St. Louis (Hazelwood), MO

White Birch Park

2.675(based on 33 reviews)
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8 0
wolfhaley
Diamond level trusted reviewer
Premium Member
Experience: 19.9 years 970 played 542 reviews
2.00 star(s)

Reviewed: Played on:Jun 6, 2023 Played the course:once

Pros:

White Birch is the oldest course in MO. This is a Steady Ed course that's been around for longer than I've been alive. Installed in 1979 it's been steadily plugging along all these years.

The course is 18 holes crammed into a front and a back nine on either side of the creek. No one would consider putting 18 holes into this amount of space in this day and age. That's kind of the beauty of this course. It gives you a look back into the past before we had all these warp speed discs and people just threw...you know...Frisbees.

The flow of the course is not too hard to follow for the most part. There's a couple wonky spots but it's in such a condensed area that it only takes a little bit of walking around to sort things out.

The baskets are ancient Machs. They've definitely seen better days but actually caught pretty decent, surprisingly. One basket and pin position per hole.

The tee pads are tiny little slabs of concrete. Concrete is better than natural pads I suppose. And there'e two tees per hole for some reason.

There's some nice elevation in play out there. Many scary greens with the creek or a drop off or both not too far behind the basket. There's trees in play on quite a few of the holes. Usually only one, maybe two, you need to avoid in the fairway. It's more around the baskets that they come into play with numerous baskets tucked into the woodline.

There are tee signs here that have a super basic hole layout. They have the hole # and distances from either tee too.

The course starts and ends by the parking lot. Course is permanent and free to play.



Cons:

Many of the thing I listed as pros are also cons. The tees are concrete yes. However they're about 3'x5'. They're also completely eroded away around many of them. Pretty awful looking currently.

Like I said above, the baskets have seen better days. Those Mach's really last a long time, it's pretty impressive.

The tee signs are mostly useless. They're facing the wrong direction for one. When looking at them you need to imagine flipping the sign 180 degrees and laying it horizontally. When you do that they kind of make sense.

The rollaway potential here is nuts. I got greedy a few times running the basket. I didn't ace anything but I did spend a lot of time exploring the wildlife in the creek while looking for my disc. Seriously though, lost disc potential is extremely high here.

Erosion is running rampant out here. By far the worst erosion of any course I've ever seen. It looks like they're trying to address it in spots but it's almost too little, too late.


Other Thoughts:

I was really looking forward to playing this course and it was quite a letdown if I'm being honest. It's cool for the nostalgia and has it's moments. Time has left this course behind, in more ways than one.

I can't really recommend this course to anyone. It's worth playing to say you did. But it's just not all that exciting and it's actually just kind of sad seeing the state that it's in now.
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13 0
nothinbuttree
Gold level trusted reviewer
Experience: 6 years 153 played 36 reviews
3.00 star(s)

Oldie but goodie

Reviewed: Played on:Dec 6, 2022 Played the course:once

Pros:

Original 'Steady Ed' course from over 40 years ago.
Oldest course in MO, so you can check that box too if you collect them.
Can play a quick round in about 45 minutes--it is a short course, with no long walks between holes.
For the short hole lengths, this is actually a reasonably challenging course, with lots of shot shaping and touch required, with a few tighter gaps to hit as well. Don't expect -18.
Elevation is used well.
Disc loss risk seems pretty low (though note we played in Dec).
Great course to bring beginners and kids, but even most ams will find some challenging aspects with the shot shapes required, and just playing a piece of history.
No other activities really in the course area.

Cons:

Baskets are old, many with rusty chains, but they do catch OK.
Not much distance variety, most holes in the 150'-225' range.
Short teepads--granted the holes are short, but many almost force you to throw standstill, because there is a 2-3" step up on a lot of the teepads. Also, being so old, the concrete has become slick-crete, and planting can be difficult even with a little 2 step walk up. Even if pads are dry.
HOLE 2--the sign makes it appear you are throwing over the creek to a basket that you can easily see, and is about the distance away it is supposed to be--but the basket is 180 degrees in the opposite direction.
Several baskets are very close to the creek, which brings a 10-20' ravine into play--I don't mind 'touch' shots, but these are all fairly steep downhill shots as well, and it is VERY easy to skip into that gulley. For what is otherwise a beginner level course, this seemed a bit much--my son got shin deep in muck retrieving a skip on one of these holes. Even leaving the drive (or jump putt) short still leaves a death putt of sorts if going for 2--which, lets be honest, you will be on every hole.

