Grand Rapids, MI

Johnson Park

3.015(based on 36 reviews)
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19 0
davetherocketguy
Gold level trusted reviewer
Experience: 20.3 years 114 played 105 reviews
3.50 star(s)

The Glute-Activating Course 2+ years drive by

Reviewed: Played on:Jul 30, 2022 Played the course:2-4 times

Pros:

- Innova Discatcher baskets. Seem well worn and in great shape.
- Tee pads seem a touch on the small side but really, most of these holes do not require any sort of long run-up.
- The hills are what does it for me. This is a very three dimensional course to be sure. None of the hills are much more than 75' in height but there are so many of them. On 14 (I think) was one of the few holes I have ever seen where switch-backs are used to navigate the fairway. This is what makes Johnson really unique.
- Seems to be a lefty-friendly course. Found myself using my RHFH quite a bit throughout.
- Well maintained course that is far away from any other activity in the park. So no real risk of oblivious pedestrians strolling into a fairway.
- The flow from one hole to the next was quite intuitive although some spots uDisc navigation might be needed.
- Signage was great.

Cons:

- The rough here in many areas is really rough. Not all of this is mowed fairways but a lot (especially in the back part of the course) is beaten down narrow-ish fairways. Playing with others who can help spot is not a bad idea.
- Some of these fairways are super duper steep with hard packed gravel. There is quite the potential for slipping. Holes 16 and 7 come to mind as fairways that need something like steps down the fairway.
- Need more benches or places to sit at the tees considering how steep some of these holes are.
- While the hills are a ton of fun this is not a very challenging course.

Other Thoughts:

This is a under-rated course in my opinion. Sure, there are a lot of things that could be refined but it is a ton of fun. While this is not a coure that is going to favor the bombers of the world the shot variety certainly makes up for that. Solid footwear is a must. Bruhs with flip flops might want to take a pass on this one. Keep an eye out for poison ivy. It is ALL OVER this course. If you have the time this place is worth the stop.
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9 1
blidablat
Experience: 8.4 years 11 played 9 reviews
3.50 star(s)

The HILLS are alive... 2+ years drive by

Reviewed: Played on:Apr 25, 2021 Played the course:once

Pros:

The hills stand out at this course, and they could fall into either the "pro" or "con" category. On the pro side, the hills make for some really interesting holes, with a great variety - steeply uphill, steeply downhill, both up and down in the same hole, steep slopes right to left, and so on. In addition, there's a nice mix of wide open holes with some wooded holes as well. It seemed to me that the course asked for a variety of shots over the complete 18. One hill in particular is the gathering place for a handful of baskets and tees, with a fantastic view to the southeast that includes the gargantuan Grand Castle Apartments in Grandville. While trees and underbrush were a hazard on many of the holes, it didn't feel like it was impossible to find an errantly thrown disc (although we played in April, so that opinion may change as the foliage grows in). There aren't any extremely long holes, but some are definitely lengthened by throwing uphill. Hole 18 is by far the longest, but the tee shot is a wide open blast from an elevated pad. The signage was well done - especially the "next tee" signs. We had no trouble finding the next tee each time.

Cons:

Negotiating the hilly terrain requires some fitness (but that could be a pro too!). Just hiking up and down the elevation changes left my 45-year-old self more winded than I'd ever been playing disc golf before. Some of the hills are also sandy or simply dirt-covered, which can make the footing a little exciting. I'm glad we played when it was dry. If not for the concrete tee pads, I would seriously consider wearing my baseball cleats for playing this course. Some of the holes are really tight together (like at the aforementioned hilltop). After getting a disc stuck 30 feet up in a tree on hole 7, I was basically in the way of those playing hole 8 while throwing discs and sticks into the tree to recover it. The locations of a few baskets were hard to figure out playing it the first time. This isn't really a family-friendly course - I could see smaller kids getting sick of the hiking involved.

