Athens, OH

Ohio University DGC

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1.45(based on 10 reviews)
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5 0
MrFrosty
Diamond level trusted reviewer
Experience: 31 years 764 played 386 reviews
1.00 star(s)

Beautiful Campus 2+ years drive by

Reviewed: Played on:Aug 23, 2019 Played the course:once

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 .
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7 0
EGraham69
Experience: 4.8 years 7 played 3 reviews
1.50 star(s)

It's a good practice course 2+ years drive by

Reviewed: Played on:May 21, 2019 Played the course:5+ times

Pros:

It's short, I can play 9 in 45 minutes or less if I'm by myself. There's not a lot of opportunity to really throw a long drive here other than hole 1 so if you really are into uncorking some discs look elsewhere. Can get a little boring but is rarely crowded. It's right in the middle of Ohio University's campus and uptown Athens is about a 5-10 minute walk. Scorecards and pencils available in Ohio U Golf and Tennis Center at the far end of the Ping Rec Center parking lot.

Cons:

This course has a significant amount of standing water on it about 90% of the time, particularly in the valley where the 5 and 6 baskets are. The 3 and 7 tees are also usually covered in water so I have to take my drive off to the side. The course is very poorly marked, some of the tees have a metal marker on them but a lot of them have been stolen or were never there at all. The map online and on the scorecards is rather confusing. Almost every time I see people on the course I explain to them tee/hole locations.

Other Thoughts:

This is my home course, when I lived on the campus I would play it 4-6 times a week weather permitting so in that way this one will always be special to me. If you're a serious player or looking for a challenge I would look elsewhere but if you're just starting or want to get some throws in this is suitable.
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5 0
sisyphus
Diamond level trusted reviewer
Experience: 12.6 years 397 played 383 reviews
1.50 star(s)

Feelin’ Like a Safari? 2+ years

Reviewed: Played on:Jan 19, 2015 Played the course:2-4 times

Pros:

Astonishingly compact in layout, yet still retaining some fun factor, the nine pretty, blue, 24 chain baskets along the little ravine west of the Ping Center on OU's campus allow for some quick safari disc golf enjoyment. The intended layout has distances ranging from 147 to 344 feet, so there's adequate 'D' for the casual to Recreational disc golfer. I noticed the baskets even have caged lights on top (though I'm not sure they're functional: I played on a sunny winter day). Predominantly laid out for the rhbh thrower to fade some shots into the little hill amongst the trees, there is also one shot (hole 4) with a risk/reward creek just past the basket. The little creek has three bridges, if and when you need to cross (holes 5 through 8). The nice thing is that the course survived the new construction adjacent on the west side.

Cons:

The lack of tees or signage is a significant detriment to this course being much more than a cluster of baskets. If I hadn't printed a map my first time here, I would have just made up my own layout. That would change this from a 'course' to a 'practice area', which I'm sure the locals actually use it for. With minimal play, and decent lines of sight, I'm sure you can pretty safely get creative with safari opportunities aplenty.

There are none of the usual course amenities here (tees, signs, benches, etc.), and parking for non-students may be a bit of a crap-shoot. I wasn't sure where to park on the Monday holiday I stopped in, so I stayed nervous about getting a ticket as I scooted around the course. I'm sure there's not much in terms of 'legal' parking when school is in session.

Other Thoughts:

This is not a 'destination' course by any stretch of the imagination, but if you're in town enjoying OU's other perks (it's rumored to be Ohio's biggest party school), you might toss a few here if you're brimming with enthusiasm. Plus, there's a really strenuous and challenging course just a dozen miles to the north at Hocking College.
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0 1
Billy K2
Experience: 13.8 years 34 played 27 reviews
2.00 star(s)

Disc Golf in Athens 2+ years drive by

Reviewed: Played on:Sep 20, 2014 Played the course:once

Pros:

Located in the beautiful OU campus, the course provides a quick round for beginners. OU DGC is a good place for beginners to learn. The course is was in good shape, and there was no mud or standing water anywhere. It is set on a beautiful piece of land. I only came across one group when I played, so the course is fairly empty.

Cons:

It is just way to easy. That simple. Not much of a challenge here for advanced players. Even though I came across only one disc golfing group, there were a few groups of people wandering around the fairways. The layout is pretty simple to follow, but you can easily get lost because there are no signs directing you to the next tee.

