Davison, MI

Goldenrod DGC

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3.475(based on 30 reviews)
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2 1
jamesdevin
Experience: 19.8 years 85 played 22 reviews
3.50 star(s)

good course if not flooded 2+ years drive by

Reviewed: Updated: Played on:Sep 5, 2013 Played the course:5+ times

Pros:

water in play on many holes
good variety of holes
mostly wooded
easy to navigate
#11 par 2

Cons:

flooding is possible
some blind tee shots
bugs can be real bad
rubber tee pads

Other Thoughts:

This is a nice course that has a good variety. hole #4 can be flooded if there's a lot of rain. The bugs can be nasty because there is water on many holes, mostly during the summer though. I have always liked this course and will continue to play. I recommend this course if your are looking for something new.
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8 0
donnyv
Experience: 26.8 years 45 played 14 reviews
4.00 star(s)

Fun course most of the year 2+ years

Reviewed: Played on:Apr 20, 2013 Played the course:5+ times

Pros:

Goldenrod is an 18 hole disc golf course located along the Flint River in Davison, Michigan. The land the course is on is DG exclusive and has its own parking area and port-a-johns. The terrain is mostly flat with a few swamps/ponds scattered throughout the area. A few holes play along the banks of the river and a stream. There is a good mix of open & wooded holes, with most having decent lines to the basket.

There are a couple of elevated shots and approaches, with a few tricky greens surrounded by water hazards.

The course is usually in decent shape, but flooding does occur at a couple places in the spring. The front 9 loops back to parking lot before hole 10. There is also a cool alternate tee for hole 18 on top of the hill by the lake.

Some baskets are not visible from the tees, so some scouting might be needed for those unfamiliar with the course. Overall the course is a good challenge for most players with some chances for an ace run here and there.

I'm not an expert on this course, but keep in mind that you'll probably have a better time here if you play it before the spring thaw or you just might want to wait until late summer/early fall to come out. In the spring this place can get wet and soggy, right off the fairways. Don't forget, the skeeters can get bad out there until the place dries up sometime in summer.

Here are a few notable things that stand out about Goldenrod

PROS:

DG Exclusive - You'll get the occasional horse rider or snowmobiler but it's usually just dgr's out there. A patrol car will circle through once in a while to check up on the place but I haven't heard of them busting anyone's chops. There are leagues and tournaments held here year-round.

Good Use of Available Land - The course makes good use of the area. It's not pristine golf course land, but it does have some unique features not found at every DG course. There is some surrounding park land for an expansion or re-design if ever needed. There are several baskets near water or slopes to increase the difficulty/risk.

FREE - No special park pass required to enter or play. This is the only course in the area so it can get busy in the afternoons. Most people I have met there have been very friendly. I've even seen the old lady wearing waders (scouring the ponds) toss your disc back to you if it lands in the water.

Other Things To Do - There is fishing, a BMX complex, an ATV/Off-Road Park, Huckleberry RR & Village, and many other things to do in the area for you or others.

Cons:

CONS:

Course Conditions - As mentioned earlier, your enjoyment will depend on what time of the season you go. There are many spots that get soggy in the spring. The water-level near the ponds are higher in the spring and make you think twice about going for the basket with danger if you overshoot it. All the water breeds our skeeter friends at a rapid rate and bug spray is a must May-August.

Teepads - The rubber pads are not all that bad, but concrete tees would be a welcome sight. I can live with the rubber but some might not care for them.

Lack of Amenities - The course is in a pretty remote area of town. You'll need to stop somewhere before you get there for water, food, discs, etc. While there were two porta-johns there, they weren't the cleanest. Tee signage is also ho-hum but it could be due to past vandalism.

Other Thoughts:

Overall, we usually have a good time here. Your experience will most likely be determined by the time of year you play it. If it's your first time, try to get someone who's played there to guide you around. While I wouldn't consider this course as a destination, it's worth the drive and a must-play during the dry season. I'd rate it a solid 4.0 course on its good days, but I can also see it rated as a 3.0 during the "not so nice" days.
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3 0
apdrvya
Diamond level trusted reviewer
Premium Member
Experience: 13.9 years 350 played 293 reviews
3.50 star(s)

nice exclusive course. 2+ years

Reviewed: Played on:Jan 13, 2014 Played the course:once

Pros:

Aesthetic-- Area is disc golf exclusive. Course has it's own entrance (can be entered from boat launch area) and parking. I'm sure people could use the course as walking trails but I'm not sure.

