Willow Metropark

Course looks great right now. 7-11 are only a little spongy but not wet, there are no mosquitoes, and flowers are blooming. All the OG baskets are there but lots of brush cut back. This is optimum Wil ... show more ›

Course looks great right now. 7-11 are only a little spongy but not wet, there are no mosquitoes, and flowers are blooming. All the OG baskets are there but lots of brush cut back. This is optimum Willow time!!! My rating would be a C- in early spring, C+ in summer (bugs will carry you away), and A- in late fall.

Played in mid July 2022, and as advertised, bug spray was required. The course plays like a shaggy beast, with clean centers and brutal edges. The longest holes have the worst rough, and the shorter ... show more ›

Played in mid July 2022, and as advertised, bug spray was required. The course plays like a shaggy beast, with clean centers and brutal edges. The longest holes have the worst rough, and the shorter holes have the nastiest basket placements. I won't say it will make you cry, but it should make you sigh.

Nice flat course to play in the fall with the colors. Wooded and technical with a noticeable and positive difference between the shorts and longs. The course has wide enough fairways from the shorts b ... show more ›

Nice flat course to play in the fall with the colors. Wooded and technical with a noticeable and positive difference between the shorts and longs. The course has wide enough fairways from the shorts but shaping a variety of shots is still necessary. I can see how the longs would be very challenging. Well maintained with concrete pads, trash cans and picnic tables. Post signs are good and the layout is reasonable but a few more directional signs would aid navigation (UDisc Pro map enables easy navigation). The course was dry in this review but a couple water hazards could come into play at other seasonal times.

I love this course. To me it's one of the best places in metro Detroit to really get better at disc golf, never crowded (because it's so tough). Really tests your release timing with brutal rough an ... show more ›

I love this course. To me it's one of the best places in metro Detroit to really get better at disc golf, never crowded (because it's so tough). Really tests your release timing with brutal rough and trees on many holes. Definitely not lefty friendly, some of the toughest holes for rightys are just ridiculous for south paws. Course is flat and wooded and can be wet in spots during winter thaw into summer. Fall/Winter is the best time to play here, mosquitoes and rough are bonkers during the warm months. Very hard to play par from longs, a good challenge, you'll dig Willow Beast.

As a downriver res of Wyandotte I consider this my home course, Even with some homer slant I feel this is a solid B to B+. Metropark Systems park, pay to play in effect (enforcement minimal). Very r ... show more ›

As a downriver res of Wyandotte I consider this my home course, Even with some homer slant I feel this is a solid B to B+. Metropark Systems park, pay to play in effect (enforcement minimal). Very recent course tayloring, removal of Russian olives. widened fairways. Couple of holes dramatic difference. Aside from #7 I consider the tayloring improvement, increased playability, better flight lines. Another sigh the park is ramping up its maintanence of Willow a packed gravel walk way up to Hole #1.

Never Played Willow things you need to know;
Seasonal Course - Early Spring about half of the course will be extremely wet (BOOTS MANDO). Wet Spring + Hot Early Summers of past = treacherous mosquitos! (AVOID) Fall is premium play, Consistent Winter leagues seem to keep at least the shorts shoveled.

Very wooded and tight 90% of the course. Quite difficult Pro Tee's Control and precision trumps power and distance . Flat Terrain. Trash cans all tee's, picnic tables every 3-4 holes. Little to no graffitti or course destruction. Player traffic low.

First play through not all that impressed. Course is decently maintained as far as trash and grass length but the rough could use some work. Very thin lines through the woods with jail being found jus ... show more ›

First play through not all that impressed. Course is decently maintained as far as trash and grass length but the rough could use some work. Very thin lines through the woods with jail being found just feet off the fairway. Don't recommend playing this one solo as there are a ton of blind shots with thick rough lining every single fairway

Short technical course. Everyone said bugs weren't bad this year... They are just as bad as I remembered. Thick thick if you get off the fairway with lots of burs. Couple baskets are in terrible pin l ... show more ›

Short technical course. Everyone said bugs weren't bad this year... They are just as bad as I remembered. Thick thick if you get off the fairway with lots of burs. Couple baskets are in terrible pin locations jammed back another 10-15' more than it probably needs to be to make it a odd shaped hole that is throw and pray or ping pong disc golf. Not a bad course by any means, but still after not playing it for a couple years, would rather play a dozen + courses before this one again.

Super narrow fairways. Very tough course for beginners and a challenge for even the best of pros. You have to keep it on the fairway to score here as it is heavily wooded. Course was in great shape. ... show more ›

Super narrow fairways. Very tough course for beginners and a challenge for even the best of pros. You have to keep it on the fairway to score here as it is heavily wooded. Course was in great shape. Nice cement tee boxes. The pro tees are just obsurdly dificult. Watch out for the picker bushes in the woods, they will tear you up!! Be sure to bring bug spray with you or you may need a blood transfusion on the way home. Also one other note..this website had par for 24 holes listed at 72 when in all actuality it is a par 88!!

If you can handle the cold weather, the course is much better to play in December. Wet spots are dried, so no mosquitoes. Leaves have fallen, so finding a disc in the rough is easier. And if you wa ... show more ›

If you can handle the cold weather, the course is much better to play in December. Wet spots are dried, so no mosquitoes. Leaves have fallen, so finding a disc in the rough is easier. And if you want to stop after 18 holes, it's easier to find your way off the course. Dress warm and don't forget to protect your ears.

