Traverse City, MI

Carly's Playground

3.945(based on 17 reviews)
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7 0
BogeyNoMore
Diamond level trusted reviewer
Premium Member
Experience: 19.8 years 479 played 183 reviews
4.50 star(s)

A worthy tribute 2+ years

Reviewed: Played on:May 24, 2014 Played the course:once

Pros:

Amazing course on a tremendous piece of property. Has that epic feel to it - a round here will take something out of you.

• Discplay:
+ Elevation: Holy @#$%^&* cow! Used every possible way: uphill, downhill... everything. Often massive, sometimes subtle, impossible to ignore. Rollaway potential on fairways and greens (#9 pink can be a killer)
+ Mix of wooded / open holes (front 9 is more wooded, back 9 more open).
+ Holes that allow a variety of lines and holes that force a specific line.
+ Holes that play much longer/shorter than posted.
+ L/R/straight tee shots, ranging from open to well wooded; some call for finesse, some call for power, some demand both.
+ Good range of distances given the multiple layouts available.
+ Some well-guarded and nicely tucked pins as well as some dangerous placements to reward good approach shots.
+ Risk/Reward: Quite a few holes can make you pay for failing to stay on the fairway with difficult recoveries. Pin placements w/pucker factor will punish poor decision making.
+ Challenge: Dual tees / dual baskets really allow you to "season to taste," with 4 full-time layouts to mix and match over the course of a single round to suit your mood at any given moment - quite adaptable to all skill levels:
Pink to pink - shortest and easiest
Blue to pink - longer and tougher
Pink to blue - more difficult than blue to pink as blue baskets are longer and less accessible
Blue to blue - requires both power and finesse
+ Bonus 650' downhill CTP bomb is a rush

• Equipment:
+ Dual (carpet) tees provide very different looks
+ Dual DGA baskets: Pinks are super visible and easier to approach. Blues have flags and trickier/more demanding approaches.
+ Tee signs at both tees and next tee signs round things out nicely.

• Memorable holes: I liked 5, 6, 9, 10, 16, 17, and while #1's not unique, running at an open pin from an elevated tee is pure fun... you could clean a bag out right there. Come find your own favorites. If you don't like the bonus CTP between 16 and 17, then you don't like disc golf.

• Routing/Nav: Front 9 is easier to follow than the back. Had some trouble finding #'s 10-12. There are some long walks between holes (especially the back), and while it's not bad on the whole, the map was really helpful to reference for #'s 10-18 because the holes are spread out.

• Aesthetics: Nice woods and green hills establish a scenic setting with a couple of spectacular hill top views. Walking this course can make you feel small... and wipe you out.

Cons:

• Carpet tees: better than natural, not awful but leave much to be desired.
• Pink pin location on 18 seems weak in my opinion...pretty much a forced layup unless you park it off the tee. Blue pin plays much better.
• #12 is one of the weakest holes on the course, and throwing towards a road with cars driving by kills the vibe.

Not reflected in my rating, but I felt these are worth mentioning:
• Scouting ahead to spot baskets is particularly frustrating (and tiring) on such hilly terrain.
• There were piles of wood and debris here and there about the course. They may have just been doing some spring cleaning...but it was an eyesore at times. If seeing a course at its best matters to you, you may be happier visiting later in the season.

Other Thoughts:

One of the best in the state, especially if you crave elevation. Any of the individual layouts very good to excellent on its own, but the course as a whole truly is phenomenal because of the additional variety the mix and match scheme yields and how well it adapts to fit different skill levels.

Every bit as much a workout as it is fun, playing here is truly a hike, and covers a lot of ground. The terrain only makes what would otherwise be a long walk particularly taxing... you don't want this being your 3rd round on a multi-course day. Some of the more exhausting walks were between holes, and this course will have you sucking wind at times. Don't expect a quick round.

Chances are you'll need to deal with the wind on the more open holes. It can help or hurt, but reading it and using it to your advantage is a skill to be developed.

Played Blue to Pink, but took a good look from the pink tees and at the blue pins. I came hoping to play different layouts on consecutive days, but to be honest, playing another round the next day would have made me useless for Hickory Hills.

Camping? Just a few miles from Traverse City State Park: clean, private showers, shady sites, plenty of restaurants and directly across the street from a public beach.
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6 0
Mark R
Gold level trusted reviewer
Experience: 21.8 years 115 played 89 reviews
4.00 star(s)

Solid, fun course. 2+ years

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

Pros:

One of many Northern Michigan ski-hill courses, this course on Traverse City's Mt. Holiday establishes itself as one of the best. Unlike some other courses made from ski hills that have one or two bomber holes and several compromised holes, this is a well-rounded course with many hillside holes as well as entertaining wooded holes.

As mentioned previously, this course has two sets of tees as well as two sets of baskets on every hole, with blue and pink colors distinguishing what is in effect four different configurations. Some of the pink basket holes match or surpass the blue baskets in terms of fun factor, but the pink tees seem redundant on occasion.

Holes 1 and 2 get you off to a good start with nearly wide-open shots that track diagonally across the bottom half of the smaller ski hills. The second half of the blue basket fairway of Hole 2 tracks into the woods, introducing the wooded segment of the front nine (Holes 3 through 7). Unlike some courses with many wooded holes, the wooded holes at this course have distinct characteristics, with adequate driving room in all instances. Hole 5 is a thrilling, short downhill bomber that can be a deuce hole, but can also knock you off into thick woods with an errant drive. Hole 6 is a long, challenging hole that starts flat but ends with a 200-foot uphill tunnel. Hole 7 is a terrific tunnel hole leading to a right turn back out onto the ski hill part of the course. Hole 8 is one of the only holes to track along the side of a hill, but is still a fun hole with adequate, yet fair challenge. Hole 9 ends the front nine in dramatic fashion with a wide-open downhill bomber.

