- concrete tees on every hole, nice and long
- unique covered rest areas throughout course
- pay to play fee is extremely reasonable (and kids/women free)
- very well maintained course - mowed, in good repair
- good quality Chainstar baskets with visible red rims
- benches and garbage cans throughout course
- extreme elevation change incorporated very well throughout course
- good variety of hole distances
- playable by less experienced players ok with a challenge; opportunity for all skill levels to hone their game
- picnic tables throughout course
- multiple practice baskets
- port o potties
- rock cairns all over course are unique and add to the iconic feel of the course
- moderately wooded on some holes, somewhat open on many
- rough is very forgiving for finding discs for most of the course
- bells for blind shots, a rare but great amenity

- tees could be a bit wider
- tee "signs" (numbers) leave a lot to be desired
- some may consider lack of alternate tees/basket locations on a course this revered a con, but it is a nit in my opinion
- navigation is a little confusing in some places and would benefit from more signage
- some areas can be slightly muddy when course is wet
- no water hazards
- baskets could use hole numbers on them to avoid confusion

Well, I finally made it to Flip City, and with my 9 year old son no less. Waking up at 3:37 AM to head up to Michigan was worth it! While Flip City didn't ultimately earn one of my elusive 5 disc ratings, it is an incredible course I'd love to play again someday. Anyone who can should make it out to this course, especially if you're in the Midwest and it isn't too far. I swear, every course I play in Michigan just seems to raise the bar higher. If you want to travel up and down the west coast of Michigan, there are several other cool courses which help compensate for Flip City being a bit in the middle of nowhere.

Anyone can see the care put into this course; it is clean and immaculately maintained. The challenge is notable here, due to the elevation change and shot shaping requirements. It is a hike, but definitely not the worst hike I've done for 24 holes. The course is tough but not punishing; my 9 year old made it through the course just fine, so while it is a bit much for a beginner, it really is friendly to all skill levels.

You will definitely have to utilize a variety of shots here, but it is more moderately wooded and lightly wooded/open than some other really technical courses. There aren't many insanely long holes, which I prefer; the focus is on technique and placement more than just having a killer arm.

While pay to play can be viewed as a con in the DG community, it's clear some of the best courses are the private ones with some income to keep things running. $5 is quite reasonable for a course of this caliber, and it allows you to play all day if you want to play Flip twice the same day (I personally would not vote for this). The feel here is casual, with a pay box and no check in process. Amenities are excellent overall, as noted in my Pros comments. About the only thing missing here is a pro shop or food/drink - which honestly gives courses a bit more of a commercialized feel I don't always love anyway.

The natural beauty here is notable; it's not going to be on par with something in the Colorado Rockies, but it has native plants and wildflowers to go with the hilly terrain, and the rock cairns all over just add to the mystique of this unique course. I saw wild turkeys with babies during the round which was a first for me.

Now, for the cons - while this is an excellent course, and the best I've played in Michigan, there are a few things that could be improved. First, because it's fairly simple: navigation. With the map on DGCR we figured it out, but there are times when it isn't completely clear and a few next tee signs would make a huge difference. The baskets also don't have hole numbers on them; at one time we could see 4 baskets roughly the same distance away and it was very unclear which was which. Not that we could have read numbers on baskets from the tee, but these kind of things help if you really can't figure it out.

I'd also like to see real tee signs at a course of this caliber; full color maps would be an excellent, but more expensive, addition. The posts with just hole number on them, which are very low to the ground, aren't particularly helpful. Any other cons are mostly nits; while this doesn't have the cool water hazards of a place like Blue Ribbon Pines, it blows that course out of the water in terms of elevation change. Every course is different, and I think it's worth respecting this beautiful piece of property for what it is.

A couple of the holes have blind tee shots, which are noted on signs. These 2 holes have bells to ring when you are clear for the next group to play. While we were playing, we only saw 1 or 2 groups on the entire course (9:30-11:30 Friday morning), but I think this needs to be employed more on these risky holes. I think some blind shots are a great added challenge but the sight lines can create safety issues; this is really the only safety issue I noted at Flip City and the bells are a great solution, although slightly louder ones might help.

Overall, it was an awesome round at Flip City. Despite the length of 24 holes and the punishing hill climbing, rough was forgiving and finding discs wasn't bad. This is a "fun" 24 holes, not as exhausting as some others. I'd encourage anyone with the means to get out and play Flip City, and if you need a more lighthearted round after this longer one, The Tinderbox in nearby Ludington is an awesome 18 hole course in the woods - tight and technical, but super short distances. Great for families and kids and for a quicker, simpler round.

Flip City. Where to begin.

For those who may be unfamiliar...Flip City itself began when one man decided to install a disc golf course in the backyard of his private West Michigan farm way back in 1980 - Bill McKenzie. With help from a few others, Bill has redesigned, upgraded, and maintained the course for over 40 years. There is a "History" page on the course website if you want to learn more. The "Field of Dreams" movie reference on the course info page is apt.

The elevation changes here are intense, and used well without exception. A large number of baskets are on steeply sloping greens, providing more risk/reward putt opportunities than I could count. There are quite a few awesome downhill tee shots, that can be converted into birdie opportunities with the right throw...or bogies if your shot fades or turns over off the fairway.

