Fairmont, MN

Cedar Creek - West

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3.755(based on 10 reviews)
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Cedar Creek - West reviews

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3 0
Upshawt1979
Diamond level trusted reviewer
Premium Member
Experience: 20.8 years 548 played 429 reviews
4.00 star(s)

The Test of the West 2+ years

Reviewed: Played on:Aug 12, 2018 Played the course:once

Pros:

One of three 18 hole courses at Cedar Creek Park, the West is absolutely worth a go. I was there as the last details of the new Central course were being attended to. A tournament was coming up the following weekend and the park was in good shape.

There are dual concrete tee pads for this course, and the Prodigy baskets have red rims. I played West right after the East course and thought this one was maybe slightly more difficult, at least from the long tees.

There are a bunch of good holes, and a different feel than the other courses. While there are still a lot of trees, there are holes that have a lot of airspace. The tree canopy does not cover as much room above the fairways, but it can get thick if you stray to either side. There is also quite a bit of tall grass surrounding some holes that can eat discs.

I parked at the small parking lot on the side of 190th Avenue near hole 10. It is a lengthy walk, past the new Central course, from the main lot at the park to the first hole.

With some moderate elevation in play on many holes and water in multiple places along the way the shaping of shots is impacted in a good way from hole to hole. Hole 5 (I may be wrong about the numbers, the layout has been altered) is a tough drive, with a big tree to get around if you don't land it in the right spot, and a basket that is protected by a few trees and tall grass encircling the pin. A couple of holes later there is a double dogleg that meanders through the woods that is tricky but fun.

Hole 7 and 8 were more open with a little slope, and can reward a great drive with a birdie. 11 is long and uphill, and there is a tough line to hit on the approach.
14 tees in the open, but leads around a corner in the woods to the target. 16 is a snug line between trees that pinches the fairway, and is hard to drive all the way
down to the basket but not impossible.

Overall I enjoyed the back nine over the front. The par set a 60 does give you a fair chance at making a score under par. There are not a lot of easy birdies on the par 3's. It will require consistency, making shots to get out of trouble occasionally, while limiting mistakes.

Cons:

There are some design changes, so I wasn't sure that I was getting all of the holes in the right order. Signs in some places were not in good condition.

Standing water on the fairway at hole 12, everywhere else was good. Tall grass hid my midrange on 5 for a good while, but I did find it eventually.

A long walk back to the main parking lot. Benches here and there would be ok with me.

Other Thoughts:

I wish I could have played all 3 courses, but the final work day was in progress on the Central, so I settled for 2 out of 3. On the merits of the West and East, I can vouch for Cedar Park. From the little bit of the Central that I saw, it could be the most wild of them all.

The West is a great layout through land that lends itself to disc golf very nicely. I liked the East more, but not by much. It had a different vibe for sure and both are very nice.

I shot a 63, and only had one 2 on the scorecard. I did pick up some strokes on the par 4 holes, but too few to offset the bogeys. It is a good challenge, but short of being championship caliber.

Hopefully now that the small redesign changes have been made and the new course is about ready, tees markers and maps will be updated. That was the main problem I encountered at either course. I don't think it would sway my rating if they had all been accurate.
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4 0
IHearChains
Bronze level trusted reviewer
Experience: 19.8 years 211 played 34 reviews
3.00 star(s)

potential, needs maintenance 2+ years

Reviewed: Updated: Played on:Jul 22, 2018 Played the course:once

Pros:

I'm reviewing what I played which is long tees on all holes. Lots of variety in the left/right and use of elevation. Several really nice tunnel shots. Almost every hole seems to have a different line. There is one par 4 and several longer par 3s. Some holes bring the creek into play, mostly behind the green. (Creek had really fast-flowing murky water the day I played, probably no finding a disc if it gets into the middle, it may get washed downstream. Not sure if that condition is typical or not.)

My favorite holes also had maintenance issues, some of them noted below. But there were some really fun holes here and it has so much potential to be a great course.

Cons:

Maintenance makes this course way more frustrating than it should be. Some fairways are really narrow-cut with high grass hazards that are overly punishing. Even with a spotter you'll be lucky not to have a lost disc on hole 2. One or two extra passes with the mower would really help hole 2.

Hole 12 is a beautiful design with about 280ft on a slight left-right, and then a sharp 90 degree dogleg tunnel to the right going downhill to a small green with water behind. But it really needs a bunch of vines and low branches removed at the corner. The landing zone to be able to have a look at the basket is only about 10ft deep. With maintenance, this would be a signature hole.

