Highbridge, WI

Highbridge Hills - Woodland Greens

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3.685(based on 19 reviews)
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Highbridge Hills - Woodland Greens reviews

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15 0
DFrah
Gold level trusted reviewer
Premium Member
Experience: 5.8 years 227 played 225 reviews
3.50 star(s)

Fun technical course...with four other courses on site!

Reviewed: Played on:Sep 26, 2022 Played the course:once

Pros:

The Woodland Greens course is one of five (!) 18-hole disc golf courses on site at the Highbridge Hills Disc Golf Megaplex in northern Wisconsin.

Of the five HH courses, Woodland Greens is probably the most beginner-friendly. The course offers a technical round of disc golf, with holes that play through a beautiful deciduous forest. I visited in late September, and was treated to near-peak fall colors. There is a nice mix of fairway shapes cut through the forest. My favorite hole was #17, which plays about 275' slightly uphill along an S-shaped fairway with several neatly stacked rock piles in the middle. The basket is framed in the middle of a triple tree trunk.

Most holes are on the short side here, averaging around 240' length. Even experienced recreational players will have a chance to finish this course a few strokes under par - but it will take a good amount of shot shaping to do so.

The baskets are lime green Prodigy models that look brand new, and stick out well in the woods. One per hole. Some of them had solar lights sitting on top, leading me to believe that glow rounds sometimes get played here.

The tee pads are concrete. They were definitely on the older side, but overall still fine. One per hole. Trash cans and benches are placed periodically near the tees.

Navigational signage is nailed to trees where needed. There are a couple of places where paths between holes cross, and the signage was good enough that I didn't get confused.

Many holes (possibly every hole?) had rock sculpture eyes and noses "observing" the basket from a nearby tree. I got the impression that some mythical woodland creature was leering at me each time I missed my putt.

Cons:

The tee signs could be improved. They currently just have a large hole number and the distance - I could have used a map of the hole. I didn't need the course map for navigation, but I did pull it out quite a few times at tee pads to figure out which way the fairway turned. The signs also don't specify par. Most holes can safely be assumed to be par 3, but I think calling a couple of the longest ones par 4 (#13, #17) would be appropriate for the course.

The tee pads will likely need to be refreshed in another couple of years.

For better disc golfers, Woodland Greens is likely to be the least exciting course at HH. Elevation changes are minimal, only affecting play on a couple of holes. There are no water hazards, OB, mandos, or holes longer than 400'.

Other Thoughts:

The following notes apply to all HH courses:
- Large dirt parking lot at the top of a hill, which itself offers views better than you'd find on most courses.
- Multiple porta potties.
- Multiple practice baskets scattered around.
- Kiosk info at pay station including large map of all 5 courses.
- Signage says pro shop and food are sometimes available, but I got the vibe those were holdovers from previous ownership. Maybe they are open for special events.
- Onsite camping available.
- Pay to play: $20/day or $10/round or other options that I won't go into here (check course website for latest info). Can pay with cash, check, or Venmo. Signage at the entrance to the course says to display a receipt on your car but you don't get a receipt from the pay station - this was a bit confusing. I paid via Venmo, had fine cell phone service throughout the complex, and was one of the only people there throughout my visit so I figured I would be contacted if there were any issues.

Overall, Woodland Greens is a very enjoyable technical course. Here at HH, it is likely overshadowed by the famous Blueberry Hill and the more challenging Granite Ridge, Bear, and Gold courses. But unless you are a very experienced DG'er with a big arm, don't overlook this Woodland Greens course on your visit to the Hill. I would give this course a 4.0 with new tee signs and pads, despite the shorter length. It is a nice change of pace from the other courses on site!
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3 8
mmcfly101
Experience: 17 played 16 reviews
5.00 star(s)

Shorter, Technical course 2+ years drive by

Reviewed: Played on:May 24, 2018 Played the course:5+ times

Pros:

This is the easiest course at highbridge, besides the course at the campground. Most of the holes are shorter, but very technical as the course goes through heavy growth. Expert layout. I've played this the most of the courses at Highbridge, mostly because it's shaded and plays in the shortest time. Must see, greatest discs golf experience.

Cons:

The campground and other facilities are in poor shape. There not much else in the area.

