Bowling Green, KY

Hobson Grove - Original

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3.45(based on 34 reviews)
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Hobson Grove - Original reviews

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17 0
PastorofMuppets
Silver level trusted reviewer
Premium Member
Experience: 4.7 years 129 played 115 reviews
3.50 star(s)

Historic Feel during Modern Times

Reviewed: Played on:May 15, 2023 Played the course:5+ times

Pros:

1) This historic looking tightly wooded course weaves its way around an old timey mansion and it's property while overlooking Riverview Golf Course on the west side of Bowling Green.

2) Old course design feel, tee pads are dated but still have all the relevant information, hole distances are on the shorter but more technical side, baskets are old school Mach's. Some people may find that as a negative, but the course really holds up in both being moderately challenging while still remaining incredibly fun to play.

3) Hole #2 stands out as a beast of a signature hole. A 500 foot Par 3 (according to the tee sign) but a Par 4 on U-Disc, that shoots down a heavily wooded low ceiling tunnel and S curves out into the open on the left before forcing you to hit another tight straight tunnel over a wide but gentle sloping dry creek bed to a heavily protected green. Beautiful hole, difficulty off the charts, trouble everywhere, and keeps you humble after a relatively short left to right chip shot through a tunnel on Hole #1.

4) The subtle use of the elevation throughout is really well done. None of it is brutal or difficult to walk, but there are tons of short uphill rises that mess with shot shapes when coupled with low ceilings, there are dry creek beds and rocky outcroppings that add to difficulty around the greens. Really, really well done.

5) Tee pads are large textured concrete pads in typical HB Clark fashion, though there are some that are smaller than others. There are also multiple "old" smaller tee pads that don't have tee signs that I assume are from an older layout before a redesign. Just be aware as they don't appear in use and could confuse a first timer.

6) Benches and trash cans occasionally throughout, not on every hole, but with a lot of the holes being shorter in distance, they don't really feel necessary on every hole.

7) Navigation is pretty intuitive and flows well, but you may want a course map available for the transitions from Holes 3 to 4 (up hill towards mansion adjacent parking lot), 4 to 5 (to your left across the road) and in the woods because there are some extra holes (most not in use but sometimes the club has some of them set up).

8) Definitely a Recreational to Intermediate style course as far as difficulty goes, though Novice and beginners can certainly have an enjoyable time here. Players of higher skill level will find this course full of birdies with only slight to moderate challenge, but still a fun course to play through at least once.

9) The property is well kept, fairways are nice and beaten in. The rough is thick and punishing though and can aggravate some players who don't appreciate course designs that utilize natural OB verses tons of lines and stakes.

10) Good mix of longer challenging Par 3's with tight lines, and shorter forgiving Ace Run Par 3's. Kind of a build your own level of aggressiveness to create your own kind of fun course.

11) Tons of old hardwood trees provide just enough thickness to make line shaping a thing here without being too demanding or punishing. Good shots are rewarded, poor shots are punished too severely.

Cons:

1) Extreme angles asked of you off the tee on occassion. For players without sidearms, thumbers, tomahawks, and grenades, there are a few VERY hard turning tight angle shots on this course. This only makes the cons for me because it can be frustrating for players with limited shots in their bag. And it is good to know that going in, that you may have to get creative a few times from the tee.

2) Aesthetics, outside of the obvious mansion at the center, the course looks and feels old and the amenities are showing their age (tee pads, tee signs, baskets, etc) and the rough is less and less manicured. Trees have grown, trees have died and fallen, etc and some of the initial lines have been altered. Not a significant con, but does keep me from rating this course as a 4.0

3) No next tee indicators so you will need a course map or some form of GPS to assist if it is your first time, only on a couple holes, but even one hard to find tee is enough to be a con.

4) No water or bathrooms on the property.

5) Some issues with mud, standing water, and erosion. Be mindful if you play following a rainy stretch. But overall, not terrible either way.

