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Marquette Mountain Resort reviews
8
1
Unique Putter-Only Experience with Plans to get Even Better!
Reviewed:
Updated:
Played on:Aug 22, 2023
Played the course:2-4 times
Pros:
Marquette Mountain Resort is located near Marquette, MI. The ski resort is focused on offering a variety of other activities during the summer months, and has recently installed a one-of-a-kind nine hole disc golf course that they are billing the "Disc Golf Sculpture Trail".
The course consists of nine putter throws that I would estimate at around 100 ft. each. The tee areas are each marked with small signs mounted to posts. These have a hole number and also describe the target.
The targets are scrap metal expertly fabricated into nine unique sculptures that can catch discs. Some of my favorites are:
- Hole 2 is a "wind chime" that makes noise when you throw the disc into the basket (or presumably, also just when it's windy).
- Hole 4 looks like a snowman, with the target between the first and second "snowballs".
- Hole 6 looks like a spider, with the target in the middle and the large legs helping to knock away ace attempts.
- Hole 7 looks like a small tower with a butterfly on top. This one is tricky because the gap to throw discs into the target is quite small. Depending on where your tee shot lands relative to the target, scoring a 2 here could be more difficult than you think.
While the targets are not "baskets" per se, most of them have chains installed and arranged similar to a disc golf basket, and all of these targets seemed to catch quite well - on par with a normal basket. Three of them (the monster, frog, and fish) have just a couple of chains each, but their target "mouth" areas are also more of a bucket shape that is only open towards the tee. This prevents discs from going through the targets, and also means that you want to be careful not to overthrow them as it will take two strokes or more to lay up back in front of the target and putt.
The course flows smoothly from hole to hole. In the one spot where there is a bit of a walk between holes (#3 to 4) there is a navigational sign posted to guide players in the correct direction.
The course consists of nine putter throws that I would estimate at around 100 ft. each. The tee areas are each marked with small signs mounted to posts. These have a hole number and also describe the target.
The targets are scrap metal expertly fabricated into nine unique sculptures that can catch discs. Some of my favorites are:
- Hole 2 is a "wind chime" that makes noise when you throw the disc into the basket (or presumably, also just when it's windy).
- Hole 4 looks like a snowman, with the target between the first and second "snowballs".
- Hole 6 looks like a spider, with the target in the middle and the large legs helping to knock away ace attempts.
- Hole 7 looks like a small tower with a butterfly on top. This one is tricky because the gap to throw discs into the target is quite small. Depending on where your tee shot lands relative to the target, scoring a 2 here could be more difficult than you think.
While the targets are not "baskets" per se, most of them have chains installed and arranged similar to a disc golf basket, and all of these targets seemed to catch quite well - on par with a normal basket. Three of them (the monster, frog, and fish) have just a couple of chains each, but their target "mouth" areas are also more of a bucket shape that is only open towards the tee. This prevents discs from going through the targets, and also means that you want to be careful not to overthrow them as it will take two strokes or more to lay up back in front of the target and putt.
The course flows smoothly from hole to hole. In the one spot where there is a bit of a walk between holes (#3 to 4) there is a navigational sign posted to guide players in the correct direction.
Cons:
There aren't any obstacles between tee and target on any of the holes.
Although this course is located at a ski resort, the terrain where this current layout is set up is more or less flat.
The tees are natural. Extras that I normally bring up like practice baskets, kiosks, and the like are not present.
You can (and should) play the entire course with your putter.
There is nothing here to really challenge even a recreational level disc golfer, other than the allure of possible aces flying into the one-of-a-kind targets.
If you really overthrow #8 or 9, your disc could carry over a fence and hit a car in the parking area.
Although this course is located at a ski resort, the terrain where this current layout is set up is more or less flat.
The tees are natural. Extras that I normally bring up like practice baskets, kiosks, and the like are not present.
You can (and should) play the entire course with your putter.
