-Spectacular setting and amazing views throughout. You won't find better in Michigan.
-Fantastic hole design. Nothing repetitive, nothing cheap (only one hole that could really even be considered a "poke and pray", #2) and will test almost every shot in your game at some point. This is what a "wooded" course should look and play like.
-Amazing disc golf atmosphere. You can literally feel the love for the game here, something only Flip City comes close to rivaling in Michigan.
-Great layout. Never any real confusion about where the next hole is. Furthermore, the layout makes great use of the elevation without being obnoxious and overly exhausting; something the nearby, now-extinct Carly's Playground failed miserably at.
-Very few places where you can legitimately lose a disc. No dense underbrush in the woods and no thick scrub and grass in the open areas. If you know Michigan disc golf, you know this is a rarity and a huge luxury.
-Extremely close proximity to Traverse City (basically located in the city). Lots of northern Michigan courses suffer from being way out in the middle of scenic nowhere. Literally only 2 minutes from the best disc golf store in Northern Michigan, Tilley's, as well.

-The only real negative is a few missing tee signs.
UPDATE: Missing Tee Signs have been replaced
-Last I played, hole 24 was removed, which was a bummer cause it was a fun little 300-foot finishing hole. I'd assume this was due to basket theft, but I'm not sure.
-Advanced players will likely tell you that this course isn't very challenging. You can definitely shoot some very low scores here.

Simply put, this is the best course I've ever played, a list which includes legendary courses like DeLaveaga, Flip City, Fountain Hills, Idlewild, Kensington Toboggan Course, and Golden Gate Park. It easily holds its own among the top courses in the state and even the country.

-Lots of variety and good course flow
-24 holes
-easy to follow
-nice views and nice walk
-great for everybody -- lots of intermediate, average, semi-pro, and recreational players
-nice way to spend an afternoon

-some benches and tee signs are missing
-in the summer some of the holes get overgrown with weeds which makes some holes harder to find your disc

-lots of walking
-great course if you are visiting TC and want some great views that most people don't know exist
-This is a difficult course for beginners because the holes are rarely straight and open

-large groups of players are not recommended because there can be some waiting and the hickory regulars tend to like to play quickly and a large group can really slow down gameplay -- this course is usually about 2 hours with three people but can take as long as 4.5 if there are large groups that are on every hole slowing down the game

Good mixture of easy and difficult shots. Good elevation changes, clean, easy to navigate. Tee pads were in good shape, and course is unbelievably beautiful.

None that i can think of.

VERY LONG if you're playing the full 24. Take lots of water and comfortable shoes.

Beautiful landscape and major elevation make this course my personal favorite. Variety of different shots are required to navigate through the woods and hills. Challenging, yet good players should score well below par. Very fun course to play (i.e. hole 19)

Tough for me to even give a "con" for this course. Crowds are sometimes a problem in the primetime summer months. Hilly terrain makes this course a workout if all 24 holes are played.

Grew up playing this course, I'm fortunate enough to live a few minutes away. Right in TC, Hickory is a must play for any disc golfer living in or visiting the area!

Ok so this course is just flat out fun, the great layout, the changing elevations, the amazing scenery. It is perfect.

nothing, it does get as little busy at times during the summer, but not worth complaining about.

worth going to if you live in Michigan. And it is FREEEEEEEEE!

The wide variety of the holes of the course made it an amazing experience. From going on straight fairways at the start, to a nice bomb down Hole #19 to the end made it this a really great experience for anyone to try.

The signage for each whole were great. I was able to find where to go after each hole and to find where the tee is when it was out of sight made it great.

Also with the great views of the scenery, my friend and I took several pictures of how amazing some of the views were. Even the dock on hole 19 was pretty awesome. I wish it was little more to the right but it still was really nice.

Trash cans and cigarette butt containers at almost every hole make the course really clean. I did find a couple bottles out in the middle of the woods which was out of the sight from the actual course. There also benches at a majority of the holes so taking a break is always good.

A pro for me was the locals help. I am fairly new to the disc golfing scene and I started playing a lot since April. The Locals were pointing out different tricks and telling stories of each hole. Like at hole 5 you would be exhausted if it was your first time and that you will feel way better when it's all over and also how hole #9 is known as "the hot hole" because it is the most open and it's usually really hot. The people I talked to were all really nice and they were very helpful.

There were a lot of people on the course. When we first arrived, there was 2 groups of 3 in front of us and when my friend and I threw our first disc, there was 3 groups behind us so it's really busy. I usually don't find this to be a problem but you always have to keep going. We were there for almost 3 hours but it was all worth it in the end.

I'm not sure if this was the right path or not but from hole #17-#18 was a really steep incline up the hill. It was the only thing I saw at the time but I noticed it was really tough going up that hill.

When I played this course last week, it was the most fun I ever had discing. I am very happy I live 20 minutes away from the course and I have been playing all 24 holes everyday. It was very tiring but it was all worth it. My friend and I took a lot of pictures throughout the day and it made for one memorable experience. If you ever get the chance to come to T.C, you have to go to this course. It was really fun and I look forward to seeing you there!

Pros would consist of Varying Terrain through the ski hill of hickory with plenty of wooded area as well as fielded. The course opens up with 7 holes winding through the forest with altitude differences starting on hole 5. A few open field holes follow with another winding through the woods after to then be finally be greeted with 3 downhill holes to the last flat three along the entrance road.

