Palm Desert, CA

Hovley DGC

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2.095(based on 22 reviews)
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9 0
Pierparknut
Gold level trusted reviewer
Experience: 10.8 years 89 played 85 reviews
2.00 star(s)

2+ years drive by

Reviewed: Played on:Nov 26, 2019 Played the course:once

Pros:

-Hovley DGC at Hovley Soccer Park is the only disc golf course in the Palm Springs area. It's a well-maintained park with green grass, restrooms, a playground, picnic tables, and five large soccer fields.

-The disc golf course plays in a counter-clockwise loop around the park perimeter. Each hole tees from the concrete multi-use path and finishes with an Innova Discatcher basket. Tee signs provide the distance of the hole and the intended line. Multiple holes have mandatories to reduce the risk of hitting pedestrians.

-There's more than the usual assortment of obstacles. Light poles, picnic shelters, soccer goals, and water fountains are among the items that must be navigated. Plenty of mature trees add to the challenge by requiring a line on several holes.

-Hole #4 was my personal favorite. It requires a mild hyzer of approximately 300' through a handful of palm trees to a hidden basket on the hillside next to the sunken soccer field.

-This would be a great "driving range," a place to bring all your discs and practice one shot after another. If you're feeling down on your game, you can practice downhill shots to the sunken field.

Cons:

-The course would be completely unplayable during evenings, weekends, or any other time when soccer games are happening. Almost every hole cuts across parts of a field. Even if no games are in session, don't expect to play every hole. Picnickers and park goers can easily obstruct most every hole on the course.

-It's easy to label this course as an accident waiting to happen. And yes, it wouldn't take too bad of a shot to cause serious injury to a pedestrian. But the course has stood for eleven years, and let's continue that by being extra cautious. Even on a quiet day, you may only be able to safely play five or six holes.

Other Thoughts:

-A RHBH hyzer is the preferred shot for every hole. Given the layout of the park, however, this is the best option. It is certainly safer than the other way around.

-Palm Springs is known for excellent ball golf (over 100 courses). Disc golf, not so much. If there are no soccer games in session, it's a worthwhile stop. I would recommend two loops around the course followed by field practice.
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5 0
Nate32
Gold level trusted reviewer
Premium Member
Experience: 10.7 years 74 played 60 reviews
2.50 star(s)

2+ years

Reviewed: Updated: Played on:Nov 26, 2019 Played the course:once

Pros:

Hovley DGC is located in Palm Desert, California. Hovley DGC plays around 3 or 4 soccer fields and has some fun but challenging shots. Course is maintained very well and gets mowed a lot. Some things I like about this course is the hardware.

New tee signs make it easy to see where the pin is especially if you have a blind shot. Since this course plays on the perimeter of the facility all of the tee pads are the side walk with painted lines to show what is the tee pad. Discatcher baskets make the course look nice and I believe they were just recently added.

I would not really have a favorite hole on this course because the park gets used by pedestrians walking right through the middle and stopping to have a conversation. This course has a few baskets wedged into two palm trees like Fountain Hills in Arizona.

All of the holes are relativtely the same. The holes on the back half of the course look exactly the same and you have to back track to get to the next hole. They cut the grass every day or at least it seems like it because I got some monster skips.

Cons:

This course is probably unplayable during a soocer game or any other activity on the field. Hovley has 3 or 4 soccer fields but I found that it was not enjoyable to detour my way through when some guy was doing his work out routine in the middle of a hole.

I will say they did a pretty good job of making this course on the outer edge of the fields but with a soccer game going on it would still be pretty hard to play.

Most pedestrians or people playing have no idea that they are standing in the middle of a hole. I found that a little annoying because there is a sign right in the front of the course for the course.

Other Thoughts:

With great hardware and some nice touches this course is definitely worth stopping by unless there is a soccer game going on. It was nice place to stop and stretch your legs and throw a few discs around.

