Hidden Diamonds Park Disc Golf Course in Albion, IN

Basic Information

Course Location: Hidden Diamonds Park

Geographic Location: Albion, IN (41.38513, -85.42118)

Date Visited: October 2022

Number of Holes: 18

Course Length: 5758 feet, par 57

Cost to Play: free

Difficulty Level: recreational, medium

Carts: should be fine here

Potential to Lose Discs: low, unless your disc hangs up in the pine trees

Park Information: https://www.albionparks.com/parks/hidden-diamonds

DG Course Review Page: https://www.dgcoursereview.com/course.php?id=8928

UDisc Page: https://udisc.com/courses/hidden-diamonds-UeQ2

Course Walkabout Video, Front 9:

Course Walkabout Video, Back 9:

Driving Directions: On the south side of Albion, cross the railroad tracks, then turn left on Weber Street.  The park entrance is 1 block ahead on the right.  Turn right to enter the park, and park on the left side of the large gravel lot.  #1 tee is uphill to the east toward the maintenance building.

Course Constructions:

Tees: concrete, 1 per hole

Baskets: Mach baskets, but only 9 of them total.  Holes #1 and #10 share a basket, as do #2 and #11, etc.

Signage: course map near parking lot, hole sign on each tee

Amenities: restrooms, basketball court, baseball fields, soccer fields

Summary Review: 2 Stars (out of 5)

The disc golf course at Hidden Diamonds Park has 18 tees but only 9 baskets.  Moreover it uses the duplication routing system, i.e. holes #1 and #10 play to a common basket, as do holes #2 and #11, holes #3 and #12, and so on.  While this routing is not my favorite way to lay out a course, I can see how it helps fit maximum holes into a congested area, which is kind of the case here.  Unfortunately, it also makes for a couple of long walks from a basket to the next tee, and you might want to take a picture of the course map to help you follow the course route.  A gravel walking trail and a gravel park road pass through the disc golf area, so you have to check for pedestrians and vehicles on several holes before you throw.  The rolling terrain offers undulation that makes some of the holes more interesting, but this is a very open course.  Some holes have no real obstacles at all, and their only defense is their length or the terrain.  Thus, if you like to "grip it and rip it," this course might be for you.  The course constructions are more than adequate, and the course maintenance was flawless on my visit.  Overall, this is a nice small-town park course with more length than you might expect for such a course, but the course does not offer enough strategic value to keep most players interested for long.

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: 223 feet, par 3

Comments: the gradually uphill opening hole is fairly open with a row of pine trees lining the left side and a smattering of small broadleaf trees to the right.  Also, the long branches of some pine trees extend out over the basket.  Thus, you have to bring your disc in low.  #2 tee is in the pines behind the basket.

Hole #2: 166 feet, par 3

Comments: this hole is a sharp dogleg left that plays out a narrow chute of pines.  Moreover, long pine branches overhead and on the inside of the dogleg force you to think about how you want to flight your disc.  Despite its short length, this is my favorite hole on this course due to the strategy and planning involved.  #3 tee is behind the basket and to the left.

Hole #3: 308 feet, par 3

Comments: tight by this course's standards, you have to squeeze your drive between a pine tree on the right and a wooded area with dense brush on the left.  After this is accomplished, the hole plays slightly downhill and doglegs left to reach a basket guarded on the left by the wooded area.  This hole and its sister hole on the back nine (hole #12) are the hardest holes on this course.  #4 tee is to the right and to the right of the gravel walking trail.

Hole #4: 163 feet, par 3

Comments: the shortest hole on this course.  This sweeping dogleg right has no real obstacles, but woods with a dense grassy understory line either side of the fairway.  #5 tee is uphill to the left.

Hole #5: 235 feet, par 3

Comments: the most uphill hole on the front nine, this hole plays out of a wooded chute and into a very open area.  A single large tree stands between the tee and the basket.  #6 tee is behind the basket.

Hole #6: 318 feet, par 3

Comments: now comes the most downhill hole on the front nine.  A row of pine trees guards the left side, but this is a very open hole: there are no real obstacles between the tee and basket.  Also, the gravel walking path sits behind the hole, so check for pedestrians before you throw.  #7 tee is to the right near the soccer field.

Hole #7: 309 feet, par 3

Comments: a row of trees separates the soccer field from the rest of the park, but this hole is routed on the soccer field side of the trees.  This routing makes no sense to me, and I would not want to play this hole if the soccer field was being used.  Instead, I would play its sister, hole #16, twice, once now and once on the back nine.  As routed, only a couple of large pine trees stand between the tee and the basket, which is located on a steep hill.  Thus, nothing is gained strategically by bringing the soccer field into play, and I really do not like this hole.  #8 tee is several hundred feet behind the basket, across the gravel road, and down the hill.

Hole #8: 288 feet, par 3

Comments: similar to hole #4 but straighter, longer, and with a wider fairway.  #9 tee is to the left.

Hole #9: 345 feet, par 3

Comments: a nearly flat hole with no obstacles anywhere near the line of play.  This contends for the most uninspiring hole I have ever played.  #10 tee is several hundred feet to the right; go past the basketball court to near the parking lot.

Hole #10: 303 feet, par 3

Comments: a replay of hole #1 but longer and with all obstacles on the left.  #11 tee is back toward the parking lot near the basketball court; it is closer to #10 tee than to #10 basket.

Hole #11: 394 feet, par 3

Comments: NOT a replay of hole #2, this hole is a long dogleg left with pine trees guarding the inside of the dogleg.  Only a smattering of small trees guard the right side.  #12 tee is behind the basket and to the right.

Hole #12: 296 feet, par 3

Comments: a very tough tee shot that requires you to either keep your disc very low under the pine branches or fly it very high and hope you avoid the trees.  I think this hole would be better if the window to fit your disc through was expanded a little.  If you manage the tee shot, the hole plays slightly downhill and doglegs left to reach a basket guarded on the left by the wooded area.  This is the hardest hole on this course.  #13 tee is to the right and to the left of the gravel walking trail.

Hole #13: 208 feet, par 3

Comments: similar to hole #4 but longer.  Also, the tee shot plays over the gravel walking trail and through a tight window between pine trees.  #14 tee is halfway back to #13 tee and to the left (as you face the basket).

Hole #14: 340 feet, par 3

Comments: the most uphill hole on this course, the tee shot plays out a broad chute between a row of pines on the left and dense woods on the right before opening up.  No obstacles stand directly between the tee and the basket.  #15 tee is to the right on this side of the gravel cul de sac.

Hole #15: 540 feet, par 4

Comments: the longest hole on this course plays across the gravel cul de sac, so you have to check for vehicles and pedestrians before you throw.  This hole is completely open except for a sparse smattering of trees and a birdhouse.  You cannot see the basket from the tee, but it is roughly behind the birdhouse.  #16 tee is to the right.

Hole #16: 376 feet, par 3

Comments: a slightly uphill hole with a steep right to left cross slope.  A row of small trees guards the left side, but otherwise this hole is completely open.  #17 tee is behind the basket and across the gravel road (but not as far downhill as #8 tee).

Hole #17: 492 feet, par 4

Comments: a repeat of hole #8 but longer and more downhill.  #18 tee is to the left.

Hole #18: 454 feet, par 4

Comments: a repeat of hole #9 except longer and with a few pine trees around the tee.  This hole is equally uninspiring as hole #9.  The parking lot is several hundred feet to the right.