St. Ignace, MI

Silver Mountain

Seasonal course
3.165(based on 31 reviews)
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15 0
davetherocketguy
Gold level trusted reviewer
Experience: 19.7 years 114 played 105 reviews
2.00 star(s)

The Hills are Alive with....meh

Reviewed: Played on:May 29, 2023 Played the course:once

Pros:

- Hole 20 is one of the most scenic holes I have ever played.
- NOT cart friendly. AT ALL
- Big elevation changes
- Some really neat basket placements. 17 was fairly interesting.
- Basket look ancient but are in very playable shape.
- While there weren't nearly enough of them the "Next-T" signs look really nice.

Cons:

- Navigation is far and away the biggest issue here. According to older reviews it looks like it used to be signed pretty well but that is no longer the case. In fact, with the poor cell coverage in the area UDisc can be useless.
- Where is #5 tee pad?
- For the hilliness of this course where are the benches?
- Needs more trash cans.
- Uphill shots are challenging but lets try to keep them to a minimum ...mmmkay? So going from 16 to 17 goes downhill. Why not go parallel to the slope from 16 to the 17 basket? I'm an old man and didn't really appreciate this lol.
- Udisc shows #2 in completely the wrong spot.
- No tee pads. In fact, most of the tees aren't even delineated with toe-kicks so tee off from...?

Other Thoughts:

A few things to note about this course that are neither pros or cons:
- OMG BUGS. Welcome to tick and mosquito hell. Come prepared.
- Wear solid footwear. Huckers with a 40oz in one hand and whatever speed 13 driver you got at Duhnmans down south in the other are going to be hating this course in flipflops.

This is your typical U.P. course: Amenities kinda suck rocks, old baskets set on a gorgeous parcel of land which really is perfect for disc golf. I want to rate this course higher but with the navigation issues, lack of benches and cans...well you get what you get.
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16 0
DFrah
Gold level trusted reviewer
Premium Member
Experience: 5.8 years 227 played 225 reviews
2.00 star(s)

Underwhelming ski hill course

Reviewed: Played on:Aug 22, 2022 Played the course:once

Pros:

Silver Mountain is located just west of St. Ignace, MI - the part of Michigan's Upper Peninsula that is closest to the Mackinac Bridge and Lower Peninsula. The property functions as a ski hill in the winter, and a 24-hole disc golf course the rest of the year.

As you might guess, elevation change is a primary feature of the property here - and there are a few holes that make great use of it. I liked hole 8 which plays up a steep hill, flattens out for a bit, then reaches a basket up on a large mound. Hole 13 is a big downhill bomb (more on this later), and hole 10 is a nice right turning fairway around a raised area near the top of the hill. My favorite hole, though, was #21 which plays 310' downhill. The fairway curls to the left and has a few larger trees in it to prevent an easy throw to the basket. My tee shot hit one of these trees and my approach shot wasn't great, but I managed about a 35' throw in (from an unfavorable lie just off the fairway on the side of a steep slope) to salvage par.

There aren't any water holes here, but the variety on the course as a whole is decent. There are tight lines in the woods, semi-open fairways, and wide open fields to throw across. On the wooded holes I remember a mix of left turns, right turns, and straight shots. The range of distances is also good, from #7's 135' (playing up a steep hill) to #13's 620' downhill. There is enough here to challenge most disc golfers.

The baskets are yellow banded DISCatchers with ads on them. Most also had the correct hole number, which was helpful.

Cons:

The other infrastructure here besides the baskets is poor.
- No tee pads, although a couple tee areas do have wooden frames to at least create a small level spot to stand and throw.
- Tee signs appeared to be just black number stickers listing a hole number and distance, stuck to small pieces of white plastic and pinned to trees. The distance numbers had fallen off of many of the tee signs when I visited, and some signs were missing entirely. Some of the distances listed didn't feel correct.
- Only a couple of benches to rest at.
- Only a couple of trash cans, that were overflowing when I visited.
- No practice basket.
- No porta potty.
- There was a beat-up kiosk at the parking lot, but no map was posted on it when I played. The kiosk did have warnings about ticks, poison ivy, and RF exposure (there is a cell tower at the top of the ski hill).
- Next Tee signs are few and far between. The ones that were present varied (a few very nice ones, others Sharpie'd and pinned to trees, and a couple of taped basket rungs). But overall, navigation was very difficult. It looks like someone recently uploaded a screenshot of the UDisc map here - I have to recommend using that for navigation.

