Ludington, MI

Mason County Park - Beauty

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3.965(based on 39 reviews)
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Mason County Park - Beauty reviews

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17 0
DFrah
Gold level trusted reviewer
Premium Member
Experience: 6.4 years 300 played 287 reviews
4.00 star(s)

It's a beaut, Mason! 2+ years

Reviewed: Played on:Jul 1, 2022 Played the course:once

Pros:

Beauty is one of three courses on site at Mason County Park near Ludington, MI (the others being Beast and Goliath). The park is located on the slope of the reservoir for a pumped-storage hydroelectric power plant, with Lake Michigan approximately one mile away.

Beauty offers 24 holes of great technical disc golf. Many holes here are in an older growth forest, with tight but fair and varied lines to hit. Several holes are more open to change things up. The fairways are a mix of grass, dirt, and sand. Significant elevation changes are put to good use throughout the course. There aren't any wide open downhill bombs here (if you want that, step across the parking lot to Beast), but plenty of uphill and downhill throws with imposing trees waiting to kick your disc way off the fairway. The distances look easy on paper (ranging from about 175' to 400'), but between the trees and elevation the course still presents a challenge.

A couple noteworthy holes in my book:
- Hole 4 (numbered as hole 3 on the map currently uploaded here) plays 274' downhill along an S-shaped fairway. There is a nice view across an orchard to Lake Michigan from the tee, and a thick wall of trees guarding the approach to the basket.
- Hole 8 is a recent redesign that replaces the hole shown as #7 on the map. This new hole plays 296' down a valley in the woods and part of the way up the other side. The fairway makes a sweeping right turn to a raised basket. The basket location is close to what is shown on the map, but the hole now plays in more of a south-to-north orientation. It's a long walk from the previous hole to get here, but this new hole is worth it.

The baskets are beautiful blue Chainstar Pros - brand new within the last couple years.

The tee signs also look new and are sponsored by Discraft. They are perfect - showing the hole layout, distance, par, and even an elevation profile. As a part of the refresh, the hole numbers have been renumbered 1-24 (previously they were numbered 1-18, with "extra" holes a-f mixed in throughout). I approve of this change - unless "extra" holes can easily be skipped what is the point of labeling them as extra? The tee signs are mounted to posts which are painted red, contrasting with Beast's blue posts and Goliath's green ones.

The tee pads are passable. They are cement, but they vary significantly in size and quality as other reviewers have said. There are a couple of trash cans and benches scattered around. Overall, the tee areas are OK but could use a little refresh to match the quality of the new signs.

There is a picnic shelter at the parking lot which has restrooms and a water bottle filler in it. There is also a large kiosk with maps of all three courses on site, and a mailbox for scorecards (although none were inside when I visited).

Cons:

Beauty does not overlap with the other courses in the park (as Beast and Goliath do with each other), but I still noted a few safety issues. Between holes 20 and 21 you have to walk across hole 24's firing line blind. It doesn't need a redesign but I feel that a warning sign should be put in here. On several other holes, the park drive can come into play and sometimes it's a blind throw. There are a couple of holes where RHBH throwers will want to hyzer their disc out over the road on the right side of the fairway and have it fade back across the fairway to reach baskets tucked in to the left.

Speaking of that park drive, it is only open between Memorial Day and Labor Day. For the rest of the year, the parking lot is inaccessible - since it is located about 3/4 mile into the park, beyond a park gate which is locked. I have to assume the gate is locked due to proximity to the power plant - the viewing platform for this is only open during the summer as well. Fortunately, you can park in another small lot just outside the gate and start your round there (at hole 9) without too much extra walking. It's still very strange and inconvenient though - you'll have to drive to a different parking lot or walk that 3/4 mile if you want to hit Beast/Goliath afterwards.

Navigation is a mixed bag here. Some "Next Tee" signs are present, but a few of them reflect old hole numbering so this is a little confusing. I think the direction of the next tee was also pointed out on the previous tee sign, which I always forget to make mental note of. A few more signs would still have been helpful in a couple of places. It's not a huge issue as the course does flow pretty smoothly.

No practice basket. I was surprised to see this when I visited the park last fall to play Beast and Goliath, and was surprised again when I returned to play Beauty. There is plenty of room for a couple of them.

This course has red painted tee sign poles and blue baskets. Beast has blue painted tee sign poles and red baskets. I know I'm nitpicking, but why not match the colors?

Other Thoughts:

This course costs $1/day to play, which also covers Beast, Goliath, and even several other courses in the Ludington area. That dollar bill can be dropped in a lockbox at the first tee, or that 9th tee near the fall-spring parking lot.

Cell service here can be spotty to nonexistent. Plan accordingly.

If visiting in the summer, be sure to continue down the park drive and check out the overlooks of the pumped storage reservoir, and the plant itself on Lake Michigan!

The wooded northeast section of this course was badly damaged by a storm in late summer 2021, and just reopened this June. I want to give a special shout out to those who worked over the last year or so to bring Beauty back to a playable state! I imagine a little more cleanup is still in the works, but things are in fine shape now. Some of the holes in the damaged area are probably a little bit more open now than they once were, both due to the damage itself and the heavy machinery that was brought in to clear the damage. Nevertheless, these holes are still challenging and interesting.

Beauty is labeled the "beginner" course at Mason County Park, but all disc golfers visiting the park should try it out regardless of skill level. If you finish your round at Beauty and decide you want more challenge, just walk across the parking lot!

