Shreveport, LA

Highland Park

2.795(based on 14 reviews)
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9 0
TRoss886
Silver level trusted reviewer
Experience: 21.8 years 283 played 32 reviews
2.50 star(s)

The hills of Louisiana. 2+ years drive by

Reviewed: Played on:May 12, 2021 Played the course:once

Pros:

- Elevation: Highland park features an exceptional amount of elevation for a Louisiana course. Many of the holes throw "across" the elevation and don't have a net gain or loss, but this still makes the layout far more scenic/interesting than a flat course. If I lived in Shreveport, I believe I would play here often for a taste of the hills.
- Multiple Tee Pads: Disclaimer, I'm treating this course as a 9 hole course with multiple tee pads instead of an 18 hole course with 9 baskets. If anything, this bumps my rating up. If playing as an 18, 9 nearly identical fairways can get repetitive and the flow with other players can become problematic. However, I did play the 18 layout to get the full experience. Anyways, the multiple tee pads are a great addition to keep things interesting for future rounds or to mix and match as you go along.
- Design/Shot Shaping: I didn't find a single hole boring, which is rare. This is easier when there are only "nine" holes but still a great accomplishment. Various trees, hills, and a "creek" force various lines throughout the course.
- Signage: There is great metal signage at all 18 of the tee pads. All necessary information (par, distance, OB, and next tee) is included. A large, nice course map is also featured near the parking lot. This makes navigation a breeze.

Cons:

- Natural Pads: Unfortunately, nothing but natural dirt tee pads in Highland Park. Concrete pads would provide a huge upgrade and likely a bump in the ratings. Fortunately, I played under very dry conditions and the pads weren't reduced to mud, but I could see this quickly becoming an issue.
- Pedestrians: This course winds through a small park with a walking path. Nearly all holes can be potentially affected by this. The only real issue with this is disrupting a round's flow.
- Grooming: This course is kind of the tale of two terrains. Much of the course has an erosion issue due to the elevation and grass will not grow. Part of the course (near the creek) has more than enough grass and appears to suffer from rarely getting mowed.

Other Thoughts:

Not pros or cons:
- Baskets: Highland Park features Mach II baskets. They are old and dated but in decent shape. I did appreciate the orange visibility strip on the tops that you rarely see in the Mach series.
- Surrounding Area: I wasn't too worried about this aspect until the next day when I found out 21 shots were fired (3 injured) across the road from the samll park during the same time I played the day before. Something to be alert of I suppose. Not trying to detract from this course by any means since I enjoyed it; just the unfortunate truth.
- Amenities: I would normally list the lack of amenities as a con. However, there are benches and trash cans scattered throughout the park. Unfortunately, these are not necessarily near the tee boxes.
- True Turn: If you are playing this course as a full 18, the course makes a turn near the parking lot after hole #9. This is always nice if you need to grab something from the car.
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11 0
Shadrach3
Gold level trusted reviewer
Experience: 5.5 years 318 played 306 reviews
2.50 star(s)

Hilly Neighborhood Course 2+ years

Reviewed: Played on:Aug 10, 2020 Played the course:once

Pros:

A good little rec-level challenge in a remarkably interesting city park.

-Multi-Tees: Important to realize from the outset that this is not truly an 18-hole course. It's really a nine-hole course with alternate teepads for each hole. (However, since the course signs number them as eighteen on two loops (1-9 then 10-18), I haven't changed the course info for it.) These dual pads are a good touch, as they provide added or different challenge for each of the 9 baskets.

-Signage: Good tee signs have #, distance, and map. These signs are also prominent enough that navigation from basket to next tee is no issue. Worth noting here for first-timers that the signs are often pointed 5-10° away from the basket, but it's not a big problem.

-Elevation: Not something I expected to be a strong suit in an urban 9-holer. However, essentially every hole plays with hills, which adds substantial fun factor, angle control challenge, and/or general interest.

-Shot Shaping/Gameplay: Utilizing the hills and some sparse trees, Highland Park provides a really nice recreational-level gameplay experience. Other than (7) long (i.e. (16)), everything is a birdieable par-3, but none of them really feel like total gimmes due to the slopes. This would be a great place to practice putter and midrange driving. There's also enough foliage to require careful consideration on a few shots, like (4), (5), and (9).

-"Friendly": The combination of easy-to-play, navigable without a map, and hard-to-lose-discs.

