Huazhong Riverside Park reviews
4
0
Great safari and object disc golf 2+ years drive by
Reviewed:
Played on:Feb 14, 2018
Played the course:once
Pros:
Huazhong Riverside Park is a big place, but I confirmed what was reported here in 2012 that the baskets are gone. But I also affirm that it's worth the visit to this beautiful park with your plastic.
If you go here with the right expectation (safari and object disc golf) then this is a great place. See below for more on what "safari" and "object" golf are.
You could easily pick objects for 18 long holes here. I posted some pictures and my blue Buzz is near a soccer goal, which was my target on that one, which I'll call #9.
It's nice that they've created a serene, beautiful, and calm atmosphere in the middle of the hustle and bustle of Taipei. Lots of people come here to exercise, but the open grass areas were seemingly left open for throwing discs as far as you want. I don't have a big arm, but you could throw unobstructed in several different areas.
The wellsbranch250 rating system breaks down courses in 5 areas:
[1] (15%) Fun Factor (aceability, forgiveness, disc loss opportunities, overgrowth, club/people, time waiting, etc.) it's somewhat subjective.
[2] (25%) Character (teeing experience, multi tees, multi pins, benches, practice area, bag holders, basket condition, restrooms, water fountain, etc.)
[3] (25%) Uniqueness (elevation up/down, open/wooded, gimme/beast hole, water, doglegs, pocket shots, signature hole, blind, par 4, par 5, etc.)
[4] (20%) Raw Difficulty - per DGCR rating and my subjective personal feeling
[5] (15%) Raw Beauty - completely subjective
I would therefore grade Huazhong Riverside Park 1.6 based upon:
1. Fun Factor - 1.5
2. Character - 2.0
3. Uniqueness - 1.5
4. Raw Difficulty - 1.0
5. Raw Beauty - 2.0
By the way, another benefit is that there is a public restroom. For us westerners this works fine for #1, but if you need to go #2 and don't know better then you're in for a surprise since the public bathrooms do not use western toilets.
If you go here with the right expectation (safari and object disc golf) then this is a great place. See below for more on what "safari" and "object" golf are.
You could easily pick objects for 18 long holes here. I posted some pictures and my blue Buzz is near a soccer goal, which was my target on that one, which I'll call #9.
It's nice that they've created a serene, beautiful, and calm atmosphere in the middle of the hustle and bustle of Taipei. Lots of people come here to exercise, but the open grass areas were seemingly left open for throwing discs as far as you want. I don't have a big arm, but you could throw unobstructed in several different areas.
The wellsbranch250 rating system breaks down courses in 5 areas:
[1] (15%) Fun Factor (aceability, forgiveness, disc loss opportunities, overgrowth, club/people, time waiting, etc.) it's somewhat subjective.
[2] (25%) Character (teeing experience, multi tees, multi pins, benches, practice area, bag holders, basket condition, restrooms, water fountain, etc.)
[3] (25%) Uniqueness (elevation up/down, open/wooded, gimme/beast hole, water, doglegs, pocket shots, signature hole, blind, par 4, par 5, etc.)
[4] (20%) Raw Difficulty - per DGCR rating and my subjective personal feeling
[5] (15%) Raw Beauty - completely subjective
I would therefore grade Huazhong Riverside Park 1.6 based upon:
1. Fun Factor - 1.5
2. Character - 2.0
3. Uniqueness - 1.5
4. Raw Difficulty - 1.0
5. Raw Beauty - 2.0
By the way, another benefit is that there is a public restroom. For us westerners this works fine for #1, but if you need to go #2 and don't know better then you're in for a surprise since the public bathrooms do not use western toilets.
Cons:
The first con can't be the fact that the baskets are gone, since an object course doesn't have baskets. So if this is a con to you it needs to be more like, "I don't like object courses."
The second con can't be that there are no tees since safari disc golf does not include tees. So if this is a con to you it needs to be more like, "I don't like safari disc golf."
With those 2 facts established, my only con for Huazhong Riverside Park is that there are a lot of people using this park. But it's not an egregious con since most of the people, when I was there, stayed off the big open fields of grass where you can throw over 1,000 feet if you have the ability. But if you pick object's like street lights you have to careful since they go along the paths where people are walking or running for exercise.
