 1979. It's the first course in Illinois. Although this course is a birdie fest and short it's still fun to play. It gets a ton of play from all skill level players.

You will learn how to throw a mid range and putter on this course. There is a ton of variety with long and short tees.

Tee signs are adequate with descent hole info and accurate distances.

The baskets were all replaced a few years ago and are Discraft Chainstars.

The course sits right off I80 so there is interstate noise for many holes.

It can be hard to navigate in a few areas.

The tee pads are limestone filled and have ruts in them. Some are better than others.

This course gets tons of play and there is an erosion issue in places. There are several tricky areas to hike thru so be careful. Down the hillside on #2 comes to mind and the green on #5. When it's muddy it can be dangerous in areas.

This course is very short. You don't get to rip too many drivers on this course.

Video of an ace on #1. You can get an idea of the car noise from the interstate.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=atYZaWVR8dQ

If you are traveling on the south side of Chicago this course is not far off I80. I'd also sugget playing Highland Park in Joliet.

Here is a link to some nice photos.
http://discontinuum.org/index...itemId=245067


Check out my Illinois Top 10
http://discontinuum.org/index...1486.msg68704#msg68704

Balance! Wooded holes, great use of ravine for uphill, downhill, and half-pipe type holes. True water hazards that actually come into play. Long holes, short holes, tight woods, open rippers, etc. This course was a LOT of fun to play. More than 18 holes!

Dirt tees are okay in general, but the amount of use has them very rutted. The city setting, traffic, and noise really takes away from a great relaxing experience. The water hazards offer a great balance that I seek, but man you do NOT want to be in them - talk about city sewar runoff!!! I seem to remember many signs busted, full of graffitti, and in poor shape. The baskets were abused, but caught discs just fine.

I played this course quite a while ago, so forgive me if things have changed. However, the course is VERY impressive, enough so to make me want to review it. I played this course along with 10 other courses on a 2 day cannonball run to Indianapolis. In regards to my rating system this one scores right up there as a 4.5. I want to knock it down .5 due to the "IT" factor missing because it is in a busy, city park with a freeway bordering much of the course. Too much noise to truly lose yourself. So, you get more than 18 holes, making it a worthwhile trip from afar (could score a 5). All the balanced design elements are nearly there (tight woods, open rippers, uphill, downhill, right, left, etc). Only one huge downhill bomber hole (like throwing off a hill 500'+ is missing. So, it only misses a 5 by missing this one design element. It loses another half point because it's stuck in the city (I know, too bad). But it is a VERY solid 4, probably the best of all courses I've rated a 4. All in all, it is definitely worth a round, even for a travelling player.

The course plays through a hilly park that is mostly heavily wooded with streams and abandoned roads running throughout. Nearly all of the course is disc golf only, so there are only a couple holes where you ever have to worry about other park users. The elevation is used really well to make fun and interesting holes, especially hole 2 off the top of a bluff over a creek.

There are a couple holes that are more open, a handful of holes in scattered mature trees, and the rest in woods. This makes for nice variety throughout the round, and provides different challenges. The course never gets repetitive, with each hole seeming new and different. The design is fantastic, making the most of the foliage and elevation changes available. There is just about every kind of hole you could want here, so bring all your shots if you want to get those birdies.

Half the holes have two tees, making for some different challenges and looks at the baskets. There are signs on all the short tees, though some aren't in great shape. The tees are easy to find with red or white markers in the ground delineating the front of each tee box.

The first time you play this course, there are some confusing spots. The holes do a nice job of not overlapping or playing too close to one another, but to make this happen there are some long walks that aren't always obvious. The worst one was from hole 8 to hole 9, where you had to walk all the way back down the fairway to get to the next tee.

The tees are mostly dirt, and can get really rutted and rough. If there has been rain recently, the tees in the low parts of the park near the creek can be pretty muddy and slick. Some of the signs are falling apart and difficult to read, so your first time out you'll have to scout some of the holes.

Once you get past the navigation issues, this is a really fun course. There are all kinds of fun and unique holes, and the course stays fun and interesting throughout. Especially with Highland Park nearby, this course and the Joliet area are worth the drive to play.