The aesthetic here is unique and enjoyable. Past the first couple holes near the parking area, the hills and valleys mostly look very natural but with a few man-made touches:
- Grass at edge of fairways mowed in geometric shapes and paths, reminiscent of a crop circle.
- Rock piles near many fairways and baskets.
- Several small gazebos with seating to relax and catch your breath between holes.
You aren't likely to hear any road noise except maybe on the first few holes. It will be just you, nature, and other DG'ers.

There are several very memorable holes here, and a couple that arguably surpass signature level and could be called "iconic". Some of my picks:
- Hole 5 plays 290' up and over a ridge, with drop-offs on both sides and clearly marked OB on the right hand side. The ridge has several trees to block an easy path to the basket, and the ground is covered in roots and rocks. The basket is on a steep downward slope.
- Hole 10 is another up-and-over style hole. From the tee it looks like the basket is probably off to the left, but it's actually straight ahead and in the middle of a flat plateau.
- Hole 11 is one of the most memorable holes I have ever played, and is basically Flip City in a nutshell. This hole plays across a valley, sloping steeply downward from the tee pad and with the basket perched on an equally steep upward incline on the other side. The fairway is decorated with the rock piles and mowing patterns mentioned above.
- Hole 2A is the longest one here at 670'. It plays straight over rolling terrain. The fairway is wide and well-mowed, with the patterns on each side. It almost feels like you are on a ball golf course - except for the numerous old-growth trees planted right in the middle.
- Hole 12 plays 270' across another valley to a basket perched several feet off the ground on a stump. The terrain around the basket slopes steeply downward to the left as seen from the tee. If your RHBH drive hyzers out you will have a long trek back uphill to the basket - and if your putt misses it might roll all the way back down again.

There are several other holes here that could be deemed signature material on a normal course. Even the holes that are less memorable have good variety and plenty of obstacles to work around. You will have to throw a lot of different shots with several different discs to score well here.

The baskets are beautiful red Chainstar Pros, in like-new condition. They really stand out and add to the aesthetic of the course. Hole 16's basket is hanging on a line, which doesn't really affect play but is another unique touch.

The cement tee pads are narrower than you may be used to, but they are long enough and mostly still in good shape. They are definitely on the older side and will probably be due for a re-pour in a couple more years. There is also a broom at every tee pad, and benches/trash cans at many pads. I think there used to be multiple tee locations per hole, but now there is only one.

The course flows well. I see no filler holes here, yet there are also no long walks between holes. After playing holes 1-11 you have the opportunity to continue directly to hole 12 for an 18-hole round, or add on holes 1A-6A for a total of 24. Tees 12 and 1A are right next to each other facing opposite directions, so you won't miss either one. If you choose to play 1A-6A (which I recommend, you drove all the way here after all), a short path from 6A's basket leads right back to the same area, which is on the top of a hill. There is also a picnic table here to rest your legs.

The course is always in immaculate condition. If you play your round in the morning you are likely to see Bill himself, or at minimum one of his helpers mowing the fairways and sweeping the teepads.

There are not one, not two, but three practice baskets next to the parking lot to warm up. The baskets are thoughtfully spaced out a bit so you can easily putt between them. There are also other random baskets scattered around near the parking area that you could use to warm up if the course is very busy.

Port-a-potties on site. You can also camp on site near the practice baskets.

There are no tee signs. There are just posts next to each tee pad, about 1' tall with the hole number. At this point with the course being as famous as it is, I wonder if it's Bill's personal preference to not have tee signs and if so I respect that - but disagree. The basket is not visible from the tee on about half of the holes and I think that many people - especially those who have come a long way to play Flip for the first time - would appreciate some guidance. The tee signs don't have to be the gaudy color mini-maps that I usually like. Wooden boards with a rough hole layout and key obstacles routered in would be sufficient without compromising the aesthetic of the course. Maybe painted red to match the baskets?

Even though the course flows well, there are a couple of places where Next Tee signs would still be helpful (5-6, 9-10, and 11-12 or 1A come to mind). There is a cool-looking sign to point DG'ers in the right direction where paths cross between holes 7-8 and 13-14. Signage like this in a few other locations would be a nice addition. You can get a scorecard with a rough course map at the first tee, which helps alleviate this somewhat too.

Hole 3A is a little too tightly wooded for my liking. This hole kind of feels like "poke and hope" for me. If there is a reliable line, I haven't found it yet. I think a few more trees should be removed. Hole 9 also has a very tight grove of trees as you approach the basket.

There are no water hazards.

There are only a few opportunities here for bigger arms to really air it out. Hole 2A (par 5) is the only one that surpasses 500' in length, and only four other holes are >400'.

The $5 fee allows you to play all day, so you can play a second round for free if you want. This course is a major workout though, so if you are planning on that you will want to bring at least 3 bottles of water. I was surprised (and delighted) to have the course almost to myself for two rounds today - on the Friday heading into Fourth of July weekend no less. I'd recommend coming on a weekday if you can to avoid the crowds (but not Wednesday, as that is league day).

Why would I bother to review a course that already has 224 reviews? First of all, this is my 50th review and one year anniversary since my first review so I wanted to review a special course as a nod to those occasions. But also, reading a few of the previous reviews as well as seeing/hearing discussion of this course spurred some thoughts that I want to share.

Before you invest a lot of time and money into a big trip across the country or world to play this course (or any course!), you should consider what you are looking for in a course and research how well the course(s) you have your eye on seem to match up with that.

