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Fox Prairie DGC reviews
10
0
Wonderful Start
Reviewed:
Played on:Jul 23, 2023
Played the course:2-4 times
Pros:
What To Expect - Half heavily wooded, half open bomber course that utilizes various terrain features. Some subtle elevation changes paired with very tight fairway lines.
Design - Currently boasts a set of Blue (long) tees and White (short) tees on all 18 holes. Some Red (intermediate) tees are in place but don't appear to be near completion as you can see some of the Red tee lines still being cut into the woods. The White tees offer a very beginner/novice friendly introduction to woods golf with most distances in the 250 and under range while stretching it out to the 325 range on the longer open back 9 holes. The Blue tees off a very challenging multi angle tight heavily wooded front 9 with a more open but very lengthy back 9. I think once the Red tees are completed, this course will offer a layout for just about everyone.
Tees/Signage/Baskets - Large concrete tee pads, most are upgraded visually with felled logs, mulch, and other nice visual additions. Some have benches, picnic tables, or are fleshed out with full on spectator type seating areas akin to a summer camp meeting shelter. Really neat addition where used. Tee signs are non traditional in that they are gigantic painted bourbon barrel lids/bottoms. A unique and interesting choice, each painted in a different unique way. There are very small (notebook paper size) rudimentary hole signs that show the generic shape and distance of the hole nearby each tee pad. Baskets are yellow Innova Discatchers with the "Fox" logo on them which is a nice touch, and they stand out well amongst the dense woods. Elevated basket on Hole #9 (which will get it's own section below), hanging basket on Hole #15 and some other built up baskets on tiered greens throughout. Large course Kiosk sign with course info, course map, local sponsor information, scorecard box, a lost disc drop box, a U-Disc QR Code scanner, and other helpful information. Practice basket and putting area cut into the woods right in front of parking lot complete with it's own picnic table.
Amenities: Occasional benches for sitting. Bag hooks near each tee. Picnic tables adjacent to holes #1 and #9.
Signatures: Hole #9 is probably the course signature hole. Straight tunnel shot down a fully pine needle and mulched out wooded fairway lined by massive tall Pine trees. The teeing area is built up and surrounded by felled logs, picnic tables and seating area surround it. You peer down the massive tunnel and find a tiered green with an elevated basket on top of a custom carved "bear" totem pole. Truly a gorgeous hole, a great mid point of the round, and honestly makes the holes prior to it feel inferior, despite them still being good holes. Hole #17 on the back side wants to be a signature hole but just isn't there yet (hopefully it will continue to improve) The tee area is a massive shelter area with seating elevated above two ponds at basically the top of the course. You throw a massive downhill shot over the two ponds into an open field before throwing another open shot down into the woodline to a basket perched on an elevated knoll. The green is again lined with felled trees, mulched out, and heavily guarded by trees. Beautiful tee, beautiful green, but meh fairway. The ponds don't come into play off the tee which hurts this hole as there is really no trouble to speak of. Just send it. Tons of potential here, but just isn't all the way there yet.
Extras: Visually stunning due to all the work and extra details added. The landscaping around the tees, greens, etc is top notch. The main fairways in the woods are completely gutted and smooth. Most are either covered in loose dirt, pine needles, or mulch. The handmade hole signs, the wood carvings, all the felled trees lining the holes make it very aesthetically pleasing.
Navigation: Course flow is very easy and naturally intuitive. The most difficult part is locating your "color" tee as there is often some wide separation between the Blue, Red and White tees. There is one small section where Hole #9 and Hole #13 converge where one might get confused but just stay left both times and you'll follow the correct path.
Design - Currently boasts a set of Blue (long) tees and White (short) tees on all 18 holes. Some Red (intermediate) tees are in place but don't appear to be near completion as you can see some of the Red tee lines still being cut into the woods. The White tees offer a very beginner/novice friendly introduction to woods golf with most distances in the 250 and under range while stretching it out to the 325 range on the longer open back 9 holes. The Blue tees off a very challenging multi angle tight heavily wooded front 9 with a more open but very lengthy back 9. I think once the Red tees are completed, this course will offer a layout for just about everyone.
Tees/Signage/Baskets - Large concrete tee pads, most are upgraded visually with felled logs, mulch, and other nice visual additions. Some have benches, picnic tables, or are fleshed out with full on spectator type seating areas akin to a summer camp meeting shelter. Really neat addition where used. Tee signs are non traditional in that they are gigantic painted bourbon barrel lids/bottoms. A unique and interesting choice, each painted in a different unique way. There are very small (notebook paper size) rudimentary hole signs that show the generic shape and distance of the hole nearby each tee pad. Baskets are yellow Innova Discatchers with the "Fox" logo on them which is a nice touch, and they stand out well amongst the dense woods. Elevated basket on Hole #9 (which will get it's own section below), hanging basket on Hole #15 and some other built up baskets on tiered greens throughout. Large course Kiosk sign with course info, course map, local sponsor information, scorecard box, a lost disc drop box, a U-Disc QR Code scanner, and other helpful information. Practice basket and putting area cut into the woods right in front of parking lot complete with it's own picnic table.
Amenities: Occasional benches for sitting. Bag hooks near each tee. Picnic tables adjacent to holes #1 and #9.
