Goldenrod is an 18 hole disc golf course located along the Flint River in Davison, Michigan. The land the course is on is DG exclusive and has its own parking area and port-a-johns. The terrain is mostly flat with a few swamps/ponds scattered throughout the area. A few holes play along the banks of the river and a stream. There is a good mix of open & wooded holes, with most having decent lines to the basket.

There are a couple of elevated shots and approaches, with a few tricky greens surrounded by water hazards.

The course is usually in decent shape, but flooding does occur at a couple places in the spring. The front 9 loops back to parking lot before hole 10. There is also a cool alternate tee for hole 18 on top of the hill by the lake.

Some baskets are not visible from the tees, so some scouting might be needed for those unfamiliar with the course. Overall the course is a good challenge for most players with some chances for an ace run here and there.

I'm not an expert on this course, but keep in mind that you'll probably have a better time here if you play it before the spring thaw or you just might want to wait until late summer/early fall to come out. In the spring this place can get wet and soggy, right off the fairways. Don't forget, the skeeters can get bad out there until the place dries up sometime in summer.

Here are a few notable things that stand out about Goldenrod

PROS:

DG Exclusive - You'll get the occasional horse rider or snowmobiler but it's usually just dgr's out there. A patrol car will circle through once in a while to check up on the place but I haven't heard of them busting anyone's chops. There are leagues and tournaments held here year-round.

Good Use of Available Land - The course makes good use of the area. It's not pristine golf course land, but it does have some unique features not found at every DG course. There is some surrounding park land for an expansion or re-design if ever needed. There are several baskets near water or slopes to increase the difficulty/risk.

FREE - No special park pass required to enter or play. This is the only course in the area so it can get busy in the afternoons. Most people I have met there have been very friendly. I've even seen the old lady wearing waders (scouring the ponds) toss your disc back to you if it lands in the water.

Other Things To Do - There is fishing, a BMX complex, an ATV/Off-Road Park, Huckleberry RR & Village, and many other things to do in the area for you or others.

CONS:

Course Conditions - As mentioned earlier, your enjoyment will depend on what time of the season you go. There are many spots that get soggy in the spring. The water-level near the ponds are higher in the spring and make you think twice about going for the basket with danger if you overshoot it. All the water breeds our skeeter friends at a rapid rate and bug spray is a must May-August.

Teepads - The rubber pads are not all that bad, but concrete tees would be a welcome sight. I can live with the rubber but some might not care for them.

Lack of Amenities - The course is in a pretty remote area of town. You'll need to stop somewhere before you get there for water, food, discs, etc. While there were two porta-johns there, they weren't the cleanest. Tee signage is also ho-hum but it could be due to past vandalism.

Overall, we usually have a good time here. Your experience will most likely be determined by the time of year you play it. If it's your first time, try to get someone who's played there to guide you around. While I wouldn't consider this course as a destination, it's worth the drive and a must-play during the dry season. I'd rate it a solid 4.0 course on its good days, but I can also see it rated as a 3.0 during the "not so nice" days.

This course will teach you a great lesson about the fairway! If you go off the fairway you may loose your disc. There is wooded and open shots, and a few elevated shots as well. The woods get real tight in the back 9 and add a lot of difficulty.

Mosquitoes are bad...REAL BAD in the summer!

It teaches you how to throw all different types of shots, makes you learn what types of shots to put in your arsenal.

Access to water on quite a few holes, and mosquitos are pretty bad during the summer.

I love the course, it tought me how to play so i still play through the bugs, i just wish that people wouldnt mess with things out there, like the teepads and the tee markers, and the nonsense vandalism.

Awesome layout, wide variety of elevation and terrain changes, you'll have a great time.

There is a lot of water. Tee pads can be slick in the rain.

I played this course for the first time and had no problem. We played a game of Wolf through 30 holes. I would have to say that this is probably the most fun course I have played yet. When I went there were maps of the course and score cards near hole one in a plastic container. Definately play it if you have the chance.