Cons:

-Tees: Mostly natural, with a couple fabric mats wearing out. They have been well-enough used that it's just dirt/mud.

-Challenge: It's a rec-level course, no doubt. While it's a great example of an easier course, it's not really suitable for advanced players.

-Stinky Trench: The drainage ditch/creek on (4)-(6) definitely has a stench. I think a previous reviewer suggested that it has human waste? No fun, and I actually declined to throw my approach on (5) in order to avoid it.

-Litter: Lots of broken glass on the top half of the course.

Other Thoughts:

Highland Park, though not exactly charming, was one of my favorite "breather" courses I've ever played--short, mildly challenging, easy to navigate, and not strenuous. In the greater scheme of things, it's pretty Typical, well worth a short drive but no Shreveport destination.

-Neighborhood: I don't really treat this as a con for this park, but the neighborhood is not deluxe. Broken glass, poor roads, and a few folks smoking something that smelled illegal would turn some away, but I had no uneasiness while playing during the day.

-Baskets: Again, not a con for me, but some will dislike the Mach II's. They are remarkably shiny and nice for that model, and I had no problems with them.
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14 0
blake833
Gold level trusted reviewer
Experience: 13.9 years 160 played 140 reviews
2.50 star(s)

The pros and cons of Parks 2+ years drive by

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

Pros:

I played this park on a road trip to Lake Claiborne State Park, then over to Texas. It was a great for a quick round when I got into Shreveport in the evening as I got into town from.

The strongest aspect of the park is its elevation, though you do throw over it more than with it (across rather than up or down).

The holes are pretty well laid out. There are trees in the park that are really engaged, and there is a real feel for intentionallity in the design. It's pretty easy to play a quick fun nine, or more.

Cons:

But the "more" is really kind of a con here. There are multiple tees to every basket, but they are labeled as separate holes on the pads. The maps here are not very helpful, I think one of them has almost 30 holes. but there's multiple tees within spitting distance of every basket, so just pick one and play around. I had no problem starting at 9 by the parking lot and working my way around (1 started by the end of 9, but 8 finished in the middle of the park, so starting at 9 flowed better). But really there are so many tee's, more if you go by the map which looks like someone wrote down every safari hole they could think of in 30 seconds.

The park has basically no grass on the hills, and as mentioned some erosion problems. But in the low parts there's way too much grass and it needs to be mowed badly.

When I played there was no one in the park, just one guy walking through dropping cans on the ground. But if there had been people in the park, the course would not have been easy to play. There's a walking path through the park and comes into play on every hole. There's no real easy way around it, but it might add to some animosity between the golfers and the walkers. There's a couple holes around what i guessed was some playground equipment as well, but there was another playground by the tennis courts so maybe not.

According to the city, the creek has human waste in it. Sooo if you throw into it wash your hands. Hole 7's basket is about 3 feet from the water.

Don't go by the distances on this site. Some are off by as much as 200 feet.

Other Thoughts:

Everything I loved about this course was because of the holes themselves, and everything I didn't enjoy was because of the park itself (aside from it looking like someone sneezed tee's all over the park). So if you're looking for a quick, fun round in Shreveport, here it is. If I lived close to this park, I would play it several times a week. But I don't, and I don't feel compelled to return to it. At least not until the feces is out of the water.
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9 0
c_a_miller
Diamond level trusted reviewer
Experience: 11.9 years 299 played 207 reviews
3.50 star(s)

Solid 9 Hole Course 2+ years drive by

Reviewed: Played on:Nov 21, 2016 Played the course:once

Pros:

This is a real solid 9 hole course at the edge of Shreevport. It features a lot of elevation, a little bit of water and a good amount of trees on each hole making no hole on the course wide open.

I notice that navigation is a reoccurring con in the below reviews, and it could be. The map on this website is super helpful, and also shows the alternate tees that I do not believe are marked, but are played by the locals. As of playing the course in November 2016, all of the main nine tee posts are there with faint hole numbers and distances written on them. A little TLC may be needed on them, but it is not a determent to the overall appeal of the course.

There were a few memorable holes on the course including hole 2 and hole 8. Hole 2 played uphill and had a tight but fair window to hit. Hole 8 played downhill with a dry creek bed running through the middle of the fairway. The fun factor is high here!

