Pros:
Located in Whatcom County, Glacier is a gateway community for the Mount Baker community and is the last outpost on the Mount Baker highway before entering the national forest. The community caters to summer hikers and river rafters, and winter skiers and snowboarders. While Glacier offers food and lodging, there is no gas available, so you will need to return to Maple Falls for fuel.
Nestled in a beautiful valley, Glacier DGC is located just inside the Mount Baker National Recreation Area, and north of the Mount Baker Wilderness Area. The community is about 24 miles west of the Mount Baker Ski Area, and about 32 miles east of the intersection of I-5 and State Route 542 in Bellingham. As other reviewers stated, this course is one of the more beautiful courses in the state. The course has players weaving in and out an old growth forest, incorporating several peaks and valleys with vibrant moss covered trees, massive ferns, winding creeks, and much more native growth making this course very dense.
Holes for the most part are around 200 feet with a few that reach closer to 250 feet. This course utilizes the landscape, creating tight fairway shots which require a great deal of accuracy in order to shoot for birdie. The front 18 at Glacier tends to be straighter forward than its counterpart in both navigation and pin placement. All holes can be reached with a midrange or putter off the tee. Tee pads are all natural and present little issue considering how short the holes are. Baskets are unique to the course and unlike any other I have played. The hula hoops with the netting make putting a challenge, with the baskets laying horizontal about three feet off the ground. A floating putt will prove much more beneficial compared to a turbo or spin putt.
Favorite Hole/s: hole #5 and hole #17
Cons:
Although navigation is easier on the front 18, it is still a major problem for first timers playing here. Without the help of the locals my first time, I would have found myself wandering through this densely populated forest in search of the next tee pad at several points during my round. Because Glacier DGC is on the outskirts of the Mount Baker Wilderness Area, getting lost would not be in anyone's best interest considering the area is bear country. Be on the lookout for small stone tee signs or pieces of wood on the ground that help players to locate the next tee pad.
Update as of 9/2/11: Hole #15 currently has no sign. Just walk to the right after holing out and throw from the base of the hill.
Course design is another issue on this course. Most holes, as I mentioned earlier, tend to share the same basket and/or fairway and can be chaotic if the course is crowded.
Most holes are straight on or have a slight RHBH hyzer so some holes may feel a bit repetative. The back 18 seems to do a much better job in this aspect, allowing for a more balanced course. This course also lacks much variation when it comes to distance and therefore is most suitable for the intermediate player. However, there are plenty of unique lines to the basket that make it fun and yet challenging for all skill levels.
Last, this course is seasonal. Because Glacier DGC is so far north, this course becomes unplayable due to the harsh conditions including extremely muddy and wet conditions as well as deep snow during the colder, wetter months. This course is best to play during the spring, summer, and early fall.
Other Thoughts:
When I played this course in 2008 I felt a connection with it right away! The remoteness and tranquility of Glacier made me realize why I fell in love with disc golf in the first place...because I loved to explore the great outdoors as I did as a kid. There was that sense of freedom we all desire to find as we get older. It was very comforting.
Two of the more memorable holes on this course for me were at the beginning and the very end (holes #1 and #18) due to the fact that players were throwing over a ravine from one high point to the next. It forces players to throw around or through some of the largest and most interesting trees on the course, challenging a player's precision and guts. It is the perfect way to start and finish a round.