Camden Park - II reviews
7
4
sthomas128
Experience:
15.8 years
54 played
16 reviews
GREAT Job Quad City Disc Golf ! ! ! 2+ years drive by
Reviewed:
Updated:
Played on:Mar 29, 2010
Played the course:once
Pros:
FANTASTIC course. Tight fairways, great use of elevation, creek with pretty deep ravine will make you think twice about the disc you have in your hand, good mix of holes. LOVE the photo tee signs, If only someone would stop ripping them down.
Cons:
Only the navigation really (missing signs)...Slippery-When-Wet. Played a couple days after a good rain. Plenty of mud to go around
Other Thoughts:
Kudos to Quad City Disc Golf for all of the hard work they have done. Quad City Disc Golf has gone the distance to put in a lot of GREAT courses. Keep up the fantastic work...
17
2
Camden II is so SWEET 2+ years drive by
Reviewed:
Updated:
Played on:May 26, 2012
Played the course:2-4 times
Pros:
This review is coming from a professional player who loves the most difficult challenges.
Camden 2 is located on the East side of the property. The course plays entirely in heavy woods. There are some excellent elevation changes and nasty ravines. A small creek runs through the ravine and comes into play on many holes. This course is a pretty good hike so be careful. Several bridges were constructed across the ravines and they are very impressive. Many staircases and walking paths have been created as well.
There is a good sized practice area off the parking lot. There are 4 practice baskets.
This is a Championship Level wooded course. It is one of a kind in Illinois. It will challenge the best players in the world. There is a wide variety with multiple pins. Several par 4's/5's add difficulty. If each pin is in the hardest location this course is down right nasty!
They have done a great job of cleaning up many holes. The landing zones are wider and the rough isn't quite as nasty. It has become more player friendly.
Great use of elevation.
The concrete tees are awesome. They are 10X10 feet. I have never seen a course with anything like them. Depending on where you stand on the tee pad it changes the line of the hole dramatically.
Navigation has improved tremendously. There are next tee signs on every hole. They are white with a red hole # painted on them. They are placed high in easy to see areas.
Brand new Mach 3 baskets.
Camden 2 is located on the East side of the property. The course plays entirely in heavy woods. There are some excellent elevation changes and nasty ravines. A small creek runs through the ravine and comes into play on many holes. This course is a pretty good hike so be careful. Several bridges were constructed across the ravines and they are very impressive. Many staircases and walking paths have been created as well.
There is a good sized practice area off the parking lot. There are 4 practice baskets.
This is a Championship Level wooded course. It is one of a kind in Illinois. It will challenge the best players in the world. There is a wide variety with multiple pins. Several par 4's/5's add difficulty. If each pin is in the hardest location this course is down right nasty!
They have done a great job of cleaning up many holes. The landing zones are wider and the rough isn't quite as nasty. It has become more player friendly.
Great use of elevation.
The concrete tees are awesome. They are 10X10 feet. I have never seen a course with anything like them. Depending on where you stand on the tee pad it changes the line of the hole dramatically.
Navigation has improved tremendously. There are next tee signs on every hole. They are white with a red hole # painted on them. They are placed high in easy to see areas.
Brand new Mach 3 baskets.
Cons:
This course lacks tee signs. With them I might push my review to a 5.
Other Thoughts:
*This course is designed for Adv/Pro calibur players or those who can control a disc. Staying in the fairways is a must. You also need to be in decent physical shape to hike up and down and get into and out of some difficult places.*
This course is still a work in progress. I am amazed with what has been accomplished since I last visited 2 years ago. It just keeps getting better.
Both courses compliement each other nicely with Camden 2 being very challenging.
The Quad Cities has some very good disc golf. Plan a vacation here and play as many course as you can. You will not be disappointed.
Check out my Illinois Top 10.
http://discontinuum.org/index...1486.msg68704#msg68704
This course is still a work in progress. I am amazed with what has been accomplished since I last visited 2 years ago. It just keeps getting better.
Both courses compliement each other nicely with Camden 2 being very challenging.
The Quad Cities has some very good disc golf. Plan a vacation here and play as many course as you can. You will not be disappointed.
Check out my Illinois Top 10.
http://discontinuum.org/index...1486.msg68704#msg68704
16
0
tallpaul
Diamond level trusted reviewer
Premium Member
Experience:
35.9 years
934 played
137 reviews
another qca gem 2+ years
Reviewed:
Played on:Sep 26, 2009
Played the course:2-4 times
Pros:
See hognosesucker's review. I don't really have a lot to add to this.