Cons:

The tees were pretty poor. I know hole 1 had a carpet tee that was in rough condition, and I played from the side.

The erosion was pretty bad on the course. Hole 8's basket was sticking way out as the land around it has run down. There is no grass in the whole park just red clay, which does not do too many favors for the course's erosion issue.

Hole 4 was a pretty unfair hole, and I felt it deserved to be noted. It is the longest hole on the course and there was a cluster of trees 100' in front of the basket, but 300' from the tee that it is a very tough line to hit without a good deal of luck.

There is a little bit of interference with other park users mainly the walking trail. Nothing too blatant like other places I have seen, but it was worth keeping your eye out.

Other Thoughts:

This course needs a little bit of work with tee markings, but it still is a solid course. It reminds me a lot of Iron Spike in Palestine, TX, which is my favorite 9 hole course that I have played: http://www.dgcoursereview.com...e.php?id=6775

I was driving through Shreveport on a road trip and wanted a quick stop, and this was perfect for it. I enjoyed my round and would definitely come back.
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6 0
Doofenshmirtz
Gold level trusted reviewer
Experience: 11.8 years 121 played 72 reviews
3.00 star(s)

2+ years

Reviewed: Played on:Sep 14, 2015 Played the course:once

Pros:

Highland Park is a short, 9-hole course with plenty of elevation. A midrange is all you will need off the tee on most holes, but there are a few that are long enough for a fairway driver and even one hole on which a distance driver is justified if you want to go for birdie.

I had a lot of fun playing this course. It helped that there was a good crowd out on a Saturday afternoon and we could follow the group ahead of us who knew their way around. The holes use the available elevation very well and this is probably the most well laid out 9-hole course that I have ever played.

There are plenty of trees to provide challenge and enough elevation require good placement of upshots lest you risk some long rollaways.

There are no truly wide open holes because this park is pretty uniformly, moderately wooded. A number of holes play across "valleys" and through trees. Other holes are either downhill or uphill with only one or two holes with no elevation. There is small stream running through holes 5 and 6 to provide some extra challenge.

Cons:

Poor tees, poor signage and lack of any onsite course map can make this course a very frustrating one to try to play. There is little indication of tee boxes and the fact that there are multiple, unmarked teeing areas for each hole can leave you with the impression that you didn't really play a single set of tees so much as the one that you found first for each hole.

The old, post signs apparently used to have meaningful information on them regarding the tee number and distance but most of that info has worn off. Standing on the tee box, you may not be sure which basket to throw to and I can imagine wasting a lot of time here if there is no other group to follow or no local to play with. This problem is the primary factor in only rating this course as a 3 disc course.

This is obviously a very popular course and the traffic has led to considerable erosion. This affects teeing areas and the areas around most of the baskets. The hills that this course is on are made of red clay which probably gets very slick after rains.

The look of the neighborhoods to the north and east of this course do not give rise to a lot of confidence of the safety of your vehicle. The is not a lot of parking space at this park and so parking on the street may be your only option.

This is a fairly small park and that leads to some cross play issues with tee boxes a little uncomfortably close to baskets. When the course is busy this will delay play somewhat.

Other Thoughts:

In many trips to Shreveport, I have overlooked this and Clyde Fant DGC in favor of the excellent Ford Park. But, given the fun factor of this course and the fact that I can play it quickly now that I know the layout, I'll probably be playing this course more often.

Even at only 9 holes, with some signs, tee pads and maintenance, this could be arguably one of the best courses in Shreveport. As is, it is not a course that I would recommend to someone who has never played it before unless you are playing with someone who knows their way around.

If you want to try it, make sure and print out a map to have with you. If you don't and their aren't other players at the course, you are going to spend more than half your time trying to figure out where to throw from and where to throw to.
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3 1
AByrd
Experience: 19 years 57 played 2 reviews
3.00 star(s)

2+ years drive by

Reviewed: Played on:Aug 20, 2011 Played the course:5+ times

Pros:

A great design for practice of midrange or fairway drivers.
Varied elevation allows for an equal mix of uphill, downhill and level shots.
The shade from the many trees is welcome during the summer months.

Cons:

Red clay in some areas is very slippery after a rain.
Surrounding neighborhood has a higher crime rate than normal.

