Rochester Hills, MI

Grizzly Oaks - Old Layout

3.325(based on 22 reviews)
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2 1
Michael.Christian
Experience: 29.8 years 53 played 2 reviews
3.00 star(s)

Wooded Course on OU Campus 2+ years drive by

Reviewed: Played on:May 7, 2013 Played the course:5+ times

Pros:

Good layout; well thoughtout and challenging for a course of moderate size. Bucalic setting and deer populate the course throughout.

Cons:

With exception to early spring and early fall, the rough is very rough. Although the fairways are well maintained, one foot or two off the path and one is in for ripped up legs and ankles. There is also some poison oak or ivy among the rough which annually presents an issue.
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1 1
edcarpus
Experience: 25.8 years 38 played 3 reviews
3.00 star(s)

Hmmm 2+ years drive by

Reviewed: Played on:Jul 29, 2012 Played the course:5+ times

Pros:

Interesting use of slight elevation changes and open areas

Cons:

ROUGH rough and lots of blind holes. Not friendly for the first few times you play it, really need to learn the course.

Other Thoughts:

Can never seem to shoot as well here as I feel that I should.
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1 1
Thomas437
Experience: 3 played 3 reviews
3.50 star(s)

2+ years drive by

Reviewed: Played on:Jan 25, 2012 Played the course:5+ times

Pros:

Lots of different shots
Hidden on campus
Overall fun to play

Cons:

Like said before construction has changed the course. Holes 1 and 18 have been shortened to make them significantly easier.

Other Thoughts:

The tee pads are rubber and can become slick with rain or dew, plus they are on wooden boxes to keep them level but some have drop downs at the end of them
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1 2
Diesel
Experience: 14.7 years 1 played 1 reviews
4.00 star(s)

Good 2+ years drive by

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

Pros:

Uses lots of different shots. You dont have to pay to play. Course is maintained well. Low traffic on course most of the time.

Cons:

College kids vandalize trash cans, tables and trees with paint. Tee pads get sandy.

Other Thoughts:

I really like this course and it is pretty challenging for an 18 hole course and every hole is put together great.
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2 0
Aceswild
Experience: 32.7 years 5 played 4 reviews
2.50 star(s)

Good College Course 2+ years drive by

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

Pros:

This course hidden away on the campus of Oakland University provides an interesting variety of shots in both open and moderately wooded setting.

Cons:

Temporary construction has made a mess of the area surrounding the course. Navigating from one hole to the next can be a little perplexing at times. Many of the shots require a little scouting ahead to find the chains. A little too many blind shots, but not so much as to ruin the round. Overgrowth does seem to be a problem on few holes especially in the back nine.

Other Thoughts:

I wouldn't make the trip just for this course, but if you're stuck on campus with a couple hours or so to kill, this course will meet your needs. Reminder campus police are a very visible presence: No alcohol, smoking, or concealed carry on campus.
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2 0
kw83028
Experience: 13.7 years 79 played 25 reviews
3.50 star(s)

Nice Course 2+ years

Reviewed: Played on:Sep 13, 2010 Played the course:once

Pros:

I liked this course a lot. It has a decent variety of shots, decent layout, and overall a good experience. I think the course would be pretty easy for those that are more experienced. I'm a noob and found it to be great for beginners. There isn't really and very tough shots to make, but has just enough challenge to make it fun.

Cons:

--Tee pads are rubber and are slippery when sand is on them.
--Signage would be very very helpful here. They only have small painted rocks. Some holes are not so obvious where to go next.

Other Thoughts:

I actually had a great time on this course. Like I said, I only have maybe 10 rounds under my belt and it felt like a good course for a beginner, and a nice relaxing course for the more experienced. We even saw a deer out there that let us get within 15 feet of it, so that was pretty cool too.
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3 0
thsmchnkllsfcsts
Experience: 1 played 1 reviews
3.00 star(s)

Solid Suburban Course 2+ years drive by

Reviewed: Played on:Jul 30, 2010 Played the course:5+ times

Pros:

My new home course...good location in Rochester / Auburn Hills right by I-75, etc. Play a quick 9 to warm up your short game at Civic Center across Squirrel Road beforehand.

Light traffic...especially compared to nearby FireFighters park in Troy.

Lots of wildlife and wildflowers.

Good course diversity as mentioned, fields, woods, trees, open fairways, etc. Several birdie holes even for shorter-armed throwers. No water hazards.