Other Thoughts:

I'd like to give Johnson another try - at the end of our initial round I was somewhat exhausted and not enthralled, but thinking more about some of those holes I'd like to see what I could do a second time through.
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9 0
chad groen
Silver level trusted reviewer
Experience: 24.7 years 42 played 41 reviews
4.00 star(s)

Hilly and Fun 2+ years

Reviewed: Updated: Played on:Mar 10, 2021 Played the course:5+ times

Pros:

This course is very hilly, but it uses those hills as obstacles to create some fun holes. Sometimes you're throwing down a steep hill, sometimes you're throwing up a steep hill, and occasionally you have to do both. Some holes are narrow and have a lot of trees that come into play, some holes only have a few trees you have to worry about, then there are a couple holes that are practically wide open but they're also hilly and long. There are a few dog legs and a few blind tee shots. Also, some of the holes have signs at the end showing you where to go to get to the next tee, and those are really helpful.

Cons:

Some of the fairways aren't that grassy and have a lot of dirt or sand. A few of the holes are too close together, which can be a problem on a busy day because you'll find yourself getting ready to tee off but will have to wait for someone to finish playing on a hole that's close to yours. Holes 12 and 1 have a bunch of trees between the tee pad and the basket, and there's no fairway for your disc to follow. The woods can be kind of nasty in the summer; it's dense enough that it can be tricky trying to find your disc if it goes in there, and there's also some poison ivy in there. Although there's signage to help you maneuver the first 10 holes of the course, there's nothing that shows you where to go for the last 8 holes. They really need signage for those holes because it isn't obvious at all where to go to find most of those holes. Also, there are a few times when the hills are kind of tricky to walk down safely because of how steep they are, especially if they're wet or muddy from a recent rain.

Other Thoughts:

Overall, this is a fun course to play, and it can test your skills in quite a few ways. It can also give you a good workout having to walk up and down some big hills. It may not be 100% perfect, but it's still really good, and the hilly layout makes it very unique.
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11 0
DFrah
Gold level trusted reviewer
Premium Member
Experience: 6.4 years 300 played 287 reviews
4.00 star(s)

A hilly, unique disc golf experience! 2+ years

Reviewed: Updated: Played on:Aug 5, 2020 Played the course:5+ times

Pros:

I have to start with the elevation change. It is intense. There are uphill holes and downhill holes. There are holes along the hillside. There are holes where the tee and basket are both high up but you have to throw across a steep valley in between. All of this elevation change is used well and never starts to feel repetitive.

The pin placement is great, with a variety of hyzers, anhyzers, and straight shots. Many pins are not visible from the tee. Several pins are located on the edge of steep inclines making for a great risk/reward factor. This course is on the shorter side but provides many technical challenges with tight fairways and plenty of trees to contend with on most holes. Most of the throws here aren't wooded tunnel shots, but the hole layouts force you to pick lines around the clusters of trees and brush - and sometimes there is only one line. Did I mention the elevation???

The infrastructure is in great shape here. As some other reviewers have mentioned, the course was renovated a few years back. I never played it when it was a pole hole course but now there are 18 yellow DISCatcher baskets in great condition, plus a practice basket. There are large cement tee pads and color tee signs for each hole showing the distance and path to the basket. There is a map posted at the front of the course and another one at the top of the valley where several tees and baskets kind of converge (the maps are pretty small and can be mistaken for generic signposts from a distance). Even with the maps, most holes have "next tee" signs or it is otherwise clear where the next tee is. You won't get lost on this course.

This portion of the park is disc golf only, so there won't be any other park users to contend with.

It's honestly just a pretty park. Taken as a whole, the course plays up and down a steep valley in a relatively quiet area. From the top of the valley you can see the Grandville Castle in the distance (locals will know what I'm talking about here). Some of the tee pads have nice wooden fronts for decoration. There are also several benches throughout the course to sit down, take a break, and enjoy the view.

Cons:

As mentioned above, the overall length is pretty short. The only hole above 400' is #18, a wide open downhill bomb to end your round. Definitely not a "grip it and rip it" type course.

There are some holes where the fairways are a little close together. The separation distance would be sufficient if the course were flat, but because it's so hilly sometimes the combination of an errant throw and wind can push your disc onto an adjacent fairway.

