Thursday, November 3, 2022

Harmon Park Disc Golf Course in Lebanon, OH

Basic Information

Course Location: Harmon Park
Geographic Location: east side of Lebanon, OH (39.43134, -84.19921)
Date Visited: October 2022
Number of Holes: 9
Course Length: 2285 feet, par 27
Difficulty Level: recreational, medium
Cost to Play: free
Carts: should be fine here
Potential to Lose Discs: low/medium; some densely wooded holes
Course Walkabout Video

Driving Directions: From the intersection of US 42 and SR 63 in downtown Lebanon, drive Main Street east 6 blocks to Mound Street and turn right on Mound St.  Drive Mound St. south 1.5 blocks to the gravel parking lot on the right.  Park here; #1 tee is a few hundred feet west on the asphalt bike trail on the south (left) side of the trail.

Course Constructions:

Tees: black rubber mats, 1 per hole
Baskets: mach 5 baskets, 1 per hole, in good shape on my visit
Signage: course map near parking lot; hole sign on each tee
Amenities: bike path, trash can

Summary Review: 2.5 Stars (out of 5)

The disc golf course at Harmon Park started as an Eagle Scout project, and it is a good one at that.  The course is a short recreational course with some interesting holes but also some routine holes.  The first 3 holes are heavily wooded, but the rest of the course plays through a lightly wooded mowed-grass field with a smattering of trees used to strategic advantage.  The land has only minor undulations but offers a nice parkland setting.  The area is almost exclusively devoted to disc golf; only a bike path comes into play on a few holes.  The bike path is out-of-bounds (OB) wherever it appears.  The course maintenance was impeccable when I played here.  The course does have some routing issues.  In particular, the final basket is over 1000 feet from the parking area.  This problem could be resolved or at least abated by redesigning holes #4 and #5.  Also, the constructions leave somewhat to be desired: concrete tee pads, a few benches, and some restrooms would be nice additions.  Despite its flaws, I had a nice relaxing half-round here, and you probably will too.

Hole-by-Hole Review 

Distances taken from hole signs.  Picture sequence for each hole is 1) tee, 2) approach, 3) basket to tee.

Hole #1: 245 feet, par 3
Comments: fairly open at first, a smattering of trees in front of the basket will require an accurate throw if you want to get near the basket with your tee shot.  A bad ricochet off of a tree could send you into some dense woods on either side of the fairway.  Also, sharp dropoffs near the basket discourage you from missing left or long.  This is a nice opening hole and one of the more interesting holes on this course.  #2 tee is downhill to the left.

Hole #2: 300 feet, par 3
Comments: a slight dogleg left, this hole has a narrower line of play compared to hole #1, but there is only one obvious gap in the trees to throw through.  #3 tee is behind the basket and to the left.

Hole #3: 250 feet, par 3
Comments: this hole plays up a small hill, and it is the only hole on this course with any noticeable elevation change between tee and basket.  A tight gap in the trees about half way to the basket will need to be negotiated, as will some more small trees close to the basket.  The basket itself is in a fairly open area.  #4 tee is to the right in the mowed-grass area beside the bike path.

Hole #4: 240 feet, par 3
Comments: now the course breaks out into the open more or less to stay.  Some dense brush and low overhanging branches guard the right side, but you have all the space in the world to the left.  The dense woods also sits closely behind the basket.  #5 tee is to the left near the bike path and back toward the tee.

Hole #5: 250 feet, par 3
Comments: this hole is a slight dogleg left because it is routed through a narrow gap in a line of trees.  A mandatory (mando) marked only on the hole sign forces you to throw through the gap.  Because the bike path is already OB, I think this hole would be better without the mando to allow the disc golfer to choose a more creative line through the trees.  Other than the line of trees, this is a completely open hole. (Aside: a few of these later holes seem longer than #2 to me, which causes me to question the hole distances on the tee signs.)  #6 tee is behind the basket and to the left across the bike path.

Hole #6: 235 feet, par 3
Comments: a completely open hole except for a cluster of small trees directly in front of the basket.  The bike path is OB, but check for bikers and pedestrians there before you throw.  #7 tee is behind the basket, across the bike path bridge, and to the left of the bike path.

Hole #7: 170 feet, par 3
Comments: the shortest hole on this course is fairly open except for a cluster of large trees directly in front of the basket.  A disc thrown straight at the basket will almost surely hit bark, so you have to pick a side and curve your disc in for a good birdie opportunity.  #8 tee is to the right.

Hole #8: 335 feet, par 3
Comments: after the shortest hole on this course comes the longest hole on this course.  A smattering of large trees stands between the tee and basket, but the gaps between the trees are actually quite generous.  Thus, this course's longest hole is not its hardest throw.  #9 tee is a couple hundred feet away; head back toward #8 tee and look across the bike path.

Hole #9: 260 feet, par 3
Comments: another mostly open hole with a smattering of trees to close.  Check for users of the bike path to the right before you throw.  The parking lot is about 1000 feet behind the basket along the bike path.

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