Aberdeen, SD

Richmond Lake Rec. Area

Permanent course
3.285(based on 9 reviews)
Filter course reviews

Filter reviews

Filter reviews

Richmond Lake Rec. Area reviews

Filter
1 0
Sithas
Experience: 4 played 4 reviews
4.00 star(s)

Great Course 2+ years drive by

Reviewed: Played on:May 28, 2017 Played the course:5+ times

Pros:

Great layouts with multiple tee pad locations (only the main one is poured tho) and basket locations occasionally moved by the Locals. Very pretty scenery also. 3-5 tourneys held here each year.

Cons:

Bugs can get fairly bad in the summers, so bring spray and check for ticks. Also watch out for bikes, there is a path going threw the course.

Other Thoughts:

Its funny how many people "say" how easy this course is, but soon realize after hole 7 and they are +2 that its not. Hit your shot. Hit your line.
Was this review helpful? Yes No
1 0
ttimblin
Experience: 23 played 2 reviews
3.00 star(s)

How to find the course, update 2+ years drive by

Reviewed: Played on:Oct 29, 2016 Played the course:once

Pros:

Great short course filled with up shots, tunnel shots, and open shots for relief.

Baskets are top notch and in good shape.

Cons:

Signage is LACKING. BUT, be sure to take a snap shot of the course layout with your phone and you shouldn't have a problem finding each tee pad the first go around.

At the time of play, I have no issues with the course. Grass was cut, and it was cool and dry.

Other Thoughts:

HERES AN UPDATE ON HOW TO FIND THE PLACE!!!

As a new guy from out of town it was a bit of a pain to track down at first.

After turning on Youth Camp Rd. (dirt road) note, you have gone too far if you reach the dead end. Also, you have gone too far if you pass the "do not enter" sign and road (prior to the dead end). The ENTRANCE is before these two places.

Once you turn in you will see a parking lot and bathrooms. DO NOT PARK THERE! Keep driving around the windy road until you make a double back around the one way road you are on.

You will see a practice basket, park there.

Signs are posted that depict the course pretty well.

Note: you are asked to fill out a parking pass voucher and pay $4 (located at the kiosk when you enter), you can also buy a season parking pass according to the person who I talked to (building at the dead end of Youth Camp Rd.).
Was this review helpful? Yes No
1 0
BossHoss
Experience: 13 played 6 reviews
4.50 star(s)

2+ years drive by

Reviewed: Played on:Nov 14, 2015 Played the course:once

Pros:

Very fun course with shorter holes. Wooded holes with really tight lines. Good tee pads and good score cards.

Cons:

Directions to get there are wrong. It was pretty hard to find right away. Hole marking could have been better.
Was this review helpful? Yes No
2 0
mndiscg
Diamond level trusted reviewer
Experience: 15.8 years 480 played 478 reviews
3.00 star(s)

Now is the Best Time of the Yea 2+ years

Reviewed: Played on:Apr 26, 2014 Played the course:once

Pros:

-Lots of fun wooded holes. Most of the holes are on the shorter end but they had a high fun factor to me.
-All holes are aceable if you hit the right line, some are easier than others.
-I found it easy to get 3s even with a poor tee shot but hard to get too many 2s because the lines are tight.
-Cement tees were in good shape. There were longer natural tees as well.
-Baskets are older but still catch just fine.
-Maps/scorecards are the best out there. They are made by our very own DSCJNKY.
-It was pretty easy to navigate, especially with the map found at the beginning of the course.
-Not a ton of elevation but there are some fun holes with elevation. Hole 7 was a solid uphill with a protected basket and 8 was a decent downhill with no line other than over the top. Both fun holes.
-This is a state rec area with lots of fun things to do at this beautiful lake.

Cons:

-There were like 3 tee signs left on the course. All the holes had the stand and frame for a sign but they were broken out.
-Not a lot of length or length variation. It did get a little repetitive.
-It is pay to play as it is in a state rec area. If you live in-state, I would recommend buying a season pass and playing one of these courses every time you are near. They are mostly pretty good courses.
-Others have said that this course can get overgrown or buggy. It is early in the season now and it is great. Play in spring or fall for ideal results.

Other Thoughts:

-This is a good course for most skill levels. You have to be pretty on to hit the lines in the woods but you can recover easily if you don't. Good challenge for advanced players and approachable enough for others.
-This course is in the middle of nowhere so unless you live in Aberdeen or happen to be traveling by on 212, this course isn't worth going out of the way for. I hit it up along with Mobridge and Roy Lake in an effort to play every course in SD.
-Aberdeen has got to be one of the bigger towns out there to not have a course of its own. Locals have to drive 15 minutes each way to play this course. I saw a few good looking parks while driving through town. They need to get on it!
Was this review helpful? Yes No
1 1
BenderTheThrowbot
Experience: 12.9 years 8 played 2 reviews
2.50 star(s)

Could be a lot better 2+ years drive by

Reviewed: Played on:Jul 14, 2013 Played the course:once

Pros:

Nice setting in the "back woods" of Aberdeen. Way off the beaten path for travelers. I see the potential this course has. Nice layout of holes; blind shots, back and fore hand friendly holes.
The current condition of this course adds an extra challenge to the game.

Cons:

WAY OVERGROWN!!! Cut the trees back, knock down some of the undergrowth and this would be a top-notch course.
I'm glad the locals destroy the signs....it adds that wonderful mystery of "where the hell should I throw?" to the game. Keep it up people and the state will just make it a walking path!