This course is playable for beginners, with a number of shorter holes. There are, however, many opportunities to lose discs in dense underbrush, so beginners could get frustrated with that. More experienced players will have lots of birdie opportunities, but will find the course fun and interesting, and more challenging from the longer tees.

old school course with many fun holes playing throughout a small creek valley. Many holes with elevation changes and varies from open to dense woods and everything in between.
good variety of shots, left, right, short, long, up, down
24 holes with multiple tees for each


creek comes into play on multiple holes

some tees difficult to find if not familiar with course,
becomes very muddy after rain,
shallow. older baskets

This is one of Illinois oldest courses and was designed by Steady Ed himself, which makes the course with the trip alone.
Hole 2 is a great shot; throwing from the top of a cliff down over the stream to a grassy green below,
Hole 11 is a long 400+ ft bomber with the fairway narrowing all the way down the hole to a penninsula where the basket is located and a drop off with the stream to the left.

Mature Oak trees in many areas of the course. Some great (and some not so great) scenery. Nice mix of shots left and right, up and down. The creek winding thru the park makes a nice obstacle. Hole #2 is awesome and difficult, but very rewarding if you get your tee shot right. The tee is at the top of the side of a large ravine. Contrary to what one reviewer said, it's at least 40-50 feet high. You have to throw to the right of the basket, with a late left hook (or else you'll hit a tree 2/3 of the way to the hole). Aces are definitely possible as are birdies, but only with a near perfect throw off the tee. Too much left hook and you end up in the creek. Hole #11 is nicknamed the "green mile" and is about 450 feet or so. There are some open holes as well. Overall, a nice mixture.

Holes 3-5 can be extremely muddy in early springtime. Mature trees tend to make it take longer to dry out. Still, not as bad as Shorewood and some other courses in the area. Tees are dirt, and hole #8's tee off is practically a hole. Many golfers actually skip #8 and go straight to #9 to avoid the long walk back from hole #8, well past the tee off to hole #9, which is in the opposite direction. Probably the most glaring mistake in design for the course. Neighborhood isn't great, but it isn't scary either. Course can be crowded. (Though most golfers are polite and will let faster players play thru).

This is my favorite course in the area. It definitely has it's faults, but I really like it. Others might like Highland Park in Joliet, The Oaks in Mokena, or even the Jericho Lake course in Aurora better. But this is definitely my favorite. I'd really love to give it 4, or even 5 stars, but objectively, 3.5 hits it right on the nose.

Challenging Course played in dense woods. Elevation and a creek comes into play. 24 hole course provides you with fuller round. Pro and Amatuer pads are available and are dirt.

HOLE 2 is an unbelievably awesome disc golf hole. You throw from the top of a hill/cliff about 30 feet above the basket. You have to make your throw clear a creek that winds around the left side of the basket, thus punishing big Hyzers. On the right side of basket is a huge tree that loves to slap discs out of the air. Behind the basket is Extremely dense woods with a small fence blocking off a highway. This hole has been aced and can be birdied.

Course is not well maintained and is often missing baskets. Dirt Tees can get real muddy and ruin your day. Lay out has one major flaw making it tough to find hole 9.

This is a must play course if your in Chicago and have the time to hit up Joliet. Hole 2 is a signature hole and any disc golf enthusiast should play it.

Signs on each hole which pretty clearly define where you're playing toward, as well as two sets of tees for most holes. Fine variety here, lots of different shots...most of moderate length, though a couple of long ones are in there. With 24 holes (I guess 23 and a half, but I'll get to that later) this is definitely one of the longer courses in the area. Good elevation and challenge on most holes.

The biggest disappointment was the missing basket on 15 or 16...I can't recall which hole - whichever hole has the blind, downhill shot through a huge thicket of trees. This isn't marked, so before all is said and done, you might lose your disc in the heavy woods before realizing there is no basket. It is also very, very hard to find your way through the course. I played with someone who has been at West Park before, so I was able to manage, but first-timers may have a hard time. They're currently doing a lot of work in the park (and not necessarily to improve the course) so the maintenance people can get in the way. Some shots dangerously close to the road. The course does look its age - not the most aesthetically pleasing. The terrain is rough in some places and the stairs on the course are pretty dangerous and unstable.

Despite its shortcomings, West Park is still a very good course. Definitely one that you should play in the Chicagoland area. Just wear good shoes (but ones you won't mind getting dirty) and be patient going hole to hole. I enjoyed my round here and I would certainly play again - definitely recommended!

Really fun course with some really cool shots and lots of elevation - which is always a plus. The creek comes into play on several holes. It also has a good variety of shots (long, short, left, right, straight).

It was super crowded when we played - which gets annoying. You will spend some time searching for holes your first time playing. There's some poor design flaws in some areas. For example, after putting out on 8, you have to walk back down the fairway, past 8's tee, to get to 9's tee. Also, the tees are dirt - which I don't care for.

Overall, it was a fun experience. I hit a SWEET ace on #16 which totally made my day. I would definitely play this course again.