Bridgeport, CT

Veteran's Memorial Park

3.765(based on 21 reviews)
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11 0
rocitop
Experience: 5.8 years 33 played 5 reviews
3.50 star(s)

Challenging but Fun drive by

Reviewed: Played on:Dec 21, 2022 Played the course:2-4 times

Pros:

Clean Course,
Plenty of benches
Lots of elevation
Some unique holes
Easy to navigate

Cons:

having holes 2 and 3 back to back is repetitive
No trash cans
Lots of off leash dogs
Hard to read holes on the first time through.
Elevated baskets on rocky ground gets repetitive.

Other Thoughts:

This is not a beginner friendly course.

But if you are able to shape your shots and throw 300'+ you will have a blast. Tight fairways and tricky greens keep this course challenging. A few of the shorter holes play much longer due to the elevation and with low trees it forces you to develop some shots open courses don't use.
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7 0
MrFrosty
Diamond level trusted reviewer
Experience: 31 years 764 played 386 reviews
3.50 star(s)

Challenging Woods Course & Fun Group 2+ years drive by

Reviewed: Played on:Aug 21, 2020 Played the course:once

Pros:

Let me first explain . Veterans Memorial Park's course is very good and grades out at 3.5 , but the fun disc golfers that hang out at the start of the course , playing off and on , grade at least a 4 ( Excellent ) . More on that , later . Parking for the course is along a long high cement wall . Look for the Park sign . I did not see a bathroom inside the park .
The Equipment - There are 2 tees for most of the holes , but the shorter are natural . The regular tees are astroturf tees and level , about 4 1/2' X 8' . The tee signs ( only at regular tee pads ) are original and fun signs , still giving you necessary information ,. Check out the signs . The baskets are Chainstars , but I was told that the course is going to update the baskets to newer models soon . There is a nice kiosk at Hole #1's tee . Make sure you take a picture of it if you haven't downloaded a map . A putting basket sits at the bottom of a small hill . There is also a basket that sits out in the open that you can throw to while warming up . There are benches at the bottom of the hill and a grill that comes on at night to feed the masses of course enthusiasts that hang around . @ picnic tables at the top of the small hill are always full of players or friends that just like to hang out with the group .
The Landscape - The course and surroundings were very clean , and the warmup area and grass near hole's 1 & 18 were mowed . This course receives a lot of care . thanks to Course Designers like Dustin Demilo , and Course Curator Mario Rodriguez . Veteran's Memorial Park's 18 hole course rolls a lot , with clever basket placements and tees coming off of ridges . 90% of the course is woods . , or at least throwing into it or out of it . There are interesting and scenic rock formations that come into play on several of he holes and dot the landscape . The course is above average in raw beauty . There are nice mature trees that form canopies and plenty of shade besides forming obstacles for your drives , and approaches .
The Highlights - The Highlights for me was hanging out with the crew at hole #1 , but here are the go-to holes . #2 is a Slight downhill drive 340' that has a risk/reward small green that drops off in the back . #7 is a rt to left 250' midrange toss to a basket that sits on top of a pile of large rocks . #14 circles rt to left with trees guarding the left of the fairway ( 250' ) . The basket sits on a hill . #15 , 440' is a level drive through a thin fairway There is a hidden pit in front of the basket. #16 is a drive that will start to climb up a grade , and the front of the basket is guarded by a rock wall .
Signature Hole - #8 , 420' . The fairway goes straight up , right to left , then back to the right , where the basket is protected behind large rocks .
Disc Risk - Low . The woods is pretty clear . There are pocket of overgrowth , but barring a ricochet to a blind basket , you should leave with the discs you came with .
The Time - It took me about an hour and 5 minutes to play the course . A group of 4 should finish in about 2 hours .
Challenge - At roughly 6200' , the course is challenging and has a great mix of holes . You will use a lot of the discs in your bag on this one .
Aesthetics - not just the beauty of the course , but the appreciation of the course by the people that continue to show up . people like Dustin and Mario , and players that bring their dogs like Greg Newkirk . or very good players that enjoy the social aspects more than the game itself , like Marvin . This place is just as much of a Happening as it is a place to play . Dustin is just as enthuse about grilling you some chicken or a met as he is about throwing 18 ( He does both well ) .
The course is popular , so plan for extra time to complete it during peak times .
It was nice that the course was free . too

Cons:

#1 Parking . Not a big fan of no real parking lot , parking where you won't see your vehicle until you leave . Bring what you need before you leave your car , or you will have a long walk back to it .
#2 Navigation . There were some next tee signs painted on some trees , and tape on bottom rungs of the basket help , but multiple paths and course flow can confuse first timers . I had to tell a woman with her 2 kids that she walked past the 18th tee and was missing the end of the course .
Spray for bugs Terrain is tough , you will sweat = Insects .


