Burchfield Park - River's Edge reviews
9
0
BogeyNoMore
Diamond level trusted reviewer
Premium Member
Experience:
19.9 years
484 played
183 reviews
Woodsy, Hilly, Challenging and Fun 2+ years
Reviewed:
Updated:
Played on:Oct 13, 2013
Played the course:2-4 times
Pros:
Nice course in a nice park - well thought out and well executed.
• Variety: Pretty good, but not outstanding. Nice mix of fairway shapes, dogleg left/right, short/long. Very well wooded for the most part, there are a couple of holes you can let loose on - but even those require some control, else you're following up from a bad lie.
• Challenge: Plenty, as there are several well wooded holes that seem pretty long for as wooded as they are. Dares you to find a line and hold it for a decent distance to score well. Doing it a couple of times is one thing, doing it consistently takes skill. Tight as they may seem, they were quite fair for the most part (perhaps with one exception, noted below). Every bit as much fun to play as it is challenging.
• Elevation: Lots of it, and effectively employed in a number of different ways. At least 3 holes (1, 2, 6) feature major hills to throw up or down, with many other holes draped over moderately rolling terrain, and some playing flat or close to it. A few pins placed to create serious rollaway potential - makes you think twice about going for it; 4,5,8 come to mind as well as a few holes where the river looms intimidatingly close behind the pin. Risk Reward? It's in there!
• Equipment: Excellent. Nice cement tees, Chainstars with green flags to help you find them in the woods. Tee markers and next tee signs - not as nice as those on Devil's Den, but quite sufficient to keep you moving along well. Navigation is pretty decent overall (my gripe has more to do with layout than navigation).
• Signature Hole: No lack of quality holes, but the signature hole is a real winner! A 670' bomber that tees off atop a toboggan run with a steep drop (maybe 50' or so?) immediately off the tee down to a fairway that gradually ascends up to the pin - interesting in that the farther your tee shot goes, the less distance you're robbed of on your upshot. Flanked on either side with trees, so you can't throw a shot that takes a lot of L-R space to get well down the fairway. The green itself is fairly flat, but rolls away to the left, right and behind it, so approaches that aren't reasonably accurate (and long putts that miss the mark) have that element to contend with as well. I defy you not to smile as you stand at the tee and look out over the fairway. My only beef is that I wish this hole came later in the course...which is totally plausible without much effort.
• Aesthetics: a pleasant walk through the woods that's easy on the eyes (especially with fall colors), with several nice views of the river.
• Extras/Amenities: Scorecards w/map (in a box on the way from parking to 1st tee), clean bathrooms with running water located near 1st tee, as well as near 4,5,6, between 9 & 10, plus excellent maintenance and upkeep only help to establish the feel of a top notch course and facility.
• Variety: Pretty good, but not outstanding. Nice mix of fairway shapes, dogleg left/right, short/long. Very well wooded for the most part, there are a couple of holes you can let loose on - but even those require some control, else you're following up from a bad lie.
• Challenge: Plenty, as there are several well wooded holes that seem pretty long for as wooded as they are. Dares you to find a line and hold it for a decent distance to score well. Doing it a couple of times is one thing, doing it consistently takes skill. Tight as they may seem, they were quite fair for the most part (perhaps with one exception, noted below). Every bit as much fun to play as it is challenging.
• Elevation: Lots of it, and effectively employed in a number of different ways. At least 3 holes (1, 2, 6) feature major hills to throw up or down, with many other holes draped over moderately rolling terrain, and some playing flat or close to it. A few pins placed to create serious rollaway potential - makes you think twice about going for it; 4,5,8 come to mind as well as a few holes where the river looms intimidatingly close behind the pin. Risk Reward? It's in there!
• Equipment: Excellent. Nice cement tees, Chainstars with green flags to help you find them in the woods. Tee markers and next tee signs - not as nice as those on Devil's Den, but quite sufficient to keep you moving along well. Navigation is pretty decent overall (my gripe has more to do with layout than navigation).
