Bennington, VT

Willow Park

Permanent course
2.335(based on 20 reviews)
Filter course reviews

Filter reviews

Filter reviews

Willow Park reviews

Filter
13 0
gabereif
Silver level trusted reviewer
Experience: 13 years 57 played 37 reviews
3.00 star(s)

Solid course - Improved from earlier reviews

Reviewed: Updated: Played on:Apr 30, 2023 Played the course:2-4 times

Pros:

-Free course in a park with great amenities and ample parking. 18 holes!
-Nice mix of open and wooded holes
-Short and long holes, some bend left, others bend right
-Was not swampy despite having rained the previous day
-Two tees for many holes (although I played there in a tournament and I imagine that some of the red tee pads don't exist some of the time)
-Good use of elevation
-Most tees in good shape. Some dirt tee pads. Baskets in great shape.
-Some nice benches!
-Access to trash cans during the round

Cons:

-The course lacks any wow factor. There's a nice tunnel shot, but no water features, no cool shots down big hills, etc. It's basic and fine, but nothing special.
-Many of the holes are uninspiring. Plenty of holes have big open fields without interesting obstacles (e.g., holes 1 and 18). Or the bends in the fairways are too sharp and there are too many trees (hole 2 and others whose numbers I forget).
Altogether, it's fine for a local course or course bagging, but don't go expecting to find anything that will wow you.

Other Thoughts:

I heard that the course used to be worse and they've done lots of work on it. Kudos to the folks who are improving the course. The old reviews talk about only 9 holes and baskets that are beat up. That is DEFINITELY not the case.

Some of the old reviews call the back 9 "sketchy" and that is no longer the case. All the holes are solid, legit golf holes. For an accurate understanding of the course in its current state, ignore any reviews from before 2019.

(Note that I was playing with locals who brought me from hole to hole, so I can't speak to navigating the course)
Was this review helpful? Yes No
1 1
caddycash
Experience: 8.8 years 28 played 1 reviews
3.50 star(s)

Much improved course 2+ years drive by

Reviewed: Played on:Feb 12, 2022 Played the course:5+ times

Pros:

Improved course. I tend to play off peak hours, but haven't had many delays for other park users. Nice lay out, beautiful setting, close to food, stores, etc. Nice mix of open and wooded holes.

Cons:

Alternate tees are poorly marked and a bit rough. Tee box sizes are inconsistent. Hole 17 is a little ridiculous

Other Thoughts:

A very pleasant experience. Course begins and ends close to parking. I am an older, rather mediocre player. I think anyone would enjoy this course
Was this review helpful? Yes No
14 0
Ryal
Gold level trusted reviewer
Premium Member
Experience: 6.8 years 216 played 182 reviews
3.00 star(s)

A Lark At Willow Park 2+ years

Reviewed: Played on:Apr 27, 2021 Played the course:once

Pros:

+ The course plays within a quaint and well-maintained township park. Open hilly fields and a few nice clusters of trees await the player.
+ Prodigy brand baskets on almost all holes except 12, 13 and 15.
+ The tee posts are cleverly thought out. On all holes these wooden structures literally point the way to throw and have nice mini-maps of the hole ahead complete with par and distance.
+ Most of the tees are solid slabs of concrete, but...

Cons:

- ...A noticeable number of the tees aren't wide or long enough, and some are dirt, turf, gravel or just lines traced on the sidewalk. In short, the tees are inconsistent.
- Safety is something of an issue with quite a few walking paths to worry about in the front nine and a few walking hazards in the form of exposed roots and hilly walks in the back nine. Also, a few holes play right past athletic fields. If they were in use, then certain holes would be unplayable.
- No practice basket and no lost disc box that I could see. I didn't look everywhere, though.

Other Thoughts:

My favorite hole here to play was hole6 because it sets itself apart from most of the other holes with a downhill tree-lined hallway. My favorite hole here to look at was hole10 not because of the hole itself but because of the plainly visible scenic mountain to the right and the interesting obelisk alongside it. (Sights like that aren't common to come by in New Jersey expect in the north-western counties!) My least favorite was hole8 because it plays too closely to a children's playground and several walking paths. One errant throw or untimely breeze could lead to trouble.