There is a long walk to hole 1 from the parking lot, although at least that was well signed. There are long walks between some holes, and what feels like doubling back in a few spots. Even taking the ski hill terrain into account, I felt like the designers could have done a better job of spicing the progression up. For example, holes 15-18 are all short technical fairways that run steeply uphill. It was especially annoying playing hole 16, then walking all the way back down the hill past the tee to reach hole 17's tee.

From reading previous reviews, I was led to believe that there would be at least one panoramic view of Lake Michigan. That is not the case. There is one hole (#20) where the lake is visible off to the left, but it's largely obscured by trees. Also, the hole is flat - it's NOT as if you are shooting down the ski hill with the lake off in the distance behind it. To add insult to injury, US-2 is nearby and you can get similar views just driving the highway right next to the course (and better views by pulling into the roadside park across from the course). You'll also be able to hear road noise from US-2 throughout your round.

The obligatory "ski hill bomber hole" (#13) was also disappointing. The view was more open here, but not towards the lake. My real issue though was that the 620' "fairway" mostly consists of thick tall grasses and wild brush. I looked for my tee shot for over 10 minutes, and then lost sight of my second shot and ended up looking for another 10 minutes. I would recommend a spotter here (and throughout the course), especially if you are concerned about disc loss. I was rather surprised to drive away with all of my discs.

The rough throughout the course alternates between waist high thick weeds, and tree trunks so thickly spaced that it's complete jail and your best option is often just throwing 10' straight back out to the fairway.

Other Thoughts:

Even taking into account that there are 24 holes, this is not a quick stop by any means. I had the course to myself and it took me about 2.5 hours to finish my solo round, of which probably somewhere in the range of 30-45 minutes was spent searching for discs.

Overall, I felt that Silver Mountain DGC was kind of underwhelming. There were no doubt some cool throws, but the amount of hiking between holes and the amount of holes that felt like filler, combined with the lack of good infrastructure, took away from the experience for me. I was also disappointed by the lack of true Lake Michigan views. This one is fine for locals, but for those visiting the area (especially for the first time) there are probably better ways to spend the time.
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10 0
MrDiscinox
Experience: 17.2 years 49 played 6 reviews
2.00 star(s)

Requires precision, legs and repellant 2+ years drive by

Reviewed: Played on:Jun 20, 2020 Played the course:2-4 times

Pros:

1) Baskets are good quality, well secured, plumb and often with brightly colored visibility bands.
2) Fairways are all maintained well, with proper tree trimmings and mostly mowed fairways.
3) Signage is adequate to complete the course, but some signs are missing as of this review.
4) Beautiful terrain and at least one panoramic view of Lake Michigan. Smells like fresh fragrant forest all day.
5a) Big course that feels like it uses a lot of the available real estate.
5b) One great ~630' downhill drive, otherwise mostly mid-length technical holes in the woods.
6) Lehto's Pasties in St Ignace made a great after round meal.
7) Locals are great. Wave and say hi to strangers, if there even are any on the course. Not crowded.
8) Guestbook at the entrance.
9) Free.

Cons:

1) The rough is very rough. Poison ivy, thick undergrowth, thorns, pine, hills, bramble, you name it.
2) BUG SPRAY. Ticks are particularly bad this year. Our 4 man group checked constantly for ticks and flicked off over a dozen during the round. After the round, closely check all of your clothing and check your shoes and socks. Ticks are probably a bit less of a factor if you can stay out of the rough, which is tough. Mosquitos are also thick.
3) Signage is only adequate, and required some scouting to find tee pads and baskets.
4) The tee pads are natural and not always clearly marked or delineated.
5) No facilities and an occasional bench.
6) No maps. No scorecards.

Other Thoughts:

Silver Mountain is a beautiful course set on a ski hill, but the design really under utilizes the potential fun factor of playing on a ski hill with only one "good" downhill hole. And, that hole, #13, is nearly completely thick tall grass between you and the pin 600 feet away. There are many uphill holes, which become a grind on this long 24 hole course. The scenery is fantastic, with big pines and hardwoods, set on a hilly course that partially overlooks Lake Michigan. Despite the bugs and cosmetics, we had a fun round, because it isn't always about what course you are at, it is the trip to get there and the experience at a one of a kind course that makes it worth it. So, I went back for a second time, and I'll go again next time I'm travelling through the U.P. It looks like the locals are making some modifications to the course and have some handwritten signage up. Hopefully they are able to improve the navigation soon (posted June 2020).
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4 2
jaykali42
Experience: 1 played 1 reviews
3.00 star(s)

2+ years drive by

Reviewed: Played on:May 14, 2017 Played the course:once

Pros:

the course had a good variety of holes from heavily wooded to fairly open shots. My favorite part was the 600 foot bomb shot straight down the ski hill. they also had tee markers at almost every hole (a couple had been knocked off). Overall a pretty nice course to play at and honestly its a diamond in the rough. it is a couple of miles away from the mackinaw bridge and I was very surprised when I discovered it.

