Grand Island, NY

Beaver Island State Park

3.665(based on 46 reviews)
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13 0
dgaficionado
Gold level trusted reviewer
Premium Member
Experience: 33.8 years 279 played 37 reviews
3.00 star(s)

Windy Disc Golf with a Scenic View

Reviewed: Updated: Played on:Apr 1, 2020 Played the course:once

Pros:

View of nearby Niagara enhances otherwise decent course.
+ generous fairways and pars
+ multiple tees to suit various skill levels
+ scenic view of Niagara River
+ beautifully presented (especially tee signage) and maintained
+ park store sells discs

Cons:

Wind can be a nuisance on this course with too many wide open shots.
- several open holes with few obstacles
- lengthy walks between holes
- conditions often windy

Other Thoughts:

INFO
Situated at the southern end of Grand Island and alongside the Niagara River, this course derives its name from much smaller Beaver Island which several holes play across. Despite its close proximity to the river, the majority of the course is hazard-free with most holes playing over open fields besides roadways within the park. Disc golf is but one of several park amenities.

EVAL
This relaxing, recreational course offers a handful of interesting shots on a layout of otherwise open fairways studded with mature trees. Hazards include water and marshes near the banks of the Niagara River which presents a scenic backdrop during play. I enjoyed the views while I threw the holes and was pleasantly surprised with the canopy of trees guarding hole #9's green. This well-maintained course is approachable for beginners and challenging for advanced players, especially with its multiple tee offerings. Wind off the river can be a factor to add difficulty to play.

LAYOUT
Holes #1-5 play across a wide field bordered by tall trees which lies beside the Niagara River on the only section of the course with appreciable elevation changes where holes #1 & 4 present downhill shots off the tee while hole #3 finishes on the side of a hillock where #4 starts. Following the road across the bridge to Beaver Island leads to holes #6-8 which border the Niagara side of this oblong isle. Holes #6-7 play to the right of the park road on narrower fairways with a smattering of trees. Past the circle drive, hole #8 plays farther into a wooded recess.

Another long walk across Beaver Creek and back onto the main island leads to dogleg hole #9 and its ornery tree-obstructed view off the tee plus guardian trees encircling the green. Here the course turns in a counterclockwise loop leading back to the start. Holes #10-11 play through a sparse stand of small trees out to a park road and back, and holes #12-14 follow alongside Beaver Creek and across open fairways with OB water on the left and lots of length to cover for holes #12 & 14. Across the park road and in a mostly open field, hole #15 reverses direction parallel to the previous hole after which holes #16-17 double back and skirt the border of a forest on the right, leading to longest hole #18 which plays past the parking lot and into a pocket of trees at the field's far corner.
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2 1
mazarickflyers
Experience: 20 years 255 played 7 reviews
4.00 star(s)

Fun Morning on the River 2+ years drive by

Reviewed: Played on:May 25, 2019 Played the course:once

Pros:

- The course was well designed and utilized the available terrain features and views of the Niagara River.
- Easy to find the first hole conveniently located near the parking lot
- Multiple tees for multiple skill levels, a good mix of Par 3,4,5 holes
- Accurate course map on Scorecard provided

Cons:

- Only Amateur par was provided
- Occasional long walks between holes

Other Thoughts:

-During our round, the course was very muddy from recent rains and standing water.
- As a visitor to the area, I really appreciated the State Parks handout that provides info about courses within the NY State Parks.
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2 1
Ckowalski44
Experience: 2 played 2 reviews
3.00 star(s)

Wide open and great views 2+ years drive by

Reviewed: Played on:May 27, 2018 Played the course:5+ times

Pros:

Concrete tee boxes
Views of niagara river and Canada
Typically well manicured

Cons:

Wide open

Other Thoughts:

Played this course more than any other. It's quick and convenient for anyone in Buffalo or Northtowns. It's almost impossible to lose a disc and any shot that moves forward is probably playable. Good course for beginners that don't want the frustration of narrow fairways or wooded holes. Elevation changes are also pretty minimal outside of the sledding hill at 4
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2 2
toddnick
Bronze level trusted reviewer
Experience: 5.8 years 86 played 31 reviews
3.00 star(s)

