Mt. McSauba DGC reviews
21
0
wolfhaley
Diamond level trusted reviewer
Premium Member
Experience:
20 years
1004 played
568 reviews
2+ years
Reviewed:
Played on:Jun 10, 2021
Played the course:once
Pros:
Mt. McSauba DGC is a truly epic disc golf destination. The course traverses up, down and along the ski hill. It's a hike and will wear you out. But in the best way possible. The course will take a couple hours minimum to play, depending on your speed of play and group size, it could easily exceed 4 hours.
The baskets are Arroyo Vortexes. I've only played on these a handful of times, if that. They're pretty solid baskets. No issues on these as far as catching. A little hard to spot in the woods being all silver. No different than Chainstars or Mach's though. One pin and pin position per hole.
The tee pads are a mix of concrete, framed in gravel an natural. These were all acceptable or better for our round, though it was pretty dry recently. Two tees on the majority of the holes, though not all. The difference between the 2 sets of pads is generally quite extreme. We played a combination of the longs and the shorts.
The tee signs, where present, were very well done. They had all the general information you needed. Hole #, long or short pad listed, distance, a overhead hole diagram and next tee arrows. More than adequate to be sure. The signs are on both sets of tees which is definitely a bonus on a course of this caliber.
The elevation is used to perfection here. You will traverse up and down the hill a few times, but it's done so in a way as to not be overtaxing. They give you time to get your legs back under you. The last 6 holes zig zag through the woods and drop you off right where you began. These holes have slight undulations and break up the beatdown you'll recieve from the first 13 holes.
You'll need to use every type of shot in your arsenal to score well here. And staying in the fairway is rewarded here. Ending up off the fairway, even by a few feet can be disastrous. Many risk/reward situations abound.
This is in my top ten of most scenic courses. The views from holes 6 and 13 are absolutely stunning. Every hole in the woods makes you feel like you're on Endor. It's just spectacular.
The baskets are Arroyo Vortexes. I've only played on these a handful of times, if that. They're pretty solid baskets. No issues on these as far as catching. A little hard to spot in the woods being all silver. No different than Chainstars or Mach's though. One pin and pin position per hole.
The tee pads are a mix of concrete, framed in gravel an natural. These were all acceptable or better for our round, though it was pretty dry recently. Two tees on the majority of the holes, though not all. The difference between the 2 sets of pads is generally quite extreme. We played a combination of the longs and the shorts.
The tee signs, where present, were very well done. They had all the general information you needed. Hole #, long or short pad listed, distance, a overhead hole diagram and next tee arrows. More than adequate to be sure. The signs are on both sets of tees which is definitely a bonus on a course of this caliber.
The elevation is used to perfection here. You will traverse up and down the hill a few times, but it's done so in a way as to not be overtaxing. They give you time to get your legs back under you. The last 6 holes zig zag through the woods and drop you off right where you began. These holes have slight undulations and break up the beatdown you'll recieve from the first 13 holes.
You'll need to use every type of shot in your arsenal to score well here. And staying in the fairway is rewarded here. Ending up off the fairway, even by a few feet can be disastrous. Many risk/reward situations abound.
This is in my top ten of most scenic courses. The views from holes 6 and 13 are absolutely stunning. Every hole in the woods makes you feel like you're on Endor. It's just spectacular.
Cons:
Quite a few of the tee signs were missing which is not ideal, especially on such a physically demanding course where you really don't want to have to do any additional walking.
My personal number 1 con is the general lack of next tee signs. There are a number of long walks between holes, and to be honest, without the Udisc map there's no way I would have found my way around. We struggled to find hole 3 right off the bat, and that's at the bottom of the hill still.
The tee pads aren't always the greatest. That's usually the case on ski hill courses and to be fair these are some of the best pads I've seen on a ski hill. But don't expect anything special.
This course is one of the more physically demanding courses I've ever played. Not a con really, but this course will not be for everyone. Make sure to bring plenty of fluids. And I mean at least double what you usually take for a round. Especially in the warmer months.
My personal number 1 con is the general lack of next tee signs. There are a number of long walks between holes, and to be honest, without the Udisc map there's no way I would have found my way around. We struggled to find hole 3 right off the bat, and that's at the bottom of the hill still.
The tee pads aren't always the greatest. That's usually the case on ski hill courses and to be fair these are some of the best pads I've seen on a ski hill. But don't expect anything special.
This course is one of the more physically demanding courses I've ever played. Not a con really, but this course will not be for everyone. Make sure to bring plenty of fluids. And I mean at least double what you usually take for a round. Especially in the warmer months.
Other Thoughts:
If you find yourself up this way, make sure you find the time to play this course. This was one of the top ones I wanted to play on my trip over here and it did not disappoint. In fact it was my favorite new course of the whole trip. I can't recommend this course enough.
The pics on here are older and don't show the imrovements that have been made here since then. The course definitely gets love from the locals and it shows. Just an all around gem of a course.
The pics on here are older and don't show the imrovements that have been made here since then. The course definitely gets love from the locals and it shows. Just an all around gem of a course.
17
0
Destination Course 2+ years drive by
Reviewed:
Played on:Jul 30, 2020
Played the course:once
Pros:
THIS is the kind of course I envision when I take a vacation or travel somewhere. THIS is the kind of course that warrants a special trip or long drive. THIS is the kind of course that you dream about stumbling across that has that magic alchemy of raw natural resources and excellent design.
Mount McSauba is built around a ski hill/recreation area. It has beach access (looked like a nice one, though I didn't explore the waterfront too closely) and numerous hiking trails through the property. It's a beautiful property that spans a large acreage on Lake Michigan that really embodies examples of some of the best nature Michigan has to offer.
Long and short tees are both available. We ended up playing the longs. If you only have time for one or the other (and are in decent shape) I think the longs are the right choice - it really allows you to appreciate the epic nature of the holes. I'd budget about 3 hours for the whole circuit - longer if you're prone to breaks (which I certainly wouldn't judge you for taking!).
