Basic Information
Course Location: Van Buren State Park
Geographic Location: north of Findlay, Ohio (41.13469, -83.64422)
Date Visited: October 2024
Number of Holes: 18
Course Length: 6052/4546 feet, par 54
Cost to Play: free
Difficulty Level: recreational, high
Difficulty Level: recreational, high
Carts: usable but expect a couple of steep areas with stairs
Potential to Lose Discs: medium to high due to dense woods and a nearby lake
DG Course Review Page: https://www.dgcoursereview.com/courses/van-buren-state-park.3418
Course Walkabout Video (Front 9): (coming October 17, 2025)
Course Walkabout Video (Back 9): (coming October 31, 2025)
Driving Directions: In northwest Ohio, take I-75 to SR 613 (exit 164). Exit and go east on SR 613. Drive SR 613 east through the town of Van Buren, then turn right on Township Road (TR) 218. Drive TR 218 a few hundred feet to the signed park entrance on the right. Turn right to enter the park, and park in the first parking lot on the right, the one above the lake's dam. #1 tee is on the right (west) side of the parking lot.
Course Constructions:
Tees: concrete, 2 on most holes
Baskets: Mach, 1 per hole
Signage: hole sign on each tee
Amenities: restrooms, campground, hiking trail, picnic tables scattered throughout the course
Summary Review: 2.5 Stars (out of 5)
Redesigned a few years ago, the disc golf course at Van Buren State Park has an odd mix of solid and questionable holes. The course is wedged in a narrow strip of land between the lake to the south and the park road to the north, which partly explains some of this course's quirks. The course route is roughly an out-and-back starting/finishing at the west end, but there are a couple of tees located where you might not expect them. There is no course map at the parking lot, so downloading one from Udisc is a good idea. The terrain is mostly a rolling lakeside area with a few areas that may be steeper than you would expect for northwest Ohio. Most holes are lightly wooded, but holes #10-#13 play through a heavily wooded area. I like the variety of terrain and woodedness this course has to offer. Most holes are under 300 feet from the short tees or are very open longer holes. From the back tees, this course has plenty of length and some challenge, but the challenge may be more frustrating than fun, as detailed below. There are many safety issues involving park roads or picnic areas. Fortunately, this park is not heavily used. The course constructions were upgraded in the redesign, but they still leave somewhat to be desired: many of the teepads are only 6 feet long, and one of the tee signs was missing on my visit. Overall, the redesign took this course from one that wasn't really worth playing to one that probably is. This course may not provide enough fun, strategy, or safety to make most player's list of favorite courses, but for a quiet recreational round it gets the job done.
Hole-by-Hole Review
Distances taken from hole signs. Picture sequence for each hole is 1) long tee, 2) approach, 3) basket to tee.
Hole #1: 294/243 feet, par 3
Comments: the opening hole plays north through a narrow strip of mowed-grass land with a row of trees and the parking lot tight on the right and the shrubby park boundary tight on the left. There are no obstacles other than overhanging limbs directly between the tee and basket. The hole's location in a narrow scrap of land gives it somewhat of a filler feel, but I have definitely played more "fillery" holes than this one. #2 tee is to the right, across the park road.
Hole #2: 417/318 feet, par 3
Comments: this slightly downhill dogleg right plays through a picnic area: literally there are at least 5 picnic tables directly in the line of play. While there were no people picnicking here when I played here, I would not want to play this hole on a Saturday in the park on the 4th of July, so to speak. Some overhanging limbs also create a low ceiling for such a long hole. This hole is challenging but maybe not a fun challenge. #3 long tee is to the right and down by the lake; #3 short tee is to the left and higher on the hillside.
Hole #3: 369/186 feet, par 3
Comments: this hole plays back uphill. The lake is close enough on the right that a bad throw or bad ricochet could send your disc there. More problematic are the overhanging limbs, which create a low ceiling and limit your distance off of the tee. Again, this hole is a challenge from the back tee but maybe not an enjoyable one. #4 tee is behind the basket.
Hole #4: 381/260 feet, par 3
Comments: a dogleg right with dense woods on the inside of the dogleg. Like the previous 2 holes, some overhanging limbs create a low ceiling, so you will need a low throw with left-to-right disc flight to set-up a birdie opportunity. #5 tee is further east on the park road and to the right.
