Lockport, IL

The Canyons

4.465(based on 53 reviews)
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14 0
Thomashasfun
Diamond level trusted reviewer
Premium Member
Experience: 22.8 years 496 played 494 reviews
4.00 star(s)

The good, the bad, and the confusing

Reviewed: Updated: Played on:Jul 16, 2024 Played the course:once

Pros:

Course topography and aesthetics:

This is why this course is so good. The downhill throwing off of big drop offs to a basket below is always a fun time and this course has several holes of this nature. Many holes have some sort of elevation present in the fairway or around the baskets. The large creek that runs through most of the course is both beautiful and is a natural obstacle that the designers have used well to challenge you in the fairway. approach, and even around the baskets. Canyon walls are vertical cliffs that are daunting and stunning. The entire vibe here is serene and at times you forget you're in the city or close to a parking lot. Even the grass on the more open holes is nicely manicured and perfectly green, nice to look at.

Amenities:

The biggest thing here is the course pro shop which I'm told is a very good one. Sadly the day I played it was right after a tornado swept through and the pro shop had no power or internet so they closed for the day sadly. The parking lot looks big enough to handle tournaments and by the sheer number of them that occur here that seems to validate that idea. There is a port o potty here that isn't disgusting which is shocking. Lots of benches and picnic tables along the way in case you get tired or want to stop for lunch as well.


Course variety for replay value:

This is another plus for the course that could be a minus depending on who you are (more on that in the cons section) but with multiple tee pads, basket locations, and dozens of different layouts you certainly won't get bored if you're a local. Then you factor in the variety of different holes out here, straight shots, doglegs to either side, elevation, open holes, very wooded holes, open to wooded, wooded to open, short holes, long holes, par 3, par 4, etc. etc. only lends itself to enjoying the course many times over and discovering more and more about the course over time.

Cons:

It's a confusing mess for first timers:

Udisc has dozens of layouts listed. I agree slightly with the reviewer below me who said that more options isn't always the way to go. Sure if you're a local you can disregard this completely but this review is for a website that is geared towards helping people find courses they want to play, many of whom will be playing the course for the first time.

I played with friends who had played the course before and we met up with one of their friends and this was his home course. He was gearing up for some upcoming tournament so we played the layout they were using and many times we skipped over tee pads and baskets to go to some other area to tee off or hole out. The course flow is so strange at least for this layout that if I played here again I couldn't even figure out where the first couple of holes we played. I think less is more a lot of times, it reminds me of the painter who keeps adding and adding to their canvas then steps back and looks and the painting is so muddled you can't tell what they were originally going for. That reminds me of this place a little bit.

The par 4 holes aren't long enough or challenging enough:

I was disappointed by the lack of challenge here. Many of the par 4 holes felt more like tweener 3.5 par holes where a good drive would leave you with a relatively short, easy approach for the birdie. Some of these need to be moved back in order to be true par 4 holes. In my opinion you should have to have two good drives in order to reach a challenging par 4 hole and a good putt for the birdie. Let's reward good play, punish bad and/or mediocre play.

Too many open (open) holes:

I played the 27 hole layout and like I said played some tournament layout so the "regular" layout whatever that looks like may be different. A lot of the finishing holes were throw across a large, open field to a basket guarded by a few trees. Most of these holes were weird distances for the player skill they were trying to challenge and ended up being open, tweener holes where you get the same score every time almost no matter what you do which is to me the definition of a boring, bad hole. Perhaps some holes could be dissolved and some holes extended to make a better course with less holes. This feels to me like another one of those 'magic number' issues where someone decided how many holes a course should have (usually 9, 18, 27, or a multiple or 3) before looking at the land. A course can have any number of holes as long as those holes are excellent.

Other Thoughts:

I really want another crack at this honestly. I'd like to play one of the regular layouts if there is such a thing. I see the ratings here and on Udisc and I get it, it's pretty, has almost all of the things you would want for a disc golf course but I'm not sold on what I played, too many cons for my liking. This course will challenge almost anyone but I think top pros and absolute novices are the only groups of people this isn't for. I'm glad I played it, a unique and fun course with many good holes. I don't think this is a destination course, feel free to disagree with me on that. Perhaps I'll get another chance to visit the Chicago area and I can update my review and raise my rating. I do recommend playing here 100% if you are in the area though, can't go wrong.
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11 1
jcbnxll
Silver level trusted reviewer
Experience: 16.5 years 76 played 25 reviews
3.50 star(s)

Disappointed in Dellwood

Reviewed: Played on:Sep 29, 2023 Played the course:2-4 times

Pros:

Teeboxes - big, beautiful paved boxes. I had no problem getting a full run up on any hole. At 6'4", that's uncommon.
Elevation - Obviously there's going to be some elevation change in a course called The Canyons. A couple of holes have massive drop offs: 50-100ft! A couple really fun holes here.
Signs - The signage is good (not great). But given the layout (see below) it would be impossible to play this course without good signage.
Variety - With 2-3 boxes and 1-2 baskets on each hole, there are a lot of choices.
Pro shop - Any course with a pro shop is a solid addition.
Trails - There are paved trails, well-maintained gravel trails, and lovely wooden staircases to help players get around.
Landscaping/Maintenance - The course seems to be lovingly maintained with mulch around most (all?) of the baskets, the aforementioned trails and staircases, clear teeboxes, and many, many more signs of a loved course.
Friendly folks - Due to the crisscrossing nature of the course, I ran into quite a few people. All of them were friendly and a couple even pointed me back in the right direction.
The greens - Besides the mulch around the baskets, I found most of the baskets to be well-guarded by some combination of trees, elevation, or water. A well-guarded green makes for exciting putts, and forces players to become better. This was my favorite part of Canyons.

Cons:

Options: This was a big one for me. More isn't more. I had read that there were a lot of combinations, but my jaw dropped when I opened up Udisc. There are *twelve* non-tournament layouts on Udisc. That's 9 to 11 too many layouts, in my opinion. This feels like a real barrier to me, as somebody who comes here about once a year. Knowing the course as a local is certainly a normal thing, but you shouldn't need to be a local to make sense of which combination of holes and baskets to choose. I ended up playing 1 - 18 in order and picking the combination that I thought looked like the most fun.
Layout: This is related to "options." I'm no stranger to courses that have longer walks between holes or courses that have confusing layouts. Typically it's worth it because the course designer has built a series of good to excellent holes that instantly make you forget about the long walk because you're so busy either admiring the hole or deciding what to throw. This was not the case here (see below). At Canyons, I got lost a couple of times even with a map and even with occasional help from locals. That's insane.
Course design, Field holes: I was very disappointed with the holes here. If this is a top-tier course, it should have, at most, one field hole. Even being generous with the definition of "field hole," I counted 5 separate field holes.
Course design, hole layout: I found most of the holes uninspiring, even boring. The lines were loose, and most straight ahead. The elevation and the well-guarded baskets were the only thing that saved the design for me. And, frankly, I felt like the elevation could've been put to better use. There were no real dog legs to speak of. There were a couple of par 4's, but they were just "throw it far twice" and not strategic lines that reward shot selection and execution.

