Cedars Edge Golf Course, West Branch IA

If the fairways were watered this would be one of the best local 9 hole courses around. But I understand that such a system would be an expensive upgrade. Nice staff, nice building, and neat layout.

Multitude of issues with this course. The second I entered the clubhouse I was greeted with contempt. Almost as if it was irritating to them that I wanted to golf there. I played with two groups of 4 on one of the "play as many as you can" nights. Right from the start I felt unwelcomed.

Aside from the unwelcoming I had received, the course itself has decent topography. Each hole is unique and has varying levels of difficulty. My gripe with these holes is the fairways are ALL like playing on volcanic rock. It is obvious that they do not get watered and have crusted into a rocky, bumpy, cavernous wasteland of horrible lies. Every shot my ball was nestled into a giant crater of dried, cracked earth. I would only hope that I miss the fairway on every drive so that I can play on soft ground in the rough. Only to make matters worse, the greens look like they are cut once a week. I had multiple birdie putts robbed by giant blades of grass sticking out of the green rustling my ball away from the cup. It got to the point where I would pay down the green where my line would be in order to avoid the grass messing with my line. Not to mention, this is only a 9-hole course, so the amount of maintenance should not be profoundly difficult.

I would avoid this course unless you like being treated like a second class citizen and prefer poorly maintained courses. Overall, the horrible hospitality, and the maintenance of this course is something that I would determine any other course better than this one in the area. Pleasant valley, Brown Deer, Saddleback. Any of these courses are colossally better and better maintained. Will never come back.

Nice intimate place to hang out. Food was good prices reasonable and the place was spotless. A winning combination.