St. Petersburg, FL

Tocobaga DGC

3.45(based on 57 reviews)
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13 0
adlacro
Gold level trusted reviewer
Experience: 17.8 years 149 played 125 reviews
3.00 star(s)

Tocobaga

Reviewed: Played on:May 26, 2023 Played the course:2-4 times

Pros:

18 holes with easy to see red Chainstar Pro baskets in great condition. Course runs through a small city park offering a mix of left and right turning holes, a couple of tunnel shots, a couple of slightly more open holes, and a couple of ace runs, depending on pin position. Two tees (mostly concrete) on almost every hole, and most holes have two positions that are rotated. Orange arrows point the way towards the next teebox on the bottom of every basket. Plays fairly quickly. Bathrooms on site.

Cons:

Hole 6 did not have a sign when I played, and it took me a minute or two to realize it was on the path behind 5's basket by the marina entrance. A couple of holes do provide for a small, but recognizable chance for losing a disc. You can get cut easily by the saw palmettos, so just be cautious around them. Many solid holes, but no real one signature hole. Make sure to bring drinking water, as there is no potable water on the course.

Other Thoughts:

I enjoyed this course and would play it regularly if I lived in the area. The long pads offer a little more challenge without asking for a lot more trouble. My favorite hole was 18, with a small carry over a "bayou" (it really isn't that deep) and OB just off to the left and right. It's worth your time if you're going to be in the St. Pete area (right off the highway on the north side of the Skyway bridge).
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14 0
RollTide69
Experience: 3 played 1 reviews
4.00 star(s)

Fun Runs! drive by

Reviewed: Played on:Jan 31, 2023 Played the course:5+ times

Pros:

-A lot of great runs at baskets! There are about 5 holes where you can take a straight run at a basket depending on pin location.
-Challenging tree lines and overhangs.
-Beautiful views as it lies on the bay. Not many holes utilize this view, but it is nice to walk around before/after the round.

Cons:

-There are a few holes where you are essentially sending a prayer that you can find your disc. Hole 2 & 7 are both hidden in a jungle of plants and if you don't drop it within a few feet, you will be searching for your disc.
-There are multiple walkways to watch out for. Hole 3 flight path is over a road that is commonly traversed by cars and people. Multiple times throughout, you will be waiting for people to clear out to avoid any accidents.
-If it is your first time, you will have a hard time navigating the course. Hole 9 is back by the pad for 8. Hole 14 requires a walk back closer to hole 1. My first time it took a few tries to figure everything out.

Other Thoughts:

Definitely worth playing and practicing on. My usual course and somewhere I have taken beginners to play on the short pads.
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12 0
jtradz
Experience: 12.7 years 17 played 1 reviews
3.50 star(s)

Solid course 2+ years drive by

Reviewed: Updated: Played on:Nov 19, 2020 Played the course:5+ times

Pros:

Good varied hole styles - from dense woods to wide open.

Varied distances, even though all are Par 3

Beautiful park & scenery, plenty of shade.

Long, level concrete tees.

Easy to find and access course, map posted at hole 1.

Cons:

Long walks between holes with little signage. Take a picture of the course map up front!

Underbrush isn't consistently cleaned up - easy for discs to slide under downed palmetto branches. Beware Hole #7...

Susceptible to some marshiness - after heavy rains, #11 and #18 will take a while to drain. If there's enough rain it will affect some other holes as well.

Other Thoughts:

My most frequently played course, as I live minutes away. Very solid, but would not consider it a "destination" course, as there are better options in the Tampa Bay area. Throughout the course, beware of thick scrubby underbrush - easy for discs to slide out of sight.

Signature hole - #3, short but technical, with one basket location being the top of a stump, several feet off the ground. Punishes aggressive putts.

Hole #7 is sometimes VERY overgrown, DO NOT miss to the left. It will eat your disc.

I'd recommend all levels play with a spotter on #2 and #7. Beginners may want a spotter on #13, #15, #18, and perhaps more.
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11 0
JohnPSI
Bronze level trusted reviewer
Experience: 27.2 years 93 played 19 reviews
3.00 star(s)

Classic Florida course 2+ years

Reviewed: Played on:Nov 15, 2020 Played the course:5+ times

Pros:

This is a classic old school FL course. Sandwiched between I-275 and the water in St Petersburg, it offers convenience and amazing views of the bay, often with boats passing by. The course itself is more technical than bomber, set in mostly tightly wooded areas. It offers concrete blue and red tees and is not biased towards RHBH despite being an old design. Bathrooms, info kiosk, practice basket, a kids play area, pavilions and grills are all located by hole 1, which is also where you park. Signature hole is 3, located along the road to parking with an elevated basket on an old tree stump in the long position. I love to attack the short pin with a Firebird hyzer skip forehand off the road and disc up to an Invictus for the long. The course is mostly friendly to carts.

