Kewanee, IL

Chautauqua Park

Permanent course
2.585(based on 6 reviews)
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4 1
Jukeshoe
Diamond level trusted reviewer
Experience: 14.6 years 315 played 266 reviews
2.00 star(s)

A Sleepy Small Town Park-style Course 2+ years

Reviewed: Played on:Mar 24, 2012 Played the course:once

Pros:

- Kewanee's a typical Midwestern small town, and Chautauqua Park is a typical Midwestern small town park. Despite the small amount of available space, the designer manages to do a convincing job of squeezing in #12 decent holes. The grassy park is home to many large mature trees that provide the main obstacles. While many open shots exist, there are enough trees in places to force players to hit broad lines.
- Elevation is limited to minor dips and rises in the grassy park. Every scrap of up and down seems to be used, though.
- A good balance of distances, although nothing gets too long with the longest hole, #12, clocking in at only 385'.
- Tee signs are red, white, and blue affairs with hole number and distance on them. Tees are concrete and on the smallish side.
- Great for families/strollers, mobility impaired, and beginners without being 100% mindless flat-and-open style golf.

Cons:

- Despite a valiant effort, Chautauqua DGC just can't overcome it's lack of quality land. Definitely nothing to avoid if in the area, but this course simply can't transcend what it ultimately is: a small park-style course.

Other Thoughts:

- Kewanee, the town, is certainly a striking example of the post-industrial decline of Midwestern manufacturing. Part of the park is bounded one side by a large (I think closed) factory. The town itself seems sleepily depressed, as if things once went on there, but haven't for a long time.
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2 0
TheVorp
Experience: 12.1 years 9 played 1 reviews
3.00 star(s)

Teaches some basics 2+ years drive by

Reviewed: Played on:Apr 9, 2012 Played the course:5+ times

Pros:

I appreciate the fact that there are no completely wide open holes. As a beginner, I can't learn to avoid obstacles if there aren't any.

There are two or three holes with a valley between the tee and the hole that provide a chance to work on increasing distance drives assuming you can thread the admittedly large needle between the trees near the tees. They also give you a chance to work on your upshot if you don't clear the trees or can't throw it far enough to bridge the gap.

The course generally has good flow and finding the next tee is fairly easy. Some of the holes have (faded) arrows on their cement pads pointing to the next hole and that does help a bit.

Cons:

The map by the start of the course gives you a feel for the general layout but doesn't give any additional information like hole length or pars. Luckily these are all on the signs by the tees themselves but knowing ahead of time what's what would be nice.

You never know what you'll find on the course, and I'm not talking about lost discs. I've seen broken glass under baskets, panties on tee signs, tee signs removed from the post (but luckily still at the tee), beer bottles and cans strewn about around the course... perhaps a few trash cans around would help a bit.

Other Thoughts:

I started learning to play on this course and I'm still getting better by playing it. The nearby Baker Park course is much more extreme by comparison and I'm glad this course exists in contrast. It gives beginners a place to start and intermediates a chance to work on placement shots and improving their situational techniques, all without the threat of losing discs.
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2 0
mashnut
Diamond level trusted reviewer
Experience: 22.1 years 831 played 767 reviews
2.00 star(s)

Nice park course 2+ years drive by

Reviewed: Played on:Mar 24, 2012 Played the course:once

Pros:

The course plays through a nicely maintained city park. The fairways are grassy with large mature trees to avoid. Most holes have enough trees that you have to hit some kind of line, though all have multiple routes available to get to the pin. A little bit of elevation comes into play adding some fun and challenge to a couple holes. There is good length variety, nothing huge but a range from short ace runs to holes where many players will pull out at least a fairway driver. There are adequate signs and a course map at the beginning, not too hard to follow or navigate.

Cons:

The tees are very short, not a problem on the shorter holes but it can be annoying on the longer shots, especially since many of the pads are above grade and don't allow for a smooth runup from the grass. Tee 2 can be a little tricky to find, it's behind the small building past 1's basket. The course doesn't really punish errant shots, and it plays fairly open overall.

Other Thoughts:

Beginners will enjoy this course, with a variety of hole lengths and enough trees to keep it interesting. More experienced throwers will find it straightforward and not too challenging, there are a few interesting lines but not a real range of different skills tested. This is a great warmup for nearby Baker Park.
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3 0
notapro
Diamond level trusted reviewer
Premium Member
Experience: 20.7 years 568 played 281 reviews
2.00 star(s)

Beginner/Intermediate 2+ years

Reviewed: Played on:Mar 24, 2012 Played the course:once

Pros:

- Course is set in a smallish city park that has a few other activites going on. A few pieces of playground equipment, some horseshoe pits; might be some conflict on a nice weekend day.
- Lots of mature trees to be found in the park, used quite well to force line shaping. A lot of straight shots, to be sure, but some are better served with hyzers or anhyzers. Some low ceiling shots due to branches, definitely lots of spots to get knocked around.
- Rolling terrain throughout, nothing extreme, but some noticeable uphill and downhill shots. A small valley in one spot, it really helps to keep things interesting.
- Nice range of hole lengths, with four holes over 300'. Plenty of shorter ones as well, it is definitely designed for a beginner player. Bigger arms will have no need for a driver out here.
- Good tee signs, teepads are a little short but in good shape, and good baskets. Navigation is easy, thanks to a map in front and arrows under the baskets.

Cons:

- A pretty simple course, avoiding trees is the only challenge here. Almost every hole can be reached with any kind of hyzer or straighter shot.

Other Thoughts:

- Nice and straightforward, nothing too exciting, but still interesting. Avoiding oaks can be fun and relaxing, especially for newer players. Also good practice for more experienced players trying new things. Some longer holes help to make sure the course isn't too short as well.
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0 2
Bruce
Experience: 1 played 1 reviews
3.50 star(s)

Tricky little course 2+ years drive by

Reviewed: Played on:Aug 23, 2010 Played the course:5+ times

Pros:

Good and tough pin placements, well maintained park with mature trees, easy to navigate, tee signs

Cons:

Small tee pads, About a month of summer night events (e.g. kids baseball, Wed horseshoes) can disrupt a few holes

Other Thoughts:

Great small course which will improve your game for slightly open courses.
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2 2
THROW-THE-HYZER
Experience: 20.9 years 8 played 4 reviews
3.00 star(s)

Local fun 2+ years drive by

Reviewed: Played on:Nov 23, 2008 Played the course:5+ times

Pros:

good ammounts of trees and slight elevation changes. Lots of places to eat close by. Extremely well taken care of park never lost a disc!!!

Cons:

Tiny tee pads and when busy can get slightly congested

Other Thoughts:

as the closest park to me this is a great way to spend a few hours and not be totaly winded
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