New Boston, MI

Willow Metropark

3.375(based on 23 reviews)
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4 3
apdrvya
Diamond level trusted reviewer
Premium Member
Experience: 13.9 years 350 played 293 reviews
3.00 star(s)

the typical metro park feel. 2+ years

Reviewed: Played on:Apr 8, 2014 Played the course:once

Pros:

Aesthetic-- plays through a low land area in a large-ish metropark in a small town on I-94 and 275. Plays very close to the highway and airport and is LOUD most of the round.

Teepads-- huge and in good repair. because they are built on mounds, they aren't wet while the rest of the course is drenched.

Teesigns-- typical metropark signage. not overly descriptive. shorts do NOT have signage.

Routing/nav-- easy peasy. follow the trails and it's a snap.

Baskets-- all in good repair. could be a little more visible in the thick thick woods.

Cons:

Water-- this course must be built on the lowest piece of property possible... by the time we got to #10 there was near a foot of water on the fairways. We had to turn around and go back to 18.

Variety-- the course does have a nice mix of straights/rights/lefts but there is no difference in the terrain you're playing on. spotty trees, scrubby, thorny rough dominate the scene.

Risk v Reward-- none really. aside from leaving the fairway, the water doesn't really come into play much (unless you're b3nder)

Other Thoughts:

stereotypical metropark setup. nothing special.
wasn't overly impressed.
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3 1
Trizzor
Experience: 10.7 years 29 played 9 reviews
3.00 star(s)

Free to play inside the Metropark 2+ years drive by

Reviewed: Played on:Aug 23, 2013 Played the course:2-4 times

Pros:

• Very nice mix of holes
• Free to play (Kensington and Hudson charge)
• Generally low traffic, from my experience.
• The Tee signs are top notch!

Cons:

• Bugs - see other thoughts.
• Brush/rough, in some spots is very very brutal. It takes much longer finding errand shots if you're the type that doesn't give up.

Other Thoughts:

The bug situation was, unbearable.
First time here, we left after 6 holes because it was so bad.
The second time we brought Picardin on clothes and Deet 10-15% for us. This was not enough, by hole 8 we still were being eaten alive. At hole 9 we met another group that was using Deet 95%... that seemed to work. Until I got home and discovered my first tick bite. Not fun at all.
The next time I goto Willow, it will be early Spring, Fall or Winter.
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3 1
Robocision
Experience: 17.3 years 7 played 7 reviews
4.00 star(s)

Truly great course if the time is right. 2+ years drive by

Reviewed: Played on:Jun 23, 2013 Played the course:5+ times

Pros:

-Excellent signage depicting hole layout and distance.
-Best concrete teeboxes I've ever come across.
-Wonderful individual hole layout.
-Most holes are actually carved out of a dense woods. This gives a great sense of individuality to each hole.

Cons:

-Insects are the worst I've ever seen.Seriously, don't even bother coming without bug spray in the warm months.
-The majority of the course is in a lowlands or wetlands type location. If it has rained at all in the last couple weeks, the course is nothing but mud. The wettest, squishiest place I've ever been.

Other Thoughts:

If the timing is right and you have bug spray, this can be one of the best disc golf experiences you can have around here.

I highly recommend this course if you enjoy fall and winter play.
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2 3
Seraph
Experience: 12.9 years 17 played 1 reviews
4.00 star(s)

Swampland Special 2+ years drive by

Reviewed: Updated: Played on:May 23, 2013 Played the course:5+ times

Pros:

Not much new to add here. Everybody is petty spot on with their reviews. I would like to add that i find this is a very good course to practice on. I'll play weekdays later in the day and have time to make multiple throws per shot per hole without disturbing the play of other players. No other course near me has that.

Cons:

Wet throughout the spring/early summer.

Bugs.

Nothing new to report here.

Other Thoughts:

I just like this course to practice on with a friend or two. So that merits a better than average rating in my book.
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2 3
TuRbii
Experience: 11.7 years 3 played 1 reviews
4.00 star(s)

Willow 2+ years drive by

Reviewed: Played on:Apr 28, 2013 Played the course:5+ times

Pros:

24 holes!
Variety of holes
2 tees
Signs at each hole
Maps for new players to help you not get lost.
Lots of parking
Buy a metropark sticker and play for free!