Average But Enjoyable Course 2+ years drive by

Reviewed: Played on:May 1, 2018 Played the course:once

Pros:

- Nice views of the Niagara River on many of the holes
- Nice concrete tee pads
- Well maintained, no garbage issues
- Mix of par 3's and par 4's
- Some holes have nice lines

Cons:

- Can be quite swampy in any kind of wet conditions
- Older baskets
- A few too many wide open throws
- Too many boring basket placements (9 and 18 are exceptions)
- Can be VERY windy

Other Thoughts:

This course is in a nice park with a beach and a lot of other activities that you could fill a day with.
The course itself I find to be adequate but there aren't many holes that I get excited about playing.
A great course to bring friends who are beginners to; scenic and not too much trouble.

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2 1
LeftyRob
Experience: 24.3 years 46 played 16 reviews
3.00 star(s)

Fun, but windy!! 2+ years

Reviewed: Played on:Apr 2, 2018 Played the course:once

Pros:

If every once in a while, you want to get out an just crush a few drives. this would be a place for you! Lots of wide open holes. There are only three holes where you don't have a truly open run at the basket. Fairly flat; only one trip up and down a hill after the opening downhill. Scenic walk along the river for the opening nine.

Cons:

Windy! Windy! Windy! I've played here in summer, fall and now spring, and it's been VERY windy each time. Bring your overstable discs! The same wide fairways that make this a pro if you feel like bombing a few, makes it a con is you like tight and technical.

Other Thoughts:

If you come expecting to play in the wind, you'll enjoy your round. And it can get pretty squishy under foot for the first few weeks after the snow melts.
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1 2
The Don
Experience: 7.7 years 18 played 10 reviews
3.50 star(s)

Great Course 2+ years drive by

Reviewed: Played on:Aug 20, 2016 Played the course:once

Pros:

Cool course. Nice open holes that allow you to throw big. Nice scenery by the river. It has a good mix of big open holes and shorter more narrow holes.

Cons:

Get there before 8:00 or you have to pay $7 bucks to park. Some holes are near the road or near the river which can be a problem if you throw wide.

Other Thoughts:

Great course. Well maintained and well marked. One of my favorites.
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4 2
crandellfamily
Silver level trusted reviewer
Experience: 19.8 years 27 played 26 reviews
3.50 star(s)

Very upscale course and surroundings 2+ years drive by

Reviewed: Played on:Jul 15, 2015 Played the course:once

Pros:

Beautiful waterside setting. Fun course to play, even though it's not especially challenging.

Significant distance variation in the three different sets of tees, with good flat concrete tee boxes for the blues and whites, and several of the reds. My son and I played the whites.

Very well-groomed fairways with good tee to basket sightlines in almost all cases. Excellent scorecard provided at the park entrance kiosk. That made it easy to navigate from hole to hole. We showed up close to 6pm, and didn't have to pay the $7 park entrance fee.

Favorite holes:

#1 - Good downhill to get the round started, especially for our default forehand anhyzers: an inviting fade into a wide pocket within a grove of trees.

#5 - Shortest hole from the whites. Target is cut tight beyond the creekside grasses on the right, with more tall grass lining the entire left side of the fairway. One of the few holes to emphasize accuracy off the tee.

#6 - Another unique hole, and second longest on the course. Lots of trees with a challenging alley for the drive. Then there's a thick crossing line of trees and brush to get past in order to set up the approach, with out of bounds on the right to contend with.

Cons:

That's a short list of favorite holes. There isn't much in the way of standout single hole features. There are at least 6 wide open holes in the 300-450 foot range. They don't feel exactly the same, but they're similarly unremarkable.

A few of the other holes had frustrating obstacles. I don't like the 10 ft tall brush and related growth that blocks the approach on the 9th. And I don't like the small gap through the brush for 18, especially since masses of mosquitos made their home in the clearing around the basket.

We played in the early evening after a series of strong rains. That probably contributed to the mosquito swarms, and there was lots of standing water. Related issue: the design makes almost no use of Beaver Creek or the Niagara River. That may be an environmental protection requirement from the park officials: I don't know.

The grounds are manicured, but the baskets have seen better days.

