Crooked Creek Crossing is an 18-hole course at Blair Mill Park, which offers a very unique beginner friendly layout. It's perfect for anyone who is trying to learn the game, or for someone who needs to practice their short game.
-For how short the course is, it has some pretty good variety. The course starts out with some forgiving wooded holes (#1-10), then transitions into some longer, tighter holes (#11-14), then the course finished with some wide open field holes (#15-18). You get a little bit of everything.
-The course terrain is pretty flat, however, I thought elevation was pretty solid. #8 & 18 play straight uphill, and #9 plays straight downhill. The elevation on #11-14 is less drastic, but still noticeable.
-The fairways are pretty clear, but some scattered trees here and there help present more of a challenge.
-#11 & 13 are two layouts that would fit in well with a more advanced par 3 course (like Reedy). Both layouts are very tight and technical, and require a good tee shot. Also, both are on the higher side for distance.
-Nice concrete tee pads. They're not that long, but they don't really need to be, so they get the job done. Their texture was awesome.
-Although tee maps are not needed, they provide a hole map, number, and distance. Pretty good for this type of course.
-There is a practice basket with lots of room for some practice putting, located just off to the right of the first tee.
-This is the perfect warm-up course for some of the more advanced courses in the area, like Scrapyard and Dry Creek.
-This is probably the best beginner friendly course in Charlotte. Kids can easily learn the game here, in addition to some fair challenges.
-Because Google Maps told me to park in the neighborhood parking lot, I started on #15. This ended up flowing nicely, and to my surprise, didn't cause me any issues.
-Great place for some legit ace runs. The holes are long enough that I would consider aces to be legit.

-The Navigation here is tough. Obviously, the course is split into two parts by the creek, but some updated next tee signs would help.
-When transitioning from one side to the other, knowing where to transition was confusing. I ended up just walking down the sidewalk along the road, since I wasn't sure if or where an actual path was.
-The walk from #18's basket to the parking lot seems silly. There is all that extra space of wide open grass where another hole could be installed, maybe replacing #16.
-I played the day after a downpour, so I was expecting the course to be wet and a little muddy. But boy, this course is effected badly by standing water. The area around #6's basket was flooded, same for #18's tee. #11's fairway was soaked, and the open field holes were very muddy.
-Baskets are very old and need replacing. The yellow bands are falling apart, and some chains/cages are loose.
-Because the back nine is next to the neighborhood, a lot of little kids and non DGers will be lingering around. Possibility of play being held up is likely.

All in all, Crooked Creek Crossing is a pretty good course. I think because of its incredibly varied layout, it deserves an extra .5 rating that what most say. The concept of beginner friendly was executed to perfection, and it is nice to have this course in an ideal location. A great learning course for newbies, and a great practice area for advanced players!

A short course loaded with holes that are par-2 to -3 tweeners.

-Amenities: Small concrete tees, DISCatchers, tee signs with all info and a small map, practice basket.

-Beginner-Friendly: A pro that often finds its way into a review for a course with this length. Holes average right around 200', so they're very attackable for players who haven't gotten their distance dialed in yet. A few holes are marked as par-4 to match rec-level expectations as well.

-Variety: A good mix of open and wooded holes, leaning more towards the latter. There isn't a lot of length to work with, but the designer has used it in a variety of shapes of tightnesses to avoid a snoozefest. A few baskets perched on drop-offs are a nice addition, as is the creek on (11) and (12).

-Shot Shaping/Gameplay: A course that feels like a mix of par-2s and must-birdie holes. Predominantly, the baskets are findable for an ace on a straightforward woods shape, but mixed in are slightly longer and/or tighter holes, namely (6), (7), (11), (13), (14), and (18). These tight holes are pretty daunting for someone without a confident release point, and definitely more par-3 than par-2. Elevation is mostly pretty negligible, with a handful of exceptions such as (8), (9), and (18).

-Navigation: A few turnarounds between (8)-(9), (10)-(11), and (17)-(18). The latter two are very long transitions from one half of the park to the other, following a sidewalk down the street.

-Soft Ground: Throughout, the proximity to the creek poses a mild difficulty in that it softens the ground on the non-elevated portions. This is especially pronounced on (6), which has a swampy mess on the backside of the basket.

