North Liberty, IA

Sugar Bottom Rec. Area

3.845(based on 28 reviews)
Filter course reviews

Filter reviews

Filter reviews

Sugar Bottom Rec. Area reviews

Filter
11 0
jdawg24
Gold level trusted reviewer
Experience: 25.9 years 103 played 58 reviews
4.00 star(s)

Great course, quick to play 2+ years drive by

Reviewed: Played on:Sep 15, 2009 Played the course:once

Pros:

*Easy to find, close to Iowa City
*Course is easy to navigate with very good signage; most holes/routes visible off tee
*Quick play - i got in 2 rounds in 3 hours
*Very well maintained course - valid fairways are cut through the woods
*In a beautiful wooded setting next to a resevoir with a swimming beach .... i had no idea iowa had hilly areas with trees; reminiscent of north georgia hill country
*Very fun to play
*Holes have valid routes; good distances that are challenging but fair
*Multiple pin placements
*Cement pads; benches on many holes

Cons:

*Par 3 recreational course, except for the long position on 18
*Gets really busy in the evening - not a con if you are looking for someone to play with though
*hole #3 floods. When I played, it was a super hard position (right) over water until 15' before the basket because of flood waters .... i parked it with a favorite roc, but chickened out on playing it in round 2

Other Thoughts:

Great, fun to play course, one of the best I played on a recent trip through IL, IA & MO....surprised it isn't rated higher. Really nice setting is icing on the cake -- swimming within walking distance of the course, camping not much further, and Iowa City only 10 minutes away
Was this review helpful? Yes No
13 0
scarpfish
Gold level trusted reviewer
Experience: 20.8 years 360 played 100 reviews
4.00 star(s)

Nice mixture that rewards precision 2+ years drive by

Reviewed: Played on:Jun 14, 2009 Played the course:2-4 times

Pros:

Well kept course in a Corps of Engineers park alongside Coralville Lake. Numerous pin positions give the course a lot of different looks and can alter your strategy right from the teebox. Very challenging for its short length due to the dense foliage and elevation changes. A good mix of holes, and good transition with regards to elevation and foliage. You don't get all of something at once. Hole #16 is particularly bedazzling, (or aggrivating if you get off in the shule). Unlike its sister course Turkey Creek to the south, this one isn't as overcrowded with locals and casuals, so it is better suited for serious players and people who don't like to wait.

Cons:

The shule can be unforgiving if you get into it. Baskets on the wooded holes and sometimes on 14 and 15 in the late afternoon can be hard to spot as they tend to blend in to the scenery. Some old school baskets have been retrofitted with an extra set of chains and catch a bit differently. The usual pitfalls of woodsy courses, poison ivy here and there, lots of mosquitos and other insects. Definitely bring bug spray.

Other Thoughts:

Probably my favorite course in the Iowa City/Cedar Rapids corridor. Sugar Bottom is almost twenty years old and has kept up well with the times. There's a couple of big arm holes here, but for the most part, control is what is going to net you a good score. Might be a little bit more than some casual players can handle with all the elevation and tons of places to lose a disc. Definitely worth the stop and pairs up well with Turkey Creek or one of the Cedar Rapids courses if you have time to play two.
Was this review helpful? Yes No
1 10
arowan21
Experience: 21.9 years 62 played 5 reviews
2.50 star(s)

2+ years drive by

Reviewed: Played on:May 30, 2009 Played the course:once

Pros:

Great signs that marked the current basket location and direction to the next tee. Hole 18 is the highlight of the course. Great course for a beginner.

Cons:

Lots of Poison Ivy. Some holes had some baskets that were a little sub-par. Some very bland holes with a couple of exceptions.

