Oh, and as of today hole one is still a bit of a disaster. A large tree that was partially down has been taken out by the city boys and clean up is still in progress.

http://www.dgcoursereview.com/course.php?id=5953

Hole Info and a few pics.

Wohoo!!!

HAHAHA I'm typing the first review!!!!

If you go to the course please understand - IT'S NOT QUITE DONE YET. Navigation the first time you play is going to be a royal pain. YOU'VE BEEN WARNED so NO complaining about it. Once the foot bridge goes in and the signs are finished it will be much better and will make a lot more sense.

Republic, MI - 18 Holes - 2013 season with successful fundraising

Check out more info about UP course development here...
www.facebook.com/watchitbend
www.facebook.com/discdaup

I sent an e-mail to John Short (Director of Parks and Rec. for Plainfield Township) regarding the status of the course at Grand Isle Park in Belmont. Will update with details as they're provided.

let me know I would be willing to help setting stuff up and such.

Grand Isle Park Update
 

I've been talking with John Short, Director of Parks and Rec. Below is a summary of what I've gathered so far:

1. The township is in the final stages of implementing the expansion of the wetlands. They hope to have development complete 2013. Timing depends on spring flooding. The less flooding the sooner it starts and finishes. As soon as complete, they'll start on disc golf. Hope to be playing fall 2013. They will need assistance in development and fund raising for materials. The township turned down his request of $15,000 for materials. The disc golf will weave in and around the wetlands.

2. The course will be 18 holes. Metal baskets, cement teepads, teesigns, trashcans and benches are all in the plans. There is a preliminary design, but things may change as the wetlands develop.

3. Because the township turned down the request to fully fund the course, a large amount of fund raising will need to be completed. I asked if the township would be okay with allowing reputable companies in the area to sponsor holes in exchange for their logo or name on the sign and John believes this would be acceptable.

4. The following is from John: "This needs to be a controlled community project, or it will not happen as timely. We need to create work committees to accomplish the tasks. The committees need to be controlled as they will be representing the Township." It sounds like there will be committees formed for the following areas: design and layout,construction,community outreach/funding/ADA compliance/universal access,operational policy. The responsibilities of the commitees may also stretch outside of the disc golf course planning, I have yet to find out.

The next step I'm going to try to take is to meet with John in person and walk the land where the course is to be located.

Does anyone have any questions they would like me to forward to John? Fundrasing ideas would also be helpful, and I already have a few ideas in mind. I'll post more information as it becomes available.

Set for an explosion in the U.P.

Approved...
Powder Mill DGC - Marquette - 18 holes (in construction, opening May 2013)
Pioneer Trails, North Course - Escanaba - 18 holes (in construction, opening May 2013)
Pioneer Trails, South Course - Escanaba - 18 holes (in design, opening May 2013)
Memorial Course - Republic - 18 holes (in design, opening summer 2013)

Pending...
Homestead Greens DGC - Harvey - 18 holes

We will be hosting a travelling series of PDGA events next year. "Disc da UP Series", come play in our vacationland paradise!

Wow, great thread Mitten. I have played McSauba when previously open. It was brutal ski hill course and should fit in great with some of the surrounding courses "up north" (Hanson Hills, Carly's Playground, Boyne....). You know, I had heard that the local sheriff or some such authority had lived right on the course and had effectively shut down the course for his disapproval of "disc golf types" and some of the unwanted activity he associated with his view. Know anything about this?

Kimbell Pines was terrific before closing, a reopening of it would be stellar news.

Holy crap, dude! First off, congrats. Second, this couldn't work out any better for me. I'm in Escanaba in August for a wedding. Looks like I might have to extend my trip in order to get to these new courses. If they're even in the same ballpark as Winter and Tailings, you're well on your way to creating a Northwoods empire! Thanks for your dedication and hard work. I'm thrilled that someone is making use of god's country for disc golf.

{UPDATE}

-----2011 Courses-----
--The Edge DGC-- Scottville {24 Holes}
--Big Bend-- White Cloud {18 Holes}
--Burchfield Park-Original-- Holt {18 Holes}
--Carly's Playground-- Traverse City {18 Holes} [Mt. Holiday Redesign]
--Diggins Hill-- Cadillac {18 Holes}
--Hanson Hills (Short Course)-- Grayling {18 Holes}
--Marion Twp Park-- Howell {18 Holes}
--Ogemaw Hills-- West Branch {18 Holes}
--Superior Pines-- Grand Marais {18 Holes}
--Taymouth Park-- Burt {18 Holes}
--Turbine Pines-- Mackinaw City {18 Holes}
--Heritage Park-- Grandville {9 Holes}
--Lake Linden-Hubbell DGC-- Lake Linden {9 Holes}
--Lakewood High School-- Lake Odessa {9 Holes}
--MCTI DGC-- Plainwell {9 Holes}
--Rosewood Park DGC-- Jenison {9 Holes}


