Clear Lake, IA

The Village

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25(based on 9 reviews)
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4 0
FredHJ12
Experience: 12.6 years 18 played 18 reviews
3.00 star(s)

2+ years drive by

Reviewed: Played on:Jun 12, 2016 Played the course:2-4 times

Pros:

-Nice baskets
-A good variety of shots here. You'll likely use most discs in your bag
-A few bombers, but some nice technical shots as well
-I thought the new holes were very solid overall
-Land was put to good use
-Elevation changes in some spots
-Garbage cans are present and the course seemed to be well maintained
-A few fun holes that stuck out to me were holes 8, 9, and 16.

Cons:

-No tee pads. The natural pads that are present aren't too bad, but you won't want to tee off there if it is wet at all
-No tee signs, and course map needs to be updated as well
-While the course mostly flows logically, the lack of tee signs and course map could make the course tough to navigate for a first-timer
-Back nine (original holes) are a bit weak compared to the front nine
-A tad bit buggy in some spots

Other Thoughts:

This is kind of a tough course for me to rate. On one hand, the lack of tee pads and tee signs stick out like a sore thumb, and it's tough to give this course a high rating because of that. On the other hand, there are a lot of fun shots this course has to offer, and I truly had a good time playing here. As it stands now, this is an above average course with the potential to become a very good course. With a few more touch ups, this could likely be the top course in the area.
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1 1
pjthediscgolfer
Experience: 15.1 years 29 played 7 reviews
3.50 star(s)

Nice Front 9. Back Nine Needs Help. 2+ years drive by

Reviewed: Updated: Played on:Aug 11, 2015 Played the course:2-4 times

Pros:

-Front 9 (New Holes) very fun and challenging! Would love to see more holes like these.
-Very peaceful location
-Baskets are in nice shape
-Tee pads are dirt but they aren't sloppy.
-Varies in distances greatly (I think I used every disc in my bag!)
-Awesome baskets. They catch everything.
-Cool use of old carved pine trees for tunnel alleys on holes 4-7.

Cons:

-Very easy to get lost
-Needs an updated course map
-Dirt pads, some are bumpy, easy to slip
-Hole maps and distances are hard to follow and need to be updated
-hole maps are held up by construction flags
-some holes aren't challenging enough

Other Thoughts:

I came and was impressed with the course right off of the bat, the first 9 holes were fantastic and fun to play but then I made my way to the back nine which contains most of the original holes and it was nothing to be impressed with. The holes weren't challenging nor fun to play and I had a hard time navigating my way around. The signs on the first nine are laminated sheets of paper stapled to a wooden post, the rest of the course either didn't have a sign, or it was a sheet of paper duck taped to a construction flag.

Though the course was a little out of shape, the owner(s) really do have good intentions of improving the course after a recent update by adding the new front 9 holes. There is also a donation box at the beginning. I really hope the back 9 are updated soon as I would love to come back and play some new holes that are a little more fun to play! Overall, I really enjoyed my visit, though I would love to see some TLC with the back 9 holes!

UPDATE:

I revisited the course a few times in the past week and a few improvements have been made. Still no pads or signs but the course just looks much nicer and is being well maintained, better than it looked a year ago. Limbs off of trees were cut to make some shots seem more reasonable. Continue with the hard work and this course could become one of my favorites!
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2 0
yearofrolling
Experience: 26.8 years 87 played 18 reviews
3.50 star(s)

Now 18! 2+ years drive by

Reviewed: Played on:Jul 22, 2015 Played the course:2-4 times

Pros:

Lots of good going on here.
- Nice Baskets!
- Benches. Benches everywhere.
Porta-John.
Ample garbage cans.
- Well kept lawn.
Picturesque prairies and pines. Rough was bearable.
- Many holes incorporate the hills.
- Good hole variety, good shot variety.
- There should be enough parking here, big lot.
- Signature Hole 17 is fun!

Cons:

A few things stood out to me right away.
- Dirt pads. They didn't bother me too much but only because its been dry all the times I've been there.
- Needs an updated course map. (I'm sure its coming...)
- These links don't loop. Could be worse, though!
- Tee Signs looked pretty temporary.
- Some long grass in the rough makes for some tough huntin'.

Other Thoughts:

I really like this course.
The redesign is awesome!
I seem overly critical in the Cons section because I'm nit picking. I'm not counting most of that against my overall rating of this fine course.

In short:
The elevation, short/long variety and trees are all well used.
The benches are great and the lawn is mowed.

The signs and map will come in time, I'm sure. Hopefully some concrete pads, too.

The only things that bothered me were the gratuitous, back-to-back open bombs on holes 13 and 14 and that Hole 18's layout and positioning really make it feel like an afterthought or a last resort. I would rather have ended on 17 and have had played a couple more tight, technical holes back in the trees.

To pass this course up now that its been expanded to 18 would be a shame! I'm really excited for the DGCR Hole Info to get updated and to see how the Village will be received.

Get to Clear Lake and try it out!
If you're like me you'll be all smiles.
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1 0
rhettro
Experience: 22.9 years 37 played 17 reviews
0.50 star(s)

Needs a change up 2+ years drive by

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

Pros:

- Very well kept, lawns mowed etc.
- Nice baskets
- Map at first hole helps

Cons:

- dirt tees marked only by rectangular stones dug into ground so they are a bit hard to see over the grass.