Cons:

Course is starting to show it's age. Many tee's are cracked, many signs are faded, and the baskets are nearing the end of their lifespan. Hole 11's basket has been obviously attacked by some angry gorilla and bent out of shape. The redesign took away a very gorgeous finishing hole 18 to protect sacred tribal areas. Almost nothing nearby in so far as commerce, so make sure you show up with all the food and beverages you need. Thieving palms and scrub palms will hide your disc on many holes, so keep sharp eyes on your shots. Mostly a short course, don't need much more than a fairway driver for most of the course. 14 can be obstructed by overflow parking from the boat ramp. 18 is kind of a mess; use a spotter if possible, avoid the water at all costs and be aware of ants on the green

Other Thoughts:

There's ongoing rumors of another redesign affecting holes 11, 12. Hopefully the baskets get replaced, I get at least one cut through or spit out a round. Aced #15 from the blue tee today with a DD Evidence :)
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1 3
athuff
Experience: 1 played 1 reviews
2.00 star(s)

Decent Course 2+ years drive by

Reviewed: Played on:Sep 12, 2020 Played the course:once

Pros:

-Great view of the bay
-Good restroom facilities

Cons:

-Some holes were underwater and unplayable.
-Many hole signs are illegible and no direction to each hole making it easy to get lost.
-VERY THINK groups of palmetto bushes all around some holes, very easy for beginner players to lose discs.
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9 1
nitron2097
Bronze level trusted reviewer
Experience: 14.2 years 13 played 12 reviews
3.50 star(s)

Finally went back! 2+ years drive by

Reviewed: Updated: Played on:Sep 10, 2020 Played the course:5+ times

Pros:

- You literally come off I-275, turn left or right, and you're in the park, and the course is easy to find once you're there thanks to signs indicating where to park.
- Very Florida course; lots of scrub palms, shots near the bay, and not a lot of water hazards on course.
- Picnic tables scattered throughout the course.
- New sings are pretty accurate and there are benches and bag racks on almost every hole.
- Plenty of parking at the start of the course.
- Park bathrooms are at the parking lot at the start of the course.
- Start of the course is located by other park playgrounds.
- Very accurate course map located by the tee for #1; take a picture of this map to help with navigation.
- Though a lot of the lines are tight, none of them feel impossible to hit.
- You do need a variety of shots on this course; there are a few good RHFH lines and even some overhand opportunities, especially on the first 3 holes.
- The course has been cleared quite a bit; I played here about four years ago and I remember the rough being much worse. They've done some work.
- The short tees are very beginner friendly and make some of the holes much easier for an inexperienced player.
- Lots of trees on course but I never really felt afraid of getting discs treed; the palms are mostly the taller variety and the oaks aren't overgrown.

Cons:

- Navigation is the biggest issue; the course was re-designed to keep historical areas segregated from foot traffic so the original layout had to be changed, and in several areas you not only have to cross the park roads but also backtrack or walk along other fairways; none feel particularly dangerous, but you do need to be aware.
- A walking path winds its way through the park and crosses a few holes and passes near several others.
- We did encounter a few people wandering around the park off said walking path across fairways, so just be aware of this possibility.
- If you're playing alone you might lose a disc or two in the underbrush; there are a lot of scrub palms and saw palmetto all over the course, and some of them are dense.
The course really only has a few wide open holes where you can let a drive loose; most of the shots are under 300 and are through tight gaps or over rough for the entire flight.
- Not a ton of canopy for cover, so if its sunny you might need sunscreen or an umbrella.
- We played two months into the dry season and some areas by the mangroves were still a touch mucky, so in the summer some holes can be downright swampy.
- Bugs on a course like this will be horrific in the summer; if you play then bring bug spray.
- No bathrooms or fountains out on the course and the course doesn't return to the lot until the end so be prepared.
- Not much food in the immediate area of the course.
- Some of the greens are very small and you could throw what you think is a great drive or upshot and end up with a short but obstructed putt.