Some of the holes have so much elevation change that it can start to feel a little treacherous walking up and down the hills. I'm not saying to bring your rock climbing gear, but make sure you wear shoes with good grip and walk carefully.

Some of the rough is pretty thick. It isn't particularly unpleasant to search in, but it's still possible to lose a disc.

Other Thoughts:

My favorite hole is #13. It's short (194') but angles sharply to the right through thick trees, and steeply downhill (so much so that you have to walk down some switchbacks to get to the pin from the tee). This is one of the tightest holes on the course along with #12. If you can avoid the trees and get the right flight path it's probably an easy birdie, but I haven't managed it yet. Some may feel this is a poke and hope hole, but I enjoy trying to thread the needle downhill at the basket.

With the recent improvements this course is significantly better than the ~3.0 average rating it currently holds on here. This is a must-play course if you are local or visiting the area. I wouldn't quite call it a destination course, but there is no other course within a 20 min drive of Grand Rapids that offers this much elevation change and arguably none that offers this much technical challenge. Play it!

Update 7/2021: I noticed there were no photos here since the redesign and added some (forgot to take 7 of them though, oops). This is still one of my favorite courses in the Grand Rapids area. The rough is definitely pretty thick though, and the course can be very buggy in the summer as well -plan accordingly. No change in my rating.
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6 0
MrFrosty
Diamond level trusted reviewer
Experience: 31.6 years 764 played 387 reviews
3.50 star(s)

Renovated Must-Play Course 2+ years drive by

Reviewed: Played on:Jun 9, 2019 Played the course:once

Pros:

When I was looking at courses to play in the Grand Rapids area , Johnson Hills Course , circa 1993 , kept reaching out and grabbing me . I read that this was an old pole hole natural tee course prior to 2017 , so I knew the equipment and redesign on some of the holes would be good . When you turn on to Butterworth St , be patient . You will see a park and then park signs down the road . Keep going maybe another mile before you see the dirt parking lot on your left . You will see a couple of visible baskets by then . I never saw a kiosk when I pulled in and the map I printed off did me no good . There is some good navigation on this course that lets you get by with most of it without the map . The first hole is on the left side of the parking lot and down just a bit . in the open area . the first hole is a sweeping anhyzer 300' . Good sized cement tees at every hole . Yellow banded Discatcher baskets are in play here . They are especially easy to see for the woods holes in the back of the course . This is yet another one of those local Grand Rapids course with great signage that gives you a picture of the disc path and distance . Elevation , ELEVATION !!!! You almost have to be part goat to negotiate these hills . You either have to be throwing from a hill to a hill , up a hill , down a hill , or on the side of a hill . I never saw such extreme elevation since playing West Virginia . The course flows pretty well , except maybe 10-11 . You can easily end up at #12's tee pad . #8's tee pad stuck out in my mind . Big cement pad with a wooden front for decoration . Classy move ,,,,,,, Fairways were mowed and well taken care of . The course is not going to scare a pro or even a good am but I am sure that was not what it was intended for . If you are a disc golf junkie , then you have to play this course . The smell of this course wreaks of uniqueness .The course starts off with a couple of anhyzers on 2 of the first 3 holes , then settles in to a series of mostly hyzers . Lots of clever pin placements . Even though it had rained and the course was wet , it was still turning out multiple groups of players . I saw a dad with his 2 sons , saw a few twosomes and a foursome that drove all the way up from Tampa to spend a week playing lots of Michigan courses . They were impressed by the Johnson Park Course , too . Wait until you look up the hill to #17 , a 313' hole that plays like a 450' one , with another great tee area . Some of these tee areas have places to sit , nice touch . I had no problems with some of the holes being short . Lots of risk reward shots are involved with these . One of my favorites was #12 , a straight throw to a basket guarded by some trees in front of it , and a huge drop off behind and to the left side of it . If your disc gets up and rolls to the bottom , you are going to need at least 2 throws to get back . I threw a putter , lucked out and stayed on top just a little over top of the basket . I blew the putt , but it only rolled about 15' down and was able to salvage par . The next hole ( #13 ) was my favorite . a hyzer through the trees that drops about 15' down on the way . There is a long stairway/path that leads you down to where your disc has hit that tree you were avoiding . I missed the trees on this occasion and landed next to the pin . ( my only deuce on the course ) . #14 is the shortest hole on the course ( 131' ) but a tough birdie . It hyzers and up the hill . #15 drive comes out of the woods , and turns a little . #16 is a downhill anhyzer to a basket that is nestled in about 20' or so of woods . Then 17 goes straight up the hill , to #18 , an almost perfect top of the world drive ( 487' ) . If you keep your drive semi low , you will feel what it's like to throw +400' . My signature hole was 13 , followed closely by #18 . This course is a must play for locals and should be on the immediate checklist for travelers looking for great courses to play . This part of the park is secluded and should have only disc golfers on it .