- First two holes are painfully short, shortest i have seen thus far.

- most holes just do not utilize the land well. It seems they could have easily made these holes longer without interference.

- perhaps 3 out of 9 offer any obstacle at all.

Other Thoughts:

This course has good intentions just poor execution. They should have probably combined holes 1 and 2 and made it an eight pin course. This would have been more enjoyable.

Hole number two has two low hanging trees right in front of the tree, so you either take a knee and throw under or utilize the thumber technique and arc over. This is a very cool idea but the pin is no more then 50 feet from the tee so anyone can easily squash that obstacle.

Hole number three is the longest i believe, and probably the best hole on the course because of distance alone. The fairway does have a tight tree line to the left which adds a bit to the hole. but for anyone throwing for more than a year it offers no obstacle at all really.

Hole number 7 is easily one of the best as it offers the most challenge, both trees and a bit of elevation are in the works, although it is another shorty.

Overall I gave this course a .5. Really it is for the beginners and is just kind of lame for anyone else. I do appreciate the time that went into building and maintaining I just wish they would have laid it out a bit better. I think they would attract a lot more people this way.

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3 0
iblanchard
Bronze level trusted reviewer
Experience: 20.9 years 244 played 28 reviews
1.50 star(s)

mid range course 2+ years drive by

Reviewed: Played on:Jul 21, 2012 Played the course:once

Pros:

Sign at beginning of course marking the layout.
Baskets seemed nice and well kept.

Cons:

Waaaay short. When I was standing on the 1st tee pad I thought I was in the wrong place because it was basically a long putt up hill. I wouldnt count it as an ace if i made it, it wouldnt feel right. Holes 6-9 I had to start to wander to find the tee pad (which are dirt patches amoung grass with 2 1 square ft concrete squares). No signs to help find the holes.

Other Thoughts:

If they used the area around hole 1 to expand and lengthen the course it could be pretty cool.
Take a good look at the sign at the beginning, I might not have wandered as much if I took a better look.
When looking for tee pads, look for dirt patches amoung a sea of grass.
If you want to add this course to your list or are very bored go here, othewise go to a different course.
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1 0
trevzilla
Experience: 23.8 years 53 played 10 reviews
1.50 star(s)

Nothing Special 2+ years drive by

Reviewed: Played on:Jun 24, 2012 Played the course:once

Pros:

-I thought the course was really easy to follow. Take a look at the sign at the beginning, get a feel for the flow of the course, and it was no problem
-Nice Baskets
-Nice area to walk around. Nothing too special, but nice.

Cons:

-Very short shots. #2 is about 50 feet total. (Although there is a tree IN THE WAY which makes it O.K.)
-All in all a very easy course. Too short. Pretty much every shot could be done in two throws. I think it took two of us about 15 minutes to play the course.

Other Thoughts:

This course is O.K. It's easy to follow, and as long as you know what you are looking for for the tees, it's no problem. The tees are these tiny little cement blocks in the ground. They just mark a line, but you don't stand on them to tee off. If you are in the area, there certainly wouldn't be a problem with stopping and giving this course a shot, but it's nothing worth taking a trip for.
Oh, and I can imagine that they may be pretty strict about a no alcohol/drug rule.
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2 1
homerjeebus
Experience: 23.8 years 34 played 3 reviews
0.50 star(s)

Keep Driving 2+ years drive by

Reviewed: Played on:Jun 15, 2010 Played the course:once

Pros:

...........not too far from the mason city course....

Cons:

you can find the baskets, but the pads are a mystery. the description says the first pad is by the parking lot, it is but was still not very easy to find. employees there at opportunity villiage didn't even act like they knew there was a course there......

Other Thoughts:

i played a few holes, didn't know where i was going, made it up as i went, i would keep driving to mason city, not much better but not this bad
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5 0
mndiscg
Diamond level trusted reviewer
Experience: 15.8 years 480 played 478 reviews
1.00 star(s)

Opportunity for aces 2+ years

Reviewed: Played on:Jun 25, 2010 Played the course:once

Pros:

-A few good ace runs
-Baskets in decent shape
-In area that will be seen by many including children

Cons:

-Tee pads are 2 square foot pavers in the ground and are not marked
-Baskets aren't marked so you are assuming sometimes
-No line to some baskets
-Some holes very short
-Holes have a few trees for challenge but nothing to challenging
-Poor layout, hard to follow
-Hard to find first tee and hard to know where to go for most of round on first time, After that it's still guesswork unless you know the course well
-5-9 are in areas around people that are ignorant that a course even exists there
-I don't know what opportunity village is but the atmosphere wasn't the most welcoming

Other Thoughts:

It has nine pavers for tees and nine baskets so you can play a round. It won't be the most fun or challenging round you have ever played though. If you are trying to boost your review numbers play this course otherwise don't.
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1 6
hilleb12
Experience: 2 played 1 reviews
3.00 star(s)

2+ years drive by

Reviewed: Played on:Jun 5, 2010 Played the course:2-4 times

Pros:

Neatly mowed grass, a few variety holes with visable and blind shots, variety in hole lengths, and good quality baskets.

Cons:

Holes are not clearly marked, and the pads are no more than a few cinder blocks planted in the ground.
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