Other Thoughts:

I have begun 'collecting' Steady Ed courses, and 'oldest in state' courses, so this crossed off two things at once.
This is a short, wooded course with fairly clear lines to the basket, but many have a tight hyzer or anhyzer flight needed (a couple were nearly 90 degrees). I would have enjoyed seeing Wham-O shots on those holes.
The equipment is not much, but the layout hearkens back to a bygone era, which is always fun for me. There are no amenities either, but that's not why you will play here.
A Roc will do just fine if you can throw one 250'. Although a 2nd very overstable mid may help with some of the desired flight paths.
Both red and blue layouts are listed here, but best to think of them as purple (novice?) and red (rec). Several of the holes only have teepads for the longer layouts, but again, 250' power gets to every hole, regardless of layout used.
There is a sign saying 'do not enter' going to the back of the building where hole 1 is and hole 18 ends, but there is a parking area there as well, so probably OK to go there.
Hole 2 navigation is tricky--basket is on your left as you walk to the teepad, otherwise it is fairly straightforward, although with such short holes, sometimes the basket to aim at is not as clear.
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16 0
Tyler V
Gold level trusted reviewer
Premium Member
Experience: 16.8 years 147 played 98 reviews
2.50 star(s)

Lots of history, lots of ace runs, and lots of fun. 2+ years

Reviewed: Played on:Nov 6, 2020 Played the course:2-4 times

Pros:

White Birch Park, as stated by many, is the first disc golf course installed in the state of Missouri. The course is on 8 acres of land behind the Hazelwood Community Center, secluded in the woods. This course feels like a blast from the past, and while it feels aged compared to the other courses in the area, it still provides a fun round even today.

The disc golf course is only 5 minutes off of Interstate 270, near the junction of 270 and 70, making is fairly accessible. White Birch is among a collection of courses on the North/Northwest side of St. Louis County, and with this course playing so short, it would be easy to make this course one of a couple to play on a free day. The parking lot closest to the course is somewhat hidden, but if you stay to the right of the community center when entering the park, there's a parking lot that serves both the disc golf course and a skatepark.

The entrance to the course is easy to spot with the signage pointing to the path to hole 1. The start of this pathway also has a bulletin board that provides information on leagues and the local club. As the signs note, there's also a small pro shop that the community center keeps stocked just to the left when going through the main entrance. While there's not a huge selection, they have a small variety of bags and discs. Most of the selection is Innova and Discraft, but they have some newer molds such as Paul McBeth's line. They even had some Kastaplast.

The teepads, signage, and layout of the course feel completely unchanged from 1979. The tee signs on this course give a minimal amount of information outside of distance to the pin, but with how tight the course plays and how it is designed, it's hard to get lost on this course. Each sign provides pin distances and a general layout of the hole. While it is not as much information as tee signs at many other courses, it's enough to know what to throw.

The baskets are old Mach 3s, though there's one or 2 updated baskets on the course. The teepads on the course are concrete as well, providing a solid tee to throw from.

While this course is exceptionally tight and short, it actually provides a lot of opportunities to throw different shot shapes throughout an 18 hole round. Each hole has 1 pin placement and 1 or 2 teepads. There's a great mix of hyzer and anhyzer holes, with plenty of holes that also provide equal opportunity for hyzer/anhyzer or backhand/forehand to get to the pin. While this is a course where any intermediate player and even a lot of beginners will be good to go with a bag of putters and midranges, this variety still makes for a fun round of golf that will require you to think before you throw.

While this is a small plot of land that this course resides on, it has a lot of variety in terrain as well. Some holes are more open and utilize a couple of small fields between the wooded portions. However, I would say that wooded is the way to describe this course, though most of the holes feel fairly open with clear flight lines to the basket. My understanding is that this course used to have more trees than it does now, but the trees that do exist so require you to stick to certain lines. For instance, the mandatory doglegs on holes 2 and 8 both keep you from throwing over other fairways, and also keep you from taking a straight shot to the basket.