Willow is a great course on an inconvenient plot of land. The land easily floods and breeds swarms of mosquitoes. I really enjoyed the shot variety throughout the course. There were short holes and lo ... show more ›

Willow is a great course on an inconvenient plot of land. The land easily floods and breeds swarms of mosquitoes. I really enjoyed the shot variety throughout the course. There were short holes and long holes, tunnel shots and wide open shots, subtle doglegs and 90 degree doglegs both left and right. The rough was usually dense which can be a pro or a con, I just think it demands better shots which adds to the challenge. Great signage throughout the course. Very minimal trash. Overall, it is a very well designed course on land that doesn't drain well enough.

I personally have enjoyed Willow the most since picking up this sport. Hazards are limited to trees but I would advise being a bit careful in brush as thorn laden foileage grows enough to be pain. ... show more ›

I personally have enjoyed Willow the most since picking up this sport. Hazards are limited to trees but I would advise being a bit careful in brush as thorn laden foileage grows enough to be pain.

Pro's
1.) Course is fairly well maintained.
2.) Tee markers present for every hole, lists distance and overview of fairway
3.) Good mix between control and distance drives
4.) To date all other players have been very courteous.
5.) practice basket present.

Con's
1.) a few holes could use "next tee" markers.
2.) 5 dollar park charge, however I hear the gates take credit.
3.) Bug's haven't been an issue since it's fall but I'm sure spring and summer would be a different matter.

SUMMARY - fun as hell, great for people who don't want to throw giant drives all day and prefer a pretty shaded, decently short, well maintained course. Bad for people who don't have water proof shoes ... show more ›

SUMMARY - fun as hell, great for people who don't want to throw giant drives all day and prefer a pretty shaded, decently short, well maintained course. Bad for people who don't have water proof shoes, hate mosquito's (from June through September watch the wall for condition updates) or can't throw straight. Highway noise can be a bit grating, but if you play here enough you eventually tune it out (just keep the noise in mind when you are yelling CLEAR or FORE).

I love Willow, and it can be a birdie bonanza if you have a nice mid-game and putt well. If you want big drives go down the road to Belle Isle or Ponds. This course is about control. With trees in play on EVERY HOLE, some in the middle of the fairway, it can be a bit intimidating. But if you learn to play this course and can score well on it you can shoot virtually anywhere. Pro tees are a nice bump in challenge for those bored with the shorts. Both tees will force you to throw discs you can really control well. The rough is typical Michigan rough. Ivy here can be a bit heavier than other courses in the area (know your plants and wear high socks/pants, carry neutralizer). The only real knock to this course is it tends to be wet after a good rain, and spring thaw can create nearly impassable holes. But come here on a nice day, dry conditions, particularly in the fall, and it is one of the prettiest places you will ever walk.

Willow is such an awesome course when the conditions are right and you're not overwhelmed by mosquitoes; which are HUGE out there right now, or flooded out by the thaw after winter. Today though, the ... show more ›

Willow is such an awesome course when the conditions are right and you're not overwhelmed by mosquitoes; which are HUGE out there right now, or flooded out by the thaw after winter. Today though, the course was dry, the bugs weren't too bad and the sun was shining, can't ask for more than that at Willow. Definitely one of the more technical courses in the area, Willow has tight, wooded fairways and thick foliage that will swallow your disc if you're not careful and pay attention to your throws. Then again, as long as you throw in the fairway, you'll have nothing to worry about!

Long and tight variations, but mostly tight. Some holes require a spotter do to the tunnel dog legs. Bring Spray. Also if you are in the area the better deal is to buy a year Metroparks pass. This ... show more ›

Long and tight variations, but mostly tight. Some holes require a spotter do to the tunnel dog legs. Bring Spray. Also if you are in the area the better deal is to buy a year Metroparks pass. This will allow you to go to Kensington, and Hudson Mills too. There is a considerable difference between the Long and the Short pads. Pick you poison.

I have only played this course a couple of times (2009 Fly Open and today). The course was in great shape today although the growth just off the fairways is quite thick in many places (shouldn't thro ... show more ›

I have only played this course a couple of times (2009 Fly Open and today). The course was in great shape today although the growth just off the fairways is quite thick in many places (shouldn't throw there anyway right?). From the short tees there is not much need for power but accuracy and and shots for tight right hand and left hand turns are required as well as some rather long straight tunnels. Overall very enjoyable course. Well worth the time if you are in the area.

Pros: -24 holes of tough, technical disc golf. Only one hole is what you would consider open. -Never crowded. -Concrete tees, trash cans, decent amenities. -Big difference in dificulty betwe ... show more ›

Pros:
-24 holes of tough, technical disc golf. Only one hole is what you would consider open.
-Never crowded.
-Concrete tees, trash cans, decent amenities.
-Big difference in dificulty between the long and short tees.
-Beautiful in the fall.
-New maintenance person in charge really has great upkeep of the course. It looks beautiful right now. I changed my review from a B- to a B+ because of this.

Cons:
-Mutant death-eating mosquitos, course is almost unplayable during the late spring and most of the summer.
-Low lying area also can be flooded in the spring before the mosquitoes come out.
-Almost no elevation changes and mostly wooded. Not much variation in shot type. Throw straight for the most part.