Cons:

I know that money was poured into this course , bringing it a long way from what it was , but there are a few cons that need addressing . #1 It can be very easy to lose a disc . Not only in the foliage next to fairways , but an abnormally high grass on some of the holes . I saw people besides myself losing their driver just off the fairways on #2 , and #18 . I looked for my drive for over 10 minutes before finding it on #18 . By the time I found it , water had seeped into my waterproof boots . Please cut the grass before letting it get that out of control or some enthusiasts will lose interest . #2 the map I printed off was not any good . If you don't have a good map on your kiosk , then just have some friend in graphic design draw a crude one in about 15 minutes and buy him a burger . #3 This one is important . The elevation is so steep here that I not only saw 2 people slip and fall trying to walk up the fairway , but I fell , too . Not one of my finer moments . maybe some rock or wood steps would go a long way in keeping the players upright . #4 this area is primitive , meaning no amenities such as water , bathrooms or trash cans . Please carry out what you carry in . No multiple tees . or multiple pins . Some consider this a con , but I didn't .

Other Thoughts:

I know that it looks like I slammed this course , but my cons are mostly suggestions ( except cutting the grass down and putting a better map up online ) . This course has come so far in the last couple of years . I would be playing this all of the time if I lived in the Grand Rapids area . The course is underrated in my opinion . Incredible amounts of elevation , many risk/reward shots . A good start hole with a great finishing hole , with 16 good holes sandwiched in between . My recommendation : PLAY IT !!!
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8 0
BuzzArmStrong
Experience: 15.6 years 50 played 16 reviews
4.00 star(s)

The hills have baskets! 2+ years drive by

Reviewed: Played on:Oct 10, 2017 Played the course:2-4 times

Pros:

I played this course years ago with poles and was impressed by the elevation change and unique challenges presented by the dramatic changes. At the time I was super happy to have played it and was confused why other parks had baskets while this gem seemed to be neglected. Fortunately this conundrum no longer exists. Thanks to a number of sponsors this park is in tip top shape.

Brand new innova disc catchers. Brand new cement tee pads. Brand new tee signs. All the equipment is in great shape, no gripes.

I believe a few of the holes went through a re-design in the process of building this course. A lot of the holes I remembered from my first trip out and seemed familiar but I believe there may have been a few changes as well but the time in between my two rounds was long enough that I can't be sure beyond saying that a handful of the holes play the same.

Elevation change is used in a variety of ways. Two shots crossing ravines to hillside baskets one of which that forces a left to right hook. One straight uphill fairway that makes a 180 foot hole play like 300. Hard left hooks going uphill, soft left going downhill. Hills that drop off precariously behind baskets that force distance control. The long straight uphill fairway followed by the nearly 500 foot downhill bomb in holes 17 and 18.

Hole 18 is a super fun way to end your round. Certainly a tee that you can stand at and empty your entire bag and wish you had brought more discs to huck. From what I can remember every single course I have played that features significant elevation change seems to end with a big downhill hole to end the round. Maybe this is an unwritten rule of course design? Make us forget about that putt that rolled 60 feet down the hill after hitting the cage by making us feel like we can drive 500 feet. Is that it?

