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harr0140
  • I bought some discs for my wife and I to try on a long drive to Florida, and am hooked on the sport.

    Golf, Disc Golf, Collecting Baseball cards
    DGCR Number
    3037
    Real name
    Mike Harrington
    Birthday
    Jun 11, 1975 (Age: 48)
    Years Playing
    15.4 Years
    Main Throwing Style
    RHBH
    DGCR Player Rating
    926
    Total Reviews / Avg. Score
    480 / 2.85 star(s)
    Voting Record
    2906 201
    Fans
    117
    Website
    http://www.thediscgolfexperience.com
    Occupation
    Owner of a landscape maintenance company, interested in doing course design/install and maintenance

    Signature

    Check out my online store featuring Out of Production, First Runs, Old Stamps, Limited Editions, and unique discs. http://www.thediscgolfexperience.com/shop

    Like my page on facebook to keep up to date with my travels and adventures. http://www.facebook.com/DiscGolfX

    My physical store in S.E. WI called The Disc Barn
    http://www.facebook.com/TheDiscBarn

    Other info

    I am the owner of The Disc Golf Experience. I do have an online store focussed on out of production, rare, or hard to find discs and disc golf trading cards located at www.thediscgolfexperience.com I run lots of leagues in Southeastern Wisconsin and a few tournaments around Wisconsin. I have a store called The Disc Barn in Menomonee Falls which is currently literally a barn where I rent office space for my landscape company. My hope is to one day be designing courses full time all around the country.

    Well since I have seen a lot of people write their review criteria on this section of their profile I thought I would include mine.

    The disc rating is a good place to start. Basically the disc rating is the measure of how likely I would be to return to this course (with the consideration that I was already in the area of the course). It is not necessarily how challenging the course is, it is not about how nice the course amenities are, it is not about how beginner friendly it is, nor is it about just the design of the course . . . it is about the likelihood that I will return. You can argue that the likeliness for me to return is about all of those things and that is somewhat true . . . but it is more about how much fun did I have. The amount of fun is hard to quantify but it is just a feeling you get from a course. A lot of times I can know that a course is going to be fun before I even tee off. Because I do think all of those things mentioned above can affect my level of fun they do need to be accounted for, and that is why there is a RATING and also a REVIEW. The review is the substance, the rating is simply my overall impression of the course and how likely I will be to return. This can be argued is not the same for courses that are far away as it is for courses that are near me. That is correct but as you can tell by my statistics I do not really discriminate against courses. If I am in the area I will play just about any course, there are only a few courses I have played that I absolutely would not go to again. If I was in the area of a course I rated a 1 but it was the only course I could get to and play because of time constraints I would still play it, but if I had a little more time and a little further drive to get to a 2.5 disc rated course I would likely do so.

    Here are all of the other factors that go into my review and a brief explanation (if necessary):

    Teepads (Condition and sustainability are imp.)
    Tee Signage
    Course Flow and other signage
    How beginner friendly is the course (I will downgrade a course that is not beginner friendly unless it is specifically designed for pros only. A course like Winthrop Gold does not need to accommodate beginners, but it would be an added bonus to the course if it did.
    Cleanliness (Trash cans, garbage on ground)
    Turf and Trees (Health and condition are imp.)
    I am a landscaper so it is hard for me to not downgrade a course with trees falling apart, Buckthorn and Poison Ivy. Proper pruning and maintenance should be considered.
    Design of the course
    Shot selection
    Multiple shot holes (Single shot Par 3's are the standard for disc golf, but longer Par 4's and 5's with multiple shots are important.) Just a wide open 700' hole requiring 2-3 good shots to reach is not a good hole, I would rather play a 450' hole that had a sharp dogleg, or a tunnel you need to hit at some point.
    Challenge (I like a challenge whenever I play but it also needs to be fair and executable for the average player)
    Maintenance of the course
    What are the locals like (if applicable . . . only really good or really bad people will be considered)
    What is the neighborhood like (Again only really bad neighborhoods are worth mentioning)
    Multiple shots allowed on holes (accommodating lefties and righties, or FH vs. BH throwers)

    Properties I have played that are not listed on DGCR (some count as courses and some do not just like Practice areas on DGCR):

    Western Lakes Golf Club, Pewaukee WI (Western Lakes Open March 2009) (18 Holes)

    Riverside Park, Berlin WI Temporary 9 Hole Addition for a Tourney (9 Holes)

    Private Course in Cambellsport, WI (10 Holes)

    Burr Oak Groves Private Course in Markesan, WI (19 Holes)

    O'Fallon Fields, Private course in Franksville, WI (18 holes)

    Phantom Ranch Bible Camp in Mukwonago, WI (9 Holes)

    A church in Medford, WI (9 holes)

    A school in Spencer, WI (7 Holes)

    School course in Wautoma, WI (6 holes)

    A homemade basket (tires and bike wheels) course in West Allis, WI (5 holes)

    A private camp course in Montello, WI (9 holes)

    The Rock Sports Complex (15 Holes) My Second Temp course setup for a tournament and league the following day.

