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Norway Lake DGC reviews
12
0
Solid 9er way off the beaten path
Reviewed:
Played on:Oct 1, 2022
Played the course:once
Pros:
Norway Lake is not in Norway, but rather near-ish the middle of Michigan's Upper Peninsula. There is a county park/campground on the eastern side of the lake that hosts a 9-hole disc golf course.
There is a nice variety of holes here. Holes 1 and 5 are almost completely open, playing across a lawn next to the campground. Holes 2-4 have tight fairways with thick brush on both sides. The last four holes 6-9 are where things really get interesting. Holes 6 and 9 are each nice technical throws in the 200' range with elevation change, but my favorites were definitely holes 7 and 8. Hole 7 is a 235' throw playing on top of a ridge with a few trees to work around, and the rough sloping away on both sides and behind the basket. Don't overthrow this one, as your disc could conceivably roll all the way down the hill into the lake that lurks at the bottom. Hole 8 is a beautiful 185' throw that plays at the bottom of this hill, with the lake on your left. This is a wooded fairway curling slightly to the right and sloping towards the lake, so there is real potential for discs to fade out, roll, or tree kick into the lake. The basket is installed on a nice wooden platform. This super risky and fun little hole actually reminded me of #5 at Maple Hill.
This course has two layouts. The long layout only averages around 250' hole length, but offers plenty of technical challenge for moderately skilled DG'ers. The shorter layout looked like a nice option for beginners, or for more experienced players to practice approaches and putts. The short layout also appeared to offer several different looks at the pin, so if I had more time I would have been curious to try that out and make a full 18 hole round.
The baskets are standard issue yellow banded DISCatchers. One per hole.
The signage here is good. There are nice tee signs at both long and short tees with all the required info, The long tee signs also have bag hangers and water bottle holders. Additional high quality signs assist with navigation where needed, including differentiating between "next short" and "next long" tees. The only place where I thought another arrow or two would be helpful is between holes 5 and 6, where you have to cross the road.
There are vault toilets in both sides of the park.
There is a nice variety of holes here. Holes 1 and 5 are almost completely open, playing across a lawn next to the campground. Holes 2-4 have tight fairways with thick brush on both sides. The last four holes 6-9 are where things really get interesting. Holes 6 and 9 are each nice technical throws in the 200' range with elevation change, but my favorites were definitely holes 7 and 8. Hole 7 is a 235' throw playing on top of a ridge with a few trees to work around, and the rough sloping away on both sides and behind the basket. Don't overthrow this one, as your disc could conceivably roll all the way down the hill into the lake that lurks at the bottom. Hole 8 is a beautiful 185' throw that plays at the bottom of this hill, with the lake on your left. This is a wooded fairway curling slightly to the right and sloping towards the lake, so there is real potential for discs to fade out, roll, or tree kick into the lake. The basket is installed on a nice wooden platform. This super risky and fun little hole actually reminded me of #5 at Maple Hill.
This course has two layouts. The long layout only averages around 250' hole length, but offers plenty of technical challenge for moderately skilled DG'ers. The shorter layout looked like a nice option for beginners, or for more experienced players to practice approaches and putts. The short layout also appeared to offer several different looks at the pin, so if I had more time I would have been curious to try that out and make a full 18 hole round.
The baskets are standard issue yellow banded DISCatchers. One per hole.
The signage here is good. There are nice tee signs at both long and short tees with all the required info, The long tee signs also have bag hangers and water bottle holders. Additional high quality signs assist with navigation where needed, including differentiating between "next short" and "next long" tees. The only place where I thought another arrow or two would be helpful is between holes 5 and 6, where you have to cross the road.
There are vault toilets in both sides of the park.
Cons:
I noticed a couple of minor safety items. The campground drive could be in play on the first hole. Stairs would be a nice addition between holes 7 and 8.
I wasn't really a big fan of holes 2-4. The fairways for these holes are too tight, especially hole 2's. Beginners are definitely going to have to dig around the brush on either side to find their discs here, and honestly even more experienced DG'ers might find themselves in the same situation. Hole 3's fairway isn't quite as narrow, but I wasn't sure what throw could follow it. Hole 4 has a fair approach to the basket, but starts off too narrow.
The two tee pads per hole are just gravel. At least the gravel is in wooden frames so they aren't awful, but concrete would definitely be an upgrade.
There aren't any trash cans or benches at the tees. There is no practice basket, and the kiosk (shared with the campground) doesn't have a map.
The first half of the course is pretty flat. Also, big arms will probably not like this one very much. The only holes over 300' length from the long tees/200' length from the short tees are the two open ones.
I wasn't really a big fan of holes 2-4. The fairways for these holes are too tight, especially hole 2's. Beginners are definitely going to have to dig around the brush on either side to find their discs here, and honestly even more experienced DG'ers might find themselves in the same situation. Hole 3's fairway isn't quite as narrow, but I wasn't sure what throw could follow it. Hole 4 has a fair approach to the basket, but starts off too narrow.
The two tee pads per hole are just gravel. At least the gravel is in wooden frames so they aren't awful, but concrete would definitely be an upgrade.
There aren't any trash cans or benches at the tees. There is no practice basket, and the kiosk (shared with the campground) doesn't have a map.