A couple of shots have blind baskets which I think adds to the desire to play a course over and over again as it rewards familiarity.

Cons:

I felt as though a few of the holes would benefit from some more foliage. A couple of them just seem like the only real obstacle was the elevation and since every hole pretty much deals with elevation in some manner it seems kind of like a filler hole when that is really the only challenge.

A little bit heavily weighted on RHBH throws. Can only think of two instances that really favored a anhyzer line.

Some tough par 3's but no true par 4's on the course. The land is certainly there and I think throwing in a couple holes that require multiple drives to reach the pin would be great.


Other Thoughts:

I wish I lived closer to this course. Super enjoyable round through all the ups and downs (see what I did there?). Thanks again to all the sponsors that made the restoration of this park a reality, great job.
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3 7
Spindler
Experience: 7.4 years 3 played 3 reviews
2.00 star(s)

Two words: poison ivy 2+ years drive by

Reviewed: Played on:Aug 2, 2017 Played the course:2-4 times

Pros:

* Short
* Fun challenging curves
* Good, new Innova baskets
* Nice concrete tees
* Beautiful scenery

Cons:

* Holes are extremely narrow
* So easy to lose a disc
* SO MUCH POISON IVY

Other Thoughts:

If you're allergic to poison ivy, you will probably get it if you play this course.

If it wasn't so bad, I would LOVE this course. so much fun.
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10 0
The Valkyrie Kid
Diamond level trusted reviewer
Experience: 46.4 years 1562 played 1507 reviews
3.50 star(s)

Juicy Hilly Course Waiting For Your Call! 2+ years drive by

Reviewed: Played on:Aug 26, 2017 Played the course:once

Pros:

Johnson Park, the former pole hole course, has recently (June 2017). been upgraded with baskets and concrete tee pads. There is also some great engineering going on. The baskets are Discatchers and the pads are nice sized. The tee signs are colored and show the route. But the star of this show is this wonderful piece of land with it's rolling hills and treacherous deep gorges. There are places where the rough is deep and foreboding but mostly there are these wonderful hills which are meant for classic disc golf holes.

The course is an excellent mix of tough uphill holes, very tight hysers and annies, fun downhill Ace Runs, throws over gorges and then finishes with this 487' yummy downhill blast.

I loved hole 12. What looks like a fairly easy little birdie opportunity turns very scary upon reaching the basket and seeing that it is set on the edge of 30' deep gorge that extends about 180 degrees behind the basket. This deep gorge is easily found off the tee or from your approach. And your putts can be terrifying, too. One of our group had his second shot slide all the way to the bottom. His SECOND shot trying to get out hit basket rim and rolled all the way back down again. He might have taken a 10 had his rollaway not rolled directly to him which allowed him to stop it from rolling completely to the bottom again. He admitted to an 8. We laughed our asses off.

As much as I liked # 12, I believe I like 13 more. # 13 is a great little 194' downhill requiring an sharp anhyser from a righty. Their is a route there but it's awfully tight. This hole has had some great engineering done with a flight of wooden stairs taking you down the very steep hillside.

Cons:

Can get hot out here. Course does play out in the open quite a bit. Bring water.

There is a chance for lost discs or at least, some searching.

On hole 12, there is a Chance for the elusive 10. Not many disc golf holes are that risky.

Other Thoughts:

I love this course. It's hilly but not exactly a exhaustive workout, just a comfortable fatigue building exercise. The treacherous gorges might get you or you might slide it up there for a gimme birdie. I can't imagine ever getting tires or bored with this gem.
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3 10
Dayman93
Experience: 9.3 years 4 played 1 reviews
0.00 star(s)

Hell on Earth 2+ years drive by

Reviewed: Played on:May 22, 2016 Played the course:once

Pros:

Beautiful park with wonderful wild flora and fauna.

