March 19, 2015
4:35 PM
Temp: 46, felt like 42
Winds NE @ 7
Mostly cloudy
DGCourseReview

I was almost home and there was one course I hadn’t played, but new I could get in and finish so I stopped. I've played this course in the past and they've had a number of variations, but I’ve never played this version. It looks like they've kind of settled in to a 10 hole course now. They have color brochures printed up with a map. It is on the campus of Crosswinds Retreat Center. Stop in at the office to make sure you’re good to go. I’ve never been turned down.

This course uses tall natural grass on a number of holes with fairways mowed. There are two tee colors: reds are long and greens are short.

Hole 1 starts behind the office area and the basket is up against horseshoe pits.

Hole 2 basket is tucked back in the trees with low overhang close to the tee and the basket causing some issues. They are cleaning out some big old trees close to basket 2 so you want to stay left of the gnarly tree to get a shot at the basket.

Hole 3 crosses the volley ball court.

Hole 4 green tee is back right of 3 basket and hole 4 red tee is far left of 3 basket.

Hole 6 is a hanging basket in a tree about 6' above ground.

Hole 7 works around a pool and makeshift baseball field.

Neither 6 nor 7 had a green tee.

I had trouble seeing Hole 8, but trust the map and it’s there.

Hole 9 is a long narrow fairway with trees on both sides. Keep it straight or be prepared to look in the trees for discs.

Hole 10 uses the same basket as Hole 1.

Huntress Park DGC
March 19, 2015
1:20 PM
Temp: 43, felt like 43
Winds NW @ 2
Mostly cloudy
DGCourseReview

I drove into Clay Center from the west and found the park ‘sunken’ on the south side of the road. There was a little road that went down into the park and I took it seeing baskets. I parked and got out and found it to be basket 7. As I looked around, I saw a couple of other baskets but also saw some serious water park construction and begin to wonder how much of the course was still in place.  I found baskets 3-8 and decided to play those and see what happens.

I couldn’t find a map, sign or tee markers so I played safari style starting at basket 3. After looking around I took a mid and putter which was plenty. It was a short course with basket 3 on top and the rest were down in a lower area.

Forgot to put a card at Huntress and I went back and ran into the manager of the parks. He showed me where 2 and 9 were, they were still in the ground but surrounded by construction equipment. They pulled 1 but once the aquatic center is done they are putting the basket back in again. He also provided score cards and maps for both courses. I also found out they had made the baskets, which consist of single chains and black feed baskets. He also said there was no real design planning. And the courses were simply put in to give the people of Clay Center another option for something to do in the city parks.

Dexter Park DGC
March 19, 2015
1:50 PM
Temp: 43, felt like 43
Winds NW @ 3
DGCourseReview

This park is flat with a lot of man-made obstacles and some trees. Again I played it with a mid and putter only. There were cement blocks in the ground for tee pads here.

Neither course were something I’d travel to play, but may take the discs out to throw and get some exercise if I was in the area for something else.

March 19, 2015
11:10 AM
Temp: 40 like 38
Winds NE @ 3
Mostly Cloudy
DGCourseReview

I came into Miltonvale from the west and turned into town a bit too early. You want to take the highway 189 exit on the east side of town because it runs right by the park where the course is located. I came in early and drove around town trying to find the course. Eventually, I ran into it.

I hope no one is offended, but my mind kept telling me this course couldn’t be all the great in this little dinky town in the middle of nowhere! I’ll apologize right now because I found the town a bit bigger than I thought and the course to be a great experience!

After parking the truck, I got out and the first thing I saw was a basket down almost under the bridge, apparently in the middle of the creek. Little did I know… As I looked around I spotted a few baskets across the creek and then to the west. I also saw the Hole 1 tee sign. I noted there seemed to be a good number of trees, but then again I didn’t know what was coming!

As I prepped to play, I noticed the course had already been mapped in UDisc which is awesome.

Hole 1 has a tight fairway with road/baseball field on one side with a sign saying the baseball field is OB, but not road. On the other side is a creek and the whole fairway slopes into it.

Hole 2 is on the other side of the bridge so there is a short walk. It throws into a tight are so even though it isn’t very long, it’s not necessarily easy.

Holes 3 and 4 also play south of the creek. They have planted some trees which will make things more interesting in a few years. There is a walk from basket 4 back across the creek to tee 5.

Hole 5 basket is tucked up against the creek in the trees so you need to be careful with your approach.

I hope you’ve enjoyed some open golf for a while!!

Tee 6 is across the creek from basket 5 but evidently the water doesn't flow much here because there are steps built up the west side to get across.  A limb has been bolted into a tree and the ground to serve as a rail to help crossing. The tee itself is close to the creek, elevated, with an opening through the trees. I’d have to classify this as a righty hole.

