Merrill Park West

PROS: cool freaking layout. Unique shots abound. Beautiful views mask a challenging course. Frequent and varied elevation changes make it pretty unique for this area. Some Pro and Am tees were really different, and plenty of the holes had a few lines you could take. Although I did not see many garbage cans the course was very clean. Signage was very well done. Nice touches like the Ace Pole and 10m bricks. One of the most fun courses around despite being very technical. CONS: just guessing it ...
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PROS: cool freaking layout. Unique shots abound. Beautiful views mask a challenging course. Frequent and varied elevation changes make it pretty unique for this area. Some Pro and Am tees were really different, and plenty of the holes had a few lines you could take. Although I did not see many garbage cans the course was very clean. Signage was very well done. Nice touches like the Ace Pole and 10m bricks. One of the most fun courses around despite being very technical.
CONS: just guessing it gets pretty beastly rough and growth wise in the summer. Pro and Am tees on some holes were reallllly similar. Could have 1 or 2 more open drive holes. Some tree trimming on a few holes might be in order to make the Am tees a bit more friendly. I'm nitpicking. lol


Before finally making it out this past weekend I had heard mostly positive reviews. As I pulled up I was a bit caught off guard. The better courses seems to have more serious parking, almost a gateway to some of the courses. This was just a tiny gravel lot off a 2 lane road. OR so you think.

Once I jumped outta the car and saw the practice basket right there I gained some hope. Then you see the crazy goat sign that proclaims you have arrived at "The Gulch." Hmmmm.

If I had to put this course in to 5 words I might say Views, Variety, Technical, Challenging, Fun. And as you step on to tee 1 you get all that right off the bat. A tough but doable straight shot about a football field in length.

Then you get to 2 and its this super fun hyzer bomb through trees. And then 3 with its hidden basket presents another new challenge. And that patterns sorta repeats through 18. Each shot different than the next. Amazing views throughout keep the brain occupied with visual bliss between the holes. Numerous elevation changes, almost like a mini-Flip City, but in the most awesome way possible.

Holes like 12 and 16, and 17, full of trees and fun basket placements, seem to be metered out between either extreme hyzer shots, long straightaways, and just enough birdie opps to keep the spirits up during a tough round.

Speaking of basket placements, some of the best around. Hole 8 is place on the edge of a ridge and offers one of the most deceiving and fun risk reward shots of the course. 14 is perhaps one of the most unique and bada$$ shots with fencing on either side of the basket circle, forcing you to shoot through the center. Those who cant muster the straight shot needed play from a mini-pad on the side of the hole. A nice tough was putting that mini-pad in a tunnel. Makes for a tough but beautiful shot.

Hole 13, a doable ace shot down a hill with a slight hyzer line, finishes with a very cool pole sign to write down aces (and there have been a few already). I felt that sign was a nice touch and there were a couple holes that might be nice to have one at.

As the round ends and you hit hole 18 at the Gulch you are brought right back to the parking lot. A nice hole with a challenging basket placement next to some tree and shrubs. Its a fairly straightforward hole, and sorta eases you out of the round. The course is short enough to move people along, and keep you energized enough for a second round.

Signage in general was pretty easy to follow, with "DO NOT ENTER" signs after some of the baskets to ward off inadvertent entry by walkers. 10 meter bricks are found throughout the course, taking the guess work outta where the circle lies, and is yet another cool touch not seen very often. The flow from each hole is pretty well planned out, which always makes for a more enjoyable round, and as I said I felt it was just long enough to make you feel like you were "somewhere else" during the round, but with energy left over to do it again.

With a lack of big drive holes I like this course because I feel like guys without canon arms can challenge. You need to have a good eye for shot selections here, and the bag and skills to match. But that is what I appreciate about this place. They created a course that is techy, but very unique in its layout. With really interesting holes, many of which force you up, down, or up and down, through tunnels and gorgeous hillside edges, you never get bored. This place has character, more so than a lot of the other courses near there. We felt very welcomed there, and as 3 oclock rolled around and the crowds got bigger you could tell that this course has a great following. Between the flow, challenge, cleanliness, and nice touches like the signage this course is an instant favorite. Well done to its creators.