Routing and nav-- course flows pretty well. maps are available on DGCR and other places.

Baskets-- all there and in good repair. easily visible with orange reflective tape. Not all baskets are visible from tee so scouting may be necessary.

Challenge/variety/risk v reward-- this course will challenge about every portion of your game. long holes, short holes, lefts, rights, water, elevation.. use of water here is a highlight for sure. there a lot of little sink ponds throughout the course that could gobble a disc right quick. The second component is the rough. while not crazy thick, you will be punished for errant throws. there is a bit of elevation here that will challenge the last part of your game.

Teesignage-- in decent repair. a lot of graffiti and other missing pieces but where the poles are complete, maps, par, distances (accurate) and next tee signs are helpful.

Loopage-- course plays in two loops so playing 2 9-hole loops is a nice bonus to only have to play 9 if you want to.

Facilities-- there are plenty of garbage cans and picnic tables on every hole. makes for a nice round when you can rest if needed.

Cons:

Teepads-- we were here in January so it wasn't much of a deal but I hate rubber teepads...

Transitions-- #5-#6 in the winter is like suicide. walking along a small ridge covered in small bamboo plants is tough, add in ice and it's damn near impossible.

Lengths-- there is one hole >400' and the rest are 200-350ish. not a ton of distance but with the thick woods, it's not really surprising.

Other Thoughts:

Overall this course is nice. a few small tweaks could help it be fantastic.
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1 4
CadillacMike
Experience: 41.8 years 7 played 4 reviews
3.50 star(s)

work on pads 2+ years drive by

Reviewed: Played on:Sep 28, 2013 Played the course:5+ times

Pros:

great lay out.

Cons:

work on pads.

not related to course but this web site. a brief review is better than no review. your insistence on content does not necessarily lead to better overall results.

Other Thoughts:

work on pads. think cement
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5 0
bygwyllay
Silver level trusted reviewer
Experience: 16.9 years 93 played 77 reviews
3.50 star(s)

CASS BENTON NORTH 2+ years drive by

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

Pros:

Course has fantastic terrain and plenty of signature looks from the tees. Really great shaping here. A truly rolling terrain on several holes, and while the elevation changes aren't huge, the designers utilized it at every opportunity. I won't bore you with a play-by-play here, but rather run down a few of my favourite holes.

The first three holes cut some wide, worn paths through standard Mid-Michigan forestry. #2 has a deceiving slope following the right side of the fairway, but once you come upon the pin, you realize the drop off isn't that bad. A lot of hidden dangers lurk just outside the rough at Goldenrod, and it was interesting that this once it was actually the opposite - looking dangerous from afar, but truly un-troublesome.

#5 is a spectacularly designed: a small ridge to throw off of, with a narrow strait before you, opening to reveal a twisting, undulating fairway, with a fairly disastrous slope on the right and thick shoal on the left, just beyond which is a drop off to a stagnant pond below. Control over power is valued here, as you want to cut through the strait and drop your disc to set up your approach around the left shoal that blinds your view of the pin. A great technical look with crazy risk/reward - this is one of the best holes at Goldenrod.

#10 and #11 are twin visions to behold. The former is a cutthroat anhyzer through some pretty dense trees, but with plenty of lines to choose from, and good landing spots no matter what your choice. If you can somehow weave your way through and birdie this behemoth, I think it would be equal parts skill and luck that would help you achieve it. Gotta love that type of balance from a hole. The latter of the two is an awesome ace run from atop the biggest hill at Goldenrod, but be wary - if you overshoot here you will be in trouble. Hidden from your view at the tee pad is a steep descent into a riverbed just beyond and to the left of the pin. Use a spotter or you will be searching if you go in. Another great example of Goldenrod's risk/reward factor.

