Carly's Playground reviews
7
0
BogeyNoMore
Diamond level trusted reviewer
Premium Member
Experience:
19.9 years
484 played
183 reviews
A worthy tribute 2+ years
Reviewed:
Played on:May 24, 2014
Played the course:once
Pros:
Amazing course on a tremendous piece of property. Has that epic feel to it - a round here will take something out of you.
• Discplay:
+ Elevation: Holy @#$%^&* cow! Used every possible way: uphill, downhill... everything. Often massive, sometimes subtle, impossible to ignore. Rollaway potential on fairways and greens (#9 pink can be a killer)
+ Mix of wooded / open holes (front 9 is more wooded, back 9 more open).
+ Holes that allow a variety of lines and holes that force a specific line.
+ Holes that play much longer/shorter than posted.
+ L/R/straight tee shots, ranging from open to well wooded; some call for finesse, some call for power, some demand both.
+ Good range of distances given the multiple layouts available.
+ Some well-guarded and nicely tucked pins as well as some dangerous placements to reward good approach shots.
+ Risk/Reward: Quite a few holes can make you pay for failing to stay on the fairway with difficult recoveries. Pin placements w/pucker factor will punish poor decision making.
+ Challenge: Dual tees / dual baskets really allow you to "season to taste," with 4 full-time layouts to mix and match over the course of a single round to suit your mood at any given moment - quite adaptable to all skill levels:
Pink to pink - shortest and easiest
Blue to pink - longer and tougher
Pink to blue - more difficult than blue to pink as blue baskets are longer and less accessible
Blue to blue - requires both power and finesse
+ Bonus 650' downhill CTP bomb is a rush
• Equipment:
+ Dual (carpet) tees provide very different looks
+ Dual DGA baskets: Pinks are super visible and easier to approach. Blues have flags and trickier/more demanding approaches.
+ Tee signs at both tees and next tee signs round things out nicely.
• Memorable holes: I liked 5, 6, 9, 10, 16, 17, and while #1's not unique, running at an open pin from an elevated tee is pure fun... you could clean a bag out right there. Come find your own favorites. If you don't like the bonus CTP between 16 and 17, then you don't like disc golf.
• Routing/Nav: Front 9 is easier to follow than the back. Had some trouble finding #'s 10-12. There are some long walks between holes (especially the back), and while it's not bad on the whole, the map was really helpful to reference for #'s 10-18 because the holes are spread out.
• Aesthetics: Nice woods and green hills establish a scenic setting with a couple of spectacular hill top views. Walking this course can make you feel small... and wipe you out.
• Discplay:
+ Elevation: Holy @#$%^&* cow! Used every possible way: uphill, downhill... everything. Often massive, sometimes subtle, impossible to ignore. Rollaway potential on fairways and greens (#9 pink can be a killer)
+ Mix of wooded / open holes (front 9 is more wooded, back 9 more open).
+ Holes that allow a variety of lines and holes that force a specific line.
+ Holes that play much longer/shorter than posted.
+ L/R/straight tee shots, ranging from open to well wooded; some call for finesse, some call for power, some demand both.
+ Good range of distances given the multiple layouts available.
+ Some well-guarded and nicely tucked pins as well as some dangerous placements to reward good approach shots.
+ Risk/Reward: Quite a few holes can make you pay for failing to stay on the fairway with difficult recoveries. Pin placements w/pucker factor will punish poor decision making.
+ Challenge: Dual tees / dual baskets really allow you to "season to taste," with 4 full-time layouts to mix and match over the course of a single round to suit your mood at any given moment - quite adaptable to all skill levels:
Pink to pink - shortest and easiest
Blue to pink - longer and tougher
Pink to blue - more difficult than blue to pink as blue baskets are longer and less accessible
Blue to blue - requires both power and finesse
+ Bonus 650' downhill CTP bomb is a rush
• Equipment:
+ Dual (carpet) tees provide very different looks
+ Dual DGA baskets: Pinks are super visible and easier to approach. Blues have flags and trickier/more demanding approaches.
+ Tee signs at both tees and next tee signs round things out nicely.
• Memorable holes: I liked 5, 6, 9, 10, 16, 17, and while #1's not unique, running at an open pin from an elevated tee is pure fun... you could clean a bag out right there. Come find your own favorites. If you don't like the bonus CTP between 16 and 17, then you don't like disc golf.