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Nice course I throw sidearm so 5 and 6 are nice to see but 15 is intensely tight hope more work goes into it, but weeks to finish it and ever week the course looks better so I have no doubt it will improve. The guys building the course did a great job the concrete on the tees look great, no names carved in it like you see at holly woods. The post are a lot like Hudson but they do have a cool height marker on them kind of a neat idea. It may be my favorite course once its done since I live r ...
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Nice course I throw sidearm so 5 and 6 are nice to see but 15 is intensely tight hope more work goes into it, but weeks to finish it and ever week the course looks better so I have no doubt it will improve.
The guys building the course did a great job the concrete on the tees look great, no names carved in it like you see at holly woods. The post are a lot like Hudson but they do have a cool height marker on them kind of a neat idea. It may be my favorite course once its done since I live right off m-36 it's right next door.

Update: had a great time opening day shot a great round great to meet Dave and Ann it was fun showing you the ropes. Wanted to let you know hole 15 turned out great, really feels like rolling hills or like a well maintained Cass. Hole 14 is way harder than it looks will be a drop zone shot for me for sure, I love the ace pole and all the little details. And the welcome sign is so cute they really went the extra mile to make everyone feel welcome and the course looks great. Rough on the edges but will only get better over time.
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I was there opening day. From the pads I was much better keeping discs in play rather than using any kind of grip-n-rip. Considering I don't drive past 280 feet, I'm totally cool with this. No need to play driver hero, just keep setting yourself up for another clean placement. No hole demonstrated placement better than 7, stay along the right side of the fairway and err on the short when putting. I enjoyed holes 3 and 15-18. 17 was fun whether I sent a nice drive or had to tomahawk through the w ...
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I was there opening day. From the pads I was much better keeping discs in play rather than using any kind of grip-n-rip. Considering I don't drive past 280 feet, I'm totally cool with this. No need to play driver hero, just keep setting yourself up for another clean placement. No hole demonstrated placement better than 7, stay along the right side of the fairway and err on the short when putting. I enjoyed holes 3 and 15-18. 17 was fun whether I sent a nice drive or had to tomahawk through the woods. I'm not into 14 due to my own inexperience; lost a yellow Cobra to the swamp. Overall, as a lefty, this course does appreciate flexibility with backhands, forehands, hyzers, and anhyzers. I think this resourceful design will be an A/A+ with more time to fine tune things.
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Holes are a bit disperate for my tastes (quite the hike for 5000ft course), but overall good signage and usage of land. Absolutely perfect taste of the designers to pit it 10mbricks on every hole - you set the standard for future courses! I can dig the duece or die feel, but i would rather kill my game than a rusty barbed wire fence (gtfo). My rhbh was crying on many holes... But the a fair mix of dog legs. 14 is fun if you make the game (nice drop pad!) Didnt play the shorts yet, but looking fo ...
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Holes are a bit disperate for my tastes (quite the hike for 5000ft course), but overall good signage and usage of land. Absolutely perfect taste of the designers to pit it 10mbricks on every hole - you set the standard for future courses! I can dig the duece or die feel, but i would rather kill my game than a rusty barbed wire fence (gtfo). My rhbh was crying on many holes... But the a fair mix of dog legs. 14 is fun if you make the game (nice drop pad!) Didnt play the shorts yet, but looking forward to tearing this course a new one. This course will age like a fine wine, but hopefully most of the intended fairways (e.g. 5, 17) will endure the test of time. I suppose it is a risk you run with <250ft holes with gnarly fairway curvature.