In the end, I couldn't decide whether I liked Beauty or Beast more. They are both fantastic courses that are a must-play if you are anywhere near the area. If the Cons I listed were addressed, I could even see myself bumping this Beauty rating up to a 4.5. Come check out Mason County Park - you won't regret it!
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14 0
wolfhaley
Diamond level trusted reviewer
Premium Member
Experience: 20.5 years 1165 played 745 reviews
4.00 star(s)

2+ years

Reviewed: Played on:Jun 7, 2021 Played the course:once

Pros:

The Beauty at Mason County Park is the most beginner friendly, if that's possible, of the 3 courses here. It's the shortest, with only a couple holes over 300'. And definitely the most fun for us noodle armed players.

The baskets are Chainstars that are all in pretty solid shape still and catch decently. Not the greatest baskets but also far from the worst. One pin position per hole.

The tee pads are similar to the other two courses. They're very random in their sizes. Not ideal, but I'd still take these over nothing. One tee pad per hole.

The signs are the same as the other two courses. Very basic. An outline of the state of MI, hole number or letter and the distance. There are tons of next tee signs guiding you throughout the course too.

The flow on this course is definitely the easiest of the 3. You cross the main park road twice, which is marked very well. Other than that navigation is fairly simple.

The Beauty has a great mix of different shots required to score well. There's a good balance of left, right and straight shots here. There's also a great balance of uphill and downhill shots. The majority of the course in the woods, but there are several more open park style holes sprinkled in between.

The course is permanent and only $1 to play all day. The gates for the park are locked from labor day to memorial day. But you can hop onto Beauty if you park by the main gate. Hole B has a kiosk with with scorecards and a pay box. It also has the benefit of not sharing any baskets with another course. A few holes play somewhat close to each other but all around a much safer, less congested course.

Cons:

The tee pads are one of the number one gripes about this course. They're just so inconsistent from hole to hole. You'll have a pretty decent length one on one hole, then the next hole is half the size. No rhyme or reason it seems.

As I mentioned on my reviews for the other two courses, The rough is starting to strangle the fairways in a number of places. You can tell what the hole was supposed to look like back in the day. But with the trees growing in it's made a few holes kind of ridiculous.

The tee signs are practically useless besides the hole number. The distances are mostly similar, but to not have a clue what lane you're ideally wanting to hit, hole after hole, gets old real quick.

Other Thoughts:

I personally liked this one the best of three courses here. It's the combination of tighter technical golf and the shorter distances. It's right up my alley. But the bigger arms may prefer the 2 bigger, more open courses here.

Ludington is a fantastic disc golf destination, and this is one of the reasons why. I would recommend this course to anybody. Advanced to rec players. It's just got that fun factor that not all courses seem to be able to attain. From the beginning to the end. Excellent course.
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2 4
Russell Gore
Experience: 31.4 years 80 played 38 reviews
4.50 star(s)

Beauty is an understatement 2+ years drive by

Reviewed: Played on:Aug 14, 2017 Played the course:once

Pros:

Very technical course that relies on accuracy. Severe elevation changes that test your abilities. Beautiful setting and well maintained and manicured. Greens that can cause runaways.

Cons:

None to speak of.

Other Thoughts:

Even though this is the smallest of the three courses it is no slouch by any means. Better bring your A game or it will run your score up.
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1 2
TeebirdDan
Experience: 21.4 years 90 played 24 reviews
4.00 star(s)

Beauty is just that 2+ years drive by

Reviewed: Played on:Aug 26, 2016 Played the course:5+ times

Pros:

this is the shortest course in Mason county park ,that does not mean it is by any strech of the imagination a easy course . infact you may find a shot or two you did not know you had . its very wooded and the north end of the park is quite beautiful , the whole park has a distinct look to it . no place looks like Mason county park

Cons:

short tee pads,also like others have said do not park in the lot at the northern entrance of the park it is a fairway , i have had to skip this hole before with cars parked there .

Other Thoughts:

if its a really windy day play this one,
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10 0
SmokinJay
Experience: 1 played 1 reviews
4.00 star(s)

As fine a course as you'll find in Michigan 2+ years drive by

Reviewed: Played on:Apr 1, 2017 Played the course:5+ times

Pros:

Good single set of concrete pads and baskets. Pretty straight forward. Doesn't really cross either of the other two courses. Nothing too confusing here. The use of elevation is great. Excellent flight-lines. Course is challenging and technical. 75% of the holes are birdie/par-able by good recreational player with a good throw. Rarely anyone there unless leagues are happening. If that's the case, you can just play one of the other two courses on the property. Course is long enough that there are no 'cheap' or 'easy' holes, but not so tough that you're gonna blow your arm out in a round. Ground is clear enough that you rarely lose discs. Trash cans and some type of seating at most holes. No Water to worry about anywhere. Course stays pretty dry/playable all year round. Theres a few holes with excellent views overlooking Lake Michigan. the 'Arcadia Bluffs' of DG I call it. Not much wasted walking between Baskets and next Tees. Nicely layed out.

Cons:

Its easy to miss holes 10-11 if you're not paying attention. After 9 Basket, you need to follow the trail back towards the road outside the woods. A bigger 'Not This Way' sign between 9 basket and 12 tee would help clear up confusion.

There could be basic hole fairway/flight-path signs or a better map, but unlike the other courses on the property, Beauty is mostly obvious and visible baskets from each tee.

Some might feel some of the tee pads are a little short, a few ending with almost a drop off. Not a real problem, but be aware.

