It's been 7 years since the last review so figured I'd let the world know what's new at River Bends. In general, this place is fun and has multiple signature holes to enjoy: 10 with the big downhill drop overlooking the beautiful river, 15 with the snaking river water carry, 17 with the interesting 12 ft tall shrubs/trees that line the rough (amazingly seen nowhere else on the course), 26 with the big downhill drop through the narrow gap off the tee.

Lots to enjoy here and every hole has demanding lines to hit in order to score well. Holes vary nicely in length/difficulty and many holes present a few line options to get to the basket.
You'll have some 375-450ft par 3s that require elite abilities as well as some must-get 250ft ace runs sprinkled in. Navigation and flow is pretty good too with some next-tee signs and obvious paths throughout. Somehow the designers managed 27 holes on this property without any "filler" holes to connect you to the good stuff.

The park itself is really nice and the walking/biking trails were filled with happy joggers/cyclists during my late October visit. Thankfully the course largely plays away from much of the other park activities. Upkeep isn't quite as stellar as the pay-to-play Hudson Mills/Kensington/Independence tracks BUT this bonus here is River Bends is FREE (a rarity for a quality course in metro Detroit).

There are a few things that hold River Bends back from what could easily be a 4 star rating.

Signs and baskets first and foremost. The baskets are a collection of old Mach 3s and Chainstars. Signs are basic wooden posts that only show distance. Signs are also missing on several holes.

Most of the property is extremely flat despite the handful of holes with big elevation.

I can imagine lots of very muddy spots in the spring or after big rains (echo'd from some previous reviews). I've played nearby Palmer and Cass Benton after rains and the low spots get really nasty. Expect the same here.

When the conditions are dry, this course is a must-play when in the area. It's a little more rough around the edges than the aforementioned pay-to-play courses but the golf lines, scenery, and overall experience are pretty darn good!

I liked the layout, which makes use of variety of shots. Very challenging with some of its tight shots. I love that it's 27 holes and not too many are alike. Nice use of the Clinton River and a few elevation changes.

Navigation is very tough and confusing. Needs better tee markers with yardage. If not for having a map, we would've certainly gotten off track. Needs better overall maintenance. Tee boxes are too small and generally set too high off ground, enhancing the risk of injury. Could use better baskets. Tight woods and high brush makes finding errant discs tough.

If you're not familiar, I HIGHLY RECOMMEND DOWNLOADING THE MAP off of this site.
Navigation was still tricky, but the map saved me and my pal a lot of trouble. It's funny. Even after all the cons listed and playing badly for my standards, I still enjoyed playing this course. Being that its late August and DRY, I'm sure was definitely in our favor. It's not too far from where I live either, so I'll certainly play it again and again. I will probably avoid it in the spring though.

As a beginner and new to the disc golf community, I enjoyed the different elevations and terrain of this course.

Holes are poorly marked. River Bends uses big rocks painted in a bright orange color to show its users where the tees are. However, some of the paint on the rocks are chipped off. In addition, the rocks are tell you the hole number and how many feet it is away from the tee. On a couple of the holes, my boyfriend had to walk to find the basket. It was so poorly marked that on one of the holes, my boyfriend and I threw to the wrong basket! The course has a total of 27 holes, but we quit after ten.

This could potentially be a great course, if it was marked better and maintained. I was disappointed with it.

Good mix of tight and open fairways. Well thought out and timed course in terms of shot making execution. Has a handful of severe elevation changes mixed throughout the round. 27 holes. Decent but mixed baskets overall. Great parking. Majority of holes measure over 300 feet. Hole 13 is played from atop a twenty foot cliff overlooking a river and bridge. 360ish to the basket.

Missing signs throughout and three teepads. Potential to lose a disc on many holes if not careful. Terrible bug problem at certain time of the year and will be under water during heavy rains. Poison ivy can be a serious concern if you are not throwing from the fairway. Hole 11 is borderline unfair but fun...

this course is almost completely under construction, at the moment. Do not go there expecting to play 27, if you have never been there previously. Park in the north east corner of the park to locate hole one. The course is half old/half new for those who have played there previously. Not too much has changed since the 90s. I like this course. You must be accurate and throw for some distance to score well. Played as a par three course, any round under par would be applauded by me(unless you throw over 400feet).