There is nothing here to really challenge even a recreational level disc golfer, other than the allure of possible aces flying into the one-of-a-kind targets.
If you really overthrow #8 or 9, your disc could carry over a fence and hit a car in the parking area.
Other Thoughts:
There is no cost to play here, but the course is currently only available when the on-site restaurant (the "Tbar") is open. Refer to the course webpage linked here for up-to-date information. Also, to find the first hole you'll need to park in the lot and then cross the walking bridge over the river (I uploaded a rough map here, as the UDisc folks have apparently not even found this course yet). Even with the little walk, you can finish this one solo in 15 minutes.
Five of these targets (the Monster, Frog, Spider, Butterfly, and Bull) started life as an entry in the 2022 edition of ArtPrize, a competition that takes place semi-annually in Grand Rapids, MI. This temporary setup was listed on DGCR as https://www.dgcoursereview.com/courses/art-prize-2022-135.13435. After the competition ended, Marquette Mountain purchased the five art baskets and commissioned the same artist (Stacy Hines) to make the remaining four.
2.5 means "Decent/Typical" here on DGCR, but this course is anything but typical. It's a blast to play, and I could see literally any skill level having fun here. To be very clear - from a disc golf challenge perspective, this is by no means a good course. If you don't see any value or fun in throwing at the art baskets, you're going to be rating this course at about a 1.0. But I'd argue the opposite mindset. When it comes to unique/fun factor and growing the sport, this course is about a 6.0. Some of the targets are visible from the highway, and 2-3 of them are clearly visible from the parking area and adjacent lawn (where about 50 people were playing sand volleyball when I visited this evening). All of those people were exposed to disc golf in this unique way, when they otherwise may not have been.
According to the resort's website, this easy layout is only a temporary plan for the 2023 summer season. They are planning on expanding this layout into a full course, AND also adding nine more holes in the future. The resort property looks to have the land available to make a challenging, fun layout. That plus the unique baskets could really make this course a must-visit destination.
As it stands today, I would not plan a trip around just this course - BUT, the Marquette area has several other great courses, plus endless non-DG things to do. A visit to the area is totally worth it - and if you do decide to come, this course should be on your list to check out! I have added this one to my Favorites, and will be returning on my future visits to the UP.
Five of these targets (the Monster, Frog, Spider, Butterfly, and Bull) started life as an entry in the 2022 edition of ArtPrize, a competition that takes place semi-annually in Grand Rapids, MI. This temporary setup was listed on DGCR as https://www.dgcoursereview.com/courses/art-prize-2022-135.13435. After the competition ended, Marquette Mountain purchased the five art baskets and commissioned the same artist (Stacy Hines) to make the remaining four.
2.5 means "Decent/Typical" here on DGCR, but this course is anything but typical. It's a blast to play, and I could see literally any skill level having fun here. To be very clear - from a disc golf challenge perspective, this is by no means a good course. If you don't see any value or fun in throwing at the art baskets, you're going to be rating this course at about a 1.0. But I'd argue the opposite mindset. When it comes to unique/fun factor and growing the sport, this course is about a 6.0. Some of the targets are visible from the highway, and 2-3 of them are clearly visible from the parking area and adjacent lawn (where about 50 people were playing sand volleyball when I visited this evening). All of those people were exposed to disc golf in this unique way, when they otherwise may not have been.
According to the resort's website, this easy layout is only a temporary plan for the 2023 summer season. They are planning on expanding this layout into a full course, AND also adding nine more holes in the future. The resort property looks to have the land available to make a challenging, fun layout. That plus the unique baskets could really make this course a must-visit destination.
As it stands today, I would not plan a trip around just this course - BUT, the Marquette area has several other great courses, plus endless non-DG things to do. A visit to the area is totally worth it - and if you do decide to come, this course should be on your list to check out! I have added this one to my Favorites, and will be returning on my future visits to the UP.
