Haddon Heights, NJ

Camden County Park DGC

1.315(based on 8 reviews)
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16 0
Ryal
Gold level trusted reviewer
Premium Member
Experience: 6.8 years 216 played 182 reviews
0.00 star(s)

Camden County Park: A Lesson Of Failure

Reviewed: Played on:Sep 17, 2022 Played the course:once

Other Thoughts:

I had never played at an object course before and was very eager to finally cross this course off my list for the experience. Now that I've finally played here, I can confidently say that I will not ever return.

I started at hole9 because of where I parked my car, and let me be blunt, here... Hole9 is one of the unsafest and most offensively designed fairways I've ever seen. I didn't even play it; I skipped it. For one thing, I felt like I was in somebody's backyard because there was a guy doing yardwork around his house nearby. If I had thrown a disc, it would have flown across a residential road, over a sidewalk and landed unreasonably close to some portapotties and a walking trail. How could anyone think that's a good idea for a disc golf course?

That is a problem that plagues the entirety of this course, which is a shame because a few of these holes have potential. Hole11, the best example, is a nice tunnel throw that ends near a shaded stream. However, there is a popular walking path that shares the same space as the fairway. The whole. Entire. Fairway. And just to drive the point home, when I walked up to my disc to putt, I was surprised to see two people and their dog just fifteen or twenty feet away admiring the stream and pretending to not notice me. If I had put more power behind that throw, or if they had moved at just the wrong moment, I would have almost certainly hit one of them.

But don't worry, there are plenty of other things to hit at this course. Holes15 and16 go right past the backyard fences of some private houses. If that's not your thing, hole10 throws behind a small amphitheater. Holes6, 13 and 14 throw across a road that bisects the park if you prefer moving targets. Or, if you're looking to cause civic damage, holes7 and 8 both throw down a residential corridor and over a sidewalk the entire time with plenty of house windows and parked cars nearby. Wow! Bad! As for the fairways of those holes? You get a thin strip of grass in between the sidewalk and the shrubby trees. Wow! Worse! I skipped holes7 and 8.

But that's assuming you can find any of these holes to begin with. It was necessary to have Udisc open at all times to help me find both the 'tee tree' and 'target tree' because some of the painted lines have faded rather significantly. Some aren't marked at all. Of course, there are no guiding signs of any kind. I'm still not 100% confident that I played this course correctly.

The local community doesn't seem to know that there is a disc golf course here, either. As I was walking towards hole15, I was approached by an older gentleman who noticed my discs and asked me where, exactly, the disc golf course was. For years he's seen the welcome sign map but never saw any baskets. I explained to him that it is an object course that uses spray-painted lines on trees as the 'baskets.' This surprised the man, and I further explained that this course is a very atypical example of disc golf.

But that's putting it nicely.

Ordinarily, I say all courses should exist, but there is just too much risk to other people and their property that I can't vouch for such a disc golfing experience that doesn't even satisfy. Yes, the holes are brief to minimize that risk, but couldn't this course have been designed a bit more responsibly? I don't usually speak in favor of removing a course. However, I do think it is in everyone's best interest if this course is eradicated. Since there is no costly infrastructure in the way of tee pads or baskets, there is nothing to worry about removing except for the welcome sign by hole1. And as for the few remaining wooden tee signs, a decent sledgehammer will work nicely. Or, just let Nature do its thing and the signs will continue to fade and crumble from water and sun damage (holes2 and 17). Alternatively, allow the ivy and undergrowth to cover them up forever (holes5, 11 and 16). Nobody seems to know the course is here, anyway. So it's no big loss.