Hole 11 is just plain bad, the only line that has a good chance to land in short grass is a keyhole in the canopy where a risky overhand shot might work. You can play it for a 3 by taking a low-ceiling overstable straight-to-hyzer, but you're throwing at bunch of cedar trees with high grass all around them, and if you nick a tree after getting around the corner it's blind so it's impossible to even know where to even look. Maybe one of the top 5 worst holes I've ever seen in disc golf. With maintenance this might be decent.

Signage is terrible...most of them are badly faded and some are shredded...only a couple had anything legible on them. Probably not an issue for locals but it caused me some headaches as a traveler.

(8/14/18 -- edited to correct for recent hole numbering changes)

Other Thoughts:

Apparently there are improvements going on, new baskets and a 3rd "Central" course. So some people really care for this park and that's nice to see. Hopefully the other maintenance issues will get taken care of too.

(8/14/18 -- edited to correct for recent hole numbering changes)
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3 0
Muskiebite
Experience: 13.9 years 174 played 28 reviews
3.00 star(s)

Challenging, borderline frustrating 2+ years drive by

Reviewed: Played on:Jun 22, 2018 Played the course:once

Pros:

• New highly visible Prodigy Baskets
• Dual Tees
• Tests your accuracy and power
• Another course at the same sight (and soon to be a third)

Cons:

• Majority of signs are faded/missing
• Very easy to get turned around and go the wrong direction to the next hole
• A couple holes force you to throw through a very very tight gap between pine trees, or throw up and over hoping you can find where it lands since its completely blind.
• On the longest holes that require the most power also have very high grass so if you aren't on the fairway you will be searching for a long time.
• The new hole between 6 and 7 helps bridge the walk between holes, but it's a incredible tight wooded corridor

Other Thoughts:

Where is the line between a challenging course, and a frustrating course?

Some of the holes on West are beautifully challenging, tight fairways, touch upshots, creative line shaping and elevation.
While other holes are pure frustration, overly long winding corridors, throwing over pine trees to completely blind landing areas where even spotters can only give an approx. landing area, throwing power shots where if you are 2' off the fairway you can spend 10+ minutes searching.

While there are more challenging holes than frustrating holes those frustrating holes turn a fun round into a drag. Coupled that with terrible signage and navigation I can't give this course a high rating
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0 2
bils247
Experience: 10.8 years 54 played 11 reviews
4.50 star(s)

A monthly must 2+ years drive by

Reviewed: Played on:Nov 13, 2013 Played the course:5+ times

Pros:

Well rounded, advanced course.
Each hole requires an evaluation to accommodate for changing altitudes, wind, and natural obstacles.
Possible HIO on 12.
Great outdoor area, come prepared for a hike

Cons:

Tall thick grass along the creek add to searching frustrations
Navigation can be difficult without the supplied map....walk West and stay left for hole one!

Other Thoughts:

This is one of the best courses in our region. I would compare to the 2 Albert Lea, MN course. Well worth the trip!
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6 0
Martin Dewgarita
Gold level trusted reviewer
Experience: 14.4 years 1589 played 93 reviews
4.00 star(s)

A Beauty if a bit rough around the edges 2+ years

Reviewed: Played on:Feb 26, 2011 Played the course:5+ times

Pros:

Amenities. Located in a large park with ample parking, bathrooms (heated for those cool days), a rec center/shelter that can be reserved, walking/biking trails, and opportunities for fishing.

Variety. Every hole is a new experience, most every hole has some level of technical difficulty, even the most open holes (2,10) have strategically placed trees forcing you to think about your line.

Distances. The holes vary from short, 200', tight technical lines, to 500' big arm holes.

Elevation. Some good use of elevation on many of the holes keep things interesting.

Tees. Dual concrete tee pads are level and in good condition.

Signage. Each hole has a sign at the tee showing a map, distance, and hole #.

Scorecard/Map. If they're kept stocked, you can find a scorecard at the door of the shelter, a map is on the scorecard, if none are provided I'd take a picture or print a map beforehand, it's going to be useful.

Baskets. Practice basket provided near the beginning, all baskets are in good shape.

Water. Water comes into play on several holes and is a worthy obstacle well designed into the course. If you do end up in the creek, it's typically retrievable if the water isn't too high.

Winter. Though not actually maintained in winter, this is a snowmobile playground, they pack down the fairways and tee areas making it relatively easy to navigate in even the deepest of snow years, giving solid footing for a runup on most holes.