I'm not sure how to begin describing the holes on the course. Almost every one is a treat. You find yourself throwing in and around sandy lakeshore hills (sandy, but not quite dunes), mostly forested but with a few wide open spaces.
Elevation is used to maximum effect and present on nearly every hole. The majority of fairways run through the woods and are very fair. Challenging, particularly over long distances, but fair. The ground is soft so discs tend not to skip, but many of the greens are "fast", being located on or near some sort of slope.
Distance is actually quite varied, with a fairly even mix of sub-300', 300-400', and 400+ holes. The designers did a great job "pacing" the course and mixing up the distances. There is a bit of a clump of shorter holes at the end, but frankly we were so tired from the rest of the course it was welcome.
Underbrush is present but not bad to move through or search. I'd say losing a disc is unlikely but it is possible to lose sight of where it lands on some of the huge downhill throws. Additionally, I expect more than one disc has been shanked down a loooooong drop off, saluted for its service, and left behind because it takes a special soul to clamber up and down these hills more than the minimum necessary.
There's so many wonderful holes on this course. You'll need a lot of shots and have an opportunity to use most of the discs in your bag.
If I had to pick my favorite, it's probably #5. If ever there was a hole to make you go "WTF", it's this one. You start off with a 150' tunnel shot onto the ski slope. From there, you look up and see you need to throw ANOTHER 400' UPHILL to get to the basket. It's not fun, it's a d**n gauntlet thrown down in your face that says "Oh yes, we're doing this". You're rewarded for the trek up with hole #6, which is a huge 600' downhill over an open field. No obstacles to the basket, it's just you, the huge down hill, a gorgeous view, and the wind barreling into you from the lake. Special mention also goes to one of the later holes, probably 12, that throws along the ridge of a hill with steep slopes dropping off to either side if your discs goes wandering.
Variety of teepads present. I believe some are cement, some are deckboard/boardwalk, and there might have been a natural pad snuck in there occasionally. I don't remember having any issues with them and I do think most were cement. Not sure on the shorts though.
Signage is good. Parking is good. No cost to access the course and play.
Mount McSauba is built around a ski hill/recreation area. It has beach access (looked like a nice one, though I didn't explore the waterfront too closely) and numerous hiking trails through the property. It's a beautiful property that spans a large acreage on Lake Michigan that really embodies examples of some of the best nature Michigan has to offer.
Long and short tees are both available. We ended up playing the longs. If you only have time for one or the other (and are in decent shape) I think the longs are the right choice - it really allows you to appreciate the epic nature of the holes. I'd budget about 3 hours for the whole circuit - longer if you're prone to breaks (which I certainly wouldn't judge you for taking!).
I'm not sure how to begin describing the holes on the course. Almost every one is a treat. You find yourself throwing in and around sandy lakeshore hills (sandy, but not quite dunes), mostly forested but with a few wide open spaces.
Elevation is used to maximum effect and present on nearly every hole. The majority of fairways run through the woods and are very fair. Challenging, particularly over long distances, but fair. The ground is soft so discs tend not to skip, but many of the greens are "fast", being located on or near some sort of slope.
Distance is actually quite varied, with a fairly even mix of sub-300', 300-400', and 400+ holes. The designers did a great job "pacing" the course and mixing up the distances. There is a bit of a clump of shorter holes at the end, but frankly we were so tired from the rest of the course it was welcome.
Underbrush is present but not bad to move through or search. I'd say losing a disc is unlikely but it is possible to lose sight of where it lands on some of the huge downhill throws. Additionally, I expect more than one disc has been shanked down a loooooong drop off, saluted for its service, and left behind because it takes a special soul to clamber up and down these hills more than the minimum necessary.
There's so many wonderful holes on this course. You'll need a lot of shots and have an opportunity to use most of the discs in your bag.
If I had to pick my favorite, it's probably #5. If ever there was a hole to make you go "WTF", it's this one. You start off with a 150' tunnel shot onto the ski slope. From there, you look up and see you need to throw ANOTHER 400' UPHILL to get to the basket. It's not fun, it's a d**n gauntlet thrown down in your face that says "Oh yes, we're doing this". You're rewarded for the trek up with hole #6, which is a huge 600' downhill over an open field. No obstacles to the basket, it's just you, the huge down hill, a gorgeous view, and the wind barreling into you from the lake. Special mention also goes to one of the later holes, probably 12, that throws along the ridge of a hill with steep slopes dropping off to either side if your discs goes wandering.
Variety of teepads present. I believe some are cement, some are deckboard/boardwalk, and there might have been a natural pad snuck in there occasionally. I don't remember having any issues with them and I do think most were cement. Not sure on the shorts though.
Signage is good. Parking is good. No cost to access the course and play.
Cons:
In a vacuum in which we consider simply the holes, this ranks a 5 for me. It may quite possibly be the best course I've ever played. There are some "buts" though.
This course is not for everyone. You need to be in decent shape to play it or you might die. That's only slightly hyperbolic. This course is a monster of up and down climbs spread over a massive distance. We played on a warm but not oppressive summer day and went through something like 4 liters of water between two players and wish we had twice that.
Seriously, don't bring one little 20oz bottle and think that will be enough. There *might* have been an area we could have used the bathrooms and replenished our water supply around hole 13 or so but it was closed down due to COVID. I think there may have been bathrooms available at the parking lot but I'm not sure. Actually, thinking about it, there was a couple of portajohns near 13 as well. No water, but at least an area to use the restroom.
I don't think there's a bench or a trash barrel on the course. Good lord would I have appreciated benches. Eventually we came across a hole that ran next to a road and I was able to sit on the guard rail. Man would that have been nice after some of those climbs though.
Paths are sometimes a bit dubious, though some of those are likely due to being "desire" paths and not official ones. Regardless, you are going to hate life if you try to mess with a cart. Unless it's a cart with a cooler filled with ice cold beverages that you can sit on and are able to share Sherpa-ing duties with your party and/or move at a crawl. Man I can't imagine dragging one through that sand though.