Other Thoughts:

There are also layouts that use alternate tees, Blueridge, granberry, ect.
The main courses are Gold, Blueberry, Woodland Hills, Granite Ridge, Bear. There is also a course at the campground.
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12 0
mrclc
Gold level trusted reviewer
Experience: 10.6 years 733 played 46 reviews
3.50 star(s)

Well-Designed, Technical Fun 2+ years

Reviewed: Played on:Jul 13, 2018 Played the course:2-4 times

Pros:

Challenging but fair technicality is the bottom line at Woodland Greens, creating the perfect complement to Highbridge's longer marathon courses. The host venue for Nate Doss' 2007 Pro Worlds victory, Highbridge features five primary courses on-site, plus a bonus campground course used primarily for glow rounds. The five courses on the hill are the main draw, with each one unique enough to showcase a different flavor of the richly diverse land. Woodland plays almost like a mini-Bear, the course it's situated closest to on the property. You'll find a good variety of left, right, and straight holes here, often playing through gaps that are tight, but far from unfair. Because of this, Woodland successfully avoids the "converted hiking path" pitfall that many other tight, technical courses fall prey to. The fairways were clearly designed for disc golf, preventing the frustration associated with holes that follow unnatural or impossible disc flight paths. Holes are short and reachable, with most playing 250 feet or less. That being said, midrange and putter control is a must, and most of the challenge here is mental. Keep it in the fairway, forget about that random, frustrating bogey, and you'll leave happy.

All of the courses at Highbridge are beautiful, and even the least scenic points on the property blow away most other routings by a country mile. Woodland doesn't provide a whole lot of scenery due to the tight woods you're playing through, but the setting is still green and idyllic enough to appreciate that you're not at your local park. This is a great course to play with kids, spouses, etc. who don't want to disc golf, but are just looking for a nice walk through the woods.

There's a single set of concrete tees on every hole throwing to Mach IIIs in good shape. These baskets were originally located on Bear, but the two courses were switched because Woodland gets a lot more traffic. A controversial decision, but the right move in my mind.

On the whole, Woodland receives similar maintenance care to Blueberry, which is the best at the complex. More often than not you'll find Woodland in acceptable shape, which is a small but critical victory at Highbridge.

Cons:

When you put aside all the drama and nonsense surrounding Highbridge, which are a con unto themselves for most (see other thoughts), there's really only one complaint that stands head and shoulders above the rest - Highbridge's inferior maintenance. It's a roll of the dice if the grass will be mowed on any given day, and tree trimming & rough control appear nonexistent. To make matters worse, Highbridge is approaching a relatively advanced age (14 years for most of the complex) where decisions should be made regarding tree removal, which will almost certainly never happen. When the courses are maintained, the level of maintenance is usually inversely correlated to its difficulty. You may come across an open fairway that's been mowed impeccably, only to play to a soggy green with waist-high grass. In all fairness to John, taking care of five courses with limited help is a rather difficult task, but that doesn't change the fact that unfinished mowing and trimming is a gigantic headache for us players. Depending on the status of the maintenance when you play, a course's rating could fluctuate by as many as two or more discs. Timing your visit to coincide with the intermittent mowing is just par for the course here. The Highbridge Hills - Wisconsin forum thread on this site is extremely helpful for providing detailed course condition updates.

There aren't many individually memorable holes here, which throws Woodland in sharp relief with the other four primary courses on the property. Most of the holes run together once you get in the swing of things, and depending on your play style and strengths you could find yourself either very frustrated or very bored.

In my experience, this is the buggiest course at Highbridge. You'll want to wear bug spray when you play all of them (I find standard "deep woods" 40% DEET works best), but you'll need to reapply a few times on Woodland to keep the insects at bay.

Routing is a little confusing for a course with such a small footprint. Stay peeled for the intermittent next tee signs and reference the map as necessary.

Other Thoughts:

With more twists and turns than a telenovela, the saga of Highbridge Hills has captivated golfers in the Upper Midwest for years. Regardless of where you fall between the two extremes of "John is a con artist" and "John is a harmless dolt whose reach exceeds his grasp", it's hard to visit here and not be charmed by the ramshackle enthusiasm of it all. Sure, it'd be great if a competent management team took over the complex, maintained it to perfection, and charged $20/day in greens fees to play what is probably the greatest collection of courses at a single site in the entire world. But where's the fun in that? Up here, disc golf still feels firmly tied to its DIY roots, as one man tries to hold it all together with chewing gum and string. Even as people (including myself) complain about the neglect of these world-class courses, it's important to remember that this version of Highbridge holds value as well. If you're looking for a true frolf adventure, Highbridge is the best place to find one. For now, it's best to enjoy what we have and hope for better days down the road.

Woodland seems to be the second-most popular course at the complex behind Blueberry, and it provides the perfect opportunity for a warm-up or cooldown round. Overall, the full 18 is far superior to the sum of its parts and, taken cohesively, makes for a pretty fun round. I'm told Woodland is also a spectacular course for glow golf, although I've never done it myself.
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9 0
Stardoggy
Diamond level trusted reviewer
Premium Member
Experience: 12.7 years 1002 played 214 reviews
3.50 star(s)

The short and technical of HBH 2+ years

Reviewed: Played on:May 27, 2016 Played the course:2-4 times

Pros:

Woodland Greens is the shorter, more technical course at Highbridge. 18 holes.

Concrete tee pads, one per hole. Some of them are getting rough (like most things at Highbridge), but are still serviceable overall. Long enough, and wide enough.