Other Thoughts:

Here's where I speculate what kind of a player I'd be if this were my home course (played 2 - 5 times a month). I think my putting would be solid. The mix of well-guarded baskets and open baskets would create ample opportunities for high pressure putts. My mid-range game would be good. I threw a roc or buzzz off the tee for many of the holes. My drives might be big but largely inaccurate. The forgiving field holes wouldn't force me to be careful with my throws, though I would be able to practice them. I think my accuracy overall would be hurt, there are almost no tight lines on the course.

Ultimately, this course does not live up to the hype that I've read in the reviews. As somebody who travels a lot, all over the country, this course could be a lot better. My guess is that this course is the cream of the crop for the courses in the immediate area. Players' reviews are skewed by what else is "on the menu." They've likely grown accustomed to the convoluted layout and by mixing up which boxes and baskets they use, the course feels fresh to them each time. I don't think Canyons is a bad course, but I do think it's overrated. I'd like to see a simpler layout, continued good use of elevation, greater use of the water (only a minor threat on a few holes), and things like par 4's that require hitting landing zones and not just two long throws.
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18 0
Tyler V
Gold level trusted reviewer
Premium Member
Experience: 17.4 years 163 played 113 reviews
4.50 star(s)

A Spectacular Course That Provides Immense Fun For Everyone From Recreational Players to Pros

Reviewed: Played on:Aug 1, 2023 Played the course:once

Pros:

The Canyons is a 27-hole course that snakes through the woods, fields, hills, and canyons (of course) of Dellwood Park. This course might be familiar to folks who have watched coverage of the annual Clash of the Canyons tournament, which regularly attracts pros and has been a silver series event in the past. This course is widely regarded as one of if not the best in the Chicago area and Illinois as a whole and is certainly one you should add to your wish list to play.

Location of The Canyons is within Dellwood Par, which is on the southern side of Lockport along State St./Route 171. For the disc golf course, you'll actually want to turn on Dell Park Ave., a bit south of the main park entrance. There are signs to point you in the right direction from 171, and the parking lot will be at the end of the road. There are plenty of gas stations and restaurants nearby, as well as a pro shop on site with some drinks and snacks on site, including Dippin' Dots, the ice cream of the future since 1988. The pro shop on site, Dellwood Disc Golf, also has plenty of disc golf brands, even more than their site says. For those making a trip out of their visit, southwest Chicago has arguably the strongest collection of courses in the area, giving you plenty of options when deciding what courses to bag. The jail from the opening scene from the Blues Brothers is also just down the road, so if you're a fan, be sure to go get a photo!

Amenities are robust across Dellwood's 150 acres. Nice playgrounds shelters, a skatepark, ballfields, and an amphitheater are just some of the things this park provides in addition to disc golf. There are also bathrooms near the course as well as more trash cans, benches and tables than you could ever ask for.

Course Equipment might be better at The Canyons than any of the other 138 courses I have played to date. Each hole varies between one to three tee pads, with each being concrete and in fantastic shape. Each tee pad also has its own sign, showing which tee you're at, the distance and par, a nice graphic of the hole layout, and directions to the next tee. There's also some additional signage on 11 asking to respect neighbors' privacy, a nice touch for a course trying to maintain good relationships with nearby homeowners. Outside of that, there's enough directional signage throughout the course that I never had to check udisc for directions despite some longer or awkward routes between holes. The course has Mach X baskets and has numerous holes with multiple pins to choose from, a welcome discovery as I tried to figure out on hole 2 why they wouldn't have a way to show which pin was in use. Outside of that, there are also various infrastructure touches include multiple large staircases that make navigating this course very easy despite the elevation changes. There are also 3 practice baskets around the pro shop and parking lot, making it easy to avoid stepping on other people's toes when warming up.

Course Design at The Canyons is a delightful mix of wooded and park style holes, many of which use the Canyons and large hillsides around the Fraction Run Stream that shoots off the nearby Illinois and Michigan Canal. These features make for a nice mix of elevation changes as well as some beautiful scenic views from the tee pads that complement the great mix of fairway shapes you'll find here.

Elevation is the biggest aspect of the course design that comes to mind for me. Having one hole on a course that is a big downhill shot is a huge plus for me. The Canyons has four of these, with two from the blue tee, 4, 6D, and 16 all having significant drop-offs from the tee and make for very fun shots you'll want to empty your bag on. There are other holes like 3, 6b, and 10 that have more uphill fairways. A lot of the remaining holes play relatively flat but have plenty of slopes for roll-aways or tricky lies.
Shot-Shaping is a must for this course, as you'll need just about every shot in your bag whether you're laying 9, 18, or 27 holes for your round. Righty Backhands will have a fun time with left turning shots on the left pin of 2, the left pin of 6, the left pin of 10, and 15. This course had a surprising number of right turning shots as well, including 3, 5, the long tee of 7, 9, 16 (unless you're a thrill seeker, and 18 if you're playing the right pin. Outside of these holes, plenty of others will require particular lines for your best chance at a birdie or will require you to navigate guardian trees. The downhill shots will also test your skills of managing your discs flight if you're unfamiliar with such a shot, especially on 2 and 4 with the stream going along at least one side of each fairway.

Level of Openness/Obstacles also provides plenty of variety, as this course transitions nicely between more open park style holes and tighter wooded shots. The two loops around 6 and 8 provide some nice woods, along with 5, 6, 9, and the long pin on 13. Other holes 7, 8, 10, 11, 14, and 17 are much more open but still provide some variety in either fairway shape or distance. With the remaining holes falling somewhere in between, there's really something for everyone here.

Distances range from under 200 feet on holes 6B and the red tees on 14 and 15 to 678 feet from the blue tee of 17. Most of the holes play between 250 and 325 from the white tees and go into the 300s a bit more from the blues, with some 400 to 500-foot par 4s thrown in. Overall, the course is actually fairly birdie-able from a distance perspective, with most of the holes playing on the short side and shot shaping being where the fun and trickiness comes in.

Difficulty Level of The Canyons casts a wide net, with the red and white tees playing pretty forgiving for novice and intermediate players respectively, and the blues providing more challenge from either a distance or shot shape perspective. Pro-level players will likely score pretty low on this course, as evidenced by the Clash At The Canyons results, but from a rec to advanced player perspective, there are enough options with tee pads and pins to either find a combo that works best for your skill level, or to work your way up overtime.

