Pros:
- Located in a very nice multi-use park with some interesting features, such as the eponymous lime kilns.
- Great variety and challenge for a 9-hole course.
- Fantastic elevation change on many holes.
Cons:
- Course equipment (baskets, pads, tee signs) could use updating.
- Navigation can be difficult, course flow is not great.
- A number of areas of potential conflict with other park users.
Other Thoughts:
Lime-Kiln Park is home to some of the best disc golf I've seen on a 9-hole course. There is good variety throughout, the holes are challenging without being overly so, and the elevation in play holes 5-7 is among the best seen on any course in the Midwest. The park is well maintained and very pleasant to play through; you will come across the giant lime kilns, a retired 19th century steel bridge, and the Milwaukee River.
However, beyond the actual golf, the course lacks in several areas. With one or two exceptions the concrete tee pads are quite short, and don't really allow for a run up. The baskets are serviceable but aging, and I experience a couple of chain-outs during my round. The basket number plates have also fallen victim to fading and graffiti, which is a shame because there are a few instances where you may not know which basket to throw to at first. The tee signs are rudimentary, and the geometric description of the hole layout is almost more confusing than helpful in many cases. Multiple pin positions are shown, but the active position is not indicated, and I had to walk up the fairway to determine the basket location on several holes.
Navigation and course flow is also an issue. It took me a while to find Holes 3 and 6, as you have to walk past Hole 9, and walk back down 5's fairway to get to them. Next tee signs would be really helpful for first time players. The elevation use here is great, but you will get a work out walking up and down it, as you need to scale the hill to determine the location of baskets 5 and 6 before walking back down to throw.
There are also a few locations where you could have conflict with other park users. Hole 2's fairway is in what seems to be a higher traffic area, the hyzer route around the pine tree on Hole 4 has you throwing next to or over a road and towards a parking lot, and overthrown drives on the massively downhill Hole 7 could easily find the road.
Despite these issues, this was a really fun course to play, and I will definitely be going back. Cedarburg is a lovely town to visit, and Lime-Kiln Park is just down the road. Many of the issues I mentioned can be addressed fairly easily, and I hope they are in time. Updating the pads, signs, and baskets would go a long way to improving the feel of the course. I've played a lot of Chicago area 9-hole courses, and Lime-Kiln blow the vast majority of them out of the water. Definitely check this out if you are in the area, it's worth your time, and won't take much of it.