Mach3 baskets, all in decent shape, and caught well. One pin position per hole. Woodland has tons of great pin placements. Lots of guarded spots, hilly spots, and one pin in a tree bunch. Well done in this aspect.

Most of the holes on Woodland are TIGHT. To me, this is what short, technical gold should be. Tight lines that reward you big time for great shots, and punish for poor. Even on 200' holes, there can be great scoring separation.

Plenty of up and down (or in other words, elevation), to go around here. Nearly every hole has some sort of elevation change, but nothing is too over the top.

While most of the course is pretty short, there are a few longer holes sprinkled in where you can open up the arm a little bit, even though you still need to be very accurate.

Cons:

One tee position, one pin position. Not a huge issue, as it's already so technical.

Some people aren't going to love the super tight lines like I may.

Not overly cart friendly, if that's important to you. Plenty of roots and uneven ground to travail. It's certainly not impossible, just a little extra work.

No water, if that's your bag.

Other Thoughts:

As with all Highbrdige courses, they get an inevitable bump for being all together. Woodland is a great short, technical complement to the other courses on site. You'll be forced to throw a ton of different shorter shots, and a few longer ones.

Also, it's a super fun course for large groups. It's easy to see what it's supposed to be, and it does it well. It tends to get looked over with all the other great golf onsite, but it's great as a standalone course, as well. Another must play on the HBH complex.
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7 0
jeremyhilss
Silver level trusted reviewer
Experience: 11.5 years 50 played 30 reviews
4.00 star(s)

Nice change of pace at HBH 2+ years drive by

Reviewed: Updated: Played on:Oct 27, 2014 Played the course:once

Pros:

Setting - Course snakes fully throughout the picturesque woods for all 18 holes

Technical shots - Features the tightest tree lined fairways I've yet to play at Highbridge, equal left, right and straight shots

Hole distance - most holes are quite short -250 and less for the majority. It's a nice change of pace after courses like Blueberry or Granite Ridge

Elevation - many shots up and down the rolling wooded hills

Cons:

*******UPDATE - Baskets have been changed from old crappy ones to Bears former orange Mach 3's, enough for me to bump this courses rating up half a disc to a four*********

Navigation - while most of the course is fine navigation wise, my view of it took a huge hit on hole(s?) nine. Following the scorecard map, I was led to an empty clearing with a sign pointing at the grass saying "Hole 9 tee". Looking behind me I saw an unmarked teepad, and shot from there, straight up the hill towards the basket which was assumingly number 9. Halfway up the fairway, I notice a teepad to the right with an actual sign and hole map saying number 9. So which one is really number 9? This second one shot up a hill with the basket on a mound, but the basket was white. So maybe my guess is that one is no longer the official number 9 due to the white powdercoating, as the first basket I threw at was green, like the rest of the course. Quite confusing and annoying.

Pars - like both Granite and Blueberry, the pars and distances on the signs and scorecards rarely match up at all. Makes it difficult to track scoring.

Other Thoughts:

Great course, fun lines to shape and a nice change of pace from the rest of the courses at the complex. It would be nice to have the navigation and par issues sorted out though, that would easily bump my rating up.
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10 1
Hector Chain
Diamond level trusted reviewer
Experience: 15.8 years 222 played 189 reviews
3.00 star(s)

Play it once, but don't play it again, Sam 2+ years

Reviewed: Played on:Aug 23, 2013 Played the course:once

Pros:

This is the most accessible course at Highbridge (barely) and appeared to be the most popular with recreational players. The distances are relatively short, generally ranging from 200-275 feet. I had figured this would feature a lot of ace runs - and there are a couple - but the shortest holes are generally uphill shots that are not easy holes.

The course overall was more challenging than I expected. I figured it would be a course where I would be putting for birdie a lot, but that didn't happen, both due to the challenging fairways and to some inconsistent shots on my part. You need to hit the line to score well on this course. But it's not a complete beat down.

As with all of the courses here, elevation comes into play frequently. There weren't many flat holes.

Navigation was pretty good. Most of the time you won't need the map, but the fairways play next to each other, and sometimes I was headed in the wrong direction. I never did find the tee pad for 9.

Cons:

Every hole was pretty similar. Throw down a fairway that is 20 feet wide. Some were uphill, some downhill, some curving right, some curving left, and some even curving straight (seriously, look at the tee signs that show you throwing straight despite an obvious bend in the fairway). Unlike the other courses, you'd have a tough time saying, "Hey, remember that one hole" and being able to describe it in any distinguishable way.

As with all of the courses here, tee signs are weathered and not as useful as they could be.

Other Thoughts:

I played this after a round on Gold to get my confidence back and to have a bit of change of pace. It is not as storied as the other courses on site and lacks some of the dramatic vistas, rock features, ponds, etc., but this is definitely worth a round.