In my view the main attractions of Flip City are the unique aesthetic (talking about the rolling wooded hills and also the "wow" factor when you consider that this is really Bill's backyard) and the elevation challenges. Those are two of the biggest draws a course can have for me, so I love playing here.

If your ideal course is an easy pitch and putt/ace race to stop by with your family after work, well this obviously isn't that.

If your ideal course is a marathon disc golf challenge demanding 300' water carries on hole after hole, well you also might leave here disappointed. In terms of distance and challenge, this course has more than enough of both to keep me happy personally but it is definitely not the longest or most challenging round you will ever play. I can think of several courses - even out of the 60ish I have played as of this writing which are mostly within a couple hour's drive of Flip - that have more length, and difficulty to score well on.

If you use UDisc and don't really care about signage, you might be shocked that I am basically taking off half a disc rating just for that. My ideal course can be played without referring to UDisc or any map (although the latter is always nice to double-check). But if you feel differently that's OK!

The point I am trying to drive home here is: Every single review of this course and every other course on this site is subjective and has bias. If you have a brain, you have bias. Do your research before visiting any course but especially one that you will be coming a long way to play.

To sum up, this is an incredible course that Bill has poured his heart and soul (also time and money) into for over 40 years. I feel like what Bill has done here is basically just a bit of signage short of being the best that it can possibly be. It is a course that is 100% worth experiencing and it deserves the attention that it receives.

UPDATE JUNE 2023: I have come back to play this course a handful of times since writing the essay above - most recently yesterday. The additional visits (plus interactions with other players) have reinforced my feeling that the lack of tee signs and shortage of navigational signs are firm Cons - significant enough for me to leave this rating at 4.5. That said, the additional visits have also reinforced how much I love playing here. I am now approaching 175 courses played and while I'm not sure that Flip is really the #3 course in the world (its current ranking on this site), it is still in my personal top 10. I feel very fortunate to have a course this good only about a 75 minute drive away from where I live.

The drive down the eastern side of Lake Michigan on US-31 runs near a lot of great disc golf - from Hickory Hills up in Traverse City, down through the Ludington area with Mason County Park and Whiskey Hills Campground, right past what is still the best church course I have played in The Breakers, to Shore Acres Park near Saugatuck. But even amongst all of those courses, Flip City remains the brightest star. Hop in your car, or book your flight and come experience it for yourself.

This is a beautiful course that's located mostly in the woods behind the house of the person who designed the course (the first hole, however, is in his front yard, but he has some nice landscaping near the tee pad). It's very scenic and the holes offer a variety of challenges including blind tee shots, uphill throws, downhill throws, narrow fairways, and lots of trees serving as tricky obstacles. Some holes are real long, while others are kind of short. One of the baskets is on a giant hillside and is sitting on top of a tall tree stump (that's pretty unique). There's signage on each hole and they're very helpful. Also, It's easy to find your way around the course.

Just a few small issues: If you're playing by yourself, you may have a hard time finding your disc on the blind tee shots. There was one hole (I think it might've been 5a) that had too many trees blocking the basket without a good path for your disc to follow to reach the basket. The approach shot for hole 1 seemed a little too easy. There are some trees nearby that could've been utilized more as obstacles, and there's also room to make the hole longer, but neither one of those is the case. The beginning of hole 2 starts off a little too easy. It's flat, open, and has no obstacles. Also, the tee pads are a little short and are looking kind of old.

Overall, this is a beautiful course that's really fun to play and can challenge you in a variety of ways. Easily one of the best courses, if not, the best course you'll ever play, and yet it was built and is maintained by just a single person who lives out there. It may cost a little money to play, but it's totally worth it (plus the guy who lives there needs that money to help maintain the course, so it makes sense to pay).

Flip City is a privately owned but open to the general public course located in western Michigan. Green fees are $5 all day and $3 after 3 P.M. Girls and kids play free. There's camping onsite and scorecards and maps in a box on the shed by hole 1. This is where the pay to play mailbox is located as well. There is ample parking and portable toilets by hole 1 and between 3A and 4A I believe.

Now onto the actual golf itself. This was my 350th course to play and the most enjoyable of all of them. I'd personally say that this course is more 4.75 than 4.5. I didn't give it a 5, though I wanted to, because I don't feel I can give any course a "best of the best" rating without playing every course or at least top courses out there. So 4.5 it is.This course has 24 holes that are all immaculately maintained. Better than most city or county parks I've played. The baskets are Mach V's of an older variety but they catch great and are all mounted level. There are concrete tee pads on every hole except one. This is on a shorter hole earlier in the round ( hole 7ish maybe). The flow of the course is very easy to follow, especially with the map. If there aren't maps available play holes 1 through 11, then after that you go up the hill behind 11 play 1A before 12. There are 6 lettered holes being 1A through 6A. 6A will take you back up the hill to the tee for 12. Flows smooth from there on out. There is a mixture of lengths here ranging from 172 feet on hole 17 up to 670 feet on hole 2A. There is a good mix of shots required here though it does definitely favor RHBH or LHFH but not completely. There is no water in play but there is abundant elevation throughout. There are epic downhill shots, across valley shots, challenging up hill holes and everything in between. The course is a workout. Plan on at least 2 hours for a twosome depending on your conditioning and speed of play. The rough on the course is very manageable as well. I'd imagine it'd be pretty hard to lose a disc here without throwing an absolute shank of a shot.

