DISContinuum DISCussion

Disc Golf Related => Courses => Topic started by: ActionJackson on September 20, 2007, 06:56:07 AM

Title: VanderCook College DG Course in Chicago?
Post by: ActionJackson on September 20, 2007, 06:56:07 AM
So I caught word that there is a grand opening for a disc golf course at VanderCook College in Chicago next weekend.  Does anyone have any information about this? Or am I being lied to.

-Mike
Title: Re: VanderCook College DG Course in Chicago?
Post by: J.R. on September 20, 2007, 07:43:35 AM
I have no info but looking at the aerial view on Google, I don't see room for a nine hole course, unless maybe it's super short...or not a full nine.
Title: Re: VanderCook College DG Course in Chicago?
Post by: airspuds on September 23, 2007, 06:16:31 AM
dont see much room for one
unless its urban  street pole to street pole

Title: Re: VanderCook College DG Course in Chicago?
Post by: Bruce Brakel on September 23, 2007, 06:05:49 PM
Unless there are two Vandercook Colleges in Chicago, Vandercook is the music college at IIT.  It is one building.  Maybe you could set up a mini course inside there. 
Title: Re: VanderCook College DG Course in Chicago?
Post by: ActionJackson on September 25, 2007, 09:49:16 AM
haha all very good points.  This is why I posted with no investment.  Definitely not enough room from the view above.  Perhaps Vandercook owns some park somewhere in chicago, or something along those lines.  Of course there is a chance that someone is out to make me look silly in dg forums ... :icon_scratch:

Title: Re: VanderCook College DG Course in Chicago?
Post by: ActionJackson on September 25, 2007, 04:52:17 PM
I just got word that there is in fact a 9 hole disc golf course opening at IIT this Thursday.  It appears to just play in between all of the buildings...interesting.  Well if you are near Chicago Thursday at 1 pm (and you dont have to work : /  ) You should go check it out.  Free food, music and a free disc to first 400 people (from what I hear its an avenger elite x)

Course Map:
http://www.iit.edu/publications/iittoday/pdf/Main_course_sign.pdf

I am pretty curious and I am going to play this course next week after work.  Hopefully someone will want to toss some discs over Dearborn with me  ;D
Title: Re: VanderCook College DG Course in Chicago?
Post by: tacimala on September 25, 2007, 09:11:30 PM
Haha the course flow looks horrible but I am stoked to possibly be able to play disc golf in the city after work! I may even have to bring some stuff with me on Thursday to come play with and take a long lunch at that time. What train line is this closest to? I'm thinking red, but which stop?
Title: Re: VanderCook College DG Course in Chicago?
Post by: Tom McManus on September 26, 2007, 12:37:53 AM
I think you could get off at 35th street.  Seems like I parked near IIT to go to some Sox games in the past.
Title: Re: VanderCook College DG Course in Chicago?
Post by: Chainmeister on September 26, 2007, 03:22:10 AM
Quote from: tacimala on September 25, 2007, 09:11:30 PM
Haha the course flow looks horrible but I am stoked to possibly be able to play disc golf in the city after work! I may even have to bring some stuff with me on Thursday to come play with and take a long lunch at that time. What train line is this closest to? I'm thinking red, but which stop?

All this looks true.  Thursday looks impossible for me but this course looks like a viable after work stop.  Too bad it didn't open earlier in the summer.  Therre are scant hours, er ah, minutes, of daylight left after the workday ends.  Maybe loop based players can have an evening league next year. The only way I get to an evening league now is if I am out in the provinces or I cut out early. Speaking of provinces...
[THREAD DRIFT ALERT]
I am in Rockford overnight.  I played Anna Page last night and for most of the time was the only person in the park. Fall has arrived.  Colors are beautiful and falling acorns on the new course are dangerous. Most of the pins on the old course are in the toughest positions and the course was in great shape.  I was +10 on the old and was throwing well.  There  is nothing like this course close to the City of Big Shoulders.
Title: Re: VanderCook College DG Course in Chicago?
Post by: can't putt on September 26, 2007, 06:27:54 AM
Thanks for the head's up, Mike.

IIT University Course (http://www.amctrl.com/cgi-bin/DiscGolfPage.cgi?id=150)
Title: Re: VanderCook College DG Course in Chicago?
Post by: ActionJackson on September 27, 2007, 12:30:28 PM
Alright so I took an extra long lunch break today and met some friends for the opening celebrations at the IIT course. Alot of effort was put into it, certainly alot more than I thought. It was nice. Food, music and a free Discraft disc.

The course itself, I thought, was pretty fun.  Once I got over being nervous of having a great chance of nailing someone in the head with every throw (all 9 holes are over or adjacent to a sidewalk), I had a good time.  Not a particularly hard course, but there were some holes that called for some tough shots.  I would definitely recommend checking this course out.
Title: Re: VanderCook College DG Course in Chicago?
Post by: tacimala on September 27, 2007, 12:36:36 PM
I agree with the first paragraph!

