Grand Rapids, MI

Earl W. Brewer Park - Red

35(based on 23 reviews)
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Earl W. Brewer Park - Red reviews

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1 0
mashnut
Diamond level trusted reviewer
Experience: 22.1 years 831 played 767 reviews
1.00 star(s)

Wide open 2+ years drive by

Reviewed: Played on:Mar 10, 2012 Played the course:once

Pros:

The course plays through a large open prairie with mowed fairways through longer grass. This is the longest of the 4 loops here, and offers several chances to open up and throw some drives. Several of the holes use minor elevation changes to make things a little more interesting. The concrete tees are in fine shape, and the signage is adequate with hole layout and distance. The baskets are older but in ok shape.

Cons:

The course is wide open, with just a few trees in play other than a couple holes that use a tree line on one side. Prairie grass is in play on every hole, and that's my least favorite type of disc golf obstacle. In my opinion it only adds frustration, not real challenge or punishment for errant shots.

Other Thoughts:

Beginners will likely be frustrated in the summer months with long distances and lost disc potential in the long grass. Some experienced players will enjoy the chance to throw some drives and the challenge of hitting the mowed fairways, others will find the "links" style holes frustrating and not very interesting. I liked the idea of 4 loops each with their own feel, it's a unique way of using the space.
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2 2
myhouseinthewoods
Experience: 13.7 years 14 played 10 reviews
3.00 star(s)

"Smokers" Spot 2+ years drive by

Reviewed: Played on:Jul 4, 2011 Played the course:2-4 times

Pros:

- This course is a good challenge
- Around one of the holes, there is a nice - private area and a bench where you can relax, and smoke
- This course doesnt get as busy as Blue course
- Nice open areas where you disc uphill and downhill
- There are nice sunny spots

Cons:

- Watch your disc, theres woods around certain holes ready to rob your disc
- Gets busy on whole park

Other Thoughts:

- Its a nice area
- A or more than one hole next to the road, watch your disc and try not to hit any cars
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2 1
kizzle54
Experience: 16.9 years 10 played 7 reviews
2.00 star(s)

Red was dead... 2+ years drive by

Reviewed: Played on:Apr 30, 2011 Played the course:once

Pros:

- Well kept course

- lots of rangey holes

Cons:

- lots of rangey holes

- nothing technical, just open

Other Thoughts:

I thought I was going to throw my arm out on this 9. The 9 probably averaged about 350 ft+. I didn't like it all that much because it was all length and no technical holes.

If I was to play brewer tomorrow I'd pass on Red and play the other three.
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1 0
jarnson
Experience: 13.8 years 27 played 27 reviews
2.50 star(s)

Open Range 2+ years drive by

Reviewed: Updated: Played on:Apr 1, 2011 Played the course:2-4 times

Pros:

- Very open, long straight holes.
- Pads are cement, very clean and level... no cracks
- Holes are very sturdy, a little rusty but strong. (Mach 3's I believe)
- Holes visible from tee, something I always am challenged by. :p
- Doesn't interact with other 3 9's too badly.
- Few hazards, but overall the easier course.

Cons:

- As the smaller of the four courses, it is also the least challenging, except little bends with the mando in hole 3 and the bend with a tree in hole 6.
- With it being so open, expect cross winds to effect your game greatly.
- Open means hot in the summer, even cool days.
- No verity; straight, back and forth; some challenge with elevation.

Other Thoughts:

Very nice course, all four very close so no need to drive to the different areas. Very clean, markers at every hole, along with trash. There are even some practice holes by the main area as to play HORSE or practice putts.
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2 0
Terry C
Bronze level trusted reviewer
Experience: 27 years 54 played 27 reviews
2.00 star(s)

A good warmup for the other 9's. 2+ years drive by

Reviewed: Played on:Nov 17, 2010 Played the course:5+ times

Pros:

-The most open fairways at Brewer park
-Very few obsticals
-cement pads
-trash cans on most holes
-a good 9 to play if you like big bomb drives.
-a putt and aproach kind of 9 holer course
-this is one of the 4 - 9 hole courses at brewer
-seemless smooth flow, impossible to get lost.
-Baskets are okay, old and rusty and falling apart but they work, atleast for now.