Hole #5: 244 feet, par 3
Comments: this hole literally plays across a small parking area in addition to a picnic table, and there was 1 car with no occupants parked here when I played here. Thus, I didn't throw from this tee for safety reasons. There are also dense woods to the right and the same low ceiling you have been dealing with for several holes now. I seriously hate this hole. #6 tee is further east on the park road near the edge of the woods to the right.
Hole #6: 378/306 feet, par 3
Comments: this fairway roughly coincides with a power line corridor. While there is a park road in play to the left, it is not the blatant safety issue that some previous holes had. The dense woods and steep hillside guard the right side, but the ceiling is more reasonable on this hole. This is actually the best hole on the front 9. #7 tee is behind the basket.
Hole #7: 489/315 feet, par 3
Comments: this fairway roughly coincides with a park road, which fortunately is not heavily used. From the back tee, starting your disc just inside the first tree to the left and using a slight left-to-right disc flight will get you on line with the basket. Dense woods sit just feet beyond the basket, so don't miss long. #8 tee is across the bridge to the left of the basket but in front of the picnic shelter.
Hole #8: 321/255 feet, par 3
Comments: another hole that plays directly over 2 picnic tables. Like hole #1, a row of trees guards the left side, and a park road guards the right side. Thus, this hole also feels wedged in. #9 tee is to the right and across the traffic circle.
Hole #9: 297/210 feet, par 3 (I forgot to take a picture from the tee)
Comments: this hole plays slightly downhill and across the main park road to a basket at the edge of the woods. The trees along the road form a nice corridor, and this would be a nice hole but for the road. #10 tee is a couple hundred feet to the right; walk east on the park road and look to the right.
Hole #10: 246 feet, par 3
Comments: now we head into the stretch of 4 heavily-wooded holes, which is my favorite stretch of holes on this course. Each of these 4 holes were newly-built in the redesign I mentioned in the summary review. This tight dogleg left plays from an elevated tee. You will need an accurate throw with slight right-to-left disc flight to set up a birdie opportunity on this hole. #11 short tee is behind and to the right of the basket; #11 long tee is behind and to the left of the basket.
Hole #11: 279/233 feet, par 3
Comments: another fairly tight hole, this hole is also fairly straight. The fairway is well-defined with a realistic ceiling. This is a pleasant but unremarkable hole. #12 tee is behind the basket.
Hole #12: 387/291 feet, par 3
Comments: the longest of the heavily-wooded holes, this slight dogleg right is fairly pedestrian except for the area around the basket. The hanging basket is located on a steep upslope, so putting is the most interesting part of this hole. #13 tee is back down the hill and to the left as you face the #12 basket.
Hole #13: 218 feet, par 3
Comments: a sweeping dogleg right with the basket located on a steep side slope. Removing some small trees would better define the line of play. #14 tee is uphill behind the basket.
Hole #14: 381/260 feet, par 3
Comments: now the course heads back out into the lightly-wooded parkland area where it will stay for the duration. This hole plays back across the main park road with more picnic tables directly in the line of play. A smattering of large trees in front of the basket make approaching from the right more appealing, and the low ceiling that was perhaps too common on the front 9 returns here. #15 tee is a couple hundred feet away; walk west on the park road and look right.
Hole #15: 340/271 feet, par 3
Comments: yet another hole that plays across the main park road. The fairway is fairly wide with no real ceiling. Thus, you have a decent chance to get close to the basket in only 1 throw. Wild grass guards the basket on 3 sides, so careful putting is needed. #16 tee is behind the basket.
Hole #16: 498/252 feet, par 3
Comments: the longest hole on this course from the back tee, it yet again plays over the main park road, and yet again numerous picnic tables are close to the line of play. The fairway is actually plenty wide, so you can really uncork a tee shot. Try a right-to-left approach to best avoid the trees. #17 tee is a couple hundred feet away; walk west on the park road and look to the right.
Hole #17: 228 feet, par 3
Comments: just for good measure, we play across the main park road one last time. A small tree sits directly between the tee and basket. You can go around the tree either way, but you will have to keep your disc low either way. #18 tee is just right of the basket.
Hole #18: 285/210 feet, par 3
Comments: a tight tunnel hole that plays between 2 rows of trees. A parking lot is close to the right but outside the tunnel. At least this hole doesn't play over a road or picnic table. The parking lot is behind the basket.
