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The Bear reviews
5
0
Bear-y Hilly Course 2+ years
Reviewed:
Played on:Jul 22, 2017
Played the course:once
Pros:
- dual large concrete tee pads
- open fairways were well maintained
- tranquil, scenic
- cabins on location, RV parking
- bathroom on location
- other recreation activities on location
- unique landscape, lots of elevation variation
- challenging course
- quality tee signs listing distance
- high quality scorecard and map with admission
- good distance variations
- friendly staff
- holes 9,18 loop back to the lodge
- open fairways were well maintained
- tranquil, scenic
- cabins on location, RV parking
- bathroom on location
- other recreation activities on location
- unique landscape, lots of elevation variation
- challenging course
- quality tee signs listing distance
- high quality scorecard and map with admission
- good distance variations
- friendly staff
- holes 9,18 loop back to the lodge
Cons:
- baskets not numbered
- filler holes
- no multiple pin placements
- woods needed upkeep
- bugs in the woods
- hole 12 is too close to the lake
- filler holes
- no multiple pin placements
- woods needed upkeep
- bugs in the woods
- hole 12 is too close to the lake
Other Thoughts:
The Bear has a mix of technical and open fairways that run in a counter clockwise manner around the Compass Lake in the Hills lodge. The lodge features a plethora of recreation actives, as well as cabin rentals and RV parking. I paid 5$ and received a scorecard with a colored map. The staff were very friendly and informative.
The course starts out utilizing the available park style space in front and to the left of the lodge, then moves into more technical woods. It swaps back and forth between these 2 styes of gameplay throughout the course, all the while using differences in elevation. The general hilliness of the course landscape was awesome. Changes in elevation created a ton of challenge. I also enjoyed how scenic the property was. The view from the baskets 8-12 was amazing. Dual concrete tees were a nice touch as well.
I think the technical holes were decent, but need some work. 4, 5, and 7 had repeating fairways. The only difference is that 7 was uphill. Actually, most of the technical holes felt like filler holes if I'm being completely honest. Also, if I'm paying cash for a course then I'd like the forested/jungle fairways to be in better condition. I was tripping all over prickly vines and thorny fairway growth. Neither basket placements for 11 or 12 appealed to me much, 12 less than 11. At least give me a full 10 meters around the basket to work with. Hole 14 didn't have a realistic window to the basket halfway down the fairway. Hole 16 had a tee pad that wasn't really facing the fairway. Lastly, 18 was a bit anticlimactic. Nobody wants to end the round throwing uphill on a 700+ ft hole, especially if it's wide open.
The Bear is a great course to stop off at and play while traveling the I-10, but I think the current rating (3.75) is misleading. As previously stated in another review, there are some glaring flaws. Still, its a nice area that has a lot of actives to choose from. I could see this being a great option for a weekend getaway or a cabin party with the boys. Don't get any ideas about using the pool though, it's strictly for the property owners in the community.
The course starts out utilizing the available park style space in front and to the left of the lodge, then moves into more technical woods. It swaps back and forth between these 2 styes of gameplay throughout the course, all the while using differences in elevation. The general hilliness of the course landscape was awesome. Changes in elevation created a ton of challenge. I also enjoyed how scenic the property was. The view from the baskets 8-12 was amazing. Dual concrete tees were a nice touch as well.
I think the technical holes were decent, but need some work. 4, 5, and 7 had repeating fairways. The only difference is that 7 was uphill. Actually, most of the technical holes felt like filler holes if I'm being completely honest. Also, if I'm paying cash for a course then I'd like the forested/jungle fairways to be in better condition. I was tripping all over prickly vines and thorny fairway growth. Neither basket placements for 11 or 12 appealed to me much, 12 less than 11. At least give me a full 10 meters around the basket to work with. Hole 14 didn't have a realistic window to the basket halfway down the fairway. Hole 16 had a tee pad that wasn't really facing the fairway. Lastly, 18 was a bit anticlimactic. Nobody wants to end the round throwing uphill on a 700+ ft hole, especially if it's wide open.
The Bear is a great course to stop off at and play while traveling the I-10, but I think the current rating (3.75) is misleading. As previously stated in another review, there are some glaring flaws. Still, its a nice area that has a lot of actives to choose from. I could see this being a great option for a weekend getaway or a cabin party with the boys. Don't get any ideas about using the pool though, it's strictly for the property owners in the community.
1
0
DiscKey
Experience:
14.9 years
95 played
5 reviews
Tons of Potential 2+ years drive by
Reviewed:
Played on:Jul 25, 2013
Played the course:once
Pros:
Great area (camping, lake, cabins, restaurant)
Friendly people
Tee boxes
Benches
Easily navigated (basket paint to next tee)
Friendly people
Tee boxes
Benches
Easily navigated (basket paint to next tee)
Cons:
Baskets(chains) will be some spit-outs
Too many short holes 8 or 9 of them under 260'
No water kegs on course
Don't really transition back to parking area after hole 2
Too many short holes 8 or 9 of them under 260'
No water kegs on course
Don't really transition back to parking area after hole 2
Other Thoughts:
This land has a ton of potential to be an excellent course! The shots are there, just need to be lengthened by 80-150', especially on the short holes. Course par from the long pads is maybe 56..... Only two holes that are true par 4's (15 and 18) and 15 is well.... You'll see. Tee pads are great, good lengths on holes that need a little further run up..... Some of them need to be shored up so the my don't crack from being undermined.
