Green Lake, WI

Zobel Park

4.375(based on 30 reviews)
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13 0
EspressoPatronum
Gold level trusted reviewer
Premium Member
Experience: 18.7 years 232 played 223 reviews
3.50 star(s)

A Great Course But Not one of Wisconsin's "Greats"

Reviewed: Played on:Oct 20, 2023 Played the course:once

Pros:

- dual concrete tees
- tee signs have full color maps
- blue Prodigy baskets in good shape
- amenities: practice basket, outhouse, fair amount of parking
- multiple pins for each hole (populated position on tee sign)
- next tee indicators on most baskets
- benches on each hole
- built in bridges over creek beds
- some great technical challenge in wooded portions of course
- a few more open holes to add variety
- some good elevation change incorporated throughout course
- short (red) tees provide easier shots for newer (or tired!) players
- long (blue) tees provide some opportunities to rip longer drives
- a few really neat tight corridor shots in woods that include up/down elevation
- peaceful setting away from heavy traffic

Cons:

- upkeep is a bit on the rough side; course is a little wild
- a few tee signs missing
- concrete tees are a little bit smaller than desirable
- pin position indicators on tee signs are inaccurate in places
- navigation gets fairly squirrelly near the end
- hole 16 doesn't really have a straightforward line/fairway to hit

Other Thoughts:

Zobel Park is a high quality course amongst many other giants in the state of Wisconsin. This state truly is a disc golf paradise. While Zobel is definitely worth a stop and has some unique features, it didn't quite blow me away. The current rating around 4.4 is definitely a bit overblown; I could certainly see rating this a 4.0 but not really any higher than that. For me, it's a respectable 3.5.

With that said, there aren't a ton of huge cons here - safety and navigation are generally good, although the end of the course does get a bit confusing, especially with hole 16 kind of crossing in to what looks like a different fairway - I couldn't figure out what was going on here until I hiked out and found the basket. Otherwise, the equipment is pretty good here - quality baskets, dual concrete tees (if admittedly a bit small), and serviceable tee signs - also a bit small, but full color and providing the information you want.

When I started the course I thought it was going to be pretty flat, but a lot of the course turns out to be quite hilly. There are definitely some challenging shots through tight wooded channels here, and you will have to fight for par on some holes, but there are definitely some birdie opportunities too. The length is fairly average, with the red tees being notably shorter than the blue. There is a mix of open and wooded holes and you will throw a variety of shots. The course felt a bit wild and rough around the edges to me, which sometimes, subjectively, increases the "cool factor" for me - and other times it just gets annoying. Perhaps that's my own personal problem though :).

I think one of the most frustrating things was that while they have added indicators for the pin position on the tee signs, these clearly aren't always keep updated. As others mentioned, baskets are not all in 'A' or 'B' position, it varies with each hole. Some are marked incorrectly, which in one case caused me to throw an entirely incorrect type of shot even though I could see the basket - thinking it was for a different hole. This is not the end of the world but can certainly get irritating.

Zobel does a lot of things right, with some decent amenities and generally fun disc golf. It's a good area to pass through with Wilderness nearby as well. However, I'd hit Wilderness first - it is fairly unquestionably a 4.5+ course, and Zobel really isn't in the same league. Still, it is probably better than 70-80% of courses out there and definitely worth a play.
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7 0
Johnsondere
Bronze level trusted reviewer
Experience: 9 months 136 played 83 reviews
4.00 star(s)

Such a solid park course!

Reviewed: Played on:Feb 11, 2023 Played the course:5+ times

Pros:

- Very well designed course!
- Two tee pads and rotating basket locations for each hole.
- Very challenging course.
- Open year round.
- Variety of shot shapes and distances.

Cons:

- Gets very buggy and overgrown during the summer!
- Tough to play hole 18 if people are out sledding.
- Baskets have a tendency to spit out putts.

Other Thoughts:

Overall a great course to play! Very challenging even from the short tee pads. Can get buggy during the summer.
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12 0
DFrah
Gold level trusted reviewer
Premium Member
Experience: 5.8 years 227 played 225 reviews
3.50 star(s)

A good course that I (may have) hit at a bad time 2+ years

Reviewed: Played on:Sep 25, 2021 Played the course:once

Pros:

Zobel Park is located on a mostly wooded hillside in rural south-central Wisconsin. For travelling disc golfers, it's about 2/3 of the way from Rollin Ridge to Wilderness Campground. The park has a couple of other amenities, but the main attraction is definitely an 18 hole disc golf course.