Other Thoughts:

This course has an above average layout. After throwing at some of the best places in the midwest (blue ribbon, highbridge) I gave this place a try on a family reunion.
This could be a start of a SD Highbridge...if they wanted. There is enough land available to put 54 more holes in. It has a good mix of woods and open area, with wonderful elevation changes.
I would guess that the locals piss down their own leg and get this course closed, I do hope for the opposite though.
Was this review helpful? Yes No
1 1
Draco1010
Experience: 7 played 5 reviews
3.50 star(s)

Draco1010 2+ years drive by

Reviewed: Played on:Sep 9, 2012 Played the course:5+ times

Pros:

this coarse is a very good sized coarse, short and long-long holes
lots of variations
every hole feels as if it is one of a kind
i love the practice putting basket and practice putting game stones

Cons:

i played this coarse when it was in its peak 8 years ago and it was well maintianed
there needs to be more trash cans and some of the fairways need to be trimbed back

Other Thoughts:

i always have a great time playing Richmond
Was this review helpful? Yes No
3 0
The Valkyrie Kid
Diamond level trusted reviewer
Experience: 45.9 years 1563 played 1507 reviews
2.50 star(s)

Technical, Buggy Course In The Trees! 2+ years

Reviewed: Played on:Jul 11, 2011 Played the course:once

Pros:

The course plays through a forrest of pine trees. Many of the holes are fairly tight. Holes 1, 2 and 3 are basic tunnel shots. There are concrete pads with rec distances and then longer natural pads for the advanced tees. I assume they were added in later to give a greater challenge. The baskets are older ones which are fine here. Because this park area is fairly isolated, many of the signs have been vandalized or destroyed. # 7 and # 8 are both little over the top of the tree throws for anyone who a throw a 200' tomahawk. Unfortunately, my aging arm tops out at about 75 feet. # 9 is a fun little ACE run. There is a nice variety of tunnel and then some more open holes here. The course ends right back at the beginning. I always like that in a course design.

Cons:

There had been a lot of rainfall in previous days so much of the course was muddy. I had to take a few detours around some wet areas. Everything felt a little rundown, a little neglected. It's out here in the woods. The signs are in bad shape. It doesn't seen as though anyone has done much to improve or maintain this course in quite some time. I think it could use a little TLC. And the misquitos were a major annoyance.

Other Thoughts:

I'm stumbling along by # 13. I'm hot, sweaty and I'm battling the ever present misquitos. From the lovely closeby lake, I hear music, jet boats, girls laughing and splashing while being towed behind the ski boats and I think to myself, " Maybe I'd rather be out there in the lake with those girls?"
Was this review helpful? Yes No
5 0
justindfpr
Experience: 22.9 years 23 played 10 reviews
4.00 star(s)

Played this course thousands of times. 2+ years drive by

Reviewed: Updated: Played on:Sep 27, 2009 Played the course:5+ times

Pros:

Hard fun course if you're new to it. Lots of options on pretty much every hole. Over the trees or down the middle. Good mix of hyzer and anhyzer routes. Most holes have overhead throw options too which you'll see from a lot of the people that play it. The course has become very tight over the years from tree growth. Alternate pin placements have been added on 5 holes. 1, 5,10,14 and 16. The pine trees give a lot of protection on windy days until it gets into the 30+ mph days, which happens more often than you're used to if you aren't from the midwest.

Cons:

THE BUGS! They get horrible over the summer and its avoidable if the park would spray at the right times. Richmond just got a new park manager and he is much more open to improving the course than the last one. Tee signs are trashed. Its 50/50 when it comes to the players. You have half that are loud, obnoxious, littering teenagers that come out there just to drink, smoke weed and be loud, break branches etc. The other half are out there to get better have fun and pick up after the litterbugs.

Other Thoughts:

I love this course. Its the course that got me started. Its not the greatest course around these days but 10 years ago this course was top notch. Always play 2 rounds. Your score will always improve the 2nd time around.

I read the directions and they are incorrect. Forest Drive is a one way. Take the first right into it. Drive slow because there are a lot of walkers down that road.
Was this review helpful? Yes No
6 0
Greg Layton
Silver level trusted reviewer
Experience: 16.1 years 143 played 27 reviews
2.50 star(s)

Bring two cans of mosquito repelant 2+ years drive by

Reviewed: Updated: Played on:Sep 5, 2008 Played the course:once

Pros:

- A single use park with a nice view of the lake on a couple of holes, especially 13.
- Trees in play on every hole, but it's not a poke & hope like I'm used to in portions of Michigan. There are enough trees to keep you honest, but not enough to ruin your day.
- Makes the most out of the available elevation.
- Would probably be best played after the first hard freeze and before the first snow.

Cons:

- The only thing I'll remember about this course is the army of mosquitoes that attacked me as soon as I got out of my car. It's almost like they wanted to get at the fresh meat before he could have a chance to get bug spray on. They didn't let up throughout the whole round, the bug spray merely kept them 6 inches away as they buzzed around me looking for an opening. It was absolutely brutal.
- Lots of missing signs (maybe 11 or 12 total) are a definite problem, especially on the front nine where you go back and forth across a clearing.

Other Thoughts:

- I met three local guys who confirmed that this particular day was no fluke. They said that the state sprays the course every but that the mosquitoes simply fly in from other areas.
- Without the bugs, this would easily be a 3.5 or a 4 star course. Depending on what season you're playing in, you could have a nice round here.
Was this review helpful? Yes No
Top