Fort Dodge, IA

Snell-Crawford Park

2.435(based on 7 reviews)
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14 0
knobby325
Gold level trusted reviewer
Premium Member
Experience: 8.7 years 323 played 248 reviews
2.50 star(s)

A little history.. and elevation 2+ years

Reviewed: Played on:Jul 31, 2021 Played the course:once

Pros:

-Baskets OK
-Concrete tee pads (see cons)
-Good use of the elevation in the park
-Good mix of open / wooded, left / right
-View off #3 tee pad (See pic)
-A creek to work around (in play on 6 holes)
-2nd oldest DGC in Iowa (after Tourist Park in Cedar Falls)

Cons:

-Tee pads are getting washed out on #2, #3, #5, #9
-#2 tee pad oriented 90 degrees off
-Signage missing on all holes (a few posts with frames remain)
-Park can be busy with a large shelter and many playing in the creek

Other Thoughts:

Snell-Crawford Park enjoys the 2nd oldest DGC in Iowa and is located in the northern part of Fort Dodge, IA. From seeing past reviews, the baskets were updated about 5 or 6 years ago and are OK, the orange is nice to locate. You can see that at one time, there was signage at the tees, but now only a few posts with an empty frame remain. The elevation and the creek are the stars here. Lines are pretty basic, but challenging. The tee from #3 is elevated on a 40' cliff to a sharp right to layup before the creek crossing. #6 shoot 2/3 of the way to a set of stairs up to that basket. #7 is mis-marked on the map, it tees just down a path from the #6 basket with a layup before crossing the creek again. #8 is another creek carry to a basket near the old train trestle (now a walking/bike path). It appears there used to be cars allowed to cross the creek in 2 spots, but this is blocked off now. On a busy Saturday, both of those creek crossings has kids splashing in the water (don't blame them a bit.) There are nice newer foot bridges to cross the creek now, so you can stay dry, if you don't have to fish for your disc. A very picturesque, yet tricky DGC. Be prepared for the stairs (and the cool stone steps up to #5 tee). Be wary of the tee pads themselves, many are being washed out. Fix the tee pads (including pointing #2 toward its basket), put in some new signage (really just reprinting the ones on the sign board), maybe add a bench or two around the stairs and this easily is a 3. The history gives it a little nudge for me as well. Enjoy a technical, hilly, and historical course. I will probably play again when in the area.
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1 0
yearofrolling
Experience: 26.8 years 87 played 18 reviews
3.50 star(s)

New Baskets, Stairs Revive a Classic! 2+ years drive by

Reviewed: Played on:Jul 26, 2015 Played the course:once

Pros:

-Nice, new, orange DGA baskets.
-Incredible signage at parking lot!
There's a masterboard with each holes sign and info and a course map. I, personally, really like that the holes have names.
-Some fun elevation changes.
-Lots of water shots.
- I like having to throw a variety of shots like I did here.
Stairs have been constructed to make traversing the steep hills easier/possible.

Cons:

-Tees... Hole 2 pad is oriented 90 degrees the wrong way? Where are they?
-Signs at the tees would be nice. Would make finding pads easier and could tell direction to next hole.

Other Thoughts:

As of 07-26-15 there are new baskets, new stairs, new signage, and many other new or revitalized amenities, including: playground equipment, bridges, volley ball courts, a shelter, and pavement.
Hole 4 offers the very real risk of going in the river.
Hole 6 was pretty fun, you drive to the edge of the woods then putt up the stairs.
A long putt on Hole 7 will put you in the drink.
I didn't really find the pads for Holes 8 and 9.

By reading the other reviews, I'm under the impression that this park has changed some since the last review in June of 2012.
I never played Snell-Crawford with the old baskets, so I can't say how much the revitalization has helped the park, but its great now. I had a lot of fun here on the unique layout.
It could be noted that Snell-Crawford is the second oldest course in Iowa (just behind Tourist Park in Cedar Falls), so there's a little historic vibe here, too.
I rated this course 3.5 = Very Good. It is very good, and should be new for many years to come.
The locals should be thrilled to have some fresh air breathed into their classic disc golf course.
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3 0
mndiscg
Diamond level trusted reviewer
Experience: 15.8 years 480 played 478 reviews
3.00 star(s)

Tough Course to Review 2+ years

Reviewed: Played on:Jun 6, 2012 Played the course:once

Pros:

-The layout on this course is very extreme. It has many different elements which make it a challenge for even the best players.
-The stream is used well as is especially a challenge on holes 3 and 4.
-Elevation is incorporated on holes 1-3, 5-7, and 9.
-The woods here are a fair level of density and the underbrush is unlikely to eat your disc.

