Pros:
- Whitehall, public but with many of the trappings of a top-notch private course, provides 27 holes of solid discin' set in moderately forested, moderately hilly terrain. Pines, both mature and young, mix with various deciduous trees throughout. Schule is minimal to non-existant: although the trees are numerous enough to create awesomely tight holes, little to no undergrowth impedes the round. The course is largley clear of the debris of fallen limbs, etc. giving the course a very clean and neatly groomed appearance. The park space seemed wholly disc golf dedicated. Distances vary from 187- 650'.
- Whitehall is comprised of three separate nine hole "loops," with each "loop" ending back at the parking lot. As one enters the park, the front nine is on the right with both the back nine and "Deep Nine" to the left.
- Elevation and vegetation are used to full potential. No major elevation changes, but enough throughout to keep the fun factor high. The fairways, defined by trees, are fair and spacious in places, but tight enough in others to be considered extremely technical, especially as the course progresses. Many holes offer multiple routes. Deep #2 goes so far as to have a dual tee and dual fairway, each route offering its own unique set of risk/reward.
- Amenities, details, upkeep and grooming. The people taking care of Whitehall are ahead of the curve. Besides the basics of deeply brushed, level, wide, long, grippy concrete tees (on the pros), descriptive and consistant signage, and solid baskets, Whitehall one-ups most other courses with brooms, patio furniture or benches, cans for cigarette butts, and large plastic trash barrels on most holes. Port-a-john in the parking lot. Chill spots, wooden indian statues, guardian frogs, defaced maiden statues and twin pink horses dot parts of the Deep Nine.
Cons:
- #4's am tee was basically a pile of broken glass, the only part of the course to suffer any such treatment.
- Someone defaced a few of the maiden statues, albeit in a grudgingly humorous manner.
- The am and Deep Nine tees are above-average natural dirt tees, although I'd hesitate to consider this much of a drawback.
Other Thoughts:
- A touch repetitive in places, in that you're getting a bunch of really awesome variations on the same theme, more or less. Personally, I could play Whitehall all day every day, but I prefer tightly wooded technical holes over bomber style courses. I do wish more of the course was like D6, easily the signature hole.
- Twenty-seven holes of Goodness. God Bless America for Michigan Disc Golf!