Separate note: this course seems to feature the most ratings disagreement among Trusted Reviewers. Does it suffer by comparison, or are ratings inflated just by being part of the Highbridge complex?
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4 0
wolfhaley
Diamond level trusted reviewer
Premium Member
Experience: 19.9 years 970 played 542 reviews
4.00 star(s)

The short, technical Highbridge course 2+ years

Reviewed: Played on:Jul 2, 2013 Played the course:5+ times

Pros:

Woodland Greens is the shortest, most technical course at the Highbridge complex. This is a good change of pace from the other longer courses on site. There are large, level and grippy tee pads on every hole. The signs on every hole have a basic hole layout with all pin locations, hole #, pars and distances to the pin. These are perfectly serviceable. The navigation is not a problem at all. There are quite a few next tee signs throughout and it is generally pretty easy to find your way around. Just like all the other Highbridge courses they offer scorecards with a solid course map on the back of them in the pro shop. The course starts north of the pro shop near the start of Granite Ridge. There's not too much elevation change on this course compared to the others but it's not completely flat either. All holes have a fair line to the pin but the majority require you to hit your line accurately to score well. Any errant shots here will most likely cost you a shot. It is heavily wooded in most spots. Green powder coated mach 3 baskets on every hole. The chains are very rusty on all of these, however they still catch pretty well. Hole 17's basket is raised up about 6 feet off the ground in the middle of 3 tree trunks which is a cool touch. Like I said earlier this is the shortest Highbridge course. The distances range from 155 feet on hole 10 up to 390 feet on hole 13 with most being in the mid 200's. A few of the holes have multiple pin locations and all holes only have one tee. They also have faces attached to a few trees throughout which is another cool little touch. Again like all the other courses here you will need all types of shots. left, right and straight shots are mixed in well throughout. I also noticed that all the baskets had small solar lights on top of them so you'd be able to play a glow round here. Just like all the other courses on site it is extremely peaceful and serene. It doesn't get any better than this.

Cons:

The bugs are the worst on this course as it's all pretty wooded. Not really a con because there's nothing they can do about it. Just be sure to bring bug spray. And liquids. You will need extra water or Gatorade when playing Highbridge. Other than that not much.

Other Thoughts:

Just like I said in my other Highbridge reviews, this is a must play for any serious disc golfer. I strongly recommend making at least one trip up here if at all possible. You will not be disappointed. Always a blast at Highbridge.
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5 0
Money_Shot
Silver level trusted reviewer
Experience: 19.8 years 125 played 39 reviews
4.50 star(s)

Love This Course! 2+ years

Reviewed: Updated: Played on:Oct 8, 2012 Played the course:5+ times

Pros:

-Short holes allowing for many ace runs which = lots of fun.
-Requires a lot of technical shots = more fun.
-Great wooded landscape. Rocky hillsides, rock outcroppings throughout the course make it visually appealing when compared to most wooded courses filled with just grass and trees.
-Elevation. Sometimes strictly the pins were either raised or lowered on this course. Hole 17 features a basket between a trio of trees raised about 7 feet in the air. Another hole involves a sharp dogleg right up to a pin located about 5 feet down in a hole surrounded by rock.
-You can score a -5 one round on this course and a +5 the following round. It seems like sometimes hitting 1 tree can start the flurry and once it's in your head it's all over. However, it seems like once you barely miss 1 ace, you can be all over every pin on this course.
-No wind as a factor in this thick, heavily wooded area.

Cons:

Cons:
-Bugs are bad during the right seasons. Spring time brings tons of wood ticks.
-No water (somewhat thankfully when you look at above con).
-Not much, I Love this course!

Other Thoughts:

This is going to seem ridiculous, but I have played this course more than any other course out at Highbridge and will call it my favorite course on the grounds. Nuts huh? This review and my rating is biased to what suits my taste. If you are a big arm and like whipping the disc on every throw, play highbridge gold and good luck if you have an arm left when you are done. If you like highly technical shots, requiring you to shape and finesse your shots this way or that way then you will love this course as much as I do. If you like a happy medium play either Granite Ridge or Blueberry. I will say, my good friend that has went to this venue every time with me over the last 3 years agrees that this is the most fun course out on these grounds. I am not the only one, though, we may be the only 2 that feel this way :) In summation, go to highbridge hills and you WILL find at least 1 course that makes your top 5 all time imo. Great experience in general with ability to use carts, all the course options and a place to crash and sober up right on the course (honka house)
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6 0
Silhouette
Experience: 14.8 years 9 played 5 reviews
3.50 star(s)

Woodland greens and Silhouette 2+ years drive by

Reviewed: Played on:Jun 27, 2012 Played the course:5+ times

Pros:

This is my "go to" course on the windy days! Because the Highbridge complex is toward the top of a hill, windy days aren't few and far between. It is heavily wooded, with narrower fairways. Not an exhausting course by any means. Every basket is short. Some baskets play to left handed and rhfh throwers. Making this a well rounded "group activity" course! There is even a basket wedged between a 3 forked tree. Making it more original! There are many opportunities for aces on this course! I haven't triumphed one myself, but have come closer on woodland than any other Highbridge course!