I don't know if I could ever get over the fact of the people sitting in the fairway though and having the fear of hitting them. Several of the teepads are near the prior basket, there are picnic tables in fairways and there are absolutely a ton of sidewalks to throw over (mixed in with people walking on them). It is easy to get to and from via the green line though so I may play after work one time to see how many people are there walking around in the evenings.
Title: Re: VanderCook College DG Course in Chicago?
Post by: Chainmeister on September 27, 2007, 12:45:26 PM
Taylor

Let me know when you plan to go.  From the descriptions I am surprised the risk managers at IIT let this thing get built.  Somebody is gonna get their bell rung.  Might be a fun course to play one disc with the Blowfly.
Title: Re: VanderCook College DG Course in Chicago?
Post by: ActionJackson on September 27, 2007, 12:51:22 PM
haha that reminds me.  Not even 5 minutes into this place being open I saw 2 people get nailed neck up.  We ran into the kid that apparently made this thing happen.  He was a cool kid.  We brought up the fact that people are going to get blitzed (and not in a good way  ;)) out there. He said that he knew but he just kept saying it won't be a big issue so the course would be built.  <_< I am alright with that.
Title: Re: VanderCook College DG Course in Chicago?
Post by: pickax on September 27, 2007, 01:03:28 PM
It would be wise if they made the course a 150 class only course.
Title: Re: VanderCook College DG Course in Chicago?
Post by: Working Stiff on September 27, 2007, 01:11:49 PM
Quote from: krupicka on September 27, 2007, 01:03:28 PM
It would be wise if they made the course a 150 class only course.
It would be great if it was a 150 class-putter only course, but I'm not a big fan of rules that can't be enforced.  Can you imagine Campus Security stopping you and asking "Hey, buddy.  How heavy is that Wizard?"   8)
Title: Re: VanderCook College DG Course in Chicago?
Post by: tacimala on September 27, 2007, 03:05:38 PM
Sounds good Dave. I think I may venture back one day after work in the next few weeks. Today might have been far different from normal days because they were publicizing the opening so a lot of people were out and about, but I would consider myself a good disc golfer and I felt uncomfortable throwing because of others' safety and that's not a good thing!

I do like the blowfly idea though!
Title: Re: VanderCook College DG Course in Chicago?
Post by: tflo101 on September 28, 2007, 09:27:34 PM
Anyone want to meet up tommorrow and play this course?  It shouldnt be that crowded in terms of students walking around since its a saturday. 
Title: Re: VanderCook College DG Course in Chicago?
Post by: tflo101 on September 29, 2007, 07:07:41 PM
Just played this course today and it wasnt too bad.  The benches in the fairway of I think hole 5 should be moved, the one with the metal sculpture in in the way.  Some lady was studying on the picnic table which was right in my path and I couldnt brinng myself to throw it, so I had to throw around the other way.  And on hole 4 I think is going to cause some complaints.  It is only 167, and just to the left and behind it is the entrance to a building, so people might get ambushed when they walk out. Overall this course is pretty cool and it is going to be really nice having a course in Chicago.
Title: Re: VanderCook College DG Course in Chicago?
Post by: can't putt on October 27, 2007, 04:56:58 PM
I was told today by someone in the know that this course is only really open to students and faculty with I.D.s
Title: Re: VanderCook College DG Course in Chicago?
Post by: mirth on October 28, 2007, 06:53:49 AM
is the campus only open to students and faculty with IDs?
Title: Re: VanderCook College DG Course in Chicago?
Post by: tflo101 on October 28, 2007, 09:01:17 PM
I dont think so, I have been there twice and havent had any trouble with anything, then again I didnt go when classes were going on.  I think it would be hard to enforce it unless campus security went around checking anyone who is playing for an ID. 
Title: Re: VanderCook College DG Course in Chicago?
Post by: CEValkyrie on November 03, 2007, 01:25:45 PM
Got a chance to play this course today. I find it very interesting being able to play in Chicago. Talk about urban disc golf. I thought the design was not too bad. Some interesting holes and it took some thought to get these holes to flow betweent the buildings.

Nice tee signs. Maps and pencils are supplied at hole #1. We played at 9am. We had no troubles with pedestrians but I could see there being some major conflicts. There were quite a few people walking down the sidewalks watching us play. Talk about exposure for disc golf. You could play many of the holes throwing from cement sidewalks if you're looking for cement tees ;D.
Title: Re: VanderCook College DG Course in Chicago?
Post by: Dan Michler on November 03, 2007, 01:58:29 PM
This course is crazy.  I've never played anything in such a congested area.  And yet there are still some decent holes that make you bust out a long drive.  I can't imagine playing at a time when there are alot of pedestrians out there.  Buildings, cars, people, and crazy decorative structures are in play on 300+ foot holes.  If you make up your own tees you could make it pretty challenging and fun as long as you play early in the morning before people are out there.

