(2.055 Rating) A typical Indiana niner with a couple par 4s.
- TWO TEES - One of the nicest features about Donner Park DGC is the two tee aspect. I like it when courses have the curtesy to try and appeal to multiple skill level groups. For my round here, I chose the 2,200 foot short layout due to time considerations, but would likely more often throw the 3,100 foot long layout if I lived in town. The short tees seemed to be perfect for MA4s and Beginners, while the long tees were more appropriate for MA3s and MA2s. I'm sure those in town would sometimes throw both sets to get 18 different looks.
- BASKETS - MachVII chains are present, and they are quickly becoming one of my favorite basket styles. They look fantastic and they catch what they should.
- BEGINNER FRIENDLY - Donner park is 100 percent beginner friendly. My 9-year old was with me, and she was able to throw the whole thing. The odds of loosing a disc is near zero. Getting one stuck high in a tree or forgetting to pick up is the only way one leaves here without one of their discs. Near zero chance to throw in thick overgrowth as well. This is the perfect place to bring a first-time player.


So sos:
- NATURAL BEAUTY - Donner Park is a nice park. There are some giant trees here and it doesn't feel super crowded with an endless array of amenities. The park also appears to be well-maintained with sections of well-done landscaping. Overall, it felt like a typical midwestern park-style setting that neither detracted from or added to the experience.
- HOLE VARIETY - The gameplay here is nothing most players haven't seen before. Most of the course is under an old and tall canopy comprised of 50 to 150 year old trees. Most fairways are loosely defined with wide to moderate sized lanes. There is no water present, and the elevation change is less than 5 feet on every hole. The hole distance variation is good, with some sub 200 footers and with one play over 600-feet. Two holes are listed as par 4s.

Not at full potential.
- YOUTH - Without any layout changes, Donner Park has enough amenity growth potential to make a 2.5 rating score on my ledger. Both tee sets were natural ground without an observable tee line edge for my appearance. If the park were to install average sized concrete pads for both layouts, this place becomes almost a quarter point better in my eyes. The signage also needs to be more permanent.
- NAVIGATION - The tee signage is small flimsy vinyl signs and a few were already missing for my appearance. No course map was on site yet, and there were no extra navigational cues. In the state I saw the course, it would have been extremely hard to follow without a navigational app.
- MULTI-USE HAZARDS - Like many park-style nines I've thrown, there are sidewalks, roads and other amenities within firing range. The layout does a good job in avoiding major impacts, but grip locks do happen and some brief pauses may be wise or necessary. The level of these types of play hazards is not major concern, but it registers.

Donner Park will work great as a small town niner. It will serve as a fine introductory course and keep players coming back for more. For the course's sake, I hope that the park's leadership can secure the funds to put in proper tees and signs. I would surely consider upping my rating to 2.5 if I was notified of these two upgrades. As is, a solid 2.0 course on my ledger. No need for the cherry picker to show up here, but for those passing along I65 looking to add to the rolls, I say why not. It reminds me of courses such as Veterans Memorial in Central Illinois, Taylor DGC in South Alabama, The Bulldog in North Florida, Miniwaukan Park near Milwaukee, Gascoigne Park DGC in Southeast GA, Hindman Park in Little Rock, Rotary Riverside South of Seattle and the back nine of Grassy Creek in nearby Whiteland Indiana.