What is the best course you have ever played?

[K.C.]

Move to Iowa.  Play West Lake. 

[skipache]

move to iowa city, play peninsula park, make weekly trips to pickard

[airspuds]

centrailia, il
mt airy forest  ( when it was only 9)  oh
inner grove hts, mn
mishawaka, in


still a work in progress

[Bruce Brakel]

These days I'd say my top five are Idlewild, Renny, Goliath, Toboggan and Flip City.  I like elevation and isolation in a course, and some par 4 holes. 

And there is a tournament this summer at Flip City if anyone wants to make plans to play it.  August 14 and 15, split-weekend B-tier.  Flip City is actually closer to most of you than it is to most of me.  They are using the IOS unzipped divisional breaks for the two days, so lots of players can play both days.  I'll probably be there with the family, if we have all recovered from Worlds!   

[pickax]

That sounds very tempting. Flip City is a great course.

[jasonc]

Here is my current top 5; heavily influenced my a trip through California's central coast last year. 

Coyote Point DGC @ Lake Casitas
De Lavega
Stafford Lake
Golden Gate Park
Water Works Park

[Bruce Brakel]

That sounds very tempting. Flip City is a great course.

If you're serious, and want to make a family trip out of it, check out Claybanks Township Park and Campground.  It is on Lake Michigan with it's own beach and has hook ups and a decent bath house.  It is maybe 15 minutes from Flip City?  Not too many people know about it, so I might have to delete this post in 24 hours!   

Also, not too many people know about the really nice new course near me, and we're no longer telling anyone about it either!      

[countchunkula]

Top 5
Stafford Lake
Highland Park
Delaveaga
Lemon Lake Red
Camden/Middle Park (If I had more game, West Lake Park)

[Jon Brakel]

I'm going to go with Flip City as the best course I've played.

[CEValkyrie]

It has been and is still #1 in my list. Highbridge Hills, WI

I have a hard time saying which course I like the most but Blueberry Hill, Granite Ridge, and Gold are all awesome. Between the 3 + Woodland Greens this place is spectacular. I'm interested to see what The Bear is going to look like.  Add on to the fact that you can play a layout like Granberry and BlueRidge, WOW!

If you have not been here you are missing out. You need at least 3 full days of play to experience this place.

[discin311]

I'm going to go with Flip City as the best course I've played.

likewise

[CEValkyrie]

I have played Flip City,  Des Moines, KC, Peoria, and much more. Highbridge blows them all away.

[Jon Brakel]

I have played Flip City,  Des Moines, KC, Peoria, and much more. Highbridge blows them all away.

I don't doubt it, I just can't say it since I've never played it.

[pdga#7648]

wow, nice topic ya'll. after alot of thought, and trying to remember them all in the early 90's, I came up with this.

1. Hickory Hills, Waterloo Iowa
2. Earl W. Brewer, Grand Rapids Michigan(97 Worlds)
3. Mt.Airy Forrest, Cincinnati Ohio(95 Worlds)
4. McNaughton, Pekin Illinois(home course)
5. France Park, Logansport Indiana

[paulpriest]

I find it very sad that so few people in the Illiana area seem to have made it down to play in Cincinatti.  While I have not played highbridge I have been able to play some great courses in Pennsylvania, West Virgina, California, Wisconsin, Illinois and the Carolinas.  While 2012 worlds is going to be awesome when it comes down here to Charlotte NC I have never played a course with the combination of aesthetic and technical appeal that Idlewild has.  I hope to make it to Flip City and to Highbridge in the future but for the moment my top five courses would be something like this.

1. Idlewild (Cincinatti area)

2. Moraine State Park (Pittsburgh area)

3. The Whipping Post (Paw Paw, WV)

4. Renaissance Gold (Charlotte, NC)

5. Winthrop Gold with the ropes...ridiculously punishing (Winthrop, SC USDGC)

Honorable Mention goes to a private course near Charlotte, Bracketts Bluff which will sadly not be in the rotation for Worlds 2012 to the detriment of all attendees.

Also, I have made it to Golden Gate State Park, DeLaveaga and Stafford Lake in Northern California and don't believe any of them merit a top five ranking.  This is in a large part due to the condition of the courses in spring/summer/fall when the ground is completely barren with no grass/vegetation.  Frankly, I just don't find dry and dusty courses, despite their difficulty, to have all of the qualities to merit a true top rating.  IMHO

In conclusion, if you can, come down to Charlotte in 2012 for Worlds and you will not be disappointed.

-Paul

[jasonc]

Paul,

This is the topic...What is the best course you have ever played?

I'm sorry that your disc golf experience is different than mine and others who have posted here, but no need to trash the other top 5 lists.

[Dan Michler]

Lake Villa has an absolute gem of a course that was recently redesigned.  Best course ever?  Maybe...

[countchunkula]

Also, I have made it to Golden Gate State Park, DeLaveaga and Stafford Lake in Northern California and don't believe any of them merit a top five ranking.  This is in a large part due to the condition of the courses in spring/summer/fall when the ground is completely barren with no grass/vegetation.  Frankly, I just don't find dry and dusty courses, despite their difficulty, to have all of the qualities to merit a true top rating.  IMHO

But courses that are under snow for three months out of the year are no problem?  When I played Stafford, it was in the early spring and it was green and beautiful.  While it probably wouldn't have been as great of an experience if I had played it while it was dry and barren, that wouldn't have that big of an impact on how I viewed the course as a whole.

[jasonc]

Also, I have made it to Golden Gate State Park, DeLaveaga and Stafford Lake in Northern California and don't believe any of them merit a top five ranking.  This is in a large part due to the condition of the courses in spring/summer/fall when the ground is completely barren with no grass/vegetation.  Frankly, I just don't find dry and dusty courses, despite their difficulty, to have all of the qualities to merit a true top rating.  IMHO

But courses that are under snow for three months out of the year are no problem?  When I played Stafford, it was in the early spring and it was green and beautiful.  While it probably wouldn't have been as great of an experience if I had played it while it was dry and barren, that wouldn't have that big of an impact on how I viewed the course as a whole.

Agreed!  Maybe expectations are different between a Chicago area resident and someone who lives in warmer climates all year?  Winter disc golf in 2+ feet of snow certainly has an impact on my appreciation of disc golf courses.

[Bruce Brakel]

1. Highbridge Hills Sportscomplex. Highbridge, WI
2. Des Moines (Loaded with good courses) Walnut Ridge & Ewing. Did not get to play ISU & Pickard which the pros played for Worlds.
3. Winthrop Ropes Course in Rock Hills, SC
4. Toboggan- Milford, MI
5. Peoria area courses (McNaughton, Morton, Bradley)

The baskets are in at the Toboggan!  Kelsey shot a 63 out there tonight which was 963 rated last year.  We are going to play it about six more times from now to Am Nats.  Hope some of you good advanced players will come out this year.