Other Thoughts:

Philip "Highlander," a local player, has done an outstanding job in taking care of this course.
Handicapped Mini's are held on Saturdays at 3pm during longer daylight periods of Spring through Fall and at 2pm during the Winter.
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6 2
zeromiles2empty
Experience: 25.9 years 63 played 8 reviews
2.00 star(s)

Number 1 in the Hood G 2+ years

Reviewed: Updated: Played on:Jul 18, 2009 Played the course:once

Pros:

This course has great elevation, the most I've seen in this area. Multiple lines to take on each hole make it fun. It's also a great workout as walking up and down the hills really burn your calves. All the baskets are in good condition.

Cons:

No grass! Erosion is out of control. Needs better navigation

Other Thoughts:

This is a fun course and I recommend playing it once and do it early.
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6 0
NDABRUSH
Silver level trusted reviewer
Experience: 16.2 years 58 played 46 reviews
3.50 star(s)

My original home course, when it was a frisbee course in the 80's 2+ years

Reviewed: Updated: Played on:May 24, 2009 Played the course:5+ times

Pros:

makes great use of limited acres. The land is perfect for dg if you like elevation sprinkled with decent amount of trees,yet there are no pray and throw it shots. You always have at least 1 or usually more ways to attack the pin. If you are not a higher level player then this course is not just a bunch of ace runs but there is nothing wrong with birdies for us lower level players and hole 12(alt tee) can be aced by almost any one because of the distance and elevation help. Good place to break in new disc, even when you hit the fairway.(more under cons) I have never played a 9 or 18 hole course that had alt tees used as effectively as these. It really is like playing 18 different holes and they are even numbered 10-18, usually most courses are marked with a colored at the top wooden post without distance and number. Actually has kind of a signature hole where the pin is protected by a bridge that goes over a shallow stream but an ace is still possible. no crossing fairways. not usually busy. plenty of benches and a few trash cans. bring some steaks and charcoal and a cooler. this is one of the most shaded courses that I have played, which helps in the summer. If you are a lower level player and only have the time for 9 holes then try tees 10-18. they are a little shorter and easier and actually have a possible ace run, hole 12.

Cons:

No restrooms. you can really beat up your discs on this course without hitting 1 tree. The ground has tree roots that come back to the surface or something. needs better signage and tee pads. hole 8's fairway has broken glass so watch out. If you are a pro or close to one then this course will not be a very big challenge if one at all because the pins are in the same spots as when this course was a frisbee golf course. 1 walking path that usually is not busy.

Other Thoughts:

This 9 hole course has something that is very rare in Louisiana, elevation. This course is very fun to play and really is like playing 18. Good job to whoever put in the alt tees.
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6 0
RustyP
Silver level trusted reviewer
Experience: 19.9 years 83 played 34 reviews
3.00 star(s)

Big fun / small challenge 2+ years drive by

Reviewed: Played on:Jul 28, 2008 Played the course:2-4 times

Pros:

Lots of elevation changes for such a small park/course - this element adds the most to the "fun factor" of the course, if you ask me.

Also has a good mix of short/long, which surprised me when I first saw the size of the course.

Alternate tees on each hole to make for a full 18-hole course.

Overall I wouldn't say it's a very technical or challenging course, but it IS very fun to play with several ace-able shots and 1-2 unique holes (I really enjoyed the one over the bridge).

Cons:

Not the nicest neighborhood...but personally I've never had any problems. I wouldn't attempt to play it at night.

The course doesn't flow that well unless you know where you're going...and the alternate tees just make it more confusing. However, if you take your time and look around, you should be able to navigate it without a guide.

Some of the tee areas had a lot of large gravel, roots, or broken glass in/around them.

Other Thoughts:

Anytime I go to Shreveport to play Lake Bistineau (best in the area), I usually stop by Highland for a quick 9-hole round of ace runs on the way home. There's a great bar/grill between here and Clyde Fant DGC called "Fat Boys" that has delicious burgers.

The park is centrally located and pretty easy to find.
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3 0
aillet
Experience: 16.2 years 6 played 2 reviews
2.00 star(s)

2+ years drive by

Reviewed: Played on:Sep 25, 2008 Played the course:once

Pros:

Interesting elevation changes (20' between tees and chains) and groupings of pine trees make shot selection fun. The holes are short enough (avg. about 250') so that beginners to middle of the pack players can score some birdies. The course is close to downtown, so a lunch game isn't out of the question.