And lastly, This course has been around for longer than I have. It has been lovingly cared for by one man in that time and it shows. With that being said don't come here expecting open bomb after bomb. This course was around before high speed drivers so of course there aren't a bunch of grip and rip holes. It's as peaceful and serene of a place you will find anywhere. An absolute gem of a course.

As mentioned before there are no tee signs, only a black and white painted 4x4 with a hole number on it. It would be nice to have a hole map on some holes but isn't really that big of a deal in my opinion. Apparently the course can get busy. It wasn't on a mid June Monday afternoon but is worth mentioning I guess. Not a con but worth noting that the course closes at 3:30 on Wednesdays for league. That's literally all I can think of and none of them were a big deal for me at all.

This is definitely a destination course. I've been waiting YEARS to play this and it didn't disappoint. In fact it was better than I had hoped it would be. If you're anywhere in the general vicinity make sure you stop in to play. You will not be disappointed. There are many other courses nearby to make for a excellent albeit exhausting day of disc golf. It's in my favorites now and arguably my all time favorite.

Flip City is a backyard wonderland with gorgeous rolling hills, scenic woodlands, and a pretty sweet disc golf course. Bill, course designer and one man grounds crew, has put nearly 40 years of hard work into Flip to build it from a piece of property in Western Michigan to one of the world's highest rated courses. While I respect everyone who considers Flip to be one of the best courses on the planet, I'm not 100% sold on it being a top tier course. I'll get into the positives first.

+ Bill's backyard is beautiful, secluded, and peaceful. You'll be hard pressed to find a course as quiet as this one. There are also a few signature pavilions/shelters that add a unique touch to the course.

+ There are definitely some fun throws here, and some all-time great holes. The ones that really stand out for me are 7, 11, 1A, 2A, 12, and 18. That three hole stretch from 11 to 2A is really special, featuring beautiful views, crazy rock formations, and uber-fun downhill throws. You've gotta throw more than one disc on these holes!

+ For one person to keep up this course is incredible. The fairways were trimmed beautifully and I had no problems whatsoever finding any disc that drifted astray. Props to Bill for all his hard work and dedication!

+ $5 is a very reasonable price to play a course on every disc golfers bucket list. That $5 gets you all day access to the course, so you can play it several times if you'd like.

+ There's plenty of parking and a nice little kiosk by the first tee. There's a money box by the first tee as well, so make sure you pay the man!

- So I have to keep my criteria similar for all my reviews, and I'm not going to make an exception for Flip. The signage was poor, with only the numbers on little white posts in the ground. This makes it tricky to judge where the basket is at times, especially since they're hard to spot.

- Speaking of the baskets, they are grey and tough to spot, especially the ones in the woods. Combine that with the lack of tee signs and you'll often have to walk and squint to see where you're supposed to throw.

+ Outside of the middle section, the course can be a little dull at times.

So don't get the wrong vibe from this review. Flip City is a great course and a must play for any serious disc golfer just for the history alone. Maybe my expectations were too high coming into the round, as I just can't put it up there with some of the best courses in the country. However, Flip is still a great course that deserves its good reputation.

I had driven over 7 straight hours on my own just to be here first when the course opened at 7:30 . I pulled in at 7:20 and was beaten by 2 players that drove here from Lafayette Indiana .You can feel that the course is personable as soon as you park your car . There is no guard out on the grounds to shake you down for your $5 ( much like Milwaukee's city parks ) , just as honor box at the first tee . Nice little scorecards are next to the honor box .a port o let is to the right of the parking lot . You better print a map before hitting this course . While you stretch and check the surroundings , you will find how peaceful the area is . The property sits away from everything , leaving you with just nature and the course . This is a 24 hole course , each hole unique from the rest . Right and left handed holes balance . The baskets . Baskets are of the older mach styles ( I kind of like the yellow banded Discatchers for a course like this . I'll explain a little later ) but in good shape . The tee pads are cement and older but are in good condition . Signage is basic , just a number low and in front of the tee pad . The course fairways were cut perfect and the grounds well taken care of . The first few holes , a blind left bending shot 250' over an embankment ,a 500' straightaway drive and a slightly downhill 375' toss through a tight alley . Now the fun really begins . The elevation changes instantly . As you drive for #4 goes up part of a hill , you will notice little man made rock stacks , kind of like native american tribes made out west to mark pathways . These are all over the place . The landscape goes from nice to gorgeous . All of the natural rock formations , the different types of old and established trees come into view for the rest of the course . There is a lot of wildlife on this property , and I'm not just talking about the disc golfers that are allowed to camp on his grounds at night . The landscape of this course is the prettiest I have ever witnessed . There are benches at pretty much every hole . Some even have a top to them kind of making a hut .. A good plus because of the elevation change and playing 24 holes for some . The course length and clever basket placements will not overwhelm you . That is not what it was intended for . This course was put here for you to admire it and for IT to entertain you . I could enjoy it all spring summer and fall if I lived close by here ( closed for the winter season ) . I came up alone , but I added myself in with the 2 that beat me to the course ( Shout out to Zach and Joe , thanks ) . I wasn't sure that I ever saw the multiple tees that the course details on Disc Review , but So What ! You don't need alternate pin placement or pro tees for this course . ENJOY .A lot of variance for hole length , from 172' to 670' . You will have to control your drives and mid throws on this course . Some risk/reward on the basket placements with some dropoffs and hillsides to contend with . Lots of signature or memorable holes wrapped into one 24 hole course . The last hole is a steep downhill 195' hyzer through a tight formation of trees with a thick shorter tree and it's canopy guarding part of the front and right side of the basket along with the top of it . Should be an easy enough par as long as you clear the tight fairway . My signature hole would likely be #12 . A drive from a hill over a gully onto another hill that slopes to the left and a brushline to the right . The basket is elevated on top of a large tree stump . It will unnerve you , thinking that your missed putt may roll all the way down to the bottom of the hill .

