Ionia, MI

Bertha Brock County Park

3.625(based on 13 reviews)
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Bertha Brock County Park reviews

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9 4
danhyzer
Gold level trusted reviewer
Premium Member
Experience: 36.1 years 2302 played 125 reviews
5.00 star(s)

I own your azz. Really you will enjoy playing this young gem of a course in Ionia, Michigan :) 2+ years

Reviewed: Played on:May 11, 2013 Played the course:once

Pros:

Take away the first 4 holes and every hole at this course has the "WOW, drop your jaw in awe kind of feeling, IMHO. Only # 2 IMO is a average hole. Don't take me wrong # 2 is a good hole, but in relation with the others it's just an average hole whereas the other holes stand out from their own perspective merits because of the design and the various terrain changes :) < I just don't understand why this course is rated so lowly, I'd love to play here every day if given the opportunity>

The various terrain changes and basket locations on the various terrain changes makes each shot critical to shoot smartly instead of just throwing a lazy shot at the basket.

I loved the tee signs :) They had both the aerial view of the hole and the terrain perspective on each t- sign.

# 6 was tasty. On this hole one might opt to empty their bag.

# 7 was equally as tasty for a reverse uphill shot. Could of been a little more open top side, but I was fine with the design.

# 9, Are you kidding me. Did you do your homework or not on this course when designing this course. Hole played fairly flat until you got to the "GREEN" area, that area appeared that a massive earth movement was made to put the basket up on a hill with the basket near a severe drop off.

I liked the one hole where one threw over the valley kind of hole. With the basket all the way a higher hill than the hill where one tees off from (# 11 # 15?? I forget as I don't have my pictures with me to refer to in this review). I liked the "Rock Garden @ the bottom of the valley and added my personal "Rock" artwork to this beautiful Rock Garden.

# 14 was evil backwards. I loved how the basket was placed on a perch or a porch section of the downhill hole this plays. Blow by (like my friend did) and you will pay (not only in added possible stokes, but wearing one down traversing this property.

Benches we're scattered and greatly appreciated. I also liked that many of the fairways we're lined with fallen trees to make it easier to define the fairway and the rough.

I didn't see to much trash @ this course (And I realize I was playing in Michigan and not in Ohio <and I'm from Ohio, and most of the parks I play Disc Golf at in Ohio has a problem with litterbugs>) and when I did I picked it up and disposed of it properly when I was finished playing :)

Practice putting area was nice (a little stumpy, but I understand that this is a relatively a new course and with all the work that has been done already one can not expect everything to be the most best with the course in it's infant stage. But given the design and immaculate appearance. I see nothing but positive steps to be made in the future and wouldn't doubt if all the little tree stubs we're either painted or cut out in the fairways at a later date).

I liked the "Beware of TICKS" sign, and the information they gave for whomever was traversing this property to prevent one from getting any TICKS. Very helpful and insightful.(My friend and I we're wearing the totally opposite color of clothes that would prevent us from getting TICKS).

Now, this course is relatively new per say, but all the hard work and love (and I'm sure blood, sweat and tears) that has been done is amazing. I hope others can identify all the little extra's these people are doing at this course and incorporate it into their respective courses... like next tee signs listed in the basket wells pointing the direction to the next tee no matter which way your looking into the basket well. or the chopped tree logs laid unto fallen trees, thus making it appear that a fence was made out of fallen logs. Those little things go a long way in my book, Thanks to whomever and keep up the GREAT WORK!!

Cons:

To small of tee pads. I realize that cement tees would require major work at some of these holes, but even with carpeted tee pads. The tee pads we're to small. Even on hole # 18, the tee pad had it's own issues as one had to step up into the "batter's box" (tee pad) to throw up hill. But this is the only con I have really. And I can overlook this because of how I feel towards the design of this course and the potential this course has if cement tees we're ever installed.

Another con isn't really a con unless your not wearing mosquito repellent. Body armor is a must at this course as the soup of the day at this course is Mosquito cream, lol. I wonder how many Mosquito's the firing range takes out when they have their firing practice? I bet only a handful as there Mosquito's everywhere.

A little stumpy at places, but I understand that this is a relatively a new course and with all the work that has been done already one can not expect everything to be the most best with the course in it's infant stages. But given the design and immaculate appearance. I see nothing but positive steps to be made in the future and wouldn't doubt if all the little tree stubs we're either painted or cut out in the fairways at a later date (sooner than later :).

BIG Bummer on closing the front 9 during "Firing Range" practice, but this course probably wouldn't be possible if it wasn't for the area's prison system that's nearby this park. I felt very safe, mind you. But the guards/ gun owners needs practice time too and it's a very small setback, when considering how GREAT this course is all the other times this course is available to play.

I wish # 6 was a little longer of a hole, but perhaps down the road that could be identified, but it was still a tasty looking hole in which one would want to throw multiple drives from the teeing area. In fact I wish some of the other holes we're just a tad bit longer, but this isn't a big con, just wishing for more excellence from the designers:)

Other Thoughts:

I lost an " Discraft, Extreme" Disc on hole # 14, As I hit a nearby tree and it went right, but I was told that this Disc turned over for a BH thrower (which it never did for me, unlike the Status which turns over from the first throw on) . And to my surprise I was called later in the day from someone who found it and wanted to return it to me (I told him thanks for calling, but the Disc never did what I bought it for, so keep it or give it to someone you might think will benefit from it). So that kind of karma was present from the initial entry to the park and throughout my visit in Michigan. Thanks again Michigan for impressing me with all the great Aloha (LOVE), even though I knew it was prevalent :)

Like I say.... This course IMHO should be rated higher. It will be a destination stop for me for years to come as will Victory Park in Albion and Carly's playground in Traverse City. Heck, Why don't I just move up to Michigan. I've always liked visiting and I realize noting is perfect (except God), but Michigan is a nice place to visit and they're Disc Golf courses to me rank right up there to any State to play :)

Good sized parking lot.

For the couple buck entry fee that was required to enter this park, I thought that entry fee was small in comparison of the amount of work and love that was present at this park.

My friend and I coined the phrase "I own your ass" from the towns name of Ionia. I'm sure this phrase isn't new the the people inside the maximum security prisons nearby this park. But to my friend and I it was new to us and we joked about it the rest of the day.
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