Cons:

This was my first official course I have every played. With that said...this course becomes frustrating for a green horn player. I lost many discs my first time ever playing this game! Made me not want to play again, but here I am a few years later! Still playing, and loving this course! Now that I have a few years experience!

Other Thoughts:

Bring bug spray!!!! It is called woodland greens for a reason! It goes through a marsh, by ponds, and around pine trees. The bugs will be waiting for you!!!

Plan out your throws! It's very easy to leave 18 with a -5 or better!

The green baskets are sometimes hard to see in the middle of summer!!!

I highly recommend this course!!!
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10 1
bjreagh
Diamond level trusted reviewer
Experience: 27.6 years 350 played 317 reviews
2.50 star(s)

Woodland Greens 2+ years drive by

Reviewed: Played on:Jun 8, 2011 Played the course:once

Pros:

[The Complex]- There are presently 5 complete 18-hole courses, with 2 more still being constructed. I like the fact that the courses are designed to be at varying levels of difficulty (hardest-> Gold-Granite-Blueberry-Woodland-Chestnut <-easiest) so if you come and play them all you will have a well-rounded experience of both challenging ¬skill-testers and more relaxing, fun rounds. Each course has different colored baskets that correspond to the course's name. The courses are set on an amazing piece of land that is huge and contains many natural features that are ideal for disc golf (open, woods, elevation, and ponds). The land is dedicated purely to disc golf and is so isolated that only disc golfers will be here, and chances are you will have these courses all to yourself. Huge props need to be given to the course designer for placing all the courses where they aren't on top of each other, each has its own character, and individual hole design is very creative and well-done. John, the owner, is very nice and loves to have people come and play. He works extremely hard on the courses and on the facility as a whole.

[The Course]- Woodland Greens is Highbridge's mid-level shorter technical woods course. It is a nice relief from the longer and more grueling courses here. It is mostly shaded and does not take too long to play it. Most of the holes are in the 150'- 250' range and there are many ace runs and birdie opportunities, but don't be fooled into thinking it is easy and lame as it is a great test of accuracy and shot-shaping trying to avoid the isolated trees that are in strategic spots in the fairway and around the basket and staying out of the punishing rough. There is a good mix of left and right shaped holes and just enough elevation to have an impact. There are 18 holes with concrete tees and unique, highly visible lime-green baskets. Baskets are some cheaper odd brand, but get the job done. (The pics on this site currently show the old baskets.)

Cons:

[The Course]- All the holes tended to blend together and became repetitive. None of the holes were bad, but there weren't any super awesome memorable holes. The two notable characteristics are the one basket on the hill on #9 and the other wedged up high in the three tree trunks on #17. #9- I don't mind a basket on a hill, but the rough was so densely grown up it was hard to get any footing, hard to find your disc, and it did not look good. #17- I am not the hugest fan of abnormal basket heights, but I can deal with 1 on a course, however the tree trunks blocked about half of the basket entrance, which seemed to be a little much with the basket also being so high, and honestly put putting on this hole in the realm of goofy golf. (My opinion- elevate or wedge in trees, but not both.) Some people really like it though because it is different.

Course maintenance was severely lacking, the fairways were overgrown and some tee signs were missing, added a level of frustration to the course that was supposed to be the fun relaxer. Also, there were many spots that were very marshy, probably due to recent rains, so keep that in mind if it has rained a lot.

Also as a temp fix, the Bear course only has 7 holes in the ground (which were unplayable with waist high fairways when I was there) and then you are supposedly diverted to the Woodland Greens course to make 18 holes, but this is not a good idea in that the two courses are completely different in style- the Bear is supposed to be long and hard where WG is the short course. And if you play both, then you essentially end up playing a majority of Woodland Greens twice, when you need to be spending time playing Blueberry, Gold, and Granite twice instead. (This is all not really a con for WG, but a major con for the Bear course.)

[The Complex]- Can be summed up in two words- trashy and incomplete. The land is beautiful but is littered with junk and trash and numerous unfinished projects. And then add on top the most important thing of trying to maintain 5 courses while building 2 more, but nature is easily overtaking things. John is fighting a losing battle with an unpaid staff of 2 that can't complete the things that are already here while simultaneously trying to build more stuff. Things appeared to be breaking faster than they could be fixed. The campground was trashy and smelled of raw sewage in several spots. The Honka House has a lot of potential but the pics of the outside don't tell the whole story- inside it is missing basics like drywall, outlet covers, lights, etc. and seems to be used as much for storage of junk as it is for housing guests.

Other Thoughts:

[The Course]- This course is not the reason you come to Highbridge, but it is a welcome change of pace from the top signature courses. I love a good shorter, technical course and this is a fine example of one. Woodland Greens is pretty fun, but it would have been so much better if it had not been overgrown.