• Signature Hole: No lack of quality holes, but the signature hole is a real winner! A 670' bomber that tees off atop a toboggan run with a steep drop (maybe 50' or so?) immediately off the tee down to a fairway that gradually ascends up to the pin - interesting in that the farther your tee shot goes, the less distance you're robbed of on your upshot. Flanked on either side with trees, so you can't throw a shot that takes a lot of L-R space to get well down the fairway. The green itself is fairly flat, but rolls away to the left, right and behind it, so approaches that aren't reasonably accurate (and long putts that miss the mark) have that element to contend with as well. I defy you not to smile as you stand at the tee and look out over the fairway. My only beef is that I wish this hole came later in the course...which is totally plausible without much effort.
• Aesthetics: a pleasant walk through the woods that's easy on the eyes (especially with fall colors), with several nice views of the river.
• Extras/Amenities: Scorecards w/map (in a box on the way from parking to 1st tee), clean bathrooms with running water located near 1st tee, as well as near 4,5,6, between 9 & 10, plus excellent maintenance and upkeep only help to establish the feel of a top notch course and facility.
Cons:
Way more right than there is wrong here, however...
• Offers decent variety on the whole, but I see where others feel that wooded hole after wooded hole starts to feel a bit repetitive towards the end of the round. Technically a shortcoming for this course, it's nicely mitigated in that Devil's Den offers plenty of what River's Edge lacks. The two supplement each other so well that it's somewhat forgivable, and perhaps even intentional.
• Layout: Long walk across the playground from 8 to 9 isn't too bad, and we never spent long figuring out where to go, but the way 18 ends up about as far away from the starting point as you could be is simply annoying - I prefer my long walks to be down a fairway. Seems the same holes could be renumbered in such a way that takes you out and back, finishing with that beautiful signature hole taking you back to the parking lot. While I find it irritating, it doesn't really affect disc play, so it didn't factor into my rating.
• Maybe it's just my lack of ability, but 14's Z-shaped fairway forces a lay-up that seems like more of a score equalizer than a score separator.
• Not always obvious how the river can come into play off the tee, but you should notice it on your 2nd shot. Keep in mind that river's threat can vary greatly depending on the seasonal water level: higher in the spring than it is in the fall.
• Mosquitos on the back 9 can be insane in the summer - spray up.
• Offers decent variety on the whole, but I see where others feel that wooded hole after wooded hole starts to feel a bit repetitive towards the end of the round. Technically a shortcoming for this course, it's nicely mitigated in that Devil's Den offers plenty of what River's Edge lacks. The two supplement each other so well that it's somewhat forgivable, and perhaps even intentional.
• Layout: Long walk across the playground from 8 to 9 isn't too bad, and we never spent long figuring out where to go, but the way 18 ends up about as far away from the starting point as you could be is simply annoying - I prefer my long walks to be down a fairway. Seems the same holes could be renumbered in such a way that takes you out and back, finishing with that beautiful signature hole taking you back to the parking lot. While I find it irritating, it doesn't really affect disc play, so it didn't factor into my rating.
• Maybe it's just my lack of ability, but 14's Z-shaped fairway forces a lay-up that seems like more of a score equalizer than a score separator.
• Not always obvious how the river can come into play off the tee, but you should notice it on your 2nd shot. Keep in mind that river's threat can vary greatly depending on the seasonal water level: higher in the spring than it is in the fall.
• Mosquitos on the back 9 can be insane in the summer - spray up.
Other Thoughts:
River's Edge is a fun course that's more than solid enough to stand on its own - anywhere. Although I had difficulty choosing between 3.5 and 4.0, I ultimately felt that:
1) how well each course compensates for the other's lack of variety,
2) the funky layout doesn't affect disc play,
3) a fun factor matching the challenge,
4) the overall quality with which everything was executed here,
... were sufficient to tip the scale closer to 4 than 3.5.