Cons:

This is a con for me...this course seems majorly skewed to favor left handers, whose shots fade to the right. As a righty forehand S thrower, it's a real challenge to get my disc going right and to stay that way. I've gotten used to it though after playing the course a lot.

The rough is ROUGH in the summer, quite buggy and thick trees. Use bright colors.

Teepads are shorter than average, if you have a long run-up to drive you'll have to adjust.

No smoking and no alcohol signs posted, though i've never seen these rules enforced, OU Police are know to be vigilant and unreasonable.

Other Thoughts:

Good course, a lot of fun and challenging for most players.
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6 0
bygwyllay
Silver level trusted reviewer
Experience: 16.9 years 93 played 77 reviews
2.50 star(s)

Play-in game 2+ years drive by

Reviewed: Played on:Jun 15, 2010 Played the course:once

Pros:

OK signage; painted rocks w/hole # and distance. The best were the smaller rocks pointing you to the next tee on some confusing walks between holes.

Trash cans for litter and as a result a very clean course. Very well maintained by campus grounds.

Some very interesting shots spattered throughout - a 90 degree hook left downhill on the back nine, a long roller on the front.

Great lines on almost every hole make your good drives look GREAT. Free for everyone!

Cons:

Tee pads - Wooden boxes with rubber toppers covered with sand. VERY slippery and that's not something you need to be thinking about when planning your drive. I think even just the wooden boxes would be better than what's currently there.

Close placement of holes (especially on the front nine) have you in danger of flying discs. I had one come through a patch of trees and whiz by my head, and i was maybe ten feet off of the fairway.

The holes zig-zag so you just feel like you're walking back and forth over the same piece of land. You can see the following hole's basket from your current hole's teebox. This occurs only on the front nine; the back is layed out much nicer. Rough rough on a few holes (back 9) can have you digging.

Construction around course and you park next to the site, so dust is flying in and this can affect you especially on the first and last holes, nearest to the lot. This of course is a temporary inconvenience.

Other Thoughts:

Decent/Typical course so I gave it 2.5 rating. Nothing to fall in love with, but nothing to spit at, either.

Overall, I came away with a very disjointed feeling about Grizzly Oaks. The front at back nine are almost completely different, affecting the overall flow of the course. You've heard the term "a collection of songs, rather than an album"? Well this is a collection of holes, rather than a course.

While the layout varied, the overall look of the course was very static, like someone just took a brush cutter and carved some lanes out of a sprawling field.

I would play this course again, and invite you to as well. Not too shabby.
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1 5
puzzle
Experience: 1 played 1 reviews
2.00 star(s)

unkempt 2+ years drive by

Reviewed: Played on:Jun 12, 2010 Played the course:once

Pros:

Good variation of hole length. Nice changes of elevation.

Cons:

Thick heavy grass everywhere. Nothing was mowed as seen in previous pictures. Not real well marked. Distances only occasionally present. No map posted anywhere.

Other Thoughts:

I have seen pictures of the place when it has had some grooming and it looks like a blast. I wouldn't go back here unless I learned that the place had been trimmed.
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6 0
DirtyMittenDG
Gold level trusted reviewer
Experience: 19.9 years 112 played 55 reviews
3.00 star(s)

Golden Grizzly 2+ years drive by

Reviewed: Played on:Apr 30, 2010 Played the course:5+ times

Pros:

--What I like most about this course is how deceiving every hole is. There's a lot of baskets insight from the tee that look closer or farther than they really are.

--I also give credit to the designer for making the back nine much more different than the front nine. The course starts off in a mostly open area with just enough trees and shrubs to alter your lines, with a good mix of long and short holes. The back half of the course uses more woods and elevation, making a couple really cool holes.

Cons:

--What I dislike most about this course is the extremely slippery tee pads. They're big rubber pads that get very sandy and can make you fall if your not careful. When I play here I step to the side, because if I put all my weight into the throw I will slip on these tees.

--A few of the holes on the front half are a little bland and could have probably been better. And the front nine seems a little clustered. Stray discs land in other holes fairways all the time, so there's a chance someone could get hit.

--Also there's a couple holes that really need a few trees cut down for how long they are.