This course could be pretty nice if they used the whole field for some holes instead of some ones right along the fence.
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3 0
Turyco
Experience: 11 played 1 reviews
2.00 star(s)

pleasant surprise 2+ years drive by

Reviewed: Played on:Jun 15, 2018 Played the course:once

Pros:

nice, laid-back 9-hole course, a great place to practice mid- to long-distance drives with few obstacles and easy terrain

Cons:

as other reviewers commented, you just might maim a child if you play during the day

Other Thoughts:

this course was curiously both ill conceived and well executed at the same time, but just right if you treat it like a driving range, which goes hand-in-hand with a desert retreat so I didn't really feel like I was missing much. If anything, it was a pleasant surprise on a mini-vacation during which I did not expect to find a dg course! I'd love to see what this well-resourced town could come up with if they decided to superimpose a full 18-hole course on any of the multiple ball golf courses in the area.
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6 0
dr.chainslove
Silver level trusted reviewer
Experience: 24.9 years 330 played 42 reviews
2.00 star(s)

Not your average disc experience (and the only game in town)! 2+ years

Reviewed: Played on:Oct 1, 2016 Played the course:once

Pros:

DGCR says that a 2.0 rating is "Reasonable," which doesn't quite describe this goofy course. Palm Desert DGC is completely UNreasonable but I ultimately (strangely) enjoyed the experience. Other reviewers are correct when they say this place is irresponsible and dangerous. Each hole cannot be played with other park activities in progress. Luckily I played midweek during the day. The park was empty sans a few walkers. The amenities are fantastic-- signs, baskets, water fountains, meticulously maintained grounds, etc. Supposedly, you can call ahead and they'll turn the lights on if you're looking for a night round. Concrete paths were adequately used for tees. Considering the land given, nothing was too easy. Trees, pavilions, fences, soccer goals, horseshoe pits, and even some slight elevation changes helped shape each hole. You'll even have some low ceilings here. The soccer goals were a great man-made obstacle for the course. Additionally, there's plenty of length with most holes over 300 ft. As is my custom with any course that has soccer fields around, I loved emptying my bag after the round, shooting into/towards the goals from the opposite end line.

Cons:

Again, this course will be unplayable when soccer games or anything else is happening. Most holes incorporate the paths and soccer fields. Hole 2 hilariously uses a pavilion/picnic area as an obstacle. Be prepared to scuff some discs on the very prevalent concrete surfaces that follow through the course. Teepads are all poorly marked segments of the walking paths. Some are just fine for the hole, others (#3, for example) are really short/awkward.

Other Thoughts:

Lets face the facts: you aren't in this area to play disc golf. Consider this course a bonus to your visit to Palm Springs. I'd still recommend coming here off-hours and giving it a shot. You'll have a laugh at the sheer ridiculousness and probably also have a decent time.
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2 0
powderdrop
Experience: 37 years 25 played 5 reviews
2.50 star(s)

Play this early mornings 2+ years drive by

Reviewed: Played on:Apr 23, 2015 Played the course:2-4 times

Pros:

everyone is very friendly the course is well maintained and there are some fun little problems.

Cons:

conflicts with all other park users

Other Thoughts:

pay close attention to the signage, it is very accurate, I misinterpreted some of the mandos until it was made clear to me by the locals, the signage was very clear on what was a mando and what wasn't and I just didn't look closely enough. once you are used to the layout... a solo round can be played in about 20 minutes.
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15 0
The Miniac
Silver level trusted reviewer
Experience: 47.9 years 383 played 35 reviews
1.00 star(s)

Irresponsible 2+ years

Reviewed: Played on:Nov 16, 2014 Played the course:once

Pros:

Decent signage & baskets. Well groomed soccer park.
For me, the ONE bonus of this course was (by sheer coincidence) that it was 900' from where I was staying on a work-trip.

Cons:

The Desert Palm dgc is a classic example of misallocated land. The park itself is obviously well maintained. The soccer fields are plush. There are nice picnic benches, water fountains, a rec center and walking trails. But installing a disc golf course on this facility was irresponsible. There wasn't the free space for it.

The design disregards everything generally associated with safety concerns. Every tee is from the lightly broom-finished sidewalk, which, combined with the desert dust, makes for some excellent concrete surfing for those not possessing an abundance of ped-tread. Literally every hole brings a sidewalk or some other park amenity where people congregate into play.

#1's tee starts less than 10' from a picnic bench, employing a semi blind hyzer shot that spikes in toward a sidewalk and brings a soccer goal into play.
#2's fairway is DIRECTLY through a picnic shelter and water fountain station.
#3 is 390' ish but only gives you the width of the sidewalk (10' ?) for a run up. The fairway IS the soccer field.
#4 Was probably the 2nd safest & coolest fairway on the course (I slipped on the tee) but the basket is still on the corner of a soccer field.
#5 simply DARES the player to nail a pedestrian in the face, as it tees down a sidewalk with a semi-blind curve, and a flight window that leaves very little room to craft an effective drive.
At 220', #6 is the shortest and safest on the course. Although it's a blind shot, as the basket sits behind a tree
#7 forces a 330'ish shot straight down the walkway. Again, putting any approaching walkers at great risk.
#8 forces a diagonal run-up to tee between two sections of fence.
#9 allows for 3 different flight paths, all of which offer their own particular brand of safety issue, including a 340' anhyzer carry over a parking lot.
None of these fairways can be played when soccer is in session.

