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Driftless DGC - 18 reviews
11
0
Set up the merch tents...
Reviewed:
Played on:Mar 12, 2024
Played the course:once
Pros:
No doubt about it, Driftless 18 was created with professional play in mind, from the massive retaining wall 1st tee to the elevated 18th basket. Will they achieve what they set out to do? Probably, IMO, but it may require a bit of refinement and tree planting.
Distance is titanic from the outset, and the slopes evoke a DGLO-like vibe, albeit in a more open property. Named for the steep-hilled region of MN, WI, IA, and IL that escaped the bulldozing of the most recent period of glaciation, there is far more elevation here than the drive up suggests. This first enters into the picture on #2, a needle-threading ace run down a slope that was positively treacherous in muddy conditions. It's the sort of hole that requires a precision tee shot for birdie, but isn't going to charge worse than par for an errant first toss.
#3 is a nearly 1000 ft-er from the longs, and indeed "how far can you throw?" is the question most frequently asked by the architect. Where Driftless actually gets more interesting is when it climbs out of the open plain onto the surrounding ridge lines. Standouts here are #8, a steeply uphill tunnel shot whose 288 ft play more like 400, and the paired ridge top par 3's of #11, and #12, which require you to cling tightly to a left-sided tree line or plunge steeply off to the right. This sequence culminates at #13, a blind throw down from the top of the ridge to the edge of the reservoir below, the sort of slope on which any fall should be announced by the victim yelling "as you wish" the entire way down.
Distance is titanic from the outset, and the slopes evoke a DGLO-like vibe, albeit in a more open property. Named for the steep-hilled region of MN, WI, IA, and IL that escaped the bulldozing of the most recent period of glaciation, there is far more elevation here than the drive up suggests. This first enters into the picture on #2, a needle-threading ace run down a slope that was positively treacherous in muddy conditions. It's the sort of hole that requires a precision tee shot for birdie, but isn't going to charge worse than par for an errant first toss.
#3 is a nearly 1000 ft-er from the longs, and indeed "how far can you throw?" is the question most frequently asked by the architect. Where Driftless actually gets more interesting is when it climbs out of the open plain onto the surrounding ridge lines. Standouts here are #8, a steeply uphill tunnel shot whose 288 ft play more like 400, and the paired ridge top par 3's of #11, and #12, which require you to cling tightly to a left-sided tree line or plunge steeply off to the right. This sequence culminates at #13, a blind throw down from the top of the ridge to the edge of the reservoir below, the sort of slope on which any fall should be announced by the victim yelling "as you wish" the entire way down.
Cons:
The valley bottom is pretty much wide open. See basket, throw far. To be fair, it's really far, reinforcing the notion that the intent here exceeds local recreational play. I think they are going have to great more obstruction though, and that isn't going to happen overnight.
#17 is a cool challenge--throw uphill over a quarry protected on the high side by a 6' chainlink fence. Even my noodle arm can carry it, but in a headwind, it would be fierce. Unfortunately, it's just a bit ugly. In fact, that could be a dig on the course in general, albeit to a lesser extent. The course is challenging enough, but basically drapes over a valley on the downstream side of an earthen dam.
For the recreational use and course bagging, this is a mandatory stop in Minnesota. I'm just not convinced it will see top-tier play in the near future.
#17 is a cool challenge--throw uphill over a quarry protected on the high side by a 6' chainlink fence. Even my noodle arm can carry it, but in a headwind, it would be fierce. Unfortunately, it's just a bit ugly. In fact, that could be a dig on the course in general, albeit to a lesser extent. The course is challenging enough, but basically drapes over a valley on the downstream side of an earthen dam.
For the recreational use and course bagging, this is a mandatory stop in Minnesota. I'm just not convinced it will see top-tier play in the near future.
Other Thoughts:
As you drive up, you will start to see signs for the course well before the first tee. You want to enter the parking lot with the (off-season locked...grrr) bathrooms, then park as close as you can to the opposite end side. Tee #1 is right there.
The park is multipurpose, and dog-walkers abound, but I don't think that they significantly impact play.
The park is multipurpose, and dog-walkers abound, but I don't think that they significantly impact play.
15
0
mittbull
Experience:
23.9 years
173 played
5 reviews
Championship course in SE Minnesota drive by
Reviewed:
Played on:Oct 19, 2022
Played the course:once
Pros:
Great Teepads, both short and long options on most holes.
Benches and trash cans at most tees.
T-2 Prodigy baskets
Huge area primarily dedicated to discgolf (there are some biking and hiking/walking trails, but didn't see to intersect the course).
Tons of elevation for a course in the midwest.
Great mix of holes from huge par 4's and 5's and some ace runs. Water could come into play on a few holes.
Bathroom at the parking lot, plenty of stores within a 5 minute drive, but offset from the city enough to provide a feeling of seclusion on the course.
Benches and trash cans at most tees.
T-2 Prodigy baskets
Huge area primarily dedicated to discgolf (there are some biking and hiking/walking trails, but didn't see to intersect the course).
Tons of elevation for a course in the midwest.
Great mix of holes from huge par 4's and 5's and some ace runs. Water could come into play on a few holes.
Bathroom at the parking lot, plenty of stores within a 5 minute drive, but offset from the city enough to provide a feeling of seclusion on the course.
Cons:
There have been a lot of trees planted, but as of the date of this review a lot of the fairways are pretty open as you play from the woods edge into open space or vise-versa. I think as the course matures this will improve. Tee signs provide little more than distance and hole number, and seem to be fading from UV exposure.
Police training range just up the road had a lot rounds being spent for target practice while I was there could be distracting.
Police training range just up the road had a lot rounds being spent for target practice while I was there could be distracting.
Other Thoughts:
I normally wouldn't review a course that I've only played once, but seeing that this place didn't have a single review I felt obligated.
There is also a shorter 9 hole course onsite that looked like it could provide a nice warm up to the beast of a track the Driftless-18 was . Course designers did a great job of making each hole seem unique with their own challenges. Worth driving several hours to play in my opinion.
There is also a shorter 9 hole course onsite that looked like it could provide a nice warm up to the beast of a track the Driftless-18 was . Course designers did a great job of making each hole seem unique with their own challenges. Worth driving several hours to play in my opinion.