Zobel DGC plays as a medium length, mostly technical round. The hillside is generally not particularly steep, but affects play on many holes. You will play up, down, and along it several times each. The holes range from tightly wooded to mostly open, and everything in between. The foliage is mostly old growth (very tall) pine trees, with younger deciduous trees and bushes filling in the understory. There were lots of what looked like huge nuts lying on the ground during my early fall round, which was cool though I would hate to get hit by one of those things falling from the tree! The rough was thick in a few places, but overall I didn't really worry about losing discs.

There seemed to be a decent mix of left turns, right turns, and straight shots through the woods. A couple holes are more open, like #13 and #18 which both play downhill and have nice views of the Wisconsin countryside from the tee (particularly #18). The distances range from a couple of 200'ish tight throws, up to 2-3 more open holes in the 450-550' range. My favorite hole was #6, a 400' sweeping left turn that starts out on a flat section of the hill then slopes downward with a line of the tall pine trees in the center of the fairway.

The baskets catch well and are painted blue. I think they are Chainstars. A couple of the baskets are elevated, most notably hole 11's which is on top of a large boulder. There is also a practice basket next to the parking lot.

The teepads are cement and in good shape. Most holes have two pads. Many of the long pads had benches nearby. In theory, there was a tee sign at each pad. They were fine, with distances shown to an "A" and "B" pin position.

There is a vault toilet between holes 9 and 10 (not at the beginning of the course).

Cons:

As alluded to above, there are two teepads on most holes and two pin positions shown on the tee signs. However, the execution of the multiple layouts here is not great. It seemed like there were quite a few holes where the different layouts wouldn't really change much about the hole. My bigger frustration though was that the pin placement was not consistent. On some holes the basket was in the "A" position and on others it was in the "B" position - with no indication of that anywhere. Most holes here are blind, and after the front nine or so I got tired of walking up the fairways before teeing off and just tried to place my drives in such a way that I could approach either pin position without losing too much distance. This worked OK overall...but that's also kind of why I concluded it didn't seem like the different layouts would change several holes much. IMHO, the ideal situation for multiple layouts is always to install baskets at all of the pin locations. I get that this is a free-to-play course so maybe having 36 baskets isn't feasible, but at least keep the pin positions consistent (all "A" or all "B") and/or clearly let DG'ers know (e.g. via the tee signs, kiosk, or both) which pin position is currently in place.

The "Next Tee" signs are little orange arrows hanging on the bottom of baskets via keychain rings. These are better than nothing, but in my opinion just barely because they can easily fall off or be tampered with. When I played, several of these pointed the wrong way and a couple were missing entirely. A couple of additional signs between holes do help clarify things where paths cross, but overall I would say navigation could definitely be improved. I pulled up the course map found here several times.

Many of the tee signs were damaged or missing when I played.

I feel like the lines are unrealistically tight on a couple of holes. I'm remembering hole 7, but not in a good way. This one plays about 220' up a hill between two straight orderly rows of tall pines. These rows weren't separated by much further than my arm span. I will admit, it was fun to look at the neat rows of trees and imagine my disc threading the needle between them. Maybe I just need to get better. :)

There is a kiosk, but no map posted on it.

I did not see a single trash can in the park.

Other Thoughts:

The course starts and ends on the south side of the park (bottom of the hill). There is another small parking lot on the north side of the park/top of the hill, which would be a good place to park if you wanted to start at hole 10 for some reason. The vault toilet is also here, and if memory serves me correctly a playground as well (well out of the way of any flying discs).

The disc golf is solid here and there are a couple of nice views to take in, but overall I wasn't blown away. I wanted to like this course more, but the various signage-related issues and pin placement woes dampened my experience a bit. I had to wonder if I just hit the course at a bad time. If some of the issues were cleaned up, I could definitely see this course getting a 4.0 from me. Beyond that I would have to play it again to make a judgement, but my feeling now is that it would still need a lot more "wow" factor to get into the same arena as Wilderness or Rollin Ridge.