Cons:

TICKS!!! I went there with my lovely wife and afterwards back at the car I felt something crawling on my leg and sure as heck there was a tick. I started to check for more and come to find out I had 9 more ticks on me and my wife had 4. I definitely liked the course and I'm not sure if I'm just being a baby but this is enough to deter me from coming back to this course again, atleast during the spring/summer months.
no concrete tee pads.
I wouldn't say this is a con necessarily but for some people it might be, the course if VERY hilly in some spots.

Other Thoughts:

very nice course but I certainly suggest going here early in the early spring or in the fall when it gets a little colder. The bugs are just so bad when its warm.
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1 0
GetMeOutdoors
Experience: 22 played 8 reviews
3.50 star(s)

Worth the stop 2+ years drive by

Reviewed: Played on:Aug 5, 2015 Played the course:once

Pros:

Alot of interest and variety with hills & flats, narrow woods and open fields, long and short. Liked that there were multiple tees. I played from the back tees and my wife did the front.

The maps and scorecard sheet at the entrance sign was great. The signage was well done on the course as well. Some signs were missing but overall good.

Cons:

Tees are a dirt pad, many of which were eroded or muddy. Have to watch footing.

Other Thoughts:

We were confused on the first hole... we walked quite way up the trail before we saw the sign for 18, which had been re-written with a sharpie to say hole 1. That sign should be updated I guess.

We played holes 1-11 and then ran out of time. Did not get the opportunity to see holes 12+

While I thought this was alot of fun to play, I'd have to say that some of the holes are almost a "novelty" to play rather than a "formal" disc golf hole. Neither a pro or con, just something to note. So, just have fun with it :)

Some of the holes require technical shots while others are more family friendly.
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3 0
whentherainscome
Experience: 16.8 years 60 played 1 reviews
2.50 star(s)

2+ years drive by

Reviewed: Played on:May 17, 2015 Played the course:once

Pros:

Silver Mountain was a nice stop just over the bridge into the U.P. in an area without too many DG options. There are a variety of shots and a lot of elevation in play. There are a number of wooded uphill shots, and a 600' downhill bomber that you'd expect from any course on a ski hill. The course is very scenic and a good hike.

Finding and navigating the course was generally easy, with a slight mistake on hole 8. We threw to the more visible C basket and took some time to realize our error.

The view of the lake from 15's basket area is spectacular!

Cons:

Uneven, rocky and rutty natural pads made accuracy difficult on the uphill holes, as well as a few others.

Hole 3 was not as shown on the map, just an extremely short throw to a basket in a field. This was confusing and disappointing.

There was a lot of trash and litter on the course. The one trash can we saw had been dumped out and left on its side.

Ticks.

Other Thoughts:

Scenic vistas and challenging elevation play make Silver Mountain worth the hike to stop there once. Ankle twister pads and tiny bloodsuckers make it unlikely that we'll be back for a second round.
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3 0
glassila
Experience: 12.7 years 117 played 12 reviews
3.00 star(s)

Fun, but buggy 2+ years

Reviewed: Played on:Aug 11, 2014 Played the course:once

Pros:

1. I felt there was a nice variety of holes, nothing cookie cutter going on here.
2. Really awesome views on a few holes.
3. Innova baskets with local ad banners on the upper rings.
4. I loved the elevation changes, which might be a negative to some people. It was not an up-down-up-down situation like I have seen at some ski hill courses.
5. It appeared that the fairways had been recently mowed.

Cons:

1. The biggest issue for me was the mosquitos. I figured by mid-August they would have died off...nope.
2. Quite a few of the tee markers are knocked down and scattered. One set of red markers are backed up to a steep bushy area. Not sure if someone did it as a joke or not.
3. It is about a 2 minute walk from the parking lot to tee #1. On the other hand, hole 18 ends up at the parking lot.

Other Thoughts:

Fun course that would love to play in the fall when the mosquitos are gone.
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2 0
apdrvya
Diamond level trusted reviewer
Premium Member
Experience: 13.9 years 350 played 293 reviews
4.00 star(s)

Rolling meadows and awesome elevation 2+ years

Reviewed: Played on:May 20, 2014 Played the course:once

Pros:

Aesthetic-- plays on a ski resort. Plays up and down the mountain several times. Area during the summer is dotted with hiking trails. I'm not sure how often the trails are used in DG times but I would still watch out.