-Freshness: After several holes that are the same, the course seems to get old. It doesn't have much to offer experienced players other than a series of approach shots.

As noted, this course hovers on a weird line between par-2 style ace-race golf and easy par-3 style where the goal is more to birdie with the possibility of an ace. It's got a decent bit of variety, but also feels monotonous without big style changes between holes. Overall, it's a pretty Typical course, and a friendly one to build confidence at.

Beginner level course, easy to navigate.

Great tee signs, concrete tees and nice baskets.

There are two parking lots for you to park. One lot begins at hole #1 and the other has restrooms for you to use.
Creek is not really in play which could be a plus for beginners.

Course has a practice basket.

Course is short, therefore able to get in a quick round and not take up too much time.

Good course for practicing upshots and putts.

Lots of opportunity for ace runs.

The wooded holes and the paths through the woods can get extremely muddy when it rains.

Creek is not really in play which could be a con for a more experienced player looking for a challenge.

Some of the holes could prevent hazard on a crowded day as they are close together. Therefore, it could prevent great danger to be hit with a disc.

No trash cans were available from what I saw.

Some monotony with some of the holes regarding distance.

If you live in the housing development next to the course or nearby, it would be a great place to get in some practice if you didn't have much time. As this course is perfect for someone to teach another about disc golf and introduce them to the sport, the more experienced would be bored. This course could also be used as a good warmup to nearby Scrapyard, Reedy Creek, Dry Creek and Squirrel Lake.

Great tees, signs, baskets. Seems like the park is DG exclusive which is a nice change of pace from when you get tired of other park users using your fairway for a jogging trail/muddin'/dog walk/orgy/Druid ritual. The park is fairly nice and well-maintained with grass mowed and whatnot.

Definitely a beginner course but there are some challenging holes out here thanks to clever use of elevation and trees. A few baskets located precariously near steep slopes can turn your botched putt for 2 into bogey hell faster than a smart black man denies a request to appear on the Maury Povich show. The course plays more open than wooded but the wooded holes around the creek (relatively, not literally) offer some fun tunnel shots.

There are 2 parking lots you can use for this course, the big one that has the rest rooms is not the one to use if you want to start on hole 1.

Practice basket.

The creek doesn't come into play at all really. Kind of a bummer. This creek divides the course annoyingly into two, so there's a long walk or two from transitioning from one end to the other. Most annoying is that you have to make one last trek just to play hole 18.

Some of the baskets have the potential to be close to transitions so I could see headshots becoming a possibility if the course is very crowded.

It is really, really dumb that the course starts at the other parking lot and the big parking lot with the bathrooms and the big DG sign that screams to visiting disc golfers "start here" is not where you're supposed to start. Somebody needs to scribble "hole 1 is at other parking lot" on that sign or something.

I know it's a beginner course but quite a few holes seemed a bit monotonous, especially distance wise.

Beginners will have a ball out here while more experienced DGers will enjoy the course as a prelude to Charlotte's more esteemed courses or as a quick, casual round on lunch breaks or after work. It didn't really float my boat; I wish there wasn't so much unused space between the sides of the course b/c of the creek. If some long tees could be made and this creek area better utilized it would raise my boat with a tsunami of fun, a tfunami if you will.

If you live in the area, this is a great course to use when you are trying to introduce somebody to the game of disc golf. It allows them to learn the basics of the game, how to shape their shots, experience elevated pins (which can catch a novice off guard the first time they see them), and they won't become completely discouraged if/when they can't drive the green. Hole 6 will teach them about risk/reward play, especially when the creek is running high. As the creek runs just behind the basket.

More experienced players will likely only need a putter, and maybe a midrange if they want to throw more dramatic hyzers.

The course is fairly compact, and weaves through Blair Mill park utilizing both open field shots, and wooded shots. There are some benches throughout the course, which will give you a place to sit and relax. You likely won't need it, but if you bring a novice it is a great way to keep the experience enjoyable for them.