If you are visiting the area, this course is definitely worth a play - but only if you still have time after you get in at least two rounds at Wilderness.
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22 0
wellsbranch250
Diamond level trusted reviewer
Experience: 10.2 years 652 played 631 reviews
4.00 star(s)

Where Is Everyone? 2+ years

Reviewed: Played on:Jun 10, 2018 Played the course:once

Pros:

(4.014 Rating) A medium length course requiring a good deal of shot shaping and accuracy.
- CHALLENGING - Normally I'll rate a courses difficultly against its listed par figure, but for this course I did not as there are no doubt several par 4s. (see other thoughts, Par Structure) Zobel from the back tees is going to require both precision and length. Even a few of the legit par 3s exceed 400 feet. There are some very technical plays where the lane widths are reduced to less than six feet. Hole (5) was my favorite of the tight technical holes requiring accuracy and movement. Hole (6) is an awesome downhill bomb shot from the back tee requiring hitting a high right window a 100 feet from the tee. There are several 90 degree doglegs in both directions requirement planned placement. There are also several raised basket placements. In all, the course reads Advanced from the back tees and Intermediate from the front tees.
- NATURAL BEAUTY - Charming. Almost completely secluded from other park amenities. The course is half and half, moderate to heavily wooded with some moderate rolling elevation changes. A great mix of tree species. Big oaks, maples, pines and firs among other species. Hole (3) has a headwater creek of untouched appearance running down the entire right side. Hole (11s) basket sits on a huge glacial boulder. Hole (18), amen. What an awesome way to finish a layout. A plus 400 foot bomb shot that's plays 50 feet down and has the tee shot framed looking out over the country side.
- UNIQUENESS - A well balanced mix of park style holes and heavily wooded technical holes. As stated, lots of doglegs, but also windows, tree gaps, and pockets to hit. Several multi-play holes requiring placement and precision. Elevation exceeds 30 feet on several holes. If I were to call out an omission it would be water elements. I only saw a couple of dry creek beds on my visit.
- CHARACTER - Two adequately sized concrete tees on all but three holes. Effective signage showing
obstacles, fairway lines, distances, hole # and next tee direction. There was seating on just about every hole and a few had wooden extensions to hang a bag. Lot of tee shading and wind shielding. The blue powder coated baskets were not a model I was familiar with, but they were all in great condition and caught well. There's a community board and practice basket near tee (1). Unfortunately, no course map posted at the board.
- MAINTENANCE - The course was well mowed on my visit and I saw one piece of trash the entire time. Great job Park's Department.

Cons:

Mostly ticky-tack issues, but otherwise Zobel Park is a well-executed course.
- NAVIGATION - Doable for sure, but not seamless. As stated, no course map at the community board. I only saw directional cues after 3 holes, after (1), (2) and (5). Holes signage, as stated, has next tee direction on them, but several transitions were too long to not have to guess the correct path. The downloadable map on DGCR helps a bunch and I would suggest having a printed copy as I referred to mine several times.
- NOT BEGINNER FRIENDLY - It has been noted in several reviews that no one is ever here. I'm going to throw out a possible reason. This is not a cupcake course. Several lines require a higher than normal skill set level. I could see those newer to the sport (less than 50 rounds) not liking their experience here. I could also see 750 rated players writing 4s or more for all 18 holes as a deflating experience. Perhaps this is the one failing thing about this course, as its so challenging to newer players that they tried it a few times that they gave up and never came back.
- LACK OF TRASH CANS - I know it seems silly for me to list this as a con and I don't subtract any score for their omission in my ratings. Anyways, there are zero trash cans in the park. Please be prepared to pack in and pack out. As stated under my maintenance pro, I only saw one piece of trash (an empty beer can) the whole time, so I packed the can out with me. Is the Parks Department that good or are people really upholding to the rules?
- TIME PLAY - Not a quick 18 despite a par 54 listing. Figure 90 minutes for a solo first timer and 2 ½ hours for a foursome.