-----2012 Courses-----
--Stony Creek Metro Park-- Shelby Township {27 Holes} [Redesign]
--Labyrinth-- Scottville {24 Holes}
--Bertha Brock County Park-- Ionia {18 Holes}
--Burchfield Park-Rivers Edge-- Holt {18 Holes}
--Duke Creek-- Cedar Springs {18 Holes}
--Earl Brewer-North-- Grand Rapids {18 Holes} [Redesign]
--Earl Brewer-South-- Grand Rapids {18 Holes} [Redesign]
--East China Township Park-- Marine City {18 Holes}
--Henderson Lake Nature Center-- Montague {18 Holes}
--Sunnybrook-- Sterling Heights {18 Holes}
--Herman Park-- Suttons Bay {18 Holes}
--Vicksburg Rec. Area-- Vicksburg {18 Holes}
--Wickes Woods-- Saginaw {18 Holes}
--Brighton Rec. Area-- Howell {15 Holes}
--Beverly Park-- Beverly Hills {9 Holes}
--Caro Fairgrounds DGC-- Caro {9 Holes}
--Cass City Park-- Cass City {9 Holes}
--Dexter Lake Church-- Battle Creek {9 Holes}
--Flaherty Park-- Watervliet {9 Holes}
--Freeport Park-- Freeport {9 Holes}
--Ira Township Park-- Fair Haven {9 Holes}
--NorthRidge Church-- Plymouth {9 Holes}
--Shelby Road Baptist Church DGC-- Shelby {9 Holes}
--Silver Creek - Chocolay Park-- Harvey {9 Holes} [Redesign]


-----PENDING COURSES-------
--Mt. McSauba-- Charlevoix {19 Holes}
--Wolcott Mill Metropark-- Ray {18-27 Holes}
--Pioneer Trails-- Gladstone {18-24 Holes}
--Belle Isle DGC-- Detroit {18 Holes}
--Deerfield Park [2nd course]-- Mt. Pleasant {18 Holes}
--Grand Isle-- Belmont {18 Holes}
--Homestead Greens DGC-- Harvey {18 holes}
--James Nelson Park-- Sterling Heights {18 Holes}
--Leila Arboretum DGC-- Battle Creek {18 Holes}
--Memorial Course-- Republic {18 holes}
--Pioneer Trails, North Course-- Escanaba {18 holes}
--Pioneer Trails, South Course-- Escanaba {18 holes}
--Powder Mill DGC-- Marquette {18 Holes}
--Rotary Park-- Livonia {18 Holes}
--West Park-- Whitmore Lake {18 Holes}
--Baker's Field Park-- Port Huron {9-18 Holes}
--BC State Rec Area-- Bay City {9-18 Holes}
--Clear Lake State Park-- Atlanta {9-18 Holes}
--Columbus Park-- Columbus {9-18 Holes}
--Independence Green DGC-- Farmington Hills {9-18 Holes}
--Macatawa Greenspace DGC-- Holland {9-18 Holes}
--Ramona Park-- Portage {9-18 Holes}
--Rosevear Park-- Owosso {9-18 Holes}


-----{If anyone has additional info that should be added to the list, please let me know.}-----

Edit: Got Pioneer Trails on there as two separate listings. The one's that say, North & South with 18 a piece are correct. Will be fixed on next update.

Any of these courses near Port Huron area?

I've play 4 of the new ones. Woohoo.

Any new word about the belle isle course?
The reception seemed to be pretty positive about it at the tournament this year.

Out of the ones built this year. East China Park in Marine City would be the closest. A bit south. A couple of the pending courses are kinda close aswell. But for the most part Port Huron has no disc golf scene what so ever.

From what I know, its gonna depend on if the state buys the island from the city or not (likely to be decided in the next year). If the city keeps it, its good to go. But if the state buys it then new people will be in charge and it will probably fall back to square 1.

Looks like the state is gonna take it over. Good news though is the course is playable right now! With flags marking tees and wooden poles in as the holes. The course has been modified since the tourney. A few holes were changed for the better. League's will be ran on sundays at noon starting January 6th. It's looking like if enough people are seen using the course, the state will invest in baskets and development.

Here's the course page for Belle Isle.

I thought the course was already great during the tournament and looking at the new distances/layout, according to up in the air, the multiple pads and everything else will make this course even better.

>>--Leila Arboretum DGC-- Battle Creek {18 Holes}<<

Wow! That's where people played object Frisbee Golf long before there were basket courses around...

>>--Ramona Park-- Portage {9-18 Holes}<<

Say it's so! ANOTHER new course 15 minutes from me? Did I warp to the year 2525 or something?

Yup, when I was talking with Andrew (who designed the course). He said the multiple tees make for two completely different courses. The short tees are a challenging course in it self with the given pars. The long tees are another story all together!