#12 starts a loop around a big bullfrog pond, and the "hidden dangers" abound again. Seems like every time you walk up on your disc, water is glistening in the sun behind the shoal. This loop contains six holes, two of which really stand out. #13 is an insanely narrow and sharp anhyzer with water on both sides. The rough is fairly thick here so I think you're OK in terms of going into the drink, but I would definitely recommend a spotter for this one, probably about halfway down the fairway, so they have a sight line on both the tee and basket. It's seriously like a 75 or 80 degree angle. #16 is the sister hole of #5, although buried in the woods. Two ridges dance up and down, with the pin located atop the one furthest to the right. Multiple lines again exist here, and a huge rollaway is possible if you miss on your approach. A very memorable hole.

#18 finally frees you from the foliage, although there is a patch on your approach. The practice basket has been made into a playoff hole, which is beyond cool! A dirt tee is on the far hill next to a charcoal grill, and creates a nice downhill bomb with a picket fence as your main obstacle, should your round end tied. I wish more courses had this; a great touch!

Cons:

The only con to state here are the tee pads. They are rubber, so slippage is very easy even if they are cleaned off and dry. I could see on a couple of holes that these were actually placed over some older gravel tees. Pretty sure I would've preferred the gravel! We ended up just throwing from the dirt which worked out well. Of course concrete is best, but even if someone just came and removed these it would be an improvement. These terrible tees knock this 4-star course down to a 3.5 for me - little things like this really differentiate the best courses from the rest, and unfortunately Goldenrod's tees knock it down a notch.

I can totally see mosquitoes being a problem here as well, since the majourity of water hazards are indeed stagnant ponds, but with the drought conditions going on this summer, this was a non-issue. Maybe if I played through when they were rampant it would knock another half-disc off of my rating... I could see this course being like Willow in that regard.

Another possible con could be the sameness of the course. It all plays through the same standard set of Mid-Michigan woods, and has a very similar feel to, say, Holly Woods for example. But while the land the course is built on is fairly static, I think the designers did a great job in breaking up the terrain, so no deduction here. In fact, I think this is a PRO rather than a CON for me.

Other Thoughts:

Overall, this is a wonderfully designed course and it's been treated as such. You can tell Goldenrod is really worn in but not destroyed at all. There were plenty of benches and trash cans, and I thought the course was fairly clean. Some of the previous reviews state that it can be very busy, and I can see why. Most of the underbrush is gone and as a result the fairways are mainly dirt, but this does not affect your round at all. Layout is concise and really easy to follow; no chance of skipping a hole or doubling back. What really blew me away were the multitude of lines available on every hole and the overall shaping of the holes themselves. Really, really well designed, and you can tell it is only getting better with age. Very well done, and darn near champion caliber IMO. Recommend Discin'!
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1 3
Alex.Kiras
Experience: 12.1 years 8 played 1 reviews
3.00 star(s)

2+ years drive by

Reviewed: Played on:Jun 24, 2012 Played the course:once

Pros:

The thing I liked the most about this course was the difficulty of it. This is not a good beginner course, there is a lot of places to loose a disc. Regardless of that there were still plenty of challenging shots that really test your imagination.

Cons:

plenty of places to loose discs...

Other Thoughts:

met a few local guys, everyone seemed really nice and helpful. Great course, I'll defiantly be going back.
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3 0
Mac423
Experience: 13 years 15 played 7 reviews
3.50 star(s)

nice course 2+ years drive by

Reviewed: Played on:May 8, 2012 Played the course:2-4 times

Pros:

Nice technical course with serious risk vs. reward on several holes.
Surprised me with how visually appealing the landscape was for central michigan.
The biggest "pro" in my experience here was the people, although the course was VERY busy, and waiting was necessary on many tee's. We joined up with several locals we met on the course, and ended up playing it through 3 times with them. This made course with a high probability of losing a disc MUCH less risky.

Cons:

Water hazards everywhere (this could be a pro if your into scavenging)
Technical course does not favor long drivers.
Some seriously thick rough that will take a few minutes to find a disc in.
A few blind hyzer shots, so use a spotter, and scout holes before throw.