Other Thoughts:

A large chunk of woods dedicated to disc golf , a well designed course , and a chill area at the end . The group will talk on all topics , but it will always come back around to disc golf , and the locals will trade stories back and forth with you . It is rare that you can have that special " IT " quality with a disc golf course , and Veteran's Memorial Park has that . I wasn't supposed to be here , as I was kicked off of Wickham Park ( top rated course in Connecticut ) because of the Pro Tour , but I am happier that I played here , instead . I am told the course is ever improving , and I anticipate that my rating will rise with it . Thank You to all of my new friends for making me feel welcome , as an outsider . Dustin , I am putting you , Mario and Greg in charge of putting the Focus back into Marvin's game and making him an A Tier player again .
My Recommendation - With the 2 tee system , the course is good for newbies , intros , 1 discers , , and families . Maybe even dates . Locals will love this course , with the friendly banter that goes on before and after your round . The course is just strong enough to appease the intermediates , ams and pros . Not far off of I-95 and just off of Rt 15 , this is a fun stop for the traveler . Course Collectors will thrive , since it sits right above Fairfield , Sherwood island , Cranbury , Oyster Shell and Wavenly . I could give you reasons to stop here , but can't think of ones to not . Experience it , and PLAY IT !!!!
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10 0
HyooMac
Diamond level trusted reviewer
Experience: 6.7 years 415 played 382 reviews
4.00 star(s)

Don't let "park" fool you - this is a woods course!

Reviewed: Updated: Played on:Feb 7, 2024 Played the course:2-4 times

Pros:

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*** REVISED AND UPDATED: 2024 ****

Once you get into the woods after hole #1, you'll find tight lines, tees set on the edges of bluffs, and tricky elevated greens protected by rocks. Lots of rollaway possibilities, the occasional stream running across or near holes, and valleys to throw across. The front nine is mostly straight or right-to-left, but the back nine includes a few distinct left-to-rights added in for variety.


One of the other things that makes this such a difficult course to score on is that many of the greens are raised - they're on top of, or on the side of, rocky hills. So there's no "skip" to be found: if you're even just a little low, you're going to hit a rock and stop dead (or worse: ricochet down away from the basket)

`

Cons:

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- Tees and baskets are excellent, but the signage is aging. Some are completely faded, some are pretty beat up, others have a bunch of graffiti. There's some power line construction interfering with a few of the holes on the back nine.


- A "con" depending on your concern for keeping your discs pristine: this is rocky ground, and your discs are likely to take a few nicks

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Other Thoughts:

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~ Parking along the road with semi-permanent food trucks nearby. Large map, practice basket and an area for cookouts and all kinds of post-round enjoyment.


~ Short tees are natural, and short baskets allow for brave newbies to play a genuinely woods course


~ Veteran's is a premiere, if underrated, CT course. Of the 30+ courses I've played in Connecticut, this has to be one of the toughest courses to score on. It's a lot better challenge than the perennial "Best" course in the State (Wickham), and I would put it up as an equal to Mohegan, Rockwell and Killingworth.

`
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3 3
atompell
Experience: 7.8 years 5 played 3 reviews
4.50 star(s)

Love Park City! 2+ years drive by

Reviewed: Played on:Sep 5, 2016 Played the course:once

Pros:

- Mixed fields with open space to throw, with baskets sitting in wooded areas
- Each hole has a unique layout, which makes it challenging but fun
- Hole #1 and #18 are a lot of fun, makes you want to throw all the discs in your bag!
- Well maintained and organized

Cons:

- Parking, you have to park by the gates on Park ave

Other Thoughts:

I have to say, this is my favorite course in the Fairfield County area. I didn't know what to expect, but as I got there you can tell the design was well thought out, with the layout, maps, and tee boxes. I was truly impressed.

While playing, I said to a friend... "THIS is a course you take people to, that are interested in disc golf". Although I am still an amateur disc golfer - this course made me feel the closest to a pro. I didn't shoot well, but sure enjoyed playing. Excited to go back again.

