Willow Stream Park

[Guest]

Yeah, Willow Stream is not a bad course. It doesn't have the longest or most challenging holes, but at the same time it's not too easy. I am quite happy with it. You will find me playing there almost any weekday after 5pm. I get off work in the heart of rush hour, and every day I have to make a choice between sitting in traffic for an hour or playing some disc golf while the traffic dies down   Oh, that's a tough one.

As for aces there, I gave up. Every one I know has aced at least one hole there. Even the people that don't really know how to play have aced the third hole by throwing it through that tree by the basket. I've hit chains on #2, #3, #4, #5, #6, and #7 on a few occasions, but I can't make the damn disc stick! So I guess that's just not for me

[Mike]

played a round yesterday, ended up -1 after missing 5 putts within 10 feet or so....  so if i could get my head together on those close ones i'm putting together some pretty good rounds-  i even had it within 10 feet on my first throw on hole 5, which is definitely a first for me

oh and i hit the pin on 7 AGAIN, and on 17 at west park...  its gonna go in somewhere eventually

[rosh]

New to the sport of disc golf.  Was an ultimate player 20 years ago in college but never played disc golf.  I just discovered this course minutes from my house while launching model rockets with my daugther (a stray rocket landed in the number 2 basket  -- Wow!! a real disc golf course -- fist real one I've ever seen), and I was immeadiately pscyhed to take up the sport.

I've played at least a dozen times in the last month since I discovered the course.  I'm usually there late afternoons on the weekends (when my daughter is napping) and usually playing alone (I drive a blue Acura MDX (SUV), and always looking for a group to join in with (figure the only way I will get better -- since right now I stink big time)).  Fortunately this seems like a forgiving course for a beginner.

Hope to see some of you out there.

Rosh

BTW, if any one cares, the south side of the park (old checker road entrance), near the playground, as a map of the course, not sure why they have it there when the course is at the north entrance to the park.  

[tree]

We'll look for you. We live 5 min from the course and play there intermittently. I'll be going more regularly in prep for Women's Nationals.

Enjoy!

[David B.]

Played this course for the first time in years yesterday on the way to help my parents set up for the Jewish Holidays. I do not live nearby.  I was heartened to have a duece each time through but should have had more.   The PDGA site says the wind can be tough and it sure was.  I had to drill my putts even from close range to make sure they did not float.

Either I was strong or the distance marking are not accurate.  I was right near the basket on a couple of holes marked over 200 ft with throws that did not seem that strong.  

What goes around comes around... while looking for an errant tee shot on the long hole (7?) I found a Cyclone in the bushes.  I saw two kids playing and only holding one or two discs each and threw the cyclone to one of them.  

[smiler82]

Just wondering everyone's thoughts on this course.  It's my home course and I think it has a great mix of long, short, left and right holes.  It can get quite crowded on summer weekends but for me, that's just a reason to play off-peak times.  Also I love the new signs, and the HUGE concrete tees.  #'s 1, 5, and 8 really give you a chance to air one out.

[DougEDawg]

It used to be my home course as well.  I learned DG on that course.  Wide open which makes it a good learner course.  I only played on it twice last year, but I did try the new tee-pads.  I wish it were an 18 holer, but the property is not big enough for soccer, baseball and DG.

[Jon Brakel]

Just wondering everyone's thoughts on this course.  It's my home course and I think it has a great mix of long, short, left and right holes.  It can get quite crowded on summer weekends but for me, that's just a reason to play off-peak times.  Also I love the new signs, and the HUGE concrete tees.  #'s 1, 5, and 8 really give you a chance to air one out.

It is the closest course to my house. I don't think of it as having distance. I also don't think of it as having left and right holes. I like it for a nine hole course. Adler has 9 better holes but Adler is 9 good holes looking for a layout.

Hole break down:

1) Medium to long uphill. Can be played up the middle, hyzer or big anhyzer. Tough to deuce with length and the protective trees around the basket. Easy 3. I am ambarrased to say that I carded a 5 on it the last time I played.

2) Medium length--again can play up the middle or hyzer/anhyzer. No obstacles on this hole. If you have an accurate drive it's an easy deuce.

3) Short--the anhyzer is better protected on this hole unless you spike it. Up the middle playing into the protective tree is the way to go on this short hole. Easy deuce.

4) Somewhat protected hyzer, just go up the middle on this short hole for a deuce.

5) Medium long hole. I like to throw something just a little understable straight up the fairway and let it get a slow fade (gentle anhyzer) to the basket. A good accurate pull will get you the deuce.

6) Short. Play up the middle for an easy deuce.

7) I used to throw the slow anhyzer on this one but have recently switched to the hyzer. There used to be another tree in the fairway that made the hyzer harder to hit. Should be an easy hyzer deuce.

8 ) Medium long. I've only gotten the deuce on this one once but I don't have a big drive. I have only driven basket long on this one once after a lucky path skip. The trees shouldn't come into play on this one except the two trees protecting the 375' hyzer throw. Tough deuce except for the long accurate driver. Easy 3.

