Rogers Lakewood Park Disc Golf Course in Valparaiso, IN

Basic Information

Course Location: Rogers Lakewood Park

Geographic Location: Valparaiso, IN (41.51911, -87.06255)

Date Visited: September 2024

Number of Holes: 24 official holes + 3 bonus/ace run holes

Course Length: 9372/7542 feet, par 89/81

Cost to Play: park entrance fee of $3 in the off-season, $4-$8 in the summer
Difficulty Level: intermediate

Carts: usable but expect a few stairs and steep areas

Potential to Lose Discs: medium to high due to water and dense woods

Park Information: https://www.valpoparks.org/309/Rogers-Lakewood-Park

DG Course Review Page: https://www.dgcoursereview.com/courses/rogers-lakewood-park.1773

UDisc Page: https://udisc.com/courses/rogers-lakewood-park-disc-golf-course-tXcU

Course Walkabout Video, Front 8+Bonus Holes: (coming June 13, 2025)

Course Walkabout Video, Middle 10: (coming June 20, 2025)

Course Walkabout Video, Back 6: (coming June 27, 2025)

Driving Directions: From I-94 exit 26A or I-80/90 exit 31, take SR 49 south to US 6.  Exit and go west on US 6.  Drive US 6 west 0.9 miles to Meridian Road and turn left on Meridian Rd.  The park entrance is 2.3 miles ahead on the left.  Turn left to enter the park, pay the entrance fee at the automated gate, and follow signs for the disc golf parking area, which is at the bottom of a hill at the north end of the lake.  (Note: they changed the hole order/numbering and designated a different parking lot as the disc golf parking area a few years ago.)  #1 tee is on the right side of the parking area as you drive in; look for the information kiosk with course map.

Course Constructions:

Tees: concrete, 1 per hole, but a couple of holes have 2

Baskets: Discatcher, 1 per hole, but most holes have multiple possible basket positions

Signage: course map near parking area, hole sign on each tee, some signs pointing to next tee

Amenities: benches on most tees, walking trails, other amenities elsewhere in the park

Summary Review: 4.5 Stars (out of 5)

The disc golf course at Rogers Lakewood Park is generally regarded as a top-tier course in northwest Indiana, and I agree with that assessment.  The course occupies a rolling piece of land that has more elevation than you might expect for northwest Indiana.  About half of the holes are heavily wooded, while the other half are open or lightly wooded.  Yet most holes have fairly generous fairways even if the rough is dense and therefore very rough.  I would actually prefer a couple of tighter more technical holes, and that is the main reason I don't give this course 5 stars.  A walking trail winds around the course, and several holes play across park roads that are open to vehicles.  Thus, there are a few safety issues, but the park is sufficiently seldom-used that I never had to wait to throw; the park entrance fee is probably the reason for this park's lack of visitors.  Likewise, I saw only 1 other person playing the course when I came here on a warm and humid Friday afternoon.  The course maintenance was flawless on my visit.  The course route more or less forms a loop, and I like the hole renumbering and parking reconfiguration they did a few years ago: the new finishing hole is far superior to the old one, and you return to the parking lot 2 other times in case you want to shorten your round.  Overall, I enjoyed my 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: 245/219 feet, par 3 (Basket in long/B position)

Comments: though it looks fairly open, this hole is actually fairly tight: the recreation building to the left is OB (out-of-bounds), and the lake sits just through the trees to the right.  Moreover, if the basket is in the B position, a dense cluster of small trees stands between the open area and the basket.  This hole is short, but it is one of the more technical holes on this course.  #2 tee is behind the basket, further around the lake.

Hole #2: 216/192 feet, par 3 (Basket in long/B position)

Comments: another short hole, this hole has a wider fairway than the previous hole, but it plays steeply uphill.  The woods on either side of the fairway are very dense.  The ceiling is not crazy low, so a good throw with a slight right-to-left disc flight will set up a birdie opportunity here.  #3 tee is uphill behind the basket and to the right.

Hole #3: 468/315 feet, par 4/3 (Basket in short/A position)

Comments: now the course opens up and lengthens up.  This hole plays along the edge of a mowed-grass field with dense woods to the right.  The basket sits at the edge or just into the dense woods (depending on basket position), but it will take a big arm to get there in 1 throw.  #4 tee is to the left near the edge of the woods.