Course Highlights include a few holes that immediately come to mind. Hole 4 is an absolute beautiful sight from the tee with the height along with the stream the runs along the right and rear of the fairway and green, and is an immensely fun hole to throw from whether you're playing it safe with a righty hyzer or running the basket. Hole 6D has a lot of similar attributes to hole 4. Hole 16 is an interesting one with tree protection at the green, extreme downhill elevation, and a short distance, requiring a touchy drive to not require a scramble for a par. Hole 17 is gorgeous with the canyon setting. Hole 18 is one of the more interesting and fun finishing holes I've ever played, throwing under a bridge and over the stream to the green. One of the best uses of in place park land and infrastructure I've ever seen on a disc golf course.

Setting/Aesthetic isn't something I typically make note of, but I will here. This is one of the most fun settings I have every thrown in. The Canyons, the stream, the older bridges around the course – it's one of the prettiest courses I have thrown at, especially the west half of the course. 17 and 18 are sublime and will have you question if you are actually in the Chicago suburbs.

Cons:

Course Flow is really the biggest con I can think of for The Canyons, as there are some very long walks between certain holes. Navigation isn't an issue due to the robust signage, but the walks from 4 to 5, 12 to 13, 13 to 14, and 16 to 17 to a lesser degree are all long walks that may have you double checking a course map to make sure you're going the right way. There are actually options for layouts on UDisc that are labeled "efficient" to cut down a bit on steps.

Course Design is exceptional, but the one thing missing in my opinion are holes that require two separate drives on longer holes. Hole 13 kind of achieves this with the longer pin placement, but holes 3, 8 and 11 are all par 4s that really have straightforward strategies given their openness. If there is one thing this course could have to elevate it even further, it would be pin placements that require multiple shots to get to the green that have more than just distance to them.

Infrastructure is pretty great already, but given what's in place, bridge crossings for the 6 and 8 loops would be great to see included. Dellwood Disc Golf's website has a full list of improvements over the years, so hopefully the sheer amount of attention this course has gotten means that this is on the to-do list. Apparently, the stairs on hole 4 are new as f this past Spring – that's a very solid addition.

Crowdedness – this course is rated 37 on DGCR before my review and has consistently been top 25 on UDisc and is easily the best course this side of Chicago, so there will absolutely be plenty of other folks playing when you are. I played this course on a Tuesday afternoon, and it was packed. I don't see this as a con personally, as I love seeing any course getting some love. Just make sure you plan plenty of time to get through this course, especially if you're playing all 27 holes.

Interactions With Other Park Uses can come into play, mainly with pathways. Holes 3, 7, 12, 13, and 17 play near or over pathways, and while many of these paths are in areas that are mainly just disc golf, they do gt plenty of use still given the popularity of the overall park. It seems like folks in charge of the course and the park district/other park goers have a very positive relationship, so make sure you don't ruin it by hitting someone. Overall, these interactions didn't detract from my round.

Difficulty and Accessibility may come into play for brand new players a well as those who don't handle stairs or elevation well. The difficulty is hardly a con given the range of skill levels tis course caters to, but newer players may benefit from playing easier courses nearby before giving this course a go given the woods and water hazards. Given the elevation and amount of stairs, along with the creek crossings, those with mobility questions may have a hard time here.

Poison Ivy/Oak is present in parts of the woods here. I, as someone wo is hilariously allergic, didn't have an issue with it on this course, but I was unusually accurate with my throws during my round, so be careful and vigilant if you have a bad shot.

Other Thoughts:

Chicago has long been known as a region with quantity but not necessarily quality when it comes to disc golf. Look on the course map of DGCR and you will see a sea of subpar to okay 9-hole courses, with mid 18 holes scattered in between. You could argue the southwest side with the likes of Highland Park, Community Park and Eagle Ridge is the strongest area of the region, but the region was missing a true flagship course. And then in 2014, Fairfield Park and The Canyons both opened, and that quickly changed. I can't speak for Fairfield Park yet, but Th Canyons has quickly changed this area into a place worth dedicating a road trip to.

Dellwood Park itself is over a century old now and was originally built up to promote ridership on an electrical line. 100 years later, and Dellwood is now a great example of a spectacular city park with numerous playgrounds and ballfields. It's incredible to think that a park like this could find room for a top-tier disc golf course 100 years into its life, but Sean Callahan and Steve Matul found a way to do so, and we should all be thankful they did.

I have debated for a couple weeks what to rate this course and have concluded that if I had not played courses like Idlewild or Harmony Bends before The Canyons, this would be an easy 5 out of 5. The lack of multi-shot holes brings this course down a bit from being truly among the best of the best from a design standpoint.

That being said, the fun factor when playing The Canyons is a perfect score. The setting is superb, the transitions from open/park holes to woods are nice and keep things interesting, and the variety of shots will keep you entertained and asking for more after playing 27 holes. Some courses just have an "it" factor, or intangibles that other courses can't match no matter what a course designer or parks district can throw at it. The Canyons is one of those courses. Some course owners and designers build a five-tier cake of pavers and gravel to make a signature hole on their course. Others like the canyons take a bridge constructed who knows how long ago and have their final hole go under it, while folks heading to hole 14 can spectate. As someone who has played both, I'll take the latter every day.

The Canyons should be on every disc golfer's bucket list and has unlimited replay value given the sheer number of tee pads and pin locations. You could spend numerous rounds just playing all the variations or get hooked on how fun the first layout you tried is. I think anyone from rec players who just learned how to throw drives somewhat consistently to pro level players will find immense enjoyment on this course, and I am already wondering when I'll get to play here again.

If you're in the area or can find time to travel, make time to play The Canyons. It is easily one of my top 5 favorite courses I have played, and it'll take a lot to bump it down. Its ranking on DGCR and UDisc is well deserved, and you will not be disappointed.
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23 0
Nate32
Gold level trusted reviewer
Experience: 11.3 years 75 played 60 reviews
4.50 star(s)

Reviewed: Updated: Played on:Sep 14, 2022 Played the course:once

Pros:

On my trip to Illinois I had to make a pit stop at this beautiful disc golf course. I've been sitting on this review for a little while but found the time now to reflect on this adventure. Truly some of the most unique lines I've seen in all of the years of playing disc golf. A stunning piece of property this course is on with the Des Plains River running through this course offering for a challenging couple of holes, but also makes this course quite magnificent. The first time I pulled up in the parking lot I knew this was a special course. The pro shop is also a big plus as it's filled from floor to ceiling with racks of discs, bags, equipment etc.

There are quite a few options in terms of tee pads you can choose from. As well as there is also a lot of different loop holes. Having a lot of options in terms of holes to play from was cool. I really liked all the different shots and lines you could carve up through the woods. There's a nice change of pace as well since it goes from from wooded to open. Holes 7, 8, 11 and 12 are a nice break from the technical wooden holes. A great course that really works all aspects of your game.

Great hardware on this course as well. I love how they put mulch around the tee pads so that water and mud don't gather around it in the winter time. Spacious concrete tee pads and great Mach X baskets. The tee signs here are very helpful and very detailed which really goes to show how much work they put into this course. A big plus is that the tee signs also show the different tee pads on each hole with the distances from those tee pads.

