Cornerstone University reviews
6
0
Not worth trespassing to play! 2+ years
Reviewed:
Played on:Nov 14, 2020
Played the course:once
Pros:
Let me start this review with the conclusion. Cornerstone University DGC is a private course owned by the university, and open only to those affiliated with the university plus pre-approved guests. This is also not an interesting enough course to make it worth breaking their rules.
With that said, here is the rest of my review in case you do have a valid opportunity to play the course.
Cornerstone is an 18 hole course that plays around the university's campus on the northeast side of Grand Rapids, MI. As of this writing, 16 of the 18 DISCatcher baskets are present and in good condition. There is also a practice basket and some nice picnic tables by the first tee.
15 of the 18 tee signs were present when I played, and they were nice signs showing the hole number, distance, and obstacles when applicable.
Holes 6 and 10-12 play near a small lake. For all of these holes, the lake is to your right as you stand on the tee pad. You never have to clear the water - it's just present on your right to swallow errant throws on these holes. The remaining holes marked as "water" holes on here play near marsh areas. These areas were pretty dry when I played late in the year, but are likely more hazardous in the spring and summer. The course signage asks you not to step into the lake or marsh to retrieve lost discs.
With that said, here is the rest of my review in case you do have a valid opportunity to play the course.
Cornerstone is an 18 hole course that plays around the university's campus on the northeast side of Grand Rapids, MI. As of this writing, 16 of the 18 DISCatcher baskets are present and in good condition. There is also a practice basket and some nice picnic tables by the first tee.
15 of the 18 tee signs were present when I played, and they were nice signs showing the hole number, distance, and obstacles when applicable.
Holes 6 and 10-12 play near a small lake. For all of these holes, the lake is to your right as you stand on the tee pad. You never have to clear the water - it's just present on your right to swallow errant throws on these holes. The remaining holes marked as "water" holes on here play near marsh areas. These areas were pretty dry when I played late in the year, but are likely more hazardous in the spring and summer. The course signage asks you not to step into the lake or marsh to retrieve lost discs.
Cons:
The entire course is basically flat, with no elevation challenges to speak of. Many holes have few or no obstacles between the tee and basket. Because it's so open, wind can be a serious factor.
Most holes are pretty short. Only two are longer than 300', and four are shorter than 200'. All par 3s. There is nothing here to challenge anyone beyond recreational level.
I could not find basket #8 or #9. From what I could tell, these baskets were removed to make way for a sand pit with some rings in it...I think for some other sport which I could not identify. Tee sign #9 was also removed (post and sign) and on #10 and #11 the signs were missing off the posts.
I accidentally played from #5 tee to #6 basket. So I can't say for sure if #5 basket and/or #6 tee is also missing, but in any case they are easy to miss.
The navigation is OK but not great. The worst spot is between holes 4 and 5, where you have to walk across a large parking lot but there is no signage that I saw directing you to do so. For most of the rest of the holes, the next tee is visible from the basket but there are a couple spots where you have to kind of double back. Some arrows would be helpful at those spots. Use the map posted here for navigation.
Speaking of that map, it is slightly out of date. The baseball field has been rebuilt and holes 13-17 have been moved around since the map was made. They are still close enough to where they were that the map remains fairly useful. Still, an updated version of this map posted at the first tee would be an improvement.
There are cement pads but they are very small. You basically have to just stand and throw, or run up from the grass behind them.
Geese and their droppings are everywhere on the holes by the lake.
The course is fairly safe compared to other campus courses I have played, but walking paths could still come into play on several holes.
Most holes are pretty short. Only two are longer than 300', and four are shorter than 200'. All par 3s. There is nothing here to challenge anyone beyond recreational level.
I could not find basket #8 or #9. From what I could tell, these baskets were removed to make way for a sand pit with some rings in it...I think for some other sport which I could not identify. Tee sign #9 was also removed (post and sign) and on #10 and #11 the signs were missing off the posts.
I accidentally played from #5 tee to #6 basket. So I can't say for sure if #5 basket and/or #6 tee is also missing, but in any case they are easy to miss.
The navigation is OK but not great. The worst spot is between holes 4 and 5, where you have to walk across a large parking lot but there is no signage that I saw directing you to do so. For most of the rest of the holes, the next tee is visible from the basket but there are a couple spots where you have to kind of double back. Some arrows would be helpful at those spots. Use the map posted here for navigation.
Speaking of that map, it is slightly out of date. The baseball field has been rebuilt and holes 13-17 have been moved around since the map was made. They are still close enough to where they were that the map remains fairly useful. Still, an updated version of this map posted at the first tee would be an improvement.