There are a couple I have to add ( sorry , Bill ) #1 signage . . For a national class course , the signage lags . All it has is the tee # . Hard to spot looking for the right tee pad and throwing to blind shot baskets . #2 when I was there , the rough was out of control . I can live with it when I throw to lower elevation blind hole throws , but to spend a long time looking for a disc in knee high rough is frustrating . Bill cut out pathways in the rough , maybe in hopes that you land on one of the paths . Just a suggestion : maybe put orange or yellow flags on the baskets so the players can spot them easier . We had to walk up the fairway on a few occasions just to see where the basket was placed in the woods .

The few cons/suggestion does little to offset the fact that this is an incredible course .The most scenic . This may be the only course that , after I started playing it , I felt as though I belonged to it . hard to explain . By the time I was done , the parking lot was full of cars and you could hear some of the disc golfers on the course . I was able to meet the owner , Bill , after our round . He is a great guy . Keeps up with the game and knows a lot of the history . He sat at the sheltered picnic tables and all of talked for quite a while . I had put down 32 bucket list courses in order that I haven't played yet , and Flip City was #1 . Thanks , Bill for talking to us and giving us the privilege to play your course . My recommendation : This is a destination course . However you have to travel to come here , PLAY IT !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

As many have said before me, the property is awesome. You almost can't go wrong. Put a basket in the ground anywhere and you have a good or potentially amazing hole.

I had to find a flaw and I'm going with signage. I'm really into knowing what hole I'm on and where I'm throwing without having to think about it too much. A good tee sign goes a long way, but even a mark on the teepad would help. Some holes were obvious, others were marked, but some I had to check the map to be sure. I only played one round and it will be different if I ever go back.

I wish I was there when leaves are on the trees, but it was still a beautiful place to play. I did, however, like blue gill a hair more

A person can get just as worn out as they want to get up and down the beautiful hills. Radical stone stacks. Worth the trip and probably work camping to let it all sink in.

Poison Ivy is not unique to this one.

Discs sometimes like to roll very far away.

After 521/39 courses/states played, I can say this is the prettiest course I've enjoyed.

Hard-to-spot-for-a-first-time-visitor single, gray baskets.

Is this the most challenging course I've played? No - Iron Hill, Nockamixon, to name a couple, provide more of a challenge. Variety of elevation changes, combined with some fast greens and/or guarded baskets, are the primary challenges Flip offers. Shot-shaping, less so, as straight off the tee will serve you well on practically every hole. Distances vary quite a bit, too, with ~¼ ~200'-, ~¼ ~400'+, leaving ~½ in-between.

However, I will say that Flip is the prettiest course I've played. Has pretty much every type hardwood tree found in North America, and some pines as well. The rich, green grass, prominent on the steady supply of rolling fairways, was well cut. Scattered groupings of gray stones added to the environment. Minimal undergrowth on the wooded holes with their major elevation changes. Even the squirrels and chipmunks seemed happier and healthier than your typical forest-dwelling rodents.

As mentioned earlier, some of the baskets were difficult to spot from a distance, but course navigation itself was fairly straightforward.

West coast of Michigan in general, Flip City in particular, was the ultimate goal of my recent 9=day/2200=mile roadtrip from Baltimore to Michigan, and it did not disappoint!

ofcourse this place is the stuff of legend ,and it lives up to it well ,still only 3 bucks to play because Bill is old school cool like most west Michigan discgolf people i have met . the layout is sweet with beautiful rolling hills threwout the course .really a great place to be ,it just feels good there.there is onsight camping too!

bugs can get a little nuts out there but whatever

every true discgolfer needs to make the trip atleast once.Events there are special .

Not crowded
Adequate teepads
Length AND ace runs
Elevation
Challenging off-camber basket placements
Nice fairways
Rock Formations

Somewhat remote location, but I think that is also a good thing as it cuts down on player traffic.

We were able to mob golf (I know, cardinal sin of DG) with a group of eight players on a late Friday afternoon and only had to let two normal sized groups pass. There was really nobody else on the course; mind you we were fully prepared to split up the group if it was necessary.
After about hole four or so, it felt like we were playing on a fairy tale landscape that reminded us of the Lord of the Rings. Very few flat fairways and the greens around the basket were very sloped and fast.