    Temporary Course setup (9) in Virmond Park in Mequon.

    Temporary Addition to Sussex Village Park for Pet-Jam 2015 (9)

    Elm Grove Park (5)

    Little Sweden Resort in Fish Creek (5)

    Open Hearth Lodge in Sister Bay (1)

    A Private School (GLS) in Oconomowoc (9)

    A Private course in Mt. Horeb WI - (18)

    Highbridge Hills Chestnut Grove (NEW) 9 - Highbridge WI (9)

    Smithfield Heritage Park, Smithfield UT (12)
    Weston Park, Weston, ID (9)

    A private course in Mukwonago (10 holes)


    My current top 100 Courses Played

    1) Bucksnort (CO) (5.00)
    2) Frost Valley YMCA (NY) (5.00)
    3) Brackett's Bluff Original (NC) (5.00)
    4) Harmony Bends (MO) 5.00
    5) Selah Ranch - Lakeside (TX) (4.95)
    6) Flyboy Aviation (GA) (4.90)
    7) Eagle's Crossing (MO) (4.90)
    8) Gran Canyon (FL) (4.90)
    9) Idlewild (KY) (4.85)
    10) Highbridge Hills - Granite Ridge (WI) (4.85)
    11) Clover Cliff Ranch (KS) (4.80)
    12) Renaissance (Gold layout) (NC) (4.80)
    13) Highbridge Hills - Blueberry Hill (WI) (4.80)
    14) Flip City (MI) (4.80)
    15) Highbridge Hills - Highbridge Gold (WI) (4.80)
    16) Selah Ranch - Creekside (TX) (4.80)
    17) Harmon Hills (TN) (4.80)
    18) Blue Ribbon Pines (MN) (4.75)
    19) The Lodge (Island Course) (OK) (4.75)
    20) Hornet's Nest (The Web Layout) (NC) (4.75)
    21) The Lodge (Moccassin Creek) (OK) (4.75)
    22) Beaver Ranch (CO) (4.75)
    23) Rollin' Ridge (WI) (4.70)
    24) Maple Hill (MA) 4.70
    25) Foundation Park (IL) (4.70)

    26) Mont du Lac - White Cedar (WI) (4.65)
    27) Wilderness Campground DGC (WI) (4.65)
    28) Treehouz at Branson Cedars Resort (MO) (4.65)
    29) Tyler State Park (PA) (4.65)
    30) Circle C Metro @ Slaughter Creek (TX) (4.65)
    31) Phantom Falls (CO) (4.65)
    32) Circle R - Rolling Meadow (TX) (4.60)
    33) Deer Lakes (PA) (4.60)
    34) Holler in the Hills (KY) (4.55)
    35) Jim Warner Memorial (GA) (4.55)
    36) Shawshank (TX) (4.50)
    37) Steady Ed Headrick Memorial (GA) (4.50)
    38) Grindstone (NM) (4.50)
    39) Hobbs Farm (GA) (4.45)
    40) Wildlife Prairie Park (IL) 4.45
    41) WR Jackson Memorial (GA) (4.45)
    42) Sandy Point (WI) (4.45)
    43) Winter Park (WI) (4.45)
    44) Lincoln Ridge (Banklick Woods) (KY) (4.45)
    45) Nockamixon State Park (PA) (4.45)
    46) Megiddo Park (IL) (4.40)
    47) Thunderbird Gardens (UT) (4.40)
    48) Silver Creek (WI) (4.40)
    49) Ocala Greenway (FL) (4.40)
    50) Bud Hill (TN) (4.40)

    51) Bailey (CO) (4.40)
    52) Magnolia DGC (FL) (4.40)
    53) Roy G. Guerrero (TX) (4.35)
    54) New Quarter (VA) (4.35)
    55) Green Lake DiscGolfPark (MI) (4.35)
    56) Cedar Hill Park (TN) (4.35)
    57) Wildcat Bluff (IA) (4.35)
    58) Little Mulberry (GA) (4.35)
    59) Jordan Creek (PA) (4.35)
    60) Hawk Hollow (VA) (4.35)
    61) Ghost Town (CO) (4.35)
    62) Northwoods Gold (IL) (4.35)
    63) Fairfield GOLD (IL) (4.35)
    64) Justin Trails Big Brother (WI) (4.35)
    65) The Hideaway (TX) (4.30)
    66) Seven Oaks (TN) (4.30)
    67) Colorado Mountain College - Glenwood (CO) (4.30)
    68) Crooked Creek (SC) (4.30)
    69) Palmetto Trails (FL) - 4.25
    70) Highbridge Hills - The Bear (WI) (4.25)
    71) Kaposia (MN) (4.25)
    72) Johnson Park (TX) (4.25)
    73) The Fort (UT) (4.25)
    74) Burchfield - Devil's Den (MI) (4.25)
    75) Seneca Creek State Park (MD) (4.25)

