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Paw Paw High School reviews
16
0
Paw Paw Potential
Reviewed:
Played on:Jul 7, 2023
Played the course:once
Pros:
Paw Paw High School is located west of Kalamazoo, MI. One edge of the school grounds plays host to nine holes of disc golf.
This course has a decent mix of holes. The first two holes are wide open throws, with #2's basket hiding behind a grass berm (there's a flag on the top of the basket but it's comically small - no chance of seeing it from the tee). The course then moves into the woods for holes 3-5, with all of these holes having 200'ish tight and straight fairways. Then it's back into the open for holes 6-9. The last three holes have some mild elevation changes as well. #7 plays across a valley and stretches the distance out to 430'. The finishing hole was my favorite. It's a wide open 225' throw downhill, but with a large tree right behind the basket to complicate things if you overthrow your tee shot or approach.
The baskets are Chainstars. They are in fine shape, and I appreciated that they were numbered.
This course has a decent mix of holes. The first two holes are wide open throws, with #2's basket hiding behind a grass berm (there's a flag on the top of the basket but it's comically small - no chance of seeing it from the tee). The course then moves into the woods for holes 3-5, with all of these holes having 200'ish tight and straight fairways. Then it's back into the open for holes 6-9. The last three holes have some mild elevation changes as well. #7 plays across a valley and stretches the distance out to 430'. The finishing hole was my favorite. It's a wide open 225' throw downhill, but with a large tree right behind the basket to complicate things if you overthrow your tee shot or approach.
The baskets are Chainstars. They are in fine shape, and I appreciated that they were numbered.
Cons:
Hole 8 was also fun, but unsafe. You're throwing 250' downhill at a basket in a grassy square that is maybe 20' across, and surrounded by cement on all four sides. The cement behind the basket is the lot where you parked. You should assume that this course is closed during school hours, and when you do visit keep in mind that this basket is part of the course and not a practice basket! Park well away from it.
The tee pads are natural. The tee signs are only small wooden posts with mailbox numbers nailed to them. Even these were missing for holes 1, 3, and 6 as of my visit. There aren't any navigational aids either, so you'll need UDisc or the map uploaded here to navigate the course and figure out where to tee off from when the posts are missing.
The course was overgrown when I visited. The weeds weren't too thick and weren't too thorny, but I could tell that course maintenance has been zero for some time. I have played worse courses in this regard, but you'll definitely want to keep an eye on your throws.
About half of the holes are wide open with no obstacles in play. And on the flip side of that, holes 4 and 5 honestly might be too tight. I'd also like to see left and right turning fairways in the wooded area - all three of these holes were basically straight. Other than hole 7, all of the holes are more or less within the 200'-300' range so there isn't much variety in terms of distance. That kind of distance is decent for recreational players, but maybe a little long for your average high schooler.
No kiosk, practice basket, porta potty, trash cans, or benches.
The I-94 freeway marks the back of the school property. It's nowhere close to being in play, but you'll hear the road noise throughout your time here.
The tee pads are natural. The tee signs are only small wooden posts with mailbox numbers nailed to them. Even these were missing for holes 1, 3, and 6 as of my visit. There aren't any navigational aids either, so you'll need UDisc or the map uploaded here to navigate the course and figure out where to tee off from when the posts are missing.
The course was overgrown when I visited. The weeds weren't too thick and weren't too thorny, but I could tell that course maintenance has been zero for some time. I have played worse courses in this regard, but you'll definitely want to keep an eye on your throws.
About half of the holes are wide open with no obstacles in play. And on the flip side of that, holes 4 and 5 honestly might be too tight. I'd also like to see left and right turning fairways in the wooded area - all three of these holes were basically straight. Other than hole 7, all of the holes are more or less within the 200'-300' range so there isn't much variety in terms of distance. That kind of distance is decent for recreational players, but maybe a little long for your average high schooler.
No kiosk, practice basket, porta potty, trash cans, or benches.
The I-94 freeway marks the back of the school property. It's nowhere close to being in play, but you'll hear the road noise throughout your time here.
Other Thoughts:
This was the first of five Kalamazoo area school 9ers that I bagged in a single afternoon. I was originally thinking of giving this one a 1.0 rating, but after experiencing some of the other courses I'm bumping this one up to a 1.5.
In what I can only assume is a staggering coincidence, I ran into a guy in the parking lot after the last hole who claimed to be the father of the person who originally spearheaded the project of putting a course here. He said that with the way the sport has grown regionally and in general over the past few years, they were considering upgrading the course here. I would welcome that news, as there is definitely potential for a decent/average course here. I'm not sure where the property line falls, but there seemed to be room to add a couple more holes in the wooded area - or at least make the existing ones more interesting. As is, I'm feeling generous giving this one the 1.5. It's not worth playing in its current state, unless you're a bagger planning to enroll in Kalamazoo Area School 9 Hole Disc Golf Courses 101. Enrolling in said course allows you to spend a full day bagging all - count 'em - EIGHT 9-hole school courses in the greater Kalamazoo area.