Cons:

-No baskets- who the hell wants to throw at a stick in the ground?
-Insanely overgrown
-80% chance of losing your disc on every single hole.
Absolutely turrible disc golf course

Other Thoughts:

Played 6 holes before throwing in the towel. Yes it was that bad
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4 0
myhouseinthewoods
Experience: 14.3 years 14 played 10 reviews
4.00 star(s)

One of my Favorites 2+ years drive by

Reviewed: Played on:Aug 5, 2013 Played the course:2-4 times

Pros:

- Great crazy level hills through-out the park - in which one hole you go down a steep hill just to go up another steep one.

Cons:

- Hard to find for new people. The first time I've went to this park - even with my car - I couldnt find where to go for at least 20 minutes, and even got sidetracked walking into the forest lands. I even asked a few locals with no help.
- Can get really hot during the middle of summer being up top of some of these high level hills, so best to bring a drink.
- Can get confusing trying to find some holes, as it seems a couple have dissapeared - but it should be expected since as the park is old.

Other Thoughts:

- In order to easily reach the park, just continue down past the local park until you feel you have reached a gravel drive way to your left - of course though most people come from that direction.
- The last time I've took a bike ride to, there were two strange kids, and my brother swears one had a axe in his pants, so be careful around this park, as it may be a good idea to bring a back-up knife.
- Theres only poles, no baskets.
- No concrete tee pads, mostly dirt
- Despite some of the cons I have put down, this park is still one of my favorites cause of the crazy terrain - gotta give the park credit for uniqueness.
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7 0
apdrvya
Diamond level trusted reviewer
Premium Member
Experience: 14.5 years 354 played 299 reviews
3.00 star(s)

coulda woulda shoulda 2+ years

Reviewed: Played on:Sep 5, 2012 Played the course:once

Pros:

--aesthetic--I always start here. This course plays through the north end of Johnson Park in a DG dedicated area (during the summer). Johnson Park is a much larger multi-use park but this area is separate from the rest.

Routing/Nav--pretty easy with the map printed out...paths are pretty worn and easy to follow and with the lack of rain this year, the rough isn't all that bad...

Risk v. Reward/Terrain/Variety--The terrain here is impressive to say the least, the amount of elevation here is staggering for the city of Grand Rapids. There is truly a little of everything here, huge uphills, huge downhills, rights, lefts, tunnels, valleys, bombers, tight fairways. Great amount of everything here.

Cons:

Teepads/posts/mainenance--I'm going to roll all the cons into one big package. If people would just leave this course alone and enjoy it for the dg course that it is, it could truly be the greatest course in Grand Rapids (not counting Fallasburg) I would have loved to play this course in it's hayday with baskets and great upkeep. It's dilapidated and run down and you have to truly use your imagination to imagine what this course once was...
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3 2
fenixtxfan11
Experience: 21.4 years 56 played 3 reviews
4.50 star(s)

Fabulous course! Use your imagination! 2+ years drive by

Reviewed: Played on:Jul 13, 2012 Played the course:5+ times

Pros:

Rediculous elevation changes, great use of terrain within city limits, never crowded.

Cons:

Grass can be tall in the late summer, but this year its fine because we haven't gotten any rain!

Other Thoughts:

This is a post game, no baskets. It's not the end of the world. The fabulous drives make up for it big time.
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4 1
Jbot49506
Experience: 12.6 years 11 played 10 reviews
3.00 star(s)

Johnson 2+ years drive by

Reviewed: Played on:Jul 8, 2012 Played the course:once

Pros:

Very scenic with lots of elevation changes. The course is very well laid out and offers some nice challenges for both backhand and sidearm throwing styles.

Cons:

The tee-pads do not offer the best footing for take driving. You can very easily loose discs with the long grass. Its very dry right now which makes it easier to keep track of things. TONS of poison ivy on the course. If you are prone to getting poison ivy be very careful!