24 Holes
Some nice elevation changes including a beautiful shot over the river.
Lots of potential if the course is maintained....

...but the course has not been maintained. Missing signage, cracked tees, missing baskets. No discernible navigation between holes. The most recent 1/4 of a round I played there I was only able to find and play 7 holes.

The first few times I played River Bends my only Cons would have been a few missing signs, un-mowed grass, and the fact that it floods really easy. I still would have rated the course around a 3.5 or 4 because of the unique layout and some truly wonderful river holes and shots through the woods.

I was extremely dismayed with the course condition during my last round earlier this summer. After 7 holes I just stopped looking for the tees and baskets. They didn't exist.

If and when the course receives the much needed TLC, I will return.

There are lots of different challenges here, up hills, down hills, across water and around trees. The scenery is great and it's not very crowded. This course gives you an opportunity to use lots of different disc from your bag.

Finding your way from one hole to the next is darn near impossible unless you have a map. There are missing tee-pads on about 6 holes and there are tee-pads that go nowhere.

All 27 baskets have been installed and I was told that the tee-pads will be installed on the rest of the holes in a few weeks. I was also told that signs will be put up to guide you through the course. The grass was just mowed before I played. If all this is done I would rate this course at least a four or better depending on how it's maintained in the future.

This course if fixed up and maintained has the potential to be a absolutely amazing course. Many challenging holes using elevation, terrain, and the river. Very scenic and relaxing. The locals seem very friendly. There is a nice variety of brands of baskets keeping it interesting.

Missing baskets. Missing tee pads. Signage is missing. Hole numbers are missing. Random pads and pins that make no sense without a map. The entire course was flooded. Tee pads were cracked and coming apart. Pins were leaning or surrounded by water on multiple holes. So much potential wasted.

If this course was updated and fixed up with new signs, tees and pads. It honestly would be a top rated course. But neglect and decay has ruined it for me. If it ever gets some TLC I'll be back.

Aesthetic-- plays through a VERY large "metro park feel" park. Limited interaction with amenities but intertwines and crosses several walking paths... Watch out for walkers.

teepads-- where there were teepads, they were nice... some of the short tees were a bit narrow and overgrown but the course is a work in progress.

Elevation/water-- reasonable use of both. I would like to see more water come into play but I suppose that would entail more bridges. the holes that play up and down the ridge to the valley are interesting and welcomed..

Challenge-- this course is challenging. Not only is it (going to be) 27 holes of disc golf, it does truly challenge every throw in you bag.

Signature-- #15 (I think) where you throw down the river is beautiful and a complete mindbender... Would love to have more holes like this around.

Baskets-- a wide variety of baskets are in use here: DGA, DisCatchers, and discraft to name a few...not all in great repair and some are uber invisible on some of the "deeper" holes.

Routing and Nav-- some of the worst I've seen. the map, which I copied from disc golf scene, is reasonable BUT hole 5, 6 and 18 don't exist. Five and Six are roughed in but no teepads or baskets exist, 18 has markers for a teepad (flags) but no cut fair way exists. The transition from 20-21 (or what ever they are curently numbered) on the map sucks. you have to traverse back down the fairway of 20 to get to the pad for 21 (which is right next to 20's pad) The orange rocks are helpful to some extent but some sort of teesignage is so essential to this course. Next Tee signs need to be implemented as well.

Logic-- There are some missed opportunities here. after you throw over the water (#10?) you could throw back over off the big ass hill but instead you throw from the river bank back across the bridge? Not the best design idea.

Nitpicky-- it's a long walk back to your car after a long round. not sure how this could be tackled but, seriously.

I expected a lot of the leg work to be done here over the winter but I guess I was wrong. I hope this course can pull it together. It will be a 4-5 star course when all the amenities listed in the cons are added!

--Very wooded and bucolic setting; it is very common to encounter hawks and deer during rounds. The course is rarely crowded.

The entire course seems to be located in a flood zone and so early spring, late summer and soon after rain the course has poor playing conditions.Also, many of the baskets are old and in disrepair

This course is wild, lots of rough, lots of alley shots and lots of distance. This place will test every shot you have and you'll love it if you have the time to spend here.

You need a guide to play every hole. This place is nuts with its layout and nothing is all that clearly marked. Many holes have spray painted rocks that have the same number of them...

