Gold Star Park Disc Golf Course in Marietta, OH

Basic Information

Course Location: Gold Star Park

Geographic Location: west side of Marietta, OH (39.41877, -81.47088)

Date Visited: October 2023

Number of Holes: 9

Course Length: 2152 feet, par 27

Cost to Play: free
Difficulty Level: recreational, low

Carts: should be fine here

Potential to Lose Discs: very low except for the 2 heavily wooded holes

Park Information: https://www.mariettaoh.net/index.php/government-and-services/parks-and-recreation/city-parks

DG Course Review Page: https://www.dgcoursereview.com/courses/gold-star-park.12489

UDisc Page: https://udisc.com/courses/gold-star-park-VUl7

Course Walkabout Video: (coming September 13)

Driving Directions: From the intersection of SR 7 and SR 676 on the west side of Marietta, take SR 676 uphill 0.8 miles to the signed entrance for Gold Star Park on the right.  Turn right to enter the park and park in the only parking lot.  #1 tee is on the paved walking trail to the northwest of the parking lot.

Course Constructions:

Tees: 1 per hole, some concrete, some astroturf, some dirt/grass

Baskets: Patriot, 1 per hole, in good shape in my visit

Signage: tall wooden posts, some bearing a hole sign, mark each tee.

Amenities: port-o-potty, playground, tennis courts, some benches

Summary Review: 2 Stars (out of 5)

The disc golf course at Gold Star Park is a typical 9 hole community park course: it has a couple of interesting holes amid mostly uninspiring holes.  All holes are short to medium length par 3's.  The first 7 holes are fairly open, but the last 2 holes play through a heavily wooded area.  This course does have some elevation, and several holes use that elevation to good effect.  Gold Star Park is a small park, and the designer got the most possible out of the available area.  There are several safety hazards including concrete walking paths and the park entrance road.  On my visit, the tee signs had seen their better days, and the course needed better and more consistent tee pads.  On the plus side, the grass had been recently mowed.  There were 2 other people at this park including 1 other player on the course.  This is the only course in the City of Marietta, although there are some longer and better courses across the river in Parkersburg, WV and elsewhere in Washington County, OH.  Unless you are just looking for a quick half-round, most players will prefer any of those courses over this one.

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: 322 feet, par 3

Comments: rarely is the first hole the longest hole, but such is the case here.  This hole is a dogleg left across a hillside that slopes gradually from right to left.  Some large trees guard the inside of the dogleg, but there is plenty of room to work a disc right-to-left around the dogleg.  This hole forces you to choose and execute a throw, which makes it one of my favorite holes on this course.  #2 tee is to the left.

Hole #2: 189 feet, par 3

Comments: this gradually uphill hole plays across the paved park entrance road, so you have to check for vehicles before you throw.  Other than the road and the parking lot to the left of the basket, there are no obstacles on this hole.  #3 tee is behind the basket at the edge of the parking area.

Hole #3: 277 feet, par 3

Comments: another very open hole, this hole plays up to the top of a steep mowed-grass hill.  There are no obstacles on this hole except for the hill.  #4 tee is behind the basket on the concrete walking path.

Hole #4: 306 feet, par 3

Comments: now comes the most downhill hole on this course, but this hole also is completely open.  #5 tee is to the left.

Hole #5: 223 feet, par 3

Comments: this hole plays back up the hill you descended on the previous hole.  A densely wooded area sits tight to the right, but the mowed-grass field to the left gives you as much room for error that direction as you want.  #6 tee is behind the basket on the other side of the tennis courts.

Hole #6: 185 feet, par 3

Comments: the tightest hole on this course so far, this hole plays across a hillside that slopes from right to left.  Rows of trees guard either side, and while the trees are at least 30 feet apart, the branches on the pine trees to the right crowd the fairway.  #7 tee is to the left.

Hole #7: 271 feet, par 3

Comments: a sharp dogleg left with dense woods on the inside of the dogleg.  The basket sits in the edge of the woods, so don't miss long.  Also, respect private property to the right of the basket.  #8 tee is in the woods behind the basket.

Hole #8: 223 feet, par 3

Comments: this course closes with 2 heavily wooded holes with this one by far the more difficult of the two.  This hole plays moderately uphill, and it has the tightest fairway on this course.  The steep hillside to the right drops all of the way down to a street along the Muskingum River, so don't miss right.  #9 tee is to the left.

Hole #9: 156 feet, par 3

Comments: the final hole plays down a small open area before curving left to a basket tucked in the trees.  A controlled right-to-left disc flight should set-up a birdie opportunity to close your half-round.  The parking lot is uphill to the left.