6) No big distance shots. If that is part of your game and something you require, this course doesn't offer it. Not a con for me as I appreciate courses that ask something different from you compared to the other local courses. But again, could be a huge con for some.

Other Thoughts:

Old school course and what I consider one of the better courses in town from a design standpoint. The course is fair and requires touch and shot shaping. With updated course amenities alone it could rival a lot of short wooded courses for being one of the better ranked ones. If this course was local I would play it on repeat every chance I got. The combination of Bowling Green being one of the best disc golf destination towns in KY, the Vette City course next door, and the historic nature of the Hobson Grove Mansion and property, I would consider this course a destination spot for sure. Not for the wow, 5 star course factor, but for the fun factor (especially you old timers who like to reminisce on how courses used to be).
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11 0
goosefraba1
Gold level trusted reviewer
Experience: 12.2 years 82 played 40 reviews
3.00 star(s)

Old School Cool

Reviewed: Played on:Apr 10, 2022 Played the course:once

Pros:

Pros: Personal experience:
80 courses played
2 courses designed
3 courses installed
10 years played
925 rated
____________________________________________
Rated 3.41 prior to this review

Design 3/5
Tees 3/5
baskets 4/5
amenities/signage 1/5
Replayability/Fun Factor 4/5

15/5= 3.0
_________________________________________________

Design: Old School par 3 course that circles an old mansion in one of the premier towns that I know of for DG. The only par 4 I believe is hole 2, one of my favs on the property. However, lots of lengthy par 3s to make this feel tournament worthy. Good use of different amounts of wooded holes. Also really liked the extreme angles that are asked off the tee in some area.

Tees: Standard old school 5'x10' teepads. More than enough for this length of a course. The area around the teepads could be cleaned up a little bit, and add some aesthetics (this is where higher rated DG courses are heading).

Baskets: Innova Pro 28s. My favorite basket. These are the gold standard in my opinion. Nothing super fancy.

Amenities/signage: Nearly no signage throughout the course to tell you where the next hole is. The teesigns provide minimal data. No water fountain that we could find. No bathrooms that we could find.

Fun Factor: Despite almost no signage or amenities expected typically at a course these days, this course is fun. I would play it all the time if it were in my back yard. Great accuracy practice as well.

Cons:

See above... mostly the signs and amenities. Add new signs, next tee signs... and the score goes up considerably.

Other Thoughts:

This is an old school course that is likely one of the better courses in the area. Nothing that I would say is road trip destination worthy, but a fun course.

Thanks to the local club for keeping up with all of these courses!
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15 1
Shadrach3
Gold level trusted reviewer
Experience: 5.5 years 318 played 306 reviews
3.00 star(s)

Good Old-Time Shaping 2+ years

Reviewed: Played on:Dec 8, 2021 Played the course:once

Pros:

An old course (though not original layout) with nice elevation.

-Amenities: Concrete tees, signs including good maps, red prodigies, course kiosk.

-Rec-Friendly: Like many old courses, this is very accessible to rec players wielding modern discs. The length is on the shorter side and the hardwoods tend not to be punishing, creating chances for birdies or easier scrambles.

-Atmosphere: Very pleasant. Again, pretty typical for older courses. The park is well-kept and features consistent trees, thought nothing is particularly stunning. The historic house provides an interesting centerpiece.

-Par-3 Variety: A sampling of two basic types of par-3s. There are shorter ace/birdie opportunities, and longer, challenging par-3s. This is complemented by changes in terrain. Many holes are in the central space full of sparse hardwoods (very old- style), but a good number are in the woods further back on the property, which provide a tighter challenge.

-Shot Shaping/Gameplay: Mostly described above. The first two are the best on the course, extremely fun woods challenges. From there it's the more open section of the course, with a handful of the woodsier ones coming from (7) to (16). It's entirely achievable shaping, and the scrambling is easier than average. Nonetheless, the trees keep basic shaping in mind throughout.