Other Thoughts:

Thanks to Brian and Matt for the rounds, and teaching us the course!
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2 3
Wolfpackdiscs
Experience: 15.8 years 7 played 7 reviews
4.00 star(s)

Bring an extra disc! 2+ years drive by

Reviewed: Played on:Oct 30, 2011 Played the course:5+ times

Pros:

This course will teach you a great lesson about the fairway! If you go off the fairway you may loose your disc. There is wooded and open shots, and a few elevated shots as well. The woods get real tight in the back 9 and add a lot of difficulty.

Cons:

Mosquitoes are bad...REAL BAD in the summer!
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2 3
ton8025
Experience: 15.6 years 8 played 1 reviews
4.00 star(s)

Home Course 2+ years drive by

Reviewed: Played on:Dec 20, 2011 Played the course:5+ times

Pros:

It teaches you how to throw all different types of shots, makes you learn what types of shots to put in your arsenal.

Cons:

Access to water on quite a few holes, and mosquitos are pretty bad during the summer.

Other Thoughts:

I love the course, it tought me how to play so i still play through the bugs, i just wish that people wouldnt mess with things out there, like the teepads and the tee markers, and the nonsense vandalism.
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1 4
Tross
Experience: 15.1 years 3 played 1 reviews
3.50 star(s)

Goldenrod 2+ years drive by

Reviewed: Played on:Sep 22, 2011 Played the course:5+ times

Pros:

Very challenging course but lots of fun. The course teaches you how to throw around, under, and above trees and bushes.

Cons:

Easy place to lose your disc's and lots of mosquitoes so bring bug spray.

Other Thoughts:

I have played this course more times then i can remember.
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4 0
ChargerRacing
Experience: 13.9 years 15 played 7 reviews
3.00 star(s)

Bipolar Course 2+ years drive by

Reviewed: Played on:Aug 22, 2011 Played the course:once

Pros:

- A lot of fun, challenging holes.
- Not a specifically forhand or backhand heavy course. Its well rounded in terms of shot selection.
- Even the short holes, while good birdy ops, were challenging and you had to play them right.
- For the most part a very good balancing of risk and reward.
- I found myself loving the course design most of the time. Most of the holes are very well layed out and use the land extremely well.
- Good, but not overly punishing, use of water.
- Huge picnic area with a practice basket and port-a-johns make the area great for a day trip.

Cons:

- No holes where you can just let loose and throw hard.
- Teepads were rubber mats, which became very slick with any amount of sand / dirt on them, and some were missing.
- Signage was incomplete and, when present, somewhat vague.
- Several holes I absolutely hated. These holes (mainly 1, 14, 15, and 17) seemed like they lacked an actual fairway. They were cluttered with trees with no particular flow, design, or art to where they were placed, which is one of my biggest pet peeves. When a designer does this, players then find themselves just hoping their throw doesn't hit a tree, rather than thinking their way through a hole and choosing a shot strategically.
- The course, while dry when I played, seemed like it could get very swampy.
- If you have bug spray (like I did) the bugs aren't an issue, but if you forget it, they are thick.

Other Thoughts:

This is a course with great potential. Its in a very pretty location that is a decent drive from a population center, so it isn't very crowded. It is very well layed out and fun to play. With the addition of some better (or even complete signs) and the thoughtful removal of some trees on select fairways, this course could easily be a four star course. If you are in the area or within an hour or two and wanting a new course to play I would definitely suggest a round at Goldenrod.
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2 0
LEFTY360
Experience: 15 years 21 played 5 reviews
3.50 star(s)

goldenrod 2+ years drive by

Reviewed: Played on:Aug 11, 2011 Played the course:5+ times

Pros:

good course for all players. nice mix of long and short holes, though heavily wooded. Good use of water hazards. course rewards acuracy more so than power. park is pretty clean and free to play. picnic tables and trash cans are placed near most of the tee pads. exelent course layout aside from the walk from 11 to 12 and 17 to 18.