    76) Trey Texas Ranch - Trey Deuce (TX) (4.20)
    77) Lindsey Park Gold (TX) (4.20)
    Pier Park (OR) (4.20)
    78) Zobel Park (WI) (4.20)
    79) Robert L. Smith Park (NC) (4.20)
    80) Lester Lorch - Coyote (TX) (4.20)
    81) Castle Hayne (NC) (4.20)
    82) Richmond Hill (NC) (4.20)
    83) West Lake (IA) (4.20)
    84) Disc Side of Heaven - Championship (AR) (4.20)
    85) Charlie Vettiner (KY) (4.20)
    86) Madisonville (KY) (4.20)
    87) The Blockhouse - Darkside (VA) (4.20)
    88) Highland Park (IL) (4.20)
    89) Tjader Acres (WI) (4.2)
    90) North Georgia Canopy Tours (GA) (4.14)
    91) Lester Lorch Park - Beaver (TX) (4.15)
    92) Brakewell Steel - Warwick Park (NY) (4.15)
    93) Deerfield (MI) (4.15)
    94) Hudson Hills Metropark - Monster (MI) (4.15)
    95) Yulga (WI) (4.15)
    96) Standing Rocks (WI) (4.15)
    97) Powder Mill (MI) (4.15)
    98) Austin Ridge Bible Church (TX) (4.15)
    99) Jefferson Barracks (MO) (4.15)
    100) Pickard Park (IA) (4.15)




    4.0 or better but not my top 100
    Trey Texas Ranch - Texas Twist (TX) (4.15)
    Turner Park (TX) (4.15)
    Blackhawk (OK) (4.15)
    Harry Myers 2.0 (TX) (4.1)
    Perkerson Park (GA) (4.1)
    Tuscarora (IL) (4.1)
    The Blockhouse - Sunnyside (VA) (4.1)
    Hudson Hills Metropark - Original (MI) (4.1)
    Judson Mine (MN) (4.1)
    JP Moseley (GA) (4.1)
    Camden II (IL) (4.1)
    Rosewood-Dekalb at Redan Park (GA) (4.1)
    Ironside Bluffs (AZ) (4.1)
    Circle R - Circ Hill (TX) (4.1)
    Warrior's Path State Park (TN) (4.1)
    Buckhorn (NC) (4.1)
    New World Sports Complex - Green Course (FL) (4.1)
    Jefferson Barracks - Bunker (MO) (4.1)
    Clay DGC (AL) (4.1)
    Sawmill (FL) (4.05)
    Tower Ridge I (WI) (4.05)
    Bad Rock Creek (MO) 4.05
    Lakehawk (FL) (4.05)
    McNaughton (IL) (4.05)
    Stoney Hill (SC) (4.05)
    Rogers Lakewood (IN) 4.05
    Old Settler's (TX) (4.05)
    The Brickyard (9 HOLES) (WI) (4.05)
    Independence Lake - Red Hawk (MI) (4.05)
    Mesker Park, (IN) (4.05)
    Oak Island (MN) (4.0)
    Inverness (AL) (4.0)
    Patapsco Valley State Park (MD) (4.0)
    Flat Rock (GA) (4.0)
    Thunderhead (CO) (4.0)
    Colorado Mountain College - Leadville (CO) (4.0)
    Veteran Hills - WI (4.0)
    Bryant Lake (MN) (4.0)
    The Sinks (TN) (4.0)
    Tom Triplett (GA) (4.0)
    Patriot's Park (GA) (4;0)
    Jack McLean (FL) (4.0)
    North Charlotte Regional Park (FL)(4.0)
    Ironside Bluffs (AZ) (4.0)
    Picnic Island (FL) (4.0)
    Flat Creek Winery (TX) (4.0)
    Buxton Woods (OR) (4.0)

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    I think it's really funny that you have a couple of the baskets from fontana. That course was so terrible it's nice to know that someone made use of it.
    I'd love to play the Prairie Open this year, but I've just had WAY too much stuff going on with my brother's wedding in a few weeks, a baby on the way, and school starting for my son. I played back in 2007 and had a blast! And yes, I'm still lingering at the bottom of the DG food chain, playing rec/int...my game has gotten a LOT better since '07, but somehow that doesn't translate over into competitive play; I still buckle under pressure, so the mental part really throws me off!