Other Thoughts:

My Wisconsin course coverage is pretty limited as of this review (15 WI courses.) However, among these, I've placed Zobel as my second highest rated. Far behind Rollin Ridge and a touch better than Dretzka in Milwaukee. To seasoned traveling players like myself, Zobel offers just about everything I expect in a higher rated course, challenge, beauty and variety. It's kind of mind boggling that this course doesn't get more play. Perhaps many of the residents of Green Lake weren't ready for a course this complex. Players with an Intermediate level skill set or better need to plan a trip here if they are within a three hours' drive, It's an excellent course.
- PAR STRUCTURE - Don't be fooled, this is not a legit par 54 course. Although par structure makes zero influence on my ratings, the labeling of par 3 on some of these holes personally bothered me. Why even go thru the trouble of listing it on the signs at all. There are several +500 foot 90 degree dogleg holes where a good drive will still leave a 200 foot approach shot. Depending on the basket placement, I would argue that nine placements are par 4s. Placement (3b, 8b, 9c, 10b, 13b, 14c, 16b, 17b and 18b). Hole (8s) (B) placement from the back tee is an uphill mid 500 foot look that doglegs at the end. I could see Recreational players averaging above a 5 on this back tee and back basket combo.
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17 0
MrFrosty
Diamond level trusted reviewer
Experience: 31 years 764 played 386 reviews
4.50 star(s)

Incredible course , and no cost to play 2+ years drive by

Reviewed: Played on:Aug 28, 2018 Played the course:once

Pros:

Where do I start ? I never met the people in charge of course upkeep , but they do a great job . This course gives you a lot of everything . To score , you have to be creative with your shots and be deadly accurate . many tunnel shots through woods ( I would like to be the person to shake everybody's hand that can keep from hitting a tree on #7 ) and a good mix of length and short , tight shots . I will go back to #7 . I have a 79 inch wingspan from fingernail to fingernail , and I felt I could touch all 20 or so trees that make up this tunnel throw . It will test your nerves . Many signature holes throughout this course . One of my favorites was #3 . An uphill 377 footer that plays more like a 450 foot hole , that you have to throw your second shot to the dogleg right over a gully and around a large overhanging tree ( I was supposed to throw AROUND the tree ? ) . Another memorable hole was #11 , which was a fairly tight 335 footer to a basket located on top of a boulder . As I was readying my throw on #14 ( on another cool hole , where you throw around bushes about 300 feet , to another uphill throw another 75 feet guarded by trees ) , 2 women on horses descended down the fairway and to my tee . I never saw something like that . They asked if they were in my way and I told them that I had hit about half the trees on the course , and banking my shot off a horse might make my career . I don't think they got it . The last hole is a nice long downhill hyzer that is encased in smaller trees . 2 decent length teepads per hole , multiple pin positions , lots of love given by locals for this course . Well manicured . A must play if you are within 50 miles of here .

Cons:

If I have any complaints , they are very minor . 1. Missing trash cans on the course . It could be that putting someone in charge of emptying them on a FREE course would be a hassle , and I respect that . Carry in and carry out !!!! The course was very clean when I was there Saturday . 2. It helps with multiple pin position courses to indicate where the pin is located during the day/week . When the holes can go into the 350-500 range , it can take a lot of walking around to find the POSITION OF THE DAY . Bring a map or you will spend some time looking for some of the next hole tees

Other Thoughts:

What a great course ! Do not pass this up . Not a course to bag , but a course to take in it's scenery and creativity . My hat goes off to the course designers and locals for their upkeep . Thanks for allowing me to play one of the best 2 or 3 courses in the state .
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4 5
arndtad
Experience: 20.8 years 61 played 10 reviews
4.50 star(s)

Personal Favorite 2+ years drive by

Reviewed: Updated: Played on:Sep 13, 2017 Played the course:5+ times

Pros:

The multiple tees and pin locations make it a great course for whatever you're looking for. The championship layout is a super challenge. The short tees could be a challenge for a beginner in the championship layout but I would still think it would be enjoyable enough. Great use of elevation both going up and down the hill with roughly the same amount that are flat. Nice mix of short/long and open/wooded. Multiple baskets that are elevated above the surrounding grade to add an additional challenge to putts as well as approaches. The final hole is a downhill bomb that allows a RHBH thrower to see how far they can throw. One of the best courses in the state yet often I find I'm the only one in the whole park.