In addition to the woods, the course also utilizes hilly terrain and a creek in the middle of the course to make for obstacles to be mindful of off the tee and during putts. An errant throw on 5 or 9 will leave you in a bad place in a creek. In addition, the most memorable hole on this course has to be hole 10, which is only 98 feet from the recreational tee, but involves a throw from the tee that goes up a staircase. 98 feet sounds like an easy 2, but misjudging your anhyzer or sidearm just a little bit can result in a tricky upshot for 3.

While higher level players might be bored throwing at this course, it is very beginner friendly. Even the pro tees are all under 300 feet, so players that are working on adding distance will find this course a good stepping stone. The wooded holes are also forgiving enough to where a new player shouldn't be penalized too much for a bad shot. Overall, this is a great course to learn your technique and work on accuracy as you work up to other nearby courses such as Endicott or Carrolton just down the road. Intermediate players will enjoy this course if they are looking for 18 holes of birdie opportunities, and it provides a nice opportunity to get lower scores; scores under 50 are fairly common on this course and can be achieved with even an average round.

While there may have been a fee in the past to play this course, the folks working in the community center confirmed that the course is currently free to play.

Cons:

Like I previously said, this is a very short course. Intermediate players will likely not need any drivers except for maybe a utility shot from a Firebird or similar disc. If you are looking for longer holes or bomber opportunities, this isn't the course for you.

The baskets and teepads are reminiscent of an earlier age of disc golf, and anyone who has played other local courses will attest that these teepads are very short at only about 6 feet long. While you honestly don't need a big run up for a lot of these holes, a lot of the teepads also stick high above the ground, so starting from off the teepad will likely feel awkward. While there are 1 or 2 updated baskets around the course, the old Mach 3's do show their age, and feel small compared to current baskets on the market.

There are multiple areas of the course where the fairways really start to step on each other. It's honestly impressive they fit 4-5 holes in certain spots of this course. While some holes like 17 and 18 truly have their own fairway, holes 5 through 9 are especially tight and require you to be aware of your surroundings. Even 18's teepad could be in the line of fire for a drive off 17 that hangs left. Be careful when other people are playing, as this course does get some decent traffic.

You can tell erosion has been an issue for a long time on this course, and while you can see some steps have been taken in the past to help, it could use more help to keep this course from going into disrepair in some areas. The wall between 6 and 7 that is jutting out a bit is one area that looked to be of particular concern.

While you can absolutely play this course your first time and not get lost for the most part, it would be nice to see a couple of missing signs be replaced. A couple additional directional signs signs in certain spots would also help a lot. That being said, the layout is mostly intuitive on your first round.

Other Thoughts:

This course is far from perfect, and is representative of when it was designed and installed. That being said, if you take the course for what it is, it makes for a very fun round of birdie and ace hunting. This course could use some improvements for erosion and even the equipment, but I would never want to see this course redesigned. It is very cool to have a local course in St. Louis that shows what disc golf was about in the early days of the sport.

I think the Hazelwood Parks and Rec department also deserve a shoutout for continuing to acknowledge the history of this course, and for keeping a shop and rental discs available for players stopping by. Other than Quail Ridge and Smoking Aces, there aren't many examples around of oportunities to buy discs close to a course in this area. It was also cool to see more current and popular discs available, and not just stock Innova or Discraft beginner discs.

There are better courses around St. Louis if you are here for a short visit - this course is probably not even top 10 for the greater St. Louis area. However, if you want to play a bit of history, White Birch is your course. Come play some old school golf and see how low you can get your score. You will for sure have fun here.
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10 0
MrFrosty
Diamond level trusted reviewer
Experience: 31 years 764 played 386 reviews
3.50 star(s)

A Lot Of History : Missouri's First Course 2+ years drive by

Reviewed: Played on:May 26, 2019 Played the course:once

Pros:

There are parking for disc golf signs right as you enter White Birch Park , very close to the northwest corner of I-270 . Park next to the lower building on your right , then walk down the fence line of the building to the kiosk and a sign in front of the walkway to the first tee . DO NOT tee off from the top of the hill , walk down the cement path and you will see the tee area for #1 . There are cement tee pads for the standard throw , some longer dirt pads for the , er , pros . There are tee signs on this course that are as descriptive as they can be . There are mandos on a few of the trees that say " Dogleg " which made me laugh . I guess these are on the course to keep you honest and hopefully others a little safer . The course is cramped and at any time you might see as many as 6 or 7 baskets on the front 9 . Most of these hole lengths come in at around 200' or less , but none of that matters. The course can become crowded , big deal . You are able to go back in time and get a feel for what disc golf was like in the late 70's and 80's , when you had no specialized discs and many threw a course with coffee can lids , or frisbees if you had one in your trunk . The course opens up a bit in the back few holes , where you cross the bridge . Print a map just so you don't waste a lot of time throwing at the wrong basket , which can happen . There are a couple of blind shots , notably #s 15 -17 . Water ? A creek will come into play on a couple of the holes as a risk-reward throw . Chaotic ? You bet . Pitch and putt ? For sure . A 12 year old can throw this course with little problem , but that's not the point . Relax and throw a round or 2 on this course . It should only take about 50 minutes for 1 person per round . Great for families to get together and either support or laugh and make fun of a putt that rolls away from the basket . There is a surprising amount of elevation for a course so small . Don't bother to bring a scorecard and pencil to this course . It's not worth it . Scores don't matter, just the fun of being here . a 1979 course designed by the originator of disc golf , Ed Headrick . Signature hole ? I guess #15 , an S tunnel drive that you need to throw up and over high brush to a blind basket ,

Cons:

Nothing to speak of . I am treating this course to what it was in 1979 . If you want challenges , go to Endicott , or Sioux Passage . Maybe only worth mentioning : Course can get muddy and it is possible to be the victim of a disc in the back ( or head , leg ,,, ) .

Other Thoughts:

WOW . They have a 1979 9 holer where I live in Cincinnati , but it doesn't look at all like this . This is a great course where I am sure many of these holes have not changes or changed little over the years . See and be part of a historical course . I am told that the community center has some documents on the history of disc golf here at White Birch , along with certification and information of it being the longest continuous league in the world ( 1981 and counting ) . You have to drop by here if you are in St Louis or are passing through just to say you have experienced one of the oldest courses in the US . My recommendation : PLAY IT !!!!!!!
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4 0
West752
Experience: 44.9 years 7 played 2 reviews
3.50 star(s)

Missouri's first disc golf course! 2+ years drive by

Reviewed: Played on:Oct 13, 2018 Played the course:5+ times

Pros:

History, and improve your approach game. This is Missouri's first disc golf course - realize it was installed when we just had Wham-O play catch Frisbees. It has been changed slightly over the years to make it about as tough as it can be made in the relatively small footprint that it rests upon. It runs in and out of woods and along a creek. You will get moderate hill exercise while playing. There are ace runs on most holes which is why it is good for your approach and putting game.

Cons:

This not your course if you are looking for using all parts of your game. You really should not throw many drivers here. With the courses age, there are erosion problems and we hope the city of Hazelwood will fill in the creek sides with some rock to help. It is also a tight and crowded course so follow the disc golf code and be careful before you throw.

Other Thoughts:

This course has the longest running documented league (since Spring of 1981) in the USA. It has been featured on the PDGA website when it hit league number 100 in the Summer of 2016. We just finished league number 107 in Fall of 2018.

A display for the Missouri Disc Golf Hall of Fame is also located at the course. It is located in the basement of the community center in a display case. Also located in the display case are displays about the historic league at White Birch Park.
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6 0
The Valkyrie Kid
Diamond level trusted reviewer
Experience: 45.9 years 1563 played 1507 reviews
2.50 star(s)

Missouri's First Course Is Still A Fun Throw! 2+ years

Reviewed: Played on:Oct 24, 2015 Played the course:once

Pros:

Missouri's oldest course was built in 1979. Although it seems very tame by today's standards, it still provides plenty of punch in a small package. The course is located behind the Hazelwood Recreation Center. The first nine holes definitely play as a pitch and putt level. Later holes on the back nine get a little longer and offer a bit more challenge.

The baskets are DGA models with the red numbers on top. There are two sets of tee pads. Most are concrete although there are a few natural pads to throw from. They're small but not much run-up is needed on these 200' holes. The signs are simple but many are missing.

The terrain is lovely, rough, rugged disc golf perfect, especially in those first few holes. It's also packed down hard and eroding along the creek. There is an especially interesting deep rugged canyon along # 1 on the right side.

There are several fun little ACE runs. In fact, almost every hole on the course is an ACE run.

