Eau Claire, WI

Northstar Middle School DGC

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2.615(based on 9 reviews)
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9 0
wolfhaley
Diamond level trusted reviewer
Premium Member
Experience: 19.9 years 970 played 542 reviews
2.50 star(s)

Reviewed: Played on:Jan 7, 2024 Played the course:2-4 times

Pros:

Northstar middle school is home to a nice little 9 hole course. It's been in the ground since 2007 and it appears that they're still continuing to make improvements to it, which can't be said for most school courses in WI. I've played it twice now, but the last time was probably ten years ago, at least. It still holds up even after that long which was a bit of a surprise.

Judging by the pictures on here, sometime since 2020 they have added concrete tees to each hole. These are a big improvement over the rutted gravel tees they had the first time I played here. The tees are nice and level and plenty long enough for this course. These were a pleasant surprise.

Innova Discatchers on each hole. These are your standard older style ones, but they're built like tanks and still catch just fine for the most part. One basket and pin placement per hole. They have hole numbers on the top band too, though it'd be hard to throw at the wrong one.

The design is pretty well done for such a small amount of space. The first three holes are basically wide open but feature some hills that offer an added challenge with the roll away potential present. Holes 4 and 5 are tucked into the woods and are a nice change of pace. Hole 5 has got to be my favorite hole on the course. Just a nicely wooded, slight downhill RHBH ace run. Holes 6 through 9 are back out in the open but each have either some trees or that hillside to contend with. It's a surprisingly nice little area for a course.

Pretty simple navigation. Even without a map you'll be able to find your way around just fine. The course starts and ends by the north parking lot near the two basketball hoops.

The signage is also pretty nice. Basic but all you really need here. There's a sign with a simplistic looking hole diagram. These show other features of the hole like sidewalks and such. Each also has the hole #, pro and novice par and the distance. Simple but effective. There's also a large course map right by hole 1 too. Honestly very impressive for a middle school.

Cons:

The baskets are showing their age a bit. A few are mounted kind of wonky and/or leaning a bit. Hole 1 is comically low. A couple others are leaning a bit, nothing major, but worth noting. That'll happen after over 15 years being in the ground at a middle school.

A walking trail comes into play on a few holes. Most notably holes 6 through 9. Hole 7 is the sketchiest of these, but 8 isn't too far behind with how blind the trail is from the tee. Not the worst design I've ever seen but not ideal either.

The course is only available outside of school hours obviously, but that definitely cuts into it's availability.

Hole 4 could use a tree or two removed. It's kind of a poke and hope shot currently. Kind of unfortunate because it's so close to being a great hole.

Holes 8 and 9 play next to a marshy area. Potential for a lost disc or at least some lengthy searches are possible on these two. Hole 9 especially. That looks like an area that stays wet for most of the year.

Other Thoughts:

I remember enjoying this one when I last played it. That was literally hundreds of courses played ago though. To my surprise I still really enjoy this one. It's just a nicely done school course. Not worth going out of your way for but certainly worth a spin if you find yourself in the area.
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2 1
Slinde295
Experience: 4 played 4 reviews
3.50 star(s)

Fun little course 2+ years drive by

Reviewed: Played on:Jul 6, 2020 Played the course:once

Pros:

Good for trying out all the straight discs and your accuracy. If your not accurate you MAY roll down a big hill. This s a good basic course for trying out your 300ft+ game. Look around sometime...you can see almost the entire city from the hillside behind the school. I think the 7th hole IS the SIGNATURE hole...such a treat to throw the disc down the hill and aiming at the school ball field.

Cons:

Yep, the tee pads need some help. Also the first hole that you goo into the woods kindof makes no sense....all it needs is some tlc and thinning out and it would easily work. I think there should be a definately bridge or path made from the 8th to 9th hole (not just crossing some small logs).

Other Thoughts:

All this course needs is some volunteering of time to REALLY make this course special again. Simple remaking of tees and some scenic shrubbery and thinning out would make this a course to travel looong distances for. All the 1st hole needs is a small wrap around retaining wall to make this hole perfect.
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2 1
danilau
Experience: 8 played 7 reviews
3.00 star(s)

2+ years drive by

Reviewed: Played on:Jun 6, 2017 Played the course:5+ times

Pros:

Fun 9 hole course that can be played pretty quickly. Never too many people there to slow you down. Well kept and decent layout.

