Pros:
-Set in a National Forest
-Nature at it's finest
-Quiet
-Easy to navigate
-Very aesthetic
This virgin course will challenge your technical skills unlike many others (a la holes 6, A, B, 16, 18). It doesn't punish you unfairly. Good mix of shorter and longer holes, they are appropriately spaced as well.
Cons:
-Tee pads
OK, I'm being a little nit picky here for a course that is only about 1 year old. While many of the pads are some of the best dirt pads I have ever played on, there are those 3 or 4 that are of softer sand - not a consistent surface. Shaky footing on looser sand makes those technical shots even more difficult to place, especially when thrown with power.
Other Thoughts:
Wow. The beauty starts before you realize it. Soon after you turn off Rte 10 you find traffic noticeably thin and the dirt road underneath you. As fields and rolling hills suddenly disappear the road you're on is now hugged by dense, tall pines that make up the Manistee National Forest. Arriving at your destination, the entrance is welcomely subtle. Unbeknownst to you at this time, you are greeted with foreshadow: (spoiler alert) everything on this course seemed to be built by nature, including the parking area. Step out and you are merely a few steps away from the first tee.
But first, we were greeted by Seth.
I can't thank Seth enough for his hospitality. He has opened up his property to the community and should take great pride in his masterpiece that will evolve into one of the greatest courses you may ever play.
Seth provided some quick tips, what to look for on a few holes and off we went. Quickly getting an idea as to the unique footing; walking on a bed of pine needles and sand as pine cones sprinkled the forest floor. White arrows made from vinyl siding nailed to the trees were incredibly simple and efficient trail guides from one hole to the next. Tall pines allow for clean, but tight gaps as you navigate your way through tastefully laid out change-of-pace holes ranging from a 200' par 3 to a tough 670' par 4 with a basket 5 feet from the edge of a cliff. Oh, and there's that, cliffs. More accurately, acute elevation changes. And it's beautiful. The downhill throws from the tee are the some of the most fun I have had in the woods ... especially Hole B, throwing out of the woods to an island green that resides on the lake beneath you. 20' left of the basket and you're wet.
*Side note prop for Seth*
Accompanying us on a couple holes prior, watching us enjoy his course, he was waiting for one of us to dump a hyzer in the water on hole B. We succeeded. Seth put on the waders and fished out said disc 20' left of the basket. Seth returned to tending to his pride and joy shortly thereafter as we went on our way.
We continued to be amazed by the aesthetically pleasing, lengthy, sometimes straight view from tee to basket holes that consistently tested every shot you released. So much fun we didn't even realize our legs were burning from the workout they were getting on the sandy, mountainous terrain. Finishing with a perfect closing hole that's short, tight, technical, downhill, bending right, basket on a slope...if only I could FH a putter...we are then only a few steps away to the parking area where our car was still the only one there.
Final thoughts:
-check with Seth before you go, it's his personal, private property
-bring bug spray (we were there in an very dry mid May and the skeeters were out in force already)
-bring plenty of water
-trail shoes help with the steep, loose sandy terrain.
-pack your trash out, including cig butts, it is after all private property that is a National Forest
-whenever Seth can get concrete pads in, this will no doubt be a 5-star course
-the baskets have only been in about a year. It's hard to believe this course is as good as it is in its infancy.