-makes great use of the land and elevation
-lots of fun holes, ace runs, deuce opportunities
-well sized concrete tee pads
-easy navigation
-benches, trash cans, periodic shelters from the sun or rain
-aesthetically excellent: rolling hills, rock art, woods
-pay to play, only a dollar! it's a steal
-great atmosphere, cool vibes, rustic charm

-no water
-tee signs are only small numbered signs, but the baskets are mostly visible from the tee and distances are on the scorecards, but...
-sometimes the scorecards are unavailable
-mostly straight shots, few forced lines other than low ceilings, only 1 right-turning hole
-mostly shorter holes, only a few chances to really open up on drives, only 2 real multi-drive holes (2A and 16) out of 24

There is literally nothing to say about Flip City that hasn't been said already. The property is magical and the course is tons of fun, one of the most fun I've played anywhere. The scenic beauty and cool atmosphere of this place sets a great tone for your round. Even playing in the rain at 6:00am, I was excited the whole time.

The course makes really effective use of the hills and elevation. There are tee shots going downhill (6, 8, 1A, 13, 18), across the valley (7, 11, 12), and uphill (5, 10, 17). The holes range from relatively open with some trees in play to fairly wooded. Tree lines define the fairways and frequently frame the tee, basket, or both. The course plays fairly short excepting holes 2, 2A, 15, and 16. Most pins can be reached from the tee and only 2A and 16 are legitimate 2-drive holes. Most tee shots are straight with room to play BH or FH, with few forced lines, and only one right-turning hole.

The short holes are fun but for me they made the course feel almost one-dimensional. This combined with the slow start to the course (the first 3 or 4 are typical) made me feel underwhelmed overall with what is one of the most talked about courses and a long time #1 rated course. Of course, I'm also splitting hairs here because as I said before, I had a blast playing my entire round in the rain. And the small touches all over the property from the rock piles to the shelters and benches to the cool spots like the meadow of green 5A and the view from tees 1A/12 all add to the great experience of Flip City.

Probably the best par 3 course you will play. A true destination course that should be on every disc golfer's bucket list. Amazing that it is all the vision and hard work of one man, thanks Bill!


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The pros of this course are almost too many to list, but I'll do my best not to miss any.

Flip City is off of a dirt road in Shelby, MI, not near anything much that I could decifer.

You pull up, and there is a small house and a barn and a boat... Yes a boat, the USS Flip City(a small sailboat) that is up on stilts and used as a flagpole.

I'm immediately I'm immediately intrigued; first class disc golf and eccentricities? I'm all in.

There is a small parking lot and you walk over to the pay slot( an upturned mailbox with a slit cut in and put in your $1(seriously, just one dollar) and grab a scorecard and map from another mailbox just beside it.

Numbers one and two are good warmups over well manicured land(Bill was cutting the grass as I played there, but luckily stopped briefly so that I could say hello).

It quickly escalated into a more technical course that can bring great reward or great frustration depending on how your bad hops or lucky bounces go.

It's heavily wooded throughout and has a ton of these little rock sculptures throughout. Some are huge in moveable cairns that are intentionally placed, others are small and built by players.

Of the latter, of you knock one over you must repair it and build one of your own.

I didn't knock any down but built a few more, becuase it's fun and what better thing could you do while waiting for someone to throw?

The course is widely varied between short technical holes like #3 or #17 and some big open bombs like #2A which was among my favorites.

There is a great amount of thought behind every hole, and great long teepads. With a runoff area at the end so that you never step in those pesky end of pad puddles.

I love the trees; the course is flush with great old growth hardwoods, manicured pines and all manner of amazing foliage.

It's also a big enough course that even though I wasn't alone out there it felt like it at times, and you could really connect with the course and your game. It's actually not massive at about 35 acres but you feel miles away from the nearest player even of they are 100 ft away.

The fairways are mostly very gaurded and give very little runoff from errant throws on neighboring holes.

There are plenty of port o johns and shelters and at least one sitting area by every hole.
It's truely a pleasure and one of the jewels of the sport.

Threre are very few, I feel bad about putting anything here.

If they are out of maps(like they were when I played) it's hard to navigate some holes, hole layouts by the tee would be cool to have.

There is only one layout per hole...again on an epic 24 hole course this is nitpicking, but I'd love to see what Bill could come up with.

Bill said some people have been after him to add some water holes, I disagree, one; why mess with an amazing legendary course? Two; mosquitoes you guys. There were very few when I played, unlike every other MI course this summer.(they all had water)

This is a must play that I get to check off my wishlist, it was as good as advertised and I understand all the love it has been given now.

I can only give it a 4.5 becuase you can't do a 4.75 on here and I think that comparied to the gold standard in my book(Rollin Ridge) there are fewer amenities and modern touches. Not that that is a bad thing really, the rustic nature of the property is quite charming.

Play this course, if your a local treat it well.

And put more than $1 in the mailbox.

Wonderful 24 hole course, out in the middle of nowhere, set on some of the best land you could imagine for discing. Truly pristine.

2 tee areas on each hole. Longs are nice, grippy concrete, with a foul line and runover area. Really nice, and plenty long/wide enough. The shorts are natural and signified by two rocks. We didn't see anybody playing the shorts the entire weekend.

Good baskets, all in good repair, and very level. They all caught well. No issues here. One pin position for each hole.

Elevation EVERYWHERE. Outside of a few holes, elevation played a big part in nearly every shot, and in a good way. Well thought out and never seemed to be gimmicky. The terrain also seemed to block out a lot of wind, which to me, is a huge positive.

Great use of the obstacles here. Trees forced certain lines or served as pin guardians. Well designed in every way. The risk/reward on many holes is fantastic. There were a few lines I hit that I felt as if I'd just won the Super Bowl.