Just an observation more than a con - I really don't like #18. The hole is a short poke and hope shot with two blind basket locations across a murky pond filled with absolutely rank, sludgy water. This is the hole that replaced the original #18 that ran along the beach and finished on a point by the bay, and....yeah, no. The course really has no signature hole anymore and wish that this could be fixed.

Other Thoughts:

Nothing really makes this course stand out all that much. It definitely feels to me like a "local course" rather than a "go out of your way to play" type course. It is one of the older courses in Tampa Bay but other courses - especially Picnic Island - now outshine this one.
Have extra discs when you come here and try to play with friends; spot each other's throws. It is easy to lose a shot in all this scrub palm.
But I definitely have a better game than when I played here before.

Some specialty shots I threw:
Thumbers on 1, 2, and 3; #1 is shaped perfectly for a RHTh, and for #2 and #3 it was just my most accurate shot.
Sidearm roller on #5; I just felt like this would get the most distance and it did.
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6 0
MrFrosty
Diamond level trusted reviewer
Experience: 31 years 764 played 386 reviews
3.50 star(s)

Solid Exotic Course 2+ years drive by

Reviewed: Played on:Oct 15, 2019 Played the course:once

Pros:

Tocobaga Disc Golf Course sits in Maximo Park right off of I-275 in St Pete . This 18 hole course has apparently undergone many improvements in its 18 year existence . There is a nice Kiosk at the entrance to the course with a nice map on it . Make sure you take a picture of this or copy a map on DGR or you will wander around a bit . There are nice blue Mach 2 baskets on the course , along with a blue striped am cement tee and a red striped cement pro tee . There are also multiple pin positions per hole . The signage is first rate , with colorful pictures describing the hole . Bathrooms are near hole 1 , Basket hanging poles and benches are throughout the course , along with trash cans . The park was clean and mowed when I was there . The course will remind you that you are playing in Florida on every hole , with your typical rough that looks like the top of a pineapple , but on steroids . Many palm trees also grace the course . This course plays mostly tight and technical , flush with low ceiling shots , tunnel tosses and throws to baskets that sit in high rough with almost no green . I think I played victim to this on hole 2 , and I think hole 7 . The course is a thinking players game and requires a variety of different shots . Water really only comes into play on maybe hole 13 , behind and alongside the right of the fairway .The course is flat , somewhat shaded and not overly long , so your body won't take such a beating on it . The course must be a crowd pleaser with the locals as there were a good number of groups here on a late Tuesday afternoon when I was playing . Navigation is tricky in spots , especially in the first 6 or 7 holes . The locals seemed nice and pointed the problem areas to me . There are some next tee signs that help somewhat . It took me over an hour to play the course solo . Try not to play this course solo , or you WILL look for your disc on occasion .A fun play , as long as you don't leave with less discs than you came with . A great finishing hole , #18 , a drive coming out of the brush and trees through a narrow passageway to the basket , looking like it is almost impossible to get through for a putt . Signature hole , Maybe #11 , 436' that you have to drift your drive right , hoping you don't hit the fairway trees in front ..

Cons:

#1 . Disc Risk . medium to high . There are plenty of opportunities to lose your disc in the rough here . Playing without a group exposes you to looking for discs thrown to blind shot baskets , especially in the first several holes . Make sure you follow the flight path after letting go of your drive if and when you can . #2 Navigation . The navigation here can be tough . Transitions like 2-3 and 4-5 and looking for 6's tee pad . Also , trying to find the pin positions of some of the blind holes was a problem . The course plays pretty flat .

Other Thoughts:

A beautiful park with a solid course , I left impressed with the overall experience . The easiest 18 hole course to get to from an interstate , I came off the exit ramp and was opening up my car trunk to get my bag within a couple of minutes . Deceptively challenging , the course displays a certain fun factor to it , too . Once you start to walk this course , you will know you are in Florida. Palm trees , water , boats nearby , flat .can be windy . All there to remind you why you came . My recommendation : Not a good newbie or 2 disc local , unless either want to go hole with half their allotment of discs gone . Very good for local enthusiasts , intermediates , pros , and especially travelers looking to couple this course up with the many that are close by . Link up with one of the many players here and Just PLAY IT !!!
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3 2
swed
Experience: 2 played 2 reviews
4.00 star(s)

2+ years

Reviewed: Played on:Jun 16, 2018 Played the course:once

Pros:

Beautiful park. Very technical, have to hit your line to score well. Tropical plants and plenty of Palm trees. Plenty of shaded areas to get out of the sun, 94 degrees when I played.