It's 'short' walking-wise by DG standards, but it's hilly. You're gonna get a little workout.

Other Thoughts:

Like all the courses in Mason County, this one is top notch. One of my very favorite courses anywhere. Has about every element that a good course needs. Always the first course in the area I take out of town'rs to. The main gates of Chavez are locked from Labor Day to Memorial day, but they have no issue parking on the side of the road and walking in. DO NOT park on driveway inside first gate. You're literally right in hole 7 fairway and your car will get hit. Park outside the fence on Chauvez. There is security occasionally driving thru or walking emptying cans. They're cool.
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1 4
BKrause3
Experience: 20.4 years 42 played 1 reviews
4.00 star(s)

Great course! 2+ years drive by

Reviewed: Played on:Jul 17, 2015 Played the course:once

Pros:

The Beauty was an excellent course. Well kept, great shots and wonderful views! Few people on the course, which kept the rounds moving quickly.

Cons:

There is no course map posted for any of the 3 courses at Mason County, though the Beauty was the easiest of the 3 to follow.

Other Thoughts:

If you see a guy mowing the lawn, make sure to say "Hi" to him, and let him what a great job he has done with the park!
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7 0
SneakyJedi
Gold level trusted reviewer
Experience: 15.4 years 152 played 84 reviews
4.00 star(s)

Short and Sweet 2+ years

Reviewed: Played on:Jul 15, 2015 Played the course:2-4 times

Pros:

- Great mix of open air and more tightly wooded holes
- Good elevation in both fairways and greens throughout
- Provides decent challenge despite lack of overall length
- Part of a well maintained multi-course complex with good amenities

Cons:

- Concrete tee pads are frequently much too short with occasional drop offs at the ends
- Non-descriptive tee signs provide only the hole number
- No water features
- Navigation can be an issue first time through

Other Thoughts:

Beauty may be labeled as the "Beginner Course" at the Mason County disc golf complex, but don't let that fool you. This course delivers on the fun factor, and still provides decently challenging and technical golf, while allowing players without a long drive to get to the basket.

Beauty strikes a nice balance between more open holes with sporadic trees forcing slight line shaping, and holes in the woods requiring much tighter lines. The majority of the holes are not very long, but the ubiquitous elevation either lengthens the holes while throwing uphill, or gives an otherwise straightforward hole an interesting element with fast or precarious greens.

There is a good mix of left and right turning holes as well, so while you might only be reaching for your higher speed drivers a handful of times throughout the round, you will certainly use a number of different lower speed discs and variety of shots to hit the different lines. There are a lot of fun holes to be had here, and the park is pleasant to walk through, and includes a nice view of Lake Michigan from one tee pad.

Navigation can occasionally be an issue where multiple tee pads are visible from the last basket, and signage has either faded or isn't present. There are also a couple of extra loops that could be missed if you jump to the most obvious next pad. A handful of holes play along or over the road into the park, but traffic is so slight most of the time that this was never an issue.

While the baskets are in good repair and catch well, and benches are usually present, the rest of the equipment leaves a bit to be desired. Many of the tee pads are incredibly short. This is especially an issue at a handful of locations where there is a steep drop off past the end of the pad. While you won't usually need a big run up to to throw max distance, people with longer legs, and those like myself who have trouble throwing from a standstill, might have issues with the lack of real estate at the tee off area.

The tee signs aren't bad, just non-descriptive. If the scorecards and maps are available at hole 1, this isn't much of a problem, but on my last visit there were none available, and there are many blind holes from the tee where a distance and direction to the basket would be helpful.

No water obstacles to worry about here, but that can't be helped and they aren't really needed.

There are bathrooms, water fountains, and picknick tables at a pavilion near the parking lot, as well as a small playground with a slide and swings. As my group finished our most recent round, someone from the park district or other organization interviewed us for about 5 minutes about our experience at the park and thoughts on the amenities. The park is already well maintained, and it looks like whoever is in charge wants to make sure it stays that way.

Beauty is a great place to start your day at the Mason County complex, and $1 a day is a steal.
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14 0
Stardoggy
Diamond level trusted reviewer
Premium Member
Experience: 13.3 years 1038 played 214 reviews
3.50 star(s)

Don't let the name fool ya... 2+ years

Reviewed: Played on:Jul 18, 2014 Played the course:once

Pros:

Really nice 24 hole course set in Mason County park, with two other courses on site.

Nice Discatcher baskets, all in decent repair. All caught reasonably well. One pin position per hole.

Tee signs were adequate, even if rudimentary. Navigation was pretty easy, with the jump to the lettered holes being about the only real issue. Hopping back and forth across the road wasn't a problem.

Concrete tee pads were nice and grippy. There were a few that could use a bit of repair, and they teetered right on the edge of being long enough. One tee per hole.

Nice use of elevation for this course. While there was nothing drastic, it did feel like every other hole effectively used the elevation.

Quite a few of the pin placements were well though out, with roll a ways, shule, and other dangers a possibility. I thought this was the best aspect of this course. A few blind-ish shots, some nice tucked in baskets, etc.

Some open holes, some wooded holes. I loved the variety here. All kinds of different shots, and many of the holes offered several lines to the pin. Even with the shorter distances, most of the holes "felt" longer than the listed footage.

Cons:

One tee, one pin position. I would think this would cut down on the replay factor...but with three courses on site, it might not matter all that much. Some of the tees were a little short.

No water to speak of, which I didn't really seem to mind.

No big bomber holes on this course. Lots of technical golf.