TeeSigns-- really quite nice. Hole numbers, distances, and a diagram showing both tees.

Routing and nav-- Super easy. the over abundance of next "T" signs make routing a snap. In areas where it could be tricky, there are signs that spell out exactly what to do. Course can be played as 18 or 24 if you don't want to play the alternates.

Baskets-- nice to have innovas. Makes for easy spotting in the heavy woods here. The advertising chastity belts are interesting.

Challenge-- crazy challenging course. The narrow fairways and amazing elevation changes make this course an insane challenge.

Risk v Reward-- no water persay but conservative play is rewarded in many places.

Signature holes-- two bomber holes here are the signatures #9 and #F are amazingly. I almost parked 9 and F was a sweet challenging blind hole with a dog leg left.

Cons:

Teepads-- gravel with red and blue stakes marking the "foul line."

Missing stuff-- All baskets except #3 were in the ground. I could not find #4's tee area.

Other Thoughts:

I found myself shaking my head at this place more than not. I had an absolute blast as this place is a perfectly balanced ski course. The workout here was pretty intense but not overwhelming.

**As a note, the course pictures are not accurate to what the course is today. The course needs some new pictures taken but I didn't realize this or I would have. Some are the same but a lot are not**
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2 0
nickrockey
Experience: 18 played 18 reviews
3.00 star(s)

Not good, not bad, just kinda.... 2+ years drive by

Reviewed: Played on:Aug 2, 2013 Played the course:once

Pros:

+Signs are awesome here
+I like the hilly terrain
+Holes 1 and 2 were a lot of fun
+The very tight and narrow fairways were
mowed and clean
+Really easy to find
+Mostly long narrow tunnel shots
+Some of the views are great!
+Not too far down US2

Cons:

-Even though the fairways were mowed, the
rough was just too thick
-Too many narrow fairways
-Chances are losing a disc are really good!
-The 600' bomber hole was not mowed and
you were almost certain to lose ANOTHER
disc
-Risk vs. reward just wasn't here
-Mostly long narrow tunnel shots

Other Thoughts:

^I thought this course was 'ok', I will probably
play it again but only because it's not too far
^Bug spray is a must! You may get carried
away by the skeeters!
^Not a great course for a righty backhand
like myself. I did not take away points
because of that but I didn't feel like it was a
good mix.
^I guess I feel like good options because of the topography were missed.
^Watch for poison ivy! Quite abit of it!
^Overall I would say if you are in the area,
it is worth a stop but I wouldn't plan a trip just to play it!
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6 0
Hfactor
Experience: 17.8 years 38 played 11 reviews
4.00 star(s)

One of the hardest 2+ years drive by

Reviewed: Played on:Jul 7, 2012 Played the course:once

Pros:

This is probably the hardest course I have played. Almost every shot is through a very skinny line flat or uphill with hard hyzer or anhyzers at the end of the shot and a couple downhill bombers. The holes are not extremely long but are very technical. If you miss your line you will end up in some thick ruff where you will have to throw out. The ruff isnt so bad that I think you would lose a disc but you will have a hard time trying to play out from it.

There are signs everywhere and the design is in such a way that you play loops that bring you back to where you were 3 or 4 holes ago. So you wont get lost on this course but because of the difficulty the course will take a few hours.

Cons:

Its not closer to me.

Other Thoughts:

If you are near this course and could master it you would probably instantly be pro at discgolf. It is that hard and hitting those lines everytime for a under par score would mean that you are fantastic at this sport.

I thought deerfield was hard (and it is) but this course makes deerfield look easy.

Also there is tons of hiking on this course, be ready to get tired after a round here!
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3 8
Hollywood88
Experience: 50 played 1 reviews
4.00 star(s)

Best in da UP 2+ years drive by

Reviewed: Played on:Sep 14, 2011 Played the course:once

Pros:

Course marked very nicely. Mixture of challenging holes and some more on the beginner side. Fun course to play and flows well. Score cards at tee 1 as well.

Cons:

Long grass in some areas and mosquitoes.

Other Thoughts:

Best in the UP, seems almost private to due its isolation. Too bad it isn't closer to Marquette
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9 0
dudiablo
Experience: 18.1 years 97 played 12 reviews
4.00 star(s)

Bug-zilla 2+ years drive by

Reviewed: Played on:Jul 19, 2011 Played the course:once

Pros:

Excellent variety on this course. There wasn't a single time when playing all 24 of the holes (yep its got 6 bonus holes for ya) did I think "you know, I feel like I already played this hole."

The baskets are in great condition.

