Our trip to Lenawee was prompted by a desire to stretch out a disc golf road trip juuuuuuust a little bit longer. The sun was dipping in the sky but the navigation said it was a mere 8 minutes out of our way. 9-holers are rarely something we make a special trip for so we figured we may as well give it a shot as we were not likely going to be in the area again any time soon. Besides, we'd already come off of two fun games and were fiending for just a little bit more before returning home.

Pulling up to the course, we were greeted with a sign indicating we were entering Private Property. This normally would have been plenty of incentive to turn around and go elsewhere as we want to be good ambassadors of the sport. We hesitated, however, as we saw a great deal of activity on the campus. Different sports were being played by mobs of children, walkers were everywhere and the parking lots were well occupied. We decided to venture in and investigate. Was it right? Was it wrong? Hard to say, but we tread lightly and did no harm.

The course is near the back of the grounds and I do mean grounds. Lenawee is not a private school that is hurting financially if its landscaping was any indication. The whole place felt like it bled money. While we didn't want to disturb any groups, the equipment, fields, and simply design of the campus were all very attractive and appealing. Perhaps the fading light hid blemishes, but I don't think so.

The "course" amounted to a pitch and putt. Some very handsome boulders with plaques marked the tee off point. I have to believe that these cost more than the baskets and had never seen anything quite like it before. Go to the appropriate boulder, throw 100-200' to the numbered basket, move on. There weren't even worn spots in the immaculate lawn to indicate a normal throw area - just those expensive looking plaques on boulders.

The course is tucked away enough that it doesn't really interfere with other areas of the campus, though we did occasionally have walkers using the path that cuts through.

For as much as the tee boulders must have cost, the baskets were ramshackle, nasty looking affairs. Frankly they may have been the only unattractive thing I saw in the place. Single chain, rusty, and decrepit looking - their best years were likely experienced in the 90's, though if you told me they were recycled from a course that was put in in the 80's I'm not sure I'd disbelieve you. Your best bet was to try and drop the disc in the basket because those chains were not to be relied on.

Course flow is a bit awkward and it can be difficult to determine which basket you need to throw to as they're all sort of jumbled around the lawn. My buddy had better eyesight and was able to read the numbers on the basket, but they were challenging for me to decipher.

There's a few trees here and there to serve as obstacles but forced lines to speak of. Your average homeowner with a largish suburban yard and 9 portable baskets could probably set up something similar. Actually, the portable baskets might catch better.

The pars, which are embronzed on those plaques by the way, are ludicrous. I believe the longest hole nearly reaches 300' and boasts a whopping par 5.

The course is likely meant for students to participate in during physical education. It may work well for that truth be told. Some dead easy holes for tweens and teenagers to fecklessly toss about to get them moving and maybe even interested in the sport. The juxtaposition of the absolutely appalling baskets to the gorgeous condition of the ground they are set within is just very hard to wrap my head around. The course likely doesn't see much use given the lack of ruts, erosion, and worn spots.

There is nothing here worth pressing that "private property" sign for. Maybe the school is fine with visitors, maybe it isn't. It really doesn't matter though. Leave the course to the students. Go visit the excellent Heritage Park that is in the area instead. If that isn't an option, set up a portable in a yard somewhere. Just skip this one.