Then you come to # 16 and it's an actual legitimate hole on any course. There is no sign but it's probably a 260' twisting anhyser up through the fairly thick grove of trees. The basket is then built up on a cool little platform. There is almost no room for error on # 16.

Cons:

The course is a pitch and putt.

Being built in 1979' it favors shots with a slight hyser at the end.

Soil compaction and erosion is a problem. It's being addressed.

Other Thoughts:

I had a blast playing White Birch and is often the case with these little pitch and putt courses, there three other groups playing here early on a Saturday. They may be small but they are popular with the public. Historic course is enjoyable. Come on out, chase those ACES, play the game in a relaxed, pressure free situation or bring out some newbies and show them what disc golf is all about.
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7 0
Wise Fool
Gold level trusted reviewer
Experience: 15.1 years 125 played 116 reviews
2.00 star(s)

A Piece of History 2+ years drive by

Reviewed: Played on:May 10, 2014 Played the course:once

Pros:

-Multiple tee-pads on each hole
-Concrete tee-pads
-Baskets are in solid shape and catch well
-The tee-signs that are still at the tee-pads are useful, with a layout of the hole and the distance of the hole.
-Some really tight wooded holes
-There is a solid mix of some more open holes and then some tighter wooded holes.
-Lots of baskets have drop-offs behind them, which adds to a little risk/reward to putting and makes some of the holes a little bit more challenging.
-There are a lot of ace runs on this course
-Good amount of elevation on this course, that is used fairly well.
-Pleasant park that made for a pleasant round.
-Hole 10 was my favorite hole on this course. It is the shortest hole on the course, but it plays straight uphill through a very tight wooded fairway. It was the hole I remember most from this course.

Cons:

-All of the holes are really short on this course. I didn't need to use any drivers and I only used a mid-range once or twice.
-A lot of the tee-signs are missing
-The course can be a little hard to navigate. There are a lot of baskets in a small area and it can sometimes be a little hard to know, which basket you are actually throwing at.
-The course can start to feel repetitive after a while, especially on holes from 4 to 9. These holes basically feel like straight uphill or straight downhill.
-Lots of erosion. It can make some of the areas around the tee-pads dangerous, and also some of the slopes dangerous. They really need to do some work to help get rid of some of this erosion.
-Lots of crossing fairways and throwing near other baskets you just threw to. I would definitely keep an eye out for incoming discs if you are playing the course on a crowded day.
-Other than hole 10 none of the holes were very memorable.
-Not a very challenging course.
-Some thick rough that could be easy to lose a disc in.

Other Thoughts:

This isn't a bad beginner course, but it is really starting to show it's age. This course really needs some work and maintenance. Due to the bad erosion, I would most definitely not play this course after the rain. Overall, this course is not worth going out of your way for, but it is good for players that don't throw very far and want to be able to reach some of the holes.
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7 0
catkiller12
Experience: 12.2 years 17 played 4 reviews
2.50 star(s)

White Birch DGC 2+ years drive by

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

Pros:

- Has multiple tees and pin locations.

- Good course for working on mid-range and approach with short and heavily wooded holes.

- Since most of the holes are very short, this is a good course for beginners.

- Good use of the park's elevational changes.

- Several holes present challenges with some of the baskets being placed along the edge of the creek and others placed near out-of-bounds markers. If throws are slightly off line or too strong, discs could end up in the creek or out-of-bounds.

- The park isn't hard on the eyes with the wooded area and creek splitting the courses front nine and back nine holes.

Cons:

- The course is very small for an 18 hole course. Many of the holes are crammed together so tightly it isn't hard to crossover onto another hole's fairway. During busy hours, this course could get extremely crowded. Keep eyes on the back of your head and watch out for other golfers crossing the fairway going to their next hole.

- The signage is a little confusing. Some holes have different signage than others and some holes don't even have signage at all. Have a map handy if you aren't familiar with the course.

- Not a course for long drives.