Other Thoughts:

OU is a small, beginners course on an excellent campus. I reccomend you skip this one if you are an advanced player.
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1 0
3dunlap3
Experience: 3 played 3 reviews
1.00 star(s)

Come on OU!!! 2+ years drive by

Reviewed: Played on:May 9, 2011 Played the course:once

Pros:

-great course for someone who has never played
-if you don't like long walks then its nice that its short
-plenty of good looking college girls coming out of the rec center right by the course

Cons:

-only 9 holes
-holes have no hole maps
-the holes par is wrote on the tee pad
-baskets are so close together hard to figure out what basket your going for if you've never played there
-whole course could fit into a football field very tiny
-holes cross so watch for others playing

Other Thoughts:

-was very disappointed that their course wasn't good at all (guess that's what happens when your other sports are more popular)
-the only reason it even got a 1 was because its a great course to introduce someone to disc golf on it
-you might as well drive the extra 15 min to go to Hocking College and play their course that is ten times better
-wont be going back unless to introduce a first time disc golfer
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7 0
JoseCafe704
Experience: 22.9 years 33 played 15 reviews
1.50 star(s)

OU Course 2+ years drive by

Reviewed: Played on:Apr 10, 2010 Played the course:5+ times

Pros:

I went to Ohio University, and for awhile back in '01, this was the only course around, so it gets a 1.5 based solely on a sentimental basis. There is good use put to the old river bed that is now a runoff creek for the nearby pond/park. The holes criss-cross through this area for good use in elevation changes. Holes 1 and 4 have always been my favorites and are a couple of the only holes that haven't changed over the years (see cons below for explanation).

Cons:

Course has always been an afterthought to the nearby golf course (as can be expected, as ball golf is more popular on campus than disc golf). This being said, the old course had a bit more thought put into it, but when the ball golf course was extended a few years back, something had to give, and it was the disc golf course. There used to be an awesome hole with a long fairway lined with mature pines on the right (behind Ping Center, past current hole 4, headed towards the golf course). This hole was lost in the golf course extension. Many of the holes criss-cross one another, and if you find yourself approaching cages 4,5, or 7 down in the valley, and you're not the only one playing that day, keep your head up as there's bound to be discs flying somewhere over head. Also, the runoff creek can become inundated in the spring time, making most of the course nearly impossible to play.

Other Thoughts:

Miss the old course, but with the popularity of disc golf on the constant rise, I can't imagine OU won't respond with a new course...If my opinion meant anything, I'd suggest a massive course (24+ holes) to be implemented up at the Ridges (old mental hospital owned by the university). There's a ton of land up there that can be used and the traffic isn't terribly high. It's perfect and with the right amount of planning and work, I bet a course of the highest caliber in the state could be put in there.
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5 0
markit0dude
Experience: 14.9 years 1 played 1 reviews
1.00 star(s)

I expect more from hippies! 2+ years drive by

Reviewed: Played on:Oct 28, 2009 Played the course:5+ times

Pros:

Short, compact course - can be played in like a half hour. Its mowed/maintained by the university. VERY beginner friendly-simple course to play- can see basket from all cept #8.
College campus...some hot chicks are around sometimes..haha

Cons:

Such a small course that other golfers are often in the way. Horrible when it is crowded. You must pay a meter to park if you are playing before 3pm-otherwise can park in lot - you may be able to get a golfers pass at the golf center though (which knows nothing about dg). Not really any woods to walk through, cept some bushes/trees to play around. NO SIGNS to direct you to the next hole.

Other Thoughts:

This was one of the 1st courses that I ever played, quite often when i was in school. Sort of fun to warm up, but I would never make a special trip just to play this course- however I may include it in as a QUICK activity if I were in the area. As my 1st course, I have only played better and better course since!
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3 3
NatiBuckeye
Experience: 16.8 years 26 played 14 reviews
1.00 star(s)

OU 2+ years drive by

Reviewed: Played on:Jul 9, 2007 Played the course:2-4 times

Pros:

Beautiful views of nature and coeds.
The baskets are sweet
You could teach kids or first timers easily here.
There are not many pros to this course besides the nice baskets and well maintained terrain.

Cons:

Bad tees
Very short and no difficulty
Even the supposed hazrds could have been used in a better way to make the course difficult.

Other Thoughts:

For a University that has a very well known party environment and hippy culutre it has an awful DGC.

**If you search online you can make a nice weekend by traveling to some of the local courses nearby that are atleast 3 discs.
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6 3
chris deitzel
Gold level trusted reviewer
Experience: 30.6 years 286 played 54 reviews
0.50 star(s)

2+ years drive by

Reviewed: Played on:Sep 26, 2008 Played the course:5+ times

Pros:

Probably the worst course that I ever played. I went to school at OU and tried getting a course in for a few years. Then I heard some guy had made headway and was getting a course installed. He did not want any help in the design. Which is why it ended up so bad!! Bad hole designs, bad tee/pin locations. It could have been good.

Cons:

Just about everything

Other Thoughts:

Does have nice solar powered baskets. You can play 9 hole in about 15 minutes. If it is still the same layout as in 2000, I have the course record of -9.
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0 5
puppyohio
Experience: 5 played 5 reviews
3.00 star(s)

OU next to Ping Center 2+ years drive by

Reviewed: Played on:Jun 21, 2008 Played the course:never

Pros:

Not much walking, or hill climbing. Nice open areas. Fun to play. Am a beginner to inter player.

Cons:

only 9 holes.

Other Thoughts:

Easy course for walking. Thought out good, fun to play. Pick up score card at the tennis/golf building.
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