Superb mix of distances. Several holes under 200', but even those were tricky, technical shots that required great touch and sometimes, a bit of luck. Bombers in the 400's, a 650' hole 2 that goes from clearing to trees...really all you could hope for in one course. There really isn't a throwaway hole on the entire course....which is quite a feat over 24 holes.

The manicuring here is beyond awesome. Fairways are perfectly framed (and perfectly generous) and lines are mowed into the taller prairie grass, which makes finding discs much easier. Flip City is scenic as you could want.

Navigation was a breeze, with many next tee signs helping the cause, and a very intuitive layout.

Not much to list here.

Some of the rough is ROUGH. If you're off the fairway in the wrong spots, you'll come out worse for the wear, to be sure.

No water. No biggie, but worth mentioning.

Only one set of real tee pads, and one pin position. While the golf is phenomenal, it would definitely be cool to see multiple pin positions.

No tee signs to speak of. Just a post in the ground with the hole number. If you don't grab the scorecard at the beginning, you won't know distances, outside of eyeballing. It kind of boggled my mind that there weren't great signs here, especially with all the other hole to hole amenities (benches/shelters/etc).

Flip City is truly a destination. You can camp onsite ($10 night/person), and only $1 a round, which is dirt cheap. The camping is rough (no showers or other amenities), and you'll want to be fully stocked on supplies, unless you want to drive 15 mins to restock.

From scenery, to serenity, Flip City is all you can imagine. I had an absolute blast playing here. Group rounds are fun as hell, and the solo round I snuck in was equally rewarding. Make sure to thank Bill for all his work...this place is certainly a labor of love. From the rock sculptures to the rolling hills to the golf club feel of the fairways, he has truly built something great.

I know I'm going to get many thumbs down for rating Flip City a 4.5, but it's less of an indictment of what Flip is than of what other courses are, as it relates to the current run of new courses and their amenities (Rollin' Ridge sticks out as the gold standard for me). The golf is as good as anywhere I've been. It just lacks the amenities of some other modern courses.

With that said, this is definitely a destination, especially with Beauty/Beast/Goliath/Leviathan (among others) in the immediate area. I actually thought I'd be let down coming here, but it was quite the opposite. I now "get it" when it comes to Flip City...now get there so you too, can "get it"!!!

Lots of picturesque holes for your camera.
Lots of length.
Fairways groomed.
Quiet surroundings.
Scenery. Lots to sit and look at.
24 holes that are nicely "linked" together!
Good people to run into all over this course.
Not too busy.
Great elevation changes.
Easy to navigate.
Lots of places to sit and take a break.

This course is remote. Western MI is a beautiful place to roam around in, and this course takes full advantage of the area. Some folks like water hazzards. This course doesn't appear to have any, but for me personally, I don't consider that a "con".

What all the others have said. My GPS led me directly to this place as one small dirt road led to an even smaller dirt road. A "mixed" sense of isolation and comfortable security filled me when I drove up to the property and saw the sign for "FLIP CITY". It's hard to describe, but there seems to be a lot of poverty in this part of the country. The dirt roads and dilapitated houses you pass on your way to this little gem contribute to the feeling of uneasiness one might have when one is far from one's hometown. When you reach Flip City however, the sprawling acres will make you feel at home again. Everywhere you look on this course, you will find dedication and attention to the detail of a disc golf course.

$1 to play per round is a steel. I placed a buck in the can and shot the 24 holes by myself at a liesurely pace. It probably took me a bit over 2 hours. I loved every minute of it, and I cannot wait for the chance to return. Bugs were not too bad, but I had spray. Lots of garbage cans, but I would encourage you to carry-in, carry-out. It's not that hard to do.

Once you finish hole 11, I encourage you to go to the top and follow to the right for holes 1A-6A. When done with 6A, you are right where you left off for hole 12. As mentioned, these holes are "linked" well.

Flip City is the Babe Ruth of disc golf. It has been a legend for longer than anyone can remember, it used to be #1, it got passed by a few others, but it's still beloved more than any other.

And for good reason. Playing here was a thoroughly enjoyable experience. The first several holes won't necessarily wow you, but after hole 4 it's all fun. Hole 5 is a steep uphill shot with the basket perched on a thin area with danger behind. Hole 6 gives a preview of the rest of the course: a downhill drive on a generous fairway.

After this many of the holes play up, down, over, and through the valleys that make up this guy's back yard (seriously, who gets to have a back yard like this?). These shots reminded me of a lot of the shots at Waterworks and Swope in Kansas City. Many of the baskets are on the hillside, which is always a plus for me. Get too aggressive and you'll be taking some bogeys or worse.

My favorite holes are 7, 10, and 11. Hole 7 is a gentle downhill drive that needs to get past some trees before a climb back up to a basket on top. Hole 10 is a steep uphill shot over a hump where your drive needs to land close or you have a very danger putt toward a cliff behind. Hole 11 shoots down that valley with the massive rock cairns in the midst of the fairway.

The care given to the fairways is exceptional. The fairways are perfectly mowed. The rough has paths cut out to help you look for your disc. At one point "FLIP CITY" is carved into the ground, in another point there is a giant basket mowed with dirt and grass. Ambitious and creative.

All of the holes are listed as par 3s on the scorecard, but a couple are really par 4s. Hole 2a (there are six holes between holes 11 and 12, and I'm guessing he didn't want to renumber the original ones when he put in these new ones) is 670 feet long through some undulating, lightly wooded terrain. Hole 3a is only 306 feet, but there is obvious path through the thick trees, and I think getting a 3 is more the result of luck than anything.