One thing I will add; there are some deuce opportunites here. Many of the very top level courses have such tough holes; hole after hole, that par is the best you can achieve on all pins. Here, they actually give you a chance to send your score in the correct direction every once in a while.
On the other hand; there are some holes where a four is a good score. A few of these rank up there with some of the best holes I've ever seen.
Therefore, this balances out as a great par course. i.e. You earn your fours in some places; and have a chance to get a few twos as well.
One thing I will add; there are some deuce opportunites here. Many of the very top level courses have such tough holes; hole after hole, that par is the best you can achieve on all pins. Here, they actually give you a chance to send your score in the correct direction every once in a while.
On the other hand; there are some holes where a four is a good score. A few of these rank up there with some of the best holes I've ever seen.
Therefore, this balances out as a great par course. i.e. You earn your fours in some places; and have a chance to get a few twos as well.
Cons:
Permanent tee signs still needed. You may have to find your way a couple of times here. There are a couple of places were holes are near each other. Not in terms of play; but in terms of discovering which direction you need to go.
Other Thoughts:
I have noted this on the West Lake review; but, will say it again; this area is one of the best quality disc areas I've ever seen. West Lake is one of the best/toughest courses I've ever played. Camden 2 is nearly as good; without all the water. Devil's Glen is an awesome nine. Middle Park is a very good 18. Butterworth is as good as a nine gets. Prospect is a good course. Eagle River is top notch. Longview is one of their earliest; and though not played much any more (and map is needed for that one); is a great example of an early "fall away green" course. There are more courses here, believe it or not! i.e. Eastern (which is a rip and chuck course with some water involved) is the busiest of all of the courses. Come to the Quad Cities to play; you will be thrilled you did. Camden 2 is a top notch course!!!
17
1
Addition of this course makes the Camden complex a must-play in IL 2+ years drive by
Reviewed:
Updated:
Played on:May 9, 2009
Played the course:5+ times
Pros:
-Huge concrete tee pads (8x8 I think)
-HEAVILY wooded (17 of 18 play in woods)
-Great use of elevation: this course plays across two huge ravines, about 2/3 of the holes utilize the elevation changes
-Great variety of shots-many straight drives, many big anhyzers, a few slight and big hyzers (rhbh), possibles holes where overhand shots and even grenades can be utilized effectively.
-some if not all holes have two pin placements/hole-I've played several times and have seen several holes in different positions
-although there was a big storm a few years ago that affected the original design, many of the trees were left to add unique structures/obstacles on the hole. for instance on hole 6 or 7 which is a big dogleg left, a massive tree fell down right at the turn, forcing you to throw up to it, but not get too close as it will limit your next shot...or try to go over it, number two has a unique tree fall also, I call it the whale hole, as the tree blocking the hole looks like a whale.
-OB on a few holes especially after rain, the creek comes into effect on maybe half the holes
-good mix of long and short holes-some of the long holes are sick, but the short holes can be tough also because of the semi-tight, but fair fairways.
-AWESOME bridges over the creek
-Waste baskets on almost every hole
-Another good, time tested 18 on the other side of the road is always nice.
-Course is a favorite of the local club so there are always opportunities to play with people who know the course.
-UPDATE10/2010: course now has alt pins (sometimes 3 placements) on vast majority of holes ( didnt see alt pins for 13 or 16 ) and pins have been moved to the new placements which are mostly short pins
-HEAVILY wooded (17 of 18 play in woods)
-Great use of elevation: this course plays across two huge ravines, about 2/3 of the holes utilize the elevation changes
-Great variety of shots-many straight drives, many big anhyzers, a few slight and big hyzers (rhbh), possibles holes where overhand shots and even grenades can be utilized effectively.
-some if not all holes have two pin placements/hole-I've played several times and have seen several holes in different positions
-although there was a big storm a few years ago that affected the original design, many of the trees were left to add unique structures/obstacles on the hole. for instance on hole 6 or 7 which is a big dogleg left, a massive tree fell down right at the turn, forcing you to throw up to it, but not get too close as it will limit your next shot...or try to go over it, number two has a unique tree fall also, I call it the whale hole, as the tree blocking the hole looks like a whale.
-OB on a few holes especially after rain, the creek comes into effect on maybe half the holes
-good mix of long and short holes-some of the long holes are sick, but the short holes can be tough also because of the semi-tight, but fair fairways.