Other Thoughts:

--For the most part this is a good course, definitely good to have in the area. If you were driving through the area on I-75 and had to choose between this course or Firefighters, I would say stop here.
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6 0
Innovadude
Diamond level trusted reviewer
Experience: 25.8 years 235 played 180 reviews
3.50 star(s)

2+ years

Reviewed: Played on:May 15, 2010 Played the course:once

Pros:

- Ample and free parking, open to public, trash cans, porta-johns, message board.
- Good solid design save for a couple holes, well balanced shot variety, only lacking in short straight shots (too many at other courses anyways).
- Hilly, nice terrain screams put disc golf course here.
- While the rough is pretty thick, poison ivy and thorns are not a serious issue!
- Tournament level layout can be tough and challenging but easy enough that score-variation should be fairly large here.
- Practice basket/field

Cons:

- Navigation: Finding the course and the first tee is not that hard, but the tee signs are just rocks, some with the info. rubbed off already. Maybe half the holes need to be walked first to figure out where you are throwing to, so first time out it will be a long round. Hole #4 is hard to figure out as there are arrows pointing right but they are NOT for disc golf, as the basket is straight ahead, confusing.
- Construction of the campus left a nasty dirt trail and fence across #1/the walk to the tee.
- Hole #10/11- #10 seems kind of thrown in, unfinished, blind turnover into narrow/non-existent fairway with best shot being punching through with luck. #11 seems like someone carved a new, unplanned fairway down the left side making the hole much easier, and pointless, then it should have been/was planned to be.

Other Thoughts:

My 1,074th course played
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4 0
Rupert M
Experience: 26 years 92 played 22 reviews
3.00 star(s)

A rookie with great upside... 2+ years drive by

Reviewed: Updated: Played on:Mar 21, 2010 Played the course:2-4 times

Pros:

Great use of elevation. Lots of uphill and downhill shots. Well defined fairways with trees and bushes scattered about. Very nice baskets marked with hole #. Plenty of long, bomber type holes mixed up with some nice ace runs. Shooting under-par is a definite possibility. Tee markers are rocks with hole # and distance painted on. Next tee markers are again rocks, painted with arrows. Above average flow from hole to hole. Trash cans on about half of the holes. Practice basket and soccer field at the first hole.

Cons:

No maps or directional help to find your target. Walking ahead/spotters on a few blind shots is necessary. A few tightly placed holes might confuse the feeble minded. Common sense prevails in those situations. Just follow the rocks and arrows from basket to the next tee. There are a few 'back-track and walk up the fairway' to the tee situations.Tee boxes are rubber mats. Very slick rubber mats. Shorter than usual, very slick rubber mats. No smoking and no alcohol sign at the first hole.

Other Thoughts:

Great setting for golf. Clean, scenic and well designed. Lots of deer. Nice 'foresty' feel on a college campus. Great variety of short-long holes. Nice mix of left and right turn drives. This place will challenge the seasoned player. With cement tees and some kind of a map system it would rank higher. It has great potential and rivals most courses in the area.
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1 3
runninlikebarry20
Experience: 15 years 111 played 10 reviews
3.50 star(s)

2+ years drive by

Reviewed: Played on:Mar 12, 2010 Played the course:once

Pros:

Nice use of the land. All kinds of shots are needed. Great terrain.

Cons:

Good signs could help out. Garbage cans everywhere but still major amounts of trash around.

Other Thoughts:

Overall a fun and beautiful looking course.
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2 0
rscd20
Experience: 21 years 95 played 11 reviews
3.00 star(s)

2+ years drive by

Reviewed: Played on:Dec 8, 2009 Played the course:once

Pros:

Wide variety of hole types: uphill, downhill, open, hidden, tight
Lots of "Next Tee" signs to guild along
Tight and compact, but never felt crowded
Lots of trash cans
Practice basket, and open soccer field to practice drives

Cons:

Rubber pads with sand all around can quickly lead to slippery falls
Signs don't indicated where the pin is, just distance away. On a tight course where you can often see 2 or 3 or even 4 pins from the pad, not knowing which to shoot to is annoying
No main sign or indication of where to go from the parking lot (just keep walking, past the practice basket, behind the bushes)

Other Thoughts:

Great campus course. I liked how the signs (large rocks) were painted in the school colors, and then changed from the front 9 to the back 9
Keep control of your throws. Due to it being such a compact course you can easily throw onto a different fairway, or at another pad.
Better signs would make this course a whole lot better
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2 0
atassac66
Experience: 19.6 years 39 played 4 reviews
3.50 star(s)

Very NIce 2+ years drive by

Reviewed: Played on:Oct 18, 2009 Played the course:once

Pros:

Really nice. This course is located on rolling hills which plays through beautiful Michigan woodlands. Holes are quite long and technical to boot. Almost every hole will force you to throw shots with a lot of movement. Good Distance, good baskets, good balance of left and right fading shots. Fairways are prononuced on majority of holes.

