cross posting this from the FVM boards...
Heard from a guy I played a round with out here in DeKalb that West Chicago had put in an 18 hole disc golf course at Manville Oaks Park. I was in that area this Saturday and swung by for a look. What a shame.
There are 18 Innova baskets in the ground but that's about it. There are no tees, there is no signage, no course map, and not a whole heck of a lot of sense in the placement of the baskets. The park itself could be a decent location. It's located on the south side of town, immediately west of Joliet St, flanking both sides of Wilson St. The park is predominantly open grassland with some rolling terrain though there are areas of mature oak savanna as well as trees along the banks of Kress Creek, which flows through the northern part of the park. The course is divided into two nine hole sections, 1-9 being north of Wilson St and 10-18 being south.
Holes 1-9 as they are aren't worth playing in their present placement unless you're really into searching for discs in high grass. The holes are pretty much wide open and scattered around the perimeter of the northeast corner of the park. From the parking area, walk north towards the closest basket you see, which is 9. There is a serpentine, 20' wide path mowed into the high grass leading off to your left (west) that will take you to the first basket. Following this will presumably bring one back around to basket 9. The "fairways" in this part of the park don't follow normal disc flight paths winding back and forth between presumed tee and pin. Missing that 20' wide path puts one in deep. I did walk down the path to see if any of the holes bordering Kress Creek were any better and even tried playing a few but the "fairway" doesn't even remotely follow the line desired between point A and B so anything other than a park resulted in x minutes of stomping through the high grass.
Holes 10-18 are more playable in that they are located in better terrain in areas that are mowed sufficiently to allow for enjoyable play. From the parking area,cross Wilson St or park in the recycled blacktop "lot" to the south of the street. Turn left and pick a point to tee from as 10 is the leftmost basket one can see in the oak grove downhill. It's 500'+ from the recycled blacktop. As there are no marked tees I just played from basket to basket from here on in. 11 is straight ahead from 10 maybe 180' hidden behind an oak. Right through the woods and tee for 12, 180'ish again needing a mild anhyzer or ess. 13 runs straight between woods on the left and high grass/wet on the right, maybe 260' with the basket 20' left around the corner. 14 is a 360'ish soft anhyzer following the edge of the high grass. 15 turns around and heads up the hill another 360'ish with the basket just beyond a hedge line. 16 was pretty and fun, maybe 220' downhill to the right under mature oaks. 17 was the best hole on the course, a 360'ish right dogleg with a decision between a shorter but tighter route to the right or a more open but longer line to the left located about halfway down the fairway with the basket hidden to the left behind some trees at the end. 18 I didn't play as I had the distinct impression that the guys tossing baskets out of the back of a pick-up truck had painted themselves into a corner at this point. 18's basket is located near to 10's but getting there from here involves crossing several fairways and I didn't see any potential lines worth playing.
The course in its current stay is pretty useless unless one is very local. There is potential here for a decent course though it would require pulling most, if not all baskets and starting from scratch. I considered contacting the West Chicago Parks Department to feel out if they were open to developing the potential of the venue but I'm not exactly local and, though I've been reading a bit on design theory, am far qualified on the subject. It would better if a club or clubs approached the parks department if there were interest in tilting this particular windmill. Any interest here?
Welcome to the mecca West Chicago.
Lost disc on 14 to the right Yellow Avenger SS IOS Disc name and # on back.
to the right of basket in tall grass I thought I was past deep grass guess not. :crybaby2:
Thanks Underdog
There is some actual potential on this piece of land.