Wisconsin Disc Golf at Justin Trails
The Story of the Classic and Big Brother Disc Golf Courses
The Disc Golf Story began in 1997 when Tana Rybarik, an intern in the UW-La Crosse Recreation Management Course brought a publication with all sorts of courses in it. Don (Don Justin) had asked her if the concrete pad east of the barn was suitable for a basketball court. As I (Donna Justin) paged through the publication, I came across disc golf only needing 4-5 acres for nine baskets. WELL! We have an extra four or five acres. I researched on the internet for courses in the Milwaukee area.
In April we attended Kevin and Kathy Oestreich’s wedding in Waukesha. While in the Milwaukee area, Don and I walked the New Berlin Valley View course. The young men were so excited that we have land to build a course. “You build it, and we will come! You need to visit Don Hoffman at Elver Park in Madison. He plays professionally, runs tournaments, designs courses and will be selling discs out of his truck at Elver Park.” Off we went to find Elver Park and Don Hoffman. He wanted us to play the course, but we had no idea how to play. I wanted to see the lay of the land. Will it fit our terrain?
We like the terrain of Elver, “Yes, we want you to design a course for us.” “NO, you need to play the course at Baraboo. We walked that course and YES, we are convinced we want a course on our property. Don Hoffman designed the course and asked Mike Cozzens of Sandy Point Resort and Disc Golf Ranch to approve it.
We installed nine baskets in 1997 and added nine more in 2001 when we were no longer needing pasture for cattle. This course is known as the Classic Course which takes 1-2 hours to play the mile of walking.
In 2007, Jeffron Noel approached us to install a professional course so we could be included on the Wisconsin Disc Golf Tour. He would provide baskets, if we install concrete t-pads and maintain the course, which we agreed to. Timmy Gill and Jeffron designed the course in February when vegetation was low. John Schmitz Concrete Company installed t-pads with friends who “owed him a favor.” Six skid steer loaders with buckets ferried the concrete up into the hills for Big Brother. Dave McConahay routed wood signs for the courses.
The concrete t-pads were installed in time to participate in the Wisconsin Disc Golf Tournament in September as an X level (experimental). The next year we moved to a C level and the following year to a B level which depends on level of sponsorship provided. We have added concrete short t-pads, created new signage, and continue to advance the level of weed control, open the fairways with tree removal, cut a new bulldozed trail to create # 10B, installed steps and railing on Classic # 18.
We owe a debt of gratitude for all the weed wacking, course guidance and maintenance to Andreas Pessl-Bauer, Don Justin, Dave McConahay, Chuck Heiam, James Way-Burch, Corey Hobbs, Charles Ramseyer, Cindy Becker, Bryan Schaitel, Adolfo Alcantar.
We owe a debt of gratitude to Tournament Directors over the years, Ron James, Terry Miller, Josh Hamm and Jim Van Lanen.
Description of the Classic and Big Brother Disc Golf Courses
Justin Trails Resort offers two 18-basket professionally designed championship disc golf courses and regularly hosts tournaments. Our Classic Course is rated #1 in Wisconsin and is approximately 1 mile in length. Expect a mix of wide open fairways, dramatic elevation changes and tightly wooded shots.
Experienced players will love the challenge of our Big Brother Course rated #5 in the US for pay-to-play courses. The course is 3.5 miles long and features amazing vistas, enormous downhills and an incredible finish for a day of golf you will never forget!
(Download Map)
The courses are open year round during daylight hours or at night by appointment. Lodging and drive-in tent camping are available onsite. Course access is included for lodging guests, for day visitors the Trail Fee is $10 and includes trail access.