As for the course as a whole, Willow Park is an inviting place. It's a breezey park with the usual features. I played here on a weekday during business hours, and it was still a little busy. Bear that in mind if you decide to play here. There is a good chance that you'll have to patiently wait for someone on a walking path to get out of range or someone harmlessly exploring the woods within the park to meander away.

I was particularly impressed with the tee signs. I can't say that I have ever seen wooden tee signs constructed in such a way that literally point the player in the right direction. Not only that, but the miniature diagrams were the perfect combination of sleek and useful. Sometimes, tee signs can be eyesores at parks. Not here! Also, I think I really like those Prodigy baskets. I've never seen them outside of New England, and I hope that they gain popularity and start spreading because that webbed chain design grabs discs like a spider.

Nothing much grabs the player, though. The mountain and curious spire make for a nice backdrop, but the disc golf itself has but a few memorable moments. I was grateful for all of the elevation changes it has. Hole4's wide open downhill coast and hole11's downslope glide were nice. Obviously, hole6's downhill tunnel was a great surprise. However, I never felt engrossed at the venue. The string of holes in the woods ended before I knew it, and it's tough to find any immersion during those moments right alongside a highway.

Still, Willow Park is a good example of good disc golf. It's got your wide open holes for gliding shots and your wooded ones for controlled shots. And that's a disc golfer's bread and butter, right? So come play here if you are a course bagger just passing through who can't dedicate a whole lot of time to stopping or if you are a local who wants a downtown area spot to practice your throwing. Gently recommended.
Was this review helpful? Yes No
6 0
DoWork
Experience: 8 played 8 reviews
3.00 star(s)

Good park golf, sketchy woods golf 2+ years drive by

Reviewed: Played on:Oct 18, 2018 Played the course:once

Pros:

Nice placement golf type course with several ace run holes, well maintained green rolling hills and an open park setting. Nice elevation changes. Some cool tunnels also.

Good signage

Cons:

Tees were unpredictable and not in a good way. Some were mats, some were just a board, some were beaten into holes. I liked the sidewalk tees but it just made the bad ones seem even worse.

A few holes would be flat out unplayable if the fields were being used. One you throw directly at a bathroom facility.

Some holes on the back 9 were either strangely laid out, not opened up enough to play well or sketchy from a safety standpoint.

Baskets were meh.

Other Thoughts:

I had fun at this course but it does have a few drawbacks that get more and more apparent as more and more people use the park, which can effect play.

I would play again, but mostly for the front 9 birdiefest and I would lean towards a weekday to avoid people using the park.
Was this review helpful? Yes No
2 0
Cool
Experience: 8 years 11 played 11 reviews
2.00 star(s)

Solid front nine, sketchy back nine. 2+ years drive by

Reviewed: Played on:Sep 10, 2017 Played the course:once

Pros:

Only course in Bennington, nice park facilities, picturesque.

Cons:

Multi-use park can lead to issues with parked cars, cook-out bbqers, kids playing, etc.

Other Thoughts:

Front nine is fair and good, including some field shots, then woody play. After that, things get sketchy with play so close to paved walking trails, playground equipment, and soccer fields that, should these things be in use (e.g. Youth soccer game), even Paul McBeth can't finesse and play the holes. There are specific holes that are memorably fun (like the long bomber up to anthill pin), and some memorably bad (like the completely blind, short, dog-legged afterthought hole that transitions a player from the soccer field area to the softball field area). One can't help but leave this course scratching their head and imagining just how awesome this course could be with foresight, planning, and a professional course designer. There are woods that go largely unused, back-to-back tunnel shots that could be better adapted, tees that are on paved, multi-use paths that should be separated from bikes and walkers, shots that are painfully close to rental pavilions and rest rooms that are begging for personal injury, and completely unexplored areas of this park that would benefit disc golfers with challenge.

As this is the largest town and the only course in southwest VT, what a boon to a cute, touristy town to have a course that is A-tier tournament caliber to bring in restaurant, shopping, and hotel revenue. A fabulous course, either in this park or using the same baskets elsewhere in town, could literally provide a three-season tournament destination.

Such topography, such a pretty town, such a mediocre course.