Cons:

It isn't the most obvious layout to follow your first timeout there. On a few occasions I've had to question what direction I should go in. Mosquitoes can get thick at times so bring bug spray. It's a bit of a hike and some of the trails/holes would be a challenge with a cart or a stroller if with the family. Bathrooms are near a playground at the back of the course

Other Thoughts:

Absolutely worth a drive. If I get anywhere near Green Lake I'll go out of my way to get a round in.
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1 2
peepskp
Experience: 6.9 years 1 played 1 reviews
4.00 star(s)

Great free course 2+ years drive by

Reviewed: Played on:Sep 2, 2017 Played the course:once

Pros:

- great mix of wooded and open
- well maintained, clean, beautiful terrain
- quality baskets
- a few signature holes
- good signage
- challenging
- free
- restrooms

Cons:

- tee pads are too small
- garbages are scarce
- no way to tell what basket locations were set up

Other Thoughts:

The course is free but seems professionally maintained. A couple minor upgrades would really help this course. Worth a trip to play. Very nice!
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2 2
TeebirdDan
Experience: 20.8 years 90 played 24 reviews
4.50 star(s)

Blakes Masterpiece 2+ years drive by

Reviewed: Played on:Aug 28, 2016 Played the course:5+ times

Pros:

hole 1 starts out mellow n forgiving and everything to follow is its own unique challenge . you could not have made a better layout on this property ,and its a beautiful one .hole 11 has two basket placements on boulders . ends with a long downhill bomber.

Cons:

only problem i have ever had there in years of playing it is bugs and stinging nettles , o well nature

Other Thoughts:

lots of different trees on the property makes for a vast variety of appearance to each fairway .
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4 1
Bitter Mouse
Experience: 28.8 years 92 played 14 reviews
4.50 star(s)

Wow. Great free course. 2+ years drive by

Reviewed: Played on:Oct 23, 2016 Played the course:once

Pros:

Perhaps the best free course I have played and holds up well against the best pay courses.

This course has it all, a wide variety of holes without a loser in the bunch. The holes are not super hard, but they are plenty challenging.

The course flow was solid and navigation was pretty good, but having a map helped.

It is also the prettiest course I have ever played. The holes are nice and the park was perfectly maintained and some of the views (especially 18) are incredible.

If you pass anywhere near this course take the time to play it. it is wonderful.

Cons:

It is a touch too easy to be perfect, but for non-advanced players it is a great challenge. The signage is OK, but not knowing which pin position is in play is a bit tough.

Minor minor problems though. Great course.

Other Thoughts:

This course was a very nice surprise and I wish it was closer. I would play this course every week if it was nearby.
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5 0
randallmadison
Experience: 16.8 years 6 played 3 reviews
4.50 star(s)

Wisconsin Wonder 2+ years drive by

Reviewed: Played on:Aug 12, 2016 Played the course:5+ times

Pros:

-Championship caliber course requiring all types of shots and discs to come out. Very challenging longs and shorts that still make you earn every birdie.
-Superbly maintained!
-Practically every hole has alternate tees and pins (not both pins at once).
-Concrete tees.
-Beautifully secluded and private which makes is peaceful and serene.
-Great elevation changes, could almost be described as moderately hilly.
-Truly perfect distances with opportunities to air out on some longer holes and shorter shots through the woods requiring finesse and technicality. Multiple disc selection required!
-Well designed and thought out course that changes from one hole to the next.
-Marked very well for great directions.

Cons:

-Signage! If only there could be a marker (maybe just a lock that goes on a hole in the sign?) on the beautiful, accurately designed signs at the tee pad. You never know which position the baskets are in and it's something that could easily be added. Biggest knock but not a biggie with all the pros this course offers!
-No trash cans. Pack in, pack out, but understandable.
-Poison/wild parsnip galore!
-Mosquitos can be horrific in summer.

