Cedar Creek Golf Course, nestled just outside Battle Creek, Michigan, is a solid choice, earning a B- rating. This course, with its park-like and occasional wetlands setting, offers a well-maintained option for local golfers, though it doesn’t stand out as a travel destination.
Designed by Robert Beard, Cedar Creek was established back in 1975—or maybe it was 1974. Beard, a notable architect here in Michigan, also left his mark on other courses like The Golf Club of Coldwater, Katke Golf Club at Ferris State, and Tomac Woods.
The course features a unique design layout. The front nine wraps around the outer edge in a circular route, while the back nine explores the interior. These two sections offer distinct golfing experiences. The outer nine is flat and sprinkled with marshes across eight holes, with woods and out-of-bounds lines bordering the right. In contrast, the back nine is hilly, more open, and predominantly dry, with just one water hazard to navigate.
This variance makes for an interesting play. Although many Michigan courses have contrasting nines, Cedar Creek’s compact area makes their difference particularly noticeable.
Despite the marshy elements on the front nine, Cedar Creek remains relatively player-friendly. There are generous fairways and open greens that allow shots to roll in, and the greens themselves present straightforward challenges.
This setup works well for a community course, offering enough challenge to keep regulars engaged without being overly punishing. Cedar Creek strikes a good balance here.
From the back tees, the course stretches 6,467 yards with a slope rating of 124, offering a respectable challenge.
My favorite experience on this course was the 510-yard par five tenth hole. The hole requires a tee shot that needs to carry a significant stretch of rough to find the fairway. However, the rough is well-kept, making shorter drives not too problematic. The fairway layout provides a slight dip before rising toward a ridge and bending slightly to the right.
Strategically, the left side offers the best approach angle for your second shot but brings the risk of getting entangled with the pines. Stay mindful not to drift too far right, as those pines can obstruct your path (which I learned from experience).
From the ridge top, the terrain dips and then rises again toward the green. This roller coaster of a hole requires strategic thinking to avoid difficult lies, and the uphill approach adds another layer of challenge to club selection.
During my visit, the course was in admirable condition. A few holes showed some sogginess—specifically, the 2nd, 3rd, 4th, 7th, and 9th—but it’s hard to say if these were temporary conditions. The tee boxes and greens were in great shape, and overall, the course seems to be taken care of with enthusiasm.
In the end, Cedar Creek is a delightful course well-suited as an everyday option for locals.
This review on Cedar Creek Golf Course was first shared on April 3, 2025, based on experiences and photos from a round played during the 2024 season. If you’re interested in more reviews of Michigan golf courses, check out the full list on GolfBlogger’s site.