Cons:

most of the water hazards are stinky stagnant water, can be very frustrating at times. throws not placed in the fairway can easily dissapear into the thick woods or under the leaves on the ground. lots of poison ivy and mosquitoes. course floods in the spring.

Other Thoughts:

overall a good course. bring bug spray. also i think they have enough land to easily accomadate 24 holes.
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2 4
Innovadude
Diamond level trusted reviewer
Experience: 25.8 years 235 played 180 reviews
3.00 star(s)

hidden water 2+ years

Reviewed: Played on:Jul 31, 2011 Played the course:2-4 times

Pros:

- Some good shots
- Lots of interesting water hazards
- Disc Golf only park!

Cons:

- Rubber tees: uneven, some broken or missing, covered in mud and sand.
- Tee signs mostly trashed, some holes could be hard to find.
- Blind shots into rough patches w/random hidden ponds everywhere.

Other Thoughts:

Decent for what it is- lots of poke and pray and random shots, half the holes are fairly decent and not too rough.
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1 0
Discgolf Duncan
Experience: 14.9 years 15 played 5 reviews
3.50 star(s)

My Very First 2+ years drive by

Reviewed: Played on:Jun 21, 2011 Played the course:5+ times

Pros:

-It's a challenging course with lots of areas that call for precision.
-A good mix of long and short holes.
-Lots of tables at the holes to sit and take a break if needed.
-The course is just for disc golf, so no interruptions from park-goers like on a city park course.

Cons:

-Lots of water to lose your disc in.
-Mosquitoes are horrible at all times of the day.
-You may be in the thick woods looking for discs a lot.
-No bathroom or Port-a-John that I've noticed.
-No running water for refills.
-The closest market is a few miles away.

Other Thoughts:

If you ever lose your disc, Harriet the Disc Finder is a great help. She's out there almost every time I go out. If Harriet finds one you lost, she posts it on a board near Hole 1. Just remember to put your name on your discs so she knows who you are. After a few weeks, she sells them so she can have money for her Mid-Summer cook out on the course. She a wonderful and caring lady who just loves to crowds and the sport.
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2 0
AKasprzak
Experience: 7 played 7 reviews
3.50 star(s)

Time for Fun 2+ years drive by

Reviewed: Played on:May 15, 2011 Played the course:5+ times

Pros:

Challenging but fun holes. Great course for all types of players. Clean most of the time. Good for families. A great disc lady that will always call you if she finds your disc

Cons:

Alot of bugs in the spring, because there is alot of water but that what your should expect everywere this time of year. Floods up pritty bad this time of year. missing alot of tee pads but mostly level dirt were they where.

Other Thoughts:

I would recommend this course to all my friends just remember to bring bug spray. We like this course alot and play it offten.
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2 0
somerbuch
Experience: 10 played 6 reviews
3.50 star(s)

Great course, very challenging. 2+ years drive by

Reviewed: Played on:May 15, 2011 Played the course:5+ times

Pros:

This course provides a great challenge for any level of player, not very beginner friendly but i've been playing it since i started and learning on this tough course makes anyone play better on other courses. Not a very confusing layout, never end up throwing the wrong basket like at some courses. Also there are plenty of people willing to go in for your discs, many wont even charge you.

Cons:

Some bad water hazards, a lot of graffiti on the course from local casuals that don't take the game seriously. Also for about a month or two the mosquitoes can get very bad.
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1 6
Jenn
Experience: 3 played 3 reviews
5.00 star(s)

my favorite 2+ years drive by

Reviewed: Played on:Oct 20, 2008 Played the course:5+ times

Pros:

you cannot see any basket except for the one your shooting for because of the trees, and you never have the feeling of which way do we go now, it leads you to the next hole by a path.

Cons:

the water on the back 9 is difficult, better bring 5-10$ in hopes of having it fished out lol.

Other Thoughts:

Its my favorite course and its great for beginners or pros.
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2 0
kw83028
Experience: 13.7 years 79 played 25 reviews
3.00 star(s)

Tough 2+ years

Reviewed: Played on:Sep 1, 2010 Played the course:once

Pros:

Great variety. Have to use many different shots. Tough course. Laid out well. Playing tough courses like this are helping me learn the game quickly.