Other Thoughts:

If you're anywhere close to the area it's worth the visit. No one should be disappointed!
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8 0
3seconds2live
Experience: 10.9 years 16 played 6 reviews
4.50 star(s)

A Diamond in the Rough. 2+ years drive by

Reviewed: Played on:Aug 20, 2016 Played the course:once

Pros:

Wow where to begin. This course Has everything I look for. Beautiful landscaping with clean cut fairways and challenging rough. Trees play throughout the course making some holes challenging even on short holes. Exellent diversity in holes, wide open for long bombs, short technical holes that require extreme accuracy, every disc in my bag came out to play. Hole 6 and hole 7 stuck out to me the most just with a big right to left on the drive for 6 opening up into a big downhill throw to the basket to make par. 7 was a tight uphill shot through the trees seen on the right side of hole 6. They were all planted in perfect lines making a tough uphill shot exceptionally hard through a 6 foot wide gap. 18 is the most picturesque on the whole course with a great view in the distance offering a big downhill right to left drive and a second flat approach to near the basket. through some massive trees. Well done Wisconsin. Traveled 3 hours to play this course and it was not a wasted trip.

Cons:

The absolute worst part about this course is that each hole offers 2 and in some cases 3 basket placements listed on the tee box info placard but you never knew which position it was in. Maybe this was indicated in some way and as it was our first time at the location we were unaware, but throwing for all pin A or pin B placements is out of the question because there was no commonality. My only complaint was the excessive pin placements with no indication of which placement it was in.... THATS IT and that is just nit picking because i'm sure it was in fact listed somewhere that we didnt see.

Other Thoughts:

I can see how mosquitos could be a problem, however on the day we played not a single one was around. We didnt use any bug spray and just never had an issue. There are 0 yes 0 trash cans around the course. I can see how this could be a problem to empty them but it would be a shame if people started to litter due to this causing it to be a trash heap. Overall the course was clean we simply picked up a few cans that we saw to help out.
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6 3
Spike Hyzer 23
Experience: 30.7 years 92 played 87 reviews
5.00 star(s)

Central WI Gem 2+ years drive by

Reviewed: Played on:Apr 18, 2015 Played the course:once

Pros:

Zobel is an exciting course that starts with a flat, modest and mostly open first hole and then explodes with variety. The second hole seems to be a short easy lefty hyzer, but the wall of pines makes it nearly impossible to reach. The third hole winds up through a wooded area and features a dried out creek bed and the possibility of a second shot from more than 15 feet below the pin if you don't place your first shot on the plateau.

The course then wends through the woods and has a variety of up and down hill shots, some through the tightest corridors I've ever seen (reachable holes that it's nearly impossible to get a birdie on). Hole 11 features boulders with wooden staircases built in to retrieve your disc from the basket. The final hole is a reachable downhill, but you are once again exposed to the highway and farm fields and the wind is a huge factor.

Cons:

The 8th and 9th holes are a little bit ridiculous in their longest pins and could easily be called par 5s, but the course rating reflects it here and I received over 950 for two rounds that were over par.

It's a small quibble about one of the best courses in the state.

Other Thoughts:

It's a beautiful and secluded county park, away from any city and noise, so it's a great and quiet getaway from the noisier parks in or near cities.
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5 0
Awol
Experience: 20.8 years 22 played 8 reviews
4.50 star(s)

Challenging Variety 2+ years drive by

Reviewed: Played on:Jun 23, 2015 Played the course:2-4 times

Pros:

- Excellent shot variety. A couple more open holes, a few really tight holes, some dog legs, and everything in between. Culminated with a shot from the top of the hill on 18.
- Challenging. Hence the name of the review. Lots of cursing on my end, but that isn't a fault of the course.
- Great baskets
- Active with tournies
- Lots of elevation in a part of Wisconsin not known for it

Cons:

- There is a hole or two that are so tight they aren't that fun
- Could use some garbage cans. I understand that without the support of a local governmental body, it is tough to get trash cans emptied, but we picked up a lot of trash. At least 2 pieces per hole.

Other Thoughts:

If you are anywhere near this course, it absolutely can't be beat. Not the most forgiving for beginners, but definitely a great course.