Lots of long walks, and they didn't always seem justified. The walk from 8 to 9 covers ground that could have fit a couple of fun options for shots. Add to that the walks from 7 to 8 and 9 to 10, and we chewed up a lot of time to get through that section of the course. After that, 10 and 11 were two of the most blah holes, from a design standpoint, with a random scattering of frustrating tree branches.

Other Thoughts:

We visited Grand Island for just one day. There were lots of impressive homes on the scenic route from our kitschy campsite to the park. Seems like a wonderful community for cyclists and walkers. And it's great to have a course within 20 minutes of Niagara Falls. The day after our round we spent a quick morning at the Falls. Absolutely amazing site: a beautiful clear summer day and almost nobody there at 8am.
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6 0
RobA
Experience: 25.8 years 29 played 6 reviews
4.00 star(s)

Great challenge 2+ years drive by

Reviewed: Played on:Apr 12, 2015 Played the course:5+ times

Pros:

-Great scenery
- Three tees, giving the player many options
- Many people thinks its a con, but I think the entry fee is a plus. The state keeps this park meticulously maintained, the grass is always cut and the park is clean. (For those of you who sneak in the back entrance, chip in with your buddies, $10 each, and you can get a whole car load in all summer long)
- Fair OB lines, little chance of losing a disc.
-Co-designed by national known course designer

Cons:

None that I can think of.

Other Thoughts:

My favorite local course. Open enough to let you use your drivers, with enough obstacles to make placement count on every hole.

Excellent use of the terrain, not only using the sled hill, but also the deceptive side-slopes where good placement is crucial. Just enough trees on each hole to make you think.

This is a different course each time you play due to the wind.
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5 1
JZ1491
Experience: 1 played 1 reviews
4.00 star(s)

Amazing course 2+ years drive by

Reviewed: Played on:Jul 11, 2014 Played the course:once

Pros:

.Good amount of long holes, with a few short finesse shot holes
.Park well maintained- grass cut, no litter, garbage bins at every hole
.Signs for each tee
.Concrete tee pads

Cons:

. $7 entry fee per car to park unless you go after 6 pm
. Pars are too easy- for example hole 1 is a par 4 from white and is about 300 or so feet down a hill. I shot 5 under here and have played course including Como, Black Diamond, Angry Apple, and The Ravine and at best shot 5 over

Other Thoughts:

.Overall awesome course, my favorite course around and I would definitely play again
. Some discs are sold there at the park building
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3 5
mbenn
Experience: 14 played 2 reviews
4.00 star(s)

Great 2+ years drive by

Reviewed: Played on:Sep 22, 2013 Played the course:once

Pros:

Great view, excellent conditions, nice pads, good signs and direction to next hole. Good variety. Clean and well maintained.

Cons:

None really.

Other Thoughts:

Better use of the woods could have made this course even better.
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1 7
Safbo
Experience: 29.8 years 8 played 7 reviews
4.00 star(s)

2+ years drive by

Reviewed: Played on:Jul 21, 2012 Played the course:once

Pros:

Best state park course in the western ny area. Tons of big air. Nice mix of flat and hill shots. Wind coming in off water plays a factor on more than one hole. All in my second favorite local course.

Cons:

None

Other Thoughts:

Course is laid out well and tees are marked pretty good.
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6 1
jchoate7
Experience: 11.8 years 64 played 10 reviews
4.00 star(s)

Beaver Island DG 2+ years drive by

Reviewed: Updated: Played on:Aug 23, 2012 Played the course:5+ times

Pros:

Very well mapped out course that brings you around the entire beaver island state park. Very easy to navigate your way through the course (signs on each hole and arrows below the basket to the next hole). Great mix of par 3, 4, and 5's and great elevation changes, especially in the front 9. Brand new multiple concrete teeboxes to include red, white, and blue tees (how patriotic!). The course is long and open and is a great course to really let one rip off the tee.

Cons:

This course is very open with only a few holes that actually challenge you to play through a certain designed course "line". Scores well below par here even for an amatuer are common. ***The park also charges $7 per vehicle in the summer (see below).

Other Thoughts:

Great course especially those with a long drive off the tee. This course is where I fell in love with the game and is still my favorite course to play to date. The park doesn't only offer disc golf but many other outdoor activities. Some of those activities include; ball golf, boat launch, fishing, picnic areas, beach, walking trails, hunting, sledding hill (on hole 4), and more. The park is a great way to get out and enjoy the outdoors.