Please support this course!
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3 3
markfohara
Experience: 19.8 years 6 played 5 reviews
4.50 star(s)

Great Course 2+ years drive by

Reviewed: Played on:Jun 27, 2016 Played the course:5+ times

Pros:

Great course, lots of different shots, it stays interesting the whole time. I play this course regularly and its always a blast. Oh, and I heard that there's tournaments there on mondays for those of you who arent as bad as me.

Cons:

hmmmm...... I hit the trees a lot, but i'm pretty sure that's my fault, and not the trees.....

Other Thoughts:

This is pretty much my home course so I have nothing but good things to say about it. A must try for anyone in the area
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2 6
Ricksastar
Experience: 8.8 years 1 played 1 reviews
3.50 star(s)

Really enjoyed 2+ years drive by

Reviewed: Played on:Mar 25, 2016 Played the course:once

Pros:

I really enjoyed the variety of shots at this course. A very good mix of forehands, backhands, etc. Some really unique holes as well that aren't easy to gorget. They newly installed some astro turf pads that I've never played on before and rather enjoyed.

Cons:

The course has quite a bit of trash on it, more than I expected. A bit tough to find some of the next tee pads, but barely worth mentioning..... then why did I mention it? dunno...

Other Thoughts:

Definitely get out and play if you have the chance.
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8 0
reposado
Diamond level trusted reviewer
Experience: 12.8 years 278 played 273 reviews
3.00 star(s)

2+ years drive by

Reviewed: Played on:Jun 24, 2014 Played the course:once

Pros:

Very much a solid course that features the variety that I have learned to associate with southern New England. Open holes and wooded holes share the course here. It's a course of intermediate difficulty that does a lot to appeal to an array of players, even if none of them will find it to be an ideal course. Some holes are flat. Others feature a decent amount of elevation. There a little left, a little right, etc. There are holes of different distances, although there are no holes of major length. In any case, you all know what I mean by variety.
There is really not much to say here. Off for me, but it is hard to describe this course as anything but "solid." The hole design won't disappoint. The open holes allow players to watch some pretty disc flights. The wooded holes feature fairways of perfect width that allow nice lines, forcing players to use both hyzer and anhyzer tosses. My favorite hole was probably 11. It's a tight channel that is both downhill and with a right finish.

Cons:

It definitely needs some polish. I don't think the course could be considered to be under construction four years in but it looked like tees were being installed on a couple of holes. Tees are the thing that are mostly holding Veteran's back from reaching its 3.5 potential. Most of the surfaces aren't just natural. They are rooty and spotted with partially buried stones. Not great. (However, two of the tees were clearly under construction. If all of the holes will have cement tees in the near future, it will seriously bump the rating for this course.)
The navigation is also lacking. A lot of the time, the correct path is intuitive or the tee is visible. In other instances, there is an arrow pointing in the correct direction. But there are points on the course where the arrow has been obscured or the brick moved. First-time visitors will do some wandering.

Other Thoughts:

Not a destination course but worth playing and so close to the highway.
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2 1
SnowSerf
Experience: 25.1 years 6 played 6 reviews
1.50 star(s)

Veterans 2+ years drive by

Reviewed: Played on:Mar 29, 2014 Played the course:once

Pros:

Nice course layout, the 1st 10th and 18th are right next to each other. Close to the Merritt. Challenging course with a variety of holes and elevation. Some length.

Cons:

Very filthy, the course is dirty with garbage and it does take away from the experience. Clean up after yourself. Glass and empties all over. Tee boxes were also pretty beat up dirt, and navigation was a little tricky at times. Also huge groups of players roaming the course was a pain,

Other Thoughts:

Put up more signage especially about littering and respect. New tee boxes and course direction would help.
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4 0
maninthebox
Experience: 36.8 years 56 played 11 reviews
4.00 star(s)

Another awesome CT course! 2+ years drive by

Reviewed: Played on:Apr 18, 2014 Played the course:once

Pros:

First off, I love the terrain of this course. Good elevation changes, and the course makes very effective use of them. A pretty good variety of holes, plenty of up, down, straight, righty and lefty holes (although maybe biased a bit towards lefties). I love the basket placement on hole 15, on a bit of a peninsula with a shallow ravine on 3 sides, very cool. And for a wooded course, the fairways all seemed to be plenty wide to allow a little margin of error with your drives, while still being tight enough to provide a challenge.

