Pros:
Driving on Campus , I picked a day where the freshmen at Ohio U were moving into their dorms . Parking was at a premium ,and I knew I was in the general area of the disc golf course ,so I parked and went to the Golf Center and an enthusiastic disc golf player gave me a score card and pencil and pointed me to the Ping Center , which was a building up from where I was . The disc golf course itself sits landlocked between 2 campus buildings about 80 meters apart .the street that you drove down , and part of the campus golf course behind it . So you will play in an area 80 meters by maybe 150 meters , with the buildings sitting level with the street and much of the course in a flat basin that may have involved a pond at one time . A creek runs alongside and lengthwise on the course and will come into play on a few of the holes . The course was mowed but a little soggy from the rain a few days prior , so wear old or waterproof shoes if playing other than a drought . The baskets are basic but a nice shade of blue . No tee signs on the course . Just toe boards that are flush with the ground to throw from ( if you can find them ) , some numbered . The online map or scorecard map is confusing , so I will try to help . Hole #1 is the longest hole on this 9 hole course . It runs parallel to the Ping Center and out towards the street 344 ft with a tree canopy possibly coming into play .If you step a little farther to the road and move to your left from #1's basket , you will find the toe bard for #2 Which is a drive back towards the #1 tee , a little right with the basket sitting next to the hill leading to the flats . #3 tee is almost directly downhill and is a short throw to the basket that is a right to left up on the hill . #4's tee sits directly behind the Ping Center tucked in between the center and some very high rough on your left . The toe board is hard to see , but it is there . You throw in between the trees and over the ridge to one of 3 baskets that are lumped together ( far left one next to a bridge and the creek behind it ) to the pin . I had a lot of trouble finding #5's tee because of a giant downed tree , but I think the toe board in up the hill ( over one of 3 bridges spanning the creek ) behind basket 4 . You throw downhill through a tight door shot right to left to the basket that sits a little further down and away from the #4 basket . #6 is on the hillside a little left of #5 basket , throwing to the only hidden basket on the course . It sits between 2 heavy sections of rough on the other hillside with a fence behind it and to the left . I could not find a toe board for 7 , but there was a dirt area from where everyone was throwing , next to the rough on the same hillside as #6's basket but closer to the road . It is a downhill hyzer to the last of the 3 baskets that are lumped together . #8's toeboard is an old looking one that sits close to 3's toe bard but closer to the bridge and the road . The basket is located just over the creek with some rough next to the creek and rough on the hillside on your left . #9's tee sits up on the hill to the left of #8's basket and because of a large tree right in front of you , it is a hyzer shot to the basket sitting on the opposite hillside . This is a quick play course . If you can find the toe boards and you are solo , you might slog through in 30 minutes or less . It is a nice respite for the college kids to grab a disc and play on the weekends or between classes . No real signature holes , but #6 was an interesting shot . Disc Risk : Low if you keep your drive on #4 from immediately going left and landing in the high rough . I saw 2 incoming freshmen that were playing the course for the first time wading through it to try to find an errant drive gone bad .
Cons:
#1 Navigation . If you don't have a map or are not following any of the college kids that are playing , then you likely never finish the course unless you are playing Safari . Nothing other than well hidden toe boards line this course . An idea : Put some NEXT TEE signs on the bottom of the baskets , or at least some tape on one of the rungs to direct you to the next tee pad #2 Challenge . Even at a par 3 for the course , the average player will tear this up . The course is what it is . #3 Water retention . I bet after a decent rain and the next couple days after , the basin will be soggy and you will spend a lot of your time in there . #4 Safety . Since this course is so tight and 3 of the baskets are within 50 feet of each other , you can easily hit a player on about all of these holes . #5 Parking . I hear you can get a pass from the regular golf shop , or pay at a meter on campus if you are playing before 3 , or park at a specific lot after 3 for visitors . I was lucky enough to be here the day the freshman were moving in .
Other Thoughts:
I am always glad to see a school build a disc golf course . It not only offers an opportunity for the students to " let off a little steam " during school sessions , but also allows these schools to showcase their campuses to the community , travelers and prospective students . The course itself falls way short as far as college disc golf course go . Maybe OU likes the fact that the course is centered on the campus and the navigation , along with all of other cons , will keep the non students away . My Recommendation : Unless an OU student , or a course bagger , DRIVE ON BY .