-9 & 9: Though not strictly a set of two loops, hole (9) and hole (18) both end relatively near the start.

Cons:

Nothing too large.

-Erosion: Some issues with mud and pooling water. Not terrible, but also doesn't seem sustainable.

-Par-3 Style: Hole (2) is the only par-4. Otherwise, there's no strategic shot placement, just going for it. This cuts out a level of variety crucial to scoring highly.

-Suspect Lines: A couple of the woods lines are questionable. I don't like them, but I'm not willing to claim that they're objectively bad.

-Navigation: Confusing at times, including several crossings. This isn't helped by the remnants (see below).

-Remnants: The remains of the old layout are present here with teepads and an occasional fake fairway. Not a big deal.

Other Thoughts:

Hobson Grove isn't in its original layout, but it feels similar to what it might have started as. It's part Typical shapes through sparse, older trees, and part journey through harder, tighter woods. This combination elevates it above most older courses, and it earns the title of Good. It's a tour of interesting and achievable par-3 shapes, and extremely pleasant environment.
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2 5
Spike Hyzer 23
Experience: 30.7 years 92 played 87 reviews
3.00 star(s)

Great Track 2+ years drive by

Reviewed: Updated: Played on:Aug 14, 2015 Played the course:2-4 times

Pros:

Though it is relatively flat, the course winds through some fairly dense woods at times and there are some very narrow lines that require great precision. It is balanced for righty and lefty shots, technical, and rewards good shots and punishes bad shots.

Cons:

It isn't a massive, championship caliber course, but it is the sort of course you'd want to play every day (can't always play the bomber courses).

Other Thoughts:

It is located by the historic Hobson House, which is also something fun to visit while traveling.
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13 0
sisyphus
Diamond level trusted reviewer
Experience: 12.6 years 397 played 383 reviews
3.50 star(s)

Fun loop around a historical mansion 2+ years

Reviewed: Played on:Mar 1, 2014 Played the course:2-4 times

Pros:

One of the tightly wooded courses at Bowling Green, Hobson Grove wends its way around the historical mansion hill overlooking the Riverview Golf Course on the west side of town. The 18 holes encompass straight, left-and right- turning lanes, and are generally shorter than average, but with an S-shaped 500 footer to keep players humble. Three holes (9, 10 & 10) have recently been shifted and slightly upgraded in challenge, but mostly to pull miss- and over-throws away from the small parking lots and driveways up on the hill.

With DGA baskets throughout, there are actually more than 18 holes here, because the local club has three other layouts for hole 13. But with 13 being a beautiful, tight downhill shot to a landing zone, followed by a guarded lane to the pin, tournaments usually drop the short hole 12 and add 13A, a tight 280 foot lane just beyond. The use of elevation throughout the course is really well done, but not brutal: shorter uphills (mostly), and rises and ravines adding challenge and the occasional blind pin position.

Tee pads are all concrete and level (though of varying age and size), signage is informative (if getting a little old), and there are benches and trash buckets where needed. The flow of the design is pretty good, though first timers might want to bring a map for the transitions from 3 to 4, 4 to 5, and 9 to 10. After you've played here once, you appreciate how the walks between tees are not too lengthy, especially when you realize you just made an interesting looping run around the hill.

In all, Hobson Grove is a very enjoyable experience for the Recreational to Intermediate player, because almost everything is 'par-able'. Bigger arms won't have as much fun, as there isn't a whole lot there to 'distance' themselves from the rest of the pack. Advanced and Open players are typically able to apply their improved technical skills and variety of throws to stay out of trouble and grab a handful more deuces, though.

Cons:

Though the shorter tees remain on 9 & 10, and could be safely played by shorter arms, the old 18 tee pad should not be used (it's now in the fairway for hole ten). Personally, I don't mind, but there aren't any 'Big D' holes on this course, if that's an element you demand. Finally, some of the benches, tees, and signs are showing their age. They're not bad yet, but it might be an area the local club will have to tweak in the next decade, to keep this a 'must play' course for this area.

