Course Overview
Widener Park Disc Golf Course, also known as Baker Farm – Chili DGC, is a 18-hole public course in Churchville, NY. Established in 1995, this well-maintained course features a variety of hole designs, including two long-distance fairways measuring 735 on Hole 18 and the ever-famous 911-foot par 5, 11th hole, known as the “911” hole. The course is in a scenic park with plenty of shade, making it an enjoyable spot for casual and competitive players.
Course Features
- Layouts: Multiple layouts, including Blue (concrete tees), Red (turf tees), and a 18-hole tournament layout.
- Terrain: A mix of open fairways, wooded holes, and long-distance shots.
- Tee Areas: Concrete and turf tees, with well-marked signage at each hole.
- Baskets: Veteran Targets for consistent play.
- Amenities: Restrooms and drinking water are available on-site.
- Accessibility: Cart-friendly and dog-friendly, making it easy to navigate.
Course Conditions & Reviews
Highly rated (4.2/5) on UDisc, with players appreciating the diverse hole designs and clear signage. Offers a balance of technical and long-distance shots, making it suitable for all skill levels. The tree cover and shade throughout the course provide a comfortable playing experience. This course has a rich history. It has hosted some of the largest PDGA disc golf tournaments, including World Championships.
Location
- Public park with a spacious layout.
Course History
In an interview at the 1999 PDGA World Championship, Chili Recreation Director Ron Fodge told the abbreviated story of how the disc golf course at Baker Farm in Chili came to be. “Basically Royce Racinowski and Dave Thomas came and they asked the town if we had any spare land. They said, ‘Could we make a course here?’ And all of a sudden we found a stream, found some trees, found some obstacles, some old barns, some old silos and all of the sudden we’re cutting out fairways and greens and there’s a golf course.”
In the early 90’s, the Rochester area had grown solely reliant on the course at Ellison Park to satisfy the demands for disc golf.
That was until 1994 when the driven and well connected Thomas and the regional disc golf leader, Racinowski, approached Fodge with the idea of a new disc golf course to complement the one at Ellison and fill a need west of the Genesee River. Ron recommended a piece of town property, once an old farm owned by the Baker family, as an appropriate site. When the three met on site to scout it out, Royce and Dave found, in Dave’s words, “that the farm was abandoned with a house, barn and grass that was waist high!” Regardless, they all saw the potential in the nearly blank slate.
A largely indelible course was designed by Royce to highlight the existing trees and streams. The town crew got to work clearing the area for the first nine baskets within the year. It celebrated its grand opening in Summer of 1995 and hosted the Innova sponsored “World’s Biggest Disc Golf” Tournament. The turnout gave the town the confidence to move forward with the full course and inspired the formation of the Chili Disc Golf Club, of which Dave Thomas was nominated as president.
Relatively soon after, the 18-hole Chili Disc Golf Course at Widener Park was approved and built. Over the following few years, to enhance the relatively open links-style course, elevated tees and baskets were constructed and mulch piled as inverted bunkers to go along with the planting of 100s of new trees. An 1863 windmill (near hole 14), a calf house (hole 17) and fence (hole 12) were transplanted from the surrounding region to provide rustic character and remind the player of the park’s roots. Especially at the time and remaining so today, the allowance to architect a landscape specifically for disc golf was/is exceedingly rare. The course at Widener Park is likely one of the first in the world of this nature.
The old farmhouse was rented to the club to be used as a clubhouse and pro shop. From there various fundraisers were organized to pay the monthly rental fees, install signage, pay for the new trees and eventually pay back the Town of Chili for their initial investment of the 18 baskets. The course has been lovingly enhanced and beautified by countless hours of labor by Ron Fodge, Kathy Freitas and members of the old Chili Disc Golf Club and the new GRDGC.
The Chili Disc Golf Course holds a place in disc golf history as the site of the 1999 Pro Disc Golf World Championships final nine where Ron Russell defended a 3 stroke lead to break Ken Climo’s streak of 9 consecutive World titles. On the periphery, Scott Stokely set a course record of 43 in the semifinals in order to make the final 9 lead card. That same year Juliana Korver earned her 2nd straight world championship over Elaine King. “The father of disc golf”, Ed Headrick is quoted as saying, “I wish I could roll up this piece of disc golf heaven and take it home with me”.
The old Baker farm has also hosted top pros on multiple more occasions including the 2012 RFDO and the final PDGA National Tour stop of 2014. In 2014, Simon Lizotte (Round 1) and Ricky Wysocki (Round 4) each shot 12 down (46) rounds at Chili. Lizotte took a 1 stroke final round lead over David Feldberg into hole 18. After being out of position off the tee, scrambling to within range of the basket and Simon shanking his upshot into the fairway guardians on the right, Feldberg hit an obstructed anhyzer 80-foot jump putt to force a playoff! The playoff ultimately went one hole when Lizotte missed a makeable birdie putt on hole 1. On the FPO side, Paige Pierce cruised to a ten shot victory over Catrina Allen carding a 53 and 55 in her two rounds at Widener Park. Also in less dramatic fashion, 2012 saw Wysocki get the best of Feldberg.
After 25 plus years of growth, the course as it was in 1999 pales in comparison to the one we have today with the now mature trees tightening lines and punishing stray lies. It has 18 holes with a front and back loop design. Signature holes include hole #11 measuring 911 feet and the 716 foot long hole #18 with its basket located on a tricky elevated knoll. The course is friendly to players of all skill levels, with 2 sets of tee pads on each hole, and remains a top tier course in the Rochester area.