Cons:

The course layout is very confusing if you have never played before. You need someone who knows the course to walk you through once. The tee boxes are nothing but dirt and broken glass. It is hard to figure out where to go from one hole to the next. The neighborhood is not the best, evident by a homeless person's sleeping bag and pillow in the number 9 basket (or is it number 16, or both, I'm still not sure). Maybe baskets have dual purposes these days, catch your discs, and personal storage units.

Other Thoughts:

I'm not saying I wouldn't play here again, and who knows, I may end up really liking the course, but I wasn't impressed.
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5 0
bikedoctor
Experience: 15.9 years 1 played 1 reviews
3.00 star(s)

Highland Park, Shreveport 2+ years drive by

Reviewed: Played on:Sep 20, 2008 Played the course:2-4 times

Pros:

Very good course to play in a time crunch. I can walk 9 holes in 25 minutes. In a real crunch I throw from both tees, thereby walking the course once and still get an 18 hole score. (+1) Good place to play if you need to work on accuracy.(+.5) The elevated tunnel shot on 7 is a good place to set up for multi disc practice.(+.5) I have trouble getting my dirves over 300ft. but I found the drives to be very rewarding on this course as they tend to be under 300. I like having to drive at a basket that is 30ft. above or below in relation to the tee box. The tee box was hard clay. I found less stress on my lead knee's ACL as my heel had a very easy time rotating on the clay.(+.5) The putting game is also very unique as the extreme hilliness of the course chanllenges the golfer to find balance and make an awkward position work.(+.5)

Cons:

No facilities.(-.5) The terraine does allow the discrete #1 behind a tree but having facilities with a water fountain could move the rating up to 3.5. Great place to look for that hard to find piece of glass for your broken beer bottle collection. One knee putting was difficult but could be overcome through the use of a towel or beat up roller disc.(-0) The neighborhood is in a less than desirable area that I would not feel safe playing alone at night like I would at Clyde Fant or Ford Park. The occaional vagrant keeps your eyes scanning so no one surprises you.(-.1) Markings are faded and you cant play after even a little rain because the clay turns into earthen poo.(-.5)

Other Thoughts:

I like to play this after work because I have just a little time before supper and not as hard as "epic" courses. This would be the course I would like to have in my backyard ... without the glass, vagrants and used condoms. But they have picnic benchs and BBQ pits and the minis really are a blast. When the Shreveport Disc Golf club gets an event on this course it really becomes fun. Plus your in the heart of the city so its close to every fast food grease trap you could desire. After a couple of months of playing Highland you start to think of it as your ugly sister. Anyone bad mouths her in public your ready to fight but at the end of the day you know she needs some work; but you love her anyway. Kev.
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2 0
ChrisULM
Experience: 18.2 years 17 played 12 reviews
3.00 star(s)

2+ years drive by

Reviewed: Played on:Jun 5, 2008 Played the course:never

Pros:

Great course to work on driving with midranges and putters. They did a good job designing the course to deal with limited space. Not a very challenging course but it is very fun to play. Good for beginning players.

Cons:

Nearly all the holes are short (in the 150-250ft range). The surrounding neighborhood is questionable.
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3 0
aclay
Gold level trusted reviewer
Experience: 39.5 years 309 played 234 reviews
2.50 star(s)

2+ years

Reviewed: Played on:Jul 12, 2007 Played the course:never

Pros:

Good use or terrain and limited space. Most tee shots are either downhill or uphill. Alternate tees often offer different flight paths instead of just adding distance. Mostly shaded, which helps in the heat of the summer.

Cons:

No facilities (water or bathroom) of any kind. Many tee shots go over a walking/jogging path that winds through the course.

Other Thoughts:

It's a reasonably enjoyable course. The placement of the alternate tees makes 9 holes feels more like 18.
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4 1
magictenor1
Gold level trusted reviewer
Experience: 23.8 years 348 played 90 reviews
3.00 star(s)

Highland Park 2+ years

Reviewed: Updated: Played on:Jul 12, 2007 Played the course:5+ times

Pros:

good use of terrain with lots of elevation changes. Alternate tees usually change the hole not just make it longer or shorter

Cons:

no bathrooms,water,clubhouse or facilities. You have to watch for other users of the park because of a walk/jog path which winds through the course. Not in the best neighborhood.

Other Thoughts:

fun course. Nothing spectacular but I would play there again if in the area.Holes are generally short to medium distance
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