Directions to the next tee weren't great. There's a few signs here and there but we had to rely on U-Disc quite a bit to get going to the right spot. Nothing quite like making the decision whether to drag yourself up or down a hill with the knowledge that if you choose incorrectly you're going to have to go back. It's like choosing which grail in the Last Crusade - if you pick poorly you're going to feel exactly like Walter Donovan after that last drink.
We stumbled across a surprising amount of hikers while playing. A few folks had set up hammocks in a fairway behind a blindspot created by a hill. Lots of beach goers making their way down to the water. While the course feels isolated and natural, I think the park is popular. It wasn't crowded, I was just surprised how often we would stumble across people. You'll need to pay attention and be courteous. There wasn't enough disc golfers to have to wait on tees though - I think we only spotted one other group playing while out and they were a good ways away.
I didn't give it a 5 because that would be perfect and with the lack of benches and mismatched tee pads I thought that just wasn't appropriate. There are also two holes I had an issue with. One is minor, but hole 2.5 is a little 100' toss. I think UDisc has it marked as hole 20 maybe. Just play it when you come across it - you aren't going to want to come back. It's not awful, just goofy and short and feels out of place.
The other reason I hesitate to give it a 5 is one hole I just didn't care for the design of. It places the basket maybe 30' from the road. You have a choice of flexing it right over the road, which I don't feel is a safe option, or taking it left and possibly hitting a warming house or some other building. Judging by the plexiglassed window, I'm thinking it's been hit before. I just don't think it's a particularly safely designed hole.
This course is not for everyone. You need to be in decent shape to play it or you might die. That's only slightly hyperbolic. This course is a monster of up and down climbs spread over a massive distance. We played on a warm but not oppressive summer day and went through something like 4 liters of water between two players and wish we had twice that.
Seriously, don't bring one little 20oz bottle and think that will be enough. There *might* have been an area we could have used the bathrooms and replenished our water supply around hole 13 or so but it was closed down due to COVID. I think there may have been bathrooms available at the parking lot but I'm not sure. Actually, thinking about it, there was a couple of portajohns near 13 as well. No water, but at least an area to use the restroom.
I don't think there's a bench or a trash barrel on the course. Good lord would I have appreciated benches. Eventually we came across a hole that ran next to a road and I was able to sit on the guard rail. Man would that have been nice after some of those climbs though.
Paths are sometimes a bit dubious, though some of those are likely due to being "desire" paths and not official ones. Regardless, you are going to hate life if you try to mess with a cart. Unless it's a cart with a cooler filled with ice cold beverages that you can sit on and are able to share Sherpa-ing duties with your party and/or move at a crawl. Man I can't imagine dragging one through that sand though.
Directions to the next tee weren't great. There's a few signs here and there but we had to rely on U-Disc quite a bit to get going to the right spot. Nothing quite like making the decision whether to drag yourself up or down a hill with the knowledge that if you choose incorrectly you're going to have to go back. It's like choosing which grail in the Last Crusade - if you pick poorly you're going to feel exactly like Walter Donovan after that last drink.
We stumbled across a surprising amount of hikers while playing. A few folks had set up hammocks in a fairway behind a blindspot created by a hill. Lots of beach goers making their way down to the water. While the course feels isolated and natural, I think the park is popular. It wasn't crowded, I was just surprised how often we would stumble across people. You'll need to pay attention and be courteous. There wasn't enough disc golfers to have to wait on tees though - I think we only spotted one other group playing while out and they were a good ways away.
I didn't give it a 5 because that would be perfect and with the lack of benches and mismatched tee pads I thought that just wasn't appropriate. There are also two holes I had an issue with. One is minor, but hole 2.5 is a little 100' toss. I think UDisc has it marked as hole 20 maybe. Just play it when you come across it - you aren't going to want to come back. It's not awful, just goofy and short and feels out of place.
The other reason I hesitate to give it a 5 is one hole I just didn't care for the design of. It places the basket maybe 30' from the road. You have a choice of flexing it right over the road, which I don't feel is a safe option, or taking it left and possibly hitting a warming house or some other building. Judging by the plexiglassed window, I'm thinking it's been hit before. I just don't think it's a particularly safely designed hole.
Other Thoughts:
I don't hear a lot of buzz about Mt McSauba, and that's a darn shame. It is easily in my top 3 courses in Michigan and I will strongly recommend it from the dune tops to anybody who will listen that it's worth the trip to play it.
I can't caution people enough how arduous the course is though. It is a legitimate hike. You'll see gorgeous views and nature and play a heck of a good round of disc golf, but you need to be in decent shape for it.
I can't caution people enough how arduous the course is though. It is a legitimate hike. You'll see gorgeous views and nature and play a heck of a good round of disc golf, but you need to be in decent shape for it.
9
1
waterhyzerd
Experience:
125 played
20 reviews
2+ years drive by
Reviewed:
Updated:
Played on:May 23, 2017
Played the course:2-4 times
Pros:
-phenomenal terrain
-very challenging
-great scenery
-good signage (however, some depict the hole from the direction of the basket which can get confusing)
-arroyo vortex baskets
-unique/challenging pin placements
-very challenging
-great scenery
-good signage (however, some depict the hole from the direction of the basket which can get confusing)
-arroyo vortex baskets
-unique/challenging pin placements
Cons:
-holes 2.5 and 3.... 2.5 is a "practice"/ bonus hole and hole 3 is short poke and pray hole. I actually don't mind hole 3 except its very out of the way from the rest of the course. I usually skip these two making for an 18 hole loop
-some steep/rugged walks between holes
-some steep/rugged walks between holes
Other Thoughts:
From a pure disc golf perspective, this is one of the most challenging courses in Michigan. Its a mix of tight/wooded lines, a few open long distance drives, then it finishes with a few fun but completely wooded deuce or die holes. Most of the holes offer more than one way to navigate the tight fairways, however, the rough is quite punishing.
Overall, this course does require an extreme amount of "hiking" and physicality. Distances between holes vary, but the flow is intuitive and most holes feel like they're on their own chunk of land. There are two significantly steep and uphill hikes between the holes added to hole 5 which plays extremely uphill. The course is not cart friendly, but aside from the uphill portions there is very little unnecessary walking.
