A pleasant short course grafted onto a park with a walking trail


+ The layout uses the space of a wooded creekside park really well. It's a bit compromised by the walking path, but if you're playing off-hours that won't be an issue


+ A few really nice holes: #1 is largely open, but pick through some trees at a visible green (that looks closer than the 330' marked). #2 give you a choice of two alleys


+ After playing a lot of holes along the walking trails, the course closes really well, with #8 and #9 being progressively more wooded - and #9 is entirely wooded, away from the rest of the park traffic

- Due to trees and brush encroaching over the years, the mando route on hole #4 has become a little narrow compared to the picture on this site. A hard right turn is required, and I don't think that was the original intention of the design


- Likely to be very wet and muddy after rains

~ Course amenities summary: Very good signage, poured tees, baskets are fine, intuitive layout, very cart-friendly. First tee is visible from the parking lot. Layout is a loop.


~ The park was here first. The walking trail was here first. Disc golf is a relative newcomer, so it had to be laid out on top of what was already there. And I think the designers did an excellent job


~ Easy play, but not easy in the sense of baskets-in-an-open-park-easy. You have to be able to throw some lines, and more than half the holes are in the 300'+ range. So it's not for the greenest of beginners. But as soon as somebody's getting a bit of control, this is a great nine hole course

It's good for a quick roundBunch of different shotsGood for short shots

Not very maintained Not good for a large group to play

To be honest, cannot think of any except its a disc golf "course."

Everything. Missing baskets, missing teepads and signs. Each hole is mostly the same shot, 250-300' FH. Barely maintained. Just go to Hotel Hershey or Shank Park and don't even give this one a thought.

There is potential here.

The Schiavoni Disc Course plays along the Swatara River Trail on a fairly thin piece of property that lies between the river and the parking lot. The trail comes into play a few times and the mighty Swatara is ever present on your right side for holes 2-6. This property is river front and would be soggy for part of the year.

The course is easy to navigate as it basically plays in a loop, five out and then the final four playing back towards the start and the small parking lot.

There is a small kiosk at the beginning with some basic information. There is a small plastic mailbox for maps but alas, it was empty. Hole # 1 starts right at the parking lot and plays 339' toward the river. The pads are nice sized concrete ones and the tee signs are small composite material, colored with a map. The baskets are Discatchers with the yellow band.

Hole length range from 223' to 339'. The course mostly follows the walking path so you may have to wait for walkers.

Excellent use of Mandos on holes 4 and 6. # 6 would be a routine 255' hyser but having to go left around the tree makes this hole much more interesting. The Mando on # 6 definitely makes this hole more interesting as well as more challenging.

Being in a river bottom area, this course will often be wet. Today, the # 6 basket was basically in standing water, and this is late April. Holes 2-5 all have the river on your right and then 6 has swampy water just beyond the basket and # 7 has the swamp later to the right. If you don't have good control of your disc, one will like,y end up in the water somewhere on this course. # 3 plays down the walking path. This river bottom land is not the prettiest setting for a disc golf course.

Unless you like playing Russian Roulette with your discs, this might not be the course of choice for you. If you throw with your left hand and you are a recreational type player, I urge you to play elsewhere.

I applaud the course designer in his work bringing another disc golf course on board. I compliment him on his excellent use of Mandos. Designing and building a course on this piece of land with it's limited potential took some doing.

No easy holes with forehand and backhands a must. Great use of the space provided in park which is limited. Fairways and greens are mowed frequently. Quick 9 holes you can get in at 30 minutes or less.

The rough is wicked. Off the fairway and you could only have option to just pitch out if you're lucky.
After any substantial rain some holes are unplayable for a few days.
Walking path plays on most holes but nothing could be done about that as those are areas that are mowed.

No special trip for this 9 hole course but worth if you're in the area and want to get a quick 9 in. Won't be quick if you do not stay on fairway and greens.