-AWESOME bridges over the creek
-Waste baskets on almost every hole
-Another good, time tested 18 on the other side of the road is always nice.
-Course is a favorite of the local club so there are always opportunities to play with people who know the course.
-UPDATE10/2010: course now has alt pins (sometimes 3 placements) on vast majority of holes ( didnt see alt pins for 13 or 16 ) and pins have been moved to the new placements which are mostly short pins
Cons:
-Since I played last in May still no signage, just interesting slabs of wood with different ways of denoting the number of hole (numbers dominoe like slabs etc.) UPDATE 10/10 still temporary tee signs
-Along with that there are no distances on the "signs" which I'm guessing will be fixed before the Women's Championships (Sept. 17-19). But for now it can be hard even to figure out in which direction to throw
-The park in general has fairly poor facilities-portajohn, possibly no water fountains on either course definitely not on this one. There is a nice pavillion with electric at the parking lot though.
-When the course is wet, it is dangerous. Being in the forest, there is not a lot of ground cover on the fairways (the rough is a different story) and with all the elevation change, climbing and decending the hills can be dangerous, also the paths btwn holes can be sloppy and treacherous.
-Although somewhat marked, navigation between holes can be confusing for first-timers, but btwn hole paths are well beaten in for the most part. UPDATE 10/10 I think navigation is intentionally tricky to keep the disrespectful dgers away. This is a positive thing though IMO
-Many blind shots so bring a spotter or two. UPDATE 10/10: short pins erase a lot of the blind shot issues here.
-Along with the previous con, play with another person the first few times, as the rough is pretty nasty there
-Overall, in my mind, for the quality of shots you'll be throwing, the cons are very minor.
-Along with that there are no distances on the "signs" which I'm guessing will be fixed before the Women's Championships (Sept. 17-19). But for now it can be hard even to figure out in which direction to throw
-The park in general has fairly poor facilities-portajohn, possibly no water fountains on either course definitely not on this one. There is a nice pavillion with electric at the parking lot though.
-When the course is wet, it is dangerous. Being in the forest, there is not a lot of ground cover on the fairways (the rough is a different story) and with all the elevation change, climbing and decending the hills can be dangerous, also the paths btwn holes can be sloppy and treacherous.
-Although somewhat marked, navigation between holes can be confusing for first-timers, but btwn hole paths are well beaten in for the most part. UPDATE 10/10 I think navigation is intentionally tricky to keep the disrespectful dgers away. This is a positive thing though IMO
-Many blind shots so bring a spotter or two. UPDATE 10/10: short pins erase a lot of the blind shot issues here.
-Along with the previous con, play with another person the first few times, as the rough is pretty nasty there
-Overall, in my mind, for the quality of shots you'll be throwing, the cons are very minor.
Other Thoughts:
Overall, this course is awesome, and with time it can only get better. In a few years, I can imagine most of the cons being erased. It's still very young (2008?). I would recommend getting together with a local the first time you play for the reasons above and you'll have a great round of smooth golf. I'm guessing you can go post up at the Iowa DG forum (www.iowadg.com ) or the qcdg club site (www.qcdiscgolfclub.com ) to meet up with someone. I was a member of the club years ago and the vast majority of club folks are great people. Also here is a link to the course layout (http://www.qcdiscgolfclub.com...amdentwo.php) just pull the mouse over the arial map and it shows the layout. There are also some youtube videos on that page. I don't know if there are any printable maps anywhere yet.
Overall this course is probably in the top five in Illinois. And in the quad city area it's a toss up btwn this and west lake ( http://www.dgcoursereview.com...php?id=2418).
A must play while in the qca
UPDATE Sept. 2009
Played there the weekend after the Women's DG Championships and the course is looking great! New additions include steps (made of 4x4 posts) in many locations to traverse dangerous spots, and temporary tee signs that have distance and photos of the holes to help point you in the right direction. The rough is still pretty rough though, but the fairways are still clean and tight!
Overall this course is probably in the top five in Illinois. And in the quad city area it's a toss up btwn this and west lake ( http://www.dgcoursereview.com...php?id=2418).
A must play while in the qca
UPDATE Sept. 2009
Played there the weekend after the Women's DG Championships and the course is looking great! New additions include steps (made of 4x4 posts) in many locations to traverse dangerous spots, and temporary tee signs that have distance and photos of the holes to help point you in the right direction. The rough is still pretty rough though, but the fairways are still clean and tight!