Hole 10 opens up the back nine with an elevated tee with wooded rough on the left. Hole 11 adds yet more diversity with an uphill water hole. Holes 14-16 are decent uphill holes with wooded areas providing adequate challenge, leading to the climactic downhill holes at the end (17 and 18). Hole 17 is nearly wide-open, with the blue tee shot being ideal for right-handed forehand shots. Hole 18 is a 500-foot tree-lined tunnel that is just wide enough to drive through, and is wider than it appears in photos.

Cons:

Has a couple of cheaper holes that don't entirely escape typical ski-hill course shortcomings (Holes 12 and 13). Hole 13 in particular has some shrubbery that eats discs. Carpeted tees were wholly adequate on the dry, sunny day I played, but may be problematic in wet weather. Some of the wide-open sloped areas would be very difficult in higher winds. The pink tees seem to be more of an afterthought, but as mentioned previously the short basket positions are often tempting when playing the blue baskets.

Though not really a con, the extensive photography on the tee signs of the course namesake can leave one with mixed feelings. Maybe time will heal some wounds eventually and the course name could be changed to Carly Lewis Disc Golf Park as a more fitting tribute.

Other Thoughts:

The hard work put into this course shows, with ongoing course tweaks being added to the course. An excellent course design, particularly in the wooded parts of the front nine. Very high fun factor in light winds, and is favorable for all throwing styles instead of just righty backhands. Overall, this is a very solid 4.0-level course, with potential existing for higher ratings in the future.
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8 0
apparition
Silver level trusted reviewer
Experience: 13.1 years 47 played 39 reviews
5.00 star(s)

Huge, rewarding, demanding, and as fun as possible 2+ years drive by

Reviewed: Played on:Jul 13, 2013 Played the course:once

Pros:

+ Easy to find in a great location on awesome landscape
+ Two tees (blue and pink) each with a perfect sign
+ Two painted DGA baskets for each hole (blue and pink)
+ Four course layouts
+ Least confusing two pin/two tee course I've played
+ The entire course was put together without any component missing
+ Innova flag on the blue baskets for visibility
+ Very challenging blue tee - blue pin layout
+ Surprisingly diverse hole layouts for a ski hill
+ Directional arrows are plentiful and essential
+ The sheer size of the course, wow, *elevation*
+ Spectacular views
+ Bonus! CTP throw was as huge as possible
+ Practice basket
+ Well-defined OB
+ Each hole had a defined line to hit or was long enough to present a challenge
+ Ski hill course = wind and sun

Cons:

- Carpet tee pads
- #10's blue tee could use some love or a cement tee :)

Other Thoughts:

Three other intermediate level throwers and I threw blue-blue on this course on a 93+ degree July Saturday around 11:30-2:30pm. We were prepared for the size of the course, though, so none of us felt overwhelmed by the size or elevation. I think much of someone's experience here will depend on their preparation and expectations. Prepare for walking up and down a ski hill 3-4 times (possibly more depending on how you throw). Expect a great, fulfilling workout. Bring sunscreen and bug spray. Bring lots of water. You will deserve a good meal after playing this monster. If you like being outdoors, spectacular views, and AMAZING disc golf, you will love Carly's Playground.

The course's very thoughtful design warrants some more details. The front nine were moderately wooded, actually more so than I expected from a ski hill course. And now that I think of it, the back nine has a few holes that put trees in play in strategic ways that kept us from getting bored, too. We also never got lost. Even when we couldn't see the pins, we still knew where they were, so we didn't have to walk ahead too much (sometimes that's just necessary, even if it's uphill unfortunately). The fact that the navigation was easy is very important in my opinion because courses with two tees and two pins naturally have the potential to be confusing. But the blue and pink color coordination was great, the tee signs were accurate and detailed, and the directional signs were perfect and essential. Hole 10 is next to the parking lot, so you get a little break between the big hikes. The carpet tee pads weren't great, however, but I personally only remember them being annoying once (hole #10's tee pad was a little janky). It would be awesome if the tees that don't need to be moved during the off-season could be cement. That being said, even though they could be annoying, this is a seasonal course and I don't think this course could get any better.

We loved the course and the whole experience. It was a very fulfilling round to say the least. Rarely did I walk up to the tee pad and know exactly what to throw due to the elevation changes and wind. I hate using the word "epic", but the course is memorable enough to say it is exactly that. We all felt worked out and beaten down in the best way when we hiked back up to the car after finding our CTP discs. It was honestly one of the best disc golf experiences any of us had ever had.

We managed to fit in one other course the day we played Carly's (our original plan was for two more rounds), and that was Herman Park in Suttons Bay (3/5). We were skeptical, but that course was the perfect compliment to Carly's - a good mix of water and woods on flat ground when all the other nearby worthwhile courses are very hilly. We had already played Hickory Hills (4/5) the day before, and we ended up playing Myles Kimmerly (4.5/5) the day after. Check all four courses out for an amazing up north weekend!

Thanks for reading!
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1 7
Sturmus
Experience: 20.8 years 90 played 14 reviews
1.50 star(s)

Tallgrass 2+ years drive by

Reviewed: Updated: Played on:Jul 20, 2013 Played the course:2-4 times

Pros:

Most physically demanding course I've ever played.
Some spectacular views.
Not busy.
Great workout.
Some really cool downhill holes.
Nice elevation changes.
Having 2 pads and 2 baskets on each hole is pretty cool.