Although water hazards might be a con for some people, I enjoyed having the challenge of a different style of hazard than I'm used to. I haven't really played a lot of courses that have water as a hazard so it made for a fun challenge for me. Beginners though might find this challenging since water is a factor on a few of these holes.

Elevation and terrain on this course is perfect. Good mix of flat open shots. Holes 2, 4, and 16 in particular offer some great elevated tee shots. Some wooded style courses that I have played felt like they built the course around the location. At The Canyons though, it really felt like they spent a lot of time to make sure that each hole was cleared and crafted for the disc golf course.

The course upkeep is phenomenal. The grass was nicely mowed on the open holes and I didn't find myself walking through any part of the course that wasn't well maintained. Props to the maintenance workers of this park, they do an excellent job. Playing this course at the end of summertime/start of fall time, was gorgeous. The water in the river wasn't too high so I didn't have to worry about loosing a disc.

There's good navigation on this course as well. I would recommend a course map since the layout jumps around and there is a bit of a hike between a few holes. Lots of signage though so you won't have too much difficulty getting around. The natural beauty in the many wooded holes is something that made the trip just perfect. You're surrounded under this amazing canopy of trees and listening to the water flowing through the river just made my round super peaceful.

Cons:

I was warned by some locals that poison oak is found a lot throughout the course. I did spot some so I guess just know what you're looking for and stepping on, and try and stay in the fairway as much as possible.

Obviously no course is 100% perfect, but I wouldn't say this course is super beginner friendly. It's nice that they have different length tee pads to choose from if you aren't as experienced. But overall it's a challenging course. I don't want to knit pick a lot but I don't particularity enjoy holes that go 8A, 8B, 8C, 8D for example. It's nice that there's a lot of options, but I find it a little overwhelming.

Other Thoughts:

All in all I'm glad I made the trip out to play this amazing course. I'm quite jealous of the folks that live across the street from Dellwood Park. Having such a prestigious course to have access to everyday must be quite nice as well as a place to browse for new plastic. The course was quite busy on a nice day which would make sense. I had to wait on a few tees for large groups to finish.

I would love to play here again sometime, if I have the opportunity although it is quite far from me. It was quite the treat to play this course and browse through the pro shop at the end. I would definitely recommend stopping by, as this is definitely one of the best courses I've played!
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3 7
Obbica
Experience: 6 played 6 reviews
4.50 star(s)

One of the best within an hour of Chicago 2+ years drive by

Reviewed: Played on:Jul 2, 2022 Played the course:once

Pros:

Great variety of challenges across holes. Has a pro shop which is well staffed and equipped. Course is in a giant beautiful park. Very well maintained.

Cons:

Some holes require either a hike around the entire hole to get to the lower fairway area or risk a steep incline without stairs.
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8 3
goatchedda
Experience: 11 played 7 reviews
4.50 star(s)

Gorgeous Challenging Park 2+ years drive by

Reviewed: Played on:Jun 21, 2020 Played the course:once

Pros:

This is probably the most beautiful park I've been in. Heavily wooded with several elevation changes. This is extremely challenging and best for intermediate/pro level players. There's also a disc/snack shop midway through the round. I haven't been to many but this is by far my favorite course about an hour outside of Chicago. Will def be back.

Cons:

There's not always stairs when needed to descend from tee pads to fairways for holes. This course is not for novices either unless they can handle hitting a few trees or retrieving discs from heavy shrubs or brooks.
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3 13
boozegob
Experience: 4 played 2 reviews
5.00 star(s)

Better every time 2+ years drive by

Reviewed: Played on:Jun 4, 2020 Played the course:5+ times

Pros:

Great use of elevation and woods. Beautiful landscaping and regularly maintained. Pro shop on site. Enough holes and alternative layouts to avoid some backups. 27 fun holes. It's free

Cons:

Can get congested on the weekends.
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45 0
wellsbranch250
Diamond level trusted reviewer
Premium Member
Experience: 10.8 years 694 played 680 reviews
4.50 star(s)

Funyons 2+ years

Reviewed: Played on:Dec 6, 2019 Played the course:once

Pros:

(4.482 Rating) A breathtaking course that indeed plays through a canyon.
- RAW BEAUTY - It's absolutely stunning in spots. Thus I found myself pulling up the thesaurus several times to write this review. This course plays up, down and through a 50 foot deep gorge that was created by an offshoot creek of the Des Plaines River. Some of the canyon walls are basically vertical rock faces. Thank the lord that these fantastic features were intertwined into the layout. There are 4 or 5 blow you away tee shot views on this course and all of them could be the signature hole on over 90 percent of the courses out there. The tee view from white tee (4) and (6D) both make my all time top twenty out 6000 plus unique holes played! Overall, I scored this polished beauty a 4.875 out of 5. Which is in my personal top ten as of this review (421 courses.)
- UNIQUENESS - This course has incredible hole type variety. Several 40 foot plus down shots, One nice up shot, water clears, parallel water plays, big open bombs, crafty wooded lines, hooking lines and several par 4s. If I were too nit-pick and compare this course to just my other 4.5 scored courses, I'd say that the multi-play holes here are sub-par in that acclaimed grouping. Regardless, the other variety elements on the course are knocked out of the park and overall the diversity here would still make my top 20 as of this review.
- 6A THRU 6E - Players that have time, need to play this 5 hole loop. It's exquisite. I probably added a good two tenths of a point to the score just because of these holes.
- CHARACTER - Normally when a course has this nice of equipment, kept grounds and a bunch of extras, it's a pay to play course. Shockingly, this one is not. When arriving and walking down to tee (1), there's a nice course map of the original 18 hole course. The tees are concrete and the signage is aesthetically pleasing. There are picnic tables at just about every concrete tee and this is the most I've ever seen of them on a course. Such a great feature to have for a course that's as hilly as this one. Most holes now have two paved tees. Baskets are DISCatchers and there were six holes that had two baskets in place on my appearance. The alternate new basket placement on (4) is just as flip'n awesome as the original placement. Off the course there are restrooms, shelters and a pro shop.
- NAVIGATION - Really good. Informative tee signage with next tee direction. Lots of extra navigational signage. As noted above, a course map, but it needs an update to include the 9 extra holes from the 2 loops. I'd also like to see cues at the baskets.
- CHALLENGING - I played the White tees and thought they were upper Recreational level. The Blue tees probably amp the course difficulty up to lower Advanced level. The course requires a good mix of technique and power, but not to the extent of Championship level. That's not necessarily a bad thing, but Pro level type players will be underwhelmed by the challenges.
- SKILL LEVEL FRIENDLY - The Canyons is going to appeal to a very wide swath of players. I predict that Novice players through Advanced players should all overwhelmingly enjoy the course.
- MAINTENANCE - Incredibly well maintained grounds for my appearance.