Was this review helpful? Yes No
8 0
Pizza God
Diamond level trusted reviewer
Premium Member
Experience: 36 years 1689 played 554 reviews
2.50 star(s)

What the heck 2+ years

Reviewed: Played on:Jun 14, 2016 Played the course:once

Pros:

Tee signs
Several good holes
Good use of elevation and some natural features on several of the holes
Good baskets
Very scenic park

Cons:

Has a few ridiculous holes that are flat out unsafe and almost unplayable.

Other Thoughts:

Ok so this web page had this course listed at a 9 hole course. When I arrived I found out that after 3 years, someone finally added 9 more holes for 18.

Cool right? Well, when you get to those new holes they are horribly designed. You can tell they were designed by an amature that has no idea about safety and the flow of a course.

Ok, so lets go over this course
Hole 1 is a great starter hole a little farther from the parking lot than I would like, but it i a good uphill hole with a few trees making the shot fun.

Hole 2 is great little turnover shot (for right handed players) with a well defined green and trouble all around it.

Hole 3 Another good hole up a nice tunnel shot.

Hole 4 is a decent downhill hole with some rocks and trees making it fun.

Hole 5 is a pretty wide open shot with the baskets tucked under the edge of a tree stand with trouble behind the basket.

Hole 6 was great, long tunnel shot down an old lane.

Hole 7 Short little shot on the edge of a hill with a few trees guarding the basket.

Hole 8 Elevated tee down across a field. Good hole for how open the area was.

Now we get to those ridiculous holes.

Hole 9 was just a start basket is tucked into the rough. Your best off just throwing to the sign then laying up to the basket. If you go for the basket from the tee, you looking forever.

Hole 10 was so crazy, I didn't even bother playing it. frst off the tee was WAY TO CLOSE to the #9 basket. Then you had no fairway to the basket, it is a throw and pray you can find your disc.

So I walked over to 10 and could not find the basket for a long time, it was a crazy shot into the woods with no fairway. This area was not as overgrown as the last 2 holes, but it would still have taken a while to find my disc if I had thrown it. I skipped it too. I didn't have the daylight left to go hunting for a disc.

Hole 11 Horrible horrible horrible you should NEVER be throwing across a parking lot and into an area of soccer practice. I was lucky no one was around. If it were not for those things it was a good hole with the basket tucked way up on the side of a hill with a lot of rough around it.

Hole 12 Another hole to loose your disc on. Worst part, the tee for 13 is too close to the normal flight path of a right hander.

Hole 13 Your run of the mill throw across a field. Hope no one is having soccer practice or you will not be able to play this hole.

I honestly can't remember if I got all the holes correct. I think I skipped 14 and 15 due to it getting close to dark and they were more holes in the rough.

Hole 16 Horrible fairway, you should never put a fairway down a walking path, specially next to a ball field.

Hole 17 Simi short wide open birdie hole.

hole 18 Nice finishing hole, slightly uphill with a few key trees defining the fairway.

Ok, I know I was in a hurry to finish up before dark, but this course has a lot of potential. about 1/2 of the holes are great, then you hit those "new" holes that are almost unplayable if your in a hurry. They were not fun to say the least. The land is there, a little tweaking and this course would be great and deserve a much higher rating.
Was this review helpful? Yes No
1 0
ricklev
Experience: 30 played 30 reviews
3.00 star(s)

Great views, course in nice shape 2+ years drive by

Reviewed: Played on:Jul 28, 2015 Played the course:once

Pros:

-Really nice views. Can even see the Bennington Battle Monument - Revolutionary War -- from here
-Grass mowed, short, so not buggy when I was there
-Reasonably easy to get to if travelling through Bennington. Nice place to take a driving break
-Hills are a fun challenge, especially since I'm from Florida
-Easy parking

Cons:

-Signage was there, but not that easy to figure out
-Hot in the summer, really hot the day we were there

Other Thoughts:

I just stopped there to take a driving break on the way through town. If I had more time, and if the weather was cooler, I would like to have played the entire course. The park is very nice, especially the views.
Was this review helpful? Yes No
4 0
The Valkyrie Kid
Diamond level trusted reviewer
Experience: 45.9 years 1563 played 1507 reviews
2.50 star(s)

I Learned A Lesson-Park Over By # 9-Take The Long Walk First! 2+ years

Reviewed: Played on:Aug 5, 2015 Played the course:once

Pros:

Everything at Willow Park felt a little old and used to me. I take that this park has been here for generations. I know for a fact that Ethan Allen, himself, built these baskets by hand in his little shop down on 4th Street back in 1785 or maybe 86. Of course, double chains weren't invented until much later.