Cons:

Flat

Other Thoughts:

I played a handicapped league at 10 a.m. on a Saturday. Locals were very nice and accomadating.
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11 0
The Valkyrie Kid
Diamond level trusted reviewer
Experience: 45.9 years 1563 played 1507 reviews
3.50 star(s)

Exotic Flora At A Well Designed Course, 2+ years

Reviewed: Played on:Jan 15, 2018 Played the course:once

Pros:

I'm most impressed with Tocobaga DGC. The lovely, lush park sits just off I-275. It's filled with all these lush tropical plants which is awesome for the most part. The park is just a visual treat with beautiful vegetation and it's scenic views from it's beaches to the vistas over the bay waters.

The recent upgrades (2016) are first class all the way. Start with the park signs leading you to the course's start. A excellent kiosk complete with course map, is helpful. The tee signs are top notch showing all the information you'll be needing plus great tidbits on the Tocobaga Indian Tribe who once roamed this area. The signs show both the blue and red distances plus the long and short are those holes. They also show the next tees. There are next tee signs throughout although my playing partner and I must have missed the next tee sign at # 2, as we struggled to find the third tee. I loved the blue and red lines on the tee pads indicating which pad you're throwing from. I also liked that there were some holes with only one pad. The shorter red tees were sometimes 100' shorter. I brought my son-in-law who has only played a few times and the shorter reds were a nice fit for his game. There are benches on most every hole and plenty of garbage cans.

The course is very technical in places, more open on others holes and features a nice variety of distances and left-right-straight shots. There are a couple of holes where the thick palm bushes may make finding your discs an adventure. Playing with a novice this morning, we never spent more than a minute looking for our discs and managed not to lose any.

Cons:

The thick palm bushes could easily suck in your disc never to be seen again.

We had a difficult time finding the # 3 tee but after talking about it, I'm willing to bet we missed the next tee sign which might have been obscured by the palms.

I agree with a previous reviewer that this is probably not a course you'd want to play solo.

Two holes played down streets or paths. There is a walking path which meanders throughout the course but it wasn't' a problem.

We did have to walk up quite a few holes trying to locate the basket positions.

Other Thoughts:

Excellent course, great for most players. Hole # 12 could be exciting with the river so close behind the basket. From the red tees which we played today, I'd call this an easy recreational course. From the blues, I think it would probably be an difficult rec course. Either way, I really enjoyed my round here. It's so tropical with all the palms and exotic plants. It shouts "Florida" to me.
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4 1
Pockets
Experience: 8.8 years 4 played 2 reviews
2.50 star(s)

First time playing disc golf in FL 2+ years drive by

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

Pros:

- Nice signs
- Multiple tee pads / baskets
- In the shade about 50% of the time
- No bugs when I was there

Cons:

- Very flat
- I'm probably just not used to it (I'm from the northeast), but some of the plants in play on a few holes seem like you will never get your disc back, playing solo for the first time I just had to skip a few holes
- Old rusty baskets

Other Thoughts:

If this is what it's like to play disc golf in FL, anyone that likes this would love playing in New England, it's almost a different game. I craved being able to throw down or up a hill and also not have to worry so much about palm trees.
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8 1
fasteddy8170
Experience: 13.3 years 28 played 4 reviews
4.00 star(s)

New pads, new signs, great course 2+ years drive by

Reviewed: Played on:Dec 26, 2016 Played the course:5+ times

Pros:

--New short and long cement pads as of 12/18/2016.
--New beautiful tee signs with correct lengths, holes numbers, and directions to next tee as of 12/24/2016.
--equal number of lefty and righty holes. Doesn't favor one side over the other.
--Scenic location.
--Usually not crowded.
--Nice facilities--bathrooms and water spigots in picnic area.
--nice mixture of long and short holes.
--easy to get to--right off the I-275. Course can seen from the highway.

Cons:

--the only negative is that the course can eat discs due to the brush. It's best to play the course in a group so you can have spotters for holes such as 2, 7, 13, and 17. And frankly, if you lose a disc there, you hardly ever get it back--not sure who finds them and keeps them.

Other Thoughts:

I love the course because it's going to test everything in your game from distance to control, hyzers and anhyzers. If you get on a run, the average player has a great chance to shoot under par. But if you're off, this course will put you into the 60's real fast.

My only hole in one is on this course: #9 with a Champion Leopard.