Other Thoughts:

Installing a disc golf course at this facility was a spectacularly ill-conceived notion that should never have seen the light of day.
I counted 8 people at the park when I played it at around 4:30pm on an Autumn Sunday. And every one of them could easily have come into play if I wasn't a pro player... or if I decided to throw with my spaz left hand.
The individual holes would be passable, where they in a secluded area, even though 7 of the 9 holes were hyzer shots. The ONE skill that this course could hope to engrain in a player is the patience to wait for an open window between pedestrians or when the home soccer team is attacking the goal on the other end of the field.

Were this course dedicated solely to disc golf, it might have rated a 2.5. But given its myriad glaring safety issues, I simple could not justify anything more than a 1. Were this the only course available to me, I'd move or quit playing.
Not a course to travel TO. But if you're looking to knock down a course along the way to somewhere else, try to pick a time when you don't think people play soccer. just take extra care to watch for pedestrians.
And try to remember that yelling "FORE" will only make your victims wonder why you are counting so loudly before you bombarded them with plastic.
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1 1
garrettfreberg
Experience: 29.3 years 57 played 5 reviews
2.00 star(s)

2+ years drive by

Reviewed: Played on:Apr 22, 2014 Played the course:once

Pros:

Well marked.
Easy to find your way around.
Clean park.
Baskets were in great condition.
Very well manicured

Cons:

Same basic holes over and over.
Lots of hazards with soccer goals, public use , rights of way, very slippery concrete pads and children using it as a cut through from school to home. Strangely it was not wet, but still slippery. Just a lot to deal with if anyone else is in the park using it. Private land on the perimeter which comes into play often as a right handed back hand thrower.
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2 1
vondog
Experience: 28.8 years 84 played 3 reviews
1.00 star(s)

Really? 2+ years drive by

Reviewed: Played on:Nov 28, 2013 Played the course:once

Pros:

Nice tee signs. Some longish holes and a couple protected baskets. Wide open fairways for the most part to let people really grip it and rip it. The baskets are in good working order and play fair.

Cons:

Most of the pad areas are slippery even when dry. Every hole presents a potential conflict with other park users. graffiti is making its way onto the baskets. Plenty of people to help you retrieve your disc when you park a good shot and they think you might want it back. RHBH hyzer shot will get you by on 7 of the 9 holes.

Other Thoughts:

This is not really the park for disc golf. When we played we had a park user conflict at every basket. Although their are 10 or so fields the soccer users played all of the perimeter goals right next to the baskets while the middle remained empty. This is an instance where everyone gets equal use of the park, dg'ers just need to make sure their equal usage occurs when nobody else is around.
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2 1
LiLHomeGirl
Experience: 11.2 years 7 played 7 reviews
2.50 star(s)

Palm Desert can Do Better 2+ years drive by

Reviewed: Played on:Apr 10, 2013 Played the course:once

Pros:

-Clean
-Good Distance
-Nice Baskets
-Labeled Tees

Cons:

-You share space with park goers
-Not a creative layout
-Similar Holes throughout

Other Thoughts:

For a community with so many resources, I was disappointed in this course.

Because of the proximity to park-goers, there's confusion and someone may try to "help" by picking up your disc and tossing it back at you. "Thanks!" ...a bit inconvenient.
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10 2
mashnut
Diamond level trusted reviewer
Experience: 22.1 years 831 played 767 reviews
0.00 star(s)

Terrible idea 2+ years drive by

Reviewed: Played on:Apr 3, 2013 Played the course:once

Pros:

The course plays around the edges of a well groomed soccer park. The park was free of any trash or vandalism, and the grass was mowed short and in nice shape. The holes used the available trees to make some reasonably technical lines in a mostly open park. The signage was good, and made the course easy to follow. The tees are all on sidewalk, so the surface is fine to throw from.

Cons:

The course is very repetitive. A RHBH hyzer suffices for every hole, and almost all are in the 320-380' range. I threw the same hyzer shot every hole, it just doesn't offer any interesting challenges. On top of that, the safety issues here are quite bad. Every shot plays over or along at least one soccer field. Most also play over or through pavilions, horseshoe pits and sidewalks. Three of the holes bring parking lots into play. There just isn't enough room in this park for a safe design, conflicts are unavoidable and the course is unplayable with soccer fields in use.