Cons:

The pros for this course far far far, overshadow everything I've listed below. Several listed below have no effect on my score and are listed for information purposes only.
- STAIRS - First time players, (me), could make some traversable errors. I nearly wiped it three times getting up or down the canyon on holes (4), (6D) and (18). Pretty sure (6D) and (18) had better options had I looked harder, but it would great if there were some better navigational aids or some more stairs located at ideal locations.
- TERRAIN - I could not recommend this course to those with foot or knee pain. The (6B) to (6D) loop and (8A) to (8D) loop require hopping large stones in the creek. These loops are thus not cart friendly.
- LAYOUT FLOW - There's some significant jumping around on this course. Getting to (6A) requires a bit of back tracking. Hole (12) to (13) and (13) to (14) are both over 500 feet apart basket to tee. There are several other plus 200 flow gaps as well.
- LACK OF TOUGH PAR 4s - One thing that Chicago's Fairfield course has on the Canyons, is the multi-play hole. The par 4s at Canyons are too light on the cerebral challenge in my opinion. From the Whites, I was inside the circle for birdie on all of the par 4s except (13) placement b, which was in a new alternate location 200 feet further down fairway from the original (13) b location. The Blue tees here are not championship course caliber like the Gold's at Fairfield
- RED TEES - It took me till hole (15) to finally spot a red only tee. (note, I wasn't looking too hard for them) These tees use red painted concrete test cylinders driven flush into the ground. The paint is nearly all peeled off, there is no sign and the tee surface is natural. Good luck finding them on first play.
- WATER HAZARDS - I could see some lost discs if the creek water level is high. On my appearance, It seemed like that if any disc went in, it could be retrieved by a long stick. I added substantially more score for the water features than took away.
- BEGINNER FRIENDLY - I'm sure beginners have been brought here before, but I think this course is too unforgiving in spots for new players.
- OUT OF PLACE HOLES - I don't like using the term filler as every hole between first and last hole on every course are technically fillers. Anyways, holes (3), (14) and (15) just seem out of place on this amazing course. These holes are just run of the mill park style shots.
- TIME PLAY - I spent 108 minutes on this course as a solo with an empty course at the break of dawn in December. I could have bagged 3 nearby niners in that time.

Other Thoughts:

One of the better courses I've ever had the pleasure to play. I was skeptical coming in that this course was in the same league ratings wise as Fairfield. Overall, I felt it was. In fact, I thought it was slightly better overall, but for strengths in different aspects. One reason I feel this way is the sheer quantity of bombshell views from the tees. I visually relived some of these tee shots for weeks after. I just wasn't expecting this type of terrain in this part of the country. Anyways, visiting disc golfers that find themselves in the Chicago area need to find a way to get in a round here. I personally would mark this as the anchor destination on any road-trip to the Chicago area.
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23 0
wolfhaley
Diamond level trusted reviewer
Premium Member
Experience: 20.5 years 1165 played 745 reviews
4.50 star(s)

2+ years

Reviewed: Played on:Jun 20, 2019 Played the course:once

Pros:

The Canyons is a course that has been on my hit list for years now. I was supposed to play it a year ago but got rained out on my last day back from Idlewild. I was pretty disappointed to say the least. I made it a priority to play it this year. Everything I heard about it was great and I seemed to keep hearing about it. I had played Fairfield park probably 5 or so years ago. Could it be better than that.

The answer is an overwhelming YES. This is by far and away the best course I've played in Illinois. This is a destination course in fact. The course consists of 27 holes through a beautiful park that is immaculately maintained. The course is well mowed, has gorgeous mulched walking paths and greens, plenty of benches and trash cans, next tee signs, etc. There is a very nice, well stocked pro shop by the parking lot as well.

Now onto the golf itself. This is as well a rounded course that you'll find anywhere. There are uphill, downhill, blind, dogleg left, dogleg right, you name it it's here. There is a great deal of elevation throughout and a creek that meanders all over the place it seems. The holes play as 1 through 6, then 6A through 6E, then holes 7and 8 before crossing the creek for 8A to 8D then back across the creek again for 9 to 18. This may seem confusing but it's not with how well marked it is. The baskets are DISCatchers that are all in great shape and catch well. A few holes have 2 per hole. The tees are all large concrete pads. All are level and well done. Not all but a lot of them have 2 per hole. The tee signs are some of the nicer ones I've seen in quite awhile it feels like. They consist of a nice looking topographical view of the hole with a flight path to the basket from the tee. It shows red, white and blue tee locations with it being split colored red/white, for example, designating a dual pad location. On the left of each sign it shows the distance and par in a color coordinated box for the tee position. The hole number is big and bold on each as well. Some of the better signs I've seen anywhere. The flow of the course is actually really intuitive even with the 2 lettered hole loops. It's hard to get lost or turned around here.

I don't know if I can pick a signature hole. There are so many awesome ones here, but hole 4's downhill shot through a tight gap to a pin position right next to the creek is a good one. Hole 6A is epic too. I loved 13 with the 2 basket locations. But 16 is a killer downhill throw and then you understand the name the canyons, it makes sense now. And I don't think there could be a better finishing hole than 18. Pucker factor, risk reward. Oh 6E is stellar...I mean, they're all pretty awesome really.

Cons:

The first con I can think of is that there is no bridge crossing the creek for the 2 bonus loops. There has been a lot of rain this spring so the creek was more like a river when we played. There are nice large rocks for the crossing for 8A-8D, not so much for the 6A-6E loop. They're there but if the creek is high it's sketchy to say the least. Not cart friendly! I have a cart and I wasn't going to be denied this year so I threw my shoes across both spots and portaged my cart across. It was fine I guess but even 1 small bridge between the 2 spots you cross would be fine. The course is going to be busy during peak hours and conditions. This is not a con per se but is worth noting for the fact that it will take a few hours to play minimum depending on your group size and speed of play. The only other thing I got as far as cons is that a walking trail does wander through parts of the park so you have to watch for pedestrians in a couple spots. And a couple holes play a bit close to each other and almost overlap. This is stupidly nitpicky I feel on my part but is worth noting. The downhill throw on 16 for a RHBH player will tend to fade into 17's fairway. Just be smart and it's not really an issue.

Other Thoughts:

This is an absolutely magnificent course. How this is not rated higher is beyond me. It has to be due to it's relative infancy compared to some other top courses. This is a course any serious disc golfer should play. It's worth a trip, even extensive trip to play and if you're anywhere near here or when traveling through...just play here if you can. The Joliet/Lockport or whatever you want to call it area seems to have some good to great disc golf. I'll be back here for sure in the near future for this course plus I haven't even scratched the surface on the other courses but there are some high rated ones very nearby.
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16 4
birdbrainDG
Experience: 102 played 7 reviews
5.00 star(s)

#1 Course in Illinois 2+ years drive by

Reviewed: Played on:Jul 1, 2018 Played the course:5+ times

Pros:

The Canyons at Dellwood Park is a must play, as simple as that. This is one of the most scenic, picturesque multi-use parks I have ever seen. With a historical background to the park itself (the parts of the course between the canyon walls used to be a lake!), a feeling of serenity comes upon you as you enter the Canyons and you haven't even thrown a tee shot on hole 1 yet.

