(2.663 Rating) A mostly wooded course that needs some love.
- POTENTIAL - Normally when I give a 2.5 rating for a course, it means I find the course to be a typical example or average. That is not the case for Deer Lick, as it only has 3.5 and 1.5 rating qualities and attributes, that then averages at a "decent" 2.5 rating grade from me. The course has lots of potential that's currently not being realized due to the course's condition. A majority of this course plays in the woods and it does have many tantalizing lines. Unfortunately, eye-catching lines don't really translate when there's waist high weeds in the middle of the fairway. Course maintenance by local volunteers is desperately needed here. Several of these lines would look glorious with 3 or 4 man-hours of labor. It appears most of the local effort is going to nearby Boundary Waters instead of here.
- RAW BEAUTY - I scored this aspect a touch above average, but Deer Lick has the potential to be more in the 70 to 75 percentile range for this aspect. Hole (8) with the English ivy along the entire first half of the fairway looked spectacular. Hole (10) was another really pleasing fairway being both heavily wooded and having a slanted fairway. Hole (15) was uniquely beautiful with the basket perched on a mound past a bend in the creek and surrounded by heavy woods. It's unfortunate that the full glory isn't currently realized.
- HOLE VARIETY - It seemed like there was some decent play variety here. Hole (1) is a warm-up the cannon type of hole. It's open and over 400 feet long. There are several technical plays with the basket placements breaking in both directions. Water comes into play a few times and it includes lakes and creeks. There are up-hills, down-hills and valley shots. Only one par 4 despite a DGCR listing of two of them. Extending (7) a bit would be an easy way to add a second par 4.
- CHALLENGING - As an MA2 level player, I finished at even par. It feels like a high-end MA3 course, but the poor fairway conditions will likely add 2 to 3 throws compared to if the course were actually in good shape.
- CHAINS, TEES AND BENCHES - Concrete tees, 24 chain DISCatcher baskets and benches on every hole.

The volunteers aren't coming here.
- UNKEMPT - As has been alluded to many times already in this review, the conditions on my visit were not good, and it appears that this is often the case. I'll throw out a guess and say that coming here during the winter is likely the best time to play here as much of the overgrowth will be dead. I personally took off about a ½ point in my rating due to consistently poor conditions and I could see others thrashing the course for even more rating points than I have. Plan for lots of searches on this one if playing it over the summer.
- BEGINNER FRIENDLY - Not Beginner friendly or even MA4 friendly due to the conditions and the disc loss potential. Hole (14) has a pond in play along the left most of the way and it is likely the biggest plastic collector.
- NAVIGATION AND SIGNAGE - No course map posted at the community board. The tee signage is good on some holes, but terrible on others. Next tee directions are also present in some areas, but also lacking in others. I advise using a navigational app or having a guide like I did for this one.
- TIME PLAY - It took my super quick foursome an hour and 40 minutes to complete this one. I don't see how first-time solo's can tackle it in under an hour, due to the search in reconnaissance aspect.
- IFFY LINES - Even in perfect conditions, there are at least three holes that need a redesign or a couple trees removed. The line on (4) has no route to run it to the basket clean without some blind luck. Hole (7) is one of those 3.5 par holes. Moving the basket up 50 feet on (7) or back 50 feet and labeling a par 4 would both result in a better hole IMO. Hole (11) felt like a poke and hope shot as well.

I liked it and didn't like it. I found Deer Lick Park to be beautiful behind the veil of overgrown conditions. Unfortunately, the overgrowth bit too many times for me to find this place blissfully enjoyable. If Deer Lick were to ever have a sustained effort to keep up the fairways and to update all the signage, this place is then an easy 3.0 course in my books. As is, I'm going with a 2.5. I see no issues with someone scoring this place a 1.0 if conditions and navigation are a players two most important rating aspects.
- THANK YOU - I was fortunate to meet up with my friend Roman to serve as my guide for this one. We use to throw in a doubles league in the Tampa Bay area and have now both ended up in different big cities. Thank you sir, hope we can do it again.