Cons:

Course is SUPER hard to follow. I was very lost.
Tee-pads are carpet and are very difficult to throw from.
The course is not mowed. Not at all. Fairways are, in places, nothing but tall grass. We spent as much time looking for our discs as we did throwing them.

Other Thoughts:

I don't like this course. It's difficult to walk, difficult to find your way around and difficult to play.
I do, however, love some of the awesome downhill holes.
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8 0
nickrockey
Experience: 18 played 18 reviews
4.00 star(s)

Lived up to the hype! 2+ years drive by

Reviewed: Played on:Jul 10, 2013 Played the course:once

Pros:

+Holy elevation changes! Being on a ski hill
they took advantage of the changes!
+Hole 5 is awesome elevation change
thru some trees, can play left or right
from short tee to either basket
+Really cool having 2 tee and 2 basket
choices for every hole
+Really awesome layout, almost every hole
took advantage of the terrain
+Flow is pretty good
+Signs were Awesome! Next Tee signs ALMOST everywhere
+Close to town, so easy to find
+Hole 16 was a riot!
+I liked Uncle Todd's 650' downhill between
16 and 17, really fun! Awesome View!
+Hole 18 is a super long tunnel shot
downhill, A-W-E-S-O-M-E!
+What I like was with two tees AND two
baskets you could mix and match if you
wanted, which made it fun to sometimes
play the hole two different ways
+Was a port-o-jon at the bottom of hole 9
+Very clean, benches here and there
+Very bright baskets, easy to see

Cons:

-I tried to 'like' the carpet pads, just couldn't,
ended up playing behind them or next to them
-I think it's hole 11 to 12, it's hard to find you have to walk back down the hill towards the clubhouse and towards the road, it wasn't marked and was kind of a pain to find

Other Thoughts:

^As of today anyhow, there is road construction kind of a pain to get to
^Because of the construction it did make a couple of the holes difficult, but still playable
^Be ready to hike! Up and down a lot of hills!
^A lot of uphill holes made it interesting
^A few missed chances, like between 6 and
7 would have been cool
^Bring bug spray for sure
^Good hiking shoes, some steep hills
^This is a MUST PLAY!!!
^No scorecards was a little annoying
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10 4
Innovadude
Diamond level trusted reviewer
Experience: 25.8 years 235 played 180 reviews
4.50 star(s)

epic 2+ years

Reviewed: Played on:Sep 22, 2012 Played the course:2-4 times

Pros:

- Designed by Hosfeld
- HUGE elevation changes, you will be worn out just from walking, and it's tough to learn how discs fly going up and down these hills
- Dual tees and baskets on every hole
- Well marked with nice signs for each tee, next tee markers everywhere
- Bright easy to spot baskets
- Clean play not too rough off in the woods areas
- Balanced design to test all your shots- from all 4 layouts

Cons:

- Not really any, except the tees are carpet but they work fine, even safer in the cold rain I played in than rubber tees would be

Other Thoughts:

Must play if Up North
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11 0
mashnut
Diamond level trusted reviewer
Experience: 22.1 years 831 played 767 reviews
4.00 star(s)

Fun design 2+ years drive by

Reviewed: Played on:Sep 2, 2012 Played the course:once

Pros:

The course plays on a ski area with a mix of open and wooded areas. There are two tees and two pins on each hole (pink shorts and long blues for both). I played only the longest blue to blue layout, so this review is mostly based on that, but it was cool to see the amount of variety the dual tees and pins added. The shorter layouts make the course an appropriate challenge for different levels of players and it seemed like all four potential shots on each hole were well thought out.

The elevation is the defining feature on this course, nearly every hole plays up, down or across the hills. You'll have some tough uphill shots, a few fun downhill bombs and plenty of places where you have to be careful how you land your shot or long fade- or roll-aways are lurking. I loved the use of the trees on hole 18 to make a rewarding downhill shot that still required a tight line and punished errant drives. The ctp hole between 16 and 17 is a great chance to just air one out and watch a disc fly, there's enough elevation that throwing a putter 650'+ is definitely possible.

Several holes bring woods into play, requiring a decent mix of left and right turning shots. Each of the layouts seemed to have good length variety appropriate to the level that layout was designed for. The signage is excellent, with good signs at both sets of tees showing distance and layout to both pins from each, and next tee signage as needed throughout the course.

Cons:

The course is a bit open, I like wooded courses in general and despite the awesome hills it can feel like a little bit of a grip n rip course in a couple places. The grass on the big slopes was pretty long when I played, and chock full of little burrs that stuck to everything. The carpet tees weren't always level, and several had ruts or lumps that made for awkward footing. A few of the short tees require a really long walk from the previous hole which can encourage beginners to play long tees and/or pins, slowing down the course on a busy day and likely decreasing the fun factor for those beginners.

Other Thoughts:

New players will find the shortest layout very approachable as long as they're ready for a long walk and some challenging shots. The blue to pink and pink to blue layouts offer some nice intermediate level challenges, and a ton of variety. The blue to blue layout is a tough challenge and has a great mix of different types of tests. You'll need distance and line shaping skills along with a good understanding of how wind and hills affect disc flight to be successful here.
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10 0
rsr2
Experience: 13.7 years 26 played 6 reviews
4.00 star(s)

Very new player friendly and fun course! 2+ years drive by

Reviewed: Played on:Aug 25, 2012 Played the course:2-4 times

Pros:

One main Pro is that there are 4 different routes at each hole which is excellent so a variety of skill levels can play.
Pink Teepad
Blue Teepad
Pink Basket
Blue Basket
Pink - Pink is the easiest of the 4 so those that are new can do that route to make things easier on them. Then Blue - Blue is the hardest path to take and that is for the more experienced.