Signatures: Hole #9 is probably the course signature hole. Straight tunnel shot down a fully pine needle and mulched out wooded fairway lined by massive tall Pine trees. The teeing area is built up and surrounded by felled logs, picnic tables and seating area surround it. You peer down the massive tunnel and find a tiered green with an elevated basket on top of a custom carved "bear" totem pole. Truly a gorgeous hole, a great mid point of the round, and honestly makes the holes prior to it feel inferior, despite them still being good holes. Hole #17 on the back side wants to be a signature hole but just isn't there yet (hopefully it will continue to improve) The tee area is a massive shelter area with seating elevated above two ponds at basically the top of the course. You throw a massive downhill shot over the two ponds into an open field before throwing another open shot down into the woodline to a basket perched on an elevated knoll. The green is again lined with felled trees, mulched out, and heavily guarded by trees. Beautiful tee, beautiful green, but meh fairway. The ponds don't come into play off the tee which hurts this hole as there is really no trouble to speak of. Just send it. Tons of potential here, but just isn't all the way there yet.
Extras: Visually stunning due to all the work and extra details added. The landscaping around the tees, greens, etc is top notch. The main fairways in the woods are completely gutted and smooth. Most are either covered in loose dirt, pine needles, or mulch. The handmade hole signs, the wood carvings, all the felled trees lining the holes make it very aesthetically pleasing.
Navigation: Course flow is very easy and naturally intuitive. The most difficult part is locating your "color" tee as there is often some wide separation between the Blue, Red and White tees. There is one small section where Hole #9 and Hole #13 converge where one might get confused but just stay left both times and you'll follow the correct path.
Cons:
Parking - Very small gravel parking lot just off the road. Will hold roughly 10 vehicles. If this lot is full it may be difficult to find a location to park. I guess you could park at the traditional golf course up the road and walk, but not sure if that is allowed.
Restrooms - There are no restrooms or port o johns on site, no water on site. Make sure you come prepared.
Garbage Cans - There are no garbage cans throughout the course. There is one by the course kiosk sign before hole #1 but both times I've played here it was crammed full and overflowing onto the ground around it. Be prepared to pack out whatever you take in.
Growing Pains - Not a huge knock as this is a very young course but there are quite a few holes that are just too filled with trees forcing very non traditional lines and luck. I will never knock a course as it first is getting it's legs under it, because you can always remove trees but it's difficult to put them back in. Hole #7 is very irritating as it is shaped exactly like the number 7. You tee down a long low ceiling narrow fairway and have to make a quick and tight more than 90 degree turn to the left to get to a guarded green. There is very little room to avoid going long into thick brush if you stay straight, and the brush early left and early right is even worse. This hole can be improved for sure, and probably will be, but at the moment is a frustrating hole (and one that has caused multiple card backups each time I've played here).
Difficulty - Again, not a huge knock as I know plans are in the works for different sets of tee pads. I felt this course was really easy to play for par and succeed. If you never get aggressive and throw controlled shots you can avoid danger. The White tees were a pitch and putt putter course for us but I have no issues with that style of novice/beginner layout existing. Without OB other than some natural deep rough on the woods holes, without water that comes in to play on any hole, and without a ton of distance required, there just isn't a ton of score separation out there. As this course breaks in and finds it's own identity though, I expect that to change.
Restrooms - There are no restrooms or port o johns on site, no water on site. Make sure you come prepared.
Garbage Cans - There are no garbage cans throughout the course. There is one by the course kiosk sign before hole #1 but both times I've played here it was crammed full and overflowing onto the ground around it. Be prepared to pack out whatever you take in.
Growing Pains - Not a huge knock as this is a very young course but there are quite a few holes that are just too filled with trees forcing very non traditional lines and luck. I will never knock a course as it first is getting it's legs under it, because you can always remove trees but it's difficult to put them back in. Hole #7 is very irritating as it is shaped exactly like the number 7. You tee down a long low ceiling narrow fairway and have to make a quick and tight more than 90 degree turn to the left to get to a guarded green. There is very little room to avoid going long into thick brush if you stay straight, and the brush early left and early right is even worse. This hole can be improved for sure, and probably will be, but at the moment is a frustrating hole (and one that has caused multiple card backups each time I've played here).
Difficulty - Again, not a huge knock as I know plans are in the works for different sets of tee pads. I felt this course was really easy to play for par and succeed. If you never get aggressive and throw controlled shots you can avoid danger. The White tees were a pitch and putt putter course for us but I have no issues with that style of novice/beginner layout existing. Without OB other than some natural deep rough on the woods holes, without water that comes in to play on any hole, and without a ton of distance required, there just isn't a ton of score separation out there. As this course breaks in and finds it's own identity though, I expect that to change.
Other Thoughts:
Much love and respect to the designers who are putting incredible work into this course! As it currently stands, Fox Prairie is definitely one of the best courses in Southern Illinois. Once completed and properly broken in, I'm certain it will be THE destination spot in the area. I gave this course a 3.5 rating for it's current state, the lack of bathrooms, garbage cans, parking, and poor tee signs knock it down quite a bit (but all can easily be fixed going forward) and it will bring up the rating significantly. All the potential in the world here for a top tier course, and the foundation has definitely been laid for it. Keep up the amazing work McCleansboro! I will gladly update my rating as things are added and improved on.