Other Thoughts:

This is a wonderful stick course, I think with a little maintenance this could be a top notch course! Regular mowing, and pruning would really help. Be prepared for some exercise, there are lots of hills!
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2 1
CDashMAN
Experience: 33 played 6 reviews
2.50 star(s)

2+ years drive by

Reviewed: Played on:May 18, 2005 Played the course:5+ times

Pros:

great challenge and topography
Nice scenery
good hole variety

Cons:

what most other reviewers have stated:
bad tees
poor signage
posts instead of baskets (baskets were destroyed or stolen over the years due to remote location)

Other Thoughts:

If you want exersize during your round, this is a great course to play. Goes up and down hills. One nice bomber shot down a hill.
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2 1
jarnson
Experience: 14.4 years 27 played 27 reviews
1.50 star(s)

Johnson Park...... What? 2+ years drive by

Reviewed: Played on:Jun 19, 2011 Played the course:once

Pros:

- This course has great challenges, which is possibly the ONLY reason it is a passable.
- Good variation between high and low, pretty much straight shots.
- Good hike and long, but the course is yet short. You will understand that when you play it.

Cons:

- Bad tees, they are only dirt with a 2x4 block of wood.
- No signs stating what tee it is, let alone where the whole is
- Baskets are posts in the ground, which are impossible to hit as you would with a basket.
- Hardly mowed fairway, bring crappy discs, you will lose them
- It is hard to find; (after you get off the main road, follow the road past Johnson Park to the left, and as you see to the left a giant hill and a gravel parking lot with lots of brush, this is the course.)
- No garbage, bathrooms, and poor parking lot
- There is brush on either side of the fairway, itchy plants, poison ivy, etc. Beware!
- No water hazards, not a hyzer/anhyzer type course or mid-range lucky, will require a drive and then what would somewhat pass as a putt. (Determine if its a goal if its hit or in general area of goal.)

Other Thoughts:

- Bring water, it is a long course
- Bring bug spray and long socks or pants

Overall, it is passable, but only because it was a interesting course, otherwise the Cons outweigh the Pros by a lot.
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1 4
libertine5010
Experience: 20.4 years 21 played 6 reviews
4.00 star(s)

Go early or late 2+ years drive by

Reviewed: Played on:Sep 5, 2010 Played the course:5+ times

Pros:

Great terrain and post layouts. Beautiful landscape with rolling hills and fantastic skylines. This is where I learned to play and this will probably always be my favorite course.

Cons:

NO BASKETS. Stupid kids ruined them a few years ago so now we are stuck with posts for now. Also, avoid raining, humid days. Bugs and mud will be plenty. I suggest wearing high socks if you plan on wearing shorts because there are pricker bushes galore if you land in the rough. I personally thrive in this atmosphere however. This is the "manliest" course in the Grand Rapids region.

Other Thoughts:

If this course had a bi-monthly mowing and baskets, it would earn a 5 without a doubt.
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2 2
discdeviant
Experience: 26.4 years 111 played 4 reviews
4.00 star(s)

used to be good 2+ years drive by

Reviewed: Played on:Oct 30, 2001 Played the course:5+ times

Pros:

I'll give it a 4 because it used to be a really fun course before a bunch of scumbag lowlifes stole baskets and gutted the course. A cool mix of shots with good elevation changes. Hole 18 is a blast!

Cons:

Last I knew no baskets remain--just pole targets. Some throwers will consider it too short

Other Thoughts:

97 Am Worlds course
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3 3
scrotman
Experience: 14.5 years 16 played 4 reviews
1.00 star(s)

Looks can be deceiving... 2+ years drive by

Reviewed: Played on:Jul 24, 2010 Played the course:once

Pros:

Course looks promising especially since its the closest 18 holer near me but be aware... Only things this course has going for it is decent hole placements and lack of other players.

Cons:

This course may have been at its prime years ago but it is nowhere close now. Tees are 2X4 barriers raised acouple inches above ground (dont trip) and some are extremely muddy. Fairways are hardly mowed, the roughs are brutal, if u hyzer a shot alittle to much and it goes into the rough be prepared to look for 10+ minutes for your disc. You have no idea where to go after hole 11 unless you have a map. Holes are poles which is a big turn off for me. This course is just plain not maintained well enough to even bother going.