The course has accurate tee signs, concrete tee pads, and 18 well kept DISCatcher baskets. The course is also kept in good condition, which is a definitely plus! The old wooden bridge for crossing the creek seems to be gone, but the sidewalk on the road bridge is easily navigable, and honestly better for when the rain comes through.

This course is not challenging. Which is fine, because it was designed for beginners - but what would be short Par 3's on other courses, are listed as Par 4 here. Visiting other could be eye-opening for people who get their DG start here.

This course is not a place intermediate/advanced players are going to be able to push their game. It's a stable environment for beginners to learn the fundamentals. If you end up here, either commit to Ace Runs, or create your own mandos to make things interesting.

Drainage is seems like it is one of the bigger issues here. The low lying fairways stay saturated for a while after a rainstorm. Hoke 18 becomes a marsh even.

The layout can feel cramped at times, but only when the park gets crowded (which isn't often I hear). I've often wondered if this course would have benefited by being a partial course, but with multiple tee locations per hole.

If you live in the area this could be a great place to play at the drop of a hat for fun, or if you want to get some warm up throws in before playing The Scrapyard. Throwing from 18's tee to the practice basket will give big arms a chance to stretch out and up a decent hill too. Since the course uses DISCatcher Pros, this a great place for ace runs. I bounced off the baskets a few times on my first trip.

I'm going to rate this course at 2.5 - not because it's a bad course, but because it serves a niche purpose. And while it functions well in this role, it could be argued that other courses serve this purpose just as well (if not better) while offering additional challenges to players who are no longer complete beginners.

Favorite Holes: 6, 9, & 14

Although a short beginner friendly course, it is technical enough to test your short/mid-range woodsy shots without being boring. Navigating lines through the trees is what this noodle armed fossil likes. Holes 1 (to an elevated basket) and 2 were fairly easy birdies, #3 required a little more precise placement as there were trees near the basket that could foil many birdie putts. #4 is an easy birdie unless you only throw straight. Hole #5 is another right-turner and is not an unhappy par. #6 is a little longer but not overwhelming; likewise for #7. Hole #8 (190') is flat until the last 30' and the pin is about 20' up. #9 is slightly downhill to another elevate basket. #10 is fairly straight forward. From there, you need to cross the creek along the narrow road (more below) to get to #11. This was my favorite hole; at 230' there are 3 routes (look at the picture)--the direct route (which requires a lot of skill or LUCK), a route that has a little right to left and then straightening out (the one I took), or a big breaking RHBH hyzer (my playing partners took it but still had a 70'+ upshot). #12 is only 140' but you better hit that narrow line; #13 (180') is uphill and very tight. #14 is 210, right to left, and tight (are you seeing a pattern?). Holes 15 and 16 are unobstructed short field holes; hole 17 also appears to be the same but there are steep drop offs (on 2 sides) only a few feet past the pin that can give that nasty 50' downhill roll. Again, you'll need to cross that narrow road bridge to get to #18, which is a 215' large left to right shot with an uphill pin.

Other positives: the tee pads were poured last week and are more than adequate. The 40' power poles for the much needed bridge are now on property. I anticipate that bridge should be in place soon. Biggest positive is the course is a Stan McDaniel design (and constructed by that old man); take the features and lengthen most of the holes by a few hundred feet and there is a superb course in waiting that would be among the best of Charlotte's wooded courses.

It is a beginner friendly course, only if beginner friendly was defined by length. Top pros would find more fun doing grocery shopping. Until the bridge is in place, it is slightly cumbersome in navigation. No benches, but probably not needed unless you are my age (65+)!

This is not necessarily a destination course for travelers to the Charlotte area unless you want to warm up before playing the Scrapyard (Idlewild Park) which is about 5 miles north.