The first half of the course is pretty flat. Also, big arms will probably not like this one very much. The only holes over 300' length from the long tees/200' length from the short tees are the two open ones.
Other Thoughts:
I got a little confused finding the course. The course starts on the non-lake (campground/east) side of the road, exactly where it is now pinned on the course info page here. There is not a parking lot for the course - I just pulled off of the campground drive.
The drive here from Marquette was winding, but I was able to figure out how to stay on paved roads the whole way. I believe that I took Co Rd 557 south out of Gwinn/Princeton, then turned right on Co Rd 426 at Arnold, then left on Norway Lake Rd at Ralph.
Dean mentioned a lack of cell service here. I think mine was actually okay as far as I can remember (also Verizon), but definitely always something to be prepared for when playing in a remote area like this.
After a slow start, this one grew on me as I played holes 6-9. #7 and especially #8 are really quite nice and were an unexpected treat. If the fairways were widened some on holes 2-4 and concrete tees were installed, my rating could improve to a 3.0.
A disc golfer I ran into at the campground mentioned that there was actually a glow tournament scheduled here for the night of the day I visited, and tried to convince me to stay and play it. I was tempted! This course is not worth a huge detour on its own, but don't skip it if you find yourself travelling between Marquette and Iron Mountain.
The drive here from Marquette was winding, but I was able to figure out how to stay on paved roads the whole way. I believe that I took Co Rd 557 south out of Gwinn/Princeton, then turned right on Co Rd 426 at Arnold, then left on Norway Lake Rd at Ralph.
Dean mentioned a lack of cell service here. I think mine was actually okay as far as I can remember (also Verizon), but definitely always something to be prepared for when playing in a remote area like this.
After a slow start, this one grew on me as I played holes 6-9. #7 and especially #8 are really quite nice and were an unexpected treat. If the fairways were widened some on holes 2-4 and concrete tees were installed, my rating could improve to a 3.0.
A disc golfer I ran into at the campground mentioned that there was actually a glow tournament scheduled here for the night of the day I visited, and tried to convince me to stay and play it. I was tempted! This course is not worth a huge detour on its own, but don't skip it if you find yourself travelling between Marquette and Iron Mountain.
15
0
DeanMoriarty
Silver level trusted reviewer
Premium Member
Experience:
6.9 years
644 played
33 reviews
Fun Short One In The Middle Of Nowhere
Reviewed:
Played on:Sep 23, 2022
Played the course:once
Pros:
- Layout is decent and the long teepads provide adequate challenge for intermediate level players and the shorts are more than fine for beginners. Hole 8 is the signature hole playing with a very low ceiling all the way to the basket with the lake on your left so it's pretty much a RHFH or LHBH throw adding some challenge.
- The equipment is good. Baskets are new Discatchers which catch great and the signage provided good info.
- The course is in it's own secluded area even though it's in a public park so the chance of hitting a pedestrian is pretty low especially on the back 9 unless someone decided to sit on the shore near hole 8.
- The course designer is always there making improvements and I got a chance to talk with him for a few minutes as I was finishing up my round and he was starting one with a group of people. I believe he said he plans on adding cement teepads as they are just gravel right now but are level and have good enough grip.. for now.
- The equipment is good. Baskets are new Discatchers which catch great and the signage provided good info.
- The course is in it's own secluded area even though it's in a public park so the chance of hitting a pedestrian is pretty low especially on the back 9 unless someone decided to sit on the shore near hole 8.
- The course designer is always there making improvements and I got a chance to talk with him for a few minutes as I was finishing up my round and he was starting one with a group of people. I believe he said he plans on adding cement teepads as they are just gravel right now but are level and have good enough grip.. for now.
Cons:
- The rough in a few of the wooded holes is pretty bad with the fairway only 8 or so feet wide and there's lots of thorns inside the tall rough. Hole 8 has a lot of potential to lose a disc if you aren't willing to wade in the lake water. Luckily, it's only a few feet deep and doesn't get much deeper unless you go far out. The area below 8's basket is sloped downward towards the lake so pretty big potential for discs to roll right into the drink even if you have a good drive off the tee.
- Course layout can be hard to follow if you can't find the first tee and then to be able to play holes 6-9 you have to walk across the street and go behind the VFW building. Not the most fluid layout but there is a sign at least that tells you where to go after 5.
- It's pretty far out there so reception is probably not going to be the best.. or you won't have any at all in my case (Thanks, Verizon). Pretty much in between Iron River area and Marquette so probably best to bag this one on your way to and from those two areas.
- Course layout can be hard to follow if you can't find the first tee and then to be able to play holes 6-9 you have to walk across the street and go behind the VFW building. Not the most fluid layout but there is a sign at least that tells you where to go after 5.
- It's pretty far out there so reception is probably not going to be the best.. or you won't have any at all in my case (Thanks, Verizon). Pretty much in between Iron River area and Marquette so probably best to bag this one on your way to and from those two areas.
Other Thoughts:
Overall, Norway Lake DGC is brand new course in the middle of nowhere in the Upper Peninsula and I could see it possibly expanding to an 18er in the future. Always nice to see more courses pop up up here as the UP in my opinion is some of the most picturesque disc golf I've had the pleasure to experience so far. If you plan on coming up to this one, make sure you plan ahead as I mentioned up above that the service is not so great and uDisc is pretty much useless in that regard.