Other Thoughts:

Used annually for the spring "Woods of Bowling Green" tune-up tournament, I've now played here twice, but haven't seen it in full summer bloom. I would assume the shots get tougher and tighter, and the rough fills in quite a bit. This course plays on the upper half of the nice selection of 8-10 courses in the area, as it is used for the upper divisions for the BG Amateur Championships annually.
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10 0
dad_of_dg_junkies
Bronze level trusted reviewer
Experience: 11.7 years 50 played 22 reviews
3.50 star(s)

Found our groove at the Grove 2+ years drive by

Reviewed: Updated: Played on:Jan 11, 2014 Played the course:once

Pros:

1. The variety of shots were the trademark of this course for me. Not only did I get to play most of my discs, but the course required/allowed every type of shot.

2. I really enjoyed the layout of the course. The use of the terrain, elevation change, and the rocks provided a nice course. Some of the holes played close together, but we were alone on the course so it was very quiet.

3. Most of the holes have huge risk/reward feel to them. If you go for the baskets birdies can be had. It also can bring the big number in as well. I could see where the short arm or older player could play safely on this course and shot a good number.

4. The tee pad were mostly in pretty good shape and had good grip to them.

5. The baskets are mach 3's and were in decent shape.

6. The signage was pretty good on this course. Since it was our first time at this course, we had to depend on the signs for distance and layout. We had to walk down the fairway on a few holes to spot the baskets, but that was a product of the shape of the holes and not the accuracy of the signs.

6. I've seen people call this course short... it didn't play short to me. # 2 was 475 ft par 3 and #9 said it was 305 ft but played into a stiff wind and up a very steep slope. It played more like 405 ft.

Cons:

1. Some of the tee pads are cracked
2. A couple of holes play very close to each other

Other Thoughts:

The family and I drive to BG quite often to enjoy the MANY good courses in and around the area. This one was a REALLY NICE place to play. Since we played it in the winter, the lines were wider than in the summer and some of the other listed problems (bugs, thorns and poison ivy) weren't problems. The rocks on the course gave it a different character for me. Didn't really know what to expect as we were driving into the park, but the experience exceeded my expectations. My family will definitely play here again.
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6 0
gmoney1984
Experience: 11 years 308 played 26 reviews
3.50 star(s)

DG on a historic piece of land 2+ years drive by

Reviewed: Played on:Oct 14, 2013 Played the course:once

Pros:

1. A lot of variety

2. Very Historic place with a beautiful large home/old school mansion. I enjoyed reading about the Hobson family near one of the tee pads on the front 9.

2. Good use of elevation with the tee pads and pin placement

3. Next to a ball golf course which I thought was kinda cool.

4. Plenty of obstacles

5. Really old awesome trees

Cons:

1. A few spots in the woods where your lines are kinda crappy with too many trees in the way.

2. Hole #2 I believe it was is really tough. Its about 500 feet and a par 3 thru a really tight wooded area that finally opens up.

3. Sticker bushes in a few different spots

Other Thoughts:

The disc golf course was solid but just knowing there was a lot of history on that land and the fact there is now a disc golf course on it I just thought was really awesome. It does appear to be slightly run down though in what looks to be the bad side of town but we didn't run into any trouble at all and I would def come back. This was stop #5 of our 111 hole day and took two people 1:54 minutes to play
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2 4
KeepRaving
Experience: 12.1 years 11 played 3 reviews
4.50 star(s)

love this coarse 2+ years drive by

Reviewed: Played on:May 20, 2012 Played the course:once

Pros:

challenging hole, narrow tree ways, calls for a lot of different shots, good tee pads and baskets.

