Pros:
Creekside Park is a small city park located at the end of Willow Rd., right off highway 299, amidst the trees and natural beauty along Willow Creek just a short hike from where the creek enters the Trinity River. The area of course is well known for its multiple Bigfoot sightings starting with the Ray Wallace footprints in the 50's and of course the infamous Patterson-Gimlin film of the 60's that was filmed a little north of here on Bluff Creek. All of this has made Willow Creek ground zero for Bigfoot hunting, obviously witnessed by the fact that every store and business in town is named after him. In fact Creekside Park sits almost directly behind the Bigfoot Museum. The park consists of a little tots playground, a BBQ and picnic area, and an outdoor classroom and nature area. There are portable bathrooms on site as well. Depending on the time of year you can choose from a variety of fresh fruit while you golf--the course contains apples, pears, plums, grapes, and the ubiquitous blackberry for your dining pleasure. Excellent swimming in the Trinity River is just a short hike away. I have actually played this course before, but it has undergone many changes over the years. Today it is a full 18 hole disc golf course that gives plenty of challenge while still managing to feel like an older style recreational course. Although all the challenges are here, you have uphill, downhill, water holes, thick rough, and heavily forested areas, most of the holes play short and are fairly easy to throw. While everyone complains about the dreaded 6/7 combo, I find that even though yes 6 is quite steep its only about a 150 foot hole and only about 25 feet in elevation, and as for 7 as long as you can keep your throw in the middle of the tunnel, you're biggest obstacle will be not overthrowing the hole as it's a 300 foot easy downhill ace run. As for hole 9, although you play out and over the water, the distance to clear is not all that much maybe 100 feet pushing and from an elevated tee no less and any good hyzer is going to keep you safe. Hole 8 is probably going to be the most dangerous throw as the creek is just left of the basket, but still at only 200 feet its easy work. The infamous blackberrys that everybody keeps whining about are still here but have been cleared significantly, making for much easier recovery of an errant disc.
Cons:
Holes are a little on the shorter side, but it lends to the very relaxed feel of the course along with the natural beauty. Fairways cross road and parking lot and if there was any one else in the park you would probably be waiting or carrying on quite a few holes. Tees are natural and a little rough but hole distances make them manageable. Ground tends to get very soggy and flooded during wet seasons.
Other Thoughts:
While Willow Creek doesn't offer some of the more intense challenge of other courses in the area, this is still a very beautiful and relaxing place to throw and highly recommended. There is pretty much a hole for every one to enjoy whether you like elevation, tight fairways, or open fairways it is all here. Add to the fact that this is yet another great course along the 299, rapidly becoming CA's disc golf highway, it makes Willow Creek that much more fun to play.
Our next and final course for the day is one of Eureka's infamous unlisted courses so we will pick up tomorrow with playing and reviewing after a nights sleep in Crescent City.