WATCH OUT FOR WILD PARSNIP. It is out there, and very unpleasant if you get it on you. Also, check for ticks. They love that place. These are small prices to pay for the quality course though.
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1 5
Baueezy
Experience: 14 years 71 played 13 reviews
4.00 star(s)

2+ years drive by

Reviewed: Updated: Played on:Oct 18, 2014 Played the course:2-4 times

Pros:

Challenging basket locations on some longer drives. Excellent scenery including the walking bridge over a washout. Tight tree alley(s) for challenging straight shots, as well as more open shots to really let it rip.

Cons:

The tight trees can ruin someone's outing if scores are recorded. Some of the more open shots may be complained about if disc throwers like the challenge of being crowded. The mix of open and tight shots should not be a con though...

Other Thoughts:

Great course for all levels, one of the Disconsin Disc Golf Club favorites.
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17 0
wolfhaley
Diamond level trusted reviewer
Premium Member
Experience: 19.9 years 970 played 542 reviews
4.50 star(s)

A hidden gem in central WI 2+ years

Reviewed: Played on:Oct 3, 2014 Played the course:2-4 times

Pros:

This course is located in what seems like the middle of nowhere. The park is very well maintained and taken care of. It's probably rarely busy besides tournaments or league days. Every time we've gone we've been the only ones there. This makes for a very quiet and peaceful round. The baskets are kingpins that are blue powder coated and catch amazing. There are 2 sets of tee pads on almost all of the holes. Only a few only have 1 tee. The pads are very level and grip well. The pro tees are larger than the am tees but having concrete on the ams too is always a plus. The signs here are awesome. They have a nice hole diagram showing the different pin placements, distances to each placement, next tee arrow, hole # and par. These are on the pro and am tees too. Again, very nice (and rare) to see this. There is just a phenomenal variety of shots and hole types here. There are long, short, uphill, downhill, open, heavily and moderately wooded holes. There's a few elevated pins as well. The one on hole 11 is set on top of a large boulder and is really cool. There are a bunch of next tee signs throughout the course. These are made out of wood and painted white which really makes them stick out. The flow of the course is very easy to follow even without these but it never hurts to have them. There are a bunch of benches all throughout too which is nice considering some of the elevation. The course is permanent and would seem to be a pretty fun winter round. The course is also free which is rare for a course of this caliber. The biggest pro of this course in my opinion though has to be the design. I honestly think this may be the best designed course I've ever played. I don't know how the available land could've been used any better. This is something that starts to stand out by hole 3 and when you hit hole 6 you just go "wow". And when you finish the long, downhill, air it out bomb to finish the round you immediately want to play again. That's the ultimate pro.

Cons:

There are not many cons here at all. The Am tees are pretty narrow and a tad short for me. These are way better than rubber mats or natural tees though for sure. There are no trash cans on the course, but if you pack it in you can pack it out so not even a con.

Other Thoughts:

This is really one of the nicest courses I've played. One of the best in WI period. This is a course to go out of your way to play. It's extremely fun and amazingly well designed. There's not much else in the area but it's one of the reasons that keep this course as clean and fun as it is. I'd recommend this course to anyone. It's one of my top 10 in WI out of about 150. I don't give out perfect 5 ratings because I haven't played every course, but this is one of the few that I really wanted to. That should say it all right there.
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13 0
Stardoggy
Diamond level trusted reviewer
Premium Member
Experience: 12.7 years 1002 played 214 reviews
4.50 star(s)

Underused gem 2+ years

Reviewed: Played on:May 26, 2014 Played the course:5+ times

Pros:

Zobel is a fantastic course located in a secluded park, on a wonderful piece of land for disc golf. The pros for this couse are numerous.

--2 concrete tee pads on each hole (rectangular, and could be a smidge longer)
--tee sign at each pad, with all the information you could want

--3 pin positions on most holes, nearly all of which change the hole dramatically
--just the right mix of open, wooded, combo, and elevation used here...you'll throw uphill, downhill, flat

--plenty of risk/reward...you can grab birdies at a lot of holes, but tree kicks are suitably punished....almost all lines are fair and apparent...

--blue powder coated baskets catch decently

Cons:

Not many, to be honest...and most of these are nitpicking.

It's pack in/pack out...not a garbage can to be found. Surprisingly, the grounds were still VERY trash free.

As stated above, the tee pads could stand to be a touch longer, and while I generally prefer trapezoid concrete, these are generally solid.