Hole #4: 451/271 feet, par 3 (Basket in middle/B position)

Comments: this hole plays the opposite direction across the same mowed-grass field.  Look for the flag on top of the basket to help you locate the basket while standing on the tee.  Few obstacles are in play on this hole, but you will need distance to get within birdie range in 1 throw.  #5 tee is in the woods behind the basket and to the right.

Hole #5: 318/297 feet, par 3 (Basket in long/B position)

Comments: slightly downhill, this sweeping dogleg right has a wide fairway with more dense woods on either side.  There are a couple of small trees near the basket, but the main obstacle here is distance.  #6 tee is behind the basket and to the left.

Hole #6: 222/168 feet, par 3 (long/blue tee is pictured)

Comments: this hole has 2 tees that provide 2 very different angles to a single basket position located on a steep hill.  Both angles play across a shallow but steep ravine, and the large number of small trees around the basket demand an accurate throw.  It's nice to have a hole that rewards accuracy after 3 holes that reward power.  #7 tee is uphill behind the basket and to the right.

Hole #7: 306/294 feet, par 3 (Basket in short/A position)

Comments: gradually downhill and a slight dogleg left, a small tree in the middle of the fairway complicates your decision-making.  Aiming just left of the tree and going with a slight right-to-left disc flight should set up a birdie opportunity.  #8 tee is behind the basket.

Hole #8: 231/213 feet, par 3 (Basket in long/B position)

Comments: this hole plays back across the shallow ravine you threw across on hole #6.  The A basket position is a straight throw between 2 tight rows of trees, while the B position will require a left-to-right disc flight around a dogleg that also misses some trees.  Hole X tee is uphill behind the basket and to the left.  Hole #9 tee is uphill behind the basket and to the right if you want to skip the bonus holes, which I do not advise.

Hole X: 226/193 feet, par 3

Comments: next come 3 short bonus/ace run holes that form a small loop through a heavily wooded area.  You could skip them, but why?  Hole X requires a dead-accurate throw through a tight fairway with dense woods on either side.  Your disc will need to move first right and then left to make an ace, or else you will need a very lucky ricochet off of a tree.  This hole is a clever little challenge.  Hole Y tee is to the right.

Hole Y: 158 feet, par 3

Comments: wider than the previous hole, a cluster of trees directly in front of the tee is the main obstacle.  There is room to go around the trees on either side, but the right option looked better to my eye.  Alas, I didn't make an ace, but I did get around the trees.  Hole Z tee is behind the basket.

Hole Z: 274/188 feet, par 3 (Basket in long/B position)

Comments: a gradually uphill dogleg left.  As with the previous hole, there are 2 lines to choose from, but both lines are very tight.  Several small trees had been recently removed when I came here, and this is a much fairer hole (but still difficult) without those trees.  #9 tee is behind the basket and then left, past #8 basket.

Hole #9: 579/414 feet, par 4/3 (Basket in middle/B position)

Comments: now we get back to the "regular" holes and a long one at that.  With dense woods on either side, this hole is tighter than the mowed-grass fairway makes it look.  While there is some room for error, a long throw with a slight right-to-left disc flight will be required to set-up a birdie opportunity.  This is a challenging but fair hole.  #10 tee is across the old road to the right.

Hole #10: 267 feet, par 3

Comments: short and slightly downhill, this hole is a moderate dogleg left.  The fairway is tight but not super tight, so a good right-to-left throw will yield a birdie opportunity.  Don't overthrow: there is dense woods and a small stream just beyond the basket.  I like the mix of longer and shorter holes in this part of the course.  #11 tee is behind the basket near the stream.

Hole #11: 282/261 feet, par 3 (long/blue tee pictured)

Comments: throwing out of a small chute with a low ceiling, your disc must fly across an open grassy area to reach a basket near the edge of the woods.  A small tree sits right in front of the basket, so choose your approach angle carefully.  #12 tee is a couple hundred feet to the left, across the field.

Hole #12: 387/291 feet, par 4/3 (Basket in back middle/C position)

Comments: the most uphill hole since hole #2, this long hole has a fairly low ceiling, so you will need a strong arm to get anywhere near the basket with 1 throw.  There are 4 possible basket positions, and the C position is the most interesting: the basket sits on a wooden post on the edge of a steep swale.  Putt carefully!  #13 tee is behind the basket and across the swale to the right.