*Tip- Hole #1 is a blind sharp right into the woods towards a lime green basket. The basket you see from the tee is white and for the Whitetail course. After that navigation is pretty easy, but there are a couple of spots where alternate paths appear to lead to the incomplete Whitetail course.

[The Complex]- If you like lots of holes and very rustic lodging then you will love it here. If you have high expectations of well-manicured courses and hotel-like lodging then prepare to be disappointed. John's mission is noble as he wants people of all ages to enjoy the outdoors and has plans to have 7 courses, as well as numerous other activities, but he does not seem concerned with creating a first-class disc golf facility. He dreams big, but appears to have bitten off more than he can chew. Highbridge needs manpower, but does not have the advantage of disc-golf loving locals or park workers that most other courses have. Other private courses don't either, but are usually only 1 course, not 7, and much easier to maintain!
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9 1
ElementZ
Diamond level trusted reviewer
Experience: 14.9 years 212 played 197 reviews
4.00 star(s)

Woodland Greens 2+ years drive by

Reviewed: Played on:Mar 8, 2011 Played the course:once

Pros:

Woodland Greens is intended to be a wooded, short, technical course, and I feel like the designer of the course really hit the nail on the head.

While the holes are the shortest of all the courses at HHSC (except Chestnut Grove) averaging around 230 feet, they definitely require accuracy and can be deceivingly difficult. Beginning this round I was convinced that I could go sub par and I ended up a few strokes above par. Granted, on ace runs I would always go for it and completely overshoot the basket. ;)

A really cool feature that this course has is the "spectators" on each hole. They're basically faces on trees that are observing you and, I like to think, cheering you on.

Also, this course has the most interesting basket placements. #17 is elevated about 7 feet off the ground and there's a few baskets on mounds. This definitely makes putting intimidating and fun at the same time.

When we played here there was snow on the ground, but there were a lot of footsteps leading us in the direction of the next tee, which was invaluable.

Cons:

As this is heavily wooded, I'd imagine that bugs will be a huge problem in the summer.
The chains on the green baskets don't really catch as well as the chains at the other courses and the baskets in general were kind of weird.

Highbridge in general is far away from any big cities or towns. Make sure you stock up on food, water, and other survival necessities before you set up camp here.

Other Thoughts:

Definitely come check out the Highbridge Hills Sports Complex! It's a phenomenal destination for disc golf and I'm convinced all the courses here will wow you.
Make sure you plan to stay at least 2 full days because there's absolutely no way you can play all the courses here in one day.
The people and the facilities here are beyond awesome. John Jokinen, the owner, really goes out of his way to ensure that you have a good time.
The honka house is a huge cabin house that can house 15 or so people comfortably and it's only $24 a night. Definitely make sure to stop by if you can!
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11 0
AdamE
Diamond level trusted reviewer
Experience: 20.5 years 264 played 143 reviews
3.50 star(s)

2+ years

Reviewed: Played on:Jul 9, 2010 Played the course:once

Pros:

Woodlands is a short, technical course set entirely in the woods. All but two of the holes are under 300 feet. There is one par 4 here, hole 17, it's the signature hole on the course. It's only 270 feet but it's got a grueling S shaped fairway with an elevated basket sitting in a tri-forked tree.

The course has a good balance of hyzer, anhyzer, straight shots and a few twisting fairways. You need to be very accurate to score well on this course.

Navigation is breeze here with next tee signs and a map is provided at the hilltop clubhouse. The teepads and signs are in great condition.

Cons:

I would normally say something about a short course needing a few long holes to round it out. But Highbridge is different. Since it has so many long courses, this course does a great job rounding things out here.

The one con I have here is it's lacking the elevation changes seen on all the other courses.

Other Thoughts:

John has put innumerable hours turning this into the best place ever to disc golf and it shows. This is a top notch complex with a number of incredible courses, and there are more courses on the way. If you ever get a chance to make the trip up here, DO IT! Plan on spending more than one day because these courses are long, have lots of elevation changes and they will wear you down. And that's coming from someone who can play 4 rounds in a day no problem.

This truly is the mecca of disc golf!
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9 1
JohtoVillage
Gold level trusted reviewer
Experience: 24 years 160 played 73 reviews
4.00 star(s)

Good for the intent 2+ years drive by

Reviewed: Played on:May 28, 2010 Played the course:once

Pros:

For what Woodland is intended for, it does its job. Unlike the other Highbridge courses, Woodland is completely in the woods and is intended to reward accuracy/accuracy/accuracy. Only 2 holes are over 300 feet, and there are many under 200. Normally I would rate this course a 3, but I considered the purpose of the course. Highbridge Gold and Granite Ridge are intended to be tough, long, grueling courses. Blueberry is intended to be the fun course that does offer a challenge. Chestnut is the beginners course, while Woodland is intended to be a technical course that truly is fun. I wouldn't call the course easy (I dueced the first five holes but only shot -6), but it certainly is easier than Blueberry, Gold, and Granite. However, that is the intent of the course - in addition, I talked to the owner and this course is actually the second most played course on the complex (behind only Blueberry). Woodland also offers a fun basket on a nice mound, and the coolest basket ever (the hanging basket on 17). While some people would complain about this, this is one of the coolest things I have ever seen at a disc golf course.