Favorite holes (I'm a lefty): 7, 8, and 9.
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8 2
wellsbranch250
Diamond level trusted reviewer
Experience: 10.2 years 652 played 631 reviews
3.00 star(s)

Accurately Beautiful 2+ years

Reviewed: Updated: Played on:Sep 26, 2017 Played the course:5+ times

Pros:

(3.089 Rating) (REVISED - replayed September 2017) A beautiful course that will test your accuracy.
- CHARACTER - Major upgrades were made to Tocobaga in Dec 2016. Brand new and absolutely beautify signs designed by Jason Zahara. They have a pirate theme to them, which is fitting for the Tampa Bay Area with all its pirate festivals. See the designs for yourself under the media tab. In addition, it seems like more seating was added and it's on almost every hole now. In addition, you'll also find 7 extra hole sleeves, numerous bag holders, numerous tables, shelters, restrooms, a drinking fountain and a practice basket. After finishing (18), walk 200 west toward the water. There are three shelters with scores of picnic tables and beautiful views. A great way to end a round.
- TEES - Brand new concrete tees as of Dec 2016. They are adequately long and wide. 15 of the holes have two tee pads and nearly all of them are shaded.
- CHALLENGING - Not the most challenging course in the Tampa Bay region, but if you can't throw very straight, you will be severely handicapped. The holes are fairly short from the back tees at around 5,100 feet. The front tees will subtract both a good amount distance and difficulty. Advanced players should break par from the backs on a routine basis while intermediate players should break par on occasion.
- UNIQUENESS - The overall uniqueness is about average or a bit above your average 18 hole course. to start, the holes finish in a near even mix of all three ways, straight, left and right. There is a very challenging dog-leg par 3 on hole (14). Hole (2) is an over top play. There are numerous tight tunnel fairways, a few blind shots and a few mandos. The biggest missing item at Tocobaga is elevation, with no hole varying tee to basket by more than 5 feet. Also missing is a par 4, par 5, and a true open hole. Only one or two good opportunities to let one rip as well. Note, there is water on a few holes (12), (13) and (18) but it really doesn't come into play on the first two. As for (18), if it hasn't rained in a while, the hole can be dry. However, if it has rained a lot, (18) can flood quite a bit.
- NATURAL BEAUTY - The overall course beauty is well above average. There are a couple holes that are less than to be desirable with roads in play on holes (3), (6) and (14), but the course more than makes up for it on a bunch of other holes. My personal favs for beauty are holes (11), (12) and (18). I've posted new pictures for the course, check them out under the media tab.
- CHILL AREAS - Lots of secluded areas along the layout and a bunch of picnic tables as well.
- LOCATION - Super easy to get to from I275. Literally like two minutes from exit 16 to the course.
- QUICKER PLAY - A single could easily complete a full 18 in under 75 minutes. Groups of four would probably finish in under two and a half hours.

Cons:

I have a couple of concerns with Tocobaga, and the rest are just ticky-tack things.
- FORGIVENESS - This course will test the placement of your shots. Being off your mark by a few feet sometimes isn't good enough. In addition, if/when you a hit tree, the resulting punishment is sometimes more than one throw. I've had to make pitchouts several times in a direction farther away from the basket. Also note, this course is littered with palms. They will steal your disc if you land on top.
- OVERGROWTH - Tocobaga has arguably the most dense vegetation in all of Tampa Bay. Couple that with tight fairways and grounds full of palmetto bushes, you can assume that you'll be looking for your disc at some point. Holes (2) and (7) are especially bad and I advise using spotters on those holes at a minimum.
- NAVIGATION - It will be tricky in a bunch of spots so I don't advise playing your first time here as a single. I made a map of the course and posted it under the links/files tab . The course does generally do a good job with next tee arrows after you finish a hole, but there are gaps in directions, and a bunch of hole transitions are well over 200 feet.
- SPACING - There are a couple of minor spacing issues. The walk to tee (5) crosses the middle of (18) fairway. On hole (6), the back tee is located about twenty feet past basket (5). Tee (8) and (9) is a double back condition where if you park your drive on (8), you can carry your bag 40 feet to drop at tee (9).
- TIME WAITING - This Park gets heavy use and has a bunch of walking paths and roads that will affect your play. Rarely will one play a round here and not have to stop and wait at some point.
- CHAINS - The baskets were brand spanking new in December 2016 and they are already rusting. Also not my favorite style of basket as the chains on these Mach New 2's are a bit light.
- DRAINAGE - 85% percent of the course drains really good. However during the rainy season (Summer and early Fall) the course will flood in spots. Hole (11) and (18) will be the first to have standing water but i've also seen standing water on (8 and 9) as well.