Other Thoughts:

Just a really fun course. Not the toughest thing around, but not easy by any means. One of those places you could score really well on one day, and get your butt kicked the next day.

P2P, $1. A steal, so I won't list this as a con. Plenty of parking, with a pavilion with bathrooms, and a 1972 playground next to it.

To me, this course is the definition of a 3.75...but with the single pin/tee placements, I felt the lower score was warranted. There were some really nice holes, but not that "signature" hole. A little bit of tee pad maintenance would go a long way, as well.

Overall, a really nice course at a facility with a couple other monsters. This place would make an awesome "home course", for sure!
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2 5
Barefooter
Experience: 12.4 years 179 played 17 reviews
4.00 star(s)

Quality golf, I had a lot of fun. 2+ years drive by

Reviewed: Played on:Jul 6, 2014 Played the course:once

Pros:

Fun challenging holes.
intuitive flow.
Classic feel.
Inside a huge park with lots of attractions

Cons:

Poison Ivy, wow, knee socks people, knee socks.

Other Thoughts:

This was coarse 8 on our epic summer vacation.
I really enjoyed the peace and quiet this coarse provided. had to get crowded with 72 holes coming off the same parking lot. I hope to return here someday.
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8 0
Puckstopper
Silver level trusted reviewer
Experience: 23.4 years 36 played 36 reviews
4.00 star(s)

Schizophrenic Beauty 2+ years

Reviewed: Played on:Jul 19, 2014 Played the course:once

Pros:

Tons of elevation changes

Tough, challenging holes that are still fair.

Nice mix of open and wooded holes

Fantastic convenience store nearby with a great selection of beer and discs.

Beautiful scenery as far as the eye can see on most holes

Cons:

Far too many holes play near the road, and one plays over it.

Very basic signs (number only).

Tee pads are of varying lengths and are overall too short.

Park closes at 9,

Other Thoughts:

Beauty is billed as the beginner course at the Mason County complex, but I watched it challenge the skills of a very good Am1 player, so don't feel like you will be bored here regardless of your skill level. Beauty combines uphill, downhill, tunnel shots and hard turning dogleg holes into a fun but challenging 24 hole course. There are a couple holes where you have beautiful views of Lake Michigan in the distance, and many where you are playing though a quiet, peaceful wooded area.

Don't make the mistake of treating Beauty as a warmup for Beast the way I did. The near constant walking up and down hills on Beauty will wear you out long before you reach the great uphill hyzer shot that closes this course out on 18. Beauty may appear short on the scorecard, but will wear you out quickly with the hilly terrain it plays through.

Now, the things that could make this the Beauty you kick to the curb, instead of the one you marry. The tees on this course are poor at best. They vary in length with little rhyme or reason. The shortest is less than 4 feet long, and most are only 5 feet long. Adding to the issue is that several of the tees are not level with the ground in back, preventing an additional run up. While the designers of Beauty may not have felt longer teepads were needed the short pads created an issue for at least 3 players in my group of 6.

The second major issue is the poor signage here. Basically it's just a colored post with a number on it. I'm willing to overlook bad signs at a place like Flip, where the cost comes out of one man's pocket. But Mason County could have a real disc golf destination here with
an investment in better signs and pads.

Also, several of the first few holes play near the road, and the last hole before you head into the woods plays over the main entrance road, so be careful until you get into the woods.

My final complaint (that the park closes before dusk) didn't come into play on Beauty, but did keep us from finishing Beast on the day we played Flip and Beauty.

Overall the Mason County complex could have at least two 5 star courses if they invested a little more in signs and pads. If you need beer or discs be sure to check out Pere Marquette Expeditions. They have a great selection of both, and a nice selection of premium cigars as well.

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10 1
bygwyllay
Silver level trusted reviewer
Experience: 17.5 years 93 played 78 reviews
4.50 star(s)

Killer 2+ years

Reviewed: Played on:Aug 18, 2012 Played the course:once

Pros:

First off, let's just say the Mason County Threesome is the most ridiculous DG complex I've ever seen. The expanse is vast, and almost all of it is exclusive to the game. A long drive connects the road to the main parking area, where all the courses begin. Beauty stands alone, and plays back towards the road. Beast/Goliath head in the opposite direction, and offer a much different experience.

Beauty was my favourite. One of the most natural courses I've played, it was a nice touch to see how well it blended in with the surrounding forest. The first eight holes have you cross the road a couple of times, but this is the only time it takes you out of the element. Great line shaping is required here, making sure you hold true despite the open feel to these beginning holes. My favourite shot was #7, which has you firing over the road and into the woods, where you continue your round. If you don't land your drive just right, you will have a completely blind approach into the forest and will most likely play a safe shot, costing you a stroke.

Deeper and deeper into the pristine woodlands you go, feeling farther away from civilization. Some of the most breathtaking holes exist in here. Beauty is the most naturally scenic course I've had the pleasure to play through. #9 & #12 were my two favourites in here; the former an epic twister and the latter a forked adventure down and up to the pin. #17 is a bouncing trip over waves of land; I could hear Children laughing as they played by the nearby pavilion, adding to the Neverland atmosphere.

I really enjoyed the vignette of holes breaking up 17 & 18; much more technical and cramped, these three holes can really affect the outcome of the round, and are a helluva lead in to #18's massive uphill launch. Unless you've got a sizable lead, no score is safe here. And 18 is a great finisher, tying everything together as you are once more out of the woods. And since you're already half way up the massive hill that Beast begins on, you might as well keep on hikin'! Great setup all the way around.

