Pros:
Creekside's 6 hole loop isn't as much a beginner/kid friendly course as it is a bonus 4-hole loop for the pro course. After you play the pro course, you wind down with a couple of pitch-n-putt layouts.
- First two holes of this loop are the same as the pro's first two holes. From there, #3 & 4 are pitch-n-putt, wooded layouts. #5 & 6 play slightly longer, making them more than beginners/kids can aim for.
- Navigation of these 6 holes is easy. After #2, pros go to the right; beginner loopers go to the left. Hole #3 - 6 play in a counter-clockwise loop back towards the parking lot.
- The biggest, and most obvious, positive about this course is that there's a legitimate, fun, and challenging course right there. Even if you don't want to tackle the full 18, just play several of those holes, throw in the beginning loop 6-pack, and you can play a mish-mash 10 or 12-hole loop.
- If you do opt to come here to only play this loop, you can easily do it with a putter and mid-range. Longest hole is #2 at 243 feet, and that's slightly downhill. All told, the six holes average just under 200 feet.
- Park has plenty of great amenities. The six-hole layout is probably the least appealing of everything here, so it's all a positive.
Cons:
I don't understand why this six-hole layout even exists. It's not a short, easy, kid-friendly loop. It's not appealing to more experienced players. It's essentially part of a 22-hole course except you can skip the 4 extra holes.
- The 4 holes that are different from the pro course - #3 - 6 - don't offer much challenge or creativity. If you needed to do something with the extra 4 baskets, incorporate them into the pro course as practice baskets or longer/alternative layouts.
- The walk from pro #18 to the beginning of the beginner's loop takes about as long as it does to play the actual beginner loop.
Other Thoughts:
It's nice that Creekside made a quick loop that plays close to the rec center. I'm waiting to find anybody who comes here only to play the beginner loop and not the actual, 18-hole layout.
- If you play holes #1 & 2 as part of the pro course, do you have to start back over at #1 for the 6-hole course, or do you start at #3?
- #3 could have been an enjoyable hole if it were longer. #4 & 5 were simple. And #6 has a basket that edges up to the woods. That's your beginner loop in a nutshell.
- Sure. Play the extra 4 holes the first time you play Creekside. It will only be an extra 10 - 15 minutes of time. After that, you'll forget the beginner loop is even there. I only played the loop because I had a little time to kill after playing the pro course. And that's pretty much sums up this course.