Other Thoughts:

Bring bug spray! Great views from its hilly landscape. Bring a map.
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5 1
rshrevo
Bronze level trusted reviewer
Experience: 46.4 years 45 played 34 reviews
3.00 star(s)

2+ years drive by

Reviewed: Updated: Played on:Sep 15, 2012 Played the course:2-4 times

Pros:

For those looking for a workout this is the course. With the up and down hills and valleys it will give you a workout just walking the course. a lot of challenging holes. views are really nice. The entire area is only for the disc golf course. so everyone there would be discing and not picnicking or playing on playground equipment.

Cons:

course doesn't appear to be maintained really well. i wouldn't want to mow it at all with the elevation changes and the steepness of the hills. if you haven't been here before the parking lot would be hard to find. bugs can be a problem so recommend bug spray. no restrooms so stop at park before playing.

Other Thoughts:

I have played here with both the baskets and posts. I prefer the baskets. would like to see it maintained better. would even consider paying a small fee to help the park commission mow this undeveloped piece of land that is only use is for the disc golf course.
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3 1
sgamerp
Gold level trusted reviewer
Experience: 16.6 years 103 played 73 reviews
3.50 star(s)

We got Baskets now!

Reviewed: Updated: Played on:Jul 9, 2023 Played the course:2-4 times

Pros:

Updated from playing July 9th 2023, as my original review was from 2010. When I first played this course it was a pole course and has changed a lot since then. It looks like because the layout has loosely stayed the same this never really got changed but I'd have to say this is a very different course with baskets and tee pads.

Johnson Park is in Wyoming outside of Grand Rapids. It has a lot of elevation where you are walking up and down and for a course in the city, it has a lot more then you would expect. There is a porta potty at the start of the course so make sure to use it as it's not really in play until you leave.

Tee Pads - every hole has a teepad that's relatively big and will give you what you need to drive. They can be sandy here so if that bugs you being a broom.

Tee Signs - I don't remember a tee sign at hole one but every other hole has one and it helps let you know where the baskets are.

Elevation - this course has a lot of up and down elevation. It may be a negative for some as you are walking more than you expect for a fairly short course but it makes it a lot harder. Most baskets have a chance for a roll away and makes the fairly short course a bit more challenging. This is something that is fairly unique for the area.

Fun Factor - this course has a lot of risk reward that I think adds to the fun factor of it. You can run your putt but it may add 2 strokes to your score

Benches- they had nice benches scattered around the park which is nice after running up and down hills.

Cons:

Trash cans - I don't remember seeing any. They could be here, and I didn't need to use them, but I did notice some beer cans hidden on some holes throughout the course.

Navigation - the navigation here can be hard and the map of the course is for whatever reason located on the 18 hole. They do have a decent amount of next tee holes but some aren't there.

Fairways - lots of blind shots or shots that throw close to other fairways. This course gets busy, so it seems like a place you may get hit by a random stray disc.

Elevation- I know I marked this as a pro but this course will have you sweating and if you have a bad shot you may be doing a lot more hiking then you planned to.

Busy - I have heard this course can be fairly busy. The parking lot was about 50% full when we played and we didn't have a lot of issues, but one group would catch up to us if we had to look for a disc longer than normal.

Other Thoughts:

I really enjoyed this improvement of adding baskets to this course. I feel like while there are a lot of disc golf courses in GR this one has something you don't get at some of the others. The risk reward makes this challenging I assume for better players even though it may be a birdie course for them.

Hole 18 stands out as a fun hole to just let it rip and see what you are capable of. A lot of ace runs here make it cool too, only real downside is the chance of getting hit with a disc.



My review from 2010:

2.5

Pro:
A lot of good shots. It's a good place where you can bring a driver and a putter or even a mid range and a putt and easily get birdies and pars. There is a good amount of shots and you will need a few types of shots to get close. Only about one or two holes where you really need a third shot at more then 10 feet

Cons:
Tee pads are dirt. Finding it is hard. You have to drive by a while and it's in a sand parking lot and you can kind of see the poles. It's not that hard. there are like 4 tee pads all together and it can get hard to find the basket at which you need to shoot to.

I have never played poles besides the river side poles course(which are like 80 feet and you can play with only a putter) I was not sure the real rules but i didn't really get anything over a par.
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