    Hope you'll still make it out to play and review Cleveland Elementary! I figured you'd get to it if I didn't do something quick, but some might see my review as biased since I helped install it. I still think it's a great learning course, all bias aside! :)
    Here's the ones I've played in IL so far:

    Libertyville, IL Adler Park
    Waukegan, IL Bevier Park
    Grayslake, IL Central Park
    Elk Grove Village, IL Clark Park
    Frankfort, IL Commissioner Park
    Highland Park, IL Danny Cunniff Park
    Round Lake, IL Fairfield Park
    Highland Park, IL Fink Park
    Roselle, IL Goose Lake Park
    Joliet (New Lenox), IL Haine's Wayside Park
    Frankfort Square, IL Indian Boundary South Park
    Deerfield, IL Keller Park
    Lombard, IL Lombard Common Park
    Lombard, IL Madison Meadow Park
    Palatine, IL Margreth Riemer Reservoir
    Homewood, IL Patriots Park
    Olympia Fields, IL Sergeant Mean's Park
    Streamwood, IL Shady Oaks Park
    Mokena, IL The Oaks
    Joliet (Lockport), IL Trinity Links
    Joliet, IL West Park

    And here are the ones I've played so far in WI:

    Oak Creek, WI Abendschein Park
    Milwaukee, WI Dretzka Park
    Franklin, WI Milwaukee County Sports Complex
    Kenosha, WI UW Campus-Parkside
    it'll be a blast...I just hit 300 on this last trip...now I need to hit 400 :)

    As a friend of mine said, "You'll have to play some crappy courses to hit 400"...I told him a crappy DG course beats sitting around in my hotel room :)

    I started putting the courses you listed in my GPS phone
    You need good land and money to do that - so I wish, but no. You'd think it could be promoted as an athletic program or something. Side note - one of our junior high feeder schools has temporary baskets that they put out for the kids, so at least it's something.
    Ya, true I guess there are alot of potheads at Dretzka Leagues. Keep in mind that I normally play in Madison, which as you mentioned in your reviews, is even worse in that sense, so I guess the crowd at dretzka doesnt seem as bad to me. Plus I really love dretzka as a course.

    Good job on the madison reviews. I disagree with your rankings of the three courses, but you are soo right about the lack of maintenance and signage being a problem. Its something that really surprises and dissappoints me that madison, such an active, environmentally conscious city would have people abuse and trash their DG courses so much, and that there are so few courses there, given how much green space is in madison. There used to be signs in both elver and heistand, but they got ripped out of the ground, sadly. It still mystifies me, bc Ive never seen any of the dretzka or brown deer signs vandalized, and they are both pretty isolated. Sad situation in Madison. Theyre working on it tho
    Nice. Great to get another TR perspective on the Madison courses. I just finished an INTENSE DG roadtrip with Tallpaul. We started off in Chicago, then crossed the border played all four Lemon Lake Park courses in Indiana, before swinging back for one more indiana and 2 Joliet, IL courses. 9 courses in 3 days for me, even more for them. I'm beat. Took notes on em all, which is good bc I've got a backlog of course reviews to do still from last week, and know I prob wont get to writing the reviews until this wkend.

    Its a good problem to have, should push me over into Gold status, with you not far behind. See ya at Dretzka leagues next week (going to brewers game tomorrow with the office)
    LEaving for sheboygan at 6am? Wow, you are an animal. Im just coming back from the bars rite now and yur soon to head out for DG. Thats legit. I look forward to hearing your reviews. Tuesday next wk at dretzka sounds good. Ill confirm time on monday, once im sure how early my training gets out.
    Thanks man, it was good to play with you as well. I'm usually pretty jovial when I play but that round just put me in a bad mood, but its all good cuz I'm playing disc. I'm astounded that you only started 5 months ago and are as advanced as you are thats awesome. see you wednesday
    Actually, this weekend I will NOT be played. I will instead be taking some bondo to several woodpecker holes in the side of the house, and other chores. I wish I was playing, but I just don't see it happening, with all the things I've gotta do before I'm gone in Milwaukee for 5 days. Next Monday, Tuesday, Thursday and Friday after 5 (maybe next Sat during day also) I will most def be out at the Milwaukee courses, hitting the ones i missed and playing old favorites (dretzka perhaps?)

    Congrats on silver TR. Looks like you've hit all the courses in Milwaukee area. Whats next, Chicago or Sheboygan?
    The next time you are planning a trip thru Georgia and dropp me an email and maybr my wife and I can show you one of our courses.
    It was great to get a round in with you yesterday at the Fun Farm. Sorry it took so long, but I hope you enjoyed the course and the company.

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