Other Thoughts:

It might be a little frustrating at first navigating the course, but after running through it once, the course is enjoyable. It's a quick play. It isn't hard to play this course in less than an hour, but it might take longer if the course is crowded. The wooded areas, out-of-bounds, and water hazards present precision and accuracy challenges. However, the lack of open areas or long corridors for long drive opportunities limit the courses variety. Overall though it's a good course.
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6 0
Golden Tuna
Bronze level trusted reviewer
Experience: 23.1 years 185 played 31 reviews
3.00 star(s)

Oldest Course in MO 2+ years drive by

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

Pros:

2 sets of tee pads, easy to navigate, trash cans everywhere, quick play, always someone around to play with, community center with bathrooms, running water and sells discs (even glo discs)

The Pro and Am tees give a little variety to a short course and changes the lines for each hole just enough to make it a new challenge. Since the course is so small, you can usually see the tee and pin for the next hole from your current hole, which makes it very easy to find your way around. The compact size also makes it ideal for for Ace Races and Glo rounds. There are almost always a lot of locals on site to show you around or for a pickup round.

Cons:

Can get very crowded during peak hours. Many of the holes criss cross, so you need to be watch your back.

Other Thoughts:

This is a good example of what disc golf used to be before disc manufacturers started selling warp speed discs. This is a great place to work out your mids and putters and develop a solid short game. This course is also a (local) historic landmark as it was the first disc golf course in Missouri, established in 1979
Traveler's Tips: The course starts off the lower parking lot behind the community center. There is a $1 fee for non-residents of Hazelwood.
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1 1
Broll
Experience: 10 played 10 reviews
2.50 star(s)

2+ years drive by

Reviewed: Played on:May 30, 2011 Played the course:2-4 times

Pros:

The course plays through a hilly wooded park with enough underbrush to punish poor drives but not enough to really eat discs. There is great elevation, and the course takes advantage of it on nearly every hole. Most play up or down the hills to add fun and challenge, and many have risky greens on hills or next to the large ravine running through the course.

Cons:

can get very slick with rain or wet conditions. very rough terrian.
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3 0
birdman101
Experience: 14.7 years 59 played 24 reviews
2.00 star(s)

watch out 2+ years drive by

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

Pros:

Short course for getting beginners started.

There are 2 sets of tees on most holes.

Disc golf only area of the park

The creek makes a nice risk reward type shot on most holes and requires accuracy.

Cons:

the 2 sets of tees dont add much change to the course. most barley add any distance to the holes, and some of the "pro" tees almost seem easier and the concrete pads are tiny

the creek that runs through most of the course has "dangerous" drop offs into that can be risky to climb up and down to retrieve an errant throw.

most of the signs are missing

Several baskets are close to each other, and other tees, so dont be surprised to have discs flying at you.

Any rain or snow makes this course a muddy swampy mess

Other Thoughts:

Several holes force a righty to throw a turnover or a forehand, which is a nice change of pace

hole 10 sticks out in my head. It is almost straight up hill but really short

Nothing super exciting here, but it is the oldest course in Missouri, so if you are in the area play it for that reason but there are other better courses near by.
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1 0
rah_b_7
Experience: 23.8 years 18 played 1 reviews
3.00 star(s)

Always a good time 2+ years drive by

Reviewed: Updated: Played on:Dec 23, 2012 Played the course:once

Pros:

All of the holes are short so you have a chance for birdie on every hole. And aces ( I've never gotten one )

Cons:

Muddy and gets really crowded sometimes

Other Thoughts:

Was the first course I ever played . Lots of good memories!!
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0 0
Mickdz
Experience: 16.2 years 26 played 1 reviews
3.00 star(s)

2+ years drive by

Reviewed: Played on:Aug 22, 2012 Played the course:5+ times

Pros:

technical course with easy right hook shots

All concrete tees some pro concrete tees

short course if speed golfing you can get a game in within 45 minutes

Cons:

To much power and you'll over shoot every hole

lots of trash please try picking something up

can become crowded in the after noon once school is out
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0 1
disclax33
Experience: 1 played 1 reviews
4.50 star(s)

My Home Course 2+ years drive by

Reviewed: Played on:May 28, 2012 Played the course:5+ times

Pros:

All of the holes are short so you always have the chance for an ace. Great shots to practice accuracy. Many holes are in the shade and there are several benches throughout the course.

Cons:

A creek runs through the course which isn't always fun to go get a disc out of. Deeper patches of woods sometimes make discs difficult to find but there are many conveinent trails and paths. It is a popular course so you occasionally have to wait on groups in front of you.

