Tucked next to Rend Lake, the North Sandusky DGC is quietly hidden in the southern Illinois region. Even in a park setting, the course provides ample variety that includes twisting fairways in the woods, an uphill ace run, a par-5, and the unique use of an old swing set.

Scenery abounds. Holes #1 and #4 offer pleasant views of the lake, several of the wooded holes are picturesque, and Hole #17 plays over the edge of a pond. Plus, a few deer intersected my walk down the fairway on Hole #12.

The course includes four par-4 holes that average nearly 475 feet in length and depend on some specific lines in the woods to make a birdie challenging. Lines in the woods are decently defined, and landing off the fairway does not equate to unplayable.

While mostly flat, elevation comes into play on a few holes. The most notable elevation is on the uphill par-4 (Hole #2) and the steep uphill ace run on Hole #5 that is only 113 feet but features a basket well-hidden behind a tree.

The holes in the woods offer a nice grassy carpet to play on, though rain could definitely impact the condition of several holes.

Hole #3 is a unique look, as the basket is suspended at a normal level from an old metal swing set.

The teepads are not perfect, because old picnic table pads are utilized in a few spots, which means those teepads are weirdly shaped and include some bumps. Thumbs up for the practicality, however.

The sign conditions need help; they are printouts that have been damaged by the weather. A course map at the parking lot plus more navigational aids would be useful. There were a few times when I was doing the head swivel trying to determine where the next teepad was.

There are no terrible holes at North Sandusky, though a few could qualify as filler holes. When I played on an early March afternoon, I had the course to myself, it seemed.

I really enjoyed my experience and considered giving it a 3.5, but that would be more justified if the course had new tee signs and normal teepads on all the holes. However, if you are passing by on Interstate 57, the short detour to visit this course is well worth it.

1) The amount of variety is very nice. You literally have everything. Your long arm guys wont be very happy because only one hole will really reward them and even then its pretty hard thanks to the low ceiling.

2) Use of the old picnic table pads is a great use of old concrete. Its pretty great to see a designer use what they were given.

3) The scenery is amazing. Playing along the lake a few holes and then walking through the woods on the rest really adds to the course.

4) Hole layout was great. Here are what I thought were the best.
2. is a great uphill shot. A tree right off the teepad forces you to really throw an uncomfortable line.
4. fun hyzer shot throw a lane of trees.
8. blind hyzer throw that goes through an great line
9. ridiculous S shot required. Basket is VERY guarded.
10. fun blind anhyzer/hyzer shot
17. shot choice extremely important, great looking hole

5) Great baskets. Brand new disccatchers.

6) Facilities are awesome. Not used to see actual good bathrooms near my local courses.

1) Needs a course map VERY desperately.

2) Tee signs need to be permanent and accurate. Distances on some holes are way off.

3) Fairways. Some holes are super small for the type of shot they ask you for. If Im throwing 300+ I want to be able to have a landing spot that is wider than 12 ft. Spent a little bit too much time searching through the tall grass finding discs. One was only a foot off the cut grass but still took a good minute or so to find.

4) While having the next tee on the tee signs it would be great to have a small arrow on the baskets as well. Especially on 2 where you can see 3 tees from the basket.

5) Absolutely hate the layout on 14. Its way too close to the playground and requires a super blind anhyzer to reach the basket. It needs to be rethought even if the playground has no one ever on it.

6) No warm up basket/area. While not a big con its annoying especially when the second hole is a long uphill shot.

This is an easy 4.5 course once the tee signs are in place and the distance is updated. The fairways do need some work but its really not THAT big of an issue. Just a large annoyance especially with sticktites that are pretty prevalent in the weeds.

If you are in the area, I'd say its a must play. Not sure if I'd plan a day trip around it just quite yet but its easy to play a few rounds at this course.

Overall, it is much better than the ratings and Im very glad I played it while I was in town.

This is really a 3.25 course but not quite a 3.5. At first glance where you park for hole #1 you are thinking this is going to be fantastic because the lake makes for wonderful viewing pleasure. Hole #1 sets up great for a starting hole with rough to the right and road to the left. Hole #2 is an uphill hole that plays long for a 300 footer. Good use of OB to the left. Holes 3, 4 and 5 are by the water and the scenery is the star here. You then head into the woods for some shape shots and placement shots. You come out of the woods briefly on hole #10 which is one of my favorites. Hole 13 is a LONG tight shot with rough to the left and road to the right with trees dotting the middle of a 40 to 50 foot wide fairway that measures 860 in length according to the sign. Hole #17 is my other favorite hole on the course. Pond to the left all the way to the basket with a large tree right in the middle of this 370 foot par 3. The holes are fairly easy to find and the signs do point you to the next tee. There is a bathroom right as you start on #1 and where you finish on #18. You finish this course and you feel like you have accomplished something. Slight elevation changes make for some good golf and fairly easy traversing.

The signs are temporary I hope and many of them have wrong distances. Hole #2 is pretty close to a parking lot making the second shot dangerous. 3,4 and 5 have picnic tables placed in the fairway so on nice weekend days you might have to throw around people. Hole #5 says 210 where it plays 100 feet. Seems it was thrown in there for a filler hole. Holes #11 and #12 have pads poured way off line. #13 is dangerous because of the traffic on the road. I am sure cars have been hit by flying plastic. #14 and #15 are in an area frequented by children and there is a playground that comes into play. Hole #18 is a bit of a let down for the finishing hole. No benches and rough roughs bring the rating down for me and I hope this course gets the attention it deserves.

Potential Potential Potential. Get rid of the short dumb holes and move some of the holes that are too near where people congregate. They have so much great area for multiple 18 hole courses. Where I see 5 or 6 really great holes there can be 18 really great holes. Set up right this could be the best course in Illinois.

This place has alot of shade for those summer days but still with a few holes to really air out some drives and some spots were you need to really be technical in the woods. Wooded holes are very well shaped with not too many throw and hope holes as most have certain gaps that can be hit if executed well. Although you really don't have any holes where Rend Lake really truly comes into play you do play near it at one point and it makes for a good view.

Very few trashcans at all and no benches in the woods or very many other spots besides near the beginning and the end. Tee sign distance is messed up for the front 9. A couple of the tee pads are placed in odd spots as far as their direction goes.

The first hole is open but with a guarded basket in the trees, #2 is a low tee off shot with some trees after that. 3-5 play near the lake and have several obstacles to avoid and then you enter the woods And then play 3 holes in a field but still with many obstacles to avoid. After that there is a really long hole with many trees before finishing up with a few holes that avg about 200-300 with some trees and a water hazard on hole #17.