The flow to the course is really good. You would really have to work to get lost out there. You do need to do a little back tracking if you decide to play the 6 extra holes, but there are more than adequate signs to keep you on the right track.

The fairways are mowed (but relatively narrow)

Has some of the roughest 'rough' you will ever see. If you miss your line, the course punishes you not by sending you to jail, but 'federal pound me in the A$$ penitentiary. Some would say this is a con but it really ads to the excitement of the course.

There are a few downhill bomber holes, but they really require some finesse as well.

Cons:

BUGS BUGS BUGS!! I have NEVER been one to complain about bug bites but there are times when on this course where you really feel like you have to rush your putts just to get on and get moving because those mosquito are RELENTLESS!

Don't try to play this one alone. My brother and I played this one and sent one of us about half way through each fairway to have a spotter on the disc. I'm sure that we were just being paranoid but it really helped, and would suggest it to anyone trying to play because it gets THICK if you get off the fairway.

Other Thoughts:

It is an awesome course that really has a sense of seclusion to it. There was 1 other car in the parking lot when we played and they said that they were out of towners as well. There is a sign in sheet and scorecards with maps at the kiosk before the first hole that really adds to the experience. Looked like a pretty diverse group has played the course.
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7 1
Mark R
Gold level trusted reviewer
Experience: 21.8 years 115 played 89 reviews
3.50 star(s)

2+ years

Reviewed: Updated: Played on:Jul 15, 2010 Played the course:once

Pros:

Terrific variety, and a rare level of seclusion. Good tee signs and color-coded posts for blue and red tees. Other signs posted help navigation.

Hole 6 is a design triumph; a 'compound hole' with a short and straight uphill slope leading to a plateau with Flip City type stacked rocks and a terrific vista of the Straits of Mackinac. Hole 15 is another hilltop plateau hole with similar views.

Downhill ski hill holes differ from each other significantly, with 9 being a wide-open 600' crusher hole, and F being a tight dogleg left with tree obstacles.

Holes 1 and 2 are shorter holes in dense woods that differ significantly from the other holes, but being in the minority, they are a welcome contrast.

Holes 16-18 differ from the rest by having nicely mowed fairways and rough areas with heavy brush. 16 has a slightly elevated tee.

Many unique and terrific holes. 24 Holes equals two full hours of disc golf.

Cons:

Some tough navigation finding and playing the alternates, with some backtracking involved.

The bugs are so bad here (biting flies and mosquitos), that you will finish quickly, or else. They even follow you out into the open sun.

Thick cover on many holes (12, 13, F, 9) means you will lose a disc, not just 'maybe'. Long pants are recommended for walking through rough to find your disc.

Tee pads are natural, but are better than most because of rough, gravelly soil. However, cement tees would help a bit.

A slight majority of holes (especially the alternates) are so-so woods holes. Quite a few shorter holes on the front nine.

Other Thoughts:

The only course to give that unmistakeable U.P. smoked whitefish-and-Gordon Lightfoot vibe (The Tailings, a new course in Iron River, is a couple of hours away).

Lots of flora and fauna, with deer, ravens, mating butterflies and brilliantly colored wildflowers.

An ideal location a couple of hundred feet off of US-2. A few miles west of the city of St. Ignace.

Great stopping point for Detroit or GR to Marquette travellers.
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5 1
Shuie
Silver level trusted reviewer
Premium Member
Experience: 21.9 years 940 played 41 reviews
3.50 star(s)

U.P.'s Best 2+ years

Reviewed: Played on:Jul 1, 2010 Played the course:once

Pros:

- Scorecards and sign-in sheet right in the parking lot.
- decent signs telling you were to go
- nice variety( Some straight tight shots, open to wooded, wooded to open, uphill, downhill, left and right.)
-a few interesting holes like C(very wooded and tight "L" shaped fairway or D(tight and wooded elongated "S" fairway. I also enjoyed F it was a downhill shot threw the woods with small islands of trees scattering the fairway
- grass is being planted on hole 18(looks real nice already)
- Course utilizes the land quite well
- Very Secluded, yet easy to find(northbound take a left of Hwy 2 just out side on St. Ignace and its ur first drive way on the right)

Cons:

- natural tees most were good but a few were bad.
- hole 16 just didn't seem to fit, it was just wide open.
- Some of the rough perticularly on 9 needs to be trimmed a lil' bit(i lost my disc on the hillside by the lifts)
-no portapotties or bathrooms on site

Other Thoughts:

