Markle, IN

The Wildcat

3.255(based on 2 reviews)
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11 0
glassman
Experience: 16 years 94 played 9 reviews
3.00 star(s)

Small Town, Solid Course 2+ years drive by

Reviewed: Played on:Nov 19, 2021 Played the course:5+ times

Pros:

This course is located in the Markle town park just minutes from I-69. If you are on I-69 for any reason it makes stopping for a round quick and easy.
While the course itself plays through land that is almost entirely dedicated to the disc golf course, there are plenty of other amenities nearby including picnic shelters, water fountains, bathrooms, and even a former gravel pit that is now used as a beach and for swimming (would be awesome to go swimming after a round on a hot day).
The course itself looks well taken care of. There are buckets for trash on nearly every tee sign and the course itself was very clean and nice.
There is a large, excellent course map right by the parking lot and great tee signs on every hole. Course navigation is generally good and is aided by next tee signs and arrows to help you get around.
The tees are concrete and in great shape.
The Dynamic Discs Patriot baskets catch well and are still in like new condition.
The course features a large variety of shots from open, long holes to short, tight, technical holes. There are plenty of different shots to keep everyone entertained.
Hole 18 is really neat with the tunnel shot over the water, but also features a way around without risking the water so much. Good risk/reward hole design.

Cons:

The tees feel a foot or two short of normal. Maybe I am just used to big tees, but I found myself constantly adjusting my throws to accommodate the tees.
The course layout is a little weird in two places and you will find yourself walking some of the same paths that you had been on previously to get to different holes. Not really a navigation issue as the signage is so good, but it is strange.
Some of the fairways are very narrow. While usually not an issue, some of these fairways also feature very thick rough and tons of small trees just off to both sides. At times If you throw a drive that is only off line by a foot or two, you will end up taking a 4 simply because there would be no way to recover from the rough. Some of these holes can be unnecessarily punishing. Can definitely put a damper on an otherwise fun round.
Holes 6 and 14 have an odd shape, and even though distance wise they are both well within range to get birdies, I cannot figure out how to get a flight path to actually get to them.
There is water in play on 2 holes and if your shot lands anywhere a foot of two off of the bank your disc will likely not be recoverable.

Other Thoughts:

Overall this course is fun and at times challenging. I enjoy my rounds here even if the rough can be frustrating at times. A solid design and definitely worth the time to check out, especially since it is so close to I-69.
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7 0
numbernine
Silver level trusted reviewer
Experience: 14.8 years 103 played 49 reviews
3.50 star(s)

A hidden gem ! 2+ years drive by

Reviewed: Played on:Nov 23, 2019 Played the course:once

Pros:

I haven't reviewed a course in some time, mostly because I got tired of getting the private messages from guys that put in bad, uninteresting local course who thought that my rating was unfair. Everyone thinks that their course is "world class". Most aren't. Also, Markle is not. However, it is fun. It is worth a stop. And it is a little different than the surrounding area courses. Off we go -

Tee Pads - Concrete. In place. Grippy. Long enough for gangly guys like me that need a little extra runway from time to time. It's not easy being 80% legs, so I appreciate the consideration.

Signs - Perfect. They show all pin positions. They show where the next tee pad is. The "yardage" is generally pretty spot on. We need another word for this. Distance. I guess. "Footage" totally isn't a thing, is it?

Design / Flow / Shots - Lots of interesting little shots out here. There are only a couple of holes where you need a driver, and that's ok. The course is a challenge of the technical variety and puts your putters and midranges to the test, in a good way. Where as most short courses are pretty easy and have wide open fairways, this course has tight, technical fairways that are tight and you will be punished for leaving them.
Holes 2 and 18 were my favorite. I love finishing the course on a risk reward shot over a pond for 300 feet. There is also a bail out area to the right for the new folks. So be not worried! You won't lose a disc if you don't want to risk it.
The course flows nicely, and I was never wandering around looking for the next hole. There were signs all over the place letting you know where the next pad was . So that was great.

Baskets - DD Veterans. You know them. you love them. They catch very well. And the white makes them easy to see in the woods.

X - Factors - The park is nice. It wasn't crowded. it was a pretty place to play disc golf and I really enjoyed just being out there.

Cons:

Some design issues - So like, I am assuming that the city told the designer that they could absolutely not put part of the course on the GIANT earthen structure (I think it's a dam) there on the course. Instead, the longest hole on the course runs parallel to it, like 150 feet away. Fine. But ...MAN, to have that elevation change would have been a gamer changer. As it stands, the course is very flat. Also, I think there are 4-6 holes that are 190-210 ish and dead straight. this is a function of using what they had. Totally get it. But the smallest bit of left or right to those shots would have changed it up some.

Other Thoughts:

This is a great course for beginners and mid tier golfers alike. I am 941 rated. Playing this course blind, I shot a 49 and felt like I played pretty ok, but definitely left some strokes out on the course.

if you're a new player, this is the kind of place that will make your game better. You'll need some distance, and a whole lot of finesse.

My 3.5 is a score based on it being better than average, but not amazing. it is indeed a very good course! I am excited to go back and play it again some time soon, in spite of the hour drive.
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