I've played this course many times over the past 15 years and it never gets old. On a beautiful day, there's nothing better than being out here. Keep your eyes out for hawks, deer and snakes...

Wooded with high rough, some very tight shots. Nice elevation changes and some water. A variety of shots are needed.

Course was dry even after raining a bunch this weekend, though before that Its been bone dry for a month or more so it could have probably taken all the water it could get.

Course layout is terrible, or at least finding the next hole is next to impossible. Example after hole 2 there are 3 tee boxes near the basket, none of which are for hole 3. For that you need to go across the bike path. Each tee pad had an orange rock, good, but half of them don't have the hole numbers on them, bad. There really isn't anything at the basket that indicates where you need to go for the next tee.

Lost track of what hole I was on near 8 or 9 and played the holes that I figured, logically, should have been the right holes and somehow ended up on 22. I still don't know where 10 is.

I can see how this could be a nice course, but at the bare minimum give people a sign pointing them to the next hole and paint the hole numbers on the rocks.

Teepads, baskets were in good condition. Each tee area had a bright orange rock marking the hole #. Fairways were mowed. All holes were dry and playable. No missing baskets. Variety of hole types and throws needed. Good use of the river to throw over, around.

Limited signage.
The course could use a good course map. Maybe someone who frequents the course could make one.
I can be difficult to know which way a hole dog legs.

I honestly had low expectations heading to this course based on previous reviews on this site. I was lucky to meet up/play with some regulars to the course so navigation was not a problems. The course seemed to be well maintained and the actual course layout was interesting and kept me excited to see what the next hole had to offer.

I feel this course would benefit from some solid guides to help first timers. I also feel a course map (other than the poor one currently on the site) would benefit many first time players.

24 holes with a variety of terrain. Allows you to use multiple shots. Nice use of water on 3 holes. Decent scenery in a pleasant park setting.

Whole course was under water. There was 1 missing basket. Course layout can be a little confusing the first couple times you play it so use a map to ensure you are throwing at proper basket.

All in all even with the water on most fairways and approaches, and moats around the baskets it was worth the trip. We created a lot of our own ways to play around the flooded areas. I will DEFINATLY be coming back.

-open for long distance drives.
-has 24 holes.
-has some tricky shots over water.
-very good variety of holes.
-great locals.

-baskets in bad condition.
-A very confusing course if it is your first time playing.
-signage is either gone or wrong.

you will need a map on this one because there are multiple tee pads for many holes here and the directions are horribly marked. other than that it would be an excellent course if they just made a few changes.

Concrete pads
24 holes
Plays over and next to river

Not kept up
Limited signage
COnfusing layout
Plays over walking path

A great course for fall/winter rounds. Early into the summer the course almost becomes unplayable due to bugs and tall grass. Course may also lose 6 holes and become an 18 hole course

A wide variety shots to take, nice scenery.

Baskets were in terrible condition, leaning in every direction, bad layout for some holes. Also hole one screwed me up apparantly it nessed other people up that they needed to put up a giant sign to point people to the right basket.

Challenging Holes, Very scenic. Many holes with water in play.

Course flow sucks. Baskets are in really bad shape. Tilting both left and right they are extremely finicky with any putt especially when trying from long distances.

they need to change the order of the holes so that your not walking half a mile between them. All new baskets, and signage to navigate the course would make this course a 4 instead of a 1.

UPDATED 7/7/16
-27 holes
-Good concrete teepads
-Redesign is great
-Variety of shots used. Long, short, left, right, straight, tunnel, open
-Water in play on a few holes
-Some risk/reward
-Elevation comes into play on about 5 holes
-Finally there are tee posts with hole# and distance
-Finally there are next tee signs, navigation is very simple now!!

-A lot of baskets are very old. Some have detached dangling chains
-This course gets VERY soggy in the wet months and after a good rain.
-A few tee pads are cracked and uneven
-A few tee posts are in very bad spots, such as right next to the front right corner of the pad. I kicked one on my follow through.
-Leave it up to the loser riff-raff to knock over a bunch of the new tee posts and next hole posts

It's been a year since I've played River Bends and I am extremely happy with the work that was put into the course over the last 2 years. One of the biggest complaints in these reviews was navigation. There are now tee posts and next tee posts everywhere. Navigation is 100% simple now.

The redesign of the course is excellent. I was a little bummed that 13 over the river is super short now, 14 is no longer an over the river shot, and 15 has been made shorter, which takes a lot of the river out of play. But overall, it was still good.

