John D Besse Park fills a small plot of land in Escanaba, MI. The front of the park has a pavilion, playground, benches, trash cans, a porta potty, and a couple of other amenities. The back of the park has a disc golf practice area, with nine yellow banded DISCatchers in fine condition.

The baskets are scattered around the area nicely. You can play basket to basket only having 50'-100' between each one to work on approaches and long putts. Or you can throw longer drives up to maybe 250'-300' if you pick the furthest apart baskets. Some of the baskets are just in the open, but some have brush or old growth trees nearby so you can work on putting around obstacles. I actually threw one putt poorly from about 25' that was tracking way too low, but it kind of skipped off the top of a tree branch and went in. That's what I'll remember about playing here in a year, if anything.

The disc golf baskets are decently far away from the other park amenities, but it's not impossible that an errant throw could find the playground area. As always, safety starts with you!

The terrain in the park is almost perfectly flat.

There isn't enough space available to really air out drives here.

This is just a practice area and not a course. I'm glad that it is just a practice area because there isn't room here for more than 2-3 safe holes of disc golf.

There isn't anything glaringly wrong with the disc golf practice area at John D Besse Park, but there also isn't anything particularly unique or memorable. With three actual courses within a short drive, I doubt this area is used much other than by locals who are short on time but looking to throw a few discs. Unless you're looking to pad your "courses" played count, this one can safely be skipped.

Baskets are in shape and in good places throughout the park. Could make for some really interesting safari rounds.

This is not a course it is 9 random baskets spread through a park. Baskets and potential lines are in close proximity to other amenities such as a playground which would/could make the course dangerous.

This is truly a practice area and kind of a waste of a big chunk of money if there is no course to play.

1) Short beginner friendly course

2) Nice Innova Discatchers, very attractive baskets and in good shape and properly installed.

3) Plenty of options on how to play this as a course if you want. You can throw hyzer, anhyzers, spike shots, turnovers, etc . . . the possiblities are endless.

4) How many kids will pick up the sport because this park is here and free from lots of other disc golfers?

1) No tees to indicate an actual hole or layout, this could confuse people that don't know what they are looking at.

2) This is a very small park that doesn't truly give people a chance to throw long distances.

It is what it is . . . a perfect place to practice for the avid player . . . noone around you can try different shots. It also could act as a perfect 1st round of disc golf for many young kids and first time disc golfers. I almost feel like it would be a place I would be willing to donate a dozen used discs to be placed in a bin of some sort to give people a chance to try the sport at no cost. It might be worth a shot!