Cons:

The course is extremely short - if you are looking for a long, challenging course, go play Gold or Granite. After 12 holes the course does seem a bit repetitive, as almost every hole is in the woods. This course is also more fun to play with other people. I played with myself and one more person, and I saw a thirteen-some playing later in the day (yup, you heard me right) and they were having an absolute blast. This is a fun course to come out and test your technical abilities, but it isn't a big challenge.

Other Thoughts:

The best thing about the Highbridge complex is the variety offered - Blueberry is the fun gem, Gold is the challenging beast, Granite is the open jewel, Chestnut is the night/fun course, Woodland is the technical course, and the Bear is the absolute goliath. I played Chestnut after playing both Gold and Granite in the same day (the day after), and it was such a breath of fresh air. It was fun to shoot under par, and that's the intention of Chestnut - to have fun and shoot a good score.
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10 0
mashnut
Diamond level trusted reviewer
Experience: 22.1 years 831 played 767 reviews
4.00 star(s)

Great wooded course 2+ years drive by

Reviewed: Played on:Jun 8, 2010 Played the course:once

Pros:

This course plays on the hillside through dense forest. Nearly all the holes have some kind of elevation change, and this is mixed up throughout the course with holes uphill, downhill, and some across the slope. There are several tricky greens with good rollaway possibility, and a couple very creative elevated pins, with one on the side of a small steep knoll, and one nestled 6 feet up between 3 tree trunks. Most of the holes play down grassy fairways lined with thick trees and rough, and many have strategically placed trees left in the fairway to make sure you hit your line. The rough is thick enough that you'll usually lose at least a stroke for an errant shot.

There is great variety of hole shapes here; it doesn't feel like you really throw the same shot twice. There is a good mix of left and right turning shots, and an occasional straight hole, but all have their own unique quirks and challenges. Even the shortest holes on the course will punish you for a shot that misses it's line.

The maintenance is pretty good here, most of the grassy areas were mowed nicely, and there was no trash or vandalism at all. The tees are nice level concrete pads with good grip and plenty of room. The second half of the course has good signage with hole map and distance, and the first half at least has numbers on the tees and next tee signs when necessary. The flow is good, and with next tee signs, very easy to follow especially with the map on the scorecard.

Cons:

This course is challenging, but very short. There is only one hole over 300', the rest are holes that many players can reach with a mid or a putter. If you're playing the other courses here that's less important, but looking at this course on it's own, it lacks variety in distances. The first 7 holes don't quite feel finished, with temporary baskets and no tee signs, once this course and bear are finished with their own sets of baskets it will feel much more like a complete course.

Other Thoughts:

This is another great course at the wonderful Highbridge complex. It it's own unique flavor with shorter technical holes, and is certainly a must play while here. It's not all that beginner friendly, with tight lines and thick rough, but more experienced players will find some great technical challenges. Highbridge is truly a disc golf destination, and this course is part of that for sure.
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5 1
Feli
Experience: 10 played 8 reviews
4.50 star(s)

Fantastic tecnhical course 2+ years drive by

Reviewed: Played on:Jun 6, 2010 Played the course:2-4 times

Pros:

This course is about as good as it gets for accuracy geared players. It's mostly par 3s but an excellent challenge for any player.
The fairways are narrow and guarded by tree lines on either side. The distances make it seem as if it'd be easy, but on most holes, you won't even be able to see the basket from the tee since it's a dogleg and/or heavily wooded fairway. There are some hills, but it's much more of a test for hyzering and thumb throw abilities.

This course will reward accuracy while other Highbridge layouts like Gold and Granite with many wide, long, and open fairways rewarded mostly just distance. There are probably far more guys who can rip discs 300 or 400+ feet than the number who can consistently throw a beauty down these narrow Woodland fairways and hook to the baskets. If you try to power your way through this course, you will be playing Plinko off trees and spending a lot of time pushing branches aside to look for your discs in the forest.

Cons:

The course accomplishes its purpose of emphasizing accuracy and maneuvering discs around curves and trees. Some power players will whine that the holes aren't long enough for a Highbridge course, but there are still a few 300ft+ ones on this course to appease them also.

Other Thoughts:

This is a course where a TeeBird or even a midrange will probably be your main disc off the tee boxes. If you like precision DG courses and having to use a variety of disc throws and hyzer angles, you will love Woodland Greens.

If, however, you want to be able to easily see the basket from the tee and just bomb away drivers on wide fairways, then you are better off just heading to Gold instead. All in all, Highbridge courses compliment eachother very well.