My only major concern is that of the running path crossing between the long and short pads on 15 - i was a few milliseconds from whipping one right into the domes of a sweaty jogging couple - please build a warning post, or some type of notification.
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A slow sweeping course up and down hills and valleys. A lot of elevation changes that and blind corners keep you guessing. Only a few holes from the short tees are over 300ft., and the 9 long tees seem to add distance, while opening new types of lines that you can't get from the shorts. Some holes are meant to be run for the deuce and some are meant to be placement lay-ups to give you a solid 3 or really tough attempt for a 2. A few of the tee signs are off. A lot of the signs say the hole dista ...
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A slow sweeping course up and down hills and valleys. A lot of elevation changes that and blind corners keep you guessing. Only a few holes from the short tees are over 300ft., and the 9 long tees seem to add distance, while opening new types of lines that you can't get from the shorts. Some holes are meant to be run for the deuce and some are meant to be placement lay-ups to give you a solid 3 or really tough attempt for a 2. A few of the tee signs are off. A lot of the signs say the hole distance is 272 feet on a lot of the holes, which may or may not be accurate. Sign on 15 shows an uphill and hook left design, when the basket is actually straight and slightly right from the tee. The schule on any hole is worth sending a spotter for. Half open, and half wooded. We must realize that this was once hunting property. So there are some empty shells, as well as broken glass unearthed on some of the fairways, plus the occasional piece of leftover wire. Just carefully throw them away if found. A few of the wooded holes will need to be watched to keep them from washing out the teepads or baskets. There will be, and already have been, small issues with the wooded area of the course being part of a hiking trail where we almost hit a man and his dogs. Then while crossing to another hole, two bicyclists crashed off the path into the rough themselves because they didn't expect to come around a corner and have 5 obstacles standing in the middle of their bike path, and there was no way through or around. We told them not to, but they then started biking down the course going BACKWARDS through the holes. Hope they didn't get hurt. Great dining around the area, plus it's only 7 minutes to Independence Lake or Brighton Rec. A few more trash cans could be used throughout the course. Not being a gated park, you could also play some glow golf for fun. As with every course, they take time to beat in and get a good feel for. Overall a great course.
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Played for the first time Monday night with the Brighton Rec. Crew. Course is a total righty hyzer course (great for me - bad for some). Well manicured, great lines, just a sweet course. As many hills as tight woods. I thought with what the designers were given, all in all great job. Check it out. Last thing though, the "signature ' shorty swamp O.B. hole, I think the walls are completely pointless. With the hole being like 120' something, all one needs to do is simply throw over the top of it. ...
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Played for the first time Monday night with the Brighton Rec. Crew. Course is a total righty hyzer course (great for me - bad for some). Well manicured, great lines, just a sweet course. As many hills as tight woods. I thought with what the designers were given, all in all great job. Check it out. Last thing though, the "signature ' shorty swamp O.B. hole, I think the walls are completely pointless. With the hole being like 120' something, all one needs to do is simply throw over the top of it. Pointless walls/pallets. Double the height of those and It will greatly improve. Thanks for the new course!
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I've only played this course once and yet it easily makes my top 5 courses. All the holes are fairly tight lines. Could be pretty deathly if you don't stay on the fairway due to the course being so new and not very worn down yet. Hole 14 definitely stands out with the fences on either side of the basket making it a mando up the gut, very unique. Some holes are moderately lengthy with shorter ones mixed, the elevation of the holes keeps everything challenging. The 10 meter bricks, the ace wall, ...
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I've only played this course once and yet it easily makes my top 5 courses. All the holes are fairly tight lines. Could be pretty deathly if you don't stay on the fairway due to the course being so new and not very worn down yet. Hole 14 definitely stands out with the fences on either side of the basket making it a mando up the gut, very unique. Some holes are moderately lengthy with shorter ones mixed, the elevation of the holes keeps everything challenging. The 10 meter bricks, the ace wall, and the mascot being a goat are great additions. Overall an awesome course that I look forward to playing again.
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First time at this course and it's pretty nice! Lots of tight wooded fairways and elevation changes. Didn't see any thorn bushes except for around the practice basket. Brooms at almost every hole, all concrete tee pads and signs are clear and well maintained. There is a wood post after a 150 or so foot hole that says "aces" that is specifically there for people to sign their name if they ace, which is kind of cool and something I've never seen anyone put on a course before. Some holes are long a ...
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First time at this course and it's pretty nice! Lots of tight wooded fairways and elevation changes. Didn't see any thorn bushes except for around the practice basket. Brooms at almost every hole, all concrete tee pads and signs are clear and well maintained. There is a wood post after a 150 or so foot hole that says "aces" that is specifically there for people to sign their name if they ace, which is kind of cool and something I've never seen anyone put on a course before. Some holes are long and tight and they make you want to take a high risk shot, which is why I took a couple of 5's on my first round here. Only negative thing I would say is that some of the dog leg turns are practically 90 degrees...there are some sharp curves on some of the fairways.
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Very Hilly Course, with big elevations, with more than 5 holes that are signature favorites. Course is groomed so carts can pass every hole. Holes 1-3 are open with mixed shots welcome you will find the route to get there, Hole 1 is a slight down hill with the basket nestled in a tree circle, like hole 3s basket, long and straight for the most part. While hole 2 is a wide open until the last 100 ft. Hole 3 is a down hill straight shot with a narrow fairway but you can go over the top ...
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Very Hilly Course, with big elevations, with more than 5 holes that are signature favorites. Course is groomed so carts can pass every hole.
Holes 1-3 are open with mixed shots welcome you will find the route to get there,
Hole 1 is a slight down hill with the basket nestled in a tree circle, like hole 3s basket, long and straight for the most part.
While hole 2 is a wide open until the last 100 ft.
Hole 3 is a down hill straight shot with a narrow fairway but you can go over the top but the hole hides a PLANNED sand trap near the basket. (Should have the sand trap end of the year beginning of next.)
Hole 4 is a S hole with a tight shot you can sneak it through the gap but on the Pro pad that is unlikely.
Hole 5 is the first real elevation hole with a quick downhill right hand turn, that is completely blind from the pro-pad.
Hole 6 is rough its a solid sidearm for a righty with a big elevation change and long turn.
Hole 7 is a tricky shot with a steep downhill on the left it a straight shot but using care to not get a bad kick off a tree.
Hole 8 is on the same hill side also flat but further from the hill side until the basket with the basket in resting in front of the down hill with only a 20ft space behind the basket. Hole 9 is a righty dream with a down hill that sneaks to the basket a huge elevation change with an almost 90 to get there...
Hole 10 is a gentle uphill then slightly less gentle downhill to the basket with a right turn over the hill.
Hole 11 is a water hole most of the year with a left hand turn and tight line throw a shorter hole.
Hole 12 is Beautiful it has a raised tee with a long wooded fairway with that is almost straight but a slow climbing up hill shot.
Hole 13 was designed as an Ace hole with a Pole near the basket to Sign your Ace if you can hit the gap.
Hole 14 is amazing its a water hole with a crazy shot, it has a raised tee on the pro-pad with a beautiful wood wall around the front and rear, there is a walk to get to the basket as there is no direct route to the basket for a 150ish length hole. Follow the paved path and the walk to the hole is on the right, if you do not make the gap in the fence to the basket there is a drop-zone pad in the walking pad.
Hole 15 is a big uphill shot, with the pro-pad being a extremely difficult shot, its first uphill then at the top it make a downhill slight left turn, with the basket near a dip off behind it.
Hole 16 has a very different shot between pro and am shot, with both being a left hand turn but one much larger elevation while am pad is almost flat pro pad is a bigger climb up hill.
Hole 17 has a huge right hand turn with a LONG drive to the turn, with the pro pad being a even harder turn to make.
Hole 18 is just a clean slight right in a small window half way down the fairway. With the pro pad being a tighter shot the entire length.