Other Thoughts:

This course is too long for beginners, most of the holes are in the range that many players won't be able to get close enough for a 2 but there aren't enough obstacles that most players can't get an easy 3. More experienced players won't find any variety. The conflicts and safety issues here make a merely poor course into one I would not recommend stopping at.
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3 1
ralbrecht
Experience: 13.4 years 5 played 2 reviews
3.00 star(s)

Fun with a couple drawbacks 2+ years drive by

Reviewed: Updated: Played on:Apr 21, 2011 Played the course:2-4 times

Pros:

Interesting layout.
Good signs to tell you where you're going.
Nice park setting
A couple of challenging tees and basket placements

Cons:

Some holes are unplayable when soccer is going on.
Sometimes you have to wait for people to clear so you can throw.

Other Thoughts:

This is a fun course. My advice is to go early to beat the soccer players to the park. When soccer is going on you can't play some of the holes but I was creative and played a few holes backwards. Weekdays at sunrise are the best time to go since you'll probably be the only one there and it's much cooler. Most of the walkers I met were polite, no bad vibes. I'll be playing here a lot since my family and my wife's family both have houses in the area.
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2 5
Jmart007
Experience: 15.8 years 8 played 3 reviews
2.50 star(s)

Good course for a park 2+ years drive by

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

Pros:

Good channeling course for being setup at the parameter of a park. Good use of obstacles and mandos keep you in check if you think your too good for the cousrse because of it's size

Cons:

Play is right next to sidewalks and people if it's a busy day

Other Thoughts:

Good course overall and I will be playing it again when I'm in the area again
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7 0
Leroy
Experience: 14 years 203 played 21 reviews
3.00 star(s)

Under rated 2+ years drive by

Reviewed: Played on:Feb 20, 2011 Played the course:2-4 times

Pros:

This course circles a large group of soccer fields, which made me think based on other reviews that it was going to be minimal and lame. BUT who ever designed this course did an excellent job. Trees and mandos are used on every hole to make things a challenge. Really nice signs at each tee area. Tee boxes are the sidewalk that circles the area which isn't ideal but still it is pavement to tee from.

Cons:

Shared space with other park users.

Other Thoughts:

I really thought this course was challenging. I did have to skip a couple of holes my second time around due to soccer games being played pretty close, but if you go during an off time it shouldn't really be a problem. Hole 7 has a really nice fairway feel in between the trees and the cinder block wall. If you're not too wild of a thrower you should enjoy this course and the different shots required to zig zag the perimeter trees. I would be glad to play this many times if I lived in the area.
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14 0
The Valkyrie Kid
Diamond level trusted reviewer
Experience: 45.9 years 1563 played 1507 reviews
1.50 star(s)

Below Average Course w/The Best Signs Ever! 2+ years

Reviewed: Played on:Apr 1, 2010 Played the course:once

Pros:

The course plays clockwise around the perimenter of a park used primarily for soccer. If you are a RHBH thrower, the course is quite a bit easier for you. If you are left handed or throw forehand, watch out. It's a very clean park in a high end city. Great SoCal dessert temperatures. Has lights allowing for night play when the temperature drops. Water fountains around the course. And finally, the best, prettiest, most indestructible signs ever. All the disc golf courses in the world that are in remote or ghetto neighborhoods need signs like these.

Cons:

Although this course is needed in this area, this just isn't a great park to try and squeeze it into. Soccer is what this park is designed and mainly used for. I fortunately played in the AM and didn't have to contend with the soccer hordes. As with a couple other courses I've played that play around the perimenter of a park like this, all the holes were basically the same, very repetitive. And holes 5,6, and 7 play along a tall fence with apartments on the other side. If you hyser your throw here, you risk have to scale this fence, if you throw right, you're disrupting the soccer game or practice.

Other Thoughts:

The designers of this course did about all they could here considering the obstacles and obvious problems they had to work around. I applaud them for their time and effort. I hope the disc golfers and the soccer community can co-exist here in some sort of peaceful, harmonious relationship. Maybe burn some candles or incense together!
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3 2
jpelham
Experience: 15.9 years 5 played 3 reviews
3.50 star(s)

only one in palm springs 2+ years drive by

Reviewed: Played on:Feb 4, 2010 Played the course:5+ times

Pros:

clean, good sigins, very challenging for a RHF. It has lights so you can play at night, helps alont for the good ol Southern Cail summer temps. Nice uesage of the trees, most holes are behind or very near trees There are water fountians around the park,.. Just in case you forget your water....like me. Nice veiw of the mountinas, real peacfull for being in the middle of the city.