The course plays around the perimeter of Willow Park. I think the designers did an admirable job with this design.The course has these big old tee signs which are quite faded. I thank the person who used his sharpie to record the distance and par on them. There are standard pads. Some holes are using the sidewalk (#1) or exciting concrete slab (# 2) while most are just natural surface. Some had a front board.

# 4 & 5 were both fun downhill throws. The basket on 4 was tucked in behind a couple of trees and four large rocks making this 317' downhill toss even more interesting. # 5 was interesting, too. It's 292' to a basket just in front of the woods, Then 6 & 7 play down this tight little path. # 8 is a fun, short 187' Ace run and then you finish with # 9's 455 toss across fields to a basket just in front of some tall grassy area.

Cons:

Some more legible tee signs would be nice. Kind of like giving your house a fresh coat of paint!

What's with posting the Disc Golf Rules sign at # 4? That's kinda strange.

And of course, you gotta mention the tee pads.

Other Thoughts:

My GPS lead me through the gate and I parked above # 1. So when I finished, I had this long walk and this was my third course played of the day. I spotted some locals parking down by # 9 and walking up to # 1. Ah, park there and take the long walk when you're not so tired. Put your faith in the locals!

I liked this course for the most part. I could see myself playing it on a regular basis.
Was this review helpful? Yes No
2 0
space mann
Experience: 34.3 years 4 played 2 reviews
3.00 star(s)

Wonderful Views 2+ years drive by

Reviewed: Played on:Sep 1, 2014 Played the course:5+ times

Pros:

Beautiful Views. Love the use of the sidewalks as T boxes. Volunteers are keeping the wood holes nicely cared for. Great short course for beginners. Holes 2, 6, 9 play better for a lefty, holes 3, 5 are easier for a righty. Not crowded. As soon as you know where all the holes are it is great to get around.

Cons:

Some of the Tee Boxes are hard to find. Hole one is by the baseball field at the bottom of the hill. look for a white sign and a blue mark across the sidewalk. Hole 5 is up the hill by the swing set. Hole six is down the rocks then continue a bit down the path. You should be able to find all the other holes easily.

Other Thoughts:

It is easy enough to play 18 holes by playing alternative T-Boxes. It is easy to find distance and obstacles when you come up with alternative starts.
Was this review helpful? Yes No
1 1
3ertram
Experience: 17 years 7 played 7 reviews
4.00 star(s)

Christmas Day 2+ years drive by

Reviewed: Played on:Dec 25, 2013 Played the course:5+ times

Pros:

nice elevation shots, also usually very well maintained park, often there is some wind, that makes the longer shots interesting, gave a slightly higher rating to compensate some of the older very bad ratings, think these were given on an older layout

Cons:

only 9 baskets, but no real problem

Other Thoughts:

very nice to have the rest rooms a the course, all in all, one of our favorites in the area
Was this review helpful? Yes No
4 1
StevenFoster
Experience: 13.9 years 21 played 7 reviews
2.50 star(s)

Not as bad as these reviews 2+ years drive by

Reviewed: Played on:Feb 20, 2013 Played the course:2-4 times

Pros:

Some of the holes had nice wide open downhill/uphill shots, woods fairways were good, I think some of these really bad reviews are from a previous layout. Signs showed me the flight path and length. View of the mountain and the Monument were great. It's actually a nice park.

Cons:

baskets are very old and beat up, one basket I could not find (missing??) but they catch. I normally don't play 9-hole courses but have decided to play every course in northern/western New England to see what's around.

Other Thoughts:

Just moved to the area from the midwest and am having fun exploring the courses around here. I probably won't be back to this one though as it seems there are other better ones to be explored.
Was this review helpful? Yes No
2 5
M@MARRO
Experience: 14.5 years 34 played 4 reviews
0.00 star(s)

THIS IS NOT A COURSE 2+ years drive by

Reviewed: Played on:Jul 19, 2010 Played the course:once

Pros:

You get to play disc golf.