Overall, this course does require an extreme amount of "hiking" and physicality. Distances between holes vary, but the flow is intuitive and most holes feel like they're on their own chunk of land. There are two significantly steep and uphill hikes between the holes added to hole 5 which plays extremely uphill. The course is not cart friendly, but aside from the uphill portions there is very little unnecessary walking.
3
2
freelancer46
Experience:
10 played
3 reviews
Rugged Course 2+ years drive by
Reviewed:
Played on:May 29, 2017
Played the course:once
Pros:
-Challenging & varied holes
-Unique/blind basket placements
-Great overall aesthetic
-High quality signage
-Great use of the elevation changes of the mountain
-Good use of surrounding woods and fields
-Awesome views & downhill holes
-Great Hike! I was sweating by the 3rd hole
-Unique/blind basket placements
-Great overall aesthetic
-High quality signage
-Great use of the elevation changes of the mountain
-Good use of surrounding woods and fields
-Awesome views & downhill holes
-Great Hike! I was sweating by the 3rd hole
Cons:
-Rugged - trails are minimal and overgrown.
-Many teaboxes are pretty rough.
-Many signs were down, especially between hole 5 & 12
-Sandy soil leads to some very difficult climbs out of ravines.
-Mixed use park with a summer camp & hiking trails.
-Minimal/missing directions between holes
-Confusing hole layout.
-Many teaboxes are pretty rough.
-Many signs were down, especially between hole 5 & 12
-Sandy soil leads to some very difficult climbs out of ravines.
-Mixed use park with a summer camp & hiking trails.
-Minimal/missing directions between holes
-Confusing hole layout.
Other Thoughts:
Overall this has the potential to be an awesome course. I loved how challenging and varied some of the holes were and the varied terrain. Standing at the top of 6 looking down some 600 ft to the basket was breathtaking. It's definitely a course that gives you high level of satisfaction once you are finished.
Granted, it was my first time playing the course, but I got lost a number of times and flat out couldn't find a couple of holes. There were also signs indicating a number of holes were closed during daytime hours due to the summer camp. Not sure when that goes into effect but I certainly don't want to knock a kid out with an errant drive.
Some clearer signage and cut trails between holes and this would be a really fun and challenging course.
Granted, it was my first time playing the course, but I got lost a number of times and flat out couldn't find a couple of holes. There were also signs indicating a number of holes were closed during daytime hours due to the summer camp. Not sure when that goes into effect but I certainly don't want to knock a kid out with an errant drive.
Some clearer signage and cut trails between holes and this would be a really fun and challenging course.
5
1
discinboogs
Experience:
22.9 years
123 played
15 reviews
Scenic, beautiful, challenging. 2+ years drive by
Reviewed:
Played on:May 1, 2016
Played the course:once
Pros:
Scenery was top notch. Multiple times you have views of Lake Michigan and Lake Charlevoix and sometimes both.
Feet from the lake.
Challenging at pretty much all times. Even the 190'? hole 3 was tough. The use of terrain was perfectly challenging on almost every hole. Signature holes throughout the course.
Signs led me to the next hole every time. Not too much venturing beyond the tee to see where you're shooting to.
High quality baskets.
Long walks are like nature hikes in themselves. Really get to take it all in.
Top of the world shots FTW.
Maps at the beginning of the course are useful as a reference. These guys also have a page on Facebook with useful info like course maps, events, work days etc.
Tons of par 4's. I love a great challenge for the Eagle 2 and most of the holes over 400 also play uphill so they really challenge you to crush a drive far and straight to get a look at that 2.
Found all the holes via a map PLUS there are definitive arrows on trees pointing you where to go to the next tee. Except 7 I think. But that one is directly left of 6's pin.
Feet from the lake.
Challenging at pretty much all times. Even the 190'? hole 3 was tough. The use of terrain was perfectly challenging on almost every hole. Signature holes throughout the course.
Signs led me to the next hole every time. Not too much venturing beyond the tee to see where you're shooting to.
High quality baskets.
Long walks are like nature hikes in themselves. Really get to take it all in.
Top of the world shots FTW.
Maps at the beginning of the course are useful as a reference. These guys also have a page on Facebook with useful info like course maps, events, work days etc.
Tons of par 4's. I love a great challenge for the Eagle 2 and most of the holes over 400 also play uphill so they really challenge you to crush a drive far and straight to get a look at that 2.
Found all the holes via a map PLUS there are definitive arrows on trees pointing you where to go to the next tee. Except 7 I think. But that one is directly left of 6's pin.
Cons:
TONS of walking/hiking. You have to climb a steep incline quite a few times on this course. Not a bad thing if you are in shape but I can see others hating it. Maybe some stairs or rope would be helpful at times. The leaves leave you with no grip at all on the walk up to 12.
Some of the baskets were wrecked. I assume from fallen trees but they were really really jacked up on holes 10/11. There might have been a couple others damaged as well but luckily they didn't affect my putts.
Mostly carpet or dirt tees in the woods. I understand it's hard to get a bag or two of concrete plus sufficient water up a hill but some of those holes are tough and could use some concrete.
Some of the baskets were wrecked. I assume from fallen trees but they were really really jacked up on holes 10/11. There might have been a couple others damaged as well but luckily they didn't affect my putts.
Mostly carpet or dirt tees in the woods. I understand it's hard to get a bag or two of concrete plus sufficient water up a hill but some of those holes are tough and could use some concrete.
Other Thoughts:
Great course all in all. I wish I was closer to this course. I disagree that this is the most physically demanding course in Michigan. I can easily name Leviathan, Toboggan, Flip City, and Timber Ridge to be more far more demanding. At first I didn't really agree with the design of the course but with small improvements it will be a 4 or higher rated course. As I played through to the end of the course I really appreciated playing there and can't wait to get back and improve on my score (60)
5
7
dalenoel
Experience:
32.9 years
164 played
5 reviews
Tooo much trouble to play 2+ years drive by
Reviewed:
Played on:Aug 22, 2015
Played the course:once
Pros:
Elevation was used well but signage was very lacking. Some of the holes were very unique but not varied. Tee pads were pretty good when they were found.
