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Manitowish Waters, WI

North Lakeland

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35(based on 1 reviews)
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EspressoPatronum
Gold level trusted reviewer
Premium Member
Experience: 18.8 years 256 played 243 reviews
3.00 star(s)

The Real Northwoods Experience

Reviewed: Played on:Sep 17, 2022 Played the course:once

Pros:

- baskets, tees, etc. are generally in good condition
- nice newer tee signs with maps for each hole, though map detail is limited
- raised gravel tee pads are serviceable
- exquisite natural beauty you can't find just anywhere
- a fully immersive disc golf experience including all the sounds and scents of the forest
- next tee indicators are on tee signs and help with navigation
- navigation is logical and straightforward
- rough is generally quite manageable
- well mowed/maintained fairways and school grounds
- excellent technical challenge with tight fairways and mostly forested holes

Cons:

- no elevation change
- very limited amenities (no practice basket, bathrooms, etc.)
- very remote location with not much else around
- holes throwing over football/soccer field are not ideal and could have been put elsewhere
- play may be limited during school hours
- baskets are pretty basic
- wood timbers on tee boxes are VERY slippery when wet
- a bit out of the way for 9 holes (but worth it)
- length may seem a bit limited to some

Other Thoughts:

When I came to the UP/Northern Wisconsin on this trip I was hoping to get some real Northwoods flavor in my disc golf and wow, this course did not disappoint. I'm sure due to only being 9 holes, being relatively new, and being so remote, this course hasn't gotten a lot of traffic, but it was so worth the drive (and is within 45 minutes of Sandy Point, which has 29 holes of exquisite disc golf). You can smell the pine needles on the air here, and hear the birds and squirrels in the forest. The scenery is nothing short of breathtaking.

I really, really enjoyed this course, and I may be a bit generous with my rating, but I'd almost put it at a 3.5 (the highest I've ever given to a 9 hole) if there were any elevation change at all and if the holes throwing across the sports fields were redesigned. This seems unnecessary with all the wooded space and just limits play. They're also the most boring holes (in my opinion) and don't really fit with the theme of the rest of the course, but I suppose the courterpoint is they provide variety.

I played just after dawn and things were dewey and wet as you might expect. Honestly, I'd like to picture this course always being this way - the damp, wet northwoods forest disc golf experience. The course is pretty short, but technically challenging with some tight fairways. If I could redo my elementary school experience, this is where I would want to go - the school has it's own "forest" and an ice rink, too. Very northern Wisconsin.

The tee pads, baskets, etc. are fairly basic but are serviceable. One tee sign was unfortunately damaged but the others, while having more basic maps, are helpful and nice and new. This round won't wear you out physically but requires some shot selection and is a relaxing connection with nature. It would be nice to have concrete tees, especially with the wetness that I figure is quite common. I almost wiped out landing a follow through foot on the timbers around the tee pads several times.

I played 12 new courses on this Wisconsin/Michigan trip and this was one of my favorites - definitely in the top half if not the top quarter. I highly recommend combining a drive out here with a stop at Sandy Point which is also fantastic.
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