Now it’s time to “enjoy” the trees. There are new bridges from basket 6 into the woods and hole 7.

Hole 7 goes into the trees. It's across the first bridge and to the left. It is an awesome hole that I’m not sure you can birdie. It's short with lots of trees and I could only see one real route and it favors lefties. If you can get to the base of the hill up to the basket, you have a chance, but getting there is tough and the uphill shot is no slouch!

I had difficulty finding Tee 8 and ended up going back through fairway 7. In hindsight, I think you can go from 7 basket along the west side of the tree line to the north and find Tee 8.

But, you only thought it was wooded until you cross the bridges and stand at tee 9. The next several holes are crazy wooded!

I’m not sure you can get to basket 9 without hitting something.

Hole 10 is a short part 4. I couldn’t figure it out until I walked the fairway. There is a 90 degree turn in the fairway about half way to the basket. Good luck landing it so you have a clear shot to the basket. Even if  you do get to the corner, there is still the issue of getting it to the tree guarded basket. I was pleased to walk away with a par!

I had a tough time finding a line on Hole 11. A lefty can take it over the creek and I decided to anhyzer it to get it there, but managed to hit a tree and end up in the creek. It’s a tough up and down from there.

Hole 12 was a bit easier, but not easy.

Hole 13 finally takes you out of the woods to an elevated tee in an open area by the football field.

I had trouble figuring out hole 14 and ended up playing 17 instead. It appears the 14 tee is close to the football field and goes south to the general area of basket 6.

Hole 15 then goes east across a mainly open area.

Tee 16 is close to the wire boundary around the sports complex and goes across the football field so there will be times you can't play it. The football field is not notes as OB which is good because not everyone will be able to clear it. It appears that 13 and 16 are the same basket. it's the only basket so far without a number on it, it’s the only one in the area of 13 on the map and it’s the only one in the area of 16 on the map.

Hole 17 sets up nice from the combo basket as I already noted I thought it was 14. It’s a wide open hole with the sports complex on the left.

Hole 18 is a kicker. You can’t see the basket from the tee, there is a stone structure in the path, and it crosses tee 1. With it being a blind shot most of the way, it’s a good idea to walk up and take a look or even better, look at it before throwing hole 1. You’ll want to let it fall over the edge of the hill so you have a shot at the basket. If you go too far and it flies the hill, you can easily end up in the creek. The basket is set precariously on a piece of ground in the creek.

Overall, I was very happy with this course. It was a lot of fun and a real challenge as well. I think it could be made a bit better if just a little tree trimming happened back in holes 9-12. There were a lot of short holes, but all of them had issues, especially back in the trees. I would definitely come back and play this course. It would be a great combo trip with the Concordia Airport course. This is definitely a destination course!

March 19, 2015
7:50 AM
Temp: 37. felt like 34
Winds E @ 4 mph
Cloudy/foggy
DGCourseReview

I got here early in the morning during Spring Break. The campus was very quiet. As I drove up the road from Highway 81 I went by a Walmart. A little farther up I saw a basket under a tree close to the road near the first building I saw. It ended up being basket #1. I parked in the first lot I saw which ended up working very well as the 1st tee is tucked into the V of the building straight south of the east edge of that parking lot.

As I warmed up, I saw a bit more of the course. Fortunately, it was already mapped in the UDisc app so getting around was no problem. There is no sign or course map posted. There are tee markers in the ground in the form of 2 cement blocks painted yellow/gold and labeled.

I enjoyed my round and while it wasn’t heavily challenging, it did make you think a number of times as you stood on the tee. It would make a great warm up course before running across the highway to the Concordia Airport course or some good fun if you were limited on time. if you want to play this course when school is in session, be careful for people traffic and if there are athletic events in progress, a couple holes may not be playable.

Hole 1 is about 250' down hill and the ground drops off just past the basket. There is also a tree in play.

Hole 2 is straight, but about 40’ out are low hanging trees. It opens up on the other side where you’ll see the basket about 25’ on other side of some cement and railing. The hole runs uphill slightly the whole way.

Hole 3 is 560' with the tee elevated significantly but drops off to flat most of the way. The basket is close to the ball field and long jump pit.

Hole 4 plays about 315' with a skinny fairway that has trees on the left and drop off (ridge) on the right. There is really no big trouble although the ball field is on the right.

Hole 5 is 267' slightly uphill with the basket about 10' above tee. It is tucked into the corner of some evergreen trees.

Hole 6 is flat and straight about 320' with trees lining the right side and a parking lot on left side. There is plenty of space and neither the trees or lot should be an issue.

Hole 7 is about 350’ long with a tee elevated above the basket. It drops off fairly quickly and levels out. The fairway is pretty skinny as it runs between a row of trees on the left and a soccer field on the right. There is a big net to keep soccer balls out of the trees with may help keep your discs out as well. Even though I’m not a real long thrower, I managed to get past the net. The basket is located near the scoreboard.