Cons:
Played the practice basket before finding out 3 was across the trail and then could not find 4. Had three looking. Most holes used the method of having a basket just over a rise. Finding 9 was another chore. We skipped 12, 13, and could not find 14 as signs were down when they were found. Holes 15 thru 19 just used up space to get to the car.
Other Thoughts:
Of the three courses in the area we would play Avalanche or Boyne again but this is out of the question.
To rugged to be enjoyable. Course seemed to be forced into the area.
To rugged to be enjoyable. Course seemed to be forced into the area.
9
0
They should make you sign a waiver... seriously. 2+ years
Reviewed:
Played on:May 20, 2014
Played the course:once
Pros:
Aesthetic-- plays through a ski resort, up and down ( and up and down and up and down) multiple ski hills and through back woods. This course is the most physical course in Michigan by a mile. I think 95% of the challenge here is the physicality.
Teepads-- decent. Even with the majority being dirt or carpet, they are well defined and add some uniqueness to the course.
Teesigns-- awesome signage with the exception of what voklgirl said. They are not always shown from the throwers perspective which makes it a bit difficult.
Baskets-- Arroyo Vortex. Great baskets, highly visible in the thick woods. Most baskets are not visible from the tee so this is appreciated.
Challenge-- crazy. The physicality of this course is immense. I can't imagine playing a tourney here and having to play two rounds in a day. This is by far the most physically demanding course in Michigan.
Basket placement-- some really interesting placements here although the over the ridge placement is used quite a few times.
Teepads-- decent. Even with the majority being dirt or carpet, they are well defined and add some uniqueness to the course.
Teesigns-- awesome signage with the exception of what voklgirl said. They are not always shown from the throwers perspective which makes it a bit difficult.
Baskets-- Arroyo Vortex. Great baskets, highly visible in the thick woods. Most baskets are not visible from the tee so this is appreciated.
Challenge-- crazy. The physicality of this course is immense. I can't imagine playing a tourney here and having to play two rounds in a day. This is by far the most physically demanding course in Michigan.
Basket placement-- some really interesting placements here although the over the ridge placement is used quite a few times.
Cons:
Hard for the sake of being hard-- This course is crazy hard. I think this course has every chance of being a top tier championship course but until it's cleaned up a ton, it is a bit of a disappointment.
Routing and nav-- very very difficult. Hole 2 to 3 is impossible. Hole 3 to 4 isn't any easier. I tried following the white arrows, that didn't help much. I only found next tee signs for 8 to 9 and 9 to 10... Would have been helpful throughout.
Routing and nav-- very very difficult. Hole 2 to 3 is impossible. Hole 3 to 4 isn't any easier. I tried following the white arrows, that didn't help much. I only found next tee signs for 8 to 9 and 9 to 10... Would have been helpful throughout.
Other Thoughts:
I would like to play this course again on a dry day and with better routing. I would update my score at that point too.
6
0
Needs Work - Lots and Lots of Work 2+ years drive by
Reviewed:
Played on:May 2, 2014
Played the course:once
Pros:
*** NOTE: Current review based on front 9 only in cold and rainy conditions with snow on the hill and baskets removed for ski season - conditions may have clouded my judgement! ***
This will be an outstanding, pro level course if work continues and the course gets tramped in. Hole design is varied and interesting, with a fun mix of short and long, curved and straight, uphill and downhill. Elevation and winds are a huge factor during play here.
This will be an outstanding, pro level course if work continues and the course gets tramped in. Hole design is varied and interesting, with a fun mix of short and long, curved and straight, uphill and downhill. Elevation and winds are a huge factor during play here.
Cons:
Even from the short tees, the level of challenge here is huge! Players without good disc control may wind up extremely frustrated with the constant and never-ending combination of tight, crazy lines, huge distances, fall-away basket placements, blind pins, and extreme elevation changes. #8, in particular, requires a perfect combination of control and distance, with tees sitting in a fairly steep valley and a long, wooded, blind, right u-turn fairway to the basket hidden behind a little swell. If your disc doesn't land directly in the valley, you're left with steep, treacherous footing from which to throw.
This course is in its infancy and as a result, the fairways and between-hole trails are really, really rough. Lots and lots of trip hazards, brush, deadfall, and crazy shule are everywhere on the course. Make no mistake, playing here is a workout!
Signage really sucks. The permanent signage that is in place is pretty nice metal street-sign style with good graphics, but many of them are printed "upside-down" (not from thrower's point-of-view), so navigation and tee and pin finding requires some interpretation even with the signage. Most holes, even on the front 9, don't have any signage at all yet. Small blue and red posts mark the appropriate tee boxes, but some of the posts have already been knocked over, and there are no tee numbers on the posts, so one can only hope you're on the right tee. There are really nicely done wooden directional arrows on neighboring trees to direct you to the next tee, but there's no hole number on them, or even any indication of whether you're heading to the blue or red tee. Really, how hard would it be to Sharpie a hole # and a red or blue dot on each arrow??? As a true recreational player, nothing cheeses me off more than to have to hunt and search for tees and pins, when something so simple is easily remedied with a magic marker. Grrrrr. In fact, I think we totally missed hole 3 due to the lack of signage.
This course is in its infancy and as a result, the fairways and between-hole trails are really, really rough. Lots and lots of trip hazards, brush, deadfall, and crazy shule are everywhere on the course. Make no mistake, playing here is a workout!
Signage really sucks. The permanent signage that is in place is pretty nice metal street-sign style with good graphics, but many of them are printed "upside-down" (not from thrower's point-of-view), so navigation and tee and pin finding requires some interpretation even with the signage. Most holes, even on the front 9, don't have any signage at all yet. Small blue and red posts mark the appropriate tee boxes, but some of the posts have already been knocked over, and there are no tee numbers on the posts, so one can only hope you're on the right tee. There are really nicely done wooden directional arrows on neighboring trees to direct you to the next tee, but there's no hole number on them, or even any indication of whether you're heading to the blue or red tee. Really, how hard would it be to Sharpie a hole # and a red or blue dot on each arrow??? As a true recreational player, nothing cheeses me off more than to have to hunt and search for tees and pins, when something so simple is easily remedied with a magic marker. Grrrrr. In fact, I think we totally missed hole 3 due to the lack of signage.