Hole #13: 588/408 feet, par 4/3 (Basket in long/B position)

Comments: the next 3 holes form a triangle through the wide open mowed-grass area in front of this tee and to the left.  This is the longest hole on this course if the basket is in the B position.  It plays steeply downhill before doglegging right around the edge of the dense woods.  There are a couple other clusters of trees in front of the B basket position that complicate the approach but are unreachable for most players with the tee shot.  #14 tee is to the left.

Hole #14: 489/429 feet, par 4/3 (Basket in short/A position)

Comments: the narrow gap between trees just in front of the tee greatly reduces your shot options.  A low throw with a slight left-to-right disc flight is best, but don't overcook it: dense woods sits inside the dogleg to the right.  Once you find the fairway with your tee shot, no other obstacles sit between you and the basket.  #15 tee is behind the basket, across the bridge and near the pond with cattails.

Hole #15: 423/330 feet, par 4/3 (Basket in short/A position)

Comments: Technically this tee shot is a forced water carry, but most players won't have trouble getting over the pond.  Past the pond, this is a completely open but steeply uphill hole.  Throw it as far as you can off the tee, but stay out of the dense woods to the right.  #16 tee is to the left, past the basketball court and building, near #13 tee.

Hole #16: 561/309 feet, par 4/3 (Basket in middle/B position)

Comments: now we head back downhill with this sweeping dogleg left.  Don't get too aggressive off the tee: dense woods guard the inside of the dogleg.  Only a few small trees dot the fairway, so birdie should be a possibility if you don't miss left.  #17 tee is near the parking lot access road to the right.

Hole #17: 345/225 feet, par 3 (Basket in middle/B position)

Comments: as expected, this hole plays back uphill.  Dense woods stand inside the dogleg to the left, and a row of trees constrict the fairway to the right.  The trees combined with the low ceiling make this hole tougher than you might expect.  #18 tee is across the parking lot access road to the left.

Hole #18: 345/300 feet, par 3 (Basket in long/B position)

Comments: this downhill hole's fairway partially coincides with the asphalt road that leads to the disc golf parking lot, which creates a safety hazard and could damage your disc.  When I drove into the parking lot before my round, I waited for a disc golfer to throw before I drove down this road, but other motorists may not be as patient.  Other than the road, this is a pretty boring and open hole; just don't overthrow into the dense woods behind the B basket position.  #19 tee is to the right.

Hole #19: 322/267 feet, par 3 (Basket in short/A position)

Comments: the spaghetti routing of holes #16 through #19 continues, as this very open hole plays back uphill.  You want to get as far up the hill as possible with your tee shot because some small trees near the basket complicate your approach shot.  #20 tee is behind the basket, across the park road, and to the left.

Hole #20: 292/261 feet, par 3 (Basket in long/B position)

Comments: the next 3 holes form a triangle around the front area of the park.  This dogleg right offers 2 possible lines of play: a very tight but more direct line to the right and a longer but wider line to the left.  I chose the lower risk/reward of the left line, but better and more daring players might choose otherwise.  This is a fun and strategic hole.  #21 tee is behind the basket.

Hole #21: 306/240 feet, par 3 (Basket in long/B position)

Comments: this slight dogleg right plays through a dense smattering of trees, so you will need an accurate left-to-right throw to set up a birdie opportunity.  The park entrance road behind the basket is OB, so don't overthrow.  #22 tee is behind the basket near the park gatehouse.

Hole #22: 471/387 feet, par 4/3 (Basket in long/C position)

Comments: similar in spirit to the previous hole but much longer.  All of the park roads are OB, including the one in front of the C basket position.  Try a low throw with a slight right-to-left disc flight off of the tee, then pick your way through the trees to get to the basket.  To get to #23 tee, walk along the park road to the left and then look to the right.

Hole #23: 282 feet, par 3

Comments: this hole was the finishing hole until the renumbering/reconfiguration I mentioned in the summary review. This hole plays slightly downhill with dense woods to the right.  A row of trees constricts the fairway to the left, but the fairway is still fairly generous.  A hanging basket with a steep dropoff behind the basket makes putting more interesting.  #24 tee is downhill behind the basket near the lake.

Hole #24: 318/291 feet, par 3 (Basket in long/B position)

Comments: easily the most dramatic hole on this course.  The lake demands a forced water carry, and it is 100-175 feet to clear the water depending on what line you choose.  Most players will get across the water, but then the hole bends slightly right with dense woods to the right of the basket.  This is a far more exciting finishing hole than the previous hole, and it was a somewhat rude beginning when it was the old opening hole.  The parking lot is behind the basket.