Silver Spring Township, PA

Willow Mill Park

2.475(based on 17 reviews)
Filter course reviews

Filter reviews

Filter reviews

Willow Mill Park reviews

Filter
10 0
HyooMac
Diamond level trusted reviewer
Experience: 6.7 years 415 played 382 reviews
3.00 star(s)

Short 9 in a clean park 2+ years

Reviewed: Played on:Oct 10, 2020 Played the course:once

Pros:

+ Short 9 in a clean park that takes advantage of available space and elevation

+ Water runs along the right of the first two holes. Although it's screened by pretty thick trees, there's a clearing at the second basket - so a long putt might get the water into your sight and your head

+ Good variety of shots required: a few (RH) sidearms on the opening holes, and Hole #3 is perfect for a thumber over the building

+ Although it's par 27 and only 2100', there are a few longish holes (280', 300') and a few 250's that play a bit uphill. Even if it's not exactly ace runs, you should be counting up your birdies


Cons:

- A few holes (#5 and #8) where it's possible to throw at the wrong basket. Pictures on this site show great signage differentiating close baskets in 2010, but I don't recall seeing any signage in 2020

- The disc golf isn't at all removed from the main park, so I guess play can be really affected by picnics and other park traffic on busy days


Other Thoughts:

~ Course Amenities Summary: Poured tees, good baskets, poor signage, very cart-friendly. Watch out for speed traps (local police were using the park entrance as a waiting spot to watch the main road on the morning I played. They wrote several tickets)


~ A great place for quick recreational rounds, or to bring new players. Pair it up with the nearby Adventure Park DGC which is a bit longer and more open, for a nice variety 18.

Was this review helpful? Yes No
3 1
pcooney83
Experience: 12.9 years 2 played 2 reviews
3.00 star(s)

Little Gem 2+ years drive by

Reviewed: Played on:Aug 15, 2014 Played the course:5+ times

Pros:

Great for a 9 hole course in a beautiful area. Very scenic. Signs and course set-up are very clear and concise.

Cons:

Too many straightaways. Not enough variety of throws can be utilized, as most holes are just straight ahead

Other Thoughts:

Look for the beautiful white Egret birds along the creek.
Was this review helpful? Yes No
4 0
RamsFan1
Gold level trusted reviewer
Experience: 13.5 years 91 played 91 reviews
2.50 star(s)

Excellent Starter Course 2+ years

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

Pros:

Decent 9 hole course in a well-manicured township park. Innova Disc Catchers are featured here, and each hole presents a nice cement tee pad, numbered wooden post and colored sign with distance and preferred flight path. Easy to navigate. Hole 3 (a hyzer over a small building) and hole 8 (neat little tunnel shot through trees to the basket) stand out. Reasonable opportunity for success here.

Cons:

Course is not very challenging for the advanced player. Pedestrians and picnickers can be a factor when throwing. Several holes feature flight paths over park roadways. Some low-lying parts of the course are frequently marshy and wet. Hole 4's sign does not match up with the actual basket placement.

Other Thoughts:

Willow Mill Park is a nice little 9-holer ideally suited for the recreational player or the person trying to work on their short game. One can play this course with putters and/or a good mid-range disc. The designer did an excellent job with the layout given the relatively small size of this park. Distances are manageable, and most every hole presents a birdie opportunity or ace run.

I was impressed that despite being a small, recreational venue, Willow Mill had at least 10 people playing the course on the Saturday I was there. If you live within 20-30 minutes and take it for what it is, Willow Mill is a worthwhile trip and a pleasant experience.
Was this review helpful? Yes No
2 1
zubeala
Experience: 12.7 years 109 played 13 reviews
2.50 star(s)

Great Starter Course 2+ years drive by

Reviewed: Played on:Feb 23, 2013 Played the course:once

Pros:

As others have stated this is a great course to introduce new players to the sport. Maybe the best one I have seen. Rivals Middletown in MD for that distinction. Just enough variety in elevation and obstacle to make it a great 1st time out. I love the over the building hole, 8 and 9. Just fun.

Cons:

If you want to rip long throws, or play narrow technical fairways, this ain't your place. Short, mostly open course.