Cons:

The broken glass has been mentioned plenty, and it is an eyesore, but not as bad as some reviews make it out to be. I might not have even noticed it if it hadn't been pointed out to me during the round. Another eyesore is the graffiti that's been popping up on some rocks/trees. Definitely unfortunate, but neither of these issues affect play at all. Also, some holes might have been difficult to find if I wasn't playing with a local.

Other Thoughts:

I played from the long tees and most holes seemed to be in the 300-400 foot range. No gimme birdies on the course, and no real guaranteed 4's either, although many holes can be birdied with a good drive or bogeyed with a poor one. All of the elevation change helped mix it up enough so that you don't really notice the lack of variety in expected scoring from hole to hole, if that makes sense.
One other thing to be aware of, near the basket for hole 3, there are hundreds of ground bees (you'll see little holes in the ground all over). I've been told they don't sting, so they're not a hazard, but can definitely be disconcerting.
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2 3
jmadersky
Experience: 15 years 49 played 5 reviews
3.50 star(s)

2+ years drive by

Reviewed: Played on:Apr 1, 2014 Played the course:once

Pros:

Great layout. The course requires a variety of shotmaking skills. Pars are manageable, birdies attainable.

Cons:

Glass everywhere, bugs, I wish there were more than two cement tee pads.

Other Thoughts:

Worth the drive from Southington. Quick play, fun track, I love the elevation changes.
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3 1
ThumbMan12
Experience: 3 played 3 reviews
4.00 star(s)

Best course ive played! 2+ years drive by

Reviewed: Played on:Oct 17, 2012 Played the course:5+ times

Pros:

AMAZING design, Adam really pulled out his creative side when designing this course. Finishing up a quick 9 is easy since it brings you right back to the beginning of the course, 9,10,11 are right next to hole 1. Very challenging even for the most advanced players out there! This is NOT a very open course, only a few holes do you have the opportunity to really launch it out there. Mildly to densely wooded which makes it a more technical game to be on the MONEY with your drives, approaches and putts. PRECISION is key with Veterans,

Cons:

Course is very new still so we must give it time but my personal opinion is a few trees here and there must be cut! Several spots are so unforgiving even with a beautiful drive, there will be one or two small nagging trees right there to take you down. 5 is especially the heart breaker, there is literally a wall of trees in front of you for your second shot. Time will tell and the future is bright.

Other Thoughts:

With college back in session and the proximity to SHU (quarter mile) it is a hot spot for college students to hang. Most are respectful but it does seem to be turning into a problem with garbage. Although TONS of work has gone into cleaning this long forgotten park, some garbage is coming back. This is especially true at the picnic table where 14,16,17 meet and also hole 15s bench. Wrappers and paper of all kinds but nothing that a garbage can here or there wont fix.
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4 1
aceshyze
Experience: 11.7 years 3 played 1 reviews
3.50 star(s)

Good design, spotty maintenance 2+ years drive by

Reviewed: Played on:Sep 15, 2012 Played the course:once

Pros:

This course is superior in terms of design. The entrance is easy to locate and the eighteenth hole puts you back exactly at the parking lot. If no one is playing there, you can even practice on the eighteenth basket before you start. There is excellent signage. It can be a tad confusing at times to find the next hole, but it is in general easier to navigate than other courses I've played. The holes are varied in distance and terrain, and challenge you to use all of your discs and shots. It is the most difficult course I've played. Tee boxes and baskets are in excellent condition, except for the second tee, and some hard-to-see baskets even have tall red flags.

Cons:

There are bottles and glass shards everywhere. It could be dangerous if you were to fall. The foliage can be very dense on some holes, especially to the sides, and losing discs is a possibility. Though the stream was dry when I played, I can imagine it being difficult to cross on some holes if the water were flowing.