Cons:

-Rather boring, straight shots, big open fairways, almost no challenge besides distance.
- probably the least fun of any of the courses Brewer park offers.
-very few trees as obsticals, wind breakers, or for shade during summer on this course perticularly.
-no variety, just straight, open, easy shots.

Other Thoughts:

This is my least favorite of the 4 courses at Brewer. Its average fun to play, you cant really lose a disc. If you come to brewer park make sure you play all 36 holes. This is a park where drinking alchohol is allowed and gets pretty rowdy at times. My league plays here, not my favorite Park in Grandrapids but its alright, 36 holes total is pretty cool though!! If your in the area come check Brewer out, if you play all 36 holes you will enjoy yourself.
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6 0
apdrvya
Diamond level trusted reviewer
Premium Member
Experience: 13.9 years 350 played 293 reviews
2.50 star(s)

the good, the red, the ugly 2+ years

Reviewed: Played on:Sep 30, 2010 Played the course:once

Pros:

Tee pads-- Big and Cement, how could you ask for more.

Navigation/signage-- not an issue, apparently the signs are inaccurate for distance and actual hole layout.

Pins-- Old, some are super rusty and super grabby.

Upkeep-- because this is a lesser played course at brewer there isn't so much of the cigarette box/40oz can of PBR trash here.

Cons:

Variety-- not really any variety here. everything is long, straight and kind of boring. the only saving grace here is the elevation.

No shade-- this course can get very hot, even on cool days if the sun is out...

Other Thoughts:

it's brewer. put on your camo, grab a PBR and go out. it's a little trashy, but sometimes (not all the time, trust me) it's part of the charm.
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2 1
rshrevo
Bronze level trusted reviewer
Experience: 45.9 years 45 played 34 reviews
3.00 star(s)

Red Course 2+ years drive by

Reviewed: Updated: Played on:Mar 25, 2011 Played the course:5+ times

Pros:

Nice course to work on your driving ability. A lot of the holes you can just let it rip. if you can keep it straight you will do fine. easy to navigate your way around the course. nice open course so even if you are in the rough your next shot can still put you back on track.

Cons:

mostly the same type of shots over and over for each hole. so no real need for trying to figure out how you are going to shoot the next shot to get back on track for the hole.

Other Thoughts:

The elevation changes help to make the course challenging. throwing uphill then downhill then back uphill. I like on hole 7 the ability to just rip it and watch your disc fly as far as it can. A good throw there seems to float forever.
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4 0
tallpaul
Diamond level trusted reviewer
Premium Member
Experience: 35.8 years 934 played 133 reviews
2.00 star(s)

#3 of the four 2+ years

Reviewed: Updated: Played on:Aug 28, 2010 Played the course:once

Pros:

Footage on these holes teaches 1/3 300 ft., 1/3 350 ft. and 1/3 400 foot drives. Good training ground for open style hole, distance control.
More than one practice basket is nice touch.
Elevation available is used well. More gradual meadow hills than anything big. #9 is a fairly long 470 ft. uphill finishing hole.
I'm adding this paragraph for my pros for all four of these: This is a 36 hole complex. I would give a 3 rating, for the complex as a whole. If you're there; you're going to more than likely play all four. All of the courses balance each other; and allow a number of styles of play.
Course very well maintained. Ball golf feel to some extent.

Cons:

Meadow type of course; primarily in the open. Not only does this make for a 350 foot drive style of play; but this makes play hot; in the open sun. Not much shade escape on Red!
Buckets primarily homemade. I had one, for sure, kick out based on lackluster targets. Double chain assemblies not bad; but center poles have more kick out potential than major company models (due to larger center pole?). Baskets are also shallow. Most have some rust. (They were installed long ago; and this part is a plus.)
Repetitious holes. Red, blue and gold feel much the same and blue is simply a short course. Red is the most repetitious of the longer courses.
The land comprising Brewer is nice, but nothing spectacular. This is really the biggest con facing the complex.

