-Baskets OK
-Flow OK
-Lines are basic
-Nice Setting, Conservation Park w/2 ponds
-Some elevation / trees
-Map (here on DGCR) is OK

-Natural Tees
-Very faded signage
-#8 seems out of place for length and over/around water
-Never found #10 (or #7A as listed on the app)
-Was more space that could have been used
-#6, 7 and 8 may have to play around other activities
-Walking path / road in play on #1, 3, 4, 6, 7, 8 and 9

Pioneer Ridge DGC is located a the Pioneer Ridge Nature Area north of Bloomfield, IA. The Nature Area has a nice Nature Center, a large barn/picnic area, 2 ponds, and an area for horses. There are also several walking trails, which come into play. An Eagle Scout project from 2010, the DGA baskets are OK. The layout is a little strange. #1 is tight along a pond, #2 throws toward the other pond. #3 - 7 are OK in the grounds toward the entrance and back along to the barn/picnic shelter. #8 is a meandering 700'+ around the back of the barn and a full third of a turn around one of the ponds. Other than #8, #6 is about 450', the rest all under 300'. There is a lot of road or paths in play. There was quite a bit of space on the other side of the 2nd pond (north of the parking lot) that might have made more sense to get in 9 holes. The setting is nice, a relatively quick round, it was quiet (aside from some county guys working on trimming trees), but it felt crammed for the first 5 holes and then 8 is this monster around a lot of obstacles with a basket right by the pond. I can see a number of discs going in ponds with this set up. I think the area could have been used better, but it was an OK round. If you're in the area and want a quick 9, have a couple of float discs and/or a good retriever, it would be a course to bag. I probably won't be back.

• Beautiful Conservative Park, very well taken care of.
• Tee signs, with map, par & distance. (Maps are faded)
• Florescent Orange baskets, which comes in handy since some are hidden behind brush
• The terrain and ecology is beautiful, and is a really enjoyable walk.
• Perfect for beginners and non-players
• Bathrooms near #7 basket
• Scorecards with Maps on the wall of the conservation center.
FWIW
• This place has some awesome walking & Nature trails. Very awesome in the fall
• Fishing, Horse trails, and nature center. Pioneer ridge is a very nice place

• Course plays close to the common areas. If this place were to be busy, playing here could be a challenge. You could find people enjoying the park right in the middle of your fairway. You'll need to look out for people as well as parked cars.
• There is a mixed feel to the course, The 700ft shot, though it's a really fun challenge, seems out of place for this course. It's already 10 holes, 8 could be broken up easily into 2 holes. Plus, this could eliminate any risk from hitting people that may having a party in that barn. (I came upon a group of people in the barn on 8)
• Plays near to many parking lots and the horse unloading trailer. On #2, I had to play conservatively, because a car was parked pin high 10ft from the basket. On #5 I had a horse trailer parked right behind the basket. This is a 200ft fairway, that can be easily over shot.
• The 10th hole plays along the sidewalk, between the parking lot, the building and the entrance to some trails. I would really just eliminate this hole for safety sake. Although, its' short, people could walk up out of nowhere.

Here is how I'll categorize this course. It's more of a novelty course that is available to guests of Pioneer Ridge. It's not a destination course. I wouldn't drive out of my way to play here. Now, let me flip this, Pioneer Ridge is a wonderful place to go for outdoor and nature activities. I WOULD drive out of my way for the other things here. (e.g. the trails are excellent) I would just bring my discs to play the course while I was out here. Now, if I lived in Ottumwa or Bloomfield, I would come out every so often. It does have a decent fun factor. It's simple, a little challenging, and you can bring your tackle box as well.

Okay beginner to intermediate length course. Beautiful secluded countryside views at a nature park south of Ottumwa. Bright orange DGA baskets make for easy viewing. Some holes have some decent hazards if you can get pas the fact these hazards might be more hazardous to non-DG crowd using the facility (see cons section).

If there's a major, almost unforgivable problem with this course, its how a great deal of the holes cut over roads and parking lots. People here can easily park their car in the line of fire without realizing that their parking space is in the middle of the fairway. Holes 2 & 10 cut over parking lots with 10 cutting dastardly close to the nature center building. Hole 6 goes right over the front park road where I can assure at a busy time many folks will be driving or parking.

All but two holes here are under 300', which brings me to Hole 8. A very challenging 712' which shoots up a hill, around a building, and then you can go over or around a pond. In a more appropriate setting, this would be an awesome hole. Here amongst holes that primarily pitch and putt, it looks entirely out of place and looks like an excuse to extend the course's length. If you're gonna build a pitch and putt, just stick to the program.

I might also point out Hole #1 which has flower beds for OB. Umm, just my two cents but if you want to keep the flower beds looking like flower beds, this is kind of ill advised. Pretty flora and disc golf do not mix.

Supposedly this property has a lot more land and there are plans to put in more holes. I'd highly suggest that they re-examine the ones they already have. I wouldn't say keep on driving as this park is conveniently located right off Highway 63, and is a good place to stop, stretch and get a few holes in but in all honestly, any of the in-town Ottumwa courses are better than this.

* Score card with map and course rules at Main building near hole one.
* great use of area land scape( Course uses elavation, Trees, water and OB wild flower gardens to chalange players)
* Bathrooms and water available at the main bilding (flush toilets and drinking fountin) when open and between hole 8 and 7 (PortaPody and out door fountin at barn)
* Risk/Reward shots on 2 with Pond on right and OB parking lot on left, Hole 8 if you choose to shoot acrose the pond.
* Watre comes in to play on 4 holes (1 if you miss badly to the right, hole two with the water being just to the right and down hill from the basket, Hole 8 if you throw across the pond or if you go around the basket sits right by the edge of the pond and on hole 9 if you miss to the right.
*Hole 8 is 700+ feet with a pound to cross(Longer if you choose to go around)
*Course has a nice flow and ends right by the parking lot.
*All Tees have signs with distance and pars marked.and a note atavhed to post telling what is OB.
*this course will chalange all levals of players (It will force you to use all the shots in your bag)
*DNR officals turn lost discs they find in at Main building and call if Inked
*Renters have the option to use a loner bag of discs when they rent a cabin (Great way to promote sport)

* No sighn at parking lot to tell you where to get score card or where course starts.
* Grass tee's (Can be slipery when wet.)
* course can be a little tough on new players.
* Easy to loose discs in tall grass and ponds.
* Only 10 holes and a lot of room to add more holes( I was told that there are plans to add more holes and use more of the Nature Area with more water shots)

Great course I am begining to realy like it.This course is the 4th in the Ottumwa area and my second favorite (Wildwood Park my #1) and probly the third most challangeing course in the area (Memorial and Indian Hills are more challanging) This could easly be come the best course in the area with the added 8 holes. This course only adds to the other great courses to make for a great full day of disc golf.