Other Thoughts:

The designers have created a very challenging course with lots to offer for players of all abilities. It could very well be the most exciting course in Connecticut, surpassing Cranbury. The trash and glass is an issue, but not one that should hinder your gameplay. The quality of this course is totally dependent on the condition the players leave it in. Also, do not let any of the stereotypes of Bridgeport prevent you from playing this course. It is in an open, safe area. If you are in the area, I wholly recommend a round at Veteran's Memorial Park, despite the at times unsatisfactory conditions. The layout and difficulty supersede it completely. I'd give it a 4 if it were a little cleaner.
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4 1
nnovia
Experience: 45.8 years 4 played 1 reviews
4.00 star(s)

Veteran's Memorial is "breaking in!" 2+ years drive by

Reviewed: Updated: Played on:Oct 24, 2015 Played the course:5+ times

Pros:

Seven concrete tee boxes!! More to come. Holes are diverse. Starting from the first hole, which is a wide open drive into confined trees, then on to the 2nd which is narrow and downhill, the course winds itself around the terrain smartly, never boring! Only with all the leaves off the trees, you can see other holes that are hidden during the summer months. It's truly a beautiful Park filled with wildlife. Narrow doglegs, steep slopes, open long fairways...everything you could want!

Cons:

It's newer, so not trampled down enough to eliminate dangerous and pesky brush and bramble. Poison ivy, prickers await those that venture off the fairway... Really rewards the accurate player, and frustrates the others. In the autumn, most of that is gone, and it opens up beautifully. The last three years has seen much traffic, all contributing to the "breaking in" of this new course. Lots of volunteers help to keep it clear and playable.

Other Thoughts:

I really enjoy this course and look forward to it's maturity! Help out, grab a bag of garbage and take it out. Use the garbage cans. Carry out what you carry in. Maybe we could use some signs around to remind folks to do exactly that.
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3 4
nnelson42
Experience: 11.7 years 13 played 4 reviews
4.50 star(s)

Great course! 2+ years drive by

Reviewed: Played on:Aug 26, 2012 Played the course:once

Pros:

- well maintained
- challenging
- great mix of wide open fairways and technical approach shots
- Much of the brush has been cut back around the fairways
- long and short tee options

Cons:

- very long brush around a couple of the longer holes...makes it very difficult to find a disc that has gone off target
- some broken glass on one or two greens (not as bad as i've seen on other courses)
- not all holes have a sign detailing hole layout. Left to guess sometimes

Other Thoughts:

Really fun and challenging course. Long course has a good mix of par 3 and par 4 holes.
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1 2
dishtowel
Experience: 11.7 years 3 played 2 reviews
4.00 star(s)

Very good 2+ years drive by

Reviewed: Played on:Jul 22, 2012 Played the course:2-4 times

Pros:

-Great variation in hole layouts
-A lot of trees make for some tricky throws
-A lot of shade for hot days

Cons:

-16th hole is currently missing.
-A lot of brush makes finding stray discs a pain; could use more frequent grooming.

Other Thoughts:

Some holes are unforgiving with missed putts, which makes for a very close competition many times.
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9 0
TBabb
Silver level trusted reviewer
Experience: 18.7 years 65 played 56 reviews
4.00 star(s)

Always improving, keep up the good work! 2+ years drive by

Reviewed: Updated: Played on:Nov 16, 2013 Played the course:5+ times

Pros:

The course is challenging with fantastic use of the terrain. Elevation changes are very well utilized, though there are more uphill than downhill shots. There are a few really creative pin placements. Baskets are usually easy to see and some have tall flags on them to make them more visible. Most tees are natural but flat and there are concrete tees on 17 and 18. Tee signs are on tall posts and easy to spot. The fairways are well defined and a lot of work has gone into designing and maintaining the grounds. It seems the course went through a recent minor redesign and a lot of brush has been cut back and tees have been flattened. The course is easy to find and navigation is well marked and fairly intuitive. Very accessible from the Merrit Parkway. The layout is good; the front 9 loops around to the beginning, so one could opt to play either only the front 9 or the back 9. There is one 'mando' which keeps players from cheating and circumventing the woods on hole 10. Two holes used O.B. well. Many holes have benches and there are trash bins at the head of the course. Hole lengths range between 190 and 475. Most holes are in the woods but a there are a few that open up and let you rip it. There are two tees on many holes.

Cons:

Lately the course has been much cleaner than in the past which is great but still be warned that this place can get nasty. It's not as bad as when I first played here, but there is still significant and consistent disrespect for the cleanliness of the park. Empty beer bottles and cans can be found littering areas around many tee pads. The locals and regular players really need to step up their game and make sure this kind of disrespect doesn't happen.