Cons:

next to a golf coarse watch out for golf balls, sometimes crowded

Other Thoughts:

nice coarse i got my first ace here.
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5 0
wake911
Experience: 22.8 years 63 played 18 reviews
3.00 star(s)

Fun course 2+ years drive by

Reviewed: Played on:Apr 12, 2013 Played the course:2-4 times

Pros:

-variety of hyzer/anhyzer shots
-elevation changes
-true par 4. easy 3 if you throw a good layup drive, but tough 4 if you make an errant throw
-not muddy, even during rain and the day after big rain the ground wasn't bad at all, very impressive.

Cons:

-all short holes, never used more than a midrange on the whole course.
-parking lot behind #9 and next to #10 can be a bit nerve racking.

Other Thoughts:

Fun course, i bet the difficulty level is MUCH tougher once the leaves come on the trees and a few of the lines get tighter. So for easier play, do it in spring. I bet the fall is tough with all the leaves off the trees.
I really enjoyed the course (not so much my playing though). It is a nice match to some of the longer courses in Bowling Green.
Slow turnovers (rhbh) are a HUGE asset to have in your arsenal for Hobson Grove.
My favorite hole was #4. Downhill slow turnover. I nearly aced it in practice, and failed miserably in my 2 tourney rounds, haha.
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4 1
asjzn6
Experience: 18.6 years 136 played 59 reviews
3.00 star(s)

Fun and Technical 2+ years drive by

Reviewed: Played on:Mar 30, 2012 Played the course:2-4 times

Pros:

Tee Signs-Good
Course Flow-Alright
This course is fun with some good scenery. Most of the holes are reachable with mid-range or putter. A putter is a very smart choice on this course. Lots of different options for routes as you play through the course. Hole 2 is a lot of fun

Cons:

Tee Pads in need of repair. I noticed some baskets not being used down by 13 and 14 I guess they could be used someone kind of a waste. Some fairways are poke and hope holes which do not reward golf shots.

Other Thoughts:

Course is good course to be hot at then it would be easy to shoot 6-7 down. Hole 2 is sweet its not my shot but a forehand roller i think would be the shot to get to second level on that hole to get easy 3
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6 0
RustyStrings615
Experience: 22.1 years 38 played 9 reviews
4.00 star(s)

The Grove 2+ years drive by

Reviewed: Played on:Mar 7, 2012 Played the course:once

Pros:

Pros: Very nice course. Surrounds a historic mansion...plays alongside a ball golf course for a country club kind of feel...which is different for me...I'm used to playing more "urban" course. The course goes in and out of fairly open but still technical "grove" holes...with mature hardwoods being the primary obstacles...moderate elevation change here and there. There are some cool rocky areas around too...which help give this course a distinct feel. The wooded holes are tight and technical...but fair. The rough is pretty cleared out in the woods too...again most of the trees are mature hardwoods...which is a nice change to many newer courses that are new-growth forests with lots of underbrush and cedars. Most holes on the course are in the 275-325ft range...a few are much shorter and a couple are quite a bit longer...especially Hole 2...which is a legit par 4 if you ask me. Tee pads are pretty good...GREAT signage...even though we had never played the course...we always new which way to go next and where the pin was even on blind holes..because the hole map on each sign was very well done.

Cons:

Cons: Not too many for this course.... The tee pads were a little bit narrow...but I had no real issues with that personally...no need for a big run-up on most of the holes. A couple of tee boxes were dangerously close to the previous hole's basket.

Other Thoughts:

Other thoughts: We played Kereiakes the same day...I thought this course was a great counterpart to it....both great courses...but very different. We really liked Hole 15...its a shorty...but cleverly designed....the teepad is a V shape...fairways on either side of the trees...giving you multiple lines to the pin. Definitely play this course if you go to BG! Lots of fun!
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2 3
brettricewku
Experience: 14.8 years 63 played 8 reviews
4.00 star(s)

Pictuesque! 2+ years drive by

Reviewed: Played on:Nov 6, 2011 Played the course:5+ times

Pros:

A great course to add to the BG collection. A good mix between heavly wooded and lightly holes. Good changes in distance so every drive is not the same. Some alternate routes on some shots. Very beautiful course.