***The park does charge you to get into the park however, if you go during the non park hours or park around back behind the park and walk a little ways you can play for free. To park around back, the area is at W Oakfield RD and Comission House Rd for those of you who want to "GPS" it.***
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3 1
eupher61
Experience: 21.9 years 110 played 13 reviews
4.00 star(s)

Not perfect, not the greatest, but WOW! 2+ years drive by

Reviewed: Played on:May 25, 2012 Played the course:once

Pros:

Beautiful setting. Great signage. Challenging due to wind and good design. Park personnel are interested and helpful. Great stamp on discs sold at the office. Did I mention wind? Playing along the Niagra River.... Very very cool! Great use of uninspiring terrain, and very well maintained.

Cons:

Single loop...no water on course. Is being addressed, but take plenty of refreshment. Not much shade, but time will change that.

Other Thoughts:

Must play. Wind is constant, can be a great place to learn your discs' wind characteristics. Play it, then go to ride Maid of the Mists...on a hot day, that will really cool you off!
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4 0
BigCam
Experience: 12.4 years 2 played 2 reviews
3.50 star(s)

Such a Great View 2+ years drive by

Reviewed: Played on:Feb 5, 2012 Played the course:5+ times

Pros:

Playing alongside the Niagara River with views of Canada and the City of Buffalo along the way. Great places to stop and rest with garbage cans at every tee. There's plenty of activity from the other park visitors that keep a lively atmosphere. The elevation changes pretty regularly so each hole presents unique challenges.

Cons:

The $7 entrance fee per vehicle might discourage some. Others might find the integration of the course within the picnic areas a bit distracting. A recent archaeological dig temporarily closed hole #8, but it has been re-opened as of Feb 5th. Being so near the river can increase the wind speeds just a bit.

Other Thoughts:

The disc golf course is just one of the many great features this park has to offer!
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1 4
dyngus
Experience: 12.8 years 42 played 3 reviews
3.00 star(s)

2+ years drive by

Reviewed: Played on:Dec 26, 2011 Played the course:5+ times

Pros:

Well Maintained, Concrete pads are always nice, most holes are fairly easy, trash cans and benches at every hole is a huge plus

Cons:

Often wet and marshy on certain holes, always extremely windy

Other Thoughts:

Mostly open, enough trees to challenge a player, water alongside most holes. Gorgeous course to play, a lot of variance between holes
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3 0
C6H12O6
Experience: 17 years 41 played 10 reviews
4.00 star(s)

2+ years drive by

Reviewed: Played on:Aug 23, 2011 Played the course:once

Pros:

Great Course. Bring your drivers! This course has cement tee pads, benches at every hole, garbage cans at every hole, and two types of tee pads. Scenic views of Niagara river, and the local birds (including the Blue Herons) make this course a great place to visit. The course is fairly open, and has just enough trees to make this course interesting. The park office sells A TON of discs, and many with there custom stamp!

Cons:

Some might find this course too open. And water can come into play on some holes if you have a bad drive.

Other Thoughts:

Wind is almost always a factor on this course, so be prepared...Also, there is a park fee in the summer time of $7 to enter. You can park outside the park and walk in without having to pay a fee. Just before the park entrance take the service road to the right, directly next to the park entrance...drive about half a mile and on take your first left. You can park on the gravel area near the dumpsters and walk in through the service area of the park. It's that easy!
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4 0
Chiefstang
Bronze level trusted reviewer
Experience: 14.8 years 101 played 21 reviews
3.00 star(s)

Great beginner course 2+ years drive by

Reviewed: Played on:Mar 30, 2011 Played the course:2-4 times

Pros:

-Concrete tee-pads at every hole.
-Very beginner friendly with large, mature trees to shoot around.
-There's water, but the risk is fairly low.
-Makes use of what elevation changes they have with a couple downhills, a couple uphills, and a couple sidehills.
-Well maintained state park with bathrooms.
-Great scenery of the Niagara River.
-Not very crowded when compared to many of the other Buffalo courses.
-Plenty af ace/birdie opportunities, but not gimmies.