Other Thoughts:
I loved the challenge and variety of this course and am always a fan of ski-hill play, but the current state of "undoneness" and constant high level of challenge on this course really overshadowed any fun factor for the beginner/intermediate group I was playing with. We never encountered a hole in the front 9 that allowed us a "breather" or didn't severely punish even a small lack of disc control.
This course is quite a hike - you'll want to carry water and snacks, and wear really sturdy hikers with good ankle support. Long socks would not be a bad idea, either.
I will be playing this course again and will update my review as the work continues, but at this point in time, I'd steer any beginners away from playing here - for maximum fun factor, they should head to The Crowl Hole in Harbor Springs, instead.
This course is quite a hike - you'll want to carry water and snacks, and wear really sturdy hikers with good ankle support. Long socks would not be a bad idea, either.
I will be playing this course again and will update my review as the work continues, but at this point in time, I'd steer any beginners away from playing here - for maximum fun factor, they should head to The Crowl Hole in Harbor Springs, instead.
12
2
Northern Michigan's Newest Calorie Killer 2+ years drive by
Reviewed:
Played on:Aug 22, 2013
Played the course:once
Pros:
First on the list of Pros is a sense of accomplishment from completing this course. Playing the Blues, I put up a +21 first time playing, but came away from the course feeling great. Distance alone isn't the reason. Yes, although all 19 holes from the Blues clock in at almost 8000' with massive elevation, it is the technical aspects of the course that really add up to a sense of "mission accomplished", regardless of your score.
Flow. Although the front 9 are predominantly dogleg left holes, with more dogleg right holes on the back 9, the serious elevation mix keeps the flow of the course fresh and challenging. A nice mix of woods and field holes that favor tight shots. Lots of tees bracketed by trees and fairway lines that must be worked for success.
Bombs away!!! Finally a ski hill course that utilizes the full capability of the big slopes. Holes #6 & #13 blast down the back and front slopes of the hill respectively, and #5 is a loooong sludge up the hill. Beautiful vistas from the top of the hill are a well placed so you can enjoy the view as you catch your ragged breaths.
Independence from other activities. Trails abound here, especially on the front 9, and LOTS of other people are around hiking/jogging/walking the dog, but the course largely stays off the beaten path. Although you still must be mindful of the safety for these people, the danger factor to "civilians" is pretty low. Kudos to the designers.
Full-on exposure to Lake Michigan will make wind a massive factor here. Coupled with the elevation, the challenge level is rivaled only by Silver Mountain here in the North, IMO. (and Silver needs five additional holes to match it)
Rolling, rugged terrain. There are many steep slopes and crevasses that are utilized for game play. Baskets are rarely on even ground, and there are many spots where the ground slopes off into oblivion, giving otherwise vanilla drives and approaches a serious risk/reward factor. Even the holes that are mostly flat all have multiple undulations that make that extra 15-20 feet of distance you put on it the difference between a clear shot at a birdie and a pray for par.
Good parking, easy access outside of town, onsite port-o-potty, and little wasted movement on the course.
Flow. Although the front 9 are predominantly dogleg left holes, with more dogleg right holes on the back 9, the serious elevation mix keeps the flow of the course fresh and challenging. A nice mix of woods and field holes that favor tight shots. Lots of tees bracketed by trees and fairway lines that must be worked for success.
Bombs away!!! Finally a ski hill course that utilizes the full capability of the big slopes. Holes #6 & #13 blast down the back and front slopes of the hill respectively, and #5 is a loooong sludge up the hill. Beautiful vistas from the top of the hill are a well placed so you can enjoy the view as you catch your ragged breaths.
Independence from other activities. Trails abound here, especially on the front 9, and LOTS of other people are around hiking/jogging/walking the dog, but the course largely stays off the beaten path. Although you still must be mindful of the safety for these people, the danger factor to "civilians" is pretty low. Kudos to the designers.
Full-on exposure to Lake Michigan will make wind a massive factor here. Coupled with the elevation, the challenge level is rivaled only by Silver Mountain here in the North, IMO. (and Silver needs five additional holes to match it)
Rolling, rugged terrain. There are many steep slopes and crevasses that are utilized for game play. Baskets are rarely on even ground, and there are many spots where the ground slopes off into oblivion, giving otherwise vanilla drives and approaches a serious risk/reward factor. Even the holes that are mostly flat all have multiple undulations that make that extra 15-20 feet of distance you put on it the difference between a clear shot at a birdie and a pray for par.
Good parking, easy access outside of town, onsite port-o-potty, and little wasted movement on the course.
Cons:
I will admit, I am being a little generous with my rating. This course has been in the ground barely a month, and I am giving the benefit of the doubt to things like the temporary signage and half finished tees, as the work is clearly not finished.
However, a few things stick out.
Although there are plenty of nice cement and framed gravel tees, there are a couple built of tees that are wood with carpeting on top. It was dry when I played, but these screamed danger to me in wet weather.
Copious stumps. If the work stops when the tees and permanent signage are in, my rating will drop. Many, many holes have stumps from the cutting done for the fairways. An ankle roll is easy without constant vigilance regarding where you step. If these are not all removed from the fairways, my rating will go down down down.
Dangerous access to some Am tees. There are many switchbacks to help you safely traverse the elevation in many spots, but clear access to some Am tees is lacking. I suggest you "take the long way" if you see a shortcut, because the slopes are steep and the dirt can be very loose.
Lackluster Am tees. The Red tees really offer little more than a shorter distance with the same look. I doubt I will throw from them unless forced to do so. If I am to hike this monster, I'm getting my money's worth.
Holes #8 & #12 especially need work. Fundamentally they are strong holes (esp. 8), but they are so rough around the edges that they really interfere with game play. #12 has no real gap at all to hit, and the turn on #8 is so sharp that even with par at 4 it is unreasonable. I am confident that a couple of seasons play and a session or two of trimming will take care of this.