Concrete tees or something more permanent would be a huge improvement especially when the weather gets damp. Some of the holes are very rough and sometimes the grass isn't mowed adequately. Keep your eyes peeled for poison ivy. Also keep your eyes peeled for your disc! It's easy to loose one here. However, the course has a lot of traffic and I've always gotten a call about discs that I've lost and they've been returned to me. Parking is a bit of a drag, it's just on the side of the main road along the park. No restrooms or running water that I could see. Path from 16 to 17 crosses the Tee pad for 14. Sometimes tee signs show two tees and the second is hard to find (e.g. hole 10). Some tee signs are missing. Hole 15 has a short tee that isn't marked on the tee sign.

Other Thoughts:

As long as the maintenance here continues this course will be great. The sad reality is that there is a cast of characters who come here and leave beer cans and trash everywhere. Respect the course and keep it in good shape. Whoever has been organizing the work days has been doing a stellar job. Come with your technical chops well developed and you'll have a couple opportunities for a good bomb.
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4 1
BBD_
Experience: 23.8 years 222 played 1 reviews
4.50 star(s)

Great Terrain, Fun Design, & Solitude 2+ years drive by

Reviewed: Played on:Nov 2, 2011 Played the course:5+ times

Pros:

This wooded course plays along several topographic ridges, and up, down, & around large old growth trees. The high tree canopy and open meadows give the player a very spacious feeling with expansive fairways that are technical but fair. This course is challenging and has a great variety of drives and upshots including several par 4s. Even the short par 3s don't feel like gimme birdies.

While most wooded courses rely on pre-existing hiking paths for many of their fairways (ie. Cranberry), this course does so minimally (only noticed it on holes 2 & 3). And I've never had to wait for a dog walker. The course successfully navigates the undulating terrain without exposing the player to the wetlands that exist sporadically. I never felt like I was tromping through wetlands even on bad shots.

Overall this course is very fun and beautiful, maybe because most holes have options off the tee including multiple routes with a variety of risk/reward mental challenges. I love that this course can't be mastered the first time you play it. In fact I found that it takes many rounds and experimentation to determine the best way to score.

The course vibe is very social as the design loops around and intersects a couple times. Despite this, none of the holes are distracting or in the way of each other. No doubt you will thoroughly enjoy becoming a better golfer when you play here.

Cons:

It's not surprising that trash is visible in some areas of the course. It appears this park has been used as a dumping ground of sorts for generations (in fact I've seen 2 old rusty cars buried in the overgrown areas near the powerlines). It's great to see all the volunteers contribute so much time cleaning up this land for future generations.

When wet, some of the natural tees are slippery. Overall I would say that drainage is pretty good throughout the course, but some tees still accumulate water. It sounds like more permanent, safer tees will be constructed soon.

Other Thoughts:

I understand that this course is very new and will undergo significant change over the next few years. Once the real tees (rubber or concrete or whatever) are in, alternate tees have been established, and fairways meticulously cleaned...this course will rival the other two championship caliber courses Cranberry and Wickham. I don't see why this course can't host major tournaments in the near future. Oh one more thing...since this park is only very occasionally used for dog walking or hiking, you will most likely be playing alone or amongst other disc golfers. This solitude won't last long, so enjoy it while you can.
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11 0
bcr123psu
Gold level trusted reviewer
Experience: 14.7 years 85 played 64 reviews
3.50 star(s)

Nice Course 2+ years drive by

Reviewed: Played on:Oct 23, 2011 Played the course:once

Pros:

This is one of the easiest courses I've ever located. It's right off the Merritt Parkway (as in you make a single turn off the highway onto Park Ave, drive less than a mile, and then park on the same road). From there, the first tee isn't hard to find as it's right behind a kiosk near the edge of the woods.

Mostly wooded, Veteran's Park features a few open holes and includes changes in elevation. Some baskets are either slightly elevated or had a considerable (but fair) drop off directly behind them making for some interesting upshots and trecherous putts.

Water is in play on a few of the holes which provides the occasional "check yourself before you throw here" mental note.

The bulk of the course sits in old growth woods, so with few exceptions, there isn't too much rough or too many chances to lose a disc.

Tee signs are very descriptive and features expected line, distances, and par. Also, there are pavers at the foot of each of the baskets that point to the next tee. In a few places there are additional navigational aides to get you to the next hole.

The Chainstar baskets are in great shape.

Benches were available on several of the holes. One highlight was hole #14 where there is a disc embedded in the middle of the baseket.

There is some hardscaping on the course that adds a nice touch. Specifically, the protective rock wall that guards against low throw throws on hole #16. In addition, the rock stairs on hole #15 are necessary for the players that don't lay up or make it across the crater in front of the basket, demonstrating a beautifully subtle risk vs. reward scenario.