Cons:

only 8 baskets.
not maintained.
the signs don't match up with the holes.
one of the signs had been set on fire.
one of the baskets wasn't removed before someone did some tree work and it landed on it.
you get to throw through a pedestrian walk way and over a play ground. which has to be skipped rather than injure a small child.
you can only play the final holes if the local sports team isn't using the field you throw through to get there.

Other Thoughts:

don't go.
Was this review helpful? Yes No
2 3
WesternMADG
Experience: 19 played 1 reviews
3.00 star(s)

Nice little course 2+ years drive by

Reviewed: Played on:Jul 4, 2012 Played the course:once

Pros:

Fun course. Quick round. It's pretty easy but a great course to take someone for their first round. A couple on site bathrooms. It's in Bennington!!

Cons:

A little buggy. If the park is busy a few holes might be crowded. I was there on the 4th of July and had no issues. Not the place to go for a real challenge.

Other Thoughts:

First hole is down by the BMX track. If you park there the walk back from 9 isn't too bad. If playing for the fist time note where the next hole is at the tee sign, they are tough to find sometimes if you don't check
Was this review helpful? Yes No
8 1
VenV
Experience: 14.6 years 25 played 7 reviews
2.50 star(s)

Around the Park 2+ years drive by

Reviewed: Played on:Aug 14, 2011 Played the course:once

Pros:

Tees are sometimes on pavement, other times well built natural tees. Tee Signs for every hole had par, distance, and a good map. Clever path in one big circle around the park. Holes 2, 3, 6 and 7 are woodsy. Holes 1, 4, 5, 8 and 9 are open fields. Good placement of baskets with natural obstacles.

Cons:

The next tee indicators were not easy to read or remember: they were on the last tee sign. Only one long hole, #9. Only one real short ace run hole, #8. Long walk between #9 & #1. No clear indicator where to start. Billboard introducing the sport is at hole #4. Walk from #4 to #5 is back up hill on south side of playground.

Other Thoughts:

The low course rating from older reviews should be disregarded because recent improvements elevate the variety and difficulty. The photos on this website have the old hole #s: Old 1, 3, & 6 are no more. Old 2=5 now, 4 = 7, 5 =9, 7=1 sort of, and old 8 = 2 now.
Was this review helpful? Yes No
10 0
DaKineSurfer32
Gold level trusted reviewer
Experience: 22.9 years 577 played 57 reviews
1.50 star(s)

2+ years drive by

Reviewed: Played on:Oct 14, 2009 Played the course:once

Pros:

- a couple cool holes
- used to have really nice signs, but there has been some redesign so they are now inaccurate, but thankfully a local has gone around and corrected them all with black sharpie, so you can easily find your way around the course if you follow the sharpie signs
- good use of park space
- always empty

Cons:

- basket 2 is missing, so you just play to tee sign 3
- hole 6 throws right over basket 5, and directly away from where you have to go for hole 7, which is poor course design and annoying
- holes 8 & 9, while creative and fun the first time, were really just thrown in to get you back to the parking lot
- no tees per-say, you just throw from next to the sign

Other Thoughts:

I'll be posting pictures of this course soon, as soon as I can upload them from my camera.

When looking for hole 4, walk directly left from basket 3, through the open gate in the chainlink fence. 4 plays in the woods on the other side of the fence.

The "E St" in the directions actually means "East St", not the letter "E". You can easily miss the turn if you're not paying attention for this.

Contrary to what a few other people have said, the course does not interfere with any other activities unless there is a soccer game going on, then you can't play 5 or 6.

Bennington VT is a fun little town, and a nice place to visit. The Willow Park course is an okay 9 hole course, but it's obvious that no one in this town (save the guy that wrote his phone number on tee sign 1, begging to play with you), plays disc golf. Course maintenance is poor, it's only mowed because of the other activities that people come to the park for.

Fun, but not worth going out of your way for.
Was this review helpful? Yes No
7 0
HoosickTony
Bronze level trusted reviewer
Experience: 29.6 years 120 played 14 reviews
3.50 star(s)

Keeps getting better all the time... 2+ years drive by

Reviewed: Updated: Played on:Aug 9, 2013 Played the course:5+ times

Pros:

Excellent view of the Bennington Monument. Nice bathroom right near the first tee. Nice picnic spots. Great elevation changes. There are 4 holes that use the woods to nice advantage. Beginner friendly shot making.

