Pros:
- In a nice, large, old city park down by the lake in the middle of town.
- Large parking lot, servicing a large dog park as well. Part of a 'lakefront revitalization' project. Just north of a marina, and putt-putt course. Brand new putt-putt course is currently being constructed in the park NE of the disc course.
- Huge tee pads, sufficiently rough (except for #14, see cons)
- Signs on all holes (save #13). Primitive kit-type signs, but it has the basics.
- Nice baskets, in good shape.
- Course on an old ball course, provides lots of elevation changes and interesting holes. Big rolling hills and valleys.
- Course designer used the timber and thickets between the ball course holes to create some variety and more narrow/wooded holes with obstacles. Very nicely done with the land.
- #3 is a long bomber hole that's lots of fun.
- #7 is a very scenic hole, teeing off from an old ball golf tee box, down a hill and up to the pin. Par 3 that plays longer if you end up only at the bottom of the hill after your drive.
- #9 plays similarly, only straight ahead and via a very narrow fairway.
- #12 is a unique hole that looks scarier than it is. The pad is directly in front of a large pine tree. You must pick left or right, and drive along a row of three trees to the basket, which is hiding behind the 3rd tree. Never really seen any hole like it before.
Cons:
- Finding #1 is probably somewhat difficult your first time to the course. No course sign or map at the beginning of the course. If you didn't see the baskets, you probably wouldn't notice the course was there.
- Just a porta-john near the dog park on the other side of the parking lot.
- No benches, and just two trash cans on the whole course. #1 and #8.
- During the summer, the poison ivy is very thick in the timber and brambles on this course.
- #11, 12, and 13 are somewhat repetitive, in that they are similar in length, and you can pretty well use the same drive for all 3. Even #14, really.
- TIP: the leading edge of #14 tee pad is a bit slick. Can throw you off if you step wrong.
- #15 is a very intimidating hole, with only the strongest arms able to clear a tall stand of trees on an up-slope that leads to the pin. The path through the thick stand of trees is only 10 feet wide, 250 feet out. Landing in the trees is extremely punishing, and for those unable to drive the pin, the hole becomes a little boring and frustrating. Rec players consistently play this hole being satisfied with a bogie-4.
- Tee pad on #16 installed in a direction that was not intended. Unfortunately, the intended path is a blind, right-turning shot with a fairway only 10 feet wide. It is lined by a very dense thicket. Finding and retrieving discs from the thicket is disastrous. Especially with the poison ivy everywhere.
- #18 is a shorter par 4 finishing hole, with the basket perched on an old ball golf tee box. It has a weird feel to it, with no obstacles until a row a trees on the left about 100 feet from the basket, and one big tree guarding the right side. Just feels kind of clunky. That's right, clunky.
Other Thoughts:
- You will find windy conditions on this course from time to time, but it's slightly unpredictable. While a predominant wind may be from the west or north, at the same time wind may be swirling off of the lake from the south side of the course.
- This IS my hometown course, and I've avoided reviewing it for some time because of that. I love playing this course, and it's hard not to love all the intricacies you get to know on a course you play so often. Great mix of wide open bomber holes, as well as narrow fairways asking for precision. The hole layout itself could be a 4.0, but the course lacks the standard creature-comforts that a 4.0 course would have, including regular upkeep and buy-in from the park district that manages the park. Would absolutely love to upgrade my rating with future upgrades to the course.
- Definitely worth a play if you're in Decatur for one reason on another!
- Also, FYI, many locals play the course by starting on #2, which just seems to flow better, and end on a better finishing hole with #1.