Cons:

Rubber Tees, Hidden Water Hazards. Luckily I didn't lose a disc on this course. There are quite a few holes with hidden ponds that could easily be hit on an errant or tree shot. There isn't a good map of the course. It would be great to know where some of those water holes are. There is graffiti and trash on the course.

Other Thoughts:

Challenging! Could easily lose a disc in water if you're not straight!
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7 0
BogeyNoMore
Diamond level trusted reviewer
Premium Member
Experience: 19.8 years 479 played 183 reviews
3.50 star(s)

Got control? 2+ years

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

Pros:

Wonderfully challenging and appealing course. Many holes present several interesting lines. Frequently found myself thinking about how to attack some of these holes as far as disc choice and shot execution.
-Good use of moderate terrain changes adds a nice dimension and gives the course some character, but no serious hills.
-I prefer concrete, but the rubber tee pads are long enough for most run-ups. Work best when they're not sandy. You might want to roll up the first few feet to gather most of the sand near the middle so it's easy to sweep off with your foot - leaves the front half of the mat nice and clean for sure footed drives.
-Simple but effective tee markers with distance.
-Laid out pretty well for the most part, but tough to follow in spots (5 to 6, 11 to 12, 17 to 18). Paths from basket to next tee were usually obvious due to wear, but having a course map was a big help my first time out. Apparently, there's a short-cut from 17 to 18 that cuts across the fairway of 11 - buzzed one of the locals on my drive. Comes back to the parking lot between the front and back 9.
-Well maintained - didn't see much trash, and baskets were in good shape.
-Table/bench combination near most tee pads so you don't have to rest your bag on the ground (especially nice if the ground is wet).
-Heavily wooded course means plenty of shade on hot summer days, with a couple of long, open holes where you'll want to grab your max distance driver and let loose.
-Maybe they were on vacation or it was just my lucky day, but I didn't find the bugs to be that bad. Gave myself a few good shots of Deep Woods Off before the first tee, and didn't have much of an issue - expected way worse considering it was around 6PM in mid July.

Cons:

Too bad they didn't make better use of the water here. The water hazards are truly that - hazards. They really don't add to the look or feel of the course. None of the holes here have you throwing across the water, where you can pretty much tell up front if you can or can't clear the hazard. The holes here work around and along-side the water. Overstable shots that get too high and hyzer way out, or undertstable shots that turnover and don't come back can end up in the drink. Another drawback is that the water isn't always obvious from the tee or fairway. It's often lying 20 ft or so beyond the brush that lines the fairway. Hidden water hazards are nothing more than a graveyard for discs and a breeding ground for mosquitoes. KEEP YOUR SHOTS LOW!
- Brush is pretty thick in many areas. Add that to the water hazards ... Risk of Disc Loss: HIGH.
-Lots of low ceilings - not well suited to those who primarily throw overhand.
-Low lying ground holds water and gets pretty muddy in spots, even though it hadn't rained for a few days.

Other Thoughts:

I really liked this course and had a lot of fun playing it- plays well, and is quite inviting. Some will say this is just a maze of tightly turning, wooded fairways and tunnel shots, (can't say they're wrong), but most of the holes stand on their own, and the course never felt monotonous or boring.

Those without good control simply won't fair well here. But there's an element of luck here that can even keep players with precision honest. A few holes feature a pinball machine, where shots can bounce offline, and there are several sloped areas where upshots and putts can stand on end and roll away.

Definitely not beginner friendly.
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1 0
mcnal1sp
Experience: 22 years 7 played 7 reviews
2.50 star(s)

Goldenrod 2+ years drive by

Reviewed: Played on:Jul 10, 2004 Played the course:once

Pros:

The course will definitely help you hone your skills, as you will need to be at your best to make it through the fairways unscathed.

Cons:

This is a very hard course, with lots of trees, blind water hazards, and tons of mosquitoes! Be prepared to lose a few discs.

Other Thoughts:

I've only played this course once, and it was quite a few years ago. The guy I played with lost three discs to bushes and water.
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