Bottom line: Camden Park does not represent our sport in a positive way anymore. I'm not sure it ever could have. It needs to be removed and forgotten. Unless you're a dedicated course bagger or a designer looking for a perfect example of how a course shouldn't be designed, avoid this place at all costs.
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11 0
dino2disc
Silver level trusted reviewer
Experience: 24.6 years 72 played 39 reviews
2.00 star(s)

The (For)Giving Tree 2+ years

Reviewed: Played on:May 9, 2021 Played the course:once

Pros:

Ah, trees instead of chain baskets... Harkens back to the roots of the game (if you'll pardon the pun)… On the plus side, trees are more forgiving because all you have to do is knick the tree for your putt to count, which if it were a chain basket would be a glance off the outermost chain. You can also bail out to hit the tree at any height rather than between the 2 painted lines if you want to play it easier, which again wouldn't be a made putt on a chain basket. But hey, having those kinds of options can relieve some of the putting pressure on new players or if you're an experienced player and just want a break for something different! And man did playing here bring back memories of college when the small Montana town I was in didn't have any courses with actual baskets yet, and all you could do was make up your own object/tree course in the city park! Ok, enough philosophical thoughts, on to review content:

To sum things up: the back 9 is decently marked and definitely better than the front 9; #3 and #7 are essentially missing; as designed #7 through #9 are simply a joke/TERRIBLE/dangerous; and most holes are short and lightly wooded enough to offer high birdie potential even if you are an intermediate player. More details hole by hole below.

Cons:

See "Other Thoughts" below.

Other Thoughts:

Seems like this course hasn't been reviewed for a while and things continue to change here, so I'm going to walk through the holes 1-by-1 to give an update of their current status. I don't normally do this, but this course needs this update badly, especially because the diagrammatic course "map" is almost GARBAGE it's so inaccurate! Man is that frustrating!

Important Notes: where tees are marked, they have a small sign nailed about 10ft off the ground to a tree. If 'hole'/target trees are marked, they generally have 2 horizontal white lines across them and/or the next tee sign is attached to them (ex: #16 hole/17 tee).