Even tho i lost my disc, i really enjoyed St. Ignac and do believe that it is the Up's best.
With that being said i can oly give it a 3.5 cause some holes need refinement, the course is lacking any water in play, no restrooms on site and no concrete tee pads....
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3 4
Ben17
Bronze level trusted reviewer
Experience: 23.8 years 119 played 31 reviews
3.50 star(s)

Exceptional Course 2+ years drive by

Reviewed: Updated: Played on:Jul 11, 2010 Played the course:once

Pros:

-The pins were nice innova pins
-There were great elevation changes
-The pins had the number of the hole on them so it was easy to know what pin to aim for
-You can play all 24 holes within a couple hours
-They give you a score sheet at the very beginning so it is easy to keep track of your score
-There is a map so you know exactly where every hole is
-The next sign allows you to know where the next hole will be

Cons:

-There is rarely anyone there
-The tee was just grass and sometimes the tee was on a hill so you were throwing at a weird angle
-The sign at the tee was not very nice
-The sign at the tee didn't even show what the par was
-If you throw your disc in the woods it is tough to find it because the woods are so thick
-You have to sign in
-Holes A-F are not right after the 18th hole so you must walk back a few holes if you are planning to play all 24 holes
-You have to walk up and down hills the whole time so it can be tough

Other Thoughts:

I came up here on vacation and i was expecting to come to a very nice disc golf course and i was kind of disappointed. It wasn't terrible but i was kind of expecting something better than what i got. This is the only course within alot of miles so it would be nice if they would take a little bit more care of it.
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6 0
jhgonzo
Gold level trusted reviewer
Experience: 25.8 years 92 played 45 reviews
3.50 star(s)

Silver Mountain Gets a Silver Medal 2+ years drive by

Reviewed: Updated: Played on:Jun 2, 2010 Played the course:once

Pros:

1. Variety. Tight wooded shots, long downhill bombers, balanced righty/lefty holes, risky pin placements; great use of the terrain of this small mountain ski hill course overlooking Lake Michigan. Notable holes were Hole #9, the 600' downhill bomber reminiscent of Hole #15 at Winter Park in Kewaunee, WI (I parked my tee shot within 20' but dicked the deuce), Hole #11F (400' sharp downhill--like 35 degrees!--dogleg left, blind off the tee, narrow landing area), and Holes #12 and #13 with interesting pin placements.
2. Maintenance. Surprisingly clean (although the lack of traffic here may be a factor), abundant trash cans. The rough can be really rough, but the fairways were great and aren't overgrown as these styles of courses can easily become. Props to the staff here.
3. Good quality ("gently used") Discatchers.
4. Easy navigation. For a 24-hole wooded ski hill course, it seems like a good idea to have a map, which were located on the board near the parking lot. However, it became quickly evident by the "Next T" signs--and our ease of finding the next hole by following these signs--that even without a map, they've taken measures here to ensure you won't get too lost. There were a few confusing areas, I think one was up by Hole #8 where I started throwing to #11C's pin, but all in all it was easy getting around.
5. Easy to find, located right off of US-2, big sign on the highway and a sign for the parking lot. Info kiosk with map/scorecards near course entrance.
6. Spectacular views. Take a few moments when you are up by Hole #14 and #15, high above US-2 and overlooking Lake Michigan. I had the privilege of playing this course later in the day, and by the time we got to #15 there was a fantastic sunset over the lake, and as much as I wanted to watch it from this awesome viewpoint, I realized I had to finish my round or risk finding my way off this mountain in the dark.
7. Well-marked dual tees. Painted wood blocks (red and blue) are usually visible from the last hole, or by following "Next T" signs.

Cons:

1. Tees. Dirt/grass tees aren't my favorite, but I can handle them when they're clear and level. Not the case here. Many tees with roots, rocks, poor footing, holes...some of these areas are potentially dangerous as far as foot/ankle injuries or falling, and I will mention some specific areas of concern: Hole #6 tee is pretty awkward feeling (213' uphill over a hump, blind off the tee), where you're facing INTO the hill, thus the tee is a ledge of earth facing this hill with not much follow-through space; Hole #11F short tee (this is the 400' blind downhill from the long tee, which was fine) was dangerous with a drop-off just off the tee where someone (a child playing the red tees?) could slip up and tumble down this rough hill, the Hole #16 tee (red and blue shared tee) was uneven with a bit of a drop-off as well, and Hole #17 tee had big fist-sized rocks sticking out of the earth.
2. While design-wise there wasn't much repetition, Hole #16 (I guess this is a replacement hole for the original) is such a lackluster filler hole--with woods and other surrounding natural obstacles completely ignored!--that I would've forgotten about it completely if I wasn't taking notes about the Pros and Cons for writing this review. Yawn.
3. Some of the lines you're supposed to hit are questionable. Granted, I only played this course once and perhaps locals more familiar with the layout will have developed enough of a relationship with this course to know all its little nuances, but I still wonder about some of the "routes" off the tee. Sometimes it seems like you're given no option except for a real luck shot, and then you're on the fence about whether to go with a driver luck shot or a midrange luck shot, so I guess the fact that you can second-guess your disc decision on the tee is a bit of a plus, just some areas are questionable.
4. The signage is nice and all, but not very helpful (reminded me of the Hudson Mills Metropark tee signs). Many holes required a bit of a walk off the tee just to see where exactly you were shooting. Doglegs were obvious on the signs, but usually required a walk in order to contemplate your shot placement.