One of the best parts of the course for some reason is the mysterious rock cairns dotting some of the fairways and greens.

Apparently they were built by disc golfers and slowly built up. I like a course with a feature I haven't seen before, and it gives you a sense of the people who were here before you who love the course.

Navigation is pretty easy. The main tees are all concrete: old but adequate.

There are really very few technical holes. Hole 3a is the only truly technical hole, and it's not a great design (you really need to remove a tree or two). Generally the fairways leave a lot of room for error.

This is not an easy course, but I wouldn't say it was particularly challenging either. I don't mind having a configuration like this, but ideally you would like to have longer tee pads with more challenge. There is only one set of concrete tees, and the alternate tees are even shorter and are just rocks in the grass.

This was one of the tougher reviews to come up with a score for. In terms of fun, this is a 5.0 for sure. I can't say this was the best course I've played, but it was one of the most fun.

It is tough to deny that a few better players have come along since Babe Ruth. But when you want to read legendary tales of a larger-than-life figure, coming out of nowhere to change the game forever, you're not picking up books on those other guys. And when you want to show your friends a legendary course in the middle of nowhere, this will always be the sentimental favorite.

This is some fantastic Michigan disc golf. From the secluded feel to the challenging holes, Flip City brings it. All the fairways had unique rock formations (mostly man made), that added to the aura that is Flip City. The fairways were well defined and the rough wasn't too punishing. It was cut in such as way that you were able to find your disc if your shot strayed. The flow and layout was great. I did not play 1A-6A due to time. I'm regretting it already. The holes here are challenging and diverse. They punish you if you lack accuracy and length. I did not fine them overly difficult from a technical standpoint.

There were markers for the holes but really no signs stating the footage and layout. You had to look at the score card (which was fine but an added step of going into your bag to look). The Am tees were marked with only rocks. These rocks were not clearly marked for every hole. My wife wanted to play from the Ams. It shouldn't be posted on the score card if you don't have it clearly marked in each fairway. This was my one real complaint.

Bring mosquio spray, plenty of water, a lunch, and your 'A' game. Sadly, I didn't get to play Flip City more.
This is in my top three courses I've played. We went on a weekday morning/afternoon and saw only a few other groups on the course (many of those were also from out of town). IT IS WORTH KICKIN' IN THE DOLLAR FOR ONE HECK OF A ROUND OF DISC GOLF.

It was a very fun course to play. The thing that stuck out the most to me was the upkeep, especially the rough. I really appreciated how the rough cut into sections instead of one long stretch of rough. Normally I hate tall grass with a passion because of the time it takes to search for a disc, but by cutting the rough in sections I was able to find my disc much faster because I knew where to look.
-All through the course the rocks were stacked to give a cool affect.
-The layout was easy to follow.
-A good variety of holes including open, wooded, left, right, uphill, downhill, long, and short.
-Nice big concrete tee pads.
-Disc golf only property.

-Signage could be better on holes. There was just the hole number. I prefer maps for each hole, even if its a simple picture. I also would really like to see distance posted.
-Not clear where the shorter tee pads are. It is grass with maybe rocks stacked to mark where to start?
-Mosquitoes....

Of the 10 courses I played in Michigan, this was by far my favorite. Of the 125+ courses I played this is in my top 5. You get a different feel playing this course compared to other courses I have played. It is very secluded and peaceful. I gave it extra credit points on my rating based on the atmosphere. We went on a weekday afternoon and saw maybe 2 other groups on the course in the distance, but I can see how this place could be very busy on weekends. Normally I'm against paying to play disc golf, but I didn't mind throwing in a dollar for this one.

This course is great. Very diverse hole layouts. From clear open tees that you can really drive from, to blind tees that need a little finesse.
The owner has been working on this course the entire time I've been alive and it shows. I only wish it was a little closer to home.

It's very hilly so be prepared to hike. Also, the tall grass is really thick and would be easy to lose discs in. Bring a friend to spot for you.

An amazing park located on what could possibly be the best land a course could be built on. Lots of elevation which puts this course on a whole different level than any other. Favors both right and left handed shots about equally. Also has a good mix of distances ranging from 500'+ hole all the way to 187'. Nice long concrete tee pads to throw from to top off this great course. Newer baskets and properly mowed and manicured fairways is the ice cream to this masterpiece. Has a few benches and picnic tables around the course which is much needed for the adventure you will have and the rest that will be needed after walking on what could be the motherland of disc golf. Camping at the course is a total bonus and makes it perfect for out of towners wanting to come and play this beauty over the weekend and not have to drive all over. The owner Bill is a really cool, laid back guy willing to play a round with you or just sit by the fire and chat for hours. Has port-o-potties on site that are always cleaned and stocked. An all around amazing course and in my top 3 and def a top 10 course in the world.

Very few cons but with small improvements could send this course to the #1 spot. Some of the tees pads are showing their age and the sand has not been nice to them. They have started to grind holes and divots right where your feet spin and you power up and release your disc. Could be fixed easily with some mortar mix. Not all the holes have a bench to sit on. And with a course that is long and elevated you really start to feel that round when you've been standing all day. Mosquitos can be a pain here, so I highly recommend bringing lots of spray.