Cons:

-Not very challenging for more experienced players.
-Some of the more open holes can get repetitive
-Current construction in the way of holes 3-5. Don't go in that mud, it'll eat your shoes.
-Some holes play near the road, which I'm not really a fan of.
-A few walks between the holes are tricky. Holes 4-5 require walking around the construction, and over a bridge.
-I played during mud season, but there was quite a bit of ponding on some of the fairways.

Other Thoughts:

I really had a blast playing this after Chestnut Ridge, which is a much tighter course. It was nice to air some throws out.

I don't want to list it as a negative, but the wind is worth noting. It's pretty constant being right on the river.

Really a great course to bring a new player to. You won't be hurried, and other than <maybe> hole 9, they should run very little risk of getting their discs wet.

Thanks to Simpletwist for showing me around!
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2 1
justinmd44
Experience: 23.8 years 57 played 7 reviews
3.00 star(s)

Scenic Course 2+ years drive by

Reviewed: Played on:Oct 2, 2010 Played the course:5+ times

Pros:

Tricky weather, elevation change, and a scenic view of the Niagara River are just some of the highlights of this course. Weather: typically the wind doesn't stop here which can help you learn how to play with a variety of wind conditions. Elevation change: The park's use of elevation change can help you pull off a booming drive down hill or kill your drive up hill. Scenery: I maintain that this is the most scenic course in the Buffalo/Niagara area, with views of the river, inlets, and those Canadians!

Cons:

In the long term this course is just far too open. I personally enjoy the challenge of a tighter course (even though I'm no good on tighter courses). The course maybe is pretty open but there are some O.B. lines that can KILL you. I find those lines to be more frustrating than anything; I would rather hit 100 trees than throw one O.B. In the short term this course is disrupted by the state's beaver habitat project (just another way to waste money) so the course plays with two rather unpleasant tee placements. However, the NRDG and park office have done a good job of keeping the course close to its intended layout.
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4 0
zapplayer12
Gold level trusted reviewer
Experience: 25.9 years 149 played 40 reviews
3.50 star(s)

A very solid, enjoyable course 2+ years drive by

Reviewed: Played on:Jul 22, 2010 Played the course:once

Pros:

• Three tees on each hole with the red(short) & blue(long) being natural with the white (medium) having concrete tees with good signage
• Scenic park by the river with an abundance of wildlife
• Clean and well maintained with benches, trash cans, amenities
• Mostly open with enough trees and hazards (water, rough, OB) to keep you honest
• Available elevation is used sensibly
• Course is easy to navigate (maps are available) and design has a consistent flow

Cons:

• $7/car fee to park (seasonal charge) plus $1 bridge fee to island
• A few blue tees difficult to find due to being flat wood planks on ground rather than blocks
• Lacks variety (mostly open holes and flat)
• Lots of goose poop in spots

Other Thoughts:

The course is set in a scenic state park next to the Niagara River which makes for a peaceful, relaxing play. There are very few serious hazards here to upset your game - some thick rough off several fairways with water on others (the river boarders some holes and a pond on others - #9 is the only 'true' water hazard where disc loss probability is high). There were no conflicts w/non-disc golfing park goers, the course was not at all crowded and when I played, the wind was not a factor (other reviewers have made mention of the wind). The baskets were inconsistent in their quality (some seemed older w/rusting chains, others appears brand new) but this did not have an effect on play. No particular hole stood out as a signature and overall played similarly since it's mostly open & flat with no true wooded holes. Nevertheless, Beaver Island is a very enjoyable disc golf course and worth a play if in the area.
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1 3
urdone00
Experience: 43.9 years 136 played 15 reviews
4.00 star(s)

awesome course MUST PLAY 2+ years drive by

Reviewed: Updated: Played on:Jun 17, 2007 Played the course:once

Pros:

awesome course , on a island , next to a big river, maincured course, with multiple tees, state run park, with a little pro/gift shop at the parking lot.. what more can you ask for.

Cons:

none

Other Thoughts:

I am a avid disc golfer , when I travel , bring the discs. out of all the courses to pick in this area, I'm glad I picked this one, played 2 rounds both tees.
I will always be willing to pay to play, since you can see where the money is going.(state park user fee).
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