Well, here it goes:
#1 - tee sign is gone, but basically tee off to the right of the course welcome board near the cannons. The slanted target tree is well marked with 2 horizontal white spray paint lines across it just to the right of a new paved walking path straight ahead of you. It's a flat hole requiring a slight left turn.
#2 - the tee tree is near the street to your right, and the target tree is marked. Your target is somewhat hidden by spindly brush and trees from the tee, but it's a slight left turn that's needed. Don't shank it right or you'll end up in the street (like I did), which is presumably out of bounds.
#3 - tee tree is again near the road, but I couldn't find the target tree. It may have been cut down to build the new paved path? Or, based on the old photos here, it may be the tree immediately to the left of the new path that is completely covered with ivy/vines? Don't know… I made up a target here…
#4 - tee sign is missing, so pick your favorite spot. The target tree is really well marked and just short of the street crossing perpendicularly in front of you. It's a slightly downhill hole.
#5 - unlike what the course map shows, the tee tree is actually on the other side of the street and on the other side of the creek, about where the #14 tee label is on the map diagram. Target tree is well marked downhill across the open grassy area just on the other side of the walking path in the distance.
#6 - tee is on the top of a set of concrete steps in the triangle of park land elevated to your left as you played #5. The big target tree has 2 very faint paint lines remaining and can be better identified from a distance by the hole 6 sign nailed to it. From the tee, you throw across the small street on a line almost parallel to that of #5. With the slight downhill and longer distance, it's a good chance to bomb one.
#7 - beginning of a really really bad three-hole stretch… Couldn't find either the tee sign nor target tree sign/paint lines. By old photos, it was apparently supposed to play along the trees immediately lining the street to your left (a TERRIBLE design idea that will end up with discs in the street and peoples' yards on the left!). Just make something up or skip it.
#8 - tee sign again missing, and as another reviewer said there's no target tree here but you actually get a chain basket. Only problem is that it is across the street to your left, requiring a street-crossing dogleg and throwing across part of someone's front yard to get to it! The map isn't even close on this one. Horrid hole design… make sure you don't hit their house or cars!!
#9 - the tee tree is in this same triangle of park as basket #8, and to find it walk farther in the same direction toward the far street. You're then required to throw back across the same street you crossed for #8, and the target tree is marked down by the creek to the left of the amphitheater (yes, in that narrow strip between the amphitheater and the street going down across the creek!). Who the hell designed this. Yeah the streets don't see much traffic, but it still counts as a HORRID hole design!
#10 - congrats, you survived the worst of it, the back 9 is much better! Tee tree is along the gravel path behind the amphitheater stage. Target tree is marked, and it's along the gravel path paralleling the creek. Probably the most legit hole design here as it has true rough on both sides, a narrower fairway, and a forced slight right turn to get toward the target tree.
#11 - tee tree has its sign, and is again adjacent to the gravel walking path. Target tree is well marked and immediately next to the stream. Short ace run hole, at least if you don't mind how going even 8ft long or left will put you in the small creek. It's shallow enough to not really matter much at least.
#12 - tee tree has its sign, again positioned right on the gravel path. Target tree is marked. It's positioned uphill just short of the street, across the shallow valley you went across on #5, in a cluster of a few other similarly-sized trees.
#13 - tee off from the same steps you did on #6, and the target tree is right back close to tee #5. It's well marked as the right trunk of a forked tree right next to the street going down across the creek. Short downhill hole, but watch for oncoming cars or pedestrians on the paved path behind the target tree.
#14 - tee tree is the same one from tee #5, but you tee off from the paved path and have to throw literally about a foot over the street rising right in front of you to the marked target tree in a patch of ivy. It's a bizarre straight-shot challenge that works best if you ignore the street in front of you and just gun it straight at it anyway.
#15 - this tee tree is marked by a white T and 15 spray painted onto instead of by a sign. It's down next to the paved path by the creek. The target tree is also marked with a white spray painted "15" rather than horizontal white lines. Flat but with a somewhat narrow flight line, high birdie potential.
#16 - tee tree has its sign, and it's along the gravel path again. Target tree doesn't have white lines but it does have the tee sign for #17 nailed to it, near the brush to the right of the gravel path. A flat, lightly wooded hole.
#17 - tee is #16's target tree. Target tree is marked: it's on the right side of the open field up next to the stone stairs/platform, somewhat hidden from your tee position by the other trees along that line. Slightly uphill and open hole.
#18 - tee off from the arced stone platform right beside the #17 target tree, and the target tree is marked downhill right near the cannons memorial. Your shot is forced to parallel the street to the right, so don't shank it into traffic. You're also forced to throw kind of a low dart due to overhanging branches.

Additional thoughts:
- Beautiful park setting in a ritzy neighborhood, with surprising elevation shifts in some holes.
- Seems like a course that will never be busy with other players/potentially quick play.
- Really no disc loss potential to speak of.
- The welcome board (see uploaded photo) now lists the pars for each hole and that the course is par 56 not 54, so I updated that accordingly here.
- If you play on an imperfect weather weekday like I did, then there aren't that many cars or pedestrians in your way. This is probably a dangerous and slow nightmare on beautiful weekend days though.
- Someone direly needs to revise the course map to be more accurate. Sorry I'm not digitally skilled enough to do it…
- Well mowed and maintained with next to no true rough.
- Add in actual baskets and it would be a typical 3 star course with only a few problem-child holes.

Give at least the back 9 a try if you've never played an object/tree course!
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15 0
HyooMac
Diamond level trusted reviewer
Experience: 6.7 years 415 played 382 reviews
2.00 star(s)

Throwing at Trees - on Purpose 2+ years

Reviewed: Played on:Nov 1, 2020 Played the course:once

Pros:

+ An out-and-back loop threading through a narrow park. The flow is pretty intuitive, although you're crossing a few roads and looking for tee areas marked by small wooden signs - and you're throwing at marked trees instead of baskets. The target trees are painted with two circling bands, at roughly the same height as the cage and top band of a standard basket


+ One section (holes 5 & 6 on the way out, and 12 & 13 on the way in) plays through a section featuring rolling hills and mature oak trees. There's a challenge of elevation and finding the right lines