The second con can't be that there are no tees since safari disc golf does not include tees. So if this is a con to you it needs to be more like, "I don't like safari disc golf."
With those 2 facts established, my only con for Huazhong Riverside Park is that there are a lot of people using this park. But it's not an egregious con since most of the people, when I was there, stayed off the big open fields of grass where you can throw over 1,000 feet if you have the ability. But if you pick object's like street lights you have to careful since they go along the paths where people are walking or running for exercise.
Other Thoughts:
I googled "safari disc golf" and the 2 current top hits are this site's forum. The first link, which speaks for itself, discusses "What is Safari in Disc Golf" https://www.dgcoursereview.co...d.php?p=20418
I googled "object disc golf" and learned from an article, "Disc Golf History" that disc golf started as object golf in 1974- 1975. It was not until 1976 when "Steady" Ed Headrick coined the term "Disc Golf" after inventing and patenting the original Disc Pole Hole, which were baskets first played at Oak Grove in Pasadena, CA.
I googled "object disc golf" and learned from an article, "Disc Golf History" that disc golf started as object golf in 1974- 1975. It was not until 1976 when "Steady" Ed Headrick coined the term "Disc Golf" after inventing and patenting the original Disc Pole Hole, which were baskets first played at Oak Grove in Pasadena, CA.
5
0
Sandude
Experience:
13.8 years
8 played
2 reviews
Course Update 2+ years drive by
Reviewed:
Played on:Apr 17, 2012
Played the course:once
Pros:
Beautiful (free) park, large enough for more than one 18 hole course of good lenght.
Cons:
The course is not in existence as of April 18 2012.
I could not discern if this is a seasonal or permanent situation.
I could not discern if this is a seasonal or permanent situation.
Other Thoughts:
The locals had no idea about disc golf at this park, at all. it was a disappointment to not be able to play, as I rode 1.5 hours on the train from the beach resort at Fulong, where I will be staying for three weeks.
I talked to dozens of people that were using the park for a variety of other sport activities, from cycling to tennis, basketball, soccer etc, to picnickers, joggers and dog walkers. None were even aware there once was a course there to play upon. There was no mention of Disc Golf on any park map or directories that were prominently posted at various entryways into the otherwise great park.
The last (and only) review of this course I saw here was from 2010, so obviously the temp baskets and tees have been removed.
I talked to dozens of people that were using the park for a variety of other sport activities, from cycling to tennis, basketball, soccer etc, to picnickers, joggers and dog walkers. None were even aware there once was a course there to play upon. There was no mention of Disc Golf on any park map or directories that were prominently posted at various entryways into the otherwise great park.
The last (and only) review of this course I saw here was from 2010, so obviously the temp baskets and tees have been removed.
7
1
PDXDisc
Experience:
14.9 years
21 played
15 reviews
Just Passing Through 2+ years drive by
Reviewed:
Played on:Sep 26, 2010
Played the course:once
Pros:
DIsc Golf is starting to catch on in Taiwan. Fun local park setting with friendly locals.
The course is an easy cab ride from most downtown hotels for those visiting and the park is well marked on most maps.
The layout is really well done for a beginner/intermediate course.
The course is an easy cab ride from most downtown hotels for those visiting and the park is well marked on most maps.
The layout is really well done for a beginner/intermediate course.
Cons:
The baskets are the portable DisCATCHER type so the basket numbers don't always match the tee number.
I did not have a course map so finding the actual course in the park and navigating the holes was a bit of a challenge
The grass was very tall and I spent quite a bit of time looking for discs
I did not have a course map so finding the actual course in the park and navigating the holes was a bit of a challenge
The grass was very tall and I spent quite a bit of time looking for discs
Other Thoughts:
Overall a very fun course. I was in town on buisness and got up early specifically to go play (the cab driver thought I was crazy). I started about 9:00 local time and by the time I finished it was very hot and very humid. Take water. And as expected - there is only 1 water hazard on the entire course (hole 2) and I managed to plant my favorite disc smack in the middle. So, someday someone local will get to find a disc with a name in English. Congrats keep it - I found a Cheeta in exchange.