Cons:

This is the only one in the area, and is not THAT great of a course, for being compared to nearly 100 ball golf courses in the area. With that this is only a 9 hole

Other Thoughts:

best time to paly is week days before 4:00pm, it is a ball feild for kids, bathrooms and water around the course.
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7 0
JonnyHyzer
Experience: 18.2 years 20 played 4 reviews
3.00 star(s)

Good Practice Course 2+ years drive by

Reviewed: Played on:Dec 6, 2009 Played the course:5+ times

Pros:

A fun course to play when soccer is not in session. Good use of trees and other obsticals to make options for a variety of shot types. Can be played clockwise or counter clockwise from various tee locations. Wide open areas with a big retention basin for practicing those big bomb shots. Having a place to play at night under the lights is always good!

Cons:

Best time to visit the couse is during the weekdays before 4:00 pm. Otherwise you will be contending with soccer players.

Other Thoughts:

The club has the field exclusively on Sunday evenings from 6:00 pm to 10 pm. Contact the local club if you are coming down to see if they are holding any tournaments or club days at other local ball golf course or parks in the area: www.pddgc.com
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7 0
LHSharpie5
Experience: 15.2 years 10 played 2 reviews
2.00 star(s)

Unimpressive 2+ years drive by

Reviewed: Played on:May 31, 2009 Played the course:2-4 times

Pros:

- Nice green park
- Good signage on all holes
- Men's and women's tee boxes
- Free with ample parking

Cons:

This course is set up around the outside of a public park that appears to be used primarily for soccer. The first time I went there were people on the soccer field and basketball courts, which made about half of the holes unplayable. I found the holes fairly repetitive, with the only difference being the degree of hyzer needed. Holes 5, 6, and 7 play directly next to about a 9 foot tall brick wall and a bad shot will put your disc over the wall and into the apartment complex on the west side of the park.

Other Thoughts:

Being primarily a RHFH thrower I found this course particularly challenging since most of the drives call for a RHBH throw. Soccer goals that are moved around provide additional obstacles. With all of the great ball golf in the desert, I would hope that in the future they will add a nice disc golf course.
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2 3
mikethrice
Experience: 15.7 years 19 played 16 reviews
3.00 star(s)

bummmed 2+ years drive by

Reviewed: Played on:May 23, 2009 Played the course:once

Pros:

nice grass..ob and mandatory. free. clean park. nice neighborhood. night play(but not on may 24th i was bummed)

Cons:

could get busy, hot hot weather in summer.

Other Thoughts:

seemed to be a good place to learn and play early in the morning or late at night when there is less people there. if your in the area check it out.. holes 6 and 7 are fun
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6 0
lamb
Experience: 17.7 years 8 played 7 reviews
2.00 star(s)

Good use of limited facilities 2+ years drive by

Reviewed: Played on:Jan 22, 2007 Played the course:once

Pros:

Very clean and well-kept facility. Great signage and tee markers. From what it looks like the local club is very dedicated.
Creative use of the elevation changes caused by the different levels of the soccer fields.
Seems to be the only course in the area.
The wind kicked up on the day I played and added a nice challenge to the course.

Cons:

Although I played on a day where the park was almost empty it is easy to see how difficult it would be to play there when it is crowded.
The course runs in a clockwise direction around the perimeter of the soccer fields. This means almost every hole is right-to-left.

Other Thoughts:

The local club's website says they hold weekly events at night thanks to the existing soccer lights. I would kill for a lighted facility.
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6 0
Legend KILLer
Experience: 20.5 years 90 played 18 reviews
1.50 star(s)

Very Busy 2+ years drive by

Reviewed: Played on:Dec 25, 2008 Played the course:5+ times

Pros:

Women and men tee boxes (orange and black, respectively)
Signage is great
The park is clean and green
Plenty of amenities like for a picnic

Cons:

The course is designed around several soccer fields, and if any are in use, it will affect your round. If you have a good arm then it's possible to fly it over, but regardless hove good you are, you will play through the middle of the field on 8
You also have to contend with families using the park for other means. On hole 2 you play right through a busy bbq pit that always seems to be in use.
For right hand throwers: beware hole 7. If not thrown correctly you will have to jump a cinder block wall which will often leave you with bruised forearms.

Other Thoughts:

The course gets a 1.5 solely because its the only course in the desert. I have heard that another course is in the works but nothing has been constructed. Like I said, the course is often extremely busy and makes it difficult to play. I find it easier to play early in the morning or during the summer when you can cook an egg on the sidewalk. If you do play in the summer remember to take water.
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