Other Thoughts:

The whole course is off in the woods and the majority of the people are friendly. The holes are located considerably close to each other so walking is not much of a problem.
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3 0
stubborn puppet
Silver level trusted reviewer
Experience: 13.2 years 48 played 27 reviews
1.50 star(s)

Aww. 2+ years drive by

Reviewed: Played on:May 29, 2011 Played the course:once

Pros:

It's Missouri's first DG course and you can certainly feel it's history while you play it ; ) It's a shady course (playing almost exclusively in the woods), so it is a good place to play when the days are hot. Nice place to play a retro-round with an original Frisbee... if you have that inclination because the holes are all under 250ft and mostly under 190. Several very challenging shots and physically dangerous hazards are threatening you with a real reason to keep your shots on the fairway and minimize reckless throws. I see where work has been done to help prevent the horrible run-off and muddy washouts (I'm not sure it was enough) and the concrete tees were welcome. The park itself seems very nice: community center, water-park and a really cool looking skate park.

Cons:

This course is, as hinted at before, short. All 18 combined are barely longer than most 9 hole courses in the area. When I went, it was really muddy and slippery (it had been over 2 days since the last rain). There was a creek that had washed out very badly to form a steep gully that was there to swallow your discs on at least 1/3 of the holes. I found the course layout to be very confusing for the most part. Most tees seemed to be missing a sign and half of the baskets were barely marked. The fairways were also too close together/overlapping to be safe, so watch you back and make sure you are aware of when other players are throwing.

Other Thoughts:

Just like others have said, there are signs everywhere telling you to pay $1.00 to play, but there was nobody there at either building to take any money.
This course honestly seems a little scary. While I was there, I literally saw a guy break his leg from slipping on mud that had washed out across some stairs and almost slipped and fell and hurt myself trying to recover my buddy's disc and my own from the gully. I also didn't especially appreciate listening to all the excessively loud profanity, suggestive comments and racist comments from the drunk biker guys who were partying it up on the course. It's just a shame, I wanted to have a good time here...
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3 0
peabody
Bronze level trusted reviewer
Experience: 21 years 55 played 34 reviews
3.00 star(s)

Beautiful it isn't, fun it is 2+ years

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

Pros:

Great use of limited space to make a neat 18 hole course. Concrete pads, two on most holes. DGA baskets. Great parking lot. Quick 18 hole times. Short quick and fun. Ace runs on almost every hole.

Cons:

Teepads are too short and some are hard to find.(Thanks for some locals showing us the way). Need better marked holes and maps or better teesigns. No cards and I hear it gets crowded with beer tossers and hippie-ights .
The ditch that runs through the course is pretty deep and had substantial water in it.

Other Thoughts:

Thanks to Red Army for showing me this great course that St. Louis should be proud to call one of it's own. Great varitey of shots even though you could probably go around here with a putter or a roc/buzzz.
Hole #16 is my favorite hole. Easy to get a 3 if you don't hit anything. You could come out of here with a 5 or a 6 too.
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5 0
mashnut
Diamond level trusted reviewer
Experience: 22.1 years 831 played 767 reviews
2.50 star(s)

Fun old school course 2+ years drive by

Reviewed: Played on:Sep 6, 2010 Played the course:once

Pros:

The course plays through a hilly wooded park with enough underbrush to punish poor drives but not enough to really eat discs. There is great elevation, and the course takes advantage of it on nearly every hole. Most play up or down the hills to add fun and challenge, and many have risky greens on hills or next to the large ravine running through the course. This makes it so that even on the easiest ace run holes you can end up in trouble. There is great variety of hole shapes here, despite the similar lengths it doesn't feel too repetitive.

The baskets are older, but in decent shape. The concrete tees are in good shape, with lots of work to keep erosion down around the pads. They are small, but that's not a big deal on the short holes here. The course is easy to follow, navigation is obvious and nearly all the holes are visible off the tee. There are alternate tees for some slightly different looks on some holes, a few of the long tees add a little bit of length which makes the course a little more challenging.

Cons:

This isn't a course that is going to test most players, or really work on different parts of your game. I carried my whole bag not knowing how short the course was, and didn't throw anything but a couple wizards. Many of the holes are under 200', and nearly all are under 250'. Erosion is a major issue here, on the fairways, around the baskets and tees, and on the paths between holes. With any rain, many places on this course would be really slick and tough to walk.