The signs are amazing. At the Pink and Blue tee pads you can see the distance and where to throw to the basket. They are excellent

Another variety is uphill/downhill shots and forest shots. They are really nice and one of the blue baskets is on top of a mound of Wood chips and it's really cool to see.

The park is really clean from what I have seen. That makes it great and also this course is maintained very well. You can tell they put a lot of work into the course to make it memorable.

The random hole where you just throw a disc as far as you can and you can just pick it up at the end is fun.

At the beginning of the course there is a box where people can donate discs and also use discs for those that are new and don't own a disc can use them. For the most part people bring them back.

Cons:

The carpet tees are really brutal when it is raining outside. I went once when it was barely a drizzle outside and the carpets are slippery. So if the carpets are wet, be careful.

This isn't a course for those that are not physically fit. It can be very rough because of the hills. They are not insanely steep like Hanson Hills but they are pretty steep.


The walk back to the car isn't the greatest thing because of the steep hill but that is one minor thing I didn't like.

Other Thoughts:

I played this course for the first time in May and it is just absolutely amazing looking. I would highly recommend trying this course in the spring time because it was just beautiful.

I did play this course a couple days ago just to see if there was any difference (and also I haven't played in a while due to work schedule) and I still loved it just as much as I did. It's a really fun course and new player friendly. So give it a shot. It's not the greatest but it is really fun. Hope to see you out there!
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7 1
thomas.harrigan
Experience: 23.6 years 1 played 1 reviews
4.00 star(s)

Carly's Playground 2+ years drive by

Reviewed: Played on:Jul 14, 2012 Played the course:5+ times

Pros:

4 courses in 1. 2 tee's and 2 baskets (blue and pink) for each hole allow for a variety of shots. Not just a "Righty Hyzer" course. Challenging for beginners and pros alike. Pink to Pink being the easiest and Blue to Blue is the most difficult. Pink to Blue and Blue to Pink are challenging intermediate courses.Signage is very good and course is not difficult to navigate. Blue baskets have an Innova flag for better visibility. Not crowded like the other area courses. Course is clean of trash and there are some outstanding views from atop the hills. Lots of benches to sit down on. Pink basket in parking lot to warm up the putter before teeing off. Tee boxes are leveled and carpeted and carpet is anchored down well.

Cons:

Some tough climbs. Shady side (1-9) is a tougher hike than Sunny Side (10-18).
Some areas need to be mowed.

Other Thoughts:

Mr. Lewis has poured his heart into this course and is always looking for ways to improve it. He and the rest of his team have done a great job. Well done Toddzilla.
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15 2
apdrvya
Diamond level trusted reviewer
Premium Member
Experience: 13.9 years 350 played 293 reviews
5.00 star(s)

Wonderful in so many ways!! 2+ years

Reviewed: Updated: Played on:Jul 14, 2012 Played the course:once

Pros:

Aesthetic--beautiful property for disc golf. plays up and down two ski hills, through woods and down access trails. A truly wonderful experience.

Signage/Routing--Not only is the signage good, it's EXCELLENT. There are two tees and two pins (pink/blue) for each hole. on the blue signs it shows distance to both the blue and pink pins and the same on the pink. so between the two tees, all four lengths are very evident!! accurate distances, bright, colorful signs with accurate representations of the blind holes. "Next hole" signs are abundant and lead you to the next tee.

Physicality--this course will challenge your physical fitness. playing up two ski hills and down two ski hills will challenge everything. This is Hickory Hills x2-3 as far as physicality.

--Variety/Risk v Reward--Water, uphill, downhill, bombs, shorties through the woods, blind holes, tunnels, there's a little bit of everything here. You are encouraged to play safely here but it's nowhere near as fun!! Throw dammit!!

Special Mention--
--CTP hole--650 ft straight down a high speed ski run... Awesome way to air your arm out at the end of the round...Instructions tell you to pick your disc up after 17/18
--#18--500' down an access trail through a tree tunnel on both sides...Sources saying a Gold Tee/Pin will be added here to bring the total length to 700+feet...awesome finishing hole.
--multiple tees/pins--for west michigan, this is a foreign concept... for Carly's, this makes it four courses in one! different looks and different lines, shouldn't ever get bored!!

Cons:

--Carpet pads--though they are relatively level, these would/could be bad if it's wet. locals have tended to marked where there is a stump in the middle of the teepad (#5 or 6 I believe)

--walk back to parking--it's a long uphill battle, but in the end, what can you do?


EDIT: in my initial review, I downgraded a half a disc for carpet pads, I now don't believe this is a major detractor at all. having played 3 of the 4 layouts now, I have no issue with the carpet pads.

Other Thoughts:

A great great course for a great great cause. Remembering Carly and hearing about her on the news is/was heartbreaking This course is a great representation of her memory (as far as disc golf goes). each sign features pictures of Carly and her friends and family. Thank you city of Traverse City for this special gift!!

edit: just played for the first time in 2013, this course is easily in the top three courses that I've played and most definitely the best new course I played last year...I recently played in a two round tournament and got to play pink to pink. I believe that having four layouts here not only encourages new players to play disc golf, but challenges pro level players with the blue to blue layout. best of the best indeed.
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2 2
jonesydesign
Experience: 11.9 years 35 played 8 reviews
4.00 star(s)

2+ years drive by

Reviewed: Played on:Jun 14, 2012 Played the course:once

Pros:

The signage is wonderful, listing distance, location of baskets and easy-to-see hole numbers. With the two tee and two basket options you can really play this course over and over with (4) different experiences. Unique mix of up, down, wooded and open holes. High atop the hills make for some great views.