Cons:

Lots of trees on some holes
If it rains the course tends to stay wet for a while
Bugs in the summer - bring spray

Other Thoughts:

Overall great course. My favorite in the area. There are always friendly people around. If you show up alone you'll be sure to find a group to hop in.
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2 1
kjmaclean
Experience: 1 played 1 reviews
4.00 star(s)

Short but very techical 2+ years drive by

Reviewed: Played on:Aug 26, 2012 Played the course:2-4 times

Pros:

Very tightly wooded course especially in summer when everything is leafed out. I like this course because from the back tees you must shoot straight or find yourself in the bushes. Excellent for training you to hit gaps and not overthrow off the tee.

Cons:

So much growth that the course forces you to shoot putters and mids from the back tees on some holes, unless you are a good pro. You can luck out on a bad shot and find the fairway, or you can bounce off on a good shot into the trees.

Other Thoughts:

Very technical. Great course for beginners or experienced players, if you want to learn how to control your disk. Any error you make off the tee will be magnified, especially if you play from the back tees.
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2 1
MrDiscinox
Experience: 17.2 years 49 played 6 reviews
3.50 star(s)

Good Variety, Fun Course, Area's Best 2+ years drive by

Reviewed: Played on:Jun 18, 2012 Played the course:5+ times

Pros:

- Technical without being too challenging. I've taken a lot of beginners out here for their first round.
- GREAT winter course. Opens up the fairways and no bugs!
- Big drives, putter flicks, left and right... This course is only lacking more extreme elevation changes. They use all that is available though.
- Good shots are mostly well rewarded.
- Usually not crowded.
- Metropark maintains the course very well with updated signage, scorecards, message board and regular mowing.

Cons:

- Luck plays on bad shots. Very wooded in some areas leading to good shots going bad and bad shots going good. As mentioned, good shots are mostly well rewarded.
- Summer brings mosquitoes by the millions. Wear pants and bring strong bug spray and you should be fine. Keep your disc out of casual water.

Other Thoughts:

An excellent course. Doesn't see much play due to mosquitoes. Personally, I like having the course to myself. There have been times where I didn't play more than 3 or 4 holes before returning the car, defeated by the bugs.
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2 1
PerfectPair
Experience: 8 played 8 reviews
3.50 star(s)

Well kept course 2+ years drive by

Reviewed: Played on:Jun 30, 2012 Played the course:2-4 times

Pros:

Course is maintained well, minimal trash left about, well layed out, well marked. Friendly locals. Some nice challanging shots with wooded areas without having to feel like you are on a jungle safari to retrieve a disc if it gets away.

Cons:

mosquito heaven...bring BUG SPRAY, or prepare for a transfusion lol! :)

Other Thoughts:

We are new this year to disc golfing and have found that we are hooked! Though I have found quite a few courses that I like for many different reasons, it seems that the metro/county parks tend to be a little better maintained and alot less trash tossed around.
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2 2
Haynes
Experience: 12.8 years 6 played 1 reviews
4.50 star(s)

Willow 2+ years drive by

Reviewed: Played on:Feb 27, 2012 Played the course:once

Pros:

Very well Maintained
Secluded
Extremely Technical
Ace runs
Picnic Tables and trash cans at nearly every tee
Very friendly locals
Practice basket before entering course.
Really nice tee signs at every hole
Course maps / score cards / pencils in the mailbox by tee 1

Cons:

Very Flat
Floods

Other Thoughts:

Great Course, Great locals. No one was at the gate when we went so it was free 2 play. I would recommended this course to anyone.
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1 0
dlask1981
Experience: 13.9 years 60 played 1 reviews
3.50 star(s)

2+ years drive by

Reviewed: Played on:Jul 16, 2011 Played the course:2-4 times

Pros:

Well marked course very easy to navigate. The heavily wooded areas create plenty of shade even in july its not to hot. Almost no traffic. Nice mix of ace runs and longer challenging holes.

Cons:

Bugs can be a huge problem. The first time I went it was almost unbearable. Thick rough makes finding discs very time consuming. Plenty of picker bushes.

