*** Updated May, 2024: Josh swears he's done making MAJOR changes …we'll see!
Possibly the most conscientiously maintained and tweaked course in the Midwest, Cedar Grove's final (?) design presents as a tremendous, mixed difficulty, TECHNICAL course, now with three pond shots, and just a tremendous opportunity to hone your short game. If you love technical, this is for you, so get to know the Terwilligers, find a way to thank them, and get yourself invited to come enjoy!
What did you do when the 'pandemic' hit? Well, beginning in March, 2020, Josh & Cheryl sculpted what are now 20 fun, challenging holes ready to play in what amounts to the blink of an eye (as course design and installation goes), then tweaked, redesigned, poured an unimaginable number of concrete tees (many later broken up, then improved and replaced), kept up with an astonishing level of maintenance, and they now have a treasure. The home of Crossover disc golf, this private home course is probably the best thing to come out of the year 2020.
The course weaves around and through the piney woods, and uses every inch of distance and shot shaping variety, elevation, and just plain, quirky fun you could bargain for. Josh has been constantly upgrading the little details, clearing the edges for easier disc retrieval and flow of play, initially putting out a mile of OB stakes and ropes, then removing them as planted shrubbery grew in to protect adjoining fairways, all while Cheryl updated the signage for every change, and added tons of character to the layout.
Tight and technical for the most part, there are three tiers of play, from the 'birdie bash' feel of the Green layout, through the intermediate level challenge of Purple, to the extremely challenging Blue layout, each of the 60 options retains its own unique flavor. Creative use of islands, (necessary) mandos, elevated and hanging basket placements, and even a found truck bed (!) keep the short ones challenging. A 'signature' feature of the design is tee placement amongst trees that really force you to hit the intended line (I often lament not having a better forehand game!)
The temptation on most of these shorter Green (and even Purple) holes is almost always there to run at the pin, but will that give you the ace, the deuce, or kick you into bogey territory? And when you face the 'longer' holes, you'd better watch those Temptation Eyes, because the tight lane nature of the layout and the unforgiving rough can add strokes in a hurry. In this way, the course has a little bit of a small Idlewild feel: it's designed to test your disc golf wisdom much more than your power. Cedar Grove will test your mental game as much as your physical skills. It's more often smartest to throw putters and mids to landing zones than it is to go for the 'hero' shot. You WILL be punished.
Overall, the challenge level is probably intermediate and above, but the fun factor is way, WAY up there. Great baskets, incredible signage (you hardly even need to look for all the 'next tee' and mando arrows, and the constantly updated tee signage at each of the reasonable, level, concrete tees). Make sure you watch for Josh and Cheryl to announce open play days or host another event, because this one is worth the visit. And even more enticing (if you like this style of challenge): the County Farm course is similarly scaled, tight, and technical, and only a couple of miles away.