Cons:

No posted pars that I've seen. You might have to make up your own. I've lost one disc here in the thickly wooded area but that isn't usually a big problem.
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3 0
camb198
Experience: 12.8 years 8 played 2 reviews
3.50 star(s)

Worth a look! 2+ years drive by

Reviewed: Played on:May 25, 2013 Played the course:5+ times

Pros:

-Hardly ever have to wait to throw as this course is not very well known
-Great beginner course
-Good baskets
-Mixture of different shots (Other than the 3 open holes)

Cons:

-Tee pads are fine gravel and a couple are sand
-Trails intersect the course

Other Thoughts:

I would rather play this course compared to Mt. Simon due to the lower traffic alone! Very good for beginners with the open holes with some technical shots mixed in.
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2 0
warmastar
Experience: 12.8 years 9 played 5 reviews
2.50 star(s)

Great driving range 2+ years drive by

Reviewed: Played on:Jul 2, 2012 Played the course:5+ times

Pros:

-Great distance drives
-Open fields
-Very informative signage

Cons:

-Not very difficult
-A lot of walking for 9 holes
-Very few trees / technical shots
-Integrated with a baseball field / walking path

Other Thoughts:

If you are trying out a new disc this is a pretty forgiving, long ranged and open area to do it in. Perfect area for practicing your drive/power. During the summer months it can get very hot here because of the lack of tree shade.
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2 0
SleekrBeekr
Experience: 14.8 years 63 played 20 reviews
2.50 star(s)

NorthStar Middle School 2+ years drive by

Reviewed: Played on:Jun 7, 2012 Played the course:5+ times

Pros:

Nice use of the hilly terrain, with most of the holes having some sort of elevation change
Maps at the tee-pads
Has both wooded and open field holes
Free
Quick, fairly easy nine holes

Cons:

Tee-pads are pretty bad, most are uneven gravel spots
The 'tee-pad' on #4 is just sand, it's like throwing from the beach
Walking trail gets used quite a bit in the warmer months, so there is some occasional waiting
On school grounds, so it's not really open during the day when school is in session

Other Thoughts:

This is a fun little nine hole that can be played pretty quickly. The distances on the maps seems a bit off, but don't they all? The tee-pads need some work. This is a good warm-up course/confidence builder before throwing the Tower Ridge courses, which are about a 15 minute drive from NorthStar.
The course plays around baseball and soccer fields, as well as a walking trail so it is nice to be able to throw with some accuracy when people are out there. All in all, fun nine that compliments some of the nice courses in the area.
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3 0
SweetAl39
Experience: 3 played 3 reviews
2.50 star(s)

Northstar MS 2+ years drive by

Reviewed: Played on:Jul 14, 2011 Played the course:5+ times

Pros:

-Makes good use of the terrain (changes in elevation, wooded holes, runoff/marshy area).
-Distances make this course a good one for beginners.
-You'll never have problems parking since this is a middle school and there are a couple of parking lots.
-Well signed course.

Cons:

-The gravel tees are bad. They get rutted and collect water.
-You need to keep an eye out for people walking through on the paved trail that runs through the school property. It goes right along a few holes and bisects holes seven and eight.

Other Thoughts:

If you are going to pick one of the middle school courses in the area to try, choose this one.
Interesting note: physical education classes use the course. Wish we'd have had that there when I was a student when the school opened in the mid 90s.
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6 0
Shuie
Silver level trusted reviewer
Premium Member
Experience: 21.9 years 940 played 41 reviews
2.00 star(s)

Good warm- up Course 2+ years

Reviewed: Played on:Dec 6, 2009 Played the course:once

Pros:

They made use to the rolling hills, placeing pins on Severals. #4 249 slightly up hill with a left fade thur a heavily wooded area. #5 188' back down hill thru the woods is fairly nice.. Decent length

Cons:

its at a school so it restricts when u can play it...... dirt teepads were rutted and horrible.... could use some more trees....

Other Thoughts:

Innova disccatchers... here's a hole by hols layout...
#1- 226' open shot pin slightly elevated.
#2- 338' open shot pin on a hillside
#3- 262' open shot
#4- 249 slightly up hill with a left fade thur heavy woods
#5 188' Left fade back down hill thru the woods
#6- 334' with a right fade to a blind basket tucked in a group of trees
#7- 426' slighty down hill right fade with brambles and trees to your right.
#8- 310' pin on hill side
#9- 300' Hyzerspike either RHFH OR RHBH cus small trees and swampy area guard protect from a straight on shot.
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2 0
GB Phil G
Experience: 23.8 years 119 played 14 reviews
1.50 star(s)

I'll review it! 2+ years

Reviewed: Played on:Aug 8, 2009 Played the course:once

Pros:

Played it to say I did. The shots were fun in their general simplicity. Starts out ace runnin. Goes into some pitch n putt woods. There is a nice hole bomber downhill shooting at a patch of woods to make it interesting. Then your last birdie runs. All nine holes are on a hilled terrain, the elevation is used nicely. The holes make use of most shots. Nothing far.

Cons:

Nine holes is always a con. I don't remember what the pads were like, not worth complaining about. Is it open during recess? course plays really close to the middle school. I do remember doubting sign footage, but at least there were signs. Short courses dont impress anyone.

Other Thoughts:

Rating 1.5 Passable. Passable sums it up. If you're headed to tower ridge and want to warm up this should be a quick 25 min confidence booster. Being on a middle school property is odd, without that the course might have a better personality. I really liked hole 7. Throws about 400'+ downhill, naurally you'll anyhyzer your disc (RHBH) and if done right it goes at pin, wrong and it turns over into thick woods. Not landing in woods is just wide open. Dont forget to play some tetherball on hole 3
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