The signs are in pretty poor shape. Not a huge deal here, but it's a shame to see most vandalized, broken or missing. There are many signs about paying to play, but when I played there were no attendants, and the shop was closed, and I couldn't find a drop box for money. A few groups on the course had pretty poor etiquette, and locals told us that's a pretty usual thing here so you may want to play at less popular times.

Other Thoughts:

This is a really fun ace run course, and has a nice old school feel. If you want to work on approaches or play a great putter/superclass round, this is an excellent place to do it. Beginners will find the lengths very reasonable, there aren't too many places to lose a disc, and some shot shaping is required without too tight of lines. More experienced players will find the course extremely short and easy, good for some fun rounds but not anything that will test or challenge more than your approach game.
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7 0
notapro
Diamond level trusted reviewer
Premium Member
Experience: 20.7 years 568 played 281 reviews
3.00 star(s)

Beginner/Intermediate 2+ years

Reviewed: Played on:Sep 6, 2010 Played the course:once

Pros:

- Course is set in a very hilly piece of land that is teeming with hazardous areas. A creekbed and other steep dropoffs in general are in play on many of the holes. Lots of baskets are situated close to these areas, or on a fast green, to the point where distance can be more important than accuracy.
- Decent number of trees off the tee to force some line shaping, especially with some tricky mandos. Almost every hole has something to contend with, each a little different.
- Good elevation changes within the holes themselves, including a nice staircase shot and a blind basket down a hill. Very few flat fairways.
- Good teepads, decent baskets.

Cons:

- This course seriously suffers in length. It is crammed into a small area with half the holes under 200', and only two over 240'. Drivers only needed for trick shots, or short and steep hyzers.
- Lots of places where holes are dangerously close to each other, in a few different spots. Baskets, teepads, and fairways intertwine so a watchful eye is always needed.

Other Thoughts:

- Great deuce-or-die course that has a ton of different shots. The short length is offset by some very nasty and punishing slopes and other hazards; these short holes can become very long and even tougher without good shot placement off the tee. Creativity can be an important thing at times as well.
- Lots of spots where erosion is becoming a major factor. I would say it is good for the golf itself, but it could eventually become a problem for the older course.
- Could be a little tricky to navigate the first time through, with so many baskets and such around.
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0 3
urdone00
Experience: 43.9 years 136 played 15 reviews
2.50 star(s)

!st missouri course 2+ years drive by

Reviewed: Played on:Jun 14, 2010 Played the course:5+ times

Pros:

short and easy course that can be played in less than a hour. 2 sets of tees(but you only need to play the pro tess), with elevation changes on almost all the holes.

Cons:

for most players this is a putt and approach practice course. along with the cousre being short, the holes are pretty close to each other so PAYING ATTENTION is a must, or you will get hit.

Other Thoughts:

this course gets a ton of play, along with it being over 30 years old and it is getting played out.
thursday night league is one of the largest leagues in the area( 2 rounds of best shot doubles)
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6 0
discoholic
Experience: 15.8 years 123 played 8 reviews
2.50 star(s)

Welcome to Disc Golf 2+ years drive by

Reviewed: Played on:May 18, 2010 Played the course:5+ times

Pros:

This is a short course with some elevation change and well placed vegetation which provides a good mix of shots. Tee pads are 4' x 6' concrete, 2 on most holes. Mach III baskets. Lots of trash cans, that don't get used.

This course is great for introducing people to disk golf. It was my first. There are players of all skill levels at this course. It is a place where people learn and teach. My favorite part of White Birch is the atmosphere. You can easily get a pickup game. Usually there will be somebody with music that you can hear all around the course.

Cons:

You have to pay to play (sometimes), $1 or $.50 for residents. It is always crowded, and since some holes are close together you have to yell 4 a lot. The course is often muddy and there is a big erosion problem due to a lack of grass. The erosion is causing the loss of trees, pin placements and tee pads. The signs are inadequate, but it's not hard to navigate.

Other Thoughts:

There is a club house with disks, vending machines, toilets, etc.

If you pay to play, they will do maintenance.

They have a league on Thursday nights, the course is closed at 5:00 pm.

This course is from the 70's. If you find it too short, try it with a Frisbee or your putter.

Fun. Good Locals. 18 ace runs.
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