Cons:

Aside from the short tees, not a damn thing wrong with this place.

Other Thoughts:

The course and hole design are A+ and it was such a great experience. We played Beauty in the AM and Beast in the PM. Like I said to start, Beauty is the best course in the best DG complex in the state. Obviously well maintained; these folks care about upkeep. Thanks for building these! Will definitely be back
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5 0
Iowa420DG
Bronze level trusted reviewer
Experience: 13.7 years 457 played 41 reviews
4.00 star(s)

24 Holes of Bliss 2+ years drive by

Reviewed: Played on:Jul 22, 2012 Played the course:once

Pros:

--The variety of shots that this course requires makes for a constantly entertaining round of disc golf. You will encounter 20+ holes that you've never seen anything like!
-- "Beauty" describes this course well. It is beautiful in scenery, and beautiful in play.
--Hardly anyone was playing on a Saturday afternoon on a beautiful summer day.
--Navigation is easy with the scorecard/maps. You should be able to find them at the course, but you can certainly find them at the DG/convenience store a few miles away - where you turn at the corner of Pere Marquette Hwy and Iris Rd.
--When I played, I had absolutely no qualms with bugs, plants, or navigation. It was a very pleasant first round.
--The rough is maintained, the teepads are in great shape, and the holes are fair.

Cons:

--A few tee pads were too short. Shorter pads kind of throw me off because I'm used to a full run-up regardless of how far I have to toss.
--The park closes at 9

Other Thoughts:

This is my favorite course in the complex. Consider climbing the mountain-like hill (you will see it) to get a breath taking view of the lake and the land.
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2 11
JSquizz
Experience: 13.2 years 16 played 14 reviews
3.00 star(s)

in the eye of the beholder 2+ years drive by

Reviewed: Played on:Jun 27, 2012 Played the course:once

Pros:

1. The area is very picturesque on the whole, I can imagine how pretty he course is when the colors change.

2. It is short, but not at all easy...and a workout to navigate.

3. Baskets are in good condition.

4. Offers a variety of elevation changes throughout.

Cons:

1. The holes out of the woods are boring. The "Beauty" does not start until seven deep in the round.

2. I was shocked at how many times I had to cross the enterance road both to get to another hole or to play one. Rather absurd, and knocks this course down a full point because of it.

3. Good luck with a run up...the tees are mostly four to five feet long.

Other Thoughts:

This seems like a case of trying to fit too many holes into a small area. I would cut out the first six or seven, and shorten the holes you need to throw across a road. This course did not give me the impetus to drive back up and play the other two, as I wonder if the design flaws are present on the other two as well. That being said, it had some of the most appealing woods holes I have encountered.
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7 0
jhgonzo
Gold level trusted reviewer
Experience: 26.4 years 92 played 46 reviews
4.00 star(s)

Beauty Is In the Eye of the Axis-Holder 2+ years drive by

Reviewed: Played on:May 26, 2012 Played the course:2-4 times

Pros:

1. Variety. While this is the "easiest" and shortest of the three layouts at this multi-course complex, don't let the name fool you; this is no beginner course, and even advanced players could find some enjoyment out of a round here (although Beast and Goliath are far better tailored to anyone intermediate or above). A variety of wooded and open holes lead you through some of the park's gentler topography, but you'll encounter quite a bit of elevation and should find yourself throwing many different shots. Being so near Lake Michigan, wind is also a near-constant feature on this course, and a frustrating feature at that (though definitely not a con!). Being from the Lake Michigan coast in Wisconsin, I felt like I was playing the Michigan version of a Silver Creek/Vollrath hybrid (which to people unfamiliar with those courses means I had a TON of fun here)! Many holes had various routes to the pin, which only adds to the fun factor when you're playing in a group here since you'll probably see people take the lines you missed or didn't see. Some great scenery on this course also, although the most spectacular views and elevation are reserved for the Beast/Goliath courses.
2. Maintenance. The county presumably takes care of a lot of the upkeep here, but the MCDGO is obviously very heavily involved. I got to experience this course during the 2012 AJ Open (my wife and I were traveling and decided to enter this tourney at the last minute rather than "play around" the event schedule, and I'm glad we did!) and it was in top-notch shape, but I understand that's pretty much the norm out here. Players seem pretty mindful of using the trash cans, and I'm sure the Michigan bottle deposit plays a role in keeping broken glass and plastic bottle litter to a minimum.
3. Pay to play. All of the Mason County courses, as well as Flip City, are a measly dollar (that's right, $1) per person per round. Even at this bargain, people still complain and/or refuse to pay ("disc golf should always be free" mentality, as well as just inconsiderate jackasses), but I guess those folks are everywhere. Pity. There's an honor system of "checking in" where you put your money in an envelope and sign it, and then during your round you may be subject to spot checks to verify that you have indeed paid (with the punishment of being kicked off for a year if you're caught sneaking).
4. Multiple courses on site. Two awesome 24-hole layouts (Beauty and Beast), as well as a very challenging reverse course (Goliath, which is Beast played backwards from unique tees) make this a disc golf destination, and with Leviathan a few miles up the road, the fun Scottville course nearby, and Flip City within a half-hour drive, you'd be advised to rent a house or camp somewhere and make a little disc golf vacation here (which is precisely what my wife and I did)!
5. Tee signs. New colorful signs have been added to all of the Ludington courses (including Leviathan). Beauty features red signs, Beast has blue, and Goliath has black. The signs have no depiction of hole layout, but feature the "mitten" of Michigan with the hole number and distance.
6. Tees. Nice concrete tees on all 24 holes. Some inconsistencies in sizes, but overall they were installed properly and level.
7. Baskets. I seem to remember Chainstars out here, although the course page lists DISCatchers. Whatever they were, they were all installed properly and still in pretty good shape.
8. Amenities. This large park is pretty dedicated to disc golf, but there is a playground, some picnic areas, restrooms at the pavilion, multiple parking lots (you may want to utilize different lots as a local depending on when you play, which course you're playing, and where you decide to hop on the course), and I believe dispensers for scorecards/course maps near the check-in. I highly recommend stopping at the Pere Marquette Expeditions supply store on the way in - great microbrew selection, as well as discs or whatever else you might need!
9. Navigation. Although I had the benefit of playing in a tournament, the course map and paths made getting through the course a breeze. It seems to be a very popular course, so anyone who finds themselves questioning where to go will probably be able to find locals to help.