This course has it all, and then some: absolutely stocked pro shop on site (packed with some incredible folks), several practice baskets to allow for warming up, an abundance of parking, bathrooms, benches, garbage cans, you name it. The amenities offered by the LTPD and Dellwood Disc Golf are second to none.

Getting into the course itself. 27 holes with numerous loops available to construct a convenient 9 or 18 hole round for your enjoyment. Holes 4, 6, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13 & 18 offer two basket locations in at all times for you to select which pin to play. Almost every one of the original 18 holes have a long tee pad. The options are endless and the course can be configured to suit all levels of play.

I think the coolest aspect of the Canyons is that you will argue with yourself when it comes to identifying a signature hole. There are multiple. From the hole 16 Canyon shot, to Hole 4 offering a quite unique and scenic downhill death shot. One of my favorites is Hole 6A, a dog leg right Par 4 with a colorful mandatory in the middle of the hole, playing along a creek the entire 480' of tree infested fairway with the basket perched on a mound.

Cons:

No real cons to speak of here. The park district is the most responsive and proactive group I have EVER seen. They address issues before they are even problems on the course.

The only thing I can think of to add here is the famous Yogi Berra quote "This place will never make it, it's too busy!!!"

Other Thoughts:

If you live in the Chicagoland area and have not made the trip out to the Canyons, PLEASE venture out and play the best course Illinois has to offer, however YOU want to play it. Be sure to buy something from the shop and say hi, they are very friendly people!
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22 3
EspressoPatronum
Gold level trusted reviewer
Premium Member
Experience: 19.3 years 316 played 298 reviews
4.50 star(s)

Best I've Seen in Illinois 2+ years

Reviewed: Played on:Aug 19, 2018 Played the course:once

Pros:

- ample parking
- pro shop on site
- not one, but THREE practice baskets
- concrete tees, mostly (some alternates are not)
- multiple tees and basket locations for some holes
- meticulously maintained and continuously being improved
- picnic tables and garbage cans at most tees
- excellent tee signs
- some very nice permanent stairs on a few holes
- incredible elevation change for northern Illinois
- some water hazards with creek
- great technical challenge on mostly wooden shots, but still a few long bomb holes too
- transition areas between wooded locations turned into long open holes
- wood chips around most tees generally keep the area dry even when it's a little damp

Cons:

- a few rather treacherous descents that could use permanent stairs
- a few long walks between holes
- navigation to 8A-8D is a little odd since you hit hole 9 first
- 1-2 holes unplayable during certain special events

Other Thoughts:

This is one of those courses where pictures just don't do it justice. It's the best course I've played in Illinois and probably one of the top 5 I've played altogether. It has that intangible wow factor the best courses have. Yes, the elevation change and natural beauty is amazing, but there's even more to it. You have to play this course to see how awesome it is.

It is clear that the course designers/maintainers are continuously improving this course and maintain it very well. There are a few cons to this course and it isn't QUITE on the level of "5 disc" courses I've played, but it is pretty darn close. I think this is about the best that could ever be achieved in Illinois with the terrain we have to work with.

The main cons I have are mostly nits - there is lots of parking, but it definitely fills up (though I doubt it would run out) and the course can get very busy in the middle of the day. I started playing before 8 AM and it was pretty dead at that time but by the time I left it was quite busy. This is to be expected on a course of this caliber. Sometimes, it is confusing where some of the alternate tees are, since they don't all have clearly marked concrete tee pads - though most do. As the maintainers continue to improve this course, I suspect they may add more concrete tees anyways.

The course has alternate baskets on some holes but often these aren't marked on the tee signs.

The walks between 4 and 5 and between 13 and 14 are a bit long, but it's not that big a deal. Some navigation for the 9 holes added after opening the course is slightly confusing, but the course does a great job of using next tee signs to make it clear. I really appreciate the extra 9 holes too - all too often I see 24-27 hole courses that just added "filler" holes to have more. This is not the case here - all of the additional holes are fun, technical and challenging.

There are about 2 long holes in wide open spaces that sort of connect different wooded areas - in principle I don't love wide open "arm tester" type holes, but I don't mind a couple like this - if you have to walk, why not be playing disc golf? It adds some variety to the course and was only used where necessary.

On the Sunday I was here, there was some sort of classic car show going on in Dellwood Park- this didn't affect most of the course, but it made hole 14 absolutely unplayable - I would have been throwing directly over all of the vintage, classic cars with their proud owners standing right there - nope. Hole 3 likely was also unplayable by that point, but since I played it closer to 8 AM, nobody was really set up yet. This likely will rarely be a problem, but it just happened to be this day.

Some specific hole tips/comments...

The descent on hole 4 seems like it could use some permanent stairs - just a place to exercise a bit of caution.

Watch out for the steep drop off on the left side of the Hole 6 fairway - otherwise there's a pretty steep and sometimes muddy climb down and a tough shot back up.

6D was one of my favorites - somewhat of a bomb you can throw from high elevation, but you have to watch out for the creek if you throw too far and it's still a bit wooded at the tee.

Hole 16 was another throw from high elevation, and the permanent stairs to go down to the fairway are excellent.

The pro shop on site is excellent - not the best one I've ever been to, but it's rare to have one of these at the course. The selection is just so much better than any general sporting goods store. The hours are a bit limited, but it's great to have a location onsite to buy discs. They also have accessories, apparel, and some drinks and snacks too.

All in all, I loved this course and would like to play it again. As a first time player it took about 2.5 hours, so allow some serious time. This is a definite destination course and is worth traveling some distance for. It is challenging, but a lot of the holes aren't all that long and while technical, won't completely destroy newer players. If you can accept some higher scores and some challenge, I think anyone could play The Canyons - I give it my highest recommendation.
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30 1
Three Putt
Staff member
Diamond level trusted reviewer
Premium Member
Experience: 29.9 years 158 played 131 reviews
4.50 star(s)

It's got everything I need, almost. 2+ years

Reviewed: Updated: Played on:Aug 4, 2018 Played the course:5+ times

Pros:

One of the sad realities of disc golf is that the game has evolved into something that doesn't fit very well into multi-use parks. You get people walking dogs, having picnics, riding bikes, playing softball, all peacefully coexisting and then BAM! Somebody chucks a Boss into the middle of it. We just don't fit in. To make us fit takes some work. Usually to make it work, you have to compromise the golf. Dellwood Park is a great example of how you can make it work AND have great golf.