9) Lame technical hole to finish the round if you take the hyzer. Good chance to practice the forehand here. If you have a good forehand it's an easy deuce. The technical shot up the path is 50/50 unless you have good accuracy. Should be an easy 3 any way you play it as long as you don't bounce into the woods off a tree.

I like Buffalo Grove. Not great, but an acceptable disc golf experience. If you like Buffalo Grove you will love Waukegan.

[Dan Michler]

Yeah, this course is less than a mile from my apartment (better than nothing I guess   ).  I agree with everything Jon said about the holes.  1 and 8 are out of most players ranges unless you can throw 380 feet.  To reach Hole 1 I'd estimate you need to be able to BOMB.  I've found a roller up the hill gives me the best chance to get close because you can't play a big S shot due to the trees.  3, 4, 6, 7 are ridiculously easy.  9 is deceptively hard I think because its tough to stop your disc near the basket with the hard ground and path to the right of the pin.

why can't parkside be across the street?

[Jon Brakel]

Yeah, this course is less than a mile from my apartment (better than nothing I guess   ).  I agree with everything Jon said about the holes.  1 and 8 are out of most players ranges unless you can throw 380 feet.  To reach Hole 1 I'd estimate you need to be able to BOMB.  I've found a roller up the hill gives me the best chance to get close because you can't play a big S shot due to the trees.  3, 4, 6, 7 are ridiculously easy.  9 is deceptively hard I think because its tough to stop your disc near the basket with the hard ground and path to the right of the pin.

why can't parkside be across the street?

Number 1 is closer than you think if you can throw a big anhyzer. Even with my arm I've been able to get close enough for something you'd call a putt by throwing the big annie off the tee. I've never made it...only hole I haven't ever deuced out there.

[Dan Michler]

i said if you can bomb then you can reach 1 jon.  obviously you are a big bomber     i would trust anything jon says over me when it comes to this course though.  i've only played it about 10 times at the most.

[Brian]

why can't parkside be across the street?

That was the main selling point of my current apartment, it almost makes up for the idiot that lives below me.  

[Mike S]

i love this course only because it is basically where i learned to play.  Last time i played was on new years eve, i shot even in gale force winds.  Ive deuced every hole there too many times to count (except 8, ive only deuced it 3 or 4 times), and ive aced 5 with a champion valk forehand.

edit:  what kind of scores do you guys normally get there?  I would say I average about 3 down in 9 holes, my best day was this august, I played around twice and shot -13 for the day.

[mirth]

bump.... merging three threads together made the final one drop off the map.

[Dan Michler]

dude they must have changed hole 1 then.  If you have only deuced 8 a few times but gotten 1 too many times to count.  It should be the other way around.  8 is much easier.

I'd say averaging 3 down per 9 holes is pretty good.  i haven't played it enuf to give you an accurate average of what I would shoot, but i'd guess around 3 or 4 down for an average.

[Jon Brakel]

dude they must have changed hole 1 then.  If you have only deuced 8 a few times but gotten 1 too many times to count.  It should be the other way around.  8 is much easier.

I'd say averaging 3 down per 9 holes is pretty good.  i haven't played it enuf to give you an accurate average of what I would shoot, but i'd guess around 3 or 4 down for an average.

I always think that I should be shooting 4 or 5 down every time, but I probably average 3 down.

On whether 8 or 1 is harder I think it is just how you throw. 8 is longer but 1 is up hill and with more trees. I can see how 8 might be easier and my own experience supports that. I've never actually gotten the deuce on 1, I've always missed the putt. But I've had more opportunities on 1 than on 8. I've deuced 8 twice, I think...maybe 3 times. But one was on a "fairway ace" and the other one or two were on putts within 75 feet. I've only driven to within 75 feet of number 8 two or three times, but I've driven within 75 feet of number 1 much more.

[Mike S]

1 is a closer hole than 8.  If i throw a big enough forehand just to the right of the trees and I can get it to make a nice long S-curve, I can land it next to the trees up by the pin.  Ive only put it that close on 8 one or two times and I have no idea how I put the disc that far.

[DougEDawg]

Man, you guys are good!  You all average between 3 and four down.  I used to play the hell out of that course, and I averaged about 1 down.  My best was six down.  I birdied all the holes except 1, eight and nine.  I missed a 20 footer on 9.

[airspuds]

it seems that on some of the 9 hole courses ive played
ive been able to duece most of the holes at one time or the other
but only been able to score between -2  & -5

this happens to me all the time at oly fields
ive duece all the holes got several aces

but my best there still is -7

in a T   - once i shot lights out to win

but i play a lot there casually

in best shot -14 is the score to get stepping out of the car

little bit of thread drift


so the question is "how to play consistantly ?)

[Jon Brakel]

Same way you get to Carnegie Hall!