Other Thoughts:

This is a nice park. Bathrooms, water, pavilions. Easy to find.
Unless you put one in the creek, probably will not lose a disc here (famous last words).
Was this review helpful? Yes No
3 1
NightRavenKW
Experience: 14.8 years 17 played 9 reviews
3.00 star(s)

Great beginner course 2+ years drive by

Reviewed: Played on:Jun 16, 2012 Played the course:once

Pros:

-Very well maintained small community park.
-Good signage with hole layouts. Hole #4 basket has moved and is marked in marker on the sign for hole #4.
-All concrete tee pads.
-Almost no way to lose a disk. Great intro and beginner course.
-Drinking fountains and porta potties throughout the park.

Cons:

-No technical or risky holes.
-All short holes.
-Lots of other activities around the park, which means you may have to play around people.

Other Thoughts:

This is a great community park. If you have friends or family wanting to spend the day at a park and introduce them to Disk Golf this is a highly recommended park. They have a large pavilion for get togethers and smaller cookout spots along with a Military memorial. Great location for a 4th of July or Memorial Day celebration.
Was this review helpful? Yes No
4 0
crowdpleaser
Experience: 16 years 21 played 5 reviews
3.00 star(s)

Short Game Practice Course 2+ years drive by

Reviewed: Played on:Jan 7, 2011 Played the course:5+ times

Pros:

I gave this course a 3.0 because its a great course for beginners and those who want to practice their short game. I learned how to play disc golf here and it was a great place to start. The more experienced players will rarely need to pull out a driver since no hole goes much longer than 300ft.

Cons:

As stated its a short course. Not challenging holes.
Was this review helpful? Yes No
6 0
KAK3990
Experience: 14.8 years 121 played 10 reviews
2.50 star(s)

Great beginner course, lots of ace potential 2+ years drive by

Reviewed: Played on:Oct 22, 2010 Played the course:5+ times

Pros:

- Located in a well maintained park
- Ace Runs aplenty
- Great course for inexperienced players trying to work out the kinks in their game.
- Baskets, hole signs and teepads in excellent condition
- Low chance of disc loss

Cons:

-Very short, not much of a challenge for experienced players
- Only 1 hole over 300ft and it is downhill
- Park is used by many non-disc golfers so be aware of their presence on many holes
- At times the teepad for #9 can be changed for RC car races that also take place in the park

Other Thoughts:

This is an excellent course for doing three things. 1, playing quick practice rounds. 2, Introducing a new player to game/playing with inexperienced friends. 3, As a warm up for several other more challenging courses in the area.
As long as your not expecting a 5 disc course Willow Mill should not disappoint, and there are plenty of ace opportunities and who dosen't like that?
Was this review helpful? Yes No
10 0
Jimb
Gold level trusted reviewer
Experience: 17.1 years 126 played 54 reviews
2.00 star(s)

A Quick and Pleasant 9 2+ years

Reviewed: Played on:Jul 20, 2009 Played the course:once

Pros:

Nice park setting with well maintained grounds. Close to several other courses and other things to do (eat, shop, etc.).

Good tees. Baskets in good shape. Excellent signage with hole layout & footage. Very easy to navigate and super quick to play.

Nice variety of tee shot options, in spite of short length. All holes but #1 give you multiple options off of the tee (possible right & left turning or straight options). A couple give you options just because they're pretty wide open, but several have genuine alternate paths to the pins.

The layout uses the available elevation changes as much as possible pretty much. Trees can come into play on most holes so you have adequate opportunities to shape your lines.

Cons:

Short length. Hole #5, at 345', is the longest hole. Playing slightly down hill, even I can reach the pin off of the tee.

Shule to the left of #1 can come into play on an errant shot and it's pretty thick in there. Of course, my driver shouldn't have ended up over there in the first place so not really a con, just a heads up. And the creek could come into play on #1 & #2, although it's not really "part of the course" per se.

Other Thoughts:

Not a destination course by any stretch of the imagination. But it is a fun little play. I played a speed round on the 4th 9 that I played and finished with a 24 in just over 15 minutes. So it really is that easy to get around the course.

Highlights:
#3... As weird as it was to have a blind tee shot over/around a storage building, there was just something enjoyable about doing it. #4 at 262' was a pretty cool up-hill, right turning tee shot through some trees. I think that my best drive was actually a roller going around the trees to the left. And #9, at only 168', pretty much just has the pin planted directly behind, and totally concealed by, one huge tree. Again, I don't know why, but I just really enjoyed that little hole.