Hole #12 is a standout. The layout and length of the fairway is fairly vanilla and short, but the real appeal of this hole is the "Y" shaped tree that sits just ahead of the tee. The designers did a great job of taking a natural aspect of the surroundings and made what would have been a boring hole a little more unique, challenging, and visually appealing.

Cons:

Any time you install a disc golf course at a public park, you need to stay on your toes around the non-playing public. Veteran's park is no exception as you need to take heed of bikers and hikers before you let the plastic fly.

There is litter absolutely everywhere. Usually I just footnote this, but in this case, it was all over the course including (and especially) broken bottles. The shards of glass create a discinct safety concern (in addition to an eyesore). Not as pressing safety-wise, but still not good on the eyes is the other trash (think old tires) that is strewn throughout the park.

In terms of the course itself, there are a lot of straight & left-turning fairways. There were very few right-turning fairways and none were dramatic enough to force a RHBH player to turn something over, forhand a disc, or do much more than get an understable disc to flip up and over slightly. Fairway layout from shape, to length, to elevation changes seemed to be duplicated on many holes. Specific to the elevation changes, most appear to be uphill or across a slight valley/dip in the fairway. Although the holes ranged from 250-440, most were in the 330 range and began to get repetitive by the end of the round. If some more of the wide-open space was factored into the course, it would add a bit more variety from the frequently wooded holes.

There are a few spots where water could have been better placed and added some spice to a couple of fairways. Likewise, there were a few spots where the water had its way with parts of the course and it was muddy and boggy.

The natural tees were difficult to find in some cases (consisting of two white spray painted rocks) and were somewhat uneven and rutted.

Pretty minor, but the tee sign was missing on hole #16. Hole #18 is situated right by the road and could be a distraction for some players.

Other Thoughts:

I recognize that this is a new course and Veteran's park has the right building blocks in place to be another solid DG course along the I-95/Merritt Parkway corridor. I gave the course a 3.75. Some of the more repetitious fairways kept me from rounding up, but the garbage and litter all over the course is really what dragged the score down to the 3.5. If the course could be cleaned up, if the tees were a bit more polished, and if there was just a smidge more variety to the holes, I would have zero problem stamping this course a 4.0.

Despite any of the cons that I have listed, it's still worth your time to at least check this course out. I had a great time and I think most players would also enjoy Veteran's Park. My next trip up to Eastern CT will include a stop at this course.
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frisco3
Experience: 13.8 years 4 played 2 reviews
4.00 star(s)

Great Addition to the Area 2+ years drive by

Reviewed: Played on:Oct 23, 2011 Played the course:2-4 times

Pros:

Great layout! Convenient parking. Easy to find discs (with 3 players, we didn't look for a disc for more than 10 seconds in 2 rounds!).

Cons:

It would be great to have a course map near hole 1. Following smart phone/gps directions to "Veterans Park" brings you to Stratford. This course is in "Veterans Memorial Park" aka "90 Acres Park."

Other Thoughts:

Played two rounds this morning with two buddies...the first time any of us had been there. We wanted to check it out thanks to the recent CT Post article where players compared the course in quality to Cranbury and Wickham.

This course is NOT like Cranbury or Wickham. Those courses have been used for national tournaments for a reason: they have flawless tee boxes, excellent signage, and they are spotless. This course has none of these characteristics.

With this said, this is a great course! Whoever designed the layout of the holes did a GREAT job! I can't imagine any better placement for any of the baskets.

Here's a summary of the course:

Hole #1
Open tee shot across the field. Approach shot is guarded by tall trees allowing overhand approaches. There is trash on the ground as you enter the woods, but this is by far the worst of it, and most holes are totally clean.

Hole #2
Wide tunnel tee shot. Missing tee shot left buries you. Basket is deceptively far as it is on the other side of a small hill.

Hole #3
Tunnel tee shot with slight right dogleg at the end of the tunnel. Straightforward hole.

Hole #4
Tunnel tee shot and long dogleg left...flat for the first half, downhill the 2nd half. Miss your tee right and you might be in a swamp.

Hole #5
This hole sucks and accounted for the most strokes on the day from all three of us. It's a tunnel dogleg left and uphill, and if you don't hit the tunnel off the tee it will kill you. There are a few approaches towards the hole if you miss the fairway, but they are narrow. The basket is located in a nice rock bowl which did seem to attract our discs rather than bouncing them away like a force field, thank goodness!