The fact that it's part of a great facility featuring one tremendous course (Devil's Den) plus a 2nd great course (River's Edge) means you need to plan a full day here. You can easily play 3 - 4 rounds in the park and not get bored. Among the very best multi-course destinations in the state (this from a guy who plays Hudson Mills regularly, has spent some time in Ludington and recently played both at Deerfield).
Caveat: While neither of Burchfield's courses may individually be as complete as some of the best courses, it truly is a classic example of the whole being greater than the sum of it's parts. That said, since they are better as a pair than they are independently, I can see how someone who only has the time to play a single round at Burchfield could come away feeling a bit underwhelmed.
Should you disagree with my assessment, feel free to vote that way, but at least I've explained how I arrived at it.
1) how well each course compensates for the other's lack of variety,
2) the funky layout doesn't affect disc play,
3) a fun factor matching the challenge,
4) the overall quality with which everything was executed here,
... were sufficient to tip the scale closer to 4 than 3.5.
The fact that it's part of a great facility featuring one tremendous course (Devil's Den) plus a 2nd great course (River's Edge) means you need to plan a full day here. You can easily play 3 - 4 rounds in the park and not get bored. Among the very best multi-course destinations in the state (this from a guy who plays Hudson Mills regularly, has spent some time in Ludington and recently played both at Deerfield).
Caveat: While neither of Burchfield's courses may individually be as complete as some of the best courses, it truly is a classic example of the whole being greater than the sum of it's parts. That said, since they are better as a pair than they are independently, I can see how someone who only has the time to play a single round at Burchfield could come away feeling a bit underwhelmed.
Should you disagree with my assessment, feel free to vote that way, but at least I've explained how I arrived at it.
5
0
2+ years
Reviewed:
Played on:Aug 11, 2012
Played the course:once
Pros:
This Place was a ton of fun. I played my first time in a tourney in the rain. This added for a lot of challenge. lots of really longholes with tough shots.
The course is very good on the eyes. A lot of nice wooded holes, with water in play to. Although I played in the rain, I am sure when dry looks a ton better.
They have baskets here which are very nice and easy to see.
The Teepads lead to both a good and a bad here as they have nice teepads on most of the holes.
Both Tee signs and next tee signs, make it easy to find the holes(when blind) and get to the next one.
The course is very good on the eyes. A lot of nice wooded holes, with water in play to. Although I played in the rain, I am sure when dry looks a ton better.
They have baskets here which are very nice and easy to see.
The Teepads lead to both a good and a bad here as they have nice teepads on most of the holes.
Both Tee signs and next tee signs, make it easy to find the holes(when blind) and get to the next one.
Cons:
Not all teepads are cement yet.
Water it's here and although normally I am not a fan, when used right, most of these are just if you over throw or have a bad throw you will hit it. I think the last water hole has a real chance of actually getting in without having a horrible throw.
In the back there is a lot of the same thing going through the woods, and hole 14 (I think it's almost Z Shaped) could be the worst hole ever.
Water it's here and although normally I am not a fan, when used right, most of these are just if you over throw or have a bad throw you will hit it. I think the last water hole has a real chance of actually getting in without having a horrible throw.
In the back there is a lot of the same thing going through the woods, and hole 14 (I think it's almost Z Shaped) could be the worst hole ever.
Other Thoughts:
I played this in the Rain in a tourney for the first time, and really enjoyed it still.
This place needs a little more work, but I think it could be one of top in the area with just a little bit of work.
The Toboggan hole was the first time I played one which was a lot of fun.
It's also Pay To Play but with two courses on the same part of land that are both very good it's worth it.
This place needs a little more work, but I think it could be one of top in the area with just a little bit of work.
The Toboggan hole was the first time I played one which was a lot of fun.
It's also Pay To Play but with two courses on the same part of land that are both very good it's worth it.
