Hopkins Lake DGC

Just wanted to provide an update here. The course now has excellent signage and a course map at first tee due to efforts of the owner of the Rainbow Bar. I have, with some help, constructed 2 block tee pads, plan on more. Have done a LOT of clearing brush and fallen trees, but the course is heavily wooded, always more to do. Several holes are prone to rapid summer growth of brush. If we could get some volunteers to commit to "adopting" holes for maintenance, it would help tons(5-6 holes require ...
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Just wanted to provide an update here. The course now has excellent signage and a course map at first tee due to efforts of the owner of the Rainbow Bar. I have, with some help, constructed 2 block tee pads, plan on more. Have done a LOT of clearing brush and fallen trees, but the course is heavily wooded, always more to do. Several holes are prone to rapid summer growth of brush. If we could get some volunteers to commit to "adopting" holes for maintenance, it would help tons(5-6 holes require frequent maintenance, rest are either open or are old growth). Have replaced missing basket, Owosso Parks and Rec took care of the bill. They have also put it in their plan to put down 4-5 concrete pads in 2024. I also hope to construct a couple of better bridges over areas that flood in the spring.
With all due respect, we need some people to offer to help rather than just saying the course needs work. I realize some do not have the time. But if we keep improving the course, traffic increases, and increased traffic will lessen the overgrowth. If you have not been here lately, please check it out. See what Tim, Tony, and I have done.
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This is one of the most difficult course reviews I've done. (219th course played). There are many positives, BUT many negatives. The positives: 1. Excellent tee and next tee signage. Without it, this course would be impossible to navigate. (Although finding the fence opening after hole 14 to get to 15 tee is difficult). 2. Hole design is outstanding. Great variety. 3. Baskets (Chainstars) are in good condition, with the exception of the hole missing the chains and basket. ...
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This is one of the most difficult course reviews I've done. (219th course played). There are many positives, BUT many negatives.

The positives:
1. Excellent tee and next tee signage. Without it, this course would be impossible to navigate. (Although finding the fence opening after hole 14 to get to 15 tee is difficult).
2. Hole design is outstanding. Great variety.
3. Baskets (Chainstars) are in good condition, with the exception of the hole missing the chains and basket.

The negatives:
1. Teeing areas range from dirt to dangerous landscape stones. A few of the areas done with bricks/pavers are decent, but too short.
2. Apparent lack of maintenance, specifically on the wooded holes.
3. Not one, not two, but THREE lengthy walks between holes. Roughly a quarter mile from 1 to 2, 14 to 15, and 15 to 16.

This course could easily go from a C to an A with suitable teeing areas and some maintenance.

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Short, technical and heavily wooded Collamer park course that plays along the lake. Impressive design, good variety and lots of cleanup work. TLC in the hole maps, directional tape on the ChainStar baskets, next tee signs and even encouragement signs leading to the next hole! The tree stumps and random debris you can trip on have been spray painted bright pink. The pads are primarily natural but a few are made with brick and paver stone. Nice elevation changes on the majority of holes and pretty ...
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Short, technical and heavily wooded Collamer park course that plays along the lake. Impressive design, good variety and lots of cleanup work. TLC in the hole maps, directional tape on the ChainStar baskets, next tee signs and even encouragement signs leading to the next hole! The tree stumps and random debris you can trip on have been spray painted bright pink. The pads are primarily natural but a few are made with brick and paver stone. Nice elevation changes on the majority of holes and pretty views of the lake. A few basket locations are by the lake. Other basket locations are strategically placed on hills with rollaway potential. The first and last couple holes add length to the otherwise short wooed track. A few swampy holes that can be avoided with good tee shots. This course is quite a hike, especially with the elevation and long walks between some holes, but the TLC in the signage adds to a fun experience.
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Even rating this a C is being polite. As another person said, this course has potential but is in dire need of many improvements. No map displayed at the course makes it very confusing even after just one hole. The second hole requires a quarter mile walk and a guess on which path to take (THE LEFT ONE FOR THOSE WONDERING) after the bridge leads to a fork in the path (unless you have the map on your phone). Even after you find hole two, the course remains confusing. Directions are haphazardly la ...
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Even rating this a C is being polite. As another person said, this course has potential but is in dire need of many improvements. No map displayed at the course makes it very confusing even after just one hole. The second hole requires a quarter mile walk and a guess on which path to take (THE LEFT ONE FOR THOSE WONDERING) after the bridge leads to a fork in the path (unless you have the map on your phone). Even after you find hole two, the course remains confusing. Directions are haphazardly laid out with spray paint on various rocks, stumps, or trees. Many holes have multiple paths leading away from the basket and it was extremely difficult to find the correct one with the directions given. The forested holes are not only extremely overgrown but littered with many fallen limbs and a ridiculous amount of trash. When I say trash I don't just mean some bottles or cans. There are old car parts, tires, fence posts, and a large assortment of other old forgotten debris. The holes here however are not badly laid out. Besides a long walk between some baskets and the next hole's pad, the holes are well made. This course has tons of potential to be great with more foot traffic, better directions/signage, and a cleanup effort for the trash/overgrown weeds. Overall can't say I'd really recommend people go here until some of this is fixed.
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I'm being generous with my rating because this course is fun and has potential to be great. Seriously, come play this course. BUT, It has flaws. This course is NOT playable in the summer. The weeds get so tall and thick starting at hole 2 that it's not worth your time. The course needs traffic and some volunteer work to fix that. If you're playing it for the first time you'll need to find the map on the courses Facebook page or you will not find all the holes. It's a long walk with surprising ro ...
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I'm being generous with my rating because this course is fun and has potential to be great. Seriously, come play this course. BUT, It has flaws. This course is NOT playable in the summer. The weeds get so tall and thick starting at hole 2 that it's not worth your time. The course needs traffic and some volunteer work to fix that. If you're playing it for the first time you'll need to find the map on the courses Facebook page or you will not find all the holes. It's a long walk with surprising rolling hills through a mostly wooded course. No tee pads, no tee signs. Still worth a play through when the weeds are dead.
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