Short MN trip coming up!! Suggestions?, Advice etc?

[dethyr]

Hey folks. My gf and I got into DG about a month and a half ago, we can't stop playing and so we thought it would be fun to take a little trip to courses close to us. Just a couple day trip. Were going to use Mont Du Lac as the destination and play the courses that are on the way down.

- Cascade 9
- Adventure Games at Lutsen
- Cove Point
- MN Uni course in Duluth
- Lincoln Park, Miller creek
- Morgan Park
- Mont Du Lac

I know there's course reviews on here and I've read up but if there's anyone that has played any/all of these courses that wants to lend some advice or suggestions or even note a another course that's on the way between the MN border and Duluth MN that aren't on the list.

If there's a course that I have listed that we should just drive on by instead of playing, please let me know. We kind of just want to experience new courses and have a good time.

 

[laramiecarlson]

Here's the courses I would hit!

Mont Du Lac
-Eagle's Peak (A good warm-up for white cedar)
-White Cedar (The best of the best)
Spirit Mtn DGC (New 9 holer, very fun)
Lincoln Park (midrange-esque course, well maintained)
UMD (Putters!)
Cove Point (Fun course in Beaver Bay, lots of shorter technical shots)
Lutsen Resort (good 9 holer that plays around a 9 hole golf course)

The ones I would skip
Miller Creek (LSC) - a savage beast. not maintained.
Morgan Park - Never played, no desire to.
Lutsen Adventure games - tone poles, crossing fairways, doesn't sound like much.
Cascade - I hear its very over grown

 

[laramiecarlson]

I know there's course reviews on here and I've read up but if there's anyone that has played any/all of these courses that wants to lend some advice or suggestions or even note a another course that's on the way between the MN border and Duluth MN that aren't on the list.

Grand Portage?
Grand Marais?

 

[dethyr]

We are actually in Canada not MN but right on the border.

Thanks for the info, that absolutely helps. I've heard Miller Creek could be an awesome course if it was maintained. Sucks that people build courses and don't maintain em. The one we have here in town is really nice (Birch Point) so I am hoping to hit up other nice courses.

So you would suggest we hit these on the way down before Mont Du Lac:
Lutsen Resort
Spirit Mountain
Lincoln Park
UMD
Cove Point

Sounds great to me! We may hit cascade 9 and the adventure games courses on the way home if there's time being that they are right on the way.

 

[dethyr]

Hopefully the full 18 are open at spirit mountain when we are there

 

[Diskobolos]

Well I've played a few of those courses so here goes...

Mont Du Lac - Two great, destination worthy courses. Eagle's Peak is right on the ski hill with some major elevation changes and big drop offs. White Cedar plays on the wooded bluffs behind the ski hill, steep hills and lots of trees make it tough, but very fun. Ace run is quick and super short.

UMD - 9 holes tucked into a corner of the campus, mostly putter shots with paving block tees and good baskets. If you are going to Duluth anyway it is worth a stop just to throw through/around the big sculpture.

Lincoln Park - A typical park style course. Scattered mature trees, mowed grass, a few holes play around a small creek. Overall a decent layout.

Miller Creek - I heard this course was redesigned a while back and it shows. I though the layout was a little confusing. The park has lots of nice rugged terrain but the course is only o.k. Save it for last and play it if you have enough time.

Morgan Park - A small course that plays in a circle around a middle school. Nothing special but it does have Innova baskets in good shape. Also it is on the way to Mont Du Lac so might as well play it.

They are a little out of the way but almost straight north of Duluth there are two 18 hole courses you don't want to miss. Giants Ridge in Biwabik plays up, down, and across ski hills, it is monstrously long from the long tees but overall an outstanding disc golf experience. It is part of a resort that also has a superb ball golf course on site. North Hibbing Park is an above average 18 holes with nice variety and a cool location. It is on a high point overlooking a huge open pit mine on what used to be old Hibbing. Some of the holes play over the cement foundations of old houses and across streets with old metalwork signs. A nice course with a cool vibe.

Have fun in Duluth and don't let Mont Du Lac kick your ass too bad.

 

[dethyr]

Dammit man!! Now were thinking about a second trip in Sept to that area to hit those courses too lol. I didn't know disc golf was so insane in Minnesota lol. I see a bunch of courses in that area apart from Giant's ridge and Hibbing are Merrit memorial, Vermillion, Babbitt, Chisholm and Side lake worth playing while in the area? They all seem within a short distance from each other or is the map deceiving me?

As for Miller Creek, a few people I have talked to have said the course is wrecked and not taken care of at all. I know it's pretty much beside Lincoln park (on the map it is anyways) but has it been redone and fixed?

 

[dethyr]

Just watching some videos of Mont Du Lac...... what have we gotten ourselves into here lol....

 

[laramiecarlson]

Just watching some videos of Mont Du Lac...... what have we gotten ourselves into here lol....

It's amazing.

Anyways, I grew up in Grand Marais and moved to Duluth for school. My great grandparents bought the border store in the 1950s and changed it to Ryden's. My cousins currently run it.

Back to disc golf.

The range courses are about 1-2 hours north of Duluth. I would rank them in this order- Giant's Ridge, Hibbing, Side Lake, Babbitt DGC, Chisholm (only played once in winter)
Lincoln Park and Miller Creek are fairly close to each other, about 2 miles apart.
Check out my instagram feed for more photos/videos of courses in the area!

 

[Steve West]

If you're going to go to Hibbing from Duluth (or vice versa) go by way of Warba and hit that course. It may be the most fun 9 holes of the trip for new players.

 

[dethyr]

Were going to take two trips one in Sept and the other in Oct. First one to Mont du lac and the other to the courses mentioned. Really looking forward to rocking these courses.

Where do you guys suggest we stay near Mont Du Lac? Black Bear?

 

[laramiecarlson]

Were going to take two trips one in Sept and the other in Oct. First one to Mont du lac and the other to the courses mentioned. Really looking forward to rocking these courses.

Where do you guys suggest we stay near Mont Du Lac? Black Bear?

Black Bear is a bunch of fun if you're looking for a casino/hotel to stay at! It is also out that way by Mont Du Lac (Not exactly sure how far from there...)

I don't know of too many hotels in the immediate area but there are a bunch in Duluth, about 20-30 min from Mont Du Lac.