Cons:

-The baskets are the originals and are crap.
-The layout has changed over time and some of the tees do not aim at the proper basket. The first time I played I shot from the 2nd tee to the 9th basket before getting there and realizing that it was the wrong basket.
-There were sketchy people all over. I played near dusk and was actually scared of being ganged up on by a few guys. I was prepared to run at moments notice. I also have never heard 7 year old boys swear 9 times in a sentence, except here.
-The park just overall doesn't look that good. The steps are in rough shape and are dangerous, the signs are falling over or are vandalized. Trash here and there.
-You really have to watch out for other park users. I waited awhile until hole 3 was clear enough and that shot is tough enough that I was still worried I would hit someone.
-Despite it's condition there are still many players on the course. It can get crowded and cause you to wait.
-The layout could be adjusted a little to make it more smooth. I didn't always know where the next tee was and sometimes when on a tee you have to watch out for people throwing at other holes.

Other Thoughts:

I had a hard time giving this course a rank. By layout alone it is one of my favorite 9 holers and a challenge worthy of pretty much any disc golfer. In it's current rundown state it is probably a 2. I went somewhere in the middle to be fair and also to bring the rank up a little bit overall. I have played 0 disc courses before and this is not one of them. It may be in rough condition but the layout is still good. The people of Ft Dodge, no matter how rough, deserve a better course than this one. Overall, I would recommend this course. It will be a history lesson as well as a challenge. I would recommend you to go with at least one other person and not in the evening. Ft Dodge, help this course!
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3 0
ChickenFD
Experience: 12.9 years 4 played 1 reviews
2.00 star(s)

It Has Potential 2+ years drive by

Reviewed: Played on:Aug 3, 2011 Played the course:5+ times

Pros:

~Great water hazard over many holes.
~Good use of elevation


Cons:

~Dangerous paths. Some stairs are missing, some stairs aren't there at all. Some have fallen trees in the way.
~High traffic. For a few of the holes you have to go right through an area that is almost always populated.
~Every basket is damaged in one way or another. Some are just bent, others are even falling off.

Other Thoughts:

~Another thing I discovered just today, is that on hole number 4 there is a spot where your disc can actually fall out of the basket after it is inside. ~If the city were to maintain the course, it could be fantastic. However right now, it is in sorry shape.
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3 0
mostanno
Experience: 18.9 years 44 played 5 reviews
2.00 star(s)

Once a fun course drive by

Reviewed: Updated: Played on:May 28, 2011 Played the course:5+ times

Pros:

It was a fun course in it's day. I threw it when it was brand new. Didn't even have real plastic then, only frizbees.
The only Good thing about this course now is the nastalgia.
UPDATE-The baskets & signs have been updated, unfortunately the signs are missing on several holes. The tee pads are also being washed away. I still play this course when I'm in town, but only if there are no people playing at the creek. IF the water is high, there is no chance of getting your disc back because of how fast it flows.

Cons:

Some of the concrete under the baskets are getting washed away. Many signs are missing now. If people near creek, unsafe to throw.

Other Thoughts:

It was great seeing people throwing the course even in the shape the course is in.
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4 0
Porkchop
Experience: 23.9 years 132 played 7 reviews
1.00 star(s)

Historic Course Showing Its Age 2+ years drive by

Reviewed: Played on:Oct 17, 2009 Played the course:once

Pros:

~ Elevation
~ Water Hazards
~ Woods
~ Ample Parking
~ New Tee Signs

Cons:

~ Flow / Layout
~ Old Mach 1 Baskets
~ Hazardous trails / Stairs

Other Thoughts:

Snell-Crawford was the second basket courses in the state of Iowa so from historical perspective you would come to expect the course does not stand up to today's disc technology. With this being said there are many issues with the course. First off the baskets are the original targets from 1979 and they have seen better days; most have bent cages or damaged in some way or another. On a couple of holes the original route is very tight, but over the years the locals have made alternate routes. These routes are fairer and better golf shots, but the tee is not pointing in that direction forcing you to throw sideways across the tee. A few holes throw over park roads, one of which the road is pretty much the fairway. For some of the holes you have to walk way out of your way to get to a bridge to cross the creek to get to the pin from the tee. Some of the holes throw directly across another fairway or only a couple of feet from the previous pin. The course has seen better days, including the steps which have become rather dangerous. Overall the course has a terrible design/flow, has some really fluky lines, and is in really rough shape (and dangerous). The day I was there a family was helping their son clean the park as part of his scout project. They installed new tee signs, mulched the fairways and paths in the woods along with the pins and tees, and they painted the edges of the steps with bright construction paint. The work is commendable and I'm glade to see someone step-up and take pride in their parks, but I fear this is not enough to help this course. The land in that park is prime; with a solid re-design it could be an awesome course. For now the course is sub-par and rather unenjoyable.
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0 5
Sho-Nuff
Experience: 6 played 1 reviews
3.00 star(s)

2+ years drive by

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

Pros:

Great use of elevation.
Scenic.
Some great risk / reward shots.
Challenging.
Fun to Play.

Cons:

Course is showing its age.
Only 9 holes.
Layout can be a little confusing.

Other Thoughts:

Its got its issues, mostly due to its age. But overall this course is really fun to play.
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