Cons:

1. Design. Overall the holes are very short and averaged under 250' (I was throwing either my Axis or Rhyno for most tee shots), although the shot-shaping required keeps things interesting and it never really gets bland. One area of repetition I felt needed mentioning was three nearly identical holes - #11, #A, and #18, all a RHBH hyzer to a pin on a mound, although the holes all played different lengths and different heights, so again they weren't super-repetitive, and were fortunately broken up by other holes. The RHBH hyzer required on #5 is not impossible to execute, but may be seen as an unfair requirement off the tee by some.
2. Litter. I know I mentioned the cleanliness in the pros above, but this is worth mentioning - cigarette butts. Even during a sanctioned event with players who seemed to know their PDGA rulebooks, I observed countless players (from rec divisions up through open!) disposing of butts not on the ground, but IN it...the predominantly sandy soil in Western Michigan is apparently viewed as a large ashtray, and players tended to make a little hole with their foot, dump the butt, and then cover it up, as if this negated the "litter effect." Now, I'm aware that this is not "the norm" and that many Michigan golfers are respectful folks who don't litter, but I felt it was worth noting since even in the rec divisions I've played in Wisconsin, people KNOW that if you drop even a butt on the ground, you can be DQ'd.
3. Safety issues. These are minor, but cons nonetheless. Many holes play near roads (and one plays OVER a main entrance road), but with disc golf awareness being so high out here, it didn't seem to be a negative for the non-discers; in fact, there were people out for walks who would stop to watch people play a hole, occasionally cheering or asking questions. One other area of concern is crossing the tee area for #18 on your way from #17 to the #D-F loop. After playing a round or two out here it wouldn't be an issue, but the unassuming passerby or first-timer could potentially wander into someone's tee shot (and with #18 favoring a big RHBH hyzer to the pin on the hill, drives will more than likely be starting out more to the right, where the path first exits).

Other Thoughts:

Mason County is a true Midwest DG Destination, up there with the Highbridge complex, Lemon Lake and possibly even Charlotte (I have yet to experience the latter two)! With 3 excellent courses here (I didn't even have time and/or the balls to tackle Goliath on this trip, but will definitely be back!) in addition to Leviathan a few miles away (which plays like 3 separate courses IMO), Flip City, and a brand new course that will rival all of them in the works at a nearby community college, as well as a few "okay" courses, plan a vacation here and plan to have a BLAST! The nearby state park makes a great side trip with some spectacular dunes and views of the Lake, and the entire city is very "touristy" and full of friendly people and lots of activities or just a chance to relax and soak in some great sunsets.

If you're coming from Wisconsin, plan a trip across on the S.S. Badger, which leaves from Manitowoc and lands right here in Ludington! And to all the disc golfers in Western Michigan, hop on the S.S. Badger and come check out our lakeside courses...we've got Silver Creek, Winter Park, and Rollin Ridge all within reasonable distance from port, and I guarantee you our locals are just as friendly!
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6 0
sgamerp
Gold level trusted reviewer
Experience: 16.6 years 103 played 73 reviews
4.00 star(s)

2+ years

Reviewed: Played on:May 26, 2012 Played the course:2-4 times

Pros:

Beauty is the easiest of the Mason County Parks.
-Signs, they show the footage to the holes and are very nice looking.
-Teepads, they are nice and cement.
-Baskets - Nice with two rows of chains to catch the discs.
-Shot Variations. There is a lot of shots on this, a little bit for everyone. A lot of it's more short and technical, with good basket placement.
-Benches have been added to a lot of holes (from what a bunch of people had said) and also seemed to have trash cans almost every 3ish holes(better then some of the others)

Cons:

-Throwing over the Road. There are a few holes that you throw over the road, scary to do sometimes and can make for a wait as cars will come by and people with dogs.
-Teepads , although they are there some of them are kind of short and can be covered in dirt.

-There is no service here, or anywhere near it.(atleast for verizon)

Other Thoughts:

When I played this I had played it in a tourney(played doubles before had which also had the map on the score card) I never grabbed one of the score cards they had to check out, but this made it really easy to find your way around and see the holes. They do have a few blind shots, so grab a card.

It's pay to play but 1 dollar should never be to much for anyone here. it's defiantly worth it.

If you are looking for a place to stay the Mason County Camp Ground is about a 2 mile drive to the park. We stayed in the cabins and they fit four grown men on beds with a picnic table for about 13 bucks a person.
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7 0
mykeg44
Silver level trusted reviewer
Experience: 15.4 years 72 played 45 reviews
4.00 star(s)

2+ years drive by

Reviewed: Played on:May 29, 2011 Played the course:once

Pros:

Beauty is an excellent course with a more wooded feel than the other two courses at Mason County Park.