Other Thoughts:

Local noted that there are times when taller grass to side of fairways is o.b. during tourney play. This would then make it a fairway driver/tight fairway course. IMHO, this may add, another level of interest. This type of tourney is rarely done; and therefore; could be considered quite unique.
The format would be slightly gimmicky, but, would spread opportunities to place....shorter, but more controlled arms would be back in the hunt.
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2 0
SirRaph
Experience: 74 played 17 reviews
2.50 star(s)

Not too shabby 2+ years drive by

Reviewed: Played on:Jun 9, 2010 Played the course:5+ times

Pros:

Open shots for the most part, with a couple young trees which politely suggest you might possibly consider being intimidated by their presence.

The elevation changes add some dimension. Uphill, then downhill, then along the face of the hill, repeat.

Cons:

If you can drive straight 300', and putt in a light breeze, you're going to shoot under par every time. Zero need for line shaping or accuracy.

During my last visit, both my brother and I had a skin reaction to the tall grass. He broke out in serious hives all over his legs, and my sweat glands all turned red and started itching and burning.
I don't know if they sprayed something into it, or if the grass has evolved into some Mknight Shamalan-esque murder plant, but I don't even react to poison ivy, and this stuff cut my day short.
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2 2
chad groen
Silver level trusted reviewer
Experience: 24.1 years 42 played 41 reviews
3.50 star(s)

Kind of Good, but Kind of Plain 2+ years

Reviewed: Updated: Played on:Oct 9, 2009 Played the course:5+ times

Pros:

This course has some nice long holes with a few trees coming into play every now and then. There are a couple holes are near the woods, a couple holes with slight doglegs, and a couple other holes with blind tee shots. The elevation can serve as a bit of an obstacle on some holes. The fairways are in good shape, and the weeds in the rough can grow real tall in the summer, encouraging you to throw your disc more accurately. This is a good course to work on your driving skills, because there isn't a lot of trouble you can get into (except maybe holes 5 and 8, which are near the woods), and the course doesn't favor one type of throw over another, like backhand over sidearm or anything like that. Any kind of throw your comfortable with will work on this course.

Cons:

The holes are too wide open, and most of them are straightaway shots with almost no obstacles to worry about. The rough is normally too short to be considered an obstacle, and some of the trees on this course don't even come into play on any holes. There needs to be more obstacles to help make these holes more challenging, which can also make them more fun for all players. Right now it doesn't seem like this course has much to offer besides its length and, to some extent, its elevation. Also, some of the baskets are real rusty and need to be replaced.

Other Thoughts:

For a 9-hole course, this one isn't bad, but it doesn't offer much to challenge anyone unless they have a weak arm. This makes it seem more like a beginner friendly course. It is kind of fun fun having the freedom to launch your disc as far as you possibly can with little to worry about, but it also gets kind of tiring after awhile. This course is the complete opposite from the blue and white courses in the park. Those holes are mostly filled with trees and need some of them removed, while the red holes are mostly open and could use some more trees. I think red is better than those two because it's not as frustrating to play and it also has this thing on it's fairways called grass that I prefer to play disc golf on.
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2 1
nrohtlaw
Experience: 30.3 years 37 played 9 reviews
3.00 star(s)

Twilight 2+ years drive by

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

Pros:

Cement tee pads,some good hyzer shots,and not as busy as the rest.Good vantage point to watch people play from far off.

Cons:

Like another person said,1 and 2 are too close together,and hole 5's rough on the left side can get a little thick so spot where you go in at.