I am more than impartial I should say since this course is our passion with our crew having over 2000+hrs in the course in just 6 months from start to opening day.
This focus on this course was Balance, we all got a little tore up over this course, we changed the layout over 22x to get it just right. We have a big balance on this course with 6 straight shots 5 left hand turns 5 right hand turns 2 "S" shaped shots, with some like hole 1-3 that really have multiple routes. This course is open on the front and technical in the back. With 9 holes in the back and 9 on the front, and 9 Pro tees, I love this course and I know you all will too...
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Just love this course and it is not even broke in yet! Every shot in your bag will be needed. Awesome variety of up and down hill rights and lefts. Tight tunnels, closed ceilings, mando, ace chances etc. Something for every type of thrower. Signage is better than average, nice touch with the elevation note on the posts. Clean tee pads as well. Peak holiday afternoon, yet it was not that busy, we played through one large group, and were never pushed, nor did we catch any other people. Trash can ...
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Just love this course and it is not even broke in yet! Every shot in your bag will be needed. Awesome variety of up and down hill rights and lefts. Tight tunnels, closed ceilings, mando, ace chances etc. Something for every type of thrower. Signage is better than average, nice touch with the elevation note on the posts. Clean tee pads as well.
Peak holiday afternoon, yet it was not that busy, we played through one large group, and were never pushed, nor did we catch any other people. Trash cans on every hole, some seating and a designated parking area.
I liked the mando hole where one must shoot the slot. Never seen this anywhere else, the originality is welcomed, plus it is very challenging. I did not need the drop zone, but will practice some skinny 70' putt/approach shots just in case future visits see me using the drop zone. With many drop zones closer to where a shot "Left" out of bounds, this is a generous drop area, could be much worse.