While this is the shortest course, I wouldn't call this course short. You'll need your driver on several holes, especially at the beginning of the course. Once you move into the woods you'll need to tighten up your tee shots and disc down to score well. I was thowing Rocs off the tee for almost every shot in the woods.

RHBH players have a couple ace runs if you can control your hyzer, but there isn't a lot of favoritism aside from that. You will need to throw straight, right, and left to score well.

Just like the other two courses, the variety here is awesome, . There is elevation, blind tee shots, protected baskets, and small windows to hit off the tee. I usually prefer a course with more distance, but I had a blast playing Beauty.

The tee pads and baskets were all in good shape.

Cons:

The biggest problem with Beauty is the confusing signage once you move into the woods. Some of the tee signs are either too worn to read or just mislabeled. There are next tee signs on the first seven or eight holes, but as you move into the woods they are fewer and farther between. The navigation itself is pretty easy, but the poor signage makes for a lot of confusion.

As I mentioned in my Pros, there is not a lot of distance required off the tee once you move into the woods. Players who rely on distance off the tee to score well will struggle here, but players who favor a more technical course will thrive here. This isn't as much of a a con, as it is the inherent nature of the course.

Honestly, there isn't a lot to complain about here besides the poor signage. If the tee signs were upgraded, I would rate this as a 4.5.

Other Thoughts:

I played this course first before moving on to Beast, then Goliath. If you're trying to take on all 3 courses on the same day, Beauty is a nice warm up since there is less physical distance to travel and you won't wear out your arm.
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4 0
jarnson
Experience: 14.4 years 27 played 27 reviews
4.00 star(s)

The Beauty of the Three 2+ years drive by

Reviewed: Played on:May 27, 2011 Played the course:2-4 times

Pros:

- Good 24 hole course, mostly situated in the trees and brush, a few outside (roughly 8+)
- Variety of challenges
>High, low and medium terrain
>Condensed, breathing room and wide open
>Way left, way right and straight
- 2nd and 6th (blind ACE, has happened) very possible ACE holes, try it out :)
- Using drivers will work on some holes, but is overall a mid-range course
- Some tough putts
- Some benches, trash cans on every hole along with signs on every hole.

Cons:

- Very dense brush, losing discs is a almost guarantee (bring visible discs)
- Smoking and beer allowed, so if this bugs you, beware
- No phone reception in park (so make necessary calls before entering)
* Overall, not really any cons on the actual course

Other Thoughts:

- Does have bathrooms, which are pretty clean, and sinks/soap/etc.
- $1 optional (might as well pay it, its a beautiful course! and would like to keep it nice, the guys keep it up with cleaning trash)

*NOTES: When you get to the last four holes, you will cross the 18th/24 (if your counting all by number) and then take the RIGHT path, and it loops back to the 18th
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6 0
bjreagh
Diamond level trusted reviewer
Experience: 28.2 years 353 played 321 reviews
3.50 star(s)

2+ years

Reviewed: Played on:Jun 8, 2010 Played the course:once

Pros:

The Complex- Beauty is one of 3 courses at the Mason County disc golf complex (Beauty, Beast, and Goliath). The courses are spread over a generous and gorgeous piece of land near Lake Michigan that contain hole styles in all combinations of 1) flat, up, and down; 2) varying degrees of open to densely wooded; 3) left, straight, and right; 4) long, medium, and short. The courses all begin at the same large parking lot. The 3 courses themselves are at different levels so that everyone will have a course suited for them if you had to pick one. However, the courses also complement each other well, to give you a very well-rounded overall experience if you do play multiple courses (recommended). At the parking lot is a covered picnic pavilion with really nice restrooms. The pay-to-play boxes are conveniently located next to hole 1, and at only $1 day to play it is easily worth that price. The courses didn't appear to see a high volume of disc golfers, so if you are looking to get away from the over-crowded big city courses, this is a great place to come.

The Course- Beauty itself is the shortest and easiest of the courses here, but by no means is it simple, easy, and boring. (In fact, it ended up being my favorite because of the accuracy it demanded.) The distance of the holes allows just about all skill levels to enjoy their round, but what it lacks in distance it makes up in technical accuracy. Beauty offers many birdie chances and a few ace runs. Many of the holes play in denser woods than the rest of the complex, where fairways are tight, but there is always a realistic path from tee to hole. Elevation is a factor on many holes as well.

Cons:

The Course- I expected to find better tees, signs, and baskets at a place this (i.e. Lemon Lake), but unfortunately the baskets are showing age, some of the tees in the woods are rubber mats, and the signs definitely need to be improved. Especially around the part where you get to the lettered holes, it seemed to get a little confusing, and I am not even sure we ended up playing all the holes. I am usually not a fan of changing a course from 18 to 24 or 27 if the result is the flow and layout become confusing and unnatural. And why not renumber the holes from 1-24 instead of inserting a letter hole here and there?

There is decent variety in the holes, but not an excellent mix. Once you get in the woods, you are there for a while, where I prefer to mix it up from open to woods more. The entrance road runs alongside the course and you actually have to play over it, which to me seems like a bad idea, but we never saw another car, so maybe it is never an issue.