Other Thoughts:

I love to play this one right before sunset because being out in the open and more up on a hill gives a good vantage for some spectacular sunsets.Don't pay attention to the tee signs because as it is with every 9 the course has been moved around so much that 90 percent of all the tee signs in the whole park are not accurate.
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2 1
Opus
Experience: 14.9 years 20 played 9 reviews
3.00 star(s)

Best of the 4 2+ years drive by

Reviewed: Updated: Played on:Aug 13, 2009 Played the course:5+ times

Pros:

Of the 4 courses at Brewer, this one is the most open for long drives and features a variety of different angles to throw. Hole 7's tee is at the top of a hill and you can get some extremely good drives that seem to sail forever from here.

Cons:

Holes 5 and 8 are along a wooded area that are easy to curve into if you fade left like I do. It can be difficult to find a disc in there if you are not 100% certain where it went into the woods at.

Other Thoughts:

Overall, I like all 4 courses at Brewer, but find myself playing the Red course more often than the others.
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2 0
Adaven
Experience: 24.9 years 22 played 8 reviews
3.00 star(s)

2+ years drive by

Reviewed: Played on:May 30, 2009 Played the course:5+ times

Pros:

Course has concrete tee pads that are very well maintained (swept all the time). Fairways are clean and clear. Because it is a big distance course it seems to get less traffic, and even when it is busy the course is long enough that it does not become to congested. Signs at each hole indicating number and the distance (this is a plus since most signage at other local parks lack this info). On most of the signs there are also cans for garbage. Finally the layout has a smooth flow to it, making it next to impossible to get lost.

Cons:

This course recently underwent some changes, which allow several of the holes to be birdied. These changes also created a major problem. If you have a group in front of you, while at the second tee, you will have to wait since the fairways are very close and the third tee is very close, if not in, the fairway of two. The course lacks much variety, most holes seem content with distance as its only challenge.

Other Thoughts:

A warning to those playing this course, the third hole is up over a little hill and back down, The basket and most of the fairway is hidden from view of the tee. Before you throw send a spotter to make sure its clear, if you can throw 450' you should also have someone at the top of the hill to warn any disc golfers of at the next tee. This course is fun but I only play it because there are other courses at Brewer which provide technical aspects to reds big distance. Brewer is a county park so you can drink alcohol there please put take care of your cans or bottles. Final thoughts, do not be afraid of Guy, he sweeps up the tee pads and makes the course look great.
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1 0
Azar002
Experience: 18.8 years 13 played 13 reviews
3.00 star(s)

2+ years drive by

Reviewed: Played on:May 12, 2009 Played the course:5+ times

Pros:

Upgraded in 2008. More deuce opportunities with the installation of holes 1 and 2. Better starting position by the parking lot. As with all brewer courses, concrete pads are swept and trash emptied daily.

Cons:

Water on hole 9 seems to stick around later and later each year.

Other Thoughts:

Seems impossible to finish EVEN without a partner. I've been even, teeing off on #9 more times than I can count, and can't par it. Or when I par it, I was +1 or higher.
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1 3
JojoXGooch
Experience: 16.8 years 4 played 4 reviews
4.00 star(s)

Brewer Reds. 2+ years drive by

Reviewed: Played on:Apr 1, 2009 Played the course:5+ times

Pros:

Very good. Similiar to the whites. Wide open, cement tees, baskets, good people, etc.

Cons:

Not too many.

Other Thoughts:

Was confusing to play when they re-did it last year. Brewer all together is my favorite course to locally play, however, I have yet to drive up to Shelby to try the infamous "Flip City".
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5 0
phishbrained
Experience: 18.1 years 23 played 13 reviews
3.00 star(s)

Long Open Drives 2+ years drive by

Reviewed: Played on:Apr 16, 2009 Played the course:2-4 times

Pros:

Open and long throughout the course, really is a great chance to work on your drives.
Trash cans at every tee.
Woods gets close to fairway on only 2 holes.
Usually the driest out of all the Brewer courses.

Cons:

Some of the baskets are old an rusty, but many have been replaced or give an alternate basket to shoot to. Very close to a playground on one hole so try not to get frustrated when a kid yells in the middle of your drive.