The Canyons has the advantage of having some great terrain for disc golf. The site has some epic spots for elevated tees and tough uphill shots, a nice mix of park-style and wooded holes, a couple of long open holes to crank on, and the Fraction Run creek provides some water hazards. The designers took full advantage and created some great golf shots. 2 Blue, 4, 6A, 16, 18...over and over the course delivers memorable shots. The pin placements are set to create some treacherous approaches. There is a variety of distances to the shots, and the variety helps sets the course apart. For great golf, this course delivers.

But...it's a busy, multi-use park. To accommodate these shots, there is some wandering around that needs to be done. The flow isn't very intuitive. The park accommodates this weakness with copious amounts of directional signage. Despite the weird flow, it's actually hard to get lost out there (except for the confusing number/letter thing.) On top of that, the park has two sets of concrete tees per hole (white and blue) and both have good tee signs. The baskets are Mach X. A large parking lot was created and paved for the course with a directional sign on 171 to the disc golf parking lot. A park building has been converted to a pro shop. A lot of resources were used to create the course, and the park is investing resources to maintain the course. The upkeep here is top-notch. It's a great course in a great park.

Cons:

My complaints are nit-picky, but here they are:

There are three holes that IMO don't fit with the park. Hole 3 plays too close to an amphitheater-type structure, which is a wrist roll turnover gack from people being thrown at. Hole 14 feels like a filler hole to get you to hole 15, but hole 15 is a contrived OB shot stuck between a building parking lot and a road. You walk a long way to get over to 14's tee to play those two shots, and they just don't deliver. All three of the shots could easily be eliminated, the flow would be no worse if you went from hole 2 to hole 4, and it's just as easy to walk from hole 13 to 16's tee as it is to walk from hole 13 to 14's tee.

Those shots could be eliminated because there are 27 shots here. The course plays holes 1-6, 6A-6E, 7-8, 8A-8D, 9-18, The letter holes have been added and making them letter holes means you don't have to renumber and replace all the tee signs, but every time I have been there I've run across confused golfers on the letter holes, not sure where they were supposed to go. It would be nice if they were all numbered 1-27, but I'm not volunteering to buy 54 new tee signs so...

Hole 5's pin is really too close to a set of stairs where pedestrian can walk down into the shot, and the visibility there isn't great for golfers to avoid them if they do. It's already a short shot, but that pin really needs to be moved up away from the stairs. Holes 7, 12 and 13 shoot over paved walking paths and hole 17 has a walking path running down the right side of the fairway, but there is better visibility in those places so attentive golfers shouldn't have any issues in those spots.

The white and blue tees here are paved. The sign mentions red tees, and in a couple of spots I saw something that might have been red tees. Maybe. Don't quote me, though. I'd imagine that if you are a red tee kind of golfer, trying to find the tees would be frustrating. Some work could be done to make those easier to find.

Other Thoughts:

Dellwood Park has a cool history; it was created by the Chicago and Joliet Electric Railway Co. as an amusement park in 1906. The idea was to get urban Chicagoans to ride out for a day of recreation, and the attractions were there for around 30 years. Fraction Run Creek was dammed to create a small reservoir; the lower area where 16-17-18 was the site of that. The ruins of the dams are behind 17's blue tee and where you walk out after playing 18, and some bridges in the park are from that era. It gives the park a cool historic vibe.

Dellwood Park is the south border of Lockport, butting up against Joliet. Just minutes south on 171 is Joliet Correctional Center. You can literally pull over at the spot where Elwood was standing when Jake was released from prison in The Blues Brothers. With an extra five minutes out of your life, you and a buddy can recreate the scene (although hugging in the middle of 171 might be a trick.) Why this isn't mentioned in every Canyons review is beyond me. After I found out, I told the guy I was meeting at the course about it and he was all "Oh, everybody knows that." Uh...dude. I don't know what Father's Day was like in your family, but I don't know where any prisons are. That this information was not disclosed to me in any previous review makes me ashamed to be a disc golfer.

Joliet used to be a good spot for disc golf when Channy was the best course in the area. Now with the Canyons and Highland, Joliet really is a top-notch place for a day of disc golf. Fairfield Park probably is the best stand-alone Chicago course, but J-Town has a lot of good disc golf courses. The Canyons is the best of those. I don't think any disc golfer is going to be disappointed with the experience of playing this course.
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7 3
astomps
Experience: 13.3 years 76 played 42 reviews
3.50 star(s)

2+ years drive by

Reviewed: Played on:Jun 25, 2018 Played the course:once

Pros:

-makes good use of the creek that runs through the property
-wood chips in non-grassy areas and paths
-excellent signage
-good mix of open/long vs. shorter/wooded
-short pins/tees as well as intermediate and longs
-some very memorable/signature holes
-lots of extra facilities like bathrooms/water/clubhouse

Cons:

-2 parts of the course (9 holes?) are only accessible via standing rocks in running water. I guess these are low-water condition holes? This design is mind boggling to me. Have to assume that bridges are in the plan but maybe not budget
-course navigation doesnt make sense at times; runs you back and forth to get to some holes
-safety can be an issue with holes over paths, tees behind other,shorter tee positions. Park is busy with non-disc golf traffic

Other Thoughts:

This is a 3.75 course currently, and with some changes would be 4. I think sometimes 20+ hole courses could be a greater 18, as is the case with this 27. Course seems very new and manicured, but am curious what will happen over time with a lot of foot traffic and erosion. Some holes may not be built to last.
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6 7
Brig4209
Experience: 12.3 years 33 played 3 reviews
5.00 star(s)

Disc Nirvana 2+ years drive by

Reviewed: Played on:May 16, 2018 Played the course:once

Pros:

Far and away the best course I have ever played. Everything that is so great about this course has been said already. I cannot imagine the amount of time and effort the people who maintain this course put into it. I cannot wait to go back.

Cons:

Only complaint...the walk from 18 back to the parking lot. And that is nit picking. Because all we could talk about on the walk back is, how playing any of our home courses is going to be so underwhelming now.

Other Thoughts:

If you plan on playing all 27 holes, do not take your cart. You have to cross a creek a couple of times on some big old rock steps through the water, and there is no real easy way to get the cart across. I started with my cart, and after going up and down some pretty nice wooded hills/hiking trails to get to the Blue tees, I dropped the cart off before hole 6 because it was more work than it was worth to have the cart.
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16 0
Qikly
Diamond level trusted reviewer
Experience: 12.3 years 181 played 150 reviews
4.00 star(s)

2+ years drive by

Reviewed: Played on:Jul 18, 2017 Played the course:once

Pros:

The Canyons offers a great and varied set of 27 holes with a surprising level of refinement for a city park. The grooming, amenities, and navigation signage are all excellent, and the golf itself keeps plenty apace of the fluff. There's great variation of terrain, some wonderful elevation both dramatic and subtle, and the multiple tees do an admirable job of allowing players to calibrate a hole's playthrough to their skill level.