Last few holes are really lackluster, and seem designed as more of a way to get you to your car, than presenting you with discreet challenges that are on the level of the rest of the course. That said, ignoring the rest of the course, they are still some pretty cool little holes.
No water hazards.
However, a few things stick out.
Although there are plenty of nice cement and framed gravel tees, there are a couple built of tees that are wood with carpeting on top. It was dry when I played, but these screamed danger to me in wet weather.
Copious stumps. If the work stops when the tees and permanent signage are in, my rating will drop. Many, many holes have stumps from the cutting done for the fairways. An ankle roll is easy without constant vigilance regarding where you step. If these are not all removed from the fairways, my rating will go down down down.
Dangerous access to some Am tees. There are many switchbacks to help you safely traverse the elevation in many spots, but clear access to some Am tees is lacking. I suggest you "take the long way" if you see a shortcut, because the slopes are steep and the dirt can be very loose.
Lackluster Am tees. The Red tees really offer little more than a shorter distance with the same look. I doubt I will throw from them unless forced to do so. If I am to hike this monster, I'm getting my money's worth.
Holes #8 & #12 especially need work. Fundamentally they are strong holes (esp. 8), but they are so rough around the edges that they really interfere with game play. #12 has no real gap at all to hit, and the turn on #8 is so sharp that even with par at 4 it is unreasonable. I am confident that a couple of seasons play and a session or two of trimming will take care of this.
Last few holes are really lackluster, and seem designed as more of a way to get you to your car, than presenting you with discreet challenges that are on the level of the rest of the course. That said, ignoring the rest of the course, they are still some pretty cool little holes.
No water hazards.
Other Thoughts:
This course is so reminiscent of Hickory Hills (right down to the humdrum final holes) that I had to laugh. After all, if you are going to use a course as a template, might as well use one of the best in the area, right?
I grew up skiing this hill and sledding the area during my elementary school years, so my expectations were high and I was excited to see how they used the land available. I am glad to say I am pleased as punch. Many of the holes I thought of are there, and they found many more that I didn't even consider.
I recommend spotters on this course, as well as sturdy hiking boots and lots of water. Pack enough, because you won't see the car again until the end.
If traveling to the area, I suggest you hit this course in the AM, and then head over to dead-flat River Road for the afternoon round. In - that - order. Seriously, this course is a hike and a half. Although there isn't the massive sand you find on most other area hills, this round is a workout.
I tip my hat to Ric Evans and all the people who made this course happen, and I implore all you DGCRers to come and take your best shot at taking the North's newest gem.
I grew up skiing this hill and sledding the area during my elementary school years, so my expectations were high and I was excited to see how they used the land available. I am glad to say I am pleased as punch. Many of the holes I thought of are there, and they found many more that I didn't even consider.
I recommend spotters on this course, as well as sturdy hiking boots and lots of water. Pack enough, because you won't see the car again until the end.
If traveling to the area, I suggest you hit this course in the AM, and then head over to dead-flat River Road for the afternoon round. In - that - order. Seriously, this course is a hike and a half. Although there isn't the massive sand you find on most other area hills, this round is a workout.
I tip my hat to Ric Evans and all the people who made this course happen, and I implore all you DGCRers to come and take your best shot at taking the North's newest gem.
11
0
nickrockey
Experience:
18 played
18 reviews
Killer hiking course! 2+ years drive by
Reviewed:
Played on:Jul 30, 2013
Played the course:5+ times
Pros:
+One of the best 'hiking' courses I have played!
+Tee to basket layout was so well thought out, with full advantage of the topography and views taken into the design layout
+This is NOT a metro course, put on your 'big boy' pants and ready for huge par 4's, awesome elevation changes and killer lines!
+Hole 1 is an awesome par 4 with an expertly designed long tee layout
+Hole 3 is a little off the beaten path but the 'hobbit' hole is well worth it
+Hole 4 is one of my favorites with it's naturally raised tee on a cliff throwing down a narrowing uphill winding tunnel
+Hole 5 is an insane steep uphill that gets your arm in shape for the crazy 600'+ downhill bomber on hole 6
+I like the righty backhand route on hole 7
+Hole 8 is 'crazy' with it's narrow horseshoe shape through a gulley with steep banks, elevation changes and trees with the basket placed on the edge of another hill, nice!
+Hole 9 is a hike but well worth it up to the pro tee, the line to the basket and the view is killer, sit there long enough you may have deer come up on you too!
+Hole 10 is going to become a legend! The elevated cliff with tempting options across this par 4 field down a narrow curved fairway to the basket tucked neatly at the end is incredible!
+Hole 12 is abit sketchy but I hear it may be altered
+Hole 13 is another downhill bomber, the view is breathless both off 13 and 6 which are atop the same hill. Stop and chill here for a few, it's that cool
+Holes 14-19 are some of the best I have played as far as wooded courses. Righty's lefty's, forehand's all stand pretty equal on this stretch.
+Again, the tee to basket placements are just awesome taking advantage of natural hills and even building some.
+Hole 19 has to be one of my favorite holes anywhere, ever!
+Mixed tees, but work well with the environment
+Close to downtown Charlevoix and Petoskey, US31 and gas stations, easy to find
+Tee to basket layout was so well thought out, with full advantage of the topography and views taken into the design layout
+This is NOT a metro course, put on your 'big boy' pants and ready for huge par 4's, awesome elevation changes and killer lines!
+Hole 1 is an awesome par 4 with an expertly designed long tee layout
+Hole 3 is a little off the beaten path but the 'hobbit' hole is well worth it
+Hole 4 is one of my favorites with it's naturally raised tee on a cliff throwing down a narrowing uphill winding tunnel
+Hole 5 is an insane steep uphill that gets your arm in shape for the crazy 600'+ downhill bomber on hole 6
+I like the righty backhand route on hole 7
+Hole 8 is 'crazy' with it's narrow horseshoe shape through a gulley with steep banks, elevation changes and trees with the basket placed on the edge of another hill, nice!