Other Thoughts:

7/15 Bugs were not bad at all. I went around 12pm. I think this dry hot weather may be keeping them away. No flooding at all the creek beds are totally dry.
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6 0
Innovadude
Diamond level trusted reviewer
Experience: 25.8 years 235 played 180 reviews
3.00 star(s)

avoid in summer!! 2+ years

Reviewed: Played on:Jan 9, 2011 Played the course:5+ times

Pros:

Well marked and clean/cared for Metropark. Features a new message board, always-stocked with scorecards with maps and pencils. Good tee signs all still there barely any signs of vandalism, course is never trashed or even very busy. Some holes are unique and good practice you can't get anywhere else around.
24 holes with cement tees for long and short!
Practice basket, ample parking.

Cons:

Summer: It can get so flooded you can't play it in the spring. The mosquitoes can get so bad the league changes courses in summer to avoid them, massive poison ivy you can't avoid- even in the winter.
Some woods holes are tight the point of being absurd. You can only hit so many 5 foot wide fairways in one day.
It is pretty overgrown lots of recent work but still a lot rougher then necessary off the fairways.

Other Thoughts:

Even the most hardcore dg'ers will avoid this course late spring-summer they rarely even hold events and even cancel league here during this time! All this for good reasons- it can flood, the bugs swarm to the point of being cloud-like, the rough crowds in thick and the poison ivy and thorns run rampant! Great for fall-winter!
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3 1
STXCougar
Experience: 19.9 years 19 played 4 reviews
4.00 star(s)

NIce Private Play 2+ years drive by

Reviewed: Played on:Aug 3, 2010 Played the course:2-4 times

Pros:

Very Few People, Nice variation of holes, Good lines from beginner tees but much more of a challenge from the pro tees. Very generous pars especially from the amateur tees. Have gotten a few eagles and many many birdies.

Cons:

Lots of bugs and if your disc goes in the woods u may spend more time looking than playing.

Other Thoughts:

Bring lots of bug spray, maybe some sun screen if during the day on some of the open holes. But the mosquitos are crazy there. Also lots of poison ivy back in the woods so shoes and tall socks a must.
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3 0
Grip_N'_Rip
Experience: 18.9 years 5 played 5 reviews
3.00 star(s)

Keep it straight! 2+ years drive by

Reviewed: Updated: Played on:Jul 31, 2010 Played the course:2-4 times

Pros:

Get to work on your accuracy with plenty of non-intimidating, yet moderately long holes. It's important to play a little more conservative early on, especially due to the tight fairways but Hole 15 allows you to go all out, measuring over 700 yards.

Excellent signage and all the holes are clearly marked. The concrete tee boxes are good and the beginner boxes offer a nice starting point for the beginner offering good angles and lines of sight.
24 holes, very clean, no vandalism, plus it's refreshing to have some privacy and take your time.
Not a lot of punks or for that matter, people at all. Even better, the few I've come across were very nice.

Cons:

Because the fairways are narrow, there aren't a lot of holes that allow you "to open it up" and sling it. The brush is dense and unforgiving -- it would be easy to lose a disc or even a fellow player in there.
Holes do seem repetitive at times.

The bugs can be brutal, but the nice course and lack of annoying humans make up for it. Just bring the OFF with you or else play at your own risk.

Other Thoughts:

A real refreshing course, not a lot of foot traffic and very well kept up with signs, tee boxes and pins that were all first rate.

There's a cool practice pin to the left of the first tee area, placed after hole No. 24. Check it out before you play.
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6 1
BogeyNoMore
Diamond level trusted reviewer
Premium Member
Experience: 19.8 years 479 played 183 reviews
2.50 star(s)

WILLOW METROPARK: because bugs like disc golf, too! 2+ years

Reviewed: Updated: Played on:Jul 8, 2008 Played the course:5+ times

Pros:

Pretty good as far as design/layout, with dual tee pads, tee markers, decent baskets - plays well. Navigation is pretty simple, with decent flow from hole to hole. First timers may have some difficulty finding next tee after some baskets, but only on a few holes.

Least traffic of any of the Detroit area Metro Parks, means peaceful rounds at your own pace. Pleasant, quiet, park setting (if you don't mind the the sound of cars on nearby highway or an occasional airliner soaring just overhead).

Well maintained with hardly any signs of vandalism: tee markers and everything look fine after several years - thanks to low traffic.
Scorecards w/map available mailbox near 1st tee (not always present).