There was plenty of room on every hole for our Disc Golf Carts to amble along without any disruption or aggravation. The elevation changes are lacking at most flatland courses in S.E. MI., so it was encouraging to have so many worked into the Gulch, nice planning job!

A big shout out to all that were and are involved. You did a smash up job in clearing trees and brush without leaving a ton of ankle breaking stumps every where, Thank You. You all also created a local one of a kind course, a benchmark if you will for the next great area course. I would expect over the next couple years that the fairways will open up some, but remain very challenging. Awesome job to all of you.
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As someone who helped work on the course i may be a little biased, but i think this course has it all. The simple fact fact is that every hole presents it own unique challenge and the variety of hole layouts will make you stay on top of your game. Hole 1-3 are great warm ups that allow you to find a line and have at it. Then 4, a sweeping "S" with plenty of room to navigate but still a tough shot. As for holes 5 and 6, time to play with some elevation changes. 7 might seem like an easy shot ...
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As someone who helped work on the course i may be a little biased, but i think this course has it all. The simple fact fact is that every hole presents it own unique challenge and the variety of hole layouts will make you stay on top of your game. Hole 1-3 are great warm ups that allow you to find a line and have at it. Then 4, a sweeping "S" with plenty of room to navigate but still a tough shot. As for holes 5 and 6, time to play with some elevation changes. 7 might seem like an easy shot through the woods but don't miss left or your next shot might be up a nice drop off. Hole 8 is a nice long hole, it has a slight bend but most should be able to rip one at the basket. A downhill shot with a hard turn on the end sums up hole 9. Holes 10 and 11 play with elevation and also a halfway blind shot on 10 and a nice easy left on 11. Hole 12 is a ripper, fairly straight and just a really nice shot through the woods. Do you have an easy touch, you'll need it for 13. It is a short hole with a slight left and a nice drop off. Ahh, hole 14. Time to be accurate, straight across a swamp to a tightly wooded landing area, better bit your shot. For 15 and 16 it is nice rolling hills with a good amount of distance. Now for hole 17 you better have saved some energy in the tank, because get ready to grip it and rip it. A nice long shot with a hard right and still some distance to go. And finally 18. Nice and straight with a good bit of distance to it, brings you right back to hole 1 to start another round.

Also throughout the course there are benches to chill for a bit and plenty of shade to stay cool on a hot day.
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Nothing too interesting about this course. Short, technical course with a few long holes. Nice concrete tee pads on every hole, however they were all fairly coated in sand and dangerous to play on. Baskets were great too. Hole 14 is pretty gimmicky with the triple mando over a swamp and the hole preceding it you literally can step-putt from the tee. Coupled with the odd walks between a few holes (after 5 and 11 IIRC), I feel as if the property could have been used a bit better. There were ...
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Nothing too interesting about this course. Short, technical course with a few long holes. Nice concrete tee pads on every hole, however they were all fairly coated in sand and dangerous to play on. Baskets were great too. Hole 14 is pretty gimmicky with the triple mando over a swamp and the hole preceding it you literally can step-putt from the tee. Coupled with the odd walks between a few holes (after 5 and 11 IIRC), I feel as if the property could have been used a bit better. There were also quite a bit of bugs and the rough was very punishing.

Overall, it feels as if the course is a worse Holly Woods but with better tee pads. Both have similar total distance over 18 holes, but Holly seems a bit more interesting in course variety and shot availability.
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First few holes are very fun to play, lefty/righty friendly and decently challenging. Once you make your way towards the middle of the course, everything goes to hell and you'd think a drunk Irish-Jew designed the course, hoping that a Scottish-Pakistani would play the course and in a fit of rage, would quit disc golf once and for all. With that being said, as an Irish and Jewish man, I wasn't drunk while playing and enjoyed the company of my friends, but did not enjoy playing here at all. The ...
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First few holes are very fun to play, lefty/righty friendly and decently challenging.
Once you make your way towards the middle of the course, everything goes to hell and you'd think a drunk Irish-Jew designed the course, hoping that a Scottish-Pakistani would play the course and in a fit of rage, would quit disc golf once and for all.
With that being said, as an Irish and Jewish man, I wasn't drunk while playing and enjoyed the company of my friends, but did not enjoy playing here at all. The unique hole with the two fences either side of the basket was very much enjoyed and saved the course from a D+.
I know I will be hated by posting this, but nevertheless, don't play here.
There are about 4 great courses within playing here...do that instead.
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