Hole #6
Fun hole. Tunnels left and right so you have your pick of your favorite throws to reach the basket. Again, basket is located on a mound surrounded by rocks that seem to suck discs towards the target. Nice!

Hole #7
Fairly open tee shot uphill and definite birdie hole.

Hole #8
Another tough hole. Narrow tunnel tee shot into a right hand long dogleg. It doesn't look that narrow a tunnel, but the trees to split are a good distance from the tee and if you miss splitting them, you have problems wherever you end up. Better to miss right than left. Even better to actually hit the tunnel!

Hole #9
Fairly open shot to basket on top of a hill, slightly to the left. I birdied this one, but it's pretty easy to fade the disc too far left, or yank it right into a tree to the right of the tee. Also, the hill looks like it will cause approach shot roller headaches, but we weren't unlucky enough to experience this.

Hole #10
Tricky hole...dogleg left with a fairly wide tunnel that leads to fair approach shot, assuming you hit the tee shot, which I didn't!

Hole #10 (another approach)
A better shot is to risk the tunnel that leads to the open field where there is an easy approach shot to the hole. Our scores going dogleg route were 5 & 4. Going the direct route through the field were 3,3,4 & 5.

Hole #11
Fairly open dogleg right and even bad tee shots seemed to give good approach opportunities.

Hole #12
Cool hole with "Y" tree in the enter of the fairway close to the tee box. Out of our six drives on our two rounds, none of us hit the fairway for this hole. It doesn't look that hard, but the trees beyond the "Y" kept deflecting our shots like Wonder Woman's bracelets. Bogeys galore.

Hole #13
Uphill, dogleg left, tunnel. Miss the tunnel and it's extra strokes. Looks pretty difficult for a lefty/forehand player.

Hole #14
Nice easy downhill dogleg right. Unless you throw like we did completely missing the fairly wide tunnel to the basket. Out-of-bounds is a threat if you go long. Otherwise, pretty straight-forward.

Hole #15
Cool hole and pretty difficult. Choice of tunnels left or right off the tee. None of us were able to find the fairway off the tee (except for one short shot). The hole is short enough so that an approach can set up an easy par, but the impressive smattering of mature trees combined with what looks like a missile silo creates a very challenging approach.

Hole #16
Tee sign is missing. Uphill slightly right, narrow tunnel. No surprises.

Hole #17
Downhill and straight. It looks easy, but we failed to hit the gap leading down to the hole.

Hole #18
You could argue that this hole is similar to the open holes at Cranbury and Wickham. Tell my buddy that who found the clump of trees dead center in the fairway. You have to choose right or left of these trees and either way, the gaps are far enough from the tee to be somewhat challenging to hit. Still, we managed 5 of 6 tee shots unharmed. On a windy day, I'm betting this hole sucks!

Summary
We didn't see anyone else playing, but then we began at 7:30 am on a Sunday morning. We thought better comparisons for this course might be Leonard Park in Mt. Kisco or Page Park in Bristol due to its woodsy nature.

Hole #1 looks a little scary because of all the trash near the basket, but the course is nice otherwise. Nothing a shop vac and a generator couldn't remove in an hour or so. Elevations for the holes would be a nice touch as this information would be useful on many tee shots.

Overall, this was a wonderful course to play. Challenging, fun, and well-thought out.
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rex93
Experience: 15.8 years 3 played 3 reviews
4.00 star(s)

A Diamond thats no longer rough 2+ years drive by

Reviewed: Played on:Oct 2, 2011 Played the course:once

Pros:

Good variety of open and wooded holes
Challenging, technical
Good variance of long and short, excellent elevation changes throughout the course
Well marked now with the new signs in place
Getting a lot of love and attention so the fairways are getting cleaner and cleaner everyday

Cons:

A little debris and trash throughout the course but whatcha gonna do its bridgeport.

Occassionally you get a douchhebag Dirt biker ripping up and down the power lines.

Tee pads are a bit rough still but this will be fixed in short order

Other Thoughts:

A fantastic addition to the course cluster we have in and around fairfield county. I love the way this course looks when the sun is blazing its not a a dark course even though the wood is heavy, light pours into most of the fairways. The streams throughout the course are a nice natural touch as well. This is my favorite "close" course in the area at the moment and I live in stamford (Yes i like it much more then cranbury).
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