With the upcoming alternate tee locations, there will be a short and a long tee on every hole. The short tees are beginner friendly without being too easy, the long ones will challenge your accuracy as well as your arm strength. Alternating shorts and longs will give you a good 18 holes if you walk two loops.

The maintenance on the course has REALLY improved. The bulk of the low brush is gone, and the woods holes are much more forgiving of errant throws.

Cons:

The nine holes available right will not challenge your shot making skills that much. I base this on the number of discs I need to use on a course, and the number of alternative throws (thumber, forehand, backhand, roller, bomb, etc.) that you need to use. You can throw all backhand all the time if you throw it where you want it to go.

Ticks abound during tick season, bring your bug spray, wear long pants, do a check after your round.

The layout is short.

Other Thoughts:

Expansion still in the works.

There will be nine more tee locations before the end of the fall 2013, along with new signage.
Was this review helpful? Yes No
1 1
StymieDidIt
Experience: 5 played 5 reviews
0.50 star(s)

2+ years drive by

Reviewed: Played on:Mar 28, 2009 Played the course:once

Pros:

Not too many, other than the possibility that someone can resurect this good idea gone bad. As others have said, good elevation, sizable area, nice baskets.

Cons:

Oh man, this is unforunate. It has great potential, but there are very few signs or directions. Some signs that are present don't make any sense(maps that don't resemb;e anything in the area of the tee). Too close to playground and picknick area. Baskets missing. No tee pads.

Other Thoughts:

Honestly, unless you're just out practicng your putting or different shots, it's not worth playing. Disappointing. I gave it a half point for the scenery.
Was this review helpful? Yes No
2 3
CaptainAnhyzer
Experience: 38.8 years 124 played 18 reviews
1.50 star(s)

Redesign coming 2+ years

Reviewed: Updated: Played on:Aug 14, 2010 Played the course:5+ times

Pros:

Nice scenery with the Bennington Monument and Mt. Anthony. Bathrooms in two locations within the park near the pavilions.

Cons:

Some holes unplayable due to missing basket or pedestrian traffic.

Other Thoughts:

This course will be getting a facelift in 2010 with updated signage, tee boards and the replacement of missing #2 basket. Also included in the redesign will be the moving of a couple holes that are too close to the playground/ballfield/court areas.

The redesign will also allow for an easy addition of holes in the unused wooded areas in the west side of the park.
Was this review helpful? Yes No
1 1
Rizbee
Premium Member
Experience: 45.9 years 320 played 11 reviews
1.00 star(s)

You could find Hole #12? 2+ years drive by

Reviewed: Played on:Jul 10, 2008 Played the course:once

Pros:

There were some baskets. Seriously - the park has some nice elevation change, nice grass and is nice and clean.

Cons:

Very difficult to navigate. Very few tee signs, and those that were there were often difficult to make sense of. Lots of potential, which makes the navigation issues that much more frustrating.

Other Thoughts:

Is there a local who could work with the park officials to fix this place up? Stopping here was an opportunity to stretch our legs after a long drive, but we don't think we actually played the right layout.
Was this review helpful? Yes No
5 0
Christer
Experience: 1 played 1 reviews
1.00 star(s)

What's up with this course? 2+ years drive by

Reviewed: Played on:May 24, 2008 Played the course:never

Pros:

This could be a good course, the park has lots of elevation and nice views of the valley and Bennington Battle Monument.

Cons:

No maintenance on this course, bad layout, no course map, most baskets not out, signs in the wrong place, simply not playable.

Other Thoughts:

I had high hopes for this course, was a quick stop over while I was camping. Aced hole 1 with a roc.... WHOOOOHOOOOO! But there is no basket on 2, 3 is an insurance claim waiting to happen... the playground is definately in play, and seriously... an open 310ft hole marked as a par 4? Hole 4 hard to find and then you can't find anything. I played 6 to 7's basket... I think. Hopefully this course gets a makeover soon but as it is it isn't playable.
Was this review helpful? Yes No

Latest posts

Top