Pioneer Park Disc Golf Course in Kirkland, IL

Basic Information

Course Location: Pioneer Park

Geographic Location: Kirkland, IL (between Rockford and DeKalb) (42.09438, -88.84241)

Date Visited: October 2025

Number of Holes: 18

Course Length: 4695 feet, par 66

Cost to Play: free
Difficulty Level: recreational, low

Carts: should be fine

Potential to Lose Discs: low; there is a lake and a river, but neither comes into play often

Park Information: https://villageofkirkland.com/56737-2/

DG Course Review Page: https://www.dgcoursereview.com/courses/pioneer-park.1692

UDisc Page: https://udisc.com/courses/pioneer-park-Rvda

Course Walkabout Video, Front 9: (coming June 5, 2026)

Course Walkabout Video, Back 9: (coming June 12, 2026)

Driving Directions: In northern Illinois, take I-39 to SR 72 (exit 111).  Exit and go east on SR 72.  Drive SR 72 east 10 miles to Pearl Street in the Village of Kirkland and turn left on Pearl St.  Drive Pearl St. north 2 blocks to North Street and turn left on North St.  Park on the gravel shoulder on either side of North St.  #1 tee is on the north side of North St. near the picnic shelter.

Course Constructions:

Tees: dirt, 1 per hole

Baskets: 1 per hole, Chainstar, double-chained but older and all in good shape

Signage: hole sign on each tee

Amenities: port-o-let; picnic tables; fishing lake

Summary Review: 1.5 Stars (out of 5)

I played at the Pioneer Park Disc Golf Course partly because it was directly on my driving route from Rockford to DeKalb and partly because it had mostly positive reviews at the major disc golf websites.  While we've all played far worse courses than this one, this course is nowhere near as good as its reviews.  The course occupies a completely flat piece of land around a city park pond.  When I came here on a Saturday morning in early October, about 100 Canada geese were roaming around the pond, and their droppings covered the ground near the pond.  While I don't support killing wildlife for no reason, I wouldn't mind if some of those geese became Thanksgiving dinner.  The tees are dirt, the baskets are old, and some of the tee signs are missing or in poor shape.  The grass was nicely mowed on my visit, but otherwise the course maintenance was not the best.  Also, some machinery and crates from construction on a nearby road bridge created additional obstacles on my visit.  The 2 holes near the construction were playable but not without difficulty.  There is no course map on site, and on several occasions I had to use the UDisc map to find the next tee.  The pars are beginner pars, and this course is beginner-friendly.  But this course is too short, flat, and basic with too poor constructions to keep skilled and experienced players interested for long.  If I lived in the area, I might play a quick round here occasionally, but there is no reason to go out of your way to play here.

Hole-by-Hole Review 

Distances taken from hole signs when possible, otherwise from dgcoursereview; link provided above.  Picture sequence for each hole is 1) tee, 2) approach, 3) basket to tee.

Hole #1: 210 feet, par 3

Comments: a mostly open hole with a single large tree guarding either side of the basket.  As long as you don't end up behind one of those trees, an easy birdie awaits.  #2 tee is across the road to the right near the skateboard area.

Hole #2: 245 feet, par 3

Comments: One large tree has limbs overhanging the area in front of the tee, and a second single large tree guards the right side of the fairway.  Any throw under the first tree and left of the second tree should be good.  #3 tee is behind the basket.

Hole #3: 254 feet, par 4

Comments: a single large tree guards the right side of the fairway, and several medium trees are located around the basket.  Try starting your disc due west and using a left-to-right disc flight for the best angle into the basket.  This hole should be a par 3; I will suppress further comments about the pars.  #4 tee is to the right.

Hole #4: 327 feet, par 5

Comments: The last hole south of North Street, a couple of trees stand on either side of the fairway, but the fairway is wide and there are no obstacles directly between the tee and the basket.  This may be the easiest par 5 I have ever seen.  #5 tee is across the road to the left, west (left) of the picnic shelter.