Bring the kids and other noobs and have a good time showing them the game. Or bring a couple discs when you only have a little bit of time and get in some good short game practice in a hurry.
Was this review helpful? Yes No
12 0
solomon.trenton
Gold level trusted reviewer
Experience: 15.6 years 89 played 67 reviews
2.50 star(s)

Ace Race Alley 2+ years drive by

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

Pros:

This nice little nine holer actually has more amenities than most eighteen hole courses I have played. There are cement tee boxes, several porta potties, water fountain, playground for the kids and a pavilion. The course is mostly wide open but requires a good assortment of shots with some semi-challenging basket locations. The grass is mowed here and what little elevation change is at the park is utilized quite well. All of the baskets are numbered which ends up being very useful because holes five through seven all intersect quite closely.

Cons:

As I mentioned above holes five, six and seven are awfully crowded and tight (very easy to get a black ace if you are into that). There were a ton of bugs floating close to the ground; especially near the large piles of grass clippings left neatly in a line by the lawnmower. The clippings also hide your disc quite well. When I went there was a group of people that were racing RC cars that parked in on hole nine's tee and right near eights basket; making them nearly unplayable. Although they did make a new tee for nine with a numbered stake.

Other Thoughts:

There is a small stream near holes one and two where an errant drive could easily land so be careful.
Was this review helpful? Yes No
6 0
IAMGT
Experience: 16.8 years 24 played 19 reviews
2.50 star(s)

We're talking about practice 2+ years drive by

Reviewed: Played on:Feb 27, 2010 Played the course:once

Pros:

Pretty setting in a small park by the Cond. creek. The course has 9 brand new Innova Discatchers and the tee pads are awesome. All the tee pads are concrete that are grippy and quite large. The course makes you use numerous shots and my favorite hole is number 4 where the basket is 50 feet behind a shed.

Cons:

-Very easy
-Don't like to have to walk backwards to get to a tee pad to eventually throw to a basket that was near where you came from

Other Thoughts:

This is a nice practice course if you just want to get out and throw a disc. You could play this course with 2 or 3 discs tops and be fine. I imagine that play could be interrupted more in the summer when more people are in the park. This is not a park set up only for disc golf.
Was this review helpful? Yes No
5 0
Joe Hollywood
Experience: 14.8 years 55 played 7 reviews
2.50 star(s)

Begginer 9 Hole 2+ years drive by

Reviewed: Played on:Nov 4, 2009 Played the course:5+ times

Pros:

Large concrete tee off pads, good signs at ever hole, quiet and clean park with nice view of creek, Great course for begginers.

Cons:

Short hole distances. Sometimes people park on hole 2 and need to be informed of it being a recreational area. Holes 5, 6 & 7 are WIDE open (good for begginers but those with experience need some obsticles).

Other Thoughts:

This course is in a nice little park. Great for families or begginers looking to work on their game. Those more experience players might find this course a little dull after a couple rounds.
Was this review helpful? Yes No
8 0
swatso
Diamond level trusted reviewer
Experience: 15.7 years 755 played 414 reviews
1.50 star(s)

Start Me Up 2+ years

Reviewed: Played on:Sep 5, 2009 Played the course:once

Pros:

Excellent concrete teepads with ridges to assist with gripping. Very nice signs showing the distance and location of the basket relative to other objects. Next tee arrows on bottom of baskets. Minimal chance to lose a disc. Would be a good course for glow. Easy to follow even w/o a map.

Cons:

The day we played two people parked their car and set up their lounge chairs practically on basket #1. Another non-player was parked and sitting fairly close to #2.

Other Thoughts:

Course plays in a counter-clockwise direction in a small multi-purpose park. Holes range in distance from 168' to 345', averaging about 240'. For a nine-holer, it had a nice blend of left/right/either/neither turning shots required off the tee, and uphill/downhill/flat. Holes 5-7 were fairly open, but the other had a couple trees, or a building, forcing some shot-shaping. Note: the closest tee to basket #5 is #7 - tee #6 is down the hill, and has you throwing back up it.

