Pros:
This is honestly my favorite nine holes I have ever played, and one of my favorite courses, period. Its very technical: full of tunnel shots through trees, over terrain, and around a river, usually all at the same time.
The course is owned by and starts out next to the memorable Pioneer Bar & Grill (yes, alcohol is most definitely allowed, provided you get it from them!)
It weaves through the beautiful, thick woods so typical of northwestern Wisconsin. Most of the course is on and around the steeply sloped banks of the crystal clear creek running through the woods behind the bar. Every hole is very unique like a signature hole at another course, if the signature hole had the most trees of any hole on the course.
The course is deceptive and technical. The ability to drive further than 300 ft will not help you AT ALL. Almost every tee shot is blind, and disc placement is key. when you look at the course par in relation to hole length, on hole 4 especially, its easy to say "ha, a 227 ft par 4, puh-leaze!" So did I, but after playing it you will understand that the pars are very justified. The hardest par 3 is Death Valley (hole 3), which is only 177 feet, but plays across the steep wooded hillside, halfway up. By steep I mean its hard to not slide down when you walk, across it, and the only flat landing zone is the basket itself. Awesome!
Nice raised gravel tee boxes, kept level by logs on all sides. Hole signs on the ground are marked on angle-cut slices of log. The whole course is in keeping with the rugged mystique of the bar. Very impressive. Baskets all look brand new, and are clearly numbered in black stencil.
Cons:
Bring long pants and bug spray. The fairly long stuff covering the ground has little pricklers on them, and the bugs are hungry in the woods. The course is well maintained, but with no trimmed fairways. Naturally, this is understandable as it is too heavily wooded to push a mower through, and it would take forever to do it with a weedwhacker. THe trees are thick enough that the underbrush isnt too thick on the "fairways" but the rough is a bit longer.
Other Thoughts:
The holes all are very aptly named, following the Pioneer theme. For example, hole 4 has three routes through the trees to get to the pin, and is aptly named The Good, The Bad, and the Ugly. Admittedly, when I played it I think I got more of the Ugly than the other two, but what can ya do.
I love this course, but like all 9 holer's, wish there was more of it. If the same insane genius who designed the current holes expanded it to 18, it would be like the best christmas present ever.
What a great idea, a fun, challenging course located at & owned by a bar and grill. Awesome. Grab a beer, play this course and you'll understand the true meaning of zen.