Other Thoughts:

Use a spotter on some of the more wooded holes to save time.
Was this review helpful? Yes No
2 5
JohnnyLounge21
Experience: 25.9 years 7 played 6 reviews
4.00 star(s)

Iowa City Advanced course 2+ years drive by

Reviewed: Played on:Jul 25, 2001 Played the course:5+ times

Pros:

Awesome 18 hole course the goes in and out of the woods and was very well planned. Great parking facilities and a nice porta-potty right on the grounds after you park. Hilly and nice all around. May be a little long for more social players (bringing girls along) but a great course otherwise. Signage good and proximity to a reservoir make this course one of the best. The 18th is a special one - let 'em boom to try and get close in 3 for a nice birdie on the way out.

Cons:

Again, a little long for the girls and for novices.

Other Thoughts:

Outstanding course - Turkey Creek is closer to IC and more social, but this makes for a better sober choice if you're playing with bros competitively.
Was this review helpful? Yes No
4 6
SpikeHyzer
Experience: 21.2 years 110 played 33 reviews
3.50 star(s)

Good course 2+ years drive by

Reviewed: Played on:Aug 25, 2007 Played the course:once

Pros:

Fun course with a pretty good layout. Definitely tests your ability to throw straight on a fair bit of holes. Hole 18 is one that you want to empty your bag on just because it is fun to launch some booming drives.

Cons:

Baskets are suspect. That's about it.

Other Thoughts:

Definitely worth a play if you are in the IC/CR area.
Was this review helpful? Yes No
8 1
wolito
Silver level trusted reviewer
Experience: 17.2 years 88 played 87 reviews
4.50 star(s)

This course has it all. Awesome! 2+ years drive by

Reviewed: Updated: Played on:Mar 20, 2009 Played the course:5+ times

Pros:

A very beautiful piece of land that this course is on. Drive through the park and park by the beach. Hole one is right there. Kiosik with information on it. All aspects of your game will be tested here for sure! Great mix of holes! Open long holes to very tight, heavily wooded holes. Sharp doglegs left and right. Elvation is significant on this course to add to the challenge. Every hole is very unique from the one before. Each hole I come to I smile at the beauty of the great design but quickly have to contemplate just what shot to use. Forehand, backhand, hyzer, anhyzer, overhead, rollers, you name it, you need to pull that throw out of your arsenal. Hole 10 is my favorite, throw a nice hyzer way up over the trees and hope it tucks in to the heavily gaurded basket in the woods. In the fall the scenery is beautiful.

Cons:

Can have some trash around, though there are trash cans on many of the holes.Mosquitos are an issue in the summer months as well as flooding from the res. Bring the bug spray. Watch out for the weeds, they can hide your disc and make your skin pay if you run into any ivy. Course is right next to the lake and flooding issues can foce closure of the park at times.

Other Thoughts:

The course I learned on. One of my favorites in the area. Certianly enjoy the challenge and fun of playing here. Very popular course with the more experienced players in the area. It can be very popular, especially in the fall and on the weekends, but it is that way for a reason. This is one of the best courses I have played! Without a doubt a must play if you are in the area.
Was this review helpful? Yes No
4 3
Pinto
Experience: 21 years 11 played 11 reviews
4.50 star(s)

2+ years drive by

Reviewed: Played on:Nov 4, 2008 Played the course:5+ times

Pros:

It has decent elevation changes, the right balance of distance, techical, and hole shots. The challenge is very balanced. It has great signs, tee boxes, and kept up well. It also has decent parking and facilities.

Cons:

Hole 3 can be unplayable if flood waters are present.

Other Thoughts:

I consider this the best course I've played.
Was this review helpful? Yes No
4 6
mattmelcher
Experience: 24 played 7 reviews
3.50 star(s)

Watch out for high water 2+ years drive by

Reviewed: Played on:May 17, 2008 Played the course:never

Pros:

Nice length and you need to use all your shots. The holes in the woods are open enough that you need some skills and not just dumb luck to get through.

Cons:

When the water is hign some of the holes are unplayable.

Other Thoughts:

Lots of wildlife.
Was this review helpful? Yes No

Latest posts

Top