+Hole 9 is a hike but well worth it up to the pro tee, the line to the basket and the view is killer, sit there long enough you may have deer come up on you too!
+Hole 10 is going to become a legend! The elevated cliff with tempting options across this par 4 field down a narrow curved fairway to the basket tucked neatly at the end is incredible!
+Hole 12 is abit sketchy but I hear it may be altered
+Hole 13 is another downhill bomber, the view is breathless both off 13 and 6 which are atop the same hill. Stop and chill here for a few, it's that cool
+Holes 14-19 are some of the best I have played as far as wooded courses. Righty's lefty's, forehand's all stand pretty equal on this stretch.
+Again, the tee to basket placements are just awesome taking advantage of natural hills and even building some.
+Hole 19 has to be one of my favorite holes anywhere, ever!
+Mixed tees, but work well with the environment
+Close to downtown Charlevoix and Petoskey, US31 and gas stations, easy to find
Cons:
-I need to figure out a way to make more time to help make this place even more awesome
Other Thoughts:
^Huge thanks to Ric Evans, Brian Christansen and The Chain O'Lakes Disc Golf Club for all their work to make this happen! This course has been in the works for a couple of years by the extremely hard work of a few volunteers!
^This is a hiking course, be ready to hike!
^Bug spray
^It's still a work in progress but very very playable
^Good signs, maps, benches and trash barrels are on their way, good things come to those who wait! Temp signs and arrows are in
^I highly recommend playing this course if you are able to!
^It really will not take much more to make this one of the best courses anywhere!
^This is a hiking course, be ready to hike!
^Bug spray
^It's still a work in progress but very very playable
^Good signs, maps, benches and trash barrels are on their way, good things come to those who wait! Temp signs and arrows are in
^I highly recommend playing this course if you are able to!
^It really will not take much more to make this one of the best courses anywhere!
13
0
Great New Course 2+ years
Reviewed:
Updated:
Played on:Jul 28, 2013
Played the course:once
Pros:
Downhill bombs made from ski hills top the best of those at Hickory Hills or Silver Mountain. Hole 6 is a thrilling, super-steep 670 foot hole facing the west, with hilltop views of Beaver Island (25 miles away!) and Charlevoix. This hole is open enough on both sides to throw with confidence, with perilous rough on the left to discourage weak throws. Aim to the right, release and let it fly down the hill while soaking in this terrific new addition to northern Michigan disc golf. Those who have played Hole 16 at California's Coyote Point at Lake Casitas will recognize the resemblance.
Hole 13 is a similarly steep downhill hole with stunning views of Little Traverse Bay, with the added benefit of being shielded from winds out of the west. Hole 13 requires a little more finesse due to being slightly more narrow than Hole 6, but is still a thrilling drive down to a protected basket at the bottom of the hill.
Holes 14 through 19 meander through woods on the wind-protected backside of Mt. McSauba, and have more-than-adequate room for skilled drives. These holes benefit greatly from brand-new elevated tees with large, trapezoidal cement tee pads. Hole 19 is the best of the last series of holes, with a highly-elevated tee pad and several huge trees providing plenty of lanes to throw through. Hole 10 is perched halfway up a densely-wooded hill, with a small opening to a grassy field with an extended, narrow fairway along the edge of a road. About half of the holes now have cement pads (some also have cement short tees), with earthen pads accounting for most of the rest.
Hole 13 is a similarly steep downhill hole with stunning views of Little Traverse Bay, with the added benefit of being shielded from winds out of the west. Hole 13 requires a little more finesse due to being slightly more narrow than Hole 6, but is still a thrilling drive down to a protected basket at the bottom of the hill.
Holes 14 through 19 meander through woods on the wind-protected backside of Mt. McSauba, and have more-than-adequate room for skilled drives. These holes benefit greatly from brand-new elevated tees with large, trapezoidal cement tee pads. Hole 19 is the best of the last series of holes, with a highly-elevated tee pad and several huge trees providing plenty of lanes to throw through. Hole 10 is perched halfway up a densely-wooded hill, with a small opening to a grassy field with an extended, narrow fairway along the edge of a road. About half of the holes now have cement pads (some also have cement short tees), with earthen pads accounting for most of the rest.
Cons:
Several holes are still not quite ready for prime-time, and could arguably be redesigned or eliminated. Holes 1 and 2 are quite challenging, but with many stumps and rough terrain impeding foot travel along the way. Some areas have long, grueling walks between holes, with the walk between 8 and 9 being the longest. Signs that had helped point the way on some of the holes have been stolen or are missing. Hole 8 is the weakest on the course, with a steeply-sloped non-fairway adjacent to Hole 6 that is very difficult to traverse, with a particularly high pain-to-gain ratio. Hole 3 is a pleasant, short hole with a protected basket behind a dune, but is significantly out of the way from Holes 2 and 4. Hole 5 has a short, narrow fairway with a 90-degree turn up to the top of the hill, but is a tiring, steep uphill hike. Hole 12 has a pin position with a beautiful view of the beach, but also has a oddly-placed tee pad (not yet cement) along the ridge of a dune with no real lanes to drive through.
Other Thoughts:
This course was very hard to rate, with divergent high and low points. This course has the potential to be the best course in Michigan north of Traverse City...or with even more work, a 4.5 or 5.0 level course. With further work on this course ongoing, the course rating will likely increase in months and years to come. The course as a whole is quite challenging even for advanced players, especially from the long tees. Several tough holes on the front nine would be manageable with long, accurate RHBH drives.
The work required to create a course of this type is staggering, but the class-leading potential of this course aspires to a higher level than the typical city park course. Thanks to those at Chain O' Lakes Disc Golf Club (including dgcr's nickrockey) for all of the hard work done in making this exciting new course a reality.
The work required to create a course of this type is staggering, but the class-leading potential of this course aspires to a higher level than the typical city park course. Thanks to those at Chain O' Lakes Disc Golf Club (including dgcr's nickrockey) for all of the hard work done in making this exciting new course a reality.