Cons:

Advanced players have a major advantage as the big arms can throw above the tree lines on 80 % of holes. Noodle arms will try to hit lines through the fariways while open/AM 1 folks can just bomb above the tree line.

Other Thoughts:

Reminds me of a smaller version of Oshtemo park in kalamazoo. Great layout and the Distance makes this course challenging. Rocks make this course easy to navigate it. A must play for all Detroiters. Kind of a jewel course if they can maintain the course.
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2 3
Steven Hromek
Experience: 15.8 years 7 played 2 reviews
4.00 star(s)

so close to home 2+ years drive by

Reviewed: Played on:Sep 19, 2009 Played the course:5+ times

Pros:

being right there it provides a course right in my back yard. i love a new course smell in the morning.

Cons:

bring the bug spray. the cross country runners are always running through the course on there path. i.e. some holes cross the path<2 only>

Other Thoughts:

fruit trees along the path. i grab an apple or two on hole three
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1 0
bergles
Experience: 13 played 1 reviews
4.00 star(s)

Good local challenge 2+ years drive by

Reviewed: Played on:Sep 12, 2009 Played the course:once

Pros:

Most holes require precision to land on the narrow fairway or avoid trees. Enjoyable challenge - a lot of holes have multiple large bushes or trees to navigate. Having to judge your lie and change throws throughout the course is something I enjoy.

Cons:

Most of the time the place I want to throw my disc is out of sight, meaning that it's easy to spend a few minutes looking for a disc. When we played this course, I ran ahead as a spotter while others teed off. They then watched my disc - made navigating the course a lot easier.

There is a barbed-wire fence along the Meadowbrook property line. I also found random metal sticking out of the ground on one fairway (#11?).

I don't trust my footing on the rubber tees, especially when there's a fine layer of dirt/sand on them.

Other Thoughts:

Most holes are part of the "field" section of the course - I would've preferred more in the "woods" section.
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2 3
Bucknasty
Experience: 9 played 1 reviews
4.00 star(s)

Very challenging but fun 2+ years drive by

Reviewed: Updated: Played on:Sep 11, 2009 Played the course:once

Pros:

Very tight and demands an accurate shot....even more so for me since i'm a beginner. Nice tees and rocks pointing you towards the next tee.

Cons:

You have to watch where your disk lands and be ready to do a little bushwacking. Lost 2 on 17 but also found 2 on 17 while searching for ours.

Other Thoughts:

Had a blast. Wear jeans if your new or you'll have cut up legs like me.
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3 0
compn
Experience: 27.8 years 57 played 18 reviews
3.50 star(s)

watch for deer 2+ years drive by

Reviewed: Updated: Played on:Sep 10, 2009 Played the course:once

Pros:

Good mix of elevation, some shade too. well mowed fairways and new tee pads and baskets. clean course next to OU.

a few apple trees on the course, tasty!

Cons:

No benches/tables. very rough as its a new course, lots of 6ft tall grass and tons of bushes to eat discs.

some holes are pretty close to each other, can cause some crossover discs/players.

Course Rules say NO ALCOHOL, NO SMOKING OF ANY KIND and NO DOGS/PETS. (not a con for me, but might hamper other players)

Other Thoughts:

called the head office to try to find the course, no one knew where it was. but i'm not gonna blame anyone since it was the first day of classes (after a teacher strike). course could use some par signs. maybe a larger disc golf sign, its pretty tiny.

lots of deer prints and doves on this course. a few mosquitos too. raspberries in the rough, rose/thorn bushes on the fairway in a few of the holes.

there is one trampled rusty fence and a full barbed wire fence to lookout for. also be on the lookout to skip those TDD (three disc douchebags)

port-o-potties in the parking lot.
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1 3
mohmandm
Experience: 14.8 years 15 played 4 reviews
3.50 star(s)

Tough but Fun 2+ years drive by

Reviewed: Played on:Sep 8, 2009 Played the course:once

Pros:

Great nature setting. Challenging. There is a wide variety of pin placements and hole lengths.

Cons:

Very very thick brush. newly made course so you definitely don't want to miss the fairway. not beginner friendly. tee pads are short and made of a rubber type padding

Other Thoughts:

I would definitely bring a friend when you play this to help you look for discs. I spent probably a third of my time looking for discs. Even if you are just off the fairway, it is tough to see your disc. Use brightly colored discs!
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