Tucson, AZ

Sam Lena Park

Permanent course
2.065(based on 9 reviews)
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15 0
jdog17
Experience: 10.9 years 13 played 13 reviews
2.50 star(s)

Average drive by

Reviewed: Played on:Jan 14, 2023 Played the course:2-4 times

Pros:

In a park away from traffic
Baskets are in good condition
Tees are fairly easy to find
Pleasant setting
Great beginner course (with a map)

Cons:

Holes are fairly short
The navigation is a bit tricky because the baskets have 2 hole numbers each one
People walking through the park
This wouldn't be a challenging course for an advanced player

Other Thoughts:

This is 18 holes that go in a loop around acouple of fenced off baseball fields that you do twice, in both directions. Mostly flat with a few large acacia tress and some grass, but generally dirt and gravel. It begins at the east end of the parking lot. The tees are on gravel/dirt except for a few on the walking path. The tees have bright pink grass-like markers. Once you realize each basket has two numbers ("1" and "13", for example), navigation makes more sense. Still not sure where #1 tee is, but it might be the giant 1 on the playground fitness station. A map is helpful. Nice park but busy on weekends so you have to watch and wait for kids and families.
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1 2
ChainedUpInAZ
Experience: 25.3 years 1 played
4.00 star(s)

Tucson's most challenging course 2+ years drive by

Reviewed: Updated: Played on:Dec 19, 2020 Played the course:once

Pros:

This course is actually one of the toughest courses in Tucson. If you have UDisc you'll easily find where the tee pads should be. A few of the pads are marked with bricks at ground level. There are only six baskets but there are 18 holes. Very large trees with lots of leaves manicured grass and a bit of gravel. The shelters baseball diamonds and outdoor gym equipment definitely make great obstacles. This course will test your skills and make you a better player.

Cons:

No marked tee pads at this time - improvements are coming

Other Thoughts:

Play this course is you want something completely different than any other DG course in town.
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7 0
pmay5
Gold level trusted reviewer
Premium Member
Experience: 20.8 years 480 played 245 reviews
1.50 star(s)

Marginal Course in a Crowded Park 2+ years

Reviewed: Played on:Mar 9, 2016 Played the course:once

Pros:

Nice park, which leads to a con.
Nice part of town, next to a large soccer complex.
Nice grass, for two of the 6 baskets.
Convenient if you were there for baseball/softball or a picnic.

Cons:

Park is next to a YMCA with 2 lighted ballfields, picnic shelters and a walking path throughout, it is probably crowded most evenings and weekends.
SIngle chain baskets.
Only found one marked tee, on the walking path. None of the other 17 were marked, even though most used the walking path.
Most of the baskets were placed in the rough, desert rock area of the park, which was most of it (outside the ball field fence).

Other Thoughts:

I can see this park being busy most weekends and evenings, the course does pass the ballfields around the outfields, but right through the picnic areas. So it could be a dangerous course, especially as much as the walking path is used.
Six baskets were about all they could squeeze in the available area, and they were creative to lay out 18 holes, but it would be just too crowded with even a small number playing.
Maybe they should shorten the holes and just make it a pitch and putt for the picnic crowd.
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4 2
sssrn
Experience: 9.8 years 11 played 7 reviews
0.50 star(s)

Unplayable 2+ years drive by

Reviewed: Updated: Played on:Aug 28, 2014 Played the course:once

Pros:

If a baseball game is being played then there's enough light to play at night which is nice in the desert summer.

Cons:

No tees. I had to download the map on my phone to try and play and even then I couldn't find a few of the basket. Better off having your own basket and putting it out in the desert.

