-
Discover new ways to elevate your game with the updated DGCourseReview app!
It's entirely free and enhanced with features shaped by user feedback to ensure your best experience on the course. (App Store or Google Play)
Ontonagon Township Park reviews
4
0
Superior Practice
Reviewed:
Played on:Sep 29, 2022
Played the course:once
Pros:
Ontonagon Township Park is a combination multiuse park/campground on the shores of Lake Superior. The park staff recently installed a disc golf practice area, consisting of four DGA Mach V baskets in like-new condition.
The first thing I liked about this area was the basket arrangement. The baskets are positioned in what is kind of an elongated diamond shape. It probably measures about 175' between the west basket and the north/south baskets, and another 175' between the north/south baskets and the east basket. The north and south baskets are separated by about 30' so you can putt between them. Taken together, this arrangement lets different skill level players practice drives, approaches, and putts. The baskets are all pretty far away from a road that borders the south side of the practice area, and it didn't seem to be a busy road at all anyway.
The second thing I liked about this place was the presence of obstacles. Scattered throughout the "elongated diamond" I described are old growth tree trunks. These make for great shot shaping practice as you throw between the different baskets. The north side of the practice area is covered by semi-thick brush, similar to the rough on many Michigan courses. The north basket is tucked into a little alcove in this brush, so that you have to work around it when playing to the north basket from the east or west baskets. The obstacles here are only natural - there are no other park amenities within reasonable firing distance.
The third thing I liked was the other perks on site. Even though this is just a practice area, there is a kiosk at both ends that has a large, printed map of the basket layout. The rules of disc golf are also posted, even though many of them don't apply here since there are no actual holes. Signage on these kiosks also indicates that "Frisbees" can be borrowed from the campground host. Near the course but out of harm's way are trash cans, benches, and a vault toilet. Finally, I have to mention the proximity to Lake Superior again. There aren't many places where you can listen to crashing waves in a quiet park while you throw some discs, then walk 150' to sit on the beach and relax.
The first thing I liked about this area was the basket arrangement. The baskets are positioned in what is kind of an elongated diamond shape. It probably measures about 175' between the west basket and the north/south baskets, and another 175' between the north/south baskets and the east basket. The north and south baskets are separated by about 30' so you can putt between them. Taken together, this arrangement lets different skill level players practice drives, approaches, and putts. The baskets are all pretty far away from a road that borders the south side of the practice area, and it didn't seem to be a busy road at all anyway.
The second thing I liked about this place was the presence of obstacles. Scattered throughout the "elongated diamond" I described are old growth tree trunks. These make for great shot shaping practice as you throw between the different baskets. The north side of the practice area is covered by semi-thick brush, similar to the rough on many Michigan courses. The north basket is tucked into a little alcove in this brush, so that you have to work around it when playing to the north basket from the east or west baskets. The obstacles here are only natural - there are no other park amenities within reasonable firing distance.
The third thing I liked was the other perks on site. Even though this is just a practice area, there is a kiosk at both ends that has a large, printed map of the basket layout. The rules of disc golf are also posted, even though many of them don't apply here since there are no actual holes. Signage on these kiosks also indicates that "Frisbees" can be borrowed from the campground host. Near the course but out of harm's way are trash cans, benches, and a vault toilet. Finally, I have to mention the proximity to Lake Superior again. There aren't many places where you can listen to crashing waves in a quiet park while you throw some discs, then walk 150' to sit on the beach and relax.
Cons:
The area is more or less flat - not perfectly so, but not hilly enough for play to be affected.
Yes - it's a practice area (not a real course) with only four baskets.
Yes - it's a practice area (not a real course) with only four baskets.
Other Thoughts:
Some readers might scoff at this 3.5 rating for a practice area. But here's the thing - I don't think practice areas and courses should necessarily be rated on the same scale. If the designers had instead tried to jam a 9-hole course (or even a 4-hole course) into this space, it would likely receive a rating quite a bit lower than 3.5 from me. But as practice areas go, I feel like this one is quite good. It's a safe place to throw, with the possibility to create challenges of varying distances around a variety of obstacles. And the location right on Lake Superior makes it a great spot for DG'ers (who may have non-DGers in tow, or not) to come relax for an hour or two. I'd definitely play here again if visiting the area, which is likely to happen because one of my favorite spots in Michigan (the Porkies) is nearby!