Cons:

Being on a ski hill does make for quite a hike from some holes to next.

Other Thoughts:

I had a blast playing here and hope I can get back someday. It was very unique course and I still can't get over how wonderful the signs were.
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5 0
Durco
Experience: 26.9 years 65 played 6 reviews
4.00 star(s)

New top 5 Michigan course!!! 2+ years drive by

Reviewed: Played on:Jun 10, 2012 Played the course:2-4 times

Pros:

Great Variety! 2 tees and 2 baskets on every hole. Pink tees and pink baskets are shorter but create totally different lines and shots. Blue tees and baskets are the 'longer' version of Carly's. So, there are truly 4 different courses. And the color distinction of BRIGHT Pink and metallic blue ensure no confusion of which basket or hole you are playing. Short, medium and long holes testing all aspects of your game. Holes #2, 4, 6 and 7 are true par 4s (Blue to Blue) hole 18 with out of bounds left along the entire length of the fairway has to be a par 4 too (OB rope used for tournaments on the left edge of the fairway)
There are many different shots you have to make playing this course. Not only from the tee, but on upshots and putts. Elevation, a little wind off the bay, tree-lined fairways and excellent pin placements make this a super fun and challenging course.
This is in my top 5 fav courses instantly after playing it in the Grand Opening of Carly's Playground this past weekend.

Cons:

Searching for some 'Con'..... Not really a 'con' but just a fact...The new layout/ redesign has a few new 'raw' areas w/ little trees and newly grown branches w/ leaves that need to be trimmed. it's not out of control..but a few holes have some hanging, thin branches. Not a big deal really.

Other Thoughts:

They plan to maintain the course really well, tweak and continue to improve the course and install concrete tee pads in the near future, which is great to hear!! I love this place and can't wait to get back!!!
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8 2
Todd C. Lewis
Experience: 43.9 years 4 played 4 reviews
5.00 star(s)

Beautiful & Challenging 2+ years

Reviewed: Updated: Played on:Jul 11, 2012 Played the course:5+ times

Pros:

New Innova Flags on all the blue Baskets. Beautiful land with many views! A Pro and Am course running side by side but with 2 Baskets and dual Tee's on each hole make this a 4 course combo. The custom Carly pink baskets jump out of the hills!

Designed by 3 Time world Champion Gregg Hosfeld with the help of many many local volunteers to offer something for everyone.

Cons:

Some big climbs but worth the view. Many locals like the set up with hole 1 and 10 starting of either side of the lodge offers a halfway break. To escape a second hilly walk and still get 18 holes in a shorter amount of time some of the players will play both baskets from one of the Tee's. Speaking of Tee's, no concrete yet. However, all carpet is staked down and time went into providing a nice level surface. The carpet tee pads are not bad at all. Course is seasonal and will be pulled in mid November.

Other Thoughts:

New signage, Each sign features a different full color graphics @ a picture of Carly Jean Lewis in her memory. A gift to her school, friends, and community. For more information about Carly's Playground go to cjlplayground.com or visit Carlys Playground @ Mt Holiday on Facebook.

It is our hope this course will evolve to become one of the best in Michigan over time as steady improvements and beautification continue. Similar courses that come to mind is Flip City and Hickory Hills.
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9 0
The Miniac
Silver level trusted reviewer
Experience: 47.9 years 383 played 35 reviews
3.50 star(s)

Carly's Playground: a guide 2+ years

Reviewed: Played on:Sep 28, 2011 Played the course:once

Pros:

Now 18 holes with two sets of color coded tees and targets. Beer and food on site (part time) Wide variety of shots and distances. Please support this wonderful new course by sponsoring a tee sign!
3.5 rating from me. May go to 4.0 or 4.5 once the tee pads and signs are installed properly.

Cons:

Some tough walks/climbs. The temporary nature of some holes (due to being a ski area) forced some design decisions that, otherwise, may not have come into play. Short (pink) targets are far more visible than the distant blues. (Bright flags are being considered)
The course is new and has a long list of projects before it can be considered complete, but the amount of work that has gone into the course in the short time since its commission is not to be ignored.

Other Thoughts:

Carly's Playground disc golf course

Early review

The Mount Holiday dgc was redesigned in July of 2011 from a 9-hole course to an 18-holer with two sets of tees and two sets of pins and renamed "Carly's Playground at Mount Holiday". The course was produced primarily by local Traverse City player, Todd Lewis, as a memorial to his daughter Carly Jean Lewis, who was taken too soon, only weeks earlier. Sponsorships are being sought for all 36 tees.

Carly's favorite phrase was "Love Wins", which became her trade mark. Lewis was a very popular young lady and a disc golfer.

As with any new 'epic' course, it takes time to get everything in place. This review is intended to assist with helping disc golfers get around the course 'as-is' and also to shed light on future plans.

Pros: Two sets of tees (Pink & Blue) and two sets of Mach 5 targets (also Pink and Blue)
The brand new HOT Pink M5s are the first of their kind (Carly's favorite color). They were installed in late September of 2011 and are incredibly visible from quite a distance. Some alternate pin positions will also come into play using older sleeves.

Each fairway can be played 4 different ways at any given time. Pink tee to pink pin is the shortest configuration and is intended to play fairly easily for recreational players. Blue to Pink and Pink to Blue are a bigger challenge. In many cases, the blue pins are intended to be par 4s. Blue to Blue was designed to allow a high-level player to push his/her game.

The lodge is open, but only part time. Restrooms and a tavern (beer & food) are available during operational hours. Feel free to mention (nicely) how cool it would be if they were open on a more regular basis. Please stop in and support the bar. It can only help our cause.

