Lake Kakusha Disc Golf Course
Established in 2025, this 18-hole disc golf course in Mendota, Illinois is short and technical with great views of Lake Kakusha. Just because it is a shorter course, that does not mean it is necessarily beginner-friendly. The wooded technical lines out here will get you!
LAKE KAKUSHA Disc Golf Course Details
Coordinates: 41°33'48.7"N 89°08'11.1"W
Holes: 18-holes with DiscGolfPark Targets
Tees: Concrete
Cart Friendly: Yes
Distance: 4,160 feet (hole lengths range from 177 to 285 feet)
Par: 54
Water: Water can come into play, but it’s not really realistic to throw your disc in there (uh, maybe on 17 or unless you are me - then you have no problem finding water in the desert).
Elevation: Holes 1 through 13 are relatively flat; Holes 14 through 18 have some elevation changes that may be an issue.
Dogs: Yes, aboslutely!
Restrooms: Pit-toilets
Drinking Water: Not available on-site
Fishing: if you are into that, bring your pole! We saw a lot of action on the lake by holes 11 and 12.
AFTER THE ROUND
This is too good not to share, we went to Myrtle’s Cafe & Pie in Princeton, Illinois after our round. I found out about this place on social media the review was: “worth the drive from anywhere in Illinois.” They weren’t wrong. Hands down, the BEST pie I ever had (x5 because we got 5 different kinds of slices). It is 30 mintues to the West from Lake Kakusha - WORTH IT! Go there.
LAKE KAKUSHA DISC GOLF COURSE DESIGN
The Lake Kakusha Disc Golf Course was designed by local disc golf legends: Dana Vicich, Dan Nagle and Wes Black in collaboration with Annie (the City of Mendota) and several volunteers. It oficially opened in May of 2025.
Hole 1 is located just behind the parking lot and picnic shelter off of Lake Kakusha Drive. To get here from route 52, it is about a quarter mile drive into the park on a winding gravel road that leads towards Lake Kakusha (Lake Mendota is another lake in the park just to the East). You can park near the picnic shelter or the lot closer to the lake (both parking lots are right next to each other) and there are pit-toilets available in the parking lot.
Holes 1 through 13 are wooded and technical with slight elevation changes. It does feel like the Northwoods a bit in the pine trees. Once you get to hole 10 there is a nice clear view of Lake Kakusha.
Our dog Kai is such a sweetheart. She is 10 months old now, we got here at 4 months from the West Suburban Humane Society. She is the BEST disc golf dog we have ever had. When she’s not on the course with us, she likes to play frisbee or ball; or catch up with the latest disc golf shows on YouTube. So focused on the disc. She is wearing her favorite Ruffwear harness here.
Hole 10 is where Lake Kakusha comes into view. The basket is located close to water’s edge, but really not close enough where it is a worry to go in.
Hole 13 is the last wooded hole, from there it is a bit of a hike to hole 14. You will cross back by the parking lot and go past the fence in the picture below.
I always love seeing a course split like this, especially when it passes the parking lot. You could start on hole 1 or hole 14, which is very nice if it gets crowded.
One of my favorite things about this course is the front 13 are a totally different vibe compared to holes 14-18. This is where elevation comes into play and you can get a little bit more of a bird’s eye view of the property and Lake Kakusha. Both sides are incredibly beautiful.
The small pine trees here felt so reminiscent of Maple Hill Disc Golf Course (and their Christmas tree farm).
You could not tell from the tee, but hole 16 is elevated! The elevation change will play a trick on you here.
Hole 17 can be tricky, if you roll towards the water down the hill. The basket sits just off center on the edge of the hill with a little bit of rough on the left and nicely mowed grass on the other side almost right to the water’s edge.
ChrisB shot a solid -9 under par. I shot a couple hundred photos and Kai got a workout to sleep soundly through the 4th of July (which is when these were taken).
We always joke that we are on a Dana Vicich course design tour — but we really are. He has designed so many courses in Illinois, and beyond, and they are always so well done. You can find a list of all of his course designs on his Team Dellwood page.
When Dana is not working on course design, he is managing Climo Disc Golf (it is kind of a big deal in the disc golf world) - and a they have some great discs (and merch) available on their website or at Dellwood Disc Golf in store (a local disc golf shop in Lockport, IL).
LAKE KAKUSHA DISC GOLF COURSE SPONSORS
Thank you to all of the course sponsors. If you are in the area, be sure to support these local businesses. It was also nice to see so many memorials and notes from people that just enjoy disc golf on these sponsor signs (besides those listed below).
OTHER DISC GOLF COURSES IN THE AREA
Mendota is located in LaSalle County (Starved Rock area), which is quickly becoming a disc golf destination area. If you are not familiar, here are some other courses in the area:
The Quarry at Rotary Park | 26 minutes (18 miles to the south) - GREAT VIEWS (in an old quarry that is now a park)!
Starved Rock Course (Oglesby) | 31 mintues (25 miles to the south) - Great challenging course with elevation and views of the river valley
Fox River Park Disc Golf Course - downtown Ottawa, IL, beginner friendly
Bakers Lake Disc Golf Course - Peru, IL
Eat & Drink
Scooters Coffee in Mendota, IL
The Lone Buffalo by Tangled Roots
Myrtle’s Cafe & Pie - don’t kid yourself, you gotta try this place in Princeton, IL
HIKING & Sight seeing
Starved Rock State Park
Matthiessen State Park
Sky Dive Chicago - if you don’t plan to jump, it is fun to watch, there is a 9-hole disc golf course here too and a park nearby where you can access the river by the damn.