New DISCatcher baskets - all baskets visible from tees. Tee signs on every home. Cement pads. Good variety in shapes of fairways - starts with an open fairway which I like as a starter. Winds through the park and gets a little more "busy" on each hole. Definitely some fun. Attractive park with plenty of parking. Port-a-potty on site. Navigation is easy. Locals were friendly and curious.

Short - they are all truly par 3s although the pros would get many 2s. The path wasn't that heavily used on a Saturday afternoon but there were several dog walkers, a jogger, and a couple of kids on bikes. Some of the shule has thorns. Only one pin and one tee position on each hole.

Just a routine nice little course. If I lived nearby, I'd probably play it weekly with my pals. But nothing worth a special trip.

I had a little trouble finding the 8th tee pad it's back out by the main path on the other side. I realized that I walked right past it on my way down the front 5 but had forgotten it. Stay to the right and wind around the park and it's easy to follow. The first reviewer's descriptions were very helpful.

Good level of difficulty for the average to above average player compared to other 9-hole courses. No holes that are too easy. Tight fairways that require a good tee shot landing or you are in the rough. This course truly rewards good shots and punishes bad ones for every hole. This may be a con for some players, definitely for beginners, while others will appreciate the learning curve offered here.

The three biggest cons are problems with the park grounds and not problems of course design:
Too many unleashed dogs.
Lots of prickers and thorns bordering the fairways which need to be removed, some entire areas where it may be difficult to play from or to retrieve a disc; makes course very unforgiving for bad shots, long tee shots that miss, or beginners.
Since the course is next to the Swatara Creek some holes may have flooding, standing water areas, and muddy spots, especially after heavy rains and in the winter months.

The township groundskeepers do a great job of mowing around the paved path and the fairways. Currently this course requires some patience that, understandably, many won't have to get them to come back a second time. Hopefully the township (or local players) will be able to solve some of its physical problems in the future. My above course rating is based on optimal conditions: playing when course is mowed and has no current water issues.
For first timers and players new to disc golf: this course is rougher than most, and will not be to everyones liking, probably too rough for the first time frisbee thrower. Wearing long pants helps. Play the course at least once before throwing your longest shots. Use care when retrieving bad shots, watch for thorns (especially at eye level), poison ivy, and stinging nettle. Have your name, phone, and email on the disc. Brightly colored easy to see discs are best (bright pink/red/orange is best, kiss green goodbye). If you find a disc with a name it can be dropped at the local bike shop (In Gear), a short walk up the stone path from the parking area.

Best played within a week of mowing during the summer months.
It's possible to access the creek in the warmer months to wash hands or cool off.
No drinking water available in the park.
Summer weekends will have many boaters putting into the creek which will affect starting at hole #1.

The course layout is great. If the path was not in this park, this course would be great. Holes 8 and 9 go into the woods and take the path out of play.

Most of the course follows near the walking/biking path through the park. There are a few tees that you can't really see the path from the tee, hole 1 especially.

Brief layout as it was designed. All Par 3.

Hole 1 - Straight slightly downhill shot toward creek, basket sits on other side of jogging path.

Hole 2 - Really tight fairway along the side of the creek and the basket is guarded by a tree.

Hole 3 - Long straight shot down fairway with the basket tucked in on the right. Jail on right side of fairway, dont bring your shot in to early.

Hole 4 - This is the first mando. Play your shot to the left of the first tree, away from the joggers and bikers. The basket sits directly behind the 3 guardian trees another 120 feet down the fairway.

Hole 5 - The longest hole at 338. Dont over drive it. The creek is about 20-30 ft behind the basket. Beginners should play for the fairway.

Hole 6 - Mando to the left of this crazy tree, with an extreme right dog leg.

Hole 7 - This is a long straight shot along the left side of the jogging path, be aware of the swamp on the right side of the jogging path.

Hole 8 - Into the woods, there are lines on both sides of the tree infront of you. There is plenty of open area to place your drive for a run at the basket for a 2.

Hole 9 - There is a tight fairway for 9 with a lot of undergrowth, stay on fairway.