Both the front (shady) and back (sunny) start on either side of the lodge and end at the base of the hill behind the lodge. A practice basket has been placed in the grass by the parking lot.

The front 9 is mostly shady for afternoon rounds. Back 9 is mostly sunny for evening rounds.
For morning rounds, it is suggested to play the shorter, back 9 first, so you can finish in the shade in the hotter part of the day.

The possibilities for "gorilla" or "safari" holes on this course is simply mind-boggling. WCDGD is currently working on a "sick" 9-hole Championship 'skins' layout for tournament play.

Cons:
The tees are a work in progress. Many are still 'natural' and not yet leveled. Carpet is being collected for the tee areas. Some tees will be affected by winter skiing activities and will have to be removed during those months.

The tee sign backings are currently recycled from the older layout. Temp signs have been printed, laminated and placed while waiting for the new signs, which are in the works. Until then, some distances are merely guidelines. Apologies.

Big climbs. Yes, it's true. But...it IS a ski slope. If you want long, downhill throws, you'll have to hike up the hills to do so. The course was designed under the impression that the ski lifts would be running for another amenity, so we did not use the biggest, most inviting fairway on the property, which would have been dangerous to those on the lift. A CTP hole is being considered here.

There are a couple of (hopefully) minor proximity issues with a couple of fairways, specifically 9 & 18. 12 & 13 are also a bit close. A highly errant shot from the blue tee of #7 could encroach on the #5 pink tee. And an over zealous approach on #4 blue pin could encroach on #5's blue tee. A netting barrier is being considered for the 2012 playing season.

The course might have stayed away from all ski areas, but that would have required cutting a LOT more trees, which we thought best to avoid.
Course Overview:
(Some positions have been modified since taking measurements)

Front 9: The Shady side

#1-PP230'/PB305'/BP320'/BB390' Welcome to Carly's Playground. The Pink tee goes off directly west of the lodge's back patio. The Blue tee goes off from the parking area, through a wide opening of a new fence. Both pins are fairly open, forgiving, down hill shots. A gold pin will likely rest on the far side of the trail & up the hill. Pink tee may move a bit starting in 2012.


#2 (formerly #3)- PP255'/PB450'/BP300'/BB480' The Pink pin position remains the same (straight & open), while the pink tee has been backed up a bit. The Blue tee remains the same, but the Blue pin becomes a tough par 4 located 200' right of the pink pin, down the road and up to the left. Watch for blackberry thorns by tree at road entrance! Thorn area may become O.B. to reduce bleeding & disc loss.

#3- PP165'/PB225'/BP195'/BB255' Pink tee up a hill to the left; a straight shot to pink pin and blue pin is directly behind and down the hill. Blue tee is on the road. Primary route is a hyzer into the woods, but a tricky anhyzer/flick is also available. Expect the occasional "gray ace" when thowers crash the pink as they go for the blue. Pay up!

#4- PP125'/PB315'/BP180'/BB365' This is where the climbs start. The pink tee is on the side of a hill and requires a very short uphill shot (miss that stump!) to the pink pin with a drop off behind. The Blue pin is considered a par 4 for both tees. An aggressive shot on Blue pin from the Pink tee will have to fly over "the abyss". The blue tee demands a tough UP shot to set up a placement shot at the top of the hill. A well-executed drive will net a putt at the Pink pin and a clear upshot to the Blue. An alternate blue pin with a drop off is under consideration.

#5- PP217'/PB200'/BP235'/BB250' Blue tee is a bit close to the #4 blue pin, but you'll see why. A couple of nice downhill lobs into a fairly tight tunnel. Pink pin has a clear anhyzer. Blue pin is actually a shorter tighter hyzer. Red tee requires a walk around the back-side of the Blue tee. There is a very tight sight-line to the blue pin, but a high spiking hyzer is the preferred shot. The pink pin requires a slightly hyzered shot to level out downhill. From Blue tee, please walk back and around toward the red tee go to reduce erosion damage.

#6- PP???'/PB???'/BP370'/BB495' Blue tee is located a few feet from the previous red tee but goes off in a different direction through a newly created corridor, with a slow 90 degree left turn up hill. The red tee was shortened and, IMHO, does not take advantage of the strong personality of this fairway. (Needs new measurement) The pink pin is up the slight grade to the left. The blue pin (par 4 for both tees) requires another 150' carry up the path.

#7- PP250'/PB475'/BP310'/BB535' Blue tee is flat and requires a slow right-turning shot to the pink pin. The pink tee is located on a nice little mound in the woods to the left of the Blue. Picnic bench planned. The shot on the pink pin is straight, but must split the "goal-post" trees. The blue pin(s) are over a rise and down the hill to the same position as the earlier #7 pin. A blue alt pin is left, more in the open but closer to a hard drop-off behind. There may also be a gold tee up and behind to the right of the Blue tee.

"Stairway From Seven" The walk to # 8 is the toughest on the course. To ease the burden on your legs try a less severe walk through the woods. From Pink pin...don't go toward the blue pin, but rather, up to your right. Follow the path around and into the woods. There should be "next signs" to guide you. From the blue pin, start up the hill and veer right into the woods. There should be a nice bench soon to rest your weary legs and enjoy the scenery.

#8- PP215'/PB245?'/BP225'/BB260?' Both Pink & Blue tees are fairly open. The Pink pin sits behind the crest of the hill. About 1/3 of the pin is visible from the Pink tee and only the very top is visible from the blue. The Blue pin is farther back and to the right. Short and you're on the hill. Right and you're in the woods. Too long and you are down a 15' drop off and will have a challenging upshot. Blue pin requires new measurement.