Hole #5: 223 feet, par 3

Comments: Overhanging limbs create a low ceiling, and the picnic tables not only create a safety hazard if people are sitting there but also create a "high floor" so to speak.  You will need a low and accurate throw to make a birdie here, so there is a little challenge.  #6 tee is across the gravel road behind the basket.

Hole #6: 286 feet, par 4

Comments: The next 3 holes play north along the park's west boundary.  This hole is mostly open, but a couple of medium-sized trees close to the basket on the right tempt you to throw toward the dense woods on the left.  You're better off dealing with those 2 trees than losing a disc in the dense woods, so don't fall for the temptation: make your miss right.  #7 tee is behind the basket and to the right.

Hole #7: 333 feet, par 5

Comments: very flat and very open, just don't throw into the dense woods to the left.  #8 tee is behind the basket.

Hole #8: 230 feet, par 3

Comments: finally a hole that is kind of interesting!  An island of trees stands between the tee and the basket, and there is room to go around the island on either side.  The left side is more direct, but it also brings the dense woods to the left into play; the right side will force you to bend your disc flight more.  This is one of the few holes on this course that forces you to pick a line and execute a throw.  #9 tee is unmarked; I used the wide spot in the gravel road.

Hole #9: 220 feet, par 3

Comments: short, flat, open, blah.  #10 tee is a few hundred feet away; walk to the left between the pond and the river and go past #12 tee.

Hole #10: 290 feet, par 4

Comments: 3 large trees guard the left side of the fairway, so keep your disc low and use a right-to-left disc flight for the best angle of attack on the basket.  #11 tee is to the left near the river.

Hole #11: 301 feet, par 5

Comments: This hole parallels the river on the right for its entire length, and it's the only hole that brings the river into play.  A dense row of trees separates the fairway and the river, and limbs from those trees create a somewhat low ceiling.  Some smaller trees guard the left side of the fairway, so you will need a straight and fairly low throw if you want to make a rare albatross here.  #12 tee is behind the basket and to the left.

Hole #12: 250 feet, par 4

Comments: Large trees on either side of the fairway make this one of the tighter holes on this course.  The gravel park road crossing the fairway about 80 feet short of the basket is open to vehicles, so check for vehicles before you throw.  #13 tee is behind the basket near the back of the parking lot.

Hole #13: 242 feet, par 3

Comments: straight with no obstacles directly between the tee and the basket, the pond is close enough on the right that an errant throw could find it.  A bad ricochet off of the overhanging limbs could get your disc wet too.  Discretion is the better part of valor in my estimation.  #14 tee is to the left.

Hole #14: 270 feet, par 4

Comments: straight and mostly open with only a couple of medium-sized trees near the basket.  #15 tee is to the left.

Hole #15: 263 feet, par 4

Comments: Now we get to the 2 holes that had construction interference when I came here.  Normally this is a straight hole with just some overhanging limbs to worry about, but in my case I also had a dumpster and some construction materials in my way.  Dense trees along the river are only a few feet long and left, so don't miss long.  #16 tee is to the right near the gravel road.

Hole #16: 265 feet, par 3

Comments: normally a straight hole with a large tree guarding the right side of the fairway and 2 small trees in front of the basket, one on either side.  On my visit a construction crate and a port-o-let stood directly in the line of play.  Actually, the extra obstacles kind of made this hole more challenging and fun.  #17 tee is to the left near the paved county road.

Hole #17: 247 feet, par 3

Comments: very open with only a single tree on the right side to negotiate.  #18 tee is behind the basket near the southeast corner of the park.

Hole #18: 239 feet, par 3

Comments: a straight hole with some trees on either side of the fairway but no obstacles directly between the tee and the basket except lots of Canada geese and lots of goose droppings.  This is an unremarkable end to an unremarkable course.  The parking lot is to the left past #1 basket.