Hole 8 is 285' long and straight with a low hanging evergreen close to tee and another about 2/3 the way to the tee. Lefties will have a problem and righties are not much better.

Hole 9 is only about 220' with two big evergreens in front of tee. If a lefty can go low (6’) under the branches they'll be fine. A righty will probably need to do a bigger hyzer.

March 18 & 19
5:00 PM
Temp: 47, felt like 42
Winds SE @ 12
Mostly Cloudy
DGCourseReview

When I played this course, tees and signs didn’t exist. Fortunately, it had been mapped in the UDisc app to help me get around. There were several times the distances in the app didn’t appear accurate. Now there are signs and tees and it should be much easier to get around.

This was one park I was really looking forward to on this trip. It was new and had heard good things! As I turned into the park, the road ran uphill and I saw a basket immediately close to highway 81. As I got to the top of the hill and turned right I found the nearest parking spot. As I got out of the truck there was another basket in view. I walked up to it and found it to be #18. I couldn’t see a lot of the rest of the course, but did notice lots of trees and elevation and my interest was even more piqued. I guessed the basket I had seen turning into the park was #1 so I headed that way double checked UDisc to make sure.

Hole 1 is pretty long, pushing 500’ and everything slopes right to left which is challenging for right handers as the disc will want to slide away from the basket. Standing on the tee, there is a stone sign which may alter your throw a bit. On the left side there is a new fenced area which appears to be a dog park. The fairway does open up as you get close to the basket.

Hole 2 is pretty open with the basket tucked into some trees.

Hole 3 is a short, but with lots of trees and a skinny path to basket. I felt the location of a tee pad would really help define this hole. I was playing with one flag and had a choice of where to stand and throw.

Hole 4 is 120’ with a skinny path and lots of trees. A lefty will do better here.

Hole 5 is open to start but ends up in the trees. As I stood at the tee, I wondered if there was a clear path into the basket.

Hole 6 tee is up high and you have to go down and back up to the basket. There are a lot of trees close to the tee and I didn't see a clear path. Amazingly, both times I played it, I scored a par!

Hole 7 is pretty cool! It’s an elevated tee with an elevated basket (not as high) The basket is basically sitting on an island with trees almost surrounding it. As a right hander you’ll need a big arm and big anhyzer to get it into the basket. A lefty needs a big arm.

Hole 8 is a long open hole with a slightly elevated basket up against some trees. Let it rip but watch your second shot. I found my perception of distance, on my second shot, was short both times I played it.

Hole 9 ws great once I figured it out! It crosses Hole 8’s fairway, so be careful if others are playing. It throws high to low across an open area, but trees narrow the fairway the last 40’ or so which makes it a bit more difficult.

Hole 10 is a pretty cool hole. It’s short, narrow, straight and tempting. It looks like you should be able to park your drive, but the trees will have something to say about that! Enjoyed this hole!

Hole 11 is from trees to trees across an open area.

Hole 12 has some trees along the right and some street along the left. Neither should be much of an issue.

Hole 13 is a bit of walk from 12 basket is a bomber. It’s about 400’ and wide open. Let ‘er rip!

Hole 14 is a bit long and up hill all the way with a bit of a right bend. There are trees along the right side during the last half of the fairway with the basket tucked into the trees at the end.

Hole 15 is all downhill all the way with the basket in a narrow piece of grass between two roads. Watch your approach shot!

Hole 16 is back uphill all the way. Trees make it difficult to get there.

Hole 17 basket is on a peninsula with roads doing a ‘Y’ right in front of and then along it. It’s tricky to try and park it without getting into trouble. Right handers have added issues with the ground sloping towards the roads and a normal hyzer wants to slide that way. For me, laying up on the right side was successful.

Hole 18 basket was tucked under some trees. Again, some trees make it a bit tough to get there. I don’t consider it a great finishing hole, but that doesn’t make it a bad hole.

This course was so much fun, I played it again before I left town the next day! I would definitely find a reason to come here and play again. Since I was there they have put in tees and signs.

March 18, 2015
3:05 pm
Temp: 47, felt like 42
Winds SE @ 11
Mostly cloudy
DGCourseReview

I drove into town and found the course fairly easily. I drove into the parking lot between the pool and the tennis courts, parked and got out. I immediately knew this wasn’t going to be good. It is a very busy people park with lots of sidewalk, play areas, picnic areas, etc. I did finally see a basket and knew what I had been hearing was true: The disc course wasn’t kept up and was probably going away.

I walked around a bit and found 3 baskets. I then drove around the park and found a few others. There was no map, tees or signs so I played safari style with the 7 baskets I did find and made up my own course. I would not recommend coming to this park to play disc golf, but it is a great people park! The baskets need to be removed because there are two other courses on the south edge of town.