Other Thoughts:

This was a cool little stop on our trip from Highbridge to Flip City. I know good courses (or courses in general) are rare in the U.P., but this and The Tailings in Iron River (from what I've heard) are setting the standard for how some of this awesome and under-utilized terrain can be used.

Technically, I'd say this course is a 3.75 (and if you search for only Trusted Reviewers' reviews for this course, that's exactly what it is!). In some circumstances that'd bump it up to a 4, but with the tee issues I really can't give it that high of a rating, also compounded by the fact that amenities (restrooms, water) are zip here...but there is a rest stop off US-2 just east of Silver Mountain, so take advantage of that before your round if necessary.

I'm definitely doing a Highbridge-to-Flip-City road trip again next year, and I'll definitely be stopping back here.
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8 1
deBebbler
Silver level trusted reviewer
Experience: 28.8 years 75 played 34 reviews
3.50 star(s)

Pasties Covered In Birdies 2+ years drive by

Reviewed: Updated: Played on:Apr 13, 2010 Played the course:2-4 times

Pros:

This course utilizes a ski hill, and some of the surrounding low area for a challenging 24 hole adventure. Holes vary greatly from tight uphill to short, tighter woods holes, to a couple of wide open bombers.

The current design makes you climb the hill twice. Hand crafted tee signage included nice visualizations of the hole and pin placement. Nice DISCatcher baskets.

View of the Straits of Mackinac from atop the hill is quite stunning, and is a good reason to rest after climbing the hill a second time (or the first!)

The straits area is always windy, but it's usually VERY windy. We were there on a relatively calm day, but the natural cut runs cause there to be many wind tunnels and cul-de-sacs that have swirling winds and cross winds. You might think this a Con, but I don't. Bring overstable drivers.

Cons:

***updated***

The tees are what is holding this course back from a stellar rating. Not only are there no cement tees, the tees that exist are just carved from the natural land. They are unmanaged, uneven, loose, and generally unreliable.

This course is one that demands accuracy from the tee, whether you are threading a narrow fairway, or bombing one down the hill. One misstep will have you double-bogeying your way around the links. If there were reliable tees, my rating would threaten to peg the meter.

No bathrooms.

Other Thoughts:

I like this course a lot. 24 hole courses make me smile, since I feel i really get my money's worth by going to them. We played this mid-April, so there was no bug population to speak of (or any population for that matter, since we were the only ones playing.)

***updated***
The stop-gap design from last year is gone, and the main gate has been moved in to allow disc golf parking, while securing the rest of the property from motorized vehicles.

The wonderful signage design has been expanded, and next tee signs abound directing your game, making this disc golf experience much more enjoyable.

Although the Big Bomber #16 seems to have been totally abandoned, what remains is a fantastic course offering up challenges for all skill levels and a unique secluded feel that is unmatched by many courses.

Pasties aren't the only reason to visit St Ignace anymore.
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8 0
superberry
Gold level trusted reviewer
Experience: 25.9 years 336 played 95 reviews
3.50 star(s)

Great rugged and isolated course, a little rough yet 2+ years

Reviewed: Updated: Played on:Nov 9, 2009 Played the course:once

Pros:

Great balance. Long/short, open/tight, uphill, downhill, left/right/straight holes all around on this greatly balanced 24 hole course.
Excellent workout course. Up and down the ski hills and wooded ridges. I love this type of physically demanding course because it's a good workout and it means that some extreme and unique terrain is being used.
Fairly good vareity with uphill downhill, open rippers, downhill bombers, and narrow wooded tunnel holes. Only thing missing is true water hazard and maybe a few more open rippers.
Great "Next T" signs on every green pointing you on your way.
PUNISHING rough that will really make you pay for a bad drive - no easy upshot to save par here.
Some decent risky greens (but most are fairly open). #7 on a great slope and #13 near a dropoff.
Nice new 3 layer Discatcher baskets.
Extra holes A-E are definitely worth playing. They offer some nice tight woods as well as another open ripper. The first wooded ones are on sharp slopes.
Memorable holes...
#9 a 600' downhill bomber with amazing views. I unloaded my bag off the top during my round. Then after the last hole I walked back up to unload my bag again!
E is a neat blind hyzer over a mound to a pin hidden by cedars
F is a great finesse downhill hole on sharp elevation but only 380' or so - requires touch.
15 is a signature hole along the huge dropoff down to Hwy 2. This offers amazing views of lake michigan and is a very excellent design with a long (340') annhyzer through some mature pines on all sides and in the middle.