#9- PP340'/PB495'/BP400'/BB545' Blue tee to Blue pin was left exactly as it had been... a long, open downhill shot. Pink tee and pin are both shorter and to the left of Blues.


Back 9- "The Sunny Side"

#10- PP249'/PB299'/BP340'/BB370' The Pink tee goes off directly behind the left side of back patio and the Blue from directly left of the patio, with an open downhill drive. The Blue pin is about 50' longer than the Pink. Both are about 25' from the large lone pine.

#11- PP229'/PB???'/BP315'/BB370' The only water hole on the course. The Blue tees over the pond and up the hill. The Pink tees from the right side of the pond and goes under the pines to the Pink Pin. The longer Blue pin is a tough birdie. Few will drive this uphill hole. Blue tee still requires some expansion.

#12- PP215'/PB250'/BP240'/BB280' Walk toward the maintenance shed. The Blue tee will go off near a telephone pole toward Holiday road. The Pink Pin is tucked into an alcove in the woods and can be approached from the left or right. The Blue pin is farther around the corner and a birdie can be had by approaching with an anhyzer or power flick. The Pink tee has a far shallower angle to both pins and goes off from behind the maint shed.

#13- PP220'/PB222'/BP263'/BB265' The Blue & Pink tees align on this tunnel shot out of the woods to a slight downgrade. The Pink pin sits to the right of the large tree and the Blue sits to the left and behind on a mound. WATCH YOUR STEP on the mound!

#14- PP190'/PB325'/BP217'/BB353' Both Pink & Blue tees go uphill from different angles to the Pink pin on a steep rise. The Blue pin (blind from both tees) sits in the open about 150' farther up the fairway and is considered an easy par 4.

#15- PP112'/PB142?'/BP165'/BB177?' One of the shortest holes on the course, primarily to take advantage of the limited shade on the "sunny" side. The Pink tee punches through some tight woods for an ace run on the Pink pin, but provides another 'gray-ace' opportunity when shooting for the Blue pin, which is on the same line. The Blue tee requires a finesse anhyzer to park the Pink and a straight to hyzer shot to reach the Blue pin, which is in the open on the far side of the trees.

#16- PP170'/PB256'/BP222'/BB295'/GP235/GB360' The Pink tee is in the open and the Blue is pushed close to the woods for more afternoon shade. The Pink pin is a very tricky position to the right on the down-slope of a hill. An ace run could cost you 2 strokes or more. IMHO, the Blue pin position could not be improved upon from the original layout and remains one of the most scenic pin positions on the course. The ground also fades away on this position. Not as steep, but twice as deep.

#17- PP???'/PB???'/BP???'/BB385' The Pink tee is slated for repositioning, probably a walk left under the ski lift to some pines. The Blue tee is at the top left of the ski lift. Both Pink & Blue pins are downhill, Pink being wide open and Blue requiring a bit of a right turn. Over-shooting can result in a long uphill return.

#18- PP219'/PB322'/BP390'/BB493'/GP622/GB725' Blue and Pink tees align down a steep corridor of trees. The Blue pin is a long-straight par 4. The Pink pin is currently off the path and IMHO does not offer a valid line to the pin. We hope to also have a Gold tee that will bring the hole to over 700' from Gold to Blue.

Have fun. Play safe!

Course design by World Champion Disc Golf Design & Signature Disc Golf Design.
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8 0
volklgirl
Gold level trusted reviewer
Experience: 15.6 years 110 played 56 reviews
3.00 star(s)

WOW!! What a change!! 2+ years drive by

Reviewed: Updated: Played on:Oct 23, 2011 Played the course:once

Pros:

*** NOTE ***
Review based on the red tee/pink basket combination only.

Elevation, elevation, and elevation!!

The variety and challenge offered at this redesigned masterpiece should elevate it to one of the top courses in the state in the near future.

Dual/triple tees and pins make playing multiple rounds or rounds with varied abilities a breeze. The signage (where available) was clear and well done. The flow of the layout was much better than previously and worked well, even in the areas where signage was missing/incorrect. There are lots of Next Tee signs for areas where it's not obvious. The current carpeted tee pads are a HUGE improvement over the tiny wood chip disasters that were used for the previous nines, and all the red pads except for #10 were flat, level, and well sized.

Do you dream of the huge downhill rip? It's here. Narrow, wooded fairways? Yup. Doglegs and S-turns? Check and check. Uphill? You bet. Elevation changes? In spades. Side hill and creative pin placement? But of course! On the Red/Pink tee/basket combination, there's only one hole over 400' yet very few are lacking in significant challenge or risk/reward situations. Even the shortest, at 112', was a bear with a super narrow, heavily wooded lane, a low ceiling, and a slight right bend around the side of the hill. Add basket placement on the side of that hill and my deuce run quickly turned into a 5 on a roll away with no way back into the woods.

I LOVED that the red (short) tees didn't remove the challenge from the holes. Some of the short tees are placed on or near the line from the blue tees, preserving the challenge while shortening the distance. Others are placed such that they change the entire flavor of the hole offering an entirely different set of challenges. As the "dumbing down" of most short tees is one of my pet peeves in course design, this delights me to no end. :)

The custom pink baskets are SWEET and very, very visible!

Cons:

Yup. Elevation, elevation, elevation.

This redesign has recaptured the original course's work-out factor so be prepared for a strenuous round with adequate footwear and hydration. In most cases the flow and elevation changes work well, but the hike up the face of the hill to # 8, in the sand, quite simply SUCKS. While not quite as awful, the hike to #10 isn't any great shakes, either.

The red tee for #10 is waaaay too short and the consequences for overstepping the front of the box are significant.