I knew that this course had a ton of potential, it just needed a lot of man hours put in. It finally got done and I have no problem at all rating this a solid 4. If every basket was brand new, I would seriously consider a 4.5. If I lived near by, I would play this course all day every day. Packs a great 1-2-3 punch with Stony Creek's 2 courses

Great design and plenty of shot variety in a pleasant park setting.

Plays in and around the scenic Clinton River Valley, making nice use of elevation changes. Features five holes that have you throwing either down into the valley or up and out of it, but otherwise plays fairly long and flat. Mostly open fairways, with some light to moderately wooded holes, and a few densely wooded stretches. Several Ace/Birdie runs, many over 300' and a couple over 450 including a 700+ bomber that'll stretch your arm out. The mix here lets you use every disc from the tee: putters, mids, fairway and distance drivers. Great use of the river to ratchet up the challenge and eye appeal, with 2-3 holes over water (depending which tee you play 15th hole from) and another fairway running parallel to the river. Signature hole has you throwing through a tight window, nicely framed by trees, way down into the valley below. Throw in some nicely tucked pin locations and a few baskets located in a clearing off the fairway and Riverbends offers a little of everything.

Concrete tees with dual pads on quite a few holes, including safer alternatives on the water holes.

Although there are other visitors to the park, the land the course is on is all but dedicated to disc golf, not too many other folks come down in the valley where most of the course lies.

Nice pavilion with picnic table/benches near the first/last hole.

Course maintenance is truly a crying shame. Due to budgetary constraints, infrequent mowing means grass in the fairway can exceed 3 feet. Check course conditions - if grass has been recently mowed, course plays well, otherwise, it's probably not a great idea to play a round here when the grass is so high that shots right in the middle of the fairway can take 10 minutes to locate.

Maintenance nightmares extend beyond mowing: Pro tee on 15 has literally collapsed and fallen into the river. At least 4 different types of baskets employed on the course. Most are in decent shape, but some are ancient, and have really seen better days. Many have been stolen over time and replaced with whatever was available through the local club, but the hodge-podge of basket types only adds to the bastard child feeling of neglect this course has.

Navigation: Can't argue with claims that it's tough to find your way around here - can be quite tricky if you're not familiar with the place. The spray-painted rocks for tee markers idea is OK, but completely useless when the grass is 3' tall. Any type of vertical, numbered, tee marker along with some next tee signs would make things a LOT easier for new visitors. However, once you learn your way around, the course actually flows quite well from basket to next tee (17th being the sole exception).

Because it plays through a river valley, some holes can get flooded after a hard rain, and take a while to dry out - makes the local mosquito population quite happy.

Some of the tee pads are on the small side and area around many looks bare.

Riverbends is a truly great course that is dreadfully in need of help. Playing here is hugely dependent on the current conditions. If recently mowed, it's a great place to play (3.5), but if the grass is high, or it's rained hard recently, it's simply miserable (1.0). The low lying ground means it retains moisture and the grass really grows well.

When I first played here years ago, I was thoroughly impressed, and would have given this a 4.0, but this place has been sadly neglected. I'm certain it's because the tax base has eroded, and there's simply not enough funding to go around, but regardless of why or how understandable it is, the fact is the course upkeep sucks, and most definitely affects play. Never seen a course that could benefit more from pay to play than this one, but I'm not sure the local Parks and Rec agency thinks it's feasible.

That being said it's still a good round if the grass isn't too high.

Update 10/26/11: Course looking a lot better:
• fairways getting mowed regularly
• fresh coat of bright orange paint on tee marker rocks
• no missing baskets ( most are old, but all are OK).
• Still litter scattered about and 15's Pro pad is non-existent, but overall course is in much shape than I'd seen it towards the end of last season.
• Rating bumped from 2.5 to3.5...great place to play (except after it rains or when the grass in the valley hasn't been cut).

4/1/12: Still looks like it's being kept up.

Tough Water Holes, clean, cement tee boxes. has some tough holes that make you feel great what you blast your drive down it. Has one of my favorite hole there. good variety

Hard to get your disc once your in the water, some tall grass. could have more upkeep. low elevation. very little elevation change but still has some.

if it rains you will be skipping some holes for sure unless you have some big boots and a bunch of towels