Cons:

Navigation. Carry a map, it's easy to get turned around out there. Some points of confusion to take note of: Hole 1, walk the East course hole 1 and continue west down the trail along the field, you will pass a practice basket, continue another 1/4 mi to find hole 1 tee. Hole 4, backtrack from hole 3's basket towards hole 2 basket and follow the trail down the hill. Hole 7, after completing hole 6, backtrack to the corner of the woods (towards 5 basket) and follow the trail down through the woods and to the right.

Rough. If you get off the fairways there's either long grass or thick trees that will increase the frustration level, the trees also like to catch and hold onto discs, I've had to climb trees on several occasions out there.

Not beginner friendly. The combination of thick rough, water holes, and long holes may make this a frustrating place to learn and practice the game

Other Thoughts:

A great hidden gem of a course, well worth the drive off of I 90 if passing by, and even a worthy destination course with 36 holes on site.
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4 0
mndiscg
Diamond level trusted reviewer
Experience: 15.8 years 480 played 478 reviews
4.00 star(s)

Awesome 2+ years

Reviewed: Updated: Played on:Jun 26, 2012 Played the course:5+ times

Pros:

-Elevation, many holes are up or down hills or the baskets are on the sides of them
-A good amount of woods, not too much, not too little.
-Nice baskets
-Great tees and most holes have dual tees
-With East has 36 holes
-Signs with distance, par, map
-No garbage anywhere, park is well kept
-Good views, very scenic
-Multiple pin location on some holes
-Good variation in distance
-Fair to right and left hand players

Cons:

-Couldn't find any scorecards here but there were tons for East
-Long walk from parking lot
-Could lose disc in trees or brush along sides of course
-Hole to hole navigation can be hard if you haven't played here before. Also some long walks between.
-Bathrooms, garbage cans and other amenities are away from here close to East

Other Thoughts:

This is the more challenging and better course at Cedar Creek. Both of these courses are worth a stop. 36 holes in one park is great!
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1 4
mnjugg
Experience: 27.9 years 9 played 7 reviews
4.00 star(s)

2+ years drive by

Reviewed: Played on:Sep 2, 2009 Played the course:5+ times

Pros:

* Alot of thought went into the design
* Challenging
* Putter practice target before the first hole

Cons:

* Needs upkeep, grass can get very long
* Holes can be easily missed

Other Thoughts:

I play this course at least 10 times a month for the challenge.
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4 0
Benak56
Experience: 15.1 years 47 played 10 reviews
4.00 star(s)

Serious Potential 2+ years drive by

Reviewed: Played on:Sep 12, 2009 Played the course:once

Pros:

- Beautiful terrain and design.
- Paved tees which was surprising in such a wooded area.
- Elevation Changes are good.
- Wooded and challenging.
- Balanced hole lengths.
- Wind should rarely be a problem.

Cons:

- Overgrown in some places, even on the fairways.
- Bring bug spray, it gets rough.
- Various hiking(?) trails and short cuts make traversing the course confusing. (Read the signs!) Hole #6 - #7 goes back and into the woods, I ended up walking all the way to the road on the west side of the course and back tracking from the basket to find it.
- Even the obvious trails get grown over and I was ducking and dodging branches at times.

Other Thoughts:

This a challenging course that really puts distance and accuracy together in a nice balance. If it was better tended, this course would be a close run for one of my favorites.
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0 3
deadbody
Experience: 20.1 years 152 played 66 reviews
4.00 star(s)

2+ years drive by

Reviewed: Played on:May 2, 2009 Played the course:once

Pros:

Really enjoyed this course, good elevation changes, good variety of short and tight and long and open. Much harder than the east course.

Cons:

Trees off the fairway eat discs, had 10 stuck in trees over the weekend on the 2 courses, maps are not great, we were very lost looking for hole I think 7 for a while.

Other Thoughts:

Nice little place to drop in for a couple fun rounds. Couple hours from Minneapolis worth a fun trip for a day.
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2 3
Pembertonian
Experience: 18.8 years 60 played 3 reviews
3.00 star(s)

Nice Companion Course 2+ years drive by

Reviewed: Updated: Played on:Aug 6, 2008 Played the course:5+ times

Pros:

Very Scenic Course with Rolling Hills, Trees and Wildlife. Well Made Tees, Mach III baskets and Scorecards/Maps available at multiple holes. Many Varying length holes.

Cons:

Fairways tend to be overgrown when not tourny season, long walk from parking lot to hole one. A couple holes are easy to miss/skip.

Other Thoughts:

This course exists where an old par-3 ball golf course used to. It has potential to be an amazing course but needs more up keep. Great to have this and Cedar Creek East side by side. they compliment each other well. Hard to beat 36 holes in one park!
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