Mecosta DGC is a 9-holer that plays around the grounds of Mecosta Township Hall just south of Big Rapids, MI. It is only about a 5-minute detour off of the US-131 freeway.

The holes here are not long - with only one exceeding 300' and four shorter than 200' - but there is some good variety and technical challenge to be had. The first hole is mostly open but plays to a basket raised up on a mound. Holes 3-5 are tough thread-the-needle throws in the woods. Basket #5 is also guarded by several trees directly in front of it and is at the top of another small mound, adding some potential risk/reward. Holes 7 and 8 are two more fun throws with several trees to work around.

The baskets are all yellow banded DISCatchers in good shape. There is also a practice basket next to the parking lot, along with a porta potty.

There are a couple of poorly designed holes here. Hole #2 plays across a parking lot. If there were cars basically anywhere in this parking lot, I would feel uncomfortable playing this hole. Hole 9 plays over the outfield area of a softball diamond. Obviously this would be unplayable if the softball diamond were being used. There were a large enough number of "No Trespassing" signs just off to the left of hole 6's fairway that I felt a little bit uneasy when my RHBH drive faded a little bit off the fairway in that direction.

The tee pads are natural. The tee signs are just laminated pieces of paper mounted about 2 ft off the ground on short metal poles. They give the hole number and a straight line distance, as well as a "play distance" which is often slightly longer. A map of the hole or at least a rough line would be a nice addition to these. I played to the wrong basket on hole 6 because #8's is visible further down in an open area, and #6's is tucked in off to the right in the woods.

No trash cans or benches to be found at the tees either.

The navigational signage is nonexistent. You will need the map uploaded here, or some other navigational aid. A previous reviewer mentioned a mailbox next to the first tee with scorecards and maps in it. I think that may have still been present as of my visit, but I totally missed it.

With short holes, not much elevation change, and no water hazards, many better disc golfers are probably going to get bored.

After spending an afternoon at nearby Northend Riverside Park, I stopped here on my way back to Grand Rapids for a little encore round. After playing 36 lengthy holes at Northend, I enjoyed the shorter throws here.

This course is not a reason to visit the Big Rapids area, but if you are already in the area or passing through it may be worth a quick stop. I am up and down this stretch of US-131 pretty often, and can see myself stopping here again next time I am passing through and have an extra 30 minutes to spare.

Close to US-131 in Rogers Heights sits a small disc golf course that revolves around Mecosta Township Hall's property . Driving down 11 mile road , the small but adequate parking area and Hall is on your left . Even if you failed to print a map out before you drove here , just know to walk to the right , behind the hall and look for a sign and mailbox . Inside this mailbox are nice scorecards with maps printed on the back . Classy . Hole #1 is right in front of you perched on a man made hill about 240' away . Great starter hole . You better get your bearings set and study the map because the navigation can be tough . No signage , so you are basically on your own to find the tee pads for each basket . All of the tee pads are natural and marked with little red flags The baskets are discatchers with the bright yellow band at the top , which are great for this course since several holes are either in the woods or buried in cutouts on the fringes of it . To help you with a little of the navigation , I will tell you that #2's tee flags are on the other side of the garage that is to the left of basket #1 . You are essentially throwing down the treeline on your right and with the parking lot on your left . 4/5 of the way down the treeline , the basket is buried about 40' in it . The next tee behind the #2 basket fading right . 4 is also in the woods and sits behind and to the right of 3's basket . #5 is your llast woods hole , a slight fade that goes to a basket that sits a little elevated right on the fringe of the woods . You then pop out of the woods and look for the tee ( maintenance must have caught this in the mowers because it was about 100'+ down the fairway . The fairway is narrow but clearly cut . There is private property with brush on your left and lots of brush on your right . The basket sits tucked away around 240' + to the right . Good luck navigating # 7 & 8 . The flags were on the ground and I had to guess according to the map . There was a clever basket placement for 7 that is tucked into the right of the woods . #8 looks to be a slow hyzer slightly downhill to the pin . which is in the open . #9 tee is an open bomber with a catch : you have to throw over a corner of the outfield fence to the basket which sits at the top of a leveled hill ( not much higher than the tee pad . This could make you think a little if there is a ball game or practice going on . The basket placement are good on this course . There is little elevation so you could get in a <30 minute round if playing by yourself . Tight fairways and basket placements can make for a fun round . Bathrooms available if town hall open along with fountain . Park well taken care of . Course is left hander friendly . Signature hole is #1 . Throwing to a elevated man made hill .

#1 Navigation . Even with a map , this can be hard to figure out if you have never played here . #2 Signage , sometimes never sure where the tee pads are , especially if you are at the mercy of the dreaded little red flags . #3 natural tee pads , at least put some colored bricks down . Maybe also put some tape on the bottoms of the basket spokes to navigate to where the next tee is . #4 con is #9 hole . Too close to ball field if you have to throw over a small part of it . #2 tee pad dangerously close to parking lot if full of cars . No trash cans so carry out what you carry in . A sign on the course states that the park is considering going to 18 holes . SAY WHAT !? Unless they are hiding land behind private property that I am missing seeing , then ,,,,,,,, No elevation .

A nice little local course that someone put some thought into making . I liked the design . If the township sprung for some pavers and a new #9 design , this would be pretty good . Might I make a suggestion . To increase the popularity of disc golf in your township , make the course a public punishment for law breakers . For something like public intoxication , DUI , or petty theft , maybe even failing to pay township's taxes . give them a worn out disc or even a Dimple from the 80's and make them throw a round . For every bogey on the course , the offender can be publicly caned at hole #9 . The offenders would never be a fan of disc golf , but think of the attraction it will be for people that know nothing about it ! They will even learn to keep accurate score , and practice the course in case they have to appear in court some day . Just an idea . Hats off to the township for this course .My recommendation , locals should take some time out along with maybe some US 131 travelers wanting to just get off the highway and stretch their legs MAYBE TRY IT !

Aesthetic-- plays around a small township hall, through the woods and around a baseball field. There are some areas where people could be walking (and the baseball field) but unlikely you will run into anyone else

Baskets-- New DisCatchers. Nice and visible in the thick woods.

Routing and Nav-- not great but not bad. It's pretty intuitive where the next tee is but as the tees aren't marked very well, it's somewhat challenging on #6 and #7 to know what is going on.

Tees-- Not marked for anything. A couple rocks maybe there to help to tell you where the tee is. #6 and #7 don't have rocks and thus are harder to know where to tee from and where you are throwing. #7 is impossible to see the basket from the tee so knowing where to throw is hard.

Variety-- heavily favors lefties and forehand players. Most holes finish right. The woods holes are SUPER tight and while short are challenging in that they are wicked tight.

Finishing over the baseball diamond-- not a fan. Not a fan of throws that ask you to follow a fence line to begin with

This course has potential and some very unique flavor. There is nowhere to go but up.