What were they thinking on Hole 7?  We played skip shots down the street on the right cuz there were only a couple cars parked, but I have no idea what the route is if there are cars out there.
Title: Re: VanderCook College DG Course in Chicago?
Post by: airspuds on January 31, 2008, 05:07:14 AM
kid and wife were at school of music over the weekend and did nt see baskets
they werent looking that hard

hey, i can see the baskets from the metra train


i realized yesterday

might have to play here sunday

kev c - u up for first south side discontiuum bag tag of the year


Title: Re: VanderCook College DG Course in Chicago?
Post by: kcunning on January 31, 2008, 06:08:11 AM
Sunday is Starved Rock chaperone day for me.

Remember, I'm sneaking off to play a course in Ottawa.

I'll check out this other course some time though, on a weekend it sounds like, maybe next Saturday.

Don't we need tags before we can play for tags?
Title: Re: VanderCook College DG Course in Chicago?
Post by: airspuds on January 31, 2008, 07:16:03 AM
so true

monday then ?

course to be decided

im off that day

Title: Re: VanderCook College DG Course in Chicago?
Post by: Fiddler on January 31, 2008, 10:05:16 AM
There is another 9 hole in the city? Or are you talking about the one at IIT?
Title: Re: VanderCook College DG Course in Chicago?
Post by: tacimala on January 31, 2008, 11:17:09 AM
They are referring to the IIT one I believe. It's the only I know of here!
Title: Re: VanderCook College DG Course in Chicago?
Post by: airspuds on February 03, 2008, 07:06:24 AM
it is on the IIT campus

both teh course and the music college
Title: Re: VanderCook College DG Course in Chicago?
Post by: Chainmeister on April 04, 2008, 09:28:38 AM
Is this course still up?  Has anybody played it lately?  Now that there is more daylight after work and now that there is a semblance of a thaw I was thinking of checkng this course out after work Monday or Wednesday next week.  I was thinking of  just bringing a putter, mid and stable driver. Would this work for this course?  Anbody up for an inner city 9?
Title: Re: VanderCook College DG Course in Chicago?
Post by: Dan Michler on April 04, 2008, 10:00:53 AM
If your playing when people are in school there then I would just bring a Firebird and aim for some heads.

:laughing4:
Title: Re: VanderCook College DG Course in Chicago?
Post by: tacimala on April 04, 2008, 10:16:48 AM
Dave - I'm not working downtown anymore, but I could probably be persuaded. :)
Title: Re: VanderCook College DG Course in Chicago?
Post by: Chainmeister on April 21, 2008, 08:59:42 PM
This course reminds me of the original courses like Vollrath in Sheboygan or Toledo or the late Wilmette course. Its pretty short with some thought to tucking the basket behind a tree. I played even  exactly the same for 2 rounds of 9( so you know its pretty easy) and was miffed that I did not convert deuces on 1 through 3 despite being very close. I hit 4 both times and was very close to hitting the basket the first time.. 5 is 446 ft and I was there but missed a putt. A class came out and sat on the grass in the middle of the course.  I had to play 5 the second time and 9 both times from made up tees to avoid throwing at them. I had to keep my eyes open for students on all holes. The Discatchers were nice and the tees were well marked. The dirt/grass tees were fine but likely get sloppy in wet weather. A couple of the tees are a little cramped.  It was only 2 blocks from the 33rd st. exit to the SOX/35th L stop. I will want to stop by before going to Sox games in the future.
Title: Re: VanderCook College DG Course in Chicago?
Post by: airspuds on December 24, 2008, 03:36:37 PM
kev c and i might be out here on sunday morning after xmas

last bag tag of the year

Title: Re: VanderCook College DG Course in Chicago?
Post by: airspuds on December 28, 2008, 08:37:35 AM
nice round this morning

last round of year

kev won bag tag

add another course played

Title: Re: VanderCook College DG Course in Chicago?
Post by: Tom McManus on April 25, 2010, 03:35:03 AM
This course on the IIT campus is fun.  It isn't like any of the other courses that I have played. I don't know what I was expecting at this course, but it exceeded my expectations ten fold.

We arrived at the course around 4:00 PM on a Saturday.  It looked like there was a tourney starting and they asked us if we were there to play in the event. We politely declined and they let us play through.

Regarding the course itself, it winds through the buildings and is fairly well marked with tee signs. Part of the appeal is that it winds through campus and that there are some nice sculptures and some very nice buildings.  If you play and use the sidewalks as out of bounds it makes the course reasonably difficult.

The tee pads are all dirt, but it would certainly be easy enough to set up alternate tee pads on concrete on all nine holes. 

If you are in the city, add this course to your itinerary.  The uniqueness and the charm of this course make it a must play.