There are cement pads but they are very small. You basically have to just stand and throw, or run up from the grass behind them.
Geese and their droppings are everywhere on the holes by the lake.
The course is fairly safe compared to other campus courses I have played, but walking paths could still come into play on several holes.
Other Thoughts:
Here is the exact text of the sign posted at the first tee. "This is a private course. Use of this course is limited to Cornerstone University students, staff/faculty, family members, and authorized guests only. Course is monitored by Cornerstone University Campus Safety. All individuals other than those previously stated with be asked to leave the university grounds." In addition to this, on every single tee sign there is a reminder "for Cornerstone University students, employees, and guests only." I don't see how they could have been any clearer in their message.
Full disclosure, I do not meet the requirements stated above. I have tried several dozen courses for the first time this year, most of which are further away from where I live than Cornerstone. But this course kept popping up each time I searched for nearby courses. It kept nagging at me. I wanted to see what the course was like. Bag it. Add it to my collection. Other reviewers made it sound like the private property rule wasn't really anything to worry about. So on a cold, cloudy, windy November Saturday I caved and drove there. And well, despite all the signage I decided to play my entire round. I was already there at that point, right?
Now that little nagging curiosity is gone but it's been replaced by little nagging guilt, which is part of why I am spelling this out in such detail now so that you can make a more informed decision.
No one stopped me or asked me to leave during my round. In fact, the only people I saw were a few people walking/jogging and a few students smashing pumpkins outside one of the dorms. If you came to play this course, it's possible no one would stop you either - as no one stopped many of the other reviewers. But I think that kind of misses the point, which is that non-Cornerstone people are not supposed to be here in the first place. The GR area is fortunate to have literally dozens of other options within a reasonable drive - many of them better. Why play the course here against someone's wishes?
So in closing - for a college campus course, this is pretty nice. It's great for the Cornerstone community to have this on site. But for the general public, look elsewhere. Looking for challenging water holes? Head to Grand Rapids Rotary North (Grand Isle Park). Looking for a good rec-friendly round on mostly flat terrain? Hit up Garfield Park. Looking for a college campus course (for some reason)? Play the brand new Grace Christian University course, which is explicitly stated to be open to the public.
Full disclosure, I do not meet the requirements stated above. I have tried several dozen courses for the first time this year, most of which are further away from where I live than Cornerstone. But this course kept popping up each time I searched for nearby courses. It kept nagging at me. I wanted to see what the course was like. Bag it. Add it to my collection. Other reviewers made it sound like the private property rule wasn't really anything to worry about. So on a cold, cloudy, windy November Saturday I caved and drove there. And well, despite all the signage I decided to play my entire round. I was already there at that point, right?
Now that little nagging curiosity is gone but it's been replaced by little nagging guilt, which is part of why I am spelling this out in such detail now so that you can make a more informed decision.
No one stopped me or asked me to leave during my round. In fact, the only people I saw were a few people walking/jogging and a few students smashing pumpkins outside one of the dorms. If you came to play this course, it's possible no one would stop you either - as no one stopped many of the other reviewers. But I think that kind of misses the point, which is that non-Cornerstone people are not supposed to be here in the first place. The GR area is fortunate to have literally dozens of other options within a reasonable drive - many of them better. Why play the course here against someone's wishes?
So in closing - for a college campus course, this is pretty nice. It's great for the Cornerstone community to have this on site. But for the general public, look elsewhere. Looking for challenging water holes? Head to Grand Rapids Rotary North (Grand Isle Park). Looking for a good rec-friendly round on mostly flat terrain? Hit up Garfield Park. Looking for a college campus course (for some reason)? Play the brand new Grace Christian University course, which is explicitly stated to be open to the public.
2
1
trpegr
Experience:
24 years
5 played
5 reviews
2+ years drive by
Reviewed:
Played on:Jun 15, 2011
Played the course:once
Pros:
*** BE PREPARED TO BE KICKED OFF THE COURSE BY CAMPUS SECURITY ***
Decent use of the space and a variety of holes.
Decent use of the space and a variety of holes.
Cons:
Private course on a conservative Christian college campus. I could see foot traffic being a problem during the busy school year. Again, be prepared to be asked to leave.
Other Thoughts:
Even if this wasn't a private course it wouldn't be in the top tier of Grand Rapids area courses because of buildings and walking paths coming into play so often. Don't be tempted by the forbidden fruit.