Short tees: tight, with challenging fairways that require control and finesse.
Longs: prepare for a beat down

Limited shot variety means you can play a decent round with a few discs or so:
- straight fairway driver
- stable mid that holds the line you put it on
- putter
- get outta trouble disc for overhead throws

- Cart Friendly: Very.

Cons:

- Not as much variety as there should be over 24 holes, most holes are slight variations on the same theme; tunnel shot after tunnel shot.

-No elevation changes.

-Low lying fairways (as well as walk from hole to hole) get very swampy, muddy, in the spring or after a hard rain. This course does not drain well.


- From most of the shorts, shooting par is only difficult if you're trying to park your tee shot for deuce and shank it in the woods or take a bad bounce. If you're willing to play an uber-safe (i.e. boring) round, you could just use a putter or mid with relatively low power off the tee right up the middle to set up a simple upshot and quite makeable putt for par after par. This leads me to say the course design lacks imagination - not completely bad, just a bit lackluster.

No single hole sticks out as that bad, but on the whole, they feel repetitive, and few are memorable (15 being the exception).

Except for hole 15, leave your max distance driver in your bag; simply not necessary on this course.

- BUGS & BRUSH!! The insects seemed seem to laugh at my Deep Woods Off. Tight fairways and VERY thick brush in the dog days of summer = lots of time spent searching for discs - don't expect a quick round. Don't plan on playing a second round (anywhere) after playing here. Between bugs and searching in the thick brush for 24 holes, you just want to hit the shower.

Other Thoughts:

Favors accuracy over big arms - big time!!. Creek along on #'s 1 & 24, as well as # 15 is usually dry (or at least very low).

Control/finesse courses play to my strengths, so I like them, and while I have fun here, Willow simply lacks the variety I think a course needs to be considered "good."

The lack of variety only seems magnified because it's 24 holes rather than 18. OK for an occasional round, but I wouldn't want to play here on a regular basis. Too many holes seem like slight variations on the same theme: a tight, controlled tunnel shot, with an occasional variation of dogleg left or right instead of straight. The biggest difference is whether you have to thread the needle through trees, or down a hallway between walls of brush. The lack of variation in fairway types combined with the flatness of the land, and the sheer number of holes begins to feel redundant towards the end. It's probably better than just decent/typical (2.5), but I can't say a course is good (3.0) if it makes the game boring.

Throw in the bugs and thick brush, and it can turn something that should be fun into something that isn't.

TAKE MY ADVICE: Play Willow in the fall, for a much more enjoyable round. The lack of foliage in fall doesn't necessarily make staying on the fairway any easier, but certainly makes finding your discs (as well as escape shots) a lot easier, and the bugs aren't nearly as much of an issue.
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4 1
rcd1649
Experience: 11 played 11 reviews
4.00 star(s)

Willow 2+ years drive by

Reviewed: Played on:Jun 23, 2008 Played the course:5+ times

Pros:

Great challenging course. Mostly short technical holes that are always well marked. The course layout is really well done and even though you're right next to the freeway it feels like you are way back in the woods. Also, I have played here probably 20 times and never waited at a tee...ever. Course is always pretty much empty.

Cons:

Water! For alot of the year large chunks of this course are under water (it is a flood plain). The rough is the rough, don't mess with it. What comes with lots of water in Michigan...lots of bugs! Lots of them, trilliions! But the excellent course more than makes up for that.

Other Thoughts:

Hard to exxagerate two of the most important features of this course, the emptiness and the bugs. If you can go on a day with a slight breeze do so, but even if you cannot the bugs are worth it.
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4 0
bygwyllay
Silver level trusted reviewer
Experience: 16.9 years 93 played 77 reviews
3.00 star(s)

Am Par 88 2+ years drive by

Reviewed: Updated: Played on:Jul 7, 2009 Played the course:2-4 times

Pros:

Gotta love the Metroparks - all signs marked; scorecard with map on back; well kept fairways always nice to see. Also nice was what we didn't see - other golfers. A real seculded round to be had. The best hole on this course is over 700 feet from the pro tee. It slightly tilts downhill through some brush and then out into an open field. Your mid-range shot(s) will have you trying to ease over a stream and hit the chains. A very unique hole and one of the best I've thrown on.