There's something to work for (and against) every player's DG style at Highbridge, and this course will really test your accuracy. It's also a pretty shady course that plays faster than other Highbridge courses, and it's great for the sunny days where you would get burnt to a crisp playing the longer 18s at the complex. The wood spirit faces on the trees are a nice touch. Great course.
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9 0
superberry
Gold level trusted reviewer
Experience: 25.9 years 336 played 95 reviews
3.50 star(s)

Suffers by comparison 2+ years

Reviewed: Updated: Played on:May 26, 2008 Played the course:5+ times

Pros:

Great wooded theme course. Need for accuracy here is a huge plus. There are some nice tight pin placements that introduce risk and make your play very fun. Be sure to look for the wooded spirits on each hole. These neat little gimmicks are nice. This is a great course as a warmup or for beginners, and is a great test of your accuracy. It also has some longer holes which test very specific shot shaping abilities. The amount of ace runs here are fun and just less than a handful of holes that add some distance and balance.

Cons:

While the course is well themed as a wooded wonderland, it gets a bit repetititve. There are basically ONLY wooded holes here. And they lack some of the more extreme elevation at Highbridge. I do not believe there is a water hazard on Woodland, or maybe just some dried up stanky mudhole or two. All in all the accuracy needed is nice, but it's mainly short accuracy. Bear would be the EXCELLENT long accuracy compliment! The last time I played, they had a few temp baskets like Travellers and M14s out on this course - THOSE SUCK! Navigation gets a bit difficult in the area where it merges with the Bear course and this will continue to be a problem I'd imagine.

Other Thoughts:

IN talking to the owner, now that the Bear is supposedly ready for baskets, the orange baskets will be moving to the Bear course and all new baskets are ready for Woodland. Having 18 green baskets here would be a great touch, but I didn't ask what color they were. Assuming that all baskets will be upgraded and there will no longer be a shared split with the Bear course, Woodland can thrive in filling the niche it does at Highbridge - a shorter wooded course. The compliment and contrast of every course on the property is what makes the Highbridge experience so amazing. It's not just 4 courses of the same thing, each one fills a niche. I love this and have thus decided to update my rating from a 3.5 to a 4. This is assuming that Woodland will get 18 matching baskets.

Sidebar - quit messing with the Granberry and BlueRidge "quasi" courses and GET BEAR FINISHED! Then get Whitetail Run finished!(white baskets??)
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3 3
pvilleDiscgolfer
Experience: 16.9 years 24 played 8 reviews
3.50 star(s)

Good Start 2+ years drive by

Reviewed: Played on:Jun 19, 2009 Played the course:once

Pros:

A good 18 to start Highbridge. There is a good chance you will run into John the owner/caretaker riding his mower. This course is short but no less challenging than one would like in a grade A course. Tricky fairways studed by large trees. Two holes in particular have interesting pin locations which add a cool twist. That is one reason we started with this course, looking for that pin in the tree!

Cons:

not yet

Other Thoughts:

I want to second what therealbigtrav stated, "IF YOU LOVE DISC GOLF COME TO HIGHBRIDGE!!" I can honestly see a resort being built here in the near future. Check out the Honka house at the top of the hill for incredible lodging.
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4 4
Stashride
Experience: 27.8 years 20 played 18 reviews
3.00 star(s)

Woodland Greenery 2+ years drive by

Reviewed: Played on:Jul 18, 2008 Played the course:5+ times

Pros:

Lots of Aceholes..you can play with a putter for almost the hole round if you want to..some of the pins are silver, some are orange and others are of the cloth variety..A real mutt of a course..but a fun fairly easy play to get your ego off the ground after the Gold course has humbled you..Aesthetic value enhanced with clever tree faces and wacky pin placements that will make you double take at least once throughout the day..

Cons:

One real corny gimick of a pin..up in a tree..but it fits the vibe of this course I suppose..a real yuck of a course..

Other Thoughts:

Have fun with this shorty..A nice course to throw some $kins around!
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6 7
therealbigtrav
Experience: 17 years 50 played 4 reviews
3.00 star(s)

2+ years drive by

Reviewed: Updated: Played on:Apr 18, 2010 Played the course:5+ times

Pros:

Woodland Greens is the most short/technical course at Highbridge Hills. The fairways are tighter than the rest of the courses here, and this course is heavily forested throughout. There is only a three or so holes that aren't reachable with a good drive. That's not because of the distance, it's because of the quick turns right off the box, and little if any lines over the tree tops. There are two unique basket locations. One basket is wedged between three tree trunks about six feet in the air, and the other is located on the side of a small steep incline about seven feet in the air. All of the courses at Highbridge Hills do a great job of complimenting one another. This is a great course to choose if you're legs are worn from the longer courses, or if you are pressed for time.

Cons:

There isn't any elevation changes or hazards on the course. The isn't a single par four, which makes for a slightly repetitive round.

Other Thoughts:

Chestnut Grove at Highbridge Hills is actually even shorter than this course. I didn't include it in the opening statement because it isn't located at the top of the hill with all of the championship courses.
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