Pros:
Probably my favorite course in the area. Isolated from (but still close to) other park activities. Scenic and secluded, it's like taking a nature walk while playing a round. Course is well designed, well executed and well maintained. Whatever "it" is, they got it right:
• Great mix of straight, left and right fairways with plenty of subtle to significant elevation changes coming into play throughout the course. Well placed guard trees force tight lines, deflecting drives and slapping down upshots. Tight fairways to challenge your control, with others playing in fields that give you several open lines, but force you to hit the fairway or risk losing a disc. Shot variety and lines required give you an opportunity to use all your plastic, as well as all your skill. Many visually appealing holes, all of which grab and maintain your interest. Nothing boring or repetitive. Wonderful balance of challenge and playbility.
• On most holes, the Pro/Am cement pads are distinguished by more than just distance. With very few exceptions, the Pros require far more control over quite considerable distances. Red tees (not concrete) provide easier looks for less skilled players - but this is no beginner course.
• Most informative signage I've ever seen. Simple, yet highly effective and cost efficient - easily replaced or broken/defaced. Full color print of hole layout w/distance, showing all tea areas, and total elevation change from tee to basket (+ or -). It's nice to know how much terrain gives or takes on your drive. The tee posts even have a place put scorecards even a while jotting scores from the previous hole.
• Cement tee pads for Pro/Am, and all orang DGA baskets are easy to spot and in great shape. Trash cans located throughout, with Recycling bins in parking area. Picnic tables/benches located in several shady areas. Clean Porta-Potty with hand sanitizer in parking area. And if you really need a restroom with running water, one's available across the way at the water park.
• Hole 6 is blind due to elevation, but has a flag so you could see your target from the tee.
• Several aesthetically appealing means to avoid any possible confusion are employed to show the way: logs lining paths, manicured path of wood chips, mowed paths to next tee pad, "Next Tee" signs. Throw in tall, easy to spot tee posts and navigation's a snap.
• Recent improvements include 6 new holes (A-F) in a loop of the original 18with which you can elect to play after hole 3 or after hole 12 based on the pace of the group in front of you and the terraformed fairway on 16. Retaining wall to combat erosion between holes 13 and 16 was added Nov 2014.
• Only 8 miles or so from Hudson Mills,
Cons:
$9/car for out-of-county residents, (not enforced at all during fall and winter)
• Really no wide open holes you could let rip without concern for disc loss - even the open fairways have 3 feet of grass lining them.
• The rough really is (and can be thorny)=high risk of disc loss... but that seems to come with the "Championship Caliber" package. If you wanna run with the big dogs, sometimes you get bit.
• Still hurts from kicking myself for not having played here sooner!
Other Thoughts:
One of the best courses I've played anywhere. In terms of course grooming and overall appearance, Red Hawk set a high standard for a pleasant day's discing. The only thing Hudson Mills had up on Red Hawk was convenient location of the Activity Center, with it's snack bar, dining area and restrooms.
What Red Hawk concedes to some of the best very best courses in terms of sheer challenge, it makes up for in playability.
BRING FRIENDS!!! Non-Resident Admission to Washtenaw County Parks is steep ($9/car), but the course is immaculate; split 3-4 ways, it's not so painful. Bonus: play Rolling Hills (another great course) the same day with your park admission.