Problems that are being remedied as time/money allows (see other thoughts):
- The old signage from the first redesign has been recycled on the back nine, so the numbering is all wrong as is the distance printed for each hole.
- A couple of the new holes have been tweaked leaving the new signage incorrect as well.
- The carpets on some of the tees on the back nine aren't anchored so they may slide during your throw.
- Many of the side hill tees have no retaining wall underneath so the dirt may collapse as you enter, exit, or throw.

The custom blue baskets are almost impossible to see and should have been used for the short pin positions instead of the long.

Other Thoughts:

This course was built as a memorial to the death of a local disc golf legend's daughter, Carly. All the work and materials is being done via donation and volunteer work crews. While the course is rough (very, in some places) at this time, rest assured that improvements are being made regularly throughout the summer and fall.

My review and rating will be updated as needed changes are made.
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12 0
deBebbler
Silver level trusted reviewer
Experience: 28.8 years 75 played 34 reviews
3.00 star(s)

This Ain't Your Daddy's Playground 2+ years drive by

Reviewed: Updated: Played on:Sep 6, 2011 Played the course:once

Pros:

Elevation:
Whoa, Daddy, you had better get ready! Pulling up to the lot you are treated to a full view of a formidable hill (even if it isn't a formidable ski hill), raising your expectations, and Carly delivers. There are only a couple holes where significant elevation doesn't come into play, and those are invariably holes with super-tight fairways. While there are opportunities for big downhill bombs, most holes are undulating hills of challenging goodness.

Dual tees and dual basket positions:
While some secondary positions merely require an anny vs a hyzer approach, there are more than a few secondary positions that change a hole from just challenging to really unpleasant (in a good way). The baskets were in the short position for most holes, and when I saw the long position location, my reaction usually was "dayum!"

A notable one is hole 6, which is difficult enough after tacking 90° hard left following a long soft right turn, but then it adds 150' of distance and 20' of elevation (after a second 90° left turn) for the long position. Hole 14 adds another 200 uphill feet of distance on top of the initial 250-270 of uphill feet.

Variety:
This is a course that lends itself to many custom permutations, promising to keep you from getting bored with repeated rounds. Each 9 starts off the parking lot, so a quick round can be had if time is limited.

Downhills range from hugely open to razor thin fairways, and uphills are a nice blend of full fairway to late in the hole. Lots of baskets are obscured from the tee, even in the short position, and while most of the woods holes are leafy trees, there are more than enough pines to keep things interesting during the spring and fall.

Distances range from about 125' on #15 short position Red tee to 600'+ on #6, #9, #17 & #18 long position Blue tees. Most holes are over 300' in the long basket positions.

You don't have to go into downtown Traverse City. (sorry Tilley's)

Cons:

Signage:
It would be bad enough if there wasn't adequate posted signage, but putting up signage that is FLAT OUT WRONG is pretty unforgivable. For some reason that eludes me, the signs from the old nine hole design were recycled and used for the new back nine. The result is not only that the holes are mis-numbered, but the ranges stated are completely incorrect. Stop-Gap Solution Fail.

The next tee signs on (what the map labels as) the front nine are nice, and the path was easy to follow, but the rest of the signage is a disaster. My rating will go up if the signage issue is addressed. Currently my rating is somewhat based on my confidence that it will be addressed, but if this is how it is left, I will absolutely lower my rating.

Teepads:
I am less enthusiastic about the future of the tees. The original course had lousy mats for tees, and that doesn't bode well for the future, but many of the tees I saw looked like they were designed as bases for cement pads. Definitely another bump in rating if cement tees are installed.

The only water hazzard on the course was effectively negated, as it is placed just after the tee, rather than just before the basket. When you only have one, you really should make the most of it.

The hike up to the #8 tee sucks, no two ways about it.

No bathrooms.

Other Thoughts:

This is something that Traverse City desperately needed ---:another 18 hole course to alleviate the traffic on Hickory Hills. For those of you who don't get excited waiting for two groups every hole, Carly offers another (closer) alternative to Myles Kimmerly.

Even without the improvements stated above, I will often be choosing to play here instead of Hickory solely because I will have the place to myself. With the improvements, I will eagerly choose this one over Hickory often, not because Hickory is bad (hardly!), but because this will be shiny and new for many years to come.

There is a significant level of challenge here, and with the left-side 9 measurably easier than the right-side 9, you can tailor your round to accommodate many different skill levels. I never had the feeling of 'oh no, not another one of these holes' during any part of the round. Most of the time my buddy and I were expressing our appreciation of the secondary basket positions.

Last year I saw how they changed the layout to keep all nine holes on one side of the hill, and I hoped it meant they were going to install another nine. What they have done has completely exceeded my hopes and expectations from a design standpoint, and now they just need to complete the execution of this great design.

This is not a course for the faint of heart. You will be doing a lot of significant climbing, and there are many sheer faces if you go into the rough, as well. I strongly suggest sturdy hiking boots.

FYI, the blue baskets are damn near invisible from the tee.

There is a nice house that is about 300' away from the 7th tee on the new left-side nine. I would give up much to live there and have this course in my back yard.
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1 8
clevinger
Experience: 34 played 1 reviews
4.00 star(s)

Carly's Playground 2+ years drive by

Reviewed: Updated: Played on:Aug 29, 2011 Played the course:2-4 times

Pros:

-Good variety
-2 baskets/tees on each hole. that rules
-Beautiful views of the bay from the top of the Mt Holiday ski hill

Cons:

-carpet pads
-sandburs are bad. hope ppl pick them off so they dont spread at other courses

Other Thoughts:

glad there's another high quality course in the traverse city area. the re-design of this place is amazing; much appreciated.
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