Cons:

Not many. Can be easy to lose a disc. You throw towards the parking lot at one of the holes. Hard to find if you don't know where it is.

Other Thoughts:

Contains one of the hardest holes in BG in hole 2. You make it out with a 4 and are happy. I would rate this the second hardest in Bowling Green not counting Holler. Definately one to check out in BG.
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8 1
sengenberger
Experience: 14.6 years 25 played 5 reviews
3.50 star(s)

Fun in the Woods 2+ years drive by

Reviewed: Played on:Oct 31, 2010 Played the course:5+ times

Pros:

The course is built around the Historic Hobson House. Most of the holes are reachable for most skill levels, the only one being out of place is hole 2. Most holes have very narrow gaps or barely a gap at all. That being said, you have to hit your lines pretty much perfectly on almost all the wooded holes or else you will be fighting for a par. There is a good combination of wooded and open holes along with some elevation changes that keep the course interesting.
Most of the tee pads are in good condition, and some (8 and 9 are the two I remember) have the line of the fairway in the tee pad's concrete (I thought that was neat). This course also requires a good mix of backhand, sidearm, (and sometimes) overhand shots in order to navigate its tricky fairways. The course is absolutely beautiful when played in the fall and all the leaves have changed color.
This is the course in Bowling Green that you go to if you want to learn how to throw a midrange properly. Shooting well here in practice will really improve your technical game. No two holes throw the same, which is something I love about the course.

Cons:

The course is very messy due to the lack of trash cans, and some of the tee pads are cracked. Some of the tee pads are not level, so watch your footing. Bugs can be an issue in the summer, as can poison ivy, so bring bug spray and watch your step. If you are there when the wind is blowing the wrong way, you will catch a whiff of the sewage treatment plant right next door.

Other Thoughts:

There are a few ace run holes, mainly being 4, 15, and 17. I love to empty my bag each of those because they are fun to throw at. The elevation changes at 9 and 17 are great, being uphill and downhill respectively. Do not be alarmed if you see police cars rolling in and out of the park, as there is a police shooting range behind the park. This course and Preston Miller are both great wooded courses, but this one is definitely the best.
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6 0
weeman
Gold level trusted reviewer
Experience: 20 years 642 played 60 reviews
3.50 star(s)

Old school course for everyone 2+ years

Reviewed: Updated: Played on:Jul 26, 2010 Played the course:5+ times

Pros:

Course traverses the land around the Historic Hobson House which dates back to pre-Civil War times. Seventeen of the eighteen holes are reachable in one throw by players of most skill levels. With that being said, you have to hit your lines as this is a very technical course that can be very punishing with errant throws. Slight to moderate elevation changes on almost every hole. I find a good balance of hyzer and anhyzer shots throughout the course. Some open holes with the rest being heavily wooded. New tee signs have been installed within the year and several new tee pads have been put in in place of old cracked pads. The course is easy to navigate with the front nine being on one side of the Hobson House and the back nine being on the other.

Cons:

I didn't think the rough was too overbearing but there is quite a bit of poison ivy and such out there. Also, the bugs can be quite annoying so don't forget your bug spray. There aren't many trash cans available on the course so the trash build up can be unsightly and unnecessary.