While the mix of pin positions is fantastic, the short/short layout isn't quite as challenging as some people would like to see. It DOES, however, make for a great winter round.

There is no water here, which is a con for some, but you can only do what the property will allow.

Other Thoughts:

Zobel is one of my top 5 courses, and in my opinion is completely underrated. It's well manicured, has fantastic different looks and tons of elevation, including a top o' the world shot to finish your round on 18. Who doesn't love to unload the bag on the last hole?

Bathrooms are available on the opposite side of the park (near hole 10), as well as a kiddie park area. Grills and garbage cans would be cool, but it is what it is.

If there was a 4.75 option, I'd put this there. It's not quite a great as Rollin' Ridge or Highbridge, but it's very close. Do yourself a favor and get out here.
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2 2
adb83
Experience: 21 played 2 reviews
4.50 star(s)

Amazing course 2+ years drive by

Reviewed: Played on:May 18, 2014 Played the course:5+ times

Pros:

- Great variation on this course, each hole is different with a good variety of distances and elevation throughout the course.
- Multiple pin locations that are moved from time to time during the year.
- Very nice benches at every hole.
- No water hazards.

Cons:

- Am tees are very small.
- No garbage cans, but very little garbage and if there is any, it is usually near the benches and not in the woods.
- Some spots are very easy to lose your disc since the grass is very long.

Other Thoughts:

Best course in the Fox Valley for intermediate to advanced players. NOT for beginners. Am tees, like I said, are shorter than normal and the course is very unforgiving.
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11 0
fliptwister
Experience: 1 played 1 reviews
4.50 star(s)

Amazing course in rural Wisconsin. 2+ years drive by

Reviewed: Played on:May 8, 2013 Played the course:5+ times

Pros:

Very challenging course! Great elevation changes on many of the holes. There is also a lot of variety with holes with some in trees and some in clearings. The holes play significantly different with the different basket placements. On several holes the 2 tee pads for a hole are not near each other or in front/behind each other which makes for an interesting variation as well. With some of the holes the baskets are elevated which makes for some interesting putts as well. The diagrams of the holes are well done and there is good signage directing to where the next hole is. The course in general is kept in great shape with very little garbage.

Cons:

Not many cons here. There can be a significant amount of Wild Parsnip here in the summer. If you know what it looks like it is fairly easy to avoid. The AM tee pads feel a bit small at times. Probably not a forgiving course for beginners.

Other Thoughts:

I feel very fortunate to live 10 minutes away from a course like this. It is an amazing course! I have played at some other courses in Wisconsin and I very much appreciate how Zobel turned out. I have now played this course in every season (including a memorable outing in February) and it also plays very different depending on the season. Thanks Lee, Nate and Pat!
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6 3
EchoStarBoss
Experience: 13.2 years 45 played 1 reviews
4.00 star(s)

2+ years drive by

Reviewed: Played on:Apr 21, 2013 Played the course:once

Pros:

Great variation of heavily wooded to semi-open fairways as well as elevation changes along with both left and right doglegs provide a challenge for any player. Maintaining a precise line is essential.

Cons:

If you are not confident in your lines and you don't follow through on your release you will have a long day here.

Other Thoughts:

I enjoyed this course very much and will be making a trip up here again soon.
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6 5
beeyang78
Experience: 13.2 years 172 played 14 reviews
5.00 star(s)

One of the best in Wisconsin 2+ years drive by

Reviewed: Played on:Oct 13, 2012 Played the course:5+ times

Pros:

Dual Tee Pads almost all the holes.
Great variety from long bombers to tightly wooded holes. No two holes feel the same.
Long pins and long tees are super challenging.
Lots of elevation change.

Cons:

Biggest con for me is that it is almost 2 hours away from where I live so i don't get to play it enough.
The only real con I found was that there were no trash cans. Not a big deal, but because of this, some people leave their cans and bottles by the baskets.

Other Thoughts:

From the very first day I played Zobel, I fell in love with it. It was such a fun course and I played it twice through. One from the longs and one from the shorts. I think that a few of the holes are actually tougher from the short tees. Examples are hole 2 and 12. Overall, Zobel is a course that is worth driving to and is one of my favorites.
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