The many variations in the level of tree cover present on a given hole really helps mix up the course's feel. There are bomber shots, tunnel shots, and all manner of in-between levels of technical challenge. The course rarely repeats itself over its 27 holes. While focused on par 3s, distances vary tremendously and there are a few true par 4s to further mix things up. Lots of attention to creating variety here. Having a well-rounded game is certainly rewarded.

Parking is plentiful and there's a well-stocked, reasonably-priced pro shop on site.

Cons:

The Canyons features a few too many par 3s for my taste, especially given the excellent terrain the course sits on and the apparent freedom to both sprawl across and modify the land. The design could be more ambitious in how it works through the varying tree cover and rolling hills, making for more frequent challenging second and third shots. At 27 holes, the propensity for tighter par 3s becomes more noticeable and undermines the otherwise-excellent variety. The design feels unnecessarily conservative in a few spots in this fashion.

The red tees were not always easy to find on my visit in July 2017, though they may be better marked now as I was told signage was coming. New players will appreciate easier access to the shorter tees on many a hole.

Other Thoughts:

The Canyons made for an impressive surprise during my summer 2017 tour of Chicago-area courses. It was one of the very best kept courses I've ever played, and that is saying something. It provides an interesting contrast with Highland Park, which I found to be more interesting in design but much rougher around the edges. Canyons makes for a worthwhile visit and is very accommodating to all manner of skill levels. Definitely recommended and one of the Chicago area's best.
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5 8
klemrock
Experience: 4 played 3 reviews
5.00 star(s)

Dellwood Review 2+ years drive by

Reviewed: Played on:Nov 1, 2017 Played the course:5+ times

Pros:

Great mix of holes. 27 holes and counting.
Top-notch condition, even in bad weather.
Clear signage.
Pro shop on site (fabulous).
Great use of elevation and water hazards.
Just beautiful.

Cons:

None.

Other Thoughts:

Go play it!
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3 15
KoRnyWayz
Experience: 7.3 years 14 played 2 reviews
5.00 star(s)

Easily one of the best courses in the area 2+ years drive by

Reviewed: Played on:Oct 8, 2017 Played the course:5+ times

Pros:

Very well maintained, great course design, great signage, pro store, varying difficulty with each shot, High tees/drives. Creek and beavers to avoid on some holes

Cons:

Some areas are a little slipper when wet, especially around the basket at hole 1.
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4 7
mostlynorwegian
Experience: 8.6 years 10 played 5 reviews
4.50 star(s)

Super enjoyable, and challenging 2+ years

Reviewed: Played on:Sep 20, 2017 Played the course:5+ times

Pros:

Probably my favorite course to play. Rewards just as much as it takes away on every hole. If the one tree kicks wrong. You easily can bogey. Just like if it gives you love. Under par.
Mix of incline and decline throwing with many baskets featuring, a good amount of trees, and drop offs, and also water hazards. Very well thought out, and clearly marked course.
We played a mix of the tee pads for distance.
SIx and eight are short, and precise additions.
The addition of a shop just off the parking lot with its selection of discs and refreshments is a great addition to the course.

Cons:

Trails going through equals joggers, and students. Active park.

Other Thoughts:

Enjoy how well maintained this course is. We didn't have the water hazard of the stream in play this time due its being dry. But, that made our round that much more interesting to play from, and nothing floated away.
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16 0
davetherocketguy
Gold level trusted reviewer
Experience: 20.3 years 114 played 105 reviews
4.50 star(s)

This is how you install a course in multi use Park 2+ years drive by

Reviewed: Played on:Sep 2, 2017 Played the course:once

Pros:

- signage. Holy cow. Cannot say enough good things about how well this place was marked. Getting lost here means not paying attention.
- Concrete tees on every hole. Perfectly finished and very well constructed.
- Loved some of the elevation changes. 6d was an absolute riot to throw being that its only 250' and dead straight with what is likely a 90' drop from tee to green.
- The scenery was epic for being a Northern Illinois course. There are limestone cliffs everywhere. IMHO 18 was the most pretty.
- There's a cool little creek that wanders throughout the park and was used extensively in the play of this course.
- Don't skip the added holes off of 6 and 8. You will not be disappointed.
- Benches on almost every tee pad. My 46 year old knees and ankles thank whoever is responsible for this.
- 13s pin placement is brilliant with the long down hill death putt behind it.

Cons:

(Before sending me hate mail about these cons keep in mind they are picky...and look at the rating I am giving the course)

- 4 has a super duper steep slope to climb down to get to the fairway. Too steep IMHO. Steps are needed here.
- I thought 8 was wide open and rather boring. Same with 11.
- Really am not liking how close the walking path on 17 is to the fairway. Although, it is possible to see walkers coming down the path for a long ways.
- 15 plays next to a building. Not sure why a hole had to be here.
- The walks between 12 and 13 then 13 to 14 were really really long.

Other Thoughts:

This course is so good I have to rate it somewhere near Flip and Hickory Hills. Of the courses I've played thus far I'd have to put the Canyons in my personal second best just barely behind Flip. While it has a nearly perfect set of amenities I don't think the quality of layout is as good as Flip. That said, if I am comparing the Canyons to Flip then I think that means this is certainly a top 20 course in the world. It is truly a fantastic disc golf experience and should be considered a destination course. There is plenty of challenge especially if you play off the blue tees. Whites are for those that like to abuse themselves and the reds are for more sensible DG'ers.

This is a long course with some rather significant walking between holes and a fair amount of elevation. Solid footwear is a must. Flip flop wearing huckers are going to want to skip this place. Water is also a must. And like any other wooded course there are your typical irritants such as mosquitos, some poison ivy (didn't see a lot though) and other assorted thickets off the fairways.
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7 4
sgouletas
Experience: 9.5 years 365 played 2 reviews
5.00 star(s)

Disc Golf Heaven 2+ years drive by

Reviewed: Played on:Aug 5, 2017 Played the course:5+ times

Pros:

Love the new 2 long, and 6 b,c,d holes. Beautiful, clean, good mix of lefty, tunnel, and righty holes, lots (11) of big elevation changes which, for me, is the best part of the course and how it differentiates itself from other great courses. A good mix of tight woody holes and others with more room to let it fly.

It is great having bathrooms on site, a disc store with snacks/refreshments, and the pavilion area with picnic tables. I also appreciate the practice basket as well and lots of parking with two lots, one paved and one gravel for overflow.

Cons:

More benches to sit on.
8c has some glass and other junk outside the circle but near the pin that needs more cleaning up than I could do.
Getting to the long hole 2 is a dangerous uphill trek.

Other Thoughts:

With so many carts being used it would be great if there were small bridges over the creeks instead of large stepping stones. It is a great workout and one of the harder courses to do two rounds on due to both the elevation/hills and the number of holes. If you don't normally carry a snack this is a good course to bring one due to the length or just stop by your car between holes 12 (the 20th hole) and 13.

About the reviewer. I played over 90 courses in the last 2.4 years, so I actually remember and this is the second best course I've played, with Flip City being the best (#3 in US).
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