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 !!!