This is the most beginner friendly, 18-hole course in the Charlotte area. It's perfect for kids and anyone else who has never thrown a disc before, or for those looking to work on their short game. The course is still a work in progress, with the layout split into two segments - 12 baskets in one part (holes #1 - 10, 18 & practice basket) and the other 7 in back lot (holes #11 - 17). In the meantime, it makes sense to play the "front 12" a time or two, then drive to the "back 7" to finish up your round.
- If it's possible for a short course to have variety, this course does a great job of succeeding. Plenty of wide open holes, wooded holes (while still be mostly beginner friendly), doglegs and even a couple cool layouts with the only two hills to work with. #8 is thrown up a hill (10 foot elevation at most); #9 is thrown down the edge of the same hill; #17 has basket placed at edge of a different hill, with a sharp uphill putt if you throw too far on your tee shot. Basically, it's the pu-pu platter of beginner courses where you'll whet a beginner's appetite with what to expect on a longer course.
- Clean course with new baskets. Course has an easy flow to it that one should be able to play through without much issue. Caveat: That's assuming you play the course in the current two different segments - play the front 12, then the back 7 - and ignore some of the hole numbers/proposed hole numbers. If you're OCD, and have to play the holes in correct order, then this will drive you fits.
- The front 12 has the land to itself, so you should only have other disc golfers to deal with. Back 7 could be more crowded as it's at the front of the neighborhood and has bathrooms, picnic benches and a sidewalk. So expect families and kids to be using the common area on nice days.
- This is a nice, new park that's still a work in progress.
- Perfect course for those with noodle arms. Average hole length for the 18 is only 186 feet, with the longest hole at only 240 feet. Great places to be seeing a lot of 2s, and hopefully some 1s, on your scorecard, or to have an ace race with friends.
- Very convenient location. It's less than two minutes off of 485, and less than 15 minutes from the Scrapyard, Squirrel Lake or Mint Hill Park.

This is a course where, besides the one obvious issue, you're not going to find much wrong. If there's such a thing as a great beginner course, this might be near the top.
- I'll state it again, for those who only read cons: the course is divided into two parts by a creek, which looks more like a swamp. After playing current #11, you can drive to the back 7 parking lot (recommended for safety reasons) or walk along a narrow two-lane road, over the creek. If/when a bridge is built, it's going to be a short, easy walk between the two parts.
- If you're playing the course in two different segments, the holes on the back seven are laid out counter-intuitively. The first hole on the back 7, chronologically, is #11. From the back 7 parking lot, the first basket you see (near the picnic tables) is #15. Follow the sidewalk past #16 & 17, where you will see the tee for #11. Once you find #11, the following six holes flow nicely. The hole layout makes sense when you think of the layout with a bridge connecting the two segments.
- No benches on any holes (not that any are needed.) The front 12 only has a trashcan by the parking lot, with no restrooms or water fountains. There are some; however on the back 7.
- There is slight risk to throw disc in the mud/creek on holes #6 (long) and 11 & 12 (to the left), mainly cause by a potential errant bounce off a tree. You're probably not going to lose the disc, per se, but if you end up in the muck, you could be getting wet or muddy trying to retrieve it.

There's something very fitting that the course is less than a mile from the Mecklenburg County line. Charlotte courses are notoriously known for being tough, and it's as if, there's a refusal to let something this beginner-friendly/easy being built inside the county.
- On a serious note, this is a scaled down version of a great layout. If this course were doubled in length, it would be awesome. It actually reminds me of a mini version of Angry Beaver, with several holes being shortened version of ones I've played on other courses. Current #18 (or the 11th hole on the front 12) was a short version of #14 at Foothills DGC in Easley, SC. Tee shot through the trees to a dogleg right basket, up on a hill. Also, #17 is a lot like #4 at Hornets Nest, with the hill behind the basket penalizing any shots that sail too long. This hill is even bigger than the one at Hornets Nest, leading to even more testy putts, if you're short of the basket.
- This is a great course to introduce beginners to the game. Stan and company have done a wonderful job building this one. It's hard to imagine that as recent as 2009, Reedy Creek and Mint Hill were the only two courses from the University area to Pineville/south Charlotte. Now, there's a course at least every couple of exits along I-485.
- I'm giving this a 2.0 with an asterisk. It achieves its intended goal of being beginner and kid friendly. It's as close to a solid short course as you'll find. That said, it's short and, overall, not a challenging course. It's a near flawless 2.0 rating, not a 2.0 course that should be better.
- This is a great warm-up course for anyone playing the Scrapyard at Idlewild Park. Or, you play here and Creekside in Indian Trail and you have a great, 36-hole, birdie fest to make it an ego-boosting day!