Other Thoughts:

Good course for long drives, but not many obstacles to have to avoid. I would like to see more of a technical challenge on these holes, but the other courses in Brewer provide this technical challenge.
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4 0
xrockfistx
Experience: 17 years 19 played 15 reviews
3.50 star(s)

Mostly Open and Favors Long Drives 2+ years drive by

Reviewed: Played on:Apr 1, 2009 Played the course:5+ times

Pros:

Baskets have recently been moved to give more variety of shots. They were moved half way through the summer last year. Not very busy as most of the people who play for liesure don't tend to play this course too often. A few holes favors long drives but, because of them moving baskets, some of them have become shorter to mixit up more. Wind can be a factor because, of the openness of the field. Easy to find your disc early on before the grass grows in.

Cons:

Not too much technicality seeing as they're mostly open shots. Later on in the season, on a few holes there is a little bit of rough and you can waste time looking for frisbees. Still needs more variety of shots.

Other Thoughts:

Still a favorite to play.
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6 0
landon77
Gold level trusted reviewer
Experience: 24.5 years 78 played 43 reviews
3.00 star(s)

Wide open-lack of variety 2+ years drive by

Reviewed: Played on:Feb 3, 2008 Played the course:2-4 times

Pros:

Earl Brewer Park has 4 nine hole courses on this property. Each course is somewhat unique and offers it's on set of challenges.
The course is well maintained and taken care of.
The property has a soccer complex as well as a park area for the little ones.
Dog friendly, ample parking, somewhat decent signs, and benches to sit on.
Easy to find off highway 131.
Very clean and an excellent area made for disc golf.
Pretty decently marked with a good layout of course so it would be hard to get lost in the Red course.

Cons:

There are a few con's on the RED course. Lack of variety is the big one. Most of the holes are in a open field. Baskets are dated and some tee pads are worn out. Hole #8 and #9 can get flooded in early spring and you need to beware of the mud. Not too busy. Probably the 3rd busiest out of the 4 courses.

Other Thoughts:

Red course is a long course. There is one hole that is a mid range the rest are basically grip and rip holes. Most are wide open and next to picnic areas and some are hugging the tree line so it is possible to fall in the woods and lose a disc here or there but would be hard. Red course is a lot of fun, but most holes are on wide open fields and it can get repetitive. Lack of variety with no water holes and minor elevation shifts, and very little tree cover. (could be a plus for some) Hole seven is a very cool hole down hill and next to a small drainage creek that is empty most of the time.
There are speed traps by cops here.
Respect the leash law because this area is high traffic.
Out of the four courses at this excellent park Red would be my second to last choice to play.
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3 2
jjthecircusmonkey
Experience: 21.9 years 5 played 3 reviews
4.00 star(s)

Nice Course.... 2+ years drive by

Reviewed: Played on:Jun 23, 2008 Played the course:never

Pros:

All holes are very well laid out and some pretty challenging. I've played all 4 of the courses and enjoyed them all. Blue and Gold are perfect for novice and pro levels.

Cons:

Blue and Gold are always busy, but the wait is not all that bad. Red and Gold courses are being redone so if you want to play a whole round on them you have to shoot at some poles instead of baskets.

Other Thoughts:

I do have to say that all 4 of the courses are great and by far these are one of the best I've played in west michigan.
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5 0
GFDGA
Experience: 10 played 7 reviews
4.00 star(s)

2+ years drive by

Reviewed: Played on:May 31, 2007 Played the course:never

Pros:

Gotta love going to a course that has 36 holes. Four seperate nines make it easy to work around other groups. All types of shots utilized throughout. Well marked and very well maintained (by some crazy-looking guy with eyes that pierce the soul)

Cons:

Can get a little muddy in the off-season. A few holes become unplayable due to flooding. Some cages are a little rickety.

Other Thoughts:

I play this course when I'm in the area due to the amount of disc offered. It's a nice park with all sorts of challenges. One side is in the woods with shorter birdie holes while the other side opens up long drives through the fields. No serious water hazards so expect to walk away with all your discs in your bag.
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