The Complex- The courses did not appear to get top priority maintenance, which is unfortunate considering the potential for having a truly special disc golf experience here. Navigation was not too much of a problem, but things like more informative tee signs, other signs along the way, and a course map would have been beneficial and would have improved the overall experience. The parking lot also looked old, and the pay-to-play boxes were dented and rusted. Sadly, the overall appearance was one of neglect. We played in mid-summer and only saw one other group here the entire day.

It is odd that the courses lie between Lake Michigan and the big Reservoir that towers over the course, yet there are no water hazards anywhere ("Water, water everywhere and not a drop to throw a disc over/in!") The reservoir itself is kind of ominous looking as we thought it was a prison because of steep walls, barbed wire fences, multiple watch towers, and warning signs to keep out. (Found out later looking at satellite images that is was water, not a prison!!! During our round a siren horn went off, making us think a convict had escaped, but it was just the signal that they were about to let water out of the dam into Lake Michigan!!!)

Other Thoughts:

The Complex- Don't let the names fool you. Beast is not scary, stupid difficult; and Beauty is not super-lame easy! Both are quality courses that will challenge everyone. Obviously having 3 course layouts on site in one area is a big bonus. Plan to spend the day here. These courses, along with Flip City and Leviathan also in the area make this one of the top DG destinations in the country.

The Course- This is a tough course to rate, because the holes are excellent and it gets bonus points for not being the only course here. However, no maps, poor signs, and the overall layout keep this from being an elite course. I give it a strong 3.5 (Very Good).
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8 1
Dave242
Gold level trusted reviewer
Experience: 30.4 years 394 played 276 reviews
3.50 star(s)

B+ = Beauty plus! 2+ years

Reviewed: Played on:Jul 10, 2010 Played the course:once

Pros:

What I personally like and how this course stacks up in my list of 18 (and more) hole courses (over 180 played):

1) Holes with good risk/reward. Fair, but harsh punishment for bad decisions or execution. == B
(There are quite a few wooded holes on this course (6-7) that are quite good at making you take some time planning your shot - including which route to take, line within that route, and disc to use to accomplish that route. And then there is the execution on those holes.....and the punishment for failing to execute. Unlike the other courses in the park, Beauty has some "early trouble" on some holes.....meaning you mess up bad, you get knocked down early, and there is a good chance your birdie run turns into a bogey 4. Other than 1-2 holes, this is accomplished without being so punitive that it could be considered fluky. There is a little less of this early trouble testing my accuracy than I prefer, but still pretty good.)

2) Holes that have rewarding birdie opportunities for me (I rate only from the long tees). I'm a Blue level player (950ish skill) who throws 300' accurately, 360' max. == B-
(With 10 holes under 200' and another 4 under 250' there is less reward for birdies based on length alone than makes for full on exhilaration. Several of these short holes however, have a good length/width ratio to add some spice and make them more fun/rewarding. About 9-10 (half a course's worth) are the type that fit my skill and preference, and a good thing is that there is only 1 hole that is too long to ever expect a birdie....and therefore a little boring....although the shape and narrowness of #12 keeps it interesting.)

3) More wooded than open - lots of variety of shots required caused by hole shape and topography == B
(The good split fairway holes (one kind of "thinking man's holes") mentioned in point 1 are nicely counterbalanced by the other holes; the majority of which are pretty open where you can just wing it, and then 2-3 that are tunnel shots that demand execution.....or be executed. Nothing is too crazy in the creativity required to navigate Beauty, but there is a very nice variety of different kinds of left- and right-turning holes (and straight). And, although the terrain is not extreme, the design makes very good use of playing up, down and across it.)

4) Natural beauty (Appalachian beauty preferred) and seclusion. == A
(As the course name tells you, this is really where this course shines the most in my opinion. Unlike Beast and Goliath, this course is not played along the road as much and the monster dam (a looming unnatural giant) is not in view too much. There is also the beautiful hardwood forest on one side of the course, balanced out by the more grassy and coniferous other side. Seclusion is really very nice on over half the course. If it were not for the park road cutting through the middle of the course, this Beauty would have an A+ for its beauty in my book.)

5) Bonus points for multi-throw holes with defined landing zones, good risk/reward and multiple options to play them. == NA....0 bonus points for this
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10 0
ArcheType
Bronze level trusted reviewer
Experience: 14.5 years 38 played 25 reviews
4.00 star(s)

I met my Beauty in MI 2+ years drive by

Reviewed: Played on:Dec 14, 2010 Played the course:once

Pros:

-While this is the easiest of the other Mason County courses, Beauty is no pitch and putt. This is a fun course, with tons of diversity in its shots. You'll need pretty much every type of shot on these holes, even if they are all around 300'.

-This course makes excellent use of all the elevation available to it. Uphill, downhill, and cross valley holes are plentiful and excellently used.

-This course had adequate signs, and trash cans at almost every hole. Mason County also has an actual playground on site, and a very nice pavilion with bathrooms. This is a new one for dg courses.

-This course has enough rough to punish bad shots, without the real chance to swallow up a disc.

-The park belonging to Mason County is so pretty and scenic. If I were to play this course again I'd certainly bring a camera.

Cons:

-The concrete tees are good most of the time, but some are narrow and pretty short.

-The signs here could use some work, especially with showing hole layout for easier navigation. Including a course map with the scorecards could definitely remedy this.

Other Thoughts:

While this course is within the reach of beginners, every level of player would still find this course enjoyable. Its got enough shot variety to prove entertaining to everyone. If you're in the area, you have to come to Mason County, and Beauty shouldn't be neglected.
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