+ Hole #11 is really short (161'), but the tree/basket is just feet from a small stream on the left and behind. The slightest overthrown RHBH hyzer is wet


Cons:

- Lots of interference with walkers, especially on the final holes, where you play through a narrow section of the park never far off the main walking path


- A few tees are hard to find (because you're looking for small wooden signs nailed 8' - 10' up on trees), but only tee #8 was impossible to find


- uDisc makes this much easier to navigate, but it turns out that Hole #8 is not straight, but actually a left dogleg that carries downhill and across the street (watch for traffic - this is not a safe hole). There are two baskets (baskets??) in what appear to be a neighbor's side yard - but they're actually on a finger of park land


- Tee #9 throws across the road into a tight landing area bordering an outdoor amphitheater. These two holes (#8 and #9) are where the layout is most compromised by traffic and people. You probably shouldn't even think of playing them if there's any activity



Other Thoughts:

~ This is not a disc golf "course" (no baskets or tees), but it's playable on a quiet day, it's in a pretty park - and it's a fun way to throw discs for an hour or so. More than half the holes feel and look like "real" disc golf, as long as you're willing to play without catch baskets


~ And if you're using uDisc make sure to enjoy the various reviews that complain they couldn't find the baskets. In fact, the current status on uDisc is "it's closed no baskets"



RECOMMENDED COMBINATIONS:
Camden County isn't a destination -it's more of an interesting diversion. Spice up a day where you're playing nearby Stafford or Sedgley.



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2 1
Jmk5704
Experience: 9.4 years 58 played 32 reviews
1.50 star(s)

Old frisbee golf course 2+ years drive by

Reviewed: Played on:Oct 21, 2017 Played the course:once

Pros:

For being a old frisbee golf course it wasn't all that bad I'm sure for frisbee golf it would be quite the challenge but for disc golf it's just a pitch and putt. There was a surprising amount of variety in the layout

Cons:

This course is rough and is need of a over hall. We hound all of the targets to hit but the tee signs were not all there. Some of the trees they were attached to have been cut down. The map was very poor and inaccurate. The tee signs we found were inaccurate as well. The layout was very bad. Some holes were just way to close to the road, and some were throwing over the road and there was a lot of traffic and foot traffic so you have to wait to throw some times and you will only have a small window so you have to rush it. There was also random tee signs for 20 and 24 we so which just makes it more confusing.
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7 0
hawk12
Silver level trusted reviewer
Experience: 33.6 years 272 played 27 reviews
1.00 star(s)

Currently not worth it - give me some time 2+ years drive by

Reviewed: Played on:Oct 9, 2014 Played the course:2-4 times

Pros:

Well, its disc golf...
There are marked trees, signs up pretty high to avoid vandalism, and the objects are also marked trees - black painted lines as to not bring to much visual distraction from the rest of the park.
This course was redesigned recently, and I've heard its better than before from a few people.
The park itself is well maintained, mowed regularly, not much underbrush and hardly any stickers. There is a nice stream that comes into play a little bit, and adds some natural beauty, and the course is fairly easy to get to, with ample free parking along any of the streets that border the park.

Cons:

The design is not very well thought out, as several holes play directly down walking paths and paved sidewalks in the park - I mean the "tree" mark tee is 5ft off a path, with an object tree 200 ft down the same path.
The layout is also too tightly packed into the area used, with one hole playing slightly downhill throwing directly towards the amphitheater (just a plain bad and unsafe design).
There are numerous opportunities to have am improved hole. The last designer made holes right along the roads and there are also ample opportunities to throw at cars or homes just across the street.