• Routing/Nav: Front 9 is easier to follow than the back. Had some trouble finding #'s 10-12. There are some long walks between holes (especially the back), and while it's not bad on the whole, the map was really helpful to reference for #'s 10-18 because the holes are spread out.
• Aesthetics: Nice woods and green hills establish a scenic setting with a couple of spectacular hill top views. Walking this course can make you feel small... and wipe you out.
Cons:
• Carpet tees: better than natural, not awful but leave much to be desired.
• Pink pin location on 18 seems weak in my opinion...pretty much a forced layup unless you park it off the tee. Blue pin plays much better.
• #12 is one of the weakest holes on the course, and throwing towards a road with cars driving by kills the vibe.
Not reflected in my rating, but I felt these are worth mentioning:
• Scouting ahead to spot baskets is particularly frustrating (and tiring) on such hilly terrain.
• There were piles of wood and debris here and there about the course. They may have just been doing some spring cleaning...but it was an eyesore at times. If seeing a course at its best matters to you, you may be happier visiting later in the season.
• Pink pin location on 18 seems weak in my opinion...pretty much a forced layup unless you park it off the tee. Blue pin plays much better.
• #12 is one of the weakest holes on the course, and throwing towards a road with cars driving by kills the vibe.
Not reflected in my rating, but I felt these are worth mentioning:
• Scouting ahead to spot baskets is particularly frustrating (and tiring) on such hilly terrain.
• There were piles of wood and debris here and there about the course. They may have just been doing some spring cleaning...but it was an eyesore at times. If seeing a course at its best matters to you, you may be happier visiting later in the season.
Other Thoughts:
One of the best in the state, especially if you crave elevation. Any of the individual layouts very good to excellent on its own, but the course as a whole truly is phenomenal because of the additional variety the mix and match scheme yields and how well it adapts to fit different skill levels.
Every bit as much a workout as it is fun, playing here is truly a hike, and covers a lot of ground. The terrain only makes what would otherwise be a long walk particularly taxing... you don't want this being your 3rd round on a multi-course day. Some of the more exhausting walks were between holes, and this course will have you sucking wind at times. Don't expect a quick round.
Chances are you'll need to deal with the wind on the more open holes. It can help or hurt, but reading it and using it to your advantage is a skill to be developed.
Played Blue to Pink, but took a good look from the pink tees and at the blue pins. I came hoping to play different layouts on consecutive days, but to be honest, playing another round the next day would have made me useless for Hickory Hills.
Camping? Just a few miles from Traverse City State Park: clean, private showers, shady sites, plenty of restaurants and directly across the street from a public beach.
Every bit as much a workout as it is fun, playing here is truly a hike, and covers a lot of ground. The terrain only makes what would otherwise be a long walk particularly taxing... you don't want this being your 3rd round on a multi-course day. Some of the more exhausting walks were between holes, and this course will have you sucking wind at times. Don't expect a quick round.
Chances are you'll need to deal with the wind on the more open holes. It can help or hurt, but reading it and using it to your advantage is a skill to be developed.
Played Blue to Pink, but took a good look from the pink tees and at the blue pins. I came hoping to play different layouts on consecutive days, but to be honest, playing another round the next day would have made me useless for Hickory Hills.
Camping? Just a few miles from Traverse City State Park: clean, private showers, shady sites, plenty of restaurants and directly across the street from a public beach.
10
4
epic 2+ years
Reviewed:
Played on:Sep 22, 2012
Played the course:2-4 times
Pros:
- Designed by Hosfeld
- HUGE elevation changes, you will be worn out just from walking, and it's tough to learn how discs fly going up and down these hills
- Dual tees and baskets on every hole
- Well marked with nice signs for each tee, next tee markers everywhere
- Bright easy to spot baskets
- Clean play not too rough off in the woods areas
- Balanced design to test all your shots- from all 4 layouts
- HUGE elevation changes, you will be worn out just from walking, and it's tough to learn how discs fly going up and down these hills
- Dual tees and baskets on every hole
- Well marked with nice signs for each tee, next tee markers everywhere
- Bright easy to spot baskets
- Clean play not too rough off in the woods areas
- Balanced design to test all your shots- from all 4 layouts
Cons:
- Not really any, except the tees are carpet but they work fine, even safer in the cold rain I played in than rubber tees would be
Other Thoughts:
Must play if Up North