Other Thoughts:

A wonderful update during December 2016. My metrics rating of the course shot up quite a bit due to the revision at that time. Tocobaga is not for everyone's tastes. If you like wide open courses I'd suggest checking out Azalea, which is a shorty course in St Pete, or 22nd Street, a long course in Tampa. I also don't recommend bringing beginners here. Way too many trees for arms not adjusted to a precise release point. As for recreational thru advanced players who like technical courses. Those players should very much enjoy this one.
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1 2
Shermanator
Experience: 8.7 years 7 played 1 reviews
3.00 star(s)

Maximo to the max 2+ years drive by

Reviewed: Played on:Nov 20, 2015 Played the course:once

Pros:

Had a bunch of fun playing this course. This is a course that will make you use your whole bag!

Cons:

-Course is not beginner friendly!

- Hard to navigate, i would try to link up with a local or a friend who has played a few time's.

- I loved almost every hole, but there were many spots that were worn, aged, and overgrown.

- Course could use a makeover

-You need a spotter on half of the holes if you don't want to lose your prized discs!

Other Thoughts:

At the end of the day if you already are familiar with the sport that we all love! Then this is a course you should check out. But in my opinion this course is not worth a road trip.
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9 1
thrembo
Diamond level trusted reviewer
Premium Member
Experience: 48.9 years 242 played 194 reviews
3.50 star(s)

Finally The Course I New She Could Be

Reviewed: Updated: Played on:Jun 17, 2016 Played the course:5+ times

Pros:

This course has matured now and has settled in nicely. most of the negatives that have plagued this course over the years are gone leaving a mostly short to mid-length technical style course set in a scenic coastal Florida environment. The course is much more pleasant to play now than in years before and still maintains its chill vibe.

Cons:

Most of the old-school negs are gone. The course has nice tee pads now and proper signage. The layout seems to be finalized and set. A lot of the "palmetto hell" patches of rough have been thinned out. Navigation is getting there with a lot of new next tee signs being added.

So what keeps the rating down a little? There are holes that throw dangerously close to roads and sidewalks. There are still some difficult navigational transitions. There are always nonthrowing randoms on the course. The course is a little on the short side, which is a con for some.

Other Thoughts:

I've watched this course evolve since day one and now would feel confident recommending it to others to play. It's come a long way and is becoming historical in nature. It used to be a love it or hate it kind of course but I think that most folks would at least like it now.
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1 0
Leftytemper
Experience: 1 played 1 reviews
3.50 star(s)

Tough on First timers 2+ years drive by

Reviewed: Played on:Sep 6, 2015 Played the course:once

Pros:

Very technical and challenging. While I have seen some people comment on the courses length and not being able to fire off bombs from the tee, that's not what this course is all about. Every disc will be utilized and you need to think strategy on each hole. Very few gimme holes, maybe hole number 2.

Cons:

For a first timer this course is (to put it very politely) navigationally challenging. I was very frustrated trying to find baskets and the tee signs are ambiguous and outdated. This course reminds me of the original Gordon Barnett Park.

Other Thoughts:

I look forward to playing this now that I know where the baskets are and the nuances of the course. It just needs a tweak of TLC on navigation and signage. Real good course
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3 4
jnicola
Experience: 14 played 14 reviews
1.50 star(s)

Happy brush hunting... 2+ years drive by

Reviewed: Played on:Apr 25, 2015 Played the course:once

Pros:

If you're an amazing player with great long distance placement shots, this place could be enjoyable.

Cons:

Poor signage. All very faded or damaged.

Plays near roadways and spaces occupied by people, making precision shots that much more difficult.

Lots of natural growth all over. Lost discs can be recovered, but... less than enjoyable.

Other Thoughts:

This course is definitely not worth the trip to. If there are other options in town, go check them out cause this isn't worth the trip.
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2 1
EWSdiscgolf
Experience: 10.6 years 89 played 28 reviews
3.50 star(s)

Not your everyday course 2+ years drive by

Reviewed: Played on:Feb 14, 2015 Played the course:once

Pros:

- The course has a lot of beautiful tight lines, and it makes it a good challenge.
- Teepads are good quality and baskets are also good quality
- There is good variety of short and long holes
- Course requires hyzer and anhyzer lines. It makes you use your hole bag
- Course is very shaded and the sea breeze keeps things a little cooler
- Lots of friendly disc golfers and non golfers
- Even though it was tight and thick, discs were very findable
- Course had a high fun factor IF you are already familiar with disc golf. I would not say that it is beginner friendly.

