Utica, MI

River Bends

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3.075(based on 41 reviews)
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2 1
MReg
Experience: 14 years 1 played 1 reviews
3.00 star(s)

Potentially a great course. Download the map from here (links tab)! 2+ years drive by

Reviewed: Played on:Aug 28, 2015 Played the course:once

Pros:

I liked the layout, which makes use of variety of shots. Very challenging with some of its tight shots. I love that it's 27 holes and not too many are alike. Nice use of the Clinton River and a few elevation changes.

Cons:

Navigation is very tough and confusing. Needs better tee markers with yardage. If not for having a map, we would've certainly gotten off track. Needs better overall maintenance. Tee boxes are too small and generally set too high off ground, enhancing the risk of injury. Could use better baskets. Tight woods and high brush makes finding errant discs tough.

Other Thoughts:

If you're not familiar, I HIGHLY RECOMMEND DOWNLOADING THE MAP off of this site.
Navigation was still tricky, but the map saved me and my pal a lot of trouble. It's funny. Even after all the cons listed and playing badly for my standards, I still enjoyed playing this course. Being that its late August and DRY, I'm sure was definitely in our favor. It's not too far from where I live either, so I'll certainly play it again and again. I will probably avoid it in the spring though.
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5 1
Owannabeawinner
Experience: 12.9 years 39 played 2 reviews
3.00 star(s)

2+ years drive by

Reviewed: Played on:Aug 10, 2014 Played the course:5+ times

Pros:

There are lots of different challenges here, up hills, down hills, across water and around trees. The scenery is great and it's not very crowded. This course gives you an opportunity to use lots of different disc from your bag.

Cons:

Finding your way from one hole to the next is darn near impossible unless you have a map. There are missing tee-pads on about 6 holes and there are tee-pads that go nowhere.

Other Thoughts:

All 27 baskets have been installed and I was told that the tee-pads will be installed on the rest of the holes in a few weeks. I was also told that signs will be put up to guide you through the course. The grass was just mowed before I played. If all this is done I would rate this course at least a four or better depending on how it's maintained in the future.
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3 0
apdrvya
Diamond level trusted reviewer
Premium Member
Experience: 14 years 350 played 299 reviews
3.00 star(s)

what the flux!? 2+ years

Reviewed: Played on:Apr 21, 2014 Played the course:once

Pros:

Aesthetic-- plays through a VERY large "metro park feel" park. Limited interaction with amenities but intertwines and crosses several walking paths... Watch out for walkers.

teepads-- where there were teepads, they were nice... some of the short tees were a bit narrow and overgrown but the course is a work in progress.

Elevation/water-- reasonable use of both. I would like to see more water come into play but I suppose that would entail more bridges. the holes that play up and down the ridge to the valley are interesting and welcomed..

Challenge-- this course is challenging. Not only is it (going to be) 27 holes of disc golf, it does truly challenge every throw in you bag.

Signature-- #15 (I think) where you throw down the river is beautiful and a complete mindbender... Would love to have more holes like this around.

Cons:

Baskets-- a wide variety of baskets are in use here: DGA, DisCatchers, and discraft to name a few...not all in great repair and some are uber invisible on some of the "deeper" holes.

Routing and Nav-- some of the worst I've seen. the map, which I copied from disc golf scene, is reasonable BUT hole 5, 6 and 18 don't exist. Five and Six are roughed in but no teepads or baskets exist, 18 has markers for a teepad (flags) but no cut fair way exists. The transition from 20-21 (or what ever they are curently numbered) on the map sucks. you have to traverse back down the fairway of 20 to get to the pad for 21 (which is right next to 20's pad) The orange rocks are helpful to some extent but some sort of teesignage is so essential to this course. Next Tee signs need to be implemented as well.

Logic-- There are some missed opportunities here. after you throw over the water (#10?) you could throw back over off the big ass hill but instead you throw from the river bank back across the bridge? Not the best design idea.

Nitpicky-- it's a long walk back to your car after a long round. not sure how this could be tackled but, seriously.

Other Thoughts:

I expected a lot of the leg work to be done here over the winter but I guess I was wrong. I hope this course can pull it together. It will be a 4-5 star course when all the amenities listed in the cons are added!
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2 0
ZdybelT
Experience: 13 years 55 played 16 reviews
3.00 star(s)

needs improvement 2+ years drive by

Reviewed: Updated: Played on:Apr 24, 2012 Played the course:5+ times

Pros:

-open for long distance drives.
-has 24 holes.
-has some tricky shots over water.
-very good variety of holes.
-great locals.

