The Ponds at Battle Creek Golf Course

I really enjoyed playing The Ponds at Battle Creek. The course was in great condition which made it challenging and fun. The one drawback was the pace of play, the course was packed which made the pace of play very slow.

I haven't played this course in over 5 years since I had moved out to Los Angeles California. I love this course because it has three par five on a nine-hole course which gives you plenty of opportunities if you hit it straight to make birdies. For some reason I kept flipping out but it's still fun. It was the first time I played golf with my oldest son.

guy in the clubhouse was extremely rude and snippy. He was extremely unwelcoming

I had very good experience for a first timer, and will definitely not hesitate to play again

Fun, challenging and intriguing 9-hole... Feels like you played 18!

Most demanding 9 hole course you will ever play!!! Fabulous shape, so demanding yet fair, it’s a perfect golf course.

Hands down the best 9 hole golf course in Minnesota. Great design, extremely well maintained and super friendly staff. Glad they joined the Public Country Club program. Wish they would expand this into 18 holes...has potential to be a top 5 course in the East metro with 9 more great holes.

For just a 9 hole course, The Ponds offers a number of different challenges, including hitting up and then back down a fairly steep elevation change on holes #3 and then #4, plenty of well-placed bunkers, including fairway bunkers, lots of water, some of which may require a fairly long carry, one or two semi-blind shots and some narrower holes with an undulating terrain.

The first and last holes are the only par 4s and the rest alternate par 3, 5, 3, 5, 3, 5, 3 for a total par of 35.

All the par 3s and short length of the course might make it sound easy, but it's really not. However, I would consider moving back at least one tee box. The standard men's tees would probably be the blues instead of whites; the whites are pretty short. I usually play the whites or blues on most courses but on this course I even find the blacks very doable.

Course conditions were great. The sand in the bunkers was nice and soft.

Greens were also a fair challenge. They were fast and pretty big, sometimes requiring a long lag putt.

Good practice areas, including a putting green, driving range, and a fenced-in practice green with a large bunker for pitch/chip and sand shots.

Good course to walk, although riding carts are available. I usually walk and rent a push cart.

There are also some surprisingly pretty views on the course.

This course is not a regulation course neither is it an executive course. It has 3 par 5's on it, and the Par 5 third hole is 500 yards from the white tee's, plus you have to go over water and uphill all the way. This is a very challenging course. You have to hit the ball straight because it's on a Preserve area so you've got Marsh, water, and sand. People playing it for the first time look at the yardage, and think they can play from the blue or black tee's. After one round they find out this is a very very difficult course to score on. This course isn't long, but will keep you honest!!

This course never gets the respect it deserves. Even though it's a 9 hole course, it is very difficult if played from the appropriate tees. The par 3 on hole number 4 might be the most frustrating hole I have ever played as the carry over the water never seems to be what it appears. Staff here are always friendly. Play can be slow on weekends due to incorrect tee use by players. The Blue tees are much harder than they appear and often my son and I see people playing them that should not be there. I also believe the pro there has stated that if you can break par from the Black tees he will give you a free round. I highly recommend playing this course if you like to walk as it is laid out well for walkers.