Pros:
The disc golf course at North Midway Park is nothing special, but it's certainly not terrible either. Each hole plays in a very linear fashion along a drainage ditch. As unappealing as this may sound, the park is nice and clean, the grass is well manicured, and overall, the course is pretty handy for a quick round of 9.
What it has going for it:
- Pleasant park atmosphere
- Quality baskets
- Some of the tees are on sidewalks with plenty of room to throw
- Not used much, so you don't have to worry about the pace of your game
- Good range of distances (240 ft - 450 ft)
Cons:
Where it falls short:
- Dull layout (basket placements could be much more creative, even with the limited space)
- Tee pads not officially designated. Although at least half of the tees are numbered with spray paint on the walking path, the other half are not marked whatsoever (just throw from somewhere near the last basket you just played?)
- Worn out numbers on the baskets makes it hard to always know you're throwing at the correct target
- Watching out for bikers, runners and kids on playgrounds (they were there, Valkyrie Kid!) does take away from the game a bit
Other Thoughts:
The map from the Links/Files section was definitely helpful to me as a newcomer. At first it may seem obvious where to go since all the baskets are along the creek, but on several occasions, the map reassured me that I was playing the basket on the correct side of the ditch.
Before going to North Midway Park, you should know what to expect - it's not going to blow your disc golf socks off, but if you take it for what it is, you just might have fun here. Don't worry about finding the exact tee pads for the ones that aren't marked on the sidewalk. Just consider this a place to play casual disc golf. If you're looking for more structured and challenging courses, head over to nearby Interlocken Park or Westminster DGC.
Parting muse: My girlfriend, who has played about 10 total rounds of disc golf in her life and who comes along with me from time to time (bless her heart), said as we were walking to the car, "...and I got a hole-in-two!!"