Nope, not year 2525. I got this info from township/city master plans. These courses should be coming soon. Not sure who the designers are, but they are in the works for the near future.

The Battle Creek/Portage/Kalamazoo area is becoming quite the disc golf mecca if I must say.

I currently played every course in Battle Creek and Portage (Except Dexter Lake Church), but none in the Zoo. With these new courses coming I might have a day ahead of me (Robert Morris, Oshtemo, Air Zoo, Knollwood, Leila Arboretum, Ramona Park). No one could play all the courses in that area in one day. Props to the local scene in that area for exploding the awareness all around!

Don't forget Vicksburg! It will reportedly get cement tees this spring...

Anybody have additional information about Rotary Park in Livonia?

The new Belle Isle course delivers. Everyone should check it out. It's a bit wet right now, but after digging a trench for the water fountain yesterday things should dry up well in a few days. I liked shooting at the targets and I think it offered a different (but equally fun) challenge from the metal baskets.

DirtyMitten: got a new one for ya.

I know this isn't technically MI, but Windsor is pretty much a suburb of Detroit so I'm going to lobby to include it here:

[pending 2013]
Lakewood Park - Tecumseh, ON
18 hole course on a former ball golf course. Many mature old trees and interesting features on a 65 acre site right off of Lake St. Clair. It's been win after win on getting this course green-lit. The town is realizing they have a unique opportunity to bring disc golf to an area that doesn't have anything within a 2 hr. drive. We don't have a definite in-writing YES yet, but all of the signs are very promising so far. Side bonus: 5 min walk from my house.

Sounds cool. But probably won't be added to the list. Maybe if Michiganders could get there without a passport... I've yet to even play a course across the river. WAY to hard to get over there.

I'm sure you already know this but we can get the enhanced license to get over there. I believe its only $45, and at the border I think they put in a fast lane for people who use the enhanced license instead of a passport.

True. But the course still isn't in Michigan...

Yes, I know. Just wanted to help out on how to play a course in a different country.

Uh..wow..that kind of talk will get you into a fist fight with some Canadians lol.

Yes, Yes it shall be so.

The North Course is marked and flagged. 100% wooded, traversing through a wooded ridge along the entire north section of the property. Blue and Red skill level tees, alternate pin placements in the future, and road OB on some holes. Pretty tight but generally better than 20% width to length ratio for most holes.

The South Course is designed but not yet marked. Includes a few 500'+ holes in a park like setting under huge white pines and mowed grass, a bunch more woods like the North course, a manmade pond (only 200-250' carry or so), river OB, and a throw across the river to three holes on an island! Again predominantly wooded, but less ridge terrain.

I have played Dexter Lake Church a couple of times on my way to other courses, nothing much exciting about it. Very open course, somewhat short holes all laid out on the big church property. Good little warm up course on your way to another course in the area.

Nice to hear about the BC/Portage/Kzoo area turning into a DG haven. Haven't been over there too much other than to play Cold Brook and hit up Bell's Brewery. :thmbup: Looks like I may need to plan a trip there myself sometime.

Please give credit due to all the other people that had as much to do with designing the course.. Tom, Andy, Matt, Ben, Zack, Scott, Chris, Brian, Snake, Josh most importantly and i'm pretty sure there might be some others i'll leave unmentioned.

Also thanks to the people that put in work on the days to clean up that complete mess.

Trench made a huge improvement with that broken pipe.

oh man, 18 at rotary? thats a busy park. i wonder where its going to go in.
looking forward to farmington courses and sterling heights too!

i figure this would be the best place to ask, could someone pass information to the northville guys? they are going to make a park and a strip mall at the corner of 7 and haggerty , plus the old hospital further west. any chance for another course there?

i know its close to cass, but cass is busy as hell, it needs a sister course!

Pretty much never going to happen. You can find all the site plans online. The construction has already gone scorched earth on a large chunk of the available land. That entire piece of property will be one massive development with a u of m medical center going in first. Followed by several big box stores and crappy chain restaurants. Repeat until all the trees are gone.

Just what Haggerty needs... A massive development poop stain smeared across the landscape. Thankfully I have no need to travel east of 2-75.

I hope that --Grand Isle-- Belmont {18 Holes} is good. It's like a 2 minute car ride from my house.

it looked like a battlefield when i went by it the other day. creepy fog and the forest was GONE. i heard they were making a 'park' tho.

how many more big box stores are left to stick there? northwest is novi mall. or north on M5 has all those other big box stores. south of there is laurel park mall. not to mention the stores on haggerty from 6-8mile.

i guess they need more cell phone stores? heh.
they blame the internet for the killing of retail stores? i seriously doubt the internet forced them to open stores next to each other. i doubt the internet forced them to build brand new stores instead of reusing empty stores. i doubt the internet forced walmart to build two stores 5 miles apart from each other.

sorry for the rant, but ****. support your local non-chain business guys. dont shop at walmart.