Cons:

The tees are natural and no real attempt made to elimnate roots and rocks, thus they are very uneven and very difficult to get soild footing. Plus with no tee material, it's hard to tell where they are when the tee front posts are missing (as they are in many cases).
No real water hazard in play. The pond between 9 and 10 could easily be used for a forced water hazard drive over it for a rewarding deuce, or a play it safe around for a 3 or 4.
No numbers are on the Discatcher baskets and somethings the tee signs aren't very depictive, making it slightly difficult to know what pin is in play. Example, hole #8 does not play to the pin in sight (pin C), it plays to the right.
Could offer more risky greens. Example, place #13 up on that mound. While the terrain is up and down a small ski hill, there are not many drastic features like washouts, ravines, etc that would make for some riskier greens.
Why doesn't 16 throw off the ski hill any more?????? Seriously, I walked back up hill to play it. (after walking down through hole F to get from 15 to 16). This redesign is poor and eliminates a signature hole (800'+ #16).
#6 and #17 tee pad is pretty full of rocks and unlevel. They could use work.
Multiple tees are a PRO, but there is only a Blue tee on 5,6,A,B,F,12,13,16.

Other Thoughts:

This course is the BEST in the UP without a doubt. It is VERY fun to play and easily a destination course for all those travelling to the wonderful UP terrain. This is rugged and extreme wooded and hilly goodness, disc golf on excellent terrain. I love this kind of extreme terrain and challenge. A little bit different design and a bit more risk/reward greens, water hazards, and OB would make this even better. I'd suggest making it a 36 hole course (there is LOTS of room and some unique old gravel pits and more hills and woods). This could easily then become a destination course. Families and wives want to go to Mackinac Island, guys can stay behind and disc this wonderland. With slightly different design, some type of tee, and 36 holes, this course could be amazing.
Put hole 16 back on top of the hill! I walked back uphill to unload my bag from here (and I think all my shanked drives are probably why it was redesigned, but then put a red tee halfway down hill). All of you players, after 15, walk to the left past the old rusty lift structures and throw from the top 800'+ to the pin below. It is worth it!
This course is an amazing challenge and was extremely fun to play. I will be back.
UPDATE: As I go back and compare reviews with all courses I played, I make adjustments. Relative to other 4-disc courses, Silver Mtn is just a bit too rough around the edges, despite the extreme amount of fun and peaceful tranquility I experienced while there. I'm shiting to 3.5 but will absolutely be back and am sure I'll see improvement and refinement.
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2 2
InTheGroove
Experience: 14.8 years 7 played 7 reviews
3.50 star(s)

What a Challenge 2+ years drive by

Reviewed: Played on:Aug 30, 2009 Played the course:once

Pros:

A very challenging course. It will test your skills for throwing straight. Beautiful scenery. Well marked tees and maps are provided at the first tee area by the parking lot. A couple huge downhill shots that are very fun to play.

Cons:

Some very tight wooded fairways that can be very frustrating. I suggest playing with 3 or more in your group and always send someone ahead to be a spotter, otherwise you will be spending alot of time looking for your discs.

Other Thoughts:

I played only 18 of the 24 holes. At one point you are given an option to play the optional other 6 holes.
I would play it again for sure after I sharpen my narrow fairway skills a tad more.
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2 4
setebos
Experience: 14.8 years 21 played 5 reviews
3.00 star(s)

Has some issues... 2+ years drive by

Reviewed: Played on:Sep 4, 2009 Played the course:once

Pros:

Very, very nice signage and layout - they actually had maps of the course near the first hole. Some extremely challenging uphill and narrow shots; this course kicked my ass.
Also some really fun extreme downhill shots.

Cons:

I played the course around noon and got absolutely soaked from the dewey ground. Mosquitos were really out of control too; these 2 factors combined to make a fairly unpleasant experience. Not to mention the fact I was playing like absolute poo. Probably wouldn't go out of my way to go back to this course.
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