In what I can only assume is a staggering coincidence, I ran into a guy in the parking lot after the last hole who claimed to be the father of the person who originally spearheaded the project of putting a course here. He said that with the way the sport has grown regionally and in general over the past few years, they were considering upgrading the course here. I would welcome that news, as there is definitely potential for a decent/average course here. I'm not sure where the property line falls, but there seemed to be room to add a couple more holes in the wooded area - or at least make the existing ones more interesting. As is, I'm feeling generous giving this one the 1.5. It's not worth playing in its current state, unless you're a bagger planning to enroll in Kalamazoo Area School 9 Hole Disc Golf Courses 101. Enrolling in said course allows you to spend a full day bagging all - count 'em - EIGHT 9-hole school courses in the greater Kalamazoo area.
8
0
Paw Paw, Yee-ah.......................YEET! 2+ years
Reviewed:
Played on:Sep 19, 2020
Played the course:once
Pros:
-Paw Paw High School DGC plays (roughly) counterclockwise around and over a sort of unused cul-de-sac at the far back of the school grounds. A bit of rolling elevation, some scrubby prairie, and the edge of a patch of woods all come into play; the road, cul-de-sac, and parking lot complete the course geography. Right off the bat, the designers use the small grassy hill for an uphill shot; pin #2 is located in a small depression (look for the white flag); #8 throws downhill across the road to an small island green surrounded by the parking lot's pavement; #9 is a downhill ace run to finish the round. The scrubby prairie area and wooded area sort of blend together, with several pines dotting the landscape. These are used on hole #'s 3-5 to create tunnel shots of varying degrees. These are tighter, slightly overgrown lines that demand precise shots but lack sufficient length or off-fairway punishment to prevent easily scrambling for par. After hole #6 plays along the edge of the woods, head back to the roadway for #7's tee. Hole #7 throws across a small grassy bowl, past the far lip of that bowl, and slightly downhill to a basket underneath a single large tree. #8's a downhill ace run; however, the small artificial island green (surrounded by pavement) totally changes the complexion and difficulty of this hole. #9 is likewise a downhill ace run, this time nothing but a medium-sized shrubbery behind the basket to stop from gunning it completely.
- The course's walkways and fairways were pretty well mowed/trimmed, and aid greatly in figuring out where to go.
- Amenities here are scant: they barely provide you with a sharpied 2' x 4' stuck in the ground. Tee pads are natural, although the sidewalk could be used for #1's tee, too. #9 could use the road.
- Only course I've ever played that has a practice dummy from one of the nearby football sleds lurking in the rough (#5). Maybe he'd rather disc?
- The course's walkways and fairways were pretty well mowed/trimmed, and aid greatly in figuring out where to go.
- Amenities here are scant: they barely provide you with a sharpied 2' x 4' stuck in the ground. Tee pads are natural, although the sidewalk could be used for #1's tee, too. #9 could use the road.
- Only course I've ever played that has a practice dummy from one of the nearby football sleds lurking in the rough (#5). Maybe he'd rather disc?
Cons:
- #2's green was pretty overgrown, unlike the majority of the course. A small bush had mostly filled the basket.
- #3's tee sign was on the ground.
- A lot of pavement (roads and parking lots) in play here: #2 throws over the cul-de-sac, while #8 throws over the road into the parking lot, basically.
- #3's tee sign was on the ground.
- A lot of pavement (roads and parking lots) in play here: #2 throws over the cul-de-sac, while #8 throws over the road into the parking lot, basically.
Other Thoughts:
- When I saw hole #'s 2 and 8, I laughed and instantly understood why this course is closed while school is in session. Otherwise, the area is deserted so not a huge safety hazard. #8's green is small enough to be fairly tricky.
- Despite really trying with the elevation, the island green, and the pseudo tunnel-esque shots on #'s 3-5 this course just kinda comes up a bit "meh." Still, I'd have been beyond thrilled to have any sort of disc golf course at my high school. Do the kids get to play it during gym/phys. ed.? That would be rad. Rad? I don't think the kids on the streets say "rad" anymore. YEET!
- Despite really trying with the elevation, the island green, and the pseudo tunnel-esque shots on #'s 3-5 this course just kinda comes up a bit "meh." Still, I'd have been beyond thrilled to have any sort of disc golf course at my high school. Do the kids get to play it during gym/phys. ed.? That would be rad. Rad? I don't think the kids on the streets say "rad" anymore. YEET!