Other Thoughts:

There's not a lot that can be done about it other than don't be out there with the wind blowing the wrong direction, but there's a waste treatment facility directly adjacent to the course. It is visible from holes 5 and 6 and can stink up the course if you're unlucky. Also, a new entrance road to the police shooting range has been built right near number 5 so don't freak out if you see anywhere from one to eight cop cars rolling in or out during your round. The firing range is also audible on the back side of the course around numbers 12 and 13 from time to time.
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5 0
absolutdork
Bronze level trusted reviewer
Experience: 24.6 years 51 played 28 reviews
3.50 star(s)

My very 1st course I played 2+ years drive by

Reviewed: Played on:Oct 25, 2009 Played the course:5+ times

Pros:

Nostalgic. Very first course built in Bowling Green. Easy to navigate and decent elevations up and down. Very technical wood lines to throw into, and except for hole #2, all holes aren't so long that the hills beat you up.

Cons:

The tee box signs really need to be removed and reinstalled. Just too basic for me, but I guess basic is all about the older courses, and this course is just a mere two years younger than my 33 year old butt haha. The last time I played the course, next to the barn by the teepad on #17, they had stacked random bricks next to it for no apparent reason. I really hope they have moved them because it was an eyesore to me.

Other Thoughts:

This was my very first course I ever played on, so I will hold it dear to my heart. It beat the living crud out of me as a newbie, and if you are fresh out the box, be patient. I would suggest cut your teeth at Kerieakes or Preston Miller first if you are in BG before you tackle this technical course. However, what a historic, fine course this is. It will always be my "must" play everytime I travel back to my old college town.
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8 0
mashnut
Diamond level trusted reviewer
Experience: 22.1 years 831 played 767 reviews
3.50 star(s)

Fun wooded course 2+ years drive by

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

Pros:

The course plays through a hilly and wooded park that seemed to have no conflicts between disc golf and other park uses. The elevation is great here, none of the hills are severe, but nearly every hole plays up, down or across a hill to add challenge and variety to the course. There are some fun shot shapes that require you to hit different lines if you want to stay out of the thick rough lurking on most holes. Several greens have some roll away potential adding to the challenge and fun.

There are concrete tee pads, and decent signs that make the course easy to follow with no major navigational issues. The property seemed fairly well maintained with no trash or graffiti around. The baskets were showing some wear, but caught fine.

Cons:

The course is a little short, without any real distance. There is enough challenge from the woods to make up for it, but some length would add a little more variety. The course felt a little heavy on RHBH hyzer shots, some more balance in hole shape would be nice. The tees are a little small, and some were cracked making for a little uneven footing at times. A few holes play a little too close to the park road, taking away from the secluded feel of the holes deeper in the woods and potentially causing some safety issues. There are several blind holes, so you'll do a little extra walking to know where to throw, and a spotter comes in handy at times.

Other Thoughts:

This is a fun, old school course with great wooded holes and nice elevation. Beginners will find it a little tight and punishing, but a reasonable length. More experienced players won't find much length, but enough technical woods shots to keep it challenging and interesting. This one's definitely worth a stop when you're in the Bowling Green area.
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6 0
gdub58
Experience: 15.6 years 133 played 8 reviews
3.00 star(s)

Tight but fun 2+ years drive by

Reviewed: Played on:Apr 11, 2010 Played the course:2-4 times

Pros:

- Interesting design with lots of elevation changes and tight fairways.
- Good mix of RH and LH holes, and is one of the more LH-friendly courses I've played
- Lots of large, mostly-buried rock formations add some interesting obstacles and can give you some big skips.
- Definitely the kind of course you want to play multiple times once you learn the proper lines, and its short, compact design makes that easy. Can be addicting because you know a really low score is out there regardless of how far you can throw it.

Cons:

- Tee pads are really inconsistent. Some are way too small, some are cracking, and they are probably quite slippery once they get wet.
- Baskets showing some age.
- The lines on a few holes are really hard to see and a couple are non-existent. Just because it's a really short hole doesn't mean it should have no gaps.

Other Thoughts:

Fun little course next to a ball golf course. While some reviewers have mentioned #2 as being out of place (a double-dogleg true par 4 surrounded by a lot of short holes), I thought it was a great hole. 13 is also significantly more challenging then the rest of the course, and that one takes a few rounds to figure out.