It can get a bit dusty on the open holes but that would only be if there was no rain for about 1 week.

A great all-around-course that fits both beginners and experienced players alike. Par is 80 but most experienced players play everything as 3 so par becomes 72. Hope this Review Helped!

Good signs
Good Tee pads
Lots of technical shots and elevation shots

No water shots
Last 2 holes along the road I didn't really care for.

The view from #19 is stunning. Amazing course!
I went on a Saturday afternoon and it wasn't very busy at all. Not near as bad as people were complaining about.

Absolutely beautiful to walk through, Superb fairways, great variation, couldn't be better in my book.

I can't think of any, but I've only played once.

I wish I lived in Traverse City just for this course, I will be playing every visit I make, Bring water, there's some climbing to be done.

- Unbelievable elevation shots (Up and down)
- Majestic ambiance and beautiful scenery
- Great hole variety (short, long, technical, open and tight fairways)
- The elevation creates high risk/reward by punishing errant throws.
- Tee signs with distance and par listed
- Concrete tee pads on most holes
- Baskets are in solid conditions.
- #19 and #20 are awesome holes that are very memorable.
- Enough garbage cans to keep the course clean and tidy.

- Few holes have rubber tee pads that are slick in combination with Northern Michigan sand.
- Minor navigation issue between 17 and 18.
- No bathroom or water supply on site.
- Had quite a few tent caterpillars, but not enough to take away from the greatness of the course.

Hickory Hills was a brilliant course. It evokes feelings of adventure by trucking through this seemingly abandoned ski resort. Many of the holes play around and through old ski runs making for some really cool elevation shots. Though there were a few cons about this course, the pros and the ambiance made this course a 5/5 for me. Its hard to describe the magic of this course in words. I strongly recommend it to anyone who is willing to make the trip.

This course is beautiful. It is well designed to the contours of the terrain. I have played this course 200ish times and It is a challenge every time. There is a complete variety of holes, up, down, left, right, long, short. Amazing views! Well maintained. I agree that there are lots of Risk/Reward holes.

Tiring for the weak. Frustrating slopes that discs might roll down. Punks trash the place.

Personal favorite. Could use water station. Tilley's is right down the road.

Hickory has every shot imaginable. Is a great hike. Gorgeous views especially in the fall. Sick elevation changes. Excellent course layout. Excellently managed.

One individual gave a bad review on this great course cause it's too hard. Boo hoo.

Great elevation changes. Has a bit of everything. Wide open holes to tight technical holes. Challenges every part of your game. Has some great views on a few holes, everything you look for out of a great course

Has a bit of a hike between a few holes, but if you enjoy the outdoors (as you should since your a disc golfer) you will have no issue with it. Can get crowded at peak times. If you play in the league though people are good about lettering you play through.

If you are a big golfer in michigan you must play hickory hills. I have played all over Michigan and this is my second favorite course. Happy discing.

Varied distances, both hilly and wooded terrain and ski slopes provide wind tunnels that make things interesting, 24 holes, easy to navigate, nice tees and holes. Overall amazing course! Easily my favorite course thus far!

Usually pretty busy. Might be easy to lose a disc if you're not too careful (Especially on the 600' hole! Found my disc somewhere in Africa...)

Simply amazing. If you disc in Northern Michigan you have no reason to not have played this course.

This course is great!! Every hole is completely different with a variety of different challenges. There are tight shots through wooded areas, shots up hill and down hill, dog legs and long distances drives. The few shorter holes you have to be very accurate, on either side of the fairway there is a hill that if you miss the mark your disc will go rolling down the hill. There are some holes where you tee off from high elevation giving you confidence in your drive. Along with the short holes there are longer holes ranging from 400 to 600 ft, and dog leg hole that make you throw up hill. As I said every hole is different, making this a fun and challenging course for any skill level.

The course is very clean and well laid out. The tee boxes are cement or wood and are in prime condition. Every hole has a sigh with hole's layout, distance and par. There were arrows to direct you to the next hole if it wasn't perfectly clear.

This course has a lot of elevation changes because it is built on a ski hill. Make sure to wear good shoes and bring plenty of water. This is a 24 hole course and you will be doing most of your walking up hill to get to the elevated tee boxes. I didn't find any paper score cards or maps. With a map it would be easier to know where to go, but there is arrows to the next tee box so it is not a big deal. They course is not ideal for beginners; some of the holes can get frustrating if you can't drive or control the disc.

I may be kind of bias because this is the course where I learned how to play disc golf. The best hole on this course is hole 19. It is 620 ft par 5 downhill. At the tee box is a beautiful view of Traverse City and the water. If you can throw it just right you could get a 2 on this hole. It makes you feel powerful to throw a disc 600 ft, even if it is downhill.
This course should be ranked at least at 4 discs, but because the epic hole 19, and I have so much history with this course I think this course is one of the best of bests.

Incredible natural beauty. Immensely challenging and fun. 24 holes, with every kind of variety you can think of.

In the old days this course had one flaw, which was the dirt holes they used as tee pads. Thankfully, those days are past and they've got concrete tee pads everywhere, making this course just about flawless.

The only bad thing is that it's a four hour drive from my house. If I lived closer, I would play it constantly.

Do not miss out on this course. If you are anywhere in the state of Michigan, do yourself a favor and play this course.