Other Thoughts:

I think this course was just an afterthought by Pima County. Typical strategy of simply throwing a few baskets in a park and calling it a disc golf course.
I recently learned the county sports authority is no longer supporting this course and removal of the baskets is pending.
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1 11
chelsea
Experience: 4 played 2 reviews
5.00 star(s)

Female Friendly 2+ years drive by

Reviewed: Played on:Jul 20, 2013 Played the course:5+ times

Pros:

Plenty of technical and difficult shots the course isn't over run by a multitude of other players, sometimes it's hard being the only female on the course, and it's nice to just play a round without constantly being hit on!

Cons:

No visible tee-pads (map is a plus!) or direction on where the next tee-pad is.
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6 1
The Valkyrie Kid
Diamond level trusted reviewer
Experience: 45.9 years 1563 played 1507 reviews
1.00 star(s)

Leave This One To The Picnic Crowd! 2+ years

Reviewed: Played on:Apr 6, 2013 Played the course:once

Pros:

Well, there are six single chain baskets here. And, the weather can be delightful, at certain times of the year, and certain times of the day.

The course designers tried to make the most out of what they had to work with. Which is a small area of a flat park, with plenty of other park users and not enough space for even a nine hole course. And no grass or elevation.

Cons:

You're attempting to play around mulitudes of other park patrons. On the evening I played, there were two large picnic groups and I really didn't want to disturb either group. Or get cross between their crossfire!

There are no obvious teepads. The on-line map provided a minimum amount of help and guidance. Had there been anyone playing baseball, that would have empacted my game even more.

Some guy was having a siesta right in the middle of the concrete picnic shelter on # 3 or 4 so I just skipped that hole.

Single chain baskets. No teepads. No signs anywhere.

Other Thoughts:

I don't really know my way around Tucson but I found the other three Tucson area courses all to have some redeeming qualities. If I lived down here, I'd definitely be playing those other three courses and be leaving this one to the picnicikers.
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3 0
drmagnum22
Experience: 11.6 years 2 played
0.50 star(s)

bad 2+ years drive by

Reviewed: Played on:Jan 19, 2013 Played the course:once

Pros:

not really any good pros sorry to say :(

Cons:

tee's are not maked well at all, goals are falling apart,bathrooms are locked at all times, no lights on for night golf,was a waste of my time but i though it couldnt be that bad

Other Thoughts:

needs lots of work
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7 1
hansolo01
Experience: 15.8 years 5 played 2 reviews
1.50 star(s)

Better than no course, but... 2+ years drive by

Reviewed: Played on:Nov 26, 2008 Played the course:once

Pros:

Park was almost empty when we played. Nice to have a course on this side of town. We played in November, and the weather was beautiful. Well-drawn map available from the "links/files" tab above. There are nice shady picnic tables surrounding the course, and a drinking fountain near the baseball diamonds.

Cons:

The 6 (shared) baskets were in bad disrepair in Nov. '08. Most were held together with baling wire. Tee locations were poorly marked, if at all - a map is a MUST. Several shots/tee locations were nearly identical to those previously played. A few tees are on slopes over loose gravel that nearly tripped two in our party. 18-hole round takes nearly 2 hours due to inefficient course flow. Limited shade - course is probably too hot to play in Summer.

Other Thoughts:

This course seems like an afterthought. Course might have traffic issues when busy with lots of players. Layout also requires several shots that cut over baseball diamonds, which could interrupt play if those are in use for other sports. If the tees were better marked, this course would be much more playable. Until then, I will stick to other courses while in Tucson.
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3 3
FoleyT
Silver level trusted reviewer
Experience: 18.8 years 86 played 84 reviews
2.00 star(s)

Limited space 2+ years drive by

Reviewed: Played on:Apr 1, 2007 Played the course:never

Pros:

Interesting layout based on limited usage area, nice new baskets when we played there in early '07

Cons:

recommend printing out the online map to help you figure out all the hole and tee placements. Multiple tees make a creative use of 6 baskets to create an 18 hole course. I can't imagine how this plays when it is crowded.

Other Thoughts:

Hot and dusty in the middle of the day, bring water, although there are restrooms and water fountains nearby in the park building
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