While there was no wind to speak of while we were playing, the locals said that was not typical for the time of year. And, since there is a fair amount of OB I can see that adverse conditions would really make a difference.

Navigation wasn't too bad, but a map would certainly be helpful in a couple of spots.

Quite hilly, so if wet I'm sure this course wouldn't be nearly as enjoyable to play.
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2 2
discgolphinmafaukner
Experience: 28 played 13 reviews
4.00 star(s)

Fantastic Course 2+ years drive by

Reviewed: Updated: Played on:Feb 13, 2010 Played the course:2-4 times

Pros:

Hobson Grove is a heavily wooded course circling the old Hobson House in Bowling Green, Ky. The course is heavily wooded; some of the holes are set in wooded areas while the rest run through bigger, mature trees. Elevation plays a big part in adding difficulty to this course. Hole 2 is a par 4 that doesn't really fit but adds a little variety. The new tee signs look great! Plenty of OB and mandos to keep you honest on the more open holes.

Cons:

The tee pads could be improved. They are slick when wet and could be longer and wider.

Other Thoughts:

If you're making a trip to bowling green, this course is to be included! The course is great and the Hobson House adds a historical feelilng.
Pictures cannot do this course justice in october! This course is a MUST PLAY in October!
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gkeberhart
Bronze level trusted reviewer
Experience: 15.6 years 36 played 31 reviews
4.00 star(s)

Fun and Challenginf Little Course 2+ years drive by

Reviewed: Played on:Feb 13, 2010 Played the course:once

Pros:

Lots of tight woods. Very intricate shots, that make you utilize all of your shots. It isn't a course where a bomber can pull away from the guys that have normal distance. The layout is convenient so that you never really walk to far away from the parking lots in the event that you don't have the chance to complete the round. Concrete pads that are farily long so you dont feel like you are shorted.

Cons:

The course wasnt taking well to moisture, it created a lot of mud holes. It also left you prone to slips and trips which could lead to injuries for some. On hole 17 there are piles of bricks right next to the tee box, if you aren't careful you can hit them essestially causing a 0' drive. While it was a pro to have concrete pads, some of them were in need of some repairs and were un-even. A lot of the pads were close to the previous hole's basket or another hole's fairway which meant you had to be on guard for flying objects from all angles.

Other Thoughts:

Where did #2 come from, this hole really didn't fit with the rest of the holes. It was much longer and didn't quite match a lot of the shot styles as the rest of the course, regardless it was a fun hole and walking away with bogey is pretty good there. 13 and 14 were interesting holes and made you really work on distance as well as control. It was a great course to play and I would love to play it again.
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ChrisWoj
Silver level trusted reviewer
Experience: 19.1 years 158 played 26 reviews
3.00 star(s)

Techie Course 2+ years

Reviewed: Played on:Apr 8, 2008 Played the course:2-4 times

Pros:

Hobson Grove is incredibly technical. It has a nice par 4 2nd hole, and overall forced you to throw accurate shots. Much of the time those accurate shots are needed to avoid bogey - hit your shot or you're scrambling. The stretch of techie holes from 11-15 is a lot of fun, and the best challenge on the course outside of hole 2. Overall a nice variety of shots come into play.

Cons:

The course teases you - hole 2 is a great par 4 hole. But you don't see any more par 4's on the course. I understand that this is meant to be a shorter more technical course, but hole 2 proves you can have par 4's without catering to big arms... and then the course doesn't build on it. It's a minor quibble, the course does what it is meant to do and does it well - but I would have liked a few more holes that required you to set yourself up for a second shot to the pin.

Other Thoughts:

Overall it was another BG course that I enjoyed - maybe slightly less than some of the others. The only time through for me was a doubles round, but I did pull off a hole in one on hole one. I enjoyed my small amount of time on one of the classic Bowling Green, Kentucky courses.
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