Other Thoughts:

Fortunately, the holes are short enough that I doubt many discs go into car and front yards & there is little to no play on this course to really cause many problems.
There is a course here; but it could be so much more.
As this is an approved disc golf course, simple 'improving' the disc golf course will not require much of the red tape that goes along with getting a new course approved.
I'm in midst of talks with the powers that be to redesign the course, add baskets, tee signs, and tees.
This may take some time, but in the end we will have a safer, stronger design. One that caters to the youth in the surrounding neighborhoods, and is a perfect beginner course.
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10 0
Tolbert
Silver level trusted reviewer
Experience: 18.8 years 341 played 32 reviews
2.00 star(s)

Trying to be Objective in Jersey. 2+ years

Reviewed: Played on:Jun 12, 2012 Played the course:once

Pros:

I set out today looking to knock off another unplayed Jersey course off my short list, bringing myself closer to the day when I'll never have to go into the state again except of course for the prestigious Glowville on the River. With a few new discs in hand I was expecting nothing more than trying out some new plastic and wandering around the park looking for holes that may appear to have natural left-turning RHBH shots but force you through jug-handle mandos.
To my delight Camden County DGC has gone through an overhaul in the past year. A new much more detailed map greets players at the start of the course accompanied by hole distances. And even better, the course itself is now marked! Each tee area and tree object had a clearly visible sign on it indicating hole number, distance and direction of next tee. Course navigation was a breeze, I only had to consult the map 2 or 3 times.
The park itself was pretty and very well groomed. A small stream comes into play on a few holes. Park has elevation change and the hole certainly had shot variety. I also appreciated the layout. For the size of the park hole distances were very appropriate, the designer didn't try to cram to much into the land provided. Layout was beginner friendly, yet offered some challenging holes and short game work for the seasoned player.

Cons:

Its an object course, so take it for what it is. If you don't think you can enjoy putting at marked areas on trees, don't bother. Some holes also play right alongside roads and private property (I put a drive into someone's front yard)

Other Thoughts:

Applause for whom ever updated this course and made it much more playable. They even had the foresight to put the signage high on the trees and out of the reach of vandals. It is now a prime example of how to put in a course with a very low budget. Great use of the land available, maybe one day it'll have baskets.
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2 0
gottafixit
Silver level trusted reviewer
Premium Member
Experience: 21 years 862 played 68 reviews
0.50 star(s)

I started making up my own course 2+ years

Reviewed: Played on:Jun 17, 2011 Played the course:once

Pros:

- A really nice well groomed park with old growth trees and some open feilds. Would make a great course.
- Bathrooms near band stand stage

Cons:

- Seems to be multiple layouts
- layout outs start in different locations
- spray paint tee markers and object marks are hard to spot do to fading if you can spot them at all
- do to faded markings navigation is near impossible unless you know someone local that knows the course
- Lots of walking paths through out the area shared by the course, and many areas would play close to roads

Other Thoughts:

This park is really nice and could house a nice course. It plays through alot of old growth trees, has some gentle elevation, and there is a creek that can be utilized.

As it stands now the original course almost doesn't exist and the start is poorly located. If you start at the course map sign near the cannons you have to park on the street. The tees are denoted by a spray painted "1T" or "2T" and the first is the some what large tree just behind and left of the sign. The objects are denoted by two spray painted rings with a number in the middle. From here I wish you the best of luck figuring it out.

Since there seems to be multiple layouts I would suggest parking in the lot at the corner of 13th ave and S park ave and then walking over to toward the band stand across the street. One of the layouts starts there and is denote with #s and white dots on trees.

Unless you know a local that knows one of the layouts this course is almost unplayable. However I really liked the park and had started to figure out my own layout, by the time I got back to the truck I must have had a back 9 figured out. This course needs a local to step up and make this course offical. It's as easy as putting in some 4x4 toe boards, painting/taping the lines back on the objects, and creating a map. Someone Please save this course and make it playable again.

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2 2
Champpron
Experience: 1 played
1.50 star(s)

Camden County Park 2+ years drive by

Reviewed: Played on:Aug 2, 2010 Played the course:once

Pros:

Nice park, but it is actually called Haddonfield Park. Some trees make good obsticales, The course goes thru some woods with a little stream next to it.

Cons:

The course layout is bad, and the trees are not clearly marked. The spray paint used has worn almost completely off. Have the time you spend wandering looking for where you are suppose to throw. This course needs an overhual.
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