Excellent course for beginners ready to work on some shot-shaping. Multiple birdie-runs for more experienced players.
Was this review helpful? Yes No
12 0
optidiscic
Diamond level trusted reviewer
Experience: 21.8 years 156 played 147 reviews
2.00 star(s)

Simple Fun! 2+ years drive by

Reviewed: Played on:Aug 5, 2009 Played the course:once

Pros:

Perfect grippy concrete tees, signage, and nice baskets in a nice park. First 2 holes incorporate low ceilings nearby a river...watch your plinko trees here! Hole 3 is a different blind shot either left,right or over a windowless utility building! Hole 4 is a fun anhyzer up and through a tree gap. Hole 8 is a fun slightly downhill sharp anhyzer around some hardwoods to an island green surrounded by roads, and you finish your day with an ace chance around a big old tree. Great for beginners or as a relaxing round. I played it after getting tree whupped at White Tail and was glad I did. Bathrooms and plenty of parking. Also it is not far off of I-81 so worth a stop on your way to Paw Paw or Whispering Falls.

Cons:

Short and will not provide any challenge to most disc golfers. Holes 5,6,and 7 are just open field hucks. A little confusion of which basket to throw to on hole 5. (read the sign!) OOB Access roads and river may bother beginners a bit. A shame as it is best suited for beginners.

Other Thoughts:

I like simple niners as a way to practice and to restore confidence. This was a nice park and given it's proximity to I-81 I will probably stop by again sometime. Still seeking my first ace....this course has a slew of ace chances! I was very curious about the mini car dirt track and asphalt race track near the entrance of the park.
Was this review helpful? Yes No
8 0
prerube
Diamond level trusted reviewer
Premium Member
Experience: 16.8 years 274 played 235 reviews
3.50 star(s)

Cute Family Friendly Course 2+ years

Reviewed: Played on:Apr 10, 2009 Played the course:once

Pros:

Easy to navigate, excellent signage, nice views, and porto-potties
I would rate this course a 5 for teaching beginners or taking a date on the weekend. Great confidence booster.

Cons:

9 holes and 9 tees. Course is not for advanced players. Holes are less than 300 feet and very few obsticles. Intermediate players will hit the basket in 2 throws most of the time.
This course will probably never see a tournament...maybe an ace race.

Other Thoughts:

If you are experienced and looking for a course to play, look 6.3 miles away. But, if you are anywhere near this park, bring the discs it is a quick, easy, and short course.
Was this review helpful? Yes No
6 0
Asvetic
Experience: 25.9 years 28 played 8 reviews
2.00 star(s)

Beginner / Recreational 2+ years drive by

Reviewed: Played on:Jul 1, 2008 Played the course:never

Pros:

This course is very clean, well marked with large concrete tee pads and visible holes. This course has potential for longer alternative pin placement, especially on holes 2, 5, 6, 7 and 9. The layout is fairly smooth and there are bathrooms and water on site.

Cons:

This course suffers from short-hole syndrome. The longest hole is 345 feet, the second is 255, and the shortest is 168 (though it's a overhand left). This is a great course if you want to practice your short game and putting, because there aren't any holes long enough to use a driver on.

Other Thoughts:

I shot a -3 (after two rounds of 9 holes) and only used a Coyote, Cro and Aviar Putter.

I can see this as a perfect place to take a date that might not play DG much or ever. It sits along a beautiful, albeit small, lake and has lots of wide open areas. Bring the kids.
Was this review helpful? Yes No
6 0
DWill
Silver level trusted reviewer
Experience: 45.9 years 322 played 45 reviews
2.00 star(s)

Beginner's Course 2+ years

Reviewed: Played on:Jun 28, 2008 Played the course:never

Pros:

Course and park very well maintained - grass cut. Tee signs on every hole, with distance and flight path. Nice concrete tee pads. Nice Discatcher baskets.

Cons:

Only 9 holes. Short, open and not challenging for non beginner or rec players.

Other Thoughts:

This would make a perfect course to introduce new players too. Also would be good for children under age 12.
Was this review helpful? Yes No
7 0
Crawdaddy
Experience: 18.7 years 25 played 7 reviews
2.00 star(s)

Pitch-n-Putt 2+ years drive by

Reviewed: Played on:May 25, 2007 Played the course:never

Pros:

9 Discatcher baskets. Course plays 2 holes along the Conodoguinet Creek, the other 7 play on the fringes of a SMALL park. Concrete tees

Cons:

Nothing more than a Roc or Buzz and/ or a putter. Course gets pulled in winter. longest hole 270'.

Other Thoughts:

I would love to use the creek as a transport between Willow Mill and Creekside. Play the 9 at Willow Mill (as a warm up), then jump in a kayak or canoe and float down to the Creek and play a full 18. Oh, what a wonderful day ;o)
Was this review helpful? Yes No
Top