Cons:

The only really big con is the navigation. After holes 1 to 4, there is no guide to hole five. Turns out its to the right and over a bridge. But, you will not see this. There were several areas of confused navigation, and also wrong number baskets for different holes. The signs were helpful at times, and non existent at others. Since I enjoyed the course I tend to agree, however, there is a high level of first time frustration if you do not play with a person who has been there. Also another con is the bad tee signs. They were wrong and the distances were way off from the website.

Other Thoughts:

Tocobaga has thick vegetation in spots, but rewards a good shot. It's just a decent course with a unique feel. Nothing as special as Cliff Stevens or Taylor Park. It's right near a densely populated area, but still feels super quiet. If you're making a trip to the Tampa area put this one on your play list.
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4 0
Shade Seeker
Experience: 19.7 years 111 played 10 reviews
4.00 star(s)

A Little Slice of Florida Paradise 2+ years drive by

Reviewed: Played on:Jan 20, 2015 Played the course:5+ times

Pros:

Maximo park is a gorgeous setting for disc golf. The course design makes excellent use of the terrain. I've played other Florida courses that got repetitive because every hole is carved from the jungle. At Maximo, there's an even balance of jungle holes and park type holes. That variety is one of the best features of the course. In regard to lefty verses righty holes, I count 9 holes that call for straight drives, 6 holes that call for right turning drives and 3 that call for left turning drives. There are no elevation changes and water only comes into play on the last hole. Risk and reward has mostly to do with clumps of palmettos rather than baskets near water or on steep hillsides. There are two concrete tee pads (long and short) on every hole and two basket positions on most of them. There are plenty of benches and adequate signs.

One of my favorite characteristics of the course is that it forced me to use discs and shots I don't use much in the Midwest. In particular, I used a lot more sidearm shots, many of them on finesse type approach shots. I even used a few rollers.

No particular hole stands out as a signature hole. Some of my favorites were: #5, a tough journey through the jungle; #11, a long park-style hole where you can let your drive rip; #18, where a mossy lagoon forces you to choose between laying up and going for the basket.

Cons:

As mentioned often by reviewers here, navigation is a major issue your first time through the course. The tee pads were too short for me. This especially caused me problems on #16. I didn't care for hole #14. You have to cross a road on your drive, but there are small pine trees lining the road that make crossing more a matter of luck than skill. Even if you carry the road, you are often lacking a path to approach the basket on your second shot.

Other Thoughts:

I played Maximo over 20 times during the months of December and January. It's a great everyday course that continued to challenge me every time.
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8 0
jjw4ucm
Silver level trusted reviewer
Experience: 10.7 years 37 played 30 reviews
3.50 star(s)

Beautiful Pinellas course! 2+ years drive by

Reviewed: Updated: Played on:Jan 17, 2022 Played the course:2-4 times

Pros:

UPDATE 1/17/2022: Replaying this course after 7 years was a blast. It's a very unique round, in a beautiful park, with enough varied shots to keep things interesting. Probably one of the most technical courses in the area.

As long as you have a spotter, I thought it was pretty beginner friendly. There aren't really any long bombs out here, and very limited water hazards.

Tee pads are in nice condition as well; ample parking is available and it's still a blast to play. Original review from 2014 follows:
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First off, this course is gorgeous! The setting is beautiful and the nature is a blast to play in. Palms and Spanish Moss everywhere, with a beach nearby and lots of other pretty flora and fauna.

Super easy to get to and in a pretty park right at the southern tip of Pinellas County.

I really liked the shot over the trees on hole 2, and appreciate the flag on top of the basket. I'd have had no idea where I was throwing without it.

Signage was very pretty and interesting; wooden signs are a new one for me and they were very attractive (more on them later!). UPDATE 1/17/2022 - they've replaced the signs with more traditional ones. They do have interesting trivia about the Tocobaga natives that used to call this place home.

The brush and rough here was prevalent and more notable than a lot of the other courses I've played in Tampa Bay, but I wouldn't call it overwhelming. I didn't find it too horrible to play around and it was generally more fun than frustrating.