Cons:

-baskets in bad condition.
-A very confusing course if it is your first time playing.
-signage is either gone or wrong.

Other Thoughts:

you will need a map on this one because there are multiple tee pads for many holes here and the directions are horribly marked. other than that it would be an excellent course if they just made a few changes.
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0 0
Thomas437
Experience: 3 played 3 reviews
3.00 star(s)

2+ years drive by

Reviewed: Played on:Nov 5, 2011 Played the course:once

Pros:

Concrete pads
24 holes
Plays over and next to river

Cons:

Not kept up
Limited signage
COnfusing layout
Plays over walking path

Other Thoughts:

A great course for fall/winter rounds. Early into the summer the course almost becomes unplayable due to bugs and tall grass. Course may also lose 6 holes and become an 18 hole course
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3 0
milesdavis
Experience: 23 years 19 played 5 reviews
3.00 star(s)

2+ years drive by

Reviewed: Played on:Oct 10, 2008 Played the course:5+ times

Pros:

Really good layout!!! alot of medium distance holes here. Great opportunity to bomb it. Mostly wide open.

If you can drive it 350ft consistently and make your putts you can get yourself some rewarding birdies,and score well here

A few dangerous water holes here (lookout for the wind on #10) but you can retrieve your disc on most occasions if you're willing to get wet.

Hole #20 is a really, really cool hole from the top of a hill through the trees about 40ft up. Big hyzer shot 400ft away.

Cons:

BUGS - bring the spray.....really wet early in the year and after any kind of rain.......tee pads are a little short.....some single chain baskets... can get pretty crowded at peak times.

Other Thoughts:

A really fun course. Highly reccommend it. There is alot going on at this park people everywhere. A bike path is visible from 5 or 6 holes and I've seen deer on many occasions.
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2 0
oscarmike
Experience: 1 played 1 reviews
3.00 star(s)

where it started 2+ years drive by

Reviewed: Played on:Nov 12, 2008 Played the course:5+ times

Pros:

the course has a nice distance with a nice mixture from hole to hole. enough parking. there's a practice basket near hole one.

Cons:

the course could use a little more up keep with the fairways being cut more often in the summer. better maps for the holes and where the next one is would go along way for those not familiar.

Other Thoughts:

there are a few water holes like the others have said. I've had deer walk not 10 feet away from me and had to wait till they moved to shoot. can become buggy during the rainy seasons
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3 3
iDisc
Experience: 15.8 years 4 played 4 reviews
3.00 star(s)

eh... 2+ years drive by

Reviewed: Updated: Played on:Aug 5, 2008 Played the course:2-4 times

Pros:

it does have a challenge to it. very nice scenery and the river is swim-able. other than that nothing much to say. you can full drive on almost every hole but it is considered the best in the area.
i found it easy to lose a disc here

Cons:

-tee pad are tiny
-there aren't signs that tell you where the basket is, it tells you the hole number and the par on orange rocks (ghetto huh?).
-the first cage is on the edge of a hill so if you miss the putt it will roll 100 feet away.
-if you lose a disc then the next time you go there there will be a kid there trying to sell it back to you.

Other Thoughts:

not the best
more cons than pros im afraid
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5 0
JoePublic
Experience: 27 played 17 reviews
3.00 star(s)

Wear your boots and a swimsuit 2+ years drive by

Reviewed: Played on:Nov 15, 2007 Played the course:never

Pros:

Variety of holes and a good 24 hole layout. Some hard water shots with real risky lies.
Well established course, with plenty of locals and various styles of play. Interesting place to throw, and meet people. Enjoy a BBQ while your there.

Cons:

They've been working hard on this course for many years, but it still needs some solid design work. Tees are getting old, and sometimes city maintenance forgets to visit the park. Mosquito heaven in the early summer.

Other Thoughts:

Unless it's been dry and hot for alt least a week, expect some mud and swamp; wear your boots. Also, plan to swim on a hot day; but not too long, its not the cleanest river in the Detroit area.
This was my first home course back in 1997. Fell in love with it, then they changed it. And added a bike path through the middle, which gets real busy. Careful, most of these travelers though dont care about you or what your doing out there. They may move, but most likely they prefer if you throw over their head.
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