Cons:

Aside form this one hole, all others are fairly static. There is virtually no change in elevation throughout the entire course, and every other hole looks the same. Add to the fact that the mosquitos are rampant and the brush is sharp, and you can easily become frustrated here.

Other Thoughts:

This course is extremely challenging in that the fairways are tight, and the rough is almost unbearable. Playing it safe is the way to go, and the pars are quite padded to help you out. The negative reviews I've read on here seem a little overexaggerated. The bugspray is recommended, however. Just take a bath in it and you'll survive. They will swarm you but if they can't find you they can't bite you. I had no bites upon inspection after the round. I will definitely be back in the fall to play this one; the skeeters should be gone by then.
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3 6
wasted energy
Experience: 15.2 years 64 played 3 reviews
2.50 star(s)

2+ years drive by

Reviewed: Played on:May 31, 2009 Played the course:5+ times

Pros:

It's a discgolf course. Concrete tees. And it's close to me.

Cons:

Bugs. And is built on low land, last week was the first time I could play all the holes.(2 holes were under water and everything else was soaked a month ago)

Other Thoughts:

This course is tough, it's tight,buggy and easy to lose disc's. In the fall this course would rock.
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3 0
RiverBandit
Experience: 20.6 years 51 played 7 reviews
3.00 star(s)

2+ years drive by

Reviewed: Played on:Apr 15, 2009 Played the course:once

Pros:

This course has an extremley low traffic level. Short tight fairways throw the woods definitly challenge your control and accuracy. Some holes are nicely mowed out surrounded by trees with a chance to really give it a rip but still require accuracy.Cement Tee pads on every hole and signs. Scorecard with map provided in mailbox by first hole. This is a great course to play a snow round, with lots of coverage from the elements, wind and snow.

Cons:

Mesquito breeding ground, can become very, very, very, very, very, very buggy during the early spring to summer months. Can become flooded during the rainy season creating lots of standing water in many fairways. Making your way to the last holes can be a little confusing the first time crossing back across hole two to 18.

Other Thoughts:

$4 daily metro park pass or $20 annual, easy acess to I-275.
The best time to play this course is between September, and March just to avoid the bugs.
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3 0
NEWBY1151
Experience: 19.8 years 100 played 37 reviews
3.50 star(s)

Much Improved! Fall 08 2+ years drive by

Reviewed: Updated: Played on:Oct 10, 2008 Played the course:5+ times

Pros:

This course is mostly wooded and very challenging,all holes have cement Pro and Am tees,nice signs,scorecards/map at hole #1,never busy,nice park with pool & picnic areas,Discraft baskets,easy to navigate,most holes have tight fairways but are good birdie/ACE oppurtunities with accurate drives,good mix of lefts and rights,24 holes,

Cons:

Thick rough and trees line fairways easy to lose a disc especially if your alone,lots of bugs in summer months,lots of noise from airplanes and expressway,not enough long holes,course gets pretty muddy after hard rain,course has no elevation changes

Other Thoughts:

Metro park pass required $4 daily $20 yearly,late summer/ fall 08 lots of work has been done to clear fairways this course has been much improved,water is in play on several holes but pretty easy to avoid,long walk after 17, hole 18 starts to the right of hole 4,when the leaves fall this becomes a completely different course,when cass is busy you should definitely check this course out,
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2 1
PNovak22
Experience: 20.8 years 39 played 8 reviews
3.50 star(s)

Mesquito Boot Camp 2+ years drive by

Reviewed: Updated: Played on:Jul 4, 2008 Played the course:5+ times

Pros:

Willow Metro Park is a Very tightly wooded, with a few holes that play out into the open. One hole about 700 feet with a putt that plays across a little bridge at the end is very fun to really air out your go to driver. This course will definitely test your accuracy on every shot.

Cons:

After a hard rain the course can be pretty muddy. Some of the fairway on the open holes can be flooded with anywhere from 4 to 10 inches of standing water which make the game more fun but only if you are prepared for it. Lots and Lots of bugs in the summer, almost makes impossible to play you just have to tough it out though.

Other Thoughts:

MOSQUITO BOOT CAMP! BRING YOUR DEET!
A very nice course to play a winter round. Well protected from the wind on most holes, and wet ground is frozen, the best part is there are no bugs in the winter.
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