Bathrooms, trash facilities, and parking are readily accessible at the start of the course, always a plus. The neighborhood appeared to be pretty decent as well.

Park was well maintained when I got there. Fairways were mowed, rough was in control, and trash seemed picked up. Course felt very tidy for the most part. I should note I played in November, so standing water and crowds weren't as much of a concern.

This course had a certain "charm" about it that really does help to cover up at least some of its other flaws. It was a very different experience than many of the other courses around Tampa Bay that I've played and honestly, that alone was worth the stop, in spite of the following issues.

Cons:

UPDATE 1/17/2022: I finally replayed this course after seven years. One con that I will add is that there are a LOT of sneaky lost disc opportunities in the saw palmettos out here. I would highly recommend a spotter.

Baskets are still in okay condition, but noticeably older and less "grippy" than those at the newer courses like Picnic Island. Original review from 2014 follows...
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NAVIGATION! I never did find 5, 10, or 14, and the map at the start of the course was useless and appeared to be out of date. Generally I don't have a problem getting around even on some of the more navigationally-challenged courses, but the flow here was bizarre and the navigational aids that were present did nothing to help. I still thoroughly enjoyed my round but this is a glaring flaw that would be fairly easy to fix with an accurate, up-to-date map. UPDATE 1/17/2022 - they have put a better map up, but I would have still struggled without my UDisc app.

On several holes you are throwing directly at parking lots, near shelters, over roads, across walking paths, etc. I expect this to some extent at many parks, but it's taken to an extreme here and you have to be really careful to watch for pedestrians and cars, or you'll damage someone's property or hurt them.

Not a whole lot of long bomb opportunities here really, most of the holes seemed fairly short.

The wooden signs, although delightful, don't really show you much info and are somewhat worn. There are "NEXT TEE" signs scattered around, but they are also mostly unhelpful. The baskets also mostly have the wrong numbers on them. UPDATE 1/17/2022: The signs have also been replaced and are better now. Baskets are still numbered incorrectly.

Other Thoughts:

UPDATE 1/17/2022: I think most of my comments still stand up. The course is a very fun, unique play, not only because of the setting, but due to the layout and shot types. It's a whole different experience and I greatly enjoyed it. I'll definitely be back more in the future.

I did leave this at a 3.5. The navigation isn't as big of a deal with the aid of smartphone apps. This is an old course that's behind some of the "A-list" courses in the area like Picnic Island and Cliff Stephens, but it is charming, fun, unique and worth a stop.

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I feel like you'll either love or hate this course. I fall in the "love" category, but I have to be objective and rate it as a disc golf course first, park second. Bottom line is, it's a pretty setting and has charm about it. However, the layout is not perfect, and navigation is downright horrendous.

If you can enjoy the nature and other factors that make this course fun, I would recommend it. If you'll get frustrated at having to hunt around for the next tee and at times spotty signage, skip it. Happy discing!
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8 2
S.Cann
Gold level trusted reviewer
Experience: 14.9 years 156 played 82 reviews
4.00 star(s)

Sabal Palms and a Unique Disc Golf Experience 2+ years drive by

Reviewed: Played on:Mar 6, 2014 Played the course:once

Pros:

-This course just has an incredibly unique feel to it. It offers a unique set of challenges that you don't see often.
-There are several holes (2 and 7 are the primary ones) that throw over short Palm Tree-like vegetation that varies in height from 2-5ft. Although this can be a deterrent for some, it's a new/interesting challenge.
-The course feels secluded.
-Dual tees and extra pin placements on almost every hole.
-Carved wooden signs on every hole
-Good mix of distances. Holes range from 220-450 from the Blues and offers the white tees as an option for newer players.
-This course is amazing beautiful. I enjoyed walking around almost as much as the DG itself.
-In order to score well here you have to have a variety of shots mastered as Tocobaga places a premium on accuracy.

Cons:

-The flow is somewhat off here. You definitely want a guide your first time out as there are some challenging transitions (Hole 4 to Hole 5 and Hole 13 to Hole 14).
-There are some rough spots where it may be easy to lose a disc.
-Impassable marsh on a couple of holes require you to walk a little bit off the beaten path to avoid it.
-Walking path runs through the course and may slow you down in spots.
-Tees could be a bit longer.

Other Thoughts:

Tocobaga has thick vegetation in spots, but rewards a good shot it's just an overall amazing course with a unique feel. It's right near a densely populated area, but still feels isolated. If you're making a trip to the Tampa area put this one on your must-play list.
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